Mitch Schneider: Mistakes that Go Uncorrected Really Make My Blood Boil
The ‘chirp’ was unmistakable, the kind of noise that could only come from one wheel locking up while the other three remained free. The fact that the vehicle, a 1990 four-wheel drive Suburban, "symptomized" directly in front of the office door didn’t hurt either. An inspection revealed a host of problems, not the least of which was oil-soaked friction material at the right rear axle caused by a leaking axle seal.
Business Tools: Computers… Why You Can’t Do Business Today Without Them
It’s hard to imagine any automotive repair shop doing business today without the benefit of multiple computers. Yet some shops continue to do business and fix cars the “old fashioned way” with no computers whatsoever. I can’t help but wonder how much longer some of these shops will stay in business. The computer has become
Bendix Brand Training Classes Focus on Electronics, Diagnostics and Popular Braking Systems
To help technicians that buy and sell Bendix branded brake products better understand today’s complex braking systems, the Bendix team has several training classes available. These courses cover hydraulic braking, light truck and SUV ABS systems, Delphi VI ABS and traction control systems, import brakes, braking electronics and more.
Building Hot Rod and Muscle Car Engines
Sometimes the best opportunities are cleverly hidden in plain view. As one example, when Chris Lafferty of Lafferty Engine Creations was asked why he opted to expand beyond race engines into the hot rod and muscle car arenas, he said, "Just look outside." His North Carolina facility sits squarely in the middle of both NASCAR and cruisin’ country.
Identifix Publishes 150,000th Test and Fix
Identifix, one of the nation’s premier sources of online and hotline diagnostic and repair information, recently announced that it has added the 150,000th Hotline Archive to Direct-Hit; its award-winning online diagnostic product.
Viewpoint: Cleaning Up Other Shops’ Messes
The other day I was talking with advisory board member Dave Christopher of Christopher’s Car Care in Tallmadge, OH. Dave, his wife and son run a great shop and he has a very loyal customer base. His appointment schedule is often booked weeks in advance. Dave takes a great deal of pride in his shop
Service Guide: F-Series New Model 2004
A bold new look and some subtle changes probably best describe the 2004-and-up Ford F150. To the technician, it is the subtle changes that he or she needs to be aware of. Starting with the 2004 model year, Ford launched a new body style for the F150. The new body style truck is a new
News Update: Denso…Continually Improving
A global supplier of automotive technology, systems and components, Denso truly embraces what it means to be global by bringing the Japanese culture to its North American plants and vice versa. As the second largest automotive supplier in the world, operating in 32 countries, Denso lives by the concept of the Japanese term for continuous
Avoiding Those Hi-Tech Returns
One of the more common complaints these days from jobbers and retailers when dealing with electronic powertrain control modules (ECMs/PCMs) is the relatively high number of defective returns, exchanges or warranty claims demanded by repair shops. Yet, of all electronic parts that come back defective, ECMs tend to be the ones most often misdiagnosed. This
Braking Horsepower: How Much Does Your Car Have?
We all know brakes get hot, sometimes very hot. If you watch closely on race day, it’s not uncommon to see the rotor on a race car glowing bright orange. Iron is in the range of 1,700º F when orange. At the most basic level, a brake is an energy conversion device. Normally people will