Viewpoint, AAMCO, Cottman, Monro, Procare: With Size Comes Responsibility
In the past month, we have seen some historic events in the world of undercar service. The reunification of Cottman and AAMCO and the acquisition of ProCare by Monro Muffler have changed the landscape of the undercar service industry. Some people say that the Cottman and AAMCO deal was a shocker. When Rich Silva (Cottman)
Top Five Tools
TEDDY REAKA, mechanic Belleville Firestone Belleville, IL Snap-on 1/2” Drive Air Impact Wrench — A lot of power. OTC Genysis Scan Tool — Makes diagnostics simple. Snap-on Flank Drive Wrenches — A lot of grabbing power. Snap-on 2-lb. Dead Blow Hammer — The ultimate take off tool. Craftsman 1/2” Drive Torque Wrench — Very accurate.
TechTalk: A Chevy Tahoe with Shifting Issues
A customer with a 1996 Chevy Tahoe brought the vehicle in, stating that it was shifting erratically, the cruise control would surge from 50 mph to 60 mph and then cut out completely and the speedometer, at times, was drifting. (This Tahoe had a 5.7L vin R engine with a 4L60E transmission coupled to a
Top 5 Favorite Tools & Equipment
Rick Moe, owner The Nurburgring, Inc. Saint Bonifacius, MN www.the-nurburgring.com My shop is an independent Porsche repair shop specializing in 356s and early 911s. I’ve been a professional Porsche mechanic for more than 30 years. I established The Nurburgring, Inc. in the Minneapolis area in 1977. I am a factory-trained mechanic with extensive background in
Top 5 Favorite Tools of the Country’s Top Technicians
Jay Daniels, ASE Master Auto Tech Dublin Auto Superstore Dublin, GA Makita 12V Cordless Drill/Driver, Model 6227DWLE — Mostly used as cordless screwdriver for dash work and installing accessories. Much better than larger cordless drills. My wife now uses my 20-year-old 9.6V Makita around the house. Great products. Power Probe II Circuit Tester
Dual Mass Flywheel/Clutch Replacement Options
Dual-mass flywheels are a unique kind of flywheel that have been used on a variety of pickup truck and passenger car applications since the late 1980s. You’ll find them on 1987 Ford F-Series 6.9L diesels, 1987-98 Ford F-Series 7.3L diesels, 1992-1996 Chevy/GMC 6.5L diesel trucks and 1992-02 Chevy/GMC 8.5L diesel trucks. Dual-mass flywheels have also
Favorite Tools of the Country’s Top Technicians
David E. Link, owner Quality Racing Toledo, OH ALLDATA – I’ve tried the others, but nothing out there is as comprehensive – especially for auto-electrical. Blue-Point Rechargeable UV Leak Detector Light and Dye Injector – A definite must-have for A/C work. Blue-Point EEDM504B Multimeter – I don’t know how I went so long without
4WD Clutch Replacement
Here in the upper part of the West Coast, four-wheeling is a very large part of outdoor recreation. Vehicles of all kinds are taken to the forests and mountains every weekend. There are miles and miles of off-road trails, and organized clubs are available for every make, model and size of 4WD vehicle. Toyota trucks
Top 5 Tools
Brian Courtney Allied Fleet Services of Texas Pasadena, TX Ingersoll-Rand 231c 1/2" Impact Wrench – It never fails to deliver. It’s 16 years old, and I’ve only had to replace the anvil. Saves my money, for sure! Raytek Non-Contact Thermometer Raynger ST2 – I don’t have to wait for a temp reading from
Diagnosing Automatic Transmission Complaints
Automatic transmissions are a mystery to most motorists. They may know the transmission requires some kind of fluid, but have probably never checked the level or even looked for the dipstick unless they drive an older vehicle with a leaker. When internal problems cause the transmission to act up, it takes a fair amount of
Manual Tranny/Clutches: Pre-Installation Inspections Boost Clutch Performance & Reduce Warranty Claims
Because a good “stick shift” driver can always squeeze a few more miles per gallon out of a manual transmission or otherwise out-perform their automatic transmission counterparts, it’s no wonder that clutch replacements continue to be a good business for most import repair shops. In most cases, a routine clutch replacement requires very little in
The Top 5 Favorite Tools of Top Technicians
Chris Ringold, shop foreman Flint Bottom Auto Sales Burlington, IA Mac Mentor – Generic OBD II and Repair Trac are invaluable. ALLDATA – If Repair Trac doesn’t cover it, ALLDATA does. MechanixWear Fast Fit Gloves – Great protection and workability! Chilton Labor Guide and CD-ROM – Fast and effective for all estimates. Mini Maglite –