Tech Tip: TPMS Compliance Calls for New Products
The tire industry is now well into a new era. It may not rival the radial age, but the epoch already is memorable and some say forgettable. It’s the TPMS era. While most participants know that the groundwork was laid several years ago ….
Tech Tip: The Ups and Downs of Jacks
If we were to start assigning personalities to tools in the shop, jacks would definitely be the Rodney Dangerfield of the automotive world. These tools are asked to lift things that weigh 100 times their own weight, we complain because they are too heavy, we keep them stuffed in corners and under workbenches when not using them, they are too short, too tall, not short enough, not tall enough. We don’t use them for weeks or months at a time and then complain if they are a little slow to react, make any funny noises or leak any fluid. Sheesh! Talk about no respect!
Tech Tip: Noise, Vibration and Harshness Diagnosis
Since the earliest days of the automotive service business, "squeak and rattle" diagnostics has become a euphemism for low-profit, nuisance repair work. Unfortunately for those of us in the auto repair business, even our best customers have the occasional need for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) diagnostics. On the plus side, if NVH diagnostics are approached in a methodical manner, profitability and customer satisfaction can be greatly improved.
Mitch Schneider: A Lesson in Choosing Words Wisely
I’m the last person in the world to minimize the power of words. They’ve been a recurring theme in my life since I was a small child and shared a single bedroom with my two younger brothers. Then, the words came together in stories about distant worlds and unusual, if not unlikely, super-heroes; and, my brothers wouldn’t sleep until they were quite satisfied there were no more words left to share.
AAIA Calls on Congress to Include Tax Credit for Vehicle Maintenance
Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), called on the U.S. Congress to include in the economic stimulus package, that is now being debated, a tax credit to American car owners for actions they take to maximize the fuel efficiency of their vehicles.
Swaybar Tune Up
A long time ago in a service bay far away, the average tread life of a bias ply tire was 20,000 miles. Even with belted bias ply tires, you did well to get 30,000 miles. Shocks, ball joints and bushings averaged out at 40,000. Today, modern radials can get 60,000 and suspension parts can go
Mitch’s World: Shifting Into Second
This isn’t going to be a long diatribe about something that happened in the shop yesterday or the day before. It isn’t going to be another rant about customers who don’t understand or suppliers who don’t care. This column is about today. Perhaps, more important, it is about tomorrow. This column is all about you.
Mercedes: Addressing MIL Issues
‘Systems Operation’ Knowledge and Proper Equipment Saves Diagnostic Time and Speeds Repair Process It may not be a Mother-in-Law light, but the effect can be about the same. Just when you don’t want to see it, there it is! The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) has been around for more than 25 years, but since OBD
Diagnostic Solutions: Noise, Vibration & Harshness Diagnosis
Since the earliest days of the automotive service business, “squeak and rattle” diagnostics has become a euphemism for low-profit, nuisance repair work. Unfortunately for those of us in the auto repair business, even our best customers have the occasional need for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) diagnostics. On the plus side, if NVH diagnostics are
Mitch’s World: Stuck in First…
This isn’t going to be a long diatribe about something that happened in the shop yesterday or the day before. It isn’t going to be another rant about customers who don’t understand or suppliers who don’t care. This column is about today. Perhaps, more important, it is about tomorrow. This column is all about you.