Alignment Lifts: Consider Your Customer Base When Purchasing an Alignment Lift
If you do wheel alignment work, you need an alignment lift for raising vehicles off the ground. A lift is essential because you have to get under the vehicle to inspect the steering and suspension before you check the alignment. You can’t align worn parts, so it’s important to always make sure the tie rod
Tech Tip: Fixing Dodge Caliber Front or Rear Door Glass Noise
Your shop replaces the left front door shell on a 2007 Dodge Caliber. Everything looks great and the fit and finish is to manufacturer’s standards. Several weeks later, your customer comes back because the window makes a groaning sound whenever it’s raised or lowered. You confirm the problem and provide your customer with alternative transportation. Upon further examination, you determine that the source of the sound is ….
ASA Mechanical Division Names ASA/ASE Mechanical Technician of the Year
Mark Wagenblast, owner of Mark’s Automotive Inc. in Bend, OR, has been named the 2008 Automotive Service Association (ASA)/National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Mechanical Technician of the Year and received his award during the ….
Tech Tip: Tackling Timing Belts
Several years ago, the phone rang about 10 a.m. with a voice on the other end introducing herself as the service writer for a well-known import shop in a nearby state. The conversation revealed that the son of a very good customer had broken the timing belt on his 2000 Toyota Pathfinder. Based upon the mileage of the vehicle, the import shop had previously recommended a timing belt replacement on the 3.4 L engine, but the owner had postponed the ….
Tech Feature: Worn Steering and Suspension Parts are Often Overlooked
It’s a little known fact that many cars and trucks that end up in junkyards have never had any major steering or suspension parts replaced. They still have the original equipment shocks and struts, springs, ball joints, tie rod ends and steering racks. So does this mean junkyards all across America are full of perfectly good parts? Not these parts ….
News Update: ALLDATA Celebrates 70,000 Customers
Customer-Centric Focus Heightens Success ALLDATA held a media day event at its headquarters in Elk Grove, CA, on Apr. 3, to celebrate its latest accomplishment — 70,000 customers — and to spotlight how ALLDATA is helping automotive service professionals boost their business success. ALLDATA President Jeff Lagges and other company executives discussed how ALLDATA is
Keeping on Track with Steering Position Sensors
Cars just keep getting smarter all the time. Sensors are being used to monitor more and more functions, and to share information between vehicle systems that formerly were mute or didn’t communicate with one another. One such sensor is the steering position sensor. The sensor’s basic function is to monitor the driver’s steering inputs. This
ALLDATA Celebrates 70,000 Customers
ALLDATA held a media day event at its headquarters in Elk Grove, CA, on Apr. 3, to celebrate its latest accomplishment – 70,000 customers – and to spotlight how ALLDATA is helping automotive service professionals boost their business success ….
Video Feature: ALLDATA Media Day Event
ALLDATA held a media day event April 3 at its headquarters in Elk Grove, CA, to celebrate its latest accomplishment – 70,000 ALLDATA customers – and to spotlight how ALLDATA is helping automotive service professionals boost their business success. ALLDATA President Jeff Lagges and other company executives discussed how ALLDATA is reinventing itself for a changing market ….
Tech Tip: Finding the Right Level of Exhaust Noise
Exhaust noise sells mufflers and pipes. Exhaust noise can be irritating, as when an original equipment muffler or pipe rots and blows out. Or, it can be pleasing in the case of a high performance vehicle with a throaty growl when it accelerates. Either way, noise generates exhaust work and parts sales. How people react to noise depends on a number of factors. They say that introverts are less tolerant of noise than people who are ….