Shop Management: Dining Out
Shop management lessons can be found in many places – even at the local seafood restaurant. I recently had an experience that caused me to reflect on how we conduct business at our repair facility. Let me start by saying that if there are two types of food that I love, they have to be
Volvo Unveils Two Hot New Concept Cars at the 2005 SEMA Show
The two exciting new concept cars from Volvo explore the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of just how far vehicle design may be pushed. Painted a glittering Saffron color reminiscent of a desert sunset, the XC70 AT (All Terrain) takes the production Volvo XC70 crossover wagon to the off-road extreme. The T6 Roadster takes Volvo to the drag strip with its 1930s inspired body, wide tires and low beltline.
Equus Announces Extended Technical Support Hours
Equus Products, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of gauges and test equipment for the automotive aftermarket, recently announced it will extend its technical support hours. The new hours will be Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., U.S. Pacific time, and will officially go into effect Jan. 2, 2006.
If it Needs a Custom Exhaust, Classic Tube has the Parts You Need
Air in, air out! That’s the secret for making horsepower from your engine. It makes no difference if it’s a motorcycle, drag boat, SUV or street machine. Air plus fuel equals power. Classic Tube has the exhaust tubing you need to build your own exhaust system for almost any application on the planet.
Tech Tip: Understanding Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Are a good number of the vehicles on the road today equipped with underinflated tires? Look down at the tires on the car in front of you in traffic, and the answer may be obvious. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted an inspection of 6,240 vehicles within a 14-day period in August of 2001. They did this at service stations with the cooperation from motorists who stopped to refuel.
Tech Tip: Regular Fluid Flushes are Good for Transmissions
Out with the old and in with the new. Transmission fluid flushing is a service that replaces old worn-out automatic transmission fluid (ATF) with fresh new fluid to prolong the life of the transmission. Considering the fact that it costs $1,500 to $2,200 or more to replace a transmission or transaxle these days, the cost of a fluid flush is peanuts by comparison.
More Air in the Tires Means Less Money at the Pump
Many motorists know that the inflation pressure in your tires affects the vehicle’s performance, but what might not be such common knowledge is that tire inflation could also affect your wallet. With gas prices reaching the highest point in recent history Bridgestone/Firestone wants to share some simple tips to maximize the mileage you are receiving on each gallon of gas.
Inspection by the Numbers
As the saying goes: “The devil is in the details”. Another saying is: “The truth is in the numbers.” When performing a brake inspection, both are true. Replacing the calipers and rotors with every brake job may not be the cure all for ending all for fundamental brake repair problems. An inspection of every component,
Servicing Import ABS Systems
Import anti-lock brake systems (ABS) are pretty much the same as domestic ABS systems. In fact, the same OEM suppliers who make the ABS system components for import vehicle manufacturers also make them for domestic vehicle manufacturers. The differences that do exist are typically limited to calibration, diagnostic codes and procedures, and wiring. The ABS
Handling the Load
It takes a lot of amps to power the lights, electric defrosters, wipers, power windows, power seats, power liftgates, the ignition system, fuel injectors, fuel pump, cooling fan, A/C compressor, heater fan, heated seats, audio system and navigation systems on today’s late-model vehicles. Since alternators can generate only so many amps, their output may depend