Editor’s Notebook: Re-invent Yourself To Flourish In Challenging Times
Many businesses are still recovering from the economic recession, and their owners are encouraged by sales that are up even modestly over year-ago figures. One shop’s sales figures might make you shake your head in disbelief. I’d like to introduce you to John Volz, co-owner of Volz Bros. Auto Service (www.volzbros.com) in Grass Valley, CA.
Tech Feature: Performing the Complete Brake Job
The problem with routines is that we tend to – you guessed it – fall into a routine. Because the braking system on many modern imports is integrated into other systems like vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control, modern braking systems must meet minimum levels of performance. For that reason alone, short-cutting a brake repair with substandard procedures and materials is a recipe for future comebacks.
National Car Care Month: A Great Business-Building Opportunity
April is National Car Care Month and there is no better time to improve your customer relationships while at the same time growing your business. Each year, $50 billion in vehicle maintenance and repairs go unperformed. That’s a lot of service, repair and parts sales sitting on the sidelines because so many consumers don’t know what needs to be done to their vehicle and why it’s important.
Directions: ASE Honors 2010’s Best and Brightest
The staff of Underhood Service congratulates the winners, as well as the award sponsors, for their understanding of the need to promote professionalism in our industry.
Tenneco Launching New Ride Control Line for Foreign-Nameplate Vehicles
Tenneco Inc. has introduced an extensive line of advanced-technology replacement shock absorbers and struts engineered specifically for foreign-nameplate vehicles. New Monroe OESpectrum shocks and struts, featuring the company’s latest global original equipment valving technologies, will be available through Monroe distributors and service providers in early 2011.
Opinion: A Mechanic by Any Other Name
In the debate of mechanic versus technician, I really don’t think that what we call ourselves makes all that much of a difference.
Make National Car Care Month Your Business Resolution
Looking for a way to bolster your business in the new year? By making a resolution to conduct a community car care event during National Car Care Month, your business will reap the benefits, according to the Car Care Council.
Z Sport, Part 3: Subaru WRX Engine Modifications And Dyno Testing
In this third article of a series, Larry Bailly continues to detail the performance mods done on a 2005 Subaru WRX project car, the daily driver of Charles Damewood, who manages the service department and coordinates all aspects of Z Sport’s operations. Read on to learn how Z Sport “punches up” performance!
Uniformity in Uniforms
In Pittsburgh, a man awaits a trial for manslaughter. He is, or was at the time, a technician for a repair shop. He had been assigned inspect the brakes on a Dodge Caravan. The driver of the van had brought the vehicle to the shop for a brake inspection because the brakes “did not feel right.”
Was the Automakers Bailout Worth the Cost?
According to CAR, an Ann Arbor, MI-based nonprofit research organization, government assistance to General Motors and Chrysler enabled orderly bankruptcy proceedings and led to the saving of more than 1.14 million automotive related jobs in 2009.