Underhood Service: News

Underhood Service: News


New Brochure Is A Perfect Teaching Tool
The service advisor must educate customers about preventive maintenance and repair, and these professionals need tools to familiarize motorists with what’s under the hood and around the car.

To make the service advisor’s job easier, the Car Care Council has developed a new brochure. Simply titled, Be Car Care Aware, this full-color piece features an illustration of a transparent vehicle, which provides views of the various systems and components. From belts to batteries, fluids to filters, the numbered arrows mark 22 items with corresponding maintenance suggestions. A Service Interval Schedule is included, as well as a list of helpful maintenance tips that reduce the cost of vehicle ownership.

For a sample copy, e-mail your name, shop name and address to Susan Jones at [email protected] or call 731-644-9926.


Todd Bitner Wins Federated 300 Pace Truck
Staunton, VA – Todd Bitner of Bitner’s Gulf in Lockhaven, PA, won Federated’s 2004 Toyota Tacoma pace truck at the NASCAR Busch Series Federated Auto Parts 300, held June 12, at the Nashville Superspeedway. Bitner’s Gulf has been a Federated Car Care program participant since 1997.

Federated expanded its partnership with the Nashville Superspeedway in 2004 by becoming the title sponsor of the NASCAR Busch Series race. Federated was also the presenting sponsor of the June 11 NASCAR Southeast Series race at Nashville.


NASTF Updates OE Service Information Matrix
Arlington, VA – The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) announces the update of the NASTF OE Service Information Matrix. This latest update went online July 13 and incorporates revisions since the April 2004 update. All automakers have launched service information websites and, in many cases, are continuing to add content to them. All of the OEM sites can be accessed from www.nastf.org (click on OEM Service Websites).

With the assistance of the International Automotive Technicians Network (iATN), NASTF established the OE Service Information Matrix in 2001. The matrix provides OE company contacts for obtaining service information, training materials and tools. This matrix is updated quarterly and can be accessed at www.nastf.org (click on Service Matrix link). The next quarterly update will be in October 2004.

The matrix includes a complaint form if a technician identifies an error in the matrix or has a problem accessing the information being sought. The complaint form can be completed online at www.iatn.net/nastf/#complaint or faxed to NASTF. Complaints are forwarded to the specific OEM for review and resolution.

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Several States Declare April As ‘Car Care Month’

Several governors across the country have declared April as Car Care Month in their respective states, urging their residents to be car care aware and perform the service necessary to ensure their vehicles are operating in a safe, efficient and clean manner.

Several governors across the country have declared April as Car Care Month in their respective states, urging their residents to be car care aware and perform the service necessary to ensure their vehicles are operating in a safe, efficient and clean manner.
The following governors have issued official state proclamations that April is Car Care Month: Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama, Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois, Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan, Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Gov. John A. Kitzhaber, M.D. of Oregon, Gov. Nikki R. Haley of South Carolina, Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee, Gov. Peter Shumlin of Vermont and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin of West Virginia.
“We want to thank these governors for officially proclaiming April as Car Care Month,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Car Care Month provides a unique opportunity for the auto care industry and the government to educate car owners on the importance of proper vehicle care. Motor vehicle safety continues to be a major focus for state legislatures and regulatory agencies across the country, so we commend each of the governors for making these important proclamations.”
Spring is the perfect time for motorists to make sure their vehicles are running reliably after a rough winter and before the summer driving season begins. Many independent repair shops and community organizations throughout the country will conduct car care events during April. These events have revealed that three out of four vehicles inspected are in need of some type of maintenance or repair.
The non-profit Car Care Council offers many free tools on its website to help consumers drive smart, save money and be more environmentally friendly, including the popular 60-page Car Care Guide and a custom service schedule and email reminder service.
“By following a service schedule and performing preventative vehicle maintenance, motorists can ensure that their vehicles are safe and dependable. Plus, auto care can help save money in many ways, including reducing fuel consumption and extending vehicle life,” continued White. “We encourage all car owners across the country to get their vehicles inspected this April.”

Intake Manifold Gaskets: A Service Rundown

Back in the days when most

Monroe “Quick Rewards” Program Offers Incentives For Sales Of Monroe Quick-Strut Assemblies

Tenneco’s Monroe brand will offer an incentive to counterpeople for the sale of popular, ready-to-install Monroe Quick-Strut premium replacement assemblies. The Monroe “Quick Rewards” scorecard promotion – available for sales between April 1 and May 31, 2014 – will reward participants with a $10 prepaid card for each pair of qualifying Monroe Quick-Strut units sold.

Three AGM, Gel Cell Battery Myths

Chances are if the battery is not under the hood, it is an absorbent glass mat (AGM) or gel cell battery. These batteries pack a lot of power for their size and weight, which allows manufacturers to shave off a few pounds from the vehicle. That’s a big ­reason why they are being found more and more on late-model vehicles. Here are three AGM/gel cell myths.

10 Toughest Cabin Air Filter Jobs

There are still many late model vehicles that are not easy to service, and they require a significant amount of disassembly to gain access to the filter. For your shop, this is billable labor. Here are the 10 toughest jobs according to the editors of Underhood Service.

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