Viewpoint: Dealership Stickers Steering Drivers to Dealers
I have been seeing a lot more of these stickers on new cars. It just drives home the point that the new car dealer is becoming your competition. This “propaganda” affixed under the hoods of every new car sold reinforces the false belief among some consumers that independent shops can’t service late-model vehicles because they are too complicated.
Alignment & Suspension Specs: 2005-2010 Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5
If you were to look at the underside of a 2005-2010 Chevy Cobalt or Pontiac G5, the recipe doesn’t look that much different that a 1995-2004 Chevrolet Cavalier or Pontiac Sunfire. The basic ingredients of a strut front suspension and loaded beam axle rear suspension are still there. But, GM introduced several new ingredients that can change how this vehicle is aligned.
Tech Feature: Loaded Brake Calipers
Loaded calipers provide a variety of benefits when doing brake jobs on customers’ vehicles. Most brake suppliers have a loaded caliper program today so availability is seldom an issue. If price becomes a hurdle, that’s when it’s time to inform your customers of the features and benefits of loaded calipers.
80 YEARS YOUNG: 960 issues without missing a beat!
How does a magazine stay in business for 80 years? People may say flashy covers, good leadership or deep pockets to survive the rough times. It does take all of these things, but above all it takes successful readers that are valued or potential customers of our advertisers.
Alignment & Suspension Specs: 2003-2008 Honda Pilot
Aligning the 2003-2008 Honda Pilot is not difficult. The first-generation Pilot shares the same suspension design as the Odyssey and rear suspension design with the Accord. The Pilot is the largest vehicle Honda manufacturers. There are no TSBs issued for alignment or tire wear problems. Most TSBs for these vehicles focus on the steering column noise, but most of them are for a limited number of vehicles. The Pilot is based on Honda’s Global Light Truck Platform. It features a highly robust and rigid unit body design with isolated front and rear subframes.
Indianapolis 500: A look back when sponsorships favored shops.
Back in the day, when a decal of a company was displayed on a car at the Indianapolis 500, it was only for three reasons: the company provided the team with a service; the company was paying contingency money if the car used its parts and placed well; or a wealthy sponsor saw it as a way to entertain customers at the greatest spectacle in racing.
Alignment and Suspension Specs: 2005-2011 Chevrolet Equinox
The alignment process of the Equinox is mechanically straightforward. The front suspension is a MacPherson strut design with hydraulic bushings in the lower control arms. The rear suspension is a four-link layout.
Brake Tech Feature: Buick Lucerne Service
The 2006-current Buick Lucerne is the largest sedan that General Motors offers. It is built on the same line as the Cadillac DTS at the Hamtramck, MI, GM plant. The two vehicles share many brake components and the same Regular Production Option (RPO) codes for the brake system.
TPMS Update: FORD Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Ford embraced Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) as early as the 2002 model year on the Explorer and Windstar. These systems can be can be direct or indirect. All 2007 models have TPMS standard. From 2006-2009, Ford used banded sensors that are mounted in the center of the rim. In 2010, Ford reverted to the valve stem mounted sensors. All the systems are straightforward and use common procedures for most models.
Tech Tip: What Really Wears Out Inside Shocks and Struts
When shocks and struts wear out there are almost no visual clues. When a unit is leaking, it is a sign of failure and not wear. Next to performing an autopsy or throwing the unit on a dynamometer, there is no conclusive way to determine if the internal components are worn to a point where it could compromise vehicle stability. Even the “knee on the bumper” test can give false results due to how some units handle low frequency movements.
Alignment & Suspension Specs: 2001-2009 Toyota Prius
The 2000-2009 Toyota Prius requires alignment and suspension service just like any other car on the road. With more than 800,000 Prii (official term for more than one Prius) on of them is bound to end up in your alignment bay.
Recovery & Ruin: Could the Recovery Mean Tough Times for Shops?
With many economic indicators like unemployment, same store sales and the stock market pointing to a final recovery, it is time to look at what it really means for your shop. While these are some of the toughest times to operate a shop, it is also a period of great opportunity and prosperity for shops willing to make investments in training, tools and people.