Opinion Archives - Page 9 of 68 - UnderhoodService
Dumb Thoughts About Smart Cars

Only 2 percent of accidents are due to vehicle component failure of degradation.

Doing What We Do

Underhood Service, along with the Brake & Front End and ImportCar brands, is again partnering with WIX Performance to sponsor the 2019 “Driving Performance” Award, to recognize game changers in automotive service.

Technology Corner: The Road To Great Technicians Starts With STEM

You are in 5th, 6th or 7th grade. You do not enjoy school because you find it hard to grasp what is being taught by listening to a teacher stand in front of the class, draw on a board and tell you to read a chapter. You are so happy when art or PE comes up because you can excel in one or both of those. At home, you can do all the technical things that Mom and Dad can’t by figuring them out. Odds are you are a tactile learner.

The Parts Problem: Aftermarket, Dealer Or Recycled

I often receive calls from shops looking for specific parts, or they call to complain about parts. Most of the vehicles in question are mainstream domestic and import nameplates that range from five to 15 years old. The parts may include HVAC actuators, ride height sensors and various modules, said Andrew Markel, director of content.

Gathering Clouds: We Can Either Hide From Or Prepare For The Coming Storm

Vehicle technology is running away with capabilities that make a car into an enabler or a weapon. Companies are designing tech so fast to be FIRST that they don’t ask themselves real world questions.

Technology Corner: Singing In The Wires

The large majority of techs in service bays right now did not have a ground-up automotive education, and many of those who did certainly did not get a ground-up electrical education. This is no indictment of anyone, just cold, hard facts.

Knock, Knock, Who’s There? A Qualified Tech!

I recently stopped at a local high school in the Akron, OH, area and spent time with Chad, an instructor who is preparing seniors for a potential job in automotive service and repair. He shared with me the following event that happened that morning.

Marketing To Everybody: Concentrate On The Core, Not Stereotypes

No one likes to be stereotyped. Too often marketing “professionals” make assumptions about age or gender groups because it is easier than dealing with individuals. Stereotypes can cloud your judgment when it comes to your shop and how you market to new customers to hopefully expand your business.

The Lost Art Of The Phone Call

I hate to say it, but the phone call is a dying form of communication. Even with more phone numbers issued, the act of speaking into a phone is a lost art with some people. For them, it is easier to send a text message, instant message or post something on social media.

VIDEO: More Plastic Underhood Components On Modern Vehicles?

Andrew Markel discusses his time at NAIAS 2019 and changes he has seen to underhood components, including intake manifolds and oil pans. Sponsored by MAHLE.

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The Auto Loan Bubble: Could The Bursting Benefit Your Shop?

In November, it was reported that in the U.S. there is approximately $1.23 trillion in automotive financing debt (traditional loans and leasing) for both new and used vehicles, according to several financial analysts and federal institutions. What is really shocking is that for the past six years, outstanding vehicle debt has risen more than 57 percent. Some people are calling it an “auto loan bubble” that is just starting to burst.

The American Image Problem

I am going to say it, American technicians have a bad image. But, the image is not the reality. Most technicians are electricians, fabricators, engineers, IT troubleshooters and entrepreneurs all rolled into one. But, we are still fighting the image problem with consumers who think anyone can fix a car, or they are too smart to get their hands dirty.