Directions: Terms of Endearment
I’m sure many of you understand that when you are servicing some customers’ vehicles, it’s more than just their mode of transportation. It’s their “baby,” “darling” or ”buddy,” and to those owners, their vehicle is considered by them to be “alive.” So you probably already know that these customers are going to expect that you
Pumping Oil
For me, sourcing automotive chemicals and motor oils goes all the way back to 1957 when I worked at my corner service station. Since we were a small town without a local parts jobber, we bought our oil additives and chemicals from an out-of-town distributor. Our gasoline and motor oil came from our local-branded petroleum
Power Options: Restoring a Vehicle to Like-New Performance
Replacing a worn or broken engine on a customer’s vehicle can be a very sensitive subject for many independent shop owners because it’s a time-intensive and possibly high-liability service. After a replacement is done, a shop’s greatest fear is that a minor ticking noise or oil leak may ruin the profitability of the engine replacement.
Affinia Under Vehicle Group Announces New Raybestos Brand Brakes Product Line Up
Affinia Under Vehicle Group recently introduced its new Raybestos brand brake product line up, a consolidated product line that provides customers with increased application coverage, a competitive pricing structure and a simplified selection process for the company’s friction, rotors and hydraulic products.
Bosch Launches Expanded Aftermarket Fuel Injector Coverage, Includes Modern Injectors for Older Vehicles
The Robert Bosch Corporation has launched a broad new line of advanced gasoline fuel injectors for current and older domestic and import vehicles. The modern, second generation injectors, in widespread OE use since 1992, cover millions of current vehicles operating in the United States, and can be installed in millions of older vehicles originally equipped with older-technology fuel injectors.
Braking with Tradition: Siemens VDO Plans Series Production of By-Wire Brake this Decade
Siemens VDO has developed a vehicle braking concept consisting of about 30 percent hardware and 70 percent electronics – a 180 degree change from traditional hydraulic braking systems.
Rotary Offers Tips for Selecting the Right Lifts
A vehicle lift is the centerpiece of most service and repair bays. There is a general perception that all lifts are pretty much the same, differentiated only by price. This can be a dangerous mindset.
Editor’s Notebook: Well-Defining Your Value Statement Helps You Win The “Customers For Life” Battle
Last month was a busy one for automotive press conferences, and while the companies whose events I attended manufacture vastly different product lines, the theme of their presentations was very similar — providing value and the highest-quality products to customers. They accomplish this by relying on their OE heritage, technological innovation, vast research and development
TechTalk: Grabbing Dodge Diesel Service ‘by the Horns’
With the massive number of diesel trucks that have hit the roads since around 1998, I believe there is an enormous amount of potential work for independent shops. One fact I thought was amazing is DaimlerChrysler claims that 70% of the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 truck market since 2003 is equipped with the 5.9L
2006 Underhood Service Repair Market Industry Profile
Welcome to the 2006 Underhood Service Repair Market Industry Profile, our in-depth report of the independent automotive repair market. This profile highlights many of the elements of doing business in today’s repair shops. The information presented is a good indicator to make short-term predictions about these shops. It’s also a fair yardstick to see how