Getting the Industry Energized for a New Year
An event in early October excited environmentalists and proponents of new vehicle technology (myself included), when Shell Hydrogen opened the country’s first combined hydrogen/gasoline station in North America. Located in northeast Washington, D.C., the hydrogen dispenser at the Shell retail gasoline station will service a fleet of six fuel cell vehicles from General Motors Corp.,
Flash! Reprogramming Vehicle Computers
Typically, when someone brings up the subject of “flashing” you get two reactions. The technologically informed service professionals think about added revenue and service, while rowdier folks think about doing something that could land them in front of a judge. I think we can all agree that the first group is far better off, and
Selling Oxygen Sensors
As modern OBD II technology marches on, it’s clear that the zirconia-based oxygen sensor now is being sold more as a basic repair part than as a preventive maintenance part, and it changes the way we diagnose and sell oxygen sensors. To illustrate the difference, let’s remember that an oxygen sensor replacement used to be
Aftermarket Update: Underhood Service
AMI Announces 2004 Babcox Memorial Scholarship Recipient Bedford, TX – The Automotive Management Institute (AMI), in conjunction with Babcox Publications, recently announced Gregory J. Satori, owner, Satori’s Auto Service, Manitowoc, WI, as the recipient of the Tom B. Babcox Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes a management-oriented member of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Mechanical Division.
The Lube, Oil and Filter Market
As with everything else under the automotive sun, technology is changing the lube, oil and filter market. To be more specific, modern technology is making it possible to use the vehicle’s on-board engine management system to mathematically determine the length of an oil change interval. At the most basic level, the PCM simply adds up
News: Underhood Service
CARQUEST Selects 2004 TECH-NET Professional/ASE Technician of the Year Raleigh, NC – Richard Robb of Elkhorn, WI, has been named the 2004 TECH-NET Professional/ASE Technician of the Year. Owner of Hi-Tech Automotive, Robb is an ASE-certified master automobile technician with L-1 certification. He was selected for the award after meeting the criteria set by CARQUEST
CO2 Systems Will Breathe New Life Into A/C Designs
SAE to work with the industry and the EPA to create efficient, environmentally sound automotive refrigerant systems, but how will it affect technicians and repair shop profits? The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recently announced a cooperative research program that will work with the industry and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and
Smooth Sailing: Steering, Suspension & Ride Control Repair Opportunities
Original equipment chassis parts on late-model cars and trucks are supposedly engineered to go 150,000 miles or more. But is that 150,000 miles of highway driving on nice smooth roads or 150,000 miles of bumps, potholes and rough roads? The OEMs say it’s some of both. Nobody can predict exactly how long a chassis part
Aftermarket Update: Underhood Serivce, July 2004
ASA Offers Right to Repair Course Beford, TX – In an effort to educate the automotive service and repair industry about the availability of service information, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) now offers a three-hour seminar, “You Have the Right to Repair.” The course will be offered at several ASA affiliate events this year and
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Driving Forces Behind a Driveability Technician
He used to be known as the tune-up guy, the shop troubleshooter or the ace mechanic. Today, he’s known as a driveability tech. Tomorrow, when body control electronics come on full line, he’ll probably be known as an electronics diagnostics technician. Whatever his name might be, most of us know that driveability techs are smart,