Muscling in on Restoration Work: Part 2
There’s a hot trend in the automotive aftermarket to return car owners to the past. Literally. Today, aging baby boomers are spending big money on “recapturing the rapture” of the cars of their youth. Just turn on your television any evening and you’re sure to find some type of automotive program on the cable and
News
What do you get when you cross Las Vegas and Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week? A working vacation worth taking this fall. You’ll find so much to see and do, you may not even go near a slot machine. In addition to coinciding with CARS, AAIW – which includes the AAPEX and SEMA shows – will
Chrysler Neon 2.0L
When Chrysler introduced their new Neon models back in 1995 under the Dodge and Plymouth nameplates, they said they were launching a new generation of “fun-to-drive” entry-level cars that would appeal to a wide range of people. Everything was new about the Neon: a brand new body, a brand new chassis and two new engines,
Performance Market Hits on All Cylinders
The sport compact modification trend is in high gear, and continues to accelerate by all growth indicators. The latest report from SEMA indicates that sales of accessories, handling and suspension parts, and performance and racing products for compact performance vehicles topped $3 billion in 2003 – a 35% increase over the prior year. Other SEMA
Nissan Brake/ABS Service Essentials
If you’re an import specialist technician reading this magazine, you’re very familiar with brake repair and service. Although the nuts and bolts have changed little over the years, it’s never a bad idea to look at even the most routine job, since ABS has certainly redefined the problems we encounter as well as the changed
Preventing Brake Dusting Improves Brake Performance and Wheel Aesthetics
Nothing looks worse than a relatively clean $50,000 car with black, grimy wheels. European luxury sedans are notorious for having dirty front wheels because of the black dust that’s generated by their disc brake pads. The dust sticks to the alloy wheels giving them an unsightly appearance. Europeans use different friction materials than their domestic
Diagnosing and Fixing Compressor Failures
The compressor is the heart of the refrigeration circuit. It pumps and pressurizes the refrigerant to move it through the A/C system. Compressors work hard and run hot, up to several hundred degrees and several hundred pounds per square inch of internal pressure, yet they rely on only a few ounces of lubricant to keep
Muscling in on Restoration & Performance Work: Part 1
As automotive technology continues to become more complex with each new model year, you may be longing for the “good ol’ days” when engines had carburetors and distributors but no sensors, fuel injectors or computers. Most driveability problems were fairly simple to diagnose and only required a trained ear and a few basic tools. Alas,
Your Business is a ‘People’ Business
As providers of high-quality, efficient repairs on import nameplates, you are also discerning buyers of premium parts, tools and equipment, purveyors of optimal customer service and smart businesspeople, so the way you run your business and your impressions of the marketplace truly make an impact. A recent readership study of ImportCar readers asked, “Do you
Volkswagen Brake, Suspension and Exhaust Repairs
The original Volkswagen Beetle changed a number of things for the maintenance technician. The muffler was part of the engine, the suspension consisted of front and rear torsion bars, and the brakes, though actually large for a car of the Bug’s weight, needed adjustment on a regular basis to make them safe. Things have changed