This week, ASA launches its online Marketplace, Michelin and TIA scholarship deadlines are approaching, SearchAutoParts.com is looking for technician stories and collision repair management is taking on a new form.
A reduction in new car sales has spurred new opportunities for repair shops to stay compeitive with dealerships for service, says Bobby Likis, shop owner in Pensacola Fla., and host of the syndicated radio program "Bobby Likis Car Clinic."
This week, economic factors are forcing the industry to redefine the sweet spot, 3M releases a new booth protection system, Pennzoil debuts a new motor oil and Autolite sponsors an in-depth technician training program.
Richard Childress, owner of the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, told reporters, including Motor Age's Tschanen Brandyberry, that his three NASCAR Sprint Cup teams would run on Pennzoil Ultra in the 2010 season. Childress also talks about the importance of fuel economy in today's NASCAR races
Pennzoil's new oil, Pennzoil Ultra, reportedly cleans out up to 35 percent more engine oil than its Pennzoil Platinum, and exceeds manufacturers standards for cleanliness and protection, according to Robert Sutherland, Pennzoil technology manager. Motor Age was in attendance when the oil was unveiled, in addition to plans to partner with Ferrari for factory fill on today's new models. Check out a full story on Pennzoil Ultra, which hit shelves March 1.
Bobby Likis, shop owner in Pensacola, Fla., and host of the syndicated radio program "Bobby Likis Car Clinic," discusses the sweet spot and the impact gas prices have had.
This week, two major insurance giants are cutting use of aftermarket parts in their estimates, industry insiders discuss the growth of the sweet spot, a Nebraska shop owner comes away a big winner and how texting can provide more information.
Bobby Likis, shop owner in Pensacola, Fla., and known by many as the host of the syndicated radio program "Bobby Likis Car Clinic," discusses how the sweet spot definition is changing for the betterment of the aftermarket.
Steve Cartwright, curriculum manager for chassis at Federal-Mogul, takes classes at the Federal-Mogul Technical Education Center in St. Louis through more than hands-on work in the bays. He also teaches the theory behind automotive repair, specifically on undercar and chassis work.
Cartwright talks to his classes about the importance of using a torque wrench instead of an impact wrench, as illustrated in this video with Motor Age’s Tschanen Brandyberry. Brandyberry talked with Cartwright during a recent class for six winners of the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Stars competition.
Cartwright says they are seeing a lot of changes from using ductal iron to aluminum on materials used for knuckles on today’s vehicles. Because technicians are not trying to attach steel components to the aluminum pieces, over-torqueing is a concern.
Cartwright explains how using too much torque with an impact wrench can split material in the knuckles, and also dives into torque angle method.
Every November and February, the little town of Zephyrhills FL hosts a Winter AutoFest. Thousands of people show up from around the SouthEast to participate. The cornerstone is the collector car auction and you never know what may roll up on the auction block. This year, the star of the auction was a 1969 Shelby Mustang...one of only 400 or so...and its owner was looking for a minimum bid of $145,000! Another notable was a mid-80s Excalibur once belonging to Bob Eucher, better known as "Mr. Baseball". There were, literally, hundreds of cars available for bidding.
In addtion to the auction, everything you could possibly need to restore your own collectible was offered for sale. And those who would rather haggle with a potential buyer had their cars offered for direct sale at the show.
Last, but not least, were the daily vintage car dirt track races held on the property. What a blast to see these old cars running hard again!
ORLANDO – Don Healy, Snap-on technical training specialist, demonstrates the Quadriga ATC 1000, an automatic tire changer, on the floor of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention in Orlando. The Quadriga automatically measures tire diameter, uses imaging technology to precisely profile the wheel, automatically positions the tire for hydraulically-driven dual bead braking and uses precise motor controls to remove the tire from the wheel. John Bean has designated the changer to “Do No Harm” to the tires or wheels.
“You don’t want to take a chance of damaging them,” Healy says of high-priced wheel and tire packages today. “As the tire and wheel industry has evolved, so has the equipment.”
The fully-automatic systems operates with two levers, or technicians can control more of the operation with multiple other levers.
Other features include intelligent wheel lift, a center-post hydraulic clamp, SmartVision™ Wheel and Tire Profiling and no-contact upper and lower bead breaker discs.
Match-Mounting also uses laser imaging technology to determine the optimal match for each tire and wheel assembly, bringing up the information on the system’s computer screen.
Check out more news from the 2010 NADA Convention:
Zurich tells NADA Convention attendees how to handle recalls
CP Handheld, AutoNation announce agreement at NADA Convention
Dealer profits made in service centers though new car sales could near 12 million
Rotary Lift debuts state-of-the-art lift at NADA Convention
Shure recycling
Infomedia pushes new products into collision market
ST. LOUIS – This tailgate party had a little something extra in it for one Omaha, Neb., shop owner. Dan Lee, owner of Guaranteed Brakes, won a new Ford F150 Crew Cab in O’Reilly Auto Parts All Stars competition.
Lee, who has owned the three-bay shop with three technicians for 25 years, says he never has won anything like this truck before.
Mike Proud, director of marketing, North America, for Federal-Mogul, was on hand to help emcee the O’Reilly event. Winners took turns pulling keys from a box to try their luck at opening the Ford’s door and starting it. Lee was the last winner to pull a key and have a try at it.
The contest, which ran from Nov. 1 through Dec. 18, 2009, offered O’Reilly and Parts City customers the chance to win the truck and other prizes by purchasing select Fel-Pro, MOOG, Wagner, National and Precision parts. Six winners attended two and a half days of undercar training at the Federal-Mogul Technical Education Center in St. Louis before the big giveaway and tailgate party.
The remaining five runners-up each received a flat-, big-screen TV.
Runners up were:
Shane Robinson, Moore & Robinson Inc., Little Rock, Ark.; Ken Kirklen, Chattangooga Alignment, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Mike Baldwin, Lake Charles Alignment, Lake Charles, La.; Randy Conway, Conway’s Car Care, Rockwood, Mich.; and Ron Gibbs, Gibbs Automotive, Fresno, Calif.
Charlie Gorman, NASTF Chairman, spoke on the importance of the Secure Data Release Model (SDRM) during the NASTF Fall Meeting in Las Vegas. SDRM is considered a secure method used to support immobilizer reset and key code dissemination through traditional aftermarket support channels.
Charlie Gorman, NASTF Chairman, spoke on the importance of the Secure Data Release Model (SDRM) during the NASTF Fall Meeting in Las Vegas. SDRM is considered a secure method used to support immobilizer reset and key code dissemination through traditional aftermarket support channels.
Charlie Gorman, NASTF Chairman, spoke on the importance of the Secure Data Release Model (SDRM) during the NASTF Fall Meeting in Las Vegas. SDRM is considered a secure method used to support immobilizer reset and key code dissemination through traditional aftermarket support channels.
This week, more collision repairers are relying on the DEG, dealers are looking to service for profits, CARDONE is celebrating its 40th anniversary and Aftermarket Business releases its annual Program Distirubtion Report.
Rene Young of the National Automotive Trades Association (NATA) in Canada gave a presentation on the newly-signed Canadian Automotive Service Information Standard (CASIS). Young spoke to an audience of service profesionals at NASTF's fall meeting in Las Vegas.
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