Opinion Archives - Page 11 of 69 - Brake & Front End
SAE J2534, Part II: How Much Money Are You Losing By Not Doing Vehicle Reflashing?

In Part I of this series, I talked about what J2534 was and a bit about how it works. I would like to use this followup article to lower the fear factor and tell you what to expect when setting up a computer to run a J2534-supported software program.

Viewpoint: Replacement Auto Part Standards And Regulations

With the recent tariffs going into effect, it has sparked the discussion about regulations for vehicle replacement parts to keep some imported auto parts off the market. Most people think that with a stroke of a pen dangerous and sub-standard parts could be banned and parts quality will be improved overnight. But, what standards should be applied? Who should do the testing? This is where things get tricky.

The Ins And Outs Of The SAE J2534 Vehicle Communication Interface

The ultimate goal of J2534 for 2018 model year and, in some cases, much earlier vehicles is for shops to be able to run OEM and aftermarket scan tool software and programming applications to include vehicle security over a common standardized Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI).

Stick To The Facts: Dealer Stickers Should Be Banned

Recently, I purchased a used car at a new car dealer. It was not an unpleasant experience. I got to haggle, kick tires and I had an honest salesman. I walked out of the dealer with the car I wanted, at the right price, in under three hours. Two days later, I noticed a sticker on the door jamb while I was looking for the tire inflation pressures. At first, I thought it was an official warning about how to tow the vehicle. As I looked closer, I got a little angry because this type of sticker is very deceiving.

There Is No Trough: Looking For The Sweet Spot In The Aftermarket

If you looked at U.S. car sales over the past 18 years, you would see a pattern. On either end of the chart, you would see years where 17 million vehicles were sold. In the middle is 2009 when sales dropped to 10 million vehicles. After that is a steady nine-year recovery. Some people call this dip “the trough,” and they think it is hurting aftermarket sales. I think it is an opportunity and a sign of the aftermarket’s future.

Blame Game: Will Automatic Braking Systems Be The Answer Or A Problem?

There has been a lot of talk about automatic emergency braking systems (AEB). Starting September 1, 2022, these systems will be mandatory for cars and trucks under 8,000 lbs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that AEB will prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries by 2025. This is great for the new car buyer, but what about the car owner who needs to maintain the vehicle five or 10 years from now?

Honesty And Education: Is Giving Hope Your Crutch Behind The Service Counter?

Everybody likes to have hope. It could be hope that a check engine light goes off on the next key cycle, or you will never lose someone you love. But in some cases, a little bit of hope can be more painful than a dose of honesty and experience.

The Art Of Setting Goals For Your Business: Continuous Improvement Helps Pinpoint Opportunities For Growth

For years, I’ve stressed the importance of setting appropriate benchmarks, holding your team accountable for reaching them, and measuring daily to track your progress so you can train and adjust to hit your goals by month’s end. The old way of running a shop, where you send your financials to an accountant and find out on the 15th of the following month whether you made or lost money, is long extinct. You can’t fix the month’s numbers if you don’t see them until it’s too late!

Four Creative Ways To Improve Employee Morale

Experts say there is a direct relationship between keeping employees happy and getting the best out of them, but improving morale in the shop is a deceptively simple goal. Sometimes, in order to raise morale in the shop, you have to get creative. Here are four areas where business owners can lift employee spirits and

Reprogramming And Service Information Common Ground

There has been a lot of discussions this month about some OEMs restructuring subscription fees for service information and reprogramming/reflashing. Most of the restructuring is focused on charging users per vehicle reflashed. This has stirred up a lot of technicians and shop owners.

Rental Car Evolution Presents Service Opportunities & Can Extend Your Shop’s Car Count

There are a growing number of privately owned rental fleets. These fleets are not big businesses, but rather small ones that are run by private individuals. You can find them with mobile apps and websites like Turo and Uber.

Trolling ASE Certifications Keyboard Warriors Unite!

When you go to any comment section or forum online where the topic is ASE certification, you see some very interesting opinions from technicians. While most are positive, you do get some trolls.