Zurich Provides Pointers for Establishing Quality Control Program in Your Shop
Nuisance claims, like when a wheel falls off a customer’s car and causes minor damage after your technician rotated the tires, can adversely affect profitability. Catastrophic claims, like when a wheel comes off while your customer is on the highway and causes a multi-fatality accident, can cost millions of dollars and put you out of business.
Tech Tip: Underneath is Often Overlooked – Check the Vehicle’s Chassis
Preventive maintenance typically implies looking under the vehicle’s hood; often, though, it’s the chassis underneath the vehicle that’s overlooked. According to the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), underperformed vehicle maintenance in the American automotive aftermarket industry is more than $50 billion annually.
Goodyear Wins Four Times at NHRA Race in Las Vegas
Teams racing on Goodyear tires cashed in four times at the end of the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The four wins brought Goodyear’s industry-leading total to 23 in the first five POWERade Drag Racing Series events of the 2007 season.
Tech Tip: Convertible Mustang Vibration – Got MIG?
Customers may come to you after many frustrating attempts by other shops to get an irritating vibration out of their 1996-98 Ford Mustang convertibles equipped with a 3.8-Liter engine. The vibration or shake seems to occur while driving at a steady speed of approximately 62 mph on smooth roads. This problem may be due to the interaction between the body and the suspension.
Tech Tip: Expedition/Navigator Unintended Brake Assist
Some 2003-2006 Ford Expedition or Lincoln Navigator vehicles may exhibit excessive pedal travel and/or low brake pedal effort due to the mechanical or electronic brake assist being activated.
Tech Tip: Diagnosing a Worn Wheel Hub Bearing
Signs of a worn wheel hub bearing vary in severity. Some may be difficult to detect, leading to damage before corrective action can be taken. The time frame in which damage occurs is linked to driving conditions and/or the mechanical practices that were followed at installation. Noise is a classic sign of a bad wheel bearing or wheel hub bearing.
Escalade Tech Tip: Fixing Front End Squeaks
Your shop just installed a new set of tires on a 2002 Cadillac Escalade. The very next day, the customer returns complaining about a squeak and a rattle coming from the front end that wasn’t there before you replaced the tires. What happened?
OTC Releases TPMS Advisory
The gateway to safe and reliable tires fundamentally begins with TPMS education. Many studies show that the majority of cars on U.S. roads are operating on tires inflated to only 80 percent of capacity. OTC urges technicians to advise their customers to check their tire pressure monthly, if not more frequently.
Yokohama Tire Corporation to Adjust Prices on May 1
Persistent increases in the costs of raw material and transportation have caused Yokohama Tire Corporation to adjust prices to coincide with market changes, effective May 1.
Hyundai: From Ball Joints to Brakes…
Uncovering Needed Repairs With Undercar Inspections The brake and suspension systems on Hyundai’s popular line of cars and SUVs are both undercar systems where problems can be detected during routine maintenance. From loose ball joints to worn-out brakes, it’s all there to be checked while the vehicle is on the rack for service and, oftentimes,