Management: Florida Shop Owner Speaks Out When it Comes to Business
Some people make friends and make it look easy. Pam Oakes, owner of Pam’s Motor City Automotive in Fort Myers, FL, is one of those people. And more and more, she is making friends in high "political" places. Her natural people skills go directly to her bottom line, which will be the same in 2008 as it was in 2007. By any measure, being able to remain steady during such difficult economic times is a feat in itself ….
Tech Tip: Lower Mass Brake Rotor Causing Noise, Fade and Failure Problems
If a customer complains of noisy brakes, increased stopping distances and pedal pulsation after brake rotors were replaced or machined, the rotors may be the source of the problem. It’s easy to blame the pads or brake hardware, but technicians need to look at the rotor. Affinia Global Brake & Chassis discovered during a recent benchmarking study of the competition that some rotor companies have reduced their ….
Directions: Highlights to GM’s Historic Anniversary
General Motors, which celebrates its 100-year anniversary this month, has provided the country and the automotive industry a rich and diverse history. Many achievements and some growing pains have occurred during this industry giant’s life. Here are just a few of these many industry-changing accomplishments. The staff at Underhood Service wishes General Motors another 100
Federated Recognizes Outstanding Supplier Support
Federated Auto Parts presented Outstanding Supplier Support Awards to companies who achieved exceptional success in each of six categories in 2007. The awards were presented on April 24 at Federated’s annual meeting held in Dallas ….
Carley’s Corner: A Silver Lining in Every Cloud
The economic news lately has not been good. There has been a significant downturn in the economy this year, and the prospects for a turnaround anytime soon don’t seem very promising. To make matters worse, gasoline is over $3 a gallon, utility rates are up, food prices are up, virtually all costs of living are
Tech Tip: Ignition System Service in a Changing Market
Distributors started disappearing from engines back in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the automakers began to phase in distributorless ignition systems (DIS) followed by coil-on-plug (COP) ignition systems. Everybody said distributors and eventually spark plug wire sets were going away. Well, here it is more than 20 years later and auto parts stores still carry a hefty inventory of distributors, caps, rotors and spark plug wire sets. But in addition to these parts, store shelves are also stocked with DIS coil packs and COP coils.
News Update
Ingenuity Welcome At Johnson Controls
Training Program Updates
State-of-the-art automotive technology doesn’t do anybody much good if technicians can’t get the training they need to fix and maintain today’s systems. Unfortunately, in recent years there has been an industry-wide trend to axe training programs. Parts suppliers are under tremendous price pressure these days, and most are looking for ways to cut costs where
Solutions to Repair a Wiring Repair Nightmare
KNOWN PROBLEM AND SOLUTION A 2002 Chevy Impala has the ABS malfunction light on and wheel speed sensor code, C0040 – Right Front Wheel Speed Circuit Malfunction, is in the scan tool. There is no apparent damage to the harness or connectors. TSB #03-05-25-008 states that the connector for the sensor and its harness wiring
News Update: Monroe & Walker ‘Drive’ Technical Training
The Tenneco DRIVE program, developed in 2005 by the Monroe and Walker brands, will target several new automotive vocational and high school programs this fall. Now in its third year, DRIVE continues to help enhance the preparation and education of the next generation of undercar technicians. “This program is a way to invest in the