Technicians’ Top 5 Favorite Tools & Equipment
Edith Hernandez, president L&A Muffler and Auto Repair Inc. Gardena, CA As promised, please find below five of our favorite tools and equipment commonly used at L&A Muffler and Auto Repair Inc. Snap-on Scan Tool OBD II, ScanCheck — This is a state-of-the-art OBD II scan tool that diagnoses all domestic, Asian and European vehicles
Management: Can Your Retirement Meet the Reserve Price?
For the past five years, I have been a shopper of eBay Motors. I not only shop for parts for my project cars, but for tools. It is almost an addiction for me to find the best deal or rarest tool. In the automotive tool section, I have been noticing a disturbing type of listing. The listing is usually for a complete toolbox filled with top of the line tools or a major piece of shop equipment like an alignment system or lift.
Tech Tip: Don’t Turn Away Clutch Replacements
Clutch replacement does not have the prestige of driveability diagnostics, but at times, it pays better. Some shops turn away clutch replacements in fear of comebacks and lost productivity. But, clutch replacement offers the shop opportunities to sell additional services that might slip past the bottom line.
Tenneco Announces Major Coverage Expansion for Monroe Ride Control Line
Tenneco Inc. has announced an expansion of its Monroe ride control product line for 2008, introducing more than 150 new part numbers. Tenneco has added more than 700 ride control SKUs over the past five years, demonstrating the company’s commitment to industry-leading coverage of the North American passenger car population.
Audi: General Maintenance… Vital Checks on Key Vehicle Systems
article, I’ll focus on common repairs we see on at least a weekly basis. The series of cars covered in this article will be the A4 and A6 line from 1998 to 2004. These cars are all very similar in design and equipment, and most repairs are consistent between models. Be aware that many Audi
Time and a Half
One of the hot-button issues in the independent automotive service industry is how to charge for diagnostic time. Currently, the debate is framed by two basic schools of thought. The practitioners of the first school are the shop managers who regard “free diagnostic code reads” as a marketing expense needed to lure potential customers into
There’s No Escaping Hybrid Service
high as 40 mph (64 kph). Plus, when conditions are right, the engine may shut off at stops and not restart until after 25 mph. As a result, the advertised fuel economy of a full hybrid vehicle is typically much higher for the city driving conditions than the highway driving conditions. In theory, assuming the
Management: Charging for Diagnostic Time
The dilemma that the industry faces today is that the precedents set during the last 75 years draw little distinction between the amount of time required to diagnose a blown muffler and diagnosing a false misfire code in an OBD II engine management system.
Tech Tip: Replacing Wheel Bearing Hubs Equipped with Wheel Speed Sensors
When engineers came up with the idea of putting the wheel speed sensor (WSS) and tone ring inside a sealed wheel bearing hub assembly, it seemed like a great idea. The sealed environment would help protect the sensor and make it less vulnerable to damage or contamination from the outside world.
Management: The Internet as a Shop Tool
During the the last few years, automotive aftermarket use of the Internet has continued to grow, making it a valuable business tool in automotive repair shops. Ask most techs and they’ll tell you the Internet in the past decade has been a useful tool for seeking specific repair information or chatting through e-mail with fellow technicians on a hard-to-diagnose repair.