Aftermarket Update
Free PR and Check-Up Forms for National Car Care Month Events Freebies abound for service providers offering in-house vehicle check ups during National Car Care Month in April. First, the official check-up forms are free from the Car Care Council. Simply estimate the number needed and call 1-240-333-1088 or order online at www.carcare.org. Second, there’s
Servicing Saturns: A Different Kind of Car Repair?
On January 7, 1985, Saturn was born. That day, Roger Smith, the president of General Motors, announced the decision to create a whole new car company from the ground up. There were 99 people chosen to create a vision of what GM needed to do in order to prosper in the small car business into
The Origins to a Breakdown
It’s interesting to see the look on a technician’s face as a vehicle gets towed into a shop on the back of a truck. That’s the opening scene for a no-start problem. You can usually tell when a technician thinks it’s good, and you can definitely tell when he thinks it’s bad. Not many techs
Carley’s Corner: Smoother Surface Finishes for Today’s Engines
As engine technology continues to advance, so do the surface finish requirements for many of today’s gaskets. Some engines today require an almost mirror-like finish on the cylinder head and block deck surfaces to seal the head gasket – which means many machine shops may need to upgrade their surfacing equipment to achieve the smoother
Why Go Digital? For Precision and Protection
These days, no matter what kind of automotive repair work you specialize in, virtually every system has a certain amount of electronics. Consequently, one diagnostic tool every technician needs is a digital multimeter. To figure out electrical and electronic problems, you have to “see” what’s going on inside the circuits and components. Trouble is, you
Internal Engine Repairs: Why Head Gaskets Fail
A blown head gasket is bad news for any motorist. It means the cylinder head has to be removed, and possibly resurfaced, to replace the head gasket. If coolant has entered the cylinders and/or crankcase, additional repairs or a whole new engine may be needed depending on the extent of the damage. Anyway you look
Getting the Industry Energized for a New Year
An event in early October excited environmentalists and proponents of new vehicle technology (myself included), when Shell Hydrogen opened the country’s first combined hydrogen/gasoline station in North America. Located in northeast Washington, D.C., the hydrogen dispenser at the Shell retail gasoline station will service a fleet of six fuel cell vehicles from General Motors Corp.,
Flash! Reprogramming Vehicle Computers
Typically, when someone brings up the subject of “flashing” you get two reactions. The technologically informed service professionals think about added revenue and service, while rowdier folks think about doing something that could land them in front of a judge. I think we can all agree that the first group is far better off, and
When it’s Time for a Rebuilt Engine Installation
I noticed the Toyota 4WD truck as soon as I turned into the parking lot on Monday morning. I knew the owner because we’d been servicing his vehicles for a number of years, and I was always impressed by how clean and straight the truck was for its age. It was parked kind of crooked,
Don’t Be in the Dark About Vehicle Lighting Issues
With Daylight Saving Time (DST) taking effect at the end of October in most of the U.S., darkness falls a little sooner. However, with less light comes more opportunity for your shop. In my opinion, vehicle lighting is an overlooked service. While driving, I often notice many vehicles that have lighting systems that are not