Mitch’s World: Got a Minute?
Time is an interesting construct. If you look at its history, you begin to realize that there is no real reason for a minute to have 60 seconds, an hour to have 60 minutes or a day to have 24 hours, or for us to divide those 24 hours into 12 hours of daylight and
Editor’s Notebook: Well-Defining Your Value Statement Helps You Win The “Customers For Life” Battle
Last month was a busy one for automotive press conferences, and while the companies whose events I attended manufacture vastly different product lines, the theme of their presentations was very similar — providing value and the highest-quality products to customers. They accomplish this by relying on their OE heritage, technological innovation, vast research and development
Mercedes-Benz: Transmission Service and Other Maintenance Essentials
Consistently rated as well engineered and well built, the Mercedes line fills almost every class of vehicle today, from small fuel-efficient people-movers like the Smart Car, to large over-the-road trucks and every niche in between. Our shop performs routine maintenance and more involved repairs on hundreds of Mercedes vehicles every year. Most of the models
Up in Vapor
Gasp! It’s the “Gas Cap Code”! Oh no, you just pulled a code P0422, evaporative purge small leak detected… Here goes the needle in the haystack syndrome. So what do you do? Recommend a new gas cap and ship it? Well you could do that, but would that be in your or your customer’s best
TechTalk: Grabbing Dodge Diesel Service ‘by the Horns’
With the massive number of diesel trucks that have hit the roads since around 1998, I believe there is an enormous amount of potential work for independent shops. One fact I thought was amazing is DaimlerChrysler claims that 70% of the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 truck market since 2003 is equipped with the 5.9L
Wheel Balancing: Making a Smart Investment in a Wheel Balancer
When you consider that only 1/4-ounce of wheel imbalance can produce a noticeable vibration on a vehicle, it’s easy to understand why it’s so important to have a wheel balancer that is both accurate and easy to use. Many balancers in today’s marketplace are capable of balancing a wheel to within a few hundredths of
Top Five Tools
Gary Farber, president Debra Farber, vice president All Brand Auto Service Kensington, MD Snap-on MODIS — A powerful tool for a broad range of diagnostics and applications. Identifix — A world of information on one website. By checking www.identifix.com before starting a technical job, diagnostic time is saved because the answer is usually right there.
RTI Offers Service Tips to Get Your Coolant Exchange Machines Ready for Fall Weather
Now is a good time to take a few minutes to check your MCX Coolant Exchange Machine to ensure that it’s in good shape and ready for the upcoming peak coolant service season.
Mitch Schneider: Experiencing One of those ‘Brunswick Days’
I call them "Brunswick Days." You know, those days where accomplishing anything feels as if it would be easier to go to the local bowling alley, pick out a ball, tuck it under your arm, head for the closest hardware store, pick up a 25′ roll of garden hose, head back to the shop and then proceed to blow the ball through the hose until it exits at the other end.
Tim Gunter Named 2006 Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year
Victor Reinz is proud to announce that Tim Gunter has been named this year’s Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year. A machinist for more than 13 years, Gunter currently works as a machinist for TTP/Diesel Power & Machine in Pierceton, IN, where he is a key asset to their machine shop.