Viewpoint: Human Resources Opening Up at Work
Hiring, firing and quitting are unavoidable tasks in the automotive repair industry. Everybody hates to deal with these aspects of the business because it can be risky on both sides of the table, and not just monetarily, but emotionally. I have seen war veterans more open to talk about the most bloody battles than some
Viewpoint: The Future of Brakes
How stability and traction control systems will change the industry as we know it. I hear all of the moaning and groaning out there about how new cars are better made, require less maintenance and break down less often. But, they still need to stop and this means they will always need brakes. Brake pads
Viewpoint: Stinky Brake Pads
How you can avoid a sinus comeback. I have been getting a few phone calls lately from readers about bad smelling brakes after a brake service was performed. Most drivers may not know much about their vehicles, but they know when something does not smell right. The customers who typically come back to the shop
Viewpoint: Being Positive
Ask yourself why you came to work this morning. If you are a regular reader of my columns, you may have noticed that I have been a little negative lately. I have been writing about topics like technician image, unethical shops and other gripes about our industry. Last month, I got a letter from an
Viewpoint: Bad Shop? A Reader Responds to Last Months Column
Last month’s column titled “Cleaning Up Other Shops’ Messes” told of how good, honest shops have to sometimes repair the customer’s trust after a “bad shop” injures our industry. Reader Paul Wright, wrote this response. Your column begins with a story told to you from a independent shop owner who recounts his experience with another
Viewpoint: Cleaning Up Other Shops’ Messes
The other day I was talking with advisory board member Dave Christopher of Christopher’s Car Care in Tallmadge, OH. Dave, his wife and son run a great shop and he has a very loyal customer base. His appointment schedule is often booked weeks in advance. Dave takes a great deal of pride in his shop
Viewpoint, Someone is Mining Your Data
Your repair orders are being used to create a new tool What if you had a tool that could predict within 1,000 miles the failure of an oxygen sensor, EGR valve or bearing? What if I told you that some shops are helping to build this tool and they do not even know it? I
Viewpoint,: Smoking…What You Can’t Smell Can Hurt You
I once worked with a tech that the only time he was not smoking was when he was test-driving a customer’s vehicle. He smoked unfiltered Pall Malls, which had a distinctive smell and taste. He was one of the best techs I ever worked with — he had talent and “the touch.” One morning, I
Viewpoint: Mr. Not Me!
In the newspaper comics section, there is a strip called Family Circus. Either you hate the strip for its sappiness and blunt humor that cuts like a dull butter knife, or you love it for its simple wit. Either way, you probably will wind up reading the strip out of spite or curiosity. The strip
Viewpoint: Cat Burglars and the Converter Cartel
How many catalytic converters can a battery-powered reciprocating saw cut from a dealer’s lot before the battery runs out? The answer is 18, according to news reports. In one night, 18 converters were removed at a Mentor, OH, Mitsubishi dealership. Other dealerships have been hit, with an average of 15 converters cut loose per night.