Six things you're too busy to do that are costing you

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:CHARLENE PARLETT

摘要:Let me tell you about my friend John. John is a shop owner. He's doing pretty well right now. His shop is always busy. His technicians are maxed out, but he won't hire another tech because he knows when they get slammed, he can step in and get the work done - which he does almost daily. It takes him longer because he has to stop and deal with employees and customers, so he stays late and works weekends when needed. John also won't hire a customer service rep to help his service advisor because he can do that role, too. John is also the go-to person to pick up parts at the dealer and give customers a ride to work. As a result, he often forgets to get things done on time like reporting his bookkeeping to the accountant, returning phone calls and following up with customers to make sure they are happy with their experience.

BUILDING CUSTOMER TRUST

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:JOHN BURKHAUSER

摘要:Many customers do not trust automotive repair shops. And it has been this way for a long, long time. In many cases, unfortunately, that distrust can be warranted by what some shops have done to their customers. Mind you, it is only a few shops that cause these problems. But just like how a couple of bad apples in the barrel can make others turn bad, these shops can ruin it for other shops, too.

Driven by diesel

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:ROBERT BRAVENDER

摘要:Diesel power has always been the driving force behind any industry on the move, so when you specialize in maintaining and repairing fleet and service vehicles like Tom-lin Diesel does, most work orders at this Franklin, Tenn. shop are for middle- and heavy-duty trucks. "We can work on all the big rigs," reports Jason Tomlin, the company's general manager. "Freightliner, Mack, Kenworth, Volvo, but we do not see some of those trucks as much as we do the medium-duty trucks: International, Isuzu, even some of the bigger Ford F-650-750 trucks."

ELECTRICITY IS ELECTRICITY

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:G. JERRY TRUGLIA

摘要:Many technicians may believe that hybrid and fully electrified vehicles are more complicated than gas or diesel-powered ones. Now, they are more complicated; however, there are many basic electrical tests and diagnostic strategies that can be shifted over from the standard 12-volt systems to the high-voltage systems. Electricity is electricity, and if you know how to diagnose electrical problems on non-electrified vehicles, you can (with the proper training and equipment) complete a proper diagnosis of hybrid or electrical vehicles.

MILES DRIVEN BOUNCING BACK FROM 2020 SPRING SLUMP

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:KRISTA MCNAMARA

摘要:Vehicle miles traveled could look similar to the second half of 2020, but many uncertainties still remain. Michael Chung, director of market intelligence for the Auto Care Association, presented industry trends during the Women in Auto Care Week Virtual Conference on Feb. 23. While overall vehicle miles traveled decreased by 13.1 percent in 2020 (Figure 1), with the biggest dip in April, things did return to more normal numbers by the second half of the year. Chung said the first half of 2021 could mirror the second half of 2020 as many people continue to work and attend schooling from home, despite working to slowly return to life as "normal."

ASTE ANNOUNCES 2021 EXPO DATES

[国外交通期刊数据库]

摘要:The Automotive Service & Technology Expo (ASTE), the largest automotive aftermarket show in the Southeast, will be held September 24-25 at Embassy Suites and Convention Center in Cary, North Carolina. The expo will feature training classes, a trade show, raffles, Casino Night, and much more for shop owners, service advisors, and technicians. Some of the nation's top trainers will be delivering cutting-edge information.

ASA, AAVOR comment on cybersecurity guidelines

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:MADI HAWKINS

摘要:In 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a document outlining the agency's recommended best practices for cybersecurity for the automobile industry, entitled "Cybersecurity Best Practices for the Safety of Modern Vehicles." This document, which is described by NHTSA as "nonbinding and voluntary guidance," was intended to cover cybersecurity issues for all motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment (including software) and provide a solid foundation for developing a risk-based approach to cybersecurity practices.

GOOD C.O.P.S / BAD C.O.P.S

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:DAVE HOBBS

摘要:Every technician knows it's 'AIR - SPARK - FUEL" to make a combustion event happen. If any of those three are missing, you're unlikely to have combustion on an SI (Spark Ignition) engine. But what if you have all three and still have a misfire or a P0350 series DTC related to a specific cylinder? In this article, we'll describe the "SPARK" side of combustion along with the "good" and the "bad" related to modern ignition coil technology - the C.O.R (Coil-On-Plug). Just as the men and women of law enforcement vary in their shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, so do ignition coils of the C.O.P. design. There are 2-wire, 3-wire, and 4-wire C.O.Ps in addition to coil-near-plug (which we'll lump into the C.O.P. category).

APG // AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCT GUIDE

[国外交通期刊数据库]

摘要:The Dannmar MB-240X Manual Wheel Balancer from Bendpak is ideal for small shops requiring precision wheel balancing at a fraction of the cost. The balancer is accurate and dependable and uses proprietary digital sensor technology to automatically determine the exact weight needed for optimal balance. It clearly displays the amount and location of weights in about six seconds.

ADD TO YOUR PAYCHECK BY IMPROVING YOUR TROUBLESHOOTING PROCESS

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:PETE MEIER

摘要:As a full-time tech, my earnings were based on the amount of work I performed in a given day. Whether I worked on commission or flat rate, my income was tied to the total amount of labor hours that were billed in any given pay period. The more efficiently I used my time, the faster I got the jobs done and the more labor hours I could post.