Running Cool Running Cool - Canadian Technician: The authoritative

Transcription

MAY 2006
Running Cool
The new rules for finding AC leaks
ALSO:
Canadian Mail Sales Product Agreement #40063170. Return postage guaranteed. Newcom Business Media Inc., 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON M9W 5C4
■ LinderTech North: event wrap-up
■ Pre-booking next month’s work
■ FAQ: Chemicals and additives
www.canadiantechnician.ca
MAY 2006
VOL. 11 NO. 4
Departments
10
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
From Our Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Out & About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Eye Spy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Product Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
13
Columnists
Trackside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
By Jamie Maudsley
The Car Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
By Rick Cogbill
Features
Management S.O.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Are you pre-booking next season’s work? If not, you
ought to try it. It’s a great way to even out the ebbs and
flows of business.
18
Air conditioning: Running Cool . . . . . .18
The new basics of leak detection. These days, it is more
important than ever to handle air conditioning system
work safely and responsibly.
Chemicals and Additives: FAQ . . . . . .22
The list of products is growing. Do you know what’s out
there… and how to sell it to your customer?
22
THEY CALL IT
RACING.
Clive McDonald works for Shell’s
global fuels research team.
He’s been actively involved in
the development of racing fuels
for Ferrari F1 for many years.
WE CALL IT
RESEARCH.
Since 1950, Shell International
and Ferrari have worked in tandem to design and test highperformance fuels that provide a head start on the competition.
They create high-performance fuel grades that have driven,
and continue to drive, the Ferrari F1 team to greater heights.
Thanks to this relationship, Shell Canada is able to study how the
fuels they develop react to the extreme conditions of the F1 racetrack.
www.shell.ca
Then we apply this knowledge
to the development of quality
fuels for Canadian motorists.
This work keeps Shell on track
in our search to find the cleanest,
most efficient fuels possible.
So while the Ferrari driver focuses on the finish line, Clive
focuses on the fuel that helps get them there. Whether you call
it racing or research, it’s a winning formula for us all.
Editorial
VOLUME 11
NUMBER 4
PUBLISHER
Mark Vreugdenhil
[email protected]
(416) 614-5819
EDITOR / ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Allan Janssen
[email protected]
(416) 614-5814
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
Dale Patenaude
[email protected]
(416) 614-5829
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Lilianna Kantor
[email protected]
(416) 614-5815
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Tim Norton
[email protected]
(416) 614-5810
CONTRIBUTORS
Rick Cogbill, Larry Dickison,
Will Enns, Jamie Maudsley,
Kelly Bennett and Claire Newman
PUBLISHED BY
Newcom Business Media
451 Attwell Drive
Toronto, Ontario M9W 5C4
Phone: (416) 614-0955
Fax: (416) 614-2781
PRESIDENT
Jim Glionna
Canadian Technician is published monthly except for January and July by
Newcom Business Media, Inc., 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON M9W 5C4. The
magazine serves the Canadian automotive repair and service industry.
Subscriptions are free to those who meet the criteria. For others: single copy
price: $5.35; one-year subscription in Canada: $36.38 ($34.00 plus $2.38 GST);
one-year subscription in U.S.: US$40; one-year subscription in all other countries: US$65. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication
may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written
consent of the publisher. The advertiser agrees to protect the publisher against
legal action based upon libelous or inaccurate statements, unauthorized use of
photographs, or other material in connection with advertisements placed in
Canadian Technician. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising
which in his opinion is misleading, scatological, or in poor taste. Postmaster:
Send address changes to Canadian Technician, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON,
M9W 5C4. Printed in Canada. Second class mail: Postage paid at Toronto.
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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of
Canada through the Publications Assistance Program toward our
mailing costs. PAP Registration No.10833.
“Stranded” by Will Enns
Phone (250) 404-0411
www.canadiantechnician.ca/covers
MAY 2006
Your customer… the expert!
Self-diagnosing is here to stay, thanks to the
power of the Internet.
By Allan Janssen
I enjoy a good run in the morning. The
longer the better. It clears my head, helps
me plan my work, and gives me a boost
of energy that lasts the whole day long.
But for all the positives, there are
some down-sides too. I don’t get to have
breakfast with my family.
The weather can prove a
challenge, both in winter
and summer. And the threat
of injury is real.
One evening not long ago
I started feeling a dull,
throbbing pain in my right
knee. I slept uncomfortably
all night, and by morning my
knee was swollen and I
could barely walk. Stairs were especially
painful. Running was out of the question.
It confused me because the injury had
arrived suddenly, with no fore-warning.
I’d had no falls or missteps that I could
peg this to.
Rather than go to my family doctor,
though, I took to the Internet to diagnose
myself. There I found a condition that
seemed to match mine perfectly. As I
read on, I realized this was no small
problem. Apparently many runners
fall victim to this debilitating condition,
and it ultimately forces them to abandon
the sport. I started to get nervous. Could
this be the end of my running career?
Was I one step away from having to use
a walker?
At the urging of some of my running
buddies, I sought the advice of a professional sports therapist. He smiled when I
told him I already knew what I had. “I
obviously wasted a lot of time in school,”
he said wryly. “I should have just surfed a
few web sites!” To humor him I allowed
him to conduct his own investigation. I
sat there patiently as he poked, prodded,
articulated, and extended my limbs for 10
minutes.
His diagnosis was very different from
mine. It was true I shared some of the
symptoms of the painful debilitating condition I’d found on the Internet, but there
were some significant differences. And,
no, my running career was not over. It
was simply stalled while I
adjusted my stretching routine and weight-training.
The Internet had not
made me an expert. My own
dire predictions were about
as realistic as a carnival psychic’s.
Are your customers like
me? Do they consult the
Internet about the mysterious noises and rattles their cars make,
and then try to tell you what the problem
is? Or do they have cheap code-readers
and think they’re diagnostic gurus? Do
they come into your shop telling you how
to do your job?
It’s nice every now and then to politely
put them in their place, as my sports therapist did to me. But don’t be too tough on
them. It’s a sign of the times. The information age allows them to start to understand what’s going on with their vehicles.
They know that when it comes to car
repair, ignorance is not bliss. It makes
them vulnerable.
What they – and I – tend to forget is
that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. It’s OK to educate yourself, as
long as you don’t try to over-rule the
experts. And on the subject of motive
power technology, you’re the expert.
Be patient with your self-diagnosing
customers. They mean well. They just
have to remember on what side of the
service counter they belong.
You can reach me toll free at
1-866-222-6787. Or e-mail me at
[email protected].
CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 5
LARRY DICKISON
LETTERS
Lock-out situation is grave
concern for independents
RE: Post facts about Right to Repair,
April 2006
I’m the owner of an automotive repair
facility in British Columbia. We take pride
in being a high-tech facility on the cutting
edge of technology. We keep up-to-date
with all scanner upgrades available to us.
What concerns me is the increasing
need to get onboard computers to recognize new parts (throttle bodies and
airbags, to name two) before a repair can
be completed. Often this reprogramming
can be done only at the OE dealer.
I had a customer who was recently
forced to drive to a dealership two hours
away, where he had to wait three hours
for the needed reprogramming. He was
treated poorly and said the quality of
service was despicable. This customer
now realizes he does not have the right
to have his own vehicle repaired where
he wants to.
Clearly independent shops cannot
repair modern vehicles without access to
the required tools and information. So
where does the independent shop stand
in the future? And what impact will this
lock-out situation have on the retail sector when independent shops start closing
their doors? How can the government
allow this to happen?
Mike Dymus
Silvhorn Automotive
Pemberton, BC
Scott Smith, manager for government
relations with the Automotive Industries
Association of Canada, replies:
“Many OEM web sites (approximately
60 per cent of them) are not available to
Canadian automotive service providers
even though they offer up-to-date repair
information to the independent aftermarket in the U.S. AIA believes in consumer choice and has been working on
the access-to-information issue for some
time now. Although we’re making
progress, there’s still much work to be
done. In the past year, AIA has hosted
numerous intra-industry congresses,
and awareness/consensus-building gatherings, including events on Parliament
Hill and at provincial legislatures. You
can track some of the things we’re doing
under the Government Relations section
of our web site (www.aiacanada.com).
Also on our web site, you’ll find a survey
intended for technicians like you who
have experienced difficulties in accessing information. Please feel free to fill it
out on-line and it will be automatically
e-mailed to me when you press ‘submit.’
AIA fully agrees with the gravity of the
lock-out situation and is committed to
working with the rest of the industry
toward a resolution to the problem.”
Newcomers to the trade
need to be treated fairly
RE: Finding tomorrow’s techs,
February 2006
Great article on Brad Saumure, the 17year-old apprentice from Barrie. It’s nice
to see young kids getting the chance to
become successful mechanics. Keep on
wrenchin’ Brad!
But now let’s talk about the ones who
RIDES
Reader
Ron H. Rose, a technician at Jon’s Garage in Avondale, NF sent in
this shot of his 1972 Monte Carlo.You can see more “Reader
Rides” on our web site at www.canadiantechnician.ca. And if
you have a photo of your hot ride, feel free to send it in.We’ll
put it up!
6 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN
MAY 2006
are not as fortunate. The ones who are
working their guts out, doing all the same
kind of jobs that licensed techs do, but
not getting properly paid for their efforts.
I once worked for a dealership where
20 guys worked two shifts. Six were
licensed (two of whom were foremen
who had traded their wrench for a pen).
The other 14 guys were very capable of
doing the same work as the licensed guys
and a couple were even better. And while
they could do safety inspections and
repairs on their own, they made only $11
an hour, straight time, compared to the
$19 an hour the licensed guys made. Six
were signed up as apprentices but the rest
were given false hopes.
I think a lot of young people are being
strung along. They get disillusioned when
they experience the poor starting wages,
the high cost of trade school, the neverending tool purchases, and the way some
employers might take advantage of them.
We need young people to enter the trade
and we need to be fair to them to make
them stay. We need to stress the good side
of the story – that those who succeed in this
business might someday be their own bosses and have the satisfaction of repairing
things that not a lot of people can fix. It’s the
greatest feeling in the world.
R.W. Thompson
Class A Mechanic
Belleville, ON
Air conditioning work is
best left to the specialists
RE: Keeping Your Cool, March 2006
As the owner and operator of a large auto
air conditioning shop, I was pleased to see
the article by Rick Cogbill. I believe that
shops that do not specialize in AC should
not do it. The work is increasingly complex, and requires specialty tools and procedures. The risk of refrigerant contamination, environmental damage, and injury
is great. Best to leave this work to people
who do it day-in and day-out. Good points
about the dangers of hydrocarbons too.
Thanks again.
Steve Pearce
Airwolfe Auto Air Conditioning
Kelowna, BC
Love to hear personal
stories in the magazine
Re: “Living the Life,” December 2005
I read your magazine religiously and
MAY 2006
browse the web forum (www.canadiantechnician.ca/forum) on almost a daily
basis. I would love to see a regular feature
in the magazine that gives a snap-shot
look at an individual technician, much
like the article on Steve Penrose. I think
readers would love to know why others
got into this trade, how they achieved
their level of competence, and how they
view the future of the industry. It might
give some apprentices and newer techs
some incentive to stay in the trade.
Gil Verwey, technician
Armour Tire & Auto Service
Burlington, ON
I think that’s a great idea. I would welcome suggestions from readers on who
might make a good subject for these
mini-profiles. Obviously, we’re looking
for someone with a positive outlook on
the trade, with lots of experience, some
interesting stories to tell, and some
unique insights into the industry. Know
anyone who fits the bill?
—Allan
March cover painting
was a work of art
I have always
been a fan of your
magazine’s painted covers by artist
Will Enns, but I
found the March
2006 cover to be
particularly outstanding.
His
paintings usually
have a Norman Rockwell/Saturday
Evening Post feel to them (and that’s not
a complaint – I’m very fond of Rockwell)
but in the cover in question, Mr. Enns has
forged into new territory. The muted colors and the subtle use of lighting in this
moody, impressionistic piece elevates it
from magazine illustration to a true work
of art. Please pass on my congratulations
to Mr. Enns.
Jonathan Locke
Bowmanville, ON
Picture was an example of
poor workmanship
RE: Stop! Qualified Personnel Only,
February 2006
The picture that accompanied your story
on new brake developments is burned
into my retinas. It shows a 1988-98 GM
K-series truck on a hoist with the unitized front hub assembly in two pieces
with a brand new rotor on it. Every manual on those bearings says not to disassemble, lubricate, or strike with a hammer. I take the time to remove the bolts,
take the bearing assembly – in one piece
– from the hub, change the rotor, and
then carefully reassemble. No certified
tech would try to convince me that the
exposed wheel bearing section on the
wheel flange with the new rotor wasn’t
exposed to a bearings worst enemy: dirt.
The biggest hint is the air hammer on
hoist! Sorry for the rant but I kinda lost it
when I saw that pic.
Name withheld
Clearly I goofed by using that picture.
It’s a scene I captured at what I believe to
be a reputable shop. I don’t know if that
was a training exercise for an apprentice, or if the tech was repairing a
botched job done somewhere else, or if, as
you suggest, this truly was an example
of poor workmanship. You’re right, however that the picture was a bad choice for
the article.
—Allan
How to reach us
We welcome your feedback on what you
see in Canadian Technician – or anything
else you feel strongly about. Drop us a line
at Canadian Technician, 451 Attwell Drive,
Toronto, ON, M9W 5C4. Or send an e-mail to
[email protected].
Our fax number is 416/614-2781. We reserve
the right to edit your letters for length
and clarity.
From Our Forum
Recent postings on www.canadiantechnician.ca/forum
A nose for the job
Not every customer is a joy to work for. Our forum members compare a few of their pet peeves.
Why is it that people wouldn’t
dream of going to a doctor
without bathing, or to a dentist without
brushing their teeth, but have no problem
at all dropping their car off for service
when it is filthy inside and out?
Posted by: MrPink / 03-26-06
I hear you! Once in a while
I think I’ve jumped into a Tim
Horton’s or McDonald’s dumpster by
mistake!
Posted by: Mech1Warrior1 / 03-26-06
Once I had a blazer in for a
safety check. The last owner
was a trapper and he’d had dead fish and
meat in the back for a long time. Even
with all the windows open I couldn’t get in
it without gagging. Not long ago I had
another one. Something died in that car
too! Some cars have so much junk in them
you can hardly fit in the seat. What is
wrong with people?
Posted by: Mag / 03-26-06
My biggest pet peeve is
appointments. Some guy calls
and ask if we do brakes. “Yes we do, sir.
Can I—” Click. Ten minutes later the guy
shows up. “I’m here for the brake job.”
Who would call a hospital and say “Hey,
do you guys do surgery?” and then 10 minutes later walk in “I just called; I’m here
for my surgery” No other business works
this way.
Posted by: Andrew / 03-26-06
Yeah, or they park in front of
the bay door the night before,
don’t leave keys or a note, then call at 9 to
tell you they’ll drop of the keys shortly.
Don’t get me started!
Posted by: carfixr / 03-27-06
I hate when you book someone in for eight to 10 hours of
work and when you phone to remind
them the day before, they say, “Oh I was
going to phone you tomorrow; I can’t
make it in. I’ll phone and book an appointment later.” Meanwhile you’ve been turning down work for that day. Grrrrrrrr!
Posted by: msog / 03-27-06
Last week I had an out-ofprovince and we booked four
hours for it. The dude phones about five
minutes before he’s supposed to be there
and says he can’t make it. So I sit on my
hands for most of the morning.
Posted by: PopeyeW / 03-28-06
I just finished parking a rather
stinky Kia. I think there was
some of last year’s Mcdonald’s in the back
seat. And you couldn’t see through the
windows because of the thick smoke
sludge on the glass!
Posted by: trentski / 03-28-06
Had an old fellow with a ’97 or
so Cavalier. Entire dash, radio,
steering wheel, caked in and dripping
with chewing tobacco, hardened chunks
and juice. Car packed with garbage. Nice.
Posted by: Ford4Me / 03-28-06
Don’t get me started on dirty
cars! I recently quit smoking
(week five), and my sense of smell is
heightened now. Man, some of these cars
are gross! Snap-on should sell nose plugs!
Posted by: hawk / 03-28-06
I had a pick-up a while back
with a coolant leak at the
heater core. When I opened the glove box
I found a mouse nest and recent drop-
pings. I refused to do the job and told him
that unless he did some serious disinfecting I would not work on anything else on
his truck either.
Posted by: PopeyeW / 03-28-06
Smart of you not to touch that
mouse nest. About seven
years ago a local shop owner contracted
the Hanta virus (a.k.a. deermouse) and
just about passed on. He had to shut down
his business also.
Posted by: Trentski / 03-29-06
You’ve got to watch those old
vehicles that have been
parked for a while. A few years ago, we
were bending a system on an old farm
truck. As the assigned tech was about to
button up the last clamp, a five foot snake
(harmless) came down on his head to say
hi! You should’ve seen the guy run!
Posted by: hawk / 03-29-06
My boss brought this 1974
Pontiac Parisienne into the
shop. I thought it was interesting they way
he was hanging his head out the driver’s
window as he drove. Turns out the guy
drove around with three dogs who treated
his car like an outhouse. To top it all off,
the slob was a cigar smoker; the entire car
was an ashtray.
Posted by: RedEnsign / 03-30-06
Join the discussion!
Log on to
www.canadiantechnician.ca /forum
and see what everyone’s talking about.
If you’ve got an opinion to share,we’re
looking forward to hearing it.
MAY 2006
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Steel
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Engineered by Snap-on
With 450 in. lbs. torque, the Snap-on® CDR4850 18 Volt Cordless Drill
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the features and you’ll see why we call it “The Steel Deal”.
Over Sized Trigger - variable speed trigger
for precise control
One Handed Forward/Reverse Switch easily switch directions
Ergonomic Over Molded Cushion Grip comfort handle with positive tool control,
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bearings for strength, less down time and
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Glass Filled Nylon Housing - provides
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Patented Air Flow System - keeps the
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Snap-on® is a trademark of Snap-on Incorporated. © 2006 Snap-on Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Supplier News
Randy Moore wins AIA Distinguished
Service Award
Out
&About
World-class training
Toronto shop brings Linder Technical Services to
town for three-day conference.
Randy Moore, vice president of franchise operations for Mister Transmission, was awarded the
Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s
top volunteer honor, the Distinguished Service
Award. Presented at AIA’s annual Aftermarket
Conference for Executives, the award caps
almost 15 years of volunteer work. Moore, who
received a standing ovation from delegates to
the conference, described the experience as
“humbling.” Pictured is Moore (right) with AIA
president Ray Datt.
KYB has new director of business development
KYB America has named Mike Fiorito to the position of Director of Business Development. KYB
Senior Vice President, Mike Howarth, said the
move was especially necessary given the recent
announcement by CARQUEST that KYB will
become their full line shock and strut supplier.
Fiorito previously served as the VP Sales for
Affinia’s Under Vehicle Group.
ACDelco calendar to feature
technicians’ vehicles
ACDelco is offering its TSS members the chance
to share their pride and joy with the rest of
Canada with the ACDelco Real Car Guys’ Rides
Promotion. This spring promotion allows all TSS
member technicians to enter their custom, classic or import vehicle into the promotion. Their
entries will be judged and 12 winners selected.
The winners will have their vehicle showcased in
the 2007 ACDelco Calendar. Contact the ACDelco
Info-Line at 1-800-26-DELCO. Promotion runs until
May 31, 2006.
New engines/transmission promo
GM Goodwrench Engines and Transmissions are
offering big incentives this spring. Independent
service centres which buy and install a GM
Goodwrench engine or transmission during
before June 30, 2006 qualify to earn a GM
American Express card with 100 reward dollars,
valued at $100 Canadian. In related news, GM
Goodwrench Engines and Transmissions have
increased their warranty to a three-year/160,000
km transferable limited warranty—up from the
previous 80,000 km.
Beck/Arnley enhances ordering web site
Beck/Arnley’s ordering web site, www.beckorder.com, has been enhanced to provide web
ordering capabilities for Canadian customers.
With a valid identification name and password,
users can easily sign in and place orders in
Canadian dollars, which are then shipped from
Beck/Arnley’s Canadian warehouse. Canadian
customers can also place orders after hours, just
as their U.S. counterparts do.
By Allan Janssen
Technicians and shop owners
from Kelowna to Halifax converged on Toronto last month
for a unique training conference.
Dubbed “Lindertech North”
for its association with the
highly-regarded Linder
Technical Services operation in
Indianapolis, Indiana, the event
was organized by John
Cochrane, and held at his shop
in the west end of Toronto.
It gave about 100 technicians the chance to “stay conJohn Thornton keeps the audience riveted during a
nected” with training sessions
five-and-a-half hour session on air-fuel sensors.
that focused on air-fuel sensors, bus communications,
transmission insights, and vehicle theft
leading trainers such as John Thornton,
deterrence systems.
Wayne Colonna, and Randy Dillman, were
The feedback from attendees was unidense and challenging, with a good balance
formly positive.
of theory and practical examples from the
“This is the kind of training you
latest cars entering the aftermarket.
need if you’re going to survive in this
The curriculum, says Linder Technical
business,” said Philip Wilkie, who
Services founder Jim Linder, is drawn
traveled from Nova Scotia to attend.
from feedback from thousands of Linder
“The funny thing is, people know they
students each month.
need it, and they’ll say they need it,
“You can’t teach 1982 Buicks today,
but so often when someone arranges
and unfortunately I think that happens,”
it, they don’t show up. The people here
he said. “By the same token, you can’t
are the ones who are serious about
only teach 2007 Corvettes. The timing of
getting trained.”
the product has to be absolutely perfect.”
Todd Huggard of Kelowna Chrysler
The conference was held in conjuncDodge in B.C. agrees. He heard about the
tion with a mini-trade show featuring
conference on iATN and made immediate
diagnostic solutions from a number of
plans to attend. “These are the best trainsponsoring companies, including
ers in the world and this is a must-attend
ACDelco, Vetronix, Mitchell1, Ultrafit
event,” he said. “Hopefully something like
Exhaust, and Carrus Technologies.
this gains a foothold, word gets out, and
John Cochrane told participants he is
more techs see the value in it. You have to
committed to continuing Lindertech
stay current. There’s no question.”
North, and has already set the date for
Fourth-year apprentice Cale Friess,
next year. It will be held April 27-29, 2007
who works at Winn Automotive in
at a venue to be announced.
Kelowna, says Lindertech North is invaluable experience for him. “It’s also a fun
Linder on training
time,” he said. “We’re treating it like a
To listen to the full interview with Jim
little vacation.”
Linder, log on to www.canadiantechniThe training sessions, led by industrycian.ca.
MAY 2006
Supplier News
OUT & ABOUT
Tenneco relaunches Walker web site
Brushes With Greatness
Readers drop the names of their most famous customers.
Had any celebrities in the shop lately? That’s what we asked on a recent crossword
page… and some puzzlers showed us their autograph books.
James Chambers of SilverStar Automotive in Edmonton, Alberta did some work for
boxer Scotty “The Bulldog” Olson. “We now have a punching bag autographed by him
in our shop,” he writes.
Fighters of a different kind include Stu and Owen Hart, who had their Cadillacs
serviced at an OK Tire shop in Calgary. “Good bunch of people. Too bad about Owen
[who died in the ring]. Real loss,” says one of the techs who worked on the vehicles.
Hockey players were also a common sighting.
Collette Mason, of Serbu Tire in Windsor, Ont., met former Toronto Maple Leaf John
Ferguson when he came in for a wheel alignment.
Will Balsom, of Superior Auto in Deer Lake, NL, did some work for Darren Langdon
of the New Jersey Devils. And Jamie O’Hanley, of Fair Isle Ford in Charlottetown, P.E.I.,
has met Bruce Gardiner (then of the Ottawa Senators), and Serge Savard (Montreal
Canadiens) at his shop, as well as well-known NHL ref Don Koharski. Jamie’s list also
includes skater Jennifer Robinson, and golfer Lori Kane.
Donald MacNeil, of Motorworks Automotive in Brantford, Ont., has another skater,
Brian Orser, on his list, but he’s had more luck with film stars, having met Canadian
director David Cronenberg, and actor Moe Kaufman. He met all of them while working
at a Porsche dealership.
Wayne Smith of Smith’s Auto Tech in Manitoba reported a close encounter with
wildlife artist Leslie Sinclair.
And politicians round out the list. Jonathan Denuke of Fundy Ford in Nova Scotia says
he repaired the horn on the Nova Scotia governor general’s car. Didn’t get to meet him,
though. And Dan Kempe of Carline Muffler in Lethbridge, Alberta, did some work on the
disgraced politician Dar Heatherington’s vehicle.
Star-struck yet? Ron Jarvis, of The Mad Mechanic Ltd., in Nanaimo, B.C., puts it all into
perspective.
“In our shop,” he writes, “every customer is a celebrity. And, yes, I get to meet each
and every one of them.”
In August 2004, Ward Zintel of
Perfection Paint & Body in
Saskatoon, Sask. took these
photos of a right tie rod during
a vehicle inspection.“Yes, that is
duct tape!” he writes. In the last
photo you can see that the jam
nut was frozen to the inner tie
rod, so the duct tape was someone’s idea of a locking method.
“I had to replace both tie rods
as they were seized solid,” says
Ward.“I later got them apart on
the bench by heating the outer
tie rod to full orange heat!”
Have an interesting picture to
share? Send the to Eye Spy,
c/o Canadian Technician,
451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON,
M9W 5C4. Or e-mail your high-resolution image to the editor:
[email protected]
MAY 2006
The new Walker exhaust web site at www.walkerexhaust.com, has been redesigned with new
content and added functionality designed to help
vehicle service professionals and consumers.
The new site features detailed technical
information and product comparisons covering
the complete line of Walker replacement
exhaust systems, muffler and resonator
assemblies, catalytic converters, pipes and
hardware. The site also includes background on
Tenneco’s DynoMax and Thrush lines of
performance exhaust products and Walker
branded systems and components for mediumand heavy-duty vehicles.
Fed-Mogul to give away restored
’66 Chevelle Malibu
Federal-Mogul will offer automotive aftermarket
professionals the chance to win a beautifully
restored and updated 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle
Malibu during the second annual Federal-Mogul
TEC Training Excellence Sweepstakes. The
sweepstakes is open to any automotive
technician, machinist or parts professional who
attends a 2006 TEC workshop in St. Louis, or an
evening field seminar in the U.S. or Canada, or
who enrolls via mail. Courses are taught by ASE
Master Certified instructors and utilize the latest
diagnostic tools and equipment.
Grant Brothers Sales wins Palmar award
Palmar awarded the Grant Brothers Sales team
of Louis Mottet, Hugues Bouchard, Richard
Drapeau, and Jean-Rene Galarneau a plaque for
the 2005 Best Tool Supplier Representatives.
The team had the biggest sales increase in this
department. Pictured, from left to right: Gerard
Lontin, Director of Tool Purchases, Palmar,
Hugues Bouchard, Pierre Lalane, Truck Parts
Purchases Director.
SKF wins NAPA excellence award
SKF has received the 2005 Service Excellence
Award from NAPA Canada during a reception
held in Montreal. The award recognized several
achievements by SKF, including a 14.5 per cent
increase in sales during 2005, outstanding
marketing support, a strong product shipping
record, excellent customer service and sales
support, and SKF’s industry leadership position
within the bearing and seal category. SKF has
been a supplier to NAPA Canada since 1996.
Trackside
Working vacation
Ottawa performance specialist Chris Tapp takes his
expertise to Daytona for an unforgettable experience.
By Jamie Maudsley
In 2002, Sports Car team owner
you make a one-mile run every single lap!
“The race car work is all unique.
Jacques Guenette approached OttawaWe ran an air-cooled flat-six with 650
They’re all different,” he says. “In a street
based horsepower specialist Chris Tapp
horsepower in air temperature that was
car we can develop the fuel injection and
because he was continually blowing
110 degrees and kept it together.”
engine set-up so it can be repeated on a
motors in his Porsche 911.
Tapp rejects the suggestion that workfew other cars. I could be my own worst
Tapp, owner of Chris Tapp
ing on a car at the track is a vacation.
enemy when it comes to the racing stuff,
Automotive, worked on the car, and
“It was a ton of work! We would be at
because we’ve had such a good track
ultimately accompanied it to the Daytona
the track all day working. At my shop I
record. We do stuff for about five or six
race track as part of Guenette’s crew
only work on engines, but when you’re on
race teams, but I only see them a few times
for a Rolex Grand-Am Cup and
a year. We’ve been able to come up
Vintage race at the legendary
with good stuff that doesn’t break
Florida playground of speed.
and once we get a good system in a
It’s the kind of work Tapp loves.
car they can run for a long time
His shop does regular automotive
without a problem.”
maintenance, but in addition to
The six-bay shop also employees
changing oil, rotating tires, and
a couple of Class A technicians other
tuning fuel injection systems, Tapp
than Chris, and one apprentice.
has become known as a doctor of
Tapp always takes a few things
horsepower in the service of a
back to the shop that he’s learned
number of high-performance race
at the track. “In the heat of battle
teams and street import owners.
at the track, you don’t have everyThe opportunity to participate
thing you need. You have to make
in the Daytona race was a highdo with what you have. That
Chris Tapp, of Chris Tapp Automotive in Ottawa, watches makes you appreciate every tool in
light for Tapp.
“They sent the car here along with one of his clients'cars in action.
your box at home.”
one of their guys. He would do his
Guenette, Tapp’s highest-profile
work on the car while I was working
client, has moved on and is now drivon the engine. We finally got things sorta race team you have to pitch in and help
ing a Daytona Prototype in the Rolex
ed out and headed for Daytona. We had
wherever you’re needed,” he explains. “We
Grand-Am series, so Tapp doesn’t get to
to keep changing bodies and doing some
would thrash on the car and then finally
work on that car anymore. But there’s
other things so we could race in both
get to go out for a late dinner and relax a
always the chance he could find his way
classes. We qualified well, but broke an
little. I never set foot on the sand the
to Daytona again working on another race
axle in the Rolex race. In the Vintage
whole time we were there.”
team.
race we finished second. That was a realThe 2005 race season was a high point
Hopefully, if he gets another chance,
ly neat experience.”
in Tapp’s work on the track, because a
Tapp can find a few minutes during the
The 35-year old also thinks the weeknumber of his other customers pounded
week to let his feet actually hit the
end was one of the toughest tests of
the competition at the Grand Prix of
Daytona sands next time.
his equipment.
Trois-Riveres in Quebec, taking four of
“When you’re going drag racing, or
the top-10 positions, and putting two
Know someone who fixes cars during
building a street car, the car is only topdrivers on the podium.
the week and races during the weekend?
ping out for a short time. With a road racRacing is cool, he admits, but to keep
Contact Jamie at jmaudsley@rocketing car, the car is working that much hardthe shop open, he does a lot of street
mail.com. Maybe there’s a Trackside
er, and for so much longer. At Daytona
work too.
story there!
MAY 2006
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©2006 SPX Corporation. SPX is a registered trademark of SPX Corporation.
Robinair is a trademark of SPX Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
MANAGEMENT
S.O.S.
Booked
SOLID
In this series of fictional letters from a new shop owner to his former boss, management trainer Kelly Bennett discusses basic
business principles that apply to the automotive repair industry.
Is ‘good’ really good
enough? Create a ‘great’
business and you create
raving fans.
By Kelly Bennet
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Dear Erol:
First of all, I have to say, I really enjoy
your e-mails. I’m constantly reminded of
what it is like when everything in the
business is “new.” Call me crazy, but I
often miss those early days!
You’ve hit on my favorite part of the
business: taking care of customers. It’s
one of the best things about running a
shop. If you’re not careful, though, it can
be one of the worst.
I used to obsess over getting more customers through my doors. Regardless of
how many customers I had, I always felt
like I needed more. One day the light
turned on when I was at my doctor’s
office. I was in the waiting room, when I
heard the receptionist tell someone who
called that they were not accepting any
new patients and she referred the caller to
MAY 2006
another doctor. My first reaction was how
unprofessional that seemed. Why on earth
would they turn away business? I asked
the receptionist and she said, “We already
have more than enough patients and we
want to provide the best possible service
to the loyal ones we already have.”
I thought about my shop and how
many loyal “patients” we already have. It
occurred to me that we didn’t have a car
count problem, we had a problem making every car count! My focus was on the
wrong thing.
Around the same time I went to a
workshop where the instructor was talking about hours per work order and that
the average shop was only selling 1.1
hours per work order. A reasonable goal
is 3.5 hours.
I’d never tracked mine, but I assumed
I was doing better than average. When I
got back to my shop I calculated it and
discovered I had 1.2 hours per work
order, a little better than the average
shop but well below the goal of 3.5
My first thought was that my customers would freak out if I found more
work to do on their cars. But I was dead
wrong! Facing a big repair job was not
what my clients are concerned about.
They’re busy people. Their lives are hectic! A few decades ago people had lots of
time and not enough money. Today most
people seem to have money but absolutely no time!
All this time I’d been trying to minimize the monetary impact of the work I
do for them. I would have been wiser
saving them more time. How could I do
that? Well, the average person in Canada
Larry Dickison
with a four-year-old (and older) vehicle
will spend about $1,200 a year in maintenance and repair. Most people hate going
to a repair shop. Not because it costs
them money, but because it’s a hassle. It
takes time out of their day… and they
just don’t like that.
If I do the work in bite-sizes of about
$100 a visit, they’re going to have to
come in 12 times to get all the work
done. That’s just way too many visits. If
my average work order is $200, they have
to make six visits. That’s still too many. If
it’s $300 on average, I can do all their
work in four visits. I decided our goal
should be to have an average work order
of $400 so my customers only have to
make three visits per year. It depends, of
course, on how much they drive and how
often they need an oil change, but our
goal is to see them three or four times
per year, maximum.
This philosophy has worked well for
our customers and for us. It allows us to
better focus on fewer vehicles (patients)
per day and better take care of them. I
have learned that I can focus more on
customer service when my bay doors
aren’t constantly opening and closing.
I’ve also learned very well that small
things score big points. Oddly enough it
turns out that small things “wow” the
customers. For example one day my wife
came back from one of her business trips
and was bragging about the Holiday Inn
Express in Charlottetown, P.E.I. It had
snowed the night before and she went
outside in the morning, she was shocked
to see that all of the snow had been
brushed off of her car for her. In fact
every car in the parking had the snow
cleared off. She went inside and told the
front desk clerk how amazed she was
that someone had cleared off the cars.
The hotel clerk simply said, it’s just a little extra service they like to do for
guests. She instantly became a raving fan
of that hotel.
That inspired me to see what small
things I could do to have my customers
become raving fans of my business.
Without a doubt the best thing we’ve
implemented is pre-booking our customers’ next appointment – just like a
dentist does. In fact, pre-booking
appointments has worked better than
any other marketing program we’ve put
in place, period! It has literally replaced
our need to advertise. On any given day
we have about 240 pre-booked appointments.
The hardest part was just starting it.
We didn’t want to be pushy with our
clients. So we had a brain storming session with our entire team to help come
up with a method of pre-booking
appointments. Our senior tech, Ed, suggested we give them a toothbrush when
they pay their bill – just like the dentist
does. People don’t question the concept
of pre-booking a dental appointment.
This gives us an opportunity to explain
why we’re doing it too. And, I can tell
you it works! They don’t mind at all. We
call them three days before the appointment and verify that they’re coming. I’m
proud to say that well over 90 per cent of
them keep the appointments!
Small things score big points.
So, as you probably expected, I have a
couple of book suggestions for you.
The first is Raving Fans by Ken
Blanchard. He offers some great simple
ideas to assist in developing raving fans.
But you really ought to read Good To
Great by Jim Collins. It’s one of my
favorite books of all time. Collins points
out that the number one enemy to
“great” is “good.” I found that statement
very convicting. I once thought my shop
was pretty good because it was better
than the shop down the street. But “better” is not necessarily “good” is it? And,
rather than try to be “better” than a bad
shop, or even a “good” shop, I should
have been trying to create a “great” business. Good To Great helped me plan a
strategy to get there.
We’ve implemented a number of
things that have really impressed our
customers, including washing and vacuuming every car before it is returned to
the customer, leaving a box of
microwave popcorn with our label on it
on the dash, and sending Thanksgiving
Day letters to every customer in our
database to say “thanks” for their business. I love the response we get from our
clients!
Erol, I’d like to really encourage you
to focus on creating raving fans. Take
care of them the best you can. Do as
much as you can on every visit so they
don’t have to come back as often. It
saves them time, and helps reduce their
stress. Best of all, you’ll be making every
car count.
Well, I’m out of here. My daughter has
Tae Kwon Do tonight and I don’t want to
miss it. It’s a small thing, but small things
score big points!
As always, I’m only an e-mail away.
—Kelly
Kelly Bennett is a
certified management
trainer with 14 years
experience coaching
automotive repair
shop owners. You can
reach him at kellythe
[email protected] or visit
www.kellybennett.ca
MAY 2006
Announcing the
REAL REWARDS
p
r
o
m
o
t
i
o
n
You get the point(s).
Here’s how it works*:
• Register for the ACDelco Real Rewards promotion
1: Online at www.ACDelcoCanada.com
Or
2: Fill out and mail in a registration form
• Buy ACDelco parts during May and June, 2006
• Participating ACDelco Distributors will notify ACDelco of
your purchases
• Qualifying participants will receive an ACDelco Real
Rewards AMEX card loaded with their points!
Keep your card - there will be more promotions
throughout the year!
REGISTER NOW AT www.ACDelcoCanada.com. Deadline June 30, 2006.
Get Stuff.
Questions? Or to find a participating Distributor,
call the ACDelco Info-Line at 1-800-263-3526
*Open to Canadian Independent Service Centres. ACDelco TSS members do not qualify. See your ACDelco Distributor for additional TSS promotions
and complete rules andregulations.
LEAK
seekers
The new basics for finding air conditioning system leaks…
both large and small.
By Claire Newman
W
inter is finally over and air conditioning season is finally here.
Now’s the time to check if a customer’s AC system is working properly,
before the first hot, humid day arrives.
Even though many customers are resistant to high-cost repairs, the desire for
cool air on a hot day runs deep and many
will still want to know what it would
take to repair a chronic AC problem.
The most common reason for an inoperative AC system is low refrigerant
level, and the most common reason for a
low refrigerant level is a leak somewhere
in the system.
So quickly reviewing some of the
most effective (and legal) ways to locate
refrigerant leaks is important.
Finding any leaks can be time consuming and frustrating, so understanding
leak detection methods is essential to
keep diagnostic times down to a minimum.
What’s in the system?
First, a quick note about refrigerant identifiers. These days they’re essential. With
so many crazy things routinely found in
AC systems – from sealers and blended
replacement refrigerants, to dangerous
hydrocarbons like propane (illegal in
many parts of the U.S… but this isn’t the
U.S.!) – it’s just good practice to quickly
find out what you’re dealing with. It
could save your AC service machines
from contamination or damage.
Some units do this automatically but if
yours doesn’t, it’s worth investing in a
dedicated refrigerant identifier.
Finding big leaks
For obvious reasons, this is usually easy.
Two common testing methods for large
leaks are:
Vacuum
Attaching a pump to create a vacuum in
the AC system, then listening for “hissing” sounds can be one of the quickest
The arrow at left shows the evaporator
case drain. Dye residue here may
indicate an evaporator core leak.
MAY 2006
ways to find a large leak. If there’s no
“hissing” sound, shutting the vacuum
pump off and watching to see if the
system loses it’s vacuum within a few
minutes may also indicate a system leak
Unfortunately, this method isn’t very
good for checking the valves or valve
cores—and it relies on the vacuum pump
being able to seal properly.
Nitrogen
This is the opposite of the vacuum
method. Pressurized nitrogen is introduced into the system and, with the help
of soapy water, the escaping nitrogen
causes bubbles at the leak site. This
method works well with larger leaks but,
much like locating a small puncture in a
tire using soapy water, this method may
not work as well to locate smaller leaks
in the system.
Finding small leaks
Here’s where you earn your money!
Smaller leaks can often be very challenging to locate.
For best results, you’ll want to check
the system both while the vehicle is running and also a few minutes after shutting it off. And remember that AC system
components should be clean before you
start checking for leaks. In the old days
of R12, oily dirt indicated a problem
area, but this isn’t true anymore. Dirt and
debris may actually seal up small leaks
or even fool the testing equipment. Wipe
away any residue or grime with a clean
rag before beginning to test for leaks to
ensure the most accurate results.
The condenser on this vehicle may be
a good place to check for leaks.
Electronic leak detectors
These are by far the most common
method of leak detection, even though
they can often be frustrating to use, especially if the shop air has been “contaminated” with something which sets the
detector off. Blowing off any suspect
areas with shop air may help with diagnosis. The probe of these detectors
should be held as closely as possible to
the area being tested (less than 1/4”
away) and moved slowly along all surfaces, seals, and fittings, especially along
the bottom of the components where the
refrigerant tends to settle.
Even if a leak is detected right away
during diagnosis, continue testing the
entire system to avoid embarrassment
later by missing another leak.
Testing the evaporator core can be
tricky, but it helps to wait a few minutes
after the system is shut down, then moving the probe around the evaporator case
drain or blower resistor opening.
Trace dyes
Fluorescent dye can easily be added to
the system (usually with a partial charge
of refrigerant, but there are new methods
coming on the market all the time). Then
a special light is used to check for leaks.
This method is recommended by many
manufacturers, but it takes some practice. The dye can be easily washed away
Check for leaks at the bottom of the
receiver-drier, as well as at the seals and
fittings.
from AC system components (though not
as easily removed from things like fingers and fabrics) there is potential to be
confused by previous leaks and other
substances like washer fluid or sealers
which can also fluoresce under certain
light conditions. Traces of the dye usually remain on the evaporator drain tube if
the evaporator is leaking.
The dye method can work very well
for checking seals and connections within a few hours of being added to the system but often loses its usefulness within
a few days.
Additives
These are generally not recommended
since completely removing them from
the system is difficult and most manufacturers won’t warranty components if any
additives were used. Finding small leaks
can be difficult but adding something
“unapproved” to the system to either
plug the leak or make it more noticeable
can make things worse in the long run.
AC system leaks are usually either
large and easy to locate, or small and
tough to find. Unfortunately, quite often
after a large leak is located and
repaired, the refrigerant will seep out
through a smaller leak in the same system which either went undiagnosed or
got much worse after the initial repair.
Rechecking the AC system for leaks
before the vehicle leaves may prevent
problems later on.
Finding and repairing leaks is still one
of the most common tasks for AC repair
work, even though the business has
changed so much in recent years. Since
customers often resist expensive repairs,
it will help if you can assure them you
are trained to quickly and accurately
diagnose problems that make their vehicles uncomfortable in summer heat.
Being up on AC diagnosis and repair
saves time, money and frustration on
both sides of the service counter.
Claire Newman is a GM grandmaster
technician with 12 years experience.
MAY 2006
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Ask your Spicer Representative for complete details.
A member of the Affinia family of brands: Aimco • McQuay-Norris • Nakata • Raybestos • Spicer • Wix
CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVES:
USE AS DIRECTED
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Modern chemicals
and additives bring
obvious benefits – in
the right applications!
REMEMBER the wonder of your first
chemistry set?
No surprise that now, in your adult
life, you’re still playing with chemicals –
this time within the confines of an automotive bay. But, as when you were a kid,
your default position when using automotive-related chemicals and additives
should be to strictly follow product
instructions and use them for approved
applications only.
Used incorrectly, chemicals and additives can cause costly engine or equipment damage. Worse, they can be harmful to technicians and customers alike.
Penetrating lubricant, for example, is
a classic example of a product that can
be your best friend or worst enemy. The
benefits are obvious when you’re removing a bolt that is severely rusted or corroded. A soaking of penetrating oil on a
stubborn bolt will save you a lot of sweat
and labor. But if it’s present when locking bolts – particularly in critical applications such as lug nuts – the penetrating
oil will interfere with the fastener’s ability to torque on properly.
It’s the same with RTV sealants and
silicones which are used in place of or in
conjunction with cut gaskets. Used in the
wrong measure or in the wrong applications, silicone and other formed-in-place
sealants can actually undermine the sealing process.
AC additives can be relatively benign
MAY 2006
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(like leak detection dyes which ride the system with the PAG or
Ester oil and refrigerant) or aggressive (like leak sealants and
seal rejuvenators). The danger with “maintenance” products is
that, used incorrectly, they can become problematic for the system. Manufacturers of many AC components will refuse a warranty claim where a foreign substance like stop-leak is found in
the old part. Some AC service equipment will even shut the service down if it detects the presence of certain additives out of
concern that they’ll cause damage.
In similar fashion, corrosion inhibitors are tremendously
helpful in cooling systems. They adjust the acid/alkaline balance
(pH) to prevent silicates and phosphates from creating crystals
or scaling which can damage systems from the inside out. But
when mixed with another kind of coolant or additive, they lose
some of their effectiveness. Always mix kind with kind.
When using cleaners, it’s important to consider the unique
properties of the part being cleaned. Aggressive chemicals like
brake cleaners and carburetor cleaners can do serious, expensive damage to mass air flow sensors and sensitive electronic
equipment. They can destroy seals and interfere with conductivity. Cleaners have now been introduced especially for sensitive
parts. Always be sure the product you’re using is approved for
the application you’re cleaning.
For obvious reasons, chemicals have limitations. They’ll
never be able to mend broken parts. But used as directed, they
have remarkable ability to lengthen component life and reduce
the harmful effects of wear.
The use of chemicals and additives in automotive repair work
is evolving, as technicians get a better handle on where they’re
helpful and where they can be harmful. It’s a valuable learning
curve to master.
MAY 2006
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Temporary adhesive
Safety connector
Automotive cleaner/degreaser
BKD Aerospace Industries has developed a
temporary adhesive designed to grab and
hold small parts. Ideal for technicians work-
Nothing can be more catastrophic or scary at
the track or in the shop than a gas leak or a
serious hot oil burn. That’s why Jiffy-tite
Quick-Connect Fluid Fittings are designed
for both performance and safety. Designed by
racers for racers, each fitting is tested and
proven to have a 100 per cent leak-proof seal,
even at 200 psi. Jiffy-tite fittings are much
safer than traditional threaded fittings. With
Sunshine Makers has
introduced the new Pro
Series Simple Green MAX
– a powerful automotive
cleaner and degreaser formulated specially for the
tough petroleum and carbon soils that come with
automotive care. It’s said
to be great for cleaning
grease off tools, work benches, shop floors,
and doors. It also tackles cleaning grease and
grime from oil pans and wash basins. It cuts
through brake dust, rubber marks, oxidized
paint, road tar, bug juice and oil trails. Pro
Series Simple Green MAX contains no ammonia or alcohol, is VOC compliant, and is nonflammable and non-abrasive. It is also nontoxic and readily biodegradable.
Simple Green – For more info,
go to www.aptmag.ca/products/33202
ing in confined spaces where it is impossible
to get a grip with fingers or normal tools,
STICK IT temporary adhesive comes in a
handy glue stick container. Just dab a very
small amount onto on the end of your finger
or tool, and then touch it to the part you’re
trying to pick up. STICK IT is biodegradable,
wipes off cleanly and won’t harm sensitive
electronics (it’s dielectric). It was developed
using a sophisticated laboratory force measurement instrument to have precisely the
“stickiness” and ease of removal needed to
hold light assemblies and parts together.
BKD Aerospace Industries – For more info,
Tire balancer
Hunter Engineering’s patented SmartWeight
balancing technology is a new wheel balancing method that minimizes correction weight
usage and maximizes productivity, saving
money on both material and labor costs. This
new method computes correction weights by
measuring and evaluating the “absolute” or
pure static (shake) and couple (shimmy)
forces that cause vibration. Unlike traditional
balancing, which judges balance condition
based on correction weight values,
SmartWeight balancing uses the actual static
and couple forces, which directly addresses
the source of vibration problems, resulting in
the best possible balance.
Hunter – For more info,
threaded fittings there’s always the risk that
the gas can leak or prompt a tragic spin-out
or crash. Jiffy-tite’s unique high-flow valve
technology in the plug-and-socket assembly
automatically interrupts the flow of fluid
when disconnected to protect against hazardous gas leaks or potential hot oil spills.
Jiffy-tite – For more info,
Catalog
DynoMax Performance Exhaust will launch
95 new part numbers in its latest 2006 master
catalog, following more than 162 new part
numbers in 2005, to round out its offering of
performance exhaust products and related
accessories for virtually any enthusiast. DynoMax products are available
through
leading
performance retailers across North
America. The new
DynoMax catalog
features a handy
quick-reference guide for cat-back systems
and a new layout for the brand’s muffler
series that organizes by style and size for
more efficient and accurate selling. The catalog also features expanded catalytic converter coverage and incorporates DNX products,
Tenneco’s sport compact exhaust brand.
Tenneco – For more info,
Maintenance line
Quick Lube Products has launched a new line
of products designed for quick lube professionals. The new
line, christened Pro
Formula, consists
of six specialty
products designed
to maximize vehicle performance and
increase fuel efficiency. The six products
include Engine Cleaner, Engine Stop Leak,
Fuel Boost, Fuel System Cleaner, Engine
Treatment and Engine Protection.
Quick Lube Products – For more info,
Custom-bent hoses
Gates Unicoil — a
stainless steel coil
with a metal spine
— allows technicians to configure
custom-bent hoses
using
straight
heater hose. Designed for making quick
repairs and for out-of-stock situations, Gates
Unicoil can maximize hose sales and profits
by increasing service bay turnover. Gates
Unicoil is available for 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4-inch ID
hoses. Go to www.gates.com/unicoil.
Gates Corporation – For more info,
MAY 2006
CANBUILT
Compressed gas cylinder
ROBOSTRUT:
Air Liquide has introduced Minitop, a compressed gas cylinder with an
integrated regulator-valve, which is a portable ready-to-use version of its
industrial-sized Altop cylinder. Light (10 kg), ergonomic, easy to handle
and safe, Minitop is also economical to use. Its solid tulip cap, which is
made of highly resistant, non-corrosive composite materials, totally protects the cylinder’s regulator-valve at all times. The design of each component also includes exclusive safety features.
Air Liquide – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/36701
Hydraulic Spring Compressor
Scan tool
The AutoEnginuity line of PC-based OBD-II scan
tools has been introduced into Canada.
AutoEnginuity’s Scan Tool is a hardware
and software combination for Windows PC,
Windows Mobile 2002, 2003, and 2005
compliant PPC’s and Palm (PDA’s)
computing devices. With the optional
enhanced software interface options,
independent repair shops can have dealerlike capabilities. Now offering support for
powertrain/body and chassis for GM, Ford, Toyota and Mazda, and powertrain for Chrysler, Hyundai and Kia. All SAE OBD-II interfaces are supported, including CAN in one convenient hardware connector, supporting
USB 2.0, Serial RS232 PC and Wireless Bluetooth connections.
AEToronto – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/36402
MAF Sensor cleaner
Aggressive chemicals like brake cleaners and carburetor cleaners can do serious, expensive damage to
mass air flow sensors. That’s why CRC has developed
new SensorKleen, a safe and effective alternative to
“underground” methods of MAF sensor cleaning.
Pollen, dust and air filter oil can burn onto MAF
hotwires causing faulty read-outs, hard starting,
stalling and emissions. CRC SensorKleen easily
cleans MAF electrical components without damage to
the wires or housing. It’s plastic safe and dries in seconds. Dynamometer proven to gain 4 to10 horsepower, improve air/fuel ratio and fuel economy.
CRC – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/36205
• Complete Strut change over in less than 5 minutes!
• Handles 99% of all struts on today’s vehicles
• Hydraulics allows total control and safety for
compressing & re-seating springs
• Unique 3 Axis Adjustment
for maximum tooling contact.
Wall Mount RoboStrut
Item # RS-410A
Special: $849.68
Optional Mobility Kit
Item # RS-410WK
Reg: $179.86
SPECIAL:
1/2 price with RS-410A
Air Powered: Platform - Motorcycle - ATV lift
- 1000 lb Capacity0
95.0 5.00
:$13
29
Reg L: $1
CIA r Now ise
SPE Orde Wheel V e
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Fre 0 Va
Get
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9
$17
• Removable rear wheel deck
• Expandable platform with
Optionally Available:
- 13” Front Platform Extension
- 24” Side Platform Extensions
Model # ML-3000
Shown with Optional
Wheel Vise
7,000 lb Storage Lifts:
For Cars & SUV’s
Model # VL-4700
For cars:
68” Clear ght
Get
ow
Y
er N
d
TOR
r
O
FAC
Model #VL-4700EXT
For SUV’s & pickups:
78” Clear Height
• North American Hydraulic units
• A complete line of lifts available
WORKSTATION BENCHES & CABINETS
• Organize your
workspace
Strobe lamp
Grote Industries introduces the all new
77453 High Profile Strobe lamp. It combines rugged construction along with
the most current advances in 360°
strobe technology. This lamp features
field selectable dual or quad flash settings and Smart Strobe technology that
automatically adjust the light output for
day and night time conditions. As well,
the 77453 features field replaceable
flash tubes. The thread-on-lens and
snap-fit flash tube, allows the user to change the flash tube without the
use of tools.
Grote – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/36503
MAY 2006
.00
E
$150 REBAT
!
NEW
• Secure your tools.
test equipment
• Improve
Preductivity
• Improve shop
appearance
See them at: www.canbuilt.com
Call your local Parts Supplier or Canbuilt Equipment
1-888-607-2926 • 416-749-6555
®
www.canbuilt.com • [email protected]
Oil light reset kit
OTC has announced the availability
of its new Oil Light Reset Tool Kit.
The kit (model #3596E) allows technicians to quickly and efficiently
reset the oil service light in select
2005 and older domestic, Asian and
European vehicles. The tool set
includes adapters and an easy to
read graphical display to reset the oil service lights on Volkswagen,
Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Volvo vehicles. The user guide provides comprehensive coverage through 2005, and comes complete
with all tool and manual reset procedures for domestic and import
vehicles.
SPX – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/36805
Import ride Control
Tenneco continues its aggressive coverage expansion of Monroe ride
control components for foreign-nameplate vehicles, with immediate
availability of dozens of new part numbers
for late-model Toyota, Honda, Nissan,
Volkswagen, and Land Rover applications. Monroe offers coverage of 98 percent of passenger vehicles registered in North
America. New part numbers are available for
Monroe Reflex shock absorbers, Monroe Reflex
On The Road
To A Better World
Protecting Our Environment with HFC 134a
Cross blend refrigerants may cause
harmful system contamination. The
mobile air conditioning industry has
chosen HFC 134a, the only pure
refrigerant, as the leading candidate
to replace R12.
Arkema is a leading supplier of
HFC 134a. We can help you…and
the environment. We believe we are
on the right road to a better world.
For more information on the
availability of HFC 134a call:
Arkema Canada Inc. Fluorochemicals Group
1-800-567-5726
www.arkemagroup.ca
struts, Sensa-Trac struts, Monro-Matic Plus struts, and Monroe StrutMate strut mounting kits. The company says it will add more than 110
new Monroe ride control part numbers for foreign-nameplate applications this year.
Tenneco – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/36901
Leak detection
The new Spotgun Jr./Pico-Lite Kit
from UView (Part no. 332220) is
cost effective and has everything
needed to find air conditioning
system leaks quickly and accurately. It combines the Spotgun Jr.
injection system and the new
PICO-Lite compact, high-intensity
leak detection light that fluoresces all UV dyes. The Spotgun
Jr. delivers a precisely measured amount of dye into the AC system
with virtually no coupler wastage. This means more tests per dye
cartridge and no messy spills to clean up.
UView – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/35804
Wheel service equipment
Cemb is pleased to introduce in Canada, its complete line of wheel balancers and tire changers for cars, motorcycles, ATVs, trucks,
and heavy duty applications. Its
newest model C-71 “direct drive”
garage wheel balancer has a
spin cycle time of only 3.8 seconds on an average 15” wheel. It
also has the easiest to use “split
and hidden” weight program for
alloy wheels in the market place.
The automatic functions of distance
and diameter input and direct placement program for stick-on weights means no re-spinning with this machine. You will get the stick-on weights
stuck on right the first time.
Cemb – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/35405
Wheel cleaner
PPG has introduced its new Wheel Cleaner, a
spray gel product that is part of the company’s
new consumer car care product line. PPG Wheel
Cleaner adheres to the wheel, removing brake
dust and road grime without wiping. Simply
spray the cleaner on and hose it off with water.
Because the cleaner is a spray gel, it’s easy to
apply, minimizes over-spray and does not run. Its
advanced formulation removes aluminum oxidation resulting in brighter, newer-looking wheels.
The cleaner’s unique combination of active
agents and solvents is safe for most wheels
including coated aluminum, uncoated aluminum, mag, chrome, steel,
painted, plastic and wire.
PPG – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/32211
MAY 2006
CANBUILT
Spark plug catalog
Robert Bosch has released its 2005/2006 Spark
Plug Catalog for cars, light trucks, vans, and small
engines. The exhaustive 680-page catalog features
details on the company’s complete line of Bosch
Super, Bosch Platinum, Bosch Platinum2, and
Bosch Platinum+4 spark plugs. In addition to
light vehicles, the catalog contains listings for
recreational equipment, lawn and garden equipment, and marine applications. There is also a buyer’s guide with technical information, number
interchange, and competitor cross reference.
Robert Bosch – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/36502
Parts degreaser
Orison Marketing’s new Piston Kleen parts degreaser uses an advanced water-based formula to clean
old engine, transmission, and chassis parts. Highly
effective and environmentally safe, it removes stubborn carbon and grease deposits with no scraping,
harsh abrasives or volatile solvents. Utilizing the
Orison ‘peptizing’ process, biodegradable Piston
Kleen actually helps metallic surfaces release carbon deposits while simultaneously removing grime
and oil buildup. One-, five-, and 55-gallon containers are available.
Orison Marketing – For more info,
Fuel injectors
Siemens VDO has announced the availability of its new line of racing fuel
injectors. The new injectors are designed to
produce accurate flow rates and maximum reliability in high-performance racing engines.
They deliver a precision pencil spray at high
flow rates. They’re available in both high and
low impedance configurations ranging from 36
lbs/hr (374cc/min) up to and including 83 lbs/hr
(873cc/min). Fuel flow rates are set and calibrated during manufacturing. Each unit is tested to the highest quality standards in ISO certified facilities.
Siemens – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/35702
TM
THE PANTHER HEADLIGHT AIMER
Headlight Aiming
MADE EASY!
Compact Design, Fast &
Simple Operation
• Easy to understand, setup and
use in any bay
Accurately Checks Aim for
ALL Headlights
• ALL Vehicles, ALL Models,
ALL Years
MAY 2006
DOT APPROVED
for all vehicles
Precision ground
Optical GLASS Lens
• Not affected by:
UV, Direct Sunlight,
Overspray or Airborne
solvents
Your NEW Profit Centre:
Average $39.95 charge for a 10
minute Alignment!
Aimer Presentation
and Operation manuals
available at:
www.canbuilt.com
DEMO ONLINE AT
www.canbuilt.com
Model OPT-5405
Optical Headlight
Aimer
For a Limited Time: FREE WITH PURCHASE:
1 of -Aimer protective cover - $34.95 Value
2 of -Headlight Resurfacer/Restorer Kit - $79.90 Value
Over $115.00 in Savings !
Limited Time Special: $899.00
PLASTIC & HEADLIGHT
RECONDITIONER / PROTECTOR
YOUR OPTIONS:
REPLACE
OR
RESTORE
Muffler
The new DynoMax Ultra FloX muffler combines the classic X-pipe configuration and the advanced, ultra-highefficiency straight-through design of
an Ultra Flo muffler. This innovative
performance solution flows up to
1,100 cubic feet per minute (CFM) at 20.3inches H2O, supporting as much as 500 horsepower. Utilizing an internal three-inch perforated tube
X-pipe surrounded by continuous-roving fiberglass, the
Ultra Flo X features carefully engineered cross-over section that helps
ensure maximum flow and a premium, aggressive performance sound.
Replacing conventional H-pipe designs, the new Ultra Flo X muffler
reduces overall weight, space requirements and installation time.
Tenneco – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/33907
10 Minute
Complete
Headlight Alignment
BEFORE
AFTER
Average Headlight Replacement cost $ 150.00 ea. & up
• Cleans / restores multiple vehicles
•
•
•
•
Easy 2 step application • Clear lenses in minutes
Long term, Shine restorer / UV protective coating
NON HAZARDOUS - Environment friendly
Item # HRC-1500 MFSRP: $39.95
®
Call your local Parts Supplier or Canbuilt Equipment
1-888-607-2926 • 416-749-6555
www.canbuilt.com • [email protected]
2
3
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5
7
6
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9
10
11
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May 06
AUTO PUZZLE
1
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
ACROSS
1.
4.
7.
9.
10.
11.
13.
14.
15.
17.
19.
20.
22.
23.
24.
Phonograph needle.
Most broad.
The “E”in SAE.
Dispatched.
Saved.
Service with a ______.
1970s rock band “_______ Dan.”
An angle that measures 90 degrees.
Not sedentary.
A trek through Africa.
Common computer spreadsheet program.
Frequent cause of wet streets.
Type of light.
Unseen story tellers.
The “Right to Repair”fight is all about _____ to OE
repair information.
25. Electrical measurement.nt.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
11.
12.
15.
16.
17.
18.
21.
22.
DOWN
Sight,touch,smell,taste,and hearing.
The stuff you find at the bottom of your pockets.
Driving condition characterized by wheel shake.
What tires go on.
Not light.
School yard snitch is a “______ tale.”
What comedians do… or attempt to do.
What water does in oil.
Unpaid servant.
____ pay for work of _____ value.
Oldsmobile nameplate.
New car options like air conditioning,power
windows,and leather seats.
Nissan nameplate.
Type of manifold.
Moniker.
Voyage.
February 2006 Auto Puzzle
Answers to previous crossword puzzles
are posted on our website at
T O T
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O F F
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A L L
A
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R
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X T
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O Y
F O U N D
B
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A
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D E L A Y
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R B E W A R E
Y
F
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S P A R K
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T A L O N
Add More Life To Your Car
Havoline® has entered a new century
of adding more life to your car.
Moving forward, we will continue to
embrace vital new technology that
translates into value-added solutions
for your business.We’re looking
towards the future, but we’ll never
outgrow the world-class performance
and solid technical expertise that
got us here in the first place.
For more information call
1 800 465-2772 or visit
www.Havoline.com
Congratulations to Donny Woodbeck of Sullivan Motor
Products,in Houston,B.C.,winner of a Havoline jacket
for solving our February 2006 puzzle.
Win 100!
$
Name:
Send your solved puzzle to Canadian
Technician.We’ll draw a winner on August 17,
2006.Send to 451 Attwell Drive,Toronto,
ON M9W 5C4.Or fax to 416-614-2781.
Workplace:
Work address:
Phone:
email:
Question of the Month: What was the best training class you ever took and what
made it so special?
© 2006 Chevron Global Lubricants. All rights reserved.
continued from page 30
ing none. “Do ya figure we need some
kind of special scanner to bleed the antilocks?” he wondered out loud.
“Could be,” shrugged Beanie. “Or
maybe the new pads are faulty. We’ve
seen that before.”
Basil came over and leaned against the
workbench to ponder the situation. The
crew fell silent as our mystic guru closed
his eyes and stroked his goatee. We knew
from past experience that it would be
worth the wait. Finally he spoke. “Beanie,
all circles of life eventually connect on
intersecting planes. What transpires in
one arena of consciousness gives us
clues as to what’s going on in another.”
We just stared. “Huh?” said Beanie.
Basil rolled his eyes. “Okay, I’ll cut to
the chase. Why do your feet hurt?”
He looked down at his greasy work
boots. “Because my new shoes don’t fit
properly.”
“Precisely!” Basil raised a single forefinger. “Now carry that thought to your
new car. What is new, and more importantly, what isn’t?”
Slowly it sunk in; Beanie had put new
pads on old rotors. When we removed
the rotors for closer inspection, we discovered that they were worn to a taper.
The simple reality was that the new pads
weren’t sitting square on the rotors and
were flexing every time the brakes were
applied, causing the pedal to feel spongy.
A new set of inexpensive rotors completely solved the problem.
“How’s the dancing lessons,” Quigley
asked Beanie a week later.
He shrugged. “A lot better once I went
out and bought shoes that fit.”
“And what about the new girlfriend,”
said Tooner, sucking on a sugar cube.
Beanie squirmed. “That’s not so great.”
“What’s wrong,” I asked. “She’s not
such a good dancer?”
“It’s not that.” He sighed. “She’s now
decided that her favorite movie is
‘Bullitt.’ And there’s no way I can afford a
Mustang GT!”
Solved a tricky shop
problem lately? Think it
would make a good story
for The Car Side?
Contact Rick at rick.
[email protected].
MAY 2006
ADVERTISER INDEX
The advertisers in this magazine offer quality parts,services and equipment that
can help improve the quality of service you offer your customers. Please take a
moment to read their advertising message, or click through to their web sites to
learn more about what they can offer you.
Advertiser
Page
Website Address
Phone
ACDelco
17
www.ACDelcocanada.com
1-800-26-DELCO
Arkema Canada
700 Third Line
Oakville, ON L6J 5A3
26
www.arkemagroup.com
1-800-567-5726
25,27
www.canbuilt.com
416-749-6555
1-888-607-2926
CRC Canada
2-1246 Lorimar Drive
Mississauga, ON L5S1R2
20
www.crc-canada.com
905-670-2291
Chevron Global Lubricants
6975A Pacific Circle
Mississauga, ON L4T 1A1
28
www.texacohavoline42.com
1-800-465-2772
Delphi Product and Service Solutions
1441 West Long Lake Road
Mail Code 480.415.307 Troy, MI 48098
31
www.delphi.com
1-877-GO-DELPHI
Matco Tools
25 Carissa Lane
Holland Landing, ON L9N 1R6
23
www.nmtccanada.com
1-866-BUY-TOOL
Franchise Opportunities
1-800-368-6651
2
www.ngksparkplugs.ca
1-877-2-Sparky
Quaker State
1101 Blair Road
Burlington, ON L7M 1T3
12
Qpower.com
1-800-263-6200
Robert Bosch, Inc.
6955 Creditview Rd.
Mississauga, ON L5N 1R1
32
www.bosch.com
1-800-618-4729
Rotary Lift
2840 Argentia Road Unit #4
Mississauga, ON L5N 8G4;
22
www.rotarylift.com
1-888-256-4195
Shell Canada
4
www.shell.ca
Visit our website
Snap-on Tools
2325 Skymark Avenue
Mississauga, ON L4W 5A9
9
www.snapon.com
1-800-734-2676
Spicer Chassis Products (Affinia)
6601-A Goreway Drive
Mississauga, ON L4V 1V6
21
www.spicerchassis.ca
(905) 405-0956
Robinair - SPX Canada
5695 Whittle Road
Mississauga, ON L4Z 3P8
14
www.robinair.com
Contact local agent
Canbuilt Manufacturing
103 Milvan Drive
Weston, ON M9L 1Z7
NGK Spark Plugs Canada Limited
505 Apple Creek Blvd.Unit 1
Markham ON L3R 5R1
The Car Side
By Rick Cogbill
All circles of life eventually connect on intersecting planes…
but what’s that got to do with Beanie’s new car?
The Old Soft Shoe
“O
h-oh.” Tooner stared out the
front window in disbelief. “He’s
finally lost it.”
All eyes followed his coffee cup as it
pointed toward the parking lot. A shiny
yellow ’99 VW New Beetle had just rolled
in and parked beside Tooner’s rusty old
Chevy pickup. The driver’s door opened
and Beanie climbed out.
“You’ve got to be kidding!” exclaimed
Quigley, our service writer. “Beanie…in a
Bug?”
“It gets worse,” moaned Tooner. Our
young apprentice was now waltzing
around in circles, hands extended
towards an imaginary dance partner.
Basil pulled on his coveralls. “I don’t
know what’s ailing the boy, but that
Volkswagen is a vast improvement over
an S10 with a boom box.” He peered
through his spectacles for a better look.
“I don’t believe I detect even a smidgen
of rust.”
The employee in question sauntered
into the coffee room, whistling a catchy
Big Band tune. “Hey Beanie, where’d you
get the new car?” I asked.
“Never mind ‘where,’” broke in
Tooner. “I want to know why!”
Beanie shrugged. “It’s my new image.”
“Hmm, let me guess,” ventured Basil.
“You’ve got a new girlfriend.”
Bean’s face lit up. “Yeah! And Rosie is
a big fan of The Love Bug movies, so…”
“So you bought a car that she’d like.”
Tooner drained the coffee pot, catching
the last drip with his tongue. “Any other
changes we should know about?”
“Uh, we’re taking ballroom dancing
lessons.”
The empty carafe shattered into a
thousand pieces as it hit the floor.
Apparently the thought of The Bean slow
dancing to Benny Goodman was too
much for Tooner to comprehend this
early in the morning.
Beanie bragged about his new car all
day. “…and it’s got a 115-horsepower, 2.0litre engine, anti-lock brakes, and a
power sun roof that…”
Tooner finally cut him off. “Beanie! It’s
a car. It goes, it stops, and it costs you
money; end of story.” He turned back to
his work. “I liked your old S10 better.”
“Don’t mind him,” I said. “He’s just
jealous that you’re driving something
with paint on it.”
That night, Beanie stayed late to do a
little maintenance on his car, installing
new brake pads and changing the oil.
The next morning he was limping as he
came in the shop. Quigley raised an eyebrow. “What happened to you; drop a tire
on your foot?”
Beanie grimaced. “No, it’s the dancing
lessons. My new black dress shoes don’t
fit quite right.” He turned to me. “Hey,
Slim, my brake pedal went mushy right
after I put on those new brake pads last
night.” He explained that the rotors were
smooth and had measured within spec,
so he’d left them alone.
“Did you get some air in the lines?”
He shook his head. “I never even
cracked a bleeder. The calipers pushed
back nice and easy.”
Tooner scratched his chin. “I don’t
know much about these Herby throwbacks, but maybe you’ve popped the
master cylinder.” In spite of his critical
view of the New Beetle, Tooner spent the
next hour helping Beanie bleed the
brakes, looking for signs of air but find-
continued on page 29
MAY 2006

Running Cool Running Cool - Canadian Technician: The authoritative

Transcription

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