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Technologies transforming automotive service were on display at AAPEX By the MTD staf
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utomotive technology is moving at warp speed these days. Exhibitors at the 2015 Automotive Afermarket Product Expo (AAPEX) did more than spotlight tools and products to help shops keep up with today’s technologies. Tey also gave visitors to their booths a heads-up on the innovations coming down the pipeline. For example, Robert Bosch LLC’s Automotive Aftermarket North America division highlighted gasoline direct injection (GDI) and diesel common rail technologies in its AAPEX booth. Jarod Adams, group product manager for gasoline systems, says original equipment manufacturers are developing engines with both a port fuel injector per cylinder and a GDI injector per cylinder. “Today it’s either a port system or a GDI system. By 2018 they’ll start going to dual port and gasoline, which is great for the afermarket: more parts and more components to repair.” Although GDI is more of an intensive repair than a port system, Adams says the market doesn’t have to be afraid of it. “We’re seting up a website that will show how to do GDI repairs. It will show step-bystep repair procedures as well as the parts we ofer. Today about 42% of passenger cars and light trucks are equipped with GDI, by 2020 it will be 72%,” says Adams. More diesel engines are on the way, too. “Common rail technology got us to a level to where diesel engines can start meeting emissions requirements in all 50 states,” says Ross Sandercock, director of diesel products. “We’re going to see more diesel sales. Te federal mandate is 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. You need diesels to help get to that level.” Common rail engines are less forgiving of poor repair quality than conventional engines, according to Sandercock. “Although there are many options for selecting rebuilt/remanufactured injectors that can save you money, there are also as many risks associated with choosing an injector from a non-authorized remanufacturer. Consumers and technicians need to know the risks and understand the choices they have in order to make an informed
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decision regarding diesel vehicle service and performance.” Bosch is helping to educate the market on diesel common rail technologies at a website called choosetherightinjector.com. A section of the Continental Commercial Vehicles and Afermarket booth was devoted to a pilot project involving a remote diagnostics system that also collects manufacturer-specifc vehicle data. Tire dealers, service retailers, automobile clubs, feets and service providers for networked driving can use the data develop services customized for their customers. Te services are integrated into a shop’s Web portal or an app. Te company says the platform provides access to standardized diagnostics information and also to vehicle data specifc to the manufacturer and model. Continental makes various options available for data transfer and confgures the hardware for the vehicle concerned. The company says this means that shops have, for example, the option of reminding their customers specifcally about necessary inspections, or of informing them about fault messages. “Te value is not in the component; the component facilitates the service and the service is where the value is,” says Paul Schriro, program supervisor. “What we’re looking to do is enable companies to provide services for their customers.” Bosch and Continental were among the 2,239 exhibitors in the Sands Expo Center Nov. 3-5. Here’s a look at some of the products and technologies on display, as well as what companies are doing to help techs stay on top of the latest trends.
Schaefer’s new website has 3 advantages Schaefer Group’s North American Afermarket business unit unveiled a website that delivers diagnostic, product, and repair information direct to distributors, counter personnel and installers. Te company says three advantages set the new Repxpert 2.0 website apart from similar oferings:
• Repxpert 2.0 features an online product catalog powered by OptiCat in real-time and updated daily;
MTD December 2015
