Canadian Technician June 2007

Canadian Mail Sales Product Agreement #40063170 Registration 10833. Return postage guaranteed. Newcom Business Media Inc., 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON M9W 5C4

JUNE 2007

The new oil change How technology impacts oil jobs

Rural entrepreneur named the Canadian Technician of the Year ALSO:

• Assess your skills at CARSAbility.ca

• Top shops compare training ideas in Chicago

• Greenwood on little ideas that make a big difference www.canadiantechnician.ca

Snap-on congratulates

Simon Manintveld on being named Canadian Technician of the Year 2007

Snap-on recognizes the hard work of Canada’s top technicians.

That’s why we’re proud to present Simon with our “Classic 78” Tool Storage Combo.

Snap-on® tool storage units are the overwhelming choice of demanding professionals because of quality features such as: • Double-wall construction with full-height inner wall welded in place for strength • Ball-bearing drawer slides • Lock ‘n Roll drawer retention feature • Corner gusset design for strength and load carrying • 7 colour choices available • Lifetime warranty on workmanship and materials

Snap-on® is a trademark of Snap-on Incorporated. © 2007 Snap-on Incorporated. All rights reserved.

JUNE 2007

VOL. 12 NO. 5

Departments Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 From Our Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Reader Rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Out & About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 EyeSpy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Product Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Havoline Auto Puzzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

11

12

Columnists Management S.O.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

By Kelly Bennett The Greenwood Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

By Bob Greenwood The Car Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

By Rick Cogbill

Features Canadian Technician of the Year . . . .22

22

Over the past 20 years, Simon Manintveld, owner of Simon’s Caddy Shack in Oakwood, ON, has built a solid reputation, and has earned the trust of a community.

The new oil change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Technology is making the most basic maintenance service a little more complicated. The humble oil change now involves some high-tech considerations.

Assessing your skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 The CARS Council unveils an assessment tool that was nearly a decade in the making. Now you can take a comprehensive test to find out how well trained you are for modern vehicle repair.

27

Editorial VOLUME 12

NUMBER 5

PUBLISHER Mark Vreugdenhil mark@canadiantechnician.ca (416) 614-5819 EDITOR / ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Allan Janssen ajanssen@canadiantechnician.ca (416) 614-5814 NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Dale Patenaude dale@canadiantechnician.ca (416) 614-5829 CIRCULATION MANAGER Lilianna Kantor lkantor@canadiantechnician.ca (416) 614-5815 DESIGN & PRODUCTION Tim Norton production@canadiantechnician.ca (416) 614-5810 CONTRIBUTORS Kelly Bennett, Rick Cogbill, Larry Dickison, Will Enns, Bob Greenwood, and Claire Newman DIRECTOR, QUEBEC OPERATIONS Joe Glionna PUBLISHED BY Newcom Business Media 451 Attwell Drive Toronto, Ontario M9W 5C4 Phone: (416) 614-0955 Fax: (416) 614-8861 www.canadiantechnician.ca 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: $5.30; one-year subscription in Canada: $36.04 ($34.00 plus $2.04 GST); one-year subscription in U.S.: US$40; one-year subscription in all other countries: US$65. Copyright 2007. 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.

Canadian Publications Mail Sales Agreement #40063170. ISSN 1710-7644.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program toward our mailing costs. PAP Registration No.10833.

“Perfect Pour”

By Will Enns Phone (250) 404-0411 www.canadiantechnician.ca/covers JUNE 2007

A new era of training More and more techs truly understand the imperative of continuing education.

By Allan Janssen When I was in high school, we still learned how to type on manual typewriters. You didn’t even see an electric model unless you were in the ‘advanced’ class. That’s where the state-of-the-art equipment was.

I’m not telling you that to prove how really, really old I am. I’m just trying to say, my profession has been dramatically impacted by communication technology over the past two and a half decades.

These days a Blackberry, an Internet connection, and a videophone are part of the reporter’s tool kit. It’s a long way from the Underwood with the sticking keys and worn ink ribbon!

Our world is evolving almost daily. And no one’s world is changing faster than the automotive technician’s. Not only are the vehicles changing, but the equipment and the processes too. Things that worked on last year’s model, won’t work on this year’s model. Tools you relied on five years ago are largely useless on today’s vehicles.

It is a stark truth that if you don’t seek out regular professional development you will soon be obsolete.

This training imperative has been discussed for decades in our industry. I wasn’t around, obviously, but I have no doubt that mechanics in the 1950s were tsk-tsking about how complex the latest vehicles were becoming. And without a hint of irony, these guys would remind each other of the importance of keeping up-to-date.

But even as they were agreeing with each other about that, I also think there was a little voice in the back of their heads that assured them they’d be OK with or without another training course.

“You’re fine,” the little voice said. “An engine is an engine is an engine. And you know engines. You’re fine!”

And I think that little voice continued to reassure technicians right through to the

1980s, scoffing at the notion that they’d ever be stymied by new technology.

But by now that little voice must surely have been silenced. Or, if it’s still there, it no longer possesses the ring of confidence. It no longer speaks with any authority.

That is why training was the focal point of a service provider panel at the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket forum (see story page 11).

That is why assessing skills and finding appropriate training for techs is the cornerstone of a new program from the Canadian Automotive Repair and Service Council (see story page 30).

That is why banner programs are strengthening their training programs, and offering an ever-widening range of topics.

And that is why the LinderTech North training conference, held last month in Toronto, played host to technicians from every province in the country, and one of the territories too. These people gave up a beautiful spring weekend to attend technical courses. They boarded planes and flew across time zones to learn stuff that would allow them to continue doing their job effectively.

I know we hear about the training imperative all the time… but with more and more technicians it is really starting to ring true. I believe our industry is on the cusp of a new appreciation of training. I believe we are truly starting to take our continuing education serious.

In the best technicians, the little voice in the back of their heads never scoffs when it hears of a new training course. It says, “I should probably go to that.”

You can reach me at 416-614-5814. Or e-mail me at ajanssen@canadiantechnician.ca.

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 5

LARRY DICKISON

LETTERS Let’s use our power to hit carmakers where it hurts

Tech lucky to be alive after car falls from hoist RE: A sense of community, February 2007 I have worked in the automotive industry for 14 years, and my husband has been a licensed technician for many years. When I read about the death of Robert MacKay, chills went up and down my spine. On Dec. 20, 2006, the car my husband was working on fell off the hoist and just about killed him. He’s lucky to be alive.

His left foot was shattered, his right tibia was fractured, the tendons in his right knee were torn, he suffered five broken ribs, a punctured lung, a chipped lower vertebra, a broken nose, and ripped tendons in both shoulders. The pain was horrific. But as bad as it was, I guess he was lucky because here we are, three-and-ahalf months later, and he is walking again, and starting to feel better. My thoughts and heart-felt sympathy goes out to the MacKay family who didn’t have the same outcome. This can be a dangerous industry. We all have to have an eye for safety.

Kathie Foster Grey Motors Service Owen Sound, ON

Is it any wonder we’re losing mechanics?

How many flat-rate mechanics do you know that like to install tires for free? How many flat-rate mechanics do you know that would willingly do a free brake inspection? Or a free brake diagnosis? Do you know any flat-rate mechanics that don’t

JUNE 2007

mind doing a free tire rotation? Well, this is what they’re often asked to do! In too many cases, flat-rate mechanics simply aren’t compensated for the extra time they have to spend on a job – perhaps because the vehicle is 20 years old and is completely rusted out. All too often their employers don’t even recognize industry-standard labor times. They make up their own time for how long a job should take. And on top of that, techs are expected to spend thousands of dollars on tools without being allowed to write them off as a legitimate business expense. I’m a licensed mechanic who is leaving the trade because employers, governments, and customers refuse to give us the respect we are due. I already have one foot and three toes out the door.

And when I leave, I will not regret it or look back on the trade with any fond memories.

Brian Maharaj Markham, ON

When will the aftermarket wake up?

RE: Tora, Tora, Tora, April 2007 I just finished reading Bob Greenwood’s column. What an article! I believe it is accurate to suggest the independent aftermarket is facing its very own Pearl Harbor. My biggest concern, however, is that even with the pounding we’re taking from the new-car dealerships, the sleeping giant will not fully wake up.

Al Pilon Almar Automotive Barrie, ON

RE: Tora, Tora, Tora! April 2007 This is my action on the ‘Right To Repair’ issue. When a customer asks me what car they should buy (and that happens fairly regularly) I now reward only two car companies with my recommendations – GM and Toyota. Those are the only car companies that allow us independents to operate at dealer level. Our opinion carries a lot of weight with consumers when it comes to their next car purchase. If enough shop owners followed suit, perhaps the message would get through to manufacturers who consider us “outsiders.” You can lobby politicians until the cows come home. But if you want to change the rules, hit the carmakers where it hurts: new car sales.

Jim Malcolm Markham Auto Markham, ON

What this industry needs is more positive thinking RE: A Wild Ride, May 2007 Just thought I’d let you know how much I appreciated the editorial in your May issue. It is well written, and your point is well taken. I really hope it wakes up some readers who need to hear this message! I also enjoyed Bob Greenwood’s and Kelly Bennett’s columns. Both of their articles are geared to more positive thinking in the industry. Canadian Technician is truly written for the betterment of our industry.

Great job guys; keep it up!

Ed Jagt Pro-Tech Tire & Auto Barrie, ON

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 ajanssen@canadiantechnician.ca. Our fax number is 416/614-8861.

We reserve the right to edit your letters for length and clarity.

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 7

From Our Forum Recent postings on www.canadiantechnician.ca/forum

Stuck on a job When a job takes longer, for reasons beyond your control, who’s on the hook for that?

Our forum members debate the issue.

Here’s the deal: A 2000 GMC Sonoma 4x4 needs rear pads, axle seals, and backing plates. Three of four slider pins are seized solid and there’s a broken bolt on the dif cover. Do you think 3.5 hours is fair? It took a lot longer! How would your service manager handle this?

Posted by Mech1Warrior1 / 05-07-2007 There’s no time in the labor guide for rusted and seized bolts. They must be free.

Posted by: carfixr / 05-07-2007 Book time does not take into account modifications (dealing with mud, rust, seized bolts, etc.) and the manual does not say “remove one broken bolt and repair seized sliders.” All of that is extra, plain and simple. Maybe the service advisor should call the customer and get authorization for a straight time repair, and quote a little extra. If it takes less time, the price will be adjusted accordingly.

Posted by: hoff / 05-07-2007 I’d be frustrated if it happened a lot. But how often do you beat flat rate times? Doesn’t that offset the loser jobs?

Posted by: carnutz / 05-07-2007 Replace pads: 1.0. Replace back plates and seals semi float: 2.1. Remove seized slider pins: approx. 1.0 (but I’d ask the tech how long it took). Drill and tap broken diff cover bolt: 0.4 (but I’d ask how long it took). We just did a ’99 Explorer, both ends, and everything was seized. We phoned the customer and explained the situation, and got the go ahead. The job took 8.5 hrs and we billed for it. If the client knows what’s

JUNE 2007

happening, they may wince at the bill but they understand and will pay what it’s worth. When stuff is seized the techs punch the time clock start and finish so we know how much time to bill.

Posted by: msog / 05-07-2007 Special cases like this pop up all the time. Getting extra time for the tech when they come across this should be a no-brainer. It sounds like a 4.5- to 5-hr job. Maybe more depending on the condition of the vehicle. Your manager should understand the basic rule that if you charge more, not only do you make extra for your time and effort, but the shop will make more.

Posted by: bigblockbob / 05-08-2007 Basically as soon as you had to pick up the torch or the drill you should have been running a straighttime ticket. Around here if you have an ST ticket that the foreman has signed off on you get paid for it no matter what happens with the customer once the work order gets to the front. Another thing I’ve been trying to get the manager to do is use a multiplier on ST labor. It’s only fair.

Some people have great skill sets and end up with tougher jobs. If a tech is 120% efficient on average, shouldn’t his straight time be multiplied by 120% too?

Posted by: remencin / 05-08-2007 A good shop that consistently does good work at a fair and honest price doesn’t have to work flat rate to earn a good profit. If it takes 2 hrs, charge 2 hrs. If it takes 0.5, charge 0.5.

Seems pretty simple to me.

Posted by: fatchuk / 05-08-2007 We see a lot of these seized pins on Ford trucks. We just

order new bridges. Hey, we didn’t design them, right? And we didn’t get a chance to service them before they seized solid!

Posted by: 9psimustang / 05-08-2007 Next time you’re in that position, tell the SA you want straight time, or call the machine shop.

They have the experience, the right tools and, oh yeah, they charge by the hour!

Posted by: stangbxr / 05-08-2007 The problem belongs to the owner of the vehicle. If this client is a regular, the tech might have known the condition before-hand, and the SA would have a history, so it could have been discussed with the client. If this is not a regular, then inspect the vehicle before you quote out of the book. The responsibility lies on the SA to know the client, and the tech to know the vehicle.

Proper communication between us will shift the problem back to the rightful owner.

Posted by: NoHairLeft / 05-08-2007 Absolutely no quotes without actually doing a visual inspection. And, yes, the customer pays for the inspection, and for the work that gets done. Keep it simple.

Posted by: carsByte / 05-09-2007

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.

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 9

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© 2007 DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. Chrysler and Dodge are registered trademarks of DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler Corporation.

Jeep is a registered trademark of DaimlerChrysler Corporation used under licence by DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. Mopar is a registered trademark of DaimlerChrysler Corporation.

Out

&About

Shops discuss new training ideas at GAAS

T

he need for better technician training is not exactly new territory for the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium.

But aftermarket business leaders at this year’s event were treated to a slate of fresh ideas, thanks to a panel of service providers moderated by Ron Pyle, president of the Automotive Service Association.

The bottom line, reiterated by all the panelists is that the best automotive repair shops are eager to invest in training.

Douglas Kirchdorfer, owner of Downing Street Garage in Denver, Col., revealed that he now requires his employees to take 40 hours of training annually, broken into four 10-hour quarters.

“Not only do I pay for the training, pay them to attend, and pay for travel and meals. But I also reward them for taking that training in the form of an end-ofmonth bonus,” he said. “I get much better participation. I get employees that are more engaged in the training, and more willing to share what they learned with everyone else on the team.”

Victor Tarasik, of Vic’s Precision Automotive in Houston, Tex., challenged industry leaders to make continuous learning a priority the way other industries have.

“I’ve had technicians come back and say they felt that their afternoon or their evening was wasted because they didn’t get anything out of the training,” he said.

“I’m not afraid to go back to the trainer and say, ‘I didn’t get my money’s worth, I want my money back.’”

George Witt, of George Witt Service in Lincoln, Neb., said he once closed his shop for two days to take all of his employees to a Technician Time Management course.

“People thought I was crazy,” he said.

“But I had my money back within 60 days.

That course allowed me to increase my shop sales by about $20,000 a month. So over the next year, that was a quarter of a million dollars. From one class. Two days. Anyone in

this room would take that return.”

Bill Tyson, of Bill Tyson’s Auto Repair in Palm Beach, Fla., proposed creating an industry standard for the amount of training each technician should receive in a year.

“We don’t have any standards. This isn’t raising the bar… we don’t have a bar!”

It was pointed out that many industries spend about 3 per cent of gross sales on training its workforce. In the automotive repair and service industry, that percentage is calculated to be less than a half of 1 per cent.

LinderTech North 2007 About 110 technicians and shop owners from every part of Canada gathered in Toronto to attend LinderTech North,billed as the premier automotive training event in Canada. Held at the Black Creek Pioneer Village and Conference Centre, the three-day event featured some of North America’s top trainers in new automotive systems. It was the second year for the ambitious event, organized by Cochrane Automotive of Toronto,and Linder Technical Services of Indianapolis,Ind.

Craig Van Battenburg discusses hybrid technology.

Glen McNally drilled down into TPM systems.

John Thornton was riveting on evap system diagnostics.

RIDES

Reader

Adam Peristy, a technician at Ardent Automotive in Burlington, ON, sent in this shot of his 1974 Nova SS.“It sucks a lot of gas with its 350 but it beats driving a souped up Honda Civic!” he writes.

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!

JUNE 2007

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 11

Supplier News IMCO purchases Tubex IMCO (International Muffler Company) has purchased Brampton-ON based Tubex Manufacturing Limited. Tubex, makers of prebent exhaust pipes, has 13 employees. In March 2006, IMCO purchased the Maremont exhaust division from ArvinMeritor, and it has since re-launched the Cherry Bomb performance exhaust brand with an expanded line of products and intensive marketing campaign.

Fundraising tournament exceeds the $100,000 mark

Slap Shots for a Cause, the aftermarket hockey tournament to benefit cancer research, raised $11,000 this year. That brings the cumulative total since the founding of the tournament in 1990 to more than $100,000.‘Team Red’ was this year’s winner of the Lube Koval Memorial Cup.

MAP launches Brake Safety Awareness Week The non-profit Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) has announced it will sponsor a week-long consumer education and vehicle inspection campaign in the United States focusing on automotive brake system safety. The MAP Brake Safety Awareness Week, scheduled for Aug. 26Sept. 1, is expected to involve thousands of shops offering complimentary brake and related undercar inspections and distribute a variety of consumer-focused educational materials. All program content, including vehicle inspection and customer communication guidelines, promotional materials and consumer literature, is being developed by MAP and affiliated organizations.

The event will be supported through national radio advertising, public service announcements, point-of-sale materials, ad slicks for local use, and other promotional activities. Support materials will be available, in limited quantities, free of charge to MAP-participating service facilities and at a nominal fee to other service providers wishing to join the program.

Alary named Bestbuy’s new VP of marketing and product development Bestbuy’s board of directors has appointed Marc Alary vice president of marketing and product development. In his new position, he will be responsible for sales and marketing, as well as purchasing activities, including supplier negotiations (for drop ship and warehouse programs), existing shareholder growth and prospective shareholder applicants.

Grant Brothers names new district managers for Ontario Grant Brothers Sales has announced that Samuel Benstead has been appointed district manager for Southwestern Ontario. A graduate of the automotive program at Georgian College in Barrie, ON, he comes from a family who founded and owned a large warehouse distributor business in southern Ontario. In other company news, Peter Koehler has been named district manager for the Greater Toronto Area. He was formerly with Uni-Select.

12 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

OUT & ABOUT

Ontario Autopro names top shop Members meet for annual convention and celebration in Collingwood.

N

orthside Auto Service in Chatham, designed to improve ways of receiving ON, has been named the 2007 clients, assessing their repair and service Ontario NAPA Autopro of the Year. needs, and then providing that service.

Owners Stephen Tuck and Andy Other steps, including new web site Beintema were honoured at the recent help, customer relation management Ontario Autopro convention in tools, and standardized ways to explain Collingwood.

Both students of NAPA’s Proshop management program, they were described as “very proud businesspeople” who have made Northside Auto Service a model shop with a waiting area patterned after a professional office.

Leadership Award Winners were Jim and Laurie Voigt, owners of From left, Dave Elliott, owner of Walker Columbia Auto Service in Waterloo, Automotive in Chatham, ON; Chris Thorne, ON; George and Annette Stuyt, own- national sales and marketing manager for NAPA Autopro and NAPA Auto Care; Stephen Tuck, ers of George’s Auto Repair in owner Northside Auto Service; Kevin Herron, Tillsonburg, ON; and Dave and regional vice president for NAPA Ontario; Andy Elizabeth Versteegh, owners of Dave Beintema, owner of Northside Auto Service; Versteegh Auto Repair Inc. in Jean Elliott of Walker Automotive; and Kevin Chase, vice president of automotive operations Thorndale, ON. for NAPA Canada.

More than 300 people attended the Ontario Autopro convention, representing 76 Autopro shops and 35 jobber repair assessments to clients were the stores from across the province. result of years of deliberations on the Kevin Herron, regional vice president future of the independent automotive for NAPA Auto Parts in Ontario, told the maintenance and repair business. group the company has teamed up with “Remember, it’s all about getting better, the consulting firm J.D. Power & raising the bar, and bringing consistency Associates to develop a unique customer and continuity to your shop and to your satisfaction index for Autopro locations, network,” Herron said.

Jim Moar of Selkirk Diesel Repair in Selkirk, MB, sent in this shot of a DIYer’s vehicle that came in for a stubborn oil leak.“We noticed that the truck sat funny on the hoist… and then we noticed why.The spring had actually come right off the vehicle! She asked for her old spring back so that she could use it for a gardening tool.”

Have an interesting picture to share?

Send it to Eye Spy, c/o Canadian Technician, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON, M9W 5C4.

Or e-mail your high-resolution image to the editor:ajanssen@canadiantechnician.ca

JUNE 2007

You have a choice:

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Forget about the torch and solvents. There’s a much easier way.

The new OTC 6650 Magnetic Induction Heating System lets you safely concentrate and control heat precisely where it’s needed. Quickly remove metal parts where a torch or other heat source just isn’t safe. The OTC 6650 is ideal for mechanical repair, auto body, transmission, muffler and recycling facilities. It comes standard with a foot switch and inductors for bolt removal, body side moldings, emblems and glass applications. Further, there are optional inductors for other special applications. Call today and ask about the new 6650 Magnetic Induction Heating System. It’s from OTC—the One Tool Company professional technicians trust.

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Bolt Inductor Can produce heat in excess of 1400°F in seconds for easy, safe removal of rusted bolts or seized fasteners, caulking and seam sealers.

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Optional Accessories* Hail Dent Inductor – Available Now! Bearing Heater Inductor Brake Inductor Exhaust Inductor * Coming soon

© 2007 SPX Corporation. SPX and OTC are registered trademarks of SPX Corporation.

www.otctools.com

MANAGEMENT

S.O.S. Plan For

SUCCESS

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.

Following a business plan is as important as following a map.

You’d be lost without it!.

ce and r advi ok you o t I ection. we elly ht dir d when Dear K he rig t n i hs. An t d n e o d m a e w h e l I’m in a f d I’m ly fee to it ad. An I real ing in v o m e es ahe r g ’ n e a W h c . ilding so big the bu my rogram… bought eas of nner p a b a ome ar r s e d t n e u g I l be enever it wil aying ike wh been p re-open eems l s t i haven’t t I u B . e . d li that n to s about ur s begi that o excited r area e h t o noticed , t l s o u r j t r con and I have s unde ements busines l stat efforts a i c n a n eting i k f r a y m m y m on to ecause r? attenti ably b close togethe . Prob n w o d it all s p i e e t k i prof do you gross e. How overall a whil r o f urner back b n the been o –Erol

Dear Erol: Well, I guess it’s kind of like watching a professional juggler and asking how he does that! Last year when we were in Ireland (we went on points racked up from business purchases) we watched a guy in a city park trying to learn how to juggle. It was so funny. He was not very good, but his coach was a pro. He was in training, and it took lots of practice. But I bet you he’s a juggling fool by now.

14 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

The three things that I’ve found that help me juggle the major areas of the shop are having a vision statement, working from a written business plan, and attending my management group. They are the lighthouses that keep me off the rocks in shallow water.

I learned at a workshop back in the late ’80s that not having a business plan is the number one reason for business failure.

My business plan at the time was just real-

ly some great ideas written down on one of those yellow note pads. That’s it.

You know, not long ago I was cleaning house, trying to de-clutter and I took a good look at the file cabinet I’ve filled over the years with owner’s manuals.

There were manuals for the cordless phones, cell phones, fax machines, washing machines, dryers, microwaves, television sets, VCRs, DVD players, clock radios, blenders, and coffee JUNE 2007

Larry Dickison

machines! The most recent addition was the new fangled bluetooth headset for my cell phone.

Almost everything I own came with a manual… except for my business.

I realized that a business plan is like an owner’s manual. And the longer you’re in business, the more you have to write and rewrite it. It’s always being refined.

Over the years, I’ve learned the value of a detailed, up-to-date business plan that’s written down and referred to frequently. It helps keep you focused on the most important areas of your business.

A business plan for an existing business (which is a fair bit different than writing one for starting a new venture) should consist of six parts.

chases, location expansion and more.

3. Corporate Strategy This part is the most fun. It forces you to think through your objectives and show step by step how you are going to reach them. It’s neat to create a strategy that shows you’re not just engaging in wishful thinking, but that you really do have a plan.

4. Sales and Marketing This part is a blast, too. It changes all the time and demands more creativity from you than any other part of the business.

Here is where you house and develop your sample ads, flyers, brochures, web site, and all of those “small ideas that score big points.”

1. Executive Summary This is your overall vision for the business plan and a quick overview of how you plan to get there and how the finances will work. If you want to understand the importance of a vision statement, I can recommend Ken Blanchard’s book Full Steam Ahead.

2. Company Objectives This details where are you are headed over the next one to five years. It includes objectives for sales, gross profit, number of customers, average work order size, number of employees, equipment purJUNE 2007

5. Leadership Here’s where you get to boast about your management abilities and how you’re going to build your team and engage in professional development. You also outline the talent that you have attracted (or plan to attract) to the business. And this is where you will house copies of your job descriptions and employee handbook.

6. Financial All your past and current financial statements go here. Income records, balance sheets, cash-flow statements, and finan-

cial projections for the next few years.

The areas that I spend the most time on are Marketing, Leadership, and Financial.

Those areas do not always come easy to me, so I have to work harder at those.

These areas used to get ignored way too much. I never used to think of these areas as exciting, but they’re incredibly important, even if they’re not my personal favorites. A lack of effort in these areas has been the demise of so many people in our industry.

A great resource for developing a detailed and functional business plan is at the web site www.bdc.ca. You’ll find a free business plan template and a sample that you can upload to your computer.

From there you can work on it and develop it so it really reflects your business.

And the financial spreadsheets included with it are great.

Now, once you have your business plan in place, make sure that you stick to it.

That’s where the management group comes in.

These are fellow business owners who will hold you accountable, and will inspire you and motivate you as you need them to. Together they’ll keep everyone up-to-date on industry news and trends, and you’ll get valuable insight into how other shops run (or don’t run!).

I would not be where I am today without that kind of support. Working together with our peers, instead of working against each other, is incredibly powerful.

You know, now that I think of it, I wish kids came with an owner’s manual! (They sure don’t need a power supply! Where does all of that energy come from?) I’m heading out to watch Dustin’s football game. I know I sound like a doting father, but he’s getting really good. I just love it when he sacks the quarterback!

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 coach@aol.com or visit www.kellybennett.ca CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 15

OUR GREATEST ASSET Being successful is as much about the people we employ as it is about the products we sell.

The knowledgeable and courteous professionals at your neighborhood CARQUEST Auto Parts store are there to serve you better than anyone else and help you to grow your business.

We e deliverr whatt ourr customerss need:: qualityy parts,, competitive e prices,, knowledgeable e people.

CARQUEST.ca

Sometimes little ideas can make a big difference to your bottom line.

By Bob Greenwood

HIDDEN TREASURES

M

any shop owners struggle through their day-to-day routine completely unaware of how much revenue could be generated by some fairly simple practices.

These often overlooked ideas are a goldmine for increased revenue and profit. And the cash they generate could be distributed as incentives or rewards to employees, or help pay for new equipment and training.

Here are five simple ways to improve your business. They’re ideas you can put into practice today, and will start paying dividends almost immediately.

1. Transactional management.

Dealing with clients is about much more than simply taking orders, or trying JUNE 2007

to upsell value added.

Many service advisors act as though they’ve been hired simply to make sales or promote menu-packaged items. It’s like they’ve been told to find anything that will keep the techs busy. This can create activity for the shop but not necessarily bottom line results.

What’s been overlooked? We’ve found that “transactional management” works much better.

Slow down and visit with each client as they come in, and find out what they really want and need from you. Review their vehicle history for missed maintenance, particularly things that have been recommended by the manufacturer.

Double-check the most recent manufacturer recommendations, and print them out for the client to read. And then

allow for proper discussion. This may be foreign territory for them and they need to understand it.

While you’re at it, find out if you’re getting all of their business. Are you serving all of their family cars, or just one? If you’re not getting them all, why not? You already have some of their business, so a relationship is in place. Do they not trust you with the other car? Is it somehow less convenient for you to work on that vehicle? What can be done to allay their concerns?

Remember, your client’s perception is their reality. So it may be wise to explore their perception of your shop, and address any misconceptions they may have.

Build your relationships by focusing fully on one client at a time. Don’t get distracted by someone who has just come in or is standing in line. If your shop is conCANADIAN TECHNICIAN 17

THE GREENWOOD REPORT

tinuously too busy to allow someone to meet with clients properly, perhaps it’s time to look at whether you need additional counter staff.

2. Schedule management Consider managing your clients’ vehicles based on how many kilometers they drive per year, whether the vehicle is leased or owned, and how the vehicle is generally used. Are they in stop-and-go city driving all day? Do they spend a lot of time on the highway? Are they off-roading?

If you find out what the clients’ expectations are for their vehicles, you have a better chance of meeting their needs. And once you’ve got their buy-in on managing the maintenance, you can start pre-booking appointments for them. Before they leave the shop, they should know when they’ll be back.

For example, “We’re in June, so the next service should take place in September. What is best for you? Early in the month, or later? Late September, you say? Well, no problem. And don’t worry, we’ll take the responsibility to contact you a few days ahead and arrange an appointment that works for you. Oh, and by the way here’s a copy of what the manufacturer recommends we should be doing in September, based on how you use the vehicle.”

Manage the client’s vehicle and execute your business the way a dentist does.

It’s convenient for everyone involved, and, believe me, your clients enjoy dealing with a shop that is organized and truly cares about their situation.

3. Purchasing management Many shops do not have month-tomonth contact with their accountants.

But if they’re only meeting once a year, it is definitely time to increase the frequency! Together you could find opportunities to increase cash flow.

Much of the equipment you purchase is high-end computer hardware and software which is tremendously sophisticated and technical in nature. Before you make the decision to purchase any equipment, get a breakdown from the manufacturer or jobber sales representative about the value of the item you’re considering. What you’re looking for is precisely how many dollars of the purchase price covers the software you need to run the equipment, 18 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

how much is for hardware, and how much is for support or training.

In today’s business environment, this kind of breakdown, supported by documentation is very important. It pertains to the write-off and depreciation rules allowed under tax law. There may be opportunity to write parts of the equipment off faster or increase the depreciation schedule.

There are many opportunities to streamline our daily routines, or perhaps approach them from a different perspective in order to ensure they are profitable exercises.

Discuss this fully with your accountant. How can your invoice be structured or presented to best benefit your business? Faster write-off saves tax dollars and increases business cash flow. The cash flow that is saved can be reinvested in the business rather than be sent to the government.

Planning your business strategies within legal parameters can assist your business a lot. A close relationship with your accountant can save the shop money.

4. Target management Discuss the desired sales objectives, goals and clients with your whole team. It wouldn’t hurt to install a white board in the staff room where you can list all the targets of your business. Everyone needs to be continually reminded about the shop’s objectives.

I believe staff members feel much better when they’re respected and treated like part of the business. When objectives are displayed, and results are reported each day, shop productivity increases, and pride is instilled. Positive increases and results will produce more net profit dollars for distribution within the business.

5. Time management Consider detailed use of time cards

within the shop, by tracking time for each service being performed within the total job, rather than just the total job itself from start to finish as most shops do now.

This detailed tracking of all services helps the front counter bill properly.

It also can increase the communication between the technician and the service advisor. When the service advisor invoices properly, and can explain in detail to the consumer each service, more dollars appear for distribution within the business.

To accomplish that properly the technician must provide all the facts to the front counter. If, for example, the job took longer than expected because of two seized bolts, that should be noted and explained to the client so it can be billed properly.

Without the detailed facts on each service being performed, the service advisor either misses billing opportunities or guesses. Either way the entire shop loses.

There are many opportunities to streamline our daily routines, or perhaps approach them from a different perspective in order to ensure they are profitable exercises. Shop management should try everything that could maximize the results for the business.

Sometimes we take little things for granted. But when we step back and examine them a little closer, we discover profit opportunities that were always there but never really detected.

Bob Greenwood is president of E. K. Williams & Co. (Ontario) Ltd., a management consulting company specializing in independent automotive service and repair shops (www.ekw.ca). He’s also president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre, a business management resource for shop owners (www.aaec.ca). Bob can be reached by phone at 800/267-5497; by fax at 613/836-4637; or by e-mail at greenwood@aaec.ca.

JUNE 2007

eld Simon Manintv ted la tu ra ng co (left) is ician hn ec T an di na

by Ca Janssen. editor Allan

Top

Tech!

Small-town entrepreneur wins big-time award.

Congratulations to Simon Manintveld, owner of Simon’s Caddy Shack in Oakwood, ON. He was named the Canadian Technician of the Year for 2007 at the LinderTech North technical conference in Toronto last month.

Simon receiv es the key for his new Snap-on tool chest from Ray Lavend er.

The event – sponsored by Snap-on Tools of Canada, ChevronTexaco (Havoline), Gates Canada, Affinia (Raybestos), Activant, Robert Bosch, and Mevotech – was the culmination of a nationwide call for nominations. We were looking for a well-rounded person who is a leader in the shop and in our industry, involved in the community, and actively working to improve the image of our industry.

We found it in Simon!

Platinum Sponsor

new received a Simon also evotech, M om n TV fr LCD-scree oy.

by Glen R presented

Gold Sponsors

From left: David Jaggar d, Dennis Frey, Simon Manintveld , Randy Grantham, and Murad Hasan.

OF THE YEAR

2007

THE FOUR OTHER FINALISTS IN THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION WERE:

the Year finalists.

Canadian Technician of

■ David Frey of Lloyd Frey’s Garage in Floradale, ON

Simon enjoys the moment during his thank-you spee ch.

■ Randy Grantham of Metro Chrysler in Whitehorse, YT ■ Murad Hassan of Jordan Gray Garage in London, ON ■ David Jaggard of Eccles Auto Service in Dundas, ON

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN would like to congratulate all the many nominees in this year’s Canadian Technician of the Year event, and extend a special thank-you to the judges who reviewed the finalists and made their choice. They were:

m. ndy Grantha Finalist Ra

■ Clark Lawson of First Street Garage in North

Vancouver, BC ■ Richard Dansereau of LAD Automotive in Calgary, AB

Finalis t David Jaggard .

■ Carlo Sabucco of Sil’s Auto Diagnostic Centre in

Mississauga, ON ■ Brian Pellerin of Moncton Rust Check in Moncton, NB ■ Ian Handrahan of QuickWrench Tech-Net in

Charlottetown, PEI And we especially want to thank our sponsors who have donated so much to express their support for the automotive repair industry and the communityminded people who keep Canada’s cars on the road.

Finalist Murad Ha san.

Finalist Dennis F rey.

Silver Sponsors

The Canadian Technician

of the Year

Simon Manintveld of Oakwood, ON honored as an ambassador of our trade.

Simon Manintveld with wife Bonnie, who works the front counter at Simon’s Caddy Shack.

By Allan Janssen

S

imon Manintveld showed a flair for business and mechanics early in life.

As he kid, he would collect discarded bicycles from the local dump and fix them up to sell on his front lawn.

It was his first clue that he could make a living by fixing broken things.

“You didn’t get pocket money back then,” he recalls. “You had to be an entrepreneur.”

And so Simon Manintveld followed his love of mechanics, and drifted into the automotive repair and service industry…

22 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

and ultimately to acclaim as the Canadian Technician of the Year for 2007.

The owner of Simon’s Caddy Shack in Oakwood, Ontario was judged by a panel of shop owners from across the country, as a sparkling example of the best in our industry. He was presented with his award and over $10,000 in prizes at a reception during the annual LinderTech North technical seminar in Toronto.

“It’s a real honor to receive this prestigious award,” he said. “I’m humbled to be here because I know there are some real-

ly great technicians in this country.

There are some really great technicians in this room!”

Simon was among dozens of technicians from across the country to be nominated for the annual award, organized by Canadian Technician magazine, and sponsored by Snap-on Tools, ChevronTexaco, Gates Canada, Raybestos Brakes, Activant, Mevotech, and Robert Bosch. It seeks to recognize working technicians who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the shop, active in their industry and their community, and dedicated to improving the public’s perception of autoJUNE 2007

motive service technicians.

“I think it’s great that an award like this is handed out at the end of a great training weekend,” he told the audience of techs from around Canada. “I can tell you, the search for knowledge is powerful, and it is profitable.”

Simon is known to be an excellent diagnostician, with a true grasp of electronics and mechanics. In diagnosing and repairing vehicles he is patient and persistent. He is also a natural teacher with a passion for helping young people become the most they can be in their chosen profession.

One of his young apprentices, Daniel Chudy, went on to win the skills competition at his school and become the Skills Ontario champion, and then the Skills Canada national champion in the bodyshop division.

“He’s a great teacher,” says Daniel. “He gives you the freedom to go in any direction you want to go. He gives you direction and then stands out of the way and lets you go.”

Over the years, Simon has mentored many such students. In fact, he still hears from some who have moved away. And when he’s in a pinch, some former employees are happy to come back for a day and run the front counter or pick up a wrench.

He enjoys developing new talent so much that in the middle of a successful career as a technician, he returned to school to earn his bachelor’s degree in technical education. His goal was to help young people who, like him, were mechanically inclined, if not academically gifted.

“We have a great number of students that don’t fit very well in the high school setting because they just can’t sit still for math class,” he says. “To keep them in school and give them an opportunity to learn something they can do as a career and for personal satisfaction, and to build a life, is really cool. I love it.”

For four years, Simon burned the canJUNE 2007

dle at both ends, teaching technical and transportation studies to high school students in nearby Oshawa during the day, and rushing back to his own shop to spend the late afternoon and evenings working on vehicles.

The certificate declaring him the Canadian Technician of the Year will hang in that five-bay shop – next to those declaring him a nominee in 2004 and a finalist in 2005.

Judges in this year’s competition were particularly impressed with tales of Simon’s technical skills and accomplishments, and the fact that he is frequently asked for help even from technicians at shops in nearby Lindsay, Peterborough, and Port Perry.

“I’m happy to help,” he says. “It’s like getting a little extra challenge. I used to get calls from dealerships on Cadillac

Simon with his staff, from left: apprentice Kyle Kent, Daniel Chudy, Jamie Cunday, and Rob Christiansen.

stuff all the time. It made you feel like you must really know your stuff.”

Simon’s connection with Cadillacs goes back a long way.

“At the age of 14, I was reading the 1966 Cadillac manual cover to cover,” he recalls with a laugh.

In 1988 when he decided to start his own business, after his apprenticeship at several area dealerships, he chose a name that would stand out to passers-by.

“Simon’s Caddy Shack” reflected his love of repairing and restoring old Cadillacs.

He did general auto repair on all makes and models, but he was known as a CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 23

The Canadian Technician

of the Year

Cadillac guy, working for customers from all over Canada and as far away as Australia. He has been a mechanical advisor to the Trillium Cadillac and LaSalle Club in Scarborough, ON since 1997.

Simon’s Caddy Shack got off to a great start… only to be halted in its tracks the very next year by a devastating fire.

Simon still gets emotional when he talks about the fire which claimed everything in the shop… and nearly his life.

“The guy I was working with at the time took the ring off the fuel tank sender, and gas traveled down and dropped on the trouble light below. Poof!” he says.

Flames engulfed the vehicle within seconds. Fire extinguishers nearly put out the fire, but just when it was almost under control, some sparks ignited more gas.

“There was no stopping her then,” recalls Simon.

In a panic, his apprentice grabbed a garden hose and sprayed water on the flames – absolutely the worst thing to do.

That only served to spread the fire, including onto Simon, who was badly burned.

“My coveralls were on fire, my neck was badly burned. They put me out with fender covers. We managed to close the bay doors, and just got out with our lives.”

By the time the firefighters arrived, six minutes later, the building was fully involved, trusses were falling down, and the tools and computers were all lost.

“I lost everything. Everything. You go to pick up a broom or a shovel to start cleaning up and you realize the fire got that too,” he says. “You always think it’s going to be someone else… and then it happens to you.”

It was a scary position to be in. He and his wife Bonnie had a growing family to care for. But the community rallied behind him, with donations and material help. There was even a fundraising dance which raised thousands of dollars to help them get back on their feet.

“I am very grateful to the people in the community,” he says. “They didn’t let us go under.”

24 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

He was working again, even before the walls of his new shop were erected.

“I remember the kids on the school bus getting a big kick out of seeing us working on cars, no walls around us, no roof. It must have been a sight!”

These days, safety is always top of mind. And the business has grown steadily year after year. The customers that helped him get back on his feet have been extremely loyal, and he has built a solid reputation for quality vehicle repair and service, as well as restoration work. In fact, the paint-andbody side of his business is growing so fast that he’s now planning a major expansion. A new paint and body building, measuring 4,200 square feet will go up adjacent to his 3,000-square-foot mechanical shop.

And because of his entrepreneurial streak, there’s always something in the works.

He buys cars at auction (Saturns, mostly, for their commuter value), fixes them up and sells them on his four-acre lot. He’s a landlord, renting out the roadside chip truck that stands on his property, and an apartment residence in his house beside the shop.

“Living next door to the shop is real-

Simon is a gifted teacher, who enjoys developing new talent. Here he is with co-op student Kyle Kent.

ly convenient,” he admits. “It allows us to be more accommodating to our customers. The doors aren’t shut at 6 o’clock. And I never battle traffic or weather to get to work.”

For nearly 20 years, Simon has been a fixture in Oakwood life. He does volunteer work with the local agriculture society, and has helped out with parade floats and fair planning.

When he can get away, though, he really gets away. He and his lead tech, Rob Christiansen, like to take a long weekend or two in the summer and head 50 or 60 miles into the bush in Northern Ontario, where you can fish the whole weekend and not see another person.

It was Rob, in fact, who nominated Simon as the Canadian Technician of the Year, describing him as a great mechanic, a great role model, and a leader for his employees, his students, and his community.

“This is a true technician, worthy of the title Technician of the Year,” he wrote.

Obviously our judges agreed.

JUNE 2007

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How the oil change is

CHANGING New oils, sensors, and engine requirements are putting new demands on oil-related service work.

By Claire Newman

T

he oil change is the most basic of automotive maintenance. But in these days of technological change, nothing stays the same. And that goes for oil changes too.

They’re not as simple or straightforward as they used to be. There are some new steps and some new things to watch for. And while oil still has to be changed on a regular basis, the intervals are constantly stretching, as carmakers try to reduce the inconvenience to their customers.

The pressure is on to keep oil changes to the absolute minimum – in cost, time, and frequency – even though the value of the engines is increasing, and their need for clean lubrication hasn’t diminished at all.

These days, you need to understand what you’re getting into before you drain the crankcase because even a small oilJUNE 2007

change hiccup can lead to very expensive problems.

And to cap it all off, the aftermarket has trained customers to resent paying more than $20 for this essential service!

How’s that for a challenge?

Well, here are five ways oil service is changing… and some tips on how to prevent problems from developing.

comebacks.

The reasons for the recommendations vary, but the bottom line is, make sure you know what oil the car needs, have it in stock, and don’t make substitutions.

And be sure to factor the cost of the special oil into the final cost of the oil change. These days $19.99 may not even cover the cost of the oil!

Special oil requirements

Special filters and tools

The days of simple 5W30, 10W30 or “diesel oil” are over.

Many common vehicles have very specific oil recommendations. They may use synthetic oil only. Or the relatively new 5W20 viscosity. Or a particular brand of “long life oil.”

Often these recommendations can’t be substituted with another type of oil.

Trying to do so may cause expensive problems and leaves you vulnerable to

Cartridge-style oil filters aren’t new.

Neither are the strange tools required to access them. But many filter covers are now made from softer, more pliable materials and the O-rings may not be reusable.

What’s more, the covers may break or tear if the wrong tool is used or if the cover was over-torqued at the last service. That means trouble.

Make sure you have the right filter for the vehicle, as well as any O-rings, gaskets CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 27

or seals that you’ll need after the filter comes out. Also use the right tool to remove the cover – the claw or vise grips are not the best choice. And, of course, remember to wipe the area clean and check for leaks before the vehicle leaves.

Special monitors and sensors Certain manufacturers have dramatically extended the recommended intervals between oil changes. To accomplish this, some have begun using “long-life” oils or equipping the vehicle with an oil-quality sensor. These are found either in the oil pan or on the output side of the oil filter.

They measure the oil’s dielectric constant, which, along with the voltage, will increase as the oil breaks down.

Some manufacturers just use a mathematical formula relating to monitoring temperatures and speeds to determine when the oil needs changing.

Still others use a combination of sensors and formulae to determine the usable life of the oil.

Whatever the method, resetting the oil life monitor correctly is essential; be sure this is possible and that you can do it before you open the crankcase. Newer vehicles may need the oil-life monitor reset with a scan tool or may need to reach a certain temperature before the level can be checked. It’s best to know these things before you drain. Quickly flipping through the owner’s manual can save time later on.

why to keep the keys out of the vehicle (the vehicle may start if the keys are simply inside the vehicle, bad news if the oil is draining out!) and when and how to power down the vehicle (check the manual – seriously!) to prevent problems.

Hybrids are not the scary challenges some techs fear. Quite the contrary.

Specializing in hybrid vehicles may be a great way to expand your business since so many shops (including dealers) shy away from them. But good quality training is important and worth looking into.

(Excellent web site: Craig Van Batenburg’s www.auto-careers.org.)

Special service procedures Hybrids are neat. Probably the most memorable thing about driving one is the feeling of backing out of a parking space without the engine running.

Unfortunately, until this technology is more familiar, there will be those technicians who assume that if the engine isn’t running the vehicle’s fine to work on. This error can be expensive and deadly.

Hybrid vehicles bring new challenges and demand new repair and service techniques. The good news is that hybrid service information is becoming easier to obtain, and motorists who drive these eco-friendly vehicles usually have a bit more money and don’t mind spending on quality work.

A good hybrid training course can easily pay for itself. Understand when and 28 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

Special sensitivity to contamination Clean engine oil has always been important. But with new technologies like variable-valve timing and variable-displacement engines, this is more important than ever.

Engines that depend on tiny, machined valves and passages to run properly (locking cams together or the like) can’t have sludge, goo, or debris causing the valves to stick or messing up the precisely timed processes.

If an engine problem causes contamination in the oil, either from an internal leak or a failed component, consult the service information for the proper procedure before releasing the vehicle to the customer. It may be more than just a sim-

ple oil change. Modern engines are not as tolerant of contamination as engines of the past. Near surgical cleanliness may be necessary to prevent problems.

These days even the basic oil check is going high-tech.

If you want to keep doing oil changes on late-model cars, you have to know how the service is changing. It’s nothing you can’t handle with some preparation and planning.

Technology and customers may change, but regular oil changes are still essential for problem free driving – even if customers don’t enjoy paying a fair price for the work.

Don’t sell yourself short. Bargain shoppers are not the customers you want anyway. The most important thing is still to keep your best customers happy by making sure their vehicles are serviced correctly.

You may have been changing oil the same way for years without problems, but it may be time to rethink your strategy to keep the service profitable and rewarding.

ASE certified technician Claire Newman has been licensed since 1994 and has attained GM Grandmaster status since 2001. She has worked at a number of dealerships and independent repair shops, including a specialty race shop.

JUNE 2007

www.loctite.com 1.800.LOCTITE

Putting yourself to the

TEST CARS is set to unveil an assessment tool to show you where your strengths and weaknesses lie.

By Allan Janssen Do you know how you stack up against other technicians?

Care to find out?

The Canadian Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) Council has developed an on-line assessment tool that analyzes skills and suggests appropriate training to fill in knowledge gaps.

The site – www.carsability.com – is in final tweaking stage and will be officially launched later this fall. But it’s already open for business, and for $20 you can get an idea of how well you know your stuff.

Detailed assessments have been written for automotive service technicians, service writers, shop owners… and 31 other aftermarket-related professions.

“This was actually something that came out of our 1999 ‘Bridging the Gaps’ human resources study,” says Jennifer Steeves, executive director of the CARS Council. “We learned from the industry that there is no consistent means of identifying what training an employee needs to have. And with training budgets getting squeezed more and more, employers are incredibly challenged to keep their people up-to-date.”

She says CARSAbility means they’ll be able to match up available training cours30 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

es with employees who need that specific training. No more spending money on training that doesn’t meet the need.

Right now almost all of the courses recommended are those developed and delivered by CARS, but automotive trainers around the country are invited to submit their courses, and be included in the program.

“This is a professional development tool. We want it to be as helpful as possible,” she explains. “This is for people who want to keep their skills current.”

It’s also a good screener for potential employees, says Roydon Rump, owner of Roy Rump & Sons Automotive Repair in Ottawa, ON. He initially bought assessments to help him find the best applicants for two positions he was filling.

“It worked out well for me,” he explains. “I was hiring apprentices, and of

course everyone knows everything. This gives you an idea if they’re telling the truth, and it also gives them the understanding that there’s lots to know in this business.”

He was pleased to see that the evaluations matched his own impressions of the candidates.

“They weren’t high scorers,” he says.

“But these were apprentices – so it was never about the score. It was about knowing where they needed training.”

He took the automotive service technician assessment himself, to establish a benchmark of sorts and was surprised that he scored only 60 per cent after being in the job for 30 years. “Now, I’m not on the floor anymore. I haven’t been for 10 years,” he says. “But if my tech took it and got 100 per cent, holy jumping! Maybe I’d have to get back to school!”

JUNE 2007

Actually, all of the five technicians invited by Canadian Technician magazine to take the assessment scored in the 60s.

So clearly it is not a simple test.

“I can’t say that I’m happy with my score,” admits Mike Hoffman, owner of Brake Renew in Kelowna, B.C. “Some of it

in the Phoenix, Arizona suburb of Glendale, agrees.

“I think they’ve done a good job, but I think they need to do some fine-tuning,” he says. “When everyone who writes the test gets a particular question wrong, that tells me there’s a fault in the question.”

comes down to not reading the question properly. You look at it later, and you think, OK, that makes sense. You just didn’t realize what they were looking for.”

“This is the lowest score I’ve had in an automotive related test,” says Bob Stathis of GE Auto Repair in Toronto.

“He said the assessment reminded him of C-of-Q tests which are notorious for having several answers that seem correct, and there is only a shade of difference between what is considered right and what is considered wrong.

He said there are a few questions which were answered incorrectly by a majority of respondents (the site allows you to see statistics on the questions you got wrong) and that might indicate a need for fine-tuning.

“Some questions were answered incorrectly by 100 per cent of the people who took the assessment,” he says. “To me, that’s a clear problem.”

Steve Penrose, a transplanted Canadian now working at Sunset Ford

He said the wording of many questions was awkward and somewhat tricky.

“Sometimes all of the options sounded right, but there was no ‘all of the above.’

So now you’re trying to figure out what’s closest to what they’re thinking,” he says.

He gives two examples.

One front-end question asked what other angle you will change when you adjust camber.

“They wanted the included angle, but toe-in was also an option. And the fact is you will affect toe-in. So there’s two right answers there.”

Another question asks if changing ride height on an I-beam axle vehicle will change camber. “Well, it depends on the I-beam. If it’s a straight I-beam, it’s not going to change anything. If it’s a split I-beam, it will change camber. The problem is they don’t say what kind of I-beam it is. You have to guess.”

Chris Newald, who developed much of the software that runs the assessment tool, acknowledged that some questions

JUNE 2007

are being rewritten as they get feedback from users.

“We’re starting to build a database of comments, and doing monthly reviews of the questions. Some of them may need tweaking because too many people are getting it wrong. Having said that, sometimes they’re being answered incorrectly because people really don’t know the answers. There are some lesser-known facts being tested.”

He said some of the comments from users have been very constructive. “We’ve caught data entry errors and some obvious mistakes. We like getting feedback.”

To a person, the technicians who took the test questioned the popularity of such a tool for working techs.

“As a tech, I’m not sure it would be worth $20 to me to take the test,” says Penrose. “What’s the upside? Just to find out what you’re weak at? If you don’t know that, you shouldn’t be in the business.”

“I know there are lots of techs out there who wouldn’t want to take it,” says Hoffman. “But, personally, I like to know where my downfalls are. I want to know if I’m as good in a certain area as I think I am. And, as an owner, I’d like to see my techs take it.”

He’s already had his sister, Megan Hoffman, take the service advisor test.

Although she scored well, she admitted there was some wording that threw her off.

“I know I could have done better, if I’d read it slower,” she says. “But I think it was very helpful. There were some things I didn’t know and there were some things that really made me think in a different way.”

Rump says he’d recommend the service to other shop owners. He bought 10 assessments and plans to have all his staff take it.

“I know they won’t resist taking it,” he says. “I’m not trying to trick them into anything. It’s just for helping the shop know where we’re strong and weak.”

He says technicians, service advisors, and shop owners can get lost in the daily grind. “You lose sight of the bigger picture. If this helps you see where you need to focus some attention, it’s a great tool.

For $20 for an assessment, I’d say it’s a steal.”

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 31

Filter catalog FRAM has released its 2007 Automotive Catalog, featuring the entire family of FRAM products for automotive applications from 1990 through to 2007 model years. In addition to filters for domestic and import cars and light trucks, it features products for motorcycles, and racing applications. The comprehensive catalog also features a product icon identification/displacement conversion chart, and detailed cross-reference section.

Honeywell – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/46002

If it was easy, anyone could do it...

NAPAFIX.com is the most comprehensive source for your quick fix and troubleshooting challenges. Our online database draws from nearly 3 million calls received by our repair hotline, with nearly 1000 new repair problems and solutions added online each week.

Call us, or visit the NAPAFIX website to find out how to subscribe and start Finding your Fixes Faster today – your customers will thank you for it.

We make it easy.

www.napafix.com 866.698.1955 32 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

Exhaust catalog DynoMax has released its updated 2007 DynoMax Performance Exhaust Master Catalog and an electronic version at the www.dynomax.com web site. Expanding the product line with more than 150 part numbers in 2006, DynoMax has increased the master catalog to include more than 240 pages of product and system highlights, including the new cat-back systems for the 2007 Toyota FJ, 2007 Chevrolet Suburban, 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK and 2004-06 Nissan Titan. The catalog also includes an informative, quick-reference guide to dyno numbers for several popular cat-back systems.

Tenneco – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/46011

Gauges Super III gauges for muscle car and hot rod enthusiasts are the latest products from Sunpro.

The Super III gauges are dashboardmounted chrome meters reminiscent of 1950s and ’60s automotive style. All Sunpro

Super III gauges are sheathed in a black housing, capped with a striking reflective chrome bezel and feature a black dial face and illuminated pointer for easy viewing, as well as through the dial lighting for enhanced night visibility. The gauges also incorporate a vibration-proof, air-core, electronic driver or bourdon tube meter movement to ensure the pointer responds rapidly to system changes for a precise and reliable reading.

SPX – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47001

Impact wrench The new SE215-3/8” heavy-duty impact wrench from Matco is described as a combination of super lightweight materials and high power. It features a composite rear housing with magnesium alloy front housing, and measures only 5” inches long. It has a powerful twin hammer clutch, and a special motor design for higher power in reverse. According to Matco, it has the best power-to-weight ratio of any 3/8” impact wrench. Working torque is pegged at 25-200 ft. lbs., ultimate torque is 250 ft. lbs.

Matco – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47007

OE lift parts Genuine Rotary parts are available to replace standard wear parts on all its automotive lift products. They’re said to be competitively priced and have been tested to meet ANSI standards. Rotary also guarantees that standard wear parts will ship within 24 hours or the freight is free.

Installing aftermarket replacement parts on a vehicle lift can invalidate the lift’s certification and create risk management issues.

Rotary – For more information, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47005

JUNE 2007

Oil filter catalog

Vent filters

Bosch has published a new comprehensive, bilingual (English/Spanish) catalog covering Bosch’s Premium Oil Filters for domestic and import cars, light trucks and vans for current models as well as those built as far back as the1950s.

This 392-page catalog lists correct oil filters for all car and light truck models from A.C. to Yugo, by year/make/model/engine. More than 40 pages of technical information are incorporated, including numerical and alphabetical listings of all Bosch oil filters, quick cross reference tables, Bosch product and package specifications and filter installation tips.

Robert Bosch – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47014

ATP-Inc. has expanded its coverage of interior vent filters. Twenty-four new interior ventilation filters are featured in a new wall chart (No. IV07). Application listings have also

been updated through model year 2007 where possible. With the addition of twentyfour new filters and the carryover coverage provided by the existing line, ATP now covers over 10 million more vehicles. ATP now provides coverage for over 80 per cent of the vent filter equipped vehicles on the road today.

ATP-Inc. – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47003

“Joining AAEC was the best thing I ever did. I’ve learned a tremendous amount and my business improved by leaps and bounds!”

– Rob Scott, a member of the Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre

Flange tool Matco has introduced the new SE288-8MM punch flange tool with a larger piston for more punching power. The head swivels for ease of operation and convenience, and it can punch up to 8mm holes on one side, and crimp or flange up to 14 gauge on the other. It features a ‘comfort grip’ with textured surface.

Matco Tools – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47008

Dynamometer SAKOR Technologies has introduced its Accudyne family of AC Motoring Dynamometers. Accudyne is compatible with a broad range of testing applications, including conventional engine and power-train systems, hybrid vehicle drives, electric motors and rotary components, such as alternators, generators, pumps, compressors and much more.

They are available in sizes ranging from fractional to over 2,000 horsepower, and speeds in excess of 30,000 rpm. They offer features such as inertia simulation, engine simulation, and NVH testing.

SAKOR – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47002 JUNE 2007

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For More Information: Visit us at www.aaec.ca, or e-mail us at info@aaec.ca Register now at www.aaec.ca/canadiantechnician

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 33

HD radio receiver Visteon has introduced an in-vehicle HD radio receiver and installation kit designed to offer fast, easy access to digital AM and FM radio signals for virtually any vehicle make or model.

The new HD Zoom component tuner kit for HD Radio reception includes Visteon’s attractive, low-profile in-vehicle display with backlit three-line amber LCD readout, compact under-dash digital tuner and antenna interface, power and ground cables, and infrared remote control. The HD Zoom connects directly through the vehicle’s existing antenna, eliminating the hassle and clutter associated with separate antenna systems.

Visteon – For more info, go to ww.aptmag.ca/products/47004

Electrical tester Del City has developed a tool that will troubleshoot and analyze electrical problems.

The new GFI Receptacle Tester detects common wiring problems in standard and ground fault circuit interrupter outlets. It also tests DIS and other ignition systems with the Tru-Spark Ignition Firing Indicator. It can test without piercing or removing spark plug wires. Along with the receptacle tester and ignition firing indicator Del City has an array of testers, multimeters and analyzers.

Del City – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47006

Fluid fasteners Jiffy-tite Motorsports has developed a line of race-bred fluid fasteners for fuel, oil, water, and transmission applications. These quickconnect fluid fasteners connect and disconnect in seconds with no tools. These black and gold, or all-black anodized fittings have a finish that will not scuff or tarnish no matter

34 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

how many times components are swapped.

A built-in valve shuts off flow when disconnected preventing fluid from leaking on your hands or into your detailed engine compartment.

Jiffy-tite – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/47013

Pit rack Designed for highly efficient four-wheel alignment, the new PN pit rack from Hunter Engineering is set at a comfortable work height and provides plenty of space around and under the vehicle to make service fast and easy. The “walkaround” pit layout saves time spent raising and lowering a lift, also making it a great choice for shops with low ceiling height. The 212” steel runways mount to pedestals that are available in three heights: standard 36” or optional 30” or 24”, depending on pit depth. The PN features a 16,000-lb. capacity and 221⁄2” runway width to handle a wide range of vehicles, including dual-wheel pickups. Clip-on work steps provide easy access to vehicle.

Hunter – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/45016

Theft-resistant LEDs

Fuel filters Beck/Arnley’s fuel filters provide direct fit and are actual size to suit the vehicle’s bracketry properly, while banjo fittings are tightly secured where mounted on the vehicle. Beck/Arnley offers no universal fit filters. A package of copper washers is included with all filters that require new copper washers.

Beck/Arnley – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/46020

Stop leak Justice Brothers has designed a special purpose Engine Stop Leak additive to stop dangerous leaks that can damage engines. Stop Leak reconditions old, dry crankcase seals, timing chain, valve cover and intake manifold gaskets, restoring their sealing ability. As a result of advanced chemistry, Engine Stop Leak contains no solid material, which could clog oil passages, and is completely harmless to internal engine components. It keeps oil where it belongs.

Justice Brothers – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/43012

Shop towels

Grote Industries has developed a new snapin-place, theft-resistant flange for its 4” round LED lamps. Available in stainless steel and tough polycarbonate (gray, black, or chrome), these flanges are perfect for costconscious fleets that want to upgrade to LED lighting, but are concerned about the replacement cost as a result of theft. This versatile snap-in flange is held in place by locking tabs (as opposed to the standard screw holes) that saves installers time with quick and easy installation. The installation requires no drilling.

Grote – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/43003

Tub-O Towels from Federal Process is now available in a convenient, travel- and toolboxfriendly 40-count canister. The pre-moistened towels are designed to remove grease, dirt, adhesives and other tough soils found in many automotive and heavy-duty environments. They feature a fastacting, citrus-based chemistry fortified with glycerin, jojoba, vitamin E and aloe vera skin protectors. The non-toxic wipes are gentle on hands and reduce hand-washing time, improving on-the-job productivity.

Federal Process – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/46022 JUNE 2007

Step light Attention Service Managers & Advisors:

AMP Research has developed an easy-to-install Light Kit for its popular Power Step running boards. The new AMP Research Light Kit, when installed with AMP’s Power Step running boards, provides sure footing for the driver and passengers at night. Open any door and four ultra bright white LEDs light the surface of the automatically deployed Power Step. The lights stay lit for a full five minutes when the door is left open, allowing plenty of time for entry or exit. Close the door and the lights go out automatically as the Power Step retracts. The Light Kit can be installed in under an hour.

AMP Research – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/44012

BE IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF NOT BY YOURSELF!

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Firestone Industrial Products has developed an innovative, new product for custom car builders. The company’s Red Label high-pressure series air spring is designed to appeal to the Gen X/Gen Y demographic. It’s a stand-alone air spring that allows vehicle builders to fabricate their own mounting systems. Stronger, and featuring more durable components, it’s available with 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2” single and dual ports.

Accessories such as compressors, controls and air tanks are optional.

Firestone Industrial – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/45005

• LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO & G.T.A. • DIRECT ACCESS TO MAJOR TIRE SUPPLIERS

416-255-5581 www.activegreenross.com

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION – FILL IN THIS CARD! ❏ Yes, please send (continue to send) CANADIAN TECHNICIAN magazine – FREE! ❏ No... do not send CANADIAN TECHNICIAN magazine to me.

Signature

Date

Please Fax Back To:

416/614-8861 or mail to

Name: Company Name: Company Address: City:

Province:

Telephone:

Fax:

Postal Code:

IMPORTANT!

You must answer all questions

e-mail:

2. I am provincially licensed to repair vehicles: ❑ Yes ❑ No

3. I specify, select, approve or influence/recommend the purchase of automotive replacement parts, tools, or equipment (check all that apply): ❑ Specify ❑ Select ❑ Approve ❑ Influence or recommend ❑ None of the above 4. The type of work we do here includes (check all that apply): 1. ❑ Oil / filter / lube service 2. ❑ Battery sales / service 3. ❑ Brake service 4. ❑ Engine repair / overhaul 5. ❑ Engine performance / emissions / tune-up

6. ❑ Electrical service - chassis 7. ❑ Electrical service - engine 8. ❑ Exhaust / muffler / catalytic converter 9. ❑ Shock / strut service 10. ❑ Steering / suspension service 11. ❑ Wheel alignment / wheel service 12. ❑ Transmission / transaxle service or overhaul (automatic) 13. ❑ Transmission / transaxle service or overhaul (manual) 14. ❑ AC service 15. ❑ Cooling system / radiator service 16. ❑ Emission control service 17. ❑ Clutch service 18. ❑ Fuel injection service 19. ❑ Diesel engine service 20. ❑ Tire sales / service

Have a comment to make about Canadian Technician?

We’re listening. _________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

❏ Please call me, I have a story idea for Canadian Technician.

JUNE 2007

MY JOB TITLE IS (CHECK ONE ONLY): ❑ Shop owner / Shop manager ❑ Administration ❑ Service writer / Service manager ❑ Lead technician / Shop foreman ❑ Technician ❑ Apprentice ❑ Other (specify):_________________ 5. Average number of vehicles serviced at this location per week: _______________________________________________________ 6. Number of service bays at this location: _______________________________________________________ 7. Number of mechanics/technicians employed at this location: _______________________________________________________ 8. Number of apprentice technicians employed at this location: _______________________________________________________

What would you like to see more of in Canadian Technician?

❏ Human interest stories and profiles ❏ Technical articles ❏ Business management articles ❏ New product information ❏ News about supplier companies

June 2007

1. This location is a (check one only): A. ❑ General service and repair shop B. ❑ Specialized service and repair shop C. ❑ Service station with repair facilities D. ❑ Automotive rebuilder E. ❑ New car/truck dealer F. ❑ Body shop with repair facilities G. ❑ Fleet owner with repair facilities H. ❑ Other (specify): ________________________

451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON M9W 5C4

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 35

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Out with the old fluid,in with the new.

Monte Carlo SS (Super _____).

Non-reactive gas.

Automobile.

Lend me your ___.

A division of Chrysler,formerly AMC. Brake part.

How speeders are caught.

To force fuel into a cylinder.

Round seals with a hole in the middle.

Units of electrical power. _____ alcohol.A gas additive also known as ethynol.

Directory of topics in a manual.

Goes great with tonic water.

Frozen water.

Popular weightlifting gym.

Driving _______; where golf balls are teed up.

Made by Eagle in the early 90s

1 Energy sources.

2 Brings in new staff.

3 Vertical measurement.

4 Guide a vehicle.

5 Laser printer “ink.”

7 The chief,head honcho,top dog.

9 Engine cooling part (abbreviation).

12 Japanese nameplate.

13 Choose by voting.

15 A device which raises vehicles off the ground (two words).

16 Mad. 19 The “M”in BCM. 20 H2O 21 Label.

22 To burn hair.

23 To be.

24 A particular shade of a color.

25MARCH Acquire 2007 new knowledge.

March 2007 Auto Puzzle L

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Congratulations to Alex Novak of Farrell’s Ultramar in Antigonish,N.S.,winner of a Havoline jacket for solving our March 2007 puzzle.

Win $100!

Name:

Send your solved puzzle to Canadian Technician.We’ll draw a winner on Sept.17, 2007.Send to 451 Attwell Drive,Toronto, ON M9W 5C4.Or fax to 416-614-8861.

Workplace: Work address: Phone:

email:

Question of the Month: Should repair estimates be free? Why or why not?

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. © 2007 Chevron Lubricants Canada Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC. © 2007 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. All rights reserved.

AUTO PUZZLE

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For more information call 1 800 465-2772 or visit www.Havoline.com

A Chevron company brand

continued from page 38 front of the computer, reading service bulletins to see if he could find a solution.

“What’s the bad news?” I asked.

He sat back with a sigh. “Well, it’s possible the injector pump has been damaged by lack of lubrication, or maybe the glow plugs got cooked. But if Herman is telling the story straight, the truck didn’t run long on gasoline. I think it’s something else, something like…” His voice trailed off as he shrugged in defeat.

“Something like a vapor lock?” Basil sauntered over, munching a triple chocolate donut. He wiped some crumbs from his goatee. “If you have any gasoline remaining in the system, it will heat up and cause a vapor lock. Just as our tenacious apprentice is applying full diligence towards the total purification of his gastrointestinal system, so must this fine piece of machinery be further cleansed from its current defilement.”

Tooner blinked twice. “Huh?” “He means we’ve got to purge it some more,” I explained.

Basil sighed. “Correct. I suggest that you put in a fuel additive, fill the tank completely with new diesel fuel, and tell Herman to go on a very long drive. I think you’ll find his problems will be over.”

He was right about the truck, but Beanie was a wreck as his body adjusted to healthy food and filtered water. He felt better physically, but his enthusiasm for eating was gone. As he gnawed on a cantaloupe during coffee break one day, it suddenly dawned on him that Basil was eating as many donuts as he ever had. “Hey, how come I have to eat healthy, but you don’t! Aren’t you the big health food nut?”

Basil smiled. “No, that would be my wife. She’s been after me for years to eat healthy, so I thought I’d try the new diet out on you to see what happens.” He added three sugar cubes to a fresh mug of coffee. “And judging from your gloomy disposition, I think I’ll stick to my present regimen.”

Rick Cogbill is a licensed technician and former shop owner in Summerland, B.C. Send your Car Side story ideas to rick.cogbill@shawcable.com.

JUNE 2007

ADVERTISER INDEX Advertiser

Page

Website Address

Phone

35

www.activegreenross.com

416-255-5581

8

www.asc-ind.com

1-330-899-0340

16

www.carquest.ca

Contact local rep

25, 36

www.texacohavoline42.com

1-800-465-2772

Henkel Canada Inc. 2225 Meadowpine Blvd.

Mississauga, Ontario L5N 7P2

29

www.loctite.com

1-800-263-5043

Honeywell (Celsius by Prestone) 3333 Unity Drive Mississauga, ON L5L 3S6

26

www.prestone.com

1-800-243-2323

Mopar Contact your participating DaimlerChrysler Retailer

10

www.mopar.ca

1-866-38-MOPAR

NAPA 7025 Ontario Street East Montreal QC H1N 2B3

32

www.napaonlinecanada.com

1-866-GET-NAPA

NGK Spark Plugs Canada Limited 505 Apple Creek Blvd.Unit 1 Markham ON L3R 5R1

4

www.ngksparkplugs.ca

1-877-2-SPARKY

Pennzoil 1101 Blair Road Burlington, ON L7M 1T3

6

www.pennzoil.com

1-800-263-6200

Robert Bosch, Inc. 6955 Creditview Rd. Mississauga, ON L5N 1R1

40

www.bosch.com

1-800-618-4729

Shell Canada

19

www.shell.ca

Visit our website

Snap-on Tools 2325 Skymark Avenue Mississauga, ON L4W 5A9

2

www.snapon.com

1-800-734-2676

OTC Tools of Canada 5695 Whittle Road Mississauga, ON L4Z 3P8

13

www.otctools.com

Contact local agent

Wakefield Canada Inc. (Castrol) 3620 Lakeshore Blvd.West Toronto ON M8W 1P2

35

www.wakefieldcanada.ca

1-888-CASTROL

Active Green & Ross 580 Evans Avenue, Toronto, ON M8W 2W1 ASC Industries 2100 International Parkway North Canton, OH, 44720 CARQUEST Canada 36 Worcester Road Toronto, ON M9W 1K9 Chevron Global Lubricants 6975A Pacific Circle Mississauga, ON L4T 1A1

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 37

The Car Side

By Rick Cogbill

Slim learns that a periodic flush and purge is good for vehicles and employees alike.

Got Gas?

BUR-R-R-A-P-P! The lunchroom windows vibrated as Beanie clamped his hand over his mouth in embarrassment. “Gosh!” he mumbled.

“Did I do that?”

Basil sighed as he picked up his scattered playing cards. “Well, I can assure you that blatant expulsion of esophageal gases didn’t come from my direction.

Beanie, your fast-food diet will be the death of you.”

“If it doesn’t deafen us first,” grumbled Tooner, rubbing his ears. “That belch must be close to a world record.” He eyed the crumpled wrappers on the table in front of our apprentice and shook his head. “Three burritos, two litres of Coke, a double cheeseburger and mega-fries; I don’t know how you can stomach it.”

Beanie looked glum. “Actually, I haven’t been feeling that well lately…”

It was time to end this dietary dialogue.

“Speaking of gas,” I said, “we need a few gallons of diesel fuel to get Herman’s truck going for him.” I handed Basil the keys to the shop truck.

Long-Haul Herman was a local trucker who brought us his personal vehicles for servicing. This time his son had borrowed the family pickup, a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado one-ton dually with a 6.6 L diesel engine. Being a new driver, he’d made the mistake of filling it with gas instead of diesel fuel. Now it wouldn’t start.

Basil soon returned with the full can of fuel. “Here’s the diesel, and I’ve also got something for our other ‘gas’ problem.”

He tossed a bag to Beanie. “I stopped at the health food store and picked up a few things. Take these and I’ll guarantee you’ll be feeling better in no time.”

38 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

While Beanie went off to read the ingredients of Basil’s remedy, Tooner and I tackled Herman’s truck. First we drained all the gasoline from the fuel tank and put in a few gallons of diesel fuel. I cranked the engine while Tooner bled the system, and it didn’t take long before it was up and running. “Hmm. Don’t hear any loud noises,” said Tooner.

“Looks like Herman got off easy this time, Slim.”

“Could be.” I shut the engine off. “Let’s take it for a run later, just to be sure.”

But when Tooner came back in an hour, the truck wouldn’t start. “What the…!” He wasn’t impressed, and directed some choice phrases in the Chevy’s direction as he filled the fuel filter with fresh diesel and bled the system again. It fired

right up and ran beautifully. “Okay,” he growled, “I’m goin’ for a drive. I’ll call you on the cell if I have any trouble.”

But the only trouble we had while he was gone was the moaning and wailing of The Bean. “Basil,” he gasped, “what’s in those supplements? I can’t get six feet from the washroom without having more cramps!”

“Patience, my boy; patience. It’s just a little purge recipe to clean out your system. You’ll be feeling better in no time!”

An hour later, it was Tooner doing all the moaning. Herman’s truck was still giving us grief. The test drive went well, but after sitting for a while, it wouldn’t start without repriming. I found him huddled in

continued on page 37 JUNE 2007

The new look

of diagnostics.

Two great forces have come together to give you the absolute best in diagnostics. Since 1984, Vetronix has built the best diagnostic equipment in the industry. And for over 100 years, Bosch has meant superior reliability, service and quality. Together, these two powerful entities mean unsurpassed H[FHOOHQFH &DOO XV DW WR ČşQG RXW KRZ 9HWURQL[ %RVFK *URXS FDQ KHOS \RXU VKRS EHFRPH WKH PRVW HIČşFLHQW DQG SURČş WDEOH LW FDQ EH

Š2006 Robert Bosch Corporation.