Canadian Technician March 2006

MARCH 2006

Straight talk

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

5 things to check on tough alignment jobs

ALSO:

■ The secrets of time management ■ Using oil to grow your client list ■ Shop owners getting organized

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MARCH 2006

VOL. 11 NO. 2

Departments Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 From Our Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Out & About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Eye Spy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Product Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

18

Columnists Trackside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

By Jamie Maudsley

21

It’s Your Turn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

By Guest Columnist Chance Henderson The Car Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

By Rick Cogbill

Features Management S.O.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Is time on your side? Or is managing it your biggest challenge?

Profile: Scotch Blend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

24

Shopowner John McCafferty mixes old Scottish charm with modern efficiency.

Step-by-Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Working without an OEM scanner involves extra time and starting with as much information as you can get.

Wheel & Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Beyond the readings‌ Five things not all alignment machines will tell you.

Lube, Oil & Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 These days, selling the right oil for the right job is more important than ever.

Air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Getting the jump on the season with the right equipment, knowledge and strategies.

28

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Editorial VOLUME 11

NUMBER 2

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 Rick Cogbill, Larry Dickison, Will Enns, Jamie Maudsley, Kelly Bennett and Jason Felesky PUBLISHED BY Newcom Business Media 451 Attwell Drive Toronto, Ontario M9W 5C4 Phone: (416) 614-0955 Fax: (416) 614-2781 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: $5.35; one-year subscription in Canada: $36.38 ($34.00 plus $2.38 GST); one-year subscription in U.S.: US$40; one-year subscription in all other countries: US$65. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher. The advertiser agrees to protect the publisher against legal action based upon libelous or inaccurate statements, unauthorized use of photographs, or other material in connection with advertisements placed in Canadian Technician. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising which in his opinion is misleading, scatological, or in poor taste. Postmaster: Send address changes to Canadian Technician, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON, M9W 5C4. Printed in Canada. Second class mail: Postage paid at Toronto.

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.

“Morning Ritual” by Will Enns Phone: (250) 494-7406 www.canadiantechnician.ca/covers

MARCH 2006

Making life easier… not different Businesses – like new technologies – are constantly being tested for their effectiveness and efficiency.

By Allan Janssen There seems to be no end to the list of things we can automate.

Resourceful and ingenious, we humans have a penchant for pushing aside those tasks we don’t like, leaving them for our inventions to handle.

A few years ago when it seemed like every major corporation was automating their reception desk, it was not uncommon to hear people say how much they despised voice mail.

“Impersonal!” was the luddite cry from the masses, and I suppose I did not disagree. Those early systems were far too chatty, not quick enough, and certainly not very intuitive. There were many occasions when, if I heard a robotic female voice say “Good day! You have reached – ” I would instinctively started pressing the ‘0’ button to talk to a human operator.

My opinion changed when I heard a business leader whom I much respected speak of his appreciation for voice mail.

“Efficient!” was his enlightened opinion.

His biggest complaint was about the people who used voice-mail incorrectly (leaving a message without details) or, worse, refused to use it at all. He had adopted the technology and now found the greatest fault with its only human component.

I’ve since come to love voice mail as an alternative to little pink “While You Were Out” notes. And, in similar fashion, I have come to love e-mail as an alternative to phone calls. As long as the new technology works, it will inspire acceptance, respect, and ultimately appreciation from humans who have been relieved of some tedious task.

I had the occasion recently to track a package that had been couriered to me but which for some reason was undeliverable.

A human voice left me a message asking

me to phone in and help them resolve the problem, and I dutifully did. But finding a computer voice on the other end of the toll-free number they’d left for me, I decided (somewhat belligerently, but not entirely maliciously) to test it. When it asked for the tracking number, I spoke quickly – very quickly – in the hopes of frying its little processor mind. But it got the number handily and without a nanosecond’s delay told me exactly where my package was, starting every sentence with a cute “Okay” as if it were talking to a child.

I was initially impressed, but we could not work together, the machine and I, to come to a meaningful resolution. It did not understand my wishes, and I did not understand its limitations. Ultimately I had to ask for an operator (a prompt which had not been offered to me but which it understood nonetheless).

Here’s my point. Acceptance of new technology has to be earned with the currency of effectiveness and efficiency. It has to somehow make my life easier, not just different. And I think our reaction to new technology is not so different to any new service we encounter – even a new automotive repair shop. It must be effective and efficient in order to gain consumer confidence.

Your shop is constantly being tested.

You are judged by the way you handle your customers and their unique requests. Are you quick? Are you responsive? Are you intuitive? Are you personal? And, most importantly, are you effective and efficient?

Make their lives easier, not just different, and you’ll win their loyalty.

You can reach me toll free at 1-866-222-6787. Or e-mail me at ajanssen@canadiantechnician.ca.

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 5

LARRY DICKISON

LETTERS Warranty doesn’t cover 27-year-old repair job!

RE: Customer Classics, October 2005 In September 2005 an older gentlemen walked into my business to complain about the transmission on his heavy duty truck that ‘growled’ in second gear. Since I’d installed this rebuilt transmission, he wanted to know if it was still under warranty. I couldn’t remember the job so I asked a few questions. Turns out we did the job when we were in our first location, on the west side of town. We haven’t been in that location since 1978! I told him, no, the warranty had run out long ago.

Learning that the transmission had lasted 27 years, though, gave him a whole new perspective. “You know, that isn’t such a bad transmission after all!” he said, and he left with a smile on his face.

James Herasymuik J&M Transmission Yorkton, SK

Techs and owners need to work together to improve image RE: Breaking a Vicious Cycle, February 2006 I am a great proponent of raising the esteem level of automotive mechanic /technicians. After working in the trade for over 28 years both as a technician and as a shop owner I’m proud of the quality work that we, my employees and myself, do every day. To the general public, how-

ever, a mechanic/technician has limited skill and an undesirable job. Usually he’s regarded as someone you wouldn’t want your daughter to marry.

I believe we need to be perceived as a profession, not just a trade. After all, the skill level needed to diagnose modern vehicles is very high and will need to be even higher for the systems that are coming in the near future. To make this a profession, we need a governing body that will license shops and techs. And it would need sanctioning powers to clean up the fly-by-night shops that are hurting our industry’s reputation.

Technicians and shop owners must work together for this. Until we band together, speaking with one voice to edu-

cate government and the general public, and doing what it takes to earn their respect, we will fail.

Sean O’Gorman Glenn’s Import & Domestic Courtenay, B.C.

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 416/614-2781. We reserve the right to edit your letters for length and clarity.

RIDES

Reader

Al G. Smith, owner/operator of Hilbre Auto in Grahamdale, Man. customized this 1991 Plymouth Voyager. It is stock except for the chop-and-cut job. He got tired of smelling the tires he was hauling so he moved the tail gate up and removed the side windows to create a cargo box.The sliding door and seat remain, so it’s still classed as a five-passenger van. For safety he installed a roll bar and extra bracing.The cargo box is finished with a spray liner.“I’ve had lots of looks driving this around!” he says.You can see more “Reader Rides” on our web site at www.canadiantechnician.ca. And if you have a photo of your hot ride, feel free to send it in.We’ll put it up!

6 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

MARCH 2006

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From Our Forum

Recent postings on www.canadiantechnician.ca/forum

Restricted area!

Short of posting a guard, it’s tough to keep customers out of the bays.

Our forum members compared notes on how they handle the situation.

What is your shop policy on customers in the bay? Ours is “by invitation only” – usually just to show them what we’ve found. Some customers think it’s their god-given right to be wherever their vehicle is, but I’ve even seen two people get their toes under hoists that weren’t on the floor yet.

Posted by Mech1Warrior1 / 08-202005 Unless you lock the doors and post a guard, people will get into the shop once in a while. I usually tell them that our shop is tight for space. If they have a particular question about their car, I’m happy to answer it, otherwise I ask them to please wait outside. I don’t want them setting their coffee cups on my toolbox, holding a trouble light in my eyes, or being in my way no matter where they stand. If they don’t get it, I tell them it costs more if they watch, and the labour rate doubles if they try to help (with an obvious big grin). Or I’ll ask them if having the boss stand over them at their work makes them uncomfortable. If all of that fails, I simply tell them that our insurance requires staff only in the work area.

Posted by Carfixr / 08-20-2005 I try to keep all customers out of the shop. It’s not a place for them to be. We will show them what’s wrong with their vehicles, then out they go. If they insist on staying, I’ll go into my spiel that it’s a safety and insurance issue. Normally I don’t have problems. Sometimes I’m too busy to notice if there’s a customer in the shop and one of the techs will come to the front and tell me, “If you don’t get this person out of my bay, I’m going to

8 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

remove them myself!” Needless to say I run to get that customer out before it gets worse.

Posted by Mag / 08-21-2005 Why is everyone so afraid to let the customer see what we do for a living? In our shop we encourage customers to check out what’s being done on their vehicles. These people paid a lot of money for their vehicles and deserve to know who is repairing them and how they’re doing it. I’m proud of this industry but we have a long way to go to gain customer confidence. Open your doors and invite these people in and show them why it’s getting more expensive to repair their vehicle. You may be surprised at the advantages.

Posted by ChryslerGuy / 08-24-2005 Nothing to hide. It’s all about the safety. I’ve had more than one customer trip and fall over a hoist or hose just walking through the shop. I’ve also seen them just about get run over because they’re getting out of the way of one car, right into the path of another. Not to mention they have no head-, eye-, or foot-protection. If something goes flying I sure don’t want to see them loose an eye!

Safer to have them behind the glass.

Posted by Mag / 08-24-2005 In our shop it’s posted that shop areas are for employees only. Most customers listen. But we do have customers who wander into the back. Management basically leaves it up to us whether the customers stays or goes. If we kick someone out, management backs us up.

Posted by Remencin / 08-25-2005

We have a “safe zone” outlined on the floor with bright yellow paint. In the seven years I’ve been here, I’ve only had to kick three customers out of the shop. Sometimes they just get too close to me! Thankfully no customer has ever gotten injured in our shop, touch wood.

Posted by Hawk / 11-05-2005 For the most part they’re not allowed. We’ll invite them if we need to show them something. I worked in a Ford store in Ontario that had huge picture windows between the shop and the showroom. Felt a little like I was an inmate at the zoo there!

Posted by Canuck623 / 11-05-2005 Ours is also “by invitation only.” Yes they do pay lots of money and have a right to see what’s wrong with their car, and check the old parts, but it is a major safety issue. A distracted tech can do some nasty damage to themselves or a car.

Posted by Msog / 11-07-2005

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.

MARCH 2006

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Out

&

About

Supplier News Cardone opens second Canadian warehouse

Regional associations thriving Ontario groups come together for a motivating evening in Barrie.

By Allan Janssen Industry unity was the theme of a special event attended by more than 230 garagists and their families in Barrie, Ont. last month.

The event, organized by the Barrie and Area Automotive Repair Association (BAARA), featured Bryan Dodge, a motivational speaker from Texas who used a unique blend of humor and audience participation to urge people in the automotive repair industry to stick together.

“Don’t speak bad of another person in this industry ever again,” he urged his audience. “You’re a family. And you protect family. It’s called industry etiquette.”

The message seemed to strike a chord with those who attended.

“I’ve always thought that we should never embarrass our own industry in front of a customer,” said Roy Hinbest of Roy’s Service in Orangeville, Ont. “Medical and dental professionals don’t do that, and we shouldn’t either.”

“That’s something this industry has to learn, big time,” added Gary Hrynyk of Gary’s Auto Service in Bradford, Ont. “You see it too often where one shops speaks badly of another. They may be competitors, but we’re all in the same industry, and we’re hurting our own image.”

The turn-out was a particular accomplishment for a small association operating in a snowy part of the province in February.

Ed Jagt of BAARA said members of regional associations in Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Orangeville, London, and throughout southern Ontario made the trek to Barrie to hear Dodge.

That kind of interest and co-operation appears to be a welcome trend in the automotive aftermarket, says Marc Brazeau, vice president of the Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada.

“We’re seeing a lot more activity in MARCH 2006

Motivational speaker Bryan Dodge urges the repair industry to come together.

regional associations lately,” he says.

He chalks that up to the buzz surrounding the establishment of a new national association for independent shops (the Canadian Independent Automotive Association) and the reemergence of the National Automotive Trades Association after an extended dormancy.

“In some senses these national associations have created opportunities for regional groups to expand and become more active because there’s a heightened awareness of the need for service providers to come together,” says Brazeau.

He also points out that regional groups are particularly effective because they have a good sense of the most urgent issues in their area – whether it is right-to-repair, local legislation, or the image of the industry.

Bill Burkimsher, executive director of the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario, says regional associations offer an excellent chance for shop owners to work co-operatively toward a mutually beneficial goal.

“We encourage it. The more independent shops communicate with one another the better,” he says. “What could be wrong with that?”.

Cardone served dinner in Edmonton last month when it opened its new western Canadian warehouse. Company president Michael Cardone, Jr. (pictured above) told visitors the company plans to give back to the community as it has given back in other communities where it operates. “We’re looking forward to a great future here, serving you our customers and serving this market,” he said. “We’re big believers in ‘servant leadership.’ We’re here to serve the customer and help you make your businesses successful.” The 25,000-square-foot warehouse with more than 12,000 SKUs, will serve Manitoba and west, while the company’s Mississauga warehouse serves Ontario and east.

NAPA Under Car honours SKF SKF has recently received recognition from NAPA’s Under Car Sales Group as the 2005 Supplier of the Year. NAPA honored SKF for the solid support it provides the Under Car Sales Group through marketing materials, customer service and product sales support. It marks the second consecutive year SKF has received this honor. In other SKF news, George Dettloff has been promoted to president and CEO of SKF USA Inc.

Car maintenance podcasts now available on web Car Care Canada has produced six car maintenance podcasts and video files for the technically savvy. The items, which can be downloaded from www.carcarecanada.ca discuss how to buy a battery, winter fluids for your car, windshield wiper maintenance, winter tune-ups, fuel saving tips, and the truth about idling. Additional podcasts are being added regularly. “These podcasts are another way that consumers can empower themselves with information on how to take care of their vehicles,” explained Kelly Williams, spokesperson for the Be Car Care Aware consumer awareness campaign.

Spectra Premium to supply Pep Boys Spectra Premium has reached a supply agreement with Pep Boys, south of the border, to supply radiators and heater cores. “We are very pleased to expand our customer base with the addition of Pep Boys, the U.S leading full-service automotive aftermarket retail and service chain,” says Jacques Mombleau, president and CEO of Montreal-based Spectra Premium. Pep Boys has 593 stores and more than 6,000 service bays in 36 states and Puerto Rico.

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 11

OUT & ABOUT

‘Lindertech North’ coming to Toronto Popular technical conference to be staged April 21-23 Diagnostic guru Jim Linder and Toronto jobber/service provider John Cochrane are joining forces to bring some of the most respected technical courses to Canada for a three-day conference.

The event, dubbed “Lindertech North,” will be patterned on Jim Linder’s popular annual three-day LTS Conference held annually in Indianapolis.

Lindertech North, which will also be an annual event, is expected to draw service technicians from across Canada and the northeastern United States April 21-23.

The theme for the first event is “Stay Connected.” Lindertech founder Jim Linder and instructors Michelle and Doug Garriott will cover some of the newest automotive technology that’s out there today.

The event will be held in conjunction with a trade show where vendors can display and promote their products. The anchor sponsor is ACDelco. The main focus of the trade show will be diagnostic test equipment, service procedures and related emission parts.

Cochrane Automotive has been associated with Linder Technical Services for the past four years, providing technical courses by Lindertech instructors to Canadian technicians in southwestern Ontario.

Cochrane said he expects about 150 owners and technicians to attend the inaugural conference. “We hope that each year this number will grow,” he added.

Supplier News Senior managers named for Beck/Arnley Jerry Stevens has been named vice president of sales, Canada for Beck/Arnley, and Francois Marchand has joined the Canadian sales force as a regional sales manager, covering Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Meanwhile, south of the border, Vincent McMahon has been promoted to vice president of operations. McMahon will be responsible for all of the operational functions of the distribution center and satellite warehouses for the U.S. and Canada. The company has begun shipping parts from its new Mississauga warehouse, at 3620B Laird Road. The new 11,000-square-feet warehouse will be managed

by Vaughn A. Barfield.

French now an option on ACDelco’s electronic catalog ACDelco has expanded its electronic tools to aid French-speaking independent service centers. It has made French an option for its ‘WIP’ electronic catalog and parts ordering program. The web-based application lets ACDelco customers check inventory and order parts online anytime through its Web Integrated Service Environment (WISE) system. Beginning this month, ACDelco customers will have the option of displaying the WIP screens in English, Spanish or French.

“When searching for or ordering parts, customers need a clear, easy-to-use, efficient program,” said Steve Sigg, ACDelco e-business manager. “This trilingual option of WIP provides a far more inclusive program and makes the catalog search and parts ordering process a better fit to the needs of our Hispanic and French Canadian customers.”

AAEC online courses to be part of CAI curriculum The Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College in Barrie, Ont. is introducing Automotive Aftermarket E-learning Centre AAEC online education as part of the curriculum in its Fixed Operations diploma and its aftermarket degree courses. CAI is the only college in Canada that offers an automotive business education.

The AAEC site will be introduced into the curriculum during the 2006 summer and fall semesters utilizing a Georgian College Blackboard Academic Suite.

New HD marketing manager for Wakefield Canada Mark Pagnanelli has been appointed heavy duty marketing manager for Wakefield Canada, the exclusive distributor and marketer of Castrol lubricants in Canada.

Technician Don Dolson of Stop ‘N’ Go Services in Burlington, Ont. arrived at work one Monday morning recently to find a not-so-subtle reminder to finish up a tricky job that had overstayed its welcome.

Have an interesting picture to share? Send the to Eye Spy, c/o Canadian Technician, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, ON, M9W 5C4. Or e-mail your high-resolution image to the editor: ajanssen@canadiantechnician.ca.

MARCH 2006

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 13

Trackside

Ice in his veins For technician Steve Molinelli, the best races feature studded tires and are conducted on a glare surface.

By Jamie Maudsley

Not too many drivers get the opportunity to race 12 months a year, but Steve Molinelli has found a way to compete from January through to December in Saskatoon, Sask.

During the warmest months of the year, the service writer competes in Solo I and Solo II events .

In winter, however, he indulges in his true love: ice racing.

“I prefer ice racing to the Solo stuff,” Molinelli admits. “The conditions just make it that much more challenging. The camaraderie seems to be tighter between the racers as well. It’s not as much ‘me versus him.’ It’s more ‘us versus the conditions.’”

Molinelli says competing “door-to-door” with someone is the biggest thrill of all.

“Saskatoon is the ‘Ice Race Capital of Canada,’” Molinelli points out. “And our shop [the OK Tire and Service on 8th Street] seems to be the hub of it all. We have five guys that work in our shop as technicians who also race on weekends.”

And that means there’s a great support system for those racers. Just last weekend, another OK Tire tech, Ian Janssens, rolled his Rabbit over during the race.

“We have to get him back out on the track, so there’s a bunch of us working on his car right now,” he says.

In Steve’s race shop are two VWs, a 1981 Jetta, and a 1984 Scirocco. Steve’s love of the German automaker runs deep. “My parents had VWs, and my first car was a Beetle. It really just took off from there.”

VWs seem to be the cars of choice

MARCH 2006

when the ice warriors take to Pike Lake or the Saskatoon Water Ski Park for eight events during the winter.

“About 60 per cent of the cars are VWs. They were made in eight-valve mode from ‘75 to ‘96, so there’s a lot of equipment out there.”

The drivers compete in the NAPA Auto Parts Ice Race Series, a tour that is also backed by several area garages.

“Most of the guys are techs at local

surely one of the most unique tire rules in motorsports.

The highlight of Steve’s racing career came this season when he bagged a second-place finish. “I was running down the leader, but I just ran out of laps,” he says. “I had so much adrenaline going, as I tried to catch him. It was an awesome feeling, and I can’t wait for the time when I’m actually able to get that checkered flag and win my first race!”

Molinelli has learned a lot of things at the track that he has been able to take back to the shop.

“We race four cylinders, and we work on them all day long, so there’s bound to be a lot of cross-over. I’m able to do a little bit of R&D work at the track on things like exhaust and alignment.”

Molinelli says it’s almost like going to a training school every single race day.

One 2 One Photography “Even though we compete against each other, our club is a pretty shops, and they all help out,” he says. tight group,” he says. “When there’s a “Our shop is a big supporter of the problem, a lot of times there are six guys series. As a group, we race under the around, and we try to help out and solve banner of the Saskatoon Spots Car Club, it as a group. That helps us a lot when which has been in business for 45 years. we go back to the shop.”

The club has its own snowplow and Guaranteed that spirit of cooperation before ever race day we plow out a track will evaporate next time Steve is chasing on the ice and start racing. Our tracks down the leader late in a race so he can include chicanes, and hairpin turns. We “close the deal” and pick up his first feausually have an idea what the track will ture win. look like before we carve it out.”

One of the club’s mandates is to keep costs as low as possible to encourage new competitors to try their luck on the frozen track. All cars are required to run GM temporary spare tires studded with fender screws –

Know someone who fixes cars during the week and races during the weekend?

Contact Jamie at jmaudsley@rocket mail.com. Maybe there’s a Trackside story there!

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 15

It’s Your Turn

See a problem? Get involved!

There are plenty of opportunities for techs and shop owners to help shape the future of their industry.

By Chance Henderson

There’s no doubt

the automotive repair business is changing.

Lube shops and ‘big box’ stores are popping up all over, giving motorists new repair and maintenance options. A growing labor shortage is making apprentices and qualified technicians harder to find.

And “fly-by-night” shops continue to damage the reputation of our industry, with poorly trained staff, aging equipment, and deficient infrastructure.

On top of all that, vehicle technology is constantly changing, and access to training varies greatly depending on what part of the country you’re in.

These issues and others are of major concern to those of us who love this industry and want to see it become more professional and better respected.

I have yet to meet a technician who didn’t have strong views about the future of our trade. More often than not, they’re frustrated that it seems impossible to effect change.

The good news, however, is that there are plenty of opportunities for technicians or shop owners to participate in and help shape the future of their industry.

I recently had the opportunity to become involved with the Canadian Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) Council – the “political” voice of the automotive service industry. Among the many ‘stake holders’ who help direct its efforts are technicians and shop owners from around the country. They work with federal government on human resources issues like training, recruitment, and retention. And they have many opportunities for participation.

Not too long ago, I joined a bunch of techs in Toronto (they flew us in and put us up in a hotel) to help identify training

16 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

needs for people who diagnose and repair vehicle electronic systems. It was a fascinating – and educational – process. You can learn more about CARS at www.cars-council.ca.

Those with a particular interest in technical competitions may be interested in working with Skills Canada and its various provincial affiliates (www.skillscanada.com). You may be asked to serve on a technical committee, or help judge competitions, or organize related events geared to exposing youth to trade careers. It’s an excellent opportunity to work with young people and steer them down the right path to becoming a professional and competent technician.

Provincial Trade Advisory Committees, on the other hand, are comprised of a mix of technicians and employers. PTACs serve an advisory roll with the provincial apprenticeship branches regarding trade regulations, training standards, examinations, and certification. Committee members are appointed and serve fixed terms.

This is my second year on the Manitoba Motor Vehicle Technician PTAC and it has given me the opportunity to represent the views of fellow technicians on such issues as mandatory certification, apprentice/journeyman ratios, and apprentice training issues. So far it’s been very rewarding… but it can be a very demanding commitment taking up a lot of time.

Mentoring is an excellent opportunity to set an example to the next generation of techs. Whether they’re high school students or apprentices, they need positive role models who can teach them how a technician should look, behave and react.

I know this first hand because when I was still in high school I rarely applied myself in class, and I had no real direction in life. Fortunately I got to work with someone who proved that being a technician meant a lot more than just “hanging” parts. He showed me how math and science pertained to the trade, and demonstrated how good communication skills make work easier. Going into high school I was a ‘C’ student. With his guidance, I graduated with honors and I took home three awards and a scholarship. Talk about a drastic change.

If you wish to mentor it’s not that hard to find a student in need. Simply contact your local college or high school. They encourage mentoring but often lack adequate industry contacts willing to make the commitment and sacrifice required for the relationship to work.

My own involvement with organizations like these has been very rewarding.

The commitments vary but the satisfaction one gets from helping to shape the future is immense. It was especially fulfilling to finally find venues where I could talk with like-minded techs and work together with them to build a better tomorrow.

Chance Henderson is a licensed technician with over 10 years of experience.

He works at Dean Cooley Motors in Dauphin, Manitoba.

Got something you want to share with the class? Send your column idea to “It’s Your Turn”c/o Canadian Technician, 451 Attwell Drive,Toronto, ON, M9W 5C4. Or e-mail it to ajanssen@canadiantechnician.ca.

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MANAGEMENT

S.O.S. Adjusting your

TIMING

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.

Not enough hours in the day to get everything done?

Maybe you need to get ‘fully engaged.’

as cause, you be ok o o t t t y u l actual this o ime I o get n t t a h t f t s l a a the l larger nd a h times member nute a elly: cken. three n’t re y a mi Dear K a l s c t ss chi i c e I a l s x d s . e a e e e n t t h i a o s l g a u b g e I’ve runnin nd lik ! Your , I’m g arou breath always runnin ch my t u a o c y o k t r see a brea I neve in? nd yet ything r e v e mine a t i f u yo How do – Erol

Dear Erol: Ah… your note takes me back to the days when I was rarely able to stop for lunch. And even when I did, I had to swallow fast to answer the next phone call. Like you, I felt pressure from all sides. And it wasn’t fun.

You’re absolutely right that now I have a lot of what I call “margin” in my life.

Time to think and prepare for the next thing on my agenda. And if that’s what you want, you’re going to have to make some serious changes. This isn’t just a matter of “tweaking” your management style. This is a radical re-alignment of your priorities. You need a wake-up call, Erol. I have five suggestions for you.

1. Stop offering PLOs You know what I’m talking about.

18 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

Parking Lot Opinions. There’s simply no logic in offering them. They cost you time and money.

“Just bring it in,” you say, when someone calls with an oddball problem. “We’ll take a quick look-see.” But your ‘quick look-see’ is never quick. When they arrive, you pull yourself off a job that was actually scheduled to spend time in your parking lot with someone who’s not even a customer yet. You look under the hood, you drive the car around the block, you hook up your scanner… In most cases you end up having to ask them to leave the car with you anyway, or come back later. And you don’t get paid for your diagnosis, because you’ve already given your opinion for free.

Do you know how often my PLO was actually right? I tracked it. It was a lousy

11%. I just wasn’t able to focus on the problem because I was still thinking about the car I’d left in the bay. And all the while, other customers were walking in the door, and I was embarrassed at being seen working in my parking lot. It just does not look professional.

Nope, those PLOs don’t work. Just stop doing them!

2. Limit your phone time Have you ever spent 15 minutes on the phone asking a whole lot of questions like ‘How long has it been making that noise?’ ‘What size engine is that again?’

‘Does it have AC?’ and ‘What’s it sound like?’ I’ve even had people hold their cell phone close to the engine, hoping I could diagnose the problem from the other end!

At some point I realized that all of that MARCH 2006

phone time was preventing me from getting actual revenue-generating work done.

And those lengthy calls were my fault because I was asking all the questions.

I started to simplify the conversations.

I’d ask how long they’d been having the problem. If it had just started, I’d say “That sounds serious; you better bring it in.” Been doing that for weeks? “That sounds serious; you better bring it in.” It only does that in the morning? “That sounds serious; you better bring it in.”

Only on hills? “That sounds serious; you better bring it in.” You get my point. I would simply steer the conversation toward making an appointment because that’s how I wanted to do business.

3. Get a phone-mail system Voice mail is cheap and convenient. I used to get lots of calls first thing in the morning when I was trying to greet the day’s first customers. I hated to be interrupted.

And it’s not fair to the customer at the counter to turn your back on them to take a call. With voice mail, I find many people leave messages during the night, or over the weekend. I listen to the messages every morning, before opening, and I call them back as soon as the morning rush is done. It couldn’t be simpler!

4. Use a day-planner I once read a book called The Tyranny of the Urgent by Charles E. Hummel. He talked about how most people spend their day handling urgent things (putting out fires) instead of focusing on important things. I could certainly relate! I’d go to work with a long ‘to-do’ list and I’d be busy all day, but by close of business, the only thing ticked off was me!

So I started using a day-planning system. It changed my life. I’ve set it up so that as soon as I turn on my laptop, it pops us automatically. I can instantly see my to-do list and all my appointments for the day. And I keep my monthly overview open all day long because I’m constantly referring to it.

5. Take professional development days Teachers do it all the time, and it’s a great idea. I take one day a month to work away from the shop where there are no distractions. I still get up early, shower and shave, go for a short walk, MARCH 2006

get a 6-Shot Americano at Starbucks, and then spend the day in my home office with the phone unplugged. That’s when I work on the important things like financial management and marketing. It’s one of my favorite and most productive days of the month.

Look, if you really want to understand this stuff, you should get the book The Power of Full Engagement. It’s had a huge impact on my life. Probably one of the top 10 books I’ve ever read. I heard the author, Jim Loehr, at a conference last year in Chicago. I could barely take notes fast enough! He says people need to be fully engaged in four key areas of their life: Spiritual (which really refers to your passion), Physical, Mental, and Emotional. Like most people, I was doing great in a couple of areas but failing in the other two. Finding a balance is not easy.

On the physical side, for example, some simple things were preventing me from being fully engaged. Back then I never ate breakfast. I figured I could save some time by skipping it. Instead, I was just robbing myself of energy throughout the day. Same thing with sleeping. I used to survive on six hours a night. Now I get eight hours most nights, and what a huge impact it has made!

Can you imagine being fully engaged in all the key aspects of your life — physically energized, emotionally connected,

mentally focused, and spiritually aligned?

You can take a quick quiz at www.fullengagement.com and see how you’re doing.

You know, Erol, the most important benefit of being fully engaged wasn’t in my business; it was in my family life. I used to come home after long, stressful days and not have time for my family.

I’ve since discovered, that I just didn’t have any energy left for them. I’d exhausted all of my physical, emotional, and mental energy and all my passion at the shop. By the time I got home I was in overdraft! Now I’m more plugged in at home. And that’s important. Last night I went to my son’s basketball game. His team is getting better by the way, they only lost 61 – 8! He did however get a basket and two assists… and I was there to see it!

The team still talks about you. They really miss your contagious laugh.

Don’t worry. You’ll figure it all out.

And remember, my friend, I’m only an e-mail away.

Kelly Bennett is a certified management trainer with 14 years experience coaching automotive repair shop owners.

You can reach him at kellythecoach@aol.com.

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 19

John McCafferty, owner, with his on-line shop computer. They take advantages of tools like iATN whenever possible.

N

ot far from the banks of the mighty Fraser River, just south of Vancouver, sits the small community of Ladner. And right in the middle of that community, on the banks of a small stream, sits John’s Thistle Auto – a repair shop known for its friendly staff and quality service.

Owner John McCafferty, a Scot who immigrated 22 years ago, explains how the business got its name.

“The thistle is the emblem of Scotland,” says John, “and the fellow I worked for, who was also from Scotland, called it Thistle Auto Repair.”

John’s first job upon arriving in Canada was at Thistle Auto, and when he eventually took over the business, he renamed it John’s Thistle Auto. The 3,200-square-foot building boasts five bays, each with its own hoist.

“I’ve got four technicians – three licensed and one second-year apprentice.” John himself is a licensed technician, as is his service advisor, Phil Breton. “Phil was a Snap-on dealer for many, many years, so lots of people know him.”

But although John is from “the old country,” he’s a great believer in new schooling and in keeping up with the times.

“While I was on the tools, I read all the time, took courses, trained myself on (the trade), and bought the best equipment I could afford at the time. And I think that’s basically what’s kept me going.”

While John enjoys new technology, he knows it can be frustrating. A case in point was when he needed to reset the computer on one of his own Jaguars. His personal scanner revealed the problem, but that was as far as it went. “I knew what I was looking at,” he explains, “but I didn’t have the capability to reset the MARCH 2006

Scotch Blend Unique shop in Ladner, B.C. offers Old World charm without being old school.

By Rick Cogbill computer. When I took it to Jag and told them what I wanted done, I just got this big song and dance from them and a $250 bill – and the car was still the same.” In the end he had to contact an equipment salesman to come in and demo a scanner with Jag capabilities.

“He did what I asked him to do, and my car’s running perfect. And it didn’t cost me anything.”

Keeping his equipment up-to-date is

critical to John, but he acknowledges the high costs involved. “Ah, it’s tough. But because we’re well-established with a good clientele, and because we do a decent volume of business, we can afford to update our equipment in small stages.

We keep abreast of that.”

They rely on information systems such as Mitchell-on-Demand and Alldata, as well as iATN (the International Automotive Technician’s Network) via an CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 21

The whole crew. From left to right: technician Ralph Bender, technician Pascal Bajgar, second-year apprentice Kevin O’Brien, and technician Matt Carr with owner John McCafferty and service advisor Phil Breton.

in-shop internet port.

“We use iATN as a diagnostic tool,” says John. Their most recent purchase is a GM Tech 2 scanner, which as John puts it, “does amazing things with GM.” But being in a small community of 20,000 people, it’s the staff, not the equipment, that make John’s Thistle Auto the place to go for professional repair work.

Ralph Bender, John’s top technician, has been with the company over 15 years.

“He did his apprenticeship under me and now he’s my top diagnostic guy,” says John. “He’s got all his certificates, and he’s got two awards from AirCare for quality repairs. So he knows his stuff.”

When asked about how often Ralph attends training courses, John just laughs. “I’d say Ralph is constantly in a training course! When a course comes up, he takes it.” And even though Ralph has offered to go half on the costs, John insists on paying everything, considering it a worthwhile investment in his business.

22 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

Apprentice Kevin O’Brien doing some maintenance on the brake lathe.

Ralph enjoys handling the difficult exactly what the problem is. You always repair problems, but notes there is a have a suspicion, but it’s a matter of cost: “Yep, I don’t have much hair left…!” proving it.” he jokes. “But it’s a learning process; Technician Pascal Bajgar and apprenevery day it gets a little bit easier.” tice Kevin O’Brien round out the team at He feels his best help has come from a John’s Thistle Auto, where the crew sees series of training courses offered locally by Dave Hurtubise of Hi-Tek Although John is from Training. “Dave uses realcar failures when you go to “the old country,” he’s a great his course; actual case studies.” believer in new schooling John agrees. “We do lots of training through Dave; and in keeping up with the times. we think it is the best training that’s out there. He’s hands-on, he’s been in the field; he knows what it’s all about, and he’s a guru as far as I’m conlots of pickup trucks, as well as a large cerned with this new stuff.” selection of Japanese imports like Matt Carr, who began his apprenticeToyotas and Hondas. ship at Thistle Auto 10 years ago, is “Being from the UK,” John adds, “I do another technician who delves into tend to attract a lot of Jags and any of advanced diagnostics. “None of it is realthe British stuff that’s around.” Being a ly easy anymore; the thing is to find out general repair shop, Thistle Auto doesn’t MARCH 2006

agement, and preventive maintenance programs.� Then at night, the technicians are invited along to get a handle on how they can contribute to the overall success of the business.

John doesn’t follow Dave’s procedures to the letter, but adapts it to his style and shop environment. He readily recommends that other shop owners take similar training. “A lot of it has to do with preventive maintenance; this is basically what the industry is today.�

At $85 per hour, Thistle Auto has one of the highest shop rates in the area, spins a lot of the business profits back

into staff training and equipment upgrades, and rarely gives any type of discount on parts, “I’ve got to get my shop mark-up to keep in business, and to keep upgrading,� explains John.

So how do they survive in the competitive world of automotive repair? “We have a good loyal clientele,� says a modest John McCafferty. Looking around the busy shop, it’s easy to see that he’s telling the truth. But it’s also obvious that Thistle Auto has earned that loyalty through hard work, proper training, and perhaps just more than a little of that Old World Scottish charm.

John McCafferty believes in keeping his employees well-trained and his shop well-equipped.

try to specialize. “However we do have a name for fixing BMWs and Jags. We get a lot more than the average repair shop would get.� He estimates that 20 per cent of his business is European vehicles.

Some key things besides good staff training that help Thistle Auto thrive include having two major parts supplies right across the street. “Between Lordco and NAPA, I’ve got half a million dollars of inventory right on my doorstep, so I keep the usual oil filters and oil, and that’s about it.� There are also only three other shops to compete with locally.

But John credits a lot of his continuing success to the business management courses he takes through Dave Meunier of Total Automotive Consulting & Training (T.A.C.T). Over a 10-month period, shop owners meet for lunch one day a month and spend the afternoon going over their sales numbers. “They cover everything from service advising, how to set up your office, how to look after your guy’s time, time manMARCH 2006

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CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 23

Getting around the factory

Scan Tool It helps to have a factory scanner for every emission related fault.

But even without it, if you’re resourceful, you can still find the problem.

By Hans Zundel

E

very brand of vehicle comes with its own diagnostic challenges.

The introduction of OBD II systems in the mid-1990s was meant to streamline and standardize diagnostic information generated by onboard vehicle computers in an effort to reduce tailpipe emissions.

One way OBD II accomplished this was by being very specific about emission-related failures and offering pinpoint accuracy in fault identification to help the technician correct the problem.

This is best accomplished, obviously, when the tech has access to OEM scan tools. Using model-specific diagnostic equipment, they’re able to quickly perform the bi-directional tests necessary to diagnose modern vehicles. But even without OEM scan tools, diagnosis and repair can still be effected with the resources you have at hand. It just means you have to spend the extra time, arm yourself with as much relevant repair information as you can get your hands on, rely on your working knowledge of the system in question, and have confidence in your own abilities.

That last one comes with practice.

Here’s a case study involving a 2004 GMC Envoy, 4.2 litre (VIN S), showing 88,000 km on the odometer. The repair order 24 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

listed a “check engine light on” with no other symptoms. There is an additional note, however, that the customer recalls leaving the gas cap loose recently.

1. Road test The first order of business is a road test to verify the complaint and to check for any symptoms the customer may have missed.

The SUV performed flawlessly. And, sure enough, there was a glowing MIL on the dash.

2. Visual check Once in the bay, a quick visual check of battery connections, fluids and underhood plumbing is completed.

3. Initial scan The illuminated engine light meant a scan was in order to find a starting point for the diagnosis. This revealed only one DTC. A P0410 indicating the secondary AIR system. A vague code of this nature can often signal the start of frustrating and drawn-out diagnostic procedures. A search of the shop’s TSB database yields no documented pattern failures to explain its cause.

MARCH 2006

4. Research To better diagnose any complaint, it’s important to fully understand how the affected system or component operates.

The secondary AIR system reduces after-start emissions by forcing fresh filtered air from the intake ducts through a pump, to the exhaust stream by way of a solenoid type valve and the related hoses.

Both devices are relay operated and PCM controlled.

In a nutshell, the PCM triggers the code when it fails to see a lean change in HO2S readings expected with the extra air admitted to the pre-HO2S exhaust stream. It takes two test cycle failures to set the code and MIL. Not having access to an OEM scanner, a method of activating the components without it is going to be required.

A survey of the wiring diagrams showed an easy way to verify the integrity of the circuits. By back probing and grounding Pin 44(Brn) of PCM C1 and Pin 14(Ppl) of PCM C3 at the same time the pump should run and the solenoid should open introducing a large volume of air into the exhaust. If the pump fails to run, the related circuits could be tested according to the wiring diagrams and diagnostic information.

This relay can be activated by back-probing to verify pump function.

When things check electrically, you need to search for a mechanic failure. Careful measurement of valve resistance is critical to accurate diagnosis.

5. Effecting the repair When tried, the pump runs (verifying the pump, its relay and circuits) but the solenoid valve fails to operate. This indicates the need to test the relay operation and verify voltage drop of the valve circuits.

The relay is found to operate properly and valve resistance comes in at 4.9 Ohms, well within the 4-8 Ohm spec.

Voltage drops on the power and ground sides are acceptable at 75mV and 99 mV respectively. Surprisingly, the valve inlet is filled with water, which had caused it to seize shut.

This system is prone to water condensation issues.

These usually manifest themselves at the pump due to its location low on the frame rail and the length of the hoses. These are easily removable for inspection. Yellow coloured fluid is an indication that the solenoid valve is stuck open.

A replacement valve is ordered and installed. Re-testing shows a fully functional system.

6. Verify the repair A road test rounds out the repair procedure without further incident.

Obviously the use of a factory scanner would have sped up the diagnosis and repair verification by allowing immediate confirmation of the PCM’s control of the system.

But it’s nice to know that with a lot of diligence, some ingenuity, and a basic understanding of vehicle electronics, you can still get to the finish line.

Hans Zundel is a licensed technician at Premier Automotives in Fort McMurray, Alta., and a regular poster on www.canadiantechnician.ca/forum.

MARCH 2006

A low underbody location exposes the electric air pump to very harsh conditions.

The AIR valve solenoid location provides easy access for testing.

The satisfaction of a job well done is immediate.The Envoy is fixed!

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 25

Even relatively minor accidents can cause major alignment problems. After an impact, this Volkswagen will likely need some replacement parts and a proper four-wheel alignment.

Beyond the readings Five things alignment machines don’t tell you that you really need to know.

By Claire Newman

W

heel alignments can be tricky for technicians who haven’t had much front-end experience.

True, newer alignment machines will guide users through the alignment process step-by-step, making inexperienced technicians capable of “lining up” a vehicle’s wheels without any trouble.

But even the newest and most helpful machines can miss things which will result in major problems. The alignment angles may seem fine on the machine, but there may still be an underlying problem that makes the vehicle to pull to one side, causes an off-centre steering wheel, or wears tires prematurely.

26 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

And these are the kind of problems that will create unhappy customers.

“Set-the-toe-let-it-go” or “anywhere-inthe-green-section-is-good-enough” was never a good policy. These days, you’re looking for ideal readings (toe set correctly, camber on both sides within half a degree of each other, casters within half a degree and compensating for road crown, and the rear readings spot-on).

But sometimes even when you achieve perfect numbers, the vehicle still won’t travel straight. That’s when it’s time to look at the things most alignment machines don’t check.

Here, then, are five common faults

most alignment machines miss.

1. Ride Height Most alignment machines don’t check ride height, curb height, trim height, zheight, or whatever the service information calls this very important measurement. Ride height is the basis for all the other alignment angles, meaning that even if the alignment machine indicates the angles are set correctly, in reality the wheels may be far enough out of adjustment to cause serious problems. True, some machines are capable of measuring ride height and even list the reading with the final settings. But many machines MARCH 2006

don’t take this measurement at all and that may cause problems. A very general (if generous) guideline is that the height should be within one inch difference from side to side. Any more than a oneinch difference may indicate worn or broken springs or even other suspension problems. Ride height inspection should be part of the preliminary checks, along with tire and front end components to prevent problems after the alignment is complete.

2. Tire Problems Technicians should routinely check the tires on problematic vehicles. You’re looking for correct inflation pressures, similar tread and wear patterns, and shifted belts. While you’re at it, see if all the tires are from the same manufacturer, and are the same model. If any of these conditions are out of whack, the vehicle may pull to one side or wander – even with the most accurate of alignment settings. In fact, swapping the front tires from side to side is often a good diagnostic starting point for problem vehicles (as long as the tires aren’t directional). Be sure to road-test the vehicle afterwards, not only to recheck the alignment concerns but also to check for tire inflation monitors which may need resetting if the wheels were moved from their original positions (checking for tire inflation monitors is a good habit to get into). If a vehicle lines up perfectly on the machine yet pulls to one side, a thorough tire inspection is warranted.

steering rack is securely mounted in place. Problems with components mean that the vehicle is not likely to travel straight down the road no matter what the alignment machine reads.

4. Influence from other systems The alignment machine usually can’t tell that another one of the vehicle’s systems may be causing problems which are being mistaken for incorrect alignment settings. The pull from binding brake or wheel components, for example, or the action from a malfunctioning stability system may be mistaken for alignment problems. Power steering systems have been known to cause a vehicle to pull to one side. (Remember how to check for this? Raise the vehicle with the engine running and watch to see if the wheels turn on their own.) A good preliminary road test usually makes these things evi-

and pressure, weight distribution or resistance in a wheel can force the vehicle to steer in one direction or another despite the alignment settings.

Sometimes these situations are easy to diagnose (who hasn’t heard the story about doing an alignment with a very large customer sitting in the driver’s seat, just so the vehicle travels straight down the road during normal use?) but sometimes more information about the vehicle’s normal use is needed to diagnose the problem. Toolboxes, catering trays, wheelchairs, and landscaping equipment are all possible causes of pulls despite the alignment settings. Checking how and where the vehicle is normally used can reduce diagnostic time and prevent problems.

Understanding what makes a vehicle travel straight down the road – or not – is still the best way to diagnose and

3. Front-end problems Most alignment machines can’t tell if there are worn or binding front-end components which may cause problems with the steering geometry. Components with excess play may shift position, causing a pull or wander even though the alignment machine shows acceptable settings.

Or a binding component will “force” the wheels to remain in the previously steered position instead of straight ahead, producing what may seem like incorrect alignment angles (strut mounts with integral bearings were notorious for this binding problem). In addition to “shaking” the wheel, look for torn or separated control arm bushings, binding mounts or bearings, and make sure the MARCH 2006

An adjuster cam on a 2005 GMC fullsized pickup truck. (Look, Ma, no shims!)

dent before the alignment, but sometimes they don’t show up until afterwards. Either way, check that the problem is actually coming from the alignment settings before wasting any diagnostic time.

5. External forces Most alignment machines can’t tell if external factors such as a heavy load or excess resistance in one wheel is causing the vehicle to pull to the side. Much like steering a skateboard by shifting weight

repair alignment problems. Alignment machines are becoming more userfriendly, but they aren’t yet a substitute for the experience and knowledge of real live technicians. Thankfully not every vehicle is a “problem vehicle” but when they do come through your door, remember to thoroughly check the things most alignment machines routinely miss in order to keep your diagnostic time and stress to a minimum.

Claire Newman is a GM grandmaster technician with 12 years experience.

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 27

Selling motor oil options How to take advantage of the latest marketing trends in motor oil.

By Allan Janssen

C

offee used to come in two kinds, or maybe three if you lived in the city. There was mild, bold, and decaffeinated. Remember those days?

Now you can have a coffee every morning for a month and never taste the same flavor twice.

The same thing is happening in the oil industry, but there’s more to it than simply fickle taste. Today’s sophisticated engines have a thirst for exactly the right kind of oil. And that could be a marketing opportunity for you.

Recommending the right kind of oil for the vehicle was always important, but it was a lot simpler when there were only a few different viscosities to keep track of. Now it really does require a professional’s guidance to make sure a vehicle gets what it needs.

Specialty motor oils are a growing sector of the market and not only do they come with a special formula, but they come with a special price-tag.

Recommending the right oil is not only good for the customer’s vehicle, but it’s good for your business.

Viscosity There’s some simplification on this front since most new engines require a multiviscosity 5W-30 for general driving. These oils are lighter and thinner, with a range of additives to reduce friction, improve fuel economy, and enhance fluidity. They’ll reach upper engine components quicker, and keep moving in lower temperature.

Older engines still prefer 10W-30 or 10W-40 – especially those driven for extended periods at highway speeds. But heavier multiviscosity oils such as 20W40 are for high rpm, high-load applications primarily and are not recommended for cold weather driving.

The ‘straight weight’ oils like 30W and 40W aren’t in great demand anymore.

28 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

Synthetics The cost of synthetics is higher but can be justified by their extended oil-drain intervals, and their reliable performance in all kinds of driving and weather conditions.

These are the obvious choice for true car-lovers who want nothing but the best for their vehicle. If it’s got a turbocharged or supercharged engine, if it has a performance or high-output engine, if it’s used for towing, or is operated in extremely cold or hot climates, synthetic is the way to go. Mineral based oils can handle temperatures up to about 300°F. Synthetics can take up to 450°F or higher, making them ideal for enhanced, high rpm, or high-output engine applications.

Semi-synthetics or blends are a good stepping stone for customers who want a higher-performing oil but don’t want to splurge on the top-grade products.

‘Smart’ oils Oil manufacturers have found a way to

make almost every motorist part of a club with a special oil to suit their vehicle. In fact, recent years have seen the introduction of a whole range of new oils, for niches that include high-mileage vehicles, SUVs, 4x4s, pickups, imports, high-performance vehicles, severe-environment vehicles, severe driving, and off-road applications.

And it’s not just a matter of marketing. Many vehicles do experience unique problems which can be addressed by special formulations of oil. In older vehicles, for example, oil molecules tend to break down more quickly, rendering them less able to lubricate. Engine seals may also be deteriorating, and less-effective gaskets can cause oil consumption to rise. Motor oils specifically formulated for the growing fleet of older vehicles on the road address those concerns and offer protection that regular oil can’t match.

A crucial service It’s often said – and well-understood – that if motorists do only one thing in the way of preventive maintenance, it should be regular oil changes. Even in this day of extended drain intervals, it’s incredibly important to remove contaminated and depleted oil and replacing with new on a regular basis.

According to industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers, the shop that does the oil change captures most of that vehicle’s repair and maintenance work.

So a loyalty program tied to oil changes makes perfect sense.

It also wouldn’t hurt to put up a display or poster to let consumers know their options. The message would be simple: There are new oil-change alternatives. Let a professional help you figure out which one is best for you.

MARCH 2006

Remember

Summer?

Your customers may not be reaching for that a/c button yet - but they will be - and a hot customer is coming to you for relief.

Now is the time to plan for air conditioning maintenance and repairs. So, when the thermometer hits 30°, you will be ready for them.

The EEAC316A and EEAC318A ECO XtremeTM offers both high speed and simplified, menu driven operations.

Quickly perform complete A/C service on automotive air conditioning systems including: • Recover:

Remove refrigerant from vehicle,

• Recycle :

Filter, dry and store recovered refrigerant in a refillable tank,

• Evacuate:

Remove air and moisture from air conditioning system using a vacuum to draw the system into a deep vacuum,

• Recharge:

Refill the air conditioning system with a specified amount of refrigerant.

Your ECO Xtreme™ unit is a single pass design.

This means recovered refrigerant is filtered and dried before entering the recovery tank. Refrigerant in the tank is always ready for use. There is no need to perform a separate recycle function. The extra large recovery tank offers you high capacity with less downtime. Built in storage tray and front mounted oil-purge bottle provide ease of use.

See your Snap-on® Dealer for all your A/C equipment and A/C diagnostic tool needs.

Snap-on® and ECO XtremeTM are trademarks of Snap-on Incorporated.© 2006 Snap-on Incorporated. All rights reserved Specifications subject to change without notice.

The Snap-on®

Edge Begin with outstanding product quality that includes innovative, technologically advanced features engineered for reliability and ease-of-use.

Add competitive financing and on-site service support.

The result? Snap-on® A/C service equipment provides the greatest overall value for your equipment investment.

KEEPING YOUR COOL in the AC game Air conditioning service work is rapidly evolving.

Here’s how to stay in front of the trends.

By Rick Cogbill

W

ith winter not far behind, you might think it’s too soon to start planning for another season of air conditioning service. But maybe it’s not soon enough.

Today’s smaller, more compact systems come with reduced tolerance levels and require more precise equipment and thorough technical training. At the very least, the cost and commitment of getting into or even staying in the AC service market is going to require some serious business planning.

Obviously, the days of pre-warming small cans of R12 and filling through a manifold gauge until the sight glass clears up are long gone. Many OEMs have purposely omitted sight glasses in an effort to wean technicians off bubble watching. Yet too many shops are still treating air conditioning service in a haphazard manner, and it won’t be long before that approach comes back to haunt them. There just isn’t a lot of room for guesswork anymore.

The ongoing focus on global warming has changed the way we cool cars. Not only did the industry convert over to R134a, but new technologies are constantly being tested.

One project team is experimenting with a combination of sound waves and hot exhaust gases to produce cool results. Meanwhile, Denso in Japan has led the way in CO2-based systems. And DuPont Fluorochemicals has announced it is now testing new proprietary refrigerants that will meet the tough new requirements of the EU, but still be com30 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

patible with current R134a systems with only minor modifications.

So what will it take to stay in the AC game?

providing adequate cooling? The list could go on, but the point is that AC is becoming an exact science, and old equipment often won’t cut it any more.

Equipment

Knowledge

Do you employ a refrigerant identifier that not only protects your equipment from contamination, but could also protect your life? The proliferation of hydrocarbons being sold as refrigerant should be enough cause for alarm. Just ask Dr. Ian MacLaine-Cross, an Australian researcher who during a 2001 test to prove the safety of hydrocarbon-based refrigerants, emptied two canisters of the stuff into his own car’s passenger compartment while he was seated in it, and then lit a match while the cameras rolled.

The resulting explosion blew out windows, bent sheet metal, and gave firstand second-degree burns to MacLaineCross and a number of observers. It’s not something you’d like to see happen in your own shop.

How capable is your recovery machine? With today’s vehicles, it’s critical that the system be completely empty before you turn around and put a full charge back in. How are you dealing with the amount of refrigerant left in the hoses, so that when you dial up a 16ounce charge on another car, it really is 16 ounces?

If you use a scale, has it been tested lately for accuracy? Is your performance tester able to test both ambient as well as vent temperature and analyze the readings in order to tell if the system is

The same could be said for insufficient knowledge. Certain Chrysler models exhibiting poor cooling performance could lead to the unnecessary replacement of blend door motors or control heads if one followed the flow chart. In fact, the real problem was a simple system relearn, accomplished by removing a fuse for 10 seconds. Simple, that is, if you are up-to-date on your service bulletins.

Capacities have also decreased, meaning that over or under-filling can make a dramatic difference in cooling performance. Some new systems have less that 14 ounces of charge and a tolerance limit of only one third of an ounce. Adding (or failing to add) even one extra ounce of refrigerant to these systems is sure to produce unsatisfactory results.

The point is if you’re going to do the job, you have to do it right.

Strategies But what if you can’t afford to buy in, or even upgrade at this time?

Automatically offering a complete drain and refill is overkill for today’s systems, and rarely required. Instead, start by offering a simple yet inexpensive air conditioning check-up service that covers the following areas. It doesn’t take long and it won’t cost your cusMARCH 2006

Too many shops are still treating air conditioning service in a hap-hazard manner, and it won’t be long before that approach comes back to haunt them.There just isn’t a lot of room for guesswork anymore.

tomer a lot of money, which makes it an easy feature to sell.

Schrader valves: Make sure the service valve caps are securely in place.

They tend to not reseat very well after being pushed open during service, therefore making the sealing caps very important, especially with the small molecule size of R-134a. With such a low tolerance for leakage in today’s systems, these caps are actually a primary seal for the system.

Compressor drive belt: With a proper tension gauge and a pulley alignment checker, you’ll go a long way in keeping compressor systems from failing. A key issue with environmental watchers is not just the amount of refrigerant used in an

AC system, but also the amount of fuel required to operate it. Therefore, minimizing belt slippage is a good idea.

Cooling system: Condensers transfer cabin heat not only to the ambient air, but also to the radiator, so a well-functioning cooling system is critical to proper AC performance.

Performance test: Finally, an ambient temperature-adjusted performance test of the cooling vents will give your customer the assurance that he or she is ready to meet the summer heat head on.

And if not, then you have the choice of repairing the system yourself, or subletting it to a neighboring shop that specializes in AC repairs. If you choose the latter (and many shops have done so), be sure to find a shop that not only does great AC work, but one who respects your client base as well.

With some good business planning, you can keep your cool while still maximizing air conditioning service profits.

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:

416/614-2781 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?

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

MARCH 2006

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

March 2006

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 31

European formula Amsoil’s European Car Formula 5W-40 100per-cent synthetic motor oil has been newly reformulated to meet stringent Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz specifications.

Amsoil European Car Formula 5W-40, engineered with advanced Amsoil synthetic technology, is the only motor oil in North America to be recommended for the latest specifications of all three major European automakers as well as the latest North American API specification. It is highly versatile for multiple applications and provides excellent protection and performance in the most demanding operating conditions.

Amsoil – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34202

Timing gear kits Beck Arnley’s new timing gear kits (part numbers 029-0113HD and 029-0076HD for heavy duty applications), feature a steelbacked guide rail for durable, longer-lasting performance. The “better-than-OE” kits are available for specific Toyota applications for years 1983 and 1984, as well as 1985 through 1995. The steel-backed guide rails also feature hardened steel bolts that will not loosen or allow movement of the rail during the installation process. In addition to the new timing gear kits, Beck/Arnley offers the steel-backed guide rails individually as part numbers 024-1011HD and 024-0970HD. Beck/Arnley – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/34302

Ignition wire Denso has launched its ‘First Time Fit’ premium brand of ignition wire. This new addition to Denso’s line of aftermarket products made its debut into the market with 95 percent coverage of all vehicle makes and models from 1960 to 2004. With more than 37,000 applications, Denso’s new program complements the company’s existing

32 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

spark plug and oxygen sensor lines.

Denso – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/32505

Coated pistons Federal-Mogul has introduced a line of highstrength Sealed Power and Speed-Pro pistons featuring a complex ceramic head coating technology that withstands combustion temperatures of up to 2,000F. and delivers three times the surface hardness of hard-anodized coatings. New Sealed Power and Speed-Pro ThermoShield-coated pistons are offered in hypereutectic and PowerForged designs for a variety of popular standard replacement and performance applications. Because the ThermoShield barrier is atomically bonded to the piston substrate, the material is highly resistant to flaking and cracking and provides exceptional protection of even sharp corners. The hardness of the ThermoShield coating also provides added protection against spontaneous detonation experienced in some applications.

Federal-Mogul – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/34303

Serpentine belt Gates’ new serpentine belt reduces heat failures on high-temp engines. Like the FleetRunner V-belts introduced last year, the new FleetRunner Micro-V are said to last twice as long as other belts. Described as “the most evolved serpentine belt yet,” it is composed of a proprietary blend of elastomers that maintains excellent tensile strength and adhesion to reinforcement materials even under the most extreme temperature and load conditions. It has higher resistance to cracking and withstands the threats of deterioration from increased exposure to ozone and water-based coolants.

Gates – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/34304

LED strobe lights Grote Industries has added three new LED strobe units to its line of Emergency Warning and Hazard products. Designed for situations and applications where equipment may experience rough terrain, the Class II strobes are ideal for cities, municipalities and fleets that require a long lasting, durable strobe lamp, while the Class III lamps are best suited for warehouse type of applications. The SignalAlert on the class III units, with its non-constant flash duration, makes them more noticeable than standard strobes. The class II strobes have 14 flash patterns from which to choose. They also feature Smart LED Beacon Design internal flash control so there’s no need for an external power supply, flasher or ballast. Scan-Lock flash patterns allow users to manually scroll through 14 flash patterns and choose the one that suits their needs, and lock it in as the permanent flash pattern.

Grote – For more information, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34502

Nitrogen tire-filling system The new NTF-15 Plus from RTI Technologies generates nitrogen on demand, while storing it for quick service times and increased profits. The exclusive RTI tire deflation and vacuum system increases speed and ensures higher nitrogen purity in tires. The convenience and reliability of a handheld purity tester allows you to quickly check nitrogen purity in the tank and tires.

The portable design of the NTF-15 Plus offers easy mobility through the shop.

The NTF-15 Plus includes a five-year warranty, free on siteset-up and training, aluminum valve stem caps, point-of-purchase flyers and a bay banner.

RTI Technologies – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/33401 MARCH 2006

CANBUILT FALL EQUIPMENT FEATURE: AC components Four Seasons is introducing 393 new products in the HVAC arena this year. According to the company, its coverage goes way beyond compressors, blower motors, radiator fan motors, fan clutch lines, evaporators, heater cores, and condensers. Four Seasons also provides all related products such as accumulators/filter dryers, expansion devices, relays, heater valves, and every other temperature related products. The company has over 7000 SKUs, and offers what it describes as the HVAC industry’s deepest coverage over multiple product categories.

Four Seasons – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34704

Two post lifts Rotary has updated its two-post lifts equipped with inbay technology.

All Rotary Lift two-post lifts with inbay now feature dual controls (one on each post) so technicians don’t have to walk all the way around the vehicle to get to the controls. They can just use whichever control panel is closest. Other features of inbay include one-touch controls, integrated air/electrical connections, a standard OSHA-compliant lockable disconnect switch, and a power unit that is located at the top of the post, out of the way. Rotary Lift two-post lifts are available with both true symmetrical and true asymmetrical column orientations. Lift capacities range from 7,000 lbs. to 18,000 lbs.

Rotary – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34401

Leak detection kit

Air Powered: Platform - Motorcycle - ATV lift - 1000 lb CapacityReg:$1395.00

SPECIAL: $1295.00 Order Now Get Free Wheel Vise

$179.00 Value

Model # ML-3000 Shown with Optional Front Extension and Wheel Vise

• Removable rear wheel deck • Expandable platform with Optionally Available: - 13” Front Platform Extension (ML-3000FE) - 12” Side Platform Extension kit (ML-3000SE

7,000 lb Storage Lifts: For Cars & SUV’s Storage Lifts: Available as: For cars: 68” Clear Model # VL-4700 For SUV’s: 78” Clear Model # VL-4700EXT • North American Hydraulics

Order Now to get your

$150.00 FACTORY REBATE

The new Pico-Lite Kit (#332220) from UView includes the professional Spotgun Jr. AC leak-detection dye injector; a powerful 1-watt Luxeon LED leak detection light; universal AC dye cartridges (to service up to 20 vehicles); R134a adapter; R12 adapter; UV protection glasses; three AA batteries; and service stickers. The Pico-Lite comes complete with Spotgun Jr. Kit or is available on its own (#413020).

UView – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34404

on ALL Storage and Vehicle lifts

Mid Rise Lift Model VL-MRL648 • 6000 lb Capacity • 4 3/4” low Height • 48” Lifting Height • North American Hydraulics

AC catalogs Two new catalogs featuring thousands of replacement automotive air conditioning and climate control components for domestic and import passenger vehicles are now available from Visteon. The company’s 2006 AC Application Catalog, and its Climate Control Electronic Catalog feature nearly 300 new SKUs for popular late-model applications. The AC Application Catalog features 177 new parts while the Climate Control Catalog features 111 new parts.

Visteon – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34703 MARCH 2006

2 Post Lifts: Available as: 9,000 lb Capacity Low Profile: Model # VL-2900FC Clear Floor: Model # VL-2900HL (As shown) 10,000 lb Capacity Clear Floor: Model # VL-2100HLHD • All with North American Hydraulics

Call your local Parts Supplier or Canbuilt Equipment

1-888-607-2926 • 416-749-6555 ®

www.canbuilt.com • sales@canbuilt.com

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 33

Used-oil boiler

oil, ATF and hydraulic oils #2, #4, and #5. Its three-pass heat exchanger captures more heat for greater efficiency. A low-mass water design provides quick start-up and reduces stack heat loss.

De-On Supply – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34405

DSI / Clean-Burn has introduced a new model in their used-oil boiler line. The CB200 CTB (200,000 BTU Coil Tube Boiler) offers automotive service and repair shops a chance to efficiently recycle used oils as a free fuel source to generate hot water. The CB200-CTB utilizes crankcase

Gaskets catalog

DEALERS WANTED

Great profit margins...Easy to install Point of Purchase packaging Increase SAFETY & HANDLING Decrease SAG, BODY ROLL, WHEEL HOP

un F MPobility roducts

18303 - 107 Avenue, Edmonton T5S 1K4

ph: (780) 484-7973 fax: (780) 484-8238 e-mail: info@funmobilityproducts.com

www.funmobilityproducts.com

On The Road To A Better World

Protecting Our Environment with HFC 134a Cross blend refrigerants may cause harmful system contamination. The mobile air conditioning industry has chosen HFC 134a, the only pure refrigerant, as the leading candidate to replace R12.

Arkema is a leading supplier of HFC 134a. We can help you…and the environment. We believe we are on the right road to a better world.

For more information on the availability of HFC 134a call:

Arkema Canada Inc. Fluorochemicals Group 1-800-567-5726

www.arkemagroup.ca

34 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

The 2006 Fel-Pro Performance Gaskets Catalog is now available from Federal-Mogul, featuring significantly expanded coverage of Fel-Pro PermaTorqueMLS performance head gaskets and other exclusive sealing solutions. The 2006 performance gaskets catalog (No. 902-06) includes a wide range of new Fel-Pro sealing solutions, including 33 additional PermaTorqueMLS performance head gaskets covering small-block and bigblock Chevrolet, Honda 1.6L, Mitsubishi 2.0L, Toyota V8 and other popular engine platforms. The catalog also introduces Fel-Pro solidsteel-core intake manifold gaskets, and expanded coverage of FelPro premium molded-rubber valve cover and oil pan gaskets.

Federal-Mogul – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34301

Heavy duty filters The latest FRAM Fleet Care heavy duty catalog has been released by Honeywell with all the details on its line of heavy duty oil filters, fuel filters, air filters, and coolant filters. It covers on-highway applications, engine applications, fleet kits, and offhighway applications. As always, a complete cross reference section helps you find the product you’re looking for.

Honeywell – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34702

Tire pressure monitor kit Siemens VDO Service & Special Solutions has developed a new aftermarket program for tire pressure monitoring systems replacement and service parts. The TPMS components in a vehicle’s tire consist of a sensor assembly, which includes five service parts - a valve core, valve nut, valve cap, seal, and seal washer. Although the tire sensor assembly only needs to be replaced if it fails or is damaged, the service parts will need to be replaced every time a tire is serviced. The Siemens VDO program features replacement parts that are identical to the original equipment.

Siemens – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/33402 MARCH 2006

CANBUILT Hybrid lamps Grote has announced a new hybrid solution to maximize cost effectiveness in one of the most popular heavy-duty trailer applications. Hybrid LED/Incandescent technology blends the best of both worlds by offering the light output of an incandescent light in the turn function and the low amp draw of LEDs in the ‘always on’ marker function for a cost effective lamp. The long-life, 1,200 hour bulb in mid turn application is replaceable. The units also feature hydrophobic vent filters in the housing. The purpose of these vents is to expel water vapor when lamp is lit, preventing water pooling inside the lamp. A foam gasket between the lens and housing provides added protection against moisture intrusion. The “all lens” appearance of the lamp is a popular selling point in today’s trailer market.

Grote – For more information, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34501

Filter catalog Honeywell has released its 2006 FRAM Automotive Catalog, featuring its complete line of filters for 2006-1990 domestic and import passenger cars and light duty trucks.

The listings include complete details on the company’s cabin air filters, automatic transmission filters, air filters, and oil filters. In addition to an engine identification section, there is a handy displacement conversion chart and a complete cross reference section to help you find what you’re looking for.

Honeywell – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34701

Air filter WIX Filters has introduced a new line of Heavy Duty Radial Lip Seal Air Filters that features a metal end cap with a handle on the closed end that strengthens the filter assembly and provides a handle for easy installation and removal, as well as a molded polyurethane radial seal that improves sealing capability and fit on the application. In addition, WIX Filters’ newly developed air jet molten bead application system enables a hot melt stabilizing bead to be applied to the pleat pack media without mechanical contact with the bead, creating a smooth, non-flaking stabilizing bead.

Affinia – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/32714

TM

THE PANTHER HEADLIGHT AIMER Headlight Aiming MADE EASY! Compact Design, Fast & Simple Operation • Easy to understand, setup and use in any bay Accurately Checks Aim for ALL Headlights • ALL Vehicles, ALL Models, ALL Years

10 Minute Complete Headlight Alignment

DOT APPROVED for all vehicles

Precision ground Optical GLASS Lens • Not affected by: UV, Direct Sunlight, Overspray or Airborne solvents Your NEW Profit Centre: Average $39.95 charge for a 10 minute Alignment!

Aimer Presentation and Operation manuals available at: www.canbuilt.com

DEMO ONLINE AT www.canbuilt.com Model OPT-5405 Optical Headlight Aimer

For a Limited Time: FREE WITH PURCHASE: 1 of -Aimer protective cover - $34.95 Value 2 of -Headlight Resurfacer/Restorer Kit - $79.90 Value Over $115.00 in Savings !

Limited Time Special: $899.00

PLASTIC & HEADLIGHT RECONDITIONER / PROTECTOR

YOUR OPTIONS: REPLACE OR RESTORE BEFORE

AFTER

Gauge catalog Sunpro has introduced its 2006 tachometer and gauge catalog. The attractive 15-page, high-gloss, four-color catalog features large, detailed product photographs accompanied by call-outs and bullet points that highlight product features, benefits and parts numbers.

Headlining the catalog are two brand new Sunpro tachometers – the Super Tach III and Sport ST Tach. Also new to the catalog are planograms for building or enhancing a Sunpro point-of-purchase display.

SPX – For more info, go to www.aptmag.ca/products/34402 MARCH 2006

Average Headlight Replacement cost $ 150.00 ea. & up

• Cleans / restores multiple vehicles • • • •

Easy 2 step application • Clear lenses in minutes Long term, Shine restorer / UV protective coating NON HAZARDOUS - Environment friendly Item # HRC-1500 MFSRP: $39.95

®

Call your local Parts Supplier or Canbuilt Equipment 1-888-607-2926 • 416-749-6555 www.canbuilt.com • sales@canbuilt.com CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 35

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March 06

AUTO PUZZLE

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Works without human intervention,works ____.

Force which keeps a moving object moving.

Wheel part.

Belongs to you.

Prefix that indicates ‘small’.

Type of engine,aka a ‘four stroke’engine.

The AC component ‘receiver-dehydrator’is also known as receiver-_______.

A problem-solving thought.

It was once said that children should be ____ but not heard.

The kind of children Santa watches out for.

Manufactured material with unique electrical conductivity properties.

Answers to previous crossword puzzles are posted on our website at www.canadiantechnician.ca

1 2 3 4 6 8 10 11 12 16 17

The short form of words (eg:Que.,Inc.,etc.).

The elevator people.

Where games are played when not on home ice.

The other person in your car when you are driving (two words).

Ecologically sound activity practiced at most homes and businesses.

Spark plug problem.

Watch.

Hollow form for manufacturing cast parts.

Happen.

Prefix indicating opposition to.

Things that are lined-up are said to be in ______.

December 2005 Auto Puzzle

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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.

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Add More Life To Your Car

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

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Congratulations to Collette Mason of Serbu Tire in Windsor,ON winner of $50 for solving our December 2005 puzzle.

Win 100! $

Name:

Send your solved puzzle to Canadian Technician.We’ll draw a winner on March 17, 2006.Send to 451 Attwell Drive,Toronto, ON M9W 5C4.Or fax to 416-614-2781.

Workplace: Work address: Phone:

email:

Question of the Month: What’s the best free value-added service you ever gave to a customer?

© 2006 Chevron Global Lubricants. All rights reserved.

continued from page 38 problem occurs, there’s also a clicking noise coming from under the hood.”

“Are you sure, Ethyl? It runs so quiet…”

“I guess I know my sounds!” growled the audiologist over the phone. “Call me when you’ve solved the problem!” And with that, the line went dead.

I relayed the information to Basil, who left on another test drive, armed with a scanner. Ten minutes later he was back, very excited. He pointed to his watch.

“Time!” yelled Tooner. “… uh… timer?

Timing?” Basil clapped his hands and held up two fingers.

“Two words!”

Basil pretended to lift something heavy.

“Lift!” said Quigley.

“Lifting!” yelled Tooner.

“Lifter!” yelled Beanie.

Basil clapped excitedly and pointed at Tooner.

“Complainer! Bellyacher!” I offered, finally getting into the game.

“Hey!” objected Tooner.

“Noisy!” yelled Beanie. “I’ve got it! The car has noisy lifters, and the knock sensor hears it and retards the timing; hence the loss in power!”

“Fantastic,” beamed Basil. “You’re absolutely right!”

“I know it sounds crazy,” I said later to Ethyl. “But the computer was picking up the noisy lifters through the knock sensor, and retarding the timing by 19 degrees. A new set of lifters will solve your problem.”

“Well, if there’s one thing I understand,” replied Ethyl, “it’s the complexity of audio signals. These new cars must be so difficult to work on.”

I sighed as loud shouting began in the lunch room once more. “Sometimes,” I replied. “And sometimes it’s like child’s play.”

Special thanks to Matt Dimitrov at Matt’s Automotive in Port Colborne, ON for this month’s technical solution. Solved a tricky shop problem lately? Think it would make a good story for Car Side? Contact Rick at rick.cogbill@shawcable.com.

MARCH 2006

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CANADIAN TECHNICIAN 37

The Car Side

By Rick Cogbill

At Slim’s shop a friendly game of charades is sometimes a diagnostic aid!

I

pulled into the parking lot, frustrated by yet another unsuccessful test-drive.

The Pontiac Grand Am belonged to Ethyl Waxley, an audiologist from the local health clinic, and according to her, it would barely run.

“Honestly, Slim,” she declared as I dropped her off at the clinic, “I almost didn’t make it to your shop this morning.”

“I believe you, Ethyl, but it’s driving just fine at the moment.”

She got out, frustrated. “Well, I refuse to drive this bucket of bolts until it’s fixed!”

Ethyl stalked off into the clinic, leaving me to chew on a common problem in our industry – how to properly diagnose intermittent drivability problems.

A barrage of shouting pulled me back to the present as I entered the shop. I went into the lunchroom to investigate.

“Tarzan!”

“A fireman sliding down a pole!”

“No, no… a dwarf on a pogo stick!”

Beanie, Basil, and Quigley were shouting as Tooner hopped around like a jumping bean on steroids. It was the noisiest game of charades I’d ever seen… and certainly the first one I’d ever seen it in my shop.

Panting heavily, Tooner tugged at his left ear.

"Sounds like…” started Beanie.

“It sounds like you’ve all gone completely nuts!” I hollered above the din.

“Thank goodness no customers are here to see this; they’d be outta here like a scared rabbit!”

“Hey, you win, Slim!” yelled Tooner.

“Scared rabbit is the correct answer!”

Basil’s mouth dropped open. “Scared ra–? No way!”

I held up my hand to quell the grumbling. “Okay, what’s with the kids’ games?”

Quigley’s ears turned red. “Aw, Tooner just wanted to show us this new game he learned at a party last night.”

38 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

“Two Words… Sounds Like…

“New? Charades is about the oldest party game in the world,” I said, and I turned to Tooner sympathetically.

“Tooner, you’ve got to get out more!”

He mopped his sweaty face with a greasy rag. “Well, it’s new to me,” he muttered. “Thought it might be more fun than playing cards every coffee break.”

The rest of the crew agreed. “Fine,” I said. “Just make sure nobody sees you, or we’ll be the laughing stock of town.” I handed Basil the keys to the Grand Am. “See what you can find on this powerloss problem. I’ve been out twice, and it runs fine.”

Basil raised his eyebrows. “Ah, another one of those.” He reached for a seat cover. “Any background you can give me?”

“Only that two other shops have had a crack at it. One replaced the converter and the other replaced the intake gaskets – a couple of shots in the dark, if you ask me.”

“Exactly,” frowned our resident diag-

nostic guru. “Wild guesses are no way to solve difficult technical problems.”

“Yeah,” I replied sarcastically.

“Especially if the car isn’t acting up at the moment.”

The day went downhill from there.

Not only did Basil come up empty on his test drives, but the guys played charades every chance they got.

“Quigley!” Beanie poked his head into the office. “I need some parts for this Honda: Two words; sounds like ‘Shark Rug.’” “Got it!” returned our counter guy.

“Four spark plugs coming up!”

Tooner was next. He held up two fingers, grabbed his throat, and began to choke himself.

“Roger,” acknowledged Quigley. “One oxygen sensor coming up.”

The phone rang; it was Ethyl about her Grand Am. “I just remembered, Slim. When the

continued on page 37 MARCH 2006

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, KYLE BUSCH —

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