Canadian Technician February 2012

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New Technology

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

Keeping up with what Detroit's planning to make!

Common Business Mistakes 10 things that too many shop owners do wrong

ALSO: ■ Words to live by. Famous quotes that inspire and motivate ■ What would you do?

We bring back our Ethics column ■ Note to government: It's time to crack down on backyarders

FEBRUARY 2012

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contents

Canadian Technician • February 2012 • Vol. 17 No. 1

FEATURES Most Common Mistakes ...............................................19 A business expert offers his view of the 10 most common management errors he sees when he visits repair shops.

Coming Soon ..................................................................22 Keeping up with automotive technology is getting more difficult all the time. Jeff Taylor looks at the biggest changes on the domestic horizon.

COLUMNISTS It’s Your Turn By Matt Armstrong .....................................14 Management S.O.S. By Kelly Bennett .............................16

30

The Car Side

By Rick Cogbill

22 DEPARTMENTS Service Notes ................................................5 Letters ............................................................6 Out & About ...................................................9 Eye Spy ........................................................11 A Question of Ethics ...................................12 From Our Forum ..........................................15 Products ......................................................26 Ad Index.......................................................29

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SERVICE NOTES

Words to live by What famous quote do you draw inspiration from? Tell me, and I’ll pass it on so it can have the same affect on others.

By Allan Janssen

I

heard a good one the other day: “Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die.”

Good, eh? It’s so true. We want the reward, but aren’t so keen about the sacrifice.

It’s the kind of quote that some would hang on the wall of their office, or on the lid of their toolbox. It’s a bit of inspiration captured on paper.

Personally, I think quotations tend to lose their impact after a while, so they need to be replaced periodically with new ones.

Probably the first quote I ever displayed at work was one by Bob Dylan that reminded me of the task of a journalist to uncover hidden motives and truths. “Something is happening here,” it said, “but you don’t know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?”

Funny story. When one of my colleagues quit he taped the name of our boss over the words “Mr. Jones.”

Everyone got a good laugh out of that except for the boss.

That phrase hasn’t lost any of its value for me, but I no longer display it. Over the years, I’ve found new phrases that offer inspiration and motivation. My love of words has led to an appreciation of finely crafted mission statements and codes of ethics – the summaries of our best goals and intentions in what can be a heartless business environment.

This fascination stems, I think, from reading J.D. Salinger who wrote a book in which a character covered the entire door of his room with quotations, fables, and short poems. I loved the idea that this young person was smart enough to draw on the wisdom of others.

I think a lot of us cling to favorite quotations, like this kid did, especially when times get tough. Who hasn’t had Woody Allen’s famous axiom thrown in

their face from time to time: “Eighty percent of success is just showing up.”

When I go to shops, I often see quotes posted in public areas, offering a moment of reflection and perspective in a hectic environment. One shop owner I know draws inspiration from the Scottish proverb, “Be happy while you’re living, for you’re a long time dead.” He has it posted in his waiting area, in direct line of sight of his office.

Another shop owner has the words “Never argue with an idiot” taped to the inside edge of the counter. His customers cannot see it, thank goodness!

I know one technician – and this gets into the area of superstition a little bit – who has a ritual of touching the side of his toolbox where his favorite quotation from Walt Disney is framed: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

Everyone needs inspiration sometimes. What words of wisdom do you rely on? I really want to know. I’d love to hear why it means so much to you. Tell me how you stumbled across it and when you first learned its motivating power. I’ll let others know about them.We’ll swap them like hockey cards. What inspires you will very likely inspire someone else.

Like smiles, quotations enrich the giver as well as the receiver.

Hey, that’s a good one. Maybe that should go on my wall!

VOLUME 17

NUMBER 1

451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ont. M9W 5C4

EDITOR Allan Janssen allan@canadiantechnician.ca (416) 614-5814 PUBLISHER Martyn Johns mjohns@newcom.ca (416) 614-5826 CIRCULATION MANAGER Lilianna Kantor lkantor@newcom.ca (416) 614-5815 DESIGN & PRODUCTION Tim Norton production@canadiantechnician.ca (416) 614-5810 GENERAL MANAGER Joe Glionna PRESIDENT Jim Glionna PUBLISHED BY Newcom Business Media 451 Attwell Drive Toronto, Ont. M9W 5C4 Canadian Technician is published monthly except for January and July by Newcom Business Media, Inc., 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ont. M9W 5C4. The magazine serves the Canadian automotive repair and service industry. Subscriptions are free to those who meet the criteria. For others: single copy price: $5.30; one-year subscription in Canada: $42.00 ($40.00 plus applicable taxes); one-year subscription in U.S.: US$60; one-year subscription in all other countries: US$90. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication september 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, Ont., 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 Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

Kenneth R. Wilson Award Winner Member

Canadian Business Press

Do you have a favourite quotation that inspires you?

Please send it to me at allan@canadiantechnician.ca and I’ll add it to my collection for a future story in Canadian Technician.

“Practical Joker”

By Mick Coulas

FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

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LETTERS

THE ADDITIONAL WORK YOU’RE LOOKING FOR MAY BE ON YOUR HOIST RIGHT NOW

SOME OF THE WORST INVOICES COME FROM BACKYARDERS

The Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s recent study on the hidden potential of the automotive aftermarket just echoes what we learned a few years ago. A simple visual inspection performed on every vehicle entering our shop increased our bottom line significantly, leading to increased staff numbers and ultimately, a new building on dealer row.

Any shop manager who thinks techs and the shop schedule cannot afford to spend the time necessary simply has not taken time to understand underlying customer issues and the potential benefit to both driver and shop.

In our case, making the change involved readjusting our scheduling procedures and changing work flow to include time for service advisors to fully estimate what the techs were finding in the inspection process and let the customer know about it. But in the long run, it proved to be the simplest means of increasing average invoices with the added benefit of demonstrating to clients that we truly understood their vehicle and cared about their personal safety. There is no customer more loyal than one who feels you care about their individual situation.

Since inception of the inspection process into daily work flow, we have had only two or three months that were slow. On those days, we simply had a staff member make some quick phone calls to customers whose vehicles required work that had been deferred for some reason. Often the work went forward, and our customers were so pleased that we cared enough to remind them of their vehicle's problems that they recommended us to their friends. We can only anticipate the kind of returns we’ll see once we have sufficient staff to do call backs all year round!

That glorious un-realized potential may be sitting right there on your hoist right now.You just have to reach out and grab it.

I read Bruce Eccles’ article about invoices (“It’s Your Turn” December 2011) and I completely agree with him. I’ve been asked to interpret some invoices myself, and sometimes I can’t do it!

The worst invoices are from “shops” that are not proper businesses at all.They come from small one- or two-tech shops operated out of someone’s home.These are not proper licensed facilities.They can charge less because they don’t have the same kind of expenses a real shop has, and they don’t invest in proper equipment, like computers. The majority of the hand-written invoices I’ve been asked to interpret did not specify if the parts they installed were new, used, or reconditioned. And labour times are never shown.

One point in the article caught my eye, however. Bruce refers to charging for shop supplies. But I thought that was illegal in Ontario. At least you can’t word it like that.You have to itemize the supplies you use. Some shops have resorted to simply calling it an environmental fee. Can you clarify that point?

Beverly Kaltenbruner Harold’s Auto Service, Lethbridge, Alta.

Member, Canadian Technician Advisory Panel

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CANADIAN TECHNICIAN FEBRUARY 2012

Jason Hurdle J&J Hurdle Automotive Barrie, Ont.

Bruce responds: Thanks for the comments on my article, Jason. Yes, many of the worst invoices are from unregistered businesses – which are the bane of our industry! In answer to your question, shops in Ontario can absolutely charge for shop supplies, but, as you say, the supplies must be itemized. As for referring them to as “environmental fees,” that’s not allowed.That would be misleading the consumer.Things like cleaners, degreasers, lube, and penetrants have nothing to do with protecting the environment.They are just what we need to use in order to do our jobs, and we’re allowed to charge for them.

How to reach us We love to hear from our readers. Please send along your opinions to editor Allan Janssen at allan@canadiantechnician.ca.

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OUT & ABOUT

Letter to B.C. premier says backyarders make roads unsafe B.C. shop owner calls for write-in campaign to prevent unlicensed people from working on vehicular safety systems.

By Allan Janssen A B.C. shop owner is urging technicians and shop owners to follow his lead and start getting vocal about preventing backyarders from working on brakes, suspension, and steering.

Ken Hart, owner of Hartech Automotive in Saslo, B.C., recently wrote to his premier, Christy Clarke, for an explanation as to why the most sensitive safety systems in vehicles should be allowed to be installed by unlicensed do-it-yourselfers.

“It is frustrating to me to see this problem getting bigger every time the economy dives,” he told her. A weak economy “is no excuse for noncertified people to be fixing things that weigh several tons … hurtling along our highways at high speeds.”

Hart urged the Premier to speak to the technician who fixes her personal car about the unfair competition shops face from backyarders, and the threat they pose to public safety.

“I am certain he will have bunches to tell you!” he wrote.

Clarke responded by thanking Hart for his letter, and assuring him that his concerns had been noted.

“Public input is playing an important role in our efforts to improve safety on our roads and highways across the province,” she wrote. “In that light, your personal feedback is very helpful.”

She forwarded his letter to British Columbia’s solicitor general, Shirley Bond, who is responsible for the

province’s police, motor vehicles, and the Insurance Bureau of B.C. In an interview with Canadian Technician, Hart said he was motivated to write to the Premier when his insurance rates went up again – a cost that does not affect backyarders.

“When I opened the door for the year, in January, it cost me $4,000 in licenses and fees and insurance. It’s not fair,” he said. “I charge $80 per hour which is a goodly sum of money… but DIYers can charge $50 an hour or even $25 an hour because they don’t face the same costs. It’s not right.”

If nothing else, he said, the industry should lobby to have brake friction material available only to qualified vehicle repair professionals.

“If you have a government red seal you can buy these parts and put them in. At least, across Canada, we’d know we have good brakes on the road,” he said. “There’s a good apprenticeship program in Canada. You cannot beat 10,000 hours in the trade as an apprentice.”

He’d like to see a write-in campaign to force government to act.

“They would have to pay attention if enough of us voiced our concerns,” he said. “This is the next phase in the automotive apprenticeship program.

This is the next that we as journeyman mechanics really must pay attention to.

Let’s get at it. Let’s not be complacent about our jobs. Let’s fight for them.”

Unperformed maintenance grows to $11.9 billion More than $11.9 billion in repair and maintenance work is not being captured by the nation’s automotive service shops. That’s the amount of “underperformed maintenance” driving around on Canadian roads, according to the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) latest Aftermarket Demand Study.

The report says a significant number of Canadian drivers are delaying essential vehicle maintenance and repairs, or simply not having them done. The results from the study estimate that the true industry potential demand is now at $30.40 billion, while actual services performed amount to only $18.49 billion.

FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

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OUT & ABOUT

Charting the evolution of the automobile SUPPLIER NEWS Alldata to expand presence in Canadian market Automotive diagnostic and repair software provider Alldata plans to operate in Canada under the name Alldata Canada Services Ltd. The company, an operating unit of AutoZone, says a Canada-specific business arm will allow it to capitalize on growth opportunities.

Quebec launches emissions and inspection program Quebec is launching a program for the inspection and maintenance of automotive vehicles, to be known by the French acronym PIEVA. The Quebec government has a stated goal to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gas by 20% from 1990 to 2020.

ASA has new head offices The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has moved offices. They can now be found at 8190 Precinct Line Road, Colleyville TX 76034-7675. The phone number is (800) 272-7467. You can fax them at (817) 514-0770.

GPC announces new president Paul D. Donahue has been elected to lead Genuine Parts Company as the company’s seventh president in its 84year history. He was previously executive vice president of Genuine Parts Company. He also serves as president of the U.S.

Automotive Parts Group.

Matco Tools named top tool franchise Matco Tools Franchise has been named the best franchise in the “Tools Distribution Category” and 26th overall in Entrepreneur’s 33nd Annual Franchise 500. In the 2012 rankings, Entrepreneur named the Matco Tools Franchise fourth in the “Top 10 Home Based Franchises” category and number 23 in “America’s Top Global Franchise.”

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CANADIAN TECHNICIAN FEBRUARY 2012

By Matt Martel A new book that looks at the most stylish, innovative, and intriguing cars on the market is great reading for any real car lover.

Cars Now! (ISBN 978-3-8365-1984-7), written by Daniel Alexander Ross and published by Taschen America, is a artistically photographed 512-page coffee-table book that would suit any repair shop waiting room.

While a little light on coverage of offerings from the North American “Big Three” manufacturers, there is a ton of

information in the book.

From cover to cover, it provides short but informative paragraphs on vehicles of all makes and models, listed in alphabetical order.

Giving a little history of the vehicle as well as the company that produces it, Cars Now! offers the reader a chance to get familiar with brands they may never have heard of before.

The infographic keys are a little hard to read (maybe I’m more accustomed to data pids and graphs) but they still provide an abundance of information including the rated horsepower of every vehicle.

It is the kind of information that gives auto repair technicians and shop owners some perspective when they see those vehicles limping into their shops.

Cars Now! is an impressive book that will be enjoyed by anyone from autophiles to customers in the waiting room.

Matt Martel is the owner of Lebrun Service Centre in Ottawa, ON. He is also a member of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel.

Nova Scotia partners with industry to offer business training The provincial government in Nova Scotia has announced it will help subsidize the cost of business training for repair shop owners and managers.

Working through Nova Scotia’s Automotive Sector council, the government is “partnering to fund tuitions” for eight training sessions by industry trainers Bob Greenwood and Rui Martins of the Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre.

The program is similar to ones devised to help “professionalize” other industries.

Small- to medium-sized automotive business owners could qualify for funding to attend four-day intensive training sessions over a two-week period, to improve productivity, increase their bottom line, create a more loyal customer base, and ensure continued success in the Nova Scotia economy.

The training has been supported in-part by the Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive program, part of the Productivity Investment Program outlined in the economic growth plan for Nova Scotia.

For more information, go to http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/pip/wipsi/

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Worldpac hosts second training expo More than 1,000 automotive repair professionals from Canada, the U.S., and Puerto Rico congregated in Anaheim, Calif., for Worldpac’s second Supplier & Training Expo in January.

The four-day event, featuring 95 technical and business classes taught by 50 of North America’s top automotive trainers, was nearly double the size of Worldpac’s first training exposition in Florida two years ago.

Worldpac’s stated goal in organizing the customized weekend of exclusive technical and business training is to “help customers better succeed in the changing aftermarket environment” and increase the future success of their independent repair business.

More than 80 aftermarket suppliers supported the expo and exhibited their wares in the accompanying trade show. The expo also featured a tool and equipment show, special guest speakers discussing important industry issues, extensive networking opportunities and a prize raffle.

More than 1,000 shop owners, managers, and technicians from Canada, the U.S., and Puerto Rico attended Worldpac’s 2nd Supplier & Training Expo in Anaheim, Calif.

Detailed technical training was a high priority at Worldpac’s 2nd Supplier & Training Expo.

Photos by Julian Ang.

EYE SPY

Should this be on the road?

Rick McMullin, owner of Ricky Ratchets Auto Repair Centre, in London Ont., was shocked at the deterioration of the underbody of this 1994 Firebird when he lifted it for an oil change. “We thought the oil might come out all by itself, with the engine, when we lifted it in the air and hung suspension. Eye spy? I think so!”

Rick sent several pictures of the decrepit ride, saying it is an excellent example of why annual safety inspections are needed.

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FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

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A Question of get-go and the tech didn’t pick up on it.

The resolution in my shop would begin with the above explanation and end with the customer paying for a job well done.

Jed Palmater Fredericton Import Auto Specialist Fredericton, N.B.

Use a leak-detection dye

The recurring oil leak We’re bringing back our popular ethics column to ignite a whole new round of debates! This month, an older vehicle comes in the shop and it’s leaking oil. Your tech finds a leak at the intake manifold gasket and fixes it. Three weeks later, however, the customer comes back with another oil leak. Your tech finds a leak at the exhaust port, and it gets fixed at no charge. Two weeks later, it’s back again and the customer is wondering why you guys can’t get it right. Do you keep fixing this car for free?

Communication is key

Educate the customer

The ball was dropped at the initial inspection and write up. With that many kilometers I’m sure there would have been evidence of pending failures. It should have been presented to the customer with an explanation of why the leak occurred and the likelihood of future leaks. The only way you can guaranty there will be no more leaks is to reseal the entire area.

As to continuing to fix this vehicle for free: no. And the reasons would have to be explained to the client.

Communication, communication, communication! We must communicate with our staff and clients to avoid these situations Bill McLennan Remington Park Motors Langley, B.C.

Educating and involving your customers is a vital part of the repair process. Once you educate them, you can include them in the decision process for the repair.

Including them allows them to take partial ownership of the repair and if there are future issues, they will know what was done in the past.

Greg King Powassan Auto Service, Powassan, Ont.

Tech should have known The technician should have been aware of any potential recurrence of the issue and informed the service adviser. If the issue were resolved in the first place it is unlikely that it would continue to leak unless another seal blew as it was the weaker link, or the seal was bad from the

Agree? Disagree?

Answers to our ethical dilemmas are provided by members of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel… and they’re already considering other Questions of Ethics. You can apply to join their ranks at www.canadiantechnician.ca. Or just tell us your thoughts on this one in an email to ajanssen@canadiantechnician.ca 12

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN FEBRUARY 2012

This is an all-too-common issue. In a perfect world, the customer would be informed, prior to any repair, that other leaks could appear, based on the overall condition of the vehicle. In this particular instance, I feel that the last repair made should be the last “freebie,” with a fresh oil change for good measure. Use a leak trace dye to show the customer that the leak has been fixed. Then, should the car come back with a leak complaint, the trace dye could be used to show that this is a new leak and, as such, not a warranty item.

Garth Doupe Canadian Tire Vegreville, Alta.

Document repairs with camera I would advise the customer at this point that there must be an underlying problem for this vehicle to continue leaking after the repair. Because I document most of my larger repairs with digital photos for the customer to see what the problem was, I would be able to support my report.

Matt Martel LeBrun Service Centre Ottawa, Ont.

Customer should have been warned The customer should have been warned ahead of time that due to the high mileage on the engine there maybe be more than one leak, or that fixing one leak may start another.When it came in the second time, I would have checked it over again and made sure I didn’t miss anything else.

James Hack Terry’s Auto Repair Waldheim, Sask.

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Š 2009, Ashland Canada Corp. *Source: Thomas Penway Research Poll of ASE Mechanics in the United States

www.v a lv o li n e . c o m

Only one person works on his car.

And only one oil works in his engine.

More ASE-certified top mechanics use Valvoline in their own cars.* <TRWP]XRb RP] dbT P]h ^X[ cWTh fP]c CWTh RW^^bT cWT ^]T fXcW P _a^eT] aT_dcPcX^] U^a `dP[Xch _a^cTRcX^] P]S P WXbc^ah ^U X]]^ePcX^] EP[e^[X]T

100 YEARS UNDER THE HOOD.

TM

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IT’S YOUR TURN

In The Battlefield I can think of no greater imperative for our industry than training… and I think it needs to be organized on a national level.

By Matt Armstrong

H

arry S. Truman once defined a leader as someone who has “the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do, and like it.”

This was certainly true of Napoleon, who was the first military leader to reward his men with citations for bravery and medals for courage in battle. In this way, he encouraged his men to become the best soldiers in the world. He gave them an incentive to achieve the highest level of excellence.

I believe the automotive repair and service industry in Canada needs an incentive program like that. We need a national training program that will create high standards of excellence, and sift out imposters who pass themselves off as professionals.

Everybody knows there is a negative reputation associated with automotive repair. It follows us around like a menacing shadow, and gets darker every time someone in this industry takes unearned money from unsuspecting, uneducated customers.

The strong light of professional education will destroy this shadow.

Funding such a program would undoubtedly be a challenge. Even with sponsorships by industry suppliers and distributors, annual fees would probably be necessary. But in exchange, technicians 14

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN FEBRUARY 2012

would receive the most up-to-date training available, keeping them informed of any changes that affect their work.

And I’m not just talking about technical skills, but customer service skills, and business skills too. I’d like to see technicians become as comfortable behind the cash register, or in front of customers as they are under the hood of car.

Training should start early – when our new apprentices are just entering the industry – and should be ongoing.

All techs need to continue to upgrade their skills as automotive technology and business strategies evolve.

The most important arrow in our quill is staying current on anything with wheels that rolls on a road under its own power. However this can sometimes prove to be easier said than done. Finding quality training – especially in smaller towns – can be a real challenge. And this has to change. Accommodation has to be made for people who live away from the large urban centres.

Ideally, I’d like to see a national skills competition open to all licensed technicians that would recognize the elite in our industry. I truly believe we could develop a culture of excellence that would create a new class of superskilled technicians. Imagine the feelings of pride and unity that would result!

My idea is simple, encourage the pawns in this game to make it all the way across the board and become a major player. As they grow and develop, there will be a chain reaction of prosperity through the ranks.

And as professionalism grows, I think more and more people will understand the value of a national trade association that delivers high-caliber training and is responsible for enforcing training standards in the industry.

The task is daunting to say the least.

But I am motivated by the fact that I am a technician who expects soon be a shop owner. Too often I see a hybrid Lexus SUV or a new Audi pull into the yard and I get that “OMG” feeling in the pit of my stomach. I rediscover religion every time, hoping all they need is a MVI. Suddenly a ‘94 F-150 feels like a warm blanket!

As an industry we have to be prepared for everything that comes into our bays. And the only thing that will give us confidence is training, training, and more training.

The concept of uniting behind a common cause is a familiar one in the history books. In the battle that the automotive aftermarket faces, unity is not only necessary for our professional development, it is absolutely critical for our survival.

We are here, in the trenches, on the front lines of this struggle. What we need now is a Truman or a Napoleon who will inspire us not only to commit to creating a positive future for our industry, but to act in a way that will make consumers see us in a whole new light.

Matt Armstrong is a technician in Sussex Corner, New Brunswick.

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FROM OUR FORUM

Give it the gas?

Our Forum members kick around a few ideas about what might be causing poor idle and hard starting. It could be bad gas… but the all the basics have to be checked first.

Hey, I could be dealing with bad gas in my area. I’ve run into a bunch of cars that have poor idle, and hard starting. When I run all the basic diagnosis tests, everything is normal.

Has anyone run into this lately? I have been told that it is not a common thing anymore.

—Lostmechanic

I’ve seen some Dodges a few years back that would suffer a lot of very early fuel pump and sender failures because of a certain brands “winter” gas. Lately we seem to be seeing more issues with ethanol blends being used in vehicles that aren’t compatible. Are you asking if bad gas could be an issue here? Or are you

asking us if we’re seeing a lot of cases of bad gas?

—jeffcompton

of gas in it. As far as I know, the cases were all at different gas stations in different towns.

—Lostmechanic

Unless you can verify all your ‘clients’ are fueling up from the same fuel station, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Have you inspected the intake or throttle body area for excessive carbon build-up? Good luck.

When the battery or alternator isn’t up to snuff, a lot of the Dodges won’t idle correctly until the relearn is complete or the charging amperage comes back up.

—Rob Music

—jeffcompton

I have seen a problem with build-up on the intake valves causing hard starting, cold flooding, hot and rough idle. Also ran into problems with summer diesel being sold in winter.

The alt was charging at 14.3 volts and the battery was good, i thought that might have been the problem.

—ROBERTKINDRED

We had a Volvo towed in the other day with the same scenario. It would crank but no start. The data stream was good, had strong spark, good fuel pressure, and all sensors read OK.The tech went so far as to pull the timing belt covers to verify marks. In the end, we replaced the spark plugs to see what happened and it started and ran. When we let it sit for the day and tried it the next morning, life was good. It’s a silly thing but sometimes the basics get overlooked. The spark plugs didn’t look all that bad but for the time it took, changing them was a good dignostic tool. In the end you just shake you head and accept what happens.

I am more just seeing if the issue of bad gas is a possibility.The Jeep came in as a no start. I hooked a booster up to it to get a higher cranking speed, and the Jeep caught but would not stay running unless I held the throttle open a little. I got a lot of black smoke out of the tailpipe! After a while, the Jeep idled OK but a little rough. I shut the car off and let it sit in the shop for an hour and it was a long crank but it started. I checked the throttle body for carbon buildup and it was free of excessive build-up. I have since received a call from the customers that the Jeep has not had the problem since she put a full tank

—Lostmechanic

—sprockets

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 want to hear it.

FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

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MANAGEMENT S.O.S. 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.

NEW YEAR… NEW MANAGEMENT! SETTING REALISTIC GOALS AND SETTING A REALISTIC TIMEFRAME FOR ACCOMPLISHING THEM IS THE KEY TO MAKING SUCCESSFUL CHANGES IN YOUR BUSINESS.

DEAR KELLY: Aggh! I had such high hopes for this year! I made a very impressive list of resolutions that I was going to accomplish. Increase our labour rate by $7 an hour. Use our parts matrix more consistently. Raise gross sales by 12%. Increase net profit by 8%. Have zero staff turnover… We’re only a month into the new year, and everything’s going down hill! We’re still not using the parts matrix fully, gross sales haven’t budged, and net profit is slightly down. And yesterday one of my techs gave notice! Maybe next year I’ll get it right!

—Erol

DEAR EROL: Starting a new year is like getting a new car. You promise yourself you’re not going to eat or drink anything in it.

Junk’s not going to pile up. No one’s going to smoke in it.You want the newcar smell to last a decade. But within a few months you start to treat your new car like your old car. It starts with one spilled coffee, or one dropped French fry.

That’s just the way it goes. Call it human nature.

I was at a business management workshop just a few days into the new year and the instructor asked how many people had made new year’s resolutions Almost every hand went up. Then he

16

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN FEBRUARY 2012

asked how many had already broken theirs. About 80 per cent admitted they’d blown it.

“What are you going to do about that?” he asked. “Are you going to wait until next year to try again?”

It sounded silly, but that is how many of us think. I tried, I failed… I guess I’ll try again next year. His point was simple. Today is the best day to make a resolution. There is no need to wait until the start of a new year, or a new quarter, or a new month.

One shop owner’s resolution had been to quit smoking. His resolve had lasted exactly an hour! At 1 a.m. on January 1 he had lit up again. Well, this class convinced him to try again, not wait for the start of another year. I just called him, and guess what? He has not smoked since! Good for him.

I had a similar experience. Back when I was a smoker, I had no problem with quitting. I would quit about 14 times a week! I had the best success when I forced myself to slow down. I would bring only eight cigarettes to work and try to make them last the whole workday. That helped. Then I asked my wife to hide my smokes and allow me to have only one an hour.

Soon it was one every two hours. Then, one every four hours. Eventually I quit and I was so proud of myself. But about four months later, I smelled a cigarette and couldn’t resist it. I had a cigarette… and then felt absolutely terrible. What a waste, I thought. And I probably would have started smoking again but a friend

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Most of us are results-oriented. We live in a world that is used to fast results. Quick Lube, Quick Tax, Quick Books, Instant Kraft dinner, Speedy Print, Flash Stick, zip drive… we are intoxicated by speed.

Business success is not instant. It has to be carefully planned and it is accomplished one good decision after another, day in and day out. It’s not easy… but, then again, if it were, everyone would be doing it.

When trying to achieve goals, remember that it is better to do a few things all the way, than do a whole bunch of things halfway. Choose what needs to be done carefully, devise a strategy, and stick to it until it becomes a habit.

Eventually you’ll see the results. Then

weighed in at 597 kg (1,320 pounds).

He lost more than half his weight, not with surgery, but by making one good decision at a time, one after the other, day after day.

Change happens slowly, but you have to believe that change is happening and keep going. That’s the way it is in business.You set a goal and take steps to accomplish it. If you make a mistake, or a bad decision, don’t give up on the goal. Correct your course and keep going. Don’t expect instant results.

take on another challenge, or better yet, multiply your efforts through delegation.

I had an interesting experience last summer. I took up golf, expecting to get really good. After a few weeks, I knew I sucked at it, and decided to put my efforts elsewhere. I started studying chess obsessively, expecting to improve my rating fairly quickly. I had a bit of success, but not what I was hoping for.

So I started concentrating on playing pool. I sucked. Then guitar… then drums… then basketball… I just kept

Larry Dickison

made me look at it differently. He said, “Wow, that’s amazing! You’ve only had one cigarette in four months!” He was right. Rather than look at the failure, he looked at the accomplishment.That was the last cigarette I ever smoked.

Here’s how I see it now. If you’re in a race and you fall, you don’t walk back to the starting line and try again. You just pick yourself up and keep going from where you left off.

A lot of people resolve to lose weight in the new year. Do you know what the secret to losing weight is? Making good decisions, one at a time.

That’s how it happened for Manuel Xavier Uribe, once the world’s heaviest person. He gained weight one taco at a time, one pizza at a time, until he

trying different things hoping to find something in which I could excel with ease. Guess what? There’s no such thing!

Bobby Fisher, Minnesota Fats, and Tiger Woods all have something in common.

They worked hard at one thing until they became really good at it.

We can’t be good at everything we try. And we won’t be successful overnight. The best thing to do is find out what we’re good at and then focus on being the best we can be at it. Figure out what we love to do… and then do it to the best of our ability.

It turns out I can’t make beautiful stained glass windows like my late friend Bob did. Those darn little pieces of glass breaks so easy – especially when you throw them against the wall in frustration! But I can make the best cup of bodum coffee you’ve ever had, and my kids tell me I make an amazing outdoor ice rink. I also love the marketing aspect of my business, and tracking all the financial stuff. These are things that strengthen me and make me feel good about my abilities.

And my employees, friends, and family members all have things they’re really good at too. They can do with ease some of the stuff that I really suck at. And where they struggle, I might be able to help because its something that comes easy to me. Working together we can accomplish almost anything. That’s what makes us a team.

Most importantly, I need to be patient about change, and persistent in my pursuit of success. Don’t give up on your new year’s resolutions, Erol. Just pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and keep going. That’s how you’ll be successful.

As always Erol, I’m only an email away.

—Kelly Kelly Bennett is a certified management trainer and has been coaching automotive repair shop owners since 1990.

You can reach him at kelly@kellythecoach.com.

FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

17

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CT Feb 2012_ver2_Layout 1 1/26/12 12:58 PM Page 19

STOP not doing that!

When it comes to shop management, sometimes it’s what you’re NOT doing that is the problem.

Here are 10 business practices that are frequently ignored.

By Allan Janssen

B

usiness acumen is a relatively rare commodity in the automotive repair industry, where many technicians graduate to shop owner without ever taking a management class.

But the advent of shop management software has given shop owners a powerful resource to close the biggest gaps in their knowledge and develop sustainable and profitable business practices.

The shame, says automotive consultant Francois Latendresse, is that more shop owners aren’t taking advantage of the tools that are available to them.

Latendresse is the owner of FCM Solutions – that stands for First Class Mechanics – a Montreal-based coaching company designed to help shop owners find

Not using an electronic agenda.

Using a pad of paper or a desk calendar is a big mistake, he says, because you cannot accurately gauge how long jobs will take and what looks like a busy day often turns out to be half empty. “Electronic scheduling will show you all the hours you have available in a day. If you have three technicians, it will show you all 24 hours you have available. When you put a brake job in that will take an hour and a half, the electronic schedule will block out that amount of time.”

efficiencies in their businesses using shop management software. He is also a subcontractor for Gem-Car, the Canadian shop management software provider.

“I’ve made a list of things shop owners typically don’t do,” he says. “And the mistake is often what they’re not doing to be efficient. They probably know they should do it, but they don’t because they think it is too complicated or they think it doesn’t apply to them because their business is too small. They have all kinds of reasons why they don’t want to do it, or they’re not comfortable doing it.

He offers the following list of frequently missed opportunities.

Not scheduling preventive maintenance.

Too many shop owners rely on their customers to ask for routine maintenance. But that’s not good enough, he says.

“Customers forget or don’t understand their cars’ needs. I believe it is the responsibility of the garage to look after their customers’ cars. They should know when every service is due and they should prompt the customer, not the other way around.” When shop managers take control of tracking preventive maintenance, they can schedule it when the shop is

FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

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“SHOP MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE PAYS FOR ITSELF VERY QUICKLY.”

not too busy. “And the customer likes that because they feel like they’re being taken care of.”

Not tracking deferred work.

“Don’t leave it to the customer to remind you of work that wasn’t done,” he urges. “Use a reminder module that will prompt you to call your customer at the right time, or send them a letter or email.” It can be daunting to go through all your invoices to try to find deferred work. Shop management software will track it all for you.

Not inspecting every vehicle.

“You have to take the time to look for everything that needs to be done, not just what the customer is asking to be done,” says Latendresse. “What I suggest is to create a checklist of everything you’re going to check on every vehicle. If they come in for an oil change, you should still check all the safety systems on the car. It doesn’t take long. This also gives the customer an idea of what future repairs are coming.”

Not ordering online.

There are a lot of advantages to online ordering, including avoiding mistakes, not forgetting related parts, and saving a lot of time. It also helps you build your estimate based on parts your supplier has in stock. “Forgetting to charge for parts costs a lot of shops a lot of money,” he says. “I know one shop that did a coolant job and charged for everything except the radiator. How do you forget that? But it happens.

And if you don’t find the mistake, the cost comes directly out of your net profits.”

Not charging for shop supplies.

Things like brake cleaner and lubricant often are not charged.

A good management program will make it easy to include the little things on the invoice. These small things add up. If you’re not charging $12 or $15 in shop supplies on every job, multiply that by the number of jobs you do and you’ll see it comes to thousands of dollars at the end of the year. That’s big money in your pocket.

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CANADIAN TECHNICIAN FEBRUARY 2012

Not using a punch-clock Technician time must be very carefully monitored.

“Technicians tend to report their time on a job in half-hour slices. If they spend one hour and forty-two minutes on a car, they’ll probably report it as an hour and a half. It’s not precise,” he says. “And it may only be out by 10 or 12 minutes but that really adds up over time. We have seen that shops that start using a punch clock charge 0.3 hours more per invoice. That was what they were missing.”

Not managing cores.

When cores are not put away properly, or managed, they can end up in the scrap bin. “This is a shame because they are real value for the shop. Some shops have no idea what they’re losing in the garbage. Fifty or $75 apiece. It just requires a bit of management to know what you have and where it is and get it to the right place to get the money back.”

Not managing inventory.

When you have thousands of dollars worth of inventory in your stock room, it’s very important to manage that. A lot of shops don’t track what they put on the shelf. Sometimes it just sits there forgotten until they do a manual inventory check.

You need to know how quickly things sell and how long you’ve had them. Inventory management allows you to track every part number so you know how to order.

Not using any shop management software at all.

A lot of shops are using computers and accounting programs, but they’re not getting the full value of a shop management software program. “This is designed specifically for their business. You can’t manage everything from your memory. If you try, for sure you are losing money somewhere,” he says.

“Shop management software pays for itself very quickly,” Latendresse concludes. “There are so many places where you can save money in a garage it’s amazing. It takes extra management to keep track of everything but if you have software to do it, it’s painless.”

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Tomorrow's Tech

By Jeff Taylor

Whenever a new model year brings with it some new technology, a technician’s first thought is about how cool it is.

The second is about how they’re going to fix it when it goes wrong!

We all share a love of technology, especially when it is sleek and unique and designed to perfection. But every new gadget, process, and application brings its own challenges too. How will it wear? How will it break? And how easy will it be to repair?

The list of new technologies from the major domestic carmakers is long… and some of it won’t make its way to the repair shop for some time yet. But it’s worth taking a look at what’s new so we won’t be taken completely by surprise when it arrives.

General Motors

The engineers at GM haven’t taken a development break; the quest for better fuel economy is alive and well, as is the forward march of technology.

GM has had mild hybrids before (known as the belt alternator starter or BAS) but has decided to introduce an updated version that includes many refinements. The new system, eAssist, is 22

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN FEBRUARY 2012

available on the Chevy Malibu, Buick Regal, and Buick LaCrosse.

A direct injected 2.4L Ecotec four cylinder is mated to a next-generation six-speed transmission, and an electricmotor generator.

It delivers 5.4L/100km highway (52mpg) in the Regal, and that is a 20% increase over the same package without eAssist.

GM calls this technology “light

electrification.” The system uses the coolant cooled electric-motor generator to provide regenerative braking and charge the 115-volt lithium-ion battery pack. That battery pack can then provide the electricmotor generator with power that can be used during acceleration, providing up to 15 extra horsepower.

GM’s eAssist also incorporates automatic engine shut-off when stopped and a very aggressive fuel cutoff during deceleration. This fuel cut can show up on the scanner so if you see it, don’t worry, it’s normal.

The new 3.6L V6 engine for the 2012 Camaro has redesigned cylinder heads that incorporate the exhaust manifold into the head design. This lightens the engine by 6 kg (13 lb) and moves the catalytic convertor closer to the engine so they light up faster. When combined with direct injection better fuel efficiency and lower emission are the result and an engine that is quieter.

Other improvements that we’ll see

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The quest for better fuel economy and lower emissions has led to some interesting variations – and challenges – in new vehicle models.

next year from GM include a redesigned 2.5L Ecotec engine that develops 12% more horsepower, 16% more torque, and should get 9.4L/100 km (30mpg). The use of direct injection, new balance shafts, a shorter timing chain, an actively controlled thermostat, and variable output oil pump contributed to the 16% reduction in internal engine friction.

The Chevy Cruze gets an Electronic Returnless Fuel System that controls the output pressure of the fuel pump.

The PCM will now control fuel pressure in response to demand; this stops the pump from being full speed all the time and reduces the amount to current that the pump draws. Less power consumption equals lower loads on the engine and better fuel efficiency.

GM is using direct Injection on as many engine designs as it can, and those that don’t have it yet are going to get it in the future. Even the small block V8 that has been around since 1955 is going to get it when the Gen-V is

produced. GM claims a 3% improvement in fuel economy from direct injection alone. The use to electric power steering is also going to be on most models if it’s not already incorporated, the newest versions use a rack mounted electric motor that reduces weight, and any reduction in weight equals better fuel economy.

Ford

The Ford group is introducing some pretty neat things. And it’s concentrating on its small SUVs and midsized cars because according to its own calculations, that’s what’s on the radar of about 60% of North Americans who are in the market for a new car.

The Focus will be equipped with a 2.0L 4 cylinder engine that is now equipped with gasoline direct injection (GDI) and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT).

The use of Ti-VCT means that the PCM can now control the phasing of both camshafts independently as

operating conditions require.

The change to GDI and Ti-VCT results in an increase of 20 hp (140 to 160 hp) and more available torque (132 to 146 ft.-lbs.). The Focus can be equipped with two transmission options: a five-speed manual, or a six-speed dualclutch PowerShift Automatic.

Ford is claiming a mileage increase and decrease in emissions across the board for the Focus and in the econobox model it can deliver 40 mpg.

Other Focus changes that we, as techs, need to be made aware of are the active grill shutters that improve not only improved aerodynamics but increase the speed at which a cold engine warms up.

They have also removed the belt driven power steering pump and gone with electric power steering.

Ford engineers have also introduced changes to the charging system, they’re now monitoring current using a sensor on the negative cable and the alternator incorporates a one-way clutch. This technology is not new but it is on a Ford.

FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

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There are a few precautions that should be noted during servicing.When boosting or charging, attach to the grounding point or the crimped part of the negative cable after the sensor (to prevent a false state of charge PID). And after battery replacement a scan tool is going to be needed to perform a battery reset procedure. Don’t panic on this.

The Pentastar 3.6L VVT V6 engine will become the workhorse for a lot of the fleet at Chrysler. This engine was available in the new designed 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it’s going to replace seven current engine designs at Chrysler and they hope that it contributes a fuel economy increase of about 25% from previous engine designs.

THE QUEST FOR INCREASED FUEL ECONOMY IS COMMON ACROSS ALL MANUFACTURES BUT CHRYSLER ENGINEERS IN PARTICULAR HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES. The BCM will relearn after a couple of days without it.

The 2013 Escape (due to be introduced in spring 2012) will feature a rear tailgate that can be opened hands-free with a kicking motion under the middle of the rear bumper, technology that was born in the video game industry. It will also be available with, park assist, blindspot detection and will be the first Ford SUV to offer curve control. This feature will automatically slow the vehicle if it is cornering too fast.

Fuel mileage was important so it will get the EcoBoost engine as a 2.0L or 1.6 L version. Production of the new Escape is supposed to start in late 2011 and be introduced early in 2012 as a 2013 model.

The Taurus gets an upgrade to its charging system as well in 2012, there will be no output during cranking, so watch for this during testing and the charging voltage will be higher if the battery is cold.

The Edge will have the 2.0 L EcoBoost as an option to increase fuel economy and power output. Ford is also making the move to Electric Power Steering (EPS) on almost all of its models and this includes its truck lines, so watch for its coming.

Chrysler

The quest for increased fuel economy is common across all manufactures but Chrysler engineers in particular have made great strides.

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CANADIAN TECHNICIAN FEBRUARY 2012

A computer controlled variable displacement oil pump is used to gain fuel efficiency and the removal of exhaust manifolds not only made the engine lighter and narrower but decreases part numbers and cost.

The Pentastar engine will be able to utilize Fiat technology such as Multiair and turbocharging in the future. When more fuel economy is needed direct fuel injection, and cylinder deactivation can be used.

The use of more forward speeds is a common theme among many of the model refinements that Chrysler is releasing.

The Jeep Wrangler gets a five-speed automatic now, and others are getting six-speed automatics. The Chrysler 300 is getting an eight-speed automatic.

When mated to the Pentastar 3.6L V6, the 2012 Chrysler 300 is rated at 30 mpg (10.6L/100 km). That’s an 11% increase over 2011. This powertrain combo allows the 300 to cruise at 70 mph (112 km-h) at an RPM of only 1400.

This ZF 8HP 8-speed transmission gains fuel mileage in a number of ways; it’s lighter than the previous ZF 6speed by about 4.4 to 6.6 lb. (2-3kg), and it uses a special low-viscosity oil (34% thinner than ATF+4). The oil is very specific to this transmission and specific servicing procedures are required. There is no dipstick and the vehicle has to be on a hoist to gain access to the fill plug.

The ZF HP8 will likely be available in the Dodge Charger, Durango and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Chrysler is also transitioning to new electronic data bus architecture.

Chryslers new PowerNet allows for a major increase in the data flow that is taking place between modules and eliminates a few modules in the process.

If you see a large 8.4 inch display screen on the dash, it has PowerNet system.

With the great number of onboard computers (some models may have 40!) a change had to be made. The 500-kb/s high-speed CAN system remains, but the 83.3-kb/s low-speed CAN has now been replaced by a couple of 125-kb/s medium speed CAN buses. Telematics and infotainment systems now have their own 125-kb/s medium-speed CAN network and use the Chrysler Telematics Platform (CTP) radio module as a gateway to new central body computer (the same for all PowerNet vehicles).

The new BCM is also a gateway between the medium CAN and the high-speed CAN networks, this design lowers costs and keeps each individual bus at no more than 30% of the bandwidth capacity.

Chrysler is also rolling out a new PC-based diagnostic system that will tie into the PowerNet system. It will be wireless and allow the tech to see what’s happening in the active modules on the 500 and 125-kb/s interior buses. This will simplify the reflashing and codegathering procedures and should aid in diagnostics going forward.

As you can see, we have lots of changes coming our way.

Whenever I think of the latest technology, I always think of a trade school instructor who told me we shouldn’t spend a whole lot of time on “this front-wheel-drive stuff.” He said it was just a fad and that it wouldn’t last.

Boy was he wrong!

Jeff Taylor is senior technician at Eccles Auto Service in Dundas, ON. He is also a past winner of the Canadian Technician of the Year award.

CT Feb 2012_ver2_Layout 1 1/25/12 12:31 PM Page 25

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Balayez ici pour regarder une vidéo et en savoir plus.

TECHNICIANS

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“I got to choose from several career options when I joined. I’ve always loved working with new technology so this job was a natural fit. Here, there’s always something new on the horizon.”

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« Quand je me suis enrôlée, j’ai eu à choisir parmi plusieurs possibilités de carrière. Comme j’ai toujours aimé travailler avec les nouvelles technologies, la décision s’est prise naturellement. Dans mon métier, il y a toujours quelque chose de neuf à découvrir. » Matelot de 1re classe PATTY LEE

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CT Feb 2012_ver2_Layout 1 1/26/12 12:59 PM Page 26

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Hand cleaner New Gojo Eco Soy Foaming Hand Cleaner is described as a gentle cleanser effective for light to medium soils in industrial environments. The foam-style, soy-based formulation can be used with or without water. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-099

Drum and Rotor Puller OTC has unveiled its new Heavy-Duty Brake Drum and Rotor Puller (P/N 6980), specifically designed to offer automotive technicians and service professionals the ability to handle large component pulls such as brake drums, rotors, drive wheels, gears, flywheels and pulleys. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-098

Strut assemblies Tenneco is expanding its line of Monroe QuickStrut premium replacement strut assemblies. It is adding significant new coverage in early 2012 – comprising nearly 40 SKUs covering approximately 20 popular light-truck, sport-utility vehicle and passenger-car models. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-097

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Brake pads Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads are now available for four popular North American passenger vehicle models – the 2012 Ford Focus and Mustang and 2011 Hyundai Genesis and Volkswagen Jetta. Federal-Mogul has also introduced Wagner ThermoQuiet ceramic and semi-metallic pad sets for 10 additional late-model applications. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-096

Automatic reporting Mitchell 1 has added a new monthly reporting feature to its SocialCRM customer retention and new customer acquisition service. The new product feature automatically sends e-mail reports and other reports that provide insight into a shop’s performance. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-095

Wheel and tire cleaner Valvoline Car Brite professional detailing products now include a new acid-free wheel and tire cleaner. New Car Brite XTR Wheel & Tire Cleaner removes road grime, brake dust, and petroleumbase residue from wheels and tires. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-92

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FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

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PRODUCT CENTRAL and years, including Chrysler, Ford, GM, Hummer, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Nissan. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-094

Quick-release ratchets Expanded TPMS coverage VDO REDI-Sensor Multi-Application TPMS Sensors are now available for a wider range of vehicle makes, models,

Snap-on says its new 3/8-inch Quick Release Ratchets (FR80 and FHR80) are made with the company’s Dual 80 Technology, to give techs an easy-touse, sealed quick release ratchet for

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Steering and suspension parts Federal-Mogul’s Moog steering and suspension product line has been expanded to include 34 new “AsiaSpec,” “Euro-Spec,” and domestic components, covering nearly 4 million additional passenger vehicles. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-088

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UView Ultraviolet Systems has announced changes to its MiST vehicle deodorizing solution for improved performance and a new fresh scent.

MiST service uses a proprietary ultrasonic fog to treat cabin air. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-086

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Cardone has released a new catalogue covering A1 Cardone Remanufactured and Cardone Select New Distributors, Camshaft Synchronizers and Crank Angle Sensors. The new catalogue includes 1,010 import and domestic part numbers. http://tinyurl.com/ct-prod-085

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“Next we went through the relearn procedure, using the high/low tire pressure method. You know, where you raise or lower the tire pressure until the horn beeps once? Then you move on to the next tire and do it again.”

“So you got the two beeps at the end, signaling that the relearn was successful?”

Beanie nodded. “That part’s fine.The problem comes when I set the tire pressures.”

I frowned. “Can’t you just use the tire pressures from the placard on the door pillar?”

He sighed. “Well, no. On this model, the original tires called for 50 psi in the front and 80 psi in the rear. But the new tires are 50 psi all around. Somehow I have to tell the system what the new pressures are, but for the life of me I can’t find where you do that!”

I chuckled. “Okay, I see where you’re coming from. Have you got the TECH 2 connected?”

Beanie jerked his thumb towards the truck. “Yup. We’ve been staring at it for hours.”

He retrieved the scan tool from Jake, who said. “Hey man, what a weird video game. All it does is show you numbers.”

Ignoring him, I directed Beanie back to the menu.“The tire pressure monitor functions are held in the remote control door lock module (RCDLM). Once you’re in there, go to module setup and you’ll be able set the load range and pressure of the front and rear tires.”

Beanie shook his head. “The remote control door lock module? I never would have thought to look there.”

I let the girls know it was almost show time. Alley squealed with delight and waved her purple nails in the air to dry them.

But Sam seemed distracted. “Slim,” she said, “I’ve been dating Beanie for a while now, and this is not the first time a vehicle has interfered with our dates.” She looked at me. “Is this something I should think about?”

The reality is that anyone dating a mechanic should get used to days like this. But we technicians have enough strikes against us already – dirty fingernails, gashed knuckles, smelly clothes. I certainly wasn’t about to throw a crescent wrench into Beanie’s love life. It was time to dispense a tidbit of tactful wisdom. Unfortunately I was the only semi-qualified dispenser in the room.

“Every career choice has its high and low points,” I pontificated. “But life is like a Tech2. As long as we communicate well, and know where the pressure limits are, then the system works well.”

Sam stared at me. “Huh?” “Yeah,” said Alley. “That was weird.”

Okay, it was time to go home and be with the family. After all, that’s what holiday weekends are for, right?

Rick Cogbill is a freelance writer, and former garage owner, in Summerland B.C.

ADVERTISER INDEX AIA Canada.............................21 www.aiacanada.com 800-808-2920 Bars Products – Rislone ............9 www.rislone.ca Beck / Arnley..........................28 www.beckarnley.com 1-888-464-2325 Blue Streak-Hygrade..................3 www.bluestreak.ca Havoline..................................18 www.havoline.com Imperial Oil – Mobil.................31 www.mobil.ca 800-567-3776 National Defence ....................25 www.forces.ca 1-800-856-8488 Ross-Tech................................26 Ross-Tech www.ross-tech.com Snap-On Tools of Canada ...........2 www.snapon.com 1-800-734-2676 Tenneco Automotive ........4, 8, 11 www.monroe.com Valvoline .............................7, 13 www.valvoline.com 1-800-TEAM-VAL

WORLDPAC

WorldPac ................................32 www.worldpac.ca 800-463-8749 FEBRUARY 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

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The Car Side

By Rick Cogbill

Feeling the pressure The relearn procedure can be especially long when there’s a young apprentice on the case!

Everybody knows that holiday weekends are made for fun.

Everybody, that is, except automotive apprentices. To them, a holiday weekend means working on your buddy’s car for free.

Beanie asked if he could use the shop on Saturday. “Jake wants help mounting some new tires and rims on his pickup, and I kinda owe him one.”

“Sure,” I said, accepting his bribe of butterscotch caramel coffee flavoring. “Be sure to clean up when you’re done.”

The plan was to be finished in time to catch an afternoon movie premiere with their girlfriends. But as Basil would say, the best laid plans of mice and apprentices often go astray.

“Why so gloomy?” I asked, coming into the lunchroom that Saturday.

Samantha frowned fiercely as she paged through a magazine. “Beanie and Jake are having troubles,” she said. “It looks like we’re gonna miss our movie.”

Alley, Jake’s girlfriend, was redoing her nails. “Sam, I say we ditch the guys and go to the movie by ourselves.”

“Whoa,” I said. “What seems to be the problem?”

Sam tossed the magazine aside. “The tires are changed, but they can’t get the tire pressure monitoring light to go out.” She looked at me. “They need serious help.”

Out in the shop, I found the guys slouched in the front seat of Jake’s 2007 Silverado. Jake sighed. “Bean, you told me you knew how to do this stuff. If we don’t get outta here soon, Alley’s gonna freak!”

Seeing me, Beanie scrambled out of the truck. “Am I ever glad to see you! This TPMS is driving me crazy!”

I surveyed the used tires and rims scattered across the bay.

“Okay, where’re we at?”

Beanie pointed to the left front tire. “Jake wanted a new look for his ride, so we’ve replaced the original tires and rims with these.” The KMC Backseat rims with 37 x 12.5 x 18 BF Goodrich All-Terrain Tires were definitely an improvement over stock. “I swapped over the TPMS sensors to the new rims, just like Basil told me,” he continued. “As far as I can tell, we didn’t damage a thing.”

He reached into the cab and pulled out the owner’s manual. continued on page 29

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