Canadian Technician June 2012

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READER’S ISSUE

JUNE 2012

The case for mandatory certification ■ Pushing young people into skilled trades ■ What I love and hate about this job ■ Why owners need to keep techs happy ■ Plus a pull-out EyeSpy poster!

■

2012

WWW.CANADIANTECHNICIAN.CA

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contents

Canadian Technician • June 2012 • Vol. 17 No. 5

READER CONTRIBUTIONS The return of the electric car ........................................ 13

By Matt Armstrong Vehicle inspections… and why we need ’em! ............... 14

By Ken Hart The cowboy way ............................................................. 18

By Ron Nutini How we fixed what was broken ..................................... 21

By Rick McMullin The case for mandatory certification............................ 24

By Allan Haberman On strike… for a better industry!................................... 25

By Harold O’Connor What I love – and hate – about this job ........................ 26

By Scott Faris What schools need to learn........................................... 27

By Al Mantyla

DEPARTMENTS Service Notes ........................................................................ 5 Letters .................................................................................... 7 Advertiser Index .................................................................. 29

30 The Car Side

By Rick Cogbill

16 EYE SPY Chris Rice, Picton, Ont......................................... 8 Tony Jendruck, Athabasca, Alta........................ 10 Brad Smith, Guelph, Ont................................... 13 Steve Schwartz, Desboro, Ont.......................... 14 Shawn Evans, Dorchester, Ont. ........................ 16 J.P Desroch, Midland, Ont. ............................... 16 Jeff Ryan, Kimberley, B.C. ................................. 16 Bill Plaster, Shearwater, N.S. ........................... 16 Rob Music, Edmonton, Alta. ............................. 16 Canadian Tire, Miramichi, N.B.......................... 17 Doug Wright, Huntsville, Ont. ........................... 17 Bart Slot, Lindsay, Ont....................................... 17 Robin A. Lenney, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. ....... 17 Dan Lazin, Cambridge, Ont. ............................. 17 Steve Polhill, London, Ont. ............................... 18 Michael Hoffman, Kelowna, B.C. ..................... 24 Ed Cender, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta, .............. 26

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SERVICE NOTES

The power of crowdsourcing Using communications technology to get all of us on the same page would bring untold benefits to our industry.

By Allan Janssen

M

y 14-year-old daughter wonders why I don’t catch on to technology faster. She looks troubled when I am surprised by what she can do on a computer, or from the tiny little keypad of her phone.

“You can do that?” I ask, not even trying to conceal my amazement.

“Uh… yeah,” she says dryly, as though my ignorance is the only true wonder here.

My daughter and her young friends don’t realize that they’re caught up in a revolution of global communications that is still gaining speed as it transforms every aspect of our lives. Where it will take us remains to be seen… but it defies my 20th Century imagination.

I don’t use the word “revolution” lightly, by the way. I am stealing it from writer and media consultant Clay Shirky who says the Internet has birthed “the largest increase in expressive capability in human history.”

Revolutions in communications don’t come along very often. The printing press in the mid-1400s, the phone and the telegraph in the mid-1800s, recorded media in the late-1800s, and radio and television in the early 1900s.

Shirky points out that while these developments enhanced one-to-one communication and introduced one-tomany communication, the Internet has given us many-to-many communication.

And therein lies the revolution.

The idea of bringing many minds together to collectively solve a shared problem is exciting, astounding… and increasingly commonplace. “Crowdsourcing” is where we truly see the power of the Internet and its attendant technologies.

An issue like this – a reader’s issue, in which everything is contributed by you – is proof that we’re becoming a community that listens to each other, but

it is still an example of one-to-many communication. Even the Canadian Technician Forum, which hosts dozens of simultaneous discussions, is a primitive use of communication technology. It barely scratches the surface of what is possible.

Our next step, as an industry is to harness the true power of crowdsourcing to start a conversation, in real time, involving thousands of voices across vast distances. It will be more than just a matter of comparing notes. It will be solving problems, creating a library of answers, agreeing on a universal code of ethics, and establishing modern strategies to drive our industry forward. Imagine a wiki for the automotive aftermarket that grows smarter every time it is consulted.

It’s already started. Trainers like Carquest and ACDelco are offering classes in which students are direct participants no matter where in Canada – or the world – they happen to be. Services like iATN and Identifix have become staple resources for hundreds of thousands of technicians around the globe.

Young people, our newest workers, see the potential of crowdsourcing. I hear from them occasionally and they’re excited about the opportunities to resolve issues that we’ve been struggling with for decades – succession planning, inventory management, parts proliferation, customer-supplied parts, charging for diagnostic time, attracting new workers, establishing training standards, standardizing vehicle inspections. These could finally be properly addressed, agreed upon, and put to rest through a co-operative and sustained industrydirected project, they tell me.

“You can do that?” I ask, not even trying to hide my wonder.

“Uh... yeah!” they say.

Let me know what you think. You can reach me at allan@canadiantechnician.ca.

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LETTERS

VOLUME 17

NUMBER 5

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

INSPECTION TRAPS TO AVOID On the topic of safety inspections (Checkup Time, May 2012), I’ve had people who demanded I pass their vehicle because it had never given them any trouble in the past. I don’t even want to look at these cars because you know you’ll just be butting heads with the owner. Some people will try to slip you a few bucks under the table to pass their car. In cases like that I won’t look at it. I don’t want that resting on my shoulders. I’ve worked too hard to ruin my reputation and put other people’s lives in danger for a few extra bucks!

Grant Nikiwsky Member, CT Advisory Panel Grant’s Mobile Service Lloydminster, Sask.

In the article Check-up Time, mention is made of brake and fuel lines that were “very rusty but not leaking at time of inspection.” As far as the Ontario Ministry of Transportation is concerned, this is practically an admission of guilt if the vehicle were ever to come to their attention. Any heavy rust or flaking lines are considered a failed component and are required to be replaced. This is not a matter of opinion, I have had this discussion with MoT officers and while I may not fully agree, the Ministry will always have the final say.

Dwayne Pretty Member, CT Advisory Panel Minute Muffler & Brake Waterloo, ON

You have a valid point, Dwayne, but Ontario inspections are meant to be visual only. We’re not allowed to poke holes or really touch anything. When I sat in on the examination of the current safety rules as a focus group, the topic of rust was one of our biggest concerns. Unfortunately, budget limitations and staff cuts have put that stuff on the back burner. As to admitting guilt, well, any lawyer will tell you the ministry does not have the final say. It all depends on what the law actually says. What I was trying to get across was how important it is to cover your own ass! When doing inspections, remember, you’re dealing with your license, your reputation, and your livelihood.

—Jeff Taylor Your ethics question about a used-car inspection that came back to bite the shop (A Question of Ethics, April 2012) discusses a problem we see all the time. We have to remember that a used-car inspection is not a used-car warranty. It’s just a glimpse of the condition of the car at time of inspection. It is not a crystal ball into the future.

I always tell consumers to find a technician they can trust and stick with them. They will always treat you fairly and honestly.

Lloyd Darius Member, CT Advisory Panel Award Automotive Edmonton, Alta.

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.

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JUNE 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

7

LETTERS WHEEL LESSONS Glad to finally see an article that actually deals with the problem of wheels coming loose (Wheel Lessons, April 2012).

It’s an issue that has been tossed around for a long time but this is the first article I’ve seen that gets it right! The problem is caused by water and salt getting behind the aluminum rim, causing a chemical which creates aluminum oxide (rust).

This causes binding between the rim and the hub, resulting in an improperly seated rim. I would add two things. First, make sure to clean inside the depression in the centre of the rim where the hub fits, as this is where the binding occurs. Second, be sparing with the amount of anti-seize or grease you use on the wheel or hub.

Excess can be slung off while driving and collect on the brake rotors.

have never used anti-seize because it dries out on the rims. I have found premium high temperature lubricant sprays work well on the rim because they don’t dry out and can be applied evenly. Wheel studs should never be lubricated, only wire brushed clean. We also clean the hub surfaces, and paint them with a self-etching sealer primer to stop corrosion. Remember both surfaces must be cleaned. Both hub surfaces on rotors and drums receive this treatment. It is the professional treatment that we offer at our shop. Yes we do charge for this service and rarely get pushback from customers.

Finally, we only use torque sticks to centre the wheel. Final wheel nut torque is done by hand, and is documented on the inspection form.

D. Nowell Belleville Hyundai Cloyne, Ont.

Bob Ward Owner, Autoguys St.Thomas, Ont.

I read Ken Hart’s article on changing out wheels (Wheel Lessons, April 2012) and have to question the use of anti-seize on wheel nuts or studs. I’ve always been taught that wheel nuts were to be installed dry. At most, as Ford advises in a video released a couple of years ago, you might add a couple of drops of 30-weight motor oil between the nut and captive washer.

I agree with your theory on the galling of the threads. But even when rebuilding an engine, some OEMs recommend that the threads must be clean and dry. Personally, I will go with the manufacturer’s recommendations every time.

I do, however, agree that anti-seize should be used on the hub face. I also commend you on your cleaning of the inner rim face of rust/debris. I believe that if a calibrated torque wrench is used and the wheel nuts are torqued to the specs then the customer should have no issues removing the wheel nuts.

We just picked up a car that lost its front wheel. The tires had just been changed, and the surfaces were clean but all the lugs nuts broke. Most likely they were over torqued. I see this quite often running a towing company.

Great article on mounting tire and the importance of proper cleaning. I’m now retired and can no longer do government safety checks when a used car is sold.

When I tell the mechanic who is doing the inspection what the torque specs are, I sometimes get a weird look. I don’t think this is common knowledge in the industry anymore.

Harv’s Autobody Towing

—Anonymous

Harley Daresi Dave’s Auto Truck & Bike Milton, Ont.

Ken Hart made some good points about rim surfaces. Over the years I’ve always serviced the rims, both alloy and steel. I 8

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN JUNE 2012

EYE SPY

We’ve found great success with cleaning the wheels as described. We torque the wheels, road test, and then re-torque. Since we started doing this, we’ve had no more loose wheels. But I wonder about the health effects of the dust off the wheels and hubs, even with a dust mask.

Merrill Lidstone

Cleaning of both the rim face-to-hub contact area as well as the hub face is important to ensure a flat square mating surface with anti-seize on the hub face.

Then, if it is properly torqued, you will not have a loose-wheel problem.

Perry G. Carey Member, CT Advisory Panel MasterMechanic Grimsby, Ont.

Missing a piece of the puzzle

Chris Rice of Stormy’s Automotive Centre in Picton, Ont. was asked to find out why the air conditioning system in a 2007 Caliber wasn’t blowing cold air. One look at the compressor told the story. “The compressor actually came apart internally,” he says. “I shook out pieces of the bearing.”

Have an interesting picture to share? Email a high-resolution image to: allan@canadiantechnician.ca

2000

1965

Valvoline launches MaxLife®, the first motor oil for high mileage engines

Valvoline introduces the first & best selling racing oil of all time

1866 Dr. John Ellis invents motor oil

1939 Valvoline develops X-18, a single grade oil which could be used in place of 18 different specified automotive lubricants

1996 Valvoline launches DuraBlend™, the first synthetic blend motor oil

2012 Valvoline launches NextGen™, the first national branded recycled motor oil

Valvoline invented the engine oil category almost 150 years ago – and we haven’t stopped pushing new innovations since.

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Welcome to the Next Generation in motor oil.

Learn more about NextGen™ at NextGenMotorOil.ca © 2012, Ashland Inc. TM Trademark of Ashland or its subsidiaries in various countries.

LETTERS CLOSING UP SHOP Roger Sampson, owner of Sampson Transmission in Hamilton, Ont., and a member of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel, sent me a note recently regarding the closing of a local machine shop. He said it made him wonder about the future of his own niche in the market. I posted it online… where it provoked some interesting responses.

—Allan One of the shops I own is a starter and alternator rebuilding shop. We’re still alive and kicking, but now we only rebuild about 15% of what comes in the door – only the oldest units or the odd balls. The rest you can buy brand new for what we would charge to rebuild them. Engine rebuilding still has a market but it’s smaller and changing.

Transmission rebuilders are as healthy as ever for now, but businesses need to watch and they may have to diversify.

That’s evolution for you. Either change with the times or get kicked aside.

Dan Lazin Member, CT Advisory Panel Advanced Auto Cambridge, Ont.

Both of my transmission rebuilder friends have told me that business has decreased considerably in the last 10

years. People would rather buy a new car – or a gently used one – than spend the money it would take to rebuild their transmission. The most popular reason I have heard is “After I put all this money into it, what will be next to go?”

Matt Martel Member, CT Advisory Panel Lebrun Service Centre Ottawa, Ont.

I’ve been a shop owner for 28 years. At one point I had eight employees. Now I’m down to one and a half. I run a radiator, gas tank, heater, AC repair shop and we just can’t keep up with equipment, parts model, and tools.

Hubert Cormier Bouctouche Radiator Repair Bouctouche, N.B.

I’ve been in the transmission business for 35 years and I’ve seen a lot of change. But it hasn’t been all bad.Today’s transmissions are very complex devices, tied directly to onboard management systems that require great diagnostic skills. As Canada’s leader in transmission repair, we see a bright future for those that remain true specialists. And we have built a goodbetter-best model to satisfy a demanding market with financial concerns. That’s what our customers want.

Randy Moore President & CEO, Mister Transmission Richmond Hill, Ont.

EYE SPY Found the blockage!

Tony Jendruck of Athabasca, Alta. had a 1995 Chevy S Blazer in for a no-start. The customer had just installed new spark plugs as well as a muffler and tail pipe… and after that, it wouldn’t run. “After various checks, I found that he’d put a solid gasket where the exhaust bolts to the muffler!” Tony writes. “After I removed the piece, it ran. It still needed an EGR valve. If he’d just brought it to us in the first place he would have saved lots of money!”

Have an interesting picture to share? Email a high-resolution image to: allan@canadiantechnician.ca

10

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN JUNE 2012

Now, We Do It All!

Valvoline® now offers a full line of Valvoline Professional Series automotive service chemicals. With Valvoline Professional Series, you get a comprehensive line of professional-grade products, services and solutions all backed by industry leading marketing programs.

Valvoline Professional Series delivers maximum value to consumers and helps grow your bottom line. ©, 201Ó, Ashland Canada Corp.

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The RETURN of the electric car The future of transportation technology is being re-written… and eventually we’re going to see radically different vehicles pulling into our repair bays.

By Matt Armstrong

B

elieve it or not, there was a time when electric cars outnumbered fossil fuel burning vehicles on the road.

That was about a hundred years ago, and back then electric cars were preferred because their oil-drinking counterparts were noisy, smelly, and dirty. Nevertheless, those oil-drinking cars took over the roads, leaving the electric cars in the dust.

On the question of who killed the electric car (or at least forced it into a corner with a gun at its head), history is pretty clear. It was Henry Ford, who developed a revolutionary new assembly line that promised Tin Lizzys for everyone. And cheap too!

His modern manufacturing model was a game changer… and other entrepreneurs followed his lead in an attempt to milk the same cash cow. The internal combustion engine became the king of the road. And it has remained at the forefront of automotive technology ever since.

EYE SPY

But electrical power never really left our imaginations. We dreamed of cars that you could plug-in overnight and drive all day long. We longed for clean, cheap, renewable power in a world addicted to perpetual motion.

And lately the idea has re-emerged with visions of what could still be: transportation without the cost and guilt associated with oil-burning engines.

Modern technology has made an electric-powered car viable. And now it seems more likely than ever before that electricity will once again surpass gasoline as the primary source of energy for the vehicles on the road.

The technology is being driven by consumer demand for lower transportation costs and government mandates for zero emissions.

Automotive manufacturers, facing an evolve-or-die scenario, are desperately trying to perfect the design of their electric cars to capture the early lead in this revolution.

Watching the carmakers develop new eco-friendly products is a bit like watching your grandmother try to text a message on a smart phone. She knows

I think I found the vibration!

Brad Smith, of Mister Transmission in Guelph, Ont. offers this as exhibit A when you break a crankshaft in an all-pro modifed race at the local speedway. The transmission fell onto the track, and the car ran over it. “This is the way I received it and, of course, it was needed to race the following Saturday night!” he writes. “And, yes, we managed to bring it back to life.”

Have an interesting picture to share? Email a high-resolution image to: allan@canadiantechnician.ca

it can be done, but there are a lot of mistakes, false starts, and frustration.

Eventually she’ll catch on. And so will the carmakers.

They’re busy designing something that meets the profit demands of the company, the power demands of the muscle car enthusiast, and the environmental sensibilities of the tree hugger.

But the final hurdle will be transforming the public’s image of what a car should look and feel like.

I know it’s not really fun to jam down your right foot when a red light turns green – only to hear what reminds you of a carpenter’s drill. We want Dodge power not Dewalt precision.

Mercury might rather than Mikita muscle.

The Chevy Volt is a great start. It seats four and looks like something we’re use to getting into. Although the Volt still has a gas-burning engine, it runs mainly on battery power. Hey, thumbs up reducing dependency on gas! It’s better than pumping until the well runs dry but, boy oh boy, we have a long road ahead of us!

Another excellent example of outside-the-box electric cars is the Tesla Roadster. These little beauties go 400 clicks on a charge, and run the quarter mile in just over 12 seconds. Pretty damn impressive, considering what’s under the hood.

Maybe the first step toward universal acceptance for cars like this is accepting that they’re no longer going to sound like a space shuttle when they take off.

Quiet can be the new cool if we would just embrace it. Changing people’s minds takes time and some hard work but it will pay off.

“Build it and they will come.” It’s true not only of ghostly baseball diamonds but of modern cars.

Matt Armstrong is an automotive technician in Sussex Corner, New Brunswick.

JUNE 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

13

Vehicle inspections… and why we need ’em!

Getting death traps off provincial highways shouldn’t be seen as a money grab.

By Ken Hart

B

oy, have things ever changed!

I remember as an apprentice doing most oil changes on my back on a creeper. Jack the car up, put axle stands in place, lower the car, and then give it a good shake to see if it would fall off or move.Then you slide on under and get to work.

If you were lucky and there was a pit available, it was a good day. It was a lot easier using a pit than rolling around on a creeper!

I can’t remember how many transmissions I changed out using a floor jack and adapters, but I learned to get the job got done pretty fast.

Then there was the single-post car hoist that had train track on it. Back then the car or truck had a real frame on it and you could adjust the upright supports to engage the axles and frame. I don’t know how many times I cursed at that post in the floor, but it did the job.

Today we all have asymmetrical hoists… and what a wonderful device this has turned out to be! A technician can do any number of jobs on a vehicle

and really come out ahead.

I bring all of this up because in this industry we adapt to changes in technology. And one area that we really need to stay current with is the newer, safer way of inspecting vehicles. Not every province has mandated annual inspections. Far from it! But as an industry, we need to know what’s on the road, and how important it is to find the problems before the problems cause tragedies.

If you’re a professional mechanic and have served an apprenticeship under a good journeyman, you’ll be looking at most safety concerns when the customer’s vehicle comes in for an oil change.

Like many of you, I’ve been accused of going out of my way to find things wrong with a car. The impatient customer wants to know why I don’t “just do the oil change.”

My standard answer is that it’s part of my job to look for problems… and they should be glad for the service. It might just save their lives!

Here in British Columbia, we used to have annual vehicle inspections.

This was closed down and they put vehicle inspectors in nice cars and trucks and let them roam the highways and set up road blocks. This idea worked for a while but as we all know, police can only see the obvious problems: burned out lights and bald tires. Now they’re not even looking at cars anymore. They concentrate on heavy commercial trucks. They couldn’t stop a car if it were belching flames!

Too many provinces are in the same boat. And if governments say it is too expensive to hire provincial inspectors, I have a suggestion for them: let us do it!

Put the responsibility back in the hands of the private sector. We are, after all, journeyman mechanics. We know what to look for…and we’re pretty darned good at what we do.

Mandatory provincial inspections are not a money grab. They are a response to the kind of death traps that so frequently travel our busy highways.

Ken Hart is owner of Hartech Automotive in Kaslo, B.C. He is also a member of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel.

EYE SPY

Sharp pains Here are the crown and pinion gears from a 1998 Chevrolet 3/4-ton 4WD pick-up truck that limped into Desboro Garage Ltd., in Desboro, Ont. Owner Steve Schwartz said the truck was still driveable when it arrived and the driver said it only made noise occasionally… when turning sharply!

Have an interesting picture to share? Email a high-resolution image to: allan@canadiantechnician.ca

14

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN JUNE 2012

NO MORE CHIRPS, SQUEAKS & SQUEALS. (NOTE: SMALL ANIMALS WERE NOT HARMED IN THE PROCESS) Our import and domestic coverage continues to grow.

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Your sa importa Someone obviously got tired of the noise coming from this split muffler. But not only did this homemade repair not silence the muffler, but it reduced fuel efficiency and was a significant fire hazard!

Submitted by Shawn Evans, Village Ford, Dorchester, Ont.

Please let us ha

Can you imagine coming to a sudden stop in this truck?

No passenger side airbag in this custom-made dashboard!

Not only were the normal gauges missing, but below it the gas pedal was fastened with a piece of twine.

Submitted by J.P Desroch, J.P Service Centre, Midland, Ont.

The owner of this 2005 Sierra K2500 said he hit “a small rock” which led to some handling issues. His fix? Some nylon rope and a prayer. He drove 25 kilometers on the highway this way. At some point that vehicle could have been beside yours, traveling at 100 km-h!

Submitted by Jeff Ryan, Chalet GM, Kimberley, B.C.

The owner of this Sanoma found he had no clutch after doing some undercar work. He tried to save some cash by using a rubber hose and hose clamps instead of proper parts. Every time he depressed the clutch pedal, the hose would expand!

Submitted by Bill Plaster, Shearwater Auto, N.S.

This vehicle was a write-off after a serious accident, but that didn’t stop someone from trying to fix it up and put it back on the road. A “used airbag” was installed and the cover resealed, but it is a flagrant violation of safety rules!

Submitted by Rob Music, Access Automotive, Edmonton, Alta.

afety is ant to us

andle the repairs!

This 1995 Chevy blazer came in for its yearly safety inspection.

The customer was good enough to point out that he had done some exhaust repair work himself… just in case the technician didn’t notice. And, yes, that is a dryer duct.

Submitted by the technicians at Canadian Tire, Miramichi, N.B.

The owner of this 2001 Jetta did his own brake work but couldn’t stop the grinding noise. When he took it in to a repair shop, technicians found no pads on one side and a brake line plugged with a drywall screw.

Submitted by Doug Wright, Northern Import Auto Supply, Huntsville, Ont.

The blend motor for heat and defrost wasn’t functioning in this vehicle so the owner closed some vents and with duct tape and attached half a dozen tubes to the center vent to clear the windshield.

Submitted by Bart Slot, Bart’s Fastlane, Lindsay, Ont.

The owner of this 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee complained that whenever he set the cruise control, the car would just take off.

He neglected to mention that he’d performed a ‘quick fix’ so he wouldn’t have to replace the cruise control cable.

Submitted by Robin A. Lenney, Denham’s Crystal Chrysler, Ft. Saskatchewan, Alta.

This brand new starter literally exploded when a customer attempted to do his own wiring. Hard to say, but the technicians figure it hit about 30,000 RPM before disintegrating.

Submitted by Dan Lazin, Advanced Auto, Cambridge, Ont.

© CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

The cowboy way How can we be seen as professional when we behave like it’s the wild, wild west out there?

By Ron Nutini

I

n my last year of university, there was a mandatory course called “Professional Practice” which introduced engineering students like me to the notion of proper professional conduct.

This included learning a “Code of Ethics” which reflected the values of our industry.

One of the key points was learning how to assign a proper value to the services we provided. You had to know how to calculate the fee you charged, and you could not ignore that calculation simply to undercut another engineer.

I didn’t work as an engineer long enough for this to become an issue for me. From the age of 16, I’ve fixed cars, and with a shortage of engineering jobs in the mid-1980s, I decide to make auto repair my career. I bought my first business, and 18 years later I’m still at it.

I don’t miss engineering, but sometimes I wish we had a code of ethics that was respected in this trade.

“Professional Practice” is not on the curriculum during apprenticeship. The automotive repair business practice

EYE SPY

seems to operate like it’s the wild, wild west out there.

Mechanics are like cowboys. Shoot first and ask questions later. They’re very quick to say things like “That other guy doesn’t know what he is talking about” or “I can do it for half the money” or “You got ripped off at that other garage!”

There’s not a smidgen of professional courtesy.

On top of that, a lot of big chain retailers have gotten into the auto repair business and their focus is on selling parts, not in offering valuable diagnostic skills, or effective preventive maintenance. They did not help our status as professionals, with their “loss-leader” marketing schemes. Cheap oil changes, free brake inspections, free code reading.

Their idea was to get the customer in the door… and then make them pay.

In a bid to compete, independents started to adopt the same strategy. It was a race to the bottom.

Then came the 1980s, with the introduction of electronics into the mix.With dramatic advances in technology, auto repair suddenly became more complex, and vehicles become more reliable.There

No wonder it stopped working!

Steve Polhill, of Polhill Automotive in London, Ont. sent us this pic of an anti-corrosion module that succumbed to corrosion. “I had a good laugh while doing a winter service on a customer’s car. The power wire is corroded right off!” he wrote. The module is designed to negatively charge the vehicle body in order to stop the electrolysis that creates rust.

Have an interesting picture to share? Email a high-resolution image to: allan@canadiantechnician.ca

18

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN JUNE 2012

were fewer parts to sell, and repairs required more labour and brain power.

Diagnostic time increased.

The old business model no longer worked!

Now, mechanics require constant training, a wide assortment of expensive tools, and access to the latest technical information. Many previously simple operations now require sophisticated equipment and reset procedures. Repairs require bidirectional control of computer networks using a scan tool.

The proper diagnosis and repair of vehicles is a very expensive proposition.

But open any newspaper and what do you see? Lube oil and filter with 40point inspection for a ludicrously low price, free brake inspections, free diagnostic scans… all the same stuff we did 30 years ago!

For whatever reason, shop owners do not place enough value on the knowledge they have to offer. Too often they give it away for free.

True professionals do not give away their skill and expertise. It has a value and it must be presented to the world that way. That is how a professional image develops.

I believe mechanics will have to become more professional over the next decade. Our numbers are dwindling.

When you place an ad for a qualified technician, applications are few and far between. Not enough new talent is entering the industry.

Those who plan to stay in business need to start presenting themselves as true professionals who charge a fair fee for their professional service.We have to stop being cowboys and start acting like professionals with a rigid code of professional ethics.

The cowboys that are left will be shooting themselves in the foot.

Ron Nutini is owner of Nu-Tech Auto Repairs in Trail, B.C. He is also a member of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel.

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How we fixed what was broken A shop owner shares some of the steps he took to overhaul his business.

By Rick McMullin

I

’ve worked in the automotive industry long enough to have noticed many of the mistakes repair shops make – mine included!

As I take action to repair my business, I’m making a checklist that any shop owner can look at, kind of like a menu, so they can pick out items that might work for them. I’m up 39 steps now… and by the time you read it, I may have a few more.

They may not all work for you, but I know that all of them have helped improve my business in at least some small way.

Here are 18 steps you can take. If you want the full list, feel free to email me at ricratchet@aol.com.

1) Put your money where your mouth is. I have a very bold warranty: we offer customers 150% money back guarantee that their car is fixed. So when we say it’s fixed, we mean it! And, yes, we’ve had to pay it once or twice, but that only makes us more determined not to let it happen again!

2) Better lifts… and more of them. When lifts get old or are no longer suitable for the work we do, we put our techs at risk. We’ve shown our techs we care about their safety, as well as maintaining their productivity, by investing in new Rotary lifts with capacities up to 12,000-lb. No more floor-jacks and stands. All of our guys

can get a car in the air so they can fix it quickly and safely.

3) Constant cleaning. Image is everything so we keep the shop as clean as possible, inside and out.That includes picking up parking-lot trash, weeding our lawn and garden in the summer, sweeping, cleaning bathrooms, painting, mopping, and wiping down furniture. We wash the bays down regularly and have a fine system in place to dissuade employees from leaving messes behind them.

4) Offer delivery. When the car is done, we deliver it straight to the customer so they don’t have to come back. This is the ‘wow’ factor that really

JUNE 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

21

impresses our customers. We try to clean the interior of every car (at the very least it gets a good vacuuming) and we leave a gift on the front seat – cookies, candies, pens, calendars, mugs, cups, shopping bags, backpacks, whatever. We bring along a portable debit / credit card machine so we can take payment wherever they are. We have even met them at the soccer field or at a restaurant.

5) Stay in contact. We have a

monthly newsletter that lets our clientele know about our specials. We also include personal information about the staff – like who’s celebrating a wedding, birthday, or award – so they feel like they are getting to know us personally. They love to know what are my guard dogs are up to.

6) Educate and entertain. We have produced several YouTube videos that give customers an insight into how

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7) Be consistent. Our entire staff has a shop manual so they can refer to our procedures and policies and ensure that we are always consistent in the way we do something. Each employee has a checklist of what needs to be done and they are held accountable for them. The goal is to improve the work environment and our clients’ experience.

8) Be open to suggestions. We have a very casual environment at work where an employee can make any suggestion that might improve the business. Like, the other day, one of our techs asked if we could put up a sign in office to have clients find wheel lock keys for us so we don’t root through all of their personal belongings to find it. We got that sign up as soon as we could.

9) Pay for performance. Our technicians are paid handsomely but must guarantee their work. Paperwork is king and they know it. We expect detailed explanations of what was done, what parts were used, and what’s next for that vehicle. Their sign off means they stand behind the job.

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we do business and what makes us special.They’re fun and informative and very popular.

10) Recheck your work. Our clients are invited to bring their vehicles back so we can recheck our work – for free. Who does this anymore? We just want to be sure the vehicle is functioning properly. A recheck gives us a chance to find a developing problem before it becomes a costly inconvenience.

11) Look good! I supply uniforms for my employees, and there is a laundry service to keep them looking good.

Image is important, and in this business it’s too easy for shirts to get ripped or badly stained. We want our staff to always look clean and pressed!

12) Invest in ongoing training. We pay for outside training for any employee who wants to improve themselves both professionally and personally.We have a library of CDs and DVD courses, and they can take

Internet courses on a wide variety of subjects. We even have a clean, quiet place for them to study.

13) Offer vehicle management.

We have membership packages to help clients keep up on regular maintenance affordably. It also helps them stay organized when it comes to what’s been done on their vehicle.

14) Don’t over book. We only take so many clients in a day so that we can service them all properly. We only take so many oil changes and maintenance / repair bookings so we have room for some emergencies and break downs.We hate to see an oil change go over the allotted time and have someone upset and waiting.

15) Follow up. Every client gets a follow-up phone call after visiting us in which we find out how their visit went. Our customer service representative compiles all of the feedback and brings any concerns to management right away. The results of our phone surveys are filed in binders which are kept in the waiting area for others to review at any time. Clients also get a thank you card in the mail every time they come in.

16) Educate. We invite our women customers to spend an afternoon or evening with us each spring for a Ladies’ Car Care Clinic.They learn the basics of what makes their cars work, what makes them break, and how they should maintain them. It is very informal and a lot of fun, with food trays and gift bags.

We usually get a good crowd because we advertise it on television as well as in our own newsletter, which goes out to as may as 1,400 people.

17) Reward for loyalty. We offer rebate programs and gives reward points to our regular clients. They can check our web site to find out how many points they’ve accumulated and what they will be receiving from us. They have told me it makes them feel appreciated.

18) Appreciate your staff. We recognize that the business is built on our people and, just as we reward our

customers, we reward our staff for their accomplishments and extraordinary effort. It’s nice to take them out for wings or surprise them with a little gift.

We take the time to coach them, and part of our mentoring program is acknowledging their progress.

I am fixing every day. I was at a seminar one time where someone pointed out that the fences at Disney World are painted every night. It really made me think about what fences I

need to paint in my business – and need to continue painting – to keep impressing my clients!

I can tell you we are far, far from perfect. There’s always a new snag to work out but we’re always working on improving our customer’s experience.

And we’ll never rest on our laurels!

Rick McMullin is owner of Ricky Ratchets Auto Repair in London, Ont.You can reach him at ricratchet@aol.com.

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23

The case for mandatory certification We have to evolve with the vehicles we service… or lose the confidence of our customers.

By Allan Haberman

T

here are voluntary trades and there are compulsory trades.

In order to work in a voluntary trade, you do not have to have a certificate of qualification.

You can earn one by completing a test or series of tests, and it will verify that you have the ability to complete the tasks of the trade. But you don’t have to have one.

In order to work in a compulsory trade, on the other hand, you must have a valid certificate of qualification, or else be registered in an apprenticeship program.

Each province is responsible for trade certification, and on their websites, you’ll find a list of voluntary trades and compulsory trades.

In most provinces,Automotive Service Technician is on the voluntary list. That may be because provincial governments want to encourage more people to enter the trade. They’re trying to lower the barriers to entry. And since there is a shortage of qualified technicians in most provinces, that may seem like a good idea.

But if the people entering the trade

EYE SPY

have no experience or training, how do they become qualified? And if certification is not the benchmark for gauging a technician’s ability, how do we determine when a technician is qualified to do the kind of safety-related repairs that are the bread and butter of our businesses? More importantly, without a set of standardized tests, who makes that determination and on what is it based?

In the United States, a voluntary system of tests is available through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The general consensus is that this system is not as comprehensive as the Canadian apprenticeship program… but at least it’s a consistent across the nation. An argument could be made for adopting this system in Canada – particularly in provinces that don’t have compulsory certification. At least then we’d to have a standard skill assessment across the country.

Furthermore, this would allow the trade to regulate itself without government involvement. A standardized skill level would help to promote a more professional image for the trade. It would

Wired up… all wrong!

Michael Hoffman, of Automotive Brake Renew in Kelowna, B.C., sent in this wiring mess. This vehicle was equipped with 9004 bulbs but the connector was melted. So someone decided to install 9007 bulbs instead. In order to do it, they had to cut the wiring, splice it, and jam it through holes drilled into the side of the bulb. The wires were then twisted onto the terminals and the old harness end connector was jammed on to hold the wires in place. After all that, the mount flange in the headlight lens melted! “It’s interesting how much time someone spent to do a poor job!” Michael points out. “It would have been quicker and cheaper to do it right the first time!”

Have an interesting picture to share? Email a high-resolution image to: allan@canadiantechnician.ca

24

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN JUNE 2012

also give consumers confidence that the person servicing their vehicle is qualified to do so. Like ASE certification, we could even offer training in different service areas. Techs would have the opportunity to become certified in a specific area if they prefer to specialize.

But why is there so much talk these days about adopting mandatory certification if the trade has operated without it for nearly a century? Because times are changing… and fast!

Everyone knows that the use of electronics has grown significantly on vehicles. Even a simple oil-and-filter service may require a maintenance reminder reset procedure. And you can’t even start on some procedures without access to an information system and detailed wiring diagrams.

Repair work is too important to society – and too potentially dangerous – to leave to people who don’t have proper training. Anyone working in the automotive trade today needs to have a good understanding of mechanics, electronics, and electrical systems. They have to understand how electronics interacts with mechanical systems in order to avoid misdiagnoses and unnecessary cost to consumers.

Vehicle manufacturers are always adding new bells and whistles to their products… it is time that we add a new component to our training and certification routine. We have to evolve with the vehicle we service.

Perhaps the time is coming when Automotive Service Technician will be a degree program rather than a vocational one.

Perhaps that time is already here and we have yet to recognize it.

Allan Haberman is with Blue StreakHygrade Motor Products in Winnipeg, Man. He is also a member of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel.

On strike… for a better industry!

Our trade is a tough one.

We need to stick together to make it better

By Harold O’Connor

A

lot has been said about classes… and some teachers have had to negativity in the industry start looking for new jobs! recently. Personally, I think It’s tough for all of us, which makes there has been friction me wonder why owners and managers between technicians and owners in our don’t do more to make sure their industry for a long time.And maybe employees are happy. that’s understandable. This industry is I have worked in a lot of places and the most expensive trade for the seen how different owners operate. employee. What other industry requires Some of them do a great job of employee have to fork out balancing their own up to $40,000 to buy the interests and the interest of tools he will need to do their techs. Others are really the job? bad, and it just makes me What other industry shake my head. expects employees to We talk about customer upgrade, replace, and service management… repair those tools at their what about employee own expense for as long as relationship management? they’re in the job?

I think everyone should What other industry sit down and take a hard expects employees to look at how they are participate in training at running their shop, and how night and on weekends, they are treating their staff. without compensation?

I heard that this industry Shop owners have it did strike once in the tough too. In many cities, 1960s. The strike lasted all there are simply way too of one day, but all hell broke many repair shops. Where loose, right across Canada.

I work there are at least six Is this what we need to shops in the same square do again? A full-blown block. Competition is A story in the Modesto (Cali- strike of technicians from fornia) Bee from June 17, fierce. coast to coast to coast, to In 2008, when the 1955 tells of mechanics fight wake up our government economy took a for a wage increase of about about the importance of downturn, GM and $0.24 an hour for a whopping this industry? To wake up Chrysler sought govern- total of $2.64 an hour. consumers about how ment money to keep much they need us? To them afloat. A lot of dealerships closed. wake up shop owners about how much Here in Ottawa, GM shut down five they rely on their staff? dealerships (including one that I used to I’m a big defender of this trade and worked at). Another dealership lost its always will be, but unfortunately some medium duty truck line. There were players are like a cancer.The only way for just no buyers at the time. change is for all of us, across the country, And they’re finding it harder and to stick together and demand change. harder to find technicians. Colleges have had troubles filling their Harold O’Connor is with Charles Auto automotive apprenticeship classes. They Care in Ottawa, Ont. He is also a member were looking for students for their fall of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel.

JUNE 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

25

Why I love – and hate – this job When it comes to automotive repair, you have to take the good with the bad. But for me, it’s mostly good.

By Scott Faris

I

love my job!

That’s the attitude I try to bring to work every single day. And I can usually maintain that attitude all day long.

Here’s why:

1. Every day I have a chance to be a hero in someone’s life… and that’s a great feeling!

2. The job brings a wide variety of challenges – both physical and mental – that keep me to top of my game. As a flat-rate technician, I’m never bored.

Every job is different, and every problem has a unique solution.

3. I enjoy offering good customer service. Every job I do gives me a chance to win the customer over – and satisfied customers will request me the next time they’re in… and that gives me more revenue.

4. I get the chance to influence young apprentices and co-op students. I love their enthusiasm, and their eagerness to learn. I tell them what a great career this can be.

5. I like the freedom and career stability I have. If I need extra income I can stay late or work extra shifts. If I have personal errands to run or want to attend a course, I can leave early.

And when the time comes, I can pick up and find a new job elsewhere because technicians are in high demand. The shop may go under, but my toolbox is on wheels and I can always find new employment.

I’m not saying it’s all a bed of roses.

Even with all those positives, there are some negatives... and here are some of them: 1. Moonlighters! They hurt the industry, and take work away from legitimate shops. I won’t do anything outside of work. If someone asks me to work on their car, I tell them to see me at the shop during normal work hours.

My off time is for me and my family… and I think people should be able to respect that. I work hard and need the rest so I can keep working hard.

2. Employers who don’t invest in their future. Training and equipment costs money, but it’s a wise investment,

EYE SPY That’s what I call ‘tight steering!’

A customer at Fort Gasland Hart Transmission in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta, complained that the steering was not right in his Chevy Tahoe. Turns out he’d gotten a bungie cord wrapped around the steering column and it was pulled tighter and tighter with every turn. “We had a good laugh at this one,” says owner Ed Cender. “Never in my 23 years as a mechanic have I seen this before!”

Have an interesting picture to share? Email a high-resolution image to: allan@canadiantechnician.ca

26

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN JUNE 2012

because good technician won’t stay where they can’t upgrade their skills or do proper procedures. I’ll do my part by volunteering my time to go to courses after hours if necessary. I’ll learn how to use the equipment properly. But I need to know that management sees the value of keeping up with the times.

3. The complainers. There is a lot of negativity in this trade.Technicians who are always complaining tend to burn out and disappear but while they’re around the make life unpleasant for the rest of us. Nothing is ever their fault.

They blame everything on the boss, or the customer, or the parts. It is tiresome to listen to!

4. Inadequate service advisers.

They’re on the front line and represent the shop more than any one else. They really have to know what they’re doing because a poor adviser can make us look unprofessional.

5. People who give stuff away for free! Shop owners and managers have to charge properly for diagnosis and research time. If we give it away, we’re telling people that our skills are not valuable. Plumbers don’t work for free.

Lawyers don’t work for free. Why should we? If I work for eight hours diagnosing a bus issue, we need to charge for all eight hours. My boss will tell me all he can “get away with” is four hours. Do I feel appreciated after that? No! And he’s giving away his most valuable commodity – my knowledge. It drives me crazy!

Even with all its faults, though, I still enjoy going to work every morning. I love this career and I wish more techs would say the same. They’d help convince the next generation of technicians that they’re in a great industry.

Scott Faris works at Canadian Tire in Kemptville, Ont. He is also a member of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel.

What schools need to learn Getting more skilled workers into the field starts with fixing a broken education system! By Al Mantyla

D

uring a recent board meeting at our local community college, I was listening to the dean talk about the challenges involved in grooming the hearts and minds of the young people about to enter the automotive repair and service trade.

What an eye opener! Many misguided ideas were presented, and there was a lot of misinformation about our trade!

Don’t get me wrong. We need the colleges to teach the things that shop owners may not have the time (or the ability) to teach to the apprentices under their wings.

But it was clear that some people at the college level don’t have a clear idea of how our industry works, or what the true challenges are of staffing an automotive repair and service shop.

And that goes double for government! Not too long ago, I was at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in which a prominent provincial politician talked about the apprenticeship program in Northern Ontario. His point was that we should open the doors for trades so our young people do not have to leave town for a job or we don’t have to import personnel from other countries to fill positions that trueblooded Canadians can do well.

This guy needs new advisors! The door is always open to potential new tradesman… not just in the auto repair field, but in almost any industry. The problem is not closed doors. It’s closed minds!Young people are not being directed into the skilled trades.

Everyone wants a white-collar job. And our education system does not provide any incentives or guidance to enter the trades.

Very few high schools still teach automotive shop. What technical courses that are offered are often so broad that it covers everything from building a birdhouse to welding a bike rack to sanding the hull of a boat.That is no way to nurture the interests of students in a particular craft!

All is not lost, because a lot of the high schools have co-op programs that let students gain experience at local businesses in the field they’d like to pursue. Many of the students I helped through their apprenticeships entered the trade because I was able to fan the flames of their interest in automotive repair work.

This alone shows that teaching skilled trades in high school will produce tradesmen.

As an industry we should work with educators and government to create an education system that truly works. If we speak with one voice we should be able to convince them that we’ll have as many skilled workers as our economy needs if we start reforming our education system.

Just like a professional athlete, today’s shop owner needs a coach.

Running a small business is far too challenging to do on your own.

With over 20 years of experience in this industry, I have learned that the average shop is getting only a third to a half of the sales they should have with their current number of technicians.

Let me help you put systems in place to: ■ increase your salary ■ increase your sales and profit ■ reduce your stress.

Success is planned… it’s not an accident!

Contact me at kelly@ kellythecoach.com or 1-877-645-9672

Kelly Bennett Certified management trainer and author of Management S.O.S

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Now you can listen to it on your computer or MP3 player, whether you’re in your car on the way to work, in your office, or under the hood of a car.

Check it out! www.canadiantechnician.ca/media.cfm

Al Mantyla owns Mike Heino Auto Repair in Sudbury, Ont. He is also a member of the Canadian Technician Advisory Panel.

JUNE 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

27

continued from page 30

Basil looked concerned. “No doubt it traces back to Calhoun’s. I’ve been hearing the same kind of thing. Normally I’d recommend staying out of another man’s business, but this could affect everyone.” He looked over at me. “You think it’s time for a meeting?”

I knew exactly what he was talking about. All the local shops worked together and we sometimes got together to pool our training money. I respected all my competitors but more importantly, they were all decent guys who treated their customers well.

“I’m going to call the gang together,” I said. “There must be something we can do.”

The meeting at Rolph’s Diner that evening was wellattended. Everyone was there, including Spoke Lee from the alignment shop, Rusty Knuckles from the transmission shop, Jimmy “Oil Pan” Simmons, and Dieter too. Even Dutchy the tow truck driver was there. “Ja, I towed a customer to that Corral place with a flat tire, and the next thing I know, she needs a $500 brake job!”

“It gets worse,” said Spoke. “One guy I know was told he needed a new battery and a new starter. He’d been hearing things about the Car Corral, so before he had the work done, he crawled under his vehicle and marked the starter with a pen. When he got the car back later, he still had the original starter, even though he’d paid for a new one!”

“No wonder Rover’s been making calls!” said Oil Pan.“Last thing we need in town is a hidden camera investigation that makes us all look like crooks.We gotta talk to this new guy!”

A chorus of growls and nasty comments filled the room.

I tapped my glass for attention. “Okay, here’s the plan.

Dieter and I will go and talk to this Calhoun character at noon tomorrow. We can’t prove anything, but we can tell him what we’re hearing, and that we don’t appreciate how it makes the rest of us look.”

The next day, Dieter and I drove out to the industrial area.

When we got to Calhoun’s Car Corral we found the parking lot full of cars and angry people. Rover was there, talking to anyone with an angry look on their face. Even the local police were trying to keep order. The shop itself, though, was dark and all the doors were locked tight. Apparently things had gotten hot for Calhoun, and he’d left town during the night.

His technicians were out of a job, and under the glare of some angry customers.

I looked at Dieter. “Well, I guess our problem is solved.”

“Yeah, for now. But you know there’s gonna be a next time. All it takes is one bad apple to spoil the strudel.” He sighed. “I wonder which town he’s heading for next. I’d like to warn them.”

We’ll never know. All we can do is keep our own backyard clean. No one else is going to do it for us.

Rick Cogbill is a freelance writer and former shop owner from Summerland, B.C. To read more about Slim and the gang, order Rick’s book, “A Fine Day For A Drive” at www.thecarside.com.

ADVERTISER INDEX Auto Value.........................................20 Contact Local Representative Bars Products – Rislone.....................10 www.rislone.ca Beck/Arnley ......................................22 www.beckarnley.com 1-888-464-2325 Blue Streak-Hygrade ............................3 www.bluestreak.ca Cardone Industries ............................12 www.cardone.com Goodyear ...........................................15 www.goodyearep.com 888-275-4397 Honeywell – Fram ..............................31 www.fram.com Matco Tools.......................................19 www.matcotools.com 866-289-8665 NAPA...................................................6 www.napaonlinecanada.com 866-GET-NAPA Pennzoil ..........................................4, 5 www.pennzoil.com 1-800-263-6200

Ross-Tech

Ross-Tech ..........................................25 www.ross-tech.com Rotary Lift .........................................23 www.rotarylift.com 1-800-640-5438 Shell .................................................28 www.shell.ca Snap-On Tools of Canada .....................2 www.snapon.com 1-800-734-2676 Valvoline........................................9, 11 www.valvoline.com 1-800-TEAM-VAL

WORLDPAC

WorldPac...........................................32 www.worldpac.ca 800-463-8749

JUNE 2012 CANADIAN TECHNICIAN

29

The Car Side

By Rick Cogbill

Showdown at the Hokey Corral A new shop is raising eyebrows – and suspicions – in Slumberland!

“What a relief,” said Buck Pincher, draining the last dregs of his coffee. “Only a loose spark plug wire, you say?”

“Yes,” I replied.“So tell me again when you first noticed the rough running problem?”

He coughed and shuffled his feet. “Uh, might have been yesterday… right after the oil change.”

I frowned; we hadn’t serviced Buck’s car for months. “Hold it – don’t tell me you went to those new guys!” Calhoun’s Car Corral had only been in town for six months, and they had been offering free oil changes to first-time customers.

Buck shrugged. “Hey, you know me – I can’t turn down a freebie.”

I knew that to be true. “So… you picked up your car and it was running rough.Then what?”

Buck’s face clouded over. “I went right back, that’s what.

They checked it out and told me I needed a head gasket job.

So then I came here.” Buck put one of the sugar packets from my coffee table into his pocket. “Glad I did too,” he said. “It surely saved me some dough-ray-me!”

I was still mulling his story over in my mind when Rover Dangerphrase called from the local paper. I knew this reporter.

He was something of a pit bull when it came to consumer advocacy.

“What can I do for you, Rover?” I asked.

“Well, Slim. I’d like to come over a little later and talk about something. I’ve been hearing from people lately, and I think we might have a little problem in town.”

“Be happy to help,” I said. “Wanna give me an idea what this is all about?”

“We’ll talk,” he said. “By the way, spark plug wires… are

they known to burn out easily?”

“Depends,” I said, uneasily. “Like you said, we’ll talk. Come on over anytime.”

I had a sinking feeling that I wasn’t going to enjoy the conversation. And that feeling only intensified later on when I dropped in at Herkle’s Auto Parts. Dieter, from Dieter’s Imports, was there, having a heated conversation with Herk.

When they saw me, Dieter said, “Say Slim, have you heard anything about that new guy in town?”

I paused. “Calhoun’s? Maybe.Why do you ask?”

Dieter shrugged. “Might be nothing, but I had a customer come by the other day with a bad misfire. She said she’d been to Calhoun’s for a service, and noticed it as soon as she picked up her car.”

“Let me guess; a spark plug wire off?”

He eyed me suspiciously. “Yeah, how did you know?”

I told him about Buck Pincher. “You don’t think they’re doing it on purpose, do you?”

“Hate to think so,” said Herk. “But I’ve been hearing stuff from other shops, and it ain’t good. Word on the street is that people in town are starting to talk. Been a rash of suspicious diagnoses coming of Calhoun’s bays.”

On the following Monday morning, Tooner arrived for work agitated and upset. “Somethin’ smells over at Calhoun’s Car Corral, and it ain’t just exhaust fumes.”

Basil looked up from his playing cards. “Why do you say that?”

Tooner poured himself a coffee. “I was gettin’ my hair cut at Baldy’s, and a couple of locals were complaining ’bout how the mechanics in town are acting sleazy.” continued on page 29

30

CANADIAN TECHNICIAN JUNE 2012

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