Service Station & Garage Management June 2013

SSGM Service Station and Garage Management READ BY AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP OWNERS AND TECHNICIANS SINCE 1955

JUNE 2013

Giving Shops a Fees Going Up

LIFT

The Internet and the Aftermarket www.ssgm.com

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SSGM what’s inside June 2013

Vol. 42 No. 5

Service Station and Garage Management

EDITOR Tom Venetis (416) 510-6790 tom@ssgm.com TECHNICAL EDITOR Jim Anderton jim@ssgm.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Nestor Gula, Andrew Brooks, Noelle Stapinsky PUBLISHER Marc Gadbois (416) 510-6776 marc@ssgm.com SALES MANAGER Jay Armstrong (416) 510-6745 ACCOUNT MANAGER Jim Petsis (416) 510-6842 CIRCULATION MANAGER Selina Rahaman (416) 442-5600 ext 3528 srahaman@bizinfogroup.ca SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Roshni Thava (416) 442-5600 ext 3555 ART DIRECTOR Ron Taylor

See Page 12

PRODUCTION MANAGER Steve Hofmann (416) 510-6757

See Page 16

PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER Phyllis Wright

Hanging Tough Spark plugs, O2 sensors are better built to last in today’s engines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

VICE PRESIDENT CANADIAN PUBLISHING Alex Papanou PRESIDENT BUSINESS INFORMATION GROUP Bruce Creighton

Giving Shops a Lift Lifts are getting more flexible, faster to improve shop efficiencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE

TACT Team Management Being a good manager starts with managing yourself. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

The Aftermarket and the Internet Online searches influencing how people decide on aftermaket services and parts. . . . . . . 26

Money Matters License fee hike has many asking questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Departments Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Technical Tip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Baywatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Internet Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

*For BlackBerrys: Go to your BlackBerry messenger and select Scan Barcode. *For iPhones: Use the App Store to download Beetagg Reader Pro.

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“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.”

In association with CANADIAN

AUTOMOTIVE Technician

HEAD OFFICE Business Information Group 80 Valleybrook Drive Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Contact us via one of the following methods: Telephone: 416-442-5600 Facsimile: 416-510-5169 Website: www.ssgm.com Service Station and Garage Management is published

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13-06-13 7:02 AM

|| Tom’s Editorial

Why the surge in car sales?

I

By Tom Venetis, Editor

It is to be expected that after a prolonged downturn there will be pent-up demand for new vehicles. It is too early to say, however, if the sales increases are a true upward trend or something that will end at the next sign of economic uncertainty.

f you have been keeping up with the news, you know automotive sales in Canada rebounded. According to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, light vehicle sales in Canada came to 185,040, up 5.3 per cent from last May. Year-to-date sales were up 2.4 per cent to 712,059, compared to last year.

Many car makers also reported strong sales, with Ford Motor Company of Canada selling 0.5 per cent more than it did in May. Chrysler, GM Canada and Toyota Canada also experienced stronger sales.

Some commentators suggest this is a sign the economy is turning around, that many who had held onto their older vehicles longer than they might normally have done because of the economic downturn are now in the market for new vehicles because things are starting to improve economically.

I believe all this misses what is really going on. The evidence for a turn-around in the economy is mixed. While companies may be posting higher profits in some sectors, job figures show a stubborn resistance to decline. We are well into a jobless recovery, where companies have simply found ways of operating with smaller staffs and outsourcing major parts of their operations in order to maximize profits.

Household spending is also down. While consumer confidence may be up in some studies, other metrics show Canadians are holding off taking on more household debt, reigning in the use of credit cards and home lines of credit.

What is likely going on is the major car makers are becoming more aggressive in both pricing and financing in regards to new vehicle sales. New vehicle prices have remained steady or dropped somewhat. Many dealers are offering significant discounts to entice buyers, or a range free vehicle upgrade packages.

Of more significance is the new leasing and financing options. Where financing or leasing options had a limited time frame, anywhere between three to five years maximum, I’ve seen financing options now extending the payments over seven or more years. Such an option puts a vehicle in the range of more people who now find the payments more affordable.

What does this mean for our industry? It is to be expected that after a prolonged downturn there will be pent-up demand for new vehicles. It is too early to say, however, if the sales increases are a true upward trend or something that will end at the next sign of economic uncertainty.

Most other studies looking at vehicle ownership have shown people are holding onto vehicles longer and first-time vehicle buyers are open to owning a pre-owned vehicle rather than buying a new one, so the signs are still good for the aftermarket, as I doubt new car sales will return to the levels seen before this economic downturn.

What do you think?

Have your say and speak your mind! letterstotheeditor@ssgm.com 6 SSGM June 2013

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13-06-12 1:36 PM

|| News Briefs Epicor Eagle for the Aftermarket

Epicor Software announced several timesaving new pricing, inventory control, point of sale (POS), and other capabilities are now available through Epicor Eagle for the Aftermarket software, a leading business management solution for single- and multi-store automotive parts businesses.

Epicor Eagle for the Aftermarket now features a “Pricing Store” that enables users to automatically import and manage supplier pricing files before putting them into effect. Users also can now quickly apply range and step pricing formulas to specific classes of products to enhance margin performance.

An additional new feature enables counter professionals to immediately check vendor pricing and availability for non-stocked parts within the Epicor LaserCat 3 eCatalog interface rather than having to return to the POS screen to launch a warehouse inquiry.

“Each new version of Eagle for the Aftermarket software incorporates the latest business-building tools identified by our extensive network of users,” said Steve Bieszczat, senior vice-president, automotive and marketing, retail distribution solutions for Epicor. “This approach, which has made Eagle software a premier store solution for aftermarket businesses, helps our customers quickly and easily implement industry best practices for increased sales and improved efficiency, profitability and customer loyalty.”

Other new features and capabilities now available through Epicor Eagle for the Aftermarket software include: • Ability to accept store transfers while maintaining backorder status on unfulfilled quantities • RF picking via Eagle Mobile technology • Cash drawer “soft lock” for improved till management • Ability to add back-office notes via POS Received on Account Epicor Eagle for the Aftermarket software now also includes the latest version of Epicor Compass Analytics, which offers faster page loads and queries, additional reporting fields and an array of other enhanced capabilities.

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Identifix Founder Receives Lifetime Service Award

Bill Sauer, AAM, founder of Identifix, was honored with a special Lifetime Service Award by the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) at its annual meeting and convention last month. The association of nearly 650 independently-owned collision repair, automotive service and industry supplier businesses is dedicated to improving the state’s automotive service industry and success of its members.

The AASP-MN recognized Sauer, who started the vehicle diagnostics company 26 years ago, for his many years as a volunteer and supporter of the automotive community. He currently serves on the organization’s Education & Training Committee and is also a member of the Automotive Training Managers Council and the Automotive Service Association.

Bill is a former board member of the Automotive Management Institute and has served on numerous tech school advisory boards, including Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN where he remains an active member.

“Bill Sauer is loved by virtually everyone in this industry, and especially by his friends at AASP-MN,” said AASP-MN executive director Judell Anderson during a special dedication ceremony. “Between the experts at Identifix and his connections with others in the industry, Bill has been an invaluable resource to AASP-MN when it comes to delivering quality training to our members.”

University Students Showcase Canada’s Automotive Innovation Success

Wondering what the next automotive technology will be? What materials will make your car safer? Student researchers with the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence are working on this and more as they help to advance Canada’s automotive landscape. A University of Toronto team was nationally recognized at the annual AUTO21 Conference in Toronto, Ontario for their contribution to Canadian automotive research and development.

The team was awarded first place in the Toyota Canada-AUTO21 HQP Poster Competition, taking home a $4,500 prize. The competition is open to student researchers within the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence program. Nearly 60 teams took part in the competition.

“Toyota is pleased to support the HQP Poster Competition as it recognizes the next generation of leaders in automotive engineering,” said Sandy Di Felice, director of external affairs, Toyota Canada Inc. “Working with AUTO21 allows Toyota insight into the collaborative research project opportunities that advance Canada’s contribution to the domestic and global auto industry.”

The University of Toronto team contributes to the Mitigating GDI Particulate Emissions Through Ethanol Blends project, under the supervision of Dr. James Wallace. Team members include Phillip Mireault and Manuel Ramos.

“Our Highly Qualified People (HQP) or student researchers are among some of Canada’s top minds and future leaders,” said Dr. Peter Frise, AUTO21 scientific director and CEO. “Working on collaborative projects with industry, each student demonstrates cutting-edge knowledge and expertise as they contribute to a sustainable automotive industry for Canada.”

The annual HQP Poster Competition boasts a total prize purse of approximately $15,000. Sixteen semifinalist teams are selected from the initial pool of entrants, with each team member receiving a $50 bookstore voucher. The semi-finalists provide an oral defence of their research poster.

Final winners are selected upon this evaluation. The winners receive a cash prize to be divided amongst the team members. Judges include senior industry, government and R&D experts.

KYB: Vendor Of The Year For Order Fill

Federated Auto Parts recently awarded KYB Americas as the “2012 Co-Man Vendor of the Year for Order Fill” at Federated’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. www.ssgm.com

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|| News Briefs “While all of our Co-Man vendors do an excellent job supporting the program, KYB really understands the importance of order fill to the overall success of our Co-Man operation,” said Rusty Bishop, CEO of Federated Auto Parts. “KYB is a long-time Co-Man supplier and, because they consistently go over and above to deliver results, we are pleased to recognize them as the Federated Co-Man Vendor of the Year for Order Fill.”

“KYB is delighted to be recognized

by Federated Co-Man as their 2012 Vendor of the Year for order fill. As a group, we are constantly striving to improve our inventory and operational procedures to better serve our channel partners,” commented KYB vice-president Mike Fiorito. “This award highlights the hard work and effort of the entire KYB Team. We are very proud to be acknowledged with this honor”

Delphi Product & Service Solutions Announces 2013 Dream Shop Sweepstakes

Delphi Product & Service Solutions launched its annual Delphi Dream Shop Sweepstakes in the U.S. and Canada. For the grand prize, Delphi will equip one lucky professional automotive technician with Delphi parts, tools, equipment, supplies and training. Hundreds of other prizes will be awarded monthly, weekly and instantly.

The winning technician can use the grand prize to upgrade his existing workspace or build his ultimate Dream Shop. Technicians can register at the dedicated Delphi Dream Shop website (delphidreamshop.com) or, new for 2013, through Delphi’s Facebook page (facebook.com/DelphiAutoParts). The grand prize winner will be introduced this November at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas.

“In its third year, the Delphi Dream Shop continues to receive an enthusiastic response from technicians,” said Lúcia Veiga Moretti, president, Delphi Product & Service Solutions. “This year it is even easier to enter and follow the contest with the addition of Delphi’s Facebook page, which many are already using – along with Twitter 10 SSGM June 2013

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and YouTube – to learn about Delphi products and to diagnose, service and repair vehicles of today and the future.”

The Delphi Dream Shop sweepstakes includes electronic equipment needed to service the increasingly complex vehicle electronics found on-vehicle, including Delphi’s new AutoIQ diagnostic kit with Wi-Fi-enabled tablet and a high-performance laptop with shop management software. It also includes earth-friendly shop equipment like an A/C recovery machine, gas caddy system and fuel system tester.

Other prizes include shop essentials such as mechanic tools, air tools and compressor, a heavy-duty lift, transmission jack, two-ton service jack, engine lift, battery charger and tester and brake lathe.

In addition, the grand prize winner will receive Delphi parts from its fuel, engine management, heating and cooling, and Diesel product portfolio.

Delphi will also include comprehensive training from its award-winning program, as well as a subscription to Delphi’s RepairPoint, to provide further online diagnostic support.

Since being chosen as the 2012 Delphi Dream Shop grand prize winner, Ryan Mullin from Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada, has had fun taking delivery of his prizes. “I’m still pinching myself. I didn’t think I had a chance to win, but you can’t win if you don’t enter,” said Ryan.

Gates Receives Four NCMA Awards

Gates was honored to be the recipient of four National Catalog Managers Association (NCMA) Awards at the 40th annual Knowledge Exchange Conference in Saint Louis, Mo. NCMA, the only professional organization dedicated to automotive aftermarket catalog managers, recognizes the very best in electronic catalog data, content and design.

Gates received three “Best in Class” awards for its automotive catalog data presented by national auto parts distributors: • President’s Award for “Best in Class” Electronic Data Excellence – Presented by CARQUEST

• President’s Award for “Best in Class” Electronic Data Excellence – Presented by Genuine Parts Company/ NAPA • President’s Award for “Best in Class” Electronic Data Excellence – Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Gates also received the President’s Award for Paper Catalog Excellence – Silver Level – for its recently released 2013 Fleet & Heavy Duty Applications Catalog.

CARQUEST Announces 2012 Supplier of the Year

At its 2013 Supplier Summit, CARQUEST Auto Parts presented East Penn Manufacturing with the 2012 Larry McCurdy Supplier of the Year Award. The annual award is presented each year in memory of Larry McCurdy, an industry leader and former board member of General Parts International, Inc. McCurdy passed away in 2010.

CARQUEST’s Supplier of the Year Award was created in 1992 to recognize a supplier’s contribution to CARQUEST’s success through quality products and outstanding marketing support. Each supplier is evaluated on several key areas: Quality; Driving Sales; Providing the Right Product, Right Place, Right Time and Delivery of Unparalleled Customer Service Experience.

“Each year East Penn Manufacturing is tops in their class,” said Ken Bush, CARQUEST senior vice-president, Merchandising and Marketing.

“They truly make it easy to do business and embody the best of the industry and the ideals we value in all our supplier partners.”

NASTF To Tackle Counterfeit Tools At AAPEX/SEMA

The agenda for the NASTF 2013 Fall General Meeting, November 6, in Las Vegas during AAPEX/SEMA is taking shape with automaker representatives joining independent technicians to address several important current industry issues. Among the major session topics planned are: • Counterfeit service tools • Collision industry gaps in service info, continued on page 33 www.ssgm.com

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|| Emissions

Hanging Tough Spark plugs and sensors are subject to extreme stresses — so looking after the basics is even more important

By Andrew Brooks

T

he working conditions facing spark plugs and O2 sensors aren’t getting any better. Smaller engines with higher operating temperatures, a bewildering array of fuels and additives, and onboard diagnostics and monitoring systems that are paying closer attention than ever to every phase of engine operation mean that plugs and sensors are expected to perform more precisely and consistently than ever, while delivering premium performance under tighter and tighter tolerances.

“Car manufacturers have much tighter specifications today than they used to,” says Tom Potter, a senior service engineer with DENSO Products & Services Americas Inc. When the basics are looked after and an engine is well maintained, spark plugs can survive the most stressful conditions much longer. “The better the engine, the better the plug life,” Potter says. “If you have a car running on good fuel, where the engine oil and air filters are changed out when they should be, the plugs will last you a long time, especially with good driving.”

Potter worked as a tech in Southern California for some 20 years and he knows the importance not only of extending spark plug life though proper maintenance, but also how much a good tech can tell by removing and examining the plugs at service intervals.

“You can tell a great deal about the engine condition,” Potter says. “You can tell the fuel being used, and also if you have an imbalance in the fuel

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Emissions || mix. A good tech will carefully look at each spark plug as they’re taken out. If they’re burning correctly and all look the same you know you have a balanced engine, and you won’t expect problems after the tune up – but if you have one plug darker in colour, or signs of rich fuel, you have a fuel injector problem, or else something’s going on in that one cylinder.”

Potter recalls that he was able to identify the fuel brand being used by distinctive spark plug colouring. And there’s more information to be gleaned by close observation. When a plug is white or powdery, Potter says, the vehicle probably has a vacuum leak near that intake port, which will cause the engine not to run correctly and will create valve problems later on. “Almost everybody’s spark plug site has the same reference pictures,” Potter says. “They’ll tell you how to ‘read’ spark plugs. It’s taught in all the trade schools.”

Since about 2000, spark plugs have shown dramatic improvements in lifespan and much better tolerance for temperature levels and variations, says Richard W. Hibbs, project manager for ACDelco Canada – but good maintenance is still vital in maintaining high levels of engine efficiency. “The plugs don’t create the abundance of misfires they may have in the past,” Hibbs says, “so this is how they could get overlooked and go beyond the OEM service intervals.” Even plugs that have lasted as long as 160,000 km still need to be replaced in order to boost the efficiency of fuel burn. Also, the metals in the plug and in the engine itself are

Bosch recommends regular inspection and replacement of oxygen sensors to ensure a vehicle maintains maximum fuel efficiency and performance, and to prevent emissions test failures. Exposure to carbon, soot, harmful gases, antifreeze, chemicals, and thermal and physical shock will shorten the life of an oxygen sensor. www.ssgm.com

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subject to huge temperature changes, and there’s always the possibility that the plugs will become very difficult to remove – or even wind up seized in the engine.

As spark plugs evolve, diameters are shrinking while length is increasing, says Sukhneet Mavi, product manager, spark plugs for NGK Spark Plugs Canada. “The older ones were 40mm diameter with a ¾-inch reach for the threads,” he says. “The newer ones are mostly 12mm diameter – thinner but longer – and we’ve seen some that can go up to a 26.5 mm reach.”

New plugs are able to accommodate a better flame kernel, thanks to the fact that now the actual electrode protrusion inside the combustion chamber is much greater, Mavi says. “We’ve seen plugs going up to 7 mm so they fire much deeper inside the chamber. This gets you more efficient combustion.”

But it also imposes greater strain on the plug, which impacts service life, he says. “The electrodes retain more heat during combustion, and they draw that heat away from combustion.” Under higher RPM conditions this increases erosion of the electrodes.

The industry has responded with higher-grade metals. “Advances in plug technology have largely been focused on the use of precious metals to reduce gap erosion and extend service intervals,” says Michael Kollenberg, product manager, Champion Spark Plugs, Federal-Mogul Corp. “This has been driven by OEM concerns about the access

DENSO’s light-duty oxygen sensor started to appear on vehicles with the development of fuel injection systems.

The basic job of the sensor is to monitor the air fuel mixture under idle, moderate acceleration and cruise conditions.

to and serviceability of their increasingly sophisticated and tightly packaged engine bays.” Kollenberg notes that today’s plugs employ iridium, a dense and highly durable metal. “The old nickel plugs won’t do anymore, and in response the industry has seen a succession of progressively higher-tolerance metals being employed.” Iridium is preferred due to its high durability, which helps slow gap erosion, and its terrific ability as an electrical conductor.

Despite advances, however, the importance of regular maintenance – and the short span of some maintenance intervals – is still not as well understood as it should be, says Jay Buckley, technical training director for Fram, Prestone and Autolite. “We find most drivers simply ignore spark plug maintenance until they either notice a drop-off in fuel economy or the check engine light is on and the engine is misfiring,” Buckley says. “When the check light is flashing, the catalytic converter can be damaged.” Buckley adds many technicians continue to assume all cars have 100,000-mile plug change intervals, and while that is true in many cases, some automakers still use copper core technology and specify 32,000- or 60,000-mile plug changes.

Sense ability

When servicing and maintaining oxygen sensors, a consistent understanding of differences in operation due to differences in design is required, says Hibbs. “A technician must have regard for year, make and model of a vehicle because there could be different O2

NTK oxygen sensors are OEM approved and are built with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship to ensure superior quality for your automobile. NTK oxygen sensors meet or exceed original equipment specifications and are equipped with waterproof factory fitted connectors.

June 2013 SSGM 13

13-06-13 7:05 AM

|| Emissions

1

4 3 2 1: The ACDelco OE Service plug uses a fine wire iridium cente electrode and a platinum pad to achieve 100,000-mile plug life.

5

6

2: The Autolite Double Platinum spark plugs features platinum-to-platinum firing and irtually eliminates gap erosion, reduces misfires, and provides 100K mile durability. It’s preferred technology for DIS engines.

3: Bosch Iridium spark plugs are OE-designed and come with an ultra-fine wire design and laser welded tapered ground electrode to deliver optimum performance.

4: Champion Iridium Spark Plugs deliver a consistently focused spark to provids improved engine performance. The plugs feature an center electrode and “laser-locked” platinum ground electrodes to ensue maximum life, and a fine-wire electrode and platinum v-trimmed ground electrode.

5: DENSO’s Iridium Power spark plug feature a tapered cut, U-Groove ground electrode, a 0.4mm iridium center electrode and 360-degree laser welding assembly process.

6: NGK’s Laser Iridium spark plugs provide superior ignitability and long service life. Smallest tip diameter available Iridium / Platinum surfaces ensure slow wear rate providing stable idle, superior anti-fouling, improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

sensors in different vehicles, models and engine displacements. There are two, four and six-wire applications, air/ fuel, wide band designs, and O2 sensors can be anywhere from having two to six minimum to an application.” It’s vital to understand scanner data in order to interpret correctly the different designs and functions for proper diagnosing or to prevent misdiagnosis, Hibbs says.

“Oxygen sensors also have a lifespan for efficiency, but do require regular interval changes to keep fuel efficiencies at their best.”

At the basic level, O2 sensors benefit from the same basics as spark plugs: they’ll deliver a longer service life if the environment they operate in is in good running order, Potter says. “They’ll last virtually forever if conditions are optimal. But if you start getting oil through the engine or you’re running weird fuel additives, then you shorten the service life.” Potter notes that it’s very rare for the sensing part itself to fail. The sensing part usually gets coated or poisoned from foreign chemicals. The weak spot is the heating element, he says.

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“The actual service life of a sensor varies a lot,” Mavi says. “You could have failing engine components that lead to the check engine light coming on – in that case the sensor is simply saying that some component has failed or is failing. Or the issue could be that the actual electrical components that led to the sensor varying have now corroded, and now there’s extra resistance in the circuit and the sensor is failing. Or the sensor has degraded to the point that it can’t function properly.”

Compounding the problem for the technician is the fact that the technology has evolved beyond the point where the response is simply to change out a failing sensor and erasing the codes.

“That’s not going to work anymore,” Mavi says. “Now the vehicle has to go through a certain set of drive cycles or procedures that are different for each manufacturer for the sensor to get reset.

Otherwise that check engine light will come on again after a few days.”

Technician training is essential to avoid misdiagnosis based on sensor readings, says Carey Banks, product

manager for Robert Bosch Inc. “It’s important to understand that oxygen sensors could also alert to problems with other components,” Banks says.

“Contamination found on the O2 sensor tip can be signs of a bigger problem.

Considering the advances in O2 technology, it’s highly recommended that technicians use diagnostic equipment to understand the root cause of ECU codes.”

Banks says that while past service life for sensors averaged out at about 30,000 miles, nowadays that figure is well over 100,000. In fact Bosch says it produces O2 sensors that can last 150,000 miles or more in some cases.

“Given the intelligence of the ECU, newer heated O2s should only be replaced when the ECU deems the O2 is defective,” Banks says. “There will be no performance advantage in replacing O2 sensors when not defective.” The basics still count, too, Banks says – “we do recommend consulting your vehicle manufacturer’s guide for further information on maintenance schedules.”

SSGM www.ssgm.com

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|| Lifts

Boosting

Business Lift technology, sleeker designs and smart accessories take service bay productivity to new levels

By Noelle Stapinsky

I

t’s the centerpiece of the service bay, which everything revolves around for technicians to quickly and effectively service vehicles. Whether it’s a two-post, four-post or inground lift, shops rely on this vital piece of equipment to keep the productivity flowing in and out of the bay doors.

As more and more service shops look for ways to improve efficiency and throughput, its essential that lifts can operate for long periods of time without a great deal of downtime – which can make or break a

16 SSGM June 2013

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Lifts || day’s profitability.

It’s no secret that there are more aging vehicles on the road today than ever before, driving more required services back into the repair channel. And while shops everywhere are constantly looking for ways to harness all of the underperformed preventative maintenance opportunities out there, such maintenance practices are also crucial to the longevity of their service equipment. This is why, Bruce Buckborough of Babco Equipment, Canada’s distributor of BendPak Lifts, stresses that one of the biggest things with lifts today is regular maintenance and servicing of hydraulic hoist equipment.

“If you want longevity in lifts and lift parts you need to service them,” says Buckborough. “You need to check the lifts at least once a month, check the welds, oil the cables and make sure they’re tight, and lubricate the system.”

Indeed, you wouldn’t want to be standing underneath something that’s not functioning properly. Plus, regular maintenance will reduce the chances of any unexpected downtime – something every shop understands all too well.

But when it comes to modern lifts on the market today – although the basic principals of hydraulics hasn’t changed that much over the years – advancements in the design and technology have delivered sleeker setups that decrease the equipment footprint and making service bays more customer friendly, grant more access to

the undercar and improved cycle times.

There are also far more innovative accessories or add-ons that improve efficiency and speed up productivity.

Fast Track

According to Buckborough, choosing the right lift is all about personal preference. “But most technicians go for a two-post asymmetrical or symmetrical clear floor lift,” he says. “Both have six inches of drive thru.”

Back in 2008, after the infamous economic crash, Buckborough says that many manufacturers cut back on some of the more costly materials used in fabricating lifts. BendPak did the opposite, making its lifts bigger. “They [BendPak lifts] have a five inch sheave roller, where others are three-inches,” he says. “The larger the sheave means a bigger bend, which is easier on the cable.”

BendPak’s newest line of XPR twopost lifts feature rapid lift speeds with direct drive lifting performance. And with fewer serviceable parts, necessary maintenance is reduced.

And when it comes to choosing a lift, speed and efficiency is top of mind for many technicians on the shop floor. “Everyone understands speed.

Whether it’s about working or operating equipment faster, it means you run more projects through the bay,” says John Rylee, director of marketing for Rotary Lifts.

Rotary’s Shockwave, a two-post and

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www.monroebrakes.com Rotary Lift’s Shockwave technology uses a dc power system to lower costs and provide more reliable operation, along with a two-times faster rise and decent speeds than standard lifts.

June 2013 SSGM 17

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© 2013 Tenneco

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|| Lifts

Rotary Lift’s Spotline laser vehicle spotting guide can be used in conjunction with the company’s Shockwave equipped lifts. It enables technicians to quickly and efficiently move vehicles in and out of the bay, saving time on each job and increasing overall productivity.

runs off of 110V power, rather than 220V. “The reason we went with that type of battery is because if a replacement is needed – though they last a long time and it’s not really an issue – shops can get them out of their parts inventory or from any jobber.”

Another benefit to Rotary’s DC power technology is that the lift can still operate up to 14 cycles on the batteries alone. During severe weather or power failures this allows shops to get vehicles off the lift, a key element for customer satisfaction and retention. And service stations with back-up generators can carry on with business as usual.

The Shockwave technology is available for Rotary’s in-ground SmartLifts, and there are also retrofit kits for existing in-ground SmartLifts with eight-inch plungers. “It’s a relatively short replacement. It takes three to four hours, at most, to do the retrofit,” says Rylee.

To help technicians focus even more on the job and less on the prep, Rotary’s Spotline laser vehicle spotting guide – a system that mounts at the top of a two-post lift, for example – is included with the Shockwave line and available as an added accessory for standard lifts. “When you drive [in the bay] a beam comes across the hood and to the dashboard. It’s really as simple as aligning that beam with the right and left sides,” says Rylee. “It’s just another tool that gives more control of the placement of the vehicle, increasing the shop’s efficiency.”

Breaking New Ground

MAHA’s MBT 2250 EUROSYSTEM is a roller-brake tester for cars and vans up to 3,500 kg axle load. It comes with a communication desk and a switching cabinet for test stand control.

in-ground lift line that was launched in 2011, is designed to cycle twice as fast as a standard lift. For this line, Rotary 18 SSGM June 2013

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used DC power, a patent pending technology that uses two standard Group 24 batteries with a built in charger that

Hungry for new opportunities to improve the bottom line, the independent automotive service market has been evolving over the years and some are now venturing into repairing medium and heavy-duty vehicles, while others are looking for improved efficiencies in diagnostics.

Jens Urban, business development manager for MAHA Canada, says, “The biggest change about to hit the North American market is a lift integrated into a test lane that will allow techs to drive a vehicle into a garage and run tests before a visual inspection.” www.ssgm.com

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Lifts||

An exact replacement for worn original units Functions like a spring lift and holds open trunks, hatches, hoods, windows, doors, etc.

MAHA’s Twin F IV lift is a twin scissors lift with low-profile twin scissors for above-floor installation, low driver-over height and comes with two cylinders on each side for double safety.

BendPak’s XPR-10A asymmetric two-post lift features an expandable top beam and Tru-Metric arms to suit virtually every vehicle lifting requirement.

MAHA, a U.S.-based manufacturer that specializes automotive lifts, heavyduty lift systems, and integrated testing systems, offers an innovative track system that will test a vehicle’s tire rotation, tire tread, shock absorbers, brakes, www.ssgm.com

p 16-19 Lifts story.indd 19

etc., delivering results within minutes.

“Fifteen to 20 per cent of vehicles that come into the shop have another issue than what they came in for,” says Urban. Instead of test-driving a vehicle to listen and feel for the signs and symptoms of issues, an integrated test can be conducted as the vehicle is driven onto the lift.

The testing system is installed into the shop floor and “can bring in an extra $10,000 to $15,000 a month,” says Urban. “And depending on the size of the shop, studies tell us the return on investment (ROI) would be within a year.”

Just as automotive technology rapidly advances, service shop equipment is also evolving. For shops that invest in the latest in lift technology, they’ll see a rather quick ROI (many estimate a month or two), while improving productivity, maximizing profitability, and be poised for future growth.

SSGM

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June 2013 SSGM 19

13-06-13 7:32 AM

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Encourage your automotive technicians to sign up for SSGM’s Digital Edition too!

Readers who subscribe to SSGM’s Digital Edition will be entered into a draw to win an iPad!

SSGM'S DiGital EDition aDvantaGES: • SSGM's Digital Edition can be received faster with automatic email delivery as soon as the issue has been published.

• SSGM's Digital Edition Table of Contents page is hyperlinked to the articles that interest you the most.

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SiGninG uP iS EaSy anD fREE! To subscribe to SSGM’s Digital Edition please go to:

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|| TACT Team Management

Competence, Confidence and Hope

O

ne of the wonderful things about human beings is our uniqueness. None of us are the same and we each bring our unique gifts, talents and ways of seeing and being to the groups and communities we are part of. This human experience also brings challenges when working together in groups and when dealing with change. Because we are so interdependent, when we face change in our group, or are working together to solve a problem our different ways of doing and seeing things can often get in the way. Historically, the common model of dealing with this reality was autocratic leadership. The boss, the king, the ruling powers dictate how things are done and we just do them. In our modern setting and specifically in business, that type of leadership is outmoded. Many no longer follow blindly and want to know why something is being done or changed; they want their opinion to be heard.

If we look specifically at the model of an automotive shop as a business, many of the owners I work with long for the days when they could yell, “Jump!” at an employee and the employee responded “How high?” With today’s extreme shortage of qualified technicians and service advisors, most owners are actually afraid of their employees and lack the skill required to build and maintain a cohesive team. Owners and managers feel that if they push too hard, or try to change things too fast that the employees will leave. This then sets up a different dysfunction; with some long-term employees acting like subversive dictators within the business.

How to Create a Positive Work Environment

So how do we create an environment where the positive human attributes like curiosity, creativity, caring and all the other unique positive features of 22 SSGM June 2013

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By Murray Voth, TACT

each one of us can be brought together for the good of the group? We need to understand that what makes us unique also creates some challenges. One of which is our learning style. Some of us learn by seeing (or reading), some by hearing, some by watching and some by touching, or usually a combination of the above with one dominant style. Another is our decision making style. Some of us make decisions using data and information, and some of us make decisions using our intuition or our emotions. With these challenges in mind, I have created an outline I think will help business teams, managers and employees, become more effective in solving problems and dealing with change.

The outline we are going to work with includes knowledge, application, desire and perseverance. By using these principles you will be well on your way to building an effective self-directed team and no longer needing to be a “Boss,’ but rather a coach and a cheerleader.

The two general areas that I am going to apply these principles to are solving a problem or dealing with or creating change in a business. In both circumstances we need to acquire knowledge and information. These include facts, statistics, ideas, systems and designs related the problem or change at hand.

We may react emotionally to such facts or statistics, but in-and-of themselves, they are just concrete pieces of information. The fact a shop needs a 60 per cent overall gross profit to generate benchmark net profit and retained earnings does not take into account how you or your employees feel about it. If we use a technical example, there is pretty much only one way to rebuild an engine successfully. I emphasize this because too many times when we are facing a change or a problem to solve we let our emotions and reactions stop

us from proceeding. We need to learn how to learn. Find the information we need, or find someone who can help us find the information we need and learn it. When it comes to technical issues, many technicians turned shop owners have no problem finding information, but when it comes to human resources challenges, for example, they just fly by the seat of their pants. There are many good online courses on how to perform employee reviews, interview prospective employees or to deal with difficult people.

The next step is application. Once you have learned the information, or method, or system required to make the change, or solve a problem, you need to learn how to apply it. It is one thing to learn air-conditioning theory in the classroom, but entirely another to perform an actual evacuation and recharge on a vehicle. Likewise, when it comes to a management issue such as employee reviews you will need to apply the theory to reality. This may involve a role-play with another business associate or senior employee in order to get some practice. Another way to learn how to apply knowledge is to teach the concept to another person. In the process of teaching, you will find that your ability to apply the knowledge will increase, especially when you are dealing with skills that are not as tangible as diagnosing or repairing a vehicle.

The third principle I will be discussing is desire. Do you or your employees have the desire to make the change or solve the problem? This principle is the most complex. Sometimes the cycle of change starts with desire. This could be the desire to reduce stress or improve profits or solve a problem.

In this case, your desire pushes you to find the information you need and to learn to apply it. In many cases you are www.ssgm.com

13-06-13 7:09 AM

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|| TACT Team Management made aware of new information that you need to learn to apply, and then you must want to make the effort to learn and change. This is where many people and businesses stall. The first reaction to a challenge or to change is emotional. What about this and what about that? What will people think?

This looks too hard. I’ve never done this before.

Being a Good Manager Includes Managing Yourself

In order to be an effective manager and leader we must develop the ability to manage our emotions and reactions, and start by doing our research. Find the information and resources, learn to apply them and then jump in. Your confidence will be much higher when you have the pertinent information and have developed the skill to apply it. Too many times we approach a problem without enough data to be effective or make a decision without all the facts and wonder why we stumble or fail.

When we have hope that we will be

able to make a change, and develop the confidence through competence our desire will become more deeply rooted. No one is good at anything the first time they try it. By following the sequence of knowledge, application and desire you set yourself up for greater success.

The last topic I would like to cover is perseverance. My observation of the human condition is that of all the attributes being discussed in this article, perseverance is the most powerful. The ability to keep at something till you succeed, pushing through the boredom, the hard work and discouragement, ultimately give you the foundational success that is true and lasting. True success is when you yourself know that you accomplished something without feedback from any other source. Perseverance is the ability to keep trying even after you have failed. It feels bad for a while, sometimes a long time, but eventually we get a glimpse of hope that we can accomplish what we set out to do. Maybe we did not have enough

information, maybe we did not understand the information well enough or how to apply it. In my case, I tend to get impatient with the learning process.

I want to jump into something too soon. What I have learned to do is slow down, make sure I understand the concepts I am working with, ensure that I have applied the concepts in a practice session of some sort, and then implement the change. This sounds corny, but we have to practice the right things.

So whenever you are confronted with a challenge or the need to respond to change, or need to make a change in your business or your life, break the process down into three parts. What knowledge do I need, how do I apply that knowledge, and do I have the desire to apply that knowledge. When you break the process down this way for yourself and your team, you will begin to develop a sense of competence, which will then give you confidence, which in turn will give you hope. It is hope that is the cause of perseverance.

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The explanation, for the success of TACT students comes from a well tested common sense approach to managing every aspect of day to day operations, starting in the bays and working its way to the income statement.

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Brought to you by TACT Total Automotive Consulting & Training Group 24 SSGM June 2013

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www.ssgm.com

13-06-13 7:09 AM

Technical Tip ||

GM Concentric Slave Cylinder Bleed Procedure

I

f you have been installing clutches for a while, you are probably familiar with the dreaded Ford Ranger concentric slave cylinder and the difficulties and uncertainty presented when attempting to bleed it. Unfortunately, General Motors has followed similar suit with other concentric slave cylinders. Most General Motors vehicle designs do not provide access to the slave cylinder without removing the transmission from the engine. Additionally, some models do not have bleed ports.

Figure 1

To assist with bleeding these problematic slaves, the steps outlined below detail the proper procedure to correctly bleed the system while the transmission is off the vehicle.*** 1.) Verify that the clutch master cylinder has a full fluid fill. If not, add additional fluid until full.

2.) Insure that the clutch master cylinder is mounted level on the firewall. Some vehicles may require the master cylinder to be unbolted, leveled and re-mounted to the firewall.

3.) Install the concentric slave cylinder on the transmission. Note: Some slave cylinders have the input shaft seal built in. (Fig. 1) This seal MUST be lubricated! Failure to lubricate will result in seal damage and leakage.

Figure 2

4.) Lift the transmission up into the vehicle but do not mount the transmission to the engine. With the transmission lifted, reach up and connect the hydraulic line to the slave cylinder.

5.) Once the slave and hydraulic line are connected, reach into the bell housing and push the slave cylinder back in its bore (Fig. 2), then release and let it return to its original position. (Fig. 3) Repeat this process 12–15 times. Following this procedure will force any air trapped in the hydraulic line back up through the master cylinder, through its vent cap and out of the system. Bleed complete. ***This procedure will work on ANY concentric slave cylinder application. It is the ONLY way to bleed many newer applications that do not have bleeder valves.

Technical Tip Provided by Schaeffer www.ssgm.com

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Figure 3 June 2013 SSGM 25

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|| Internet

The Internet and the Aftermarket

Online searches should be an opportunity for service operations to differentiate themselves, educate vehicle owners

By Tom Venetis, Editor

W

e all know the Internet and social media has changed how people interact with companies. The same is true for the aftermarket. Studies by Google and Experian Automotive show how rapidly vehicle owners have begun to use online seraches and social media to educate themselves about aftermarket products

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and services.

A thinkauto study with Google, The 2010 Automotive Aftermarket Study: The Role of the Internet and Search in the Automotive Parts, Tires, Services and Accessories (PTSA) Research and Purchasing Process, finds nearly a third of persons contacted in the study use online searches for researching such

things as automotive parts, tires, services and automotive accessories. Of those, 60 per cent say they use online searches to research and to help make parts purchasing decisions for their vehicles.

Other key aftermarket parts searched by people include brakes, air filters and exhaust systems, fluids, lubricants and www.ssgm.com

13-06-13 7:42 AM

Internet ||

oils, batteries, engine and transmission parts and lights.

Danielle Russell, automotive indus­ try director with Google says online searches are becoming a key factor is what she calls the ‘zero moment of truth,’ that point when “the consumer goes online and tries to find out as much information they can about a product or service they are about to have done, and then making that final purchasing decision. It is happening

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1

now much more often in the after­ market business.”

“What consumers are doing now is using online searches to better prepare themselves and to educate themselves about their vehicles and the work they are to have done on their vehicles,” she adds.

This supports the anecdotal evi­ dence that service writers have reported to SSGM Magazine over the last num­ ber of years.

Many service writers find today’s vehicle owner often come in having done a lot of research about their vehicle or the kinds of parts and ser­ vice their particular make and model of vehicle needs. They often have a lot more questions for the service writer about the parts or service recommend­ ed, and will sometimes defer making a final decision on a service or part recommendation until they have gone home to do more research; or in some

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cases, after they have reserached the informtion given to them on their smart phones right in the waiting area.

Russell says online searches are a matter of trust building by vehicle owners. People want to know that the parts to be used and the service provider who is offering to do the needed service and repair work is someone they can trust and build a long-term business relationship with.

“Once a vehicle owner trusts a service provider, research suggests (the vehicle owner) is willing to drive up to 10 miles to that service provider to get that work done,” she adds.

This is where it becomes important for service providers to work harder in differentiating themselves online.

Online searches still tend to begin in a very general way. People will type into a search engine terms such as “Auto Repair” and then their location. This brings up hundreds of local service operations — and at a cursory glance — all on the same footing. Not one operation stands out from another. One way to differentiate one’s service operation is suggested in the thinkauto/Google study that looked more closely at what

kinds of service work was researched in online searches. These include regular maintenance, installation and maintenance, brake repair, heating and air conditioning repair, steering and suspension and major engine repair. What needs to happen is for service operations to use these generic search criteria as an educational opportunity, to give vehicle owners information about parts and services that can then translate into them making a decision to send their business to your service operation.

Margot Weisz, senior product manager with Experian Automotive, an automotive data intelligence provider, says people in their online searches are looking for experts to help them understand what parts or services they need. As an example, Weisz points to how people search for information about tires or motor oils. They will often begin with a generic search, but then gravitate to trusted brands for information that can be used to make an informed decision.

“They are going to brands they www.ssgm.com

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know and hear about,” she adds. “Brand recognition plays a big factor and that has to do with the fact that with today’s vehicles, there is a lot (people) don’t know or understand, so they will go to trusted brands they recognize when they are looking for parts.”

The major producers of after­ market vehicle parts and accessories then become experts to vehicle owners who will use the information provided as a means of educating themselves and then to make a buying decision.

Google’s Russell says this is supported by recent research that shows people looking for videos and other informa­ tion specifically to educate themselves on such things as oil changes and filters, for example.

It would seem that service opera­ tions that wish to differentiate them­ selves online should begin to offer information not just about their ser­ vices, but focus much more on cus­ tomer education and become trusted providers of information about vehicle operations and service.

Offering an oil change is one thing.

Demonstrating why regular oil c­ hanges are important and then explaining how oil filters work will likely lead to more service work and better customer r­ etention.

Videos, in-depth product informa­ tion and social media can be used to build that education component.

“It is up to service providers to be able to educate consumers and that they should trust them in repairing their vehicles,” Russell says. “(Service providers) have to be more interested in just the sale for today.”

SSGM

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Money Matters ||

Fee Hike For Licenses Has Skilled Trades Asking Why?

By Noelle Stapinsky

B

y now, most tradespeople across Ontario would have received a notice by mail introducing a new annual membership fee of $120 to maintain their licenses – a shocking increase from the $60 those in the province’s 22 compulsory trades were required to pay every three years.

This fee is to be paid to the Ontario Colleges of Trades (OCOT), the new industry-driven governing body that is now in charge of representing and regulating Ontario’s 150 skilled trades and 500,000 tradespeople.

For the remaining 128 trades or businesses that want to become a member, it’s voluntary. And all registered members are listed in a public registry on the OCOT’s website for the general public to access and verify licensed professionals.

While many were aware of the impending changes, the sheer size of the OCOT and its cost to industry has many asking what they will get in return. And some are fighting back – Sean Reid, director of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada, launched the Stop The Trades Tax campaign in 2011, which has so far won the support of 10,000 businesses and 150,000 tradespeople.

As an advocacy agency appointed by the provincial government in 2009, the OCOT employs about 60 at its downtown Toronto office. Its governing structure is made up of a 21-member board of governors, divisional trade boards for construction, motive power, industrial and service industries, www.ssgm.com

p 31-32 Money Matters story.indd 31

and individual trade board representatives. Its mandate: to promote trades and apprenticeships, give the skilled trades sector ownership of decisions critical to their businesses, and, according to Ron Johnson, chair of the OCOT Board of Governors, “to elevate the status of trades to a profession.”

When asked about the high membership fee, Johnson says, “It’s simple really. The government [Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities] has always managed and regulated the skilled trades in Ontario. The cost of that regulation was spread across the entire tax base and subsidized by taxpayers. Now, it’s actually the tradespeople that will be managing and regulating. And now that we have a much smaller pool of people to draw from there is a cost associated with self regulation and self management.”

But as for how and when membership fees will be applied, how the OCOT intends to promote the trades and how the funds will be spent, for mechanics like Tim Ridley in Stoney Creek, Ont., it’s still unclear. His 310S certificate that he got from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities doesn’t expire until 2015, and has only been told that when it comes time to pay the membership fee he’ll be notified a couple of months in advance. “When you call them (OCOT), they can’t even answer simple questions. As of yet, I haven’t seen any benefit to the compulsory tradespeople. For decades, the Ministry was giving millions June 2013 SSGM 31

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|| Money Matters

of dollars and it was part of their mandate to promote the trades to young people. Now the OCOT says they’re going to do it, but how?”

According to Johnson, the funds from the membership fees, among other initiatives, will be used to create a large enforcement division made up of 150 officers – when it’s at full capacity – that will have the legal authority to levy fines against employers and employees who are working illegally.

“We’re here to protect the public’s interest, first and foremost. And we’re also here to protect the integrity of the certification standards these folks works so hard to get,” says Johnson. “The public needs to learn about the College and its registry and how to use it. We’ll be putting as much effort as we can in a public awareness campaign to let people know the College is there to protect their interest.”

Greg Richardson, a truck coach and automotive technician in St. Thomas, Ont., takes issue with having his information on a public registry. “They’re publishing my name, OCOT membership number and my certificate numbers.

There’s nothing stopping an unscrupulous person from stealing my license number and using it? How am I being protected? I asked the OCOT that and they said ‘that will never happen,’ ” says Richardson.

The OCOT also intends to work with organizations such as Skills Ontario Canada, high schools and guidance councilors, and participate in job fairs to promote skilled trades as a career choice. But for both Richardson and Ridley, taking on an apprentice isn’t in the cards. Ridley believes the added cost will be a deterrent for young people that often only make minimum wage when they start. And Richardson is wary of what could happen to his own license if something goes wrong with a repair the apprentice does, or worse, the apprentice is caught working on the side to make some extra money.

And while Johnson doesn’t think that $120 per year 32 SSGM June 2013

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will deter anyone from getting into the trades, Richardson believes that less is more – those who still pay to keep up their license but don’t practice the trade anymore will probably opt out of becoming an OCOT member. “They should have kept the fees low,” says Richardson. “It doesn’t take an economics major to figure out that a lower annual fee would mean a lot more money in the long run.”

Reid agrees, “This doesn’t make any sense. If you want to attract more tradespeople, why would you add cost and a layer of bureaucracy? We should be removing barriers not building new ones.”

What Ridley would like to see his membership fees going towards, that would help tradespeople, is a portion of it going to a registered pension plan, changes in deductible taxes to allow technicians to write off more for tooling expenses, and covering the costs of professional skill development.

“The College will have an advocacy role to play,” says Johnson. “We’re looking at promoting skilled trades. To do that, we need proper incentives and that could be tax incentives on tools.”

In regards to becoming a member of an organization, Richardson and Ridley think they should be given a choice to join the OCOT, rather than forced into it. And as a member, they also want the ability to have their opinions heard.

Indeed, representing the unique challenges of 150 trades is a huge feat. Johnson says that all of the OCOT meetings are open to the public and posted on its website. And he encourages anyone who wants to get involved to attend their trade board meetings or apply to be on those boards or the board of governors, as those appointments come up regularly.

SSGM

www.ssgm.com

13-06-13 9:06 AM

News Briefs || continued from page 10 tools and education • Equipping the aftermarket with OEM diagnostic solutions requires careful product planning • Ask the Committee Co-Chairs NASTF supporters with specific knowledge, questions, experience or insight into these or other current industry concerns are encouraged to email admin@nastf.org.

NASTF General Meetings are free to attend and no pre-registration with NASTF is necessary. However, registration for the AAPEX/SEMA trade shows is highly recommended.

AAPEX/SEMA registration is open with a discounted rate as low as $25 effective through October 14. To register for a show badge, visit www. aapexshow.com.

Mevotech Inc., Performance Warehouse Inc. Honoured For Process Improvement

Polk honored Mevotech Inc. and Performance Warehouse Inc. with the 2013 Polk Inventory Efficiency Award during a ceremony held at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare near Chicago.

The Polk Inventory Efficiency Award program, now in its ninth year, recognizes and rewards outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements in supply chain and inventory efficiency. This year’s awards were presented by Mark Seng, vicepresident, aftermarket and commercial vehicle and Polk’s global aftermarket practice leader, and Stephen Polk, chairman, president and CEO of R. L. Polk & Co. “We are honored to recognize the efficient contributions of Mevotech and Performance Warehouse in this year’s program,” said Seng. “Inventory efficiency often translates to cost savings and better practices, and both of these organizations have integrated industry-leading inventory management and supply chain practices into their operations, serving as respected benchmarks for others in the automotive aftermarket community.” www.ssgm.com

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AAEC Announces BEST Of The BEST Award Winner For 2012

Bob Greenwood, president and CEO of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd., announced that ExtraTech Automotive Ltd. of Calgary Alberta has won the prestigious BEST of the BEST Award for 2012.

This Award is won by the shop who has improved their business the most in one year compared to their previous year among all the AAEC BEST clients across Canada. There are 14 key business measurements that are analyzed equally among all AAEC BEST clients.

The Award was presented to Gianni and Doris Barbieri, the owners of Extra-Tech Automotive Ltd., and the entire Extra-Tech Staff with a surprise visit by the AAEC Executive Team on Wednesday May 29th, 2013.

Mr. Barbieri said, “The Extra-Tech Automotive Team would like to thank the AAEC Team and the Focus Group Members, for without their support and continued management training, our achievement could not be possible.

With the continued “visual” and “real time” support of Bob Greenwood, Rui Martins, Rob Ward and the rest of the AAEC Team with their industryleading technology and information, they have been able to train, teach and help implement the procedures that the ownership, management and staff of Extra-Tech Automotive need to have to be able to move forward in this complicated aftermarket automotive service industry. We are extremely proud of this award. It has taken a lot of hard work and perseverance by the Extra-Tech Team to get to this point and to continually see the bright future of this Industry. We are looking forward to continue to work with the AAEC Team to help us get to our future goals.”

“The outstanding effort that the entire Extra-Tech Team made during 2012 certainly changed the Culture and Profitability of this operation to what is required for aftermarket business success today. Their professionalism, total accountability to each other and their clientele, coupled with the perseverance to see the changes come

to fruition was incredible to witness.

We are very proud to have Extra-Tech Automotive Ltd. as a client of AAEC and know that the careers for their staff and management will be outstanding in the coming years as they continue to move their business forward,” replied Bob Greenwood “BEST” stands for Business Evaluation Support and Training and information on this unique business concept can be viewed on the AAEC website at www.aaec.ca by clicking on the blue tab at the top labeled “BEST Program.”

Streamlight Marks 40 Years of Making High Quality Lighting

Streamlight Inc. recently marked its 40th year of operation. Since it was founded in 1973, Streamlight has grown from a small company with a single product to an international provider of a broad range of highperformance lights for law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor professionals.

A pioneer in the development of rechargeable flashlights, lanterns and LED lighting, the company is known for its expert engineering approach to creating lighting products that feature extraordinary brightness while also offering high value and durability.

“We are proud to have provided such reliable and durable lighting tools for our many customers, including first responders, industrial and automotive professionals, and outdoor enthusiasts, for 40 years,” said Streamlight president and CEO Ray Sharrah. “As technology has evolved, Streamlight has continually leveraged it to produce ever brighter, more feature-rich lights without sacrificing our exacting standards for quality and capability.”

Recently, Streamlight adapted new LED technology to create “High Lumen” flashlights for maximum illumination, delivering at least 500 lumens. The new lights are designed for flooding an area with light, such as when illuminating a dark alley, work area, or outdoor path. Made possible by a recent shift in LED manufacturing, the high lumen lights also feature Streamlight’s trademark long-reaching beam and extended run times.

June 2013 SSGM 33

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SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Snap-on 1/4-Inch Drive Adjustable Torque Screwdrivers The new Snap-on 1/4-inch drive Adjustable Torque Screwdrivers with pin retention (QDRIVER2A,3A,4A,4NMA) are the ideal tools when the job requires precision and low torque. Among the features and benefits of the Snap-on 1/4-inch drive Adjustable Torque Screwdrivers with pin retention are: 1/4-inch drive end that complements earlier models with bit holders; a pin that retains the socket to the square drive; freewheels 90 degrees when specified torque is obtained; and torques only in the clockwise direction.

Snap-on www.snapon.com/handtools

Pure UV LED Leak Detection Flashlight The Tracerline OPTI-LUX 365 is a powerful LED leak detection flashlight that provides pure UV light for optimal fluorescent dye response. It’s ideal for all automotive A/C and fluid system applications.

The OPTI-LUX 365 produces a brilliant glow that makes all leaks easier to find, while slashing valuable diagnostic time. The flashlight is more than twice as powerful as most corded, highintensity UV lamps, brightly fluorescing all dyes (both green and yellow). The OPTI-LUX 365 is extremely compact and lightweight.

The flashlight has an inspection range of up to 25 feet (7.6 m).

Powered by one rechargeable lithium-ion battery (extra battery included in kit), it provides four hours of continuous inspection between charges. The rugged, anodized aluminum lamp body resists corrosion and stands up to years of heavy shop use.

Tracerline www.tracerline.com

Wagner ThermoQuiet CeramicNXT Rear Brake Pads Cadillac ATS Wagner ThermoQuiet CeramicNXT brake pads from FederalMogul are the first replacement rear brake pads available in the aftermarket for 2013 Cadillac ATS models. ThermoQuiet CeramicNXT pads are now also available for popular latemodel Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen passenger vehicles.

The Wagner ThermoQuiet product line covers more than 99 per cent of the North American passenger vehicle population.

ThermoQuiet CeramicNXT brake pads feature Federal-Mogul’s next-generation ceramic formulations and Dynamic Noise Absorption technology, which is integrated into the brake pad to target and absorb vibration at the point of contact for quieter braking. In addition, these formulations feature thermal-sensitive properties that adapt to the wide range of temperatures encountered during everyday driving conditions to ensure superior stopping performance.

Federal-Mogul www.FMe-Cat.com 34 SSGM June 2013

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13-06-13 7:13 AM

SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Suspension Wear Indicator Bar Auto-Camping Ltd.’s suspension wear indicator bar helps in all kinds of axle space diagnostic fault finding and diagnostics of wheel bearing, suspension joint, suspension strut support, axial joint, stabilizer bar, silent blocks and steering gear issues.

Auto-Camping Ltd. www.autocamping.ca

Larson Electronics Magnetic Mount Work Lamp Larson Electronics has announced the release of a compact LED work light designed to provide high power illumination and versatile mounting with dual LED lamps and three high strength magnetic mounting pads. The WAL-M-2X48LED-120 Magnetic Mount LED Work Light produces over 5,000 lumens of light output yet is small and light enough to be easily attached to any metallic surface that will accept a magnet.

Larson Electronics www.magnalight.com

TechSmart Technician Bench Guide Standard Motor Products, Inc. announced its TechSmart Technician Bench Guide is now available. The 32-page guide features more than 160 of TechSmart’s most popular and innovative products with all TechSmart categories represented. Products are highlighted with features, benefits and vehicles in operation (VIO) information.

The digital version of the new bench guide can be downloaded at www.TechSmartParts. com. The TechSmart line of enhanced engine control parts are designed to meet the needs of today’s professional service technicians by providing them with high-quality, hard-tofind, problem-solving parts featuring new categories and new technology.

TechSmart www.TechSmartParts.com

Blue-Point Cordless Rechargeable Under Hood Light

The new Blue-Point 128-LED Cordless Rechargeable Under Hood Light (ECUB128) is the brightest under hood light that Snap-on offers its customers. With 180-degree light distribution, this cordless light illuminates the entire engine compartment, giving service technicians the ability to perform service repairs faster and more efficiently. The new Blue-Point 128-LED Cordless Rechargeable Under Hood Light (ECUB128) features: Light distributed 180-degrees to illuminate the entire engine www.ssgm.com

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compartment; diffusion tube technology eliminates shadows; 128 high-output LEDs create 700 lumens; cordless design prevents entanglement while providing convenience; and rechargeable lithium-ion 4400 mAh battery offers three hours of continuous light.

Snap-on www.snapon.com/shoptools June 2013 SSGM 35

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SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Maradyne Jetstreme II Dual Fan The Jetstreme II dual 12-inch fan from Maradyne High Performance Fans is ideal for cooling high-performance engines.

Maradyne’s Jetstreme II features the company’s quiet S-blade design and a rubber seal to eliminate vibration contact and increase airflow. Fitting 26” to 29” radiator cores, this low-profile fan has dual sealed motors that are IP68-certified dustproof and waterproof. There are three options in the Jetstreme II product line with different wattage, cubic feet per minute (CFM) airflows, amp draws and depth measurements. Maradyne’s Jetstreme II (part # MJS23K) has dual 130 watt motor, measures at 26” wide by 15” high by 3.23” deep and delivers a maximum airflow of 2,310 CFM per minute with an amp draw of 14.4. The dual 160 watt Jetstreme II motor (part # MJS26K) is 26” wide by 15” high by 3.62” deep, distributes a maximum airflow of 2,600 CFM per minute with an amp draw of 24.8. The Jetstreme Platinum (part # MJS22K) has a dual 225 watt motor and is 26” wide by 15” high by 3.94” deep and supplies a maximum airflow of 3,100 CFM per minute with an amp draw of 26.6.

Maradyne High Performance Fans www.maradyneHP.com

Snap-on KoolKare Plus Hybrid-Capable A/C Recycler The servicing of hybrid vehicles is becoming much more common in many shops, requiring special tools and equipment. With the new Snap-on KoolKare Plus Hybrid-Capable A/C Recycler (EEAC325BH), service technicians can not only take advantage of A/C service opportunities on hybrids, but the machine also allows them to service non-hybrid vehicles as well.

Some of the key features of the new Snap-on KoolKare Plus Hybrid-Capable A/C Recycler include: Menu-selectable functionality that provides the ability to clear any residual oil from the recycler’s fluid circuit and hoses, minimizing the risk of PAG to POE oil crosscontamination; A/C capacities database; and automatic air purge.

Snap-on www.snapon.com/shoptools

Rotary Lift MCH413 Heavy-Duty Mobile Column Lifts Independent shops have a new lift option to help them expand beyond their light-duty capabilities to start servicing popular medium-duty trucks. In the search for more revenue, many shops are looking to capture maintenance and service contracts for medium-duty vehicles used by local hospitals, municipalities and construction firms. Rotary Lift’s new MCH413 mobile column lift lets them service ambulances, dump trucks, step vans and other work trucks. The MCH413 is sold in sets of two, four or six columns, each of which has a 13,000 lb. capacity. Two columns fitted with fore and aft adapters can lift a standard pickup truck. With a total lifting capacity of 52,000 lbs., four MCH413 columns can pick up most vehicles on the road, from Class 8 trucks down to passenger cars. The MCH413 is smaller — about a foot shorter and 150 lbs. lighter — than Rotary Lift’s other mobile column lifts, which have a rated capacity of 18,000 lbs. per column. As a result, the MCH413 has a lower price, takes up less space and is more maneuverable, making it an excellent entry-level heavy-duty lift for auto repair shops.

Rotary Lift www.rotarylift.com

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13-06-13 7:14 AM

SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

CRP Automotive Offers Transmission Fluids CRP Automotive offers a wide range of Pentosin OE-quality transmission fluids to cover a wide range of European vehicles, including popular makes such as, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Volvo. The Pentosin transmission fluid line is formulated on a fully synthetic base oil technology and incorporates special anti-wear chemistry and friction modifiers to deliver safe and stable friction performance in various types of transmissions – manual, automatic, and double clutch.

CRP Automotive www.pentosin.net

Complete Control Arm Assemblies Federal-Mogul has added several replacement control arm assemblies and other components to its Moog line of steering and suspension parts. Among the new parts are control

arm assemblies featuring Moog ball joints for the following applications: 2002-2006 Suzuki XL-7; 2001-2003 Oldsmobile Aurora; 2000-2005 Buick LeSabre, Cadillac DeVille and Pontiac Bonneville; 2000-2004 Cadillac Seville; 1999-2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara; 1999-2004 Chevrolet Tracker and Suzuki Vitara; and 1998-2005 Buick Park Avenue. Federal-Mogul also has introduced Moog R-Series control arm assemblies for 2008-2012 Mercedes C-Class and 2004-2006 Kia Amanti passenger cars.

Other new parts include control arm bushings for 2005-2012 Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Equinox, 2006-2009 Pontiac Torrent and 2002-2009 Saturn Vue models.

Federal-Mogul www.moogproblemsolver.com

Rislone Online Selection Guide OIL

DIRECT TO YOU!

Rislone’s six new fuel additives treat a wide variety of vehicle problems. The selection guide includes information about all Rislone premium performance chemicals written in English and French. Rislone’s additives are packaged in 177 mL bottles featuring the EZ Nozzle/MC delivery system. EZ Nozzle works with any vehicle, including the approximately 15 million in North America equipped with capless or obstructed fuel systems. These Rislone fuel additives are the only ones on the market that can be easily installed directly into capless or obstructed fuel systems without the need for ancillary equipment. When inserted into a capless or obstructed fuel tank, the Rislone EZ Nozzle opens the fuel system safety door and allows the additive to flow in smoothly. Once the installation is complete, the entire bottle can be thrown away or recycled for easy cleanup.

Rislone www.rislone.ca www.ssgm.com

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Bulk Oil and Drums at Great Prices!

Buy Directly from us and Save!

For more information contact Gord Poole or Brian Shaw 1-800-265-7642

3462 White Oak Road, London, ON Canada N6E 2Z9

P: 519-681-3772 TF: 1-800-265-7642 F: 519-681-4680 TFF: 1-888-681-4680 www.cndoil.ca info@cndoil.ca

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SSGM Service Station and Garage Management

.com

Automotive Internet Directory

Visit these companies directly at their web addresses or check out the growing list of Hot Links at www.ssgm.com.

To find out how your organization can be included in this directory and on the web, contact marc@ssgm.com.

AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS Allan’s Automotive Electronics Ltd.

www.allansautomotive.com Phone: 780-469-8060 Your Automotive Test Equipment Repair Specialist Tool Sales and Service.

We provide service and warranty for most makes of automotive test equipment.

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS & ACCESSORIES Aisin World Corp. of America, Inc. (AWA), a leading Tier One automotive components supplier and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aftermarket parts. AISIN’s original equipment technology and know-how is used to ensure product quality and reliability.

To learn more about our products, request a catalogue today. www.aisinaftermarket.com Goodyear Engineered Products www.goodyearep.com/aftermarket Research and testing. Just two of the reasons Goodyear automotive replacement products deliver the ultimate in performance and value.

NGK Spark Plugs Canada Limited www.ngksparkplugs.ca The World Leader in Spark Plugs, Oxygen Sensors and Ignition Wire Sets.

Used by 87% of the World’s OE Manufacturers S.B International Inc. www.sbintl.com “We keep engines humming”

AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS Carcone’s Auto Recycling and Wheel Refinishing www.carcone.com With over 32 years of experience Carcone’s Auto Recycling & Wheel Refinishing is your one stop for quality recycled products and wheel refinishing needs. Call today at 1-800-263-2022 or visit us on line at www.carcone.com Standard Auto Wreckers View Our Online Inventory @ www. standardautowreckers. com or call 416-286-8686.

Experienced Shipping Department to Ensure Parts Arrive Safely.

REFRIGERANT

Duracool Refrigerants

www.duracool.com Nationally Distributed by: Deepfreeze Refrigerants Inc. The Leaders in Hydrocarbon Refrigerant Technology. Guaranteed In writing not to harm any Mobile A/C System. You can feel the Difference that Quality Makes. “Our Formula Never Changes”.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT AIR LIQUIDE CANADA INC. www.airliquide.ca Your one-stop shop for all your industrial gases and welding supplies.

Auto Test Tools.ca

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Your one stop for specialized diagnostic tools and accessories. Contact; www.auto-know. com, ronbrown@on.aibn.com, 1-800-665-8773

The Automotive Aftermarket WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTORS E-Learning Centre Ltd www.aaec.ca & BUYING GROUPS AAEC - BEST - Business Bestbuy Distributors Limited Evaluation Support www.bestbuyautoparts.ca & Training - Instructing and Coaching with Independent buying the Proven Business Management Tools that group and warehouse drives a shop’s Bottom Line, Team Culture and distributor that allocates Marketplace Credibility. its profits to member shareholders and provides unbeatable value for independent jobbers.

HAND CLEANERS

GOJO Industries, Inc. www.automotive.gojo.com GOJO is a leading manufacturer of skin care products and services for many marketing including automotive and manufacturing. GOJO continues to pursue a commitment of creating well-being through hand hygiene and healthy skin.

The E.R.I. Group www.theerigroup.com Canada’s Premier Machine Shop Buying Group Kerr Machine Shop Group Inc. www.kerrmachineshopgroup.com Buying group for machine shops and performance shops.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Advertiser

Page #

Website

AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.aapexshow.com ACDelco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 . . . . . . . . www.TechConnectCanada.com ADVICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ADVICS-na.com BMW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.bmw.ca/parts Case’N Drum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.cdnoil.ca

Advertiser

Page #

Website

Prenco Progress & Engineering. . . . . . . 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.prencocorp.com ProMax Auto Parts Depot. . . . . . . . . . . . 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . www.autopartsdepot.com Raybestos Brake & Chassis. . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . www.raybestosgarage.com Shell Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.shell.ca/vpower Tenneco, Monroe Brakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.monroebrakes.com

Gabriel Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.garbriel.com

Tenneco, Monroe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.monroe.com

Chevron Global Lubricants. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.Havoline.com

Valvoline Oil Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.valvoline.com

Imperial Oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.mobil.ca

VL Communicatiions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.vlcom.com

Mitchell 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.mitchell1.com

WORLDPAC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.worldpac.com

38 SSGM June 2013

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13-06-13 7:14 AM

original BmW Parts

bmw.ca/parts

the Ultimate Driving experience.®

Almost As good, isn’t good enough. did you know? Original BMW Brake Discs are designed to maintain its shape even at temperatures of up to 800°C.

Peace of mind comes from knowing you are using the perfect part for the job, allowing your customers’ BMW to continue performing like it was designed to.

By using Original BMW parts you benefit from: • BMW’s same-day-delivery* • 2 year manufacturer’s limited warranty • Parts that fit right the first time • BMW engineered, tested, and approved • Competitive pricing A sample of products you may require is listed to the right. To specify your application requirements and place your order, please visit bmw.ca to locate a BMW Retailer.

PerfeCt teaMWOrk. PArtners in QuAlity. originAl BmW PArts.

**Model applicable 2005 – 2011 3 Series 2005 – 2011 3 Series 2005 – 2011 3 Series 2005 – 2011 3 Series 2004 – 2009 5 Series 2004 – 2009 5 Series 2004 – 2009 5 Series 2004 – 2009 5 Series 2004 – 2009 X3 2004 – 2009 X3 2004 – 2009 X3 2004 – 2009 X3

Product Name Spring Strut, Left Front Brake Disc, Front Brake Pads, Front Windshield Wiper Set Spring Strut, Left Front Brake Disc, Front Brake Pads, Front Windshield Wiper Set Spring Strut, Left Front Brake Disc, Front Brake Pads, Front Windshield Wiper Set

Product Number 31 31 6 796 467 34 11 6 855 006 34 11 6 780 711 61 61 2 159 627 31 31 6 786 519 34 11 6 753 221 34 11 6 794 919 61 61 0 431 438 31 31 3 453 521 34 11 3 400 151 34 11 3 404 362 61 61 0 443 590

***MSrP $363.45 $171.54 $241.56 $72.50 $436.13 $210.54 $219.15 $89.50 $392.52 $187.14 $203.85 $65.00

Contact your local BMW retailer to discuss any applicable trade discounts.

©2013 BMW Canada Inc. “BMW”, the BMW logo, BMW model designations and all other BMW related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and/or trademarks of BMW AG, used under licence. *Under normal conditions. Restrictions and certain limitations apply. **General model guideline, contact your BMW Retailer for exact model fitment and application, alternative parts may be required. ***Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, Retailers free to set individual prices. Prices and availability is subject to change without notice. Taxes extra.

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13-06-12 1:38 PM

99-5432-00 I Client: ACDelco I Project: ACDelco Trade Ad I Date: 13-04-09 I Trim: 8 1/8 x 10 7/8”” I Bleed: 1/8” I Colours:

C

M

Y

K I Ad#: ACD-Parts-13-4CF-749-EN

CMG MARKETING • 1125 Leslie St, Toronto, Ontario M3C 2J6 • T 416.646.3050 • F 416.646.3051

I Docket#:

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