Sgm2014aug01

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

AUGUST 2014

Franchise Benefits Shop Hand Tools

Spark plugs Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240

p 01 August Cover 2014.indd 1

www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 8:42 AM

p 02 worldpac.indd 2

14-07-22 9:59 AM

SSGM Service Station and Garage Management

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

August 2014

Vol. 44 No. 6

what’s inside

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Andrew Brooks 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 Choo Hwee Kuan PRODUCTION MANAGER Steve Hofmann (416) 510-6757 PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER Phyllis Wright VICE PRESIDENT CANADIAN PUBLISHING Alex Papanou

12

PRESIDENT BUSINESS INFORMATION GROUP Bruce Creighton

AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE 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

by BIG Magazines LP, a div. of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd., a leading Cana­dian information company with interests in daily and community news­papers and business-to-business information services.

Subscription rates: Canada $51.95 + HST + applicable taxes per year; $82.95 + HST + applicable taxes for 2 years; single copy price $7.00 + $0.42 HST + applicable taxes. USA $91.95US per year; single copy price $10.00US. All other foreign in US $93.95 per year. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.

US office of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304-5709. Periodicals Postage Paid at Niagara Falls, NY. USPS #009-192. US postmaster: Send address changes to Service Station and Garage Management, PO Box 1118, Niagara Falls, NY 14304.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Dept., Service Station and Garage Management, 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9.

Postmaster: please forward forms 29B and 67B to 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9. Printed in Canada. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be re­produced either in part or in full without the consent of the copyright owner.

From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us.

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations Publications Mail Agreement #40069240 Print edition ISSN 0381-548X On-line edition ISSN 1923-3396 Member of

Inc.

www.ssgm.com

p 03 AUGUST Contents.indd 3

o o of e b er ree e or

Spark Plugs Today’s spark plugs incorporate new designs and materials ................... 12 Franchise Franchise programs offer tools for running a business as a business ........ 14 Shop Profile The Auto Guys of St. Thomas Ontario ........................................................... 18 GAAS Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago looks to the future of the industry ...............22 Shop Tools Ergonomics, power and battery life still major considerations for needed shop tools ........................................................................................................ 26 Technical Tip LuK Clutch Diagnostics ..................................................................................... 31 Technical Tip Identifix Mercedes-Benz Misfire Diagnosis ................................................. 33

Departments

Editorial ..................................................................................... 4 News .......................................................................................... 6 Jim’s Rant ................................................................................ 24 Baywatch.................................................................................. 30 Internet Index .......................................................................... 34 Advertiser Index ...................................................................... 34 *For BlackBerrys: Go to your BlackBerry messenger and select Scan Barcode. *For iPhones: Use the App Store to download Beetagg Reader Pro.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

In association with CANADIAN

AUTOMOTIVE Technician

August 2014 SSGM 3

14-08-07 8:43 AM

|| Tom’s Editorial

Sometimes, you can only shake your head M

By Tom Venetis, Editor

If this is your idea of political protest, why not simplify things and throw money out your window while driving down the road? It seems a lot more efficient than modifying your engine and smokestacks.

aybe it is the weather or the late summer doldrums, but this has got to be one of the silliest political protest gestures I’ve come across. Some truck owners in the United States are voicing their displeasure at President Obama and environmentalists by engaging in Rolling Coal. Haven’t heard of it? I’m not too surprised. Men and women who want to stick it to the President, environmentalists, Liberals and anyone driving a Prius can, for as little as US$500, modify their diesel trucks so that the engines can be tricked to burn more fuel.

The resulting black and sooty smoke then billows out of modified smokestacks or exhausts to blacken the air around the politically offending vehicle or person.

There is a growing number of videos on YouTube of drivers of these modified trucks blowing smoke towards electric vehicles, cyclists, EPA employees and just about anyone identified as Liberal or just holding an opinion different from their own.

As a political protest, this is about as dumb as they come. Even if you agree with the sentiments, I don’t believe you are actually winning any converts by blowing black smoke. In all the videos, you get the feeling that while the folks may say they are protesting government regulation, subsidies to electric vehicle owners or EPA regulations, what they really are engaging in is a new way of being jerks, just with a political patina added.

Worse, they are certainly not helping their vehicle engines with these stunts.

By modifying engines to produce great, billowing amounts of black smoke, you are doing two things. Burning more fuel simply means you are burning more money. With the cost of diesel fuel near the cost of gasoline, the idea that you want to deliberately decrease your fuel efficiency seems . . . well, just dumb. If this is your idea of political protest, why not simplify things and throw money out your window while driving down the road? It seems a lot more efficient than modifying your engine and smokestacks.

Then there is the soot that is produced. It may seem funny to blow the stuff onto someone’s electric vehicle or into the faces of cyclists as the chortling by the truck drivers on the videos suggests. There is just one problem. That soot also gets into your diesel engine. Roll Coal enough times and you will damage your engine. So once more, I have to ask is why someone thinks that courting potentially expensive engine repairs is a great form of political protest?

Before some Canadians take up this idea, we at SSGM have always advocated proper vehicle maintenance so we can’t condone actions that would deliberately cause damage to one’s vehicle or harm to others.

And it is illegal in the province as well.

What do you think?

Have your say and speak your mind! letterstotheeditor@ssgm.com 4 SSGM August 2014

p 04 August Editorial.indd 4

www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 8:47 AM

Shift gears to grow your business.

How would you like to get your customers to come back more often?

With the easy-to-use Vicinity™ rewards program you can recognize and reward your customers for more frequent visits.

Vicinity is a turnkey rewards and marketing platform that leverages NFC or ‘tap’ technology to allow you to reward your loyal customers and communicate with them on a one-to-one basis through texts and emails.

With the Vicinity rewards program, you can turn your occasional customers into regulars by rewarding them for their loyalty and get them back in to your establishment more often.

Free 30-day trial.* No contract. No cancellation fee.

Call now!

1 844-325-8031 vicinitywelcome.ca/auto

* Offer available for a limited time and subject to change without notice. Customer must return equipment at the end of the trial period.

p 05 roger.indd 5 DOCKET 14_0039_VI-print-Service Stations CLIENT: Vicinity -

David,

Tina, Version: 4

14-07-22 1:15 PM

|| News Briefs Seventy-Five Years for AARO AARO is celebrating 75 years this September 27th in Niagara Falls, Ont. The evening will begin with a welcome reception, dinner and entertainment with “That 60’s Show.” Tickets are still available by contacting AARO at 1-800-268-5400 or on their web site www.aaro.ca.

Mitchell 1 Adds New SureTrack Video to Web Site Mitchell 1 announced it has added a new video titled SureTrack: The Fastest Path to Fixed, to its web site at www.mitchell1.com. The brief video provides a close-up look at how SureTrack helps technicians fix cars faster and with more confidence. SureTrack is an easy-to-search system that brings together a unique combination of intelligence and expertise to help aftermarket automotive shops increase accuracy and shop productivity, from diagnosis to completed repair.

In the video, Ben Johnson, Mitchell 1’s director of product development, shares some highlights of how SureTrack’s Real Fixes from actual technicians, along with the complete OEM repair information in ProDemand, work together to help auto service professionals work more efficiently.

“At Mitchell 1, we understand how diagnosing today’s complex vehicles can be a challenge. That’s why we developed SureTrack – our latest information source in the ProDemand product line that brings industry experience into the system,” said Johnson. “With full OEM content and millions of experiencebased articles, ProDemand and SureTrack together deliver the industry’s most complete shop solution to increase efficiency and simplify everyday tasks for automotive professionals.”

SureTrack is integrated with ProDemand, Mitchell 1’s OEM repair information solution, giving shops an end-toend solution for diagnosing, estimating

Philips Windshield Treatment Kit Instructional Video Philips Automotive North America, a division of Royal Philips, has released a new instructional video to support their new Philips Windshield Treatment Kit. The video, titled “Windshield Treatment Kit Video,” shows drivers the exact steps they need to take to help improve their field of vision in difficult driving conditions. The video demonstrates the proper procedures for preparing their windshield and applying the glass treatment.

The Philips Windshield Treatment Kit features a hydrophobic technology, which is designed to coat the windshield glass, making it easier to remove items that may obstruct the driver’s vision. Ice, dirt and even bugs can be removed more easily once the treatment has been applied. The windshield treatment lasts for up to six months after application and the hydrophobic technology is car wash resistant.

In addition to showing the proper techniques for cleaning the windshield glass thoroughly and applying the glass treatment, the video also addresses proper preparation and conditions for application. The video shows the remarkable difference between treated and untreated areas on a windshield when rainy weather is simulated. It also advises users on the safety implications of having a dirty or obstructed windshield.

According to Ann-Marie Hines, senior marketing manager, Philips Automotive, “Driving in wet weather is inherently dangerous, and your driving risks increase considerably with the inability to see clearly through your windshield.

So using our new Philips Windshield Treatment Kit can enhance a driver’s ability to see in inclement weather, increasing the margin of safety.”

6 SSGM August 2014

p 6,8,10,29 August news.indd 6

and performing the needed repairs. SureTrack combines diagnostic experience with repair timesavers and detailed parts replacement records, all wrapped in an interactive community of thousands of repair professionals and expert technicians. Mitchell 1’s 1Search feature delivers this information together in a single location so technicians no longer have to search multiple databases with multiple logins and subscriptions to find the data they need to complete the repair.

ACDelco Releases New Battery Catalogue The new ACDelco Battery Catalogue is now available at www.TechconnectCanada.com under the Catalogues tab. The catalogue features automotive battery reset and locator procedures.

The reset procedures indicate which vehicle components are impacted when the battery is disconnected and also includes reset directions. The automotive section also includes a battery locator diagram to quickly locate where the battery is housed in the vehicle.

The “compare” feature in the Battery Catalogue allows a side-by-side view of multiple batteries with applicable technical information. The technical information details battery voltage, dimensions, post location, cold cranking amps at zero and 32 degrees, reserve capacity and more.

The catalogue also features an interchange search. Users can enter a competitive part number to find the ACDelco equivalent. The part search allows for a full or partial part number, and the resource tab contains information such as charging and testing procedures.

AAEC Announces Best of the Best Award Winner for 2013 Bob Greenwood, president and CEO of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd. announced that Extra-Tech Automotive Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta has won the prestigious BEST of the BEST Award for 2013 for the second consecutive year.

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 shop continued on page 8

www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:36 AM

Express Delivery. Unlimited Service.

Visit mbwholesale.ca – your best source for Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts.

Get the parts you need – on time, the first time.

Mercedes-Benz Corporate Stores have the largest GenuineParts inventory in Canada. We have dedicated parts specialists serving the greater Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver areas. Wholesale customers receive priority service for pick-up at our parts counters, wholesale pricing and group rates.

Corporate Store Locations

Wholesale Parts Customers benefit from: • Our knowledge-base of all models and years • Same-day delivery of in-stock items • Next-day/express delivery for special orders • GenuineParts made to original specifications • Quality, fit, performance and safety • Comprehensive warranty on parts

Mercedes-Benz Mississauga

Mercedes-Benz West Island

(905) 593-2250

(888) 887-3125

Mercedes-Benz Downtown

Mercedes-Benz Midtown

Mercedes-Benz Vancouver

(647) 426-0780

(647) 426-9891

(604) 736-3179

Mercedes-Benz Thornhill

Mercedes-Benz Maple

Mercedes-Benz Boundary Road

(416) 695-8300

(905) 585-9310

(604) 639-3306

Mercedes-Benz Markham

Mercedes-Benz Etobicoke

Mercedes-Benz Richmond

(905) 480-1600

(647) 288-0122

(604) 304-6651

Mercedes-Benz Newmarket

Mercedes-Benz Green Lane

Mercedes-Benz North Vancouver

(905) 853-6868

(905) 695-1998

(604) 984-7780

p 07 mercedes.indd 7

14-07-28 11:16 AM

|| News Briefs

continued from page 6

business measurements that are analyzed equally among all AAEC BEST clients.

The award was presented to Gianni and Doris Barbieri, the owners of ExtraTech Automotive Ltd., and the entire Extra-Tech staff with a surprise visit by Bob Greenwood on Monday June 23rd, 2014.

Mr. Barbieri said, “The Extra-Tech Automotive Ltd. team is proud to receive this award for the second year in a row. We would like to thank Mr. Bob Greenwood and Mr. Rui Martins and the rest of the AAEC team. We could not have improved our business culture and team atmosphere without their exceptional training and mentoring program. Bob, Rui and the focus group meetings with our peers have worked to help me understand business, employee, and client relationships so we could move our business forward and into the future of the very competitive automotive aftermarket repair industry.

I personally have grown to be a better manager and person with the continued support of the AAEC team.”

“The outstanding effort that the entire Extra-Tech team made during 2013 certainly has impacted this business. Their belief in the processes and the self-discipline to execute the change required has been amazing and this shop is definitely poised for an exceptional future. We are very honored to have Extra-Tech Automotive Ltd. as a client of AAEC and know that the careers for their staff and management will be very special in the coming years as they continue to move their business forward,” replied Bob Greenwood.

BEST stands for Business Evaluation Support and Training.

CRP Launches Brand Awareness Campaign For Its Rein Automotive Program CRP Automotive launched a complete brand campaign designed to create stronger brand awareness and preference for Rein Automotive parts, and communicate the brand’s unique selling proposition of OE quality, trust and reliability. The campaign is being supported by a multifaceted integrated marketing and sales campaign targeted to all levels of import parts distribution, from WDs 8 SSGM August 2014

p 6,8,10,29 August news.indd 8

Monroe ‘Shockmobile’ Rolls On From the countless smiles and “thumbs-up” signals from pedestrians and motorists to millions of views via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other digital media, the Monroe “Shockmobile” took the Northeastern U.S. by storm in June and is preparing to do the same throughout the Midwest as it brings the Monroe brand’s “Everything Gets Old. Even Your Shocks” message to consumers this summer and fall.

The Shockmobile is a 25-foot-long, 10-foot-high, translucent Monroe OESpectrum shock absorber that is visiting more than 50 North American cities in its initial year of operation. The custom-built, LED-illuminated shock is towed by a specially equipped sport-utility vehicle featuring matching yellowand-black graphics along with information on how consumers can learn more about the importance of inspecting shocks and struts at 50,000 miles/80,000 kilometres.

The Shockmobile began its Midwest tour in mid-July, visiting Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and dozens of other cities. Consumers can track the tour via the Monroe brand’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MonroeShocks) and Twitter feed (@MonroeShocks) as well as www.Monroe.com.

“Our first three-week tour was a lot of fun as the Monroe ambassadors visited customers throughout the Northeast. It was also a real eye-opener for tens of thousands of consumers, many of whom reported how ‘shocking’ it was to see a 25-foot-long rolling shock absorber that glows in the dark,” said Denise Hanefeld, marketing coordinator for the Monroe brand. “Perhaps most important is the fact that our web traffic at Monroe.com and follower engagement on each of our social media channels are growing substantially as a result of this consumer education initiative.”

The Shockmobile tour, which will include several popular college football venues this fall, is part of the Monroe brand’s comprehensive “Everything Gets Old. Even Your Shocks” marketing campaign, which is designed to remind millions of vehicle owners that ride control components – like other, more visible consumer products – wear out and need to be replaced. While ride control products aren’t as visible as many everyday consumer items, they play a crucial role in protecting drivers and passengers by helping to provide safe steering, stopping and stability.

To learn more about Monroe products and the safety-critical role of automotive ride control components, please visit your local parts and/or service provider or visit www.Monroe.com. Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ MonroeShocks and follow @MonroeShocks on Twitter. to professional technicians via a variety of communication channels.

Campaign components include: • Trade print advertising to distributor and service channels • Online banners with direct links to CRP and Rein web sites • Direct mail campaign to service retailers • Social media activities • Targeted promotions

•Direct mail campaign The program was announced

by Michael Palm, vicepresident of marketing and brand management, who noted, “This is the perfect time to promote our Rein brand and its unwavering commitment to consistently deliver the level of OE quality, vehicle fit and ease of installation that distributors and shops want. The growth of the continued on page 10

www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:37 AM

Local face.

Global brand.

“The Mobil 1 Lube Express offer provides me with a quality product with major brand recognition and the support I need to be profitable.”

Jerry Johns, Mobil 1 Lube Express Operator

Be part of one of the largest quick-lube networks in the world.* Give your business the chance to reach its full potential. Convert to a Mobil 1 Lube Express™ oil change center and get the advantages of the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand.

Maintain your independent ownership, receive training and support, and leverage the Mobil 1™ brand to help drive your bottom line.

• Increase profit potential with a premium product offer.

• Gain access to training, national promotions, and robust marketing programs.

• Operate independently with strong brand recognition.

Let’s talk about taking your business to the next level.

Email us at mobil1canada@exxonmobil.com.

*Source: 2013 National Oil & Lube News, Fast Lube Operators’ Survey. © 2014 Exxon Mobil Corporation. All trademarks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.

p 09 Imperial.indd 9

mobil.ca

14-07-22 1:19 PM

|| News Briefs

continued from page 8

“WORLDPAC Supplier & Training EXPO WORLDPAC held their third Supplier & Training EXPO (STX) May 15th-18th at the Orlando World Center Marriott. The event was created in 2009 as part of WORLDPAC’s vision to help customers better succeed in the changing aftermarket environment. It has since grown into an eagerly anticipated biennial opportunity for WORLDPAC customers to learn the latest in advanced vehicle technology, as well as critical business skills needed to take an independent repair business to the next level of service profitability. Attendees also enjoy peer-topeer networking and an exclusive opportunity to discuss products with premier suppliers and manufacturers at the evening EXPOs. During the four day event, more than 1,200 independent repair professionals from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico experienced nearly 500 total hours of advanced technical and business training presented by more than 50 of the industry’s most respected instructors including several who travelled from the United Kingdom and Germany. Each full day of training was followed by an evening EXPO and tools and equipment show featuring over 100 suppliers.

“WORLDPAC is dedicated to providing our customers the very best training in our industry,” said Bob Cushing, WORLDPAC president and CEO. “We created the WORLDPAC Training Institute [WTI] over 10 years import car market has increased the interest in our products and created a higher demand for top quality replacement parts. Vehicles are being kept beyond the 10 year/100,000-mile range and their owners are choosing to use higher quality replacement parts for their engine mounts, suspension components, fluids, belts and hoses rather than lower quality and cheaper alternatives. So the products that keep vehicles in operation longer will need to be very competitive. This is where the Rein Automotive brand is positioned to best serve the market.”

The CRP’s Rein promotion will also 10 SSGM August 2014

p 6,8,10,29 August news.indd 10

ago and had our first Supplier and Training Expo in 2009, the largest automotive training event held. We take great pride in continuing to offer training curriculum designed to meet the demands of growing the independent repair professional’s business in a challenging environment, and now our world-class STX event is consistently a part of that. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this event, only possible due to the tremendous support of our training partners, suppliers and customers, and we look forward to continuing it in the future.”

WORLDPAC guest attendees were equally impressed with the event. “Thanks to you and your team at WTI for continuing to have the energy and foresight to make educating our technicians a priority,” said Debbie Stuart of Sayther Auto in Austin, TX. “Several of our techs said this EXPO was the largest training gathering they’ve ever attended and an amazing organizational feat. Undoubtedly you have already begun planning the next one, and your dedication makes a huge difference to all of us here in the field. You and your team make a contribution to our industry that is unparalleled. We would be so much the poorer without your help.”

Over 120 exclusive advanced-level technical and business classes were developed by the WORLDPAC Training Institute (WTI) in collaboration with WTI partner suppliers including Autologic, Bosch, Delphi, Denso and ZF who, along with many others, also participated in the EXPO. Additional event highlights included: Bob Cushing’s presentation Innovating to Succeed in a Changing Market, Certified Tribologist Lake Speed discussing specialized oils and fluids, special tool and equipment show discounts, and a raffle featuring over US$150,000 worth of valuable prizes such as a fully equipped Autologic diagnostic tool, lifts, tire balancers, gift cards and more.

WORLDPAC’s inaugural Supplier & Training EXPO (STX) event was held October 2009 in Orlando, FL, followed by their second STX event held January 2012 in Anaheim, CA.

add some fun to the marketing campaign by injecting a touch of humour into its messaging. A key message to repair technicians is built around the theme, “Don’t be a Guinea Pig,” playing off the perils of using untested and/ or unknown brands in the marketplace.

The campaign will encourage the repair technician to go with the Rein Automotive brand to get an OE-quality solution that is ready-to-use and works right the first time.

Michael Cardone, Jr. Is EY Lifetime Achievement Award Winner EY announced that Michael Cardone

Jr., owner and chief strategy officer of Cardone Industries, received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award for the Philadelphia region. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Cardone was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on June 12, 2014.

continued on page 29 www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:37 AM

WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS. Most Ford and Motorcraft® parts now come with a two-year warranty that includes labour cost of up to $150.* Plus, our parts are designed to fit Ford vehicles and nearly all competitive makes and models. So, for quality parts, easier installation and more satisfied customers, choose Ford Genuine and Motorcraft® parts, only available at your local Ford Store.

THE NEW

FORD PARTS

WARRANTY*

DISTANCE INCLUDES LABOUR

ford.ca

*24 months/unlimited km (whichever occurs first) limited warranty applies to most car and light truck Genuine Ford/Motorcraft® Parts and Ford Genuine Accessories, purchased from Ford or Ford Lincoln dealers, that are found to be defective in material or workmanship. Parts and labour (up to a maximum of $150) covered for wholesale parts/accessories. Part and/or accessory failure due to: abuse, misuse, neglect, alteration, accident, racing; improper lubrication, repair, or installation; use in applications for which they were either not designed, or functionally intended, or not approved by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited; cleaning, adjustment or replacement as a part of normal maintenance; or failures caused by non-Ford parts, are not covered under this warranty. See your local Ford Store for complete coverage details and limitations. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. ©2014 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

_06ER4_41112_MAG_SGM_R1_PAE_Wholesale_Mag_En_8.125x10.875.indd 1 p 11 ford.indd 11

2014-04-01 2:50 PM 14-07-22 10:30 AM

|| Spark Plugs

Plug and Play

By Andrew Brooks

Today’s spark plugs incorporate new designs and materials – but the service side is still key to long life

S

park plugs, like most automotive components these days, are experiencing a revolution in technology, with advanced new materials and designs that promise to increase engine performance while lengthening service life. However, as with any other aspect of automotive service, the problem is to get car owners to pay attention to recommended service and replacement intervals, and to ensure that replacement guidelines are followed.

“We find that people do not typically change their spark plugs at these intervals as preventative maintenance,” says Tim Stumpff, product manager, spark plugs with the automotive aftermarket division of Robert Bosch. “Additionally, people sometimes put a lower quality spark plug in their vehicle than what they should – copper when the original equipment is iridium, for example.

This leads to a decrease in engine performance, as well as affecting the life of the spark plug.” The key is to use OE-quality or better metallurgy spark plugs, and to replace them at the recommended service interval Autolite Double Platinum Spark Plugs for proper engine performance, he feature platinum-to-platinum firing. adds.

Virtually eliminates gap erosion, “With the advent of vehicle techreduces misfires, and provides nologies since the early 2000s, it has improved durability. It’s the prenow become critical to use OEM ferred technology for DIS engines. type, or at least an OEM equivalent spark plug, as a replacement,” says Sukhneet Mavi, product manager with NGK Spark Plugs Canada Limited.

Mavi continues that the more advanced materials and designs of today’s spark plugs do extend the useful service life, but at the same time increasingly harsh engine operating conditions also have an effect.

12 SSGM August 2014

p 12,13 Spark plugs .indd 12

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.

For the most part, the replacement interval recommended by the OEM depends on the type of metal used in the product, says Jeffrey Boehler, chief engineer at Autolite. “For aftermarket products, the spark plug makers warranty/ recommend the change intervals based on their testing,” Boehler says. He notes that the OEMs typically have two maintenance schedules – one for standard driving and one for severe duty.

While there have been major advances in spark plug materials and design, basic sound practice is still critical. The best way to tell if spark plug electrodes are worn is still by measuring the gap and visually inspecting the condition of the electrodes, says Boehler. “The wear on a spark plug is on the electrodes. Over the life of the plug, the gap will grow as the electrodes erode. A gap measurement is the best way to tell if the electrodes are worn. If the engine is burning oil, or is tuned extremely rich, there will be deposits formed on the firing end of the spark plug that can lead to fouling and engine misfire [which leads to] reduced performance, reduced fuel efficiency, and increased emissions.”

The advent of direct injection and smaller displacement engines with turbochargers calls for a slightly different approach, and these trends have spawned the development of engine-specific spark plug designs, says NGK’s Mavi.

“These spark plugs have some unique features, like longer reach – some are up to 26.5mm – narrow thread diameter (12mm and 10mm) and other features such as 12-point bihex, hybrid multi-ground, dual fine electrode firing end, etc.”

These changes represent a challenge for the aftermarket, as special tools are increasingly required to service plugs, while www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:39 AM

y

NGK Laser Iridium spark plugs ensure a slow wear rate providing stable idle, superior anti fouling, improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions. It also features a laser welded Iridium center electrode tip. A platinum disc welded to the backside of the ground electrode provides long life.

some engine layouts require removal of multiple components in order to access the spark plugs, leading to increased labour time.

Get it right the first time

With direct injection engines, spark plugs have to be installed perfectly to ensure proper engine performance, says Stumpff. “If the spark plug is installed so that the ground electrode blocks the injection, the fuel won’t be ignited by the spark and will cause a misfire. To ensure this doesn’t happen, it is critical that the spark plug is tightened to the correct torque specifications.” This ensures that the plug stays tight in the cylinder, but also that that the ground electrode is in the correct position to allow ignition to occur.

“Direct injection engines typically have slightly higher compression,” says Autolite’s Boehler. “This, as well as turbochargers, increases the cylinder pressure. With increased pressure, the firing voltage of the spark plug increases. This translates into high dielectric strength designs or materials being necessary. It’s very hard to see a punctured ceramic with the naked eye; specialized test equipment is required.”

NGK’s Mavi cites the specific example of the new 1.4litre turbocharged engine in the Dodge Dart, where even a precious-metal spark plug has a relatively short replacement window of 48,000 km, simply because of the harsh engine operating environment. “Vehicle owners have to follow a very strict maintenance schedule for their vehicle - it’s important for technicians to learn and understand these changing operating conditions of the newer engine designs.”

Due to increasingly stringent government standards for emissions, as well as consumer demand for increased performance without sacrificing fuel economy, direct injection and forced induction systems are becoming very popular, says James Miyamoto, senior product specialist, powertrain product management with Denso Corporation. “To maintain the optimal engine efficiency, it is even more important to install a high quality OE specification spark plug or better.”

Deviating from the OE specs brings a range of dangers, Miyamoto adds. Downgrading spark plugs from OE specifications can significantly alter the vehicle’s performance, fuel economy, and replacement interval. “For example,” he says, “a vehicle that comes equipped with a long-life Iridium spark plug should not be replaced with a lower specification metal technology spark plug.”

For its part, Autolite has a technology backstory that includes unique small diameter designs, employment of precious metal enhanceDenso First Time Fit Spark Plugs — including Original U-Groove, Double Platinum and Iridium Long Life — are products built and tested to OE-standard offered to independent repair facilities. Each of these products is precisionbuilt for exact replacement. www.ssgm.com

p 12,13 Spark plugs .indd 13

Spark Plugs || ments to optimize durability, and a high-durability resistor formulation and processes that suppress noise and improve the efficiency of sealing. “We are continually evolving the materials, design, and manufacturing processes in order to provide advanced solutions for the most challenging engine applications,” Boehler says.

Mavi says that over the last four model years (2010-2014) NGK has been introducing 70 new OEM type spark plug part numbers to its program. “Most of these designs are so unique that we don’t offer any aftermarket substitutes - only the OEM type plug is available and recommended for replacement,” Mavi says. Most of these designs have newer firing end designs which could be broadly classified as DFE (Dual Fine Electrodes), SPE (Square Projected Electrodes) and PSPE (Projected Square Platinum Electrode). Each design differs in how efficiently it combusts the fuel mixture. “Most of these plugs types are very specific to engine configurations and cannot be replaced by standard design spark plugs.”

Image and text provide by Robert Bosch.

Miyamoto highlights Denso’s iridium-rhodium alloy products, which he says boast the longest durability on the market in addition to high resistance to wear and corrosion, while enabling smaller centre electrode design. The company is also working with “needle-to-needle” technology, where a second platinum tip is employed on the ground electrode to optimize spark propagation and reduce heat quenching. “The combination of this design technology and Denso’s iridiumrhodium alloy creates a longer lasting spark plug with more power, more torque and cleaner emissions,” Miyamoto says.

Stumpff at Bosch elaborates on the needle-to-needle design concept, which Bosch designates as “pin-to-pin” and which the company is also working with. This design, which is catching on in Asian vehicles in particular, enables the spark plug to use less voltage to fire, which decreases spark plug wear and enhances the service life. “At the same time, this allows the flame kernel – the initial ignition of the fuel – to grow more easily, and provides better engine performance,” Stumpff says. But he also warns that if a pin-to-pin unit is replaced with a lower-grade standard plug, the vehicle will experience a decrease in engine performance.

SSGM August 2014 SSGM 13

14-08-07 9:40 AM

|| Franchise

Franchise Advantage Franchise programs can help first-time business owners access the skills and expertise to become successful in a competitive service market

By Tom Venetis, Editor

There comes a time when a technician or service writer thinks about starting their own service operation. It is tempting. Being one’s own boss and operating a business in the way one believes it should be run. Many have taken the plunge.

14 SSGM August 2014

p 14,16,17 Franchise.indd 14

continued on page 16 www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:42 AM

Choose the right oil filter.

It’s not just another oil change, it’s a FRAM ® oil change.

FRAM® Extra Guard® Engineered for coventional oil

FRAM® Tough Guard® Engineered for premium conventional oil

FRAM® Ultra SyntheticTM Engineered for synthetic motor oil

©2014 FRAM Group (Canada) Inc. Fram.com

p 15 fram.indd 15

14-07-22 10:48 AM

T

|| Franchise

continued from page 14

here is just one catch. Transitioning from being a mechanic or service writer to an owner is more than simply hanging a shingle and saying ‘Open for Business.’ It requires a new set of skills and expertise that are different from those needed to diagnose and repair a vehicle. Too often, many first-time owner-operators of service operations have a difficult time keeping the business going or making a profit because they lack the skills and procedures needed to operate a business.

This is where becoming part of a franchise can be an advantage for those looking to make the transition to operating their own service operation.

What You Have to Bring to the Table One of first things that one will have to do is to leave the wrench behind. Once one decides to operate a facility as an owner, one cannot be dividing time between managing the day-to-day operations of the shop and running to the bays to work on a vehicle.

“As much as we respect automotive experience, we do not want the franchisee spending time in the bays working on cars,” says Randy Moore, president and CEO of Mister Transmission, a national franchise that has operated since 1963. Moore continues that persons most able to become successful operating their own automotive service business are those who bring a unique set of business skills to the table. These include people who have strong sales and customer service experience, understand business processes or those who have run successful businesses, often from consumer segments not normally associated with the automotive trades. “An ideal franchisee is one who is a service manager or a service writer at an existing successful automotive facility or someone from a dealership operation who is managing a service department that is doing more than a million dollars.

Those persons understand how to communicate with people, how to manage staff and technicians and know process management. They may be working in a big facility that they can never afford to own themselves, but for a minimal investment, they can be in their own facility.”

Franchise operations such as Mister Transmission, Midas or Meineke offer several advantages to someone just starting out. Bill Ketchem, vice-president, franchise development 16 SSGM August 2014

p 14,16,17 Franchise.indd 16

with TBC Corporation, which operates the Midas franchise, says that with the automotive service industry becoming more competitive, “independents face big challenges with promoting their stores, sourcing parts, and keeping current on the latest industry trends. A good franchisor is constantly looking at these changes and developing programs, marketing, training and supply chain strategies to keep in front of these changes. This allows the owner to focus on his customers, team and profits while benefiting from the brand name.”

Mister Transmission’s Randy Moore adds that what a good franchise partner provides is established process management. “It puts structure into smaller businesses that is sometimes lacking.”

Moore continues that Mister Transmission’s process management model is specialized for its market segment and helps the franchisee identify and leverage three key business segments. The first is the retail segment of the automotive market, making up 45 per cent of the business. This segment is of persons who own vehicles that are on average seven years old. The next segment is business sourced from existing automotive service operations that need Mister Transmission’s specialized transmission expertise and knowledge for their customers. This segment will send transmission work to Mister Transmission because they either cannot do the work themselves or cannot afford to tie up one of their bays for the time needed for the transmission work.

“We have to remember that today’s transmissions are becoming more complex, more electronically controlled and too big of a hassle for some to take care of,” Moore continues. “It is easier for them to ask us to take care of it or to refer their clients to us. A lot of automotive service shops use us as [transmission] specialists.

We don’t do general repairs, so we are not going to steal their customers. We are a value-added service to their customers.” The remaining 15 per cent is fleet business.

“We have processes from the time you open the door in the morning, to each telephone call that comes in for each segment,” Moore says.

“We have processes for calling accounts, we have marketing materials, training manuals and how to approach new customers and generate sales. We have processes for how to effectively talk with customers, how to provide them with car rentals, payment options and how to sell same-day service. All the processes we put in place are there to help the franchisee capture and grow the business. We also have procedures to www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:42 AM

Franchise ||

www.vdo.com/usa

help them on the financial side of the business; we will help them watch parts and labour costs, and parameters that help in hitting financial benchmarks to become successful and profitable.”

“For most successful business owners the transition to becoming a franchisee is very smooth,” says Midas’s Bill Ketchem. “They continue to do the same things they have done in the past, such as oversee the day-to-day operations, provide excellent customer service, and recruit and retain employees. We provide ideas to help improve the operations of the business, but franchisees are still the business owners and decision makers. A strong brand has the ability to attract more buyers through resources such as training, development, real estate, advertising, plus so much more. It is unlikely that buyers would invest in an independent shop when they can seek out a brand with a proven track record.”

It Is Not About Product Another advantage of a franchise is that one is not locked into sourcing parts and supplies from a single supplier, as often is the case with some banner programs. Mister Transmission’s Moore says the focus of a franchise should be on revenue generation and effective process management, while providing marketing support to ensure the franchisee is profitable.

“We allow franchisees to act as business owners and make their own purchasing decisions. At the same time, we’re involved to ensure that we maintain profitability and meet quality standards. Our franchisees are truly in business for themselves – but never by themselves.”

“One of the strengths of the Midas system is that customers can expect a similar level of high-quality service at each of our locations,” Midas’s Ketchem adds.

“To ensure that the customer experience is positive we require franchisees to participate in our warranty programs and to install only approved parts. We do not restrict from whom franchisees can buy product as we have many choices for approved parts. Our top priority is making sure that the customer experience starts and ends with premiere customer service and that high quality parts are installed on our customers’ cars. Our goal is to give you the ability to source quality products from vendors who will give your location the best overall service.”

SSGM www.ssgm.com

VDO: coverage, quality and peace of mind When you choose VDO, you can be confident you’ve made the right call.

VDO radiator and condenser fan motors and cooling fan assemblies are ready to install right out of the box. Every one is built and tested to OE specs and is backed up by real OE engineering expertise.

And, when it comes to coverage, no one beats VDO! • Radiator and Condenser Fan Motors • Cooling Fan Assemblies For more information, call: 800-569-5066 or email: salessupport-us@vdo.com Scan for more info:

VDO - A Trademark of the Continental Corporation

August 2014 SSGM 17 CO2413_SSGM_POM_RadiatorFanMotors_and_FanAssemblies_thirdVert_8-14_V1.1.indd 7/16/14 11:43 AM 1

p 14,16,17 Franchise.indd 17

14-08-07 11:44 AM

|| Shop Profile

The

Auto Guys St. Thomas operation focuses on quality and its experienced staff to keep customers coming back

By Tom Venetis, Editor Bob Ward decided that there must be a better way of doing things for people looking to get their vehicles serviced.

As a long-time veteran of the automotive service trade, having worked in service shops since his days as a university student in the 1980s, Bob has seen how the industry and customers have changed. When he first started, shops competed on price alone, from low-cost oil changes to vehicle brake maintenance and replacement at cut rates. It was a winning formula in those days as vehicles needed more work and service in order to stay on the road. Offering a competitive price or low price meant

18 SSGM August 2014

p 18, 20 shop profile.indd 18

a steady stream of people rolling into the bays. It didn’t matter if you only saw them once as there were plenty of others behind them.

With today’s vehicles improving in regards to overall parts quality and vehicle owners researching more about what their vehicles need, competing on price is not a winning formula anymore. Bob says when he started the Auto Guys in St. Thomas, Ontario, after being a Midas franchisee for twenty years, he rethought everything about how to operate a service operation and how customers should be looked after.

Bob says, “I wanted to be able to look after all of the customer’s car care needs and to do that we needed to focus on quality continued on page 20

www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:44 AM

T:8.125” S:7.125”

S:9.875”

Can a fuel take the things you love about driving – and make them even more exciting? It can if it’s Shell V-Power ® Premium Gasoline, designed to deliver optimum performance through advanced technology. Fill up today and let the excitement begin.

www.shell.ca/vpower

®Trade-mark of Shell Brands International. Used under license.

CRPSTA-14-05A_VPower_Roads3_SSGM.indd 1 p 19 shell.indd 19

14-07-23 14-07-24 1:04 1:32 PM PM

T:10.875”

PERFORMANCE THAT EXCITES.

|| Shop Profile

continued from page 18

of service and having our technicians have the skill level needed to do the work that today’s vehicles require.

We focus on the quality of work. Customer service is emerging as a critical differentiator for businesses.

When you bring your car into the Auto Guys, we set ourselves apart from the competition by providing services that exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Bob says that begins by first not competing on price or using poor quality parts.

In fact, Bob makes that explicit on the Auto Guys web site in a blog posting where he explains the difference between competing on price versus competing on quality. It is best to quote that post in full: “How many times have we heard, ‘You get what you pay for?’ How true it is! We need to think about value more than price. Automotive parts come in a wide price range that affects quality.

Most of the less expensive parts simply do not meet original manufacturer’s specifications. You will sacrifice safety, durability and performance. Professional shops should use professional parts and stand behind them with a professional warranty. When shopping by price, you are not comparing apples to apples. Cheaper price quotes mean cheaper parts quality and cheaper labour quality, plain and simple. Think about this when you are transporting family and friends. Cheaper parts don’t last as long as good parts, so you will be doing some jobs multiple times. This is where value comes in. Do a job with quality parts and you may only do it once.”

Bob explains, “We brand ourselves on our consistently high level of service, our warranties such as our two-year 20,000 km guarantee on everything we do and we insist on only using high quality parts on all the vehicles we service. We refuse to use low quality parts just to save money. Today’s vehicle owners are more educated about what their vehicle needs and are looking to 20 SSGM August 2014

p 18, 20 shop profile.indd 20

develop long term relationships with service operations. One way of doing so is making sure that service operations offer a consistent level of service and have technicians who are properly trained and licensed.”

“What customers want today more than anything else, is consistency of service,” Bob continues. “Consumers today want us to know them better on a personal level and they want us to know what their vehicle needs when they bring it to us. They want to know that we understand the maintenance and service requirements of their vehicle and to help them maintain that second most expensive investment they have, after their home. Our technicians take each customer out to the bays to show and explain any maintenance or safety concerns with their vehicle. If they aren’t in the shop, we keep in contact by texting, emailing pictures and videos so they know what is going on at all times and feel like they are a part of the process and have more knowledge to make an informed decision.”

The Auto Guys has three licensed technicians working in the service operation’s 3,600 square foot facility.

It has five bays, with four frame lifts and one drive-on lift for wheel alignments. The most senior technician has 18 years of experience and Bob says he can tackle any problem thrown at him, no matter how obscure or difficult to diagnose. The next most senior technician has 10 years of experience

and his newest technician received his licence last year after coming on board with the Auto Guys during the second year of his apprenticeship. Bob says his technicians are always taking training to stay up-to-date on the latest vehicle technologies, both through online classes offered by such parts providers as ACDelco and hands-on classroom programs.

Bob and his front counter service manager also take regular management training courses.

Bob pays his staff well, but he expects a lot out of them in the way of commitment to their work, ongoing training and their interaction with the customers. He has weekly meetings with the staff to discuss issues and to find ways to improve the service and operations, such as the roll-out of tablet technology for the technicians and service manager.

“Everyone who works here must have good people skills,” Bob says.

“They must make the customer feel comfortable coming to us with their vehicle and they must take the time to listen to the customer and to talk intelligently about their vehicle. Simply put, our staff talks to people, not at them.”

One challenge that Bob says the automotive service industry has is finding and retaining the right people.

“Too often we hire people just to fill a position and not hire for where we want our business to be in the future.

We often hire people who are not suited for the work we want to accomplish and where we want to take the business. We can’t keep thinking about where we are now, but where we want to be 10 years from now.”

SSGM www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:45 AM

A failed radio module

probably wouldn’t be your first thought for a no-start (or your second or third for that matter)

proven short-cut tests to find your fix faster VEHICLE SYMPTOM:

CONFIRMED FIX:

No Crank, No Start

Failed Radio Module

’05 Buick LeSabre 3.8L towed in. The engine will start and stall if the starter relay is bypassed. The power windows, power locks, radio, interior lights and Instrument Panel Cluster will not display or function. The scanner will not communicate with the vehicle.

The radio is connected to the data bus circuit. When the radio crashes the data bus, none of the modules can talk to each other.

CaLL 1.855.414.5221 TODaY FOR YOuR FREE TEST DRIVE! MENTION REDEMPTION CODE “SSGM.”

Sometimes the right answer isn’t the most obvious one. No matter what the diagnosis – from routine to random – Identifix will help you Find and Fix Faster.® Our industry-exclusive diagnostics eliminate the frustration of time-consuming factory flowcharts with short-cut tests and confirmed fix procedures. We even list fixes from the most to least common to point you in the right direction. It’s information you won’t find anywhere else. And our online tool, Direct-Hit®, delivers it faster than any other system.

Direct-Hit also provides genuine OEM service & repair information so you can finish the job with speed, accuracy and confidence.

1.855.414.5221 | ssgm.identifix.com

p 21 identifix.indd 21

14-07-24 10:11 AM

|| Chicago

Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium 2014

Turns Its Glance Back To The Future

By Phil Sasso

I

n the 1985 movie Back To The Future, Canadian actor Michael J. Fox travels through time in a plutonium-powered DeLorean time machine. In the last scene, inventor Doc Brown shows up with a reboot of the DeLorean powered by a Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor that converts trash to energy for the vehicle.

Although no trash-powered vehicles or time machines were mentioned at the 19th annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago this spring, some of the on-market and near-market technologies featured would seem as futuristic and far-fetched as Doc Brown’s time machine.

The two-day educational and networking event brings together industry leaders and experts to discuss issues and trends affecting the worldwide automotive aftermarket and influencing its future. This year covered topics from telematics to alternative fuels and the economic outlook to investments in the aftermarket by Wall Street and private equity.

Fuel For Thought Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations in the United States are driving automakers to produce cars with higher fuel economy and lower emissions. The demands are driving more OEMs to develop alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles and seek to launch them in Canada and the entire global marketplace.

First, let me assure you that although there are many alternative fuel technologies vying to become number two in North America, the consensus at GAAS seemed to be that nearly all the cars coming to your shop for the next five to 10 years will be still running on gasoline or diesel — with a few hybrids thrown in the mix.

There are several reasons for this: there’s still a big development curve; consumers are a bit wary of unproven technology; and there is no infrastructure for providing many alternative fuels. Besides, even if a “trash-powered car” came to market tomorrow and was snatched up by tens of thousands of consumers, the OEM warranty would cover it for several years before you would need to train and tool-up for it.

22 SSGM August 2014

p 22, 23 chicago.indd 22

Derek Kaufman, CEO of Mission Motors (www.ridemission.com), an electric powertrain engineering consulting group, covered the current state of a list of alternative fuel technologies currently in development. Here is a summary of his take on two of these fuel sources:

Natural Gas “It will change our industry,” says Kaufman.

“One of the things about natural gas is the supply of it. But the other thing is that it [costs] US$1.50 basically a gallon [less] than both gasoline and A map of Shell’s oil fields in North America repre- diesel. So trucking has sents over a one 100 year supply of natural gas. already adopted this.

They’ve gone CNG for local fleets and LNG for the long-haul fleets.”

CNG (compressed natural gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas) have been used in the transportation industry for about 15 years and have proven easy-to-use, safe and reliable.

But for automotive use, there are different considerations, says Kaufman. “It’s all about the cost of natural gas compression and the tankage on the vehicle. If you look at an engine, a natural gas fuel system is not wholly different than a gasoline system or a diesel system. But the tankage on the vehicle is everything.”

“Think about the fact that 50 per cent of our homes have natural gas in them,” continues Kaufman. “With a US$500 compressor, people like GE and Eaton and Phill now are bringing out machines to put on your garage wall, bring your natural gas car in, and basically fill [a vehicle] overnight just the way a Tesla owner charges their car overnight.”

On the commercial front, GE is developing “CNG in a box” technology. CNG in a box is a 400 horsepower highspeed reciprocating compressor and it fills a car at 12.5 gallons per minute.

“That’s basically what a gasoline pump does at any station,” said Kaufman. www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:46 AM

Chicago || A Honda CNG vehicle with an eight-gallon tank gets about 38 miles per gallon and will go 300 miles on a tank of natural gas.

“But I think the thing for the auto aftermarket to watch now is actually ANG [adsorbed natural gas],” Kaufman said. “That stores the natural gas in some kind of porous medium, typically activated carbon. That increases the efficiency and it decreases the tank size. And it decreases the 3,600 PSI tank down to about 500 PSI … so watch for ANG in the future.”

Electric / Battery Battery technology continues to advance by leaps and bounds. Projections are that advancement in technology will continue to bring cost down and capacity up. All electric and hybrid vehicles have seen a quicker adoption in Europe.

“About 25 per cent of Europe is start/stop now,” says Kaufman. “I would refute that just a little bit. I’d say it’s closer to 30, 35 per cent, going for 40 per cent. They have adopted it very well. We’re going to adopt it well, simply for the fuel economy that it represents. So I would say that will be on our platforms going forward.”

“The other thing that we’ll be joining is inductive charging,” says Kaufman. “That is a coil in your floor in your garage, but it’s also a coil in the road that can charge electric cars at stoplights. In fact, Seoul, Korea, already has buses running on an inductive loop. So the bus is not connected to any electrical source at all. There’s about a six-inch gap between the coils in the road and the bus that’s running this city loop.”

In the world of luxury electric cars, Tesla is the king. In 2013, the Tesla model S outsold Mercedes S, the BMW 7 and the Audi 8, according to Kaufman. What makes the Tesla story interesting is that they have had this success by going outside traditional auto dealer channels and have gone direct sales.

“So does electric drive represent a disruption for our industry?” asks Kaufman.

“Yes, it does, because it allows you to decouple the powertrain of a vehicle. You can put the power source anywhere on the vehicle that you want now with electric drive. And that means that you can change the way that you look at maintenance and service of a vehicle.”

Hydrogen Hydrogen powered vehicles “convert the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy either by burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine, or by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to run electric motors,” says Wikipedia.

The leading automotive technology today seems to be the fuel cell. The fuel cell vehicle is basically an electric vehicle that uses fuel cells to produce the electricity.

Kaufman only touched briefly on hydrogen, mentioning a hydrogen powered vehicle testing project launching in the year ahead.

“In spring of 2015, Hyundai will introduce the Tucson SUV with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain,” says Kaufman. The Tucson is a 134-horsepower fuel cell with a 100-kilowatt motor and a 1.4-kilowatt hour battery. The battery is basically there as a power boost when passing, says Kaufman.

The Tucson will be available exclusively in California with 1,000 vehicles in the launch and 22 facilities participating. What’s interesting about the project, says Kaufman, is that Hyundai will be giving free hydrogen to anyone leasing the vehicle for $499 a month.

SSGM Phil Sasso is president of Sasso Marketing Inc. (www.sassomarketing.com), a technical marketing agency providing advertising, public relations, and promotional services to tool and equipment marketers. www.ssgm.com

p 22, 23 chicago.indd 23

LIQUI MOLY offers manufacturer approved motor oils for every car.

Since 1957, demanding car owners in Germany have used and trusted LIQUI MOLY. Our company offers the highest quality motor oils and additives for gasoline and diesel engines.

Isn‘t it time YOU discover LIQUI MOLY?

www.liqui-moly.us Available at:

August 2014 SSGM 23

14-08-07 1:09 PM

|| Jim’s Rant

GM’s ignition switch saga: less than meets the eye R

By Jim Anderton, Technical Editor

Changing part numbers with each print revision would cause supply chain chaos, adding to confusion that already exists when new parts carry numbers that supersede older designs. The move to standardize common parts across multiple models is not only a unit cost control measure, it is also intended to control part number proliferation.

ecalls, once rare, are now so frequent that they barely warrant mention in the daily news. Of the recent batch, the mother of them all is the General Motors ignition switch problem. So far, 13 deaths in the US are attributed to it, caused by a simple issue: the key rotates back to the “off ” position, shutting down the engine and power steering, as well as the air bags. It should be noted that the effect is the same as stalling the engine while in motion … steering control is not lost, but the lack of power assist makes it more difficult.

Similarly, the media don’t understand that the check valve and vacuum operation of power brakes give enough boost and long enough to bring the car to a safe stop. Ironically, power steering has become standard on almost all modern cars and light trucks, despite lighter weight combined with the almost universal adoption of rack-and-pinion systems which make modern cars significantly easier to steer when power assist is lost compared to the behemoths of a generation ago.

Tragic as the fatalities are, the defect is not as serious as the mass media would have us believe.

Part suppliers to the OEMs either build the part to the customer’s drawing or design the part to the customer’s specification, but either way running changes to improve reliability, reduce cost (or both) are common. In the case of the GM ignition switch, reports of the keys turning back resulted in a running change to the design, one which was not accompanied by a change in the part number.

This means that it’s difficult to impossible to determine which switches are bad, and hence a massive recall. The mass media are reporting this as if it’s a criminal conspiracy.

The fact is running changes are commonly tracked by the print revision numbering system, not by part number. Changing part numbers with each print revision would cause supply chain chaos, adding to confusion that already exists when new parts carry numbers that supersede older designs. The move to standardize common parts across multiple models is not only a unit cost control measure, it is also intended to control part number proliferation.

That’s a good thing. But if OEM customer feedback results in a demand for changes that significantly alter the part’s form, fit or function, the customer will ask for and get a new part number. Changing to an internal spring with a slightly higher tension wouldn’t justify a new part number since the problem was a convenience issue, not a safety problem when it was first noticed.

But this is nothing new; it is continuous product improvement. Has the recall hurt GM? GM sales remain strong and other manufacturers are cleaning house with recalls of their own. With the desire to increase parts commonality across multiple models, larger recalls can be expected. No one in the industry wants to make bad products and in my experience with suppliers to the OEMs, cost cutting hasn’t come at the expense of safety since the 70s. Toyota bounced back nicely from their accelerator pedal issue, and GM will do the same.

What do you think?

Have your say and speak your mind! letterstotheeditor@ssgm.com 24 SSGM August 2014

p 24 Jim.indd 24

www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:48 AM

p 25 Proforce.indd 25

14-07-23 8:38 AM

|| Shop Tools

Power Play Air-powered and cordless hand tools offer techs the best of both worlds

By Noelle Stapinsky ordless power tool technology has certainly come a C long way since its NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) days, but according to Jody Baker, product manager for Matco Tools, there is still room for both pneumatic and cordless technology in a technician’s arsenal. “Air tools aren’t going away any time soon. In focus groups, we’ve found that mechanics still use air [powered tools] 70 per cent of the time, and we have a lot of techs that say ‘when I need power, I reach for my 1/2-inch air gun.’”

What Matco has in its cordless line-up of tools, it also has in a pneumatic version. “The advantage of air over cordless is its small size,” says Baker. “But we’ve been told that if the power is equal they will switch to cordless.”

When it comes to power, Matco released the MT2769, a 1/2-inch impact wrench, in December 2013 that is more powerful than its cordless version. An 18V 3/8-inch cordless impact wrench was debuted in October that Baker says is extremely powerful and considered equivalent to its air-powered version.

Packing a Punch Indeed, what technicians look for in power tools are torque, ergonomics and something that will fit into tight spaces. Milwaukee Tools has been focused on developing cordless compacts that pack a punch for years now. While cordless tools are convenient, in this case, size does matter. “Our Fuel Program [line] features brushless technology,” says Keith Potts, national trainer for Milwaukee Tool Canada. “We can make the tool smaller because the brush cartridge – which measures 26 SSGM August 2014

p 26,28 shop tools.indd 26

about 3/8 in width – is gone. That checks off the box for a tech trying to get in a tight place to loosen something.”

Brushless technology is a little more expensive to manufacture, but rather than having four pieces of carbon scrubbing on copper to create a magnetic field, brushless uses a ring of magnets with a commutator. “When it [the ring] spins, it creates a magnetic field and the stronger the field, the more power you get. In order to tell the commutator how fast to go you have to have an energy source in the battery to do that,” says Potts. “Brush motor technology was good for many years and kept manufacturing prices down, but it lost a lot of energy.”

Using trademarked technology, Milwaukee has developed a communication system called RedLink, which launched a year ago. Potts describes it as “cruise control on your drill or impact wrench.” The battery actually communicates with the charger and the tool. “What happens is – because there’s a circuit board where the brush cartridge used to be – when you hit the trigger a signal goes to the battery demanding a

continued on page 28 www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:49 AM

p 27 VL.indd 27

14-07-22 1:25 PM

|| Shop Tools

continued from page 26

certain amount of power,” he says. “What that means is you don’t have any wasted power from the battery as it’s being used as efficiently as possible.”

Milwaukee’s cordless Fuel platform – M12, M18 and M28 – features its Red Lithium battery technology, which communicates directly with RedLink. And in contrast to the old NiCad technology, the lithium battery doesn’t have a memory. If a full charge is four squares on the power gauge, but it only has two, Potts says, “you can put it on the charger and in 20 minutes it’s charged. That’s awesome, that’s productivity.”

Baker agrees. “What you’re seeing in cordless is a lot of technology upgrades. With lithium ion [batteries] your charge time can be less than an hour. And if you think of your battery like a gas tank, the higher the amp hours means that the battery will have a longer run time. So on the 18V it has four amp hours.” Current Matco cordless tools are delivering 33 per cent more in battery amp hours than a year ago. “The gas tank got bigger,” she adds.

Easier on the Hands Ergonomics are also a key focus for leading power tool companies. Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. recently added the CP7732 Stubby to its lineup. Its 4.4-inch length allows technicians to reach and operate in confined areas, and marketing communications manager Marvin Spehar says, “To increase ergonomics the forward and reverse control can be set for either the right or left handed mechanics. We strive to incorporate durability, ergonomic design and power into all of our tools.”

Chicago Pneumatic’s CP7748 impact wrench is a powerful price point tool that has an ergonomic rubber grip handle and forward and reverse mechanism. And the CP7759Q is designed for greater comfort to reduce strain, while proving enough power for most applications on the shop floor. This impact wrench is made of a carbon fibre and composite mix to make it lightweight and more durable to withstand shop abuse like being dropped or bumped. “By utilizing the benefits of both composite and carbon fibre the CP7759Q is both lightweight and balanced,” says Spehar.

For Milwaukee, the ergonomics are all in the handle, where the trigger sits between the handle and body of the tool. “For that soft spot between the thumb and the index finger, we took a little out so when you grab the trigger, it’s more comfortable,” says Potts. “All of our wrenches have forward and reverse torque. The most common ones we sell are the M18 Fuel 2762 and 2763… 700-ft. pounds of torque drive in your hand is amazing. And our 1/2-inch weighs only seven pounds and is easy to hold in one hand.”

Baker adds, “You’re always seeing better ergonomics and anti-vibration [being developed] for air tool lines. Whenever we do field-testing and mechanics come back with 28 SSGM August 2014

p 26,28 shop tools.indd 28

recommendations, we make those changes. “Our cordless tools have variable speed triggers, which is needed by techs because it’s very controllable.”

Cutting the Hose While Chicago Pneumatic is known for its long and rich history as an air tool manufacturer – dating back to 1894 – Spehar admits that cordless technology is more convenient with regards to not needing air, “and they offer substantial power. However, air motors are inherently more durable and do not require battery packs, which can limit reaching confined areas. Pneumatic tools are also not affected by external water or dust.”

That said, Spehar says to keep visiting the company’s web site in regards to the company launching a cordless technology.

Interestingly, Milwaukee, which has been focused more on its battery powered lineup than its corded, might shift its focus in coming years to pneumatics and corded tools in order to keep the Milwaukee family of tools full of options, according to Potts.

That’s not to say that battery-powered technology hasn’t met some criticism over the years. Some technicians complain that if a battery completely dies (or meets its cycle limit) it can be more expensive to replace the battery than it is to buy a new tool. “We recognized that and thought that’s ridiculous,” says Potts. “Our batteries have 4,000 cycles… that’s a long life.

And we’re very price conscious of that, so you can buy a new battery for $150, where the tool would cost more.”

For new customers, Milwaukee recommends buying a kit with what it calls a Dash 22. “If you’re buying a 2764-22 (dash 22) 1/4-inch impact wrench, it comes with two four amp batteries in the case. And all of the batteries fit everything. So if you have a combo kit – drill, sawzall and impact driver – but just need a wrench, you can do a dash 20, save $150 and just get the tool.”

Matco also offers a universal battery system. “It will be more expensive to buy a cordless kit than an air-powered. But you can buy individual components,” says Baker. “So once you buy a 18V kit, you can use that battery and charger with other Matco tools. It makes it easier for mechanics to buy.”

For technicians, torque is always number one when choosing a hand tool. Baker says, “That’s why we’re always driving to provide customers with more power. But durability and lighter and quieter tools are also important features.”

Power may be important, but many of today’s automotive tools exceed the amount of torque needed for typical applications. That’s why technicians should focus on durability and ergonomics, which will result in a better return on investment through long-term use and reduced strains and potential injury. As Spehar says, “Don’t jump on the power bandwagon. You will be using these tools for many years, so hold the tool, see how it feels and operates, and make sure it’s SSGM comfortable.” www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:50 AM

News Briefs || Veyance Technologies Expands Hydraulics Product Line Veyance Technologies, Inc., manufacturer of Goodyear Engineered Products, announced the addition of premade air brake hose assemblies to its hydraulics product line. These assemblies complement Veyance’s existing air brake hoses and hose adapters, offering customers the full assembly for the first time.

The new air brake hose assemblies deliver highquality hoses, great fit and durability, and are DOTcertified. The product features the use of Goodyear and SAE-branded hoses made in the United States continued from page 10

“It is with great pleasure that I accept this award on behalf of all those who have helped make Cardone a champion of innovation,” said Michael Cardone.

“Growing this business from a single room to over 6,000 employees in several countries was no easy task, and I owe my sincere gratitude to the employees of Cardone Industries for their tireless efforts to grow our business.”

Michael Cardone, Jr. co-founded Cardone Industries with his late father, Michael Cardone, Sr., in 1970. Today, this family business, spanning three generations, is the largest family-owned remanufacturer of automotive parts in the world. Cardone has received numerous awards for his achievements over the years, including the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association’s (AWDA) Automotive Leader of the Year Award, 2001 and Automotive Hall of Fame Young Leadership and Excellence award, 1982, among others.

with focus on the standard product line, adapters and the 3/8” hose. All-brass construction with metal-onmetal seal ensures that leaks, corrosion and movement within the product construction are not an issue. All assemblies are a fixed NP male, swivel air brake female and standard adapter.

Adding the premade assembly to our hydraulic hose product line is a big advantage for our customers,” said Tom Lee, marketing manager at Veyance Technologies.

“Instead of having to buy additional parts to connect to our hose, customers can now buy the full assembly from us, saving time and money.”

Gates Introduces Micro-V Aramid Belts Gates continues to be a leader in the development of automotive accessory drive belts, collaborating with OE manufacturers globally to continually evolve the performance and durability of belt drives with the most advanced Micro-V belt technology, construction and materials in the world. Gates announces 11 new part numbers that are designed with an Aramid tensile cord for vehicles which utilize Aramid cord belts as original equipment. This construction creates an actual OE equivalent and sustains the integrity of the system – not just the belt.

The quest for increased fuel efficiency and higher horsepower is now found in highly evolved diesels, four-cylinder and turbocharged engines. To achieve this increased performance, all engine parts including the drive belt must evolve to keep up with the OE. These types of engines create increased NVH-noise, vibration and harshness.

One way to control NVH is to utilize serpentine belts with an Aramid tensile cord. The polyester cord was the standard for years for OEM belts and continues to be an excellent option for most belt drives. However, the use of Aramid cord is becoming more prevalent. Gates has been monitoring the Aramid cord trend in order to fully understand the extent to which the OEs are utilizing Aramid in their replacement belts.

Champion Brand Surpasses 200,000 ‘Likes’ on Facebook Champion recently surpassed 200,000 “Likes” on its Facebook page and is connecting with thousands of additional consumers each day through an expanded digital marketing presence. Champion also has nearly 4,000 followers on Twitter and attracts more than 40,000 unique visitors each month to www.AlwaysAChampion.com.

“Champion became an iconic brand by engaging multiple generations of consumers, racers and other performance-driven enthusiasts at the grassroots level, and we are building on this tradition through the power of social media,” said Jessica Wynn, group manager, digital marketing, Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “Our success on www.ssgm.com

p 6,8,10,29 August news.indd 29

Facebook, Twitter and in other digital channels demonstrates that there is a groundswell of interest not only in Champion’s impressive history, but also in our latest technologies for virtually any type of engine.”

Consumers connecting online with Champion have the opportunity to enter free weekly contests and follow the success of leading Champion-sponsored drivers in circle track, dirt, drag, motorcycle and boat racing, as well as drifting competition. The brand’s Facebook page and the www.AlwaysAChampion.com web site also enable consumers and racers to enter and follow the innovative annual “Search for a Champion” racing sponsorship contest and 10-week “King of the Road” face-off of North America’s hottest rides.

August 2014 SSGM 29

14-08-07 9:38 AM

Shield_White_2013

SSGM BAYWATCH Philips Vision, VisionPlus and X-tremeVision upgrade headlights Version 1.1 – 25 October 2013

Philips halogen upgrade headlight bulbs deliver 30%, 60%, or even up to 100% more light on the road. More light at night makes driving safer and more enjoyable.

Give your customers the headlight that’s right for the way they drive – from Philips.

To learn more call 1-800-257-6054 www.philips.com/automotive

New Products

DEI Introduces Silicone Protect-A-Wire Kit DEI’s Silicone Protect-A-Wire Kit provides everything you need to protect high voltage ignition wires using the latest silicone coated annealed fiberglass technology. This process provides a flexible, abrasion and chemical resistant cover ideal for High Voltage ignition wires.

DEI’s Silicone Protect-A-Wire kit includes 25 feet of 3/8” ID silicone covered annealed silicone coated fiberglass sleeving with heat resistance to 400°F, eight DEI branded tube ends, and eight consecutively numbered (1-8) tube ends to label plug wires for added assurance they are connected to the correct cylinder.

Design Engineering Inc. www.designengineering.com

Penray Plug Fuel, Oil Additives

Vision

+more 30 % light VisionPlus

+more 60 % light X-tremeVision up to

+more 100 % light

Penray Plus Diesel Fuel Prep is a technology Penray originally developed for heavy-duty diesel engines.

This diesel fuel treatment is engineered to keep fuel systems free of deposits and contaminants that can compromise the performance of fuel injectors and other fuel system components, all of which are manufactured to extremely tight tolerances for diesel applications. Keeping injectors clean will minimize plugging of diesel particulate filters (DPF), thus extending the life of the emissions control system. The second new product for diesel-powered cars and light trucks is Penray Plus Engine Oil Treatment.

Diesel engines are very different from gasoline engines in many ways, including operating with very high compression ratios that require the chemistry of diesel fuels to burn properly. A by-product of this diesel combustion is soot, which can find its way into engine oil past the piston rings and valve guides. The problem with soot is aggravated by the higher levels of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) present in some diesel engines.

Penray www.penray.com

Denso Double Platinum Spark Plug Denso First Time Fit Spark Plugs — including Original U-Groove, Double Platinum and Iridium Long Life — are products built and tested to OE-standard offered to independent repair facilities. Each of these products is precision-built for exact replacement.

Denso http://densoautoparts.com/ spark-plugs

30 SSGM August 2014

www.ssgm.com

PL1342_SSGM_BulbUpgrades_ThirdV_8-14_v1.1.indd 7/18/14 1 10:44 AM

p 30,32 Baywatch.indd 30

14-08-07 9:51 AM

Luk Tec Tip || Shop

LuK Clutch Diagnostics:

Main Causes of

Clutch Failure

Noise: Low Release System Preload

N

oise can resonate from many areas of a vehicle’s driveline. There are several types of noise associated with the clutch assembly.

The release bearing is most often blamed for being the cause of noise, when in many cases it is not the release bearing at all. For example, technicians often describe a squeaking noise emanating from the bell housing.

This noise occurs while the vehicle is idling in neutral, and goes away when slight pressure to the clutch pedal is applied. Technicians frequently mistake the release bearing as the source of this squeaking. The true cause is low release system preload. A defective or worn release bearing will make more noise when the clutch pedal is depressed. www.ssgm.com

p 31 Luk Tec Tip.indd 31

Modern hydraulic and self-adjusting cable clutch release systems require a preload on the release bearing. The bearing requires a preload of approximately 28 lbs. This preload causes the release bearing to run constantly on the clutch diaphragm fingers when the engine is running. Insufficient preload allows the release system components, such as the clutch release fork, to be loose on the pivot points. The fork will move around more than when the preload is correct, often causing a squeaking or clunking noise.

In hydraulic systems, the preload is provided by a spring in the slave cylinder. To prevent or eliminate noise associated with low preload, install a new slave cylinder.

In cable systems, the preload is

provided by the ratchet and pawl. To prevent or eliminate noise associated with low preload, replace the cable with a new cable. Replacing the cable will allow the ratchet and pawl mechanism to maintain the proper tension and provide the correct preload to eliminate noise. Additionally, be sure to inspect the ratchet and pawl for excessive wear.

Important Tip: A faulty release bearing will make MORE noise when a load is applied (clutch pedal depressed) NOT LESS.

August 2014 SSGM 31

14-08-07 9:53 AM

SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Cardone Announces New Parts Cardone has announced the release of 34 A1 Cardone reman numbers and 24 Cardone Select new part numbers. This release features new SKUs for the aftermarket including electronic throttle bodies electronic control modules, electronic brake assemblies and power brake boosters Cardone www.cardone.com

Clean Burn CB-140 The Model CB-140 is the smallest and most economical Clean Burn used-oil furnace in terms of initial cost. It produces approximately 140,000 BTU/hr. and is ideal for small garages, shops, and workspaces.

Clean Burn www.cleanburn.com

Philips Headlamps With LED Technology

Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate

Philips Automotive North America, a division of Royal Philips, has released its new line of Philips LED Headlamps for direct replacement applications on a wide range of vehicles with traditional 5 x 7 in. rectangular and 7 in. round sealed beam headlamps. These new DOT compliant LED headlamps feature the same innovative Philips Luxeon Altilon LED technology used in the latest luxury vehicles to deliver high-powered lighting performance, exceptional styling, and long lasting durability. Philips’ new LED Headlamps deliver powerful, precise illumination and a bright white 5600 K light output that is closer to the color temperature of daylight, while dramatically improving overall night drive visibility. A complex reflector design optimizes and evenly distributes light to create an ideal beam pattern and increased visibility while reducing glare. The innovative LED design delivers a lifetime that is 50X longer than standard incandescent sealed beam headlamps and helps create a ‘split-lamp’ appearance that offers a unique look, whether the lamp is off or on. Philips new 5 x 7 in. rectangular LED headlamp (Part # LED01X1) is a direct replacement for 6052, 6053, H6054, and HP6054. The 7 in. round LED headlamp (Part # LED02X1) replaces 6014, 6015, 6016 and H6024.

Philips Automotive North America www.philips.com/automotive

Air Lift Company has expanded its line of suspension solutions with the release of its new LoadLifter 5000 ULTIMATE air spring kits. Air Lift’s exclusive LoadLifter 5000 ULTIMATE air spring kits are designed to fit half-ton, three-quarter-ton and one-ton pickups equipped with leaf springs, boosting towing and hauling safety and comfort when drivers need it most. The new air spring kits provide all the benefits of the LoadLifter 5000 air spring kit line, which works with the existing suspension to deliver up to 5,000 pounds of load-leveling capacity, with the addition of an internal jounce bumper. The jounce bumper is made with Air Lift’s specially engineered, closed-cell urethane foam and replaces the factory jounce bumper. Virtually maintenance free and able to safely run on zero air, the LoadLifter 5000 ULTIMATE air spring kit provides a cushion of air that absorbs shocks and protects vehicles with heavy loads, eliminating jarring on rough roads.

Air Lift Company www.airliftcompany.com

32 SSGM August 2014

p 30,32 Baywatch.indd 32

www.ssgm.com

14-08-07 9:52 AM

By Craig Zuidema, Identifix European Specialist Certified: ASE Master, L1, Alternate Fuels and Diesel Engine

Identifix Tech Tip ||

Mercedes-Benz Misfire DTCs

Diagnosing W

hat makes diagnosing misfire diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) so difficult on many late model Mercedes-Benz vehicles is not only their sensitivity to misfire but the multiple causes of misfires. It can be caused by something as simple as a lack of maintenance on the ignition system, a fuel control problem or other fuel, air or exhaust restrictions. It can even be due to internal engine problems.

A fully functional Mercedes-Benz compatible scan tool is indispensable for misfire troubleshooting, as it will allow you to view the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) misfire counter data blocks. As always in this type of diagnosis, you first need to cover the basics. Use the scanner to read all DTCs, and then record and clear them.

Inspect air filters, check for vacuum leaks, false air leaks, crankcase ventilation leaks or restricted hoses, and test fuel pressure both at idle and under load. Give the spark plug wires, if equipped, and spark plug or coil connectors a thorough inspection for any signs of arcing, burning or excess brittleness of the resistive materials. Any oil or fluid leaks on ignition-related components, such as valve covers or leaky sensors, need to be fixed.

For engines with two spark plugs per cylinder use an ioncurrent sensing system for misfire detection. This is far more effective at detecting misfires than engine systems that use the crankshaft sensor/speed analysis detection method. As with all the late-model Mercedes-Benz engine control systems, injector pulse is shut off by the PCM on the misfiring cylinders to protect the catalytic converter.

Let’s look at three different hotline calls we’ve received on Mercedes-Benz misfires and the three very different diagnostic resolutions.

Car 1: 2002 ML 320, a rough-running, zero-maintenance vehicle with about 110,000 miles. The completely worn-out spark plugs had just been replaced; the spark plug wires and air and fuel filters were new Mercedes-Benz parts. DTCs P0300, P0301, P0302 and P0303 would not reset until the SUV was driven aggressively. Identifix recommended that the technician test the fuel pressure first, both at idle and under load and also test the fuel volume. These tests came back with no errors. The next test was to check for excessive exhaust backpressure. Since the technician didn’t have the necessary test equipment, he loosened the exhaust pipes at the manifold.

The misfire DTCs didn’t return after a test drive and the fix was to replace the flow-restricted catalytic converters. The clue to solving this problem was that all the misfire DTCs were on one bank of the V6 engine. www.ssgm.com

p 33 Identifix.indd 33

Car 2: 2001 SLK230, with DTCs P201B-1, P0301, P201B-2, P0303, P201C-64, P0304, P201D-2 and P0171.

(Note: The Mercedes-Benz codes are listed first, with the generic equivalent DTC after). This little two-seater would start and idle fine but wouldn’t get out of its own way when throttle was applied. Because of the fuel trim DTC and the pattern failure of the mass airflow sensors (MAF) on these vehicles, the technician was not asked to conduct preliminary tests (fuel pressure, spark plugs, etc.) but to inspect the air filter and supercharger hose connections, and then use the scan tool data to check the MAF output. Idle readings were 2.2 grams/second (g/s) and a hard throttle snap yielded only 21g/s maximum.

The inspection found that the MAF was coated inside with engine oil and the PCV hoses on the front side of the engine were split and collapsed. Identifix recommended that the technician clean the MAF with a MAF cleaner, clean out the intake hoses, remove and clean out the intercooler, replace the hoses for the crankcase ventilation system, and remove the valve cover and clean out the passages for the breather inside.

When this was completed, the car ran smooth and MAF output under load came up to 110 g/s. Though this was still a little less than desired, the car never set DTCs again.

Car 3: 2002 S600 originally had multiple misfire DTCs that would set intermittently on all 12 cylinders. MercedesBenz had many problems with these vehicles setting misfire DTCs when the vehicles were under warranty and issued a special troubleshooting diagnostic guide. The technician had already been through the guide, forward and backward.

Using a star diagnosis machine to view the data screens for the ignition, all the input PIDs looked OK. After many repairs the car continued to set a code P0307 intermittently.

The code would only set after a road test; running the car in the shop all day never produced a fault.

After using up all our good ideas, the only thing left to do was a complete pinout of the ME-SFI PCM, which had already been replaced along with almost everything else. This led to the discovery of a seemingly insignificant voltage drop at the #7 injector. Disconnecting everything and load testing the harness with an old-fashioned headlight bulb showed a dim bulb on the #7 injector connector. Stripping the wiring harness back a few inches from the connector located a poorly made crimp splice in the harness. Fixing and soldering over the crimp splice took care of the intermittent misfire on the #7 injector. The moral of this one … don’t give up!

SSGM August 2014 SSGM 33

14-08-07 9:55 AM

SSGM Automotive Automotive Internet Directory Internet Directory Service Station and Garage Management

.com

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

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

Tofind findout outhow howyour yourorganization organization can included in this directory on web, the web, contact marc@ssgm.com.

To can bebe included in this directory andand on the contact aross@jobbernews.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

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.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

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.

The Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd www.aaec.ca AAEC - BEST - Business Evaluation Support & Training - Instructing and Coaching with the Proven Business Management Tools that drives a shop’s Bottom Line, Team Culture and Marketplace Credibility.

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

Vehicle Integrity Manager www.vehicleim.com/ More than just a replacement for your inspection sheet.

Electronic Inspections are just the beginning!

S.B International Inc. www.sbintl.com “We keep engines humming”

ADVERTISERS INDEX

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

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.

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

Your one stop for specialized diagnostic tools and accessories.

Contact; www.auto-know.com, ronbrown@on. aibn.com, 1-800-665-8773

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTORS & BUYING GROUPS Bestbuy Distributors Limited www.bestbuydistributors.ca Independent buying group and warehouse distributor that allocates its profits to member shareholders and provides unbeatable value for independent jobbers.

The E.R.I. Group www.theerigroup.com Canada’s Premier Machine Shop Buying Group

Marketplace

Company Page # Advics North America (www.advics-na.com).....................................................................................IBC Agna Brakes (www.agnabrakes.com) IFC Advertiser Page................................................................................................ # Website Advertiser Page # Website Aisin Industries (www.aisinusa.com) ................................................................................................... 31 Akebono Brake Corporation (www.akebonobrakes.com) ....................................................................11 Proforce Automotive..................... 25..........www.proforceautomotive.com ACDelco.........................................

36............www.TechConnectCanada.com Arkema Industries (www.arkema-inc.com) .......................................................................................... 30 Arnott Industries (www.arnottindustries.com) ......................................................................................

37 BMW Group Canada.....................

Shell Canada.................................

35.............................www.pass.bmw.com 19...........................www.shell.ca/vpower Bestbuy Distributors Limited (www.bestbuydistributors.ca) ................................................................... 9 Chevron Global Lubricants (www.chevronlubricants.com) .............................................................

OBC Ford Motor Company.

UCI-Fram Group............................ ...................

11..........................................www.ford.ca 15.....................................www.Fram.com Federal-Mogul Corp./Fel-Pro Gaskets (www.federalmogul.com, www.felpro-only.com) .................... 29 Reach Key Aftermarket Players.

Federal-Mogul Corp./Wagner Brake (www.federalmogul.com, www.WagnerBrake.com) ................. 21 Identifix....................................21,33......................www.ssgm.identifix.com VDO...............................................

17................................www.vdo.com/usa Inroble International (www.inroble.com)............................................................................................... 25 Across Canada. Every month.

PIAA Corporation (www.piaa.com) ...................................................................................................... 22 Imperial Oil..................................... 9.......................................www.mobil.ca Vicinity...........................................From 5..........www.vicinitywelcome.ca/auto less than $150 a month.

Proforce Automotive (www.proforceautomotive.com) .......................................................................... 15 For more info, contact the Promax Auto Parts Depot (www.autopartsdepot.ca) ............................................................................. 5 VL Com..........................................

Liqui Moly USA.USA .............................

23................................www.liqui-moly.us 27................................... www.vlcom.com Schaeffler Group Inc. (www.Schaeffler-Aftermarket.us) ................................................................

7 publisher at Shrader Canada Limited (www.shradercanada.com) ......................................................................... 24 aross@jobbernews.com or Mercedes-Benz.

WORLDPAC. . .............................

7...........................wwwmbwholesale.ca . ....................................

2..................www.worldpac.ca/ready6 Tenneco, Monroe Shocks & Struts (www.monroe.com)........................................................................ 8 call toll free from Canada Transbec Inc. (www.transbec.ca) ......................................................................................................... 23 Automotive.......................

30..............www.philips.com/automotive TubPhilips O’Towels (www.tubotowels.com) ................................................................................................... 10 1-800-268-7742 ext. 6763, or from Veyance Technologies (Goodyear Engineered Products, www.goodyearep.com)............................. 13 the U.S. 1-800-387-0273 W-D 40 Company (www.wd40.com) .................................................................................................... 14 ext. 6763.

XRF Chassis (www.xrfchassis.com) ....................................................................................................

27 34 SSGM August 2014 www.ssgm.com

this is April’s index

JOBBER NEWS / MAY 2014

p 34 Internet Directory.indd 34

Buy. Sell. Employ.

Search.

Jobber News Marketplace Classifieds

29

14-08-01 8:30 AM

Original BMW Parts

bmw.ca/parts

The Ultimate Driving Experience.®

QUALITY BUILDS CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE BUILDS BUSINESS. REPAIR WITH ORIGINAL BMW PARTS.

Only Original BMW Parts are quality engineered for the high performance demands of BMW vehicles. Demand the right part for the job, build your customers’ confidence and your business. Order Original BMW Parts 24/7 with PaSS*, BMW’s online parts ordering system.

By using Original BMW Parts you benefit from: • Parts that are BMW engineered, tested and approved • Parts that fit right the first time • 2 year manufacturer’s limited warranty • Competitive pricing • Same-day delivery** For more information, please consult your BMW Retailer and visit www.pass.bmw.com. *Access limited to registered participants only. Certain conditions may apply. **BMW Group Canada delivery to most authorized Retailers. Certain restrictions and limitations may apply. ©2014 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.

p 35 BMW.indd 35

14-07-24 10:19 AM

p 36 AcDELCO.indd 36

14-07-28 11:18 AM