Dorman improves on OEM

Dorman products offer a new aftermarket alternative for customers with a unique design objective.

Serving the US automotive aftermarket since 1918, Dorman has grown to dominate automotive maintenance by releasing parts and components once exclusively available through OEMs. Today, it produces more than 80,000 products, with numbers growing every year.

Dorman’s approach is to offer an aftermarket alternative to products that have previously been ‘dealer only’. It starts with getting access to warranty data from OEMs in the US, and then creating aftermarket components that typically show up as warranty items.

Car manufacturers in the USA are mandated to make this information available. Now, with the help of local product managers in Australia and New Zealand, the range of new parts has been evaluated for local market needs, as will new parts as they become available.

What makes Dorman’s aftermarket parts unique is that they are designed to not just simply replicate the OE part, but also to fix the issue that brought the OE part in for repair. As a result, the design and build are improved to produce a better and longerlasting component.

IM Group’s Dorman product range covers passenger vehicles, diesel vehicles, and heavy-duty applications. It includes many sub-components that fix common OE faults, offering workshops effective and reliable solutions which also save customers valuable time and money.

Dorman has delivered its products and repair solutions to Australia and New Zealand for the past five years. Sold exclusively by the Innovative Mechatronics Group (IM Group), thousands of these parts and components are now available to suit a wide range of global vehicles.

The IM Group is the only authorised reseller in Australia and New Zealand. You can find Dorman products stocked at your local parts supplier.

For more information, please visit imdorman.com.au.

When the non-return valve in the intake manifold fails on the Holden A14NET engine, it can cause a cascade of problems. These Dorman Kits offers a complete repair of all damaged components, with a re-designed OE FIX manifold to prevent future intake manifold and valve cover failure. It also includes a PCV tube assembly, as this part frequently breaks during removal. The result is a permanent repair, done right the first time.

Part Number 264-968C FLEXIBLE STEERING COUPLER

Part number 926-990

This flexible steering coupler matches the fit and function of a cracked, worn or deteriorated original equipment coupler. Made of tough materials for durable, reliable performance, this part has undergone extensive testing to ensure a proper fit.

Suits: Hyundai (Various Models) 2005 onwards, Kia Cerato 2009 onward

ENGINE COOLING FAN MODULE

This engine cooling fan module is designed to match the fit and function of the original module on specified applications. Made of quality materials, it is engineered for reliable performance and durability.

Suits: Mitsubishi Lancer and Outlander 2000-2008 Part number 902-428

DIPSTICKS

Dorman offer quality replacement dipsticks as a direct replacement for damaged or missing OE dipsticks. Level marks are clearly distinguished and properly gauged for accuracy.

Suits: Various applications Part number Various

The very best car care products out of Germany are now available in New Zealand through CoolDrive, as Sonax hits the shelves

The premium Sonax range at CoolDrive offers a product for everyone, no matter if they’re an enthusiast or professional, or the type of vehicle they’re working on.

The German brand has a product for all makes and models of vehicles, and separate product lines for both vehicle owners and professional use.

The Sonax Xtreme range is ideal for DIY enthusiasts, with car cleaning and car care products for a multitude of interior and exterior uses.

Meanwhile, the Sonax Profiline professional product range and accessories are designed for automotive workshops, body and paint shops, detailers, dealerships, car washes, and commercial vehicle operators.

Available within the Sonax Profiline range is its industry-leading interior cleaner, rim cleaner, all-purpose MultiStar cleaner, glass cleaner and its shampoo concentrate, catering for all types of workshops.

All Sonax products available through CoolDrive are chemically compliant and approved for use within New Zealand.

The Sonax research and development department is constantly working on improvements and new products with a focus on the highest quality, effectiveness, and ease of use. They have delivered outstanding performance in tests by leading car magazines like AutoBild, Auto Motor und Sport, and Auto Zeitung.

For further information on the Sonax range at CoolDrive, visit cooldrive.co.nz

NEW COILOVER SUSPENSION SET-UPS CAN EASILY COME UNSTUCK WHEN SEEKING COMPLIANCE. RACER PRODUCTS AND SCARLES HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO KEEP CUSTOMERS ON THE RIGHT LINE

Racer Products and Scarles general manager Gene Rollinson says the question ‘what’s the big secret to getting aftermarket coilover suspension certified in New Zealand?’ is one the company gets asked a lot.

“More and more we are seeing vehicles fail compliance on suspension or customers not being able to get their aftermarket suspension certified,” says Gene. “On the compliance side, factory suspension costs can outweigh the value of the vehicle, and on the certification side, people are sometimes being given incorrect information about what they can get certified, or not.”

He says another key issue with gaining certification is that there is room in regulations for individual certifiers to interpret the rules differently.

“We now work with Custom Compliance Workshop to guide customers through both compliance and certification. We’ve found doing this before people spend thousands on suspension they can’t use saves them both time and money — and it means a lot more people are getting their vehicles certified.”

Working through Racer Products or Scarles also gives the certifier confidence that the set-up will work and that safety margins for drivers and other vehicles will, if anything, be improved.

Gene Rollinson is himself a talented racing driver with a raft of on-track successes and a gift for car set-up and driver safety. In addition, workshops also get the benefit of the 20-plus years of racing experience of director Chris Petch. “What Chris doesn’t know about matching the right parts for the vehicle and racing or street application probably isn’t worth knowing,” says Gene.

Racer Products acquired Scarles in March 2020 bringing the premier motorsport brands of Racer Products and the top tier performance brands of Scarles together under one roof at 41 Patiki Road, Avondale.

Along with Scarles came Mudstuck, the premier overland brand of high-quality expedition gear built for New Zealand conditions. The move has strengthened and improved all three businesses. In addition, Mudstuck has its own store based at Hampton Downs.

Bringing this pool of knowledgeable staff together means that when workshops call with parts queries or vehicle applications they can be assured of getting the best advice and the best price. “We’re even known to send people to our competitors if we think they have the best part for that particular application,” says Gene.

If your workshops need honest advice for your customers on anything suspension related, call 0800 RACER, or email sales@racerproducts.co.nz.

Are you looking for more storage space? Many workshops and parts departments find the space allocated for storage soon gets squeezed, forcing them to think of expansion. Instead of looking for new real estate, or knocking down walls to enlarge your parts department, BAC is encouraging logistics teams to make smarter use of their existing storage space. Based on their experience, they say many teams will be surprised to find how much space they haven’t been using!

BAC Systems is an Australian manufacturer of industrial drawer storage cabinets. BAC Drawers are designed to be set up by configuring the storage volume. In most typical situations, shelves are generally only configured by length. The BAC approach is to start by selecting the height of the drawer to suit your parts, and adjusting the internal drawer partitions and dividers to the exact size you need. If the required size changes when your inventory changes, then you can simply adjust the drawer dividers.

This is a significantly different approach to working with boxes on shelves. The dead space in boxes quickly adds up. BAC says that when upgrading to drawer storage, customers have often found their storage footprint decreases dramatically — often by 50 per cent, sometimes by 70 per cent, and sometimes by more. This is because drawer cabinets use a higher percentage of the storage volume available in a given storage footprint.

BAC says a significant number of New Zealand dealerships have converted to the BAC Drawers system over the past four decades, but there are many more who have yet to realise the efficiency gains of adding a few BAC cabinets to their parts or tools stores.

In addition to saving space, BAC says the parts department is cleaner, fits more parts, and that picking out parts is much faster.

To find out how much space you can recover and use, see bacsystems.co.nz, or contact its agents Advance Fluid Control at advancefluidcontrol.co.nz to arrange a site survey.

No doubt many families and adventure enthusiasts are gearing up for summer fun, booking accommodation and planning itineraries, but they could be overlooking a crucial part of their planned fun — their vehicle’s battery. Whether they are counting on a car, caravan, 4x4, or boat, a reliable and powerful battery is a must for every traveller. It’s time to remind your customers to get their batteries checked and get a replacement from ACDelco’s comprehensive range of batteries before a battery failure leaves them stranded.

Backed by the automotive giant General Motors, ACDelco is a global leader in the replacement parts industry. The brand is well regarded for its range of high quality and reliable batteries for automotive, commercial, deep cycle, marine, and garden applications. The range has been designed to provide solutions for the broadest range of applications, from popular vehicles to unique models, and everything in between. All ACDelco batteries are laboratory tested, field proven, and have undergone multiple quality control checks prior to being released on the market. All batteries also come with long warranty coverage which is an additional testament to the brand’s quality and performance capabilities.

Marine starting (M Series) batteries and highcycle marine (HCM) batteries by ACDelco are specially designed for marine and recreational vehicles which demand performance and reliability, high power, and deep capacity. Expanded lead calcium grids make ACDelco M and HCM series batteries more durable and powerful than batteries with conventional casttype grids. The M series cranking batteries provide high cold cranking amps and improved vibration resistance compared to traditional automotive batteries. The HCM series features thicker plates and more active plate material than standard starting batteries for increased performance. The HCM series is designed to be a dual-purpose battery which can crank and provide improved cycling ability when needed. Strong engine starting power and cycling ability make these batteries a suitable choice for a wide range of marine, RV, and SUV applications. Both M and HCM series also feature dual fit terminals for easy fitment of additional accessories

For those planning to travel by car, the ACDelco range of automotive batteries is a great option. The range consists of premium (SMF), enhanced flooded battery (EFB), and absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries. The Premium automotive range features sizes to suit all makes and models of vehicles. Featuring lead calcium alloy grids and full frame grid technology, these batteries are built to meet or exceed original equipment specifications from manufacturers around the world. ACDelco EFB and AGM batteries are specifically designed for modern vehicles with advanced systems such as Stop Start which put extra demands on batteries compared to their conventional counterparts. These batteries are built to perform in extreme conditions and challenging situations. ACDelco EFB batteries are constructed with full frame positive and negative grids, giving them the durability and reliability needed by Stop Start vehicles. The ACDelco AGM range represents the very best in advanced battery technology. They are designed with high compression absorbent glass mat separators which significantly increases the cycle life and improves charge acceptance compared to standard flooded lead acid batteries. These batteries provide high cranking power even when the state of charge is low.

While some customers will be exploring New Zealand this summer, others will want to dive into home renovation projects. If their garden is in serious need of a post winter makeover, garden and lawn mower equipment will be powered up for the task with an ACDelco battery. ACDelco garden and lawn mower batteries deliver high performance and a maintenance-free experience. The batteries are built with lead calcium expanded grids, housed in a rugged and durable polypropylene case with a heat-sealed lid to increase leak resistance. Additional features and benefits of the ACDelco garden and lawn mower range include spark and flame arrestors, high corrosion resistance, low self discharge rate, and lug terminals to suit most mower and stationary engine fitments. These all make ACDelco garden and lawn mower batteries a suitable choice for garden machinery needing a long battery life, powerful performance, and hassle-free operation.

No matter the application, your customers can depend on ACDelco batteries. ACDelco batteries are exclusively distributed by R&J Batteries in New Zealand. Explore the range today at your nearest R&J Batteries branch located in Wiri, Christchurch, Hamilton, or Albany.

For more information on the ACDelco battery range, please call 0800 546 000, or visit rjbatt.co.nz.

From humble beginnings as a family company, Trojan has grown to represent one of the strongest and most reliable brands in the sector. During this time, Trojan has become a successful manufacturer, distributing through New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific.

Trojan has close alignment with some of the top trailer builders in the country. A key factor in Trojan’s longevity has been testing products in New Zealand’s tough coastal environment which has led to the development of a range of products that are corrosion resistant and highly durable.

Trojan’s range covers couplings, suspension, hubs, brake components, lighting, electrical wiring, wheels, hardware, winches, axles, and much more. Trojan also distributes towing accessories and premium off-road towing equipment into the New Zealand market through partner brands such as Hayman Reese and Cruisemaster.

Trojan non-braked couplings are some of the most familiar on the market but, naturally, Trojan also makes braked couplings in spring or hydraulic versions for 50mm and 1 7/8-inch towballs, as well as a range of towing accessories and upgrade kits. In fact, Trojan manufactures almost all of the fittings for trailers, including suspension, axles, brake kits, hubs and wheels, lighting and electrical, jockey wheels, stands, body hardware, boat trailer components, winches, and security. Trailer safety is also catered for through a range of electronic brake controllers which have undergone detailed development to comply with New Zealand regulations. Trojan also supplies a range of load levelling equipment and alternative hitches such as pintle hitches. Trojan‘s range is presented in detail on its website trojan.co.nz, which also features a store locator. Trade customers can activate an account for easy purchase of all Trojan products. Trojan Trailer Parts are part of the AutoPacific Group, a world leader in innovative 4WD, towing, and trailering solutions. AutoPacific also distributes Hayman Reese towing equipment and accessories. Hayman Reese is one of the best known Australian brands in the towing business, having developed a broad range of equipment developed, tested, and built tough for Australia’s extreme conditions.

After AutoPacific Group expanded the range of outlets across New Zealand, Hayman Reese has become one of the fastest growing brands in the aftermarket for New Zealand’s burgeoning on and off-road ute population. The group is also the New Zealand distributor for Rola roof racks.

Demand for the new ranges was so great AutoPacific Group invested in a large new warehouse in Auckland in 2021, centralising distribution of both Hayman Reese and Trojan parts from the same warehouse. With distribution covered, AsiaPacific is aiming to add further upgrades to its e-commerce capability. Coming in 2023 is a trade customer portal for the group’s full range of products, and API plugins for web-based resellers.

The Hayman Reese range is detailed on its website haymanreese.com.au. It is probably best known for its towbars, including the X-bar, specific models of which have been developed to cover the range of popular four-wheel drive vehicles, offering high strength towing capability and multiple vehicle recovery mounting points. Hayman Reese also covers a broad range of towing related kits including high spec coupling solutions, brakes, lighting, and weight distribution kits.

It has gone on to develop sway control systems, fifth wheel systems, goosenecks, cargo barriers, and bike racks.

For more information see trojan.co.nz or haymanreese.com.au.