This year Repco are Bringin’ The Bathurst to everything we touch! So if you want more octane, more noise and more Bathurst, then gear up because this year we’re going bigger than ever.
Whether you’re on the Mountain or on the couch, it’s time to strap yourself in and get ready. Because Repco is BRINGIN’ THE BATHURST!
06 OTHER VOICE
It’s comforting to know your business has its voice heard in the corridors of power, driving positive change. But why and how?
08 ROADWORK AHEAD
With our roads in a mess, here’s a tip on where to head should you find you sustain damage to your vehicle as a result of hitting potholes in Victoria
10 SECURE INTEREST
The PPSR is the online database for security interests in personal property in Australia. Knowing of it could save you a fortune or even your business
12 NEW GUIDE
The automotive industry now has a comprehensive guide to help protect against unfair contract terms thanks to the MTAA
14 NET ZERO
At face value, it appears the uptake of electric vehicles is the most effective way to reduce transport greenhouse emissions. However…
16 EV POLICY
With electric vehicles charging forward, we need to get serious about what that means for consumers and the automotive industry
22 AT YOUR SERVICE
Third-generation family business, McNeil Bros BP in Warrnambool, celebrates its 50-year membership with VACC
24 CLOCKING OFF
A working relationship spanning almost 50 years ended recently with mechanic, Geoff Beare’s retirement from Garry Rogers Motorsport
32 BIG CHAIR
Sue Alford, Dealer Principal at Volvo Cars Doncaster, Volvo Cars Brighton, and Volvo Cars South Yarra shares her automotive journey
38 YELLA TERRA
The brand famous for its highperformance heads and roller rockers was founded in 1962 by the legendary Dave Bennett. What’s his secret for success?
44 IN THE KNOW
Technical this issue addresses the problem with Toyota’s 3.4-litre 5VZ-FE petrol V6 crankshaft position sensor fault and how to fix it
50 SERVICE DIRECTORY
Find everything from the latest products to the best business services you need, all in one place 52
BUSINESS INDEX
Take advantage of VACC and TACC corporate partnerships and services, and drive your business forward
WHEN you’ve got your head under a bonnet, in a 2025 budget projection spreadsheet, or in yet another Zoom meeting, it’s hard to know what’s happening in your world, in your industry, and in your sector.
That’s why it’s great to know you have a team of experts who are always in your corner.
A quick look at the VACC website (vacc.com.au/About/Submissions) will show you some of what’s going on.
This year, the VACC Industry Policy team has compiled and published submissions to government on:
• Australian apprenticeship services and supports
• Federal Government pre-budget
• Better fuel or cleaner vehicles (regulatory impact statement)
• Inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training
• Fair Work legislation
• Fuel efficiency standards
• Review of electrical safety act
You can read all these, and more, on the VACC website. (We publish some of this material under the MTAA banner for the betterment of the Australian industry, but know this: it’s VACC’s work.)
These submissions, though, are the tip of the iceberg.
VACC Industry Policy Advisors contribute to other important documents, such as the
MANAGING
David Dowsey 03 9829 1247 editor@australasianautomotive.com SUB-EDITOR Jamie Williams DESIGNERS Faith Perrett
Gavin van Langenberg 03 9829 1189 creative@australasianautomotive.com
CONTRIBUTORS
John Caine, Kathy Zdravevski, Geoff Gwilym, Shane Jacobson, Rod Lofts, Michael McKenna, Bruce McIntosh, Paul Tuzson
DAVID DOWSEY
YOUR INDUSTRY VOICE
recently published Unfair Contract Terms intheautomotiveindustry:Everything youneedtoknow (which you can also read and/or download at vacc.com. au/News/Publications) see page 12.
VACC also makes submissions and representations on your behalf to the Annual Wage Review, the Productivity Commission, the Victorian
Law Reform Commission, and the Australian Law Reform Commission.
The policy team also publishes state and federal election manifestos which are sent to relevant politicians, regulators and media representatives, all with one aim: to improve the working environment in the automotive industry so you can get on with what you do best: running a successful business. Enjoy the magazine…
Unfair Contract Terms in the automotive industry
Everything you need to know
1
the written permission of VACC. Advertisers and advertising agencies lodging material for publication in Australasian Automotive indemnify VACC, its directors, board, employees, members, and its agents against all claims and any other liability whatsoever wholly or partially arising from the publication of the material, and without limiting
other intellectual property rights, and warrant that the material complies with all relevant laws and regulations. This publication is distributed with the understanding the authors, editors and publishers are not responsible for the results of any actions or works of whatsoever kind based on the information contained in this publication, nor for any errors or omissions contained herein. The publishers, authors and editors expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person whomsoever whether a purchaser of this publication or not in respect of anything and of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance, whether whole or partial upon the whole or any part of the contents of this publication. Advertising accepted for publication is subject to the conditions set out in the Australasian Automotive
YOU’D need to have your head stuck in the clouds not to notice the condition of some Victorian roads.
When driving in regional Victoria, I’m constantly on high alert.
Whether through previous flooding events or the lack of road maintenance throughout COVID, we have landed at a place where some of our major roads need urgent repair.
I speak often about the need for drivers to maintain tyres, brakes and suspension systems in sound order. Motorists need to double down on this when going regional.
Hitting a deep hole in the road is dangerous at any time, but if your suspension and steering are not fit-for-purpose then you risk being unable to re-correct your steering following a big bang.
Safety comes first and your safety as the vehicle driver is paramount.
Hitting a major pothole can also cause structural or vehicle component damage and maybe failure.
GEOFF GWILYM
ROADWORK AHEAD
Here’s a little known fact: compensation may be available for people suffering personal injury or property damage due to the condition of a Victorian road.
The VicRoads website, under its ‘Notice of Incident’ page, outlines the parameters through which a vehicle owner can apply for compensation and this includes information on what infrastructure VicRoads handles and property damage thresholds that need to be met before you can make a claim.
Ideally, we need roads without vehicle damaging potholes, but we are in catch-up mode.
In the meantime, drive safely and obey signs showing road work or poor road conditions.
Want to hear more from VACC CEO and acting MTAA CEO Geoff Gwilym? Read his weekly column in The Herald Sun or join him – along with co-hosts Greg Rust and Shane Jacobson – on THE GRILLE podcast. There’s auto news and views, industry insights and trends, special guests, and plenty of laughs along the way. Visit: thegrillepodcast.com.au
JOHN CAINE
SECURING YOUR INTEREST
A retention of title clause (indicating that title remains with you until goods are paid for in full) in your contract or invoice hasn’t protected your interest on its own since the Australian High Court decision in GMAC vs Southbank Traders wherein the court confirmed that, in order for a security interest to be upheld at law, it must be 'perfected'.
This perfection is done by making a registration on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR).
Unless this is done, a retention of title clause is unlikely to prevail against others such as receivers or liquidators.
The PPSR is the online database of security interests in personal property in Australia.
The PPSR may be relevant to your business if you are: selling, hiring, renting or leasing on terms, or buying and selling valuable secondhand goods, or extending
credit to individuals or companies for large ticket items, such as rebuilt truck engines or transmissions. You should back up medium and high-value sales contracts whereby goods are provided on credit or terms by registering your interest.
To be clear, another party who has registered an interest is ahead of you in the queue should your debtor default or become insolvent or bankrupt.
Making a check of the PPSR (ppsr. gov.au) also protects businesses when buying secondhand goods: e.g., workshop equipment, computers, engines/transmissions for rebuilding, especially items with serial numbers.
A search of the register when buying secondhand goods will indicate if there is an existing security interest on the item. If there is a prior security interest on
the goods, they could be repossessed. Registration provides protection to businesses that sell on terms, such as retention of title or consignment, or hiring, renting, or leasing out valuable goods, machinery, vehicles, and equipment.
In another landmark case, several large gas turbine power generators on hire worth millions of dollars were seized and sold by liquidators. The owners went to court seeking compensation, but were unsuccessful due to failing to have them registered on the PPSR. Businesses can register their interest in goods they have yet to receive payment for, helping them to recover the debt and lessen the risk of losing the goods if the customer does not pay or becomes insolvent. The PPSR legally defines the priority definition of security interests, on a ‘first in, best dressed’ basis.
KATHY ZDRAVEVSKI
NEW GUIDE HELPS AUTO BUSINESSES
BUSINESS owners in the automotive industry now have a comprehensive guide to help protect them against unfair contract terms, thanks to the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA). Unfair contract terms are often difficult to interpret and can hide in confusing fine print. That’s just not fair.
So, MTAA, with the help of HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, have prepared Unfair contract terms in the automotive industry: Everything you need to know, a guide that helps vulnerable business owners recognise unfair contract terms, what they mean for their operations,
and what they can do about them, so they don’t find themselves in unequal and untenable situations.
The Treasury Laws Amendment (More Competition, Better Prices) Bill 2022 (Cth), imposing penalties for unfair contract terms, received royal assent on 9 November 2022.
Unfair Contract Terms in the automotive industry
Everything you need to know
The new legislation – which came into effect on 10 November 2023 – amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act 2001 (Cth) to impose penalties for proposing or relying on unfair contract terms. Ensuring standard form contracts do not contain any unfair contract terms is now even more important.
MTAA’s guide can assist business owners in all sectors of the automotive industry to ensure they’re ready for the unfair contract terms changes. As they say, knowledge is power. Unfair contract terms in the automotive industry: Everything you need to know is the ‘go to guide’ for automotive businesses. It’s easy to read and simple to navigate. There is nothing of its kind on the market.
The guide features 15 automotive industry sectors, with 41 unfair contract term examples, explained in plain English. The comprehensive information within the guide seeks to simplify complex unfair contract terms legislation to create a usable guide for everyone in the automotive industry.
MTAA has long held its commitment to the industry to provide information that is relevant and critical to its members’ business success. This is yet another class-leading example.
The VACC marketing team has also produced a handy video that outlines some of the unfair contract term examples, so there’s really no excuse for being uninformed.
Of the recent launch of the document, MTAA CEO Geoff Gwilym said MTAA was proud to produce a revolutionary document consistent with the vision, purpose, and values of MTAA and its members.
Download Unfair contract terms in the automotive industry: Everything you need to know from the VACC website.
AUSTRALIA is party to the Paris Climate Agreement, which endeavours to hold the global average temperature increase to below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
In Australia, this has driven a national government position to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
These are big ambitions, and the automotive industry plays a key role in creating technologies that reduce, and ultimately eliminate, CO2 and other greenhouse emissions from vehicles.
On the face of it, it appears the uptake of electric vehicles is the most effective way to reduce transport greenhouse emissions.
We shouldn’t, however, overlook the use of biofuels that can also be zero C02
BRUCE MCINTOSH
MORE THAN ONE PATH
tailpipe emitting and would allow the continued use of existing technology in internal combustion engines.
And there is hydrogen, not just used as a fuel source for fuel-cell electric vehicles but also as direct fuel injection when blended with conventional fuels and used in internal combustion engines.
While this is not 100 per cent C02 free, it creates valuable pathways to our ultimate C02 targets.
We can view hybrid mixed-energy vehicles, including plug-in electric vehicles that have a medium-sized battery and a small conventional engine, as crucial stepping-stones to our shared climate ambitions.
The automotive industry is not trying to dodge the inevitable here, we’re just applying the same innovation that has kept us mobile for the past 120 years.
Want to hear more from Bruce?
Read his weekly column in the Mercury.
JOIN THE TEAM AT SHEPPARTON BMW.
Shepparton BMW are seeking qualified automotive technicians to join our outstanding aftersales team.
You will be working in a state-of-the-art workshop with brand new equipment including your own dedicated service bay with tool storage.
With a consistent training plan to advance your career and in house support from management, we want to help you grow with us while working in the best conditions.
Our workshop is fully airconditioned for the summer months and built in gas heaters for the colder winter months as just two of the qualities you can expect to enjoy when working at Shepparton BMW.
For the right candidate, we will also have a $3,000 Sign on offer applicable to assist with extra tools or even moving costs if you are not from the area*.
Contact the Service Manager via email for more information – service@sheppartonbmw.com.au
Shepparton BMW Goulburn Valley Highway, Kialla. Ph (03) 5823 2940. sheppartonbmw.com.au LMCT 11720
*$3,000 Sign on bonus paid in two instalments, $1,500 paid after 3 month probationary period concluded and $1,500 paid at the end of first 12 months from original starting date.
WE all know I’m a true-blue V8 devotee. And the next best thing to eight cylinders is 10 or 12… But electric vehicles are here, and we all need to get serious about what that means for consumers and the automotive industry.
SHANE JACOBSON AUSTRALIA'S EV POLICY
International experience shows highly incentivised car markets, designed to encourage drivers to buy reduced or zero polluting cars, do far better than simply waiting for price parity on electric vehicles.
My mates at the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) are at the forefront of this change, getting in the ears of pollies and regulators to ensure all policy is fair and reasonable.
That’s why they were encouraged by the recent release of a discussion piece National Electric Vehicle Strategy-Consultation Paper on Australia’s policy to support transition to a cleaner transport fleet.
The paper reflects a global shift in vehicle policy and aligns with a broader ambition to reduce Australia’s vehicle and other emissions to net zero by 2050.
Australian government goals outlined in the discussion paper, while aspirational, are achievable with the right incentives and policy settings.
Examining how other countries have transitioned to cleaner vehicle fleets shows Australia can avoid many of the pitfalls experienced in other countries.
While countries like Norway and Sweden have significant hydro capabilities, Australia has the equivalent in solar and wind capability, which must be harnessed to meet our transitioning vehicle fleet requirements.
VACC welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the discussion paper. This will include a call to government to consider the transitional requirements of the existing automotive industry that has around 75,000 businesses and employs 400,000 people.
Many of these are family businesses who have provided services to their local communities for decades. We can’t afford to lose these valuable resources.
The existing industry must be integral to any transition plans. We have thousands of workers and jobs at stake and it can’t be taken for granted all parts of the industry will just transition.
Affordability and an adequate supply of new zero and low emission vehicles to Australia must be considered, given Australia no longer manufactures its own passenger cars.
Manufacturers deliver vehicles to regions where they are likely to sell, so government policy has to build sufficient incentive into Australia’s car market to make it a destination of choice for vehicle manufacturers.
Battlers need to be part of this transition process as well. We can’t have the creation of a great car divide that excludes people who can’t afford to be part of the fleet transition. Makes sense to me. Wadda ya reckon?
To find out about the latest EV skills and training opportunities available, contact VACC Skills Development Centre. 03 9829 1130 | info@vaccsdc.com.au
Best of the best
THE 2023 President’s Gala Dinner proved there’s plenty of talent in the automotive industry and lots of support for outstanding VACC events.
Over 700 members and guests from across Victoria and Tasmania attended Crown Palladium to support the industry night of nights, which incorporated the Automotive Industry Awards and VACC/TACC Automotive Apprenticeships awards and graduation.
VACC received a record amount of entries and a standards expert conducted judging and auditing to separate the close field which, this year, set the bar high. Chamber ambassador Shane Jacobson hosted the event, and the gala attendees enjoyed fabulous entertainment, gourmet food and beverages, magic, music, and dancing.
Here’s some talented businesses that proved they are amongst the best in the business:
2023 Automotive Industry Awards categories:
President’s Award
– Employer of the Year
President’s Award
– Employee of the Year
Best Small Automotive Business
– Regional Victoria
Best Large Automotive Business
– Regional Victoria
Best Small Automotive Business
– Metropolitan Victoria
Best Large Automotive Business
– Metropolitan Victoria
Best Small Automotive Business
– Tasmania
Best Large Automotive Business
– Tasmania
Special thanks to major event partner DENSO, and AIA category sponsors Podium, OurAuto Insurance, Commonwealth Bank, Haynes Australia, and Bendix.
Euro Panels
Best Small Business – Regional
Euro Panels is a next generation automotive body repair business based in Geelong, run by second generation sister and brother owner-operators, Carly and Jake Ruggeri. They understood their business must do things differently to get noticed by global companies. They began their exploration with a business plan in place; they had a clear path on how to achieve recognition. Their workshop presentation and authenticity reflect this. europanels.com.au
Morrow Motor Group
Best Large Business – Regional
The Morrow family has been in car retailing for almost five decades, with 36 years at Morrow Motor Group. Working partners Gavin, Wade and Shannon Morrow employ 26 team members. Morrow Motor Group has Nissan, Mazda and Hyundai franchises and boasts the largest automotive workshop in Horsham, along with the biggest used stock in the Wimmera. Its motto is ‘Committed to customer satisfaction’ and it seems to work. morrowmotorgroup.com.au
Autobody Solutions
Best Small Business – Tasmania Autobody Solutions is a family owned and operated panel repair business in Kings Meadows, Launceston, established in August 2021 by Ben and Kelly Jack. The team handles everything from car park dings to full ground up restorations. Starting with a small team of four, Autobody Solutions has doubled in size in 18 months, now employing eight people. Autobody Solutions focuses on old-fashioned service and quality work – with no exceptions. autobodysolutions.com.au
Essendon Panels
Best Small Business – Metropolitan Essendon Panels is an accredited, awardwinning smash repairer delivering quality panel and paint services for all vehicle makes and models. Family owned – with deep industry experience – Essendon Panels provides lifetime guaranteed work with a friendly smile – all while offering genuine parts and unbeatable customer service. Courtesy cars, Uber pick-up/ drop-off, and towing services are all part of the package at Essendon Panels. essendonpanelsandsmashrepairs.com.au
Carly & Jake Ruggeri, Directors of Euro Panels Geelong
TRUST. RESPECT. LOYALTY.
When trust is earned, respect is given, and loyalty is demonstrated, exceptional outcomes follow .
EXEDY has earned the trust and respect of OE clients across the globe, having supplied more than 300,000,000 clutch kits to their exacting standards. The majority of which are manufactured in our own factories to meet the strictest specifications for quality, fitment, longevity, and noise suppression.
OE suppliers, including NSK, Nachi, Koyo, NTN and FTE provide us with bearings and concentric slave cylinders to guarantee the quality of our OEM replacement kits.
All EXEDY OEM replacement kits include high-quality cover assemblies, clutch discs and release bearings. To guarantee correct fit and function, an alignment tool is also included in most high-volume kits.
When you choose to fit an OEM replacement kit from our extensive range, you’ll enjoy the same loyalty that we demonstrate to our OE clients.
Retire your way with a transition to retirement strategy
We all know super pensions give us regular income in retirement. But did you know you can access some of your super before you retire?
A transition to retirement strategy lets you access some of your super before you turn 65 and are still working. This gives you more flexibility and control over how and when you retire. It can also help you boost your super balance in the years before you stop working.
How a transition to retirement strategy works
A transition to retirement strategy involves accessing some of your super as an income stream before you stop working.
To get started, you transfer a portion of your super into a new Transition Pension account. Now you have two accounts: your regular super account, where you continue to put any super you earn, and a Transition Pension account that you withdraw money from (super you’ve already saved).
This additional income stream opens up many options for getting the most out of your super before you retire.
Transition strategies
There are two common transition to retirement strategies. Which strategy you choose will depend on your financial situation, lifestyle needs and retirement goals.
Strategy 1: Work fewer hours
and supplement your income with a Transition Pension
If you’re not ready to stop working but want more time to ease into retirement, you can use a Transition Pension to supplement your current pay and reduce your work hours. This means you can potentially work fewer hours but still take home the same amount each week.
This option gives you the freedom to dip your toes into retirement without sacrificing your current lifestyle. As a bonus, because you’re still working part-time, your super keeps growing too.
Strategy 2: Boost your super and keep the same take-home pay
If you’ve reached preservation age but want or need to keep working, you can use a Transition Pension to leverage super’s special tax rules to give your retirement savings a boost.
This strategy involves salary sacrificing more into super while supplementing your income with regular pension payments. Because salary sacrifice contributions are taxed at only 15% (likely less than your marginal income tax rate) and pension payments are tax-free if you’re over 60, these additional contributions and subsequent tax savings can boost your balance.
This strategy can look complex on paper, but the results are straightforward: same work hours, same income, tax savings and a boost to your super.
Getting the right advice
No matter your retirement approach, it’s important to understand your goals and find out which pension options will work for you. The best way to do this is to get advice from the super experts.
Spirit Super has a team of qualified super advisers ready to help online, over the phone or in person. This advice comes at no additional cost to members — it’s all part of the Spirit Super service.
Call us on 1800 005 166 to book an appointment today.
Old school ways
McNeil Bros BP Service Station and Tyres Warrnambool
IN July, VACC CEO and VACC Area Manager Steve Myers visited 50-year member site McNeil Bros BP in Warrnambool.
Although tyres have become a later addition to this third-generation family business, Noel McNeil and his three sons have been collectively pulling petrol and fixing cars on the site for 50 years.
Even though Noel admits he definitely wasn’t a spanner man, his expertise in finance and business management was a key element in the success of this proud family business.
Forming a team with his brother Neville 50 years ago they brought together a combination of Neville’s time spent in the oil and fuel industry and Noel’s learning in a range of local businesses and his qualifications in finance and administration.
Known locally, until recently, McNeil’s was where you went for driveway service and a change of wiper blades when needed.
Noel laments: “In those days, we had the time and resources to fill every car and check the oil and water. These days, the sheer volume of people at the bowsers and the economies in business meant we just had to change the way we did business.”
That doesn’t mean this proud local family business doesn’t still look after its customers. It’s in the business’ DNA, and that’s proven through generations of families still bringing their cars back to the servo and the garage.
Only Noel could do this, and his calculations reveal they have transacted around 140 million litres of BP fuel over the past 50 years. That’s a big number and its matched by an estimated 120 locals being employed in the business over that time, including many apprentices and staff who stayed with the business for over 25 years.
Noel’s sons, John and Sam, still work full time in the business and their brother Matt put in time there too before his unfortunate passing in 2013. John added that finding the right skill
set among young people and qualified mechanics was still the key to personal and business success at McNeil’s.
“There are mechanics and there are mechanics; some of them just inherently know how to diagnose and repair cars. The others do a good job too, but they are not the same,” John said.
John and Noel talked about the early days when they had to put the hours in and pay their way. Leasing the site for the first 25 years from BP and then buying the site outright in 1997 gave them a real opportunity to develop the perfect corner location and to diversify into tyres.
All this from a couple of kids who grew up in Bushfield and built their business across the road from the school they both attended (CBC).
Could a young person achieve this today?
“Yes,” Noel said. “There is lots of work out there for the right person to start and build a business, but it still takes a lot of hard work and dedication.”
When Noel and Neville started the business, they worked seven days a week and late nights when needed.
But ultimately, they built a business and a dynasty that fed the family and provided employment for the McNeil’s and many other families that worked in the business.
The workshop has an apprentice now and we all agreed that growing local talent was still one of the best ways to deal with entrenched skills shortages in the industry.
“We have a great relationship with the local TAFE, and we are always on the lookout for a young person starting their training while still at school,” John said.
“Best of all, though, is a farm kid with an appetite for learning and fixing things. You just can’t get any better than that.”
Geoff thanked the team for their support and engagement with VACC over 50 years.
“Some of our longest serving and loyal members are in regional Victoria,” Geoff said.
“We really respect their engagement with the industry body and VACC will continue to send out active area managers to engage and listen to members for many years to come.”
Clocking off after a half century with Garry Rogers
A working relationship spanning almost 50 years ended recently with mechanic, Geoff Beare’s retirement from VACC member business, Garry Rogers Motorsport.
Geoff joined Garry Rogers’ fledgling used car dealership on Springvale Road, Glen Waverley, in 1976. Geoff had completed his five-year mechanical apprenticeship at New Oakleigh Motors Ford, but the chance to work alongside Garry on a wider range of vehicles –including the odd race car – swayed the newly qualified apprentice.
Garry Rogers: “Without the luxuries of many workshops today – not even a hoist – Geoff knew what was ahead of him to get these cars running properly and, to his credit, he put his head down and did brilliant, thorough, work out of a shed that was little more than a double car garage.
“The work Geoff put into preparing those used cars was pivotal to the growth of my business, which later resulted in franchise dealerships with brands such as Nissan, Subaru and Daewoo. While the move to new-car sales took my business to another level, I kept the used car dealership and the shed from where Geoff continued to work and remain a core part of what we did.
“Geoff imparted a wealth of knowledge to young mechanics and enabled them to further their skills. I can remember mechanics at the franchise dealerships, faced with parts or processes they needed help with, stepping out of the shiny franchise workshops and driving down to the shed for Geoff’s advice and assistance.”
After a short break to work for the Stillwell Motor Group after Rogers sold his dealership business, Rogers lured Geoff back to Garry Rogers Motorsport in Dandenong South with the promise of flexible working hours, while the mechanic could exchange his spanners for the relative luxury of a service vehicle making pick-ups and deliveries across Melbourne.
Geoff has a couple of projects waiting for him at home – he has been active in Nissan and Ford car clubs for years – so he won’t put the spanners away completely but, now, he’ll be able to tinker in his own time.
Geoff said he will miss Garry and the Garry Rogers Motorsport team, but looks forward to more moments with his wife of almost 50 years, Arlene, and their grandchildren.
Podium is powering the Australian automotive industry into the future. Australia’s leading text messaging platform is helping over 100,000 businesses communicate with customers, schedule services and collect payments – all through the power of two-way text.
"Podium is so good that we have cancelled our traditional eftpos machines. I’ve never been more impressed with a software provider, and can’t wait to see what features Podium releases next."
Walker Parts open rate compared to 18% from email of texts are opened within 3 minutes of consumers prefer to engage with a business via text
Justin Walker, General Manager, Grant
Autonomy and profit: Why used car sales should be the focus for dealers
WORDS Steven Bragg, Partner – Motor Services Industry Lead, Pitcher Partners, Sydney
WITH the new car sector of the car sales market constantly evolving, and not always in the best interests of dealers, the opportunity is in used cars. From making up a large segment of the Australian car sales market to a smart way to bypass the supply chain issues plaguing the OEMs, used car sales offer dealer groups more control over their marketing, growing their customer database, and sales. Four key traits
While some dealer groups lost focus on used cars over the past 30 years, with all their attention on new car sales, the autonomy and profit potential of concentrating your dealership around used cars now acts as the platform for the best-practice dealer groups. This is because used cars offer four distinct traits that new car departments lack.
1. Bigger opportunity: The used car retail market is almost 2.5 times the size of the new car market and 3.6 times when you include wholesales (see Chart 1).
2. More control: Used car sales give dealers more control and autonomy over their business (see Chart 2), allowing them to choose where to invest, when to invest and the payback period of the investment. Further, dealers can choose to stock cars that sell, not what the OEM prescribes.
3. Better verticals: Used cars come with a significant opportunity to sell insurance products, aftermarket additions, internal combustion engine servicing, and finance.
4. Building brand value: Dealers selling used cars have the opportunity to build a brand around their business and unique product and service offerings rather than having to follow marketing guidelines set by the OEMs. Australia’s total used car market is about 3.6 million vehicles a year, around 2.5 million more than the new car market. The holy grail for car retailers is carving into the share of the privateto-private used car market, which represents about 1.8 million vehicle sales a year alone. Chart 2 compares the parts of the business used car retailers have control over compared with the hold OEMs have over them in the new car trade. Unlike a dealership that sells new cars, a dealership focused on selling used cars is free to create its own branding and reputation via the quality and type of vehicles it selects for stock. This means the
business can choose to stock the vehicles that are currently selling and popular in the market at the time, decide on advertising spend, and balance stock returns through its pricing. With autonomy over these crucial aspects of growing a car dealership, the benefits flow into larger profit margins too. Develop a plan
Like any other business opportunity, you must approach it with a plan that is supported by data and facts. Dealers need to build a business plan with financial models, marketing plans, used car supply security, demographic and sales data to determine stock holding, physical site locations, staffing, dealer management system, customer relationship management system, and timelines to execute everything. By taking the time now to set up everything properly, you can build your own brand and tap into the infrastructure and skills that already exist within your business. For example, look to international used vehicle concepts that translate high volumes to profitability successfully. Chart 3, details how CarMax, the first used car superstore established in Richmond, Virginia in 1993 and another dealership in Echo Park in Los Angeles, California, operate and its impacts on profit margins. As two successful but very different models in executing the used car only concept, the below can be used as a guide as to how the best operators perform. The sample for Example AU motors is an Australian used car concept modelled on the following assumptions:
Average vehicle retail price of $22,500. This would be variable based on localised circumstances. However, the transaction price needs to be in the volume sweet spot for used cars.
Transactional gross profit of $1,500 per unit is lower than the industry standard to encourage volume sales and high stock turnover to drive the velocity return on investment model.
Finance and insurance are estimated at 40-50 per cent penetration rates at $2,000 per contract.
Wholesale gross and volume are assumed to be an 80/20 retail to wholesale ratio. Expenses include all operating expenses and interest.
17,500 units would be spread over up to 10 sites delivering 150 units per month.
Get expert advice
With a profit of $8.8 million on selling 17,500 units, the Example AU motors case demonstrates the powerful opportunity of building your business around used car sales. But before you leap into building your own used car brand, you should consider the challenges too. You need to rebuild your brand and develop strong sales and marketing systems, which can take time. While shifting your business to a used car-only sales model can be challenging, the autonomy, ability to build a longstanding independent brand, and potential profit make the journey worthwhile.
Chart 1: Used car sales in Australia – 2022 calendar year
Chart 2: Control comparison between
Chart 3: Example: used car business models profit and loss
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Service schedules, service manuals, service bulletins, repair procedures, wiring diagrams, diagnostic hardware, software etc. Key, immobiliser and radio codes require VSP* status.
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SUE ALFORD
DEALER PRINCIPAL, VOLVO CARS DONCASTER
Sue Alford – Dealer Principal at Volvo Cars Doncaster, Volvo Cars Brighton, and multi-award winning Volvo Cars South Yarra – sat down with Australasian Automotive to share her automotive journey so far, what makes a winning team, words of wisdom for women considering a career in automotive, and key insights on a changing dealership landscape.
When and where did your automotive career begin?
A long time ago. It’s solely my mother’s fault! She was in the car industry and my first job was as a receptionist at a Holden dealership, Patterson Cheney Ringwood. I actually came from an accounting background. I did my accounting qualifications at night and worked through from accounts girl, office manager, accountant, general manager and dealer principal.
What drove you to a career in automotive?
I loved, and still love, the staff and customer environment. Eventually, an opportunity came up at Nunawading Toyota. I was the accountant there and had been working closely with the General Sales Manager. He left, and I was able to take on the acting General Manager role. Originally, I was just meant to be in the role while they found someone else, but I had a great team, and they knew my background in the business. So, we just made it work. And basically, from then on, management were like ‘Oh, you know how to do it’. They were never going to take it away after that.
Volvo Cars South Yarra has been awarded Major Metro Retailer of the Year at the Volvo Car Australia Pinnacle Awards of Excellence for the fifth year in a row. On accepting the award on behalf of the team, you praised the staff for being truly customerfocused. Why is this so important?
It’s the old saying: If you upset one customer, they tell 20 more. And the team here at South Yarra absolutely loves their customers to bits. They put themselves in their shoes. They understand the concerns that they’re going through. I have a good mix of females and males here too, so they can cover mostly every issue that arises. And I see the love when someone’s delivering a car – the salespeople make sure the customer feels like a queen or a king. That is so important and what
makes us different from the rest. If you just do it the same as everybody else, why would customers come back?
Do you have any long-term customers that have bought and continue to purchase through your dealerships?
Yes, many! I have a customer who has bought six cars from South Yarra and keeps coming back for service. Their recent Google review was absolutely fantastic: How much they love the service department and how much the team hasn’t changed. I guess that’s a key to success too – retention of staff. It’s important customers see the same faces each time. On the topic of familiar faces, who are your longest-serving staff members?
Well, we have a couple of sites and run a staff recognition program that celebrates team members who have been with us over five years, 10 years and 15 years. We have a technician that has been with us for 30 years, so a really good, long service. What do you think makes a winning team? Is it an emphasis on training, team bonding or leadership recognition?
It’s probably all of the above. The most important though is teamwork, without a doubt. And understanding what the person sitting next to you has on their plate. I mean, a lot of people have personal issues and things like that and what I see here is if someone’s having a hard day, another salesperson or service advisor will step up and help. Going through six lockdowns during COVID-19 made this team really tight. Yes, it was hard on all Victorians but trying to run a business and survive without any government support whatsoever was tough. We’re not a small business, are we? So, we got nothing from the government. One thing that I was proud of is that we didn’t terminate our visa staff – whereas a lot of other dealerships did. That’s testament to the nature of and leadership at the Stillwell Motor Group.
We have many visa staff across all sites and during COVID-19 they couldn’t claim the dole, they couldn’t claim JobKeeper and they had no money to go home. What could they do? So, we kept paying them while trying to survive ourselves. You are a member of Women in Automotive (WinA). What encouraged you to join?
I joined about three years ago. A LinkedIn post popped up and I read it. Plus, Mick (VACC Industry Policy Advisor Michael McKenna) was always telling me to join! I had 130 staff, and can only do so much, but I was curious. I really enjoyed reading about some of the womens’ successes. It just showed that there are a lot of us out there, and many of us don’t get recognition. WinA was giving them the profile they deserved. Which WinA offering do you think is of most value to members or a drawcard to prospective members?
Maybe not so much the events, because those seem to be directed towards women in more senior positions. But for younger girls that are thinking about coming into our industry, without a doubt the most important things are the scholarships and mentorship opportunities. We just need to get the message out a little bit more. I’m happy to take any calls to help women thinking about entering the industry. It is not an easy industry, as it’s long hours, but very rewarding. What are your two key pieces of advice for women considering a career in automotive?
You must be resilient. The hours are difficult – if you don’t want to do the long hours, it’s probably not the industry for you. However, saying that, there’s a lot of talk within the industry about shortening hours per fortnight and even four-day weeks. Whether businesses in Australia can afford to do that at the moment is another consideration. We’re still recovering
from COVID-19 and all the lost money and business during the last two years, so I don’t know if we are quite there yet, but we are becoming more flexible. I have a lot of part-timers now, and I wouldn’t have gone that way before. COVID-19 has made me realise that by being flexible, you will attract good people. We are getting there, slowly. I’ve probably got to push myself more to make it happen as well.
Volvo Car Australia has announced its plan to sell only fully electric cars in Australia by 2026, four years earlier than its parent company’s 2030 global target. What are your thoughts?
Reality is kicking in because the electric auto ride is dropping off in Australia. It’s not at the level it was a year ago. Also, Victoria doesn’t have the subsidies other states have and that is really hurting us. If anything, we penalise people for driving electric because we charge them a road tax, an odometer tax... That’s not encouraging people to take on electric vehicles. As a team at Volvo, we’re adjusting. It is definitely a different customer that Volvo has not had before, and the vehicles are absolutely beautiful. We have two beautiful vehicles, a Volvo XC40 and C40 and we have future models coming in. Volvo is now saying any future model that comes out will be electric only, and not mild hybrid. There’s a smaller car coming out later in the year
that we’ve yet to get details on, which I think will be a huge success. The charging infrastructure has been a massive cost to dealers. No support from the government whatsoever. I’ve just installed 15 chargers at our centre in Mentone to be able to cope with the number of cars. It’s cost, after cost, after cost. Then you add the Volvo-certified training and the essential equipment needed to keep the team safe. Electric vehicles are a whole new ballgame. You sit on the Victorian Automobile Dealers Association (VADA) committee. Why did you decide to join?
VACC Industry Policy Advisor Michael McKenna asked me to join. The irony was the timing: I think it was a month later COVID-19 really hit. From then on, we were doing Zoom meetings or phone calls every morning from 7am – trying to get ahead of the game and advise the dealer network in Victoria. I have to give credit to Mick because he was able to distinguish our workshops as an essential service – so we could at least have half the staff working. That was massive. Such little information was coming out of the government at the time. And I get that it was all new. What a learning curve it was, that first 12 months. It was wonderful because, being part of the Stillwell Motor Group, I was able to get that COVID-19 operating information out to our database very quickly. And the VADA team was so dedicated. We’ve got people from luxury, prestige, high-volume dealerships. They’re all there to make it better for the Victorian dealers, and there are always battles for us to take on. Most recently, Mick and I were involved with
VicRoads as, up until earlier this year, you couldn’t even register an electric car online because VicRoads hadn’t fixed this one tick-box. It’s not fully complete. We still must send stamp duty off separately, but at least when the customer leaves the dealership, the car’s registered – before, it was in the mail! VADA is always looking for new ideas to improve a dealers’ business. We have different guest speakers come in each quarter to give us information on what’s going out in advertising, all those sorts of things, and then we are able to feed that back to the Victorian dealer network. What do you think the dealership landscape will look like in five years?
Very unknown. With so much going digital at the moment, I hope we don’t lose the personal relationship with our customers. With some manufacturers going online (Mercedes-Benz and Honda) I hope we don’t lose that personal touch because that’s what we love, and customers love it. That’s been proven with the electric take-up with Volvo – customers still want to come in and touch, see and drive the vehicle. And we’re here for them. I hope that that never changes.
Running a new-car dealership is complicated, and it's getting more so. It's vital, then, to have a great team
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Skills, products and promotion, ever the name of the game...
WORDS Paul Tuzson
FOR decades, anyone who knows anything about the Australian automotive performance industry has known the name Yella Terra. It was initially a product name.
The company, Perfectune, was founded by Dave Bennett in 1962. However, the true origins of the business extend back even further, to 1953 when Dave attended the Australian Grand Prix. That event awakened his lifelong passion for motorsport.
The following year, Dave joined the Victorian Sporting Car Club. Meetings were attended by well-known names from Australian racing history like Norm Beechey and Harry Firth. In 1955, he joined the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club and
to be thrown from the car as it rolled. Eventually, Dave went full-time racing with Carter up and down the East Coast. Upon returning from his racing adventure, Dave decided to open his own performance modification and tuning workshop. He found premises in Sandringham and started Perfectune Automotive Services. It took most of his savings to open the doors. In the main, work passing through the business consisted of tuning, servicing and head modification on Holden Grey and Morris Mini motors.
Heads in those days were basic. This was an advantage for early modifiers like Dave because they responded noticeably to modification. Perfectune worked on whatever came through the door.
met legendary race engineer, Phil Irving. Irving’s book Tuning for Speed is a classic. There was a great deal to learn and Dave learnt it, all the while experimenting with modifications to his own cars.
During those days, Dave had a number of non-automotive jobs, all in manufacturing and engineering. He attended RMIT (called the Melbourne Technical College in those days) and also studied Production Engineering at night school. However, he was dissatisfied with the pace, so he left.
He sold a 1957 283-cubic inch Chevrolet Corvette V8 engine to Murray Carter, another Australian motorsport legend, who also got started in the ’50s. This was all in the days of open cockpit cars and no roll-bars. Carter crashed that car but was saved by half rotten seat belt stitching that allowed him
Mini, Rambler, Ford Galaxie, Falcon, Humber, Jaguar, Valiant, Austin-Healey, MG, Dodge, Fiat, Renault, VW and even Citroen all came in for work.
Ever the race enthusiast, Dave competed on the old Riverside drag strip at Fisherman’s Bend during the early 1960s in a 48-215 Holden (FX), the first Holden at Riverside; could there be a more Australian combination? He also had a go at circuit racing in the same car but, really, it had been built for the quarter mile.
Perfectune had an analogue engine tester/oscilloscope and a gas analyser that Dave would take to race meetings where he performed free testing. This helped Perfectune’s publicity profile and, combined with ads in motorsports magazines, onscreen ads at the Sandringham drive-in and a giant colourful neon sign outside the business, Perfectune was set firm in the minds of performance enthusiasts.
Dave says new businesses must advertise, stand out from the competition and get themselves known, now as then.
Cylinder head work grew steadily. Dave and his mechanic were working up to 20 hours overtime a week to get modified heads out the door. Clearly, to Dave, cylinder head modification had potential for growth, and a head could be put
Left page, top to bottom:
Dave’s own Holden at Riverside.
Well-known race personality Murray Carter in a Chevrolet Corvette-powered open-wheeler at Fishermans Bend. Dave Ryan is wearing the cap and was associated with many name drivers at the beginning of their careers in the ’50s.
Dave always invested in the latest equipment. He used to take this oscilloscope and gas analyser to meetings to check competitors for no charge.
The Schultz-Perfectune chassis dyno.
Above: The best way to find out how a head works and how to improve it is to cut it up, take silicon moulds and work out where to add and remove material.
Belowt: “Get these yellow terrors out of here” was the complaint of an employee who needed more space. Thus, the name was born.
in a box and shipped anywhere. This increased the reach of the business. Also, the network of speed shops owned by old-school drag and circuit racers like Eddie Thomas (later of Speco Thomas), Graeme Rose and Norm Beechey provided other outlets for Perfectune heads.
In those days, Perfectune-modified heads were painted bright red, however Norm Beechey wanted his stock painted black. Dave recounts some customers said Beechey’s heads were better while others said Perfectune units were superior. So, different perceptions for exactly the same product due to marketing. In 1964, Perfectune exhibited its products at a trade show for the first time at the inaugural Hot Rod Show at the Exhibition Building. It was a great success. From that point, trade shows became a fixture on the Perfectune and, later, Yella Terra promotional schedule. When the three year lease on the Sandringham premises expired, Dave moved the business to Wickham Road Moorabbin for more space. It was close enough to Sandringham to retain original customers, but also opened up more opportunities because it was on a main road in a busy industrial area set within major suburban surrounds.
Dave had wanted a chassis dyno for some time and he met Ross Schultz from Adelaide who’d built a rudimentary prototype Dave installed in the new premises and subsequently helped develop. It was successful, useful and Dave ended up selling them right up and down the East Coast. These machines were known as Schultz-Perfectune units.
In the later ’60s, Perfectune made a dyno available to Australian Motor Sports magazine to test cars for editorial and this generated even more sales. Clearly, there was a market for the machines and they sold well, about 118 overall. It was during this time that Norm Beechey
Besides
roller
have been a mainstay of the company since the early ’80s (above)
Many well-known names in performance circles have an association with Yella Terra. This is a very young Eddie Woods on an early NC machine (above left). The business went from strength to strength as a manufacturing organisation through the ’70s and beyond (above). Legendary automotive engineer Phil Irving with Dave in 1978 (above right). The home of Yella Terra/Perfectune engineering in Moorabbin from 1981. Further expansion has called for even bigger premises in Braeside (above far right)
heads,
rockers
gave him the nickname ‘Dyno Dave’. So, what happened? Well, Schultz wanted to retire in 1973, so he sold his business to an American company that wanted only the lens grinding section of the business. They weren’t interested in dynos and stopped making them. That was that. Meanwhile, the business proper kept growing and, by July 1967 when the workforce had grown to about 10 employees, Dave (and his wife Jan, since 1963) incorporated the business as Perfectune Automotive Services Pty Ltd. He also bought his first new car that month: a beautiful 186S four-speed Holden Premier. This was Holden’s first performance car. Perfectune modified the head and suspension and dubbed it the Perfectune Sprint GT. It garnered considerable interest from the motoring press, which further promoted the business. Dave sold the car, then bought it back 30 years later in 1998. In 1968, Dave took delivery of a HK GTS 327 Monaro. It was the first Monaro ever raced and he competed on both strip and circuit. At a Sandown Park Six Hour Endurance race the car led convincingly enough to impress Holden, despite dropping out due to a brake failure. The company offered him a dealership, which he turned down because of his commitment to manufacturing.
There was also an offer to develop a Perfectune franchise chain but he turned that down, too. He admits he couldn’t see the potential of franchising. One of his few business mistakes, although one other was also notable. In 1969, Holden approached Perfectune to modify 250 heads for a secret project. Dave calculated it was too much hand porting so he knocked it back. It turned out to be the Torana XU-1. However, the Holden offer planted an idea for performance modified heads in which machine processes replaced much of the hand-work to save time and money. Lager valves and springs, along with matched ports, created much
Older readers may remember horror stories of cast iron flywheels coming off cranks like buzzsaws. Higher quality, properly designed, steel units were the answer and the company has made them since the ’80s.
improved performance at a lower price than ever before. Dave couldn’t think of an appropriate name for this product line but he decided to paint them yellow because marketing material for the business was yellow and black. The initial batch of these heads cluttered the sales counter and an employee said: “Dave, will you get these yellow terrors out of here, I’ve nowhere to work!” In a flash of inspiration, Yella Terra became the product name. Yella Terra heads were displayed for the first time at the 1971 Melbourne International Motorshow. In the following 34 years, Perfectune sold more than 250,000 of them for Holden sixes, eights and a number of Ford sixes and eights. The Yella Terra brand became extremely strong.
In the early 1970s Holden placed orders for 1,500 modified heads for secret projects. One turned out to be the XU-2, which was cancelled and the other was for the legendary L34 Torana. This volume of work created the need for NC (Numerically Controlled) machining, which further enhanced production capabilities. Sales exploded. The company teamed up with Phil Irving in 1978 to produce Irving-Yella Terra heads. In 1980-81, Peter Brock endorsed Yella Terra heads and they were soon sanctioned for use by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Eventually, the company produced thousands of Yella Terra heads. Many were used on A9X and SLR5000 Toranas.
Anyone who’s had anything to do with the Holden, Chev and Ford engines of yore will remember pressed steel factory rockers. These were perfectly adequate for standard use but entirely unsuitable for performance use. The answer was, and remains, roller rockers. Yella Terra branded aluminium rockers were the go and these have remained a mainstay product since 1983.
In 1985, Holden took all its head modification work back into the factory but came back in 1987 with a big order to machine 1,500 raw castings. They received the quote and then cut the order in half and insisted on a reduced price. When accepted, Holden pushed the quantity required back up to the original 1,500 units, but at the lower price. Typical of the purchasing tricks employed by larger companies.
Perfectune manufactured complete replacement iron heads for Holden sixes from 1989 because Holden ran out of them, and they sold very well. Later, they added aluminium units to the line. In 1990, aluminium heads for early 308s were added and, in 1997, alloy heads for fuel injected Holdens were created. The company was always on the lookout for product opportunities and anyone who was into cars in those days will remember the horror stories of cast iron flywheels coming apart in performance applications. Yella Terra steel and aluminium units were the answer and remain popular products. Dave had been interested in superchargers for some years. From 1996, Perfectune
manufactured them for Sprintex in WA but eventually produced its own units, designed to have carburettors bolted to them. These were named Terra Chargers. Since then other types have been added to the range. Superchargers and installation kits remain an important part of the product range. Dave continued with appearances at trade and car shows, and also retained an association with all forms of racing. The business maintained prosperity through difficult times (the recession we had to have). Innovation was always a feature of the business and the range of products developed and engineering work that passed through company doors over the years is too great to mention. Dave also says a great team made it all possible. Unfortunately, Dave developed cancer. He persevered but, eventually, in 2004 he sold the business to the Petrakis brothers.
Modifying a L34 manifold in 1974 (above). The company involvement in superchargers developed into the current Yella Terra-Whipple Superchargers company (below)
The new owners have considerable heavy manufacturing experience, which complimented the Yella Terra/ Perfectune operation. Rather than change a proven formula, they’ve continued all the product lines that made Yella Terra a household name. Now, all these early products reap the benefits of the latest technologies, like CNC porting. However, maintaining competitiveness in automotive engineering has always been, and remains, a matter of expansion.
Matt Smith, Yella Terra’s longest employee, explained that the rocker market has grown enormously and Yella Terra has an American distribution centre to service the huge US market. In fact, the company is set to launch a new range of high-grade roller tip, roller fulcrum steel rockers.
Although Yella Terra developed substantial engineering expertise in superchargers over the years, it became more economical to import superchargers for the expanding range of kits rather than manufacture them. The company developed a strong relationship with US companies Eaton and Whipple and became an authorised repairer for both brands because of its in-house engineering expertise. Indeed, Yella Terra even helped Whipple with product development and now, the association has grown into Whipple Australia, owned by Yella Terra. It’s the only distributor that’s a licensed repairer in the world outside Whipple Industries in the US. As a lot of local companies grew tired of dealing with overseas manufacturers, Matt says they’ve come back on shore for many products, which has been beneficial to Yella Terra/Perfectune. So, under the auspices of Dave Bennett, Yella Terra/Perfectune built a solid Australian manufacturing base and now the Petrakis brothers carry that legacy. What’s more, the future looks bright.
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CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAULTS: IT WON’T
REV PAST 3200RPM
The 3.4-litre 5VZ-FE is a petrol V6 engine that uses a pulse generator type crankshaft position (CKP) sensor. There have been reports from the trade of these engines starting and running well, but will not rev past 3200rpm. This article provides some possible causes of this problem.
WHEN diagnosing this fault, the resistance of the circuit, the CKP sensor, connectors and earths, all check out OK, and there are no DTCs recorded. This gives the impression that the sensor is OK. The diagnosis continues with testing and the possible replacement of parts without fixing the problem. The workshop manual recommends inspecting the CKP signal will an oscilloscope, but it does not give any voltage range figures. The oscilloscope is the right tool for the job, if you know what to expect.
The CKP sensor is mounted on the front of the engine behind the front pulley, with a tone wheel as a part of the timing belt crankshaft sprocket.
The tone wheel has 34 teeth with a flat spot two teeth wide (See Diagram 3). This
will produce a sine wave pattern with a larger spaced wave for the two missing teeth that the ECU will recognise. As the engine speed increases, the voltage output of the sensor should increase (amplitude) along with the frequency. The example below is a known good signal which shows about 6-8 volts for the 34 teeth and over 10 volts for the missing two, above 3200rpm. See Diagram 2
It is easy to back probe the connector on the sensor at the front of the engine (see Diagram 1). If you probe the positive wire you should see a clean signal with the above voltages.
If there is an internal fault in the sensor, the frequency will increase, but the output voltage will not be as high as the example shown, which reduces the signal amplitude and these symptoms may occur. Replacing the sensor could fix the problem.
Another common issue is the crankshaft pulley bolt coming loose. This will allow the pulley, sprocket and tone wheel to move away from the sensor just enough to reduce the amplitude of the CKP sensor signal. The fix is to inspect all parts for wear (especially the keyway), buy a new bolt, apply some thread lock and tighten the new bolt to 250Nm. Finally, if the tone wheel has been damaged during a timing belt failure,
Diagram 1 – Crankshaft Position Sensor
CKP sensor wiring is easy to back probe to pick up the positive signal.
or if the sprocket has seized to the crankshaft, and someone has tried to pry it off. Some teeth may be bent or missing. This will affect the output signal, which should be seen on the scope. If so, inspect the tone wheel and replace as required. See Diagram 3
This information may be applicable to other similar sensor problems, and shows the value of an oscilloscope to locate complicated faults.
We thank Denis from Nambour Car Service for his assistance with this article. 07 5441 5922
For more information, log on to VACC MotorTech or call the VACC TechAdvisory Service.
Diagram 3 – Timing Belt Crankshaft Sprocket and Tone Wheel
Diagram 2 – Known Good CKP Sensor Signal at 3200rpm
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VACC’s TechAdvisory Service regularly receives calls about how to remove the alternator from the Holden Captiva CG Series 1 with the 2.0-litre diesel engine. This is because the alternator is mounted in a position that is difficult to see clearly or access. This article provides some options to remove the alternator efficiently.
The O.E. procedure for the removal of the alternator is vague and makes it sound easy, which it is not. From our research and conversations with members of the trade, there are a few ways in which to remove the alternator. One is to remove the engine mount at the front of the engine and raise the engine. Another is to drop the engine and transmission out from the bottom on the K frame. However, the bumper removal method seems to be the most popular and least fiddly way.
Common Removal
Disconnect the battery.
Remove the engine cover. See Diagram 1 Remove the stone tray from under the front of the engine.
Remove the air filter and MAF sensor assembly.
Remove the intercooler inlet hoses. See Diagram 2
Remove the RHF wheel and inner wheel arch cover.
Remove the serpentine belt (See Tech Online for procedure).
Bumper Removal
Remove the three screws in each wheel arch that attach to the front bumper. Remove the nine screws on the front under-side of the bumper. Remove the front grill.
Remove the headlight assemblies from both sides (three bolts) and disconnect the harness from the fog lights.
Remove the 10 plastic retainer clips from the upper edge of the bumper. Pull the edges of the front bumper out, sideways from the wheel arches and cut-outs for the headlights to unclasp the bumper from the vehicle. See Diagram 3
The bumper should now come away from the front of the vehicle.
The air box, intake hose and intercooler inlet hose must be removed to gain access to the alternator.
Fan and Radiator
Disconnect the wiring harness from the radiator cooling fan assembly.
Remove the six bolts and remove the fan assembly downwards under the vehicle. Remove the two upper brackets from the radiator (two bolts on each). See Diagram 4 Remove the two lower radiator mount bolts.
Leaving all radiator hoses and A/C lines attached you should be able to move the radiator assembly towards the front of the vehicle to allow access to the alternator.
Alternator Removal
Disconnect the wiring B+ connector and field windings connector from the rear of the alternator. See Diagram 5
Remove the three mounting bolts and remove the alternator.
Diagram 1
This is all you can see of the alternator with the engine in the vehicle.
Diagram 2 – Engine Bay View
Once all mounting bolts have been removed, unclip the bumper by pulling out to the sides here. The bumper should now come off from the front.
Installation
This procedure is the reverse of the above. Ensure you use the following torque specifications.
Refit the alternator and tighten the mounting bolts to 30Nm.
Upper radiator mounts
Refit the B+ connector and tighten the nut to 25Nm.
Engine cover 8Nm.
Air filter assembly 2Nm.
Intercooler intake pipe 8Nm.
Radiator upper bracket bolts 20Nm.
Radiator lower bolts 50Nm.
Radiator cooling fan assembly bolts 4Nm.
Variations
After some more conversations with Holden technicians from two different dealerships, here are two other options.
Option 1
Complete all steps in ‘Common Removal’ Remove the front engine mount.
Remove the power steering pump and move aside with the hose still attached.
See Diagram 6
Raise or lower the engine as required to remove the alternator.
Option 2
Complete all steps in ‘Common Removal’ Complete all steps in ‘Fan and Radiator’ Then remove the alternator from under the vehicle.
The time to complete an alternator replacement seems to be two-and-ahalf to three hours depending on your method.
For more information on these models, login to VACC MotorTech or call the VACC TechAdvisory Service.
We thank the team from Get Wrecked 4x4 for their assistance with this article.
03 9360 5555
With the mounts removed, but with the radiator and A/C hose still attached the radiator, intercooler and condenser can be moved out of the way far enough to remove the alternator. Some technicians remove the alternator from the top, others from the bottom with the bumper still in place.
Diagram 5 – Alternator View
With the engine out, removal would be a breeze.
Field
Diagram 4 – Mounting Locations
Diagram 3 – Bumper Removal
Diagram 6 – Engine Front View
Power steering pump
Common Problems
These alternators have been known to have regulator problems which will require the alternator to be removed.
Another common issue is a diesel leak from the fuel feed lines that go into the highpressure pump, which is mounted above the alternator. Diesel will leak into the alternator, which can cause it to fail. Holden has issued a recall for these vehicles to have the fuel lines replaced. See details below.
Recall: Fuel Line Feed Hose
PRA No. 2018/16643
Campaign number: A172117810
Date published: 6 March 2018
MY2007-2010 Holden CG Captiva with 2.0L Diesel Engine (LLW)
A fracture on the fuel feed hose connector may cause the fuel feed hose to disconnect and leak fuel. A fuel leak could result in an engine stall or an engine bay fire, posing a risk of injury to the vehicle occupant(s) and other road users. Affected customers are invited to contact either Holden Customer Care by phoning 1800 033 349, or their nearest Holden Dealer to arrange vehicle inspection and repair.
The easy-to-use diagnostic tool comes softwareenabled, providing auto-detection, top-range health reports, monthly updates and more.
Seamlessly integrates with VACC MotorTech, saving time diagnosing many technical issues.
Flexible payment plans, available in-house with no interest or fees.
OurAuto Diagnostic Tool
For all your automotive stationery and
The OurAuto iStore is the one-stop automotive shop for everything you need to run your business with over 100 products, divided into various categories including workshop, motor-car traders, business management, OHS, safety wear, clothing, technical publications, promotional and
Becoming a VACC or TACC member opens up a wide range of special offers and discounted products and services for you and your business. VACC and TACC have collaborated with organisations which provide essential services to your business to offer special low rates for members. Couple the savings from discounted products and services with the subsidised services which VACC itself offers to members, and your annual membership can easily pay for itself. Everything from IR advice, to cheaper EFTPOS terminals to technical solutions is on offer. This guide gives you an idea of the offers which you can access, as well as a number of other collaborations.
Workplace/IR Advice
Members can access services including a call centre for employment-related questions, a web page with award rates and policy and employment fact sheets, writing of employment contracts, handbooks and policies, and member and industry representation.
03 9829 1123 ir@vacc.com.au vacc.com.au
Auto Apprenticeships
VACC takes the hassle out of hiring trainees and apprentices, as businesses are matched with high quality candidates who meet strict selection criteria. VACC also looks after all administration aspects of the apprenticeship, including visits by Field Officers.
VACC MotorTech brings together VACC’s Tech Online, Times Guide, Tech Estimate, Technical Advisory Service and Tech Talk products with Haynes’ international know-how, to provide an enormous amount of technical service and repair information to subscribers.
nib has a mission and vision of people enjoying better health. VACC and TACC members (including their staff) receive a corporate discount on nib’s retail health insurance products. 1800 13 14 63 nib.com.au/corp/vacc
OurAuto iStore
Businesses can purchase a wide range of items, including personalised stationery, consumables such as floor mats and seat covers, workplace safety signage and much more. Member businesses automatically receive a discount on purchases.
03 9829 1152 ourautoistore.com.au
Website Services
OurAuto Digital provides a one-stop solution for your business’ website, including a custom design, rendering for smartphones and tablets, email accounts and hosting. Businesses are able to update web content themselves. VACC and TACC members receive these services at a discounted rate.
1300 687 288 ourautodigital.com.au
Eiffel Lubricants
A market leader in lubricants, and distributes a range of effective and safe automotive products for maintenance and care of all types of vehicles.
03 9394 1079 eiffellubricants.com.au
Fine Tuning Automotive Mental Health (FTAMH)
Funded by the WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund, VACC has developed FTAMH. The program provides free information, resources and practical measures to help automotive business owners identify and prevent mental health issues in the workplace. finetune.vacc.com.au
EFTPOS Facility
Commonwealth Bank could provide the expertise, insights, technology and financial solutions to help your business move forward. Our Commonwealth Bank Business Banking Specialists can guide you through available business solutions to suit your business needs. 1300 013 341 vacc.com.au
Training & Education
Members can access automotive industryspecific training programs in business management, industrial relations/human resource management, technical and OHS & Environment. Skills Development Centre also facilitates short courses, online programs and diploma and degree qualifications. 03 9829 1130 info@vaccsdc.com.au vaccsdc.com.au
Freight Services
VACC and TACC members receive discounted rates and benefits, including trace and track capabilities, one number to call, one easy-to-understand invoice, and online job quoting, booking and tracking. Contact VACC for an application form.
03 9829 1152 vacc.com.au
OurAuto Diagnostic Tool
Easy-to-use diagnostic tool with class leading automotive fault technology, including seamless integration with VACC MotorTech, providing auto-detection, top range health reports and monthly updates. The Diagnostic Tool is available on a convenient monthly subscription plan.
1300 687 288 ourautoscantool.com.au
AutoCareers
The AutoCareers jobs portal connects jobseekers with employers wanting skills and labour. VACC and TACC member businesses can advertise qualified and apprenticeship vacancies free of charge.
03 9829 1133
autoadvice@vacc.com.au autocareers.com.au
Environmental Advice
VACC members can benefit from environmental compliance advice, briefings, training and on-site assessments. Green Stamp is an accreditation program that recognises and promotes businesses which have implemented sound environmental practices.
Spirit Super is a multi-industry super fund with over 321,000 members and $26 billion in funds under management. We work hard for members through low fees, excellent service, and a focus on competitive investment returns.
1800 005 166 spiritsuper.com.au
Zembl
Zembl is the leading energy price comparison service for Australian businesses. VACC and TACC members have access to a free energy bill review. Then Zembl works with leading retailers to find a competitive deal.
1300 915 162
https://zembl-dev.webflow.io/ partner/vacc
VACC Accreditation
VACC Accreditation is here to help drive your business forward. Achieving accreditation means a business can demonstrate it is meeting a higher standard that is valued by customers.
03 9829 1167
accreditation@vacc.com.au vacc.com.au
OH&S Services
Members can access consultation and advice on OHS issues, including incident management, policies, workers’ compensation and more. OHS specialists provide workplace assessments and training, and administer the HazCheck management system.
03 9829 1138 ohs@vacc.com.au vacc.com.au
Officeworks
Officeworks is here to support VACC and TACC members with over 40,000 products, business services and specialist advice. Members can sign up for an Officeworks 30 Day Business Account, and enjoy exclusive business pricing and flexible delivery options. officeworks.com.au/campaigns/vacc
Sixfam
Sixfam is an experienced Telecommunications Service Provider, built on the basis to help ease the frustrations of small to medium businesses in Australia.
03 9200 2800 sixfam.com.au
Apprentice Helpline
VACC Helpline provides apprentices and businesses a free automotive apprenticeship sign-up and advisory service to assist all parties at any time. With years of experience and knowledge, it’s well worth a quick phone call to put you in the right direction.
03 9829 1133
autoadvice@vacc.com.au | vacc.com.au
Advertise here!
Partner with VACC and TACC, connect with 5,000 members.
Auto Workplace Assist
A convenient go-to solution for supporting automotive workplace compliance needs. Health and Safety can be a complex, high risk and costly area for workplaces. AWA offers readymade, industry-specific compliance products, so that business owners can get on with the job at hand.
1300 585 136 autoworkplaceassist.com.au
TACC
Founded in 1930, TACC serves the automotive industry in Tasmania and amalgamated with VACC in 1999. TACC members gain access to all of the same products and services as VACC members, however TACC also has a number of additional services for its membership.
03 6278 1611 | tacc.com.au
Insurance
Automotive business owners can access competitive solutions through OurAuto Insurance. Specifically designed to meet to the unique risk profile of the automotive industry, OurAuto Insurance can help your business access the best cover at an affordable rate.
1300 441 474
contact@ourautoinsurance.com.au
Graphic Design
VACC’S Marketing department can assist members with their graphic design requirements at a subsidised rate. Services include business cards, logo re-designs, corporate image overhauls, brochures and advertisements.
03 9829 1189 creativeservices@vacc.com.au
Workplace Update
All VACC and TACC members receive Workplace Update on a monthly basis via email, with issues also available on the VACC website. The publication provides the latest news and information regarding workplace and industrial relations, OHS and environment, business obligations and training opportunities.
03 9829 1123 vacc.com.au
Advertising
Members receive Australasian Automotive magazine as a member benefit and have access to preferential advertising rates. The VACC marketing department can help members by designing advertisements at a heavily subsidised rate.
John Eaton 0407 344 433 jeaton@ourauto.com.au
Tech Talk
Included in VACC/TACC membership is a subscription to the Tech Talk publication, the premier technical publication of the VACC Technical Services Department since 1986. The journal is printed 11 times a year, while a backcatalogue of articles is available as part of the Tech Online website.
03 9829 1292 vacc.com.au
Test and Tagging
ETCS offers TACC members electrical service state-wide, including installation, testing and tagging, and assisting with OHS requirements. TACC members can access special member rates.
1300 724 001 | etcs.com.au
TACC Apprenticeships
TACC takes the hassle out of hiring trainees and apprentices, as businesses are matched with high quality candidates who meet strict selection criteria. TACC also looks after all administration aspects of the apprenticeship, including visits by Field Officers.
03 6278 1611 | tacc.com.au
Roadside Help
TACC members who want to reward their loyal customers can do so though TACC’s Roadside Help program. Members purchase vouchers to give to customers, which customers can use for free help for a flat battery, tyre change, fuel or a tow back to the member’s business.
03 6278 1611 tacc.com.au
TACC Accreditation
TACC Accredited Repairers are promoted to the community as a group of professional businesses who deliver high quality repairs and services. Participating members enter into a contract with TACC to deliver a more professional level of service. TACC promotes these members.
03 6278 1611 tacc.com.au
Liability and customer vehicle risks
• Damage due to faulty workmanship
• Negligence by contractor/ subcontractor
• Driving risks
• Authorised vehicle inspections
Management risks
• Breaches in employment
• Unfair or wrongful dismissal
• Harassment or discrimination
• Wrongful acts as an owner/director
• Statutory fines & penalties e.g. OH&S breaches
Property risks
• Business interruption
• Fire & storm
• Machinery breakdown
• Theft & money
• Glass
Cyber risk
• Data breaches
• Cyber attacks
• Contingent business interruption
With over 20-plus years of experience, OurAuto Insurance is proud to be trusted by automotive businesses across Australia.
Contact us today to arrange a hassle-free insurance quote for your business.
