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AAPEX is now accepting nominations for the second annual Shop Owner of the Year, Service Advisor of the Year and Technician of the Year awards.

The awards recognize and elevate the essential services that auto repair professionals provide to keep the world’s 1.4 billion vehicles on the road.

Nominations are due Sept. 1 and should be submitted online at www.aapexshow.com/serviceawards

AAPEX 2021 will take place Nov. 2-4 at the Sands Expo and Caesars Forum Conference Center in Las Vegas.

An independent panel of shop owners and industry leaders will select the award recipients. AAPEX will announce and honor recipients of the three prestigious awards Nov. 2, during the Keynote Session at this year’s in-person event.

The AAPEX Service and Repair Awards were established in 2020.

Source: AAPEX Effective June 22, Elitek Vehicle Services, LKQ’s diagnostic services business, is expanding beyond onsite mobile diagnostics and repair to also include remote automotive diagnostics and remote programming.

Repair facilities can now call one company, Elitek, to service all their diagnostic service needs.

Since 2019, LKQ’s Elite Electronics and VeTech Automotive Electronics brands, now branded Elitek Vehicle Services, has grown to become the largest independent provider of mobile, on-site vehicle services to automotive collision repairers, mechanical repairers and national fleets in the U.S. With the addition of remote diagnostics, Elitek can provide shops with a seamless, end-to-end process and value proposition.

Remote diagnostics: Shop technicians can plug in an OBDII device that remotely connects the vehicle to Elitek’s call center. The technician, with support from a centralized Elitek diagnostician, conducts the diagnostic scan(s), produces a scan report, enables remote programming where applicable and invoices for the service.

Mobile diagnostics: If additional onsite services are required, including ADAS calibration or mechanical, Elitek’s mobile service can be deployed to complete the repair, using an array of OEM software, tools and certified technicians.

Increasing vehicle technology leads to more complex repairs, and Elitek is uniquely positioned to partner with the repair community to diagnose, repair and calibrate vehicle electronics, including ADAS systems. The combination of remote and mobile diagnostic services offerings puts Elitek a step ahead of the competition and serves customers better than ever with mechanical, AC service 1234YF, module programming, electrical repairs and an array of diagnostic services.

Owning a full range of OEM diagnostic tools and offering these numerous services to automotive repair facilities helps improve a shop’s cycle times, reduces rental terms and improves the customer service experience, for both the repair shop and the vehicle owner.

“With the formation of Elitek, LKQ now provides the most comprehensive diagnostic services in the repair industry,” said Terry Fortner, LKQ’s North America vice president of sales and marketing. “Elitek is the premier provider of both remote and mobile diagnostic services. This expanded offering allows us to be more responsive to our customers, including those outside of our current mobile servicing locations.”

“Our goal is to continue to provide superior customer service,” said Don Smith, director of Elitek’s Remote Division. “With the addition of remote services, we can be more responsive to a broader range of customers. And with LKQ’s Promise of Calibration, customers have the additional peace of mind in knowing that Elitek will stand behind the work performed.”

For more information on Elitek’s remote capabilities or to pre-order a remote scanning device, contact Smith at dgsmith@lkqcorp.com, visit the website at https://elitekauto. com or call 888-8-ELITEK.

Source: LKQ Corporation

GM Recalls 410,000 Trucks with Dangerous Airbag Inflators

by David A. Wood, CarComplaints�com

More than 410,000 Chevrolet and GMC trucks are recalled because the roof-rail airbag inflators could rupture.

Some of the trucks were recalled in December 2020 for the same problem, and this latest recall supersedes the previous recall.

Included in the recall are 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks that may have roof-rail airbag inflator end caps that may detach from the inflators. It’s also possible the airbag inflator sidewalls may rupture.

The roof-rail airbag inflators are located above the headliners and may contain defects that cause the separations of the inflator end caps or splitting of the inflator sidewalls.

The automaker says compressed gas will escape from the inflator, and the end cap or possibly other components can be launched into the vehicle and injure truck occupants.

GM says corrosion inside the inflator may occur from moisture because of how the supplier manufactured the inflators, and the problem can worsen in high temperatures.

Three roof-rail inflators ruptured in 2015 Silverado trucks in June, one in Florida and two in Texas. The trucks weren’t occupied when the inflators exploded, and in all three cases the steel inflator sidewalls split open and released gas stored in the chambers.

This was enough to convince General Motors to order the truck recall.

General Motors dealers will replace both front roof-rail airbag modules. Interim owner recall letters are expected to be mailed Aug. 16, then truck owners will receive second notices when replacement parts are available.

GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado owners may contact GMC at 888-988-7267 or Chevrolet at 800-222-1020.

GM’s recall reference number is N202324251.

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