Service Station Garage Management July 2010 by Annex Business Media

Service Station & Garage Management .COM

SSGM READ BY AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP OWNERS AND TECHNICIANS SINCE 1955

Not Your Ordinary

Belt Or Hose • Getting Trained For Your Scan Tool

JULY 2010

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July 2010

Vol. 40 No. 6

what’s inside

Editor Tom Venetis (416) 510-6790 tom@ssgm.com Technical Editor Jim Anderton jim@ssgm.com Publisher Marc Gadbois (416) 510-6776 marc@ssgm.com Sales Manager Jay Armstrong (416) 510-6745 Account Manager Jim Petsis (416) 510-6842 Circulation Manager Selina Rahaman (416) 442-5600 ext 3528 srahaman@bizinfogroup.ca Subscription Enquiries Roshni Thava (416) 442-5600 ext 3555 Art Director Ron Taylor, Mark Ryan Production Manager Steve Hofmann (416) 510-6757

See Page 10

Print Production Manager Phyllis Wright

See Page 24

Vice President Canadian Publishing Alex Papanou

Feature: Not Another Belt and Hose Story, You Say? A lot has changed in the belt and hose technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Getting The Most Out Of The Scan Tool

AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE

Lack of training keeps technicians from getting the most out of their tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Finding The Right Employee Phil Sasso outlines some mistakes, solutions to finding the right person for the job. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

CAT Jim Anderton looks at why batteries are more than just current pumps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Departments Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Baywatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Jim’s Rant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Internet Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Advertiser’s Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Garage of the Year Nomination Form . . . . . . . . . . 38

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

Head Office Business Information Group 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M3C 4J2 Contact us via one of the following methods: Telephone: 416-442-5600 Facsimile: 416-510-5169 Website: www.ssgm.com Service Station and Garage Management is published by BIG Magazines LP, a div. of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd., a leading Canadian information company with interests in daily and community newspapers and business-to-business information services. Subscription rates: Canada $51.95 + GST + applicable taxes per year; $82.95 + GST + applicable taxes for 2 years; single copy price $7.00 + $0.42 GST + applicable taxes. USA $91.95US per year; single copy price $10.00US. All other foreign in US $93.95 per year. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada. US office of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304-5709. Periodicals Postage Paid at Niagara Falls, NY. USPS #009-192. US postmaster: Send address changes to Service Station and Garage Management, PO Box 1118, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Dept., Service Station and Garage Management, 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800, Toronto, ON Canada M3C 4J2. Postmaster: please forward forms 29B and 67B to 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800, Toronto, ON Canada M3C 4J2. Printed in Canada. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in full without the consent of the copyright owner. From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations Publications Mail Agreement #40069240 Print edition ISSN 0381-548X On-line edition ISSN 1923-3396

In association with CANADIAN

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Member of

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4 SSGM July 2010

President Business Information Group Bruce Creighton

Inc.

Association of Business Publishers Inc. 205 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017

Association of Business Publishers 205 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017

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Diagnostic System

For VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda/Bentley

The German Motor Vehicle Supervisory Association DEKRA (www.dekra.de) performed a com*prehensive scan tool comparison test in March 2009. Ross-Tech's VAG-COM Diagnostic System was awarded 316 out of a possible 320 points -- the highest score of any tool in the test.

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07/07/10 11:52 AM

|| Tom’s Editorial

Sometimes it is the simplest things W

By Tom Venetis, Editor

Find out what the problem is, show the customer the problem and reassure the customer that the car will be in fine working order after the fix. This way the owner will not be tempted to get rid of their vehicle for a new one.

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hen I took in my family’s nearly 20-year-old Civic for an emissions test, I received some bad news: it failed. Not spectacularly, thankfully. Just in one critical area. The NOx were much too high, double the allowable tolerances mandated. Ok, the car is old and with enough miles on its odometer (it is in miles as this Civic was purchased in the U.S.) to put us a good deal of the way towards Earth’s moon. Still, I did not want to hear was that it might take over $400 to fix. Now, it’s not that I did not want to pay the cost of repairing whatever was causing the Civic to fail its test. It had to be done. What bothered me was that the price was quoted before I was told what the problem might be. What happened next should not come as unexpected. I took the car to another shop. In the end, I paid a little over $400 to fix the problem, which turned out to be a broken PCV hose and a burnt-out catalytic converter as a consequence of the hose failing. The approach this shop took made all in the difference in my willingness to pay that cost. What was it? One shop decided to quote me a price even before having done anything to diagnose the problem. The other shop took the car in and did something very simple: they had a technician take a look at the engine and soon discovered the broken PCV hose. They even showed it to me and asked that I leave the car with them to replace the hose and valve, and if that did not improve the emissions, they would test and replace, if needed, the catalytic converter. Now, the first shop would have found the same problems. It’s hard to miss a broken hose. But the approach they had was all wrong, leading to lost work and revenue. Try to imagine you are someone who owns an old vehicle. It has provided many years of reliable service to your family and you think that you can get a few more years out of it before it is finally retired. But a failed emissions test can be a make-or-break proposition. Depending on how you approach them, it could either convince them to simply junk the car and buy a new one, or hold onto the old car a bit longer. Coming out and saying that they are going to need to spend X-number of dollars and not telling that customer what the problem is, might very well convince them that “Hey, this could be a very expensive to fix. They say it is $400 now; but what happens when the car is on the hoist? Will I be told it will be more? What else may be wrong?” Soon the customer is eyeing the new car dealership down the road and mentally calculating leasing rates as opposed to car loans, and trying to find a way to tell the wife or husband the car is scrap. Now the other shop took a simpler approach: find out what the problem is, show the customer the problem (the technician came out of the bay with the broken hose and service writer explained why it was causing the skewed emissions result and why the catalytic converter would need to be checked after), and reassure the customer that the car will be in fine working order after the fix. This way the owner will not be tempted to get rid of their vehicle for a new one and thereby causing the aftermarket and independent service shops to miss out on business. It all comes down to how you communicate with the customer.

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07/07/10 11:53 AM

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|| News Briefs

Shad’s Board of Directors appearing from left to right in the photograph are as follows: Brad Shaddick, Luc Champagne, Mike Fazackerley, Ken Coulter, John Vanstone, Mike Holland, Dan Hannah, Don Chase, Greg Stone and Bill Blair. (Absent from the photograph, Ray Osika).

The 37th Shad’s R & R for Muscular Dystrophy was held on June 10th at Station Creek Golf Club in Stoufville, Ontario. Some 236 attendees participated in the scramble golf format, with 254 attending the dinner where a cheque for $125,000 was presented by the Shad’s R & R Board of Directors to Catherine Sherrard, CEO of Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Alex Harold, who has Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy stole the show with his after dinner comments. His parents, Tony & Janice accompanied Alex at the event. The date for Shad’s in 2011 is Thursday June 9th. Shad’s R & R’s accumulative donation total has now surpassed $3.6 million.

Wells releases training video on ignition control modules

Wells Manufacturing, L.P. has expanded its library of free online training videos with a comprehensive new program covering ignition control modules (ICM). All Wells training videos are available 24/7 and at no charge through the “Wellstech” channel on YouTube.com as well as the company’s vehicle electronics Web site, wellsVE.com. The new “Ignition Control Module Training with Sergeant Tech” video is the fourth in a series of in-depth programs covering the operation, diagnosis and repair of key engine management systems. These videos, featuring the animated “Sergeant Tech” host, are 8 SSGM July 2010

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ideal for any counter professional, outside salesperson or technician. Other “Sergeant Tech” videos address automotive EGR, EVAP and DIS systems. “The “Sergeant Tech” series has been very popular among distributor and jobber sales professionals, in particular, who need not only a basic introduction to each of these product areas, but also leading causes of component failure and key features that make one brand’s parts the better choice for their customers,” said Wells technical services manager Mark Hicks. The 10-minute video offers detailed information to help parts professionals and technicians properly diagnose ICM failures, with added emphasis on the negative influence of excessive AC voltage in

Bento’s Auto Service Centre held its annual Free Car Seat Clinic in Toronto where local parents and expectant parents were encouraged to bring their vehicle and child car seats to be inspected and installed for free by members of Toronto’s police force. It was also an opportunity for residents to have questions about their vehicles answered by Bento’s staff and to enjoy a complimentary BBQ.

the vehicle’s electrical system. Viewers are urged to check other components that can contribute to ICM failure - including worn spark plugs and ignition wires, damaged coils and bad grounds - and to always check and replace coils and the ICM at the same time. Wells now offers more than 30 free technical videos covering automotive electronics and drivability topics. These programs, available in English and Spanish languages, have garnered the highest rating from YouTube users. For more information regarding Wells diagnostic resources and the company’s comprehensive range of premium quality replacement vehicle electronics, please visit www.wellsVE.com.

Demand study discovers $10 billion in unrealized aftermarket car repairs

A number of car owners across Canada are delaying essential car maintenance and repairs, or simply not performing any at all. In an effort to estimate the potential market demand that could be available in Canada, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC) was commissioned to prepare the “Hidden Potential Unmasked - The Canadian Automotive Aftermarket Demand Study.” The ultimate goal of this report was to estimate the degree to which vehicles are being properly maintained. The report, based on service manual recommendations, estimated that the true industry potential demand is at $28 billion, while actual services performed amount to only $18 billion. This significant difference of $10 billion indicates the staggering degree of opportunity that is being missed when customers bring their cars in for servicing. AIA is giving its members access to the full report in order to help them understand the benefits of promoting aftermarket repair and maintenance. Proactive service behavior can be profitable to the industry, the environment and can also contribute to a safer, more reliable vehicle for the driving public. AIA Canada encourages members to take the opportunity to view the Demand Study video. This video offers members a brief overview outlining the report’s findings and how you can www.ssgm.com

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News Briefs || take advantage of the information that is contained in the report to grow your business from within. AIA members can download a copy of the full report from the AIA Web site.

Federal-Mogul offering consumer rebates for Champion spark plugs

Consumers who plan to tune-up their vehicles between now and August 31, 2010, can receive up to $20 in cash rebates when they choose any of a variety of popular Champion spark plugs through Federal-Mogul Corporation’s “Smart Choice” trade and consumer campaign. The Smart Choice campaign reinforces the message that longer lasting, better performing replacement products are the best option for consumers who are retaining their vehicles rather than buying new ones. A regular maintenance schedule featuring periodic vehicle tune-ups can help reduce emissions and increase fuel economy. Throughout the promotional period, consumers who purchase premium Champion Iridium spark plugs can activate a $2.50 cash rebate per plug by visiting Federal-Mogul’s www. FMSmartChoice.com online program headquarters. Customers purchasing Champion Double Platinum Power or Platinum Power spark plugs can activate a $1.50-per-plug rebate, while Champion Copper Plus plugs are available with a 50-cent rebate per plug.

Nissan LEAF eligible for $8,500 incentive in Ontario

At a press conference in Toronto’s Transportation Minister, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, announced provincial incentives to promote electric vehicles in Ontario. With these incentives, the Nissan LEAF will be eligible for the maximum incentive of $8,500. “We are extremely pleased the Province of Ontario has taken this important step to promote zero-emission mobility and solidify its commitment to a greener Ontario,” said Mark McDade, director of marketing with Nissan Canada. “As manufacturers ramp up production of electric vehicles, incentives like this are an important way to ensure they can compete with www.ssgm.com

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traditional internal combustion engine vehicles that already have the cost benefits of mass production.” The provincial incentives will range between $5,000 and $8,500, depending on the size of the battery the vehicle uses. With a 24 kwh battery, Nissan LEAF is eligible for the full amount. “At Nissan our goal is to be the leader in zero-emission mobility and with the Nissan LEAF, we are well on our way,” added McDade. “Nissan LEAF is a car built for the real-world with comfortable seating for five, lots of cargo space and industry-leading technology, which will be offered at an affordable price. Those who choose zero-emission mobility will not need to compromise.” Nissan Canada recently launched the consumer Web site www.nissan.ca/ LEAF and to date, over 2,500 Canadian “handraisers” have signed up to receive news related to the Nissan LEAF. Nissan LEAF will be available in the United States, Japan and parts of Europe later this year and will arrive in parts of Canada by the end of 2011. Mass-marketing of Nissan LEAF will begin in 2012.

Following original equipment manufacturers trend Group 7 filters are adopting oil filter size standardizations, which includes height and diameter reductions. These changes allow for the Group 7 product line to be reduced by eight part numbers. This part number consolidation allows for reduced stocking requirements, and the ability to improve your cash flow. In addition to the complete oil filtration line, Group 7 offers a branded air filter line with 234 part numbers and 90 per cent vehicle coverage. A clean air filter from the Group 7 line is engineered to restore a vehicle to its peak performance. Specially blended paper maximizes air flow, traps harmful dirt and allows fresh air into the engine which improves and increases performance. The gaskets provide a tight seal to ensure that only filtered air reaches the engine.

Group 7 by Purolator offers filtration choices to Independents

Long recognized as the pioneer in oil and air filtration, Purolator offers repair shops and service technicians the opportunity to choose the oil, air, cabin and fuel air filters that best meet their needs. Designed specifically for independent repair shops, the Group 7 by Purolator filter line offers reliable and efficient performance at competitive pricing. Group 7 filters are distributed through warehouse distributors (WDs) and jobbers to service dealers, and are backed by the engineering and design experience of Purolator, the company that invented the very first engine oil filter in 1923. The Purolator brand name comes from that first engine oil filter Pure Oil Later. Group 7 filters are available for virtually all popular domestic and import cars and light trucks, so service technicians don’t have to worry about tying up a service bay while trying to find a supplier who can provide a needed filter. Group 7 filters are readily available throughout the United States and Mexico.

OTDA Annual Golf Event Resounding Success! For over twenty years, the Ontario Tire Dealers Association has been organizing an annual golf tournament to raise funds for the association and charity. Each year, one of the directors takes on the monumental task of organizing and hosting the event. This year’s charity was Cystinosis Awareness and Research. With a support committee of volunteers from the association and industry friends, this year’s chairman, OTDA President Glenn Warnica, orchestrated a spectacular event at Crossroads Golf and Country Club in Burlington. With the support of members and sponsors, close to $250,000 has gone to charity from this event over the years. Sponsor of the Year, Hunter Engineering donated an SW00 SmartWeight Wheel Balancer to the Live auction. The OTDA is grateful to the many sponsors including SSGM Magazine and volunteers who have supported this cause. For more information go to www.otda.com. July 2010 SSGM 9

07/07/10 11:54 AM

|| Belts and Hoses

Not another belt and hose story, you say? Don’t be fooled. Quite a lot has changed with belt and hose technology. By Nestor Gula

his writer took his first auto maintenance course at sixteen. Going for his car license he wanted to be able to fix the vehicle if anything went wrong; take it apart and reassemble it, if necessary. What struck him during the course was how simple it all really was. A lesson remembered to this day was if the fan belt broke, simply take some panty hose, run them along the pulleys for the crank, then the fan, the alternator, the tensioner and the water pump, and drive off to the next service centre to buy a replacement.

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Much has changed since those innocent times. First off, not so many women wear pantyhose these days. Most important though, pantyhose will not get you to the service centre. Today’s engines are much more complex than they were even 20 years ago. The clearances are smaller and everything of the engine is in a tighter, more compact space. There is no way even the most savvy and skilled driver will be able to get a pair of panty hose anywhere near the necessary tensioners and pulleys.

The biggest change perhaps is that the belts last longer and are made from a different compound than they were back then.

Welcome to the world of EPDM rubber and tougher belts

“The old belts were made from Neoprene which would degrade after a while,” said Marc Therrien, account executive with Veyance Technologies Canada Inc., the exclusive manufacturer of Goodyear Engineered Products. Neoprene is DuPont’s trade name

www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 11:55 AM

The Name OEM’s Trust. www.gatesprograms.com/beltwear

Whether you service domestic, Asian imports, or European imports, more than likely the original timing and/or front-end drive belts are manufactured by Gates. Gates belts are approved as original equipment by virtually every major automotive manufacturer. In fact, of all the cars rolling off assembly lines worldwide, well over 50 percent have a belt engineered and manufactured by Gates.

Gates Micro-V® AT® Serpentine Belts

Gates DriveAlign® Tensioners

Not only the quietest belt in the aftermarket, it’s also one of the most durable.

Engineered to exceed OEM requirements and promote superior belt alignment.

• Patented EPDM construction for superior flexibility and longer life. • Gumback for improved backside wear. • Aramid fibers reduce noise. • High-modulus tensile cords transmit torque and prevent stretching. • Precision profiles optimize pulley engagement.

• Gates is the tensioner expert due to affiliations with the OEs = OE Fit, Form and Function. • Gates Labyrinth seal virtually eliminates contamination. • Patented damping mechanism stops belt flutter. • Patented lubrication-free pivot bearing means better alignment. • Round torsion spring resists rust.

Gates Order Service

T: 519-759-4141 ext. 3360 F: 519-759-4567

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|| Belts and Hoses for polychloroprene. This is a family of synthetic rubber that is known for good chemical stability and its ability to maintain flexibility over a wide temperature range. Invented by DuPont in the 1930s, this substance quickly became the standard material for underhood rubber in cars, trucks and all manner of vehicles. Checking these belts for wear was a regular activity for all automotive technicians and fairly straightforward. “The technician would simply look for cracks and signs of wear, and replace the belt,” said Therrien. The belts were fairly inexpensive and fairly standardised across many lines of vehicles. Today’s belts are made from EPDM (ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber) — a more advanced form of synthetic rubber. “These new belts are like car tires — they do not crack or show signs of wear that the old belts used to have. They also wear like car tires so they might look fine but in fact they are worn and ready to fail,” said Rick Adams, product manager at ACDelco. “Belts are lasting much longer due to the new materials,” he adds. “Serpentine belts need to be diagnosed differently from what they used to be,” said Bill Hay, vice-president of sales at Dayco Canada Corp. “Belts used to be manufactured from a neoprene compound which was easy to spot when it was about to break, it would become cracked and also the bottom side of the belt would start to chunk out and fall apart.” Echoing the statement of Adams, Hay stressed, “technicians need to realize these belts wear like car tires. We have a wear gage that measures the wear of these belts.” The wear gauge is a universal instrument that can be used on any belt and is given away free by Dayco. In fact, these wear gauges are freely available from most belt manufacturers so there is no excuse for any technician to be without one. The tool is simple. “It’s like dropping a coin in a tire tread to check for wear in days gone past,” said Adams. Since cars have so many accessories that are belt driven, a worn belt can cause problems such as poor charging, 12 SSGM July 2010

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reduced air conditioner performance and increased pulley wear, amongst others. According to the Car Care Council, one-out-of-five vehicles on the road need a new belt. “Tensioners are another critical component that needs to be inspected

on a regular basis,” said Randy Chupka, marketing manager, automotive replacement market for Gates Canada. “A tensioner is a relatively inexpensive part to replace and can help protect other components such as the water pump, alternator and A/C compreswww.ssgm.com

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|| Belts and Hoses sor from undue stress and premature failure. An essential best practice for a technician considering belt replacement or any other component within the accessory belt drive system is a diagnostic check of the tensioner. While the engine is running, with the air conditioning on, check the tensioner arm for excessive vibration. If the tensioner arm vibration can be seen with the naked eye, a new tensioner is needed. With the engine off, also inspect the pulley surface and spin the pulley to check the bearing. Any unusual wear is a sign that replacement is needed.” Gates’ Stretch-Fit belt is a new technology that does away with the tensioner and is “designed by the OE to only work on drives without a tensioner,” said Chupka. “What you may have is that the water pump drive for instance may use a Stretch-Fit belt and has no tensioner. Meanwhile the A/C drive on the same vehicle may have a drive that has a tensioner and therefore you can use a standard serpentine belt for the A/C drive. These Stretch-Fit belts are very application specific and can only be used for the drive they were designed for.” Timing belts are often neglected to the detriment of the vehicle and the owner. “If a serpentine belt breaks, what happens is that the alternator goes and the car stops at the side of the road. You put on another belt and you go on your way,” said David Hirschhorn, director of branding for CRP Industries Inc. “When a timing belt breaks what happens is that a piston might come in contact with a valve and when that happens the cylinder head has to come off the car. It will go from a repair job that cost a few hundred to something that might be more than the value of the car.” Many water pumps are now run off the timing belt and not the serpentine belt. CRP offers the Pro Series that includes a water pump, tensioner, timing belts and idlers in one package. “What we are finding is that a lot of technicians, when they are going in to do the timing belt — it usually takes two to three hour to do the job so when you go in to do that job you might as well change everything,” said Hirschhorn. “The cost of a water pump is 20 to 30 14 SSGM July 2010

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bucks. With all that labour involved you might as well change everything when are you are there. The technician should know according to the service advice of the particular vehicle when you should change the timing belt. If the car is not used much it should be changed every three to four years.”

And now the hoses

Like the belts, hoses have been forced to change because of the complexities of the engine. “The biggest change in the industry is the use of more branched houses and much higher operating temperature in continued on pg 22 www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 11:55 AM

Actually, Ultra is much better.

Fits like O.E. because we make O.E. Constructed from durable stainless steel materials with the right loading of precious metals, Walker® Ultra® converters are EPA-compliant for vehicles 1996 and newer. Ultra converters not only meet strict O.E. speciﬁcations for ﬁt and performance – they exceed them.

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1/28/10 4:09 PM 07/07/10 11:57 AM

|| Scan Tools

Are you getting the most

out of your scan tool To help technicians get the most information out of cars today, scan tools are becoming more intuitive By Tom Venetis, Editor

hile the scan tool is one of the most important and powerful of the tools that a technician has in his or her arsenal, it is often, sadly, the one that is not used to it fullest potential. Now, with any kind of general or sweeping statement, such as the one just made, there are caveats. Getting the most out of a scan tool comes down to the comfort level of the technician with

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the tool, the training they have had and how easy the tool makes it to get at the necessary vehicle information. Meet all three of those requirements and you have a shop and a technician that is getting the most out of an expensive equipment investment; and helping customers receive the highest quality of care and service for their vehicles, all the while generating valuable revenue.

Miss those key points and you have a tool that is not being used to its full potential and a technician who grows increasingly frustrated with the job and the tool at hand.

Training and information

The greatest hurdle a technician has to deal with today is the complexity of vehicle electronics and what information can be had from the ever-increasing number www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 11:57 AM

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07/07/10 11:58 AM

|| Scan Tools of computer systems and control modules. “There are systems today that have never appeared in cars before,” says Darryl Scott, division supervisor with Versatile Automotive Diagnostics. “Today you have navigation systems, TPMS and functions such as headlamps that will aim themselves when the vehicle is making a turn; and many systems now are coming under computer control that once were manually controlled. It is becoming even trickier now to understand all the complex voltages used and the numerous fuses and their placements. Simply, there is a very steep learning curve with today’s vehicles because of all the electronics and computer-based systems onboard.” “Even for basic maintenance tasks, like changing the brakes, a technician will need for some vehicles the support of a scan tool to release the brakes,” says Ruediger Hirschmann, senior product manager, regional business unit, diagnostics, for Bosch. “With more and more computerized systems

in a vehicle, the modern vehicle is indeed becoming more of a computer on wheels, and enhanced diagnostic functions are needed in order to perform a repair or maintenance.” For a technician, this means the scan tool resting comfortably in their hands or mounted on a table has also become more complex. That tool now pulls out an ever growing amount of critical data, fault codes and mechanical and computer system information that has to be sorted through and understood. Sometimes, however, just getting that information can be challenging. This is where training comes in. Makers of scan tools insist technicians take the time to get some training on the tools in order to understand how to best use them, and more importantly, how to extract the needed data from the vehicle using the tool. Sometimes it is not obvious, at first glance, what the tool can do and what information it can pull out of the vehicle. This is especially important with

tools that are made to work with foreign nameplate vehicles. Bruce Ruhf, director of operations and marketing with Ross-Tech, makers of the VAG-COM system for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, says some technicians forget that while North American vehicle makers do make a lot of information available through common ODB II scan tools, using those same scan tools on a Volkswagen or Audi will not give them all the information they will need to successfully find and fix a vehicle problem. The problem lies in the fact, Ruhf says, in how technicians are trained. Many have been trained on using standard ODB II scan tools whenever there is an ODB II problem, so they naturally gravitate to the ones used on GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles. The solution is that they need to be trained on knowing how to use the right tool for the specific vehicle at hand and how to get the tool to give them the information they are looking for; and,

The Bosch KTS 340 comes with the Bosch ESI[tronic] software package that provides DVD-based updates four times a year with data relating to new vehicle types, target values for vehicle diagnostics, up-to-date information on servicing and maintenance matters, new troubleshooting instructions and technical service information can be imported into the ECU diagnostic systems.

18 SSGM July 2010

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www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 11:57 AM

Scan Tools || more importantly, for companies to be available to give guidance and answers to technician’s questions. “We are a VW-certified service centre and we have access to (VW’s) tools; and because of their tools, we have access to such things as techservice bulletins and all kinds of stuff that would normally go along with being a factory-authorized service centre,” Ruhf adds. “By taking that information and gleaning what we can, we can find a solution and publish it for technicians.” Bosch has in place a range of training mechanism and information for technician to get a handle on the capabilities of their scan tools, and to have questions answered. Bosch currently offers training clinics for its various scan tools and videos. In fact, technician using the Bosch KTS 200 and the new KTS 340 scan tools can go to with www.kts200. com or www.kts340.net for online training on the tools and to have specific questions answered.

The VAD Pro system is a touch screen equipped computer with proprietary vehicle diagnostic electronics. VAD Pro gives detailed VW/Audi diagnostic reporting and specialized VW/Audi functions, including OBD-II universal functionality.

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07/07/10 11:57 AM

|| Scan Tools Making things intuitive

To make things easier for a technician, almost all scan tool makers have taken a page from designers working on consumer-based software: they are making their interfaces more intuitive. It is not as straight-forward as it sounds and it requires a lot of careful thinking about how technicians do their jobs and spending time getting input from technician as what information they need and how they can get at it easily. When done successfully, the diagnostic tool being held becomes an invaluable resource. Bosch’s Hirschmann points to the KTS 340 as an example of designing a tool to be more intuitive. The interface is made to eliminate the problem of some older scan tool interfaces where the technician was forced to jump through ever more complicated menus to reach the information needed. As well, the tool was specifically designed for the North American aftermarket, taking into account that technician on this side of the pond take the VIN number as their first step of any diagnosis. “The very first step in diagnosing a vehicle problem is the identification of the vehicle with the scan tool,” says Hirschmann. “Due to the variety of makes and models this can be a very time-consuming. The Automatic VIN Identification allows (the technician) to identify the vehicle with one click (and) without ‘jumping’ through complicated selections. Even our Module check allows the technician to scan the vehicle network and generate a list of all in-built systems.” Ross-Tech’s Ruhf says in today’s vehicles, the most critical information is the ‘live’ data. His company’s scan tool is designed to pull out that ‘live’ data right away so the technician does not have to spend time searching for that data and slowing down the diagnostic and repair process. “Another important piece of information needed right away is the ‘freeze frame’ data form the control modules,” Ruhf adds. “Those modules can tell you at what mileage a fault occurred and what is going on at that moment. That is incredibly helpful.” 20 SSGM July 2010

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Ross-Tech’s diagnostic solution is compatible with VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda models through 2009, including models using a direct CAN connection for diagnostics and has a database of 12,000 fault codes.

SPX’s Pegisys scan tool features wireless connectivity to OTC’s Direct-Hit Technician by Identifix to help find diagnostic information for the vehicle being worked on.

John Mills, Canadian national technical trainer for SPX Corp./OTC says the company’s popular Genisys and Pegisys scan tools operate under what Mills calls a “Code-toFix” schema whereby the tool is able to pull all the codes a vehicle either through an Automated Systems Test or an All Systems Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) test. “If a technician want to look at all of the codes in a vehicle, they can do an All systems DTC scan while the

Automates Systems Test looks at the codes from the different modules on a vehicle, including calibration IDs and provides an accurate snap-shot of the engine data.”

REFERENCE LIST

Bosch www.bosch.com SPX Corp./OTC www.otc.com Ross-Tech www.ross-tech.com Versatile Automotive Diagnostics www.versatileautomotivediagnostics.com www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 11:58 AM

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continued from pg 14 the engine bays because the engines are running much harder,” said Abe Garweg, vice-president of product development at CRP Industries Inc. “Higher temperatures mean higher operating pressures. The other thing is that aluminium radiates heat much more than cast iron. On top of everything else, cars are more aerodynamic. They have belly pans, radiator openings are smaller and the engine bays are smaller. So the underhood temperatures are much higher. Obviously these increased operating temperatures affect the belts and hoses — everything under the hood that is made of rubber. That is why new compounds are necessary.” Unlike a simple hose, branched hoses might have many outlets or inlets and be specific to that engine and vehicle with certain options.

“They are very complicated hoses. One end goes to the heater valve, one goes to the water pump one goes to the radiator,” said Garweg. “Some look like modern sculptures. The modern hoses are more expensive but they also last longer. Technicians should be aware of these branches and inspect them.” Garweg recommends replacing the radiator hose every five to six years. “If you live in Arizona or Florida you should replace more frequently than if you live in Massachusetts.” SSGM

REFERENCE LIST

ACDelco www.acdelco.com CRP Industries www.crpindustries.com Dayco Inc. www.dayco.com Gates Canada www.gates.com Goodyear Engineered Products www.goodyearep.com www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 11:55 AM

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|| Sasso

The First Steps To

Finding An Employee That Fits

lanning to hire a new employee? Congratulations! Your business is obviously doing well — despite what seems a slow economic turnaround. Even if you’re not yet considering it, consider clipping this article and keeping it on file. You may be hiring sooner than you think if the economy rebounds as many are predicting. Don’t worry if the hiring process seems a little intimidating. It’s understandable. For most service stations and garages, a new hire is a big investment of time and money. Depending on how big your staff is one new employee can effectively double your staff. That can make the process even more stressful. But what makes the process harder is that hiring is something you don’t do very often. Or perhaps something you’ve never done before. Picking the right employee is an important job. You want to be careful not to take any shortcuts that could land the wrong employee at your shop. When I say “wrong” I don’t mean someone who lacks job skills, I mean someone that doesn’t ﬁt in with your shop personality (corporate culture) or is hard to work with. Having technical skills is one thing. Being a good employee is something entirely different. A hard worker is good. Being hard to work with is bad. You may be extra-busy and need help fast. Don’t let that force you to rush the process. Perhaps you can ﬁnd a temporary moonlighter or part-timer to help you buy the time you need until you can make the right hiring decision. Or maybe you need to farm out work to another shop for a while. Whatever you need to do to get the work done without rushing to hire someone is in your best interest. Finding the right person takes time. In that way, hiring can be much like dating — only a lot less fun. 24 SSGM July 2010

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Hiring can be like dating – just a lot less fun

Here’s a brief overview that will give you a roadmap through the initial stages of the hiring process — and a few tips on pitfalls to avoid.

The Two Most Common Hiring Mistakes

Shop owners and managers — like most small business managers — tend to make one of two hiring mistakes: They don’t create a clear, thorough job description; or they hire someone that doesn’t fit the job description. Those are very easy mistakes to make. You didn’t open a shop to work in human resources. You opened a shop to work on cars. You should start by deciding what job you want to fill. Sometimes that’s harder than it sounds — although if an employee is leaving and you’re filling an existing position that can make it easier. Just jot down a list of what that person did. More often than not, however, you’ll find yourself creating a new position.

That’s great because it means you’re growing, but it also means you need to take inventory. You need to make the the time to think about what you need. It takes some work to decide what the new position is and the duties of that job. As I see it, shop jobs fall into three major categories: sales, clerical/ managerial or technical. Although you may be able to ﬁnd someone who can handle two of these roles, chances are you will rarely ﬁnd someone who can do all three well. If you do, they likely own their own shop. So, I suggest you choose one major category and one minor category of job skills you’re looking for. Say you want a counter worker who can do order and/or stock inventory. Or perhaps you want a technician who can do a little selling, like writing up an order or cross-selling a customer. continued on pg 30 www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 12:01 PM

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07/07/10 12:01 PM

CANADIAN

AUTOMOTIVE Technician

Resistance is Futile Batteries are more than just current pumps…here’s why By Jim Anderton, Technical Editor

lectric cars are all the rage in the media these days, but professional techs have known that gas and diesel cars and light trucks have been getting more “electric” every year. Almost every one of the increasing number of accessories in modern vehicles is electrically powered. Even suspension and steering are getting wired, making electrical system troubleshooting more important than ever. At the core of it all is the battery, the source for the current that drives the system…except that it’s more than a holding tank for the alternator. What do we need to know?

voltage = current x resistance .....or for water in a pipe: pressure = flow rate x pipe restriction Current and voltage are not the same thing

It’s surprising how many successful techs get by nicely without a clear understanding of what electricity is. For 26 SSGM July 2010

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our purposes, it’s like water flowing in a pipe…except voltage is pressure and current is flow. The important thing to know is that it’s the current that does work, whether it’s firing a spark plug or stopping your heart when you stick that screwdriver into the coil pack. To use the water analogy, if you need to fill your pool, you need a certain number of litres of water and to speed the process up you need the hose to flow more litres per minute. You do it by opening the valve all the way, increasing the pressure, or more accurately the pressure differential between the water main and the end of your hose. The battery’s job is to deliver current to the vehicle accessories so they can do work. The voltage is the “pressure” the battery uses to drive the current. Ever measure the supply voltage across the supply and ground of an accessory like a wiper motor while it was running? A lot less than 12 volts! That’s because the 12 volt magic number is measured open circuit which in our technology means with one battery terminal disconnected. But how can we be sure that a battery that shows 12 or 13 volts open circuit can still deliver the current needed for heavy duty accessories, like the starter? We can’t, at least not for sure. www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 12:02 PM

Ideal Circut

Real Circut

Interior Battery Resistance

Load

12v 12v Ideal Circuit Your schematic shows a situation like this…the battery supplies current effortlessly to the vehicle loads, shown here as a resistor.

Real Circuit The real world looks like this. The battery has its own internal resistance, affecting both the rate it charges and the ability to feed current into the vehicle under high demand loads. The internal resistance is affected by electrolyte chemistry, age, temperature and physical damage. A realistic test must be under load, preferably with microprocessor controlled equipment.

The battery has its own resistance

part because serious draw changes the chemistry inside the cells…and even then charge has to travel across the plates through the electrolyte, which takes time. The electrolyte is also heating as the current flows. Battery amp-hour ratings are typically measured at current draws low enough to avoid these internal issues, typically 3.5 amps. In our 100 amp-hour example, the baseline measurement would be a 3.5 hour load draining over 29 hours. It’s a good test for comparison, but a 3.5 amp draw doesn’t even come close to the current needed to spin a starter…which is the essential point: Batteries need to be seriously loaded to truly test their capacity. If you don’t use a purpose-built battery tester, you will likely miss a weak battery, especially with modern high torque starters and ignition/fuel system that can fire an engine with a single spin of the crankshaft. Can the ones that “fall through the cracks” affect modules and CAN buses? For sure. A 7-series BMW has 50 controllers and it’s not unusual…why not make sure that the battery is solid before the mind-bending troubleshooting process?

We all know that there’s resistance in every circuit. Drop a wrench across the battery terminals and you can see instantly what happens when you reduce the resistance to current flow in that very short circuit. If you use Ohm’s Law you can guesstimate the flow. My favourite Proto 13/16-inch combination wrench is perfect for shorting out a top post battery because its surface resistance is a little under 0.1 ohms by the multimeter. According to Ohm’s Law, that works out to 120 amps at a nominal 12 volts for the battery, which is solidly into arc welder territory. That wrench, however, is a chrome-vanadium steel alloy. Put an 18-gauge copper wire with very little resistance across the battery and in theory you should be seeing five or six hundred amps through the wire. Obviously, in the real world this is impossible. Another way to think about it is to look at the battery’s rating. A 100 amp-hour battery theoretically could deliver 100 amps for an hour before going “dead.” The real world is a lot different; try to draw 100 amps out of a battery and it won’t last an hour. Why? Because the battery has its own internal resistance, in www.ssgm.com

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SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Ken-Tool announces Valve Breaker tire tool Ken-Tool has announced its latest tire service tool, the Valve Breaker to quickly remove valve stems from demounted wheels. The Valve Breaker uses a slide ram design to drive a heattreated punch into the valve stem seat to easily pop the valve stem out of the rim after the wheel has been demounted. This allows the service technician to quickly remove the stem with the wheel on the floor. The slide ram is made from solid round steel bar stock to drive more energy into the valve stem to knock it out of the wheel quickly and efficiently. The Ken-Tool Valve Breaker protects the operator with a rubber safety-grip drive handle and a vibration absorbing rubber grip on the outer tube. A protective flange at the top of the tube helps to prevent pinching, and an energy absorbing spring loaded punch assembly protects the wheel while reducing shock to the operator’s hands. The Valve Breaker is available in two lengths: P/N 35934 - 27 in. (69 cm) and P/N 35936 - 45 in. (114 cm), and weigh 9 lb (4.1kg) and 16 lb. (7.3 kg) respectively. The shorter Valve Breaker (P/N 35934) fits conveniently in a 30” toolbox. Ken-Tool www.kentool.com

28 SSGM July 2010

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Rislone powder radiator stop leak protects cooling systems Rislone has introduced a powder version of its popular Radiator Stop Leak. The new product uses the same active ingredients as Rislone Liquid Radiator Stop Leak, but the powder comes in a small, easy-to-use tube. Like its liquid counterpart, Rislone Powder Radiator Stop Leak (p/n 31170) is designed to permanently seal leaks in plastic, aluminum and metal radiators, heater cores, blocks, heads, gaskets and freeze plugs, including internal, external and coolant-to-oil leaks. These tiny particles will not clog heater cores. In addition to stopping leaks, Rislone Powder Radiator Stop Leak also protects the cooling system. It inhibits the formation of rust and scale, neutralizes pH imbalance, prevents electrolysis and lubricates the water pump seal. One package treats systems up to 11 litres. Rislone Powder Radiator Stop Leak is safe for any cooling system using conventional green (silicatebased) and extended life red/orange or yellow (OAT) antifreeze. It is added directly to the radiator, with no flushing required. Rislone www.rislone.ca

www.ssgm.com

08/07/10 1:44 PM

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|| Sasso continued on pg 24 If this is your first employee, I suggest you write a brief description for your shop. It will help you set priorities and promote efficiency. Then write your own job description. Your goal is to find someone whose strength is your weakness. If you’re disorganized try to find an organizer to help you. If you hate selling, then find someone who likes serving customers. The great part about this strategy is that it frees you from the drudgery and allows you to focus more time on what you like doing. It’s a win-win situation.

Define The Job To Refine The Job Search

Once you’ve defined the job, write it down. Creating a job description is very important. When you meet a likable candidate, it can be easy to lose sight of your job description and end up hiring a “likable liability”—a great person who isn’t so great for the job. The better you define the job, the better chance you’ll have of finding the right person for it. Break down the position into job duties — five or 10 tasks you expect this person to do regularly. Listing job duties is important, no matter if you’re hiring an experienced technician or a young parttimer. Take the part-timer. His or her job duties might read: “clean-up waiting room, stock parts, sweep shop floor, answer phones, update website and other duties as assigned.” It’s always a good idea to have “other job duties as assigned” on the list to avoid “it’s not my job” complaints as well as potential legal issues. (I think some wedding vows should read “...love, honor, cherish, and other duties as assigned.”) Remember, not only are you looking for a job ﬁt, so is your prospect. No one wants to be surprised on the first day that the job isn’t what they applied for. The job description and duties will also come in useful when it’s time to do a performance review. Having a clearly defined job allows you to measure your employee’s performance.

Be Sure You’re Fishing In A Well-Stocked Pond

You may have heard other shop owners complain that it’s hard to ﬁnd good 30 SSGM July 2010

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help. More than likely they haven’t drawn from a big enough pool of applicants to find the right one. It’s a lot like fishing. If the lake was just stocked, you’re more likely to catch a keeper than if the lake has been over-fished. In the same way, you’re more likely to find the right employee if you have 20 applicants than if you have two. So, you need to do everything you can to drum up as many job applicants as possible, so you have more to choose from. You don’t want to end up with your only prospect being your neighbor’s cousin’s ex-boyfriend. A sign in your window and an ad in the local paper are nice. But most jobs are never listed in the want ads. So, it’s best to start by putting your feelers out through the folks you deal with every day. If you’re looking for someone experienced, give copies of your job description to your mobile tool dealer and your parts supplier. Ask them for referrals. They have connections with others shops and know experienced people. Rather than damage their relationship with you, they’ll usually only refer prospects they trust. That serves as a pre-screening function, so you can avoid wasting your time interviewing a young person who wants to work at your shop because he liked the “Fast and Furious” movies. In fact, if you’re looking for an entry-level person or part-timer, you might ask the high school auto teacher or community college or vocational school instructor to tell their best students about your job opening. You may have just the job a student like this would thrive at.

Getting The Help You Want With Help Wanted Ads

Back to your help wanted ad. Writing a want ad may sound hard. But the way I look at it, someone has already done all the hard work. All you need to do is assemble the pieces. Start by looking on some of the popular job search engines like Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, or even Craigslist.com for similar job listings, (you might use this technique to develop your job description and list of duties, too). Print out the three or four listings your

think sound most like your opening. Take a bit from here and some things from there and add a few thoughts of your own. Pull them all together to create the working job description/help wanted ad for your situation. Now, you can let a pro take over. Call the classified ad department at your local newspaper or fax/email them your write-up and ask for help creating a killer want ad. They write classified ads every day. You stick to headers; let them handle headlines. Once the ad runs, use the same wording in online ads on Web sites like Craigslist.com. Some applicants will submit resumes, others will want to fill out an application. You should have some job applications on file in case. Pick up a packet of applications at a local office supply store. Or you can find hundreds of editable job apps online (Google “free employment application template”). Having a PDF or Word employment application will let you email applications to a prospective employees so they can complete and return it faster.

Ready To Hire? Not Quite.

As the resumes and applications come in by mail or email, quickly look them over and store them into two stacks: “Maybe” and “Maybe Not.” You’ll still want to review both stacks carefully later, before you rule anyone out entirely. But this will give you a quick way to determine if you’re ready to start interviewing. Once you have enough “Maybes,” you’ll want to start making calls. But don’t let those big stacks of paper fool you into thinking the hard work is done. The hard work has just begun. Phil Sasso, is president of Sasso Marketing Inc. (www. sassomarketing.com), a 20-year-old technical marketing agency providing advertising, public relations and promotional services to the aftermarket. Subscribe to his weekly marketing tip free at philsasso.com. www.ssgm.com

08/07/10 1:50 PM

Jim’s Rant ||

An Untapped Pool

By Jim Anderton, Technical Editor

It’s time we considered a relatively invisible group in the repair trade, namely the disabled. While repair is still physical work, it’s a lot less so than it used to be.

o shop owners who’ve been around awhile, it’s no surprise — we’ve seen it coming for years. The repair aftermarket is facing the same demographic dip that will soon affect every skilled trade: an ageing workforce. There simply aren’t enough young Canadians coming up to replace the coming wave of retirees as the Baby Boom generation races into their sixties. It’s a national problem, but in terms of training, it’s a provincial responsibility. We’re going to need to train more techs, which means finding young people to enter skilled trade programs at a time when they will have lots of opportunities in other more glamorous fields. We’re going to have to adapt. Immigration is one answer, but it’s not enough; and it fills the gaps in major cities while leaving much of Canada in the same labour vacuum. One way is to attract groups that have traditionally avoided or been excluded from the trade. Young women are a natural population, but they have the same choices and alternatives, plus there will always be less appeal for the automotive aftermarket compared to “cleaner” trades. It’s time we considered a relatively invisible group in the repair trade, namely the disabled. While repair is still physical work, it’s a lot less so than it used to be. At SSGM we’ve covered fully-automated tire changers and many diagnostic tools that could easily be configured to work around many issues. More and more repair is oriented to diagnostics instead of brute force. Can a tech with a prosthetic function in a typical bay environment? Sure. Can a dyslexic tech diagnose and repair cars and light trucks? They already are and in many cases you don’t even know it. Do all your techs need a driver’s licence? In Europe it’s common for auto techs to use public transit to get to work and many don’t drive. Could your service writer operate from a wheelchair? Of course, but the relatively minor changes needed to accommodate the individual challenge of these potential techs scares away many shop owners. They don’t have to. In many cases, such as weak vision, it may be as simple as setting computer systems for a larger type face or better lighting. Wheelchair access ought to be a part of renovations anyway to avoid expensive retrofits as legislation changes. We have a surprising number of highly experienced techs who can’t read…yet most owners would be nervous about a new hire that uses a text-to-audio reader. A tech with manageable ADD would be a non-starter for most, yet many shops have techs who struggle with drug and alcohol issues. Is there a double standard here? In a nation where fewer and fewer young people want to pursue a trade, we need to attract and hold onto every trainee we can find. There’s another time bomb that’s ticking for the trade and that’s the threat to car culture itself. Most techs will tell you that they were interested in cars long before they signed on to a training program. Cars are less interesting to many of today’s young people, who are gravitating to computers and social networking. And for an increasing number of environmentally minded young Canadians, cars and light trucks are regarded as environmentally irresponsible. We simply have to find and hold onto every young person who has an interest in the repair trades, regardless of issues like disability. There’s a workaround for more issues than you think....and you can’t teach enthusiasm.

What do you think? Have your say and speak your mind! letterstotheeditor@ssgm.com

www.ssgm.com

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SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Continental offers VDO Door Systems program Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket has added substantial coverage to its VDO Door Systems program with the addition of over 750 new VDO Power Door Lock Actuators, Window Regulators and Power Window Motor and Regulator Assemblies. The VDO Power Window line now offers domestic and import coverage from model years 1965 to 2010 for passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs. It features over 1,000 SKUs that include new power window motors, tailgate window motors, window regulators, motor/regulator assemblies and gear kits. VDO Door Lock Actuator coverage has also been expanded to include side doors, fuel doors and hatchbacks. The door lock actuators feature OE quality components for easy installation and long service life, and come standard with original equipment electrical connections. Make and model coverage for imports and domestics ranges from the 1980s to date. The new door lock actuators, window regulators and motor/regulator

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assemblies offer ideal application coverage for collision centers and glass specialists. The program is managed in accordance with AAIA standards and provides e-cataloging data in AAIA, ACES and Legacy formats. All VDO door system components deliver OE fit and function and are built

to the same quality standards as the OE components Continental supplies to automakers worldwide. All of the VDO parts are competitively priced against remanufactured units and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require a core trade-in. Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket http://usa.vdo.com

www.ssgm.com

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Manage Your Business Your Way! LANKAR All-In-One Shop Management System

Professional Invoicing Accounting & Payroll Labour Guide / Maintenance Schedule Online Parts Ordering Inventory Marketing Shop Scheduling Ask Us About Transferring Your History to LANKAR

Start Today 1 800 446-3087 FREE TRIAL lankar.com

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LANKAR by Autogence

07/07/10 12:05 PM

SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Purolator offers 2010 Automotive Filter Catalog Purolator announced the publication of its 2010 Automotive Filter Catalog (PUCT110) containing the most current filter-related information. This catalog is especially designed to meet the needs of automotive service professionals. This 968page catalog covers a wide range of filter applications from model year 1985 to 2010 for domestic and import cars, vans, SUVs and light trucks as well as motorcycles and ATVs. Coverage includes Purolator’s premium-grade PureONE oil and air filters, Purolator Classic oil and air filters, and cabin air, fuel, and transmission filters. The trilingual catalog - English, Spanish or French – comes with cross-reference notes,

technical bulletins, catalog abbreviations and footnotes, decimal and metric equivalents, new products guide/ obsolete types/superseding types, hotline phone numbers, quick change cross reference tables and much more. Purolator www.purolatorautofilters.net

Matco Tools Introduces the MD1022 QIKSCAN Matco Tools has introduced the QIKSCAN, the MD1022. This tool features: enhanced OBD2 Live-Data (J1979 & J2190); an all-inone backlit screen display and threecolour LED display for quick State Emissions readiness check and drive cycle verification; and is 2010 model year compliant with 15 monitor coverage. It will work on medium duty and diesel vehicles. It comes with links to all OBD2 protocols including CAN, Keyword 2000, ISO 91422, J-1850 (VPW & PWM) to decode “Check Engine” light problems. Matco Tools www.matcotools.com

Start up an 88-year-old business. We’re looking for experienced, customer-centric business leaders to become Canadian Tire Dealers. Imagine running your own business with the support of a best-in-class national retail network behind you. Learn more at corp.canadiantire.ca

www.ssgm.com

34 SSGM July 2010 CTR101022TA_SSGM_E.indd 1 Process CyanProcess MagentaProcess YellowProcess Black CLIENT

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Canadian Tire 09/06/2010

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APPROVALS CREATIVE TEAM

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NEW Our improved design makes our Web Site easier to use, more interactive and features more technical installation and repair videos than ever before.

MORE PRODUCTS l MORE INDUSTRY NEWS l MORE VIDEOS l

Log on to see the New

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SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Matco Tools introduces the MD1042 SCANADVISOR

16-inch fan gasket available from SPAL USA

Matco Tools introduced a new SCANADVISOR, the MD1042. This tool features: record and play back enhanced OBD2 Live-Data (J1979 & J2190) with data graphing, OBD2 Mode 1 to 9 coverage; works on all 1996 and newer cars, light trucks, SUVs and minivans - Domestic and Import; and performs Bi-directional/Service mode 8 EVAP testing. Additional features include an all-in-one backlit screen display and three-colour LED display. Matco Tools www.matcotools.com

SPAL USA, a manufacturer of OEM and aftermarket electric cooling fans, has introduced a 16” Fan Gasket for enthusiasts and independents who want to mount fans directly to the radiator core without a shroud. The specially-designed rubber Fan Gasket (#30130074) provides an additional 1/4-inch clearance from the cooler core and is ideal for mounting pusher style fans. It features universal brackets and works exclusively with SPAL’s 16” fan line, which includes the High Performance Push Straight Blade fan (#30102047) and High Performance Push Curved Blade fan (#30102048). SPAL also offers medium and low profile 16” fans where improved airflow is needed on vehicles with tighter space requirements. SPAL USA www.spalusa.com

Pro-Fit Carry Systems announces “Cool Tool Carrier” lineup Pro-Fit Carry Systems announced the

availability of their thigh tool carrier belt, the Pro-Fit Modular Leg Platform (MLP). This fully adjustable, one-size-fits all carrier is made from high quality, heavy-duty nylon webbing, and Cordura, making it extremely lightweight and breathable. The MLP attaches to the right or left thigh creating easy access to your most often-used hand tools. Loops allow for easy access to a wide variety of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, files, flashlight and cutters. The Pro-Fit Modular Leg Platform has a quick release hangar allowing speedy removal while keeping other belts in position. Pro-Fit Carry Systems www.pro-fitcarrysystems.com

Bosal offers new line of power catalytic converters

Snap-on introduces bulk storage EPIQ locker Snap-on’s new KELN301AR Series and KELN301AL Series for its EPIQ tool storage units are the largest and strongest lockers ever made by Snap-on. 36 SSGM July 2010

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Designed for auto repair the EPIQ tool storage unit is a complete productivity system that brings together sophisticated PC-based diagnostics and cordless tools, with reliable security and Snap-on’s heritage of rugged durability. Snap-on Tools www.snapon.com/epiqpower

Bosal’s new line of power catalytic converters are designed to keep the MIL “off” on properly diagnosed and serviced vehicles that may have problem emissions. The new Super Cats are specially built with greater precious metal loadings to address the emissions problems of older vehicles as well as to meet the more stringent requirements of later models. These special direct-fit units are affordably priced for use on popular models of Acura, Audi, BMW, Honda, Isuzu Lexus, Mitsubishi, Pontiac, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, and VW. Bosal Super Cats deliver OE fit and function without the dealer price. Bosal www.bosalna.com www.ssgm.com

07/07/10 12:03 PM

Automotive Internet Directory

Visit these companies directly at their web addresses or check out the growing list of Hot Links at www.autoserviceworld.com. To find out how your organization can be included in this directory and on the web, contact aross@jobbernews.com

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS & ACCESSORIES Goodyear Engineered Products www.goodyearep.com/aftermarket www.goodyearbeltsandhose.com The officially licensed belt of NASCAR. Gatorback, the quiet belt. You can never replace Goodyear quality. NGK Spark Plugs Canada Limited www.ngksparkplugs.ca The World Leader in Spark Plugs, Oxygen Sensors and Ignition Wire Sets. Used by 87% of the World’s OE Manufacturers S.B International Inc. www.sbintl.com “We keep engines humming”

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

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

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTORS & BUYING GROUPS The E.R.I. Group www.theerigroup.com Canada’s Premier Machine Shop Buying Group

Kerr Machine Shop Group Inc.

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

www.kerrmachineshopgroup.com Buying group for machine shops and performance shops.

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTORS & BUYING GROUPS Bestbuy Distributors Limited

www.bestbuyautoparts.ca Independent buying group and warehouse distributor that allocates its profits to member shareholders and provides unbeatable value for independent jobbers.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Advertiser

Page #

website

ACDelco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ACDELCOCanada.com Affinia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.wixfilters.com Autolite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.autolite.com Canadian Tire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.canadiantire.ca CARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.cars-council.ca Continental. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.vdo.com/usa Gates Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.gatesprograms.com/beltwear CRP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.proserieskit.com Honeywell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.honeywellcpg.com Lankar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.lankar.com Robert Bosch Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.boschdiagnostics.com Ross-Tech LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ross-tech.com Smoke Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.smokewizard.com Uni-Select. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.uniselectcanada.com Valvoline Oil Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.valvolineoil.com Veyance Technologies (Goodyear Engineered Products). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.goodyearep.com VL Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.vlcomm.com WORLDPAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.worldpac.com Walker Exhaust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.walkerexhaust.com www.ssgm.com JOBBER NEWS / MARCH 2010

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July 2010 SSGM 37

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Now, We Do It All! 2010 SSGM Garage of the Year Presented by:

Now, We Do It All! Who has the best shop in Canada?

I Nominate:_________________________________

Valvoline® now offers a full line of Valvoline Professional Garage Name________________________________ Series automotive service chemicals. With Valvoline Name_______________________________ Professional Series, you get a comprehensive lineOwners of professional-grade products, services and solutions Address_____________________________________ Theall2010 SSGM Garage of the Year, presented backed by industry leading marketing programs. Phone(____)_________________________________ by Valvoline, seeks to recognize thedelivers very bestmaximum value Valvoline Professional Series independent serviceand provider the Canadian to consumers helps in grow your bottom line. The reason I believe this nominee deserves this award is:

Anyone can nominate an automotive service provider. The award recognizes excellence in the areas of good business practice, training, customer satisfaction and community involvement.

____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

My Name:__________________________________ Make copies and simply ask your customers, Address_____________________________________ suppliers, members of your community or even competitors to complete this form. Return all Phone(____)_________________________________ your nomination forms by fax or mail to SSGM Valvoline® now offersor a full line of Valvoline by September 20, 2010, be nominated on- Professional Nominate your choice online at automotive service chemicals. With Valvoline lineSeries at ssgm.com. www.ssgm.com or Professional Series, you get a comprehensive line of complete and mail this form at left to: Theprofessional-grade finalists will be identified in theservices October and is- solutions products, SSGM Garage of the Year sueall of backed SSGM and winnerleading will be marketing announced programs. by the industry 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800, North York, in the December issue. Valvoline Professional Series delivers maximum value ON M3C 4J2 or fax to: 416-510-5140

to consumers and helps grow your bottom line. ©, 2010, Ashland Canada Corp. Valvoline.indd 1 p 38 Garage of the Year.indd 38

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ÂŠ 2009, Ashland Canada Corp. *Source: Thomas Penway Research Poll of ASE Mechanics in the United States

www.v a lv o li n e . c o m

Only one person works on his car. And only one oil works in his engine. More ASE-certified top mechanics use Valvoline in their own cars.* Mechanics can use any oil they want. They choose the one with a proven reputation for quality, protection and a history of innovation. Valvoline.

100 YEARS UNDER THE HOOD.

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