Service Station Garage Management August 2010 by Annex Business Media

Service Station & Garage Management .COM

SSGM READ BY AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP OWNERS AND TECHNICIANS SINCE 1955

AUGUST 2010

Oil Report:

Covering All The Bases Independents, Dealers Working Together Profits In Exhaust Work

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First we launched ABS. Then Electronic Stability Control. Now let’s talk brake pads.

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August 2010

Vol. 40 No. 7

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 20

VICE PRESIDENT CANADIAN PUBLISHING Alex Papanou

Feature: Oil Report: Drivers today have a wide-range of motor oils to pick from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Working Together Independents, dealership operations find cooperation means profits, happy vehicle owners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Exhaust Report Performance exhausts are not just for gearheads, muscle car enthusiasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

TACT Team Management Murray Voth reminds people to use their minds, as well as their hands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Departments Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 CARS On Demand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Jim’s Rant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Garage of the Year Nomination Form . . . . . . . . . . 25 Baywatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Internet Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Advertiser’s Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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

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AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE 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

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|| Tom’s Editorial

Rushing to Judgment

By Tom Venetis, Editor

The NHTSA has been studying data recorders from wrecked Toyotas and their preliminary investigation suggest on those vehicles the brakes were never applied. It may be many of the reported cases of unintended acceleration are the result of drivers mistakenly pressing the accelerator while thinking they were applying the brakes.

n 1986, Audi was nearly done in by a report on “60 Minutes” that purported to show the German automaker’s popular Audi 5000-S sedan had a serious and near-fatal problem. Drivers were reporting incidents of “unintended acceleration,” where the vehicle would suddenly accelerate to very high speeds from a dead stop when shifted from park into drive, or shifted from reverse into drive. Ed Bradley, who was the reporter on that segment, grilled Audi spokespersons about the incidents and the report strongly suggested the vehicle was unsafe. It featured interviews with six people who claimed their vehicles suffered from such sudden accelerations, with one woman claiming the problem caused her six-year-old son’s death. The report devastated the company and sales plummeted in the United States. There was only one problem: none of it was true. In-depth investigations by both Transport Canada and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the U.S. found no evidence of mechanical or design problems in Audi’s vehicles. The cars were safe. In reality, the incidents of unintended acceleration were found to have been due to driver error. To this day, 60 Minutes has never truly acknowledged the full extent of is poor reporting. Not to seem that I’m just picking on 60 Minutes, Dateline NBC in 1992 aired a report alleging General Motors pick-ups could explode in collisions because of a poorly designed gasoline tank. Again, there was a problem: it also was not true. Dateline NBC was found to have rigged a pick-up to explode so the producers could get dramatic footage of a pick-up bursting into flames when struck. This was a case of sensational reporting gone amok. When stories began surfacing that some of Toyota’s vehicles may have a design flaw that cause incidents of unintended acceleration the same forces that battered General Motors and Audi came into play. Driven by the Internet and the modern 24-hour news cycle, the various media soon filled with stories of people claiming their Toyota vehicles were racing down highways uncontrollably even as they applied the brakes, or suddenly raced inexplicably forward. Numerous accidents are claimed to be attributable to the alleged problem, including some 89 deaths, according the Associated Press. Like the earlier instances with Audi and General Motors, the reporting got ahead of careful investigation. The NHTSA has been studying data recorders from some wrecked Toyotas, and their preliminary investigation suggests that on those vehicles the brakes were never applied. It may be that many of the reported cases of unintended acceleration are the result of drivers mistakenly pressing the accelerator while thinking they were applying the brakes. While the NHTSA investigation is still ongoing – there remain questions around accelerators getting stuck on floor mats and many more incidents to investigate – this should give everyone pause. It is too easy to get caught up in the need to fill the ever-demanding news cycle with stories that are dramatic and based on what may be unreliable or mistaken memories of people, and not on careful investigation. Toyota may have problems, but it should not be hung-out-todry because of bad reporting and sensationalistic stories.

What do you think? Have your say and speak your mind! letterstotheeditor@ssgm.com 6 SSGM August 2010

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|| Puzzles Vast-Auto Distribution announces official opening of new Brampton distribution centre

John Del Vasto, president of VastAuto Distribution Ltd. announced the official opening of its new distribution centre located at 10 Driver Road (major intersection is Airport and Steeles) in Brampton, Ontario. This new 114,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility is equipped with modern material handling and supply management systems to provide customers with quick turnaround time on order preparation and service requirements. A growing number of part stores serviced by Vast-Auto now have access to an extensive assortment of national and private label parts and accessories. “The Ontario market’s unique geographic landscape was the deciding factor for establishing a second distribution centre in the province. Now, we can effectively and efficiently supply parts stores west of Toronto, and better serve our growing customer base,” explains Del Vasto. This expansion will increase distribution capacity for Vast-Auto Distribution allowing it to acquire a bigger share in Canada’s largest market and accelerate the development of its network of Auto Value associate parts stores. This is Vast-Auto’s second distribution centre in Ontario since its entry into the province in 2007. The company also operates distribution centres in North York, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec.

Registration is still open for Rubber Recycling Symposium in Toronto

The Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) along with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) are reminding people to register for The Evolution of Tire Recycling, 2010’s Rubber Recycling Symposium to be held in Toronto from Wednesday September 29, 2010 to Friday, October 1, 2010. Registration can be done online at: http://events.constantcontact.com/ 8 SSGM August 2010

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register/event?oeidk=a07e2wx3nlj674b c8ba. A complete program of the threeday event is available at http://www. rubberrecycling.ca/RubberRecycling. ca/Program.html

TIA announces schedule, session information for TIA Environmental Symposium

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) announced the schedule and session information for the first-ever TIA Environmental Symposium, which will be held September 30 through October 2, 2010 at the Ocean City Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland. This event will be held in conjunction with the Washington, Maryland & Delaware Service Station and Automotive Repair Association Annual Convention & Mega Trade Show. Session highlights include presentations from Bob Handlos of Bridgestone Americas, who will discuss their global initiative, “One Team, One Planet;” Dan Guiney from Yokohama Tire Corporation will discuss their use of orange oil as an environmentally friendly ingredient in tire production; Don Baldwin from Michelin North America will discuss their sustainable mobility program; Bridgestone Americas’ John Sheerin will discuss what dealers can and should do to become greener; and legal expert Gary Letcher will explore the issues concerning the Superfund legislation. In addition to the education sessions, environmental and recycling exhibits will be showcased at the Mega Trade Show, and will provide attendees an important “hands-on” education opportunity in the exhibition hall. Anyone who manufactures tires, operates a tire dealership, recycles tires, produces products from the tire raw material or consumes recycled tire products should attend this symposium and trade show. “This is an opportunity to meet the “go-to” experts within the tire industry who can assist in advancing the initiatives that will support our industry’s commitment to protecting and improving the environment. The Ocean City program represents one of the EAC’s first initiatives to carry out

their mission to ‘identify and promote, through education, environmentally sustainable practices,’” EAC co-chair Dick Gust said. Speakers and sessions are subject to change. For the latest information on the Environmental Symposium, visit the “Events” section of TIA’s Website (www.tireindustry.org), or contact LaKisha Pindell (301-430-7280, ext. 104; e-mail: lpindell@tireindustry.org) or Mary Sikora (571-258-0500; e-mail: msikora@tireindustry.org).

Valspar Sales Manager Automotive Aftermarket Channel

Tony D’Acquisto has been named sales manager for the automotive aftermarket channel for the Valspar Corporation. The announcement was made by Lance S. Bunch, category manager of automotive aftermarkets and industrial distribution MRO for Valspar. “Tony will work very closely with our customers, helping them develop innovative and proactive programs designed to grow their business through increased sales of PlastiKote products,” said Bunch. “He has established very strong relationships and his knowledge and experience will be a huge asset in helping the new PlastiKote gain market share in the automotive aftermarket.” At Valspar, D’Acquisto will have national account responsibility, serving key retail and commercial accounts in the North American automotive aftermarket. He will focus on working with customers to provide solutions and optimize sales as related to the automotive paint category, further establishing the PlastiKote brand of products in the marketplace.

Toyota expands product quality field offices in North America

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA Inc. announced it is expanding its Product Quality Field Office program to four additional U.S. regional sales areas, following the success of a pilot program launched in the New York region in late 2009. TMS will officially open its next Product Quality Field Office www.ssgm.com

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Puzzles || in San Francisco this month, and an additional three offices across the U.S. over the next 12 months. Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) announced that it will establish Product Quality Field Offices in Toronto and Calgary, for a total of seven offices across North America. Staffed by technical and engineering specialists with expertise drawn from across Toyota’s global operations, these Product Quality Field Offices strengthen Toyota’s North American field technical presence and data gathering and reporting capabilities, enhancing the company’s ability to detect, analyze and respond to customer and quality issues in the field. Product Quality Field Offices are being established with the mandate to investigate specific field quality issues related to unique regional, geographical or environmental conditions in each area. The New York region office was developed to investigate the performance of Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles in cold weather climates, with an emphasis on corrosion issues. The new San Francisco office will focus on hybrid vehicle systems and durability, capitalizing on the high concentration of these vehicles in the California market. Toyota is currently evaluating opening additional offices in Jacksonville, FL to focus on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and drivability; Houston, TX to concentrate on trucks and chassis components; and Denver, CO to study high altitude performance and SUV models. Offices in Toronto and Calgary will focus on extreme seasonal temperature changes and high road salt usage, as well as unique vehicle operating conditions. “Everyone at Toyota is working aggressively to understand what our customers are experiencing and to respond quickly to their needs by enhancing our information gathering capabilities,” said Dino Triantafyllos, vice-president, Quality Division, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing (TEMA). “The expansion of our Product Quality Field Offices initiative is one example of the significant changes we are making across our North American operations to help www.ssgm.com

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ensure that we are a quality-focused and responsive organization.”

MAHLE Clevite Inc. Introduces New Cummins Electronic Catalog

MAHLE Clevite Inc. recently added the Cummins electronic catalog to the heavy duty section of Launchpad (a portal of eCatalogs). The new catalog enables a convenient way to search, view and/or purchase all Cummins engine parts and engine kits within one user experience. Users can easily search for Cummins engine parts and kits either by selecting an engine model from the drop down menu or by entering the OE number or CPL number. Once a selection has been made, search results matching the request will appear, showing the various engine parts and kits available. In addition to the Cummins catalog, the heavy duty section of Launchpad now offers a new Allis-Chalmers catalog and Buda catalog. Both catalogs include an easy-to-use search either by engine model or OE number. The Allis-Chalmers catalog also features the ability to link engine parts and kits to applications in the search results. As with all electronic catalogs offered through Launchpad, the results page features a clickable “Details” icon that brings up a pop-up window for viewing interchanges, specifications, packaging data, and product images — with the option to click on the image to see it larger. Clicking on the part number link to the right of the “Details” icon will also bring up this window. Additionally, all of the new catalogs include an “Add-to-Cart” ordering function tied directly into customer accounts, so users can purchase parts just as easily as they can find them. Users do not have to be logged-in to search for an application, but do need to be logged-in to their account to use the eCommerce purchasing tool (MAHLE Clevite Order). “We are pleased to welcome, all at once, the new Allis-Chalmers, Buda, and Cummins catalogs to our collection of heavy duty electronic catalogs available through Launchpad,” said Jonathan Larsen, Information Tech-

nology (Application Analyst). “All of these brands make a great addition to our heavy duty eCatalog offering.” The Allis-Chalmers, Buda, and Cummins catalogs join a comprehensive list of heavy duty electronic catalogs currently available through Launchpad including Caterpillar 3406E, Detroit Diesel, John Deere, Mack, Mercedes, and Navistar.

Pirelli expands North American operations

Pirelli Tire North America will expand its sales and marketing operations with a new office in New York City to complement its North American headquarters in Rome, Georgia. The expansion will assist the company’s aggressive sales growth and will only involve the outward facing parts of the sales and marketing departments. “The expansion in New York City will improve our access to key partners in the financial, fashion, and advertising sectors and will allow us to better serve our largest tire markets, including our operations in Canada,” said Mauro Pessi, president and CEO of PTNA. “Our North American Tire Headquarters will remain in Rome, as it is the focus and keystone of our tire business.” Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles in both the original equipment and replacement markets as well as markets and distributes tires for motorcycles and motorsports. Located in Rome, Georgia, Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-theart technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets. For more information please visit www.us.pirelli.com.

Visit www.ssgm.com for more videos and updated news August 2010 SSGM 9

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|| Oil Report

Oil for all:

Many choices for

crankcase connoisseurs By Nestor Gula

il, not gasoline, is the lifeblood of any auto engine. Without oil, the lifespan of an engine would be very short indeed. Every technician knows that changing the motor oil regularly is the best insurance for any vehicle. Many years ago there was a very limited choice in oils. Whatever the technician found at-hand was poured into the engine and in worked fine. These days, it is not so simple. There are a plethora of choices: synthetic oils, high-mileage oils, semi-synthetic oils and mineral oils that can confuse the average consumer.

Mobil 1 5W-30 is made with a proprietary blend of high performance synthetic basestocks fortified with an advanced additive system. Mobil 1 5W-30 is the recommended viscosity grade for new cars and is designed to provide improved levels of performance, cleaning power and engine protection, while meeting the demanding ILSAC GF4 performance standards. 10 SSGM August 2010

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

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|| Oil Report The easiest way to know what oil should go into a vehicle’s engine is to look at the owner’s manual. Jorgen Mueller, the owner of Kipling Car and Truck Service in Toronto, said, “Most cars now prescribe what oils they should have in them. Most newer Volkswagens and other European cars specify synthetic oil and the grade that is required,” he said. “Some manuals will specify which brand to use, like Mobile 1.” “During a vehicle’s warranty period, one should stick to OEM-recommended oil change intervals, even if using extended performance motor oil,” said Raihan Khan, field marketing advisor PVL, Imperial Oil lubricants & Specialties. “Many vehicles are now equipped with oil change reminder lights and these typically tell the consumer when to change the oil. Once the vehicle is no longer under OEM warranty, the owner of the vehicle may choose to extend oil drain intervals.” There are a lot of misconceptions about synthetic oils. “Synthetic oil is still derived from crude oil, just like mineral oil. The major difference is that it is more refined,” said Dan Dotson, lab manager at Valvoline’s headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. Like in the distillation of alcohol, the more you refine crude the better the product, according to Dotson. “The molecules of synthetics oil are more uniform and smaller, and we are able to manipulate these molecules more effectively to achieve what we want,” he said. “Synthetic oils won’t break down as quickly and will retain its viscosity longer.” Imperial Oil’s Khan said, “In very high temperatures and under stressful driving conditions, synthetics also hold their viscosity, break down less and therefore can keep an engine cleaner. Many of the synthetic oils also have more uniform molecules, which provide better lubrication.” As cars are getting smaller, engines are shrinking but becoming more powerful and efficient. This is one of the reasons auto manufacturers are insisting synthetic oils be used. “In order to meet the demands of these engines, oil formulators have to incorporate more and more synthetic base stock. In general, synthetic base stocks offer excellent protection and oil flow at wide temperature extremes. On top of that, the use of synthetic base stocks allows the oil formulators more freedom to optimize all of the other components in the engine oil recipe and “build” a very robust product that has outstanding protection and performance,” said Debbie Van Schalkwyk, Global Pennzoil brand manager. “Pennzoil Platinum motor oil with (its cleansing agents) helps keep engines clean even under temperature extremes, helps prevent sludge and other damaging deposits, helps clean up existing sludge in your engine, helps protect emission systems and controls high temperature oxidation and deposits.” Although many synthetic oils claim a longer life, you should still change oil at the recommended intervals. “You should not extend the change intervals, said Valvoline’s Dotson. “Yes the synthetic oil is better and stable. It filters the dirt and the dirt in the engine is still there. You will still have dirty oil. It will be better dirty oil. You should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for oil changes.” 12 SSGM August 2010

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Mark Sach-Anderson, the shop manager at Dr. H Honda in Toronto, said, “certainly you can go longer intervals between oil changes by using synthetic, but there is not an engine rebuilder out there that would agree with that statement. You should always change your oil at regular intervals, 5,000 kilometres or every three months.” Dotson adds, “The one thing most mechanics will tell you is that if you want to keep your car longer you should change your oil often.”

When to use mineral-based motor oils

Switching the engines oil from mineral to synthetic oils is a question that many consumers pose to themselves and to the people who maintain their vehicles. “I would recommend mineral oils for older cars,” said Sach-Anderson. “Synthetic oil is more likely to cause oil leaks on older cars. Mineral oils are a lot better than they used to be. When you look at some of the discount store brands they are garbage. You should always look for a good quality mineral oil. What I would suggest is going with a high-mileage oil and changing the oil more frequently.” He would switch to synthetics if there was a lot of customised work done on the engine and the engine was under severe stress. What constitutes severe stress on an engine is a matter of debate, according to Dotson. Dusty conditions and a lot of stop-and-go driving all fall under extreme duress for an engine he said. “When it comes to extreme conditions, like very high temperatures, extreme loading on the engine, like when you are towing or you have dusty conditions, you are putting a lot of stress on the engine. This is when you should consider switching to synthetic oil.” People are keeping their cars longer and putting many more kilometers on the odometer. In the 1960s and 70s, it would be rare to have a car with 160,000 kilometers (100,000 miles). These days it is very common to see cars driving on the road with well Valvoline’s MaxLife Full Synthetic Motor Oil is blended over 200,000 kilo- with seal conditioners that rejuvenate seals within the meters sowing on engine block to help prevent oil leaks that lead to sludge the dashboard. For and deposits, anti-oxidant additives to reduce oil visolder engines with cosity breakdown and prevent engine-clogging sludge high mileages, the and deposit formation, and additional friction-reducing lubrication indus- additives to help reduce abrasion within the engine. www.ssgm.com

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Oil Report ||

try has come up with specially formulated oil aptly called high-mileage oil. “After a time the seals will start to break down dry up and crack and start to shrink, said Dotson. “What we have done is formulated an oil, Valvoline Max Life and Max Life Full Synthetic, that conditions the seals and brings them back to life. So this will help the engine to perform better.” “High mileage engine oils are technically different from other engine oils,” said Van Schalkwyk from Pennzoil. “High mileage oils are typically slightly thicker in viscosity — but still within the SAE grade listed on the bottle. Years ago, when an engine had worn rings and started to consume oil, consumers may have tried thick SAE 20W50 oils to help slow down the oil consumption and help seal the worn rings. “With today’s extended warranties, high mileage oils offer a thicker version of the manufacturers recommended viscosity grade. High mileage engine oils are typically formulated to help resist oil burn off by formulating the oil to resist evaporation — or volatility — better. Higher mileage oils may include a seal conditioning additive properly balanced into the recipe, to help revitalize and rejuvenate certain plastic and rubber seals that may have started to age over the years.”

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|| OEM

Working

together The benefits of independents, dealers working together means By Tom Venetis, Editor happier vehicle owners, more work for everyone

ne of the most enduring clichĂŠs in the independent aftermarket is the belief that there exists a natural enmity between independent service providers and their dealership-based counterparts. As with all clichĂŠs, there is grain of truth surrounded by a range of caveats. It is true that dealership-based repair and maintenance operations compete for clients and dollars with independents. That competition, however, masks something more relevant, which is the growing interdependency and cooperation between independents and dealership operations which is benefiting both. Talking with several independents, SSGM Magazine found it is quite common for them to work closely with local dealerships to source not only expertise but parts as well; and for dealerships to recommend and send business to local independents regularly. Chris Ferris, a technician with Auto Centre Dufferin County Inc. in Shelburn, Ontario, says he and the other technicians have good working relationships with the local dealership operations in Shelburn and nearby Orangeville. The relationships run the gamut from the traditional North American operations to the growing Japanese and foreign-nameplate dealerships, with the dealerships delivering parts several times a day in some cases to independents.

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OEM || “The issue with us is always getting the person’s car in, getting it fixed and getting it back to them so they can carry on with their lives,” Ferris says. “Everyone here relies on their vehicles for their daily lives.” Bruce Eccles, owner of Eccles Auto Service Inc. in Dundas, Ontario says like his counterpart in Shelburn, he has long-standing working relationships with many of the city’s dealership operations, sourcing not only needed parts, but also technical information as well. “On the occasions where we cannot get the needed information we need on a vehicle from our online systems and services, we are very comfortable picking up the phone and calling the (dealership) parts department as they will put us in touch with the right people who can help us,” Eccles says. Eccles gives one such example of the benefits of these relationships. His shop recently had a new-model Honda Civic come in for maintenance work and his service writer noticed a bulletin for the vehicle. It was in regards to a minor technical issue that required a reflashing update to a certain module. Eccles’ technician did not hesitate to phone the local Honda dealership and its parts department provided the technician what was needed to reflash the vehicle. What makes this example rather interesting is this Honda Civic was purchased from that same dealership. That did not stop the dealership from providing Eccles’ shop with what it needed to help the vehicle owner get back on the road.

makes and models of vehicle in order to show that the technicians are familiar with their technical aspects and repair. If you only repair or maintain one or two makes or models of a manufacturer’s vehicle a year, it will be very difficult to form any kind of relationship with the dealer operations for ordering parts or getting technical expertise. “A lot of our relationship is based on the fact that we are a good customer and we don’t send stuff back,” Eccles says. “I’ve had some very good dialogues with a friend of mine who is the parts manager at an OE dealer. He says they can tell the shops that don’t know what they are doing because they order parts and then send them back and the boxes have been opened. “Once you have established to them that you know what you are doing, they reflect that in your relationships with their service people. So if we have an issue with a Honda and we need help from their side, it is no big deal to get the help we need.” Ferris says independent service writers also need to approach the dealer’s parts departments and technical services with the same respect that they would with the jobbers they normally deal with. “As a technician, I don’t like to be pressured and if you call a dealership

and say you need a part ‘right now,’ you are not going to get a good response,” Ferris adds. “If you order a part a day ahead, it will be there for you. It is certainly better than having the car on the hoist and realizing you need a part right away.”

What does it offer to dealerships to have such relationships?

If independents find such relationships beneficial, what does it provide a dealership operation? Like any other auto service businesses, they are competing for driver’s maintenance and repair dollars with independents. The reality is there is no way they can service all the vehicles on the road today, both new models and older ones being driven for some years. There is also another reason why developing working relationships with independents makes sense to dealerbased service and parts operations. The end goal is to make the owner of the vehicle happy with their purchase. “To maintain their positive driving experience, we have to do everything possible to maintain that, regardless of whether they go to the BMW dealer directly for service or to their independent repair shop,” says Stephan Kuester, director, aftermarket sales with BMW

What it takes to work with dealerships

It has to be said right at the onset the examples of Eccles Auto Service and Auto Centre Dufferin County cannot be applied to every independent. What Ferris and Eccles are quick to add is a successful relationship with a dealership operation requires the independent operation meet certain criteria. The most obvious being dealership parts departments and service desk need to see the independent is working on a regular number of their vehicles www.ssgm.com

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August 2010 SSGM 15

05/08/10 9:29 AM

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|| OEM

Group Canada in Toronto. “We want to make sure they get the right quality parts and get the car fixed perfectly. It is only then they will be happy with their car and decide to buy another sometime in the future.” Kuester adds BMW Canada has a full range of parts available for independents, from fast-moving ones to captive parts and “we have set up systems to deliver our catalogue of parts a couple of times a day to dealers so they can supply those parts faster to the independent repair shops so they can finish the work on the cars faster.” Michael Handy, parts marketing manager, Canada, at Hyundai Canada remarks Hyundai Canada does some 10-20 per cent of its parts business with independents across Canada. The main challenge for an OE and dealer operation like Hyundai Canada is providing parts and technical services that are price-competitive with jobbers and other parts suppliers, while at the same time being able to provide them with information quickly on an ever increasing array of parts and technologies needed to repair and maintain vehicles across the whole range of an automaker’s line of cars. In order to get parts more quickly to independents Ford Motor Company of Canada has been developing a system whereby independents using the VINnumbers on vehicles will be able to access dealer parts and to place orders

to have them delivered the next day. “It all comes down to making the customer happy,” says Al McCormick, vice-president, customer service with Ford Motor Company. “We’d love to have all of our customers back to the dealership, but that is unrealistic. Customers have their own relationships with independents and we want to make sure independents have the right parts and tools to make the customer happy.” Ultimately, this kind of working relationship pays dividends to both independents and dealership parts and service operations. “The people in the aftermarket have a huge impact on what vehicles people buy,” Eccles says. “If I do not get along with someone, why would I recommend that company’s vehicles? If I have a terrific relationship with a dealer, I will recommend that dealer to a customer when they are looking for a new car. It is a win-win situation for everyone.” SSGM

REFERENCE LIST Auto Centre Dufferin County Inc. http://autocentredufferin.com/index.html BMW Group Canada www.bmw.ca Eccles Auto Service Inc. http://www.ecclesautoservice.ca/ Ford Motor Company of Canada www.ford.ca Hyundai Canada http://worldwide.hyundai.com/ www.ssgm.com

05/08/10 9:30 AM

Take care when installing those aftermarket devices Mike Farrell, Curriculum Developer CARS

ith the complexity and system integration of today’s modern vehicles extra care must be taken when installing aftermarket devices. Add-on devices such as daytime running lights, high intensity discharge headlights, audio/ video, power antennas and security systems require relays being installed in order to operate. Extra care must be taken when wiring these devices into a vehicle’s electrical system. Relays and solenoids are electromechanical devices that, when deenergized, will create a large transient voltage due to the collapsing of the magnetic field that was created when they were energized. This phenomenon is also referred to as loaddumping or inductive kickback. The stored energy in the transient voltage spike can reach up to 200 volts. With voltages this high premature failure of switch contacts and switching transistors can be encountered. The transient voltage or spike will be most evident at the positive terminal of the relay or solenoid whenever the device is turned OFF. If the relay or solenoid is wired into the vehicle’s ignition run/crank circuit, the voltage spike created when the device is turned OFF may be able to travel through the circuit and cause damage to other electronic components or modules. In order to protect the vehicle’s OEM electronic components the relay must have an internal suppression diode or a suppressing diode must be installed in the circuit.

www.ssgm.com

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Whenever a relay is added, that was not in the original design, to a vehicle’s wiring circuit, a suppressing or quenching relay should be installed. The quenching relay contains an internal diode, connected in parallel to the relay’s coil, that can prevent voltage spikes from damaging any other electronic components on the circuit. With the internal diode installed the voltage spike will be absorbed. Relays with internal suppression circuits are polarity sensitive. If a quenching relay cannot be found for a particular application, a diode can be installed across the control side of the relay.

During the installation of any aftermarket device try not to splice into the vehicle’s existing wiring harnesses. Most vehicles will have one or two fuse panels where power and ground circuits can be accessed. Most manufacturers will provide an open fused battery feed as well as an open fused ignition feed from one of the fuse panels. Try not to splice into ground circuits as they may be integrated into a ground splice pack. The splice pack may be used by an electronic module that can also be affected by the smaller voltage spike that will be evident when the aftermarket device is powered OFF.

When installing a solenoid for an application such as an electric snowplough motor or pump, a diode can be used to suppress voltage spikes. When installing the diode remember to install the striped end of the diode to the positive terminal of the solenoid or relay with the opposite end of the diode connecting to the relay’s ground terminal. If the solenoid uses the mounting bracket as a ground source connect the striped side to the positive terminal and connect the other end to the mounting bracket.

Vehicle communication circuits should never be compromised when adding on accessories. If these circuits are used for items such as lighting or a theft deterrent, the vehicle’s control system will not allow the electronic modules to power down thus creating an excessive current draw and ultimately a dead battery. For more information on automotive technology visit CARS OnDemand training at: www.cars-council.ca

August 2010 SSGM 17

05/08/10 9:30 AM

|| Jim’s Rant

Ever fire your customer? I By Jim Anderton, Technical Editor

Buy a house with a bad roof and a cracked foundation and you have to expect some rot. Yet this elementary common sense seems to elude the owners of these “bargain” luxury cars. Doesn’t anyone wonder why these cars depreciate so quickly? What do you think? Have your say and speak your mind! letterstotheeditor@ ssgm.com

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’ve heard it hundreds of times … a consumer complaining about the high cost of service and difficulty in getting good quality repairs for their vehicle. Was the issue with a dealer? A major chain? An independent? In fact Mr. X — I’ll conceal his name for obvious reasons — did have difficulty getting his car repaired reliably. The machine? A Northstar-equipped Cadillac. With over 200,000 km’s on the clock. Bought as a third owner … for 2,500 bucks … see where this is going? The GM Northstar engine was a technical jewel, but one that in early versions developed a reputation for sealing issues, oil sludging, head bolt pulling, overheating and just about every malady that could be expected from a high-tech aluminium engine put into the hands of a largely geriatric owner group used to cast-iron low-maintenance pushrod technology. GM expected that owners with enough cash to afford premium machines like the Allante or STS would spend a little of it on maintenance. How wrong they were. And now, twenty years later, these engines are showing up at the beater-end of the market, where considerably less well off owners can’t understand why their cars are so expensive to diagnose and repair. This defies explanation. Buy a house with a bad roof and a cracked foundation, and you have to expect some rot. Yet this elementary common sense seems to elude the owners of these “bargain” luxury cars. Doesn’t anyone wonder why these cars depreciate so quickly? This owner group suffers from a double frustration: disappointment in the reliability of their premium automobile and difficulty in finding affordable service. The first is misguided. Manufacturers of luxury cars build for the new car purchase with an eye toward trade-in value. But by the third or fourth owner, all bets are off. Unfortunately, everyone who knows of a B-body Caprice or P71 Crown Vic taxicab that goes 500,000 km’s thinks that their V-12 Jag should do the same, with little or no maintenance. Some wise shops simply refuse to open the hood. Others do so only after preparing their customers for potentially expensive diagnostic and repair bills. A few just dive in and see what happens. A common issue surfaces when the owner can’t afford the full fix and opts for jury-rigged repairs and used parts … only to show up a week later complaining about the quality of the job. Run, don’t walk away from these customers. If you can get to them before they make the buy, make them understand what they’re getting themselves into. Very complex, sophisticated cars are a joy to drive and draw technically interested guys like me like bears to honey. I can diagnose and repair them, but I don’t own one. Instead, I drive an F-150. Six cylinders, manual transmission and I wind up my own windows and open my own locks. There’s no Sirius radio, no GPS, no lane change alert or adaptive cruise control. A/C is a bit of a luxury, but hey, the truck is black. I can’t afford a new Cadillac, which is the condition in which I’d want to own one, so I keep it simple. If you can’t turn your customer away from that Maserati Biturbo, at least suggest or sell them a Civic or a Cavalier as a daily driver. That way, you can push the exotic around back and forget about it until they figure out that a new head costs more than the whole car.

www.ssgm.com

05/08/10 9:32 AM

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05/08/10 9:32 AM

|| Exhaust Story

Selling an exhaust replacement Exhaust replacement is not a sexy sell, but there are ways to upsell the work to customers By Tom Venetis, Editor

xhaust replacement systems are, for the most part, not sexy. Unlike tires or fancy chrome rims, which invariably attract personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention and open wallets, exhaust systems are something not normally displayed any-

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where in a shop. And the selling points for exhaust replacement are tough as well. With motor oils or tires, a service writer or technician can easily point out the differences between products and how those differences will impact the

www.ssgm.com

05/08/10 9:33 AM

Exhaust Story ||

The most common myth is performance exhausts are something only done by specialized shops, those that focus exclusively on exhaust work or performance upgrades.

performance of the customer’s vehicle. There are even handy sales and marketing materials at the ready that can be used to make the sale easier. No so with exhaust systems. The reality is an exhaust is a part of the vehicle that is replaced only when it fails; and then replaced with something very similar to what the vehicle had when it rolled out of the sales lot. It is even harder with performance exhaust. For many independents, performance exhausts are seen by their regular customers as a product line only attractive to a small sub-set of car owners. That would be those with highend muscle cars or the young who spend a large portion of their disposable incomes on performance enhancements for their cars. The reality, however, is performance exhausts are a product and market segment that has a wider appeal than many independent shop owners might think, especially amongst their clients who drive traditional family-friendly vehicles. The challenge is how to sell performance exhaust and overcoming some rather persistent myths about the market for them.

Myth vs. Reality

The most common myth is performance exhausts are something only done by specialized shops, those that focus exclusively on exhaust work or performance upgrades. It’s not hard to see why. For years, exhaust work was often sold to customers as specialized repair or maintenance work. It required knowledge of how to bend and fit piping and how to use specialized tools. It was not uncommon in the 60s and 70s to see shops that exclusively did exhaust work, and even franchise operations sprang up that sold themselves on that work. Today, many television car enthusiast shows often give that same impression, that performance exhaust work is something best left to the specialists. “With today’s systems, you don’t need special tools or training to do the work,” says Joe Pase, director of performance products with Tenneco Inc., maker of the popular Walker, DynoMax and Thrush exhaust systems. “The performance exhaust business today has gone the same way, and in fact, it is even easier. When you buy a performance exhaust system today, everything you need to put the system onto a vehicle comes in one box. Simply, you unbolt the old one and bolt on the new one.” Pase adds this makes is very easy for a traditional independent to sell and profitably install performance exhaust systems. The real issue is how to go about selling it www.ssgm.com

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DynoMax Performance Exhaust introduced the DynoMax VT muffler, a high-flow stainless steel performance muffler that controls irritating drone while ensuring maximum performance on a full-range of street applications for muscle cars, trucks and SUVs.

effectively, which is the challenge. But it is a challenge that is rather easy to tackle. First, forget the persistent myth that performance exhaust systems are only meant for a small segment of your customer base. Many car and truck drivers are performance-minded. They may not interested in racing, but they are interested in getting more power out of their vehicles for a variety of everyday reasons. “You may need more passing power for when you are doing a lot of highway commuting,” Pase says. “And with the summer months, if you are moving things with a trailer, you will get a benefit from the added power a performance exhaust system will offer.” Jim Fox, sales manager for Maremont’s Canadian division, says service writers and technicians should pay attention to the subtle signals that will make an up-sell to performance exhaust easier. He gives several examples: seeing if the cusAugust 2010 SSGM 21

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|| Exhaust Story

Cherry Bomb recently announced exhaust kits for both the SS and V-6 Camaro models. The exhaust kit for the Camaro SS features 2.5-inch mandrel bent tubing with an X-pipe design mated with high-flow Cherry Bomb Extreme mufflers and double wall stainless steel tips. The V-6 system that is offered is 2.5-inch mandrel bent tubing with Cherry Bomb Pro mufflers and double-wall stainless steel tips. They also offer the V-6 system in axle back as well.

tomer has some kind of customization done on their vehicle or has such things as custom rims. Each suggests the customer will be open to a performance exhaust upgrade. Or for those without any customization on their vehicle, see if the owner is complaining about high fuel prices and is looking for ways to squeeze a few extra kilometers out of their gasoline purchase. Fox says a quality performance exhaust system can help a vehicle owner get that fuel improvement. He has heard anecdotal evidence that one might be able to get up to 100 km more out of a tank of gasoline with a performance exhaust system in place. One opportunity to be aware of is that release of the latest vehicles onto the market — from pick-ups to the new Corvette, for example — all have newly-designed exhaust systems from their older versions. This opens up new avenues for performance exhaust up-selling. Maremont’s Cherry Bomb (www.cherrybomb.com) line of performance exhaust announced the release of their new exhaust kits for 200922 SSGM August 2010

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2010 Silverado & Sierra for V6 and V8 models, available in both single and dual systems. And Tenneco’s DynoMax (www.dynomax.com) line has released new exhaust kits for the 2010 Camaro. These announcements confirm broad industry trends that show the performance exhaust marketplace, along with the traditional aftermarket exhaust market, has weathered the economic downturn better than some might have thought. “The aftermarket in general, not just the performance segment, is pretty resilient to economic downturns,” Tenneco’s Pase says. “We are seeing in the hard parts side of the business, including performance, that demand is outpacing supply. Certainly this year, business has been very good and performance exhaust has seen near double-digit growth.” SSGM

REFERENCE LIST

Maremont www.maremont.com Tenneco Inc. www.tenneco.com

www.ssgm.com

09/08/10 11:56 AM

TACT Team Management ||

The Power of Thought

Using your mind as well as your hands

he large majority of automotive technicians, shop owners and service advisors I meet in the course of my work are highly intelligent individuals. Having said that, I find many of them don’t feel intelligent when it comes to the “business” side of things. Shop owners tell me they feel intimidated by income statements, margins and “all that numbers” stuff. They also don’t feel they have the skill to perform all the human resources functions required by their company. These same people can diagnose a difficult electrical problem in minutes, or rebuild a transmission or differential blind folded, something that would make their accountant’s head spin. The amount of knowledge a technician has and needs, to service and repair vehicles today, would fill a library as large as any lawyer’s. Yet when it comes to other book knowledge, why are they intimidated, insecure, or in some cases, disinterested? This is a complex topic and I don’t want to pigeonhole people; but there are some good reasons why things are the way they are. The main reason is that as an industry we have attracted a disproportionate number of people with a particular learning style, in some cases particular learning disabilities and in many cases stereotyping by the education system. In a lot of ways this is a good thing because we have attracted the people we need because of their unique skills, but it is a challenge when they need to move beyond those skills into new or different ones. Let me elaborate.

Different Learning Styles

There are three main learning styles talked about in education circles. These are Visual, Auditory and Tactile/Kineswww.ssgm.com

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By Murray Voth, TACT (Total Automotive Consulting and Training)

thetic. We all use multiple strategies to learn, but we each tend to lean towards one of these categories. Visual Learners learn through seeing, or visualizing. They tend to think in terms of pictures and learn best with visual aids such as diagrams, illustrated textbooks, power points, videos, flipcharts and handouts. Auditory Learners learn through listening and hearing information. They learn best at live lectures, discussions, talking things through and listening to what others have to say. These learners often benefit from reading texts aloud or listening to audible books. Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners learn through moving, doing and touching, they experience the world in a very physical way. These learners do best with a hands-on approach; they need to be physically involved. They may find it hard to sit still for long periods of time and may become distracted by their need for activity and exploration. Educators at times do not recognize this and treat this as a behavioral problem rather than a teaching opportunity. You can see how a Kinesthetic learner would make a great automotive technician, but possibly avoid other areas of business responsibility based on the fact that they have been told they are not smart or academic enough. This is especially true for those of you from my generation. If we could not cut it in the smart kids classes we were sent to shop class, there was no attempt to adapt to our learning styles. The education system has improved significantly in the last few years, but our industry is dealing with the challenges created in the past. Secondly, there are conditions labeled learning disabilities, such as

dyslexia. The language to describe this condition is changing from disability, to merely a description of how one’s brain is hardwired. Just like there are different types of engines, there are different types of brains. There are some informal studies that indicate up to 60 per cent of automotive technicians have some variation of one of these conditions. Some people consider dyslexia a gift. Dyslexic people are visual, spatial, and multi-dimensional thinkers. (Why do you think they can rebuild complex pieces of equipment so easily? If they take something apart, they can put it together. They also understand how it all works, by just watching it function). Dyslexic people are intuitive and very creative people and are great at handson learning. Because they experience the world in pictures, understanding letters, numbers, symbols, and written words does not come as easy as it does to others. They do learn to read, and write, and do math when the teaching methods are geared to their unique hardwiring. However, this can mean a lot of hard work and in some cases frustration. So like anyone else would, we gravitate to our strengths and ignore the rest, until we become a shop owner and need to learn the business side of things. Thirdly, there are many people regardless of learning style, or brain hardwiring who did not care for their school experience, never developed an interest in reading, or because they chose to follow an interest and career as an automotive technician were written off by teachers as non academic and where not coached or pushed to develop a love for reading, research or working with their minds as well as their hands. August 2010 SSGM 23

05/08/10 9:35 AM

|| TACT Team Management Challenges ahead

My challenge to all of you technicians who have become shop owners, or aspire to be shop owners, is to first of all feel good about your intelligence and abilities; secondly to realize that it is okay not to understand something quickly or right away; and thirdly to find a way to work at learning and figuring out the new things you need to operate your businesses well. There is a fourth thing you can do as well, hold those of us who teach, coach, train and facilitate accountable if you do not understand something. It is our responsibility to find creative ways to train and teach that reach all learning styles. I trust that we now have a better understanding of why many people in our industry are frustrated or challenged in some way about learning how to run their businesses better. But now we need to move forward from that understanding. TACT 1/2 PG JUNE AD 5/29/07 Regardless of which category 10:12 you fall in, you will have to make the time,

and put in the effort to find a way to get the information you need and begin to learn the skills you need to run your businesses. In the past, I have recommended countless books to people to read, and I get all kinds of excuses: I don’t have time, it’s boring, I don’t like to read, I don’t read very well or fast, I’m too tired at the end of the day. How much television do you watch in a week? Take a half hour a day to read instead of watching TV. Buy books on CD, some of you will find it easier to listen to a book than to read one. These can be purchased at most bookstores, online bookstores, or companies like “Audible. com” where you can download books at great prices. Do you have a half hour drive to work? Listen to a book in your vehicle. Just start reading, it is like anything, you get better at it the more you do it. My first recommendation for anyone in business is the book, “The E-Myth AM Page 1by Michael Gerber. It is Revisited” interesting, fun and inspiring.

There is a lot of online training available from all of your suppliers, much of it created by CARS-On Demand. Again, it will take discipline to break away during the day, or to set time aside in the early morning or in the evening to take these on-line courses. However, for some of you this will be easier and more interesting than reading a book. The nice thing about these courses is that they are usually two hours long or less, and if you want to, you can stop and come back to where you left off. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I am passionate about sharing the joy I have in learning with others. There is a lot of power in the use of intuition and thought, use your entire mind, you are intelligent, you know more than you think you know. You need to learn how to find the information you need and then make the effort and take the time to learn. This is more mind work than handwork, but the rewards make our handwork pay off and pay better. SSGM

Get back to enjoying your business! Learn how to improve your repair facility’s profitability, productivity and reduce your stress.

Dave Meunier’s Automotive Management Training and Consulting group is one of the most sought after providers of business solutions for shop owners in Canada.

Flexible training courses are offered across Canada and include:

The explanation, for the success of TACT students comes from a well tested common sense approach to managing every aspect of day to day operations, starting in the bays and working its way to the income statement.

Advance PROShop Manager Modules – Full day topic specific sessions designed to allow you to get answers to your own shop challenges. Topics include: ● SHOP SYSTEMS & PROCEDURES ● ADVANCED SERVICE ADVISOR SKILLS ● PROFIT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES

Enrolling in one of Dave Meunier’s shop improvement courses will provide you with the confidence to analyze your business monthly to look for ways to improve profits and lower your stress.

3 Day Shop Management Course - This interactive training

course will teach owners to take better care of your customer, save them money and allow your shop to be more profitable than ever before.

PROSHOP Performance Groups – This is a once a month program, where automotive repair facilities come together to receive training, solve concerns affecting their business, implement solutions and take better care of their customers.

Just contact Carrie Murray, Toll Free at 1-866-489-8228 (TACT) or at cmurray@proshopmanager.ca

Brought to you by TACT Total Automotive Consulting & Training Group 24 SSGM August 2010

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www.ssgm.com

05/08/10 9:35 AM

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

3/23/10 10:59 AM

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05/08/10 9:35 AM

SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

New PlastiKote Catalog Now Available The new PlastiKote product catalog is now available. Featuring the complete line of premium PlastiKote automotive aerosol paints and coatings, the catalog also contains sections highlighting non-automotive specific products from the Valspar and Quikrete lines. The PlastiKote catalog features: Color-coded table of contents and pages by product group for easy readability; in-depth product descriptions; colour swatches showing various color options for each product; a section on Valspar brands including Anti-Rust and Tractor & Implement products; and a section on Quikrete floor coating products. PlastiKote www.PlastiKote.com

OTC Introduces New Ball Joint Master Service Kits OTC, an SPX brand, introduced its new Ball Joint Master Service Kits (P/N 6529 and P/N 6539), specifically designed to offer professional technicians the capability to service ball joints and other general pressing operations on car and light truck vehicle systems up to 2008. Consisting of over 50 adapters of various sizes and a comprehensive 290 page Applications Guide, the 6529 Car Ball Joint Master Service Kit and 6539 Truck/Van/SUV Ball Joint Master Service Kit are manufactured to fit precise OEM applications in order to give technicians the versatility needed for the job. The Application Guide provides quick and easy references on how/when to use each adapter in the kit. The comprehensive guide contains adapter application charts and diagrams organized by Make-Model-Year through model year 2008. This guide offers information at the fender, including instructional diagrams and charts referencing removal and installation tool part numbers, eliminating guess work of which adapters are required. OTC www.otctools.com

Prolong Offers Diesel Fuel Treatment Prolong Super Lubricants offers its Fast Fuel Diesel Fuel Treatment to improve mileage and performance in diesel engines. Prolong’s Diesel Fuel Treatment is formulated with premium detergents that clean injectors and the entire fuel system by removing gum, deposits and sludge build-up, to deliver better fuel economy and decrease the amount of black smoke. The formula meets Cummins L-10 diesel fuel additive specifications for injector cleanliness and Cummins N-14 diesel fuel additive specifications for corrosion protection with low and high sulfur levels. In addition, the product helps maintain diesel emission compliance and protect against corrosion and premature pump and injector wear. To use, pour Diesel Fuel Treatment into the vehicle’s fuel tank before fill-up. One 12 oz. bottle treats 16-20 gallons of fuel. Prolong Super Lubricants www.prolong.com

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Rislone Smoke Away Stops Exhaust Smoke, Engine Oil Leaks Older vehicles often burn oil, leading to exhaust smoke and damage to oxygen sensors, catalytic converters and other internal components. Rislone’s Smoke Away Engine Oil Treatment with Stop Leak stops oil leaks, restores oil for longer life and thickens the oil film filling gaps between parts to prevent blow-by. Conditions seals to stop leaks and cushions and coats internal parts to reduce wear and quiet noisy lifters (engine ticking). Smoke Away (p/n 34326) is compatible with all gasoline and diesel engines using conventional or synthetic oil. One 500 mL bottle treats four to six quarts of oil. Rislone www.rislone.ca

www.ssgm.com

05/08/10 9:36 AM

SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

Permatex Introduces Two New RTV Sealants Permatex has introduced two new RTV sealants: Permatex Gear Oil RTV Sealant, which is formulated to stand up against today’s gear oils and is used in transfer cases and differentials and Permatex Automatic Transmission RTV Sealant, the first RTV made specifically for use on automatic transmission pans, case halves, and inside covers. Permatex Gear Oil RTV Sealant was developed to withstand today’s advanced synthetic and petroleum gear oils, which are known to destroy standard RTV silicones. It effectively resists the effects of friction modifiers found in newer gear oils and will prevent leaks and ensure proper performance in harsh drive train environments. Permatex Gear Oil RTV Sealant has been developed to OE manufacturers’ specifications and is proven to meet demanding OEM sealing standards. It can be used

Ingersoll Rand Launches 2015MAX, 2025MAX Hammerhead Impactools Ingersoll Rand has launched the new 2015MAX and 2025MAX Hammerhead low-profile Impactools. The tool is designed for optimal performance, even in extremely confined spaces. With the power and speed of an impact and the reach of a ratchet, the Hammerhead continues the MAX tradition of offering air tools that provide professional technicians with best-in-class performance coupled with innovative features to deliver maximum power, control and access. With a head-height less than two-inches, 180 ft-lb of max torque and 7,100 rpm of speed, the Hammerhead offers the power of an impact, and all the capabilities of a ratchet. In addition to this combination of access and power, the Hammerhead also features a conveniently located forward/reverse collar, providing unrestricted access to easily change the direction of the tool in tight spaces, where traditional tools frequently get jammed. Knuckle-saver reactionless torque eliminates kickback, and further protects technicians’ hands while working in confined spaces. The 2015MAX and 2025MAX Hammerhead low-profile Impactools also feature a two-position power regulator and feather-touch trigger, which provide maximum control in even the most demanding of applications. Ingersoll Rand www.ingersollrand.com

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as a differential case sealant or as a drain plug gasket. Permatex Gear Oil RTV Sealant can withstand age and weathering, and will not void manufacturers’ warranty requirements. Permatex Gear Oil RTV is sensor safe, non-toxic, nonflammable, and low odor. It is available in a 3 oz. carded tube with pinpoint nozzle for accurate dispensing. Permatex Automatic Transmission RTV Sealant can be used as a replacement for cut gaskets or as a gasket dressing. It not only provides excellent adhesion qualities but also retains flexibility. Operating temperature range is from –65°F to 500°F (–54°C to 260°C). Permatex Automatic Transmission RTV Sealant is sensor-safe, non-corrosive, and low odor with improved oil resistance. It is available in a 3 oz. carded tube. Permatex www.permatex.com

SPAL 6.5" Low Profile Fan Delivers Improved Air Flow SPAL USA introduced a new low profile fan designed to improve airflow and reduce power consumption in powersports applications. The 6.5" Low Profile Pull Paddle Blade Fan (part # 30103084) features the manufacturer’s latest compact motor design that has been enhanced to deliver increased airflow. SPAL’s motor is IP68-certified as waterproof and dustproof to ensure optimal performance and durability in harsh environments. SPAL’s new fan measures 7.0" across, stands 7.2" tall, is 2.2" deep and weighs 1.3 lbs. It can achieve a maximum airflow rating of 330 cfm. SPAL USA www.spalusa.com

August 2010 SSGM 27

05/08/10 9:37 AM

SSGM BAYWATCH New Products

94-02 Dodge Cummins Diesel 5.9L MXP Series Cold Air Intake Airaid Filter Company has released the MXP Series intake system for the Dodge Cummins Diesel 5.9L. It draws in cold air and improves filtration which translates into lower EGT’s and increased air volume. The 1700 CFM Filter featured in this intake system has the capacity to hold more dirt than stock filters and also sports a One-Piece Roto-Molded Cold Air Box, Turbo Heat Shield and a 6" Modular Induction Tube with a 5" inlet, which can accommodate larger aftermarket turbos. Airaid Filter www.airaid.com

Beck/Arnley Expands Line of Control Arms Beck/Arnley’s brake and chassis product module has been recently expanded to include a total of 559 control arms to cover 6,823 import applications, according to Bob Anderson, vice president product management. Beck/Arnley’s control arms are a direct OE replacement product that is designed to restore vehicle ride quality, as well as proper alignment and tire wear. Beck/Arnley’s control arms are made from premium materials and undergo stringent quality control and testing processes to ensure product excellence and reliability. New hardware and bushings are included, where applicable, to make the job easier for the technician. Beck/Arnley www.beckarnley.com

ENTER the SSGM

MOTOR OIL MYTHBUSTERS CONTEST Test your knowledge of lubricants for a chance to WIN a Valvoline® Prize Pack! More than ever, consumers are looking to keep their automotive investment running longer and more reliably. Do you know the facts to help them decide?

ENTER TODAY FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A VALVOLINE PRIZE PACK! FAX THIS FORM TO US AT 416-510-5140

Presented by

High mileage motor oils can only be used on older model vehicles? Synthetic blend motor oils cannot be mixed with full synthetic motor oils? All synthetic motor oils carry the API Starburst Symbol? Most older vehicles can use High Mileage Synthetic motor oil? Switching from a conventional to a high mileage motor oil will not create gasket leaks?

Name

TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE

FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE

Business

Address Phone

28 SSGM August 2010

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www.ssgm.com

05/08/10 9:37 AM

Now, We Do It All!

ValvolineÂŽ now offers a full line of Valvoline Professional Series automotive service chemicals. With Valvoline Professional Series, you get a comprehensive line of professional-grade products, services and solutions all backed by industry leading marketing programs. Valvoline Professional Series delivers maximum value to consumers and helps grow your bottom line. ÂŠ, 2010, Ashland Canada Corp.

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05/08/10 9:38 AM

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

REFRIGERANT

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”

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

HAND CLEANERS

Bestbuy Distributors Limited

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.

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

FOR SALE !

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Advertiser

Page #

Website

ACDelco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32. . . . . . . . www.ACDELCOCanada.com CARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.cars-council.ca Chrysler Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.mopar.ca

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(403)360-2904 klain@telusplanet.net 30 SSGM August 2010 JOBBER NEWS / MARCH 2010

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Lankar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.lankar.com Petro Canada Certigard. . . . . . . . . . 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . www.petrocanada.ca Robert Bosch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . www.boschdiagnostics.com Ross-Tech LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ross-tech.com Shell Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. . . . . . . . . . . . www.shell.ca/nitrogen Valvoline Oil Canada. . . . . . . . . . 11,29. . . . . . . . . . . . . www.valvolineoil.com VL Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.vlcomm.com WORLDPAC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.worldpac.com

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

05/08/10 9:38 AM

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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05/08/10 9:44 AM