Motor Age

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The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced the Caribe Royale AllSuites Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando will be the site of its annual convention April 30 to May 2, 2009. Highlighting the agenda will be open meetings of the ASA affiliate assembly and board of directors.

Pea-Sized but Large-Minded

No, it's not a Smart car.

Policy in the Making

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed U.S. Senate Bill 2168 for the Identity Theft and Restitution Act of 2007 via voice vote at press time. The bill would protect businesses and individuals against cyber crimes and stiffen penalties against online criminals and identity thieves, according to information from the Automotive Service Association (ASA).

Automotive Products Guide

TPICO' announces the release of the Winter Pinch Tab Blade, the first winter blade of its kind designed specifically for the unique pinch tab wiper arm. The Winter Pinch Tab Blade was engineered to fit the unique pinch tab arms that exist on 6.6 million vehicles on the road today including the 2007 and 2008 lines of Chevy pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. TRICO is currently the only wiper blade manufacturer in the world to offer a winter blade for this type of wiper arm.

New Finds

Dorman introduces its exclusive, in-stock, "New to The Aftermarket" Spark Plug Tube. This tube protects the spark plug from engine oil and can be an add-on sale when replacing oil soaked ignition wires or boots.

Product Focus

Measuring 19 [fraction nine-sixteen] inches wide by 7 ½ inches deep, the unit now measures 11 1 [fraction five-sixteen]. inches high in the front and 13 [fraction three-thirty-two] inches high in the back. * Fabricated of steel featuring all welded construction within the unit and accessible by means of a hinged cover is a two shelf area where spools are positioned. * Wire, hose and tubing is then manually drawn through six 1-inch diameter grommets in the front of the unit and can be convenie...

Cool Tools

GearWrench®, a hand tool brand from DanaherTool Group, has launched the new Roto Ratchet and an extension of the Ratcheting Tap and Die line. The Roto Ratchet is available in '/- and %-inch drives.

Sizzlin' Products

Also contains three Ultratip® soldering tips, a hot knife tip, torch tip, hot airtip, heat shrink reflector, wire cutter, needle nose pliers, roll of 60/40 solder, sponge, cap and stand. * Features adjustable temperature control for torch temperatures up to 2,372 degrees Fahrenheit (1,260 degrees Celsius) and soldering temperatures up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit (500 degrees Celsius).

Tech Tips

Quick couplings Specify "ventingaction" safety quick couplers at the air source or manifold. This simple choice eliminates "hose whip," reduc- ing personal injuries and damage to equipment or vehicles. "Hose whip" occurs when disconnect- ing a pressurized air hose. Impact-resistant composite quick couplings with a quick push-button release can make one-handed disconnection easier than a conventional sleeve.

On The Line

Serpentine Belt Noise How Do You Deal with Belt Squeal?

Belt Tension... Maintaining the proper belt tension is a key factor in preventing belt noise symptoms. Vehicle manufacturers post new and used belt tightening specifications. A used belt is one that has run for five minutes. On applications with fixed tensioners, the tension should be rechecked following a five minute run time. Many engines are fitted with automatic tensioners that maintain the proper belt tension throughout the belt's normal life cycle.

Cover Story

Adding to Basic Service

Because of the method used, no additional components are needed. There are a few drawbacks. One, the system cannot tell there is a problem if all the tires are underinflated. Two, the control module first has to learn what is right before it can determine what is wrong. This is done by putting the system into learn mode (some service information calls it initialization), with the tires already adjusted to the correct cold inflation pressures.

The Cutting Edge

Snaking Into Small Spaces

The MicroEXPLORER Digital Inspection Camera is a hand-held inspection system with which users can take digital quality images and record video onto a secure digital (SD) card. An integrated USB port is available to transfer the recorded informa- tion onto a com- puter, and the camera features "up is up" imaging, according to [Brian Harvanec].

Technical

Motor Age Museum

The Bear Tru-Toe "scuff gauge" Introduced in the 1940s was not a true alignment tool. Often placed where the service writer could see the reading, it helped sell alignment jobs as the mechanic drove the car into the shop.

Tech 'A' Says

Since the stator clutch is supposed to lock the stator in place until the converter reaches coupling speed, a freewheeling stator clutch would prevent torque multiplication, and the vehicle would accelerate slowly.

Factory Bulletins

SUBJECT: A squeaking water pump belt might indicate loose pulley bolts. On some vehicles, water pump pulley bolts have become loose enough for the pulley to loosen, causing a belt squeak and possibly even break. The bulletin includes a complete list of affected models by VIN. The repair kit (06193-RNA-305, H/C 9046491) includes a new water pump pulley and bolts.

Troubleshooting

Some days it is worse than others. MAF sensor checks OK, and we tried a new cam sensor just for kicks (replaced it with a known good part) . The ignition coils check OK, injectors check OK, the crank sensor checks OK and the grounds check OK. Any ideas?

Technical: Motor Age Garage

Traction Control Trouble

Then there's the 1997 Grand Marquis with a wiped out rear axle that wasn't too difficult to diagnose (the driveshaft turns, but the car doesn't move), and the 2001 Explorer that came in running hot We added 3.5 gallons of coolant mix to the Explorer's radiator, and it seems to run OK. But it's drinking water like a thirsty camel; at the very teast it'll need head gaskets.

Technical: Custom Bay

Pipe Music

If the customer's 1967 to 1968 Mustang came with dual exhaust, you can use the existing factory mounting holes. Otherwise you'll need to make some minor modifications on the underside of the rear-seat pan. 2 Removing the existing exhaust downstream from header collector or manifold pipes can be the most challenging part of the install, especially if the parts are rusty.

Feature Story

Suspended Animation

There's the traditional off-road group and there's the street enthusiast, which is split between function and looks or a combination of the two," he states. "Then there's a whole new segment we're calling the outdoor enthusiast, and that's really the hunting, fishing, camping person the guy who's not crazy about his truck but is crazy about what he does.

Pieces of Success

Within a few weeks, things had taken a decidedly negative turn. He investigated right down to the individual, broke his expectations out into 10 or so performance areas and began having weekly meetings to discuss the results. Almost immediately, once each individual saw that they were being held accountable and be subjected to weekly performance reviews, cooperation and consistency grew, and performance improved dramatically.

Technical: Scope & Scan

Simple Trick for Measuring Engine Mechanical Waveforms

Now that you have the scope image showing in Paint, choose the "Line" tool from the Paint tool bar on the left of the screen, shown here inside a red box. Then move me PC's cursor onto the scope image. You will notice that your cursor now looks like cross hairs on a gun. As you are moving your cursor across your waveform graphic, notice diere are two sets of three-digit numbers displayed at the lower right hand side of the Paint program screen.

Opinion: Freeze Frame

Proving the Patch

A recent post on iATN brought this to mind. The writer was discussing ASE certification from a shop owner's perspective, but his thoughts apply here, too. He wrote, "I look at ASE as only a test for minimum competence...to help separate someone who might be a real mechanic from the backyard DIY." The public is learning that a backyard mechanic can't really do much anymore.

Management

Making the Most of Car Care Month

Start with the Car Care Guide. You could take the tips offered in this handy booklet and create a tip of the day calendar to give your clients. Making the calendar for November and giving it to clients this month will keep the spirit of Car Care Month going. Another idea is to offer contests for anyone who can guess the correct answer to a trivia question based on information in the Car Care Guide.

The Best Cards in Vegas

Other information on the card should pique the receiver's interest and make them want to contact you. There's still time to make sure you have the best business cards.

Learning with Little Travel

Secondly, there are a number of publications covering the event, such as daily e-newsletter updates from Motor Age and its sister publications. These writers get to all four shows when you can't and share with you daily news and happenings.

Mastering Management

"Taxpayers have to meet strict IRS requirements in order to claim more than a $500 deduction," he says. "Many donated vehicles are clunkers," he adds. "They don't have a high resale value, and the charities don't get much money for them."

Management: Profit Matters

Turning $4 a Gallon Gas Prices Into Continued Profits

All of these combined into one vehicle can greatly exceed any increase in gas prices. Do the math. Even assuming that the fuel, ignition and emissions system and all CECS components are functioning properly, let's take one mile for improper tire inflation, one for dirty oil, one for a dirty fuel and induction system and two miles for a dirty air filter. That is a total of five miles per gallon. On a car that typically gets 30 miles per gallon, that is 17 percent loss of fuel economy.

Management: Shop Profile

Bridging Collision and Technical Repair

We invite instructors to our community center to hold seminars, then we contact local dealerships and repair shops to register their technicians for sessions here instead of sending them to classes elsewhere for training," [Jay Ghanem] explains. "And the technicians love the hands-on training; usually these seminars are held in some hotel conference room.

Resources

Executive Interview

Holzhausen The most recent thing is tire pressure monitoring. There's a lot of adjusting to things, but it depends on how many vehicles you work on. If you work on a limited number of vehicles, it doesn't seem like there's much adjustment. If you work on a wide spectrum of vehicles, there's more adjustment. I work on mostly imports, European and Japanese. The European is probably VW, Audi, and the Japanese is probably Toyota, Honda.

Toolbox Diagnostic Tool

OTC, an SPX brand, introduces its Ford Portable Diagnostic Software (PDS) Advanced Kit (P/N 3912), a flexible and modular diagnostic tool kit that includes a hand-held Pocket PC, PDS software and a Vehicle Communication...