What’s Changed About The Brake Job?
Selling modern brake service parts is a lot like making a game-winning touchdown.
Gasoline Direct Fuel Injection Systems
The concept of injecting gasoline directly into an engine’s cylinders was invented by Swedish engineer Jonas Hesselman in 1925. During World War II, Germany began equipping some of its fighter aircraft with direct fuel injection to prevent engine stall-out during high-speed aerial maneuvers. After World War II, domestic and import auto manufacturers discovered that their
The World of Fuel Pump Diagnosis
f in-tank electric fuel pumps returned for warranty aren’t truly defective. Unfortunately, many amateur and professional technicians assume that, because they can’t hear the typical whining noise that a good fuel pump makes when the ignition is first turned on, the fuel pump itself is to blame. If that assumption is the sole rationale for
The Training Dilemma
Training is a complex brew of needs and availability.
Knowing When A DIYer Is In Over His Head
A favorite pastime of mine is to hang out at the coffee pot end of the wholesale service counter and observe the comings and goings of my jobber store’s retail clientele. One minute it’s the high school kid attempting his first oil change; the next it’s the hesitant housewife picking up some replacement parts for
Chassis Talk: Learning The Terminology Is Key To Selling The Correct Chassis Part
Just about everybody remembers the story of the Tower of Babel, in which people began speaking different languages. Unfortunately, the terminology connected with selling chassis parts often becomes its own Tower of Babel when a local alignment shop places a phone order. In many cases, term “tie rod” often becomes interchangeable with “tie rod end”
Gaskets From Different Eras Vary Quite A Bit From More Modern Vehicles
When selling engine gaskets, the modern parts professional is often faced with a dizzying array of gasket technologies. The difference in gasket technologies among a ‘50s-model pickup truck, a ‘60s-vintage, high-compression muscle car and a modern bi-metal or aluminum engine is often quite dramatic. As we’ll see below, the practices that apply to older engines
How To Sell And Use Automotive Chemicals
In the modern era of reduced vehicle maintenance requirements, it’s very easy to develop a complacent attitude toward selling automotive chemicals. But, in our current market, automotive chemicals have become far more than just “snake oil” or “mechanic in a can” products. To the contrary — many are essential tools for keeping a modern vehicle
Understanding Your Customer
Nearly 40 years ago, I decided to start my own shop. Having just left a job teaching auto mechanics and having taken some business management and business law courses at our local community college a few years earlier, I felt I had a unique advantage in operating an automotive repair shop. I rented a small
Understanding Mass Air Flow Issues
If you understand that a defective mass air flow (MAF) sensor can cause an extremely lean condition by underestimating the amount of air flowing into the engine, then you can understand how a defective MAF sensor can be mistaken for a defective fuel pump assembly.
Taking Charge: Assisting Customers With Battery Complaints
As extremes in climate and usage cause a battery to degrade, more battery-related customer complaints will begin to roll into repair shops and jobber parts counters.
The Changing Face of Auto Repair
At this moment, we’re entering into our third year of our Great Recession. On the one hand, our economy is building up some steam. Currently, some independents have prospered as neighboring dealerships and other independents have closed their doors forever. Others have prospered as customers decided to repair old rather than buy new. On the
