Caution: Cranky When Cold
By Rick Cogbill
May 22, 2012
I glanced at my watch as the bell over the front door tinkled to life. "Morning, Quigley," I said. "Aren't we running a little late this morning?"
My innocent inquiry was met with a torrent of indiscernible ranting, and...
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Code Name: Confusion
By Rick Cogbill
May 22, 2012
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing - the perfect time to check out the level in the used oil barrel.
But as I headed around to the back of the building, a forlorn lament warbled down from a stack o...
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Wise and Clunky Things
By Rick Cogbill
May 22, 2012
A cold chill pervaded the lunchroom, which I thought strange since we don't have air conditioning. Tooner gnawed furiously on a chunk of beef jerky while Basil stared at a magazine, completely ignoring his triple chocolate donut.
...
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A Stranger's Fiction
By Rick Cogbill
May 22, 2012
"Who's that idiot in the parking lot?" I groused, pointing to an odd-looking guy standing beside a red Mazda, looking intently at our shop. "He's blocking the driveway!"
Quigley did a double take and grabbed his clipboa...
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Brake And Bearing Basics
By Larry Carley
May 10, 2012
Today's vehicles don't require much maintenance. Spark plugs last 100,000 miles, long-life coolants can go five years or 150,000 miles, and some filters have no recommended replacement interval. But sooner or later, one thing all vehicles eventually require is brake work.
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Performing Cylinder Head Gasket Repairs
By Gary Goms
May 10, 2012
Cylinder head gasket failures are one of the most common mechanical issues facing today's modern technician. One reason head gasket failures are common is because the cylinder head gasket itself can become a wearing part.
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Changing Dynamics of Hybrids and Plug-ins, Plus Service How-Tos
By Gene Markel
May 7, 2012
When the term "hybrid vehicle" is used, it most often refers to a hybrid electric vehicle. As you will see, when discussing hybrids, it's important to remember that hybrid technology is a work in progress and that there's no such thing as a "generic" hybrid design.
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Driving Miss Daisy...Crazy
By Rick Cogbill
May 7, 2012
Bad Communications, Loose Connection Wear on Loyal Customer
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Product Spotlight: TPMS Tools
May 7, 2012
Tire pressure monitoring systems play a vital role in maintaining proper vehicle tire pressure. Drivers of an estimated 50 million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada rely on these devices to track inflation pressure, ultimately leading to less flats, be...
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Refrigerant Change from R-134a to HFO-1234yf is Underway
By Ed Sunkin
April 9, 2012
Beginning in 2011, HFO-1234yf was expected to come out on top as the new refrigerant of choice in Europe. While this issue may not affect repair shops and tire dealers in the U.S. for a while, some techs may already have seen HFO-1234yf systems, as European models begin the R-134a phase-out and make...
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Product Spotlight: Brake Lathes
April 9, 2012
As an essential piece of equipment for tire dealerships and vehicle repair shops, brake lathes perform the important function of machining vehicle brake drums and resurfacing brake rotors. With today's latest brake lathe technology, technicians can experience quicker production, superior surface fin...
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Loaded Brake Calipers Help Restore Brakes to Like-New Condition
By Andrew Markel
April 9, 2012
loaded caliper assemblies get new friction, as well as properly matched hardware, significantly reducing the risk of future leaks developing, and uneven braking or pad wear caused by calipers hanging up or dragging.
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Selling Brake Friction Replacements
By Gary Goms
April 9, 2012
When it comes to making a profit on brake replacements, which are even used as "loss leaders" by some repair shops, it all boils down to math. Perhaps it's time for your shop to re-evaluate how brake friction replacements are packaged and priced.
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Selling Services: Wheel Bearings
By Larry Carley
April 9, 2012
Wheel bearings, which can be of either ball or tapered roller type, come in sets that consist of an inner and outer bearing. To ensure proper service, review the basics of this important vehicle component.
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Subaru Service Essentials
By Larry Bailly
April 9, 2012
In this age of extended service intervals and exaggerated claims of longevity with little maintenance, selling service at a fair price is becoming more difficult. To help boost service sales, consider building a planned process for servicing your customers' vehicles.
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Bulk Lunches, Stubborn Cars and 'Green' Solutions
By Rick Cogbill
April 9, 2012
Everybody has routines. Quigley inhales coffee to keep his nerves intact; Basil eats jelly donuts to keep his waistline intact; even Tooner grumbles 12 hours a day to keep his reputation intact. But today somebody was messing with our lunchtime...
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Diagnostic Solutions: Exhaust Restriction Diagnosis
By Gary Goms
March 19, 2012
Shops have been dealing with loss-of-power complaints caused by exhaust restriction since catalytic converters were popularly introduced in 1974.
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Make Sure Your Used Equipment is Safe
March 19, 2012
When buying used equipment, look for required stickers from the manufacturer and the third-party certification. Find the manufacturers' information, so you can call with the serial number and find out how old the unit is, if it's under warranty and whether there are any recalls.
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The Advantages of Twin-Tube Shocks
By Larry Carley
March 19, 2012
Twin-tube shocks and struts have been used as OE on most vehicles for many years, but in recent years we've seen more monotube shocks and struts being used as OE dampers on sports and performance vehicles. We Take a closer look at twin-tube shocks and struts to better understand how these ride contr...
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Solving Brake Pulsation Complaints Before They Happen
By Andrew Markel
March 19, 2012
A shop performs a brake job on a vehicle. The front pads and rotors are replaced. On the test drive, the vehicle had zero signs of pulsation, even after an aggressive break-in procedure. Six months and 6,000 miles later, the customer is back complaining of a pulsation in the pedal. What caused the p...
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Entries are now being accepted for the
2012 Top Shop Award Program.
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