Boost your techs’ safety with ShureStep®
Are your techs still using plastic crates or a 5-gallon bucket? Keep your techs safe and healthy!
- Built-in grip on the top of the step, large rubber feet on the bottom of the step and load rated for 500 pounds.
- Designed by an auto mechanic who wanted the toughest, safest step stool to work from. You know it’s going to be durable! And it comes with a lifetime warranty!
- Available in black or safety yellow. The black hides the grime, the yellow are easy to find.
- Buy a Shure-Step® today and keep your techs safe and happy!
100 Years of Safety, Speed and Security from Overhead Doors!
The Overhead Door™ brand has been servicing customers needs for over 100 years, and we pride ourselves with having a wide variety of commercial applications for every situation. When it comes to the Auto industry, the RapidShield® 998 and RapidView® 999 are optimal solutions to provide a sleek design while offering security and practicality for your business. The RapidShield® 998 is used for facilities requiring clean looks, high speed, and security. The RapidView® 999 is used for facilities requiring clean looks needing visibility, high speed, and security. Both doors come complete with a structural aluminum pre-assembled-curtain and steel header structure, monitored reversing edge, and light curtain. Other features for both doors include:
- Structural Aluminum Slats with Anodized Powder coat finish.
- Operates at up to 80 inches per second.
- Built with safety in mind with a monitored edge and light curtain.
- Springless Design offers minimal interruption and maintenance.
- Industry leading Five-year warranty.
777-998 RapidShield® 998
(with SeyWave wireless hub for more flexibility)
777-999 RapidView® 999
(wind Load tested)
Stay Safe With Protective Screens
- Polycarbonate with stainless steel side support brackets.
- Heavy-duty construction, 36”W x 5”D x 36”H (custom sizes available).
- Can be placed on any counter top or work surface.
- Heavy-duty construction, 36”W x 5”D x 36”H (custom sizes available).
- Ideal for modern day social distancing.
Are you keeping your customers and staff safe?
We can help keep your customers and staff safe!
The Latest in Refrigerant Leak Detection
Premium Refrigerant Leak Detector
42-LD7
- Compatible with most commonly used refrigerants today, including R-134a and 1234yf
- Equipped with a stable, long life sensor that will last up to 10 years
- Meets all of the current industry leak detector standards
A portable, powerful lift?
- The Sprinter 7000 Portable Mid-Rise Lift
• Lifting height of approximately 39"
• Anti-skid platforms are galvanized with adjustable lengths
• Mobile set allows the lift to be moved easily and quickly
• Fully hydraulic system
• No compressed air required
• High performance power unit
• Compact oil-submerged motor
• Push-button controls
• Fast lifting and lowering times
• Fast and easy setup – the lift is prefabricated and tested
• 7,000 lb. capacity
• 100% German
Summer Detailing — CSI and ROI ... 2 Reasons to Offer Car Washing!
See the Car Wash and Detailing Products!
Don’t Get Burned Changing Oil!
Pinpoint the Source and location of Noises . . . All with NO Wires!
682-WCE60643
Wireless Chassis Ear
- Quickly pinpoints the source and location of noises anywhere throughout any vehicle … All with NO Wires!
- Ideal for under-car chassis & suspension problems and under-hood noises!
Watch the NSS Sidewinder Mechanical Floor Sweeper Video!
Springtime Vehicle Inspections
As a technician, you deal with other people’s car problems daily. At the end of a long winter full of ice, snow, salt and potholes in colder climates, you’re likely seeing a lot more customers coming in with squeaks and rattles and undercar problems.
You want to fix the issue quickly and get the car back on the road, but taking a few minutes to give the chassis a thorough look can help diagnose problems the customer didn’t mention but that could be troublesome in the near future. A quick list to run through every spring is a good start to ensure you fix what’s needed, and bring attention to upcoming service needs.
- Check wheels and tires – potholes can knock a car out of alignment, shown in uneven tread wear pattern and vibration, and can also cause beads and ply separation.
- Axle seals, transmission and suspension – these areas get pounded hard running over ice chunks, potholes and rough roads. Check all seals on differentials, ball joints, transmission and suspension parts.
- Radiator and hose inspection – rough, jarring roads and extreme cold can cause plastic to break, knocking a radiator or hoses loose. A replacement bolt or hose now may save a vehicle from major damage in the future.
- Exhaust – road debris causes a lot of unseen damage until you get the vehicle on a hoist. A visual inspection of the exhaust system can detect kinks or bends that may cause damage or an underperforming engine.
- Lighting – many drivers may not know they have a headlight or taillight out, depending on their driving habits. Extreme temperature changes can cause bulbs to burn out quickly.
While increasing vehicle throughput and beating the flat rate is the secondary goal in every shop, the primary goal is getting the car fixed right and back on the road. A bit of extra time inspecting the vehicle, especially after a harsh winter, shows your customers you’re concerned with their vehicle health and prolonging the life of their investment.
Written By OTC, Denny Hanson
Spring Detailing — CSI and ROI ... 2 Reasons to Offer Car Washing!
See the Car Wash and Detailing Products!
What Fuel is Best?
Everyone has their opinions on fuel, whether it’s using premium/high octane, tossing in performance additives or running on E85 because of the cost. Over the years, using something other than the traditional gasoline, including diesel, propane or compressed natural gas (CNG), has grown in popularity. We’ll stick with gasoline here for argument’s sake.
We don’t have a choice on leaded vs. unleaded gas these days, save for specific additives designed to properly lubricate older engines. We do have options on octane rating, ethanol content and high-performance additives.
I know some swear by using the highest octane available, no matter the vehicle, but do you notice any difference? Unless run in a higher compression engine, high octane fuel has little to no measurable performance effect, other than a negative one on your wallet. Do you use it for a cleaner engine, or hoping to prolong engine life?
We know using low octane fuel in a high-performance engine can cause a lag in horsepower, drop in performance and engine knock, but it doesn’t go the other way. Using high octane fuel won’t add horsepower for any engine. Then again, there is something to be said about the placebo effect – if you think it improves performance, then it does. Are the raw numbers as important as how it feels, performance-wise?
One thing nobody can debate is the harm E85 ethanol can do to an engine not designed for its use. Similar to the early 70’s when we made the transition from leaded to unleaded gas, changing the fuel meant changes to the engine and its internal components. Many vehicles can run on E85, but the vast majority of your smaller engines, from motorcycles to snowmobiles to lawnmowers and string trimmers, have not been engineered to run on E85.
Written By OTC, Rob Kochie
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
St Patrick’s day is celebrated on March 17, the date of his death. The day is celebrated by millions all over the world and has become one of the most popular cultural events worldwide.
So who was St Patrick? As he was the Patron Saint of Ireland his feast day was important in Ireland’s religious calendar. Popular belief is that he introduced Christianity to Ireland, banished snakes from our island, and used the 3 leaf Shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity. However, these are actually untrue and can be simply classed as Irish folklore.
A day of parades & festivals
Thanks to our cousins in the United States the first St Patrick’s Day parade occurred in New York City during 1766 and today parades are held all over the world inviting millions of people to celebrate being Irish for a day.
Did you know that it wasn’t until 1995 when the Irish government decided to start holding a parade in Dublin, to help boost tourism? It’s now known in Ireland as St Patrick’s festival which takes place over 5 days with events including art shows, plays, concerts, fun fairs and the main parade.
Source: YourIrish.com
Winter Car Care Tips #7
A Lubrication Breakdown Stops Everything!
Sealed and self-lubricating bearings have emerged as the choice among automotive manufacturers, and for good reason. In light-duty applications they’ve shown longevity, durability and a cost savings with less warranty work resulting from part failure. It’s also resulted in the aftermarket simply replacing these parts rather than checking them alongside every vehicle service event.
However, most technicians know to still check every lubricated and greased part on a vehicle, both out of habit and helping the customer.
Checking rear axle or differential fluid, transmission fluid and inspecting sealed hub bearings will give your customer an idea of useful life of a specific component, and even give an idea of what future service may be needed. While full under car lubrication may no longer be needed, there are still plenty of lubrication points to watch to keep a vehicle moving smoothly and avoid major repairs.
And in the rest of the industrialized world? Sealed and self-lubricating bearings simply won’t hold up to the rigors and extended use of manufacturing facilities, farm equipment or heavy-duty trucking. The value of preventive maintenance including lubrication can never be overstated, keeping machines running and the profit machine churning.
Take a combine’s corn head and all the moving parts in the process. The machine grabs the stalk, removes the ear, puts it on a sheller and belt into a hopper, then augured out into a wagon. Failure of any of those parts means a collection shutdown until things are fixed or replaced, and losing money.
The examples above are perfect illustrations of how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A bit of time searching for and lubricating grease fittings saves a lot of frustration in the end, for both you and your customer.
The best advice? Check those fluids periodically, and pay attention to dirt and dust collecting around sealed bearings, and tell your customer what to look for. They are the biggest factor in preventive maintenance and proper lubrication.
Written By Dirk Skogerbo, OTC
Winter Car Care Tips #6
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day Facts:
- Every year, more than 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolates are sold across the country.
- Sorry men, it looks like you’ll be spending twice as much as women this year on gifts. The average man spends $130 on Valentine’s Day, while women spend about $70.
- Don’t forget about your pets! Every year, around 9 million people buy their pets a Valentine’s Day gift.
- February 14th is the second largest card giving day of the year, just after Christmas. This year, it’s expected that 1 billion cards will be exchanged around the world.
- Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by kids, mothers, wives and girlfriends.
- Hallmark was one of the first to mass produce a Valentine’s Day card, all the way back in 1913.
- More than one-third of men are comfortable not receiving anything from a lover on Valentine’s Day.
Source: 1800flowers.com