Jobber News MILLIONS OF PLUG-INS TO SOON HIT ROADS • NACE AUTOMECHANIKA WRAP-UP
SEPTEMBER 2017
Serving the Automotive Aftermarket Since 1931
How techno technology, parts complexity are impactin impacting design trends
SPECIAL REPORT
Vehicle Technology & Innovation
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Jobber News
contents | september 2017 » vol. 85 no. 07
Serving the Automotive Aftermarket Since 1931
news
16
7
COVER STORY
7
The Import Issue DESIGN TRENDS INFLUENCED BY GLOBAL WAVES
8
The consumer wants a more fuel-efficient vehicle. To get there, lighters materials – from aluminum to carbon fibre – are being combined with the growing complexity of parts. As these and other technologies become the norm, the aftermarket will soon need to know how to deal with the change.
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TPMS |
Tapping into TPMS Tire pressure monitoring systems one of the fastestgrowing product categories, making it a potential boon for jobber profits. If you’re not tapping in, you may be missing out.
21-28
Solid growth expected
Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association and the Auto Care Association are predicting the aftermarket will see solid growth over the next three years, buoyed, in part, by lower gas prices.
11 in this issue
E-vehicles coming
Millions of plug-in electric vehicles will soon be on our roads, according to a recent report. In 2016, just a half-million plug-ins were sold, so growth will be fast. The challenge facing potential owners? Infrastructure.
Show report
NACE Automechanika was recently held in Chicago, where thousands of visitors visited hundred of exhibitors, taking in mechanical, business and professional development sessions. The Business Outlook Conference gave insights on challenges in Washington, D.C. affecting the industry.
35 (S1-S8) | SPECIAL REPORT
38
Vehicle Technology & Innovation A new automotive reality is approaching. Learn what’s around the corner so that you are prepared.
columns 5 36
29
Leading off What will be your strategy?
38 New products
BRAKE TECHNOLOGY |
The latest offerings
Brake parts essential to advancement
42 Social Media 101 LinkedIn – or missing out?
Legislation in the U.S. calls for a significant reduction of copper from friction materials by 2021. But that’s just one way brake parts are changing. As vehicle technology grows, brakes are being looked upon to lead the way.
44 Money & Management Hiring? Reference checks are critical
46 Business Management 42 Cover image: pagadesign,iStockphoto.com
|
Twitter: @JobberNews |
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
Marketing path must be tailored for you
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FORD PARTS
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*24 months/unlimited-km limited warranty applies to most car and light truck Genuine Ford/Motorcraft® Parts and Ford Genuine Accessories, purchased from Ford or Ford Lincoln dealers, that are found to be defective in material or workmanship. Parts and labour (up to a maximum of $150) covered for wholesale parts/accessories. Part and/or accessory failure due to: abuse, misuse, neglect, alteration, accident, racing; improper lubrication, repair, or installation; use in applications for which they were either not designed, or functionally intended, or not approved by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited; cleaning, adjustment or replacement as a part of normal maintenance; or failures caused by non-Ford parts, are not covered under this warranty. See your local Ford Store for complete coverage details and limitations. ^36 months/unlimited-km limited warranty on New and Remanufactured Gas Engine Assemblies (6006, 6V012, SLGB, LGB) and Transmission Assemblies (7000, 7V000, 7002, 7003,TRM), purchased from Ford or Ford Lincoln dealers, that are found to be defective in material or workmanship. Parts and labour (up to a maximum of $150) covered for ‘over-the-counter’ parts/accessories; labour is covered for engines/transmission assemblies (max. of $150 does not apply). The warranty does not cover parts or accessories that fail due to abuse, misuse, neglect, alteration, accident or racing or which have been improperly lubricated or repaired, improperly installed, or used in applications for which they were either not designed, or functionally intended, or not approved by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, or are cleaned, adjusted or replaced as a part of normal maintenance or failures caused by non-Ford parts. In the Province of Quebec, none of the following limitations and exclusions will exclude or restrict the warranty provided for in sections 37 and 38 of the Quebec Consumer Protection Act. To the extent allowed by law, loss of time, inconvenience, loss of use of the vehicle, commercial loss, or special or consequential damages are not covered. There is no other express warranty, agreement or representation on Ford-supplied replacement parts and accessories. Any implied warranty or condition as to merchantability or fitness is limited to the duration of the written warranty. See your local Ford Store for complete coverage details and limitations. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. ©2017 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.
Jobber News
leading off |
with adam malik, editor » adam@newcom.ca
FOUNDED 1931
Jobber News is Canada’s longest-established publication serving the distribution segment of the Canadian automotive aftermarket. It is specifically directed to warehouse distributors, wholesalers, machine shops, and national accounts. Editor | Adam Malik (416) 510-6763 E-Mail: adam@newcom.ca Contributing Editor | Martha Uniacke Breen E-Mail: mubreen@sympatico.ca Contributing Writers | Mark Borkowski, Bob Greenwood, Geoff Kirbyson, Donalee Moulton Art Director | Barbara Burrows Managing Director, Auto Div. & National Sales Kathryn Swan (416) 510-5221 E-Mail: kathryn@newcom.ca National Sales | Juan Diez (416) 510-5203 E-Mail: juan@newcom.ca Quebec & Eastern Canada Sales Director Denis Arsenault, (514) 947-7228 E-Mail: denis@newcom.ca Advertising Production Manager, Print/Digital Alicia Lerma (416) 442-5600 ext. 3588 E-Mail: alicia@newcom.ca Print Production Manager | Phyllis Wright (416) 510-6786 Circulation Manager | Lilianna Kantor (416) 614-5815 E-Mail: lily@newcom.ca
Jobber News is published by Newcom Business Media Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, either in part or full, including photocopying and recording, without the written consent of the copyright owner. Nor may any part of this publication be stored in a retrieval system of any nature without prior consent. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40063170 “Return Postage Guaranteed” Send change of address notices, undeliverable copies and subscription orders to: Circulation Dept., Jobber News, 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Jobber News Magazine (ISSN#0021-7050) is published monthly by Newcom Business Media Inc., 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 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.
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JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |
ISSN 0021-7050 Online 1923-3477
WHAT WILL BE YOUR STRATEGY? ou can play defence, or you can go on the attack. Defence is, essentially, the status quo. Keep your perimeter safe; don’t let anyone or anything get through to upset the apple cart. Offence typically signals change. It means trying something new, changing the way you do things and taking risks. Are you playing offence or defence in your business? Many in the aftermarket are seemingly opting to protect their interests, which means playing defence. That may be fine for now, but are you holding on to old-school beliefs and Ask yourself, systems too tightly? You’ve had these in place for years and how often do things are going OK, so why change, you ask. It worked in you tirelessly such-and-such a way for the guy before you, and for the guy defend your before him. It’s these traditions that are holding the business processes? together, right? Maybe. But for how much longer? Mike Jones, a leadership development coach, spoke at the recent NACE Automechanika trade fair’s Business Outlook Conference in Chicago. “Traditions are the beliefs of the dead,” he said. If you don’t change, your business will soon have a tombstone. Let’s take online parts ordering as an example. eBay and Amazon are getting ready to take your lunch money. And maybe your dinner money, too. Soon enough, they’ll be after all of your money as they take your whole business. Anyone can go to these websites and buy a car part. eBay recently partnered up with a company to make it easier for service and repair shops to buy car parts through them with just a tap on their smartphone. Instead of going on the offensive and taking the tech giants on, too many are rationalizing why this won’t and can’t work. There is a laundry list of reasons: shop customers need the part in two hours, not two days; there is no guarantee that it’s the right part; there is no guarantee on quality; there is no warranty; and so on, and so on. eBay and Amazon, it can be safely assumed, have considered those potential roadblocks as well. Amazon has played with drone delivery for years now. And what’s to stop them from dealing directly with manufacturers? What’s stopping them from offering the same promises you make? Dismissal would be a colossal mistake. Instead, learn the failure of others. Microsoft’s former chief executive officer Steve Ballmer said the iPhone wouldn’t work out. He literally – and publicly – laughed at the prospect of it. Jim Balsillie, ex-Research in Motion CEO, did much the same, saying, “We’ll be fine” when the Apple device launched. Do you see a Microsoft phone on the market? Where’s Blackberry these days? Netflix tried to partner up with Blockbuster. The latter refused and eventually shut down while the former flourished. History is replete with examples of companies passing up opportunities to change with the times because their leaders thought people – their customers – wouldn’t stray from the norm. They played defence as they tried to protect their turf. The eBays of the world are playing offence. Ask yourself, how often do you tirelessly defend your processes? Are you going to be able to handle the amount change forced upon you in the next five years? Maybe less? Technology is ready to disrupt the way the automotive industry operates. The ripple effect will hit the aftermarket. How, when, and with what force are not yet known, but it’s going to happen. And when it does, how comfortable will you be with how you’ve positioned your business? JN
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A new report predicts that there will be more than seven million plug-in electric vehicles on the road in the U.S. in less than a decade. That would represent about three per cent of all vehicles expected to be on the road in 2025. In 2016, just over a half-million plug-ins were sold. To support this growth, five million charging ports will be needed, added the report, Plug-in Electric Vehicle Sales Forecast Through 2025 and the Charging Infrastructure Required. It was released recently by the Edison Electric Institute and the Institute for Electric Innovation. While the majority of plug-in vehicles are charged from home, consumers will expect to have the opportunity to charge their vehicles at work or in public places. Almost half of the needed charging ports,
2.2 million, will need to be developed as awayfrom-home charging stations. Currently, the report said, charging infrastructure is paid for by the site’s host – a commercial building, the homeowner and so on. Electric companies, it added, are well-positioned to support infrastructure growth. There are still issues to resolve, however. In August, the CBC reported an Ottawa-area woman was told she could not charge her plug-in at her condo. The plug was to be used for block heaters, not electric vehicles. She was told, according to the CBC, that it was against local bylaws to charge e-vehicles. And if she wants to be able to plug in her vehicle, she would have to foot a bill of about $5,000 for an electrician to build a separate charging station. JN
The province declared a state of emergency with more than 230 fires burning and 14,000 evacuees fleeing their homes and places of employment. JN
MAZDA TO LAUNCH COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE Mazda unveiled its plans for technological development with the first compression ignition gas
engine to go into mass production. Dubbed “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030,” the new Skyactiv-X gas engines will prioritize boosting the efficiency of internal combustion engines. In a compression ignition engine, “the fuel-air mixture ignites spontaneously when compressed by the piston,” Mazda said. It added that the company has solved what has plagued the commercialization of such an engine by creating a combustion method that maximizes “the zone in which compression ignition is possible and achieving a seamless transition between compression ignition and spark ignition.” According to Mazda, combining a supercharger to the compression ignition will improve fuel economy and increase torque. This will become available in 2019 – the same year Mazda announced it will begin with electrification of its vehicles. The company will target its rollout to areas around the world with firm emission control standards. By 2030, the company aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent of 2010 levels, and 90 per cent by the year 2050. JN JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
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MILLIONS OF PLUG-INS TO HIT ROADS SOON
Its 100 Mile House and Cache Creek locations have been affected by the evacuation and the B.C.based automotive parts distributor and retailer is supporting its employees in those areas, and has made donations to help fund firefighting efforts. Lordco made a $25,000 contribution to the Canadian Red Cross, plus $10,000 to the Emergency Operations Centre to help fund supplies, safety equipment and required products to help aid relief efforts, it said in an announcement.
7
over the counter |
$ The United States announced that it would drop any plans for a border tax, one that caused tensions not only in Canada, but also for many in the U.S. across the automotive industry. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, among others
in Canada, had voiced concerns about the move ever since it was first hinted as a way to off-set tax cuts within the U.S. American officials said they’re “confident” this is no longer a concern. “We are very pleased with today’s announcement in favour of open trade and open borders,” said Freeland’s spokesperson Adam Austen. The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) was just one of the groups on the American side to oppose the move. The MEMA said such a move “could disrupt the integrated supply chain for many companies and cause a ripple effect throughout the U.S. economy by 1) increasing costs for vehicle manufacturers, 2) decreasing available capital for new product development, 3) increasing consumer prices, 4) lowering sales, and 5) potentially decreasing manufacturing jobs in America.” JN
AMERICAN AFTERMARKET EXPECTS SOLID GROWTH A study in the United States expects a 3.6 per cent
% growth
3.6
in the American aftermarket over the next 36 months
growth in the American aftermarket over the next 36 months. The 2017 Joint Channel Forecast Model produced jointly by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Auto Care Association predicts that total aftermarket sales will grow nearly $40 billion from 2016-2020 – from $277.1 billion to $316.4 billion. Behind these forecasts are a levelling off of gas prices and improved driver miles, conditions that are favourable for growth, said Bill Hanvey, Auto Care Association president and CEO. “Why? The average age of light vehicles, now up to 11.7 years, is the oldest ever, and the age mix of vehicles continues to favour older vehicles with
48.5 percent of total light vehicles in the 11 year and older category therefore creating a robust opportunity for service and repair.” Even though new car sales have slowed in the U.S., numbers remain strong, but it is outweighed by those factors, Hanvey noted. “The pattern of continued growth in the aftermarket bears out the optimism among our supplier members and their customers – all companies are anticipating growth in 2017 and beyond,” said Bill Long, president and chief operating officer at the AASA. “We are a large, steady and stable industry, but advanced technologies are challenging traditional assumptions and knowns regarding the aftermarket.” JN
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U.S. DITCHES BORDER TAX PLAN
THOUSANDS ATTEND AUTOMECHANIKA The NACE Automechanika show was held in Chicago from July 26-29, complete with an exhibition and many training sessions. Held at McCormick Place West near the shores of Lake Michigan, thousands of attendees explored booths from suppliers and manufacturers. More than 400 companies showcased their latest and greatest products for more than 3,000 industry professional attendees. Attendees could also visit the OE Coliseum for training from carmakers and to see what their teams were developing for the future. Also on the show floor was the Innovation Zone product showcase, highlighted by Tool Alley. Sessions included various collision and mechanical training classes, as well as programs on leadership, business management and development. Attendees could also take in the Advanced Technology & Diagnostic Repair Forum that looked at topics like current and future laws and regulation that could impact the industry. The Business Outlook Conference examined concerns about happenings in Washington, as well as issues around telematics. The next NACE Automechanika event is scheduled for Atlanta in August 2018. JN
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SPECTRA JOINS CAPA PROGRAM Spectra Premium has joined the Certified Automotive Parts Association program as a full participant to certify their parts to the CAPA 601 Radiator Standard. The standard includes requirements for performance testing, material composition, dimensions, appearance, function, construction and retaining features, and fit. A key element in the CAPA 601 testing procedure is confirming that the radiator will perform the same as the original equipment manufacturer brand radiator over time. The Boucherville, Que., supplier of automotive, truck and heavy duty parts produces and distributes over 1,500 different radiators worldwide. “Supporting quality initiatives, such as the CAPA 601 Certification has always been a main driver of our ongoing
commitment to providing the aftermarket with the highest level of We are quality parts,” said extremely Jason Best, senior vice president, honored to aftermarket, at be awarded Spectra Premium. this first in “We are extremely the market honored to be certification. awarded this first JASON BEST, SENIOR in the market cerVICE PRESIDENT, AFTERtification for the MARKET, AT SPECTRA radiator category PREMIUM and thus better equipping our customers to support the needs of the collision market through a rigorous quality certification process.” JN
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
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9
over the counter |
A recent study by INRIX Research has found that Americans trust technology giants like Apple and Google more than traditional carmakers when it comes to self-driving and connected vehicles. The Connected & Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Consumer Survey was conducted internationally and found three key themes: concerns around data privacy; the importance of road and vehicle safety; and the level of trust and confidence in the connected car and autonomous vehicles market. In the U.S., Silicon Valley is trusted slightly more than automakers, 27 per cent vs 23 per cent. Ride-sharing companies, meanwhile, were a distant third at 4 per cent. But in Germany, almost three times as many surveyed there trust traditional carmakers over technology giants. Similarly, though, less than 4 per cent trust ride-sharing companies.
This division will mean a heated race between the sides to win over customers. “A new battleground is emerging between automakers, tech companies and ridesharing companies in the race to develop connected and autonomous vehicles,” explained Bob Pishue, senior economist at INRIX. “With hundreds of millions of connected cars expected to be on the roads within the next 15 years, the market share will be owned by companies that can educate drivers and gain consumer trust.” The survey also found that 62 per cent of respondents believe autonomous vehicles will be on the road in the next decade. When it comes to actually buying selfdriving cars, 53 per cent of Baby Boomers in the U.S. won’t do so, even though three-quarters of those respondents and two-third of German respondents believe
it will improve access for the elderly. Of those who currently own a connected car, half would buy an autonomous vehicle, while only 19 per cent of non-connected car owners would. As for data ownership, Americans trust tech giants to safeguard their data. But more British drivers trust carmakers over the same Silicon Valley companies. Gen Xers and Millennials are most trusting of tech companies in the U.S., while half of Baby Boomers don’t trust anyone. In the U.K., 34 per cent of all respondents trust no one, while 29 per cent of American respondents feel the same. In terms of road safety, 71 per cent of U.S. respondents expect autonomous vehicles to be as safe or safer than today’s cars. Blind spot monitoring was the most desired new car feature for all respondents. JN
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HUNDREDS OF CARS ON DISPLAY AT CAPS ANNUAL SHOW CAPS Auto Parts & Tires held their annual Car Show at the Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa on July 12. The popular community event, which has run since 2008, is free to car owners and spectators, bringing together crowds of car enthusiasts. “Community is top-of-mind at CAPS, as the show has supported numerous local charities over the years,” said CAPS owner Chuck Berthiaume. This year, the event raised funds for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Mental Health Unit. The Car Show saw more than 400 cars on display with complimentary ice cream treats, photo opportunities and a number of door prizes and face painting for the younger participants. CAPS gift cards were awarded to the best in show category winners and helpful parts suppliers including Promax, MAS, AP Exhaust, Lisle, Macpek, NGK and Cardone were on hand to represent the automotive aftermarket and meet with attendees. JN
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: hakule, iStock.com
AUTONOMOUS TRUST DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LIVE
| Automechanika
BY ADAM MALIK
POLITICAL WATER TO REMAIN MUDDY FOR AUTO INDUSTRY Don’t hold breath for clarity around autonomous cars, cybersecurity, warns ASA’s Redding
W
hile there has been some good, prepare for some frustration out of Washington, warned Bob Redding. The Automotive Service Association’s Washington, D.C. representative told attendees for the Business Outlook Conference at NACE Automechanika in Chicago at the end of July that, despite whatever the perception of the presidential administration, there are reasons for the automotive industry to be happy. Specifically, some of the names appointed to certain positions will be good for the aftermarket, such as Elaine Chao, secretary of the Department of Transportation and Gary Cohen, director of the National Economic Council. Chao, whose husband is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, “is a pro, she gets it. (She is) very balanced and fair in decision making. So she is a good choice,” Redding said. As for Cohen, Redding wants the aftermarket to keep an eye on him, as he will “have a direct impact on all things auto … Watch him. Because he is someone who will be in and out of trade, in and out of major auto policy for the aftermarket as well as the automakers.” But the positive vibes fizzle out after that. Despite the strong appointment of Chao, there’s little around her for support.
“Problem is, at the DOT, once you get past the very top people, there are a lot of empty offices,” Redding said. And it’s a problem throughout other government branches. “A lot of the agencies just don’t have senior political decision makers there. So that hurts a lot of the policy making.” In terms of policy, issues like telematics, cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles and the like, are on the industry’s mind. From the OEs to the aftermarket, leaders are looking for guidance throguht regulation and laws. While there are two bills on the table to handle some of the concerns, Redding warned that it may be some time until something happens. It’s getting late early, he said. By this time of year, unless a bill is critical, it’s going to be ignored. Come 2018, things will be worse with the mid-term Senate elections on the horizon. “These kinds of bills are second-tier bills. Once we get into January, February ’18, we’re in hardcore political Saigon” as Republicans and Democrats lineup candidates. And the election is expected to be “contentious,” Redding added. Furthermore, he had a Democrat senator’s chief of staff tell him that they’ve been told by consultants to oppose everything. “With that mentality, there’s
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
Bob Redding, the Automotive Service Association’s Washington, D.C. representative, said any gudiance on cybersecurity or autonomous vehicles from the government likely won’t come until 2019.
not a lot that is going to get done,” Redding said. “This will probably get more uncomfortable.” Nonetheless, despite the lack of willingness for the political parties to work together, he reamined upbeat, telling the audience, “Relax, it’s going to be OK.” Over the course of history, he pointed out, political infighting and perceived instability has occurred often within the White House and between Democrats and Republicans. What we’re seeing today with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is merely a continuation of that. Once the “foolishness” dies down, Redding said, then Washingon can become more effective. JN 11
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TPMS |
BY DONALEE MOULTON
There is no mandate to fix the system. Demand in the aftermarket is not what everybody thought it would be.
”
– JOHN HERC, STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS INC.
TAPPING INTO THE VALUABLE
TPMS market
Sensors play important role in vehicle safety and jobber profits
J
obbers under pressure to enhance aftermarket sales may be missing out on a well-rounded opportunity: tire pressure monitoring systems. More than a decade ago, the United States passed legislation that required tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to be included in all cars. While Canada has not followed suit, there are still more than 400 million sensors are on U.S. roads
today, noted John Herc, senior product manager with Standard Motor Products Inc., in Long Island City, N.Y. “Jobbers need to get out and talk to your service stations and find out where they are buying their tire pressure monitoring systems from. This business is worth millions.” In the wake of mandatory TPMS in the U.S., two factors initially dampened enthusiasm for promoting these systems.
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
First, battery life is much longer than originally estimated, up to 10 years instead of five. Second, many car owners are ignoring the TPMS warning light when it comes on. “There is no mandate to fix the system. Demand in the aftermarket is not what everybody thought it would be,” noted Herc. The times are changing, however, and continues on page 14
13
TPMS |
“
So sto stocking and selling TPMS sensors, service kits and relat related accessories can be very profitable and rewarding. rewardin
”
today tire pressure monitoring systems are one of the fastest-growing product categories for jobbers, said Lindsay Smith, TPMS product manager with Continental Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket in Allentown, Penn. “So stocking and selling TPMS sensors, service kits and related accessories can be very profitable and rewarding.” There are multiple opportunities for TPMS-related services. This includes replacing the sensor if it is damaged or has a dead battery, replacing the service kit hardware during regular tire service, installation of a second set of sensors with tire and wheel upgrades, and installing winter tire and wheel packages. “The sensor service kit for metal clamp-in sensors, which can include hex nuts, seals, washers, valve caps, and cores, needs to be replaced during every tire service. Doing so will prolong the life of the sensor and ensure proper sealing,” noted Smith. “During any tire service work, the rubber valve stems for snap-in sensors also need to be replaced.” To help repair centres help their customers, jobbers need to understand how TPMS works and the questions drivers are likely to ask. W. Rippetoe, North America team leader for global aftermarket technical support with Schrader Perfor-
14
mance Sensors Senso in Detroit, pointed out that the first step in diagnosing TPMS the system. “Doing a test is testing test before touch prior to pulling a befo car into the bay and printing c out the report to show to the driver prevents liability issues from pre-existing conditions.” c Conducting a system check of the t vehicle’s tire monitoring system will help determine if there is a system fault and what level of service may be needed, noted Smith. “[Centres] can also narrow down the issue by completing a bulb check and checking the sensors with a scan tool before breaking down the tire.” A system check not only reveals potential problems, it opens the door to discussing the importance of tire pressure monitoring systems with customers and educating them about their system. “Service stations need to walk customers through the process,” said Herc. Customers will want to understand what their TPMS does – and why they should care. It’s not about selling a sensor, stressed Rippetoe. “It should be sold as a safety feature that can potentially save lives. Airbags, seat belts, TPMS are all safety features that you don’t need until you do.” He noted that customers commonly have three key questions they want and need answered: Why should I keep my
system functioning if my car runs fine without it? Why should I replace all of my sensors at once if only one battery is dead? I check my air pressure all the time, why should I invest in TPMS? While the purpose of tire pressure monitoring systems is to alert drivers to low tire pressure, there are other vehicle benefits related to proper tire inflation that technicians can sell with regular system maintenance, Smith noted. These include improved fuel economy, longer tire life, improved handling and ride, reduced risk of hydroplaning and reduced stopping time. Schrader has prepared a fact sheet that highlights the best practices that jobbers can use. It starts by explaining what the indicator light can, well, indicate. A solid light signals that one or more tires are at least 25 per cent below the recommended placard pressure. Adding air will fix this issue. A flashing light indicates a system malfunction. In most cases, a flashing light, which will become solid after 30 to 90 seconds, points to a dead sensor battery, missing sensor, broken sensor or an incorrect sensor for the vehicle type. Customers may be inclined to ignore the light because they don’t feel anything is wrong with their car; it’s still driving as usual. “That’s where educating the customer comes in about what they should do,” said Herc. “Ignoring that light not only can be a safety issue, it can be a
“
It should be sold as a safety feature that can potentially save lives. Airbags, seat belts, TPMS are all safety features that you don’t need until you do.
”
– W. RIPPETOE, SCHRADER PERFORMANCE SENSORS
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: Edgar D Pons, iStockphoto.com
– LINDSAY LIN SMITH, CONTINENTAL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND AFTERMARKET
dangerous and costly issue.” There are generally two types of damage to TPMS: mechanical and electrical. Galvanic corrosion, for example, often occurs if the valve caps are missing. “The valve core can easily get damaged from salt, dirt and road grime, often causing slow air leaks in the valve,” said Rippetoe. A broken sensor, on the other hand, can occur when a tire hits a curb or other high impact and the sensor breaks off from the stem. Electrical damage can result from a missing or failed sensor, or one that has been incorrectly programmed or installed. Another major and common issue is not completing the relearn or not
performing it properly. The relearn is required to learn new sensor IDs, clear low pressure, malfunction and diagnostic trouble codes and confirm full-system functionality. If it is not done properly, it can prevent the new sensor from communicating to the vehicle as intended. “This will cause technicians to spend more time completing a service and potentially cause the customer to return to the shop with the light on,” Smith said. Canadian jobbers will find themselves in a different selling environment than those south of the border since TPMS is not a manufacturing requirement on new vehicles sold in Canada or on imported vehicles. Furthermore, there is no federal
regulation that prohibits disabling the TPMS system on vehicles, as vehicle use falls under provincial and territorial jurisdictions. This will put greater emphasis on jobbers to pass along valuable TPMS information and opportunities for additional training on to shops and repair technicians. “The more service centres know about TPMS,” Smith said, “the more confidence they will have relating the benefits of maintaining TPM systems to their customers.” And don’t assume clients are not interested in TPMS, cautioned Herc. “We find there is TPMS business going on right under the jobber’s nose.” JN
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JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
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cover feature | import design trends
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www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
BY GEOFF KIRBYSON
new
PARTS
greater COMPLEXITY I
mports are leading a tidal wave of change in automobiles and the aftermarket will increasingly see more technology, lighter materials and greater complexity in parts. This trifecta will gradually move from upscale to lower-end cars and trucks in the coming years as costs come down. The new parts, made out of materials such as aluminum, carbon fibre and magnesium, don’t easily lend themselves to repair so the body and collision repair business is going to see some “big changes,” said Peter Frise, a professor of automotive engineering at the University of Windsor. “You can’t belt these parts with a hammer to get them back in the right shape. They don’t bend, they crack, so you’re looking at a replacement part. The whole idea of repairing a car is going to change quite a bit. Jobbers and service providers are going to have to adapt to that,” he said. While new technologies continue to emerge annually, the transformation isn’t happening overnight. Frise notes the average age of a vehicle in North America is more than 11 years. continued on page 18
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
17
Photo: Denis_prof, iStockphotos.com
Better fuel economy means lighter materials and ‘big changes’ to how vehicles are serviced and repaired.
The whole idea of repairing a car is going to change quite a bit. Jobbers and service providers are going to have to adapt to that.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with a car that didn’t exist a few years ago
– PETER FRISE, UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
– DOUG TAYLOR, ARNOTT INDUSTRIES
“It takes a long time for these technologies to become prevalent in the fleet that’s on the road. The newest cars in a garage are three to five years old, if not a bit older. People get excited because the 2017s have this or that new feature on them. It doesn’t mean you ignore it. You’ve got a little time to adapt. You have to have new training,” he said. Better fuel economy is the name of the game as both foreign and domestic original manufacturers continue to find newer lightweight – and usually cheaper – materials. Even trucks that are generally associated with being heavy – such as the Ford F-150 – are now hundreds of pounds lighter than they used to be. “We’re starting to see high-stiffness polymers and plastics in parts that used to be steel or aluminum,” said Gord Paton, manager of technical services and field support at engineering company Mevotech. But by the time many vehicles are finished their warranty periods and have piled up significant mileage and usage, he finds some of the more fragile parts aren’t weathering the kind of rigour drivers are putting their vehicles – particularly trucks – through. So, Toronto-based Mevotech continues to re-engineer parts with a steel design for the aftermarket. “We feel we need to upgrade them to meet the needs of the consumer,” Paton said. “A lot of imports are going to multilink suspension. One control arm is now two control arms. You’re going to see some parts proliferation for the jobber.” Virtually every component of a vehicle is being continuously re-engineered to make them lighter, from heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to lighting, wires, batteries, tires, alternators, engines and even carpeting. 18
Honda is the latest manufacturer to move away from the V6 engine, joining Chevrolet and Hyundai and others, as it announced recently that its new Accord model will only be offered with four cylinders or gas-electric hybrid engines when it’s released later this year, eliminating the six-cylinder option from under the hood. Only 14 per cent of buyers reportedly requested the V6 option in 2016 but the company will compensate by outfitting Accords with smaller, turbo-
As the cars come out, there are options for suspension systems, with or without lane departure systems so [jobbers] will have to provide two different parts. This will potentially create some confusion. – GORD PATON, MEVOTECH
charged engines to match V6 power. Driver-assisted technologies, such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning systems, could also have some jobbers scrambling to figure out how they work and how best to replace them. (The former activates a vehicle’s sensors to maintain a constant distance from the vehicle in front, accelerating and decelerating as it does, while the latter scans the paint on the roadway to determine the lanes and then warns the driver when he moves off course, while some advanced systems will automatically turn the steering wheel to adjust if the vehicle starts to drift.) “As the cars come out, there are options for suspension systems, with or without lane departure systems so [jobbers] will have to provide two different parts. This will potentially create some confusion,” Paton said. All of these new innovations will become common-place in the next few years, a trend that has been going on for decades and includes other once-radical features such as disc brakes, radial tires, stability control and even seat belts, which somehow didn’t become mandatory until the late 1960s. “This will happen with the self-driving features, too. It won’t take 20 years but it won’t take two or three years, either,” Frise said. Another growth area for higher-end vehicles is air suspension, which provides for a much smoother ride. Doug Taylor, director of marketing for Arnott Industries, a Merritt Island, Fla.-based manufacturer of replacement air suspension products for luxury cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, said air suspension is currently continued on page 20
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: olm26250, StockFinland, iStockphotos.com
cover feature | import design trends
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I think we’re at the point where the market is driving the need for higher fueleconomy vehicles. It’s what the consumer is looking for and it’s a factor in purchasing one vehicle over another. – GORD PATON, MEVOTECH
an option with a number of Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar models. It can be a relatively pricey item to get fixed at a dealer, though – Taylor said it’s about $2,000 plus the installation costs – so it’s not surprising that drivers start looking around for better deals with replacement parts once their warranty
has expired. The problem is a lot of repair shops don’t have much experience working on air suspension systems because they’re so new and often aren’t eager to take them on. Taylor believes they need to get with the program. “As the popularity of air suspension grows, they’re going to see more oppor-
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tunities coming into their shops. If they can do a brake job, they can do air suspension. It’s a good profitable job and it’s fairly easy to do. Companies like ours make sure it’s fully assembled for an easy installation,” he said. One of the new-age features of air suspension is the ability to let some air out and lower the vehicle at highway speeds to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. “There are a lot of things that can go wrong with a car that didn’t exist a few years ago,” Taylor said. With the amount of technological change looming, Frise believes it will spark an overhaul of the repair sector’s employee base. He expects to see a whole new generation of workers on the front lines in the not-too-distant future. “When there’s a technological revolution, a lot of people leave,” he said. “A lot of technicians are fairly senior and they’d have to take a lot of training to work on a 2017 car in five or six years. My guess is there will be a lot of retirements in the next six years because they don’t want to take the new courses.” That will open the door to bright and tech-savvy young people to fill the void who will slip easily into a culture of software and sensors that would seem right at home on “The Jetsons,” the futuristic cartoon of the 1960s. The University of Windsor professor also doesn’t see United States President Donald Trump’s announcement last spring that Washington would review fuel-efficiency standards put in place by the Obama administration will have much impact on the industry because it has been on its fuel-efficiency trajectory for more than a decade. “Many billions of dollars have been invested so far. They’re not going to walk away from those investments. The U.S. is just one market. None of the other countries are headed that way,” Frise said. Consumers are influencing the design changes and Paton thinks that will trump any legislative changes. “I think we’re at the point where the market is driving the need for higher fuel-economy vehicles. It’s what the consumer is looking for and it’s a factor in purchasing one vehicle over another,” he said. JN
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: Pogonici, iStockphotos.com
cover feature | import design trends
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SUPPLEMENT TO JOBBER NEWS
Fitting the pieces together Putting the brakes on injuries Brought to you by Chevron
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BY JEFF TAYLOR
FITTING THE PIECES TOGETHER T
he parts and pieces needed to create the autonomous vehicle are almost here. There are cars that can drive themselves through traffic and have an autopilot feature that will drive them on the highway. Cars can also stop and park by themselves and detect vehicles in blind spots that the driver can’t see. The issue is putting all the correct parts and pieces together with the correct software that will allow a full autonomous vehicle to drive in most situations. Self-driving vehicles are going to have a major impact on the business and operation of just about everyone in the automotive industry, or for that matter, anyone that drives. Techs doing repairs and the people supplying the parts are also
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going to feel the effects of the self-driving vehicle, and they will need to adapt quickly to the changes that are coming. The circumstance creating this sooner-than-youthink reality starts with sensors and powerful computers that are not only cheap but dependable. Other factors, like Google and Tesla’s progress in autonomous technology, has made the major car manufacturers take notice. You can look at just about every carmaker and see some level of technological partnership in the self-driving realm. Current predictions show that accidents could be reduced by 80 per cent by the year 2040 when all current and future technology is implemented. Blind spot detection, active braking, lane assist,
A look at some of the latest innovations, how they work, how they’re evolving, and what they mean to the aftermarket.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
S3
Our roads and infrastructure are going to need upgrading and will require significant maintenance. The visual system that keeps the car in the correct lane relies on the lines or other markers being visible on the road under all conditions (rain, snow, darkness). lane keep, collision warning and many other technologies are taking the driver father out of the driving equation, and the results are safer vehicles. Many manufacturers are now advertising their brand, stressing the safety in their vehicle lines by pushing safety and features that incorporate new technology into their vehicles. These same technologies will be integral to the autonomous vehicle. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has created a set of guidelines that layout and describe what they see as the five levels of autonomous driving: LEVEL 0: This is the basic car form the 1970’s. The driver is in complete control of the steering, brakes and throttle. LEVEL 1: This is a semi-autonomous level that
means the driver controls most driving functions but some can be done automatically. Adaptive cruise, parking assist, lane keep are all examples, but the driver must be ready to take control at a moment’s notice. LEVEL 2: This level requires at least two func-
tions be automated. Adaptive cruise and lane keep don’t require the driver to touch the throttle or brake, and no hands are required on the steering wheel, so at this point the driver is not physically operating the vehicle. Level 2 still requires that the driver be able and ready to take control of the vehicle if needed. LEVEL 3: The driver is still needed at this level,
but the vehicles operation is autonomous under certain conditions (highways). This means the driver does not have to pay attention as in the previous levels. The manufacturers want to skip this level as they don’t feel the driver will be paying enough attention to fix a situation if the vehicle decides to transfer control back to its human interface. LEVEL 4: This is the fully autonomous level. The
vehicle is designed to perform all the safety-critical driving operations, throttle, brakes, steering,
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VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
for the entire trip. It must also monitor road conditions and not expect the driver to intervene or control the vehicle at any time. This level could include driverless vehicles, as they will be expected to do all the functions of normal driving, even parking. The SAE also has a Level 5, and at this level, the vehicle doesn’t have any steering wheel or pedals and so has no option for a driver to intervene. The next generation of vehicles is going to be loaded with sensors: forward radar sensors for short, long, medium and multi-range, dual forward-facing cameras creating a stereoscopic view, rear radar sensors from the corners and the middle, eight to 10 ultrasonic sensors to help with parking, as well as side and rear facing cameras. All of this technology will be linked to the systems on the vehicle. The powerful computing system will be able to apply the brakes harder and faster than a driver if someone steps off the curb, or backs out of a driveway. It will be able to detect a car that is slowing down in front of you in traffic far faster than you could and start to slow down. It will likely even be able to detect bumps in the road and adjust the suspension for a more comfortable ride. Blind spot and cross traffic intervention both forward and rear will be taken care of by the sensors output and the decisions that are made by the software and transmitted to the operating systems of the vehicle. But other changes are going to have to take place before we jump right into the self-driving car or truck. Our roads and infrastructure are going to need upgrading and will require significant maintenance. The visual system that keeps the car in the correct lane relies on the lines or other markers being visible on the road under all conditions (rain, snow, darkness). Lines may be replaced with Botts dots or Stimsonite markers (raised makers) that are snow plow resistant. The speed limit, and other road signs that the forward cameras detect need to be in good shape and at standard heights as well. Government regulation and co-operation on many levels is going to be required and the hackability of software and hardware security will have to be addressed. Despite all the technological advances, don’t expect the fully autonomous self-driving car to just become a reality overnight. Experts agree that it may take about 25 years, or one full generation, to transition to the fully autonomous driverless fleet of vehicles. This is going to take some time. JN
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Image: CreativaImages, iStockimages.com
BY JEFF TAYLOR
PUTTING THE BRAKES ON INJURIES A
number of recent studies have shown that nearly 50 per cent of all rear-end collisions occur without the application of any braking function in the trailing vehicle. That means there was no attempt prior to the collision to slow the vehicle down at all. In 70 per cent of the collisions, there was insufficient braking force applied to the trailing vehicle to bring it to a complete stop. It’s fair to say that we’ve found a significant weakness in human drivers. Their reaction time is too often slow – and sometimes non-existent – to avoid collisions! It is this weakness that Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems were designed to eliminate. The first AEB system was introduced on the
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2010 Volvo XC60, and the information garnered from it (and others since then) showed that AEBequipped vehicles can reduce accident rates by as much as 35 per cent. Vehicle manufacturers and governments were so taken by the results that by 2022, 99 per cent of all the vehicles sold in the U.S. will come standard with some form of AEB. How the system works
A number of headway sensors are used to gather information about what’s in front of the vehicle as it’s driven down the road. The headway sensors can include lasers, radar, multimode electronically scanning radar, and high-resolution forward-facing cameras.
Autonomous Emergency Braking systems are designed to help avoid collisions when human drivers are just too slow to react to dangerous situations on the road.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
S5
All of the base systems that are involved in AEB operation are going to have to be fully functional for the system to work as designed. That includes the entire braking system, brake parts, pads, rotors, and other components. All will have to be working properly for this system to work as designed. Sticky caliper, seized sliders, stuck pins, and poor-quality parts are all going to compromise the integrity of the system.
only come to a full stop when the vehicle is under a certain speed (the cut-off speed is somewhere between 30 and 50 km/h). Some apply only a portion of the braking force in order to mitigate damage and injury with less chance of causing it. In most cases the AEB will disconnect as soon as the driver touches the brake pedal. In most cases, the driver will benefit from the pre-charged pressure or braking force that the AEB launched. The system may also disconnect if the driver signals a lane change. The specific path to collision avoidance is very manufacturer specific. So, how are we going to repair them?
This information is interpreted by the AEB processor, which uses complex algorithms to categorize the objects and calculate the risk of a collision. If the AEB processor decides there’s a risk of a collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian, the driver will receive an audible, haptic, or visual warning. If the driver reacts to the situation by braking or steering safely around the object, great. But if the warning is ignored, the system will automatically apply the brakes to avoid a collision, or lessen the effects of one. If the vehicle is travelling at a high rate of speed, the system will launch a full ABS braking stage for maximum speed reduction. When a collision is imminent
Once the AEB unit has decided that a collision is about to happen, it will make a series of decisions based on the data and choose the appropriate strategy to lessen the collision or avoid it altogether. Depending on the speeds involved, closing rate, type of collision (another vehicle or a pedestrian), and other factors, the AEB can initiate a number of counter-measures. It can turn off the cruise control, pre-charge the braking system so that full brake power is available to the driver, activate the electric parking brakes (if so equipped), and pre-tension the seatbelts. Some high-end vehicles will adjust the passenger seat, adjust the head rests, close the sunroof and put up the windows to increase the driver and passengers’ safety in a collision. Vehicle manufacturers have very different ideas about what will happen and when during an AEB event. Some vehicles will go into full panic-stop mode, using ABS if necessary to stop the car. Others will
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VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
These systems are pretty reliable right now. There are not a lot of concerns about frequent problems. But with AEB becoming standard on most models over the next couple of years, there’s a good chance we’ll start to see some problems arise. So far, the majority of the issues have been software related. Updates are the prescribed solution. Volvo and BMW have had issues with false braking, and the sensitivity was adjusted to address it. Acura has issued a recall to address a false activation and, again, found a software solution. For the independent aftermarket, diagnostics will require a compatible (or factory) scan tool, and latest service information. There are going to be times when the headway sensors will have to be replaced, reinstalled, or recalibrated. In those cases, proper service information will be absolutely key to success. The optical and laser headway sensors will and can get dirty – which will cause obvious issues. And simple things like bad wiper blades may affect the system’s operational characteristics. All of the base systems that are involved in AEB operation are going to have to be fully functional for the system to work as designed. That includes the entire braking system, brake parts, pads, rotors, and other components. All will have to be working properly for this system to work as designed. Sticky caliper, seized sliders, stuck pins, and poor-quality parts are all going to compromise the integrity of the system. The driver of the vehicle is going to have to fully understand what system they have and what it will actually do for them if a collision situation arises. They can’t just assume that the vehicle is going to fully stop by itself under all conditions. The systems actions will depend on many factors. In the aftermarket, we’ll have to be on our game to understand how the systems work and how we can make sure our customers’ vehicles are properly functioning to avoid collisions whenever possible. JN
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Trends in passenger car motor oils Evolving engine technology driving change BY DAVID LEE, PHD
T
hink about how much vehicles have changed in the past few years. What may come to mind are all the new electronics, smart sensors, assisted driving features and more, but what’s less noticeable are the significant changes taking place under the hood. Engine technology is evolving rapidly in response to three factors: 1. Legislated and social pressure to reduce carbon emissions 2. Consumers’ desire for lower fuel consumption which leads to cost savings 3. Demand for more engine power while still fulfilling numbers one and two. By 2025, U.S. federal mandates call for a Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) of 54.5 miles per gallon. That doesn’t mean every car has to meet that standard, but that every manufacturer must meet that as an average across their entire fleet, which may span a range of vehicles from large SUVs and pickups to small hybrids and electric cars. (For comparison, the average today is 35.5 mpg.) The necessity to achieve greater fuel economy has driven new engine technologies. Three technology trends in particular stand out:
Z Gasoline direct injection (GDI) – involves the high-pressure injection of fuel directly into cylinder combustion chambers rather than through intake valves. GDI is increasing in popularity and is expected to dominate the market within a few years. By
2021, GDI-equipped light vehicles are projected to account for 71 per cent of the production market in North America.
Z Turbochargers – used to be found exclusively in racing and high-performance sports cars, essentially, they recycle hot exhaust gasses to increase power. They are increasingly commonplace, appearing in 21 per cent of new vehicles as of 2015 and are expected to be in 80 per cent of new cars by 2025. Z Engine downsizing – some engines are going down as small as one litre (which is small enough to fit in a suitcase) in efforts to reduce mass and weight to improve fuel efficiency. What’s important though, is that these engines don’t sacrifice power. New six-cylinder engines are the horsepower equivalent of yesterday’s eightcylinder and the modern fourcylinder provide the power of what once took six. As with all new technology, there are often hiccups discovered along the way as the technology matures; this is true of evolving engines. In the course of trying to develop
more fuel-efficient engines without compromising power, manufacturers encountered something called LSPI (low speed pre-ignition) – this is unwanted and uncontrolled preignition in the combustion that can severely damage an engine over time. It is resulting in many warranty claims, and as you can imagine, a huge issue that OEMs globally have acknowledged and are working on alongside the American Petroleum Institute and major lubricant producers including Chevron. LSPI is largely a result of combining the major engine advancements into one package. This combination of technologies stresses the engine to a higher degree and leads to a need for improved motor oil to provide greater protection. The smaller, GDI and turbocharged engines run hotter, experience more stress and have a higher power density; meaning the oil has to work a lot harder to protect the parts. That is why we have been seeing major development in the types of oils that are required for newer engines. OEMs have been moving towards ever thinner viscosities because they produce less fluid friction or resistance and therefore deliver better fuel economy. Though a 5W-30 weight oil may be the most popular now, that is changing and in a big way. The industry is forecasting the 0W viscosity grades (now several per cent of total North America PCMO demand) to constitute approximately 35 per cent of total North America demand by 2025.
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Chevron Products are available from the following locations CHEVRON CANADA LIMITED 500-5th Ave. S.W. Calgary AB T2P 0L7 Toll Free: 1 (800) 822-5823 canada.havoline.com
CATALYS LUBRICANTS 7483 Progress Way Delta BC V4G 1E7 Toll Free: 1 (855) 946-4226 catalyslubricants.ca
NORTHERN METALIC SALES (GP) 9708-108 St. Grande Prairie AB T8V 4E2 Tel: (780) 539-9555 northernmetalic.com
HUSKY ENERGY CORPORATION 707-8th Ave. S.W. Calgary AB T2P 1H5 Tel: (403) 298-6709 huskyenergy.ca
UFA 4838 Richard Rd. S.W. Suite 700 Calgary AB T3E 6L1 Tel: (403) 570-4306 ufa.com
CHRIS PAGE & ASSOCIATES LTD 14435-124 Ave. Edmonton AB T5L 3B2 Tel: (780) 451-4373 chrispage.ca
RED-L DISTRIBUTORS LTD 9727-47 Ave. Edmonton AB T6E 5M7 Tel: (780) 437-2630 redl.com
49 NORTH LUBRICANTS 1429 Mountain Ave., Unit 2 Winnipeg MB R2X 2Y9 Tel: (204) 694-9100 Fax: (204) 775-0475 49northlubricants.com
CASE ’N DRUM OIL INC 3462 White Oak Road London ON N6E 2Z9 Toll Free: 1 (800) 265-7642 www.cndoil.ca
TRANSIT LUBRICANTS LTD 5 Hill St. Kitchener ON N2G 3X4 Tel: (519) 579-5330 transitpetroleum.com
R. P. OIL LTD 1111 Burns St. East Unit 3 Whitby ON L1N 6A6 Tel: (905) 666-2313 rpoil.com
CREVIER LUBRIFIANTS 2320, Rue de la Métropole Longueuil (QC) J4G 1E6 Tél : (450) 679-8866 crevier.ca
NORTH ATLANTIC REFINING LTD 29 Pippy Place St. John’s NL A1B 3X2 Tel: (709) 570-5624 northatlantic.ca
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brake technology |
BY ADAM MALIK
rises BRAKE TECHNOLOGY
IN SOPHISTICATION
Legislation and growing vehicle technology are driving forces
Photo: Don Nichols, iStockphoto.com
T
he automotive industry is a little more than three years away from a significant milestone that will have a big impact on the brake market. By 2021, manufacturers of brake parts will have to bring levels of copper in brake pads to five per cent by weight, per a memorandum of understanding in the United States between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental Council of the States and motor vehicle industry associations. Furthermore, by 2025, that number must be reduced to 0.5 per cent, or “basically trace elements of copper,” said Bob Peters, chief engineer of friction materials at manufacturer Akebono Brake Corporation
“
But changing to no-copper is not as easy as just taking copper out or changing back to semi-metallic brake pads. There’s much, much more to it than that. So that’s what has been time consuming for us. – BOB PETERS, AKEBONO
”
in Farmington Hills, Mich. It’s this looming deadline that is putting pressure on the industry. “Most of the
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
OEs want to jump right straight from the current copper-containing friction to zero-copper and not have to make the change twice,” Peters said. “But changing to no-copper is not as easy as just taking copper out or changing back to semimetallic brake pads. There’s much, much more to it than that. So that’s what has been time consuming for us.” Manufacturers are being forced to reformulate brakes, he explained, adding that while 2021 might seem far away, it really isn’t. The short timeline “has forced everybody who is in the brake friction industry to do an awful lot of development work to come up with continues on page 30
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brake technology |
“
The life span of brakes has increased, but once again, the life span is dependent on how the vehicle is driven as an aggressive driver will still affect overall lifespan. – WALLY MARCINIAK, BRAKE PARTS INC.
30
“We need to make sure that the brake pad that’s being put on maintains the OE’s design output of the friction material,” he added. “You have to stay close to what the OE has put on in order to maintain the performance of all the systems.” When it comes to making cars more advanced, Marciniak said, it seems the area getting the most attention is
“
With that said, the condition of the brake system must be up to the task to drive these new systems. – WALLY MARCINIAK, BRAKE PARTS INC
the brake system. “With that said, the condition of the brake system must be up to the task to drive these new systems.” For example, more and more newer vehicles are being equipped with electronic parking brakes. Disappearing are the days of the driver manually lifting a lever or pushing a pedal to engage the parking brake. Now it’s done by the simple push of a button. But with that convenience comes a downside for drivers and a potential boon for jobbers. The clamping power is far greater electronically compared to a driver who uses some elbow grease. The result is friction material that can wear out sooner. “The parking brake is commanded to apply a very high clamp force virtually at the end of every drive cycle. And when you have that huge clamping force, and then you have some corrosion, the tendency is for the friction material to stick to the rotor,” Peters explained.
”
“
All of the new technology that has been introduced over the past few years has made vehicles safer and saved many lives.
”
– WALLY MARCINIAK, BRAKE PARTS INC. continues on page 32
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: turk stock photographer, deepblue4you, iStockphoto.com
no-copper ceramic non-asbestos organic friction materials.” And there hasn’t been a full-on solution yet. There are some copper free options currently available, but Peters said the OEs are putting any solutions through the ringer to ensure their needs are met. “They want it to be as seamless as possible,” he said. “You’ll see this huge, I think, acceleration in the number of platforms that are being introduced here over the next three or so years of friction material that is copper-free. Once things get squared away for the OE market, the aftermarket will be able to offer viable copper-free materials as well, Peters added. Vehicle technology has been a driving force in boosting braking technology for decades. In the 1980s, said Wally Marciniak, director of technical services at Brake Parts Inc., the company behind Raybestos, it was the anti-lock braking system and traction control. “Since 2012, it has been mandated that all cars manufactured have electronic stability control, which has opened the door to many more systems that control the safety of the vehicle through the braking system.” Systems like ABS, traction control and vehicle dynamics are ubiquitous on vehicles these days, but that doesn’t mean it’s a simple process for brake component companies. A manufacturer has to be careful to ensure its parts work as well as the OE demands. “They’re all calibrated systems and they count on seeing a level of output from the friction material that is very, very close to the to the original friction material,” Peters said. “So varying from the OE friction material level too much tends to diminish the performance of those systems.
”
“And so the friction companies have all had to pay much higher attention to the pad corrosion adhesion aspect of the brake pad than they have in the past.” For jobbers, that means staying away from semi-metallic friction materials when they get a call for a vehicle equipped with an electronic brake. “Semi-metallics seem to want to weld themselves to the rotor if you leave them clamped up for any length of time,” Peter said. Instead, high-quality ceramic materials should be recommended. Adaptive cruise control is another emerging vehicle technology, one that is a precursor to self-driving cars. Here, the vehicle automatically applies the brake to slow the vehicle down once it senses another vehicle within a specified range. However, brakes could wear out sooner,
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© 2017 Chevron Canada Limited. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC.
Chevron Products are available from the following locations:
CHEVRON CANADA LIMITED 1200-1050 West Pender St. Vancouver BC V6E 3T4 Toll Free: 1 (800) 822-5823 canada.deloperformance.com
CATALYS LUBRICANTS 7483 Progress Way Delta BC V4G 1E7 Toll Free: 1 (855) 946-4226 catalyslubricants.ca
NORTHERN METALIC SALES (GP) 9708-108 St. Grande Prairie AB T8V 4E2 Tel: (780) 539-9555 northernmetalic.com
HUSKY ENERGY CORPORATION 707-8th Ave. S.W. Calgary AB T2P 1H5 Tel: (403) 298-6709 huskyenergy.ca
UFA 4838 Richard Rd. S.W. Suite 700 Calgary AB T3E 6L1 Tel: (403) 570-4306 ufa.com
CHRIS PAGE & ASSOCIATES LTD 14435-124 Ave. Edmonton AB T5L 3B2 Tel: (780) 451-4373 chrispage.ca
RED-L DISTRIBUTORS LTD 9727-47 Ave. Edmonton AB T6E 5M7 Tel: (780) 437-2630 redl.com
49 NORTH LUBRICANTS 1429 Mountain Ave., Unit 2 Winnipeg MB R2X 2Y9 Tel: (204) 694-9100 Fax: (204) 775-0475 49northlubricants.com
CASE ’N DRUM OIL INC 3462 White Oak Road London ON N6E 2Z9 Toll Free: 1 (800) 265-7642 www.cndoil.ca
TRANSIT LUBRICANTS LTD 5 Hill St. Kitchener ON N2G 3X4 Tel: (519) 579-5330 transitpetroleum.com
R. P. OIL LTD 1111 Burns St. East Unit 3 Whitby ON L1N 6A6 Tel: (905) 666-2313 rpoil.com
CREVIER LUBRIFIANTS 2320, Rue de la Métropole Longueuil (QC) J4G 1E6 Tél : (450) 679-8866 crevier.ca
NORTH ATLANTIC REFINING LTD 29 Pippy Place St. John’s NL A1B 3X2 Tel: (709) 570-5624 northatlantic.ca
IC
RAM E W C EICONEUBE N L I S EL K BRA
brake technology |
“
Today brake pad materials and brake components are specific to vehicle application, so the rule of thumb of the past — ‘one part fits all’ — doesn’t hold true today.
”
– WALLY MARCINIAK, BRAKE PARTS INC.
#24122 - 236ml Bottle
32
“
With hybrid powertrains, the duty cycle for the brake pads goes down so lining life has a tendency to go way up.
”
– BOB PETERS, AKEBONO
ers, they often don’t even realize that systems have been activated, Marciniak said. “All of the new technology that has been introduced over the past few years has made vehicles safer and saved many lives,” he added. Many applications are unique to certain vehicles, meaning the proliferation of parts doesn’t seem like it will ease. “In the past, there were only a few brake pad materials and components that could cover the masses of applications,” Marciniak said. “Today brake pad materials and brake components are specific to vehicle application, so the rule of thumb of the past – ‘one part fits all’ – doesn’t hold true today.” For jobbers, they need to learn how the systems work and choose the right part to recommend to technicians. “Yes, selling brakes will change and open the door for additional opportunities for service to make sure the systems operate correctly,” Marciniak said. “The key will be to educate technicians and service providers.” JN
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: schlol, iStockphoto.com
G N I L WEZLING S NO SEI NO
Peters said. Instead of the driver seeing ahead and decelerating, the vehicle may apply the brakes, instead of dropping the throttle, which ends up reducing the friction material’s lifespan. However, hybrid and electric systems will have an opposite effect on how long brake parts will last before needing replacement since powertrain deceleration is greater. Since there’s an expectation that many vehicles will soon be a hybrid or 48-volt electric, the deceleration process could play a key role. “With hybrid powertrains, the duty cycle for the brake pads goes down so lining life has a tendency to go way up,” Peters said. So will adaptive cruise control mean brakes wear out sooner or will hybrid vehicles make them last longer? “Almost every vehicle will have some form of hybrid powertrain in the not too distant future. And adaptive cruise will also become more commonplace,” Peters said. “So I think that these two things tend to counteract one another. Overall I would expect that lining life would go up not down.” Still, it will be up to the individual driver to determine how often they need to visit their service and repair shop for their brakes. “The life span of brakes has increased, but once again, the life span is dependent on how the vehicle is driven as an aggressive driver will still affect overall lifespan,” Marciniak said. But, if brake service intervals grow, there will be a need to better remove corrosion from rotors. Peters said that issue becomes a design driver. “The friction material has to be able to remove the corrosion from the rotor if the rotor is not being used very much.” It’s clear to see that brake manufacturers are facing a number of challenges as vehicle technology grows. For driv-
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show preview |
AFTERMARKET SET TO GATHER AT
October 31 to November 2 SANDS EXPO, LAS VEGAS, NEV.
AAPEX2017 T
he largest aftermarket show is back at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nev. The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry. The four-day show features 2,200 exhibitors with 5,000 booths and 40 AAPEXedu sessions. It’s expected that around 160,000 aftermarket professionals – auto parts retailers, warehouse distributors, jobbers, automotive service professionals, automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators and more – from upwards of 140 countries will descend on Las Vegas for the event. Registration starts at 7 a.m. each day with exhibitors getting underway at 9 a.m.
KEYNOTE SESSIONS While there no full details quite available yet, the three keynote topics planned are: The future of the vehicle (Oct. 31), The future of the buyer (Nov. 1) and The future of the shop (Nov. 2). All will take place at The Venetian, Palazzo Ballroom from 8-9 a.m.
FUTURE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY Tomorrow’s automotive aftermarket will be on display at the all-new Technology Intersection. Exhibitors in this area (Upper Level 2, Venetian Ballroom) will use virtual reality, simulators and other interactive interfaces to demonstrate future innovative automotive technology that can’t be found in the industry.
MOBILITY PARK Hands-on learning will be on display for the automotive aftermarket at the all-new
Mobility Park. Plans are underway for a Self-Driving Car Demonstration area, an Electric Expo, a Scan Tool Theater, a 3D Printing area and a section for Underhood Training. The Mobility Park will be located behind the Sands Expo Center in the LINQ lot outside.
vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems.
GIVEAWAYS Mahle will be giving away a Ford Mustang at AAPEX. The customized, twin-turbo, 1,000 HP Mahle Mustang will be awarded to one lucky technician.
IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY
USE THE APP
Experts will be on hand to discuss automotive technology and the biggest opportunities and challenges it presents for auto repair shops. Several AAPEX programs will address and spotlight automotive technology. For example, discussions will range from replacement and calibration services for advanced driver assistance systems to the possibility of remote diagnosis enabled by vehicle telematics – which could move the industry to predictive maintenance – to
Take advantage of the free AAPEX mobile app. Download it from the Google Play Store for your Android device or from the App Store for your iPhone, iPad or iTouch. You’ll get instant access to everything that’s happening before, during and after the event. You can get up-to-the minute news about sessions and events, download workshop session handouts and presentations and search exhibitors by name, product and brand. JN
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
35
show preview |
SEMA SHOW PROMISES DELIGHTS
T
he Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association’s annual celebration will take place From October 31 to November 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The SEMA Show is being billed as the place to be to find everything you need to boost your business. As one of the biggest shows in the world, many of the top minds in the industry will be under one roof. The SEMA Show will provide educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more. Exhibits from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, ending at 4 p.m. on the final day.
NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE The New Products Showcase is located in the Sky Bridge. There is a shuttle stop close by. Find one of the “Free Scanner Pickup” booths located around the area. This scanner lets you scan any product you are interested in, giving you an opportunity to research what companies are offering. Once done, drop off the scanner at the return desk and you’ll get a printout of everything you scanned with contact information. The showcase runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, but ending at 3 on Nov. 3
SPECIAL EVENTS SEMA Launch Pad: The Next Great Business Oct.30, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Westgate Resort & Casino, Theater
This business competition in its third year, offers top innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs under the age of 40 an industry platform to showcase their business for marketing a new automotive 36
October 31 to November 3 LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER, LAS VEGAS, NEV.
product or service. The 10 finalists take center stage to prove to the judges that their product is the best. SEMA Vehicle Technology All week, 1 – 2:30 p.m. Las Vegas Convention Center, N258
The Vehicle Technology Briefing Seminar program is designed to connect members to the benefits of vehicle technology and performance product development solutions, resources and partnerships. New Products Breakfast/SEMA Award Presentation Oct. 31, 7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Westgate Las Vegas Casino & Hotel, Paradise Event Center
The New Product Awards competition recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialtyequipment market at the SEMA Show. SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet Nov. 2, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Westgate, Garden Patio & Paradise Event Center
The SEMA Industry Awards Banquet is the automotive specialty-equipment market’s premier awards ceremony. The event is attended by nearly 3,000 automotive icons, professionals, supporters and celebrities. It will feature a networking cocktail hour, dinner and entertainment. The program also includes the announcement of the SEMA Person of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, WD of the Year, Rep Agency of the Year, Gen-III Innovator of the Year and tributes to this year’s SEMA Hall of Fame
inductees: GiGi Carleton, Doug Evans and Barry Meguiar. SEMA Cruise at Show Close Nov. 3, 4 p.m. Las Vegas Convention Center, Silver Drive
The capper for the 2017 SEMA Show will be the annual SEMA Cruise. As the booths are dismantled and the products are packaged for shipment home, the booth and feature vehicles depart the convention center. This parade of rolling art is now one of the most-anticipated aspects of the annual gathering by the local populace. The cruise begins when the show ends at 4 p.m. on Friday.
FEATURED SPEAKERS Max Major (8:30 a.m,), Lori Kleiman (10:15 a.m.) and Patti Wood (11:15 a.m.) are featured for Oct. 30 at the Upper North Hall. There will also a be a number of free business-building seminars available at the SEMA Show. Whether it’s a topic on business management, business technology, vehicle technology, marketing and sales, or industry trends, there is sure to be a number of discussions that you’ll want to take part in. Visit https://www.semashow.com/ education to see a full list. JN
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
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new products |
Milwaukee impact wrench
Antenna mounting plate Lighting company Larson Electronics introduced a new antenna plate that requires no drilling. It is designed for 2015 Ford F150 and 2017 Ford Superduty trucks. The mounting plate, made of aluminum, is installed through the rear cab lights with a waterproof seal and rubber bump guards on the back plate to provide a seal and protect the body from damage during installation. It is designed to not require any drilling and can be used for mounting anything that requires an antenna, such as a CB radio. Larson Electronics www.larsonelectronics.com
VDO cooling fan assemblies Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket has announced the expansion of its VDO cooling fan assemblies, covering 244 million vehicles. The program’s lineup now has over 1,000 OE-level fan assembly and part numbers for Asian, European and domestic makes. The fan assemblies are designed for an easy install right out of the box with no assembly required. All VDO fans are built with all new components in ISO/TS certified facilities, tested to OE specs for vehicle-specific fit and function, and manufactured to the same precision and quality standards as OE components supplied by Continental to automakers worldwide. VDO www.vdo.com/usa
38
New line of coolant temperature sensors Stant Corporation has introduced a new line of coolant temperature sensors to complement its thermal management system products. Engineered using the exact specifications of leading vehicle manufacturers, Stant coolant temperature sensors have a design featuring fewer components, making them lightweight, cost effective and easy to install. Stant coolant temperature sensors measure coolant temperature changes within the cooling system of a vehicle. This continuous measurement is sent to the vehicle’s powertrain control module, which helps manage fuel injection, ignition timing, variable valve timing and transmission shifting. The sensor covers 90 per cent of domestic and import applications. Stant Corporation www.stant.com
A new high torque impact wrench has been introduced by Milwaukee. The latest generation of the M18 Fuel high torque impact wrenches deliver upwards of 1,400 ft.-lbs. of torque in a compact, cordless design. The company says it is powerful enough to replace pneumatic and corded options altogether. The new models include one with half-inch friction ring another with a half-inch pin detent. A new bolt removal mode provides maximum torque to remove stubborn bolts or nuts. When it senses the bolt or nut is broken free, the tool then shifts to 750 rpm for increased control when removing fasteners. Milwaukee Tool www.milwaukeetool.com
New oil from Liqui Moly Liqui Moly has introduced Top Tec 6200, a new motor oil to comply with Euro 6 emissions standards. It also fulfils the VW approvals 50800/50900. As a 0W-20 grade oil, it is less viscous, but cannot be compared to other low-grade oils, the company says. It is suitable only for special motors and is not backwards compatible. It cannot be added to other motors. In order to guard against the risk of a mix-up, the motor oil is designed differently than others in the Top Tec series and its number system is different, as previous types feature 4000 numbering. Liqui Moly www.liqui-moly.com
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
V Raybestos Opti-Cal calipers
Brushless HVAC motors Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket expanded its product line of VDO Brushless HVAC Motors for late model Asian, European and domestic vehicles. More than 30 SKUs were added to include coverage of Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Lexus, and Toyota automobiles and light trucks for the 2011-2017 model years. The motors are a match to the OE versions, incorporating the same electrical connections and mounting points. This allows for easy installation with no wire splicing or cutting or modification of the heater box or flange. VDO Brushless HVAC Motors come individually packaged with all of the required installation hardware and are ready to install right out of the box. VDO www.vdo.com/usa
Composite disc brake rotors Hella Pagid Brake Systems is now offering composite disc brake rotors for European aftermarket applications. The two-piece brake discs have an aluminum hat and high carbon fibre ring, bonded together by rivets. Using aluminum means a weight savings of 15-30 per cent and reduces the unsprung mass of the brake system. While not only improving driving properties, the resulting assembly also helps to reduce fuel consumption. The composite brake rotors are designed to match with Hella Pagid’s brake pads. Hella Pagid www.hella.com
Raybestos has added Opti-Cal calipers to its line of premium quality brake system products. It features all new components and requires no core return, combining optimum performance with time-saving, trouble-free installation. The calipers are manufactured with a new caliper body, brackets and components, including pistons, lubricated guide pins and pad mounting hardware, to ensure correct fit and function, Raybestos said in an announcement. Aluminum or zinc plated castings help to prevent corrosion, while the zinc finish provides all-weather protection, inhibits rust and maintains a pristine appearance. Raybestos www.raybestos.com
Emissions control products Tenneco has announced an expansion of its Walker Emissions Control product line with 36 part numbers, representing 10 million replacement opportunities. Included are 14 additional Walker Ultra direct-fit catalytic converters that are EPA-compliant, six Quiet Flow SS direct-fit stainless steel muffles and 16 new pipe, resonator assembly and hardware part numbers. The new parts combine to cover 192 late-model applications. Engineered for OBDII vehicles, the converters offer original equipmentstyle design and fit, including hangers, flanges and brackets. The mufflers resist rust-out more than three times longer than competitors’ premium aluminized mufflers, according to Tenneco. Walker www.walkerexhaust.com
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
New part numbers for Carter Carter Fuel Systems announced 22 new part numbers, including 18 fuel module assemblies, three gasoline direct injection (GDI) mechanical fuel pumps, and one fuel tank sender assembly. This new part number introduction significantly extends Carter’s coverage of passenger vehicles on the road today, with applications that fit popular models such as the Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Jetta, Kia Optima, Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback. Carter Fuel Systems carterfuelsystems. com
continues on page 40
39
new products |
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Sponsored by
TMPS replacement parts catalog Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket has released its new 2017 VDO TPMS Replacement Parts Program catalog. The catalog highlights the new VDO REDI-Sensor with rubber snap-in valve stem. The VDO REDI-Sensor with rubber snapin valve stem was designed to be easier to use for technicians who typically utilize rubber stemmed TPMS sensors. The sensor snaps onto the wheel and the sensor housing clips onto the valve stem without the need for hand tools. The 2017 catalog showcases the latest applications for the VDO REDI-Sensor Multi-Application TPMS Sensor Service Solution. REDI-Sensor now has coverage for over 109 million vehicles. Five REDI-Sensor sensor assemblies are needed to replace over 270 OE sensors, delivering wide coverage for domestic, Asian, and European cars, trucks, SUVs, crossovers and vans from 2002-2017. VDO www.redi-sensor.com
Looking for more? Visit www.autoserviceworld.com/ products to stay on top of the latest product announcements. www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Premium Line. Superior Formulations. Full Coverage. Element3™ Automotive Brake Pads Together, the EHT™ Enhanced Hybrid Technology and PG™ Professional Grade™ superior formulations offer a comprehensive but complete array of premium brake pads. Make Element3™ your choice for industry-leading coverage and braking performance.
Element3™ EHT™ Enhanced Hybrid Technology
Element3™ PG™ Professional Grade™
• The best attributes of ceramic and semi-metallic all in one pad
• Premium semi-metallic or ceramic materials comparable to OE
• Engineered for maximum control in aggressive stopping situations
• Superior shims for maximum noise damping
• Formulated for long life, less noise, reduced dust and better wear and durability
• Extreme stopping power and maximum safety
©2017 Brake Parts Inc LLC. All rights reserved. EHT, ELEMENT3, PG, PROFESSIONAL GRADE, RAYBESTOS, THE BEST IN BRAKES and The Raybestos Flying R are among the registered trademarks and trademarks of BPI Holdings International, Inc.
www.raybestos.com
social media 101 |
– OR MISSING OUT? F
or years, LinkedIn suffered a somewhat unkind reputation among social media pundits as being “the biggest social media platform nobody uses.” Not only is that unfair, it’s also untrue. With over 500 million users and 10 million active job listings (as of April 2017), LinkedIn has become a social media force to contend with. But if you haven’t been paying much attention to it lately, or if you have yet to get on it at all, you’re missing out on benefits for your business that no other social media site can match. For many of us, LinkedIn has always been primarily an employment exchange – whether you’re an individual in search of a new position or career, or an employer seeking suitable candidates for your company. If you’re looking to advance your career, these days you can’t really afford not to have a well-managed personal LinkedIn profile, even if you’re not immediately planning to switch jobs. But it’s equally valuable when you’re on the other side of the employment equation, researching qualified candidates to fill a vacancy. LinkedIn’s resources are especially useful if you don’t have an in-house HR department, or time to do an exhaustive headhunting search; it’s 42
international in its reach, and enables you to target exactly the skilled professionals you are looking for. Many employers have found that LinkedIn is more powerful than the major job sites, like Monster.ca, simply because it casts a much wider net. You can post a general employment ad on its employment listing pages, or pay a nominal premium and create a paid listing, which delivers a larger and more qualified audience. At the same time, search functions allow you to seek out potential candidates, sorted by whatever criteria you choose: training, certification, location, years of experience, etc. But the platform’s value goes far beyond this. It’s indispensable for growing your business network, connecting with colleagues, finding new suppliers (or interacting with existing ones), and communicating with customers and employees. One prime difference between Facebook and LinkedIn is that “connections” (LinkedIn’s word for followers) are linked by tier – first, second, third – so you can follow a chain to people you’d like to connect with, and see the connections between you and a person who sends you a connection request. It’s the online equivalent of being introduced by a mutual associate. www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: yongyuan, iStockphotos.com
BY LUCIANA NECHITA, AIA CANADA DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND MARTHA UNIACKE BREEN
Made in Germany. Made for you.
Your company’s LinkedIn page is as important as your individual page, for this is your business’ billboard. Your company description should detail who you are and what you do, concisely and persuasively; it’s your “elevator pitch.” If you have a company logo, it should figure prominently, just as your individual photo is crucial to your personal page. Be sure to include complete contact info, and links to your website and your other social media. Showcase pages are essentially subpages that allow you to zero in on individual components of your business in greater detail: key products or services, or highlights such as a major product launch or anniversary celebration. In a way, these correspond to tabs on your websites, but they are useful for a lot more, and are easy to add or delete as the need arises. Use showcase pages to present articles of interest on your page that you want to keep on view for longer than an individual post: a history of your company, personnel bios, press coverage you may have received, or any other topics that readers of your page might find useful. These pages come up in searches and can bring new connections to you, and strengthen your position as an industry expert. There are literally thousands of LinkedIn groups that enable you to exchange information on every possible aspect of your business – from industry developments, to tips on selling, growing or managing your business. You can ask questions, post articles or opinions, answer other members’ questions, or simply shoot the breeze with like-minded colleagues. Simply type in a few keywords in the search window to find a group you’d like to join, and read what other members have posted to see if it’s right for you. As with all of your social media, the success of your LinkedIn activities is directly proportionate to how much you interact with it. Along with posting a minimum of once a week or so, try to at least check in for a few minutes every day. (It’s particularly important to respond to comments and queries; a post that goes unanswered for weeks can work against you more than you realize.) If you are too busy to make this a regular part of your activities, delegate a member of your team to manage your LinkedIn (and/or your other social media) activity. LinkedIn posts don’t all have to relate directly to your company, but avoid the kinds of personal items that you might find on Facebook or elsewhere; this is your company’s online presence, and should be treated accordingly. Along with company news and other info, you might repost items you’ve come across that others may find interesting, post videos and photos, or commission experts within (or associated with) your company to write articles for your feed. Facebook may be useful for presenting a friendly face to consumers, but LinkedIn is, in its way, far more important to your daily business activities. After being underappreciated for years, it’s finally reached critical mass, and earned its place as a major tool – perhaps the major tool – in your social media toolbox. JN Luciana Nechita is director of public affairs with AIA Canada; Martha Uniacke Breen is contributing editor of Jobber News. JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
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money & management |
HIRING? REFERENCE CHECKS ARE CRITICAL ow often have you hired an employee you thought would be great but was actually a complete disappointment? They weren’t all they said to be on their resume because they lied to you. And who paid the price? You. That makes reference checks a critical part of the hiring process. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Larry Smith, President of Kathbern Management, a leading recruiting firm based in Toronto. Kathbern focuses on working with business owners to help them find and hire the key people that will make them successful. Smith gave some helpful advice on the subject. Some hiring managers, he said, choose to ‘go with their gut’ while other swear by doing checks. First, the basics. A reference check is conducted to verify information given to you by a candidate. In its simplest form, it’s ensuring that facts about the candidate (employment history, titles, length of employment, education) are correct, Smith said. It can also include searching personal information (with the candidate’s permission) about the possible existence of a criminal record, educational achievements, driver’s licence status and credit history – depending on the industry and role that they will be engaged in. Reference checks allow you to ensure that the candidate is giving you all of the correct information about their past. You can ask questions of the candidate’s references in order to get a feel for the candidate’s working style, management style, or anything else that may be relevant to the role. Smith recommended doing a reference check on every candidate you’re considering hiring, no matter how good they may seem. When you interview a candidate, you’re taking their word as the truth and unfortunately, some candidates aren’t always the most forthcoming. Any truly great candidate is going to have excellent references – so verifying that fact through the reference checking process should be easy, Smith said. Some may not appear to be great in the interview process. Sometimes calling references will turn a “maybe” candidate into a “yes”, depending on the situation.
Ideally, candidates should be asked to provide four references (two former supervisors who managed them, one co-worker and, for candidates who will be in a management role, one person who reported to them in the past). Usually, candidates are understandably unwilling to provide references from an organization where they are currently employed. Sometimes, where a candidate has had long service at an organization, references from previous employment may be difficult to find, so some flexibility may be required in the number and type of references required, Smith said. Asking the right questions is a vital part of doing reference checks. You want to make sure that the referee is giving you information that will actually aid your hiring decision, so make sure to take time to plan your questions. Make sure you get a feel for how the candidate works with others. If you’re looking for a manager or supervisor, this is even more important, Smith advised. Be specific in your line of questioning and ask about situations. Some example questions: Tell me about a time he had to deal with an employee with poor performance? How would you describe her management style? Tell me about a time he had to deal with a stressful situation? How did he handle it? Does she take feedback well? Tell me about a time she had to receive some not so great feedback? How did she respond? A good way to end the call is with, “Given the chance, would you like to work with [candidate] again?” and see how they respond. If you ask good, pointed questions you will get the true story. However, a less than enthusiastic response to a question that is “sort of” positive is really a negative response from someone who is trying to be nice. Remember, a lot of candidates may seem great, but a reference check will reveal if they’re a good fit for you. A reference check will save your company time and money in the long run, so take the time to call those references and find the perfect hire. JN
When you interview a candidate, you’re taking their word as the truth and unfortunately, some candidates aren’t always the most forthcoming.
Larry Smith is President of Kathbern Management, a Toronto based recruitment agency. He can be reached at 416-915-4044 ext. 101, larry.smith@kathbern.com Mark Borkowski is President of Mercantile Mergers & Acquisitions Corp. Mercantile is a mid-market M&A brokerage firm. Contact: www.mercantilemergersacquisitions.com
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BY MARK BORKOWSKI
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: akindo, iStockphoto
H
2016 COUNTERPERSON OF THE YEAR Samantha Nault-Canning Warehouse Services Inc., Leduc, Alta.
advertiser index | AAPEX ........................................12,35 www.aapexshow.com
AIA Canada.....................................34 www.aiacanada.com/autoconnect
Do You Know A Top Notch Counterperson?
Akebono .......................................... 19 www.akebonobrakes.com
Auto Service World ............................40 www.autoserviceworld.com
Brake Parts Inc. – Raybestos ............... 41 www.raybestos.com
Chevron – Havoline .................. S2,S8,31 www.canada.havoline.com/pitpack
Continental ContiTech .......................33 www.continental-elite.ca
Ford ................................................. 4 www.ford.ca/wholesale
FRAM – Autolite ................................47 www.autolite.com
ITW Permatex...................................32 www.permatex.com Counterperson of the Year Nomination ......................................45 www.autoserviceworld.com/awards Liqui Moly ........................................43 www.iuseit.us
The 2017 Jobber News Counterperson of the Year Award identifies the very best of the frontline workers in the Canadian automotive aftermarket
This is your chance to acknowledge the hardestworking, most helpful and efficient auto parts counterperson you know – by nominating him or her for the Jobber News Counterperson of the Year Award.
Give that great counterperson the recognition they deserve. Nominate your choice today at www.autoserviceworld.com/ awards/counterperson-of-the-year/ Or fill out the form below and mail or Fax it to: Jobber Awards 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 or fax to 416-510-5140 Evaluation and selection of the winner will be made on the basis of experience, training, as well as customer and store owner comments. The deadline to nominate your choice as Canada’s best auto parts counterperson is Friday, September 29, 2017 at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The winner of the Jobber News Counterperson of the Year will be announced online at AutoServiceWorld News and profiled in an upcoming issue of Jobber News.
I nominate Mevotech .........................................48 www.mevotechfactchecker.com
Who works at Address Phone
NAPA .............................................. 15 www.napacanada.com
My name Company Address
®
Philips Automotive Lighting ................20 www.philips.com
Phone
ProMax Auto Parts Depot .................... 2 www.autopartsdepot.ca
The reason I believe this nominee deserves this award is:
Schaeffler.......................................... 8 www.repexpert.ca
VDO REDI-Sensor ............................... 9 www.redi-sensor.com
Wakefield – Castrol ........................ 6,37 www.WakefieldCanada.ca
JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017 |www.autoserviceworld.com
Give that great counterperson the recognition they deserve. Nominate your choice today at http://www.autoserviceworld.com/awards/ counterperson-of-the-year/
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business management |
MARKETING PATH MUST BE TAILORED FOR YOU
J
1
If we asked our customers to list our business strengths, what would they write? Take your time on this one. Too often, we fail to look at what we do well. Everyone in our industry has the natural tendency to dwell on the negative. Stand tall and list what you do well.
2
Of all the strengths listed, which three would our customers list as the strongest? What are you well known for? What are the things that you do exceptionally well that rise above the competition?
3
What are our business’ weaknesses in the minds of our customers? Take the chips off your shoulders and answer openly and honestly: where do you mess up? Remember, it is the customer who pays us, so we must acknowledge our weaknesses if a resolution is going to be put in place to move the business forward.
4
Of all our weaknesses, which three are most frequently mentioned by our customers? We can’t straighten out everything overnight, so focus in on the most “cancerous” problems first and watch what positive reactions you receive.
5
What strengths do we have that those we serve don’t know about? It is amazing how many people in the owner/manager position assume everyone knows what the company or business offers. This is a weakness in management’s ability. They do not let people know what and how they do things that makes them distinctly different from 46
the rest in the trading area. Make a defined list of your strengths that you might think everybody knows but you actually didn’t tell them.
6
What assets do we have that people want and need? To whom are you selling? What do your customers really want? What do you know you have that they really need, but you have failed to market recently? You must also ensure that you are positioned right to deliver at their requirements and expectations. Analyze the depth of your store and define what you bring to the table that others in the same business do not.
7
What’s your business’ mission? In other words, why do you come to work Monday morning? What is your plan over the next five years as to where you want the business to go? Clearly define it in writing – this forces you to crystalize your thinking and is going to be the only sound way you will reach the ultimate goal. It has been proven time and time again that vision without action is a daydream, and action, without a clear vision, will turn into a nightmare.
8
Given our strengths, weaknesses, marketable assets and mission, what three goals seem appropriate for our business? Now you should have a customized marketing package. Write some professional text, defining, educating and informing the marketplace about your business. This version of marketing clearly identifies a path to follow rather than putting little thought into a program that sees you doing the same old thing. This process will also give substantially better results for the time and money spent. The industry is changing, the service shops are changing, and you, their jobber, must change if you are going to grow and be profitable. Understand your ASP customers’ business clearly, so you can be pointed out by them as “The one jobber who understands the ASP business and knows how to get results to the shop’s bottom line”. JN
BY BOB GREENWOOD Bob Greenwood, AAM (accredited automotive manager), is president and CEO of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd. (AAEC). He has over 40 years of business management experience within the independent sector of the automotive aftermarket industry in North America
www.autoserviceworld.com | JOBBER NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2017
Photo: erhui1979, iStockphoto
obbers should look at marketing their business in a focused and professional way. Yet, too many stick to the same old routine of price and then wonder why things didn’t work out the way they thought it should have. When coming up with a marketing plan in this industry, you have to know where you are and where you are going. If you fail to develop a clear path to follow, the business will drift. Consequently, the time must be spent to develop a future vision of the business. Here are some initial questions you and your staff should ask to help you get started devising a business marketing plan for your own jobber business.
Loren Gross LG Automotive Owner & Technician
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