This 26-year-old Jeep Cherokee requires a bit of investigation, but if you follow the clues you’ll reach a solution. If you’ve been working in an independent shop for a while, you’ve seen your share of Jeep Cherokees come through your…
Pennsylvania legislature considers bill requiring consumer notice. State vehicle safety inspection programs have seen good times and bad since the Highway Safety Act of 1966. This law mandated that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) prescribe uniform standards for mandatory…
A well-respected ASA shop had the following dilemma: “I just hired a new service adviser and thought I had him trained, but he made a huge mistake. “A customer dropped off his vehicle to have some service work performed, including…
Don’t work for free! Follow these 5 easy steps to pay yourself for time spent at the front counter. EDITOR’S NOTE: The labor rates mentioned in this article are fictitious and should not be considered industry standards. Successful shop operators…
As more Millennials enter the auto repair workforce, managers need to adopt a different leadership style. As a leader, I know a great leader’s traits must be learned. While there are many traits associated with effective leadership, I find that…
A recent email from a member spurred this particular message. He was concerned that, as an independent repair professional, he has no clout. He told me he lacks confidence in the parts he’s getting and automakers are out to get…
CARDONE Industries, an ASA corporate member, published its 2016 service dealer guide, “Solutions from the Bench.” It is full of new products and installation-tip videos that the company promises “make technicians’ lives easier.” The guide features a mix of more…
In Colorado, two cars with failed (I/M) 240 tests suggest the vehicles’ owners must seek help. In Colorado – and elsewhere, I’m certain – P0442 codes can be counted on to bring cars into our service drives. But in Denver…
FTC workshop cites need for independent shops to get involved in repairs. In May, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it was expanding and accelerating the recall of Takata air-bag inflators. This…
A new service adviser accepts a third-party check from a used-car dealer, and it bounces ... ... What would you do? An ASA shop owner writes: “A new customer came in with a vehicle that would not pass emissions. After…
Perform this exercise to build your business into muscular financial shape by the end of the year. I’m not trying to be facetious with the title. I want to bring awareness to balance sheet management and its importance to your…
How one shop eliminated the hassles of ‘getting in the door’ by setting up their jobs in advance. One of the biggest dilemmas I’ve faced, and solved, as a busy small-shop owner was the stress of getting in the door.…
Why loaning cars instead of offering rides can create a safer and less-expensive customer service. It’s good to periodically choose one line in the shop’s profit-and-loss statement and analytically rip it apart. For the purposes of this column, I’ll focus…
Great techs love to produce billed hours, but do you know if you’re getting your money’s worth? Editor’s Note: The labor rates mentioned in this article are fictitious and, therefore, should not be considered industry standards. Many shop owners fall…
When your first guess doesn’t fix an issue, it’s not wise to guess again. It’s wise to follow established procedures. British educator Thomas H. Palmer is credited with popularizing the proverb, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try…
...What would you do? This is a recent situation from a shop owner in Southern California: “I hired an employee who worked in the office. She only worked three-and-a-half days with me. She told me that her grandfather was sick,…
Senate Committee emphasizes safety, federal regulation and cybersecurity. The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, convened a hearing titled “Hands Off: The Future of Self-Driving Cars,” chaired by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. The hearing explored advancements in autonomous…
Redesigned Chevy Volt undergoes inspection. Is the second generation better than the first? There have been no redesigns of any plug-in cars except the Chevy Volt. The Nissan Leaf did get a larger capacity battery pack and the motor/inverter underwent…
