Detective work needed to solve the mysterious case of multiple diagnostic problems in a beat-up former police car. We’ve all been faced with cars that had multiple concerns that seemed interlocked or related. These problems sometimes created one single complaint,…
House holds hearing on Connected Cars Vehicle technology leaders recently appeared before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee to address issues of emerging technologies in the automotive industry. The hearing, titled “Vehicle to Vehicle Communications and…
When fuses get “smoked,” don’t go bonkers. Instead, do a deep diagnostic dig. With vehicles staying on the roads longer than ever before, we’re seeing more age-related issues with our customers’ cars. With age comes the increasing probability for human…
How to ensure your techs know the service information system. Have you ever taken in a vehicle that your techs struggled to diagnose? They might be great Toyota techs, but with a Ford do they spend too much time on…
ASA Announces New Hire The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has welcomed a new staffer to its North Richland Hills, Texas, headquarters. Dan Risley, ASA’s president and chief executive officer announced the staff addition this…
ASA works like a complex machine. Our structure isn’t unique; other organizations operate in similar ways. But, unlike ours, their members don’t govern the organization. So here, I’d like to answer some questions I hear asked on a regular basis.…
Policy proposal presents opportunity for safety improvements. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has prioritized the task of urging states to adopt periodic motor vehicle safety inspection programs in its policy objectives. This action has included annual events on the subject…
See what makes us different ... and the same! In this issue’s “Generationally Speaking,” we feature RON HAUGEN, owner/president, and HEATHER ALBERTSON, service adviser, of WESTSIDE AUTO PROS in Des Moines, Iowa. See what makes us different … and the…
Every shop owner runs into ‘situations.’ How they handle them is important ... do you agree with these fellow ASA members? Dilemma: This scenario comes from a collision shop that we’ve been doing business with for more than 25 years.…
The speedometer drops off,” my friend Lee told me when he brought in a Jeep Grand Cherokee he wanted fixed. “Then the gauges quit and all the warning lights come on. This thing has been acting crazy on and off…
In the last issue (March-April) we introduced the idea of Service Readiness. Now, we’ll take a look at individual elements of this concept. Let’s begin with creating a Service Readiness Training Model designed to ensure that owners of late-model vehicles…
The past two years have been quite a ride. Your association has seen major change and made an unprecedented comeback. When Darrell Amberson, AAM, took over as chairman, he and the board had much to do. The ASA board and…
Public hearings set for proposed NAAQ ground-level ozone standards. On Nov. 25, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations designed to strengthen the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAAQ) for ground-level ozone. According to the EPA, the…
See what makes us different ... and the same! In this issue of “Generationally Speaking,” we feature Mark A. Clark and Keegan Niccum, service advisers for Chumbley’s Auto Care in Indianaola, Iowa. Chumbley’s Auto Care is owned by Tim Davison.…
Every shop owner runs into ‘situations.’ How they handle them is important ... do you agree with these fellow ASA members? Dilemma: This shop owner had just hired a new apprentice technician. The technician was supposed to change the automatic…
For the most effective diagnostics, don’t just rely on the codes to troubleshoot. Actual testing will give you a bird’s-eye view. Last issue, we talked about a problem created by technician error and made worse by hanging parts without knowing…
It’s been a busy legislative season in the nation’s capitol and around the country. Here are some news items about legislation moving through state legislatures in North Carolina and New Jersey. Be sure to visit ASA’s legislative website, www.TakingTheHill.com, for…
