A Comprehensive Guide to TPMS

Keeping tire air pressure correct

By Jim Marotta - Motor Age

Automotive tires are rated to handle specific loads at a predetermined air pressure. By keeping the air pressure in the tire optimized, both tire performance and fuel economy are maximized. How many times have we as technicians been told this and how many times have we told our customers? Even...Click here

5 Rules For New Technicians

From AutoCarePro News

1. Your investment in torque wrenchs should be twice as much or more as your investment in impact wrench

2. While driving the "shop truck" or customer's vehicle do not "road rage", yell at other drivers, act like an idiot, honk or even flick a cigarette butt out the window. Remember, your employer's phone are typically on the side of the vehicle. Also, it is not much fun having someone follow you back to the shop because you shot them the middle finger. Did it once, will never do it again

3. Shut up and listen when a more experienced technician is trying to tell or show you something. When you are older, you will fondly remember it and regret that you did not listen more.

4. Roll down a window or leave the keys in the door. In many states it is part of the fire code that requires the keys to be in the ignition or door if a vehicle is parked inside. By rolling down a window you can cut your chances of locking the keys in the vehicle to almost zero. Also, you do not have to roll down the driver's side window, roll down the passenger side or rear window. The driver's side window gets the most abuse and Murphy's Law states it will always break when someone else besides the driver tries to lower it.

5. Tools never get old, they only get worn out or neglected.

Thinking about Social Media - Watch This

The relentless search for "tell me what to do"

If you've ever hired or managed or taught, you know the feeling.

People are just begging to be told what to do. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I think the biggest one is: "If you tell me what to do, the responsibility for the outcome is yours, not mine. I'm safe."

When asked, resist.

From Seth Godin's blog

How to Help Your Boss Succeed

A key to your success is to help your boss succeed. This sounds like brown nosing, but it really just recognizes the symbiotic relationship you (hopefully) share with your boss.......

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What is an oil change?

Hate oil changes. Hate them, hate them, hate them! Got to do them, keeps them coming back. Free rotation doesn't work, screw the tires. Got to change the oil though.

Most folk are wise to the $19.99 special. We charge $33 for a 5 quarter, including tax and shop. Many say we are cheap and I agree. But realistically, what is an oil change on a 2008 Toyota Highlander worth? $6 cartridge filter, 5 quarts oil @ $10, some fluids, $1, and 45 minutes of a trained c-tech to do it and check pressure,fluids, lights etc.

There are no easy oil changes out there anymore. It's 45 minutes, plus a lot of liability, to make $15?

Do you sell quick oil changes? How much are they? Do your customers just walk in with a 2005 Toyota Landcruiser without an appointment? Do you hate them as much as I do?