In Glum Times, Repair Shops Hum
from The Wall Street Journal
 The red 2002 Ford Thunderbird convertible sits in the back of the Wiygul Automotive Clinic in Alexandria, Va., as Kevin Coppedge works under the hood. It needs $3,363.99 of repairs -- more than one-third of its trade-in value. In good times, owner Suzie Clayton probably would have sold the T-bird or traded it in for something new. "My husband talked about buying a new car," says Clayton, a co-owner of Dalton Brody Ltd., a high-end gift shop in Washington, D.C. More 
ROAD WARRIORS: Spreading the Red, White and Blue
from AutoInc.
 To help relate the value of ASA to independent shops across the country, ASA enlists the aid of its two recruiters, Todd Mehalko and Bret Sullins. They travel the highways and byways of our fair country, telling shop owners about the value of membership in ASA. Perhaps they have visited your shop or town. They may even be planning to stop by your city in the near future. More
Deal on 'Cash for Clunkers' Bill
from CNN Money
The Obama administration has signaled its support for a congressional effort that aims to boost the troubled car industry by subsidizing new cars sales for consumers who scrap old ones. Congressional Democrats, emerging from a meeting at the White House, said they had struck a deal on a bill to establish a one-year program to encourage the purchase of 1 million new cars and trucks that get better gas mileage. More
ASA Annual Convention Provides Activity-, Education-Packed Event in Florida
from Automotive Service Association
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) held its annual convention April 30 through May 2 in Orlando, Fla. The activity-packed event included several association governance and leadership programs including open meetings of the ASA board of directors and affiliate assembly; a State of the Association address by Ron Pyle, ASA's president and chief staff executive; and the installation of the new ASA board of directors. The installation of the board took place during ASA's Celebration of Excellence, a dinner and awards show that opened with the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) graduation ceremony. More
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URG Offers Quality Recycled Parts Search Engine
 United Recyclers offers body shops and mechanical repair shops the ability to search used parts for cars and trucks. Each URG member provides quality assurance to the product. The result is a nationwide label that delivers consistently high quality parts and maximizes consumers, collision center, and estimator confidence. More info
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A/C Compressors Look Different than Technicians Remember
from Motor Age
Each time you face a vehicle in your bay this spring with a reported A/C problem, you'll initially check the airflow through the ducts and the A/C controls, maybe static pressure in the system. Once under the hood, you most certainly will look at the compressor to see if it's engaged. Surprise! On some of the compressors in use today, there is no magnetic clutch assembly on the compressor for you to see. More
Magna Records 1Q Loss on Auto Sector Slump
from The Associated Press via Forbes
Auto parts supplier Magna International Inc. posted a first-quarter loss as sales fell 46 percent in what executives said was one of the most difficult periods in the company's history. The Canada-based auto parts maker also said its board voted to suspend its quarterly dividend. Hurt by a lagging auto industry, Magna recorded a loss of $200 million, or $1.79 per share, compared with a profit of $207 million, or $1.80 per share, in the same period a year ago. More
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Product Showcase:
Get the Genuine Toyota Parts You Need Fast
 With the click of a button, independent repair and collision shops can order Genuine Toyota parts quickly and easily. Go online to the Toyota Wholesale Parts website today and register for FREE access. Communicate with your preferred dealer, access the latest technical information, and much more. Don’t delay!
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ASA Affiliate, Volunteer Leadership Participates in Special Training Program
from Automotive Service Association
The Automotive Service Association's (ASA) 2009 Annual Convention kicked off Thursday, April 30, with a full day of training devoted to its affiliate executive directors and volunteer leadership. The session focused on the "7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don't," published by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). More
Understanding New Vehicle Technologies Key to Profitability
from Aftermarket Business
Bill Haas doubts that you’ll see a Mecedes Benz SLR Coupe in your shop or get a call for parts from a shop customer any time soon. With a $490,000 price tag, the vehicle features some of the highest technology in the automotive industry. Haas, vice president of training and education for the Automotive Service Association (ASA), described the 230 control modules and said they’re constantly talking and interacting on this high-end vehicle. More
Chrysler Moves Closer to Fiat
from Businessweek
Chrysler moved closer toward selling the company—or at least, the brands and plants that potential buyer Fiat Auto wants to keep—in bankruptcy court this week. What happened doesn't seal the deal, but bankruptcy judge Arthur Gonzalez said Chrysler can start preparing a sale in which the company will be divided in two, with the good assets going to Fiat and the bad ones being liquidated. More
Hydraulic Gear Backs Up Brakes
from The Journal Gazette
Brake-by-wire is a term used to distinguish newer electromechanical braking systems from traditional hydraulic operating systems. Originally, vehicle braking systems required the operator to press on the brake pedal, which physically engaged the hydraulic fluid that pushed against a brake drum. As technology advanced, complete hydraulic-mechanical braking systems were replaced by electrical systems. More
Independent Service is More Satisfying
from Consumer Reports Magazine
People who took their car to an independent mechanic for maintenance were generally more satisfied than those who went to a dealership, according to our survey involving 349,000 vehicles. Eighty-four percent of owners reported being very satisfied with maintenance performed at independent shops compared with 77 percent at dealerships. But they were more satisfied with the dealer service of some car brands than of others. More
Helping Vocational Schools Train the Technicians You Will Need
from Autobody News
In the last 12 months, approximately 21,500 collision repair technicians—about one in every 9 currently working in shops—left the trade. That doesn’t mean they left to go to work for another shop; that means they are no longer turning wrenches. The 2007 I-CAR Education Foundation survey used to determine this figure did have some good news. Not all of those techs left the industry entirely. More than a third of them took an industry-related job, such as an estimator or manager. More
1-800-Radiator Projects 1 million Chrysler Cooling Part Replacements Needed in Next Year
from Motor Age
In light of Chrysler's financial situation, 1-800-Radiator is ramping up its stock levels of replacement cooling parts for Chrysler automobiles. According to 1-800-Radiator, estimates show that more than 1 million cooling system replacement parts will be needed in the next 12 months for Chrysler models currently on the road. The company projects that Chrysler's Town and Country van will lead the list, with approximately 116,000 cooling replacement parts, followed by the PT Cruiser with 113,000 and the Sebring with 47,000 replacements. More
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