THE NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR AUTOMOTIVE INFORMATION September 2011 Waste oil burners under threat Powers that be look into banning waste oil burners VAUXHALL TRADE CLUB. page 08 CELEBRATING 20 YEARS WORKING WITH YOU. MOT changes: What’s coming? A man from the ministry tells us about changes to the MOT test page 22 Don’t get me started! Engineers discuss the current trends in vehicle ignition systems page 29 Thar she blows Turbochargers are expensive but often misunderstood devices page 62 Welder tested Our team pulls down their visors as we test an entry-level welder page 64 TRADE CLUB Enter 101 on enquiry card Stuck in the hood James Dillon describes how a tiny failure on a convertible’s roof left a customer exposed page 10 Problem Audi part 2 Frank Massey gets a problematic Audi back on the road page 12 Nj o BOEr opwrotoasgpe 65 u h P UcNo&r Rct anrs e THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND START-STOP. By 2015 70 % of all cars manufactured in Europe will incorporate Start-Stop technology. The Start-Stop function saves fuel by turning the engine off whenever the vehicle comes to a standstill whether at red lights or in heavy traffi c, signifi cantly reducing fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions. The battery is the heart of the Start-Stop system, with vehicle manufacturers using a choice of two advanced battery technologies: VARTA Start-Stop Plus with AGM for cars with brake recuperation and other additional innovative fuel saving technologies VARTA Start-Stop with EFB technology designed for entry level Start-Stop vehicles Without the correct battery technology these functions will not work and the cost and environmental benefits of fuel and CO2 reduction are lost. In close partnership with leading vehicle manufacturers like Audi, BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and VW, VARTA has developed innovative battery solutions to support Start-Stop systems. Today over 80 % of new Start-Stop vehicles are originally equipped with VARTA. Innovative batteries from VARTA. Trust the driving force behind Start-Stop. More information: www.varta-startstop.com Enter 147 on enquiry card Editorial greg@aftermarket.co.uk Editor Greg Whitaker +44 (0) 1634 261 262 Managing Editor Nicola St Clair Design Editor Louise Hubbard Technical Consultant Dave Garratt Contributors James Dillon Frank Massey Neil Pattemore Production copy@aftermarket.co.uk General Manager Susan Kitchener +44 (0) 1634 261 262 Group Administrator Eve Walledge Sales sales@aftermarket.co.uk Publisher & Sales Director Jim Dunn +44 (0) 1538 702 070 Classified Sales & New Media +44 (0) 1634 261 262 Managing Director Paul Dearing +44 (0) 1634 261 262 Head Office: Crystal Communications (UK) Ltd. Contents Technical James Dillon: Takes on a job others fear Frank Massey: A customer seeks second opinion On the road: We visit a turbocharger research lab Warwick Control takes a look at CAN frames Business Industry comment: Small waste oil burners Neil Pattemore’s fitness regime for workshops 10 12 64 15 08 66 61 38 22 In focus MOT Ignition Software Lighting Plus... Ed’s log: Aftermarket attends a strange party Test Bench: A Clarke welder is put to the test Project Alfa: An update on our Banger4BEN MOT: VOSA confirms MOT test changes Classified Your source for equipment, parts and services 22 29 35 38 61 62 63 22 68 Time’s up for clocking MOT test change attempts to put a stop to mileage clocking, but will it work? IT IS, or so I thought, something that belonged to the days of sheepskin coats, coloured bunting and cash deals in the site caravan. Surely, in the days where everyone insists on a full service history and the mileage is locked inside the car’s ECU, playing with the miles would just be a morally reprehensible waste of time and effort? After a little research, it seems I am wrong. Just typing the term ‘mileage correction’ in a search engine reveals around two dozen firms around the UK who offer their digital services to anyone who requires them. There are, of course, many legitimate reasons why one might want to change the displayed mileage. Some BMWs are apparently prone to speedo head faults that need resetting. We also know that ECU failure is more common than most vehicle manufacturers make out, so putting miles back from a zero figure to the ‘true’ reading is not that uncommon. However, can every one of the many correction firms put their hands on their heart and say that all of their customers have entirely legitimate intentions? Particularly as some of these operations are advertising a ‘discrete service’ from unmarked vehicles. There is only one other industry that I can think of that uses a similar phrase… The point here is how clocking affects the garage trade. Firstly, everyone in the industry tends to get tarred with the same brush, so unscrupulous dealers give us all a bad name. Secondly, cars that are indicating the wrong mileage are less likely to be serviced to schedule. For example, if a vehicle comes in for a service and the mileage indicates that it isn’t due a cambelt for another 60,000 miles, who is the customer going to come crying to when the old one lets go? So, answering a question that nobody asked, transport secretary Mike Penning has decided to change the format of the MOT certificate to show the recorded mileage over the past five years. This is all well and good, except it seems the majority of clocking now happens when a vehicle is still reasonably new – a few years old at most. This means very few ‘corrected’ cars will have had their first MOT yet. This situation will only get worse if Mr Penning gets his way and motors don’t see the inside of a test bay until their fourth birthday. A point you might wish to write to your MP about perhaps? Crystal House, 14 London Road, Rainham, Kent, ME8 6YX t: +44 (0)1634 261 262 f: +44 (0)1634 360 514 www.aftermarketonline.net Aftermarket is published by Crystal Communications ten times a year and is sent free of charge to applicants meeting the publisher’s criteria. All others may subscribe at £60 per annum or £120 per annum overseas. While every care is taken to provide accurate information, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, no matter how caused. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Average nett circulation July 2010 to June 2011 Greg Whitaker Editor – greg@aftermarket.co.uk 30,239 © Crystal Communications (UK) Ltd 2011. www.aftermarketonline.net | September 2011 Aftermarket 03 Industry news English riots: IAAF urge members to check their insurance policies Following the disturbances across English cities during August, the IAAF has told members to clarify the situation with their insurers IN THE aftermath of the riots that blighted English cities during the first week of August, the IAAF urged members to check their insurance policies carefully. Preliminary reports suggest that the federation’s members escaped the trouble largely unscathed; however, a number of members’ garages are located near areas where rioting occurred and it is entirely possible that they might be affected if trouble flared up again. Carlton Wilson, a broker at Reich Insurance in Manchester said: “If IAAF scheme members have been affected by the rioting and wish to make a claim they should contact our claims teams.” He added that should any damage COVER: ‘Riot and civil unrest’ should be in most insurance policies arise from a future disturbance, the insurer is notified as soon as possible: “It is a policy condition that claims arising from riots are notified to us within 7 days. “ The Association of British Insurers (ABI), the trade body for insurance companies, said damages from the three nights of civil unrest in August would cost “well over £100m”. Most insurers have said they will honour claims for damage caused by the rioting. Were you affected by the riots or perhaps you know someone who was? Do you have any views on garage security? Drop us a line at greg@aftermarket.co.uk MOT test certificates ‘to change’ says minister MOT test certificates are set to change according to transport minister Mike Penning. The new-look VT20 will incorporate mileage readings from the previous five years. This is an attempt to curb the practice of ‘clocking’ where the mileage is deliberately tampered with. “These measures would give motorists the power to make the right decisions and avoid getting scammed into buying potential death traps,” Mike Penning, the road safety minister told the Daily Telegraph. “It will also deter those who attempt to defraud law abiding motorists and help to identify organised criminals who will often use clocking alongside more serious offences,” the minister added. If approved, the proposal will take effect from 2013. The AA has welcomed the proposals. However, a spokesman pointed out that most instances of clocking happen in the first few years of a car’s life, very often before the vehicle has had its first MOT. Mileage correction advert ‘degrading to women’ CONSUMER watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has found that a so-called ‘mileage correction’ firm has produced a billboard advert considered to be degrading to women. The advert from a firm called Dashfixer, included an image of a car and a topless woman with her back to the viewer, but turning towards them with her hand covering one of her breasts. The ASA noted the image of the semi-naked woman was unrelated to the product being advertised and that it appeared in an 'untargeted medium' as the billboard appeared on a trailer at the side of a road. In the ruling, the ASA stated: “We considered that the image of a woman holding her naked breast was also gratuitous and implied that she was sexually available. We considered that the image could be seen as demeaning and degrading towards women and therefore concluded that the ad was likely to cause serious or widespread offence.” The advert must not appear again in the current form. So-called ‘mileage correction’ firms have found themselves under fire in recent weeks as the government aims to crack down on those involved in illegal clocking. Transport minister Mike Penning recently stated that he would like to see mileage operations properly licenced. In brief CONTINUING a seemingly limitless drive to open more branches, Euro Car Parts has now lifted the shutters on another two branches in Medway and Oxford. Each store employs around 20 people, with seven delivery vans on the road. House, the lovely old Georgian pile that has been the society’s home for the last fifty years. All staff have now moved to a modern and designed-for-purpose office in nearby Great Peter Street, Westminster. The lease on Forbes House has been bought by the reclusive Barclay brothers. recently announced the demise of former Retread Tire Association MD, Harvey Brodsky. However, reports of his death appear to have been rather exaggerated as he is very much alive and well. The confusion appears to have arisen when the death of another man with a similar name appeared on a Google news feed. AUTOMOTIVE businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire have been urged to showcase their products in one of the world’s largest marketplaces and grants are available to encourage it. The Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce said the China Intl. Auto Parts Expo was a major opportunity for the area’s automotive firms to show the Chinese what they could produce. THE SMMT have put the key through the letterbox of Forbes AMERICAN motoring press has 04 www.aftermarketonline.net | Aftermarket September 2011 | News Industry news 4:2:2 HiQ and Allparts join IAAF petition BOTH HiQ and Allparts have agreed to spread the word about an epetition started by the IAAF which presses the government on the proposed MOT frequency change. If the document gets enough signatures, parliamentarians will be required to discuss the issue in the House of Commons. The HiQ fast fit network has slammed the government over controversial plans to relax its laws on MOT testing, declaring: “The pockets of motorists will be hit harder than ever.” Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond hopes to introduce the initial MOT test for new cars after four years instead of three, as it currently stands today. Instead of backing the government’s argument that the extended period will save money for drivers, HiQ is arguing the opposite effect and has pledged its support for the IAAF in its bid to block the move. The network says it will deliver a ‘chamber of horrors’ illustration to the IAAF to show the various defects that vehicles are beset with after three years on the road. HiQ’s fast fit manager Stuart Carr said: “The government is claiming that by considering this change, consumers will save money because modern day cars don’t need their vehicles tested as often. “The worry is that within the extended interim period, motorists will be driving around with defects that could have more severe costs to repair when the vehicle eventually gets tested. High-Wycombe based Allparts has distributed a plea to sign the petition via an e-shot. This will be followed up by a hard copy for account customers. “What greater threat faces our customers, and of course our own business livelihood at the present time?” asked Steve Patten, a manager at Allparts. “We hope this will help in the campaign.” To sign the petition, just go to http://bit.ly/motpetition. Don’t forget that if a critical number of signatures are gathered the subject will have to be discussed in the House of Commons. RMI wade into small waste oil burner row Trade body rails against government plans to regulate waste oil heaters DURING July, the department for the envioronment, food and rural affairs (DEFRA) announced plans to treat small waste oil burning heaters (SWOBs) as waste incineration units, effectively rendering them scrap. Imediately, the industry hit out in response. The RMI’s Stuart James retorted “Independent garages across the UK rely on SWOBs as a consistent way of heating their garages as well as disposing of their waste oil. If SWOBs are banned, already cash strapped garages could see a rise in their utility bills of an average of £5000. They would also have to arrange and pay for the professional removal and transport of the waste oil. “The RMI are currently in talks with Defra on the subject to ensure that they are fully aware of all the facts on this subject before any final decision is made. We are ensuring that our member’s best interests are represented and will continue to do so in the coming weeks.” Dave Garret, GEA Chief Executive continued “At the moment, businesses using SWOBs burn their waste oil locally, however, if SWOBs are no longer an option then the waste oil would need to be stored and then collected by a disposal company. It’s a reasonable argument that collecting the waste is more damaging to the environment than burning it locally.” Read more about this on p8. Bandvulc tyre recycling plant survives giant blaze MORE than 40 fire fighters were called to tackle a giant fire at the Bandvulc tyre recycling plant on the Lee Mill Industrial estate in Plymouth during August. Due to the billowing smoke, people in other businesses on the estate were told to leave the area. Local press reported that at one point, the toxic fog was so thick that it was extremely dangerous to drive along the nearby A38. Despite the amount of smoke and the intensity of the heat, around half the plant has survived relatively undamaged. While no cause for the fire has yet been given, it was not connected to the civil disturbances elsewhere in the country. INFERNO: More than 40 fire fighters tackled blaze at Plymouth plant I I I I Original software for Hyundai & Kia Motors Best selling scan tool in Japan 2007-2010 Comprehensive ‘Grey Import’ coverage Full colour touch screen with super fast dual processor technology Interested? Enter 103 on your enquiry card for more information or visit www.blue-print.com Aftermarket September 2011 | News Enter 103 on enquiry card 05 Industry news Search for Top Technician 2012 is about to begin IT FEELS like the bunting has only just been swept up and the prizes sent out from the last contest, but Top Technician 2012 is here – and we want you to take part. From September 27th you can register for the online test at toptechnician.co.uk, the first step towards gaining the coveted Top Technician crown. Earlier this year, two dozen technicians battled it out during our practical assessments for semifinalists. These were dwindled down to the final six and from which there could only be one winner. In 2011, John Tinham took the title and thousands of pounds worth of prizes for the second time. This will be the last time he wins though – as GRASS ROOTS: Firm agrees to distribute charity information a rule change says that previous winners can no longer re-enter. Competition organiser Nicola St Clair said: “This year’s competition will be fantastic. We are hoping to attract even more entries than ever – including a lot of new faces” Entrants to the 2012 contest will also be able to swap tips, this Autumn on a new web forum. You can enter now at: toptechnician.co.uk Charity leaflet drop SURPRISE NEWS: When the tool sales van next visits your workshop, he might actually give you something for free. Snap-on Tools has teamed up with BEN and will distribute leaflets to technicians telling them about the charity, how to get involved with it and ways they can benefit from its services. The leaflets will be dropped by the tool firm’s network of 435 franchised van drivers. Snap-on Tools MD Aldo Rodi said: “BEN performs such a marvellous job looking after so many people who work in our industry and their dependents. This is why we have agreed to work with BEN and provide support in its efforts to achieve greater exposure to the ‘grass roots’ of the automotive aftermarket and service sector.” A slippery MOT customer INDEPENDENT garage Carringtons of Oxford, came across a scaly surprise when carrying out an MOT – a five-foot long Boa Constrictor! Wayne Hunt, the technician carrying out the MOT on the MINI Cooper, put his hand under the bonnet to find the safety release catch and felt something that seemed rather out of place, which turned out to be the five-foot long, five-inch thick snake. Wayne said: “We immediately called the RSPCA to collect the snake, since it didn’t belong to the customer and we had no idea who owned it. We also wanted to make sure we didn’t harm the reptile in removing it, as we’re more used to working on brakes than snakes!” “The snake was dealt with properly and luckily it had caused no damage to the car. The RSPCA told us that it looked thinner than it normally would, suggesting it could have been been living under the bonnet for a while. In all the years I have worked as a vehicle technician, I’ve never seen anything like it.” Hunt cannot recall whether the car passed first time, but the garage did confirm that the MOT had to be halted and carried out again the following day after the creature had been removed. Carringtons is a member of the Bosch Car Service network specialising in selling prestige and unusual cars… but this was the first one to come equipped with a live snake. Latest appointments THERE have been a number of changes to the suits that manage the aftermarket this summer. First of all, the IAAF has announced that Graham Knight, southern area director for FPS Distribution, and a member of the Federation’s Council for five years, as its new Vice-President. Graham is well-known in the trade having worked for FPS for over thirty years, Nick Thomas has recently joined Denso, where he picks up the mantle of European Product Manager. Thomas previously worked at Ferrari’s Piston Services and more recently was a manager at First Line. Meanwhile, Peter Johnson has been appointed Chairman of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA). Johnson’s recent roles have included being chairman of the Rank Group and a director at the Wates Group. K&N Filters’ Robin Evans is set to leave the company and joins exhaust firm Bosal UK as the national sales manager. Finally, Ken Freeman of AMK Automotive has hung up his samples case and enjoy a new life of caravanning, as he retired at the end of July. S-S-SLEEPING BEAUTY: Snakes aren’t on the regular MOT checklist In brief AGENCY workers will have the right to ‘equal treatment’ after 12 weeks’ contracted work from 1st October 2011. The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 will apply to all temporary workers who have completed a 12-week qualifying period. At this point, they will be entitled to the same basic working and employment conditions as if he or she had been recruited directly by the hirer on day one of the assignment. crossover-style vehicle, both of which feature less ‘challenging’ styling than their forebears. and visitors expected from almost every country in the world. TROUBLED Korean carmaker Ssangyong is set to be sold in the UK again, following a buy-out of the parent company by Indian firm Mahindra. The firm has hired former Chrysler PR man Steve Gray to oversee the reintroduction into Britain. The new line-up is likely to comprise of one SUV and one EQUIP Auto, the giant aftermarket show held in Paris, is set to run again between the 11-15th October, in Paris. As always, the organisers are promising a bigger show than any previous event with thousands of exhibitors booked WELDING supply firm WeldabilitySif has teamed up with a local college in Stevenage, to provide youngsters with welding skills. The firm says that this will hold students in good stead if they want to become apprentices. www.aftermarketonline.net | Aftermarket September 2011 | News 07 Industry news 4:2:2 HiQ and Allparts join IAAF petition BOTH HiQ and Allparts have agreed to spread the word about an epetition started by the IAAF which presses the government on the proposed MOT frequency change. If the document gets enough signatures, parliamentarians will be required to discuss the issue in the House of Commons. The HiQ fast fit network has slammed the government over controversial plans to relax its laws on MOT testing, declaring: “The pockets of motorists will be hit harder than ever.” Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond hopes to introduce the initial MOT test for new cars after four years instead of three, as it currently stands today. Instead of backing the government’s argument that the extended period will save money for drivers, HiQ is arguing the opposite effect and has pledged its support for the IAAF in its bid to block the move. The network says it will deliver a ‘chamber of horrors’ illustration to the IAAF to show the various defects that vehicles are beset with after three years on the road. HiQ’s fast fit manager Stuart Carr said: “The government is claiming that by considering this change, consumers will save money because modern day cars don’t need their vehicles tested as often. “The worry is that within the extended interim period, motorists will be driving around with defects that could have more severe costs to repair when the vehicle eventually gets tested. High-Wycombe based Allparts has distributed a plea to sign the petition via an e-shot. This will be followed up by a hard copy for account customers. “What greater threat faces our customers, and of course our own business livelihood at the present time?” asked Steve Patten, a manager at Allparts. “We hope this will help in the campaign.” To sign the petition, just go to http://bit.ly/motpetition. Don’t forget that if a critical number of signatures are gathered the subject will have to be discussed in the House of Commons. RMI wade into small waste oil burner row Trade body rails against government plans to regulate waste oil heaters DURING July, the department for the envioronment, food and rural affairs (DEFRA) announced plans to treat small waste oil burning heaters (SWOBs) as waste incineration units, effectively rendering them scrap. Imediately, the industry hit out in response. The RMI’s Stuart James retorted “Independent garages across the UK rely on SWOBs as a consistent way of heating their garages as well as disposing of their waste oil. If SWOBs are banned, already cash strapped garages could see a rise in their utility bills of an average of £5000. They would also have to arrange and pay for the professional removal and transport of the waste oil. “The RMI are currently in talks with Defra on the subject to ensure that they are fully aware of all the facts on this subject before any final decision is made. We are ensuring that our member’s best interests are represented and will continue to do so in the coming weeks.” Dave Garret, GEA Chief Executive continued “At the moment, businesses using SWOBs burn their waste oil locally, however, if SWOBs are no longer an option then the waste oil would need to be stored and then collected by a disposal company. It’s a reasonable argument that collecting the waste is more damaging to the environment than burning it locally.” Read more about this on p8. Bandvulc tyre recycling plant survives giant blaze MORE than 40 fire fighters were called to tackle a giant fire at the Bandvulc tyre recycling plant on the Lee Mill Industrial estate in Plymouth during August. Due to the billowing smoke, people in other businesses on the estate were told to leave the area. Local press reported that at one point, the toxic fog was so thick that it was extremely dangerous to drive along the nearby A38. Despite the amount of smoke and the intensity of the heat, around half the plant has survived relatively undamaged. While no cause for the fire has yet been given, it was not connected to the civil disturbances elsewhere in the country. INFERNO: More than 40 fire fighters tackled blaze at Plymouth plant I I I I Original software for Hyundai & Kia Motors Best selling scan tool in Japan 2007-2010 Comprehensive ‘Grey Import’ coverage Full colour touch screen with super fast dual processor technology Interested? Enter 103 on your enquiry card for more information or visit www.blue-print.com Aftermarket September 2011 | News Enter 103 on enquiry card 05 Wheel Dolly Set NEW 50ltr Workshop Parts Cleaning Tank • Removable shelf, small parts basket and workshop stand with integral storage shelf. • Model No. SM19 Save • List Price 36% £179.95 OFFER PRICE exc VAT inc VAT • Can handle up to 250mm profiles. • Rust resistant finish. • Each dolly features a side handle for easy carrying. • Model No. WS681 • List Price £99.95 30% OFFER PRICE Save £69.95 £83.94 £114.95 £137.94 exc VAT inc VAT PROMOTION VALID UNTIL 30TH SEPTEMBER 2011 2tonne High Lift Low Entry Trolley Jack • Min./Max. Saddle Height: 80/795mm. • High-lift jack arm with incredible low minimum access height of just 80mm. • Fitted with quick lift foot pedal and dead man’s control. Model No. 2200HL • List Price £439.95 OFFER PRICE 1/2"Sq Drive Air Impact Wrench Twin Hammer 24V 1/2"Sq Drive Cordless Impact Wrench 410lb.ft Manual Vacuum Oil & Fluid Extractor • Ideal for other liquids such as water and soluble oil. • Model No. TP69 • List Price £87.95 • Ultimate Torque: 1000lb.ft. • Working/Max.Torque: 725/825lb.ft. • For jobs that would normally require a 3/4" impact wrench. • Handle exhaust reduces noise level. • Model No. SA6002 • List Price £229.95 13pc 1/2"Sq Drive FREE OFFER PRICE FREE 30% Save OFFER PRICE £159.95 £191.94 Impact Socket Set exc VAT inc VAT • Model No. AK5613M • List Price £26.95 Engine Support Beams or • Up to 550Nm (410lb.ft) torque, makes this tool suitable for removing the most stubborn wheel nuts. • Forward & reverse control integrated into housing. • Model No. CP2450 • List Price £349.95 Oil Filter Wrench Claw Type • Model No. AK642 • List Price £13.95 £269.95 £323.94 exc VAT inc VAT 39% Save 35% Save £56.95 £68.34 exc VAT inc VAT Vertical Transmission Jacks • Features high speed lift to gearbox - just lift piston. • Foot pedal operation. • Features dead man’s handle for added safety and strong construction for durability. FREE (ES300 Illustrated) • Designed to support and accurately position engines during maintenance operations. Model No Capacity ES300 ES500 300kg 500kg Save up to FREE 40% 1/2"Sq Drive Impact Socket Set 2nd Battery • Model No. CP2450BP • List Price £109.95 (600TR Illustrated) Adjustable Gearbox Support 500kg Capacity with every Transmission Jack • Model No. ADT3 • List Price £129.95 • Model No. AK5613M • List Price £26.95 38% OFFER PRICE Save List OFFER PRICE Price exc VAT inc VAT £89.95 £59.95 £71.94 £117.45 £69.95 £83.94 31% Save £239.95 £287.94 exc VAT inc VAT Min./Max. List OFFER PRICE Model No Capacity Base Size Saddle Height Price exc VAT inc VAT 300TR 300kg 1120/1940mm 560 x 570mm £319.95 £199.95 £239.94 600TR 600kg 1175/1985mm 560 x 570mm £369.95 £229.95 £275.94 Tyre Changer & Spreader Combination • Steel construction with manual bead breaker. • Working Ø Min./Max.: 325/460mm. • Wheel Depth Min./Max.: 40/203mm. • Supplied with tyre bar. • To prevent damage to the rims of the alloy wheel, it is essential to use a TC963 Tyre Bar. • Model No. TC960 • List Price £109.95 • Designed for use with Model No. TC960 or similar tyre changer with Ø50mm post. • Easily fits to top of tyre changer and permits the easy inspection and repair of tyre damage. • Model No. TC969 • List Price £49.95 Direct Drive Compressors 2hp or Wheel Removal Trolley 1200kg Capacity NEW • Air Displacement: 6.8cfm (193ltr/min). • Maximum Pressure: 116psi/8bar. • Maximum Free Air Delivery: 4.6cfm (130ltr/min). (SAC50 20 Illustrat E ed) (SAC2420E Illu strated) Save up to 45% Receiver List OFFER PRICE Dimensions Model No Weight Capacity Price exc VAT inc VAT (W x D x H) SAC2420E 24ltr 570 x 360 x 570mm 24kg £219.95 £119.95 £143.94 SAC5020E 50ltr 650 x 390 x 669mm 28kg £269.95 £159.95 £191.94 BUNDLE DEAL • Order Model No. TCCOMBO1 • Total List Price £159.90 24% OFFER PRICE Save 18V Cordless Grease Gun • Suitable for 400g cartridges, manual or bulk filling. • High power, professional, cordless grease gun, developing 8000psi. • Model No. CPG18V • List Price £199.95 OFFER PRICE Transmission & Engine Oil Filling System • Supplied with a range of five automatic transmission fluid adaptors. • Delivers approximately 70ml per stroke. • Model No. VS7009 • List Price £229.95 25% Save £83.95 £100.74 FREE 2nd Battery • Model No. CPG18VBP • List Price £49.95 exc VAT inc VAT £149.95 £179.94 FREE 26% OFFER PRICE Save exc VAT inc VAT Double End Drain Key Set • Model No. AK659 • List Price £19.95 £169.95 £203.94 exc VAT inc VAT • Min./max. wheel diameter: 1000/2200mm. • Eight adjustable rollers (4 each side) allow for easy turning of large deep tread tyres. • Locking mechanism allows rollers to be fixed at eight preset positions. • Mounted on two locking and two non-locking swivel castors for improved stability and easy manoeuvrability. • Overall size (W x D x H): 1300 x 1015 x 1500mm. OFFER PRICE • Model No. W1200T exc VAT • List Price Save £999.95 inc VAT 30% £699.95 £839.94 TO LOCATE YOUR NEAREST STOCKIST CALL US ON 01284 757500 FOR MORE DEALS, REQUEST A COPY OF OUR 40 PAGE GARAGE & WORKSHOP 2011 PROMOTION OR VIEW ON OUR WEBSITE www.sealey.co.uk Please send me a FREE copy of your latest printed catalogue and promotions. Name: Mr/Mrs/Miss Address: Town: County: Email: Ref: AM/GWE11 Postcode: Mobile: We comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and may use these details to send you information about other promotions from the Sealey Group. We may also share this information about you with third parties where we feel their services will be of interest to you. If you do not wish your details to be passed on to these third parties, please tick this box. SEALEY GROUP KEMPSON WAY, SUFFOLK BUSINESS PARK, BURY ST EDMUNDS, SUFFOLK. IP32 7AR TEL: 01284 757500 WEB: www.sealey.co.uk FAX: E-mail: 01284 703534 sales@sealey.co.uk OFFERS WILL BE WITHDRAWN WHEN STOCK IS SOLD. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE PRODUCTS AND PRICING AT ANY TIME. PRICES AND SAVINGS EXCLUDE VAT UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE, E&OE. BROWSE ONLINE FOR FULL SPECIFICATIONS Enter 104 on enquiry card Industry news Search for Top Technician 2012 is about to begin IT FEELS like the bunting has only just been swept up and the prizes sent out from the last contest, but Top Technician 2012 is here – and we want you to take part. From September 27th you can register for the online test at toptechnician.co.uk, the first step towards gaining the coveted Top Technician crown. Earlier this year, two dozen technicians battled it out during our practical assessments for semifinalists. These were dwindled down to the final six and from which there could only be one winner. In 2011, John Tinham took the title and thousands of pounds worth of prizes for the second time. This will be the last time he wins though – as GRASS ROOTS: Aldo Rodi (left) agrees to distribute information for BEN a rule change says that previous winners can no longer re-enter. Competition organiser Nicola St Clair said: “This year’s competition will be fantastic. We are hoping to attract even more entries than ever – including a lot of new faces”. Entrants to the 2012 contest will also be able to swap tips this Autumn on a new web forum. You can enter now at: toptechnician.co.uk Charity leaflet drop SURPRISE NEWS: When the tool sales van next visits your workshop, he might actually give you something for free. Snap-on Tools has teamed up with BEN and will distribute leaflets to technicians telling them about the charity, how to get involved with it and ways they can benefit from its services. The leaflets will be dropped by the tool firm’s network of 435 franchised van drivers. Snap-on Tools MD Aldo Rodi said: “BEN performs such a marvellous job looking after so many people who work in our industry and their dependents. This is why we have agreed to work with BEN and provide support in its efforts to achieve greater exposure to the ‘grass roots’ of the automotive aftermarket and service sector.” Catch up with our BEN charity project Alfa 145 on page 65 A slippery MOT customer INDEPENDENT garage Carringtons of Oxford, came across a scaly surprise when carrying out an MOT – a five-foot long Boa Constrictor! Wayne Hunt, the technician carrying out the MOT on the MINI Cooper, put his hand under the bonnet to find the safety release catch and felt something that seemed rather out of place, which turned out to be the five-foot long, five-inch thick snake. Wayne said: “We immediately called the RSPCA to collect the snake, since it didn’t belong to the customer and we had no idea who owned it. We also wanted to make sure we didn’t harm the reptile in removing it, as we’re more used to working on brakes than snakes!” “The snake was dealt with properly and luckily it had caused no damage to the car. The RSPCA told us that it looked thinner than it normally would, suggesting it could have been been living under the bonnet for a while. In all the years I have worked as a vehicle technician, I’ve never seen anything like it.” Hunt cannot recall whether the car passed first time, but the garage did confirm that the MOT had to be halted and carried out again the following day after the creature had been removed. Carringtons is a member of the Bosch Car Service network specialising in selling prestige and unusual cars… but this was the first one to come equipped with a live snake. Latest appointments THERE have been a number of changes to the suits that manage the aftermarket this summer. First of all, the IAAF has announced that Graham Knight, southern area director for FPS Distribution, and a member of the Federation’s Council for five years, as its new Vice-President. Graham is well-known in the trade having worked for FPS for over thirty years, Nick Thomas has recently joined Denso, where he picks up the mantle of European Product Manager. Thomas previously worked at Ferrari’s Piston Services and more recently was a manager at First Line. Meanwhile, Peter Johnson has been appointed Chairman of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA). Johnson’s recent roles have included being chairman of the Rank Group and a director at the Wates Group. K&N Filters’ Robin Evans is set to leave the company and joins exhaust firm Bosal UK as the national sales manager. Finally, Ken Freeman of AMK Automotive has hung up his samples case and enjoy a new life of caravanning, as he retired at the end of July. S-S-SLEEPING BEAUTY: Snakes aren’t on the regular MOT checklist In brief AGENCY workers will have the right to ‘equal treatment’ after 12 weeks’ contracted work from 1st October 2011. The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 will apply to all temporary workers who have completed a 12-week qualifying period. At this point, they will be entitled to the same basic working and employment conditions as if he or she had been recruited directly by the hirer on day one of the assignment. crossover-style vehicle, both of which feature less ‘challenging’ styling than their forebears. and visitors expected from almost every country in the world. TROUBLED Korean carmaker Ssangyong is set to be sold in the UK again, following a buy-out of the parent company by Indian firm Mahindra. The firm has hired former Chrysler PR man Steve Gray to oversee the reintroduction into Britain. The new line-up is likely to comprise of one SUV and one EQUIP Auto, the giant aftermarket show held in Paris, is set to run again between the 11-15th October, in Paris. As always, the organisers are promising a bigger show than any previous event with thousands of exhibitors booked WELDING supply firm WeldabilitySif has teamed up with a local college in Stevenage, to provide youngsters with welding skills. The firm says that this will hold students in good stead if they want to become apprentices. www.aftermarketonline.net | Aftermarket September 2011 | News 07 Industry comment Cold comfort for waste oil burners Small waste oil burners might be outlawed. Is this just red tape or are these a genuine environmental menace? We check the industry’s view YOU may recall that a couple of months ago the government launched a website entitled the ‘red tape challenge’. The aim was to identify a number of ways in which needless legislation was blighting the operations of small businesses. After the consulting exercise, there was very little airtime given to any red tape that was actually cut. Instead, businesses in general (and the motor industry in particular), braced itself for a raft of new laws as part of various ongoing ‘reviews’. You’ll know about the MOT review of course – but did you know that if you have a waste oil heater it is currently under threat? Directive Back in the year 2000, the EU published a directive known as 2000/76/EC. This became known as the Waste Incineration Directive (WID). We’ve read it and as with most EU documents, it isn’t ever going to be regarded as a great work of prose. However, the thrust of the document is that incineration plants, no matter how big or small, should be subject to working to the same ‘clean air’ standard. In simple terms, whether you own a reprocessing plant or a small domestic waste oil heater, you should meet the same emission standards – rather like the maximum HC limit on a petrol engine. However, the UK government at the time set an exemption in 2004 for small waste oil burners, known in the trade as SWOBs. The problem being with anything that is legal because of a loophole, at some point a future government is going to try and close it – and that is exactly what is happening now. SWOB In July, the government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced that it would hold a review on the existing directive and the way it applies to SWOBs. A meeting was called in the second week of August between the department and various members of the industry, including the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), the Retail Motor lndustry Federation (RMI) and the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) as well as manufacturers of the equipment and were told what the scope of the review was going to be. Needless to say, the industry was furious. Steve Jones from heater maker Thermobile pointed out that complying with changes would be uneconomic. “lf SWOBS are included in WID it will spell the end of the feasibility to burn waste oil, as besides the extortionate fees involved, the flue gases of the heaters would have to be monitored – which would not be cost effective for an operator,” he observed, noting that this was a strange time for the legislation to be MAKING A MARK: pushed through. It’s all about Dave Garratt of the GEA also said that reducing your the changes didn’t make any sense for his carbon footprint FEELING THE BURN: Could red tape finally seal fate for onsite waste burners? members: “It’s hard to see what UK PLC would gain from this. The factories making these heaters would very likely have to close making people redundant. Garages would have to buy heating oil – and the only people making money would be the government from tax revenue, because at the moment waste oil is tax-free.” Garratt also made the point that waste oil would still have to be burnt – albeit in a waste incineration plant – while the garage would have to order in fresh fossil fuel to run the heater. Adding in the transportation and storage costs of both products it would, in his view, be very likely to have a negative impact. Twist There is a twist in this tale. At the same time that DEFRA announced the review, another scheme has appeared with the intention of classifying processed fuel oil as ‘non-waste’. Steve Jones notes: “This ‘Quality Protocol’ sets out end-of-waste criteria for the production and use of processed fuel oil from waste lubricating oils.” “ln other words, the waste oil recycling companies can sell back to garages the waste oil which the garages have had to pay these companies to collect, as fuel oil for the garages to burn in their waste oil fired heater!” Environmental bodies point out that the machines do cause a certain amount of pollution. However, the GEA points out that the machines themselves won’t be outlawed – you just won’t be able to burn waste oil in them without substantial modification. Cold comfort This comes as small comfort to garages that have recently purchased waste oil heaters. John Tinham of JT Motor Engineers bought a heater in January 2010 and feels annoyed that no-one pointed out that this legislation was on the horizon when he paid for it. “We had the choice of two heaters – this one or, a conventional gas one,” he explained. “We didn’t know about any of this so we actually had our gas meter removed when the waste oil burner was fitted.” He also said that the council had recently given him a permit to use the device saying it was ‘as clean as a whistle’. DEFRA confirmed that the review was in progress but declined to comment further until the agency’s findings are complete. Meanwhile, GEA members that sell SWOBs now ask customers to sign a letter to say that they understand that a review is in progress. www.aftemarketonline.net 08 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net 1 0% • Oil Filters • Air Filters • Fuel Filters • Spark Plugs • Brake Pads • Brake Discs • Brake Shoes • Batteries • Clutch Parts • Suspension Struts CASHBACK In the first quarter of 2011, we gave over £11,000 back to our trade customers. You can benefit too, just spend £299* (ex VAT), or more on the listed parts below between 1 July and 30 September 2011, register online and claim your 10% cashback. • Starter Motors • Q8 25 litre 10W-40 Oil • Pollen Filters • Alternators • Exhausts Register at nissanpartsextra.co.uk to claim your cashback. FREE 5 LITRE PACK OF 10W-40 GENUINE OIL WITH EVERY SERVICE KIT YOU BUY. PLUS MORE GREAT OFFERS Call your local Nissan Trade dealer now for even more fantastic offers on a range of products from Q8 Oil to Nissan Genuine Brake Fluid. WORTH UP TO £14.35 9 £4.99 1L BRAKE FLUID † EACH KIT INCLUDES: Oil Filter, Air Filter, Sump Washer and 4 x Spark Plugs (Excludes platinum tipped Spark Plugs, a Fuel Filter replaces Spark Plugs on Diesel engine variants) ONLY NISSAN GENUINE PARTS OFFER GENUINE NISSAN QUALITY For your nearest Nissan Trade dealer, visit www.nissanpartsextra.co.uk *This promotion is only open to Nissan Trade Customers. This promotion may appear in other promotional materials. Terms and conditions apply, please visit www.nissanpartsextra.co.uk for full details. By entering this promotion, all participants will be deemed to have read, understood and agreed to the full terms and conditions and any other requirements set out in the accompanying promotional materials. †Service Kit products must all be purchased in a single transaction to qualify for the free oil offer. Free Oil price based on RRP of 5 Litre 10W-40 Oil. 10W-40 spec oil may not be suitable for all engines, please check manufacturer specification for confirmation. All prices shown exclude VAT. All offers end 30 September 2011. Technical & Training : James Dillon CHALLENGE: Other workshops refused to take on the convertible roof problem An opportunity in adversity This month, our tech expert James Dillon, accepts the challenge of an awkward job on a convertible Audi and warns it’s not a task for scan tool jockeys MANY of the vehicle faults we have to deal with are related to the weather, or seasonal at least. The good weather – or rather a prolonged break in the bad weather – tends to draw out air conditioning problems and convertible roof faults. In the Tech Topics workshop we have had two convertible roof faults just in the past week. The one which we are going to focus on here was on a 2003 Audi A4 Cabriolet. Once the automatic roof opening had ceased to function the owner resorted to using the manual method, a special tool stowed in the passenger fuse box which opens and closes the roof, until finally, he’d had enough and decided to get the roof looked at. As is usually the case, he asked the garage which carried out his servicing work to take a look. Their diagnosis was that the vehicle had a ‘wiring fault’ but that they could not tell him exactly where so their advice was to take the car to an Audi dealer. The owner of the vehicle was reluctant to go to Audi as each time he went there, in his words, “they charged him in blocks of £500”. He was referred to us by one of our other customers. We checked the function of the roof and sure enough, it wouldn’t open or close without using the manual opening tool. Many of the visitors to the workshop who were either dropping off or collecting jobs, took a sharp intake of breath when they saw the vehicle and heard the fault, saying that they ‘stay well clear of convertible problems’. My view is that there is opportunity in adversity and if it is difficult, it’s worth doing. This type of work isn’t of interest to the ‘scan tool jockeys’. Obviously, we’ll need the right diagnostic tool, the right information and probably a bit of ‘just in time’ learning. IS YOUR LIFT SAFE? By law, vehicle lifts must be inspected and maintained by a competent person. For a list of companies using accredited engineers, please visit the GEA website where you can also find free unbiased technical advice covering lift maintenance. www.gea.co.uk UNBIASED ADVICE The Garage Equipment Association’s lift engineer accreditation scheme Enter 105 on enquiry card September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net 10 Technical & Training : James Dillon the motor and lock to carry out the next test. On stripping the front hood cover, rather tentatively, as it was held on with Cadbury clips, I could see the motor, linkage and switches. My next step was to operate the motor by manually providing a supply and ground. A nice blue spark and no movement could be seen upon attaching the jumper wires. Perhaps the motor was at its stop position. I reversed the polarity of the jumpers to move it in the opposite direction – still a nice fat spark and no movement. Hmmm, perhaps the linkage was seized and a motor supply fuse was blown but there wasn’t a separate motor fuse, it was supplied directly by the convertible ECU. I disconnected the linkage and supplied the motor but still it wouldn’t move. I measured the current drawn by the motor and the meter showed around 9 amps, see Figure 2, below. It was mostly likely that the motor had seized internally. Conclusion It was safe to say that the motor was faulty but in the case of a failed actuator, which is driven by an ECU, my report to the customer contained advice that the failed motor may have damaged either the ECU or wiring, or both, by pulling a higher than normal current. Unfortunately, this could not be confirmed until the motor was replaced. With a repair budget expectation set accordingly, the customer confirmed that he wanted to proceed with the motor replacement and the next stage of the process. A motor was ordered and the old motor and gearbox were disassembled for investigation. Figure 3 shows the sheared drive gear inside the motor’s gear box. Audi had chosen to specify a two pence plastic drive gear inside their £250 motor! The drive gear had sheared a tooth which had jammed the motor. Once the offending tooth was removed, the motor worked like a charm. Much to the customer’s relief, the new motor sorted the locking mechanism and the hood worked properly when reassembled. No collateral damage had occurred. The slight irony in this job is that the total invoice for the repair was around £500. The customer had originally complained that Audi charged him in blocks of £500. When speaking with him, he was more than happy with the cost of the repair because, in his words, “he was in control of the repair, knew exactly what was going on and felt comfortable with what I was doing”. It supports the theory that if you ‘fix the customer’ by managing their expectations, communicating effectively and giving them responsibility for the repair, then fixing the car becomes relatively easy. Want to know more? If you want to find out more about the courses that James Dillon runs, call 01278 428 699 or visit www.techtopics.co.uk If you prefer, fill in 801 on the enquiry card. FIGURE 1: A couple of stored codes on Autologic Take a good look The visual inspection phase of the job showed that the roof worked as expected, once the front latch was manually unlocked. It retracted fully and smoothly, the rear cover popped open at just the right time and closed and locked as expected. Upon opening, the rear cover opened to let the hood out and closed properly. The roof cover closed and the hood made its way over the passenger compartment to the top windscreen latch, where it stopped six to eight inches short, just at the point of tension. To get the roof closed from here required the manual. intervention. It seemed that the front latch was the main area of concern. Next, I got the Autologic scan tool out to check if the Convertible Control Unit could give any clues to the root cause of the problem. There were a couple of codes stored: Upper latch position switch implausible, control switch implausible signal, see Figure 1, above. The technical data I had showed a motor and two position switches located in the front part of the hood. The motor was a DC reversible motor with responsibility for engaging and disengaging the locking mechanism. The switches were used to feed back the position of the locking mechanism (one for the open and one for the closed position) to the Convertible Control Unit. Live data I decided to use the actuator tests to check out the operation of the front hood lock motor. Actuator testing on the VAG range, independent of the scan tool used, can sometimes be a little bit ‘hit and miss’. I wasn’t surprised that the locking motor didn’t move or make a noise during the actuator test. This didn’t prove or disprove my initial suspicion. Perhaps the implausible switch codes were causing the motor operation to be suspended. I then chose to use the live data to check their function. I inserted the manual tool in the hood and operated the locks manually. The live data reported a change in both switch outputs when it was locked and unlocked. So, it was most likely that the vehicle had a duff motor (or supply or earth) or a linkage fault. I needed to gain access to FIGURE 2: The current drawn by the motor Figure 3 www.aftermarketonline.net | September 2011 Aftermarket 11 Technical & Training : Frank Massey Rough running Audi causes trouble Part two All is not what it seemed on the Audi A6 TDI that came into Frank’s workshop, but could he fix it? Find out in the final part of our two-part special PESKY PROBLEM: Will Frank finally locate the cause of the fault? HAVING already replaced a number of (demonstrably faulty) parts on the Audi, without eliminating the underlying problem meant that the customer had by now become less cooperative and started to question our progress. He did, however, agree to return the vehicle for one last attempt to isolate the problem. Method of diagnosis David (my son) decided to re-flash the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) back to stock, with no improvement. The latest variant of software was installed both in the PCM and automatic gearbox. Our suspicions now focused on a Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) error, although most of the other obvious symptoms were not present, for example, there was no ‘train-rattle’ noise on start up or switch off. My next intention was to attempt to prove the DMF was at fault and for this I planned to use the oscilloscope. In order to do this, I observed the injector period against the cam and crankshaft sensors. The purpose of which was to identify irregular events or timing scatter often caused by mistriggering due to a DMF fault. Previous checks to the current path and frequency had proven normal with no missing events or irregular patterns whatsoever. At the prescribed speed where vibration could be felt, no electronic distortion or scatter was present. Very careful note was taken from the position of cam, crank and injector period during the test and gave me confidence the electronic timing control was correct. The vibration could only be mechanical in nature and probably from the DMF. Customer care Meanwhile, the customer (who by now was worried about what was happening to his car) had informed us of his intention to seek a second opinion from the Audi main dealers and would make a claim against us should any of our actions have been without ‘due care’. For our part, my son and I were both confident in the process that we had been through to diagnose the faults, having found some very obvious problems, all of which could have easily been the cause of the poor running. In addition, the broken injector could have damaged the engine badly. We had kept our customer informed throughout the job and insisted that he inspected the worn or broken parts at every stage. Following the visit to the Audi dealer, our customer had confirmed that the probable cause Importance of communication As illustrated here, communication is the key to a successful relationship between the garage and customer. Don’t forget that your customer is ultimately going to be bankrolling the car repairs and it will almost certainly be from money that they had set aside to do better things with. As such, they are naturally going to be suspicious of everything you do, and of your motives. Frank points out that you should keep a record of all conversations and steps of work on the car, as well as holding on to any replaced parts. Additionally, it is not a bad idea to have a digital camera or two in the workshop. Make sure all of the technicians working in the garage know to take pictures of anything that isn’t entirely routine. Oh, don’t forget to have them take a picture of the back of the car with the number plate in shot first – otherwise you won’t be able to tell which car is which when you transfer the pics onto a computer. “The lesson here is the review process” was the DMF and apologised for any accusation of poor workmanship or default in our investigations. The dealer also told him that we were correct to replace the broken injector immediately too. I was impressed with the conclusion given by the franchised dealer but I couldn’t help wondering if they would have found the other problems with the car. However, the most important lesson here is the review process. You need to keep control of the repair at all times and be sure to document work, making a clear record of conversations. Not all customers are as understanding as our chap with his Audi. Very often, they will seek to blame someone else for the condition of their vehicle, so be sure you communicate with them and show them any parts you’ve changed at every step of the process. Want to know more? You can find out more about Frank’s workshop by visiting www.autoinform.co.uk or by entering 802 on the reader enquiry card. 12 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Put your trust in Unipart braking products Unipart understands the importance of having the right part, at the right time for the right price. We also understand that these parts have to be high quality to satisfy the fitting and safety requirements of you and your customers. That’s why Unipart is the most recommended brand for braking* With Unipart braking products you get: • Reliability and safety • OE matching quality** • Ease of fit • 12 month warranty • 99% range coverage of UK car parc • Happy customers and peace of mind Unipart braking products are available from over 200 Unipart distributors nationwide. For your local Unipart distributor call 01865 383940. Product quality from Unipart, helping you to become the genuine alternative to the main dealer. *Outcome of a survey conducted by GiPA in 2010. **Excludes re-manufactured brake calipers. Images are for illustration purposes only. E&OE Enter 106 on enquiry card Enter 107 on enquiry card Technical & Training Dealing with the CAN Bus Part Two We take a look at CAN frames with Richard McLaughlin of Warwick Control IN LAST month’s article, we illustrated how to recognise a healthy CAN Bus by observing the CAN frames using a PC-based oscilloscope and using a simple ohmmeter to check the Bus connections. In this article, we look at what is in the CAN frames, using a Windows-based analyser tool. There are many fault code readers on the market that can tell you that there is a problem with the CAN Bus but these tools are limited as they do not give you a true indication of where the fault really lies. The oscilloscope tells you much more than the typical fault code reader without the complication of analysis software. Here we will show how to tap into the CAN Bus and see all the CAN frames communicating between the ECUs. The CAN frame Last month, we illustrated the basic structure of a CAN frame on the oscilloscope as shown in Figure 1, below. It shows a stream of CAN frames with a zoom in of one of the frames, showing the data parts of the frame. Below is a block diagram of this data breakdown of the CAN. the CAN frames and the data that is contained in those frames. The screenshot, Figure 2, shows how the CAN frames can be displayed. This is a good quick indicator that CAN frames are being transferred between ECUs on the CAN Bus. Note that display shows the Timestamps, Type of Frame (Data in most cases), Channel, ID (CAN frame Identifier), DLC (Date Length Code) and the Data. If you know the CAN database spec of your vehicle it will be possible to ascertain which ID belongs to which ECU. The IDs and Data are shown in hexadecimal, which is standard in the digital communications industry. It is possible to display in decimal if you wish. Analysing frames The CAN analysis tool can be useful for seeing disturbances on the CAN Bus by sensing Error Frames. The screenshot, Figure 3, shows that at 23 seconds after start of collection, error frames stated to occur. This is a real situation from a Jag S class that had an intermittent fault. It was getting diagnostic trouble codes indicating a problem with the ABS. With the CAN analyser attached, a technician moved the ABS ECU connector cable back and forth to check for bad connections. Error frames were detected by the analysis tool, see Figure 3. On further inspection, it was determined that connections on the ABS ECU harness were faulty. With this software, it’s possible to capture the data and play it back for analysis later. As you can see in the data field there are lot of values that will not immediately make sense to the casual observer. With CAN database knowledge for the vehicle, it’s possible to interpret the data into real signals information (e.g. engine speed, wheel speed, etc.) The CAN database is a file that is generated based on the specification of the particular vehicle. Most car companies have their own methods of interpreting CAN data. The CAN database will tell you what information is in each CAN ID and it also establishes how the raw digital data is extracted from the CAN frame and scaled before it is passed onto the microcontroller in the ECU for processing. In the next article, we will cover in more detail how the CAN database works and how to display the relevant signals information on the analysis tool. Want to know more? You can find out more about Warwick Control by entering 804 on the reader enquiry card. The CAN frame is comprised of a Start of Frame (SOF) bit, Identifier field (11 or 29 bits), Control field (6 bits), Data field (up to 64 bits – 8 Bytes), Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) (16 bits), Acknowledge field (2 bits) and End of Frame (EOF) (7 bits). The Identifier field indicates the nature of the data (e.g. engine parameters, ABS info, etc.) The Control field indicates the size of the Data field and contains what is known as the Data Length Code (DLC). The Data field is the information transferred (e.g. engine Speed, water temp, oil temp etc.) The CRC field is an error checking method to ensure the transferred data is not corrupted by any electro-magnetic disturbances. The Acknowledge field is a very simple method of indicating to the transmitting ECU that all the receiving ECUs have received the data uncorrupted. The particular areas of interest for reading data from the CAN Bus are the Identifier and Data fields. There are several commercial Windowsbased CAN analyser/test tools that are interfaced from the PC to the vehicle CAN Bus through a USB to CAN interface. These interfaces are readily available from several manufacturers. These tools are connected to the vehicle CAN Bus via the OBD connector installed in all current cars. The CAN analysis tool we use here shows a display of the Identifiers of FIGURE 1: FIGURE 2: FIGURE 3: September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net 15 Ask Arthur DEAR ARTHUR... This month, Arthur discusses a predicament that can arise when customer communication breaks down. Also, the importance of keeping up with the latest employment and safety laws, which if not done, could ultimately come at a great cost. Vehicle lost in communication Dear Arthur, I have just had an irate phone call from one of my customers who dropped his car in for a service yesterday. It was agreed that I would park it at the railway station car park and he’d collect it using the spare keys – it’s an arrangement that’s worked well with many of my commuter customers over the years. I sent him a text message giving the vehicle’s location to save him wandering around for hours but I didn’t know he had a new number, so the text was never received and he tells me that it took him nearly an hour to find his car (there are three car parks to choose from) and it was raining. Am I liable for any compensation claim? Arthur says: For there to be a claim there has to be some loss and in this case, it seems that this could be for water damage to his clothing. They also have to show that you were negligent and although it could be argued that you should’ve checked the phone number, it’s equally the case that they could have called you for details. I would drop the customer a line expressing regret for the problem and offer a free valet or something similar with the next service. Keeping up with safety standards Dear Arthur, I have a small workshop with just one employee – do I need a first aid kit and a certificate to say I’m qualified to stick a plaster on him? Can I get rid of the ex-felon? Dear Arthur, I have just found out that a guy I recruited last month has a conviction for theft and was fired from his last job after some personal possessions went missing from a customer’s car. Can I just fire him? Arthur says: The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These apply to all workplaces, including those with less than five employees and the self-employed. Organisations such as the Red Cross run one-day courses around the country, they cost about £125 excl. VAT and a basic first aid kit will set you back less than a tenner. I have just been re-certificated and consider it money well spent as I now have some idea of what to do in an emergency. Word of caution: You can’t actually just stick a plaster on anyone in case they are allergic, so ask first! Arthur says: You made two mistakes; the first was not getting this person to complete a job application form and the second was not making the job offer conditional. As a trade we seem to dislike paperwork but an incomplete or inaccurate application is reason in itself to dismiss and I would not recruit someone to clean the drains without having them submit a formal application. You can’t fire him because you did not ask the right questions; if you did fire him he’d have grounds to go to an industrial tribunal. A further complication is that his conviction is spent and there’s no proof that he took the items at his last job. Perhaps this man deserves a chance; I would have a quiet word then move on. Employee or self-employed? Dear Arthur, I employ a self-employed mechanic who’s worked on average three days a week for the last two years. I have just had a routine visit from HMRC and have been told that he’s not selfemployed but my employee so far as they’re concerned. The inspector told me that I am liable for income tax and national insurance for the whole period of his employment and that he’s entitled to holiday pay. I can’t afford this. What should I do? made by referring to previous court judgments. Generally, if a person works a set amount of hours on a regular basis, are paid a fixed hourly rate and get paid for working overtime, they are likely to be deemed to have employed status. Your staff member fits in very nicely with these criteria so you probably should have been paying him through the PAYE system. It will be worthwhile talking to an employment law expert as they may be able to negotiate some kind of settlement with the Inland Revenue but it’s unlikely you’ll claw anything back from your mechanic unless he is feeling in a particulary charitable mood. Arthur says: There's no legal definition of employment or selfemployment, so if there's any doubt, the decision is 16 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net No.1. Always. Motor technicians are very particular. Always have been. Always will be. They know what they like. Who they can rely on. That’s why NGK spark plugs are the No.1 choice of professionals because they trust them to perform consistently, reliably. And as engine technology becomes ever more sophisticated, fitting NGK increasingly becomes the automatic choice. For today’s motor technician and tomorrow’s too. NGK always the No.1 choice. Original Equipment suppliers to: Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Chevrolet Chrysler Citroen Daewoo Daihatsu Ferrari Fiat Ford Honda Hyundai Isuzu Jaguar Jeep Kia Land Rover Lexus Lotus Maserati Maybach Mazda McLaren Mercedes Benz MG Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Perodua Peugeot Proton Renault Rolls Royce Saab Seat Skoda Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Vauxhall Volvo VW Enter 108 on enquiry card www.ngkntk.co.uk YUASA Batteries. Quality, Reliability and Winning Performance The world’s leading battery powering the championship leading Honda BTCC cars. Yuasa is the number one automotive battery supplier to the UK aftermarket, delivering the guaranteed reliability and unrivalled performance expected from the world’s leading battery manufacturer. The full Yuasa range, covering over 99.9% of the UK vehicle parc, enables installers and retailers to recommend To discover more call Yuasa Battery Sales (UK) Ltd on 08708 500 257 or visit www.yuasaeurope.com Yuasa is the reliable power partner to the 2011 BTCC Honda Racing Team Follow all the action at: www.yuasabtcc.co.uk @YuasaBTCC Yuasa BTCC www.yuasaeurope.com enquiries@yuasa-sales.co.uk Enter 109 on enquiry card Garage schemes What’s new in garage support? It’s only been six months since we last looked at garage codes, franchises and trade bodies, yet there have been a number of changes. We round up the most significant… IF THERE is one single topic to get the aftermarket talking – usually with different voices – it’s the issue of garage schemes. Since the issue of self-regulation reared its head many years back, there have been numerous attempts to bring about bodies designed to reassure motorists and prevent government regulation. Unfortunately, most of these stalled before they even got away from the starting grid. Today, the situation is in flux. We only covered the subject six months ago but, in that time the existing codes have modified their structures to make them more relevant to garages and more visible to motorists. Not every scheme is simply aimed at regulating its members though. Some, such as the Bosch Car Service network and the Unipart Car Care Centres, aim to drive standards up by applying corporate service practices across the network. The past few months have seen further emphasis on training and new technology. Other subscription-based schemes that are run by the makers of garage products have spent the last few months putting on their best clothes to look respectable to the motorist. The effectiveness of some of these schemes can be debated but there is little doubt that the TV ads and friendly-looking consumer websites have put them in the mind of the public. However, 2011 so far belongs to two concepts that are new to these shores – namely soft franchising and so-called ‘supermarket servicing’. Bosch AutoCrew (not to be confused with Bosch Car Service) is one of the former, while the latter is an idea recently adopted by the likes of Tesco, MODERNISING: Most current garage schemes offer training where motorists can book a service or MOT on a single, central website. The job is then contracted to one of a number of independent garages in the area. Joining the concept requires garages to sign up to a lengthy set of standards and inspections and, possibly to also join one of the existing regulatory codes. Here, we round up what’s new in some of the major codes and franchises. ‘imminent’, although no firm date has yet been set. Like Motor Codes, TMG will be an OFTapproved code. IAAF What is it? A federation for the aftermarket. So what’s new? At the last IAAF dinner, former MP Gyles Branderth joked about ‘this extraordinary, mysterious, leaderless organisation’. The last time we wrote about the IAAF it was in a state of flux. Key figures had resigned and the organisation seemed unsure what it stood for. However, since the re-appointment of Brian Spratt, the group appears to have found its voice again. Oddly, one of the main factors has been uniting members around a common foe: namely the spectre of 4-2-2 MOT testing. During the last few months, the IAAF has spearheaded a campaign urging people in the business to write to their MP about the dangers of changing the current regime. The group has also worked with a number of other aftermarket bodies in Europe to bring about radical change in the way in which manufacturers hand over their data. MOTOR CODES What is it? An industry code of conduct, backed by the SMMT. So what’s new? To counter criticisms that the body wasn’t doing enough to help the consumer, Motor Codes recently appointed a former Trading Standards boss to implement a ‘tough but fair’ policy. This was to ensure that ‘only the best garages get promoted to motorists’ according to the organisation. Other recent developments have seen the body reaching out to motorists through questionnaires conducted by an independent third party. There have also been links with other organisations to make the code more of an industry standard and there have been moves to set up a new ‘code’ for used car dealers – something the whole industry has long been crying out for. BSI PAS 80 What is it? The ‘Kitemark’ standard for workshops. So what’s new? PAS125 is a standard for bodyshops that is accredited by the British Standards Institute (BSI). While it hasn’t been without critics, around a third of crash repair centres now follow it, with demand from insurance companies boosting the scheme. Once accredited, firms can display the coveted Kitemark logo. Less well known is PAS80, an equivalent standard for service and repair workshops. Very few garages have signed up, citing that it’s too expensive to get accredited and that the standard appears to have been written by TRUST MY GARAGE What is it? A garage code run by the RMI for its members. So what’s new? The new code was announced at last year’s RMI dinner, much to the chagrin of the SMMT at the time. As membership is free to RMI members, the new code has not been short of applications and much of the past year has been spent auditing and verifying each one. Once the code has a critical mass of members it will be launched to the public. At the time of writing, this launch was described as CODES: Garage signs up to Motor Codes September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net 19 Garage Schemes benefit from a dedicated garage management computer system, as well as regularly receiving freshly laundered overalls. There are also deals on overheads, such as garage insurance, courtesy cars and more. Members also benefit from a conference and awards ceremony held every year. databases on the KTS scan tools. UNIPART CAR CARE SCHEME What is it? A scheme where garages can ‘buy in’ to the Unipart brand. So what’s new? The Car Care Scheme has undergone something of a makeover recently, with new branding, ‘refreshed’ signage and a nationwide advertising campaign fronted by former ‘Stig’, Ben Collins. However, changes are more than just cosmetic. Members can benefit from an improved technical helpline and KIS garage management software, plus they have the option of having a business website set up by Unipart at cost price. Like other garage concepts of the type membership now also requires the garage to be a member of Motor Codes. TESCO AUTOCENTRES What is it? A web portal where motorists can book their cars in for service or repairs. So what’s new? While not a scheme, code or franchise, we’ve mentioned this concept because it could just be the thing that shakes some uniformity into the independent garage trade. The idea is simple – a motorist can book his car in for service on the website and get an instant (and fixed) price by using VRM lookup. The job is then offered to a nearby local garage who is a member of the network. They will then pick up the car from the customer and deliver it back when the work is completed. In fact, this idea is not especially new. Previously an entrepreneur had started a site called ‘Servicing Stop’ which was itself based on a tyre retailing website. Where Tesco Autocentres differ is that giant supermarkets have a long track record of shaking up supply chains regarded as ‘cottage industries’. Whether this will be for good or ill, only time will tell. www.aftermarketonline.net BOSCH AUTOCREW What is it? A ‘soft franchise’ based on a European model. CHECK: Actor Ricky Tomlinson with GGS list ‘empty suits’ with little experience of life on the tools. Earlier this year, BSI announced that a full review of PAS80 was on the cards but due to a number of changes at the institute, this appears to have been kicked into the ‘long grass’ for the foreseeable future. GOOD GARAGE SCHEME What is it? A commercially run garage scheme. So what’s new? Lubricant firm Forte runs the Good Garage Scheme. Although the organisation has never been concerned with political lobbying, it has recently extended its remit into training through a tie-up with Skillsnet. The deal should work out for all concerned. Garages that are members of GGS log on to its website and ‘order’ an apprentice. Skillnet then handles everything from recruitment to delivery of apprentices. All garages have to do is pay their wages, as apprenticeship training is fully funded by the government for 16 to 18-yearolds. So what’s new? AutoCrew is a garage concept imported from the continent. Although the name and trademark are the property of Bosch, the concept is being rolled out by component supplier Euro Car Parts. Included in the monthly subscription is access to garage management and stock ordering software as well as smart new branding and access to training courses. Perhaps, the biggest draw will be the fact that ECP recently signed a deal with a breakdown organisation to ensure the majority of recovered cars are brought to workshops in the network. All members will be required to subscribe to an OFT-backed standard, such as Motor Codes. BOSCH CAR SERVICE What is it? A garage concept with an OFT-backed code. So what’s new? The established garage network continues to expand and recently opened its 400th branch. Like other garage concepts, BCS has always taken the ‘voice of the customer’ seriously. On collecting their vehicles, motorists are invited to take part in a satisfaction survey. This is backed up by a refreshed customer website, which contains information about why BCS garages believe they offer an alternative to the franchised network. As the network grows, the parent firm has put measures in place to increase the availability and shorten the lead times for stock in the UK. BCS members now also benefit from an upgraded version of the garage management software and improved AUTOCARE What is it? A ‘garage concept’ from training and parts supplier, GroupAuto. So what’s new? Based on the continental ‘EuroGarage’ model, AutoCare provides members with training as well as a technical helpline. Members also AWARDS: AutoCare places emphasis on training 20 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE 1991. BUT 20 YEARS ON OUR PARTNERSHIP IS STILL GOING STRONG. TRADE CLUB Enter 110 on enquiry card MOT VOSA speak about rule changes There are a number of changes happening on the MOT test from next year. We speak to Andrew Cattell, a vehicle standards manager at VOSA about what they are, why they are happening and what they mean to you Q: Why are the changes being introduced? The word we are looking at is ‘harmonisation’. Of course we know that in different member states they are eligible to have different ‘testing schemes’ but I suppose in ordinary language, we can go from border to border without showing our passport but we can’t go from country to country without producing it. In the same way, it follows that vehicles used in one country should comply with the same rules as in other EU states. The next part was to look at electronic control systems and to bring modern systems that today’s vehicles have, within the scope of testing. So one of the first things we looked at were items like electronic park brakes, which is becoming the norm now. We already have the mechanism for testing the operation of its security, condition and operation but if the malfunction indicator light is illuminated it would still get its pass, so we would have to bring the MIL light in to the test. Some changes are as small as looking at a MIL light while some are as large as a physical check of a device. The next part looks at electronic stability control. All of the various stability programmes on modern cars work through the ABS system. The only difference is that you have additional malfunction indicator lamps. We’ll be checking to make sure the MIL light isn’t illuminated when it shouldn’t be or illuminated when the switch on the dash turns the stability control off, which is what usually happens. The next part looks at security. We know that part of VOSA’s remit is to look at vehicle crime. So we’ll be looking to see if a steering lock doesn’t lock when it shouldn’t. Q: Will the steering lock now be a testable item? Yes it will. Though obviously if it is not fitted then it can’t be tested. We keep it quite simple. Going on from that, EPS (Electronic Power Steering) systems are now fitted on many vehicles. Currently if a MIL light is on you get your pass but from next year, you won’t. Q: So the theme we are seeing here is that the motorist needs to make sure that the panel lights are going out? That’s correct, yes. If the light is on it means that something isn’t working properly, which must mean that there is something wrong with your vehicle. Q: What are the changes in regard to lighting? Products on lenses have always been a controversial issue. We mean products such as sticky tape, tights and all sorts of other things. We have no problem with products on lenses providing the illumination is adequate. It is as simple as that – simple assessment is a key element of MOT testing. After all, what is the point of having a tail light if you put black sticky film on it so you can’t see it? With HID lights, one of the issues that we have in all parts of the EU states is that of glare. Glare can be attributed to the absence of control mechanisms that manufacturers build into their vehicles so we need to make sure that those control mechanisms are fitted. In short, it requires you to have headlamp cleaning or self-levelling suspension. Q: Will aftermarket HID kits no longer pass the test? That’s not strictly correct because if you went to an Audio dealer (for example) and said you wanted to fit HID lamps and he had the kit with a type approval document, then adjusted the suspension and all the rest of it, it wouldn’t be a problem. This is what the type approval document says. However, if you buy an £88 kit from ebay and blind everyone coming in the opposite direction, then it is not conducive to good business and it will fail. One of the spirits of the directive is that it uses the phrase ‘not to specification’ and that tracks back to type approval. However, you can fit HID bulbs without type approval if they illuminate less than 2,000 lumens. So, aftermarket manufacturers will track back to the EC legislation where you can have replacements that don’t need discharge capacitors and are generally just replacement, high output bulbs – and then it wouldn’t be a problem assuming the aim is right. Q: What about the new wiring checks? It has long been acknowledged that garages have long been advising, (and in some cases failing) for battery security. Now it has become part of the test. Bare wires or missing waterproof caps will also fail. Q: How will TPMS be tested? TPMS was a remarkably difficult area because early vehicles fitted with an ‘experimental’ type of TPMS were often unreliable and actually in some cases, were not of the quality that we see on modern vehicles. So TPMS will become mandatory shortly and we’ve included it in the test but we have been practical. It will only be a testable item on cars registered after 31st January 2012. It would have been a nightmare to do it retrospectively. 22 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net ARE YOU SUMMER READY? AIRCON SERVICE MACHINES ECK3000 This is the most technically advanced fully automatic machine on the market today, and will Key Features: ECO2500 Our most popular model with automatic features packed in a compact design with no Key Features: air discharge, service alarm for maintenance. selection and allowing users to add new vehicle models. vacuum phase. AIR CONDITIONING VA500+ it has easy access to lock the load Key Features: refrigerant. the system. solutions. 232 serial port. A/C TRAINING MANUAL types, servicing and temperature control. day delivery 0845 603 3636 Enter 112 on enquiry card MOT MOT rule changes at a glance If you are an MOT tester you’ll know there’s a raft of changes happening to the MOT test. VOSA’s standards manager Andrew Cattell highlights some of the main ones... 1. MIL lights The electronic power steering, airbag and stability programme light should not come on. “If the light is on, then there is a problem with the vehicle somewhere”, Cattell explains. 2. ECU mapping This is currently in the ‘long grass’ as there is no effective way of checking to see if a vehicle has had its ECU remapped (nor is there any real need to assuming the vehicle passes the emissions test). However, it is mentioned on the EC directive, so the use of a scan tool might be part of a future MOT. 3. Lights HID kits are now testable items and are a complex area but in a nutshell, a typeapproved kit is likely to pass and a nonapproved kit is unlikely to. A HID kit must dip correctly, have the right headlamp washers and the units must level correctly. The use of products on lights, such as clear sticky tape, would not mean an automatic fail. “It’s a subjective assessment. The main point is that output is not reduced,” says Cattell. 4. TPMS Again, the warning light shouldn’t be on. However, the agency is clear that the test only applies for vehicles fitted with the system since it was mandated by law this year. Older vehicles, especially those without a reset switch, should get an advisory. 5. Battery security Many testers believed that this was already part of the MOT, but in fact it never has been until now. 6. Catalytic converter Must be fitted if the vehicle was manufactured with one. 7. Towbar electrics Perhaps the largest change, as far as the tester is concerned, is that all stations should have a testing board for towbars (only the Euro-type socket forms part of the test). 8. Wiring The bits of the wiring loom that you can see should be in a reasonably good condition. A typical failure point could be a missing waterproof cover or boot on the back of a lamp for example. 9. Brakes Footbrake efficiency will rise from 50% to 58%. This legislation will come into effect from 2013 and will only apply to late model vehicles. 10. Steering lock This must not come on when the vehicle is in use and should operate normally when not. There will be a three month ‘run in period’ between January and March where failure items under the new rules may just get advisories. This is so that motorists and garages can get used to the new rules without infringing the law. www.aftermarketonline.net Automated Testing Technology Planning a workshop upgrade? If you are thinking of installing garage equipment, MOT or ATL bays then the Trade Group’s new installation portfolio will be of interest as it documents recent projects it has undertaken; including kit for small independent garages and fast fits up to dealership and CV fleet projects. Ian Gott explains: “The Trade Group’s method of operating and functioning is so much more than just a supplier, we offer a complete service. Our members shared experience and expertise in all aspects of garage equipment – from initial discussions and planning, right through to installations, commissioning, training and ongoing local technical service plans, including calibrations – has proved to be the right formula for customers and our management partnership with them has guaranteed a successful conclusion to every project and within budgets.” Enter 201 on the enquiry card ATL Eurosystem test lane Proven Reliable, Quality Product. World Market Leader Over 40 years experience in production of brake testers worldwide www.maha.co.uk sales@maha.co.uk Tel: 01945 580061 Fax: 01945 476664 Maha UK Ltd, 1 Europa Way, Weasenham Lane, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire CB24 5UR Enter 146 on enquiry card 24 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net MOT 4-2-2: ‘Get into class VII’ urge company Chris Behan and Matt Stephens, both managers at Snap-on Equipment, discuss the impact of 4-2-2 and the issue of banks lending to small businesses Q: How is the market for ATLs at the moment? Chris Behan: “I wouldn’t say that it is growing dramatically, it’s probably the same year on year. Obviously, there’s a lot of press at the moment in terms of the 4-2-2 review. The GEA is working very hard as a lobbying group but possibly [the threat of the review] has hit the market a bit. Some are maybe reticent about what to do and also finance is still an issue. There has been a lot in the papers about how banks should be brought to book about supplying to SMEs. We are coming across this quite a bit more again.” “The problem we come up against time and time again is that people want the equipment but they just can’t get the money for it. If there are a few sceptics out there that don’t have any financial constraints but haven’t got into MOT or ATL then really if they can acquire the cash, they should get into class VII. If there’s a space in the workshop, we’d carry out a full site survey to ensure a class VII fits and then the garage is future proofed. If further down the road the legislation changed, you have more of the market to attack with a class VII; dipping into the whole market of 28m cars, van and minibuses. The repairs on class VII vehicles are a lot more expensive and they tend to have a much higher failure rate – around 46% on delivery vans.” INVEST: If you have the finance, get into Class VII, advises Snap-on Q: Are there any areas that garages can grow into? Matt Stephens: “Chris mentioned the MOT frequency review and one of the things they want to look at for commercial vehicles is a test, possibly from the first year. When they’re presented for their first three-year test they could have done 150,000 miles. If you get into class VII and there is no change in legislation, you’re likely to get more business because of the high failure rate due to the abuse these vehicles suffer.” Q: Wouldn’t garages need vastly more space for class VII? Matt Stephens:” It’s a bigger footprint but not that much bigger. Your overall cost is a bit higher than a class IV but the return on investment is greater in the long term. They also reduced the size required back in January 2010. “ WIN a first class Aligner delivering first class profits Transform your business and revenue with this HawkEye Special Imaging Aligner, one lucky winner will! Remember you have got to be in it to win it !! Closing date 30th September 2011 20 1st YOUR LAST CHANCE... ENTER NOW !! Simply log on: www.pro-align.co.uk The Old Orchard, Towcester Road, Greens Norton, Towcester. NN12 8AN September 2011 Aftermarket 01327 323007 www.pro-align.co.uk Enter 111 on enquiry card 25 MOT LPG leak test This gas leak detection spray is said to meet VOSA specifications and is designed to help you check and confirm fuel leaks on gas-powered vehicles during the MOT. It is classed as compulsory equipment although you are not required to enter it on the VTS device and is required for all classes by January 1, 2012. The product is a micro-porous foam which shows up leaks in any location and can be sprayed at any angle, is safe on your skin and non-flammable. Special case and pallet rates are available for factors and distributors. Save space and cash The VOSA-approved Sun VIC3000 automatic test lane from Snap-on Diagnostics, now uses the Sun DGA 2500 Combi Gas Analyser as the central control unit for the whole test lane which results in a significantly reduced space requirement and cost savings too. A graphical user interface guides you through each step on a high resolution 19” flat screen monitor. It has a modular design so workshops can expand and upgrade to a complete diagnostic and information system. Enter 202 on the card Enter 203 on the enquiry card Test it Tecalemit N e e d a n A u t o m a t e d Te s t L a n e , O n e P e r s o n Te s t La n e o r MO T Pa c k a g e ? C a l l Te c a l e m i t t o day ! Te c a l e m i t o f f e r s t h e m o s t c o m p r e h e n s i v e r a n g e o f M O T tes tin g e qu i pm e n t . A s t h e ma r k e t l e a d e r i n MO T Te s t i n g equipment no one has a better understanding of testing equi pm en t, l ay o u t a n d op e r a t i on a l r e q u i r e men ts . O n l y Te c a l e m i t o f f e r s c o m p l e t e s e r v i c e s u p p o r t f r o m i t s own factor y-trained and UKAS accredited engineers, throug ho ut t he U K . Capture data on the move The OmiScan Gas portable exhaust gas analyser is available in both four and five gas versions and can be purchased from distributor AK Automotive. It is said to be ideal for mobile diagnostic techs and repair workshops for conducting emission checks prior to an MOT or general repair work. Its diagnostic data capture and storage facility allows you to carry out exhaust gas sampling on the road, helping to pinpoint intermittent misfires that only occur when the vehicle is driven. It’s possible to analyse live test data with a Bluetooth-enabled handset while the base station remains in the boot. Up to one hour of live data can be recorded and stored, software then suggests possible faults. 0845 076 0404 For further information contact:Tecalemit Garage Equipment Co Ltd, Plymouth, England, PL7 5JY. sales@tecalemit.co.uk CALL US TODAY ON: www.tecalemit.co.uk Tel: 0845 0760404 Fax: 01752 219 128 Enter 204 on the enquiry card Enter 113 on enquiry card 26 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net MOT WIN EN WH TRY U YO FREE R OU EMO D A 50’’ LCD HD TV* Want to be a MOT tester? The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) will be working with VOSA to develop a new ATA which will set training and assessment standards for MOT testers. At the moment, if you want to become a MOT tester there are three ways of going about taking VOSA’s nominated testers course: Proving skills through a nationally recognised qualification’s such as the Light Vehicle Maintenance & Repair NVQ Level 3; achieve the VOSA NTTA (Nominated Testers Technical Assessment) or by holding a current ATA Light Vehicle Diagnostic Technician ID card. VOSA plan to phase out the NTTA this year and all techs without a recognised qualification will need to hold a current ATA card, previously mentioned although the skills and knowledge required by an MOT tester and diagnostic technician are quite different so the IMI will develop a specific ATA route around the job role of the ‘Vehicle Inspection Technician’. This will focus on class 4 and 7 vehicle inspection and be based on level 3 NOS. This will be available from April 2012. TURNING TIME INTO PROFIT geoliner 550 prism 3D FOUR WHEEL DIGITAL IMAGINING ALIGNMENT Hofmann geolite Enter 205 on the enquiry card Improve emissions Older diesel cars are prone to failing MOTs due to excessive particulate readings but Liqui Moly says its Diesel Purge should fix this by cleaning the engine and the combustion chamber; dissolving deposits and improving exhaust gas values. An engineer at the firm says: “To get the maximum effect, you can run the engine on pure treatment.” To do this the fuel lines in the engine compartment must be disconnected and the open pipes leading to the engines are placed in the Diesel Purge can. The engine is started and takes its fuel directly from the can, getting a highly concentrated treatment. The engine should then be run at slightly increased RPM with full throttle a few times. The engine should then be stopped just before the can is empty. HAVE ONE OF OUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT EXPERTS CONDUCT AN ONSITE DEMO, AT YOUR PREMISES, OF EITHER THE HOFMANN V3D GEOLITE OR THE 550 PRISM AND GET ENTERED INTO OUR FREE PRIZE DRAW! BENEFITS INCLUDE: OVER 25,000 VEHICLES IN DATABASE SET UP & READINGS IN UNDER 3 MINS COLOUR PRINT OUTS ELIMINATE COMEBACKS For your local distributor please call 0118 929 6811 or visit www.snapon-equipment.co.uk Snap-on Equipment Ltd., 48 Sutton Business Park, Reading RG6 1AZ *TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY Hofmann is a brand within ® Enter 206 on the enquiry card Enter 114 on enquiry card www.aftermarketonline.net | September 2011 Aftermarket 27 MOT Remote control analyser The VOSA-approved Stargas 898 Plus from SPX, does not need to connect to an external PC in order to function, the unit performs exhaust gas tests and incorporates an oscilloscope, technical database and now features increased processing speed and memory capacity. The machine can be controlled by remote control and can be plugged into a PC for software updates or connected to an external printer through the USB port. ECUreader software enables Stargas to connect with the ECUs such as ignition, ABS, air bag, intelligent suspension systems etc. Testing of the on-board engine managents systems which control emissions is part of the equivalent MOT in Europe and this unit is prepared for future EOBD checking with full serial diagnostics, a labscope/multimeter function and plug-in smokechamber for diesel testing can be specified as standard. Equipment backed by experience The Boston range of equipment benefits from 36 years of MOT experience and features include automatic software updates, optional VRM look up and immediate remote assistance. Lifts exceed ATL load, platform length and width criteria and its brake testers are designed to be quick, safe and easy to use. Enter 208 on the enquiry card Safety in pairs Recent MOT stats revealed how 26% of vehicles fail on either steering or suspension faults and it’s important from a safety and performance perspective to replace these components in pairs. First Line gives the example of replacing a worn wishbone bush on one axle but not replacing its counterpart. When the vehicle accelerates or is under heavy braking, the vehicle is highly likely to pull to one side – usually towards the side of the worn bush as the new bush is a lot stiffer and less compliant. Enter 209 on the enquiry card Enter 207 on the card Regional distributors wanted Garage equipment and ATL manufacturer, Actia Muller, wants to add some regional distributors to its network. Its products are said to be ‘attractively priced’ and include Italian-engineered wheel balancers and tyre changers, fully automatic aircon servicing units and laser wheel aligners. Manager Simon Stone explains: “With customers constantly bombarded by offers for the latest cheap products, we are looking for distributors who share our passion for quality and innovation”. Tell your local distributor about this opportunity if you would like access to this range. Enter 210 on the reader enquiry card Enter 115 on enquiry card 28 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Ignition Ignition latest: Higher performance means higher cost from ignition components AS PRESSURE grows on vehicle manufacturers to get more efficiency from every last drop of juice, the buck is in turn passed to the firms that develop the components. As you’ll read in the interviews with various senior engineers, no idea is off the table. While it seems that the humble spark plug has got a way to run yet, the method in which it discharges the spark may be set to change. One firm is working on a ‘corona’ effect plug which, by our understanding, will ignite the combustion chamber faster and more thoroughly. That is not to say that traditional plugs won’t be here for a while longer. Indeed, the latest multi-electrode designs with tiny amounts of precious metals on the firing tips, offer extremely high performance and the sort of service life that would have been impossible to believe a few years ago. The design of coil packs is also evolving. Demand for ever higher voltage is coupled with the need to save on precious underbonnet space. What does all of this mean to the garage? Well, plugs, leads and coils might not need changing anywhere near as frequently as they once did, but they are sure as heck going to cost more when they do. Choose parts with confidence Remy’s ignition leads and distributors catalogue includes 679 lead part numbers and 353 distributors including a full range of Japanese applications. In total there are 1,366 ignition distributor applications including Bosch, Lucas, Ducellier, Marelli, Delco and many more. A detailed buyers’ guide and full technical drawings are included as well as engine series information for the first time, making product selection even more accurate. Enter 211 on the enquiry card Better than the original The original CU1007 Ford coil offering had design shortfalls which have now been rectified thanks to a partnership between the OE manufacturer and Fuel Parts. The OE part frequently failed so the improved aftermarket coil CU1007MOD has been created, offering improved internal insulation and higher quality coil windings, resulting in better cooling. Modular ignition coils Smaller, lighter but yet more powerful and reliable modular Beru ignition coils have been created by BorgWarner specifically for the tight spacing in today’s downsized engines. The compact design is achieved by new magnetic circuitry technology and has the added benefit of producing higher combustion energy and greater ignition voltage – resulting in less emissions, greater economy and performance. Enter 212 on the enquiry card Enter 213 on the card September 2011 Aftermarket 29 Ignition Cut time looking for the transponder coil If your garage cuts ignition keys, you will know about having to dismantle steering column cowling to find out if the immobiliser antenna is transmitting a correct signal to power the key transponder. Fortunately, the AD35 Coil and Remote Control detector from Advanced Keys will save you this long-winded work. Just place near the ignition barrel in the steering column and wait for the box to light up and go beep – it’s simple. The AD35 can also check that radio frequency remote controls are operating correctly by displaying the frequency of the signal being transmitted. Enter 214 on the enquiry card Ask Arthur... In this month’s Ask Arthur on page 16, Aftermarket’s own workshop owner discusses a situaiton where customer communication breaks down and hears from one reader who has discovered he’s employed a technician who had been convicted for theft in his previous job. for ooking est... L t the l a News on MOT, ignition, software and lighting? Turn to page 22 for the start of this month’s feature section. Enter 116 on enquiry card 30 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Ignition Corona effect We catch up with Sandro Pino, manager of the European Application Engineering department of Federal Mogul to find out about forthcoming ‘corona’ spark plugs Q. What new technology can we expect to see in the world of ignition? What we are looking at is called ACIS (Advanced Corona Ignition System), which develops an electrical discharge field with a high degree of ignition coverage compared with conventional systems. Conventional systems have a spark in between two electrodes with something between a 0.6mm and a 1mm gap. Here, you have a three or multipoint electrode and long electrical streams coming off each one, so you are significantly increasing coverage inside the cylinder in order to ignite the fuel. The new system provides a ‘step change’ in ignition performance and we are at an advanced stage with a number of OEs at the moment with this. Initial tests have shown a fuel consumption reduction of up to 10%, maybe a little higher. These are conservative figures, we have seen greater gains, but final development will need to take place for specific engines and vehicles. With proper calibration OE manufacturers will be able to increase EGR dilution for example and reduce fuel consumption while still maintaining good driveability. They will be able to run the engine much leaner but still When talking about electrical discharge, a corona is brought on when the fuel and air mix surrounding the spark plug ionizes. As we understand it, the new plug creates a conductive path around itself, meaning it creates a much larger spark which ignites more of the mixture than a traditional tip. Much has been written about the physics of a corona discharge. Suffice to say that it is a tried and tested electronic principle that is used in the component parts of machines such as photocopiers and spectrometers. VISION OF THE FUTURE: Advanced Corona Ignition System maintain good driving characteristics. This will obviously improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, which is key to drivers at the moment. Q. Do the new plugs physically resemble existing ones? What are the change intervals? We have designed ACIS so that we will be able to manufacture them in a similar way to current spark plugs. If you look at an ACIS ignitor and a conventional plug, the top half would look very similar. Our design brief is to exceed the life of the best spark plugs available today, while delivering a considerable advantage in fuel efficiency and emissions reduction. To find out more about Federal Mogul products, please enter 806 on the free reader enquiry card. Denso’s top tips for installing glow plugs * Carry out a resistance check on new glow plugs before fitting * When installing new glow plugs double check the correct torque requirement – do not over tighten * Check all the electrical connections and earths to ensure they are clean and free from corrosion * Use Ohm’s law to check the operating system – check for initial peaks in the amp reading and also the subsequent drop as the regulating coil takes effect * Finally, check the vehicle injectors to ensure they are operating correctly to avoid issues such as poor start-up performance Feel the burn Vehicle technology continues to evolve and ignition is constantly being tweaked to reap a cleaner and more efficient burn, this has resulted in the old school heating element being replaced with glow plugs capable of reaching temperature’s up to 1,000ºC which have dramatically increased duty cycles. Ignition expert Alan Povey of Denso warns that keeping up to date with the latest technology is vital for installers as, “Failure to carry out a complete check can ultimately lead to glow plug failure and, in some cases, an overloading of the regulating coil. If this occurs, the coil can fracture and debris can fall into the combustion chamber causing extensive damage to the engine. Put simply, we can no longer assume that by fitting new glow plugs all starting problems will be solved. The system is much more complicated than this and it is vital that installers understand this.” Denso’s glow plugs programme incorporates extended post-heating, ceramic and instant heating technologies and key benefits are said to include excellent cold starting and reliability. A total of 130 references provide 2,600 applications and 98% car parc coverage. Enter 215 on the enquiry card September 2011 Aftermarket 31 Ignition Fire it up The ignition range available from Wood Auto covers both passenger and commercial vehicle applications and consists of ignition coils, modules, switches, suppresser caps and glow plugs. The company tends to specialise mainly in Lucas based ignition products and both stock and availability is said to be good. Ignition coils are available in both standard and ballast forms to fit 12V or 6V applications in conventional or electronic ignition systems. A comprehensive range of ignition modules and switches are available and it supplies its own brand of glow plugs in addition to the Bosch programme and MonarkDiesel range for commercial vehicles. Enter 216 on the enquiry card Firing alternative fuels Around 150,000 vehicles in the UK run on liquid petroleum gas, or LPG and the bright sparks at Federal Mogul are certain its Champion Iridium and the Double Platinum ranges of spark plugs have what it takes to fire up this alternative fuel, as well as E85, otherwise known as bio-ethanol. So called, ‘Flex-fuel’ cars from manufacturers including Ford, Saab and Volvo have engine management systems that automatically detects the blend of ethanol and adjusts the ignition timings accordingly. These alternative fuels attack the electrodes on conventional spark plugs but the Champion Iridium range resist this erosion and have wide heat capabilities. Get set for ignition Sales or ignition coil sales tend to soar over winter and over 290 references are available under the Cambiare brand, available through FPS. The range covers pencil/plug top coils, rail types, coil packs, integrated coil and wire sets, wet and dry ones, ignition modules and wire repair kits. A further 823 OE manufactured lead sets compliment the range, offering a parc coverage approaching 98%. Some suppliers are rationalising their ranges and supplying extra-long leads to fit a wider range of applications. They obviously do not offer an exact fit which can lead to problems. Cambiare’s product manager explains: ‘The excess cable of these leads cannot be accommodated within the allotted space and may become trapped or damaged, resulting in early failure. Other problems include: inadequate radio suppression affecting radio reception and any number of electronic sensors; and inadequate protection from heat and chemical attack.” Enter 217 on the card Feel the burn The Deep Clean system cleaner is a petrol-only, ignition additive which gives a better petrol burn and reduces fuel costs for the driver. Once added to the fuel tank it gets to work on purging carbon deposits and cleans the entire fuel system, including the combustion chamber. This, in turn, reduces harmful NOx emissions, increases MPG and eliminates ‘engine pinging’ and ‘knock’. Each single treatment bottle treats up to 30 gallons and is available from Lucas Oil Products. Enter 218 on the enquiry card Online resource NGK’s ignition techs will share their expertise and provide technical tips via an online channel, NGK TV, on the company’s new website. The company’s first ‘app’ has also been launched, NGK Pitboard, which allows you to track the latest F1 news. E-learning interactive modules, details of new products, the BoxClever garage loyalty scheme and a Part Finder also feature on the site. Enter 219 on the enquiry card Enter 220 on the card 32 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Enter 117 on enquiry card Ignition Back to the future Tim Howes, technical services manager at NGK explains to us that spark ignition and spark plugs in particular have a long future yet SIMPLE TECH: The future still has room for the modest spark plug, say NGK Q: We see quite a few reports about the future of ignition. Is there a future in technologies such as lasers? There’s nothing new about stories such as this. I think there was an article in association with one of the Japanese universities (about laser technology being set to replace spark plugs) and it set some ripples of panic throughout some of the industry. We are looking at all of the different strategies. At the moment there is no clear path for everybody to tread. However, what we do know is that spark plugs are here for some time to come. The spark plug is a wonderfully simple product in concept but very complicated in the way that it achieves its role. In the sort of volumes that we are talking about, it is a relatively inexpensive component that works extremely well. I was looking at some figures from Honda about the market from Vietnam for motorcycles. There are something like 2.7 million units sold there per year, all of which have a petrol engine. Now you can’t put a laser onto things like that, just because of cost. Q: Is there a problem with the supply of rare earth minerals such as Iridium? The amount of precious metals used on the electrodes is very small indeed. They’re small because we only need to attach the precious metals to the tip of the electrodes. Some 89% of the electrode is a nickel alloy for example. To attach the precious metal we will usually laser weld (but we will sometimes fusion weld) a very small chip of platinum alloy, because it is only that small part of the surface that suffers from erosion throughout its service life. Attaching the metal is an automated process which is very detailed and intense. It is checked extremely carefully and the quality control has to be spot-on because of the fine tolerances involved in production. To find out more about NGK products, please enter 807 on the free reader enquiry card. Ignition Technology Diesel Cold-Start Technology Electronics Sensors The international automobile industry puts its trust in it. Audi Whether Ignition Technology, Diesel Cold-Start Technology, Electronics or Sensor Technology – BMW almost all well-known automobile manufacturers equip their vehicles with BorgWarner BERU Systems Citroën technology. From which you also benefit. If you also decide for original BERU brand name products Dacia Daewoo during service, maintenance and repair. Because not only the quality is right, but also the service. Daimler For more information: www.beru.com or from your BERU sales partner. Ferrari Fiat Ford General Motors Hyundai Isuzu Japan Kia Lamborghini Lancia Land Rover Nissan 1 2 3 4 5 Opel Peugeot 1 | BERU Spark plugs: safe and reliable 2 | BERU Glow plugs: for fast and safe 4 | BERU Ignition coils: developed Porsche ignition under every operating situation. diesel cold-start. vehicle-specific – for optimum ignition. Renault 3 | BERU Ignition cables: safe high-voltage 5 | Distributor caps: reliable high-voltage Saab Seat transmission, precise ignition process. transmission. Škoda Ssang Yong Toyota Vauxhall A BorgWarner Volkswagen Volvo Business 34 Enter 118 on enquiry card September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Software Software latest: ‘Garage management’ software on the rise DO YOU still use a biro and a dogeared ledger book to keep track of your work? Well, perhaps you might consider switching to garage management software at some point in the future. There really isn’t a good reason not to. Modern systems can automatically send a letter, text or email the customer before their next MOT or service is due and the extra business from this alone usually makes the software pay for itself. Many software packages allow the users to pay monthly and there are several packages to choose from, each offering a slightly different unique selling point. But that isn’t all from the baffling world of Windows. TecDoc, the aftermarket database has revealed that NEW WAY: More garages ditch the ledger book it has made numerous updates to its inventory this quarter and that these updates will be winging their way to subscribers soon. Some of the major scan tools will also be enjoying a software update shortly as well. The latest version for Snap-on tools includes data for Volvo and Mercedes, while a revision for the Bosch tools will also be available in the near future. On a software-related theme, we were interested to see the first iPhone ‘app’ that can be used with some sort of adaptor to connect to the OBDII socket on some cars. We haven’t seen this working in real life yet and we’d be interested to know what points of reference can be read on the phone. Perhaps if you have these at work you could email us your thoughts? Software takes control The new IDC4 software from Texa controls all the Texa diagnostic tools and the oscilloscope, exhaust gas analyser, air con servicing units and the new OBD Matrix and is available in ‘Light’, ‘Plus’ and ‘Info’ versions and in PC and Pocket formats depending on the tool used. Compared to the IDC3 software, the IDC4 features new graphics, easier selection process and new functions. A repair guide suggests what parameters you need to check and displays errors instantly. Over 250 makes and more than 32,000 models and variants are covered. Fancy a pint? Enter 119 on enquiry card Enter 221 on the enquiry card www.aftermarketonline.net | September 2011 Aftermarket 35 Software Cool running Small owner-run workshops, MOT test stations, parts retailers and mobile technicians right up to large dealerships can use AutoPro’s modular management system to help keep their businesses running smoothly. The software runs invoicing, book keeping, stock control and purchase ordering, estimates, management reports and much more. Handy features include a function that allows you to design forms to print in colour for a professional look but without the printing costs, integrated UK post-coding for faster invoicing and job creation and a built-in vehicle display for vehicle sales and bodyshops. Play the part It’s easy to get parts quickly delivered to the workshop but the right part is sometimes a different story and is understandable when you consider the numerous vehicle model variants and multiple parts manufacturers wholesalers contend with. However, the use of the TecDoc catalogue is said to be accelerating rapidly – the system identifies engine components, vehicle body parts and chassis products from multiple search criteria and can be used via the web portal or from a DVD which is updated quarterly. TecDoc’s data comes directly from the databases of the cooperating aftermarket manufacturers and can be a beneficial resource for workshops too, giving you the option to source a part from an alternative supplier if your regular wholesaler doesn’t stock that brand or product. Its compatible will all information platforms and includes data from more than 380 parts suppliers. Enter 222 on the enquiry card Diagnostic updates The new 11.2 software download for the Snap-on Diagnostics range of hand held diagnostic tools includes full coverage of Volvo and component test meter coverage of Mercedes. New guided functional tests make it quicker and easier to use and parking sensors have also been added. Model year coverage is taken up to 2009 and covers 91% of the vehicle parc. In addition, 24 of the major manufacturer specific software titles have been updated with over 3,000 vehicles added. Enter 223 on the enquiry card Enter 224 on the card TEXA, A REVOLUTION IN DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND AC TEXA provides a comprehensive range of powerful diagnostic tools, designed specifically to meet the needs of Bus, Coach, Truck, Car, Agri, Motorcycle and Marine workshops. AXONE Pad To discover how TEXA Products and Services can assist your business, contact TEXA UK or visit our website www.texa.co.uk. KONFORT 760R BUS NAVIGATOR TXT TEXA UK Ltd. 32 - 34 Churchill Way Lomeshaye Industrial Estate Nelson - Lancashire BB9 6RT United Kingdom Tel. 01282 606 787 - Fax 01282 604 240 www.texa.co.uk - info@texa.co.uk 36 Enter 120 on enquiry card September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Software The rise of novelty diagnostics Increasingly, car makers and telematics suppliers are enabling motorists to connect with their cars and monitor vehicle performance, fuel pressure, engine coolant temperature and the like, via their mobile phones. Gadgets from Garmin, Viper and Palmer Performance Engineering connect with the OBD II port or use Bluetooth and these mobile ‘diagnostic’ apps are on the rise. Casual use of these gadgets could give rise to overly confident customers who profess to know what is wrong with their car without following any investigative diagnostic process, but perhaps this could be a golden opportunity to find common ground with customers and an ideal way of gaining respect for your expertise which has been honed from years of experience and training. Pay as you go workshop management The latest release of the G-Max Garage Management System from Morph-tech incorporates VRN look up and online access to technical information and you can choose between pay-as-you-go or monthly inclusive billing. Users can identify OE parts and the system provides links to suppliers via the Auto3P MultiTrader procurement platform. Features include customer relation management tools, designed to make proactive contact with customers simple and includes a SMS text messaging and courtesy car manager. The car pictured here is owned by one of the Morph-tech partners and the pic is taken at the MG weekend at Silverstone in July. Enter 225 on the enquiry card No thanks. + EFFICIENCY I’m watching my figures! Everyone seems to be watching what they spend right now. But can you afford not to invest in your company? For around the price of just one pint of beer and a bag of nuts a day, you could transform the way you do business. The G-Max garage management system will enable you to increase: One for bodyshops The Standowin software from Standox is a colour matching tool and paint reporting programme in one, covering every aspect of stock and management reporting. Bodyshops need to keep a tight handle on their finances as margins are increasingly squeezed and this software calculates the exact quantity of paint required for jobs and also takes into account each refinisher’s own style of paint application. A spokesperson explains: “Standowin allows the bodyshop to set the exact criteria of the reports, for example, the consumption report shows all products and the amounts used over a chosen time frame, whereas the deviation report would indicate the differences in planned and actual mixes. Another handy report is the average mix report. It can detail, either by product or by refinisher, costs at trade or customer prices.” + PERFORMANCE E + PRODUCTIVITY Y + PROFITS TRY IT FOR YOURSELF LF To arrange your free, no obligation G-Max trial: Enter 226 on the enquiry card Call: 01455 292 992 Web: www.gmax.biz Enter 121 on enquiry card www.aftermarketonline.net | September 2011 Aftermarket 37 Lighting Will LEDs light the way forward? Will light emitting diodes take over the market, or does halogen have a way to burn yet? LED LIGHTING has been with us for a few years now but the technology has received a prestigious award in Europe – namely the “Professor Ferdinand Porsche” prize for the lighting used on the Audi R8. The lamps on this car were designed by a firm named Automotive Lighting. For the first time all lighting functions, i.e. high beam, low beam, turn indicator and position light, were all integrated in the same unit with some 54 LEDs making it work. LED in the fray While it is unlikely that you will see many R8 supercars coming into your workshop anytime soon, it is entirely possible that you will have cars with LED lights entering the fray. Now that the technology is established it’s likely that it will filter down to ordinary cars, as LEDs not only work well and look cool, they also help reduce the electrical load on a car and so help save a small amount of fuel. LEDs have exceptionally long service lives and probably won’t need replacing on most cars. However, the light unit itself will still be subject to all the usual problems – namely broken and scratched lenses, leaky seals and yellowing reflectors. We think it is likely that replacement lenses and silver backing will be popular in the aftermarket as the price of replacing the whole LED unit is likely to be prohibitively expensive. That’s not to say the market for replacement bulbs doesn’t have a while to run yet. Unipart Automotive has done some research and discovered that the market for replacement bulbs is actually growing – worth some £17m per year. Interestingly, the OE market is declining, with Unipart calculating a value of around £8m. ’Do it for me’ Where the firm sees the market expanding further is for the applications where it is a right tricky nuisance to fit at home. Cars like the current Megane require the front wheel to be taken off, part of the wheel arch liner removed and the assistance from someone with arms like pipe cleaners to actually remove and refit the bulb in question. Undoubtedly, poor access such as this are what the new LED lamps will avoid as the bulbs won’t need changing from the rear. In the meantime, there is FIGURE 1: LEDs reduce a car’s electrical load a certain amount of opportunity to charge customers a ‘fitting fee’ for replacing the bulbs. In fact, the firm suggests that the opportunity for charging a ‘do it for me’ fee for replacing bulbs could increase by up to 60% over the next few years. Daylight running Another new development that will make use of LED technology from the outset is daylight running lamps. These lights are now mandatory on new cars in the UK and while any type of lamp could be used, just about every VM has gone for LEDs. . More light Bulbs that have a greater light output have been a popular upgrade for some time. However, the trade-off has always been a significant reduction in life… which is a problem if you have a car like the aforementioned ‘nightmare’ Megane. Fortunately, engineers at lighting firm Osram have put their heads together and worked out a way of producing a bulb named ‘Nightbreaker Plus’ that is said to produce a light some 90% brighter than a regular halogen unit and will last around 50% longer than the firm’s previous version. While the xenon coated ‘ultra white’ bulbs, popular a few years ago, might have been a ‘flash in the pan’ in the UK, it seems likely that this style of longer lasting high-output bulb will be popular in the replacement aftermarket for a while yet. There are dozens of different types of bulbs designed for automotive use, though the part numbers are standardised the world over by U.S body ANSI. If this wasn’t the case, you might have to order different bulbs (or at least cross reference them) for every make and model of vehicle. Cars have always either used a socket fitting or some form of bayonet. We’ve never seen any automotive bulb with a screw fitting, presumably because they would be likely to shake loose… but have you? 38 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net The brake technology that doesn’t just stop at OE. The world's leading friction supplier to car vehicle manufacturers is now a driving force in the global automotive aftermarket. Textar is part of TMD Friction Group, one of the world's largest brake friction manufacturers, and supplies original equipment friction to more current vehicle build than any other brake brand in Europe. With this unique OE performance and quality built in, the Textar range is the ideal aftermarket choice for all your friction needs. To find out more call 0845 200 0735, visit www.textar.co.uk or email uk.marketing@tmdfriction.com Enter 102 on enquiry card OE quality for the aftermarket Products Prices set to go up in line with wholesale lead price There’s a lot to get through in our general products section this month. First of all, Nigel Rankin of Delphi follows on from our earlier theme of advances in ignition systems, where he adds his own thoughts about the challenges facing engineers at the moment. We also note that the wholesale price of lead is on the way up, meaning batteries are going to get more expensive over the coming months. There are a number of reasons for this: First of all, growth in China means that a lot of batteries are being produced for local use. Meanwhile, we have also heard that the Japanese Tsunami has affected some of the lead processing plants. RISING COSTS: Time to cultivate a personal money tree? In any case, battery manufacturers have urged garages to stock up while demand is still relatively low as winter might see demand outstrip supply. Elsewhere, we look at some of the weird and wonderful new products to hit the market. We’ve seen current drain devices before, such as the 24v ‘Red Flash’ unit in this section, but the Ultra Sound Stick is a new one on us. The device uses a 40khz transmitter and a sound probe to detect leaks on sunroofs, around doors etc. The gadget doesn’t need recalibrating and there is no need to mess around with a smoke machine or similar. Clever stuff, eh? Useful gadgets A more comprehensive range of Rolson tools are now available through car care and accessories distributor Saxon, extending its range to incorporate more useful gadgets. Its catalogue includes 20 pages of Rolson items including the emergency car charger which appeared on BBC’s The Apprentice recently. The range incorporates nuts, screws, torches, jacks, tools and sets, jump leads and cable ties, to name just a few products. Enter 227 on the card Under pressure Tyre pressure monitoring is hardly the most thrilling subject in the world of cars but it is soon to become compulsory and TPMS systems where fitted, will also become MOT testable items in due course. With this in mind, Unipart now offers garages a range of sensors as well as technical support, tooling and fitting knowledge specific to each type of valve and sensor. TPMS sensor valves should be serviced every time a tyre is replaced. Servicing the valves will allow garages to maintain incremental business that will be lost from the phasing out of standard valves, whilst prolonging the life of the sensor. Brake tool A new brake tool from Frost, pinches flexible hoses without damaging them, a simple yet vital piece of kit! It’s ideal when working on brakes, radiators, heaters, washer systems and fuel lines and clamps up to 19mm hoses. Enter 229 on the card Enter 228 on the card 40 Enter 122 on enquiry card September 2011 Aftermarket Replacement Parts in Original Equipment Quality Lives depend on the quality of steering and suspension components fitted on your customers’ vehicles, so only the best will do. That’s why leading vehicle manufacturers put their trust in LEMFÖRDER as original equipment. You can too - ask your motor factor for genuine O.E. quality LEMFÖRDER replacement parts and keep your customers and your reputation safe. LEMFÖRDER - Safety in Steering and Suspension. www.zf.com/uk Enter 123 on enquiry card Products Hella’s winter plan Wholesalers are being encouraged by Hella to build up battery stock now and take advantage of flexible payment options before temperatures start to plummet this winter. The Hella Battery Plan offers competitive pricing and extended, flexible payment. PAGE 64 FOR TESTBENC H TURN TO Headlamp check The Cyclope headlamp setter checks and sets beam orientation and light intensity on both cars and heavy vehicles and is available from SPX. When placed about 30cm from the lamp, the light beam can be aligned to optimise the light yield and the performance of low beams and high beams and fog lights can also be checked for accuracy. The top level version guides you through each step. Enter 230 on the enquiry card Best toolbox yet A new collection of tool boxes have been announced from Snap-on Tools. The EPIQ range enables techs to add to an initial tool box as the amount of tools increase over time. Add-ons include roll cabs, risers, top chest with lid, overheads and lockers in various sizes. Box widths range from 60” to 84” and 16 colours are available with over 40 configurations. Enter 231 on the enquiry card Enter 232 on the card FAULTLESS DIAGNOSTICS THE ADVANCED KIT FROM PICO TECHNOLOGY More than an oscilloscope: the kit can be used to test and measure virtually all of the electrical and electronic components and circuits in modern vehicles, including: Training courses www.picoauto.com/auto462 42 Enter 127 on enquiry card September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Products Recruit with ease Looking for an apprentice but don’t have the time to search for someone suitable? Forte’s Good Garage Scheme (GGS) and training organisation Skillnet, have joined forces to make the process of hiring an apprentice a hassle-free experience. Simply register your interest on the GGS member website and Skillnet will get to work on finding you a suitable apprentice. Remember that apprenticeship training for 16 to 18 year olds is fully funded by the government. A recent report has suggested that on average, apprentices typically earn a business six times the amount invested in them. Skillnet spokesman David Moran says: “We are delighted to be working with the Good Garage Scheme in developing the talented technicians of the future and urge employers to give young people the same opportunity they had when they first entered the industry.” Enter 233 on the enquiry card PAGE 16 FOR ASK ARTHUR TURN TO Cost of batteries set to rise Car, LCV, CV, motorcycle and leisure batteries can all be sourced from Euro Car Parts and a Buy Now Pay Later promotion means you can order batteries at today’s prices and not pay until three months’ time. Also, garages that place an order for 15 batteries will get a S3 in Bosch or Exide free of charge. The Bosch, Exide and Lion programmes cater for different budgets. ECP says wholesale battery prices have been increasing in line with the rising cost of lead and that this looks set to continue. Product specialists at the firm track these prices and buy at the best possible times and to ensure continuity of supply it has a massive stock holding of around 200,000 batteries at its national distribution centre at Tamworth. Enter 234 on the enquiry card Motorcycle upgrade The VOSA-approved roller brake testers available from GETECH are now capable of motorcycle testing thanks to a simple conversion kit including software, wheel alignment bars, adaption plate and decelerometer mounting bracket. Customers who opted for a standard ATL upgradeable bed to minimise outlay originally will also be able to benefit from this upgrade but would require an integrated weighing facility. Enter 235 on the enquiry card Rack end gaiter kit Traditionally, rack ends are sold in singles and gaiters in pairs, which can lead to many workshops being cluttered up with gaiters. To solve this problem, a rack end gaiter kit has been added to First Line’s steering and suspension programme, which will come in useful during those instances where you do not need to fit in pairs, for example when the axial joint is replaced and the gaiter is damaged in the process. Kits include all the necessary installation components such as the axial joint, gaiter and relevant cable ties. The first 16 references cover popular applications and include Audi A3/A4/A8, Ford Fiesta/Galaxy, Mercedes Sprinter, Peugeot 106/206, Vauxhall Astra/Corsa and VW Golf/Vento/Sharan; more references will be introduced as demand increases. Enter 236 on the enquiry card www.aftermarketonline.net | September 2011 Aftermarket 43 Products Get hands on with CAN Bus The basic theory behind the CAN and LIN Bus systems are taught at Warwick Control’s oneday fault finding courses and hands-on lab sessions demonstrate the theory. Autumn/winter dates have been announced and are designed to give the technician experience on CAN/LIN data from when it is originally taken, to when it reaches the embedded software of the ECU. Equipment used includes oscilloscopes, analysers and diagnostic readers. Get your workspace in order Workshop storage equipment can be sourced online at the Constructor Group’s website shelving.co.uk. Products include shelving for the office and workshop, for front of house promotional displays and bulk storage. Its racking is designed for the storage of N PAGE TO 15 FOR CAN TIPS BUS TUR palletised products and a number of configurations are possible by using a range of beam and frame sizes. Ancillary products include plastic storage bins and a punched angle construction system. Enter 238 on the enquiry card Enter 237 on the enquiry card Get ready for the MOT season The busy autumn MOT season approaches and Lucas Oil Products urges both factors and workshops to stock up on its fuel and oil additives as these could mean the difference between a MOT pass and fail but also boost fuel economy. Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant fuel treatment is compatible with diesel or petrol engines and cleans injectors, conditions the fuel and increases the burn, reducing harmful emissions. The Lucas Oil Stabiliser provides rapid but long-term control in advance of a smoke test. Enter 239 on the enquiry card Enter 125 on enquiry card 44 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Get Some Metal. Original Equipment steering and suspension parts will get you further. Enter 126 on enquiry card Lemförder & TRW Steering and Suspension products available from any GSF Branch. www.gsfcarparts.com Products Handy light A multifunctional work light from PCL features a 24 watt high intensity output LED that never gets hot and lasts 100,000 hours. Four hours continuous use is powered by three AA batteries. The light is supplied with a foldaway hanging hook so you can keep it within easy reach. Get VEDI for this The Autoland VEDIS II diagnostic scanner is being launched in the UK by Automotive Garage Solutions, as a cheaper alternative to the ISCAN II. The newcomer has a PC interface for workshop or mobile use and includes coverage for 55 vehicle makes. The tool will be supported in the UK by AGS and Autoland and includes weekly software upgrades as well as the latest vehicle coverage. Enter 240 on the card Enter 241 on the enquiry card New sensors An all-makes range of ABS sensors from Cambiare, covers a wide range of vehicles and applications include the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Polo, Audi A3 and Peugeot 206. One of the most common faults within the ABS system is faulty ABS sensors, probably due to their location next to each wheel, where they are subjected to constant heat, dirt, moisture and vibration. The parts are listed on MAM Autocat and Activant Mastercat and can be accessed free of charge online. Enter 242 on the enquiry card Enter 145 on enquiry card 46 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net Products LED NAS lights New LED NAS (North American Specification) type lights from Wipac include fog, reverse, indicator and stop/tail products. They are multi voltage, from 9V to 33V, so can be universally fit to all vehicles. These are the same size as Wipac’s halogen NAS lights (95mm) and can fit standalone or you can use the available plinth/light base and are just 35mm deep without the plinth. All light units are supplied with free in-fill caps to hide screw holes. A 12 and 24V smart load device is available to sort out high flash rates that may occur on a minority of vehicles. Enter 243 on the card Make your voice heard An online petition, organised by the IAAF, has now gone live on the government’s official petition website and you can go straight to the e-petition via our homepage www.aftermarketonline.net. The Federation urges everyone in the trade, as well as motorists, to sign the petition and demand that the ill-considered proposals to relax the frequency of MOT testing be dropped. Enter 244 on the card Plethora of pipes An exhuasts catalogue, dedicated to LCVs, has been released by manufacturer Klarius. The publication features over 1,000 references including exhaust systems for the most popular applications such as the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and LDV Convoy. Available parts include type-approved exhausts, catalytic converters, a complete range of gaskets, clamps and mountings, in addition to DPFs. Klarius LCV parts are available from FPS. Enter 245 on the enquiry card Enter 128 on enquiry card www.aftermarketonline.net | September 2011 Aftermarket 47 Products Air con approval The Robinair AC1234-8 and AC1234-7 air conditioning recovery machines available from SPX have been granted the German TUV approval for accurate and safe recovery and charging for R1234yF refrigerant systems. SPX spokesman said: “The introduction of the new equipment will allow all of our customers in Europe to effectively service automobiles that are being launched in 2011 and beyond.” Its existing line of air con recovery units will of course still be needed as long as there are vehicles with R134a refrigerant on the road, which will be sometime yet. Long term relationship A partnership has been made between Philips Automotive Lighting and Hella which will see Hella distribute the full range of Philips automotive lighting throughout the UK; both the 12V range for passenger and light CV applications and the 24V range for the commercial vehicle sector. Philips spokesman Ed Savage says: “We have worked with Hella for many years supplying bulbs for their OE lighting sets, so this seemed like a sensible extension of our co-operation”. Enter 246 on the enquiry card Enter 247 on the enquiry card Belts and pulleys Timing belt tensioner sets, Front End Auxiliary Drive system (FEAD) tensioners and deflection pulleys, as well as Over Running Alternator Pulleys (OAPs), designed to absorb vibrations and fluctuations in the FEAD, join the INA belt drive components available from LuK. One significant addition is an OAP for the Vauxhall Insignia 2.0CDTI 2007/08 which has a vehicle parc of approximately 21,000 and a FEAD tensioner V belt for models from the BMW 1 and 3 Series. A host of Japanese and Far Eastern references have also been added alongside belts for popular Honda, Hyundai and Toyota models. The INA programme consists of more than 1,200 components. Enter 248 on the enquiry card Enter 129 on enquiry card 48 September 2011 Aftermarket | www.aftermarketonline.net