Ford Powerstroke Troubleshooting Training

Canadian technicians have a chance to learn the latest about troubleshooting Ford Motor Company’s 6.0L D. I. T Powerstroke engine technology at a day-long seminar offered by one of the industry’s leading trainers and engine experts.

Mike Cleary, an instructor and Ford Motor Company Certified Senior Master Technician and Powerstroke engine specialist, will give a hands-on seminar on the Powerstroke engine. Some of what will be covered includes Powerstroke systems operations, subsystem strategies and operating systems; how to diagnose and repair the most common fault codes; troubleshooting shortcuts; and analysis of actual case studies in order to become more effective with diagnostic skills.

The date for the training course is Saturday, October 4 and will be held at the Automotive Retailers Association in Burnaby, BC. The cost is $249. Registration is through Rob Kruper at robkruper@ara.bc.caor (604) 432- 7987.

Bosch Forms North American Filter Business

The Bosch Group has announced the formation of a new Regional Business Unit — Filtration Americas, with David Sholtis as vice-president and regional business unit Leader. Sholtis comes to Bosch from Honeywell International where he served for 13 years, the last four as vice president Autolite Brand — Autolite Products.

At Bosch, Sholtis has full responsibility for the filtration business in both, North America and Latin America including strategy formulation, support coordination, and coordination of the Bosch Group and Mann+Hummel joint venture — Purolator Filters NA LLC.

He will hold P&L responsibility jointly with the regional sales organizations for the filtration business for Bosch, Purolator, and private label products in the Americas and coordinate filter sales strategy and execution with the sales organizations in the respective regions.

Three Ontario Associations Join Forces

Automotive recyclers and mechanical and collision repair service providers in Ontario now have a better opportunity to work together in support of key projects and initiatives, and to help further business relationships throughout the automotive service industry.

The three Ontario-based associations with large memberships in the automotive motive power industry in Ontario have agreed to more effectively work together on behalf of service providers.

After a meeting in Burlington, Ontario, the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) representing auto recyclers, the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO) representing automotive mechanical repair facilities, and the Collision Industry Information and Assistance association CIIA, who represent eight regional collision repair associations, have started a process to better help one another and their memberships.

“With almost fifteen hundred members across Ontario, the associations feel that working together more effectively would be one of the best things we could do to help our respective industry sectors and members,” said Bill Burkimsher, executive director of AARO. “We had many times in the past worked together to resolve common problems, and have concluded that a formal joint effort to address issues will provide more emphasis, better input and a broader consensus than any of us could achieve independently.”

The three associations, the largest in Canada’s largest province, are affiliates of the National Automotive Trades Association (NATA), a national umbrella organization serving grass-roots automotive service providers from coast-to-coast.

“This was a natural progression for us,” said Steve Fletcher of the recyclers association.

“With the mechanical and collision repair trades as our major customers, our members can now have a better relationship with them.”

As well, says Fletcher, “we get much better feedback and keep ourselves better informed and involved on major issues.”

The decision to work more closely was echoed by John Norris for the collision repair industry association: “We had often spoken together about issues that now can be more strongly supported and encouraged by all associations, not just one at a time.”

OK Tire Wins, Aftermarket Scores Well In New Study

OK Tire ranked highest in satisfying automotive customers in Canada with the service establishment experience, according to the J. D. Power and Associates 2008 Canadian Customer Commitment Index Study released today.

The study provides a measure of the service satisfaction and loyalty of owners of 2-to 12-year-old vehicles. Overall customer satisfaction with vehicle service providers is determined by examining five key factors: appointment/ check-in, service advisor, work quality, after-service and customer orientation. The study examines customer satisfaction with both dealerships and aftermarket facilities.

OK Tire achieved an overall index score of 902 on a 1,000-point scale and performed particularly well in work quality and customer orientation-two of the most important drivers of customer satisfaction. Petro-Canada (Certigard) follows OK Tire in the rankings with a score of 886, while Autopro ranks third overall with 881. The study found that customer satisfaction with the service experience has risen steadily- up from 826 points in 2004 to 850 points in 2008. The improvement in 2008 is driven by increased satisfaction in the customer orientation, service advisor and work quality factors.

“In addition to improvements in various measures of dealer performance, satisfaction with service delivered by new-car dealers in particular also increased,” said Adrian Chung, manager of automotive syndicated research at J. D. Power and Associates.

“This suggests that service centers across the industry are listening to their customers, and putting more focus on improving the overall service experience.”

The study found that 2-to 12-year-old vehicles account for nearly 70 per cent of all vehicles in Canada in 2008. Owners within this category spend an average of $860 annually on service and repairs, creating substantial revenue potential for all types of service establishments. The study also finds that share of service occasions accounted for by the various types of service establishments-including new car dealerships, independent repair shops, quick lubes, tire specialists, auto specialists and mass merchants-shifted slightly in 2008 compared with 2007, with new-car dealers losing market share. The 2008 Canadian Customer Commitment Index Study is based on responses from 17,114 owners of 2-to 12-year-old vehicles. The study was fielded between December 2007 and May 2008.

ACDelco Expands Sensor Coverage, Adds Emissions Parts Numbers

ACDelco announced the addition of 136 “All Makes” remanufacture electronic control modules and mass air flow sensors, to the Emission/Fuel Injection Product Line 21. These additions include vehicle applications up to 2007, remanufactured products for GM and non-GM applications covering Ford, Chrysler and Imports. GM application coverage will include both past and late model applications where GM new vehicle warranties no longer apply. ACDelco also announced the expansion of 332 Emission All Make part numbers to Product Line 21. These include non-GM applications (1974 — 2007) for Cam/Crank Shaft Position Sensor, EGR Valves, Fuel Injectors, Fuel Pressure Regulators, Idle Air Control Valves and Oxygen Sensors.

Uni-Select Expands American Network

Uni-Select has entered into an agreement to purchase the Mid-Atlantic parts distribution operations of Parts Depot, Inc.

The assets and operations to be acquired by Uni-Select include nine regional parts distribution warehouses and 67 parts stores located in •

Virginia, West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee that cater to independent jobbers, installers and, to a lesser extent, retail customers.

“This transaction supports our strategy of expanding our distribution footprint in the United States,” said Richard G. Roy, president and CEO of Uni-Select Inc.

“We have found the right partner in Uni-Select as their culture, values and business model, including support of the independent Jobber, are so similar to ours,” said Rollance E. Olson, chairman, Parts Depot, Inc.

The Uni-Select Network includes over 2,000 independent jobbers and services over 3,000 points of sale in Canada and the United States and is headquartered in Montreal.

Pirelli Embarks On Environmental Research Project

The Silvio Tronchetti Provera Foundation and the University of Shandong in Jinan (China) signed a research agreement for the study of a new generation of ecologically-friendly tires.

The university researchers will work in cooperation with the R&D department of the Pirelli Group in China to produce low rolling resistance tires designed to help reduce a vehicle’s fuel consumption.

The agreement between the Italian company and the Chinese university also includes two joint research initiatives with respective goals of realizing more consistent compound mixtures, and studying low-temperature tire vulcanization. Young school faculty scholars, as well as students, graduates, and post-graduate students of the Chinese university will take part in the initiative, under the supervision of Professor Zhao Guoqun, Dean of the College of Material Science and Technology at the University of Shandong, Maurizio Boiocchi, head of R&D at Pirelli Tire and Alexander Bregantim, head of R&D of Pirelli Tire in China.

The research activity, which will have a one-year duration, will be carried out in the laboratories of the university with the support of the Pirelli industrial structures in Shandong. The University of Shandong in Jinan, founded in 1901, is one of the most prestigious Chinese universities in the fields of mathematics and materials science, with more than 40,000 students in its academic and post-graduate courses.