It seems ironic that one of the greatest accomplishments in the Automotive Service Association's history - one of the most significant announcements ever; one sure to impact the entire aftermarket industry for many years - came quietly, without fanfare.

For several months, news releases from the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) had been trickling in. Announcing Web sites on which service information from the manufacturers could be found. Manufacturers like Ford Motor Co., BMW, Mazda and Nissan. Trickling in, one by one.

Then, on April 9, there was a one-page news release from NASTF with a headline that read, "All Auto Manufacturer Service Web Sites Online."

It was a brief, almost cryptic, release. It just said all auto manufacturers are now offering service information via the Internet. And it listed the OEM Web sites.

Thus, quietly, came one of the biggest announcements in ASA's history. Culminating one of the biggest battles ever fought by the association. Capping an attainment that took years to bring about. An achievement made possible by the diligence of a lot of ASA members who left their shops to do battle. An accomplishment that is a tribute to all who fought the good fight.

It all began with the 1990 Clean Air Act, which required that all vehicles built after 1994 include a computer system to measure vehicle emissions. As the technology improved in recent years, those computer systems were designed to control vehicle functions, such as brakes, air bags, steering mechanisms, ignition systems and fuel systems.

As a result, auto manufacturers were able to control the computer codes necessary to run diagnostic tests and perform repairs on newer-model vehicles. That meant independent repairers often did not have access to the codes they needed to fix vehicles.

However, it was argued by some that the problem repair shops faced was not about access but about being able to afford the diagnostic equipment - often specialized to a particular vehicle make - used to read the computer codes. Some said that was the bigger problem for everybody ... for the franchise dealers and the independent shops. It was just getting expensive to maintain cars, they concluded.

But ASA disagreed. While some manufacturers had been open with their codes and equipment, ASA argued, the list of such companies was not long enough. Association representatives said that based on ASA studies, independent technicians were losing $18 billion annually because of limits on access. They had to turn away 15 percent of repairs just because they did not have the information they needed to fix the newer-model vehicles. Sometimes it was for repairs as basic as turning off a "check engine" light.

The argument went on for years.

ASA continued dialogue with the manufacturers. But it also made Congress aware of the problem. ASA members took time away from their businesses to go to Capitol Hill and demonstrate for anyone willing to listen what they were talking about. They lobbied their elected representatives. And they participated in hearings.

In August 2001, U.S. Reps. Joe Barton, R-Texas, and Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to promote information sharing.

And in June 2002, the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., was the main sponsor of a companion bill in the Senate, with support from Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn. Wellstone introduced the bill after hearing from a group of ASA members in Minnesota. They told him about their inability to get technical data from auto manufacturers, which effectively prevented them from working on newer cars and trucks.

Finally, at the end of a Senate hearing on July 31, 2002, U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. - who chaired the Senate subcommittee that held the hearing - instructed the aftermarket and manufacturers to work together and find an industry solution. He warned everyone that lawmakers would act if the industry didn't. He also said Congress would be reviewing progress of the effort.

ASA continued to negotiate in "good faith" with the automakers. And a historic agreement was reached in September 2002 between ASA, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers. It ensured that independent service professionals would have access to the same level of service information, diagnostic tools and training that is available to dealer shops. And at a reasonable price.

The manufacturers agreed to provide such access by Aug. 31, 2003. And as they say, the rest is history. All auto manufacturers are now offering service information via the Internet - fulfilling their commitment well before the deadline.

ASA President Ron Pyle said, "The significance of having complete access to the manufacturers' service information cannot be overstated. This will have a tremendous positive impact on independent repair professionals and the entire aftermarket industry for many, many years."

Thus ended a battle that has been waged for years. A battle culminating in an accomplishment of which all ASA members can take pride.

It didn't happen overnight. It took many years of effort. It wasn't easy. It was really complex. And there wasn't any one act or thing that brought it about. Rather, it came about because ASA kept plugging away at it. It came about because ASA never took a combative stance against the manufacturers; instead, it worked with the manufacturers. And most importantly, it came about because of the efforts of many ASA members.

It's truly a tribute to all the men and women of ASA who worked diligently for years to make it happen. People like the 100 members who marched on Capitol Hill during ASA's 2002 Annual Convention, visiting their senators and representatives, trying to convince them how important this issue was to everyone. Members like John Francis Jr. and his son, John, who gave OBD information availability demonstrations for members of Congress and congressional staffers. Members like Dale Feste and John Vallely, who testified at Senate hearings. Members like Oscar and Bill Wiygul, who provided the facilities and tools used in an information availability demonstration in the Washington, D.C., area. And members like Mike West, who met repeatedly with manufacturers, and Aaron Clements, chairman of the Mechanical Division's Information Availability Subcommittee.

Also: Jim Keller, ASA's 2002 chairman who presented petitions with thousands of signatures to Towns; Geralynn and Jerry Kottschade, who called on their U.S. senator; and Dan Frolich and Johnny Mock, who were right there in the march on Capitol Hill. Frolich at the time was chairman-elect and Mock was a past ASA chairman. On and on could go the list of names of members who took time away from their shops to represent every repair professional on this issue.

And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the ongoing efforts of Robert L. Redding Jr., ASA's Washington, D.C., representative. Also, staffers like Bill Haas, vice president for service repair markets. In addition to all their other efforts, both testified at hearings and both represent ASA on NASTF.

Virtually all ASA staffers participated in the effort. But the bulk of credit goes to ASA members. Their accomplishment is one in which the whole association can be proud. Their gaining the service information all repairers need is truly a tribute to all, and it just shows what can happen when members leave their shop and volunteer their time to make a difference.

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