News Briefs

By Levy Joffrion

NATEF Programs Top 2000

The National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) has reached a milestone: more than 2,000 programs have been certified. In July, Louisiana Technical College - Natchitoches Campus became the 2,000th automotive program to become ASE certified through NATEF.

Herschel Horton, campus dean, said, "It is truly an honor for our program to be nationally certified. We are very happy to be associated with NATEF and ASE. The certification of our automobile technician training program will improve our ability to attract students and will enhance our image with the business people that employ our graduates."

NATEF works closely with the automotive industry to set national standards of quality for automotive technician training programs, and oversees the evaluation process through which training programs become certified. When a program that goes through the process meets the standards, NATEF recommends that program for ASE certification.

Inspections Highlight Repair Needs

Ninety percent of vehicles inspected during National Car Care Month failed one or more aspects of the inspection, which underscores the need for consumer education, reports the Car Care Council. The inspection lanes, conducted throughout the United States by sponsoring local organizations and businesses, are part of the automotive aftermarket industry's ongoing public awareness campaign, "Be Car Care Aware."

Volunteers across the country conducted the events. Coordinators reported their activities to the Car Care Council by returning inspection forms for compilation.

Nine out of 10 vehicles inspected needed some maintenance. For example, 38 percent of vehicles had low, overfull or dirty motor oil. Forty-six percent of the vehicles inspected needed washer fluid. In addition to lubricants and fluids, windshield wipers, parts (including belts, hoses and air filters) and lights/ vision were checked.

MACS Schedules Annual Convention

The Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide will hold its 24th annual convention and trade show at the Caribe Royale Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 22-24, 2004. MACS Mobile A/C Career Day will take place Friday, Jan. 23. MACS will invite central Florida area automotive students and their instructors to attend convention programming and tour the trade show to discover the many career choices available in the mobile A/C industry.

CU Urges Safer Switches

Consumers Union is urging Congress and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require safer power-window switches in all vehicles. Last year, four children were strangled by power windows in cars that did not have lever-type switches or auto-reverse sensors to stop them from closing when they hit an obstacle such as an arm or neck, according to Kids and Cars, a nonprofit safety organization. The culprits include switches that raise the window when they are depressed - often by a child's knee or foot. These switches are found primarily in vehicles from DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp.

Most imports and a few U.S. models have the safer, lever-type switch, which must be pulled up to raise the window. Those switches, together with auto-reverse sensors (already available in some cars) would help prevent deaths and injuries.

Free Welding Guides Available

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is offering two free new welding guides: a Plasma Cutting Buyer's Guide that explains the air plasma cutting process, as well as its benefits over oxy-fuel and mechanical cutting methods and typical applications, and a MIG Welding Buyer's Guide.

The Plasma Cutting Buyer's Guide explains features to look for in a plasma cutter (e.g. cutting capabilities and speed, and portability) and provides product specifications. It also features new products and several new technologies. The MIG Welding Buyer's Guide explains how to select the welder that best satisfies your needs and answers many commonly asked questions, such as: Can MIG equipment also flux cored weld? And, can I use one shielding gas for every metal? In addition, the guide features a Millermatic Series chart that helps the reader choose the most appropriate welder based on amps/duty cycle, wire feed speed, wire diameters, weight, and special features. For your free guides, visit MillerWelds.com or call 800-4-A-MILLER (800/426-4553).

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