Directions Web Ways
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) Web site (http://www.asashop.org) is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Since its debut Oct. 3, 1995, the number of visits to the site has averaged a 28 percent increase each month.The most recent Web site development is ASA's Employment Classified section, a free service for professionals seeking employment and shops with positions available. ASA also plans to provide daily highlights of its International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), to be held Nov. 7-10, in Orlando, Fla. Daily on-line NACE updates will be available Nov. 8-10.
For those of you who are NACE veterans, we need your advice! We're interested in your favorite tips to make the trip to NACE the best it can be. We will publish the tips in our November NACE show issue. Please submit ideas to Angie Phillips by e-mail (angiep@asa.dataorg.com); phone (800) 272-7467, ext. 219; or fax (817) 685-0225. Participants will receive a free AutoInc. mousepad while supplies last.
Vehicle crashes cost America $150.5 billion in 1994, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study released by Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena. Property damage costs of $52.1 billion accounted for the most significant portion of the total cost (35 percent), followed by lifetime losses in marketplace production of $42.4 billion. Because of their high incidence, crashes of vehicles that sustained only property damage were the most costly type of occurrence, totaling $38.9 billion and accounting for 26 percent of total motor vehicle crash costs.
GM will test four service-only centers early next year, according to a report in Automotive News. Two goals of the dealer-owned sites are to give their customers more access to GM services and to compete with independents. The remote centers will target customers who do not mind driving 30 or 40 miles to buy a vehicle, but will not drive the same distance for service.
A new way to reduce emissions has been developed by Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems using hydrocarbon adsorber technology. The passive device, a catalytic converter hydrocarbon adsorber, integrated with a properly calibrated engine management system, is reported to significantly reduce cold start exhaust emissions for gasoline engines. Catalyst coatings are used to store hydrocarbon pollutants while the internal combustion engine warms. Hydrocarbons are then converted into environmentally friendly gases as the catalytic converter reaches optimum temperature.
Your Turn
"Would you encourage a child who showed an interest in becoming an automotive service professional?""My 18-year-old nephew is interested in collision repair and I'm doing what I can to help him get the training he'll need. I think it's a career that will offer him a lot of opportunity. Like all jobs, it has its downsides -- it's tough physically, and right now it's still not a career held in high esteem by some of the general public. But for those who are willing to work hard, there is good compensation, improving working conditions and good opportunity for an upward career path."
Camille Eber, owner, Roth & Miller Autobody & Paint, Inc., Portland, Ore.
Technicians Comment On Electric Cars, Emissions
Now in its fourth year, an annual poll of American technicians has just been released by The Valvoline Company, in conjunction with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Among other findings, the national poll of 200 ASE master technicians reports that more than half (56 percent) think that electric cars are very likely or somewhat likely to be mass produced for consumer use within the next 10 years. Technicians also commented on how prepared they felt they were to service and maintain electric vehicles if their customers currently owned these cars. Forty-nine percent said they would feel somewhat prepared or very prepared, while 51 percent felt they were not very prepared or not at all prepared.Survey respondents also rated ways to reduce emissions (see chart below).
Technicians rate emission reduction proposals
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don't know Require frequent servicing of older cars: 21% 35% 24% 19% 2% Change motor oil more often: 21% 39% 26% 15% --- Prohibit old cars: 9% 15% 19% 56% 2% Sell reformulated gasoline: 8% 29% 28% 30% 6% More regulations on engine standards: 6% 19% 34% 42% 1% ASA Main Page || AutoInc. Main Page
Regulatory Compliance -- Turn A Pain Into A Gain
Low-budget Marketing Ideas For Big-dollar Results || How To Handle Low VOC Paints
Mechanical Shops Are Going Green || Election Year Impact On The Aftermarket
Guest Editorial -- Control At Point-of-sale Is Not About Leveling The Playing Field
Tech To Tech || TechTips || Stat Corner || News Briefs || News Briefs Extra || Taking The Hill || Directions || Around ASA || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLIV No. 10, October 1996