ACtion Magazine - January/February 2014 - (Page 46)

New look, new scope W e're ringing in the New Year with the ﬁrst issue of our redesigned MACS ACtion™ magazine. We know you have many media competing for your time and attention, but we are committed to offering you unique insight on industry challenges you wrestle with on a daily basis. This issue's changes are subtle, such as new typefaces to improved readability, more and better illustrations to support and illuminate articles, and stronger emphasis on technical content, all while maintaining MACS' ﬁrm commitment to providing focus and perspective for our industry. One change you may not immediately notice is the tagline on the cover, which previously proclaimed "For the Automotive Air Conditioning and Cooling System Professional." The new tagline is "Total Vehicle Climate and Thermal Management.™" Here is our rationale for that. MACS believes it's time to expand its mission. While the electronics revolution started many years before, all 2008 and newer passenger cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. utilize a Control Area Network (CAN). CAN systems are also used in virtually all heavy trucks, construction It's time to expand vehicles and agricultural equipment. In a vehicle with a CAN bus, anything with a wire connected the mission" to it likely communicates with a computer. In addition to the powertrain, a computer also controls lighting, power steering and brake functions, entertainment and communication accessories, and of course, the climate control system. When someone turns on a car's air conditioning, a computer (or computers) will look at "mission-critical" systems ﬁrst, like powertrain, brakes, steering, battery charge, etc., then check a handful of other items like interior and exterior ambient temperatures, and then decide if conditions permit air conditioning operation. If conditions do not permit, air conditioning will not commence. This can be normal operation, and a technician must understand that the problem may be in one of these other systems and ﬁnding it will require proﬁciency with electrical and electronic test equipment. As noted in the State of the Industry report presented at the 2013 MACS Convention, repair and service opportunities continue to steadily diminish as mechanical systems become more reﬁned and more reliable, particularly air conditioning refrigerant systems. A new generation of even more sophisticated automotive technology is hitting the road right now, and as older models are retired, success and proﬁt in the service industry will rely heavily on technicians' understandings of electrical systems, computers and electronic control networks, and the tools needed to deal with them. "Total vehicle climate and thermal management" would include things like cooling systems for battery packs in hybrid and electric vehicles, new climate control technologies such as heat pumps, and other thermal management technologies that emerge in the future. Most important, MACS will focus on electrical and electronic diagnostics of these technologies and other systems that affect their operation. By proactively deﬁning a "total vehicle climate and thermal management" service arena, MACS can preserve and even expand market opportunities for its members. MACS Chairman Andy Fifﬁck has appointed a committee to continue to explore this issue, and the committee needs your input. Please contact me with your thoughts at elvis@macsw.org " Elvis Hoffpauir, Editor-in-Chief You can reach Elvis at elvis@macsw.org 46 ACTION * January/February 2014 Advertiser Index 1-800-Radiator & A/C............................2 AGS Company..................................... 36 Air Parts, Inc. ..................................... 44 AirSept, Inc. ....................................... 21 Arizona Mobile Air .............................. 10 Austin Baker Industries, Inc. ................ 28 Beck/Arnley ....................................... 35 Bergstrom.......................................... 30 Behr-Hella............................................9 BVA Oils ............................................ 32 Continental VDO ................................ 31 CSF.................................................... 37 Delphi ............................................... 29 DENSO ............................................. 47 DTAC ................................................. 20 Four Seasons ...................................... 48 Global Parts ....................................... 33 Johnson Manufacturing Company ........ 28 Longson ............................................ 38 MACS Worldwide .......................... 22, 34 MEI Corporation ............................... 6, 7 Neutronics ....................................center Old Air Products ................................. 18 Omega .............................................. 15 Polar Mobility .............................. 16, 35 Robinair ............................................ 39 RTI .................................................... 11 Santech ............................................. 45 Schrader ............................................ 16 T/CCI Mfg. ......................................... 17 Tracer Products .................................. 40 Trans/Air Mfg. .................................... 14 TSI Inc./SuperCool ................................3 TTA/C Parts ........................................ 19 TYC/Genera ........................................ 41 Universal Air Conditioner ......................5 UView................................................23 Valeo ................................................. 43 To request information from our advertisers visit www.macsw.org and click on the ACtion Reader Reply button. 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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - January/February 2014

ACtion Magazine - January/February 2014
Table of Contents
Compressor installation
Meet the newest pioneers
Outlook
Freeze Frame
Leonard’s Law
Virtual View
Service Port
Last Watch
By The Numbers
Cooling Corner
Industry News
Association News
New Products & Services

ACtion Magazine - January/February 2014