ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 24

Auto and light truck service clinics

Gates Corp.

about symptoms, causes and logical
diagnostic strategies technicians
can use to pinpoint the root causes
of problems, and ultimately,
provide fixes that are more efficient
and complete.
*
Growing Your Knowledge
Base Means Staying Current -
"Everyone needs to refresh their
understanding of electrical basics
from time to time. As thermal
management systems continue
to become more integrated and
controlled electronically, this holds
true for HVAC systems on all
types of vehicles, from light duty
passenger cars to heavy-duty offroad equipment."
*
Improved Awareness
Improves Confidence, Productivity
and Customer Relations -
"Acquiring a more complete
understanding of electricity
can help technicians better
explain problems and solutions
to customers. Two explanation
examples are: 'What can cause a
fuse to fail?' or 'How does voltage
drop work?' From a technician's

Figure 6: "Some technicians have told
us they don't provide 'full ﬂush and
ﬁll' of coolants because their shop's
current machines take too long and
add cost to the service," Bobby Basset
explained. "To offset those concerns,
new quality total coolant replacement tools, such as the Gates PowerClean Tool, can become a proﬁt
center by shortening service time
and reducing comebacks, premature
failures, and rejected warranty/labor
claims."

24

ACTION * April 2017

viewpoint, growing and using your
knowledge base builds confidence
and competence in diagnosing
and making complete, first-timeright electrical repairs. Improved
productivity and reduced waste
of parts and time are paybacks for
the shop, significant returns on its
investment in training."
"Wherever technicians are, a shop, dealership, off-road site, vo-tech school, or industry event like MACS - there is a wide
range of skills represented," Martin shared.
"Some technicians have a sound knowledge
of electricity and readily available associated
diagnostic skills, while many are still growing their skillset."
He then shared an example of how improving electrical skills can impact a business. "There is a gold mining operation near
Fairbanks, Alaska, where I provide training
to 60 technicians, who are split into four shift
crews of 15 each. When I began working with
them, just a few technicians were competent
or confident in resolving electricity-related
problems. Repairs were often trial-and-error
in nature, with 'How did I do that?' successes
hopefully remembered for the next time."
"Each crew now has a growing cadre of
technicians, who have built their skill set.
Their understanding of electricity basics
has become more top-of-mind, which has
empowered them with the expertise to confidently and repeatedly diagnose and resolve
problems. They and the business share improved productivity, related efficiencies and
cost savings."
"I've seen this happen at businesses time
and time again," Martin concluded. "As a
trainer, bringing more technicians to that
point is what drives me forward."

Purge poor service practices
Archaic service procedures are initiating
premature failures
"Like many modern vehicles today, when
individual cooling system components wear,
they put the entire network of parts at risk,"
explained Bobby Bassett, national training
manager for Gates Corp. "But in many shops
today, archaic service procedures are initiating problems before vehicles even leave the
shop. For everyone's quality control, this
needs to change."

During his session, titled We Can't Do It
Like We Used To - Become System Smart,
Basset described several root causes for failures, showed their effects on coolant system
components, and highlighted new cooling
system service procedures shops need to
adopt to better suit modern technologies and
components.
"Recently, an extensive study by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association
concluded that 97.5 percent of all warranty
claims are preventable," Basset noted. "The
root cause of failure was rarely manufacturerelated; rather, it was a result of improper service procedures. For example, if a 'full flush
and fill' of coolant was not part of the service
repair process, post-replacement premature
failures rates were found to be as high as 95
percent for water pumps and 40 percent for
radiators."
Basset shared several key coolant system
service takeaways:
*
Implement the Gates
Corporation I60R90/Be
System Smart Inspection
Recommendations (which are also
recommended by the Car Care
Council) -"Start inspecting
the coolant and serpentine belt
drive systems at 60,000 miles,
then re-inspect or replace worn
components by 90,000 miles, or as
advised by the manufacturer."
*
Contaminated Coolant
Left in Vehicles When Serviced
Can Cause Premature Coolant
System Failures and Customer
Comebacks - "There are three
distinct problems happening
in coolant systems today,
namely contaminated coolant,
suspended solids, and inadequate
inhibitor protection. Shops
need to understand that if old or
contaminated coolant is reused,
suspended solids in that coolant
will act as abrasives that can
quickly destroy a new water
pump."
*
Shops must adopt 'full flush
and fill of coolant' into their
service procedures; anything
less is detrimental -Proper
formulations of coolants and their

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - April 2017

Outlook
Service Port
Leonard's Law
Virtual View
Member Profile
Auto and light truck service clinics
By the Numbers
Review of heavy duty/off road vehicle tech
Marketing panel
Industry News
Association News
New Products
Last Watch
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Cover1
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Cover2
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 3
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 4
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 5
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Outlook
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 7
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Service Port
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 9
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Leonard's Law
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 11
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Virtual View
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 13
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Member Profile
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 15
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 16
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 17
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Auto and light truck service clinics
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 19
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - By the Numbers
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 21
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 22
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 23
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 24
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 25
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 26
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 27
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 28
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 29
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Review of heavy duty/off road vehicle tech
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 31
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 32
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 33
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Marketing panel
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 35
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 36
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Industry News
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 38
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Association News
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 40
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 41
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 42
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 43
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - New Products
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - 45
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Last Watch
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Cover3
ACtion Magazine - April 2017 - Cover4
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