To make the most of your insurance dollars, you need to understand exactly what your needs are and conduct a thorough review of your exposures.

Tags: insurance

Greenball Corp. has evolved a great deal since being formed by Chris Tsai and his wife, Jenny, in Long Beach, Calif., in 1976. The specialty tire distributor began operations in a 2,300-square-foot combination office and warehouse. Since then, it has outgrown its headquarters six times.

Tags: Greenball, Specialty tires

In the late 1990’s, Honda automobiles started using a blower motor power transistor to control the speeds of the blower motor instead of the traditional blower motor resistor. Now, when the blower motor power transistor fails, the air conditioning (A/C) compressor will become inoperable. When the blower motor does not operate on later model A/C systems, the heater control panel will set a code which in turn shuts off the request for A/C compressor operation.

Tags: Air conditioning, Service bays, Technicians, Underhood service

Independent tire dealers using social media to promote their business run the risk of losing both existing and potential customers if they push specials, sales and services too hard, according to Barry Reese, president of Tire Company Solutions (TCS), a tire dealership software supplier that has been working with dealers to create effective social media campaigns.

Tags: Barry Reese, Social media, TCS, Tire Company Solutions

Companies specializing in air compressors for tire dealerships are concentrating on several popular features — low noise generation, added power and a “small footprint.”

Tags: Auto service, Compressors, Shop equipment

The technician was working on a 1995 S/T truck with a 4.3L V-6 CPI engine. The complaint was a surge on acceleration and at steady cruise speeds. The tech had determined that the surge was gone when the linear EGR valve was disconnected. Another sign of a possible EGR problem was a reoccurring code 1406, EGR pintle position error. He installed a new EGR valve, but to his dismay, the surge and EGR position problem were still present on the next road test.

Tags: Pickup trucks, Service bays, Underhood service

Like proud parents welcoming a new daughter-in-law, we warmly, if methodically, welcomed new employees into the fold. New hires acquired a “buddy” who gave them a tour of their new home along with the lowdown on the people and culture.

Tags: Business Insight, Tom Gegax

Some Hyundai Santa Fe owners may complain of a “knocking” or “squawking” noise from the front suspension while driving the vehicle over rough road surfaces at low speeds. The noise may originate from the front stabilizer bar bushing. To correct this condition, you will need to know how to install a new front stabilizer bar bushing and bracket.

Tags: ALLDATA, Hyundai, NVH, NVH solutions, Sante Fe

While I was working for a Saturn dealer, a new 2006 Saturn Ion was delivered from the factory with a problem in the electrical system. When the vehicle sat for more than a day or two, the battery would be dead. I checked for any lights or modules that were operating with the key off, and noted that the radio clock display was lit -- though there was no sound from the radio-when the key was not in the ignition. Turning on the ignition switch caused the radio to function normally.

Tags: Electrical service, Saturn Ion, Service bays, Underhood service

Nitrogen inflation is offered by 18.3% of the independent tire dealers in the United States, or close to 5,300 dealerships. That doesn’t include Costco Wholesale Corp.’s 409 outlets, which also offer nitrogen tire fill service.

Tags: nitrogen