R-1234yf Expected to Pass Safety Tests • AutoChoice Acquires R.K. Buzzell Automotive Operations • Denso Expands Offering MAGAZINE JANUARY 2013 Jobber NewsServing the Automotive Aftermarket Since 1931 CV Shafts Where U-Joints Once Roamed Now Rule CounterTalk: Starting and Charging System Basics Chassis Parts Market Money & Management: What to Do After You Sell Engine Tech: Duramax Head Gaskets Flexible Storage System Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Agreement No. 40069240 Visit AutoServiceWorld.com. 2COVER MARY JAN13.indd 1 13-01-02 1:32 PM taiwan p2.indd 2 12-12-31 9:00 AM ThisContents MonthJanuary 2013 Vol. 81, No. 1 16 COVER CV Shafts Now Rule The push to improve vehicle fuel efficiency is ramping up as automakers continue to make strides in driveline efficiencies. From transmissions to drive shafts and U-joints, drivelines are going through a major design transition – becoming smoother, lighter, and smarter. But at what cost to consumers? 4 Over the Counter 20 Market Feature: Parts Storage Needs Honeywell Confident R-1234yf Refrigerant will be Confirmed as Safe by SAE International; AutoChoice Parts & Paints to Grow With Your Business Needs Confirms Acquisition of Robert K. Buzzell Auto Parts Continually growing stock and limited space was Operations; Wakefield Canada Awarded Two Honours adversely affecting productivity at an automotive fleet For 2012; Denso Announces Aftermarket Product Line repair shop. There’s a lesson here for jobbers. Expansion; Most Victorious Corvette in History to Cross the Block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale; Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) Launches Online Database of Lift Inspector Testing 22 Engine Tech: GM 6.6L Duramax Diesel – Locations; U.S. News: AutoZone Inc. Reports Net Sales of $2 Reliable, But Not Without Its Complexities Billion For Its First Quarter of 2012, Acquires Online Retailer More than 150,000 of these engines have been built AutoAnything; MAT Holdings, Inc. Acquires Gabriel Shocks since it made its introduction in 2001, making it one of to Bolster its Automotive Offering; Dayco Receives Shipping the most popular engines on the road in the category. Performance, Manpower Support Awards; Federal-Mogul Receives Outstanding Training Support Award. 24 New Products 12 Market Tracker: Demand for Quality Chassis Components on the Rise 26 Boost Sales With a As OEMs continue moving towards parts consolidation and lighter-weight components, aftermarket parts Refresher on Charging Systems Basics distributors are finding installers are requesting higher- By taking the time to brush up on the basics of how quality replacement parts. a vehicle charging system operates, counter staff will be better equipped to make the appropriate sale 14 Money & Management: 10 Things To Do when a customer comes in looking for help. After You Sell 29 Autoservicworld.com Internet Directory Fewer than 25% of entrepreneurs had pre-planned the sale of their business, according to a recent survey. Most needed considerable time to re-engineer 30 Comment themselves and their money after the sale. A Warm Outlook for a Cold Winter Departments Appointments ......................................................... 10 Marketplace Classifieds/ Advertisers Index .......... 29 JOBBER NEWS / JANUARY 2013 3 P3 January CONTENTS.indd 3 13-01-02 10:45 AM NEWS ANDTION INFORMA OVER THE COUNTER Honeywell Confident R-1234yf Refrigerant will be Confirmed as Safe by SAE International Philips Receives 2012 Editor’s Choice Award from Popular Mechanics Philips Automotive Lighting North America received the Editor’s Choice award from Popular Mechanics, for its new Philips X-tremeVision LED Interior Bulbs, which were singled out as one of the best new products at the 2012 SEMA Show. * * * Register For the 2013 Taipei AMPA and AutoTronics Auto Parts and Accessories Show The TAIPEI AMPA and Honeywell says it is confident that the Society of HFO-1234yf is an efficient, low-global-warm- ing refrigerant that was developed as a direct AutoTronics Taipei shows Automotive Engineers (SAE) International will replacement to HFC-134a in mobile air-con- will feature 1,100 exhibitors confirm that its HFO-1234yf refrigerant is safe for use in automobiles. ditioning applications. Compared with HFC- and 3,000 booths for 2013. SAE International, in announcing an update 134a, HFO-1234yf offers a 99.7% improvement In addition, the shows will on its fourth and latest Cooperative Research in global warming potential and far exceeds occur in conjunction with Project (CRP) on the refrigerant, said, “To date, the European Union Mobile Air Conditioning the Taiwan Motorcycle the majority of the OEMs involved in the new (MAC) Directive requirement. Show and Taiwan Electric CRP do not believe that any of the new informa- Under rare conditions, HFO-1234yf exhibits Vehicle Show at the tion reviewed will lead to a change in the overall mild flammability, but at levels significantly lower Nankang Exhibition Center. risk assessment.” than highly flammable materials already pres- “With the exception of Daimler, no OEM in ent under the hood of an automobile, includ- * * * the CRP has provided information that would ing motor oil, automotive transmission fluid, suggest a concern for the safe use of R-1234yf in radiator antifreeze, brake fluid, and compressor New Technical Bulletins their vehicles,” SAE International said. lubricant – not to mention fuel. For a video on and Videos “Based on this announcement, Honeywell this topic, which includes a comparison of HFO- Cardone has released more believes that SAE International’s latest evalu- 1234yf vs. HFC-134a and other materials, visit of its popular, time-saving ation will only reconfirm the overwhelming www.1234facts.com/resources. ProTech technical bulletins. body of data – including rigorous and compre- SAE International’s previous research proj- Included with the written hensive studies conducted in Europe, the U.S., ects have addressed the issue of flammability, technical bulletins are links and Japan – that have clearly and repeatedly employing proven and universally accepted fault- to several short new tech determined that HFO-1234yf is safe for use in tree risk assessment techniques to evaluate the videos posted on their automobiles,” said Dr. Ian Shankland, chief real-world possibility of a fire and human impact. SAE International said in its latest statement growing YouTube page. technology officer for Honeywell Performance that it has expanded its fault-tree assessment in Visit the Tech Help section Materials and Technologies. “HFO-1234yf is a safe and effective refrigerant, and it is better for the new CRP to “ensure that newly identified at www.cardone.com. the environment.” information and testing from each of the OEMs Previously, HFO-1234yf was the subject of is incorporated.” comprehensive testing conducted over a three- As part of SAE International’s programs, Follow us on Twitter. year period under an SAE International CRP, internationally recognized laboratories – includ- Get AutoServiceWorld.com using proven, standard methods for evaluating ing Hughes Associates Inc. and France’s Institute new products and materials in automobiles. That National de l’Environnement Industriel et des News and more by CRP, which was sponsored by 15 global automak- Risques (INERIS) – conducted extensive testing following JobberNews ers including all leading German automakers, on flammability and safety, and all concluded on Twitter. concluded that HFO-1234yf is safe for use in that HFO-1234yf is safe for use in automobiles. automobile applications. 4 JOBBER NEWS / JANUARY 2013 p4,6,7,8,10 OTC.indd 4 13-01-02 11:15 AM ® Now Available! www.autopartsdepot.ca promax p5.indd 5 12-12-31 9:01 AM NEWS ANDTION INFORMA OVER THE COUNTER AutoChoice Parts & Paints during the integration and I know that I can Confirms Acquisition of Robert K. count on all of our employees to continue to Buzzell Auto Parts Operations work hard and remain focused as our two job- AutoChoice Parts & Paints Limited and Robert bers come together. I am pleased to be passing K. Buzzell Limited have announced that they the torch of our automotive division on to a fel- have entered into a definitive share purchase low independent Atlantic Canadian jobber and agreement whereby AutoChoice will acquire all have full confidence that AutoChoice will con- of the outstanding shares of the automotive divi- tinue to meet the same standards of excellence sion of Buzzell’s. that we have prided ourselves upon since incep- Both AutoChoice and R.K. Buzzell are part of tion. Our plan for Robert K. Buzzell Limited is to Continued from page 4 the Uni-Select network. concentrate our efforts on expanding our small The acquisition will result in one of Atlantic engine division, Atlantic Air Cooled Engines, as Canada’s largest players with a total of 18 branch well as investigating the possibility of opening a outlets in all four Atlantic provinces. The move fee warehouse in the Moncton area. I think this marks AutoChoice’s first foray into the New is a tremendous opportunity for both companies Brunswick and Prince Edward Island markets. to grow their respective businesses.” Call for Recommendations The stock purchase agreement remains sub- Robert K. Buzzell, president of Buzzell’s, has for the AIA Board of ject to customary closing conditions, including agreed to support AutoChoice in a consulting Directors satisfactory completion of due diligence. role for a period of 12 months post-closing to The AIA Nominating The transaction was expected to close on assist in the