ORPORATI C NG IN + Taking a closer look How Ontario reinvented its inspection INSIDE: DECEMBER 2015 Q Five key trends facing the aftermarket Q Making the most of ‘opportunity season’ Q Variable displacement oil pumps Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063170 make their holiday dreams come true Talk to your Snap-on® Franchisee or order online at snapon.com Snap-on is a trademark, registered in the United States and other countries, of Snap-on Incorporated. All rights reserved. ©Snap-on Incorporated 2015. DECEMBER 2015 | VOL. 1 NO. 10 CANADIAN AUTO REPAIR & SERVICE MAGAZINE FEATURES 18 Taking a closer look Ontario’s new inspection process will involve checking even more components, taking careful measurements, and going 20 on a mandatory road test. COLUMNS 20 Variable displacement 5 oil pumps Service Notes They’re intended to improve fuel Now’s a good time to review your economy… but getting the PCM involved business and develop an updated master could mean more trouble codes. plan for 2016. 14 16 Collective Wisdom Management consultant Alan Beech says at DEPARTMENTS forward-thinking shops, busy season gives On the Web ...........................................6 way to ‘opportunity season.’ 18 Letters ...................................................9 30 In the News .........................................11 The Car Side By the Numbers .................................14 Beanie contemplates the mixed messages Baywatch ............................................25 he’s getting… from the vehicle he’s working on, and from his girlfriend! Advertiser Index ................................29 Our new international calling card. by www.bluestreak.ca December 2015 3 SERVICE NOTES ProMax... leading in durability and great performance. What’s your master plan for 2016? Now’s a good time to take a fresh look at what you’re doing. Severe Duty Metallic By Allan Janssen Brake Pads If you’re anything like me, you’re already 30,000-foot view of your business. From thinking a lot about 2016. this height you can more easily tell the The end of the year is a good time to difference between highways and take stock of how things have been country roads. You can pick out the going in your business, how they can short cuts. You can identify the dead- be improved, what you can do differ- ends. And you can see the best detours ently, and what your goals should be around new obstacles. for next year. No doubt there are some pretty big All this week I’ve had a calendar in obstacles out there! Ceramic Plus Brake Pads front of me as I tried to map out my The automotive repair and mainte- next 12 months. I know circumstances nance business is in the middle of a will change. Life has a way of throwing major transition… and not for the first curve balls. Probably before the end of time. The introduction of vehicle elec- February I’ll have to rip up my master tronics caused us to reinvent our plan and start all over again. services. The end of the break-down That’s not really a problem though. model brought a new way of looking Ceramic Brake Pads My view of master plans is a lot like my at maintenance. Now, social media is view of budgets and New Year’s resolu- altering the way we connect with tions. Making them is almost as consumers. Longer-lasting cars and important as following through on the evolving vehicle mix is changing them. what rolls into our shops. And accel- There’s tremendous benefit in taking erated technology is putting crazy new a 30,000-foot view of things. It allows demands on technicians. you to take note of the changing terrain, Without doubt we’re going to need Semi Metallic Brake Pads the landmarks, and all the obstacles training – both technical and manage- that stand between you and your goal. ment – to navigate the road ahead. Actually, defining your goal is an We’re going to need data. We’re going excellent first step. You have to under- to need good partners and role models. stand what it is that you’re trying to And we’re going to need some robust accomplish in the long run. Believe it industry resources. or not, that’s not always clear. Or it In many ways, we’re all just learning Brake Shoes changes. Sometimes you lose sight of as we go. At ground level, that can be it. You become so focused on the little very challenging. Every path looks like things that the grand design is a viable option. You can easily find completely lost. yourself in a bog because you missed Precision Brand When I catch myself mired in a turn in the road. Precision Engineering mindless tasks, I know it’s time to So take some time this holiday Precision Performance remember my ultimate objective. A season to recalibrate your business. note on our fridge here at work reminds Get some perspective and tackle 2016 everyone, “There’s no point in doing with a clear plan. well that which you shouldn’t be doing at all.” You can reach me at 416-614-5814 or ® So maybe now’s the time to take a [email protected]. www.autopartsdepot.ca December 2015 5 Visit us on the WEB! CANADIAN AUTO REPAIR & SERVICE MAGAZINE EDITOR | Allan Janssen (416) 614-5814 [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS | Alan Beech, Murray Voth, Camille Casse, Jeff Taylor, Rick Cogbill, John Fraser ART DIRECTOR | Tim Norton (416) 614-5810 [email protected] Canada’s most trusted MANAGING DIRECTOR, AUTO DIV. portal for fast-breaking & NATIONAL SALES | Kathryn Swan (416) 510-5221 [email protected] aftermarket news NATIONAL SALES | Andrew Ross just got better! (416) 510-6763 [email protected] QUEBEC & EASTERN CANADA SALES DIRECTOR | Denis Arsenault (514) 947-7228 [email protected] ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER, MORE MORE MORE PRINT/DIGITAL | Kimberly Collins news features products (416) 510-6779 [email protected] PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER | Phyllis Wright (416) 510-6786 [email protected] www.AutoServiceWorld.com/CARS CIRCULATION MANAGER | Lilianna Kantor (416) 614-5815 [email protected] Check out the all-new CARS magazine channel on the AutoServiceWorld.com aftermarket portal. Along with sister titles Jobber News and L’automobile, our CARS magazine is published monthly except for January and July by Newcom Business Media Inc., 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B newly designed web offering brings you the most comprehensive digital 2S9. The magazine serves the Canadian automotive repair and service industry. Subscriptions are free to those who meet the criteria. For package in Canada’s automotive aftermarket. With both a global landing page others: single copy price: $7.00 plus tax; one-year subscription in Canada: $53.95 plus applicable tax; 2-year subscription in Canada: and channel specific content for jobbers and WDs, service providers, and other $84.95 plus applicable tax; one-year subscription in U.S: US$95.95; single copy price: US$10.00; one-year subscription in all other countries: aftermarket professionals, autoserviceworld.com is a “must go to” resource. US$97.95. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. 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Going DIGITAL INSIDE: Q Rewriting your business model New ways to track workflow Q Taking diagnostics on the road and improve communication Q Troubleshooting rain sensors SEPTEMBER 2015 INSIDE: NOVEMBER 2015 i Counting Canada’s service bays i It’s Your Turn: Why I love this trade i Decoding modern fuel trim issues Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240 Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063170 VP, EDITORIAL | Rolf Lockwood Check out our On the go? GENERAL MANAGER | Joe Glionna online Calendar and PRESIDENT / PUBLISHER | Jim Glionna Enjoy our digital edition find out what’s going on! and review our previous issues. CORPORATE OFFICES HEAD OFFICE 451 Attwell Dr., Toronto ON M9W 5C4 Telephone: 416-614-2200 Facsimile: 416-614-8861 REGIONAL OFFICE Sign up for our twice weekly 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Telephone: 416-442-5600 Participate in our E-newsletter to ensure you Facsimile: 416-510-5169 Weekly Reader Poll are up-to-date on industry news. We’ll report back on the current Delivered to you every Tuesday Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations Newcom Media – Publications at 80 Valleybrook issues everyone’s talking about. and Thursday Customer Number: 4006214 Publication Mail Agreement #40063170 Print edition ISSN 2368-9129 On-line edition ISSN 2368-9137 Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook :HDFNQRZOHGJHWKHÀQDQFLDOVXSSRUWRIWKH *RYHUQPHQWRI&DQDGDWKURXJKWKH&DQDGD3HULRGLFDO )XQGRIWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI&DQDGLDQ+HULWDJH CANADIAN AUTO REPAIR & SERVICE MAGAZINE 6 CARS Choose Ford Parts. They fit your Ford better than the others, allowing you and your team to work more efficiently. Plus, we stand behind our parts with a 2-year, unlimited kilometre warranty* that includes up to $150 in labour. Not only are Ford Parts a great investment for you, your customers will benefit from long-term performance. And that’s what we call a FORD PARTS UP TO * winning combination.