- ACDelco TechConnect

volume 23 issue 1 | 2008
custom Candy
Industry Week 2007 brings out the aftermarket’s finest
INSIDE: NHRA Las Vegas Nationals | Equipping the Ultimate Home Garage
GM PARTS ENGINES ANd AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
HERE’S THE REAl POwER
bEHINd OUR POwERTRAINS.
CONTENTS
COVER and this page: PHOTOs BY BLAIR BUNTING
Ţ3-year, 100,000-mile limiTeD WarranTyŢ
8IJDIFWFSDPNFTGJSTU
*
ŢSame- or nexT-Day DeliveryŢ
/FXPSSFNBOVGBDUVSFE
Ţoe-QualiTyŢ
:PVS(.EFBMFSDBOHJWFJUUPZPV
ŢCall 1.866.453.4123Ţ
'PSEFBMFSMPDBUPSBOEUFDIOJDBMBTTJTUBODF
$100 MAIl-IN REbATE**
Ţ8IFOZPVCVZBOEJOTUBMMBOZ
(.&OHJOF5SBOTNJTTJPO5SBOTGFS$BTF
PSTFMFDU(.1FSGPSNBODF1BSUT&OHJOFT
wANT GENUINE?
CAll THE GM PARTS
POwERTRAIN CONTACT CENTER
AT 1.866.453.4123 TOdAy.
Ţ(FUVQUPSFCBUFTQFSRVBSUFSQFSMPDBUJPO
Ţ'PS*OEFQFOEFOU4FSWJDF$FOUFST*4$
5PUBM4FSWJDF4VQQPSU544
BOE'MFFU"DDPVOUT
Ţ0ƋFSFYQJSFT%FDFNCFS
Ţ(PUP"$%FMDP5FDIDPOOFDUDPNUPEPXOMPBESFCBUFGPSN
0GGFSPQFOPOMZUP*OEFQFOEFOU4FSWJDF$FOUFST"$%FMDPm544BDDPVOUTBOE'MFFUBDDPVOUT
JO64&YDMVEFT(.EFBMFSTBOEXBSSBOUZXPSL7BMJEPOMZPOUIFJOTUBMMBUJPOPG(.&OHJOFT
5SBOTNJTTJPOT5SBOTGFS$BTFTPSFMJHJCMF1FSGPSNBODF1BSUTFOHJOFTQVSDIBTFEGSPNB(.
EFBMFSPSBVUIPSJ[FE"$%FMDP%JTUSJCVUPSGSPN+BOVBSZUISPVHI%FDFNCFSFYDMVEFT
FOHJOFTVTFEGPSDJSDMFUSBDLPSSBDFBQQMJDBUJPOT
3FCBUFSFRVFTUTNVTUCFQPTUNBSLFECZ
+BOVBSZ"MMPXXFFLTGPSEFMJWFSZPGSFCBUFDIFDL
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
12 VIVA Las Vegas!
4 briefs
The automotive aftermarket converges on Sin City
for AAPEX and SEMA
24 SPARKING INNOVATION
From transatlantic flights to trips to the moon, ACDelco
parts have helped power American aviation firsts
28 ULTIMATE home GARAGE
Technicians, tinkerers, weekend racers and cruisers
share a dream — a space to enjoy their passion. We
give you a look at what necessities to have
8 product news
10 events
19 5 minutes with
20 real results
23 tss tools
32 smart moves
34 one more thing
PUBLISHING STAFF Senior Editor Lori Bremerkamp | Art Director Rebecca Yops | Art Supervisor Todd Kraemer
Project Manager Jacquie Lauth | Account Manager Iole Whiteford | Project Coordinator Nik Arini
Production/Circulation Kathy Cosgro | Managing Director Jeremy Morris | Account Director Angelo Acord
8BSSBOUZBQQMJFTUPFOHJOFTJOTUBMMFEJOQBTTFOHFSDBSBOEMJHIUEVUZUSVDLTFSJFT
5IJTXBSSBOUZEPFTOPUBQQMZUPUSBOTGFSDBTFTPSBOZVOJUJOTUBMMFEVOEFSUIF(FOFSBM.PUPST
/FX7FIJDMF-JNJUFE8BSSBOUZBOEDPWFSTPOMZUIPTFFOHJOFTBOEUSBOTNJTTJPOTUIBUBSF
NBSLFUFECZ(.BT(PPEXSFODI(.1BSUTPS(.1FSGPSNBODF1BSUT
Intune is published for ACDelco, General Motors Corp., by Campbell-Ewald Publishing, 30400 Van Dyke
Ave., Warren, MI 48093, e-mail: intune@campbell-ewald.com. General Motors is an equal-opportunity
employer. Manuscripts and photographs are submitted at the sender’s risk. Please enclose a self-addressed,
stamped envelope for return of material. Submission of letters implies the right to edit and publish.
Copyright ©2008 by Campbell-Ewald Publishing. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
INTUNE ADVISORY BOARD
ACDelco Marketing Director Nancy McLean
ACDelco Advertising Manager Chris Brandt
Advertising Specialist Renee David
i(.$PSQ"MMSJHIUTSFTFSWFE
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco briefs
ACDelco Receives TSS
Advisory Council Award
ACDelco RECEIVED an award of recognition from the Total Service Support
The RESULTS ARE IN
Advisory Council (TAC) at their annual face-to-face meeting held in Grand Blanc,
Mich. Outgoing council member Bob Wills presented the “ACDelco Employees’
Appreciation Award” to the entire organization as a “thank-you to all ACDelco
employees for working together to make good things happen.”
The TAC also awarded ACDelco marketing director Nancy McLean the
“Dedicated Service Award” as a “thank-you for a job well done.” McLean was
honored to receive the award
and says this type of recognition
makes her want to push even
harder to make the ACDelco
TSS Program unsurpassed in the
industry, and ultimately grow
the TSS accounts’ business. n
If you missed the
series of ACDelco
“All Makes and Models
Challenge” articles
that ran in ImportCar,
Underhood Service and
BRAKE & FRONT END,
now is your chance to
get caught up. Visit
acdelcotechconnect.
com to read reviews
from the six technicians
who took part in the
challenge, assessing
ACDelco parts’ quality,
reliability, fit and
function for non-GM
applications.
From Left: ACDelco’s Jeff
Spitzer, Nancy McLean,
and Paul Johnson with
outgoing TAC Members
Mark Hyde, Bob Wills and
Dave Christopher.
Learning Helps Lead to Loyalty
INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
— available at acdelco.com/service — to introduce
each system, and one of the shop’s technicians demonstrated how to check air pressure, tire tread and
oil, among other things. Each participant left with a
bag containing a tire gauge, note pad, pen, sunglass
clip, an ACDelco car care information booklet and a
coupon for a free oil change at the shop.
The seminars drew praise from both existing and
new customers. One mother brought her teenage
daughter, and another new customer dropped off her
car for service after attending the seminar. One 82-yearold attendee even called afterward to say she had just
checked her tire pressure with the ACDelco tire gauge.
Providing information in a pressure-free
environment is a winning formula, Wynter says.
“Our professionalism, shop appearance and
impressive ACDelco materials speak for themselves,” she adds. n
industry honors acdelco
ACDelco received numerous industry awards during this year’s
Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) activities in Las
Vegas, including:
• 2007 Automotive Communications Awards from the Car Care
Council Women’s Board. ACDelco won in the Car Care Clinic
category for the “Knowledge is Power” program, the Best Print
Ad Campaign category for the consumer health/preventative
maintenance ads and the Print Ad to Technician/Repair Audience
category for the “All Makes and Models Challenge” series of articles
• A Gold Award in the Merchandising/Display category of
photo: THE GROUP DYNAMIC
Women-focused
car care seminars
are helping Kay
Wynter (above)
reach a valuable
audience.
AS MORE WOMEN take charge of their auto
maintenance needs, hosting seminars is a great
way to provide information while also introducing
them to your business.
“We recently hosted two ‘Car Care Seminars for
Women,’ and they were successful, thanks to the
ACDelco ‘Knowledge is Power’ guidebook,” says
Kay Wynter, who, with her husband, Terry, co-owns
Terry Wynter Auto Service Center, an ACDelco
Total Service Support account in Fort Myers, Fla.
The two-hour seminars were promoted in
local newspapers and with a postcard mailing to
customers and women’s groups. “Due to limited
space, each class included just 10 or 11 women,
which worked out well,” Wynter says.
She kicked off each seminar by explaining how
auto centers differ and how costs are billed. Terry
then used the ACDelco Automotive Systems Guide
[QUICK HITS]
Aftermarket Business magazine’s 13th annual Global Design
Awards for the direct mail health campaign
• ImportCar magazine’s “Readers’ Choice” Award for the ACDelco
“All Makes and Models Challenge” series of articles
See page 12 for more on ACDelco’s presence at AAPEX 2007.
2008
SCHOLARSHIP
DEADLINE NEARS
All Total Service Support
shop employees and
their dependents are
eligible for ACDelco
scholarships, which are
awarded annually with
winners announced in
mid-June. But hurry,
submissions must be
received by March 30,
2008. Contact your
local ACDelco sales
representative or visit
acdelcotechconnect.
com for an application
and more information
about scholarship
requirements and
selection criteria.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco [QUICK HITS]
BRIEFS
TSS MEMBER
NAMED TOP
BUSINESS
TPMS Kit
Launches
New e-Business
Tool Released
BEGINNING WITH THE 2008 model
ACDelco HAS DEVELOPED a new Web-based parts and labor control
interface — WISEConnect — that has been integrated into R.O. Writer, one
of the nation’s premier shop management systems.
R.O. Writer users can connect to ACDelco WDs, order parts, configure labor and integrate into the tools of the powerful R.O. Writer Shop
Management System.
W ISEConnect
links you directly
to your ACDelco
W D, letting you
check inventory from multiple branches, check pricing and order parts. It also
lets you look up labor times and add parts and labor to your R.O. Writer Shop
Management System estimates or repair orders.
WISEConnect is fully integrated to R.O. Writer and lets you view additional
parts information, related and recommended parts, and the ACDelco e-Promotions
dashboard. You can also participate in e-Promotions from both ACDelco and your
ACDelco WD with real-time purchase feedback on the ACDelco dashboard.
With WISEConnect, you also gain access to the entire suite of ACDelco
e-Business tools, which features:
• the most up-to-date parts catalog data
• multiple parts and branch lookup
• simultaneous parts and labor lookup and selection
• anytime parts ordering and price and availability checks
• integration to shop management software to eliminate double entries
• additional parts information and automotive systems guides
• related and recommended parts information
• collision, fleet, French and Spanish versions available
• e-Promotions from ACDelco and your ACDelco WD, with real-time
feedback on the ACDelco dashboard
For more information, contact your local ACDelco sales representative;
call the ACDelco e-Business Help Desk at 800-825-5886, option 3; or visit
acdelcotechconnect.com/rowriter. n
year, the government has mandated all
passenger vehicles with a Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating of up to 10,000 lbs. be
equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) to help prevent accidents
caused by underinflated tires.
In July, ACDelco launched a line of
replacement parts for the TPMS GM
has phased into its vehicles over the
last few years.
ACDelco’s TPMS kit currently
includes the pressure sensor assembly
with its related components. Individual
components for the system should be
available in early 2008. Proprietary
information prevents expansion to
Contact your local ACDelco sales
representative or ACDelco WD for
more information.
ACDelco Joins Forces
with ASE
ISCs THAT PARTICIPATE in ACDelco’s Total Service Support (TSS)
Program already have exclusive access to a wealth of tools, training and benefits
to enhance nearly every aspect of their business. Now, existing TSS members have
one more reason to align with ACDelco — an exclusive arrangement with the
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
ASE is working closely with ACDelco to qualify its more than 8,000 U.S. TSS
members for the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition Program (BSRP), helping to increase the number of ASE-certified technicians at TSS shops.
ACDelco is offering TSS members a significantly discounted registration
fee of $150, from the regular fee of $235. Registration for the BSRP
can be made online or a form can be downloaded at ase.com. To
receive the discounted price, be sure to enter a dash and TSS
(-TSS) after your business name. n
ACDelco’s TPMS kit can
help encourage drivers
to routinely check their
vehicle’s tire pressure.
INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
TSS Members can receive a
significant discount on the
ASE BSRP registration fee.
left: the group dynamic; Top: Courtesy of ASE
non-GM vehicles.
53
Always eager to go
beyond the call of
duty to help, Mark and
Shawna Hyde, and their
employees, treat every
customer like a member
of their own family.
It’s this level of
dedication to service
and to the community
that earned their shop,
Hyde Auto Service
Center, an ACDelco Total
Service Support account
based in Oklahoma City,
“Corporate Neighbor of
the Year” honors from
The Neighborhood
Alliance of Central
Oklahoma.
The award is given
to a company that has
demonstrated a strong
commitment to their
neighborhoods and
community.
The shop, nominated
by Miller Neighborhood
residents, was recognized at the first annual
Good Neighbor
Awards Banquet held
Oct. 22, 2007.
The billions of dollars in unperformed
maintenance in 2006, according to new
research from the Automotive Aftermarket
Suppliers Association (AASA). Unperformed
maintenance reached its peak in 2002 at $62
billion and has hovered in the $52 to $55 billion
range in the years that have followed.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco product news
ACDelco Member Purchase Program
A Clear
Vision
Windows Vista – Can you see it?
Available through the Dell Member Purchase Program
Put simply, Windows Vista® gives
you a more exciting way to work
and play on your PC:
ACDelco FINE-TUNES ITS
BEAM WIPER BLADE
OFFERING
t(SFBUGFBUVSFTMJLF8JOEPXT.FEJB
$FOUFSUPIFMQZPVNBOBHFWJEFP
BVEJPBOE57BMMGSPNZPVS%FMM1$
XJUIBUVOFS
t/FXTFDVSJUZPQUJPOTTVDIBTQBSFOUBM
DPOUSPMTBOEJOUFHSBUFEBOUJTQZXBSF
UPIFMQQSPUFDUZPVBOEZPVSGBNJMZ
t5IFDPPMJOUFSGBDFPG8JOEPXT"FSP™
XIJDIDBONBLFZPVSDPNQVUFS
FYQFSJFODFEZOBNJDBOEGVO
EVER SINCE THE automobile
evolved from the days of the horse-andbuggy, all of its vehicle systems and parts have
continued to improve. Even the simple rubber
strips that wipe water from the windshield have been
reengineered many times to the designs we see today.
ACDelco is improving its design once again with the
introduction of a Beam Wiper Blade with an aerodynamic
spoiler that reduces lift at higher speeds, helping the rubber
maintain contact with the glass to enhance wiper performance.
Its innovative, frameless design provides constant pressure for
a uniform wipe and fits many of the newer applications that use the
push-button, side-pin and pinch-tab specialty arms.
ACDelco’s Beam Wiper Blade without the spoiler, which launched in
2006, is still available.
The Beam Wiper Blades’ rubber element is a blend of natural and synthetic
rubber for superb durability. They are backed by a spring-steel beam and attach
to the arm through an extended coupler and a preassembled adaptor. A smooth
design discourages snow and ice buildup during winter driving.
Of course, owners of newer vehicles aren’t the only market opportunity:
In all, 30 part numbers — ranging in length from 16 to 28 inches and
offering attachment designs to fit many different manufacturers — provide
coverage for most vehicles on the road today manufactured after 1970.
Contact your local ACDelco sales representative or ACDelco WD for
more information. n
And as a Dell Member Purchase Program participant, you already get these great benefits:
t6QUPPGGBOZ%FMM*OTQJSPO™EFTLUPQPSOPUFCPPLTZTUFN
t.FNCFSEJTDPVOUTJOBEEJUJPOUPHFOFSBMMZBEWFSUJTFE%FMM)PNFBOE)PNF0GmDFQSJDFTBOEQSPNPUJPOT
t&YDMVTJWFEJTDPVOUTBOEPGGFSTOPUBWBJMBCMFUPUIFHFOFSBMQVCMJD
To learn more about Dell and Windows Vista, log on to www.dell.com/epp/vista.
1-866-746-4977
INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
Member ID: GS19613618
www.dell.com/atg/acdelco
ALL ORDERS ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE BY DELL. Offers subject to change, not combinable with all other offers and are not subject to discount. Taxes, shipping, handling and other fees apply. U.S. Dell Member Purchase Program new purchases only.
Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors.
Dell and the Dell Logo are trademarks of Dell.
07ATG561_1107
events
Duel in
the Desert
photos: BLAIR BUNTING
ACDelco mixes business
with pleasure at the
nhra las vegas nationals
10 INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
the drivers in the POWERade Drag racing
Series weren’t the only ones competing at The Strip
at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Oct. 28.
That’s because the seventh annual ACDelco NHRA
Las Vegas Nationals also marked the culmination of
ACDelco’s yearlong “Drive to Win” promotion, which
had finalists Gordon Born from Waseca, Minn., and
Jim Reiner, owner of Big Jim’s Extreme Automotive,
a Total Service Support (TSS) shop in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, vying to take home the grand prize, a fully
accessorized 2007 Chevy Cobalt SS.
Adding to the thrill of the competition, both
received a key fob from the race’s grand marshal,
professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. Born’s
remote was the one that unlocked the Cobalt,
making him the lucky winner.
TSS member Terry De Waal, owner of Las Vegasbased Advanced Autodynamics, served as the race’s
honorary starter, getting the chance to hang with the
Hulkster during the opening ceremony festivities and
helping present the trophies to the event winners.
Kurt Johnson’s ACDelco Pro Stock Cobalt
commemorated Hogan’s participation by carrying
a special paint scheme that was unveiled in front of
a packed house at the Freemont Street Experience
as part of the NHR A FanFest, held Oct. 25 in
downtown Las Vegas.
Although Johnson went out in the first round
of final eliminations, there was still plenty of action
off the track in the ACDelco hospitality tent, where
ACDelco customers enjoyed lunch, giveaways and
an autograph session with Hogan.
“Hogan’s larger-than-life personality embodied
two of the key elements of the weekend’s events — the
spirit of Las Vegas and the power of drag racing,”
says Paul Johnson, general director, SPO Global
Independent Aftermarket. “We found the perfect
candidate to elevate the excitement at The Strip.” n
Clockwise from top
left: Hogan chats
with KJ before his
run, “drive to win”
winner Gordon
Born (center) with
KJ and Hogan, the
ACdelco pro stock
cobalt races down
the track, Hogan
signs autographs
in the ACDelco
hospitality tent.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 11
VIVA
LAS VEGAS!
Á
THE AUTOMOTIVE AFTERMARKET CONVERGES ON
SIN CITY FOR AAPEX AND SEMA, THE INDUSTRY’S BIGGEST
PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS OF THE YEAR
by DOUG NEWCOMB | photos by BLAIR BUNTING
IF YOU’RE PART OF the automotive aftermarket, Las Vegas is the place to be at the end of October. That’s when Automotive
Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) brings a trade show doubleheader to Sin
City: the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and the Specialty
Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. With these two colossal
co­nventions comes what’s arguably the highest number of custom cars — and
car fans — ever assembled in one place.
While AAPEX and
SEMA have very
different feels,
they share a
common theme
— cool cars and
the hot products
available for them.
This year, AAPEX and SEMA each attracted
more than 120,000 attendees, hosted more than
2,000 exhibitors and claimed an equal number of
product introductions. “Every year this show just
gets bigger and better,” marvels Peter McGillivray,
SEMA’s vice president of marketing and communications, as he surveys the car-crazy scene from
the sky bridge in the South Hall of the Las Vegas
Convention Center, the site of the SEMA Show.
AUTO SHOW, VEGAS STYLE
A APEX, located at the Sands Expo Center, is
more of a traditional trade show, focusing on
replacement parts, tools and equipment, engines
and fabricators, paint and body products, and
heating and cooling technology.
While there’s some product crossover with
AAPEX, the SEMA Show is all about accessories
— tires and wheels, racing and performance products, specialty truck and off-road parts, restoration
and restyling, mobile electronics and more.
14 INTUNE issue 1 | 2008
SEMA also has a suitably Vegas feel, with scads of
stunning booth models, celebrity autograph sessions
everywhere you turn and seemingly hundreds of
flashy vehicles. Show vehicles not only fill the booths
in the three huge halls of the Las Vegas Convention
Center, but also spill out into the hallways, sidewalks,
driveways and parking lots. The cars come in every
variety imaginable: one-off concepts, classic muscle
cars, expensive exotics, outrageous hot rods, trickedout tuners, historic race cars, giant 4x4s and just
about everything in between.
And they’re not all just for show: There’s a
temporary test track between the Central and
South Halls that presents piston-pumping, tiresquealing action throughout the show. What’s
more, the parking lot in front of the South Hall is
turned into a makeshift off-road course for 4x4s.
However, the SEMA Show has evolved beyond
being just a showcase for all sorts of crazy custom­
ization. It’s now an important venue for manufac­
turers to introduce new vehicles. Toyota, for example,
unveiled its new 2009 Corolla at SEMA, while Ford
showed several iterations of its forthcoming 2009 Flex
crossover, customized by several big-name tuners.
Perhaps the car that grabbed the most attention
— and subsequently ended up on many magazine
covers — was Jay Leno’s Corvette C6RS in the
GM/SPO Performance Parts booth. It features
a 500-cubic-inch engine that boasts around 600
horsepower and is fed solely on a diet of E85. Lots of
cameras were also focused on a flex-fuel ’34 Chevy
Coupe hot rod on GM’s SEMA stand, with a 500horsepower, 2.0-liter Ecotec engine.
ACDelco IN THE ROUND
While AAPEX is more low-key, it also has its share
of cool cars. In ACDelco’s booth, for example, was
NHR A Pro Stock star Kurt Johnson’s show car
with a colorful Hulk Hogan wrap, and a classic ’68
Ford Shelby GT 500KR belonging to Total Service
Support member Dan Mattila of Dan’s Complete
Automotive Care in Blaine, Minn. KJ himself
was also on hand at the ACDelco booth to sign
autographs for fans.
The first sema show
took place in Los
Angeles in 1967 with
98 booths and 3,000
attendees. Today, more
than 2,000 exhibitors
fill more than 1 million
net square feet of
exhibit space.
ACDelco’s AAPEX booth was based around its
new ACDelco 360 initiative, which promotes the
organization’s comprehensive product lines and
its ability to provide a full scope of support for the
brand and its global customers.
The seven aspects of ACDelco 360 appropriately
formed a circle of pillar-like displays around the
booth. They are:
• Product offerings
• Distribution network
• Customer programs
• e-Business
• Training
• Marketing
• Relationships
“The whole concept for our booth changed this
year to focus on ACDelco 360, which encompasses
everything we offer to our customers globally in more
than 100 countries,” explains Chris Brandt, ACDelco
advertising manager. “The displays in the booth show
how all of the elements of ACDelco 360 impact our
distributors, and in turn, their customers.”
“We want to communicate that ACDelco is
more than just a supplier of high-quality auto parts,”
adds ACDelco marketing director Nancy McLean.
“We offer a full circle of support for our customers,
“WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE TO ALL
OF OUR GLOBAL CUSTOMERS THAT
OUR VISION IS CONSIsTENT AND THAT
OUR VALUE-ADDED SERVICES
GO BEYOND JUST HAVING
HIGH-QUALITY AUTO PARTS.”
PAUL JOHNSON, general director, SPO Global Independent Aftermarket
both in the United States and around the world.”
An essential component of that support, McLean
points out, is ACDelco’s extensive distribution network. “We have programs for our direct and secondary
customers, e-Business tools and training to support
the growth and the success of their businesses, and,
of course, there’s great marketing that supports the
16 INTUNE issue 1 | 2008
ACDelco brand for those customers, whether it’s
through advertising or promotions for any of the programs that we offer,” she adds.
Last but not least are relationships, she notes.
“We’ve gotten to where we are today because we have
great relationships with our customers, their customers,
and our suppliers and stakeholders,” McLean says. “We
want to continue to keep that in the forefront as we win
customers together around the world.”
GLOBAL IMPACT
In fact, ACDelco’s global business figures prominently
in both its presence at AAPEX as well as in ACDelco
360. “AAPEX is turning into more of a global conference,” Brandt observes. “That’s why we’re globally
investing more and more into the brand every year.”
Brandt reports that around 80 to 90 percent of
the new customers visiting the ACDelco booth at
AAPEX are from outside the United States. “We’ve
designed the booth to reflect our global customers
coming through it,” Brandt says. An example of this
is that the ACDelco 360 pillars positioned around
the booth include signage in different languages.
As general director, SPO Global Independent
Aftermarket, Paul Johnson is in a perfect position to
explain the objectives and benefits of ACDelco 360
from a worldwide perspective. “We want to communicate to all of our global customers that our vision is
consistent and that our value-added services go beyond
just having high-quality auto parts,” Johnson declares.
But why does the way ACDelco conducts
bu­siness in Spain affect an independent service
center (ISC) operating in, for example, Spokane,
Wash.? Because of ACDelco’s global reach, the
benefits of its international scope can ultimately help
individual ISCs in different parts of the world.
Brandt points out that programs and marketing
tools created for one region of the world can often
be used in others. “Someone in Spain may create
point-of-sale materials or an ad that Mexico can use
because it’s in Spanish,” he says. “We also take those
ads and use them in parts of the United States where
there’s a large Hispanic population. So it all starts
working together as we continue to expand globally
and leverage all of the best practices.”
Each year, more than
120,000 industry professionals from more
than 100 countries
attend SEMA and AAPEX
to network, check out
the latest automotive
products and trends, and
learn valuable business
skills during educational
seminars held throughout the week.
5 minutes with
When did you start working on cars?
DOWN TO BUSINESS
“... it’s good to get a different
perspective from suppliers,
competitors and other
stakeholders in the industry.”
nancy mclean, ACDelco marketing director
SPX_OEMtool_ad.qxd
11/27/07
10:27 AM
While in high school in Andover, Mass. I worked
at a local Ford dealer and then for Foreign Motors
of Boston doing oil changes and new-car prep. I
never called myself a technician because I was never
formally trained. I learned and made mistakes by
working on other people’s cars — which probably
didn’t do them any good.
There’s a lot to take in during AAIW, but ultimately,
it all boils down to business.
Since Industry Week is the one place the entire
automotive aftermarket industry comes together
once a year, ACDelco’s McLean believes it’s
important for ACDelco to have a large presence,
not to just showcase products, introduce programs
and meet with customers, but to also get a broader
outlook on the business.
“We have our day-to-day focus on our own
part of the business,” she says, “but it’s good to get
a different perspective from suppliers, competitors
and other stakeholders in the industry. It broadens
how we think about our business. I think any
industry forum is good from that perspective. This
just happens to be the biggest.” And the best. n
How much work do you do on your own cars?
If something is broken, I’ll work on it for a couple
of hours, screw it up even more and then yell to
one of the guys in my shop for help. Hey, at least I
learn something in the process.
How does being a technician today compare
with when you began working on cars?
Like any business, automotive technology has
become more sophisticated, and technicians are
more highly skilled than they used to be. The idea
of the old guy tuning by ear was great when there
was no test equipment available. Then, you found
the best ear you could. Now, that’s a bit outdated.
Page 1
Save Time & Money!
Can a few bad technicians give everyone
a bad name?
Technicians often get a bad name because anyone
can claim to be one, even if they’re not qualified.
How can that be changed?
SPX Kent-Moore and Miller
Special Tools:
• Enhance shop productivity
• Boost profitability of your shop
• Increase vehicle turnaround time
• Improved customer satisfaction
1-800-345-2233
https://gmspecialservicetools.spx.com
http://millerspecialtools.spx.com
Lifetime Warranty excludes electronic diagnostic tools
18 INTUNE issue 1 | 2008
CH-48027
Digital Remote PressureVacuum Gauge
• Maximizes
diagnostic
efficiency
• Improves technician
performance when
servicing vehicle
fuel systems
Jay Leno
ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST-KNOWN
CAR ENTHUSIASTS TALKS
ABOUT BEING A TECHNICIAN
by KEN GROSS
Does it worry you that we may have fewer
skilled technicians in the future?
We may have fewer real technicians in the future,
but the truly skilled people will be making more
money. Go to any good restoration shop in this
country and you’ll probably hear, “Oh, we can’t do
this car for Pebble Beach next year, there are four
cars ahead of yours.” So there’s a big job market for
professional people who want to be restorers and
skilled technicians. n
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 19
photo: JOHN LAMM
High quality, professional
tools when ordinary tools
just won’t work!
The National Institute for Automotive Service
Excellence (ASE) is helpful. They certify automotive
technicians in 47 different skill areas. To be certified,
you have to pass individual tests and have at least
two years of field experience.
REAL RESULTS
WHEN ROBERT KING WENT from being
a specialized brake and undercarriage repair shop
employee to the owner of a full-service ISC, he had a
distinct vision of the level of service he wanted to provide to customers. He wanted to be known for quality.
And with more than 20 years of experience as a
technician, he knew what was required. He’d need
more than good customer relations skills at the
Reading, Mass., business he purchased two years
ago from his employer and renamed King’s Complete Auto Center. His new business would require
the best technicians he could afford, using the best
products to repair vehicles.
“I knew from experience that the ever-changing
technology of the automotive industry requires
technicians to receive continual training to stay
current with the repair requirements of newer
vehicles,” King says. “Plus, the top technicians want
to work for businesses that offer ongoing education.
To attract and keep superior technicians, I was going
to need to offer training.”
training, the TURNING POINT
Survival
Skills
WHEN ROBERT KING BOUGHT HIS EMPLOYER’S
BUSINESS, HE KNEW he needed training
to help the shop THRIVE
As King steered his new business through the
transition from a specialty business to a familyrun ISC, he made some changes — including
expanding services — but kept other things the
same, such as where he bought many of the shop’s
parts. Much of that business went to an ACDelco
competitor across the street. “It was convenient,
and I knew who I was dealing with,” King says.
Still, that need for training remained a priority.
So when Vinnie Rindone, a sales representative
from West Springfield Auto Parts, an ACDelco WD
based in West Springfield, Mass., invited King and
his technicians to an ACDelco evening seminar on
vehicle communication, King was intrigued. He
attended with his two technicians, then went to
another, and then again to a third. “These were the
best seminars I’d ever attended,” King says.
In just a few
short years, King,
ABOVE, has transformed the shop
from a specialty
business to a
full-service ISC,
offering quality
ACDelco parts.
KING’S COMPLETE AUTO CENTER
by SANDRA BECKWITH | photos by RUSSELL KAYE
20 INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
WHERE: READING, MASS.
Size: 1,800 SQ. FT. | 3 EMPLOYEES
WHEN: OPENED IN 2005
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 21
TSS TOOLS
REAL RESULTS
Make
Your Move
At each session, ACDelco trainer Rob Oulton
talked about the value of the ACDelco Total Service
Support (TSS) Program — including online training,
the WISE (Web Integrated Service Environment)
ordering system and postcard marketing support.
King listened. He also listened during sales calls
from Rindone and ACDelco district manager Mark
Moreschi. When King asked questions, Rindone and
Moreschi provided answers quickly.
GMAC OFFERS TSS MEMBERS
MORTGAGE, INSURANCE DISCOUNTS
“I have no regrets about
signing on with the
program quickly. In fact,
i recommend that other
shops do it sooner
rather than later.
It’s a great program.”
ROBERT KING, owner, King’s Complete Auto Center
JOINING THE TSS PROGRAM
A WISE MOVE
Most of the shop’s orders go to ACDelco through
WISE. “It’s a convenient way for me to order parts,
22 INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
but just as important, my customers are impressed
with how quickly I can give them an estimate,” King
notes. “This ability to be so responsive helps contribute to my reputation as a high-quality business.”
King’s shop will extend its transformation from
a franchise specialty business to an ISC in the
spring, when it takes advantage of ACDelco image
elements offered through the TSS Program. “We’re
really looking forward to giving our entire interior
a fresh, professional look with the ACDelco red,
white and blue color scheme,” King says. “We want
the quality of our appearance to match the quality
of the service we provide.”
He reflects on the impact of affiliating with
ACDelco through the TSS Program. “It’s more
than just the training and the quality products,”
King explains. “It’s peace of mind and knowing that
when I have an issue, they are there to back me up.
I have no regrets about signing on with the program
quickly. In fact, I recommend that other shops do it
sooner rather than later. It’s a great program.” n
Great Moves BY
GMAC offers cash,
convenience and
connections for TSS
members and their
employees.
photo: JUPITER IMAGES
It wasn’t long before King’s Complete Auto
Center started ordering ACDelco parts from West
Springfield Auto Parts. Satisfied with the quality
and service, King signed on with the ACDelco TSS
Program at the beginning of 2007.
“He completely embraced the TSS Program
and went from buying almost nothing from us to
becoming our 15th largest customer in New England
in just nine months,” ACDelco’s Moreschi says.
King says joining the TSS Program was an
easy decision. “The training was a big part of it,
but after seeing how responsive Rob, Mark and
Vinnie were, I knew I was putting my shop in
good hands,” he adds.
ACDelco’s training opportunities even have
helped King hire his newest technician. “The fact
that we offered training was a real plus for him,” he
says. The numerous classes King and his employees
have taken include Web-based and instructor-led
training and evening seminars.
DISCOUNTS AND CASH BACK are just two
of the many benefits Total Service Support (TSS)
members can receive by choosing GMAC for their
mortgage or auto insurance needs.
You and your employees are eligible to receive
mortgages, refinancing, lines of credit and home
equity loans, through Great Moves by GMAC, at
discounted rates.
Once closing costs are set and a closing date
established, GM AC guarantees 100-percent
satisfaction or $500 back after the closing of the
loan. Introductory rates vary depending on the
housing market and your credit rating.
A special cash back program — available in
select states — gives you rebates of $3 for every
$1,000 of the sale or purchase price of a home
through GMAC. For example, homes purchased
or sold for $200,000 yield rebates of $600.
What’s more, a TotalHome Team Consultant will
help you through the entire buying, selling and moving
process at no extra cost. Visit greatmovesbygmac.com
or call 877-844-4622 for more information.
In addition, GMAC Insurance offers you
a special rate on auto coverage that could save
you several hundred dollars each year. Savings
vary from state to state, depending on insurance
regulations. Plus, you’ll enjoy guaranteed claims
service satisfaction or your deductible will be
waived up to $1,000.1 Call 877-685-0581 for more
information or to obtain a quote.2 n
1 Not available in TX. 2 Eligibility, benefits, discounts and coverages may vary. Underwritten by these member companies of
the GMAC Insurance Group: National General Ins. Co., National
General Assurance Co., MIC General Ins. Corp. and GMAC Ins.
Co. Online, Inc. Coverage not available in HI, MA and NJ. Underwritten by National General Ins. Co. in TX and WA.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 23
Charles Lindbergh
THE BIGGEST ADVENTURES
and discoveries can rest
on the simplest of parts. In the case of ACDelco, it is remarkable that
the same part that helped set our nation’s first aviation records also
fired the rockets that took us to the moon and beyond. These amazing
stories of how the ACDelco spark plug helped make history and took
humankind to the moon are featured on the following pages.
Sparking
innovation
From transatlantic flights to trips
to the moon, ACDelco PARTS have HELPED
SPARK AMERICAN AVIATION FIRSTS
by KEVIN GARRISON
24 INTUNE issue 1 | 2008
lINDY CROSSES THE ATLANTIC ON 7 MILLION FLAMES
The spark plugs in the Spirit of St. Louis had to fire
more than 7 million times without faltering in order
for the flight from New York to Paris to be successful.
T he Wrig ht “W h i rlw i nd ” J-5C eng i ne
powering Lindbergh’s airplane in 1927 used two
spark plugs in each of its nine cylinders. The
Wright engine, which was initially developed by
the Wright Brothers, was perfect for the transatlantic mission. It only weighed 500 pounds and
was air cooled so efficiently that it could operate
with a leaner mixture than other aircraft engines
of the time, resulting in better fuel consumption.
The engine and airframe, chosen and overseen
by Lindbergh and built by Ryan Airlines Inc., flew
at a cruise speed of around 110 mph and at altitudes
from 30 to 10,000 feet during the journey. It was
designed with the fuel and oil in front of the pilot
and without a windshield. Lindbergh had to either
stick his head out of a side window or use a small
periscope to navigate his aircraft.
Lindbergh and 18 AC spark plugs made the
historic journey in 33 hours, 30 minutes and
29.8 seconds. He went 63 hours without sleep to
get it done.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 25
amelia earhart’S ROUGH
TRANSATLANTIC RIDE
In 1932, Amelia Earhart matched Charles
Lindbergh’s feat of cr­ossing the Atlantic alone
— but she did it in less than half the time. Her
flight, which left Harbor Grace, Newfoundland,
the evening of May 20, was a little more eventful
than Lindbergh’s.
Two hours after taking off, her altimeter
failed and she encountered severe thunderstorms. The extreme turbulence of the storms
caused her Lockheed Vega to plunge 3,000 feet
and enter a spin. Earhart was able to recover
from the spin — which was no easy feat in the
dark, over water — and continued on her way
east, cautiously watching the flames shoot out of
a broken engine manifold.
One worr y she d id n’t have wa s t he
performance of her spark plugs. Her AC plugs
fired perfectly for the entire flight.
The cracked manifold and heat of the flames
caused the metal to weaken. This problem, in
addition to a newly found fuel leak, led her to
a precautionary landing in a farm field near
Springfield, Ireland.
While this was a memorable flight for Earhart,
she’ll most likely always be best remembered for
her 1937 flight around the world, from which she
didn’t return.
this page: © Family of Amelia earhart c/o CMG worldwide
previous page and Right: corbis
Amelia Earhart
A pollo 11
THE EAGLE
AND THE LONE EAGLE
In December 1968, a lanky visitor named
Charles Lindbergh attended the pre-flight crew
lunch being served to the Apollo 8 astronauts
— the first to fly to and circle the moon.
The next morning, Lindbergh and his wife,
Anne Morrow Lindbergh, watched from a special
area reserved for astronauts and their families as
the Saturn V rocket propelled Americans on their
first round trip to the moon.
More than 40 years earlier, Lindbergh
had loaded 450 gallons of fuel on the Spirit of
St. Louis to make his historic trip. The Saturn
V burned that much fuel in one-tenth of one
second as it climbed to the stars.
The second and third stages of this mammoth
spacecraft were ignited by AC spark plugs. ACDelco
was also the primary contractor for the navigational
and guidance systems on the Apollo spacecraft.
And when the Apollo 11 astronauts landed
their Lunar Module, the “Eagle,” on lunar soil,
ACDelco had come full circle: From Lindbergh’s
crossing of the Atlantic to Neil Armstrong’s first
step on alien terrain, the plugs that powered the
world’s engines ignited exploration and history. n
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 27
GARAGE-mahal
TECHNICIANS, TINKERERS, WEEKEND RACERS AND CRUISERS
SHARE A DREAM — THE ULTIMATE SPACE TO ENJOY THEIR PASSION
AS THE POPULARITY
of classic muscle cars has grown in the past five years,
owners of these cherished machines aren’t as willing
to slide under a cramped chassis in a messy garage to
make modifications and keep up maintenance.
It has sparked the newest trend for passionate
collectors: turning a home garage into the best
living room in the house. We’re not talking
museums here, but working car rooms worth
spending hours in tinkering.
Like home kitchens sprouting super-duty appliances previously only found in restaurants, it’s not
unusual for ultimate home garages to have equipment
that 15 years ago was only found in service centers.
A SPACE TO WORK
When looking to create the ultimate workspace,
the first thing to focus on improving is how to
access the car. There are three crucial ways to
do this important first step. First, install a floor
surface that can be easily cleaned. (Preferably one
coated with epoxy or with locking plastic tiles or a
large sheet of durable composite.) Next, get the car
off the floor, which means a four-post lift or a twopost maintenance lift. Lastly, the grease pit is back
in style because the most popular collector muscle
by PHIL BERG
photoS by ROY RITCHIE
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 29
OFFICIALLY
LICENSED
ACDelco garage
products
Products are available
from suppliers regionally:
Buffalo Tools
generators
800-568-6657
buffalotools.com/
acdelco.html
GloveSource
nitrile and latex gloves
909-591-8855
glovesource.com
MVP/ShinnFu
battery chargers
905-820-3737
shinnfu.com
Several items —
such as floor jacks
in 2-ton, steel-construction trolley
and 1.5-ton, allaluminum “racing”
floor styles — are
available now from
ACDelco. In addition,
air compressors,
large workbenches
and automatic
battery chargers
can outfit the
average car fan’s
favorite room.
30 INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
cars still need ball joints and other suspension
pieces greased periodically.
However, even with this dream setup, many
maintenance tasks need sturdy jack stands, such
as the 2-ton capacity adjustable units licensed
by ACDelco. They’re absolutely required if the
garage doesn’t have a lift. In this circumstance, the
ACDelco-licensed welded-steel Deluxe Low Profile
Creeper, with six swivel-caster wheels and an adjustable headrest, makes under-chassis work easier.
A workbench is another crucial element. These can
range from a simple laminated particleboard kitchen
counter to a maple hardwood bench on thick steel legs.
Some workbenches come as part of a system of
cabinetry from manufacturers, which are dedicated
and designed for home garage installation. They’re
tougher than their kitchen counterparts, and have
heavy-duty casters underneath for easy moving and
floor cleaning.
A couple of seasons’ supply of ACDelco air and
oil filters completes the supplies.
DURING CONSTRUCTION
Lately, classic car garage owners we’ve spoken to
wrestle over the decision of building compressed
air lines into the walls during construction.
Air-powered tools remain the most efficient way
of auto repair and maintenance because they don’t
need batteries, provide an abundance of torque,
work quickly and last a long time.
Perhaps more important is the noise they make
— using one makes you feel like you’re a pit crew
member at work. Most important, however, is that
the often-noisy air compressor to run the tools can
be mounted outside the garage. The same goes for
portable generators.
One restorer we know went as far as installing
a projector video monitor and an eight-foot pulldown screen between his two workbenches so he
can watch games and races when he’s restoring his
next muscle car. Currently he’s turning a modest
1969 Malibu into a Chevelle. His other cars he
runs only occasionally, and that means his battery
charger, also an ACDelco-licensed product, is
almost always in use.
The ACDelco I-7005 charger will charge batteries
at rates of 2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 amps. In addition,
batteries offered for tools and lights in popular AA,
AAA, C, D and even 6-volt lantern sizes licensed by
ACDelco boast the price of discount batteries with
the performance of premium brands.
A handy 6-in-1 Jumpstart System, licensed by
ACDelco, will provide emergency battery power
to the car from a sealed lead-acid battery, as well
as outlets for powering tools and lights, and an air
compressor to inflate low tires.
FINAL TOUCHES
A computer with a high-speed connection is
required these days to maintain a modern car
by searching error codes that are determined by
connecting a code-reader to the car to tell if the
fuel, emissions, ignition and safety systems are
working properly and all the time.
Manufacturer bulletins are also available
online, parts can be ordered, and blogs and forums
for owners of like cars regularly have dialogues on
both problems and great experiences on drives.
Lights built into the sides of walls work best
at spotting areas of paint that need cleaning and
restoring, and cool, unbreakable LED (light
emitting diode) portable lights make underhood
tasks much more enjoyable. The ACDelco-licensed
Mini Worklight has a built-in retractable 12-volt
cord and an adjustable magnetic base.
The final ingredient that makes an ultimate
home garage is auto photos and memorabilia. Cars
and pictures go together, and the amount of car
art available for every make and every classic event
help put the ultimate home garage owner into his
car-passionate state of mind. n
Powermax
dry cell batteries,
flashlights
847-640-9735
powermaxusa.com
Sun-Mate
park assist mat,
rechargeable lights
and radio
818-700-0572
sun-mate.com
Superex
power inverters, 6-in-1
Jumpstart System
416-497-2850
superex.com
Test Rite
hand tools, floor jacks,
jack stands, creepers
800-592-8665
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 31
smart moves
if there’s one thing successful shop owners
know about creating a positive working environment
for their employees, it’s heeding “The Golden Rule:”
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
E mploye e s who fe e l appre ci ate d , we l l
compensated and proud of the job they do are
usually more productive, more efficient and more
loyal to their employers — and ACDelco’s Total
Service Support (TSS) Program can help.
Morale
Boosters
TSS BENEFITS HELP CREATE A
POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT
Opposite: Russell Kaye; right: corbis
create a professional
atmosphere
Being a TSS member allows you to offer employees
benefits and incentives that let them know you
appreciate their hard work.
For example, ACDelco uniforms, available
through TSS preferred vendor Cintas, are an
excellent way to convey cleanliness, professionalism
and confidence. “The sense of unity conveyed by
uniformed employees helps improve employee morale
and teamwork, which is why all my employees wear
them,” says Mark Hyde, owner of Hyde Auto Service,
a TSS shop in Oklahoma City.
Hyde also encourages his technicians to take
advantage of the almost 200 technical and business
training courses available to TSS members,
including Web-based and instructor-led classes,
Tech Assists and seminars.
“E mploye e s lo ok i n g to c ont i nue t hei r
education consider training options a huge
benef it,” Hyde says. “In fact, the la st t wo
technicians I hired joined my team because of
the training opportunities I could offer them
through the TSS Program.”
In addition to training, the TSS Program gives
your employees educational opportunities through
the ACDelco Online Degree Program, which offers
accredited online classes that can be taken at home.
ACDelco has formed a relationship with the
University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima, Ohio,
which offers a wide variety of Virtual College
programs through the Internet. Now, working adults
— like your technicians — can earn a degree at home
in their spare time.
exclusive discounts
TSS participants and their employees are eligible to
buy discounted personal Dell equipment through
Dell’s Employee Purchase Program.
Bob Stout, owner of Fuerst Automotive, a TSS
shop in Broadview Heights, Ohio, recently took
advantage of the discount, outfitting his shop with
Dell computers. “It’s important to have the latest
equipment and tools so employees feel they have
the best resources available,” Stout says.
TSS benefits, like
the acdelco online
degree program
and uniforms, can
help boost employee
morale.
“the sense of unity conveyed
by uniformed employees helps
improve employee morale and
teamwork, which is why all
my employees wear them.”
mark hyde, owner, Hyde Auto Service
Other TSS employee perks include savings on
new GM vehicles and discounts and cash back by
choosing GMAC for mortgage or auto insurance
needs. (See related story on page 23.)
And the ACDelco exclusively yours® Rewards
program — which applies points to an exclusively
yours® Rewards Card for every dollar a TSS shop
spends on ACDelco reported purchases — allows
you to purchase goods and services from an everexpanding list of participating retailers. The
exclusively yours® Rewards Card can also be used
toward airline travel and hotel reservations, as well as
many entertainment and leisure activities — a great
way to reward an employee for a job well done.
For more on the TSS Program benef its
listed above, or to become a participant, visit
acdelcotechconnect.com or call 800-223-3526 and
select prompt 0. n
by AMY LENARD
32 INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 33
ONE MORE THING
GET A REWARD CARD THAT’S ALWAYS WORKING.
GM Business World Card
GM Extended Family Card
Small business owners get 3% Earnings* on select
Unlimited 1% Earnings that can be combined
purchases and 1% Earnings on all other purchases.
with the GM Employee or Supplier Discount
Plus, there are no Earnings or Redemption limits.
or redeemed for cash back.**
With a GM reward card, all your credit card purchases give you Earnings toward
the purchase or lease of a huge selection of eligible, new GM vehicles from
Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, HUMMER, Saab and Cadillac – including
the 2008 Cadillac CTS and the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. So if you want a credit
card that’s always working for you, get a GM reward card. And get closer to a
new GM vehicle.
Cardmember Services
Start earning toward your next eligible, new GM vehicle. Learn more at gmcardmemberservices.com/choosetoday
*Earnings are offered and administered by Chase Bank. **Redeemable in $50 increments.
Grand Marshal Hulk Hogan adds some extra muscle to this year’s
ACDelco NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, stealing the spotlight from
ESPN2 reporter David Rieff.
PHOTO: BLAIR BUNTING
Strength
ALL-NEW 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU
34 INTUNE Issue 1 | 2008
aCDelco announces
results to all makes
and models Challenge.
Are you one of those technicians who believes you can’t use
one brand of replacement parts for all makes and models
of vehicles?
Well, ACDelco challenged like-minded technicians around
the country to try select ACDelco parts for their non-GM
vehicle related repairs. It was all a part of the ACDelco All
Makes and Models Challenge. Technicians were asked for
their assessments on the parts quality, reliability, fit and
function. The results were reported out in a series of articles
in Underhood Service, Brake & Front End and Import Car in
2007. Following are the technicians’ responses when asked
if they would now be more likely to use ACDelco parts for
their non-GM vehicle related repairs.
Compressor TesT repair DeTails
shop: Christopher’s Car Care
Vehicle: 1996 Dodge Intrepid
part: ACDelco Compressor P/N 15-21365
“Absolutely! I saw OE fit, function and performance with the
ACDelco compressor. Plus, with the complete unit, we had
what we needed in the box and the job went more quickly and
easily. We didn’t have to look for seals or gaskets in the back
room. Not only did this part allow us to do a quality job, but an
efficient one that saved me time in the bay.”
Brakes TesT repair DeTails
shop: Wills Auto Service
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
part: ACDelco Brake Pads P/N 17D931M;
ACDelco Brake Rotor P/N 18A1213
“Yes, with proven quality and proper fit, the DuraStop® brake
line has a home. I see this as a ‘win/win’ solution to brake
repair; I win by using what works the first time out of the box,
and my customers win by getting a repair like the original parts
and design the vehicle started with.”
Wire seTs TesT repair DeTails
shop: Hyde Auto Service
Vehicle: 1998 Ford Mustang
part: ACDelco Wire Sets P/N 16-816Q
“Our main goal at Hyde Auto Service is to use quality OE parts
on vehicles. When I compared the new ACDelco spark plug
wires to the old Ford spark plug wires, I was very impressed.
We will continue to use ACDelco all makes and models parts on
our customers’ cars, so that we won’t miss a beat in our
continued effort to repair cars with the right parts the first time.
I would highly recommend ACDelco all makes and models parts
to other technicians.”
AD-PU-0001-08
as
see
ni
nB
ab
c ox
pu
bli
cat
ion
s.
Ball JoinTs TesT repair DeTails
shop: Gus Mann Automotive
Vehicle: 2000 Toyota Tundra
part: ACDelco Ball Joints P/N 45d2298 & 45d2299
“Gus Mann Automotive has always been known for providing
our customers with high-quality repairs. We take pride in what
we do and will not settle for inferior parts. The safety of our
customers and our reputation are extremely important, and we
now feel very comfortable with installing ACDelco parts in nonGM vehicles.”
FilTers TesT repair DeTails
shop: Spitfire Automotive
Vehicle: 2005 Hyundai Sonata
part: ACDelco Oil Filter P/N PF1237;
ACDelco Air Filter P/N A2052C
“Our first choice has always been ACDelco parts for everything
we work on. In fact, our shop has been installing ACDelco parts
on our customers’ vehicles for the past 90 years. So, we know
that we can count on the quality and fit of ACDelco parts. Now
we are confident that we can install ACDelco products on nonGM vehicles.”
alTernaTor TesT repair DeTails
shop: Bill’s Quality Automotive
Vehicle: 1997 Ford Expedition
part: ACDelco Alternator P/N 334-2274
“We now have confidence in the fit and function of ACDelco
alternators for non-GM applications. This will allow us to stock
parts with a consistent quality and warranty. Having quality
parts that fit right the first time not only reduces installation and
repair time, but ensures customer service in the process.”
Still not convinced? Contact your local ACDelco distributor to
find out more about our complete line of quality replacement
parts for most vehicles on the road today.