Mechanical news

Diagnostics: Freaky No Start

What should have been an easy diagnosis turned out to have a very unusual problem. This time out, the vehicle in question is a 2007 Buick Lucerne with an intermittent…

Preparing Your Business for EVs

Taking steps now will ensure your business is ready for the battery-electric influx. Like it or not, electric vehicles are coming. Most of the OEMs have announced commitments to have…

Don’t Worry About Evolving Technologies

Independents have adapted to change in the past, and we’re sure to do so in the future. Think back to the late ’60s. I was an apprentice then in the…

How to Help Employees Deal With Financial Stress

Here’s how one auto industry business helps employees deal with financial stress. I came across a great story in an American automotive trade publication. It seems that in the tough…
2009 chevrolet silverado

Troubleshooting: No Start Silverado

Follow us as we diagnose this unusual crank, no start complaint on a 2009 full-size Chevy pickup with a 6.0L engine. When we arrived to look at this vehicle, we…

Planning for Potential Problems

Preparing for unforeseen circumstances requires having solid plans, procedures and leadership in place. If there is anything the COVID pandemic era has shown us, it’s the need to ensure we…
devin purcell

Part 3: The Apprentice Perspective

Part 1: Change Your Tactics for Hiring and Mentoring Next-Gen Technicians Part 2: An Employer’s Perspective on Apprenticeships Not only finding good apprentices but keeping them is the key to…

Attracting the Next Generation

Collaboration, education and resources are all key to successful recruitment and retention A topic we tend to hear a lot in the automotive aftermarket, is how…

Electronic Diagnostic on a Cadillac SRX

Taking the time to review a technical bulletin, even one that is several years old, can save a lot of time in our vehicle diagnosis and…

Fixing a Hobbled HVAC System

In this case, understanding how the system operates was key to solving the issue. A 2018 Toyota Sienna minivan was brought to us with the customer…

CES & The Automotive Industry

I just got back from CES in Las Vegas and let me tell you something: the automotive aftermarket better buckle up, because the turbulence ahead is…

The Risks of a Low Engine Oil Level

When it comes to going to the garage for an oil change, perhaps some of your customers prefer it to be quick without necessarily thinking about…

Mechanical news

As automotive technologies advance and vehicles become more complex, CarCare Business is here to keep our readers stay on top of emerging trends and innovations. Our team of automotive and business experts, exclusive columnists and regular contributors is unique in the industry, and each issue is packed with their insight and advice. Whether conducting a vehicle inspection, dealing with a dead car battery, or running a car diagnostic to determine why the check engine light might be on or why a car won’t start, we know that our readers are on the frontlines of car repair and maintenanceMechanical inspections are the bread and butter of every automotive mechanic technician. When a car won’t start, troubleshooting is at the core of your aftermarket services, and running a mechanical check to determine if it’s a car battery charger issue, or a voltage drop test to see if it’s a serious issue that needs attention, or if the customer simply needs a battery booster to solve the problem, that’s what you do, and do well. We also realize that our readers are dealing with challenges, like the right to repair issue. When it comes to the right to repair, Canada is part of a more global picture, and we know that the right legislation would go a long way to giving professionals the right to repair cars as part of their aftermarket services, instead of forcing consumers to see their dealer.

Electric car mechanic

As our industry continues to evolve, and as we see the world move towards electric vehicles, we know your jobs will change dramatically. Instead of checking the engine coolant, or replacing the odd spark plug, or dealing with a “transmission not shifting” complaint, you’ll be checking the electric car battery. As our industry moves toward electrification, independent repair shops, like yours, will be focusing on EV batteries and how to deal with lithium ion batteries that won’t charge. Questions like, “How long does a car battery last without driving?” will take on a whole new meaning. Perhaps you own a service centre, complete with a gas station. That too will change. Electric car charging will become more important with time, and you may find yourself replacing gas pumps with an electric car charging station. Of course, some things will stay the same. Your customers will still need heating system repair, they’ll still ask you about the best brake pad brand you offer, and they’ll still be concerned about brake pad life. They’ll still complain that their car won’t start cold, except in the case of an EV, the “car won’t start, no noise” will be the issue.

Automotive intelligence

Artificial intelligence in the automotive industry is also sure to change the way you do business. Moreover, the advent of technologies like the smart battery charger for electric cars are sure to impact an EV’s car battery life, as well as the way we think about the benefits and drawbacks of electric vehicles. As the world becomes more sophisticated and as technology takes over, we hope there will still be a place for our readers to enjoy a “mechanic appreciation day”.