Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/114173
Spring car care compromised, leading to a loss of steering precision, stopping performance and overall vehicle stability in a variety of driving situations," says Irby. Brakes fall within the Monroe "Safety Triangle." Brakes and shocks work together to help the vehicle stop sooner by minimizing weight transfer to the front wheels. Periodic inspection of brake components keeps customers ahead of excessive wear of rotors and drums. According to the Monroe website, a vehicle's brake system should be inspected every 12 months. A springtime brake inspection is ideal for fnding and replacing brake parts corroded by winter conditions and road salt. Springtime for TPMS For TPMS-equipped vehicles, preventive maintenance involves regular replacement of the service kit. "Te TPMS service kits can vary by vehicle model, but typically are comprised of a hex nut, cap, valve core, seal, and seal washer for clamp-in type sensors or a rubber stem for snap-in type sensors," says Steve Landis, Continental Automotive Systems Inc./VDO TPMS product manager. "Regular replacement of TPMS service kits only costs one-tenth or even less of the cost of a sensor and helps to ensure maximum tire safety and sensor life longevity. Just as in the past, whenever a tire bead is broken from the wheel, the traditional valve stem would be replaced, only now the TPMS service kits need to be replaced instead." In addition, he says the TPMS service kits should be replaced whenever a tire is serviced or replaced to maximize the usable life of TPMS sensors. "Te sensors themselves need to be replaced when the sensor batery fails (bateries are non-replaceable) or if the sensor is damaged/broken. Batery life for all OE sensors is typically an average of seven to 10 years, but this can vary by a number of factors, including the specifc vehicle, environmental conditions, and driving habits." Clear view on wipers Some spring-time maintenance steps, such as wiper blade replacement, repair damage from months of harsh winter driving. Worn out windshield wiper blades are symptoms of neglected vehicle maintenance that put drivers and passengers at serious risk during the typically rainy months of spring. "Wiper blade replacement is one of the most commonly overlooked automotive maintenance items," says Tracy Neil, brand manager of ANCO Wipers for Federal-Mogul Corp. "Yet, worn wipers can have a signifcant efect on driving safety and driver and passenger comfort. "All wiper blades wear out. In fact, because they are exposed to the elements — including damaging ultraviolet rays and wind-borne dirt — wipers can lose their efectiveness even when they're not in regular use." Te Car Care Council says the best approach to protecting your customers' driving safety is to perform a wiper inspection during each service visit. Because 90% of driving decisions depend on good vision, a clean windshield is imperative. Common signs of wiper wear/damage include cracked and torn rubber, abrasions, hardened or misshapen wipers, improper installation and wiper superstructures damaged by car washes, ice and snow scrapers. Let the light shine Lighting is another item customers do not consider part of routine maintenance. "Driving at night with a burned-out headlamp is dangerous for the driver, his or her passengers and all others on the road," says Neil, who is also brand manager of Wagner Lighting products at Federal-Mogul. "Many motorists don't know there's a problem with their headlamps until someone points it out to them, so a complete lighting check should be conducted on every vehicle that visits the tire dealership. Tis check should include all vehicle lamps: headlamps, parking lamps, brake lamps, turn signal lamps and side/marker lamps. "Any failed headlamp should be immediately replaced. But it's important to remember that the failure of one lamp can closely precede the failure of the other. For this reason, it is best to always replace headlamps in pairs." ■ Automotive service benchmarks for independent tire dealers Brakes: performed by 95% $3.639 billion: total annual brake service sales $132,073: average annual sales $68,678: average annual proft (52%) $244.58: average ticket price per job 45: average number of jobs per month Shocks/struts: performed by 92% $1.271 billion: total annual shocks/struts sales $47,623: average annual sales $21,430: average annual proft (45%) $360.78: average ticket price per job 11: average number of jobs per month Visibility (wipers): performed by 93% $346 million: total annual visibility service sales $12,819: average annual sales $5,640: average annual proft (44%) $27.39: average ticket price per job 39: average number of jobs per month Source: 2012 Modern Tire Dealer Automotive Service Survey 46 MTD March 2013