With the goal of providing you with ideas to improve or change your shop's scheduling system to be more productive, Babcox Research asked a sample of shop owner readers for their ideas on this topic. We received dozens of great responses, so thank you to those of you who responded.

A solid customer base is not something that grows overnight. It takes time to cultivate a database of vehicle owners who return for service time and time again, and who also recommend your shop to others. Several factors work together to enable you to earn their trust and respect, which translates into satisfied customers and highly sought after repeat business.

With the goal of providing you with input on ways shop owners can reduce the amount of product that is returned to suppliers, Babcox Research asked a sample of shop owner readers for their ideas on this topic. We received dozens of great responses, some of which are listed below, so thank you to those of you who responded.

Most belts fail from a normal aging process, which means that the rubber in the belt eventually develops cracks that result in a broken belt. Some belts, such as the alternator belt and power steering belt, wear faster because they transmit high torque under specific driving conditions.

What changes will you make at your shop this year to be more competitive and profitable? The planned changes are both fundamental and insightful. They involve everything from upgrading, advertising, appearance and training, to expanding services, efficiency, better communication, productivity and focusing on maintenance services.

A study commissioned by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Vehicle Maintenance & The Female Motorist,∗ analyzes the attitudes and perceptions that drive women's behavior regarding vehicle maintenance and repair.

There are several ways to recruit new technicians. Among them, the best method for your recruiting will depend on the nature of your shop, the job to be filled and the type of candidate you seek. Read on to know how to find new recruits effectively.

With the goal of providing you with ideas to improve shop productivity, Babcox Research asked a sample of shop owner readers for their ideas on this topic. We received dozens of great responses, so thank you to those of you who responded.

Customers have tons of places to buy products, either in brick and mortar establishments or online, but not every place delivers a high level of customer service that is a key factor in making a buying decision for many consumers.

The fact that Mode $06 data is in hexadecimal code (a base 16 number system that uses digits 0 to 9 plus letters A through F) makes it difficult to translate and convert into familiar decimal values. That's what the dollar sign is all about. The "$" symbol means the data is in hex code, not ordinary decimal numbers.

Scheduling an oil change is something that’s easy to put off. Maybe you don’t have the time or money to get the oil changed right now. But if you postpone it too long, you increase the risk of sludge buildup in the engine. If enough gunk builds up inside the engine, it can have serious and expensive consequences.

All insurance premiums are based on the risks involved. Insurance companies evaluate the situation to determine the risk of potential loss that they will have to assume and base their rates on the results. Therefore, any steps that a shop owner or manager can take to lower their risks not only helps safeguard the business, but may also make the auto repair operation eligible for lower insurance rates.

Oxygen sensors don't produce a signal until they're hot, so the O2 sensors in most late-model vehicles have an internal heater that starts heating up the sensor as soon as the engine starts. Older, first-generation O2 sensors lacked this feature and took much longer to reach operating temperature, which increased cold start emissions.

While sightings of gas prices under $4 a gallon may bring a (little) sigh of relief, consumers are still distraught over what it costs to fill their tank these days. Some are realizing the benefits of preventive maintenance in improving vehicle performance, increasing fuel efficiency and maximizing gas mileage, while others are looking for long-term relief by purchasing smaller vehicles.

As craftsmen dedicated to the profession of diagnosing, troubleshooting and repairing import vehicles, you know that it's not so much what you do, but how well you do it, that elevates your shop to the top ranks of your field. Just as employers conduct performance appraisals of employees, you can perform a similar review of key factors, some of which are listed below, that contribute to your shop's performance record.

Though many of these parts are sold to people who can install the parts themselves (things like wings, spoilers, lights, big bore mufflers, etc.), some parts require a much higher level of expertise to install, as well as special tools and equipment that the typical DIYer doesn't have.

There are more vehicles on the road and the average age of cars continues to increase, which increases demand for service. Meanwhile, sales of new cars have been strong for the last several years and newer cars need fewer repairs and have longer maintenance cycles - lessening demand for service.

With performance work, it's a different scenario. First of all, your customers may come to you and ask for your opinion about a particular upgrade. They've heard about a new aftermarket cylinder head for their Honda and wonder how much you would charge to install it. Or maybe they want a bigger turbocharger on their engine, or a nitrous oxide system, or both, and want to know if their engine can handle it.

First impressions are everything, especially when it comes to new customers. The appearance of your shop is not only important to your customers, but it's where your techs spend most of their time. If you want to make those two groups of people happy, read on.

Although most shop owners have considered making loaner cars available to their customers, the potential problems associated with offering this service may have scared you away from the idea. I've found that the convenience factor of having a small loaner fleet far outweighs the cost, maintenance, gas and liability factors.

In striving for excellence, to elevate your shop to be a cut above the rest, you need to define your place in the market, create ways to leverage your expertise and constantly look for ways to improve upon the building blocks of your business.

As import specialists serving this market, you have a great story to tell — starting with the expertise, knowledge and ability you have to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair a proliferating import vehicle population.

The aftermarket has a proven history of turning challenges into opportunities, especially as it relates to tackling new technology and finding creative ways to add value to the products and services they deliver to the marketplace.

Educating consumers about the importance of regular vehicle maintenance should be an on-going effort at your shop. With $62 billion worth of reasons why it's necessary, unperformed maintenance should be top-of-mind for every service provider in the marketplace. Let's face it, many of your customers are likely unaware of their vehicle's timing belt replacement interval, nor do they know how much air should be put in their tires, or realize the effects of tire wear on steering, handling, gas mileage and safety.

Typically, it's a combination of things - fixing your customers' vehicles right the first time; diagnosing an intermittent or particularly difficult problem; greeting customers in a welcoming manner; educating them on what's wrong with their vehicle and why certain parts need to be replaced to restore system integrity; making follow-up calls to gauge customer satisfaction with the repair; keeping your shop and customer waiting area clean; using high-quality parts that prevent comebacks; paying attention to the details and going the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction with their repair experience.