Auto Torque - Summer 2012

TORQUE 

summer 2012 

Tomorrow’s trade news, today! 

Find out inside… 

Also in this issue… 

It’s all in the timing. 

Plus 

Timing Belts & 

Tensioners. 

Save time, effort, make a profit 

see pages 16 & 17 see pages 7 

NeWs • Gs ONesTOP • AIr CONDITIONING • CusTOmer serVICe • mOT • eNGINe mANAGemeNT • + muCH mOre… •

Available through The Parts Alliance. Call 0121 565 6128

WELCOME 

Contents… 

News 04 

GS Onestop 10 

The latest update 

There’s no escaping the ‘Olympic 

Effect’ this summer, and while 

plenty of people will be glued to the 

television there are still businesses 

that need to be run, and cars that 

need to be serviced and repaired. 

This issue is very much about 

customer service, because for a 

long time there was a belief that if 

the job was done right, that was all 

that mattered – but today’s drivers 

have far higher expectations when it 

comes to customer service. 

They want a smart waiting room. 

They want comfortable chairs to sit 

in while they’re waiting. They want 

someone to explain the bill and talk 

Welcome to 

the summer 

edition of 

Auto-Torque. 

about work their car might need in the 

near future. This is one area where 

the main dealers have a lead over 

many independent garages, but that 

doesn’t need to be the case. 

This issue also looks at MOT testing, 

the importance of getting ALL the 

parts needed to replace a timing 

belt, and there’s a look at the latest 

in tools. 

It’s going to be an interesting, exciting 

and fun-packed summer. We’ll see 

you again in the autumn! 

Rich Barnett and the 

Auto-Torque team 

Specialist Parts 22 

You don’t have to go to the dealer 

MOT 24 

Finishing Line 38 

Right To Choose 07 

The IAAF updates us 

Legal Issues 08 

Looking at the law 

Ramp Up Your Sales 12 

Keep you and your workshop busy 

Customer Service 14 

Help grow your business with the 4Cs 

Timing Belts & Tensioners 16 

All you need to do the job 

Air Conditioning 18 

Keeping things cool 

Profit Clinic 19 

Ways to make more money 

DriveTec 21 


Osram 26 

Original Equipment bulbs 

Tools 27 

What’s new to do the job right 

Using Correct Grade Of Oil 28 

It’s a part number now! 

NGK 30 

What’s on offer 

Engine Management 32 

From The Parts Alliance 

The quickest growing Garage Management 

Software package in the UK 

Find out more on page 10. 

Bosch 36 

ESI[tronic] gets the once-over 

Autosport News 37 

It’s all go…! 

General enquiries call 0121 565 6128 log on www.auto-torque.com or email enquiries@auto-torque.com summer 2012 

3

News from around The Parts Alliance 

Fetch the engine! 

CAS sponsored Fire Fighters at 

their annual charity car wash 

at Rushden Fire Station, Northamptonshire. 

Fire Fighters and Volunteers gave up their spare 

time on a cold, wet Saturday to give drivers’ cars a 

scrub whilst raising funds. The team of fire fighters 

and young people took part in Northamptonshire 

Fire & Rescue Service Young Fire Fighters scheme 

washing cars in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity 

raising almost £300. 

GMF Llanelli relocate to 

Llanelli Gate 

The South Wales and Gloucestershire based 

parts distributor, GMF Motor Factors Ltd., has 

relocated its Llanelli branch to a new, purposebuilt 

building at Llanelli Gate. GMF Llanelli had 

been trading from its previous premises in 

Trostre Industrial Estate for 15 years, but in 

order to maintain excellent stock availability and 

customer service, and to adapt with the local area 

and vehicle aftermarket, it became essential for 

the branch to relocate. The 10,000sqft building 

at Llanelli Gate offers a warehouse 3 times the 

size of the old building, as well as a counter 

and retail shop packed full of consumables and 

tools, so that GMF Llanelli can continue to supply 

both the public and trade with quality vehicle 

parts and accessories. 

GMF’s sales have certainly grown in and around 

the Llanelli area in recent years and so the 

opening of the new site has enabled the branch 

to re-energize itself, as well as employ four more 

staff members and put three more vans on the 

road to support their ever expanding customer 

base. The new branch opened for business on 

16th April 2012, whereby the ‘Face of GMF’, 

Natalia Natkaniec, was joined by the Llanelli 

Scarlets rugby star Johnathan Edwards in cutting 

the red ribbon. 

NEW Branch Details: 

GMF Llanelli, 

Unit 4 Llys Aur, Llanelli Gate, Llanelli, 

SA14 8LQ. 

Tel: (01554) 775772 

Email: llanelli@gmfmotorfactors.co.uk 

GMF are always continuing to invest in and develop 

products and facilities for their customers, and 

also relocated its GMF Gloucester branch in May. 

A new training facility in Swansea will be opening 

later on in 2012. 

CES (UK) Ltd and Bosch offer 

customer care training 

The Parts Alliance member 

CES (UK) Ltd., has joined forces 

with Bosch to run a ‘Customer 

Care for Technicians’ training course. The one 

day course, running at the distributors own 

training centre in early July is already fully 

booked. CES (UK) Ltd., believes that there’s a 

real desire amongst technicians to deliver good 

customer service and the speed at which the 

course was booked up shows it. 

Through case studies and practical exercises 

the course demonstrates the difference between 

good and bad customer service. Technicians will 

also learn about common problems, handling 

complaints and how to deliver outstanding 

customer service. 

“Providing consumers with a good experience 

extends way beyond completing the repair 

correctly and on-time. The actions of all staff, 

from when they first answer the phone to 

returning the car back, can have a big impact on 

the overall experience of the consumer,” says 

Marketing Director Melanie Warburton. “For 

instance handling a complaint correctly can be 

the difference between losing a customer and 

keeping them. This course demonstrates the 

principles that technicians can use every day to 

provide top quality customer care.” 

Going green @ Mill Autoquip 

South west vehicle parts distributor Mill Autoquip 

are looking to enhance its green credentials 

further by replacing a number of its fleet with 

100% electric powered vehicles. The firm, who 

are currently testing the new Renault ZE, are 

looking for innovative ways to cut its carbon 

emissions whilst also reducing the cost of delivery 

service allowing them to stay at the forefront 

in the competitive world of parts distribution. 

Speaking on the new generation of vehicles under 

consideration for their fleet Marketing Manager 

Damian Milling says “As a leader within our 

industry it is important to ensure we remain 

at the forefront in the implementation of 

sustainable products and services which help 

to look after the environment in which we work 

and provide our customers with the financial 

benefits from the savings that new innovations 

such as electric vehicles can bring. With an 

average driving range of 100miles on a single 

charge the new Renault ZE make fantastic sense 

for our more local delivery services.” 

4 summer 2012 General enquiries call 0121 565 6128 log on www.auto-torque.com or email enquiries@auto-torque.com

DriveTec 

wiper winners 

Matt Tarry ABM at CAS’s Kettering branch – 

a fully deserved winner, commented on finding 

out he had won – “Really pleased all my hard 

work has paid off and that I was the top of The 

Parts Alliance!” 

Industry expert delivers expert 

training for Allparts customers 

As part of their growing commercial training 

portfolio, Allparts have added another 

business support training package. 

“The best part was on how to work out 

labour rates,” John Furnell, Dashwood 

Service Centre. 

“I really liked the diary 

system that Mike presented 

to us, I will start to use this 

in my business straight 

away,” Lee Coles, Coles 

& Blackwell. 

Chris Barclay from SR MOT, a great 

customer, commented – “We fit a set 

of DriveTec wipers to every customers 

vehicle, they instantly notice the difference 

and it’s an added value. Thank you CAS and 

Auto-Torque!” 

Customers travelled from across the Staines 

area to visit the branch’s first ever Tool 

Sale event. 

Titled PROFIT CLINIC and delivered by 

industry expert Mike Owen at Allparts 

training and conference centre in Hayes 

Middlesex, the afternoon training session 

covers detailed areas of business 

management based around measuring and 

improving effi ciency and profi tability. 

“This was a really good course; it went 

into just the right amount of detail,” Stuart 

Smith, Alfatune. 

staines tool sale a success! 

Wynn’s demo van was also on site, ready to give 

help and advice on their Professional range of 

chemicals and additives. 

“We were really happy 

with the response our 

customers gave us 

following on from this 

course and we are taking 

bookings for the next 

session” says Jeremy Tollman, Allparts 

Business Solutions Manager. 

CAs’s customers being 

part of something BIG 

CAS were pleased with the commitment 

shown by their customers at their first of 

many customer support programmes held 

at the MK Dons. Accompanied by several 

suppliers the evening covered elements 

of Alliance Autocentre including real focus 

on the apprenticeship programme and 

GS Onestop. 

Held at our Kingston Road, Staines 

branch from April 26th to 29th, the 

event got underway with a special 

‘invitation only’ preview evening for 

trade customers, providing plenty 

of ‘one night only’ exclusive special 

offers. It’s always essential to have 

the right tool for the job, and this event 

gave customers the chance to have 

a proper look and feel of what’s available on 

the market. 

Our Tools & Consumables Product Manager, 

Paul Simmons was on hand providing specialist 

advice on our wide range of tools, whilst the 

popular CAF product Demo van was outside. The 

The Tool Sale continued over the weekend, open 

to both public and trade, with plenty of special 

offers in store to suit everyone. Whilst the Tool 

Sale may now be over, all CAF branches carry a 

large range of automotive tools in stock, and can 

also help you out with the larger items such as 

tyre machines and MOT bays. 

Customers were also asked to complete a 

CAS training on demand form so CAS can 

ensure they are writing a programme to 

suit their customers actual needs. 

All of CAS’s customers are welcome to 

attend any future evenings, the next two are 

scheduled for Birmingham and Norwich. 


5

6 Available summer 2012 through The Parts General enquiries Alliance. call 0121 Call 565 6128 0121 log on 565 www.auto-torque.com 6128 or email enquiries@auto-torque.com

Your 

Are you getting the message across? 

Drivers don’t need to take their car back 

to the main dealer to preserve its warranty 

and you can help them make an informed choice. IAAF chief 

executive Brian Spratt explains all to Auto-Torque… 

Working at my desk this morning, I took a 

telephone call from an IAAF garage member 

who was annoyed that one of her business 

customers had been misled by a local 

main dealer. 

The customer had 

taken one of their 

new vans back to 

the dealer for a 

service because the 

dealer had told the 

driver: “You have to bring it to us for servicing 

otherwise you’ll invalidate the warranty.” 

“It still astounds me 

that dealers will push 

this line” 

It still astounds me that dealers will push 

this line in spite of regulations which, for 

over 12 years now, have allowed independent 

repairers to service vehicles during the 

warranty period. As long as the independent 

services the vehicle in accordance with the 

vehicle producer’s service schedule and uses 

parts and other materials which match those 

www.right2choose.org.uk 

the dealer would use, then the warranty is 

not invalidated. 

Do we assume that the main dealer 

employee was ill-informed, or was this 

another example of ‘let’s fool the customer 

and stuff the independent repairer at the 

same time’? 

Of course, that independent repairer 

probably buys parts from the dealer 

anyway – they don’t need to, but they 

do, and it makes me wonder why. 

But don’t get me started on my moans 

about buying parts from the competitor 

– the dealer! So, back to 

the warranty point. 

We can’t blame the customer 

for allowing the dealer to 

mislead them; this is a 

murky world of European legislation, 

mixed in with the competitive battle 

between dealers and independents for 

valuable servicing work. 

But we can do something about it! 

Use the ‘Right to Choose’ Campaign 

as an aid to educate your customer. 

The campaign is gathering pace and 

provides independent garages with 

posters and leafl ets which explain 

to the motorist that the car belongs to 

them and they can choose where to 

have it serviced without worrying about 

their warranty being invalidated. “It’s your 

car – it’s your choice” is the message 

of the campaign. 

If you’re an independent garage you need 

to get this message out to your customers, 

before they hear any more tales from their 

local main dealer! 

Auto-Torque says: Of course not all main dealers 

will adopt these underhand tactics, but as with 

independent garages, there will always a be a 

few unscrupulous businesses. 

Download the above Right to Choose card 

and provide your customer with extra peace 

of mind at http://auto-torque.com/r2c/ 


7

Looking at the law 

burnt 

this summer 

burnt 

don’t get 

Be lean but not mean when it comes to legal compliance. 

When times are tight, as they 

certainly are now, it is 

sometimes those things 

seen as non-productive 

that fall by the way 

side. An insurance policy 

mentality comes into 

play – it won’t happen to 

my business! Sadly, just as 

there is a millionaire winner 

on the lottery, there is also the business that 

ends up before the court and particularly 

concerning Health & Safety causing a lot 

of heartache for many people. 

You might also devise a ‘novel’ scheme 

for paying benefits to employees but 

don’t get caught out if the less able 

employees don’t reach minimum wage. 

Pendragon, the UK’s largest car retailer, 

fell foul of using a salary sacrifi ce scheme 

for the benefit of a company car which 

left the employees below minimum wage. 

As the benefit was seen to favour the 

employer and not the employee, the 

scheme led to a payout for a prosecution 

brought about by HMRC to 

the tune of £35000. 

On a similar note, 

given the promotion of 

apprenticeship schemes 

don’t forget that when 

an apprentice reaches 

19 and has been studying 

for more than one year they 

become entitled to the minimum wage 

(currently £4.98 per hour). 

Trading Standards are also vigilant in checking 

service/repair outlets for compliance. It is a 

very easy thing to devise a ‘tick sheet’ to be 

used with your servicing schedules but it’s no 

good turning a ‘blind eye’ to the employees 

who are fi lling them in and apparently 

completing every operation every time. 

You must devise a checking scheme to see 

whether what is being recorded is the truth. 

Devon Trading Standards recently conducted 

a number of mystery shoppers and found 

problems. Also, don’t incentivise staff to 

fabricate work that is allegedly needed when 

it isn’t. This can lead to a prosecution. 

As you can see some simple steps can 

also lead to a lot of headaches for you. Take 

time to make sure your ship is not heading for 

an iceberg! 

legal solutions 

for the motor trade 

Stay on the right side 

of the law 

Find out how legal your business is in 

respect of Employment Law, Health & 

Safety and Good Business Practice. 

Lawgistics are offering Alliance 

Autocentre/Servicesure members a 

Free Compliance Assessment, helping 

you to identify areas of the law that you 

may not be aware of. 

Contact your local member of 

The Part Alliance for further details. 


Driving : Quality, range, 

Availability and Value for money 

– A winning combination 

The DriveTec range is the value for money, quality alternative to premium OE quality brands. 

Our 12 product groups cover: 

• Brake pads 

• Brake discs 

• Brake shoes 

• Batteries 

• Clutches 

• Door mirrors 

• Fuel caps 

• Lubrication 

• Rotating electrics 

• Washer pumps 

• Wheel bearings 

• Wiper blades 

(including flat blades) 

DriveTec provides lower cost servicing options for all types of vehicles, such as those aged 

between 6 and 9 years and which account for nearly 24% of the UK car parc. 

Join a winning team and make DriveTec your first choice for quality and value – 

available exclusively from The Parts Alliance. 


Garage management systems have become 

an integral part to independent garages as 

they look to improve the efficiency of their 

workshops, parts ordering and managing their 

business accounts. However, with the plethora 

of parts catalogues available and a number 

of IT programmes to manage accounts, VAT, 

job cards, invoicing and parts ordering, many 

garage systems cannot be easily integrated and 

GARAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 

subsequently many garages find themselves 

with disparate systems and poor manageability. 

GS Onestop, developed by The Parts Alliance 

and Data Development Services, provides 

a unique and intuitive garage management 

system. This new system sets the standard in 

garage management, and is sold exclusively 

through The Parts Alliance members. 

Auto-Torque GS Onestop Update 

New AlliCat online and GS Onestop – “Powered by Autodata” 

In this article leading experts from The Parts 

Alliance, including Jeremy Tollman, Allparts, 

Andrew Field, The Parts Alliance, Scot Dingwall 

and Jim McMillan from Dingbro, and Danny 

Bailey of CES (UK) Ltd, discuss the latest 

developments and product features of this new 

state-of-the art garage management system. 

Two major forces have combined putting 

garages in control. 

”Full access to Autodata’s 

market leading Automotive 

Technical data, is now 

available as an option 

through BOTH – The Parts 

Alliance market leading 

AlliCat online parts lookup and electronic 

ordering system, as well as GS Onestop our 

Garage Management System,” announced Jeremy 

Tollman of Allparts. 

“Existing Autodata subscribers can use their 

current licence, and we are now able to offer 

new customers a monthly subscription*.” 

(*subject to a minimum 12 month term). 

Matthew Ramsden, UK Sales Manager said 

“Autodata’s mission is to always be the most 

accurate and respected supplier of technical 

information to the automotive industry. 

“Linking up with The Parts Alliance, AlliCat 

online and GS Onestop provides an extra 

dimension for garages.” 

“This is only the first of several new initiatives 

that we are developing with Autodata,” 

explained Andrew Field. “Our goal is to provide 

a complete and unique package to our 

independent customers. When competition is 

as tough as it is now, we need to provide every 

possible assistance to our customers.” 

Free Text Ordering 

Another significant development for AlliCat 

online and GS Onestop is Free Text Ordering, as 

Scott Dingwall of Dingbro explains: 

“This is a major breakthrough in the field of parts 

ordering. Our customers can still use our AlliCat 

online electronic catalogue to find part numbers 

themselves. However we often find that they 

simply prefer to let us do the 

part selection. This new feature 

provides another option. 

“Garages often start with the Registration 

look-up service of AlliCat online in GS Onestop, 

but then simply type in the list of items that 

they would like us to supply – Simple!” 

e.g. Vehicle Registration Number 

Front Pads and Discs 

Oil Filter 

Air Filter 

All you have to do is ORDER! All done - quick 

and easy. 

There are so many benefits to this approach: 

Speed of ordering – Saves 

staff time freeing technicians 

to get on with earning money. 

Cost of telephone calls – 

Electronic orders are free 

to send. 

Reassurance on selecting the right parts – 

We are the experts, so let us worry about getting 

this right. 

Speed of service – Electronic orders jump 

straight to the front of the queue. 

For users of GS Onestop, this works with the list 

of parts provided in Autodata’s Manufacturers 

Service Schedules. 

In summary: 

This facility allows our workshop 

customers to concentrate on their 

job of repairing cars, while we get on 

with ours of supplying the parts. 


Stock Control 

Danny Bailey of CES (UK) Ltd is giving us an insight 

into this new module. 

A number of conventional 

stock control features have 

been available in GS Onestop 

from the outset, but we have 

found some of our customers 

wanting more. 

The problem has always been to provide 

this additional functionality for those that 

want it, while not over complicating the system 

for everyone else. 

GS Onestop is built around a full work-flow 

engine, which means that a lot of functions 

can take place in the background, without ever 

needing input from the user. We have used this 

to create a stock control system, without all of 

the constraints that are usually encountered, 

freeing our customers to focus on their business. 

This means that our customers can use some, all, 

or none of the functionality as suits them best. 

In summary: 

Track your stock, no matter where it is; on order, in 

stock, or marked for return, GS Onestop accounts 

for your stock right up to the point of invoice… 

We don’t expect you to remember lots of part 

numbers - you can easily find them through a 

simple description search. 

Returning parts has always been a problem. So 

not only does GS Onestop ensure that all parts 

purchased are booked out to customers, but it 

also keeps track of those that are to be returned 

– along with all of the supporting documentation 

and price information. 

Avoiding Disaster 

To be online, or not to be online? 

Jim McMillan of Dingbro explains: 

“It’s all a bit technical, but what sort of thing 

should you consider when choosing a system to 

run your garage?” 

Before even looking at what the system can do, 

there are basically two options: 

1. An online system, which is hosted by a 

supplier/system provider and accessed 

through an Internet connection. 

2. A locally installed system, which sits and runs 

on your computer. 

Advantages of online: 

• No software installed on your machine 

• Access from anywhere with an 

Internet connection 

• Backups handled by the provider 

• Data stored remotely on secure servers 

• Access to lots of additional services, such as 

online catalogues and registration look-up. 

Advantages of local: 

• Continues to work when the internet is 

down – so your business carries on 

• All of your sensitive information e.g. customer 

list, stays local and under your control. 

There is one ‘Other’ way, 

using a local programme 

with web services. 

This means that the core 

programme is installed 

on your computer, along with all of your 

sensitive data, but seamless connections are 

made to online services – giving the best of 

both worlds! 

“It’s not the easiest solution, but it is the best” 

continues Jim. “We have the real advantage 

that GS Onestop continues to work, even when 

the Internet is down. This means that our garage 

customers can continue to work with business 

critical operations around customer records, 

diary, bookings, vehicle history and accounts, 

all still available.” 

“Let’s be honest, it’s an inconvenience if you 

can’t do a registration look-up, or send an 

electronic order, but it won’t stop you repairing 

a vehicle, whereas if you can’t raise an invoice – 

that’s a different matter!” 

We listened to what 

garages wanted and 

needed and designed 

GS Onestop to work 

in this way. 

That doesn’t mean 

that GS Onestop 

doesn’t have the same 

type of functionality 

as online systems, 

these are still provided via our web services: 

Registration lookup 

Technical data via Autodata 

SMS and e-mail message 

services 

AlliCat electronic catalogue 

Direct electronic ordering – 

including automatic update 

of your job cards 

Service schedules and 

repair Times 

And many, many more… 

Software updates easily handled, similar to a 

Windows update. 

Antivirus protection is needed on your local 

system for both solutions. 

In summary: 

Systems that are fully internet dependent 

have one main weakness – connection to the 

internet. If that’s down, you’re down…and out! 

No programme, no data, no invoices, no revenue, 

no use! 

Please take a look at GS Onestop, the 

system that goes on working, even when the 

internet doesn’t! 

For a no obligation 30 day free trial, 

contact your local member of The 

Parts Alliance. 

See our ‘ramp up your sales’ article overleaf on ways 

to keep you and your workshop busy. 


11

Keep you and your workshop busy 

ramp 

your 

How often are your 

workshop’s ramps working? 

And how often are they left 

idle and unused? 

With the economy in a rocky state it’s vital 

that you’re using as much of your workshop’s 

capital as you can, whether it’s a ramp, a 

diagnostic tool or even a set of sockets. 

Workshop equipment being used regularly 

means a busy workshop, which in turn means 

more money and less worry about where the 

next job’s coming from. 

The trend towards repairs rather than 

servicing is due to drivers feeling they 

have less cash to spend on their cars. 

But only having faults repaired as and when 

they occur doesn’t mean that a car is safe: 

it’s time for you to start marketing your 

“It’s time for you to start marketing 

your workshop effectively and 

showing you are a competitivelypriced 

alternative to a main dealer” 

workshop effectively 

and showing you are a 

competitively-priced alternative to a main 

dealer, one that uses high-quality parts, does 

a good job, and can be cheaper. 

It sounds easy and with some forethought 

and forward planning that should be the case. 

However, where too many independent 

workshops slip up is when it comes to 

communication: they don’t advertise 

themselves. And when it comes to talking to 

a motorist (especially when they’re dropping 

their car off), there’s probably very little more 

than “we’ll give you a call 

when it’s ready.” 

Why miss out on increased 

earnings? If a car’s in for a 

service, highlight your “goodbetter-best” 

parts policy. 

“Highlight your “goodbetter-best” 

parts policy” 

After all, someone with a two-year old 

Ford Mondeo will be more likely to specify 

OE quality parts, while the owner of a 

’96 Mondeo is more likely to want a viable 

cost-effective alternative. 

When you’re talking with the customer of 

that older car, don’t ever force them into the 

high-cost option. Let them know there’s a 

good quality, competitively priced alternative 

available too. 

By offering a high-quality part that’s 

more suitable for the car and for the owner’s 

wallet you’re already demonstrating that 

you are listening to and understanding what 

they want: it helps dispel any thoughts 


clips; with exhausts it’s worth changing the 

up 

clamps at the same time. 

To return to your customers, it’s all about 

talking and listening. If you’re welcoming 

to your customers they will respond more 

sales 

favourably. Chances are they’ll open up more 

about their daily lives and from that 

you get an insight into how they 

use their cars. 

And don’t ever assume your 

customers know just how capable 

your workshop is. Do they know 

they might have had that your workshop 

you can tackle air conditioning re-gassing and 

may rip them off. 

repairs? They might think it’s a main dealer or 

Talking to your customers and fi nding out 

how they view their car will also help you 

tailor the parts you fit to the car. That old 

Vauxhall Vectra sitting on the ramps might 

not be worth a lot, but if it’s mum taking 

her children to school during the day and 

her elderly parents to bingo in the evening, 

she’ll want the best parts to keep it reliable 

and safe, whatever the driving conditions. 

Staying with parts, it’s even easier to slip 

up when it comes to ordering the right ones 

for the job. With cars becoming more 

complicated, replacement parts are becoming 

equally more ‘technical’, and the part that 

needs replacing might not be all that you need 

to finish the job. 

This is particularly true of timing belts, 

because it’s not just the belt that’s required 

in a complete timing belt system. Tensioners 

are needed too, to ensure that the new belt 

is running to the correct tension. Only fi tting 

a fresh belt is often a waste of time as it 

probably won’t work as it should. 

Even with simple replacement parts such as 

radiator hoses – it’s important to order new 

“It’s essential not to let 

main dealers have it all 

their own way” 

fast-fi t job only… Tell them it isn’t, and have 

some prices to hand on a leafl et they can 

take away with them. 

Talk also about the parts you 

can offer. Many drivers fresh out of a main 

dealer might question what the quality of 

your replacement parts are like and it’s 

essential not to let main dealers have 

things all their own way. Again it’s back 

to the “good-better-best” philosophy, and why 

you should spend just a little more time with 

your customers. 

And finally… 

Safety First 

Ask them if they’re using the 

car for a summer holiday: 

are they staying in this 

country, or are they driving 

through Europe? If they’re 

going abroad you can 

explain to them about 

the requirement to carry 

a breathalyser, hi-vis 

vests and a bulb kit because 

that’s what the law demands 

now across the Channel. You’ll 

be saving them any last-minute 

headaches AND demonstrating 

that you listen – and care. 

Correct parts make the job go 

smoothly… 

You’ve got the car on the ramp and 

you’re partway through a job when you 

realise you’ve forgotten to order a part. 

OK, your local member of The Parts 

Alliance should be able to supply it 

quickly, but it’s added and unnecessary 

frustration for you, because the job 

might not be fi nished by the time you 

promised, and that car could be getting 

in the way of other jobs. 

So when a customer’s booking their 

car in for a service, ask them how it’s 

running and whether they’re aware of 

any problems or faults. You can plan for 

that. Of course you can’t always plan 

for the other faults you’ll discover once 

you start work, but a delivery from The 

Parts Alliance is always just a phone 

call away! 

see page 10 and 11 on how 

Gs Onestop can help you and 

your business. 


13

Help grow your business with the 4Cs 

Help your 

business 

grow 

with… 

Like it or not, if there’s one area where 

a main dealer consistently scores 

above an independent workshop it’s 

in customer service. It’s not always 

easy to quantify, but we all know good 

– and bad – customer service when 

we experience it. 

It’s all about the 4Cs: 

Care; 

Cleanliness; Communication; 

and, Courtesy. It’s not diffi cult when 

you think about it, but putting the 4Cs into 

practice day after day to the best of your 

ability requires plenty of application. 

From the moment a customer opens the 

door when they’re dropping their car off, 

you’re effectively on parade. Motorists expect 

their car to be serviced or repaired quickly 

and efficiently, but with increased customer 

service expectations you need to be offering 

a lot more than just doing the job correctly. 

Care: How you treat the customer and 

their car is paramount. You need to generate 

confi dence, and that comes from talking 

to the customer (see ‘Communication’). By 

talking, but more importantly listening, you 

are on to a winner, and there’s a greater 

chance that the customer will be back – and 

no doubt recommending you to their friends 

and family. 


Cleanliness: Your waiting room needs 

to be, if not spotless, very, very tidy. Dirty 

tables laden with old ripped magazines like 

‘Chat’ and ‘Take a Break’ and half-empty 

plastic beverage cups are a ‘no-no’ under any 

circumstances. And what about the waiting 

room floor? Like it or not, once a customer’s 

clocked a dirty floor they’ll be wary of just how 

good a job you’ll be doing on their car. It’s all 

in the psychology… 

“It’s all about smiling, 

looking the customer 

in the eye and being 

straight with them” 

Make sure too that the service counter is 

clean, warm and tidy, with no papers and old 

pens strewn around. You’re not running a rundown 

betting shop, so why let your waiting 

room look like one? 

Look too at the walls in your waiting room and 

workshop and of course the customer toilets. 

If they need painting, do it. A little investment 

in time and money will give your business an 

image boost and make you feel better about 

it too. 

Don’t forget it’s not just your premises 

that need to be tidy: technicians wearing 

dirty overalls also give a bad impression 

and it’s an image that will stay in your 

customer’s mind. 

And at the end of the service or repair job, 

give the car a clean. It doesn’t take long and 

can really make all the difference. 

But don’t take our word for it – a recent 

survey by The Parts Alliance has shown that 

60 percent of motorists said the cleanliness 

of their car after servicing would be the 

deciding factor on whether they’d recommend 

that garage – or not. As The Parts Alliance 

points out, car cleaning is a great way to build 

customer loyalty. 

Communication: These days it’s 

easy to keep in touch, and customers expect 

the business they’re dealing with to keep in 

touch with them. Alongside the traditional 

landline phone, mobile phones (either by 

calling or texting) and email mean you can 

keep your customer up-to-speed with how 

you’re getting on with their car. If you’ve got 

their number and the job’s fi nished earlier 

than you told them, let them know: it puts 

some more points in the bank and makes you 

look effi cient. Similarly, if you’re running late 

on a job, let them know. 

Customers like honesty, and while their 

motor might be fi nished an hour later than 

you said when they dropped it off, that’s 

better than them turning up on time and 

then having a long wait until it’s ready: that 

always annoys people. 

The golden rule is always 

KEEP IN TOUCH. 

Courtesy: It doesn’t cost much, but 

it can pay big, big dividends. Saying ‘Hello’, 

‘Goodbye’, ‘Thank you’ and going through the 

bill carefully are simply the basics. It’s all about 

smiling, looking the customer in the eye and 

being straight with them – with no patronising. 

“Good customer service, 

however, doesn’t cost a 

lot but its rewards will 

be long-term” 

On the other hand, if the workshop’s run by 

pleasant, courteous people and they don’t do 

a job properly, the customer is far more likely 

to be accepting that mistake. 

MENU PRICING 

Simplicity’s the name of the game when it 

comes to servicing: Let’s face it, drivers don’t 

like taking their car to the garage because it 

always involves spending money – whether 

it’s a small or large amount. 

For many drivers, a car service is something 

complicated and consequently they don’t want 

to understand it. So make their lives easier 

and adopt a menu-pricing system, because 

it’s easily explained and understood. 

Menu pricing has the advantage, if run 

properly, of having no hidden costs, but 

you must also consider whether your menu 

servicing includes everything a VM suggests 

at main and intermediate services. 

There’s no excuse for poor customer service: 

it gives a poor impression of your business 

and the work it does. Good customer service, 

however, doesn’t cost a lot but its rewards 

will be long-term and could, through customer 

recommendations, bring further work. 

Many people laugh at the American approach 

to service, and knock the ‘Have a nice day’ 

line, but it’s far more uplifting than the grumpy 

approach some workshop staff have. And no 

matter how good a job you do on their car, if 

you’re off-hand when they drop it off – and 

especially when they are paying the bill – you 

might not be seeing them again. 

In a nutshell, increase your sales 

These days, presentation is just as important 

as the job being done and how you present 

your business – and yourself – is vitally 

important. Customer expectations are 

increasing all the time, so don’t throw away 

business for the sake of a set of dirty overalls, 

or oily fi ngerprints on a customer’s car. 


15


Timing Belts & Tensioners 

– fi t together to save time 

and effort whilst reducing 

the chances of premature 

component failure. 

As the replacement mileages for timing belts – 

as recommended by vehicle manufacturers – begin 

to reach 150,000 miles or more, it is important to 

understand why it is happening and how to continue to 

profi t from primary drive component sales. 

To keep ‘cost of ownership’ fi gures as low as possible 

in order to appeal to the mass fleet buying 

markets, vehicle manufacturers try and push non-essential 

servicing items past the end of the vehicle’s warranty 

period, which is also increasingly being done to attract 

private buyers! 

It’s all in t 

By putting a change point of say, 120,000 miles 

for a timing belt on a Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi, Ford is 

not only putting the cost of the change outside of 

the fi ve-year cost of ownership fi gures, but it is 

guaranteeing that if there are problems during or 

after replacement then the vehicle is way beyond 

“INA tensioners and guide 

pulleys are warranted for 

the replacement lifetime” 

the warranty period. As most timing belt failures 

are due to tensioning problems (ie. fitting errors), 

this could be seen as a sensible approach. 

The problem is that although all of the major drive 

components in the system will have been designed and 

engineered to easily exceed the life expectancy of the timing 

belt, the chances of them remaining in good order until the 

second change (at 240,000 miles!) are much more remote. For 

this reason, many vehicle manufacturers are now recommending the 


“INA offers the largest 

range of primary drive 

components available to 

the uK aftermarket” 

tensioner set, INA will cover all components 

if a manufacturing defect is identifi ed in the 

unlikely event of a premature failure. 

INA Timing Belt Kits also come supplied 

with an OE quality timing belt, completing 

the package. 

With more than 210 tensioner sets in the 

range, plus single tensioners where sets 

are not required, INA offers the largest range 

of primary drive components available to the 

UK aftermarket. 

Top Tips 

• Always follow the vehicle 

replacement of all primary drive components 

during a timing belt service. 

manufacturer’s timing and tensioning 

fi tting process exactly – it’s important 

not to take short cuts! 

As the leading OE tensioner supplier, INA 

• Always tension the belt on a 

can offer an unequalled level of quality 

cold engine 

and confidence, further enhanced by an 

unrivalled warranty offer. INA tensioners 

and guide pulleys are warranted for the 

• Always use a torque wrench to 

tighten tensioner and pulley bolts 

replacement lifetime that each vehicle to the vehicle manufacturer’s 

manufacturer specifies for the timing belt. 

That is not the end of the warranty story 

though, because as long as an OE quality 

recommended specifi cations 

• Check all the components driven 

by the belt for wear and/or damage 

belt is fitted at the same time as the INA 

he timing 

…Timing Belts & Tensioners 

Don’t Forget FEAD For An Instant 

Profit Opportunity 

Auxiliary belt tensioners are notorious 

for being ignored. Vehicle manufacturers 

give little or no advice about replacing 

them apart from merely suggesting 

“check the condition” on recommended 

service schedules. 

INA tensioning components come with 

a lifetime warranty in line with the 

recommended drive system replacement 

mileage set by the vehicle manufacturer. 

FREE technical support is available 

on Monday to Friday between 8.30am 

- 5.30pm and Saturdays from 9.00am - 

12.00am by calling 08457 001 100. 

Probably the most obvious reason not to 

ignore the FEAD is that in many vehicle 

applications you have to remove the FEAD 

belt and tensioner to replace the timing belt, 

so renewing it will incur a minimum cost to the 

vehicle owner. 

With two million FEAD belt replacements per 

year the profi t opportunity in replacing FEAD 

tensioners and pulleys is there for all to see. 

As the largest OE supplier of FEAD 

components with more than 800 references, 

INA can offer the largest and most up-to-date 

range in the aftermarket. 

INA’s unique solution of supplying every single 

part required when servicing the timing belt 

system, and in some cases more parts than 

included in the original equipment equivalent, 

is also proving extremely popular. 

INA suggests that it should always be 

kept in mind that the Front End Auxiliary 

Drive (FEAD) tensioners and pulleys 

that maintain the tension on all of the 

safety critical components, such as belt 

driven PAS pumps or vacuum pumps, 

will have done the same mileage (and been 

subjected to the same conditions) as the 

primary drive belt tensioners and pulleys. 

The failure of any component on the FEAD 

system could lead to the failure of the 

complete drive system if the FEAD belt wraps 

around the crank pulley. 

Top Tips 

• Hydraulic tensioners should be 

primed before the belt is fitted 

• A vibrating tensioner may be due to 

a faulty overrunning alternator pulley 

• Always check every driven 

component in the system for wear 

and/or damage 


17

Air Conditioning… 

stay suPerCOOL this summer 

Air conditioning is a brilliant 

all-year round fitting but it’s 

the warmer times of the year 

that make drivers think about 

keeping their cars cool. 

but on older cars it could be a case of 

finding leaks and stopping them. 

Supercool’s lubricants are the 

best quality available, thanks to 

three additives – anti-oxidants, antiwear 

agents and rust inhibitors. 

All are designed to extend the air 

conditioning system’s service life and 

reduce the need for repairs. 

The Parts Alliance has a great range 

of products from Supercool, all 

designed to keep an air conditioning 

system working reliably and efficiently. 

On newer cars, most air conditioning 

attention will be focused on a simple 

re-gassing and cabin filter change, 

Anti-oxidants protect the 

system against sludge buildup, 

which can shorten the 

compressor’s life, while rust 

inhibitors prevent the leaks 

that occur when evaporators 

and condensors have a 

build-up of corrosion. When 

corrosion takes hold 

debris can build up which 

in turn can adversely 

affect the compressor. 

Anti-wear agents 

and friction modifiers 

reduce compressor 

wear rates, which 

in turn will extend 

the service life and 

make the whole air 

conditioning system 

more efficient. 

When it comes 

to finding system 

leaks 

Supercool’s 

detector dyes pinpoint 

troublesome 

weak 

spots to speed-up fault 

diagnosis. And for small leaks there’s 

Total Stop Leak, an HFC-free aerosol 

that stops small leaks in hoses, 

condensors and evaporators. It won’t 

damage or clog the system or workshop 

recovery machines. 

Meanwhile, many drivers will only be 

aware something’s not right with their 

car’s air conditioning when it starts 

developing unpleasant smells. Again, 

Supercool has the answer with its 

odour eliminator, which is long lasting, 

fast acting and safe for all evaporators. 

And don’t forget the kits available 

from The Parts Alliance’s Ice Station 

programme. A servicing starter kit has all 

that’s needed to get you into this highly 

lucrative sector, including legally required 

gloves and goggles. 

Ice Station also offers a UV leak detector 

kit, an OFN nitrogen leak detector kit, and 

one to tackle Loktrace gas leaks. 

Your local member of The Parts Alliance 

will have all the details – contact 

them today! 

Don’t forget the importance of 

your F-gas certifi cate. Since 

July 2007 anyone working on 

a car’s air-conditioning system 

MUST have a certifi cate to prove 

they’re competent to do the job, 

as it is now an offence to let 

any refrigerant escape into the 

atmosphere. Getting the certifi cate 

takes just one day, but it will make 

a big difference to your business. 


Ways to make more money 

Train and 

Profit 

Treating your customers like customers, 

rather than as an unnecessary pain, 

should be a basic rule in any independent 

workshop, yet far too many times that’s 

simply not the case. 

So if you want to meet the main dealer 

challenge head-on, paying attention to your 

customer service is essential – and it isn’t 

that difficult. 

“understanding the 

customer’s needs and how 

you can develop them into 

something more profitable” 

From the ‘meet and greet’, when a customer 

drops their car off, through to explaining 

the invoice and keeping accurate customer 

records, the aim is to build long-term (and 

consequently profitable) relationships. It’s not 

Profit Clinic 

Attending ‘The Parts Alliance’ Profit 

Clinic will open the door on ‘business 

management’ – this surprisingly, is 

completely different to how you manage 


From discovering your own business’s true 

potential to identifying where and how to 

extract greater profits by ‘working smarter’, 

all supported with methods that you can 

immediately take back and introduce inside 

your own business. You will leave one of 

our clinics able to produce all of the most 

critical business information – from your 

own individual labour charge-out rate to 

the ‘Magnificent-Seven’ key performance 

diffi cult, but it does require some thought and 

some careful planning. 

Together with the general principles of 

politeness and manners, there is more to 

customer service and that will lead to 

greater profi t. There’s the importance of 

understanding the customer’s needs and 

how you can develop them into something 

more profi table – perhaps by simply 

exceeding their expectations so they’ll 

recommend you to their family and friends. 

It’s also important to talk – and talk properly 

– not just go through the motions, because an 

open approach to the invoice or the work that 

needs doing creates more trust and gives an 

air of professionalism. 

indicators. Being able to analyse results 

will give you a clear measurement of your 

own daily, weekly, monthly and annual 

performance and where you should apply 

your management infl uence to capitalise on 

any untapped business potential. 

Those that have attended these seminars 

comment that the level of experience 

is absolute and that the examples and 

exercises are all designed from a garage 

perspective and will challenge your current 

thinking in a constructive way. One delegate 

commented “I now feel that I can work on my 

business as well as in it, truly world-class”. 

So what are you waiting for – contact your 

local member or contact us via e-mail: 

attraining@thepartsalliance.com 

Don’t forget too that it’s important 

to know when to listen, and why making 

impossible promises is always bad practice. 

The Parts Alliance recognises the importance 

of good customer service and offers a series 

of customer training courses for its workshop 

customers. And for even your longest-serving 

employee, there’s always something new they 

can learn. 

These competitively priced courses bring the 

very best in customer service skills training, 

and could be one of the best investments you 

make in your business this year. 

Remember: your image, your 

actions and most importantly the 

way you speak with your customers 

will influence their experience 

and consequently the success of 

your business. Ignoring customer 

service is simply a no-go. 

WIN A Free 

PLACe ON 

ONe OF Our 

PrOFIT CLINICs 

Free 

You could win a FREE place on one of our 

highly sought after Profi t Clinics. To qualify 

just register your details at: 

attraining@thepartsalliance.com 

The winners name will be drawn at random. 

Closing date: Friday 20th July 2012 

Terms and Conditions 

• Auto-Torque reserves the right to withdraw the prize draw at 

any time without prior notice • The judges decision is fi nal 

• There is no cash alternative 


19


What is DriveTec? 

Strong-value price 

competitive replacement 

parts is why The Parts 

Alliance’s DriveTec 

brand is the name 

to trust. 

Available exclusively through 

The Parts Alliance, DriveTec 

offers matching quality 

components for 

budget-conscious 

motorists. Originally 

just fast-moving 

servicing items, today’s 

DriveTec offering has expanded 

to comprise: 

Batteries 

Brake pads 

Brake discs 

Brake shoes 

Clutches 

Door mirrors 

Fuel caps 

Lubrication 

Rotating electrics 

Washer pumps 

Wheel bearings 

Wiper blades 

Take a look at the DriveTec offer 

The battery offering targets fast movers, 

with 16 part numbers. All batteries 

are maintenance-free and include a two 

year warranty. 

DriveTec’s braking range offers a true OE 

alternative. There are more than 270 disc 

part numbers and, where weight allows, 

they are packed in pairs. DriveTec pad range 

offers strong UK parc coverage for both cars 

and LCVs. 

DriveTec clutch range includes the top 170 

selling part numbers providing independent 

workshops with a cost-effective alternative. 

All DriveTec clutches are backed by a no 

quibble guarantee. 

Rotating electrics have a harder life in 

modern cars and it’s important to have 

access to a wide range, as these are 

often distress purchases. With more 

than 2200 alternator and starter motor 

part numbers available, your customers 

aren’t going to be left stranded! Giving 

98 percent car parc coverage, and 

backed by a 12-month warranty, 

the DriveTec range offers unbeatable 

value for money. 

Today’s cars are much more dependent 

on specifi c oils than their predecessors 

and therefore it’s essential to use the right 

grade at each and every oil change. DriveTec 

offers a wide range of oils for both diesel 

and petrol engines, including six grades 

of 5w30 as VM’s continue to drive vehicle 

specifi c applications. 

During summer months take the opportunity 

to check the DriveTec wiper range. 

Alongside conventional fl at blades (in 

17 sizes), there are also OE flat blades 

(10 sizes) and retrofi t fl at blades (12 sizes). 

The fl at blades are made from natural rubber 

to give long-lasting sweeping. 

DriveTec’s range is a useful way of giving 

budget-conscious drivers a high-quality, lowercost 

alternative. The cost of running a car is 

increasingly expensive and many drivers need 

their cars to be reliable and safe, but they have 

other budget demands they need to take care 

of. DriveTec is that price-friendly solution. 


21

SPECIALIST PARTS 

TM 

There’s more to looking after 

a customer’s car than the 

general service parts, but it’s 

only when a more unusual 

part is needed do you realise 

the broad coverage The Parts 

Alliance offers. 

Away from brake pads, spark plugs and oil, 

there are many parts that cars need day 

in, day out, to keep them running reliably, 

smoothly and safely. Think about washer 

bottle motors, rain sensors and parking 

assist sensors – if you can’t get those parts 

there’s a car clogging up your workshop and 

a frustrated owner wanting it back. 

You don’t need to go to the main dealer: 

remember, one call to your local member of 

The Parts Alliance does it all! 

Dual Mass 

Flywheel 

VW Crafter 2.5TDi 

06> 

Rear Wiper Motor 

Vauxhall Astra 98-06, 

Zafira 99-05, 

Corsa 00-07, 

Meriva 06> 

Rear Shock Absorber 

Jaguar X-Type 02> 

Camshaft Position 

Sensor 

Hyundai i40 1.7D 

07-11> 

Clutch Kit 

Vauxhall Vectra / Signum, 

Saab 9-3 1.9CDTi 04> 

Washer Level Sensor 

VW Golf / Audi A4 

Diesel Distributor 

Pump 

Ford Transit 2.0Di / 

2.4Di 00-06 

Fuel Pressure Sensor 

Mercedes-Benz various 

inc. Sprinter 2.2CDi 00-06, 

A160 1.7CDi 01-04 

Steering Angle 

Sensor 

BMW X3 / X5 

Power Steering Rack 

Mercedes-Benz various C, 

CLS, E Class 05> 

Diesel Particulate Filter 

Fiat Doblo 1.9 JTD 05> 

Parking Assist 

Sensor 

Seat Leon / Altea 


Throttle Body 

Various VAG 1.4, 1.9, 

2.0 TDi 04>, A3 05> 

Fabia 07>, Golf 07> 

Heater Blower Unit 

Audi A4 

Oil Cooler 

Audi A3, A4, A6, 

A8, S4, TT 

Blower Resistor 

Renault Clio 3 

Washer Pump 

Citroen C5 

Control Arm Mount 

Vauxhall Insignia 

Heater Control Unit 

BMW 525I E39 2004 

Front Shock Absorber 

Kia Picanto 04-11 

Air Flow Meter 

Kia Rio 1.5D 05> 

Cat and DPF Unit 

Vauxhall Zafi ra 

Window Regulator 

Mechanism 

Skoda Octavia 00> 

Rain Sensor 

Mercedes-Benz 

C class (203), 

E class (210) 

Front Caliper 

Lexus IS200 99-05 


23

We take the pain out 

of garage equipment 

MOT testing is part and parcel of 

many workshops’ daily business. 

And an MOT certifi cate is 

mandatory for any car on the road 

that’s more than three years old. 

However, MOT testing 

is something of a 

minefi eld, depending 

on what kind of 

vehicles you want 

to test. Add in the 

installation of the testing bay and it’s not the 

simple ‘licence to print money’ some might think 

it is. 

“unnecessarily large 

expense that offered a 

slow return” 

It’s true that MOT testing can bring in extra 

revenue, but with that earning potential comes 

extra responsibility. A well-equipped workshop 

that’s going into testing should benefit from the 

spin-off repair work that MOT failures will need to 

secure a pass, and to many drivers a workshop 

that carries out MOTs can be trusted to do 

servicing and repairs to a higher standard. 

“The ministry wants 

to see ALL mOT tests 

carried out on an ATL” 

The introduction of Automated Test Lanes (ATLs) 

was seen by many workshops in the early days 

as an unnecessarily large expense that offered a 

slow return. Yet ATLs are cost-effective because 

they only need one technician to carry out the 

MOT test, and when they’re not being used for 

testing they can double up as part of the general 

service and repair equipment. 


Any MOT bay needs careful planning prior 

to choosing equipment and then layout. 

Reputable MOT equipment suppliers have a 

design and build arm that will work alongside 

a workshop owner to make sure the right 

equipment is purchased and installed, in the 

correctly designed location. 

What’s more, leaving the design and 

installation to professionals takes a load 

off your mind and allows you to get on with 

looking after the day-to-day aspects of running 


A Class 4 four-post lift gives many workshops 

a useful testing/servicing crossover, so 

when it’s not being used for one task 

it can swap over to the other. Many 

equipment suppliers will offer a choice of 

lift types and in many cases the lane can 

be bought as one package or as separate 

components, meaning existing equipment 

can be updated to ATL mode. 

There are some MOT testing 

businesses that don’t need 

to upgrade to an ATL setup 

though, and in a sector 

that’s so driven by new 

technology, it’s a surprisingly 

old-fashioned stance VOSA 

and the Ministry take. 

These are examples of longestablished 

businesses that 

benefi t from ‘grandfather 

rights,’ and in essence they’re not obliged 

to upgrade to an ATL. 

Instead they can continue 

carrying out MOT tests 

with two technicians. 

For many motorists (and 

for workshops too) it 

might appear to be better 

to have two technicians 

testing a car. Yet for many 

garages there’s still a 

fi rmly held belief that 

after 2015 the Ministry 

wants to see ALL MOT 

tests carried out on an 

ATL rather than in a more traditional way. 

There’s also a belief that other Ministry 

demands, such as provision of waiting 

rooms, drinks facilities and viewing areas, are 

designed to spell an end to those old-school 

testing businesses. Those businesses will 

eventually disappear but in the near and not 

so near future they continue to offer a useful 

service to those garages that don’t carry out 

their own tests. 

part of your business. It gives you added 

status and added income, and in these 

tougher times that can’t be a bad thing. 

We say: It’s all about investment. Having 

as many revenue streams as possible is 

important for the continued profitability of 

your business, and using an equipment 

supplier’s design and build facility brings 

added peace of mind and longevity. 

The Parts Alliance has 

mOT testing covered: it can 

offer you a gas analyser 

calibration for your testing 

equipment. It’s quick, efficient 

and competitively priced. 

It’s a very big investment for any independent 

garage, especially at a time when the 

economy’s not exactly buoyant, but could 

now be the right time to invest? With more 

motorists switching to independent garages, 

investing in an ATL might be wise, despite the 

often eye-watering cost. 

Meanwhile, for workshops offering MOT 

testing, it’s not just the investment in 

MOT – compliant equipment 

that’s needed. There’s also 

the need for a waiting room, 

as many motorists want to 

wait while their car is tested. 

So that means comfortable 

chairs, a drinks machine and 

plenty of reading material. 

It’s a tough call meeting all 

the Ministry’s demands, but 

MOT testing is a rewarding 


25

Highlighting 

Oe quality 

A bulb isn’t just a bulb – there are bulbs 

of differing qualities out there, writes 

Auto-Torque editor Richard Barnett. 

Osram bulbs offer OE quality and at a level that is 

used by VMs around the world, with quality that is 

common to their aftermarket offering as well. 

That’s because VMs only demand the highest 

quality possible, as fi tting a bulb has become a 

complicated, time-consuming job that’s no longer 

completed in the time it takes to boil a kettle. With 

more crowded engine bays becoming the norm, 

getting to a bulb at the ‘front end’ is a tricky task 

and you won’t want to be doing it any more often 

than you have to! 

The risk from fi tting lower-quality non-OE bulbs is 

their failure frequency, which is irritating for the 

motorist and for you. Motorists won’t be happy if 

they’re back at the garage as often as they go to 

the supermarket. 

For the workshop, once it’s fi tted a high quality 

bulb it will last a long time: fi t a poor quality one and 

you’ll be repeating the job in the not too distant 

future. Meanwhile the rise in daylight running 

lights means a bulb is in use for much longer 

periods, so a good quality bulb is vital to 

meet that increased demand. 

Bulb demand will 

also be changing 

because of the restructuring 

of the MOT test. Now there’s a 

requirement for a perfect beam cut-off and 

that will come only from a high-quality type, not a 

poor imitation. 

NON-OE BRAND 

OSRAM OE RANGE 

OSRAM ULTRA LIFE 

Longer Lifetime 

• Meets basic 

requirements 

• No guarantees 

on lifetime 

• No guarantees 

on performance 

• Full OE 

Specifi cation 

• As fi tted to 

new cars 

• Peace of mind 

with no hassle 

• Lasts longer 

than OE! 

• Fit and Forget 

• No comebacks 

Osram’s ULTRA LIFE range offers the perfect 

solution for professional drivers, users of halogen 

daytime lights and where bulb replacements are 

complex. They come with a three-year warranty 

and can offer up to three times longer service 

life than other bulbs. Peace of mind for you – 

and your customers. 


What’s new to do the job right 

Labour saving tools 

…at great prices! 

It’s important to have the right tool 

for the job. Not only do the right tools 

enable you to do the job properly, they 

training. Today’s technician doesn’t just 

have to understand what makes a car 

work (and how to carry out any remedial 

There are certain tools and equipment 

that can really make a big, positive impact 

on your trade. Here’s Auto-Torque’s guide 

speed up the process and give you, the work), they have to know how to to some equipment that will really make 

technician, more confidence. 

More tools are now needed to do what was 

once a simple spanner and screwdriver 

job, but with that there’s a need for better 

use modern tools correctly so they can 

diagnose a fault and then carry out a 

repair. The days of a quick blast around 

the block to find out just what’s wrong 

isn’t really an option now. 

a difference if you’re looking for a highquality 

investment. 

For great prices on tools contact your local 

member of The Parts Alliance. 

Metric Tap and Die Set 110pc 

4554 

• 110 piece 

• Popular sizes of taps are supplied 

in 2’s 

• Includes 2 x adjustable tap holders 

M6-M20 (1/4"-3/4") M3-M12 

(1/16"-1/2") 

• Features split die 

• Manufactured from Alloy Steel 

Rack End Remover and Installer 35-45mm 

4765 

• Designed to remove the axle joint | track 

rod from the steering rack measuring from 

35mm-45mm diameter 

• Enables the removal with the track rod in situ 

• Can be used with 1/2"D wrench or 

27mm spanner 

• Specialist tool 

Brake Caliper Guide Thread Repair Kit 

5037 

• Complete with Titanium coated 

core drill 

• Tap and 10 threaded inserts (spare 

threaded inserts available Part No 

5038) 

• Suitable for Volkswagen Audi Group | 

Opel | Vauxhall | Ford 

• Supplied in a blow mould case 

Glow Plug Thread Repair Kit 31pc 

5206 

• Re-threading kit for 8mm |10mm | 

12mm glow plugs 

• Chrome Vanadium with black 

phosphate fi nish 

• Replaceable consumable 

items available 

• Essential service tool for alloy 

cylinder head 

• Packed in a blow case 

Fuel Return Flow Tester 

5260 

• Return fuel volume tester for 

common rail diesel injectors and 

conventional injectors 

• For up to 10 cylinders 

• 40 Adaptors for Bosch CRD | Siemens 

CRD | DENSO CRD | Delphi CRD 

• 10 graduated fuel chambers 

• Easy to read fuel chambers 

• Essential tool 

Diesel Priming and Bleeding Kit 

5262 

• For bleeding or priming diesel systems 

• For connection in-line with the vehicles 

low pressure delivery system 

• The clear pipes allow any air bubbles 

in the system to be seen 

• Time saver 

• Universal use 

Trakrite Laser System 

77113 

• Designed to work on the wheel rims 

(batteries not included) 

• The Laser Trakrite allows anyone to 

check the tracking on their car without 

paying up to £25 for the check 

• Having correctly aligned tracking saves 

money on fuel and tyre wear 

• Process self calibrates after each use 

• Static tracking system utilising laser 

light technology 

Hot Stapler Plastic Repair System Deluxe 

91781 

• Hot Stapler repair system 

• Repair instead of replace 

• Secure bumper splits to enable repair 

• Quick effective repair method 

• Reinforce lug repair without excess 

• Supplied with 300 staples 


27

It’s a part number now! 

multigrade 

oils… 

a multitude 

of 

Once upon a time, not that 

long ago, oil changes were 

frequent but they were easy. 

That’s because most cars 

were quite happy to run on a 

multigrade oil. 

specifying absolutely the right specifi cation 

oil each and every time a car is serviced. No 

approximations – it has to be the right one. 

What’s made the oils sector even more 

complicated is the rise in VM specifi c oils. 

Typical Engine Evolution 

Using the right oil is essential because 

motorists are tending to drive shorter 

distances, and that means there’s a greater 

risk of condensation building up in the engine. 

Cars that drive long motorway journeys 

have far less chance of a condensation 

build up because they are getting up to 

temperature and running at that temperature 

for many miles. 

But with increased demand for cleaner 

emissions, longer service intervals and 

greater fuel economy, oils have had to keep 

up with advancing engine technology. Add in 

the rise in diesel engined-cars and it’s hardly 

surprising oil has had to evolve. 

Manufacturers are increasingly moving to 

extended or variable service intervals, which 

could mean a vehicle can travel up to 30,000 

miles between services. Vehicle specifi c 

lubricants are required to stay in grade and 

offer full protection for the whole service 

interval. Fit cheaper/inferior oils and they 

may save you money on the initial purchase 

but may cost you in engine damage. 

Modern engines can also be 

prone to burning oil – drivers 

of modern German branded 

cars will know 

this too well. So 

engine damage 

can occur if you 

fail to check 

oil levels between service intervals. So it is 

more important than ever to use the correct 

vehicle specific oil, and to regularly check and 

top up oil levels. 

That means today oil isn’t a mere engine 

lubricant: it’s a part number, which means 

Volkswagen Golf GTI 1983 

Volkswagen Golf GTI 2011 

They might all be 5w-30s, but the one specifi ed 

by Ford isn’t the same as the one specifi ed by 

the VW Group or the one specifi ed by GM. 

In each case the oil is designed to work 

with – and not just in – the engine. Different 

carmakers can use different materials in 

their engines and that means not all ‘samespec’ 

oils will work in engines from other car 

manufacturers. 

So think carefully before doing an oil change. 

Talk to your local member of The Parts 

Alliance about which oil is THE one for the car 

you’re working on. 

Condensation can be carried around the 

engine and as well as potentially harming 

the engine’s components it will also shorten 

the working life of the oil. So when the oil is 

changed it’s essential to give the engine a 

thorough engine fl ush, especially when it’s 

one that does shorter, stop-start journeys 

that doesn’t see it getting hot. 

Turbo trouble 

Almost all modern diesel-engined cars have a 

turbocharger fi tted, as do plenty of their petrol 

brethren. It’s a great way of adding power 

cheaply, but that power can be seriously 

depleted if the wrong oil is used. 

“specifying absolutely the right specification oil each 

and every time a car is serviced. No approximations – it 

has to be the right one” 

Why? It’s all down 

to sludge and, 

more specifi cally, 

a build-up of the 

oily grime that can, 

by accumulating 

in the turbocharger, seriously reduce 

its effi ciency and bring about its early 

demise. Turbochargers are the first part 

of the engine to suffer on the influx of the 

dreaded sludge, as clean oil and strong 


sins! 

Replacement turbochargers 

A turbocharger won’t necessarily 

last the lifetime of the engine so it’s 

important to have a replacement unit 

when needed. The Parts Alliance 

offers a range of MIRATEC units that 

give extensive car parc coverage. 

Each unit is made to exacting 

standards, thus bringing your 

customer’s car back to life! 

pressure are essential for the unit to 

run properly. 

A good-quality oil filter will prevent that 

sludge building up, but the importance of 

using absolutely the correct oil cannot be 

over-emphasised. 

Filters 

While it’s essential to use the right oil, its 

good work can be undone by fi tting a poor 

quality fi lter. And with extended service 

intervals it’s vital to have a fi lter that’s up to 

the job. 

With a poor quality oil 

fi lter, contaminants 

will begin to build 

up soon after an oil 

and fi lter change and 

they’ll be causing untold 

damage to the engine over many 

thousands of miles. To keep an engine 

running reliably fi tting the correct filter 

isn’t expensive, but a cheap fi lter can cause 

highly expensive damage. 

Making money 

With oil becoming much more of a part 

number than a mere lubricant the profit 

margins have grown. Use the 

correct fi lters too for extended 

life and even a basic filter/ 

oil change will be a profitable 

job. Throw in a top-up pack 

and tell the customer why it’s 

in the boot, and there’s money 

in the till. 

Which Oil? 

Which Vehicle? 

Make sure you use the 

correct oil – here are a 

couple of handy websites. 

www.commaoil.com 

www.valvolineeurope.com 

FAuLT FINDer CHArT 

Engine lacks 

power 

Black exhaust 

smoke 

Excessive 

engine oil 

consumption 

Blue exhaust 

smoke 

Turbo 

mechanically 

noisy 

Whistle sound 

from turbo 

(Available to download from: www.auto-torque.com/fault_finder/ 

Problem 

Oil leak from 

compressor 

seal 

Oil leak from 

turbine seal 

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ Clogged air filter Replace air fi lter 

✗ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ Obstructed air intake to turbo Remove obstruction 

✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ Obstructed air outlet duct from compressor to Remove obstruction 

intake manifold 

✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ Obstructed intake Remove obstruction 

✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ Air leak in duct from air cleaner to compressor Replace seals or tighten fasteners 

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ 

Air leak in duct from compressor to intake 

manifold 

Replace seals or tighten fasteners 

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ Air leak at intake manifold to engine joint Replace seals or tighten fasteners 

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗ Obstruction in exhaust manifold Remove obstruction 

✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ Obstruction in muffler or exhaust stack Remove obstruction 

✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗ Gas leak in exhaust manifold to engine joint Replace seals or tighten fasteners 

✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗ Gas leak in turbine inlet to exhaust manifold joint Replace seals or tighten fasteners 

✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ Gas leak in ducting after turbine outlet Repair gas leak 

✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ Obstructed turbo oil drain line Remove obstruction or replace oil drain line 

✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ Obstructed engine crankcase vent Clear obstruction 

✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ Turbo center housing sludged or coked 

Change engine oil, fi lter, clean/replace all oil feed and 

air/breather components, replace turbo 

✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ 

Fuel injection pump or injectors incorrectly 

adjusted 

Replace or adjust injectors and/or injection pump 

✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ Engine camshaft timing incorrect Check/reset timing 

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ Worn engine rings or liners (blowby) Repair as needed 

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ Internal engine problem (valves, pistons) Repair as needed 

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Dirt caked on turbo compressor wheel Cure cause and replace turbo 

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Damaged turbo Cure cause and replace turbo 

Solution 


29

What’s on offer 

Garages needn’t be afraid of working on 

the latest cars, despite their electronic 

complexity says NGK. 

With under bonnet and underfl oor technology advancing 

more rapidly than ever before, technicians often 

feel daunted when one makes an appearance at 

their workshop. 

Yet with proper training, which gives not only the technical 

understanding but also the confi dence to tackle servicing 

a new car, independent workshops should be able to 

grow their business. 

“Because of these 

technological advances, 

it is vital for garages 

to receive the correct 

training, because if they 

don’t keep up to date 

they will be unable to 

continue to work on new 

models entering the 

aftermarket,” NGK says. 

To make training more 

accessible, it’s available 

at different locations 

and in different ways. 

It can be held at the 

premises of a member of 

The Parts Alliance or at 

specific events such as 

MechanEx, where the Tech Talk Live seminars continue 

to be well-received by workshop owners and technicians. 

NGK’s popular interactive e-learning website. 

“Technicians can also learn all about NGK products with 

its interactive e-learning facility which is available via the website 

www.ngkntk.co.uk. E-learning provides detailed information 

supported by high defi nition graphics and informative animations,” 

the company added. “It has an application for users to monitor and 

track their learning process with a quiz at the end of each main 

chapter and the opportunity for topic-specifi c feedback. Users are 

also able to receive certifi cation for their work.” 

NGK’s training supports its range not only of spark plugs and glow 

plugs, but Lambda sensors as well. 

Lambda sensors shouldn’t be forgotten, so make sure you check 

them every 20,000 miles or when the exhaust system (or catalytic 

convertor) is changed. Lambda sensors should be changed if you’re 

concerned about their performance, and a fresh one will keep the 

catalytic convertor working effi ciently. 

More information is available from ngkntk.co.uk or contact 

your local member of The Parts Alliance. 


New range of 

Automotive 

Filters 

UK Aftermarket Sales Activity 

Average sales valued at £101.5m 

Average 11.8m filters sold in 2011 

Average 39% of the UK vehicle parc have filters replaced each year 

(Source: Datamonitor 2011) 

To support the continued growth of the filtration replacement opportunity, The Parts Alliance have 

expanded their filtration offering. We’ve launched a new premium range of fast moving MIRATEC Oil, 

Air, Fuel and Cabin Filters, driving excellent revenues for your business and delivering your customers 

quality and performance. 

Key Programme Features 

• All MIRATEC Filters: 

Offer premium, high quality, performance product range 

Are manufactured to OE standard 

Cover on average over 2,500 applications 

Cover all makes of European and Japanese applications 

Offer 12 month 12,000 mile guarantee following correct installation and 

fitment to car manufacturers specifications 

Are continuously reviewed for range and application updates 

MIRATEC - The Importance of Performance 


Written by our Engine Management Product Manager, James Joyce 

The Parts Alliance Engine 

Management range is quite 

unique in todays modern parts 

distribution environment. To 

explain and highlight how it 

differs from more traditional 

motor factor offerings, we need 

to look closer at the options 

open to companies wanting to 

create an offer to market. 

“We asked customers what 

they wanted from their 

local parts distributor” 

Essentially, there are two extremes 

of creating an Engine 

Management range, with 

several grey areas inbetween. 

At one end, we 

have the quick solution. 

This is taken by factors 

who wish to have an 

Engine Management 

policy bolted into 

their business almost 

overnight. It consists 

of predominantly using 1 

aftermarket supplier, with an “All-makes” 

range, usually consisting of a single and 

purely aftermarket branded product. This 

gives the factor an instant offering, using 

a single catalogue, and a single source for 

product. Handy, yes undoubtedly, but shrewd 

in the longer term? We think not. 

The Parts Alliance took a 

different view. Firstly, we 

asked customers what they 

wanted from their local parts 

distributor, when ordering 

Engine Management System 

In Tank Fuel Pump 

Going on from this, if we sell a 

workshop an unbranded Lambda 

sensor, and it doesn’t appear 

to cure the fault on the vehicle, 

the technician is more likely to 

send it back as a warranty. Sell 

(EMS) products. Several 

them an NGK, Bosch or DENSO 

responses were considered “givens” such 

as competitive pricing, quick delivery etc., 

but we wanted to look a little deeper. The 

answer was quite logical really. Customers 

want direct fi t, OE parts from all the Major OE 

suppliers wherever possible, and they want 

unit, which is identical to the unit which was 

removed from the car, and if that doesn’t 

cure the fault, they are far more likely to take 

the view that there is a wider problem on the 

vehicle and continue to investigate. In short, 

OE parts are trusted more for quality. 

them supplied correct fi rst 

Petrol Injector 

time. Because these days 

This strategy is highlighted 

pretty much any supplier 

can quote “OE quality”, and 

it’s very diffi cult to question 

that, let alone police it. So 

OE branded parts, accurate 

in fi tment, and at less money than they 

perfectly in The Parts Alliance 

Engine Management ranges such 

as Air Mass, Lambda sensors, 

EGR valves and Fuel pumps, 

where our excellent relationships 

with the likes of NGK, Bosch, VDO, Pierburg, 

could purchase them from the dealer? Yes, 

obviously. And there is 

a good reason why OE 

product is so important 

within an EMS strategy. 

“A further benefit to our 

members is the quality and 

quantity of data which is 

generated in-house” 

Customer faith in Engine 

Management product 

is extremely important DENSO, Wahler, Valeo, Delphi etc. are so 

due to the ambiguity of strong. Added to this, a good comprehensive, 

diagnostic capabilities accurate and quality EMS range cannot be 

in the aftermarket, and 

the complexity of the product 

involved. We all know that most 

supplied from just one source, but instead 

needs to be assembled from many good 

quality suppliers. The fact that the suppliers 

diagnostic kit will 

The Parts Alliance choose to 

Secondary Air Pump 

point to “an area” where a 

use have OES pedigree, is no 

potential problem may lie. 

accident. 

Very few will produce text on 

the screen such as “swap 

the Lambda sensor and 

you’ve sorted it guvnor”. 

The investment in the research 

and development side of their 

product at OE level, and the fact 


that they actually build and design complete 

systems which rely on their own parts is the 

foundation of their offer to us. This means 

they have a true and complete understanding 

of how their part 

interacts with 

others, so when 

a technical query 

is levied at them, 

Idle Speed Control Valve 

they are far better 

placed to come 

back with a complete answer. Can a supplier 

of EMS parts with anything less than OES 

pedigree say the same? 

“White boxed product 

does not form a part of our 

offering” 

But surely dealing with so many suppliers 

within each range creates further problems in 

itself? For example cataloguing and the risk 

of stocking duplicate part numbers. 

Pricing, and the creation and 

maintenance of stock 

packs are also more 

complicated to manage 

following this policy, 

so processes are 

introduced to combat this. 

We here at The Parts Alliance have taken a 

long term view regarding this product group, 

to not only create in-house software which 

overcomes those potential problems, but also 

to have the right people in place to manage, 

support and maintain complete ranges. 

Is the process easy? Definitely not. 

Is it labour intensive? Yes. 

Is the process cheap? No. 

So what are the benefits of 

doing it? 

Our Engine Management catalogues are 

bespoke, fl exible, and extremely up-to-date. 

Having in-house data means we can 

catalogue the very latest models 

of vehicles, including those 

not even released yet. We 

can track demand on 

parts fi tted to late 

model vehicles, 

and source parts 

accordingly for 

our customers 

which may not 

be available in 

the aftermarket 

for several years 

to come. 

A further benefi t to our members is the quality 

and quantity of data which is generated 

in-house, showing what 

products to keep, from 

which suppliers to 

source them, and 

an explanation of 

why. In short, it’s a 

complete package. 

And what about 

accuracy? 

Well, we check all The Parts 

Alliance catalogue sections 

with true OE manufacturer 

parts systems, meaning our 

parts lookups within engine 

management should be as 

accurate as any main agent. 

If you take our Lambda sensor range for 

example, (forming the largest single group 

within EMS) we have a 99.18% part number 

coverage of the UK parc, topping out at over 

2700 Parts Alliance references. The vast 

majority of UK Lambda suppliers have around 

500 – 1000 part numbers in range, which 

shows how seriously we take your enquiries 

and your business. 

We use all the major OE suppliers and 

manufacturers, ensuring confi dence with you 

the customer when supplying 

and fi tting Lambdas supplied 

by one of our members. White 

boxed product does not form a 

part of our offering. Our part 

numbers cover a staggering 

43,000,000 vehicles currently 

registered in the UK, and any issues with 

cataloguing are fed back through 

our telesales via AlliCat (our own 

Exhaust Gas 

Temperature Probe 


33

espoke cataloguing system) which 

are rectified and/or answered 

extremely quickly. 

Even when presented with very late 

model vehicles, such as a 2011 

/ 2012 car, we would still provide 

you with an OE reference for the part, showing 

that we both recognise the vehicle, and also 

have our own part number and OE reference 

created for it. This hopefully demonstrates 

our passion to be ahead of the game and 

how we are setting new standards in parts 

distribution, rather than just being happy 

simply keeping up with the competition. 

And diesel cars? Where 

do they fit in? 

It’s no surprise to anyone in 

our industry how advanced 

vehicle electronics have 

become over the last 30 or so 

years. Nowhere has this been 

more obvious than in current diesel engine 

cars. With the advancement of technology, 

along with stringent European emissions 

laws, manufacturers of diesel components 

and systems have fought ever harder to make 

them greener and more effi cient. They have 

certainly come a long way from the “heavy oil” 

offerings of the 80’s, which were perceived as 

noisy, soot polluting and dirty in comparison 

to those of today. 

So what does this mean to us? 

Well, petrol and diesel vehicles within Engine 

Management are treated no differently with 

regard to sensors, and many actuators. With 

The Parts Alliance, 

an air mass meter 

for a diesel vehicle 

is listed in exactly 

the same way as its 

petrol counterpart. 

The same is true 

for Camshaft sensors, Throttle bodies, 

Crankshaft sensors, Lambda sensors, 

Fuel pumps, Knock sensors, EGR valves, 

Fuel temperature sensors, Injectors and 

many more. 

Typical V.A.G Lambda Sensor 

Obviously when a garage is working with 

mechanical diesel injection pumps and 

injectors, and especially high pressure 

Air Mass Meter 

common rail parts, aimed at independent 

specialist knowledge and garages yes, but we 

training are required to also have in-house 

remove, service and/or training for telesales, 

repair these parts, but for catalogue use, 

regarding cataloguing warranty returns and 

EGR Sensor 

and supply, every effort 

is made to offer the parts simply, accurately 

many more specifi c 

areas. Does every telesales need to know 

and effi ciently, from enquiry 

how all Engine Management 

Throttle Body 

to delivery. 

parts work? No. Far better they 

have information in front of them 

And training? 

It seems to be the word 

on every ones lips at the 

moment. But it’s a big area, 

and not everyone needs to 

at point of sale which could 

be crucial to the fitment of a 

particular part, or knowledge 

of a common problem on this 

model causing the same symptoms as 

Nox Sensor 

know everything, so we here 

at The Parts Alliance feel that 

properly targeted training has 

much more of a benefi cial 

the customers’ vehicle is suffering from. 

It’s a simple fact that customers do not 

ring us to fi nd out how a part works. 

What they’re interested in is getting the right 

effect. The Parts Alliance part, in a quality brand, quickly, efficiently 

offers EMS diagnostic training and cost effectively. 

Find out about the latest Delphi 

innovations… 

Jeff Owens, President, Electronics and Safety and Chief Technical 

Officer of Delphi talks about the company’s latest technology, 

developments and innovations. Scan the code to find out more… 

Summary – 

The Parts Alliance is investing 

in the long-term future for 

its Engine Management 

range, and consequently for 

its customers. We are doing 

this by using premium OES 

partners, offering diagnostic 

training packages for garages, 

developing a dedicated product 

management team and creating 

the most user friendly, accurate 

and comprehensive parts 

catalogue in the industry. Couple 

these points with excellent 

stock packs, national coverage, 

massive buying power, quick 

and courteous delivery, and 

competitive pricing, I hope this 

demonstrates how passionate 

we are about being the 

best in this product group – 

bar none. 



Diagnostics software 

ESI[tronic] 2.0 access 

all areas 

Bosch has introduced new 

software with a simplified 

operating concept for its 

ESI[tronic] 2.0 programme. The 

changes make it easier to use 

and gives it a clearer structure, 

Bosch says. 

Fewer mouse clicks are needed to access 

information required. Vehicle diagnosis is 

gained via the menu’s ‘Diagnosis/System 

overview’ and once the diagnosis is underway, 

built-in shortcuts let the user switch between 

different types of information. 

ESI[tronic] 2.0 makes the use of a 

KTS diagnostic tester easier so that most 

workshop tasks can be carried out more 

efficiently and quickly. “The user can now 

switch from the diagnosis screen with the 

read-out fault memory entries straight 

to the troubleshooting function, and from 

there to the component testing screen,” 

the company says. 

This means the technician sees all the 

information about the fault and the 

vehicle system they are working on, and 

by clicking the mouse can switch from 

one information screen to the other. 

It’s also possible to switch across to the 

parts catalogue. 

Meanwhile, Bosch is continuing work on 

an online version of ESI[tronic], which is 

slated for launch later this year. This will give 

even more up-to-date technical information – 

particularly beneficial with newer cars entering 

the aftermarket. 

Around 75,000 workshops in over 100 

countries use ESI[tronic], and it’s available 

in 24 languages. Its software includes 

diagnostics date and troubleshooting 

instructions, repair instructions, wiring 

diagrams and service schedules. 

Currently ESI[tronic] 2.0 can be updated 

by going online, giving independent 

workshops access to the very latest technical 

information instantly. 


It’s all go…! 

Quick catch-up 

with matt Neal 

“To finish first, first you’ve got to 

finish” is the old cliché that seems 

to apply to motor racing in a big 

way. And I’m not about to argue 

with that. 

It’s certainly been an interesting 

season so far and all that blood, 

sweat and tears that went into getting 

the new car on the grid is paying 

dividends. In my team we’re never 

satisfied with an “it’ll do” attitude 

because complacency never brings the 

spoils: hard graft reduces the chances 

of being an also-ran. 

As we go into the summer I know a 

lot of people might be caught up in 

following the Olympics, but we’ll also 

be out there on the track, doing our 

very best too. But summer’s not just 

the height of our racing season, it’s 

also a very busy time for you guys in 

the garages. 

When summer comes around even the 

least-interested motorist thinks they 

ought to get their car looked at. After 

all, they’ll want to go on holiday! So for 

you there’s plenty of knuckling down 

to be done, diagnosing problems and 

sorting them out, as well as carrying 

out servicing jobs. 

Working under pressure is part 

and parcel of my team’s job 

and it’s just the same for 

you. But pressure is good: it 

makes you more disciplined and 

helps develop a great working 

camaraderie. Working together 

helps bring better results and so, 

on the track, I’m looking for plenty 

of pole positions. 

In all motorsport it’s pole position 

that speaks the loudest. We have 

a great new car, but keeping those 

front of the grid places is the 

tricky part. The only way to achieve 

that is through lots of hard work 

and teamwork. 

Mind you, a bit of luck is always 

helpful too! 

BTCC 2012 Race Calendar 

1 Brands Hatch 01 Apr 2012 

2 Donington Park 15 Apr 2012 

3 Thruxton 29 Apr 2012 

4 Oulton Park 10 Jun 2012 

5 Croft 24 Jun 2012 

6 Snetterton 12 Aug 2012 

7 Knockhill 26 Aug 2012 

8 Rockingham 23 Sep 2012 

9 Silverstone 07 Oct 2012 

10 Brands Hatch GP 21 Oct 2012 

Available through The Parts Alliance. 

Call 0121 565 6128 


37

FINISHING LINE 

Now retired David Holding was 

a British Paralympic athlete 

competing in wheelchair races 

of all distances. David is a 

former world record holder and 

four-time winner of the London 

Marathon. He has competed 

in four Paralympics, racing in 

the marathon and wining gold 

and bronze in the 100 and 200 

metre events respectively. 

But when you have the discipline to get 

stuck in, the motivation seems to be selfgenerating. 

That was definitely the case when 

I took part in my first road race, a 10km, and 

came home third. 

Coming third was inspiring because it was a 

reward for the effort I’d put in. Then in 1988 

I won the Reading Half Marathon, and a year 

later also came first in the London Marathon. 

I was first chosen for the Paralympics in 

1992, which was quite some time ago now; I 

picked up a gold for the 100 metres in 1996, 

a bronze in 2000 and came fourth in 2004 – 

results I’m immensely proud of. 

Being proud of what you’ve achieved is 

important. These days, being good at what 

you do seems to have gone out of fashion, but 

whether you’re training hard to achieve good 

sporting results, or working hard to build a 

successful business and keep it that way, the 

results speak for themselves. 

It’s going to be an amazing sporting summer 

and I’m sure – like me – you’re hoping 

British athletes achieve great results and 

win numerous medals. And at the same time 

I hope you have a successful, profitable and 

simply great summer too! 

Grit, Drive 

and Determination 

Modern life is nothing short of a challenge, 

whether you’re talking about a business or 

a sporting scenario. In either case you’re 

looking at determination, a strong nerve and 

the discipline to knuckle down and get on 

with things. 

As we get older everyday life becomes more 

difficult, but there’s also the desire to do 

things better, and while being a wheelchair 

Paralympian might not seem to have a lot in 

common with running a garage, I think there’s 

more common ground than you might imagine! 

When it comes to staying the course, I’ve 

been taking part in wheelchair races for more 

than 25 years. That’s a long time, but keeping 

a garage going successfully for that length of 

time is, to my mind, equally daunting.

Auto Torque - Summer 2012

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