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WELCOME<br />
<strong>The</strong><br />
Today’s customer<br />
expectations<br />
are high...<br />
Supporting the Independent <strong>Garage</strong> and MOT sector<br />
Issue <strong>289</strong><br />
February 2019<br />
Hello<br />
Welcome to this issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Garage</strong>.<br />
Welcome to this issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Garage</strong><br />
THERE’S definitely a case for seeing<br />
a car’s battery as being THE unsung<br />
hero: It’s completely ignored, and<br />
sometimes even forgotten about, until<br />
it decides to call it a day. And we<br />
all know what happens next: Driver puts key<br />
in the ignition, turns the key, and… nothing.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n, of course, a motorist thinks about<br />
the battery, but by then they’re late for work,<br />
or getting their children to school, or catching<br />
a train – well, you get my drift.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re’s no getting away from just how<br />
much more work a battery does today, compared<br />
with that in a car 20 years ago. <strong>The</strong>re’s<br />
clearly more electronic wizardry controlling<br />
the engine management system, the steering,<br />
any number of safety systems, not to mention<br />
all those entertainment features today’s<br />
drivers and passengers evidently require.<br />
But let’s go back to replacing the battery.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se days it’s vital – particularly with stop/<br />
start systems, to fit the correct type, but as<br />
we know, changing a battery isn’t as quick as<br />
it used to be. And, in some cases, you have to<br />
find where it’s located, as putting the battery<br />
in the engine bay is becoming very much a<br />
thing of the past.<br />
This issue also takes a look at exhausts –<br />
Contact us<br />
Editorial<br />
Specialist Writers<br />
Richard Barnett<br />
Design & Layout<br />
Lizzie Colbert<br />
lizzie.colbert@ppmedia.co.uk<br />
Production<br />
Mark Blacker<br />
mark.blacker@ppmedia.co.uk<br />
Advertising<br />
Stuart Woolley<br />
stuart.woolley@ppmedia.co.uk<br />
Our Address:<br />
Editorial, Production and<br />
Advertising address:<br />
Partnership Publishing Limited<br />
Bridge Road, Wellington<br />
Telford, Shropshire<br />
TF1 1RY<br />
Telephone:<br />
Telephone - 01952 415334<br />
Fax - 01952 522567<br />
Website:<br />
www.garageandmot.com<br />
the management systems and the emissions<br />
systems that control just how much gas (and<br />
of course how many pollutants) – and just<br />
how this sector is advancing technically. And<br />
while there’s no denying those advances, today’s<br />
workshops cannot give this segment a<br />
miss, because doing so hands work back to<br />
the main dealer network.<br />
Things have moved on since the introduction<br />
of catalytic convertors and diesel particulate<br />
filters, and they provide good regular<br />
income, especially come replacement time.<br />
But so too can exhaust system replacements,<br />
because while they last longer than they used<br />
to, they can be damaged or suffer from the<br />
damp build-up resulting from too many<br />
short journeys.<br />
So there we have it – two market sectors<br />
still bringing in good regular work, - and<br />
profitably too.<br />
All the best!<br />
Richard Barnett, features’ editor<br />
PS. If you agree, disagree or have anything to<br />
add to our comments please email:<br />
stuart.woolley@ppmedia.co.uk<br />
<strong>The</strong><br />
Supporting the Independent <strong>Garage</strong> and MOT sector<br />
is published by: Partnership<br />
Publishing Ltd, Bridge Road,<br />
Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY<br />
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3 Comment.indd 1 04/02/2019 09:44