07TSS-189 - ACDelco TechConnect

Date: November 13, 2007 Bulletin Number: 07TSS-189
To: Total Service Support Participants, Independent
Service Centers and Alliance Jobber Program
Participants
Category: ACDelco News
From: John Putnam, Total Service Support Program Line(s): All
Subject: November ACDelco News
Included in this month’s ACDelco News:
TSS Advisory Council Message from Steve Clegg - Vehicle Maintenance
Communications
• Fall “TSS to Consumer" Customizable Newsletter
Product
• ACDelco's New FleetRunner Belts
• ACDelco Line 36 Product Line Expansion
Programs/Promotions
• Hulk Hogan Announced the Winner of ACDelco's Drive to Win Sweepstakes at the Las
Vegas NHRA Nationals
• Other ACDelco Promotions
Events
• ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals: Honorary Pit Crew
• Marketing to Women
Service
• Wheel Hub Changes
Catalogs
• 2007 ACDelco Catalog for 6L80E (MYC) Transmission Parts, Line 37
• 2007 ACDelco Automotive Motors (18A-100-07)
Awards
• ACDelco Receives Awards
• TSS Member Hyde Auto Service Center Names Top Business
In the News
• ACDelco TSS Account in the News

November ACDelco News
Vehicle Maintenance
Good news for the aftermarket!! The October issue of Consumer Reports finds that
many of today’s cars can last 200,000 miles or more with proper maintenance. Properly
maintained cars can save our customers thousands of dollars. When comparing the
costs of buying and keeping a car for 225,000 miles over 15 years to buying and
financing an identical model every five years, Consumer Reports found the savings could
be more than the original purchase price of the vehicle!
What a great article to help educate our customers on preventive maintenance.
Preventive maintenance is so important to our industry. With how well today’s cars are being built,
preventive maintenance is a must for our businesses to succeed and be profitable. Most automotive
management companies recommend that 50% – 70% of all our business should be preventive
maintenance. This type of work is much more profitable, is less complicated to perform and has much less
chance of a comeback, therefore creating greater customer confidence and satisfaction.
ACDelco does a number of things to help drive preventive maintenance customers to your shops. Most of
the current promotions target preventive maintenance items. ACDelco CRS, MechanicNet, Mitchell CRS,
Customer Link and other customer retention companies can help provide customers with reminders when
maintenance is needed and keep them informed about current promotions.
Approximately a year and a half ago we implemented a maintenance program. We started performing a 27
point inspection on every vehicle, we began using MechanicNet for reminder notices and all ACDelco
promotions and we began educating our customers on the benefits of preventive maintenance. We have
had record sales and profits since that time. Our customer satisfaction is fantastic and our technicians have
never been happier. I am a firm believer in the benefits of preventive maintenance both for us as shop
owners as well as our customers and their vehicles.
So don’t wait! Increase your business by implementing a maintenance program today!
Steve Clegg
Clegg’s Auto Service, Spanish Fork, UT
TSS Advisory Council Message from Mike Turner
TSS Advisory Council Message from Steve Clegg
Communications
Coming Soon! The Fall “TSS to Consumer” Customizable Newsletter
The fall customizable newsletter that you can use to communicate to your customers is
coming soon to www.acdelcotechconnect.com. To down load it click on the Marketing
Tab and then click on “Promoting ACDelco in your Market.” Just customize it with your
information and it is ready to email or print. (A copy is attached on the last page of this
newsletter for your reference).
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Product
ACDelco's New FleetRunner® Belts
ACDelco announces the addition of new FleetRunner® belts to line 35. Designed specifically for fleet and
heavy-duty applications these belts utilize patented EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
construction to provide more durability and longer life on heavy duty drives. The entire FleetRunner® line
consists of over 300 belts.
• EPDM is used in OE belts and various rubber applications that require
strength and durability.
• Leveraging the strong FleetRunner® trade name, belts are branded Gates
FleetRunner® and include a distinctive green overcord. They are packaged in
an ACDelco sleeve.
• Catalogs are available through your local ACDelco Warehouse Distributor
(35A-101A-07).
ACDelco Line 36 Product Line Expansion
ACDelco announces the addition of 126 new part numbers to our Steering and Drive Product Line (36).
Programs/Promotions
Hulk Hogan Announced the Winner of ACDelco’s Drive to Win Sweepstakes at the Las
Vegas NHRA Nationals!
Both ACDelco’s Drive to Win Sweepstakes finalists were
given a key fob from the Hulkster at the race on October
28, and Gordon Born from Minnesota was the one who
held the lucky key. He won a 2007 Chevy Cobalt SS
equipped with Genuine Chevrolet Accessories.
The runner up was Jim Reiner, owner, Big Jim’s Extreme
Automotive in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
To view a video with ACDelco Cobalt driver Kurt Johnson’s comments
about the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, please visit his
personal MySpace page at www.myspace.com/kurtracing. Check
out photo highlights from the race.
Other ACDelco Promotions
To find additional information on the promotions listed below go to www.acdelcotechconnect.com:
Promotion Incentives Timing
$100 High Octane Powertrain Get $100 rebate on purchase of GM
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2007
Booster Rebate
Engine/Transmission or eligible GM Performance
Parts engine
WIP SI Promotion Purchase $3,000 per month of ACDelco parts and get
GM SI at no charge for the following month.
Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2007
2007 “Winning Hand”
Direct mail postcards will invite consumers to come Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2007
Consumer Mail-In Rebate into your shop and also offers a $10 mail-in rebate (Consumer Rebate)
(Winter enrollment ends with the purchase and installation of ACDelco
October 19, 2007)
automotive replacement parts when the repair invoice
totals at least $70 in ACDelco products.
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ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals: Honorary Pit Crew and Honorary Starter
At this year’s ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, ACDelco Total Service Support members were selected as the
Honorary Pit Crew and Starter serving in these positions:
Honorary Pit Crew: TSS Technician, Chris Balicki of Dolar’s Automotive located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Honorary Starter: TSS Shop Owner Terry DeWaal from Advanced Autodynamics located in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
Marketing to Women
Have you noticed that 65% of your customers that bring their vehicles into your shop are women?
Furthermore, if they aren’t showing up themselves, statistics say they likely had a say in the decision to go
to a specific shop.
Have you changed your marketing strategy to keep up with this recent trend?
This may be reflected in whether or not you’ve noticed women coming into your
shop. ACDelco has done the research and has developed a powerful seminar,
called “Making the Connection” to help you understand what is important to the
female market and what you can do to win their business time and time again.
You’ll work on determining the message you want to communicate and analyze
your current business structure to develop concepts and tools to help your image
and communication.
See if a seminar is scheduled in your area and sign-up to attend at
http://acdelcotechconnect.com/training. To find the seminar, search “Catalog” for “Making the Connection”.
If a seminar is not coming to your area, contact your ACDelco representative to request one to be
scheduled near you.
Success story:
After attending the seminar, Kay Wynter of Terry Wynter Auto Service
Center in Florida developed one of her own! She scheduled a
complimentary Car Care seminar exclusively for women. The event was
promoted in local newspapers and mailers were sent to local women’s
groups as well as existing customers. Each attendee learned to
troubleshoot common problems, perform routine maintenance and
learned tips on road safety. A technician was also on-hand to perform
demonstrations. Kay found the seminar to be very successful as the
women attending participated, asked questions and gave her positive
feedback. One even returned the next day to have her car serviced! This
is a great way to build business as women are more likely than men to
recommend service providers to their network of friends and family.
Wheel Hub Changes
General Motors Vehicle Engineering has introduced a new design Gen III front wheel hub for
GMT800/900HD & H2 4x2 and 4x4 applications. These applications were previously serviced by separate
Gen II 4x2 and 4x4 designs. Concerns have been expressed by technicians regarding the use of the new
supersessions and whether the Gen III hubs will properly fit the applications being serviced, especially
because of visual and functional differences (splines). This bulletin has been developed to address those.
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Events
In the News
Service

Below is a list of the supersessions:
(Gen II Design) (Gen III Design)
ACDelco# Superseded By Applications Serviced Model
--------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------
FW284 (15225750) FW338 (15946732) GMT800 HD SUV 4x2 w/SRW
FW285 (15225751) FW338 (15946732) GMT800 HD P/U 4x2 w/SRW
FW289 (15225770) FW338 (15946732) GMT800 HD SUV, P/U & H2 4x4 w/SRW
FW286 (15225752) FW339 (15946733) GMT800 HD P/U 4x2 w/DRW
FW287 (15225753) FW339 (15946733) GMT800 HD SUV, P/U & H2 4x4 w/DRW
FW326 (15881888) FW334 (15910968) GMT900 HD & MY08 H2 4x2 w/SRW
FW329 (15881889) FW334 (15910968) GMT900 HD & MY08 H2 4x2 & 4x4 w/SRW
SRW = Single Rear Wheel
DRW = Dual Rear Wheel
When replacing an older Gen II design 4x2 hub with a newer 4x2/4x4 common Gen III hub, we want to
assure technicians that it is OK to have a bearing with splines on it for a 4x2 application that previously
didn't. This is a new design feature of the Gen III hubs.
Older style Gen II design 4x4 hubs, however, should NOT be used on a 4x2 application. The Gen II 4x4
hub relies on the tension of the half shaft joint to hold everything together. The roll form feature on the IB
(inboard) side of the new 4x2/4x4 Gen III hub eliminates this concern.
The only hub that is not back servicable is ACDelco# FW240 (GM# 15719007) for MY1999-2000 C25
applications due to a different hub flange to bearing flange offset.
Note: Only the new part numbers referenced in this bulletin are interchangeable between the 4x2
and 4x4 applications with the exception of FW240 (15719007). Under no circumstances should any
other 4x4 hub be used in a 4x2 application.
P/N: FW284 (15225750) (Gen II Hub)
Application: GMT800HD w/Single Rear Wheel 4x2 SUV
Note: This is also similar to FW285 (15225751) for GMT800HD 4x2 Trucks w/Single Rear Wheel and
FW286 (15225752) for GMT800HD 4x2 Trucks w/Dual Rear Wheels. These older Gen II hubs required
separate designs for those applications while the newer Gen III hubs have consolidated the 4x2 and 4x4
usages into a design that services both.
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P/N: FW338 (15946732 (Gen III Hub)
Applications: GMT800HD (All) & H2 (Pre-Model Year 2008) w/Single Rear Wheel (4x2 & 4x4)
Note: This does NOT apply to 1999 and 2000 C25 models using FW240 (15719007). Under no
circumstance should any other 4x4 hubs (other than those Gen III designs listed) by used in a 4x2
application.
New 2007 ACDelco Catalogs Released
ACDelco announces the release of the following two new 2007 catalogs. For additional catalogs, contact
your ACDelco Sales Representative.
• 2007 ACDelco Catalog for 6L80E (MYC) Transmission Parts, Line 37 (37A-6L80E-07-MYC)
- The 2007 ACDelco Catalog for 6L80E (MYC) Transmission Parts (Line 37) features:
� Cadillac STS-V, XLR, XLR-V applications with coverage from 2006 through 2008
� Chevrolet Corvette application with coverage from 2006 through 2008
� A detailed index listing to assist with coverage/application inquiries
� Updated detailed and basic product specifications for the transmission listed
• 2007 ACDelco Automotive Motors & Window Regulators (18A-100-07)
- The 2007 ACDelco Product Line 18 Automotive Motors & Window Regulators Catalog
features the following updates:
� Window regulators have been added to the catalog.
� The updated buyer’s guide now includes window regulators with pictures and
popularity codes to assist in identifying stocking requirements.
� The application section identifies which window the regulator services (Front Right
Hand, Rear Left Hand, etc.)
ACDelco Receives Awards
ACDelco recently received the following awards:
• The Car Care Council Women's Board recently announced the recipients of
the 2007 Automotive Communications Awards and ACDelco received the
following:
- Car Care Clinic Award for the Knowledge is Power Program
- Print Ad Campaign Award for Consumer Health/Preventative
Maintenance
- Business-To-Business Award Print Ad to Distribution/Retail Audience
for All Makes All Models Challenge Ads
• ImportCar Magazine's
- "Readers' Choice Award" for All Makes / All Models Challenge
- Aftermarket Business magazine, 13th Annual Automotive Aftermarket
Chris Brandt and Stephanie
Gehl accept the awards from
the Women’s Board on behalf
of ACDelco.
Catalogs
Awards
Global Design Awards:
• Gold Award, Merchandising / Display: Direct Mail Health Campaign
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TSS Member Hyde Auto Service Center Given “Good Neighbor” Award
Hyde Auto Service Center, an ACDelco Total Service
Support shop in Oklahoma City, was awarded
“Corporate Neighbor of the Year” from the
Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma.
Hyde Auto Service earned this award as a result of
community involvement and their philosophy of treating
every customer like a member of their family.
The Good Neighbor Award was given to the Hydes
after they were nominated by their fellow residents of
the community. A plaque was presented to them at
the first annual Good Neighbor Awards Banquet, which
was held on Oct. 22, 2007, at the Oklahoma History
Center.
TSS Program
TSS Customer Satisfaction Surveys - Make Your Opinion Count!
The TSS Customer Satisfaction survey launched Monday, November 12, and will close on Saturday,
December 15. Email invitations were sent to participating TSS Shops that had valid e-mail addresses listed
in our database, which was a total of 3,555. All TSS members are encouraged to participate in this
important feedback mechanism. To complete the survey, please follow the instructions below:
• The TSS Customer Satisfaction survey is now available on http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/.
A new pop-up box will appear that will ask you to take the survey, which will take approximately 20
minutes to complete. You will need to know your 6 digit ACDelco account number that starts with
the number 6 and your zip code. If you get interrupted, you may leave the survey process and come
back to where you left off and complete it. Please take a few moments to complete the survey. The
future direction of the TSS Program is determined by the feedback that you give us and comments
you make!
In the News
ACDelco TSS Account in the News:
Lou's Car Care (owner Lou Cannata, Sr.), Baldwinsville, NY, was recently featured in 11 weekly
publications in the Syracuse area: "Lou's Car Care is Ready to Meet all Your Service Needs."
Do you have any news or interesting information you would like to share? Then we would be happy to here
from you! Please e-mail your information to staci.shelton@gm.com and we will be happy to include you in
the news!
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