ncautoshop

I'd recommend calling Asheville engines. They offer a MUCH better product that will protect your customer from future failures - better price and better warranty. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Ok, let's slow down. We're a diesel shop and I'm here to tell you somethings fishy with this. I'll be glad to help. If you are interested pm me and I'll give you my cell number. There is no repair on this truck you couldn't make, no diagnosis you couldn't perform. The other shop may not have the correct the diagnosis here.

I've not tried carquest, but from my experiences parts store offered training is a sales pitch you pay for. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Every timing belt job I've ever done was completely different than the one before and one after. Between access issues (2004-05 vw tdi's for instance), special tools for each job, tensioned side vs slack side etc - it's nearly impossible to show someone how to do it. Frustrating belt jobs I send to dealers - why? They do that exact job often, the tools are on the shelf and if it does come back, it's not as painful to them! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

we do too, but avoid interference or engines where access is limited. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

We shy away from timing belts and big engine jobs as well. We don't farm them out though - in my opinion that's a horrible idea lol - we avoid them for expensive failure possibilities. A volvo s80 came in this week with a broken belt - recently done at another shop. It's getting a motor on their dime. Some work just isn't as profitable or worth the possible cost down the road. This was 1 year into a 2 year warranty. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

that's such a small portion of the tool I can't see that it would cause a big issue. Honestly I'd rather them remove it, it leads to guessing. But I can understand being upset about not getting what you paid for! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

exactly! And the least profitable work always is the most frustrating and tedious work!!! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Let's put that in perspective though. My car count is probably 2 or less a day some months...but my ARO is roughly $700 in months like that. As I said in my other post. It's easy to get caught up in kpi's, and they are important but as Elon told me in a conversation a while back. Apples to apples and Oranges to oranges. In this case I think I'd be looking at efficiency, work mix and inspections. Are you selling work thats found? Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I can't tell you everything we did, I can tell you some of the big ones. 1: go above and beyond with every customer, educate them and treat them as much like friends and family as possible (don't cross the free line) 2: communicate proper expectations, and notify them on plan changes as soon as possible. 3: Admit when your wrong. Always be as honest as possible. 4: If it breaks and it's your fault, fix it. And tell them it was and honest mistake. 5: explain in as much detail as possible the issue and educate them. Teach them how the system works. 6: make sure to do thorough look inspections when you see the car, inform the customer with out being pushy about sales. (I think we all forget, when customers come to us - regardless of how ridiculous an expectation it is - they expect us to find upcoming failures so they don't while driving. The more of these you catch the better. 7: don't be nervous about the price, don't over think the price. If your nervous about what your charging you can bet they are picking up on that. Honestly, for me it all comes down just be a quality repair provider. We are a small 2 bay shop. We don't advertise outside of our website, Google listing and a Facebook page. We are telling customers 3-4 weeks before we see the vehicle, and we're turning down work we don't want. My point in this ridiculous and long post is simple, don't over think increasing aro/car count - if your being a quality shop, and treating your customers right it won't be long until you realize aro/car count are great tools to stay on top of the performance of the business. But focusing on them may give you tunnel vision that sees the customers wallet without seeing the customer! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I really think dealer tools are the way to go. If not going dealer I'd probably look at a pico scope and a solus edge. Possibly a verus with a backup scope like a pico. I've looked at the maxisys pro and like it but it seems limited in domestic. Snap on clearly has the best coverage, but the price is a little steep. At a recent training the instructor mentioned that with a basic obdII interface eventually it would be possible to rent the dealer tool software (basically) on a daily or weekly basis. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I was talking to Elon about similar situations yesterday. We're only a 2 bay shop, so two hold ups and a rainy week and my revenue went out the door. Nice to hear others have the se issue and nice to see how others deal with it. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

The lady that called us gave us a quote of over $2,000 per month if I Remer correctly. I'm just not big enough to support that if it did increase aro's by $100 each. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

They called us and did a demo and it looked neat but it sure is expensive! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Look into the mastercool or the new eastwood. Both will make you laugh when people use the old style flare tool! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I really like the mastercool hydraulic flare tool I have but I've seen a really nice one they have at Eastwood! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Are you pricing the work similar to say jasper or another reman company? For instance if jasper sells it for $5,000 do you do a rebuild for that and removal and install by the book? Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

You'll be suprised how much you still do! Besides, when a plumber comes to your house, is their a book he looks in to decide how long it should take? Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I was the same way, and I still do some of it. But it's just not profitable in either of our situations. If you intend to keep doing it, you'll have no choice but to bill by the hour! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Take it from someone who's been in you shoes and in reality still is to a point. Get those big jobs out of there, they waist to much time and money for a small shop. Quit building engines, start selling engines. Quit building transmissions, start installing transmissions. Stop wasting yourself on jobs you can't turn a profit on. That's what we did. We're a 6 figure shop and it's still a struggle. Props to you for keeping your head above water. I agree with the above, hire some help and quit taking on big jobs. Market some brake jobs and maintenance services. Once you build yourself up maybe take on some big jobs. No offense, but your not capable of big jobs right now. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

we've been using it for quite a while, and for a portion of that time we were using steel line as well. Replaced about 80% of those steel lines already. Copper is still going strong. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Once you bend and flare nicopp once you'll never use steel again! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Exactly. Not an issue at all using it! Been using it here for years! Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I also had to make sure to have some family and me time. Doesn't matter the who what or why, come 5pm we leave (at latest 5:30). We don't work weekends, we don't start until 9. If I feel like having a slower paced day...we have a slower paced day! Determine the things that are truly important to you, and make sure you set time aside for those things! My parents have run the family business for 47 years, they open at 8 am, and close at 8pm daily. Their open 7 days a week and closed Christmas. I remember 2 family vacations, and they spent the vacation worrying about the business. I promised myself I wouldn't become that. If you not giving 100% of yourself to the business causes it to fail....well it was going to fail anyway. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I didn't build it, buy it or break it. But I can fix it.....if you have enough money. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk