Autobody News’ Post

🚗💭 Vehicle data access emerges as the top concern for independent repair shops, with 84% of respondents flagging it as their primary issue. This pivotal challenge has overtaken technician recruitment and inflation in the industry. 🛠️ The survey underscores the critical role of data access in automotive repair, influencing shops' efficiency and accuracy in diagnosing and fixing vehicles. With vehicle technology advancing, addressing this concern is key for the sustained success of independent repair shops. #AutomotiveRepair #DataAccess #IndustryInsights 🚘🔧

A recent nationwide survey conducted by the Auto Care Association has revealed significant obstacles faced by independent automotive repair shops due to limited access to vehicle repair and maintenance data. This restriction hinders their operational capabilities and contributes to substantial financial losses. The findings highlight the importance of the REPAIR Act (H.R. 906), a federal bill that aims to provide vehicle owners and repair professionals with access to essential vehicle data, tools, and software necessary for the maintenance and repair of modern vehicles. Supporting initiatives like the REPAIR Act is crucial for ensuring a fair and competitive market, benefiting both independent repair shops and vehicle owners. Let’s keep an eye on this important piece of legislation and its potential impact on the automotive repair industry. #AutobodyNews #REPAIRAct #AutoCareAssociation

Good to see Mark Cartwright on form Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Louise Cole ADRIAN walsh Simon Turner MARRM MAFP Tracy Thomas PG Dip DigM, F IDM Sharon Mitchell Mike Higgins BEng MILT Fiona Pick Georgina Lawrence Vans have dominated commercial vehicles sales for a long time. The van market has grown by about 60% in the past 20 years to reach 4.8m vehicles. Unfortunately, light goods vehicles (LCVs) can bring with them far greater risks than other commercial vehicle types, not least because they are very often used by non-vocational drivers, without a proper understanding of risk or regulation, and by fleets without professional transport or risk management. It is essential that we professionalise the use of vans because, according to Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety’s report, “Per mile travelled, vans and light goods vehicles are involved in more deaths of other road users than any other vehicle type, more even than HGVs.” If we can impart the knowledge, skills and procedures necessary to using vans safely, we can save lives. Vehicle suppliers will also be providing an essential extra service for their customers, which can help to prevent them receiving penalties and endorsements. According to SMMT 60% of LCVs are used in construction, transport, or the automotive sale and repair services. The vans are getting larger, and with electrification, heavier. Quite often the only meaningful instruction that drivers will get about how their new vehicle works and how to manage risk is when they interact with the dealer, salesperson or technician. Please don’t waste that opportunity to educate them. Regardless of their profession, driving is the single most dangerous activity they will undertake in their day. Your teams can make a difference. Our van drivers are an essential part of the UK economy – they deserve to have the knowledge and skills to do their jobs safely. Make 2024 the year of van safety.

The auto repair industry is facing a critical juncture that could impact the 273,000 shops and 900,000 technicians across the United States. According to Bill Hanvey, President and CEO of the Auto Care Association, federal right-to-repair legislation is crucial for the survival of local repair shops. "Without change, local repair shops will be forced to turn away more and more business, leaving car owners with no choice but to foot outsized bills at the dealership," says Hanvey. The REPAIR Act is essential to protect America's vibrant network of local, independent repair shops, providing trusted service, convenience, and choice to millions of American drivers. As the industry continues to evolve, this legislation is vital for sustaining local businesses and ensuring consumers have access to fair, competitive pricing for their car repair needs. #automotive #repair #dataaccess #vehicles #autobodynews

📝 In a recent survey of almost 1000 retailers, we found vehicle preparation is one of the biggest challenges retailers now face. More than 51% of retailers reported that vehicles are taking longer to prep compared to 6 to 12 months ago. Additionally, costs are rising, with almost 80% of retailers now having to budget more for vehicle prep than they did 6 to 12 months earlier. So, why has prep become more challenging, and how can retailers address this? Click the blog below to find out👇 #Blog | #VehiclePrep | #Autotrader

Working on your car is hard enough, so buying car parts shouldn't add to the issue. However, you may be noticing car parts availability, price increase and quality drop lately. So, what’s the secret on how to buy car parts with less hassle these days? For me, every year for the past 12 or 15 years has been so frustrating when it comes to car parts. #advice #autoparts #carpartsmanufacturers #dealership #partsstores

It’s time for #firerecallfriday !!🔥🔥 ⚠️Homedics Recalls over 46,000 Massagers These massagers can potentially overheat, posing both fire and burn hazards. If you own this massager brand, you should stop using it immediately and contact Homedics customer service for instructions on how to receive a free refund. ⚠️BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) Recalls certain 2024 BMW 430i Convertible Vehicles The cylinder head cover of these vehicles could potentially develop cracks, which could result in an oil leak into the engine compartment. This could pose a fire hazard. If you own of these vehicles, contact a local dealer or BMW customer service. ⚠️REV Ambulance Group Orlando, Inc. (REV) Recalls certain 2020-2024 Type I, III, and IX Vehicles In the event of a short circuit or wiring failure in these vehicles, the firmware could potentially fail to shut off the output pin, resulting in overloaded electrical circuits. This could potentially pose a fire hazard. If you own one of these vehicles, it’s highly recommended that you contact a local dealer to update the firmware, free of charge. ⚠️Daimler Vans USA, LLC Recalls certain 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vehicles The connection between the propeller shaft bearing and crossmember may loosen, reducing vehicle control. This could cause a crash, and in the process damage the fuel tank. If the fuel tank is damaged, this could increase the risk of a fire. If you own of these vehicles, it’s recommended that you contact a local dealer for a free repair. ⚠️Kia America, Inc. Recalls certain 79,812 2011 Sorento Vehicles A fire could potentially start in the engine compartment while driving, increasing the risk of an injury. Contact a local dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair, if necessary. ⚠️Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC Recalls certain 2023 GLC300, 2024 GLE350, and GLE450 Vehicles Equipped with an M254 Engine The incorrect screws, installed on the high-pressure fuel pump, may prevent a proper seal from forming between the high-pressure fuel pump and the tandem oil pump. This could allow fuel and oil to leak onto the road, creating a hazard for other road users and increasing the risk of a crash. This can also pose a fire hazard. ⚠️Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) Recalls 10,984 2024 Kona Vehicles The 12-volt battery cables may chafe against the engine control module bracket and short circuit during a crash. A short circuit can pose a fire hazard. If you own one of these vehicles, it’s recommended that you contact a local dealer who will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. For more information on these recalls or recalls that we’ve featured in the past, please visit this link: https://lnkd.in/e7WMD25 #JackWardFireConsultants #OriginandCauseFireInvestigation #FireInvestigation #FireRecallFriday #FireRecalls #UseCaution #SpreadAwareness #PreventAFire #homedicsmassagers #BMW #REVAmbulanceGroupOrlando #DaimlerVansUSA #KiaAmerica #MercendesBenz #Hyundaimotoramerica

Do workshops and garages need more power to deal with defective tyres? A staggering 25% of cars on UK roads could be driving with one or more potentially dangerous tyre faults, according to data from a survey of over 1,500 vehicles. The survey, carried out recently by Halfords tyre technicians, involved checking more than 6,100 tyres on vehicles parked in long-term car parks at Edinburgh, Gatwick, and Manchester airports. The survey shows that over 25% of the cars have at least one tyre with excessive wear or damage. Flyers were left on windscreens to inform drivers about the tyre checks and the recommendations to rectify any faults. Graham Stapleton, CEO of Halfords, attributes this issue to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. “People are making tough choices about how they spend their money, and unfortunately, road safety is taking a back seat right now.” The most recent Department for Transport figures show that tyre defects were a factor in 147 collisions that resulted in deaths and serious injuries in 2022. Additionally, over 10% of all MOT failures are related to tyres, highlighting the importance of regularly checking your tyres. Remember, you can use a 20p piece to check the tread depth. Your tyres could be under the legal limit if the coin’s outer band is visible. Stapleton also highlighted the issue garages face when discovering defective tyres on customers’ cars. “We have a farcical situation right now whereby a vehicle can come into a garage, be found to have illegal tyres or brakes, and yet there is nothing to stop it from being driven away,” he says. One suggestion is to mandate uploading the offending vehicles’ details to the Police’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. ANPR cameras scan vehicle registration plates and compare them to database records, informing officers when a vehicle may need investigation. Only DVSA examiners and specially authorised police officers can issue prohibition notices. These prevent the use of any vehicle found to be defective on public roads. The police are generally responsible for the enforcement of cars on the roadside. However, the DVSA does work with the police in joint operations targeting all vehicles. So the question is, do garages and workshops need the power to issue prohibition notices or just a system to report defects to the police? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below:

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on March 21 titled “Vehicle Repair: Information on Evolving Vehicle Technologies and Consumer Choice.” The GAO was asked to review the effects of changing vehicle technology on vehicle “Right to Repair.” Its report examines how changes in vehicle technology could affect competition and consumer choice in the vehicle repair market as well as NHTSA’s and the FTC’s actions related to this issue. Key takeaways from the report … • Most automakers have been operating under a 2014 voluntary “Right to Repair” agreement that generally resulted in independent repair shops having access to the information, data and tools needed for repairs. However, stakeholders we interviewed, and a nongeneralizable review of a set of complaints, suggest independent repair shops may face some access limitations. • Advanced vehicle technology may make repairs more expensive and complex because they require additional knowledge, equipment and other investments. Such issues could particularly affect some independent repair shops that are unable to make such investments. In addition, according to some independent repair stakeholders, the wireless transfer of data between vehicles and automakers may disadvantage independent repair shops compared to dealerships. • If independent repair shops face limitations in access to the information, data and tools needed for repair, consumers might have fewer repair choices. If independent repair shops face disparities in access, it could make repairs more expensive or inconvenient for some consumers. • The FTC is taking steps to better understand potential vehicle repair limitations by considering new ways to categorize and analyze potentially relevant consumer complaints. In response to the report, The CAR Coalition issued the following statement attributable to Justin Rzepka, executive director: “This new report from the GAO is more evidence that repair options for vehicle owners are being limited by auto manufacturers. It’s beyond time for the Congress to address this issue and ensure that Americans can choose where and who repairs their vehicles. If they want to go to an independent repair shop, they should be able to do so. The bipartisan SMART (H.R. 1707) and REPAIR (H.R. 906) acts are specifically focused on righting this wrong.” Read the report here -->> https://lnkd.in/gnVMiKFK More on the SMART Act here -->> https://lnkd.in/gCr5z4nZ More on the REPAIR Act here -->> https://lnkd.in/gbFtRQHW #aftermarket #autoparts #autocare #carcare #righttorepair

In case you missed it, CAR Coalition member and President of the Automotive Body Parts Association Mike Dolabi penned an op-ed in The Dallas Morning News urging Congress to pass the REPAIR Act. “The REPAIR Act would ensure that consumers and independent shops alike can access the vehicle data, tools, parts and software needed to repair and maintain modern vehicles." “What’s more, the REPAIR Act would keep prices affordable for car owners by promoting a competitive vehicle-repair landscape. Independent repair shops offer consumers an affordable option for vehicle service compared to dealerships, which can be nearly 40% more expensive on average, while competition from aftermarket alternatives helps drive down OEM parts prices.” Read more on the Right to Repair below: https://lnkd.in/et4A-SUY