When Does a Transmission or Auto-Service Business no Longer Need to Advertise?
Primarily, we cut back or quit advertising because at some point our egos tell us that we are so well known in our communities that people will just automatically come to us. That’s not true and never will be. Because we are a service business people look for us only when they need us, which for some is not very often. We are not “top of mind” like the pizzeria they call every week. When they need services like ours they have to look for them, and that usually happens when they are already in some type of trouble.
What is the Secret to Success?
Success in selling means destroying your quota. It means having a closing ratio that exceeds that of your teammates and your competitors. Success in selling means becoming your best, earning customer loyalty and not having to cold call.
Vacuum Testing U660E, U660F
From the TASC Force we reprint a series of in-depth test instructions for checking the serviceability of valve bodies.
PTU: a Different Kind of Transfer Case
The main design parameters for most late-model cars have been front-wheel drive (FWD) with transverse-mounted engines. This is a convenient packaging system for the manufacturer and has been for many years. The current trend of increased safety and performance has made many of the manufacturers add all-wheel drive (AWD), which sends power to the rear wheels for better traction and stability. The traditional transfer case, which divides power to the front and rear axles on vehicles with north/south engine placements, is unusable here.
Fast Fix on Chevy Snowplow
This particular truck is a 1996 Chevy 2500 series four-wheel-drive converted from a diesel to a 350 5.7-liter fuel-injected Vortex with an aftermarket powertrain wiring harness and a 4L60-E electronically shifted transmission. The guy bought it for his landscaping business strictly to plow snow. It had a bad transmission, which he had one of the local transmission shops overhaul. It came to me with the transmission banging hard when you dropped it into gear. It also had a rough 1-2 shift and didn’t shift at all from second to third.
Lead Experts Q & A’s
How do I get more leads? I remember the good old days when you just found a good location and advertised in the only phone book in town. The only other decision was how big to make your ad. Yes, those were the days. It was easy money. However, those days are long gone, and if you are not tuned in to where the leads are and how to get them, you could be losing leads to your competition. The shops that have the latest technology working for them are probably getting to your customers first.
Basic Test Solves Intermittent Issue
Those of us who worked on vehicles that predated mandated catalytic converters and gas shortages can remember a wonderful time when even the most-complex electrical systems could be diagnosed with a simple test light. Computers were just starting to transform from behemoths that took up entire rooms in buildings to something that could actually fit on your desk. And there were only four wires connected to the transmission. Yes, youngsters, I said four. Those were the days.
Vacuum Testing GM 6L45, 6L50, 6L80, 6L90
From the TASC Force we reprint a series of in-depth test instructions for checking the serviceability of valve bodies.
Do You Follow Up or Follow Through?
As a result of putting myself out there, I had the pleasure of meeting new people on a daily basis. That pleasure also came with a challenge: I left each function with a stack of business cards, often as many as 50, and often struggled to keep up with follow-up; that is, I struggled until I created a process.
Through trial and error, defining and refining a process, and observation of how others follow up, I created a best-practices list that I now follow. Before I share that list with you, however, you should know there are two major considerations with regard to successful follow-up.
People Buy from People They Like
How likable are you? If others were going to comment on how you impressed them at your first meeting, what would they say? Might it be, “What a nice guy; I would really feel comfortable doing business with him”? Would the impression be neutral, meaning that there was no feeling generated at all, or would it be a negative in which the customer’s thinking, “I wouldn’t do business with him if he were giving it away for free”?
Entering The Twilight Zone – Strange Problems
Everyday technicians earn their living by solving complex problems. The modern automobile or truck has evolved into a very sophisticated machine in which all parts must function together to perform properly. This means that what used to be a simple three- or four-speed transmission has become entwined with systems that are computer controlled and where an antilock-brake system or suspension system that is not working correctly can have major effects on transmission operations.
June 2014 Issue
In This Issue
68RFE drive-to-neutral noise
Sprinter 722.6 TCC lockup issues
Ford Escape harsh engagement
