March 2021

Right: Denso OHM Metre V ehicles were not moving much last year, so now it’s time to find out how to get your customers motoring from the off by staying up to date with all the latest in ignition. Lockdown aside, these components go through a lot at the best of times. “Ignition coils and modules have to operate in an arduous working environment,” said HELLA UK’s Senior Head of Marketing and Communications, Helen Goldingay, “where they are subject to high electrical, mechanical, thermal and chemical stress. This means they need to be manufactured to the strictest standards using the highest quality materials to work perfectly and over a long-life cycle. Insufficient output voltage or energy will cause misfiring and incomplete fuel combustion in the cylinder, which can increase the vehicle’s fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and damage its catalytic converter.” Glow plug season Winter, as we all know, is glow plug season. The recent cold snap in February would have reminded many about the importance of glow plugs for within the ignition process. “The replacement of glow plugs,“ said Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager, NGK Spark Plugs (UK), “should be part of the winter service as they play an integral role in a vehicle’s economy and emissions’ performance. Also, instead of changing one faulty glow plug, workshops should upsell by replacing all of them. If one plug has failed, it is extremely likely that the remaining plugs will shortly suffer a similar fate. Not only will the tight emissions legislation be complied with, but as the glow plug is now an integral part of the engine management system, the starting and cold drive quality will be kept at its maximum. “ Key period NGK works hard to help its distributors and their garage customers cope with the increased winter demand for glow plugs for diesel powered vehicles. Mark commented: “The winter months are the key selling period for glow plugs and NGK works closely with its distributors to ensure they do not miss out on any opportunities. UK factors, distributors and garages are fully aware that their glow plugs sales spike in the winter months as temperatures fall and NGK is there to help them cope with the increased demand. Our dedicated team of Sales Representatives are currently working remotely but are still dedicated to help our customers stock the right profile of glow plugs to ensure they leverage the sales opportunity fully.” As well as providing product, NGK was recently giving something back to its customers: “The company gave members of its BoxClever independent garage loyalty scheme a special incentive to fit its glow plugs by awarding them 50 prize points for each purchase in February instead of the usual 20 points. It also recently refreshed its online Part Finder facility, making it even more user-friendly for its customers.” To visit Part Finder go to www.ngkntk.com/uk eXchange One option for some ignition parts is reman. Commenting on Bosch Xchange programme, a spokesman for Bosch said: “The Bosch eXchange programme for starters and alternators is and remains an optimal solution for value-based vehicle repairs. It includes a high proportion of remanufactured products and can be supplemented with new products if necessary to ensure a high degree of market coverage and supply availability. “The eXchange products are treated according to the same standards as original parts and have to pass stringent functional and quality tests. This ensures high quality and reliability at lower prices while still providing the same warranty as in the new parts programme. Featuring a price advantage of up to 30% in comparison with comparable products 28 AFTERMARKET MARCH 2021 IGNITION www.aftermarketonline.net FROM FALSE-START TO START FIRST TIME After the year of false-starts in 2020, do ignition right in 2021...