Aftermarket March 2022

www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2022 AFTERMARKET 5 CONTENTS BUSINESS 10 Big issue: Self-driving cars 14 Tina Drayson: Leadership 16 SafetyCulture: Digital Steer 18 LKQ Euro Car Parts: MOT March Madness 20 Catalytic converter theft TOP TECHNICIAN/TOP GARAGE 22 Top Garage 2022 TECHNICAL 24 GEA: Vehicle lifts part 2 26 Andrew Marsh: Tesla tech 28 Frank Massey: Process not problems part 1 30 Snap-on: Testing a solenoid valve 34 Ryan Colley: You wouldn’t believe it 38 Kalimex: Looking good IN FOCUS 40 Vehicle electronics and engine management 42 EVs and hybrids 44 Ignition 46 Turbos 48 Bearings PLUS... 51 General products/Competition 52 Day In The Life: ECRS 54 Garage visit: AI Autocentres 56 EVs and hybrids 58 Air-Tech 2022 60 Training update 64 Recruitment 66 Teabreak A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES? Editor | Alex Wells alex@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Sales: ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Contributors Phil Cleary | Damien Coleman | Ryan Colley | Tina Drayson | Dan Joyce | Andrew Marsh | Frank Massey | Anthony McAteer Managing Director | Ryan Fuller ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Project Liaison Manager | Emma Floyd emma.floyd@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Finance Manager | Caren Brown caren.brown@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Chief Executive | Ian Atkinson ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Published by | DFA Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE Alex Wells, Editor Average net circulation July 2019 to June 2021 18,265 aftermarketmagazine @aftermarket01 ISSN 2516-9149 Aftermarket is published 10 times a year and is sent free of charge to applicants meeting the publisher’s criteria. All others may subscribe at £60 per anum, £120 Europe and £150 rest of the world. While every care is taken to provide accurate information, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or ommisions, no matter how caused. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Copyright: DFA MEDIA LTD 2022. E verything we do exists within a legal framework. This protects us and encourages us to consider others as well, with consequences resulting if the framework is broken. The move towards self-driving cars has led to the need for a way to deal with automated vehicles. In that these are inert devices essentially, where does responsibility lay when things go wrong? These questions are looking to be answered by an ongoing process. As part of this, the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission recently published a joint report looking at the potential future shape of such a framework. In Big Issue on pages 10-13, we examine this and ask how it will affect the garage sector. That is a big subject. Taking things back inside the business, Tina Drayson is back on page 14-15 in our Garage Inspector Graduates strand, looking at the importance of leadership in the business. Then, on pages 18-19, LKQ Euro Car Parts’ Anthony McAteer examines how March is shaping up to be key month for the MOT. Moving over to technical, the GEA are back with the second part of their look at buying and installing vehicle ramps. That is on page 24. This is immediately followed by Andrew Marsh, who on page 26 considers Tesla tech. Then we get into the diagnostic zone with Frank Massey on pages 28-29, and then Snap-on’s Damien Coleman on pages 30-33. He is himself followed by Ryan Colley on pages 34-37. The section is rounded out by an interview with Mike Schlup from Kalimex on pages 38-39. We went to see what goes on at Essex-based chain A1 Autocentres. The business was a finalist in Top Garage in 2019 and 2021. You can find that on pages 54-55. If that’s not enough, we have features on vehicle electronics and engine management, EVs and hybrids, ignition, turbos and bearings. There is also a look at the upcoming Air-Tech 2022 exhibition, for those of you interested in compressed air equipment. Finally, the first round of Top Technician 2022 came to an end on 27 February, and to the hundreds and hundreds of techs who took the quiz, we say thank you. While only a portion of you will progress to round two, just by taking part you are helping to maintain the very high standards of the industry. We will be informing everyone of how they did very soon. For those who did pass all the way through, round two will be starting shortly, so keep an eye out for updates. The big news for the competitions this month is the start of Top Garage 2022. As well as the fact of a whole new chance to be named as one of the best businesses in the industry, with businesses competing with others of a similar scale, there is also a new opportunity. Businesses taking part can nominate their Service Advisor for the Service Advisor of the Year Award. Turn to pages 22-23 to find out more.