NTN, the parent company of BCA Bearings, is proud to announce the launch of BCA’s 2024 Endless Summer promotion. During the promotion, BCA’s warehouse distributor customers can earn BCA-branded, premium merchandise with orders of BCA wheel hub assemblies, bearings and seals. “We are thrilled to announce the BCA Endless Summer promotion” said Patrick Cronin, Marketing Manager, Automotive Aftermarket. “The Endless Summer theme evokes a relaxed and carefree feeling that we all strive to achieve; the same carefree feeling we want associated with using our premium parts. We are looking forward to ..read more

When a check engine light comes on, your customers want the right part to ensure that light goes off and stays off. They turn to you for expert advice, so be sure you have the correct parts they need when they need them. There are many different components that make up the EVAP system. They can read like alphabet soup sometimes, so it’s important that you know how to understand a customer’s complaints. Equally important, you need to recommend the right replacement to eliminate their problems. Modern evaporative emission control systems are selective with how they vent vapors back into the engi ..read more

CC: The anti-lock braking system or a BS is like the guardian angel of the breaking system. And sure you don’t skid off the road during a sudden stop. But what exactly is it and why should you cure? Let’s break it down at its heart. The a BS system is made up of three main components, sensors, a control module, and a hydraulic unit. The sensors are the eyes of the operation, constantly watching the speed of each wheel, and sending updates to the control module. Think of the control module as the brain making quick decisions based on information from the sensors. And finally, the hydraulic unit ..read more

Squealing tires.  Crunching metal.  Breaking glass.  Sounds that announce a vehicle collision.  The sounds remain the same, but the collision repair orchestra includes a broader range of instruments than ever before.  What yesterday might have been repaired with a body panel, frame straightening and some paint, today often requires a complex assortment of sensors, actuators and components that also may need to be replaced to ensure a successful return to service.  Today’s collision repair parts don’t just have to fit, they have to function correctly with electroni ..read more

CC: Measuring brake rotors is critical to performing a pulsation free brake job. It doesn’t matter if the rotors are new or old, they always need to be verified if they’re within specification. Lateral runout or LRO is defined as an inaccuracy of the rotor’s plates That does not allow them to rotate exactly in line with the flange. The rotor might have the same thickness, but the plates around the flange move up and down. In layman’s terms, it’s a wobble in the rotor. The wobble can be changed by machining the rotor to match the same plane using an on the car brake life. Replacing the rotor wi ..read more

CC: If the radiator is the heart of an engine cooling system, the radiator core is the heart of the radiator. This is where the actual cooling takes place. The radiator core consists of a series of thin tubes and fins designed to maximize surface area, allowing for efficient heat exchange between the coolant and this routing air. As the engine operates, it generates heat, which is absorbed by the coolant. This hot coolant then flows through the radiator core where it’s cooled by air passing over the fins before being recirculated back into the engine. For much of automotive history, radiator c ..read more

CC: You just sold a shop a remanufactured transmission, and now they are saying it’s not working. After installing it in the vehicle, what questions should you ask before they remove the transmission for a return? Simple. Did you program the transmission control module? Most remanufactured transmissions do not come. This is because the remanufacturer does not know the vehicle the transmission is going into. Most transmissions require that the control module is programmed on the vehicle. Some shops may not realize they need to perform this critical last step. A modern transmission is connected ..read more

CC: Broadly speaking, a commercial vehicle is any type of motor vehicle that’s used for transporting goods or paying passengers legally. The definition of a commercial vehicle is a little more complex, but for our purposes, we’re talking about vehicles that are used for business purposes or to provide public services. When we talk about commercial vehicles, the first things that might come to mind are semi-truck and buses. But in reality, commercial vehicle fleets can encompass a wide range of sizes and gross vehicle weight ratings, and run the gamut from pickup trucks and delivery vans to box ..read more

Emporia recently released its new NACS Level 2 EV Charger. The company said this charger combines functionality comparable to a Tesla charger, with the added benefit of working with the Emporia Home Energy Management System. According to Emporia, one standout feature of the Emporia NACS Level 2 Charger is its compatibility with the Tesla charge port door, allowing users to open the door via the button on the connector. Additionally, the charger includes a wall-mounted holster for cable storage, enabling closer installation to the EV port for a more streamlined charging experience. “This i ..read more

Automotive technology is funny. It always seems so new when we’re forced to catch up with it and weave it into our everyday routine. Then we find out it’s been around much longer than we realize. We didn’t worry about it until suddenly, some form of it was on almost every vehicle on the road. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is one of those technologies, and like it or not, it’s time to jump on the ADAS bandwagon. Luckily, because it’s not as new as it seems, the tool and equipment technology to help us service these systems is coming of age. In other words, we’re no longer fighting ..read more