Repairer Driven News’ Lurah Lowery Reports on Yanfeng’s Innovation

Global automotive supplier Yanfeng’s first-of-its-kind passenger seat airbag system will debut on a minivan in China. Revealed in 2023, in the event of a collision, passengers would be wrapped in a cocoon-like safety restraint system, including a Pre-Crash Seat Rapid Return mechanism, Follow Up Seat, Hoodie Airbag, Buttock Airbag, and Seat Integrated Seat Belt – All Belt to Seat.

Help Your Shop Work Smarter and Faster with ALLDATA’s Two New Powerful Enhancements

In today’s fast-paced automotive repair industry, efficiency isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity. Every minute saved in the shop translates to improved productivity, happier customers, and a healthier bottom line. That’s why ALLDATA continues to invest in tools and features designed to streamline your workflow and give your technicians the information they need—fast.

TRENDING TSB

Owners of BMW X3 and X5 models up to 2019 have reported exterior lights intermittently flashing on and off — a phenomenon that reminds drivers that BMWs do, in fact, come equipped with turn signals. BMW Service Information Bulletin SI B63 07 21 addresses this condition when fault code 80442A is stored, pointing to a potential issue within the headlight rotary switch LIN circuit.

Every technician knows how to replace brake pads. Far fewer understand what it takes to restore braking confidence. Real brake service isn’t about checking a box or getting the vehicle out the door—it’s about understanding how every step, surface and specification works together. When procedures are skipped or details ignored, the system may still function, but it no longer performs the way it was engineered to—and that’s where safety quietly begins to erode.

Four Strategies to Accelerate Your Shop After the Slow Season

The automotive repair industry experiences a predictable slowdown each year as customers enter their "saving for the holidays" phase, followed by the "I'll wait until the new year" mindset. Sound familiar? As we emerge from this seasonal lull, now is the perfect time to position your shop for a strong comeback.

AutoBody News’ Stacey Phillips Ronak Interviews Tim Ronak on the Necessity of Repair Planning

You may be surprised to learn that many body shops create a “repair plan” at the end of the repair when everything has been documented and the final bill is created, according to Tim Ronak, senior services consultant at AkzoNobel. Rather than a typical repair plan, he said this is more like an invoice that includes all of the labor, parts and materials needed to put the vehicle back to pre-accident condition.

Colder winter weather has arrived to most areas of the U.S. and Canada, so now is a good time to address any lack of cabin heat.

Frequent issues include a clogged heater core or a failed blend door actuator, but problems like a low coolant level, sensor faults, heater flow valve issues, a stuck-open thermostat, or a failed blower motor can also affect airflow and temperature.

If modern vehicle diagnostics have taught us anything, it’s that the problem isn’t always where the scan tool says it is. As you're well aware, today’s vehicles are smarter, faster, and more interconnected than ever, but they’re also less forgiving when something simply goes wrong. A rubbed wire, a bad ground, or a harness routed one inch too close to trouble can bring an entire network to its knees. That reality came into sharp focus during the diagnosis of a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu equipped with GM’s 1.5L turbocharged engine.

The new year is here, and the opportunities are plentiful. All of us should have the desire to improve on the things we did right in 2025. If you are a shop owner or manager, there are many ways you can make tangible improvements that will improve your financials and make coming to work a bit more enjoyable for your team and your customers.

Elk Grove, Calif. — November 11, 2025 — ALLDATA, the industry’s leading provider of unedited OEM repair information and shop management solutions, recently launched its new ALLDATA Shop Manager Pro™, a powerful shop management platform designed with enhanced functionality to help growing shops work smarter and scale with confidence, at the SEMA 2025 show in Las Vegas.

TRENDING TSB

Customers with the 2011–2019 Chevrolet Cruze, Sonic, and Trax equipped with the 1.4L turbo engine have reported excessive oil consumption, blue exhaust smoke, whistle-like noises, and MIL illumination with DTCs P0171, P0300, and/or P0299. GM has issued tech bulletin PIP5197M pointing to a potential failure of the PCV orifice diaphragm, which can cause abnormal crankcase pressure and, in some cases, a weak or broken piston ring land.

TRENDING TSB

2009–2010 Corolla owners have reported that their automatic shifter suddenly feels like it belongs in a CrossFit box. Updated bulletin T-SB-0310-10 has your culprit: the shift lever cover slide has gone rogue. When damaged or misaligned, this tiny part can turn a simple gear change into a bicep-busting ordeal.

Running a repair shop isn’t for the faint of heart. Most people don’t see the long days, complicated repairs, endless paperwork, and constant need to keep customers in the loop. Overworked technicians (and/or the challenge of finding good quality technicians) can make it feel like you’re spinning plates and throwing wrenches all day, every day. When things start falling through the cracks — repair updates, missing paperwork, or unreliable profit margins — it only adds to the stress and can start to attack your reputation.

This year’s SEMA will be taking place in Las Vegas Nov. 4-7, and ALLDATA is ready! We’ll be focused on helping repair and collision shops next-level their business productivity, efficiency, and customer experience.

We’re excited to unveil our new ALLDATA Shop Manager Pro - the ideal shop management solution for growing shops. We’ll also be highlighting new feature enhancements for our ALLDATA Repair and Collision products, including Quick Specifications, Estimator, and Find-A-Fix.

Tony Holguin, General Manager, Elk Grove Certified Collision Center, shares how ALLDATA Repair Planner has saved his shop time and money, reduced comebacks, and helped his shop get repairs done right the first time.

Elk Grove, Calif. — October 29, 2025 — ALLDATA, the industry’s leading provider of unedited OEM repair information and solutions for the professional automotive industry, today announced key enhancements to its core Repair® and Collision® product suite. These upgrades include Estimator with integrated AutoZone® parts ordering now included with all Repair and Collision subscriptions, a centralized location for Quick Specifications, and enhanced data and functionality for ALLDATA’s diagnostic solution Find-A-Fix — all designed to help shops work faster and smarter.

Elk Grove, Calif. — November 3, 2025 — ALLDATA, the industry’s leading provider of unedited OEM repair information and shop management solutions, today announced the launch of several new complete shop solutions, set to debut at the SEMA Show, November 4-7 in Las Vegas.

The TechForce Foundation Opened Public Voting Sept. 24

The TechForce Foundation will open public voting Sept. 24 to choose two grand prize winners — one student and one working professional — for its Techs Rock Awards, with both to be honored on the SEMA Show main stage in Las Vegas this November.

AutoZone^® and Ratchet+Wrench™ Reveal Key Insights About Gen Z Techs

The automotive repair industry is undergoing a generational transformation. With veteran technicians and shop owners nearing retirement, the next generation—Gen Z—is stepping in to carry the torch. But how do these young professionals view the industry? Are shop owners ready to recruit, train, and retain them effectively?

TRENDING TSB

2007–2010 Tundra and 2008–2010 Sequoia owners have reported an unexpected incontinence from their drivetrain—a transmission fluid leak making a surprise exit right through the driveshaft slip yoke plug.

The SEMA Show is where vocational, recreational, professional, and enthusiast automotive communities all gather—a sort of Super Bowl for car culture. During the week, you’ll rack up a total step count in the six-digit range. While the main attraction is at the Las Vegas Convention Center, car culture spills out across the city, providing entertainment even after the show’s security shuts things down for the night. Instead of heading straight to your hotel, despite your body begging for rest, you can venture out and fully immerse yourself in yet another round of automotive excellence.

Key Insights from FenderBender’s Annual Industry Survey

The collision repair industry continues to evolve rapidly, shaped by shifting market dynamics, technological advancements, and changing consumer expectations. FenderBender’s 2025 Industry Survey Report offers a comprehensive snapshot of this transformation, drawing on responses from hundreds of shop owners and operators across the country. This year’s findings reveal a notable shift in priorities, a renewed focus on insurer relationships, and a growing commitment to technology and training.

AutoZone^® and TechForce™ Team Up to Celebrate the Rising Stars in our Industry

In a world where technical know-how is essential, but compassion can be sometimes hard to find, a new wave of automotive technicians is proving that success isn’t just about horsepower and torque specs—it’s about heart.

TRENDING TSB

2020-2024 Sentra and 2021-2024 Rogue customers have reported a frustrating and often intermittent issue where the vehicle won’t start and displays messages like “No I-Key Detected” or “Incorrect Key ID.” According to updated bulletin NTB13-107G, the root cause is usually RF interference from nearby electronic devices.

Working on modern vehicles can often feel like a love-hate relationship. While testing procedures and diagnostic tools have improved over the years, pinpointing the root cause of a problem has become more challenging, especially after certain shops have had their hands in the engine bay. That was exactly the case for one frustrated technician, who found himself trying to pinpoint a failure under the hood of a 2021 Toyota Tundra—ultimately leading to a quick call to ALLDATA’s Tech Assist team.

Ron Ananian Reveals a Practical Approach to Auto Repair Shop Management

Running an auto repair shop is about more than just fixing cars. While providing top-notch service is essential, a truly successful business also depends on understanding the financial aspects of the operation. One of the most important concepts to grasp is the cost of doing business (CODB). CODB represents the cost of keeping your doors open and your shop running—whether you’re working on vehicles or not. Understanding this number is essential for ensuring your shop’s financial health and long-term success.

Who Pays for What? survey by
Collision Advice | CRASH Network
 

For years, ALLDATA has delivered OEM-accurate mechanical and collision repair information to professionals. According to the latest findings from the annual “Who Pays for What? Frame & Mechanical Operations” survey, ALLDATA remains the most trusted source for shops nationwide.

One of the biggest fears in most technicians’ minds is a job that comes back. Comebacks don’t just cost the shop valuable hours; they can also damage a technician’s reputation and potentially impact their career. Still, they’re sometimes unavoidable. After all, modern vehicles are packed with advanced technology, complex wiring, and the occasional gremlin that comes with it.

TRENDING TSB

2013-2018 Escape customers have reported suspicious water stains surfacing on their headliner, despite never submerging their vehicles. These water marks show staining on the headliner caused by a leak from areas like the roof opening panel, fixed glass, roof rails, or roof ditch moldings. Since nothing says “customer concern” than a ceiling that sweats more than the tech on flat rate, Ford issued technical service bulletin 17-2218.

With school starting back soon, many first-time car buyers, often students and their financially providing parents, are in the market for an affordable ride. I mean, what parents haven’t wished for their kids to start driving themselves everywhere? However, these buyers aren’t necessarily looking for flash or speed for their dependents (despite the pleas from their child of owning the fastest car in town). Rather, they need something safe, reliable, and ultimately low-cost to maintain.

Toyota is known for building robust vehicles, especially those based on the Land Cruiser chassis. This reputation extends to its luxury counterpart, the LX570. Aside from the pesky height-adjustable air suspension, the chassis is both rugged and capable. So when a 2008 LX570 rolled into the shop with a dead battery caused by several controls staying on, even with the key in the off position, it was a bit out of the ordinary.

TRENDING TSB

2006-2007 Dodge Ram Customers have reported a musty odor in their vehicles, especially in hot and humid conditions. This smell appears when leaves or other foreign material blocks the drain for the cooling coil housing. Dodge has issued tech bulletin 24-006-06 with a solution of cleaning the evaporator coil, applying a specialized cleaner and protective coating, and ensuring proper drainage.

Ever wish you knew then what you know now about using ALLDATA Repair or Collision? Or maybe you’re new to the platform. Here, we’ve collected 5 top tips and tricks from our ASE-Certified Master Techs at ALLDATA Tech-Assist to make your OEM auto labor and repair research fast, productive, and more efficient.

When people think about what Americans love, two things often come to mind: patriotism and automobiles. Since the first Fourth of July celebration took place in 1777 in Philadelphia and Boston, Americans have turned Independence Day into a full-blown celebration – complete with fireworks, flags, and a symbolic rejection of taxed tea.

Unlike some industries where performance metrics are vague or long-term, repair shops live and die by the numbers. How many vehicles come through the bay doors each day? How complex are the repairs? How many skilled hands are available to do the work? Layer in the local economy, seasonal demands, parts availability, and you quickly find yourself juggling dozens of interdependent variables.

They say children are a true blessing, and if you’ve been a parental figure long enough, you know those blessings can come with their fair share of stress. Ever tried arguing with a 15-year-old? Maybe had a 3-year-old try to “help” at the worst possible time? These little “retirement resets” can really spike your stress levels. But we love them, and we want them to get some hands-on experience in life, so what better place to learn how to work on cars than in the shop with you?

In households across the country, being an automotive technician is more than just a job — it’s a way of life, handed down from one generation to the next. The legacy often begins in the family garage, not a classroom, where the passion for turning wrenches, diagnosing problems by sound, and rebuilding engines is born. This tradition is built on pride, passion, and a deep respect for the craft.

TRENDING TSB

2011-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia customers have reported Willie's Roadhouse being displayed under the genre section on all SXM channels. The cause of the condition may be due to an internal radio concern.

When a 2008 Ford Taurus arrived at the transmission shop on a flatbed from the local Ford dealership, it was clear that the 263-horsepower 3.5-liter Duratec had done some damage down the driveline, specifically by the unplanned disassembly of the gearbox’s internals.

5 Shop Saving Tips from Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™

Someone once told me that successful auto repair is a game of inches. But in today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving industry, inches may not be precise enough — we need to hit the target every time. The reality is that precision and efficiency define success now more than ever.