ALLDATA’s Tech-Assist team recently logged an important customer support milestone: the 100,000^th case solved by the diagnostic and repair hotline service. Since its debut in 2014, Tech-Assist has earned rave reviews for its dedicated team of ASE-Certified Master Technicians, quick response time, and unwavering commitment to solving touch repair challenges – however many calls it takes.

When it comes to getting paid for your work, it helps to have the top tools at your disposal. The Who Pays for What? survey shows that ALLDATA continues to be the most popular choice among body shops for researching OEM repair information and procedures. It also reveals how often shops are being compensated for dozens of collision-specific procedures and materials, from seat calibration to sound-deadening. For now, let’s take a closer look at what’s trending for OEM repair information. Next month, we’ll dig into shops’ feedback on pre- and post-repair vehicle “health scans” and DTC research. 

Last month, we reported on results from the Who Pays for What? survey by Collision Advice and CRASH Network that showed the use of OEM information on the rise and ALLDATA’s continued dominance (73.4%) as the #1 choice for that essential repair information. Now let’s see what collision shop owners and techs had to say pre- and post-repair vehicle “health scans” and DTC research.

As manufacturers charge ahead with aggressive electric vehicle (EV) plans, the U.S. automotive consumer’s desire – and ability – to jump into the EV frontier lags far behind. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and the subsequent ban on the import of oil and natural gas from Russia to the U.S. – is driving gas prices into the stratospheric range and crippling supply chains. This may prompt more consumers to consider an electric vehicle to avoid pain at the pump, but they’d better be prepared for more shocks: there are major obstacles to owning an EV in the near future.

In the spirit of April Fools’ Day, three of our Tech Tips are true … and two are pranks. But which two? Find out by clicking each one to unlock the true Tech Tips, or the pranks. Ultimately, we know there’s no foolin’ around when it comes to OEM-accurate, tech-verified automotive mechanical repairs.

In 2008, Volvo released “Collision Warning and Auto Brake,” the first automatic braking feature offered on a production vehicle. This early form of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) used radar mounted behind the front grill and a camera located on the rear-view mirror to detect vehicles and pedestrians in front of the car. It would then alert the driver of the obstacle and apply the brakes if the driver failed to react in a timely manner, very similar to the way that present day automatic braking functions.

If you were one of the 112 million viewers watching Super Bowl LVI last month (a safe bet, I assume?) you couldn’t miss all the hype around the commercials. As always, automobiles dominated the ads, but this year, six out of the seven auto ads in Super Bowl LVI featured electric vehicles (EVs). And while spending huge advertising dollars is a sure sign of where the industry is going, the reality is that there’s a long road ahead before we reach the end of the ICE age.

Industry experts speculate that auto manufacturers will soon be adopting 800-volt electrical systems in their electric vehicles (EVs). The latest research shows that 800-volt electrical systems can lead to smaller, lighter, and more environmentally friendly motors. Vehicles using these powertrains could also be charged faster and travel further on a single charge.

You’ve seen them driving around town, and hopefully by now you’ve probably encountered a few electric vehicles, or EVs, in your shop. If you’re one of the those that’s still apprehensive about servicing these vehicles, you’re not alone.

Starting a new shop from the ground up is no easy endeavor. Finding a location, purchasing equipment, and hiring the right people can be a long and tedious process. But before you open your doors for business, it’s important to have all your ducks in a row. You have to confirm you’re compliant to your local and state laws, and also make sure you have the right tools in place for your shop to succeed ...

The Car Doctor interviews ALLDATA VP Robert McBride

Ron Ananian is the owner of R/A Automotive in Waldwick, New Jersey. Since 1991, he has also educated and entertained millions of listeners through his nationally syndicated radio program, The Car Doctor. In December, Ron interviewed ALLDATA Vice President of Product Development Robert McBride on what’s fueling all the interest in ADAS. Listen to the audio from the program, or read on for a slightly edited version.

Autosphere interviews ALLDATA President Satwinder Mangat

Autosphere Magazine Editor-in-Chief Huw Evans recently interviewed ALLDATA President Satwinder Mangat on what’s down the road for mechanical and collision shops. Read on for their conversation about the increasing demand for accurate ADAS information and the potential for integrating mechanical and collision diagnostics in shops.

We all know that the #1 most common New Year’s resolution is to get fit/lose weight? But while everyone is busy signing up for gym memberships and purchasing treadmills, you should be looking at your business and creating your own New Year’s resolution. Chances are you might also want to whip your shop into shape.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are designed to improve driver safety through the application of several technologies developed during the last two decades. ADAS has been implemented on vehicles of all price and performance levels; it is no longer only for high-end cars and trucks.

5 Tips for Communicating with Customers

With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving coming up fast, it got the staff at ALLDATA News wondering … does your shop shut down during the holidays?

When Mark Ventrillo joined Quality Color & Collision in Greenwood, SC, as its fixed operations director in early 2021, his assignment was to improve its management of the collision repair industry's most valuable resource---time.

ALLDATA Collision delivers OEM diagnostic information in a consistent format for each manufacturer, so you can easily find the information you need to inspect, estimate, and properly repair each vehicle in your facility. Includes OEM Position Statements, scan tool requirements and positions, DTC code charts and procedures, system wiring diagrams, and more.

2021 is coming to an end and while you may be getting ready for the holiday season, you should also be reviewing your business to prepare for the new year. Taking a closer look at your shop now can let you make the most out of your new year’s resolutions. Here are three items you should review before the end of the year.

An interview with ASE Education Foundation Leaders

ALLDATA’s exclusive interview with ASE Education Foundation President Mike Coley and Vice President George Arrants covers this year’s ASE Instructor Training Conference, the new ASE Adopt-a-School Toolkit program, the revision of ASE’s school accreditation process, and the expansion of school-to-work activities that include a formal apprenticeship program.

An interview with ASE Education Foundation Leaders

In this exclusive interview, ALLDATA’s Rich Diegle talks with ASE Education Foundation President Mike Coley and Vice President George Arrants about the launch of ALLDATA’s Instructor Toolkit, a first-of-its kind training resource for auto repair educational institutions.

Getting the best bang for your buck

If you’ve tried buying a car recently, you’ve noticed that new car dealers’ sales lots are empty and car prices have soared. Why? Three words: computer chip shortage. It’s become an issue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and at this point there is not a single automaker that hasn’t been affected.  

ELK GROVE, Calif. – Sept. 29, 2021 – ALLDATA has launched the Instructor Toolkit, a turnkey resource for automotive and collision career and technical education, developed in partnership with the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation.

ELK GROVE, Calif. – Oct. 20, 2021 – ALLDATA’s latest update makes it easy for auto repairers to instantly access Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) information, direct from the OEMs.

ALLDATA Collision covers 95% of all vehicles on the road today, including German manufacturers Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi, with the critical OEM information, procedures, and graphics you need for accurate estimates and repairs.

Ron Ananian is the owner of R\A Automotive in Waldwick, New Jersey. Since 1991, he has also educated and entertained millions of listeners through his nationally syndicated radio program, The Car Doctor.  We sat down with Ron recently to talk about what he does in his downtime. Turns out that besides his CrossFit regime, he’s passionate about learning.

When you are at the receiving end of poor customer service, you can either suffer through it or use it as a “teachable moment” that will help your business grow.  I recently had the pleasure of interacting via telephone and in person with both my cell phone service provider and my cable company. These contacts were the result of a perfect storm of investigating a switch in cell phone providers and concurrently having my cable box stop working.

Automobiles, like heavy metal butterflies, go through a metamorphosis each year. Some models return with just a few minor cosmetic changes, while others undergo a total redesign, and some models don’t make it back at all. Manufacturers also use a new model year to debut their latest and greatest creations.

In June, ALLDATA recognized outstanding auto repairers who were submitted by shops across the country for ASE Automotive Service Professionals Month.

Now we’re pleased to share photos of the honorees from Firestone Complete Auto Care in Lawrence, Kansas. They received certificates, AutoZone gift cards, ALLDATA shop stools, and other swag.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, better known as ASE, is an independent, non-profit, self-supporting organization that was created in 1972 to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals. ASE has nearly 250,000 currently certified automotive technicians and service professionals working nationwide.

Brake fluid is often overlooked until major brake work is done. You may be checking the level of the brake fluid and perhaps even brake fluid color, but are you checking the true condition of the brake fluid? To give your customers the highest level of service, check the brake fluid condition every time a vehicle enters your facility. At a minimum the condition of the brake fluid should be tested every year, and the fluid changed if needed.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has designated June as Automotive Services Professionals Month. To celebrate, we’re featuring some of the outstanding auto repairers as submitted by shops across the country.

A quick tour of the OEM information ALLDATA Collision provides for required PDR operations, including scanning, as well as manufacturer information on vehicle construction, how to identify panel materials, safe battery removal/reconnection, and more.

Interview with Aaron Stokes, Part 2

ALLDATA recently interviewed Aaron Stokes, the founder of Shop Fix Academy, owner and operator of five auto repair shops, and the radio show host of “Fixin’ Cars with Aaron Stokes” on Nashville’s 99.7.

Interview with Aaron Stokes, Part 3

ALLDATA recently interviewed Aaron Stokes, the founder of Shop Fix Academy, owner and operator of five auto repair shops, and the radio show host of “Fixin’ Cars with Aaron Stokes” on Nashville’s 99.7.

See how to get the OEM documentation you need, quickly and accurately. In addition to OEM position statements, ALLDATA Collision includes OEM repair matrices, collision bulletins, body repair manuals, body guides, and more.

Material identification is key to determining repairability on today’s vehicles. See how to quickly access OEM Repairability Guidelines that identify what an OEM will and won’t allow on today’s repairs – information that’s critical for proper collision repair planning and execution.

To streamline your initial damage assessment routine and ensure estimate and repair accuracy, we’ve gathered the OEM inspections required after a collision in one easy-to-access grouping within the vehicle’s repair procedures.

These tips guide you to the OEM repair information you need prior to scheduling the removal and replacement of glass, which often impacts trim, the rearview mirror, and ADAS components. For any OEM you need to access, our consistent format makes it easy to find the information you need.

Can hybrid and electric vehicles be dangerous to work on? Absolutely. However, if you get proper training and follow OEM repair procedures, you can safely and efficiently service and repair them.

In this article, we will cover manufacturer-specific safety guidelines aimed at keeping you safe while working on two fully-electric vehicles – The Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Bolt.

In less than two minutes, you’ll see how simple and straightforward it is to access unedited OEM collision repair data direct from the manufacturer. Ensures you’ll always have the information needed to troubleshoot, estimate, and repair Subaru vehicles.