Toolbox

1 Diagnostic Equipment

When the check engine light won't illuminate, Mac Tools suggests using its new Car Data Recorder – ET3010. Simply plug into the OBDII data link connector under the dash and let the customer do the test driving for you. Once the data is recorded, finding the problem is as simple as plugging the Car Data Recorder into the computer, states the company. It records and stores the entire OBDII data stream in a 24-hour continuous loop, captures Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) and Freeze Frame data and uses the intuitive client software, a free download at www.crecorder.com, to retrieve the information needed to diagnose the problem.

2 Accessories

A new Street/Strip Fuel System Kit from FAST™ is compatible with up to 600 hp and any Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) application. The product also includes a complete, component-matched fuel system kit that, according to the company, makes it easier to switch from carburetion to EFI for street cars, bracket racing cars, trucks, rock crawlers or sand buggies. The FAST Street/Strip Fuel System Kit includes the fuel pump, adjustable regulator, filter and Y-block for compatibility with just about any application from OE to custom high performance, the company states.

Chemicals

Professional DIFM Cooling System Treatment from Bar's Leaks® protects vehicle cooling systems and seals internal, external and coolant-to-oil leaks. It can be used in any vehicle, as well as stationary equipment, and is compatible with all types and brands of antifreeze, including conventional green or blue (silicate-based) and extended life red/orange or yellow (OAT/HOAT) coolant, the company says. It also works in systems containing only water, although in these cases a cooling system anti-rust and water pump lube is also recommended. These tablets are five grams each for easier installation in modern radiator necks.

Replacement Parts

MetaWire from JL Audio features a removable outer jacket so techs can use one wire and convert it from a positive to ground wire as needed. The company says it reduces stocking requirements and scrap rates for bulk wire. The pure OFC copper is tinned for corrosion resistance, the fine-strand construction and soft jacket deliver flexibility and it will not delaminate in heat or cold.

Replacement Parts

TCI® is staking a place on steering wheels in the aftermarket with a new paddle shifter for the TCI Transmission Control Unit. The new billet shifter system features positive gear shift feel and digital readout. Designed to work with any automatic 4- or 5-speed transmission controlled by the TCI Transmission Control Unit, the TCI Paddle Shifter communicates to the Transmission Control Unit through a wireless CAN signal with no worries about signal interference, lag time or disruption, the company says. The steering wheel mounted unit operates by slim, 1BC2-inch thick paddle shifters, which instantly instruct the transmission as to your gear of choice without delay.

Shop Equipment

The Easy-Lift™ Bead-Seating Stand from Ken-Tool provides a safer and easier way to position large tire and wheel assemblies for proper bead seating. After mounting a tire onto a 22.5-inch wheel, the technician rolls the tire and wheel assembly to the front of the stand. Then he or she pushes the assembly toward the crown on the stand so that gravity takes over to make the center of the wheel fall onto the crown. Once the assembly contacts the crown, it automatically falls into a horizontal position, and gravity then causes the bottom bead of the tire to align concentrically with the bottom bead flange of the wheel.

Chemicals

AMSOIL Inc. has added S® 190 and S® 250 Severe Gear Synthetic Gear Lubes to its line of AMSOIL Severe Gear Extreme Pressure Synthetic Gear Lubes. These lubricants are specifically engineered for high horsepower, high torque conditions where centrifugal gear lube sling-off is encountered. These formulations cling to gears and bearings for the best possible protection during shock loading, high G-forces and where pinion gears are installed at steep angles, the company says, adding Severe Gear Synthetic Gear Lubricants provide exceptional reliability and extended gear life. They are formulated with shear stable, heavy synthetic base oils for high film strength.

Vehicle Appearance Products

Co-founded by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Voodoo Ride has developed Shoq, a new wheel and tire cleaner that will clean wheels without damaging tires, according to the company. Shoq is manufactured without acids, biodegradable, phosphate-free, non-abrasive and non-flammable. Shoq quickly and safely cleans brake dust, road tar, dirt and other grime that collects on wheels and tires, the company adds.

Chemicals

Permatex Silicone Stripper is an OEM tested and approved aerosol silicone gasket remover that combines chemical cleaners and mechanical methods to clean and remove silicone gaskets from automotive parts without gouging or damaging flange surfaces. The stripper dissolves baked-on silicone gasket residue in minutes, while the plastic scraper, integrated into the can's spray cap, allows technicians to quickly remove the residue without fear, states the company.

Toolbox: Reader's Reference

Bosch now offers a comprehensive spark plug wire set application guide that provides the make, model, year of application, engine designation and part number for premium Bosch wire sets from the 1970s to current models. This reference guide includes listings for virtually all American, Asian and European cars, vans and light truck applications from AMC to Shelby and Acura to Yugo.

BOSCH

Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) has launched a new corporate Web site, www.smpcorp.com, to serve as a resource for customers, as well as to reflect the company's position as a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of replacement parts for motor vehicles. The new Web site has been completely redesigned to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, according to the company. The site contains company and career information, as well as industry information with direct links to helpful automotive and marketing group Web sites. It includes the latest SMP news and an Intraday Chart that tracks SMP's price in the New York Stock Exchange in real-time. In addition, the new Web site provides direct links to SMP's two major operating segments, each of which focuses on a specific line of replacement parts.

STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC.

Rebuilders who utilize AIM's Web site will notice changes the next time they visit. AIM has implemented new security measures for the site in an effort to provide confidential pricing and specifications for the benefit of its professional rebuilder customers. Rebuilders, who wish to access these pages, will be required to register with AIM for a user name and password. To facilitate access, rebuilders should visit the AIM Web site at www.aimpowerinmotion.com and select the "Login" link at the bottom of the home page. This will bring rebuilders to the "Request A New Account" section, where they will receive instructions to request approval to access this secure area. Rebuilders will be notified when their account is activated, and will receive further instructions to access their AIM account.

AIM

Toolbox: Training Programs

The Permatex Professional Training Series shows technicians how to save time, money and prevent comebacks by choosing the right product for the job and applying it properly. The gasketing video covers the basics of form-in-place gasketing and gasket sealing, and features Permatex's the Right Stuff®, an instant gasket maker that requires no cure time, according to the company. The threadlockers and retaining compounds video shows how to prevent parts loosening caused by vibration, leakage and corrosion. Both of these videos are available in English and Spanish on a single DVD, which is free of charge to technicians and vocational schools.

PERMATEX

Toolbox: PromoPrograms

Monroe is giving technicians one more chance to save some money on spring maintenance for their customers with a spring promotion. Sponsored by Monroe shocks and struts and Rancho suspension systems, brands of Tenneco Inc., the spring promotion rewards motorists for purchasing four qualifying shocks and/or struts by offering mail-in rebate dollars for the fourth unit. The Monroe spring promotion, running from April 1 to May 31, gives motorists who purchase four qualifying Monroe Reflex® or Sensa-Trac® shocks and struts and Gas-Magnum® shocks for the same vehicle a mail-in rebate equal to the value of the fourth unit for that vehicle. The promotion also is available for several Rancho products, including RS9000XL™, RS9000XL Pro Series™, QuickLIFT™, RSX™ and RS5000™ shock absorbers.

TENNECO INC. MONROE SHOCKS AND STRUTS