We will be using this newsletter to share information about our users, their shops, automotive industry news, things going on at Mitchell 1 as well as tips for using the OnDemand5.com and ShopKey5.com products. If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, or ideas for what you'd like to see in it, please .

In this issue:

• California Air Resources Board Tire Pressure Check Mandate
• Toyota Recall Issues
• Tech Profile - Tim Doner, Doner Automotive
• Featured Tip - 1999 3.0L Caravan Runs Rough Closed Loop, In Gear

California Air Resources Board Tire Pressure Check Mandate

This rule, one of 44 early action measures required by the 2006 California Assembly Bill 32, will annually:

• Eliminate 700,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions;
• Reduce the state's fuel consumption by 75 million gallons; and,
• Extend the average tire's useful life by 4,700 miles.

• Click here to visit the California Air Resources Board web site for more details.

Click the Tire Fitment tab in OnDemand or ShopKey to easily get the tire pressure specifications.

Toyota Recall Issues

While all automotive companies issue recalls for their vehicles, Toyota Motor Co. has recently received a lot of media coverage for the recalls on millions of their vehicles. Vehicle recalls are typically for safety related issues although some manufacturers will issue their own campaigns to fix customers cars for other problems not necessarily related to safety. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for administrating the federal laws related to vehicle safety on public roads. NHTSA works with automakers to make sure that safety problems that arise are taken care of in a timely manner. NHTSA will investigate problems reported by consumers and issue safety recalls and enforce compliance of the manufacturers.

Recently, Toyota has issued recalls for issues covering floor mats, accelerator pedals and braking systems. At this time, these recalls affect over 7 million vehicles worldwide. Click on the link below for the latest information from Toyota on the recalls.

• Click here to visit Toyota's Recall Information page.

TECH PROFILE

^

Tim Doner, Doner Automotive

Doner Automotive has been in business since 1999. We currently occupy a 2500 square foot two bay shop. Our motto here at Doner Auto is "The Truth About Your Car". We believe that open and honest communication with our customers is most important. We might not be the best, we are human and sometimes make mistakes, but promise to do our best and treat every vehicle as if it were our own. We value the relational aspect of our business and enjoy serving our customers. The Mitchell OnDemand5 product has been a valuable tool that has promoted productivity and excellence for our businesses. The personal aspect of the live tip systems has been a great tool that we use almost daily. Having this community of experienced techs in the field available for consulting helps us feel like we are not alone in this ever expanding and complex field. I get to share my struggles and victories and connect with some good people. Thanks Mitchell for providing us this opportunity!

Due to road and weather conditions in Alaska many vehicles are hardly worth repair above 100,000 miles. We get very busy in the spring and again in mid-winter months when temperatures drop below zero. When it gets cold, things break and although it is sometimes uncomfortable dealing with the extremes of weather we learn to enjoy the returns! The current economic condition of our country has had only minor impact on the automotive repair sector here in Alaska. Alaska's economy is driven mainly by oil production followed by commercial fisheries and tourism. Alaska is home to the largest mountain on the North American continent; standing 20,300 feet, Mt. McKinley or Denali as it was named by the natives.

Alaska has been my home for 45 years since my family moved here from Southern California. I have traveled to many places and seen many amazing things but nothing that compares to the beauty of God's creation that surrounds me daily in this awe inspiring place. The winter nights are long but the summer days in the land of the midnight sun more than make up for it. In the month of July I run a commercial salmon fishing operation. I spend my spare time hunting, fishing and boating throughout our beautiful state and beyond.

If you'd like to be featured here or have your shop featured, please .

==//==

FEATURED TIP

^

1999 3.0L CARAVAN RUNS ROUGH CLOSED LOOP, IN GEAR by greasybob at TJ's Auto and Collision Center

Had a '99 3.0 Caravan, ran fine in open loop and would idle good in closed loop, once put in gear it would sputter and surge and sometimes stall. Put it back into park and it did not recover but restart it and it be good again until put in gear. Watching the scanner graphs I finally noticed the change came when the EGR valve was commanded open and figured it was staying open even after being commanded closed. I found the cause to be the hoses were switched around, the result of a procedure performed by another shop. Put the EGR hoses back and problem went away. This is were reviewing recorded data is good, things happen too fast to see them as they occur, but play it back and you've got a better chance of seeing the changes.

Click image below for larger view.

Tip: 1999 3.0L CARAVAN RUNS ROUGH CLOSED LOOP, IN GEAR
Vehicle: 1999 Dodge Caravan
Category/Subcategory: Engine Performance / Testing and Diagnostics
Title/Heading: TESTS W/O CODES - GASOLINE / HESITATION OR STUMBLE
Posted By: greasybob
Shop: TJ's Auto and Collision Center
Date: 3/14/2010

Your Marketing On Cruise Control
Introducing Mitchell 1 eCRM, a comprehensive marketing service designed to increase your profitable maintenance business through highly effective e-mail marketing. This new program will help you increase service traffic through repeat business. You don't need to change the way you run your business, just continue to input accurate customer and vehicle information and we'll take it from there. More...

Find Mitchell 1 on Facebook
Find Snap-on Tools on Facebook