OnDemand5.com/ShopKey5.com Newsletter
February 2012   

Welcome to the OnDemand5.com/ShopKey5.com newsletter.

This newsletter is provided 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:

Missed a previous edition or want to read an article again? Just go to the Newsletter Archive page for a list of links to past headlines.


NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Mitchell 1 Introduces ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro

Click here to request your free upgrade.

FASTER, EASIER, SMARTER

Mitchell 1 is proud to introduce our new repair information products, ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro. These new products deliver accurate information to help technicians complete their jobs faster, easier, and smarter. Beginning in April, existing OnDemand5.com and ShopKey5.com subscribers will have the opportunity to upgrade to ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro.

  • FASTER - eliminating the need for multiple information look-ups. By returning relevant content in one look-up, ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro quickly give the technicians everything they need to complete the job.
  • EASIER - allowing the technician to effortlessly navigate from procedures to TSBs to specifications to wiring diagrams and more. ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro bring the information to the technicians so they can focus on the vehicle.
  • SMARTER - intelligently cross referencing components, phrases, and codes in the database. Technicians don't have to know the OEM specific term because ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro will find the information regardless of term entered.

Click here to watch a recorded webcast introduction from 11/17/11.


Click here for more information.

Servicing HV Compressors

A SAE standard is in place, but questions over servicing electric compressors persist.

Motor Age -- In the early days of hybrid cars, a conventional belt-driven compressor provided cool air to the passenger compartment. The only problem with that? The gasoline engine (ICE) had to be running in order to turn the compressor and that limited, if not eliminated, the fuel savings hybrid owners saw in city driving. No idle stop mode. Toyota figured out a way around that by being the first to use an electric A/C compressor on the 2004 Prius. Now, almost half of all hybrids in the marketplace use electric compressors (some older Honda hybrids use a combination electric/belt driven compressor) and of course, all the EV offerings use them.

The primary issue you need to be critically aware of when servicing these systems centers around one word: oil.

What's So Special?

The oil used to lubricate an electric compressor is not the same as that used in a conventional one. According to Kelvin Butz, vice president of marketing and technical services for RTI Technologies, Inc., "To understand the importance (of using the correct oil), one must visualize what's going on inside a high voltage compressor. The windings in these compressors become immersed in lubrication oil. To prevent electrical leakage, this oil must be of the type that prevents electrical conductance."

According to a Denso spokesperson, a manufacturer of electric compressors for both the OE and aftermarket, the mixture of PAG and R134a refrigerant is conductive. Hybrid vehicles are designed to detect any "shorts" in the electrical system. This can set DTCs and shut down the power to the compressor and the vehicle.

Click here to read the complete article at Motor Age Online.


Drum Brake Tips: The Trainer Video Series

Motor Age -- The invention of the modern automotive drum brake is credited to a man by the name of Louis Renault, circa 1902. They are a system even the oldest among us have grown up with. And they haven't changed all that much over the years.

Most current makes rely more on disc brake systems to haul the car down to a stop and for a variety of very good reasons. But you will still find many models using drum brakes to provide the stopping power on the rear wheels. And due to their design and/or lack of routine maintenance, drum brakes are often not contributing their fair share of stopping power.

In this edition of The Trainer video series, Motor Age technical editor Pete Meier will show you how they work and share some tips on the "do's and don'ts" of their service and repair.

Motor Age also holds a series of web casts on various topics of interest to automotive technicians. Go to the Motor Age web site for more information and to sign up for these webcasts.


   Internet Explorer 9 Compatibility

Before installing or upgrading to Internet Explorer 9, please read our page of information detailing what to do and issues that may occur with this update.

Click here for more information.



SHOP PROFILE   ^  

Transmission Remanufacturing Company, Kent, Washington

Click here to visit the TRC web site.

Transmission Remanufacturing Company has been remanufacturing transmissions since 1981 and is one of the nation's leading remanufacturers.

TRC offers a full line of completely remanufactured transmissions and transfer cases for cars and light trucks up to 1 ton. We also offer a full line of transmission hard parts, soft parts, and remanufactured torque converters, along with a complete line of remanufactured engines.

Our product is competitively priced and backed by a nationwide parts and labor warranty with up to 3 years or 100,000 miles available for most applications. Our transmissions meet or exceed OE specs and are completely updated to the latest industry and factory updates. Our transmissions are 100% remanufactured in house and are thoroughly tested with the latest state of the art dynamometers.

Click here to visit the TRC web site.
  • TRC ships nationwide including Alaska and Hawaii. Are you located in Canada? We can ship there too!
  • TRC also offers free Tech support to customers having trouble diagnosing a transmission problem or installing a transmission.
  • TRC has over a 1000 units in stock and ready to ship.
  • TRC also offers their own line of remanufactured torque converters, along with new and used hard parts, and soft parts.
  • TRC is an active member of the Envirostar community, we respect the environment and encourage conservation in our products.
Transmission Remanufacturing Company
710 Washington Ave N
Kent, WA 98032
(800) 336-5525
www.trctrans.com

How To Get Featured In The Newsletter

Your picture here. Would you or one of your techs like to be profiled in the newsletter? How about your shop? We're looking for techs and/or shops to feature in this spot. This is an opportunity to let other techs know about you and your shop. You can share information on what your specialties are, what special conditions you have to deal with in your area, anything interesting about your shop or even what you like to do in your free time.

We will also list your shop's information such as location, phone number, web site, or any other information you'd like to provide.

  • Send your story and photos for consideration to . Please also include your account number.
  • Click here for an example of a past Tech Profile.
  • Click here for an example of a past Shop Profile.


Did you know...
When you post a tip or question in the OnDemand5/ShopKey5 Live Tips system, there is a spell checker available. It is the right-most button on the tool bar above the text box. Just click the button before you click the post button.

Click here for more hints on using OnDemand5 and ShopKey5.


TIP CONTEST WINNERS   ^  

OnDemand5/ShopKey5 Live Tip Contest Winners

Click here for the tip contest rules. Mitchell 1 is running a tip contest for a limited time in OnDemand5.com and ShopKey5.com. Below are the latest winners of the contest. Each of these tips earned the tech a $100 prize. Click the links below to see the complete tips and for more information on how you can enter.



WHAT'S HAPPENING AT Mitchell 1   ^  

Mitchell 1 and Motor Age Team up on Monthly Tech Tip Contest

FEBRUARY 2012 IS THE LAST MONTH TO GET YOUR ENTRIES IN

NOTE: The following contest is in addition to the contest listed above. Winning tips from the regular contest will automatically be submitted to the Motor Age contest.

Click here to submit your tips.

"Necessity is the mother of invention," and techs can be real mothers when it comes to inventing ways to make life in the shop easier. Motor Age now gives you the opportunity to share those ideas with your fellow techs with a chance for monthly prizes on its Motor Age Tech Tips page.

Motor Age and Mitchell 1 have teamed up in this monthly contest for our readers. Just fill out this form with your best tech tip. Each month, Motor Age editors will select the best tip and feature it and you in the magazine and online. Not only that, but Mitchell 1 has great prizes for each monthly winner. Readers will choose the grand prize winner at the end of the contest year.

In the shop, it's all about helping your fellow techs earn their livings a little easier, a mission we share with you. Submit your tips today and help out your fellow techs all across the country!



Click here to visit the PerformanceCenter forum.
Want to discuss subjects on running your shop?

Join the free PerformanceCenter forum today. Click here to check it out.



Click here to visit the RepairCert.com web site.
Click here for information on training resources available for OnDemand and ShopKey repair users.




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