OnDemand5.com/ShopKey5.com Newsletter
August 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

ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro Now Available

Click here to request your free upgrade.

FASTER, EASIER, SMARTER

ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro are now available to all OnDemand5.com and ShopKey5.com subscribers at no additional charge. For more information and to request ProDemand™ or ShopKey®Pro to be added to your account, click the link below:

Click here for more information and to request access to ProDemand™ or 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.

Want to know more before you sign up?

Join us at one of our training workshops where we show you how the new product works. Workshops are held twice per day, every weekday at 12pm Eastern/9am Pacific and 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific. You only need to attend one 45 minute session. Click the appropriate link below to visit our training site and to sign up for a workshop.

Click here for more information.

Internet Explorer 9 or 10 Compatibility

Before installing or upgrading to Internet Explorer 9 or 10, please read our page of information detailing what to do and issues that may occur with this update. Some users will get IE9 automatically from Microsoft.

Click here for more information.


Hub Bearing Inspection and Replacement - The Trainer Video Series

Motor Age -- Hub bearings are one of those components we don't give much thought to. They've replaced tapered bearings in many wheel applications and are generally bulletproof, requiring little in the way of maintenance.

When they do fail, they can cause premature wear in tires and suspension components. Noise complaints and ride vibrations can often be traced to worn hub bearings. Even anti-lock braking and traction control systems can be impacted by excessive play in the hub assembly.

In this edition of The Trainer, we partner with our friends at Timken to share tips on the proper service, inspection and replacement of hub bearings. We also offer a few ideas on how to identify the most common causes of premature failure. So whether you replace the hub bearings as a component assembly, or as individual parts, learn how to do the job right the first time!

Click here for more videos in Motor Age's "The Trainer" monthly video series.



Sensor Sensibility

Courtesy of Motor Age

Oxygen sensors provide the feedback to keep emissions in check.

Motor Age -- The world owes a debt of gratitude to the oxygen sensor. The air quality in our major centers has improved over the last several decades, despite significant population growth and millions more cars travelling on our nation's road system.

Certainly, a host of technologies have helped to achieve the near-zero emissions of the modern automobile. However, many of these technologies would not have had the same impact (or might not have worked at all) without the feedback function provided by the oxygen sensor.

The oxygen sensor has experienced a metamorphosis of its own. From the earliest one-wire design in the mid-1970s to the latest wideband versions, oxygen sensors are more capable than ever of providing critical information to the vehicle powertrain management system. This increased capability has also benefited the diesel engine, as it has enabled the use of advanced diesel emission control technologies.

The Nernst Cell

Courtesy of Motor Age

Most oxygen sensors (except for the relatively obscure titania sensor) operate on principles discovered in the late 1800s by Professor Walter Nernst. The basic oxygen sensor is a galvanic cell (better known as a Nernst Cell) made up of a gas-tight ceramic electrolyte sandwiched between two platinum electrodes. The ceramic electrolyte is composed of zirconia and yttrium, and is exposed to exhaust gas on one side and reference (atmospheric) air on the other. In the case of thimble sensor configurations, exhaust gases flow across the outer surface of the thimble and atmospheric air is on the inside.

Click here to read the complete article.


SHOP PROFILE   ^  

Cruisin Auto Repair - Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

Click here for more information on Cruisin Auto.

Dave Tychy started pumping gas at Summit Esso in Red Deer Alberta in 1978. He worked hard there until 1991 when he took over the business and developed a very loyal and large customer base. In 1997 Dave decided to go independent and broke ground at 5212 68 Street to build a 3200 square foot shop. With some luck he retained the old phone number, and with that the loyal customers he generated knew about his move.

Photos courtesy of My Star Collector Car

Click here for more information on Cruisin Auto.

The shop has two drive-on hoists and three 2-post hoists with additional room for 3 more cars. This is a fully equipped shop with the latest diagnostic equipment to handle engine and transmission repair, brakes and steering, tune-ups and driveability concerns, oil changes and tires, inspections and more. There are four journeymen that work in the shop, Dave and his two sons take care of the counter and phones and Dave's wife does the bookkeeping at a home office.


Click here for larger view. Miles Sarich is one of the techs at Cruisin Auto. He says "In the ten years I have been working at Cruisin we were never out of work, always an engine or transmission to swap out or repair. Many customers are referred to our shop by others from a reputation of honest work at a door rate below the area average. Many large and small companies rely on our services to keep their fleets on the road".

Click here for larger view. Miles is also an active participant in the Live Tips system in the OnDemand5.com/ShopKey5.com product. He recently was a $100 cash prize winner in our monthly tip contest. His boss was so proud that he bought the letter and check from Miles to hang on the waiting room wall.

Mitchell 1 appreciates the knowledge shared in our tip system by all the techs in the field.

Cruisin Auto Repair
5212 68th Street
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada T4N 7A7
(403) 346-5059
Click here for more information.

Click here for more information on Cruisin Auto.

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.




Click here to visit the Mitchell 1 product users forum.
Want to discuss subjects on running your shop?

Join the free Mitchell 1 product users 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.




  Back to the top.

This page, and all contents, are Copyright (c) Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. By accessing and using Mitchell Repair's web sites, each user agrees that they have read and agreed to be bound by the Legal Notices governing Mitchell Repair Online. Our Privacy Policy. The Mitchell 1 name is used herein by permission from Mitchell International, which has no ownership interest in Mitchell 1.



Click here to visit the Mitchell 1 web site. Click here to visit the Snap-on web site. Click here for more info on the workshop. Click here to register for the workshop.