HTI.WERKSTATT

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!!!!!! PUT FACTORY WHEELS BACK ON This is the first time in 11 years that I have ever had an issue with plus sized wheels as far as a power steering issue, what a relief!

At this point, while I was able to duplicate the problem of no power assist with the pressure analyzer hooked up. I still peaked at 1200 psi, as well lock to lock left or right I was peaking at 1200 psi on both sides. I did however jack up the front of the truck slightly until we regained power assist. I'll be putting on my customers factory wheels and tires in the front and trying again... (as the factory tires are apx 3" narrower in width). As far as any modifications there are none. As well as far as any suspension problems I have already corrected a loose idler arm (only), and the pitman arm. I can't see any problems with suspension binding up at this point as well.

SPEC IS 1350-1450 PSI... GAUGE COULD EVEN BE OFF 150 PSI.... IF I jack up the front of the truck power assist comes back, it does have after market 20" wheels and tires.. (tires are wider).... going to try oem wheels next??? Thinking that guys run 20-26" wheels all day long and don't have issues is my only concern, and 31-36s... ERRR

No it doesn't...

So far got 1200 psi max with valve closed on Kent Moore P/S pressure tester... then 1200psi max on lock to lock both sides... although this is with the wheels up in the air. So far this morning noticed power assist while on gravel at a complete stop... pulled onto concrete and started loosing power assist... I'm not giving up yet! Goanna get this thing off the rack with the pressure tester hooked up until I can drive in lot and duplicate problem yet again and check pressures. Will post up what I find one way or the other...

Belt was not an issue... I honestly feel like this truck at this point should have a blue oval instead of a bow tie.

So far no luck with the third gear box. Has seemed to help a little bit, although only at a complete stop now does it loose power assist. Not sure if this truck actually has hydroboost or not (not to familiar with that system), it does appear to have a p/s fluid cooler in behind the grill, although I did blow out the lines return from pump and return from gear, to clear out any possible obstructions. Even bled the system as if it did possibly have hydroboost just in case. Waiting on a new belt to get here for fun, visibly no cracks, possibly stretched??? If this doesn't do it, I'll have to fold at this point, customer only owes 150.00 at this point, it will be worth it to me to possibly a) loose the 150.00 owed plus a new belt, this customer, and get back to work on jobs I've had to turn away due to my rack being tied up, as well as the dealership next door to me.

Drilling and shimming the spring and valve didn't help whatsoever... Starting to lean towards another junk A1 Cardone gearbox...OR About to try my luck with an AC Delco/ and or GM Reman... Now for the fun part trying to convince the customer to pay the difference for the "good" parts I originally quoted the job out for, instead of the junk parts the used car warranty company only wanted to pay for... Lesson for me learned the hard way... It's my way or the highway for now on!

Just finally got the truck back to the shop from the customer... Pulling the pump again and drilling the valve out to the next size up, and possibly shimming the spring as well. If not then its off to my friends shop for a pressure test as well... Fingers crossed As well I don't believe this truck has speed sensitive steering either.

LOL that's a good one... I'm susposed to get paid twice from A1 Cardone and once more on the gear box... I almost would of been better off getting the parts from Autozone.. HA HA HA... (they're usually good with paying labor at least)... I have one last trick up my sleeve, I'm going to pull the fitting out of the back of the pump and drill it out to the next size up, and sneak a washer behind the spring... Then head down to my friends shop if that doesn't do the trick and hook up his pressure gauge and see what's going on from there... Funny thing is he's got a 99 silverado he's fighting as well, except I think his is a gear box. (only having problems from one direction on power assist). We may just end up crashing both trucks into each other for fun

The first TWO were A1 Cardone, the one currently on the vehicle is an AC Delco... all of which are remans... Personally I would have preferred to install a new pump, but working with his "warranty company", they only wanted to pay for a reman of course, and as well expected me to only charge them what my price was on the pump. I hate to turn away work under any circumstance, but as of now I am surely loosing my rear on this one.

I'll look into those things guys, just odd that I'm already on my third pump. I don't have a pressure gauge so I'll start looking for one of those. I also ran across a hydroboost bleeding procedure on Mitchell, I'll give that a try as well. Customer should be coming back into the shop today.

Apparently I am having trouble with pesky power steering issues here in the shop And parts companies... apx. 114535 miles Customer complaint... intermitent hard steering... Customer has warranty on used vehicle Replaced power steering pump, pressure hose, blew out return hoses, and replaced steering gear as well. First p/s pump leaked steady stream through front of pump (replaced again) Second p/s pump was extremely noisey (replaced again) Steering gear leaking at pitman arm seal (replaced again) (Can you tell I'm getting tired of this local parts company????) As well replaced serpentine belt tensioner... Starting to think I'm working on a Ford at this point... Customer is still having hard steering issue... During installation w/ key on engine off... turned steering wheel lock to lock apx 30 times, checked fluid filled as nec... started vehicle briefly, checked fluid, ran vehicle for apx 20 secs... checked fluid again, ran vehicle, turned steering wheel lock to lock apx ten times checked fluid level again.... Road tested vehicle... P/S works well under load and driving conditions... EXCEPT..... AT A STOP SIGN OR LOW SPEED DRIVING virtually no power assist. My assumption is still air bubbles in lines, or possibly the use of only power steering fluid with no ATF in the mix.... ERRRRR very annoying issue here guys between a run of bad luck on parts, and one of the most simple power steering system designs in production,... I'm breathless at this point. I suggested to my customer to drive the vehicle and put about 50 miles on it to possibly allow the air bubbles to work themselves out, and or to bring it back to the shop in a couple days for further diagnosis (seriously I'm starting to look like the village idiot here in my own head)

Absolutely no fun at all... ended up being a leaking return line clamp...

Just had this one towed in for an alternator... which led to customers concern of power steering fluid leakage, and on a side note needing water pump, tensioner, and idler pulley. It appears to be leaking from around the pump and resevoir, and of course not wanting to put it all back together start it up and start looking where we can't see anyways... Have you guys seen these as a high fail item on these cars? We're certainly booked on the labor if we need to reasemble and diagnosis it after the fact, considering the amount of usable space to work, and see into these vehicles.

I've had allot of luck with the Borla cats, I'm getting them from WorldPac, as well some of the hi-flow magnaflow cats... but as well we're a performance minded shop, although even on everyday drivers we'll try our best to offer something better, or explain its all we can get.

As far as the BMW's I use the Peake Research tool, really nice, but only a code scanner you still have to use your head... On a side note waiting on my Verus w/ Euro to come in from Snap on 13 days and counting!!!!

Well guys I'm personally biting the bullet... Just picked up a Snap-On Verus w/ Euro package for 7,700.00 brand new... Will have it here at the shop in a couple weeks. And give you guys an update on how well it works out.

Hey guys, I'm finally getting all my ducks in a row over at the shop. (Well for the most part). I should be receiving my LLC paperwork from the state of Ohio any day now. The DBA will take another couple weeks. As you all may have read in some of my prior postings we aren't a high volume shop at this point in time, but we are growing steadily. I'm loosing my best technician other than myself on Friday of this week. And come monday I have a college student with two years of automotive tech training from the local community college starting on Monday, he's only going to be part time until he finishes his education at the community college, as I have agreed to of course work him around his school schedule. As well I may need to bring in another full time technician, although I'm still having trouble finding one who is worth a darn. More on that later. Well since my shop is about to be official within the next couple days, and I'm hiring technically my first employee. Where in the world do I start as far as accounting/book keeping? I can't afford to pay an accountant at this point in time, and I have the experience of doing my own 1099 taxes for the past 5 years, so I understand the basics of profit and loss, etc... My biggest issue here is not only going to be book keeping, profit and loss, but also: payroll, federal, state, city, social security, and workers compensation, and etc for my employees... What do some of you small guys use, or have used when first starting up. I know from reading a lot on here I should just hire someone in charge of my quote un quote HR dept, service writing dept, etc... but as well I'm not in full bloom as many of you guys are, and need to save as much cash for the business as possible at this point. We still need more equipment and etc... Any help or words of wisdom here will be much appreciated guys. And as far as this forum goes should be a wealth of information for future use of any new comers, possibly a good "sticky"...

Well it seems like I will be loosing Mark to Dad & Dad's shop, his father made him an offer he can't refuse. He's wanting to retire and leave the shop to him once they get things back up and running the way things used to be. I can't complain though he's getting what he deserves first and foremost. I honestly hope his Dad isn't feeding him a line of horse manure, and told him he'd have his position back at any time if need be. I did just hire the 19 year old college student, it will be nice to actually make sure through guidance there will be one more properly trained technician entering our field, whether he stays here, or goes onto bigger and better things in the future. Although at this point it seems likely I will still continue looking for a more seasoned technician to fill Mark's shoes. I've been going through multiple emails, and may have one I will be following up with here soon. And Joe, your right, and since being here on the forum and learning alot just in the past couple weeks. I'm a little scared of stepping out of the shop entirely at this point, but will keep that as a focus point for the future.

A funny story on parts mark up from today. 99 K1500 4X4, my best friend from high schools truck, so he qualifies for my friends and family rate. Needs RF wheel bearing my cost apx 65.00, walk in price at Autozone b/c I did the research for him 89.99 So I quote him 75.00 for the part, and 1.7 hours labor at 30.00 an hour (family rate). He tells me, " I can get the part through car quest on our shop account at work, and pay for it in small payments by payroll deduction at his fathers pallet building shop, so how much for just the labor?" I tell him, "Your my best friend Jeff, do what you want to do. But just remember that my part has a warranty with labor coverage, and I will get you the right part, if you bring me the wrong part, and you will pay my price on the right part no if ands, or buts about it. But since you are supplying your own part, and I'm willing to help you out since your my best friend you'll be paying 40.00 an hour due to supplying your own part, and you better hope its right, because the labor rate won't change when I have to order your correct part, and you tie up my rack longer than the allotted 1.7 hours it books for due to a wrong part!" I reiterate once again, " If your part fails within warranty time, you'll pay me twice for labor. With my part you won't, are you sure you want to go this route?" He tells me, "I've got no choice, I've got to save a buck right now."

As well I'll agree, I to dislike flat rate pay. BUT, at this point in my business, it's my only choice, and with as many shops around that do the same, I'm okay with the fact, but not entirely. I would love to be able to do more for my guy, and sooner or later guys. I never once worked flat rate, I refused. So here I am paying my tech flat rate, and your right it has its ups and downs. I would be interested in atleast getting an idea of how you set up the hourly rate plus bonus based on performance. I may be to small at this point in time, but something well worth consideration for the future. I want to be able to reward good help, and offer incentives as well in the future.

The phone was actually sitting where he always lets it set, on the alignment machine, we had some "sketchy customers" in the shop arguing with Joe the owner of the wheel and tire shop up front about the correct size tire for their 22" chrome wheels that go on their buick lesabre. I believe depending on the above mentioned 19 year old college students demeanor, I may like to bring him in. Although I can only afford to at this point either pay him flat rate part time according to his school schedule, or cringing at the idea of paying him hourly. But at this point I'm unsure of weather this would be a wise move, I know that bringing in a more experienced tech I could schedule in more work, (if its available) and I have a feeling it would be. Regardless I feel that expanding my tech base would be a wise move, but whether timing is right at this time I am unsure. I'm thinking at this point I may not be loosing Mark, but I definately feel there is room for one more. Like I've read on this forum, and in which I'm trying to apply,... Not overworking myself, but focusing more so on business growth. I should know for sure tomorrow whether Mark will still be a part of my team. But until then I really feel having myself and two techs is the direction the company should go....

Mark is honestly a savior I see him being a great asset to my shop, and would like to be able to reward him for sticking it out with me. With tire changes and etc, he's averaging 200-300.00 a week. Financially he tells me that he's not worried about it, (how much he's making) "Because he's enjoying what he's doing, out of the house, and his wife takes care of a majority of the finances at home, she works in the ER at our local hospital." It's more of a hobby to him. He told me today that he doesn't want to go back to our Dad's shop, that he enjoys working together as a team with me, and for the most important part his wife wants him to work for me and not go back and work for his dad. So it seems the biggest hurdle will be him telling his father he wants to stay with my shop. As far as Dad and Dad's shop, they originally sold it less than one year ago,... Just the business, and customer base to let's say MIDAS just to leave big names out and signed a non compete clause. Well (MIDAS) about two months or so ago started to fall behind on rent, then out of no where, fired their technicians, closed the doors without saying a word to anyone. Well good news for Dad and Dad so to speak, non compete clause is void, (MIDAS) is off the building and let's just say (Dad and Dad's Automotive) is back on the sign. Well MIDAS ran off all of Dad and Dad's techs and he is short handed, hinting at the idea of me closing down the shop back to wrenching in the shop, and Mark working the front desk. The biggest issue is I can say no, as I did when I was 18 and ignorant, decided I absolutely hated general service, Ford's Chevrolets, and everything else reverse engineered, I got a job working for a Speedvision World Challenge Porsche GT3 team, and developed a background in automobiles that were engineered properly (LOL). Well 5or 6 Professional Race Teams, 11 years, and two beautiful little boys later; I found that fly in help, traveling across North America not having enough time for family. Here I am. But as well I believe other than just starting out, business, and economy being slow. Things at the shop tend to be picking up with a steady pace or at least growing in that direction. I want to keep Mark if I can, get him writing ro's, and scheduling work. So that way I can be out in the shop more, and possibly hire more help. I put an add on Craigslist for AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS NEEDED, just to see what was out there... Had an interview today with a guy with no tools, recieved a resume from a guy with only heavy equipment experience, a backyard mechanic with 38 yrs experience who sounded like Jed from the Beverlly Hillbilies, and a phone call from a Honda Tech claiming he's making 50 thousand a year WHINING to me over the phone like I'm his psychologist of ten years requesting 26.00 and hour flat rate to start, and the last but not least a 19 year old kid just out of high school living with parents, attending the local community college for automotive technology, who currently works at Jiffy Lube, needing to find a job as internship for college credit with a real repair facility. I'm thinking of bringing in the latter. Seams like a bright kid, had very good phone manners. And I believe with him working for me, would be great hands on experience with detailed explanation, and better due to the fact my shop not being that fast paced. He has an interview tomorrow so we'll see how it goes, I just hope he's not covered with tattoos, piercings, crazy hair, and painted on jeans LOL. As far as labor guides I'm relying completely on Automotive Expert. I'm only charging 55.00 an hour, parts mark up from 20-40%. I have I would say so far about 10 repeat customers, not advertising except for maybe an alignment special on Craigslist, relying on referrals and word of mouth till I can afford to advertise without commiting to some contract with yellow book. It seems though I still get a brow beating on my labor rate, and parts here and there from some customers. I've always been committed to honesty and accuracy, and not selling work that isn't necessary. As far as the cell phone, I am going to approach Joe the owner of the building to at least pay for half. Mark and I have told him and told him over and over again, No Customers in the back!!!! Not only for insurance purposes, but as well stolen tools, cell phone, and for our own productivity. The thing is he's a Taiwanese man who gets all excited when selling wheels and tires, and wants to entertain the waiting guests by allowing them to watch us, work on their cars, and etc. Up until today he has finally started adhering to the employees only in the back rule we've been trying to enforce for the past six to nine months. Thanks Guys for your time and input, I'm sure I've got a lot to learn from you guys, and appreciate all the time in effort you have in reading through these trials and tribulations, and lending a helping hand.

I'm getting ready to loose my only technician other than my self,... Since the begining of February to current date we've only managed to bill out 56 hours @ 55.00 an hour, I pay Mark my technician about 13.00 a flat rate hour. Although not included we've changed probably 80 tires as well which I make 7.00 ea and pay a flat rate of 3.50 each tire. The monthly shop expenses are roughly 860.00 a month. And as well still needing to buy more equipment s/a a 2 post lift, and a decent code scanner, So I'm needing about 5 thousand dollars, and am only able to pay myself a minimum share to get to and from the shop everyday. I'm extremely leary of hiring someone else, a) not having enough work for them, concerned w/ how much to pay a tech whom I don't know. As well I've know Mark my current full time technician for about 20 years, and know I can trust him, and would like for him to eventually be able to bounce from writing ro's and wrenching, while I bring on an additional technician to take his posistion. He's getting ready to possibly go back to my dad and his dad's old shop that they just reopened. Biggest issues was that his cell phone got stolen from the shop Saturday, and whom I rent space from likes to have customers in the back while we're working on there vehicles i.e. putting custom wheels and tires on there car. I have pressed the issue with Joe the quote un quote owner of the building whom I rent space from about keeping customers up front. And told him I may be loosing him due to the fact of his phone getting stolen. I am wondering what is a good starting rate to pay a new technician whether they are fresh out of school or 20 years experience. With someone who proves themselves and can turn out good work quickly and up sell additional work I have no issue paying them what they're worth. Any ideas on a resolve to hopefully keep Mark, resolve his stolen phone issue, and a determining factor of bringing on another technician at this time to increase productivity in the shop. All on the same note being able to maintain profitability, and happy employees? I've only been open for business for 9 months, and it seems that we are growing steadily every month.