JUST five tickets are left for Frank Massey's Technical Conference Weekend on 21st and 22nd February.

RULES on the playing of music in workshops and waiting areas create a "ridiculous situation" that needs to be sorted, according to the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF).

THE INSTITUTE of the Motor Industry (IMI) plans to open up Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) to other qualification awarding bodies.

/>Using Bluetooth communication from the smoke chamber to the hand-held control means fast and easy access to the relevant da

A PILOT of the Institute of the Motor Industry's (IMI) management branch of Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) is set for completion in April.

/>The VOSA-approved gas and smoke analyser features automated test procedures to make it easy to use and advanced graphics that guide users through every step of the testing process. It comes with a 19” colour screen and can be upgraded with other units to form a complete diagnostic and information system

THE BBC is launching a reality TV search for the UK's best young mechanic.

/>The kit can be used on any car and aims to offer garages savings on the cost of replacing partially worn discs, allowing them to enjoy added profit opportunities. Haweka says the lathe can also be used to give cars waiting to be sold on dealer forecourts an improved and more attractive look to potential buyer

THE RETAIL Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) is attempting to broker an agreement with VOSA that spells out the vehicle inspectorate's obligations to MOT test stations.

/>Also out now is the Numax AGM range. It aims to give longer life to vehicle with sophisticated power demands such as Mercedes Benz and Pors

AUTO-electrical company Wood Auto has formed a distribution agreement with German diesel specialist Monark Diesel.

THE IDENTITY of the UK's top vehicle repair expert is one step closer to being revealed following the announcement of the top 24 candidates in the Top Technician contest.

/>When the engine is cranked, the light should flash or flicker to show that a pulse signal is being received. A steady or absent light means there is a fault coming from the injection system. The kit includes a 1.3m fibre optic cable that lets the operator look at the test process from the driving seat

KWIK-FIT's employee training programmes have been awarded Beacon status by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS).

A GARAGE owner and his former wife have been jailed for what VOSA says is Britain's biggest ever MOT scam.

A WAVEFORM surgery to help technicians understand oscilloscope traces will be one of the big attractions at Frank Massey's Technical Conference Weekend later this month.

/>The company can also integrate emissions testing stations together to further reduce the cost of multiple MOT bay installations. Other cost-saving features can be retro-fitted to existing Class 4 and 7 brake testers thanks to the modular design system. All the packages come with a five-year warranty

LORD Mandelson's announcement of a £35 million funding boost for automotive training has been welcomed by industry training providers.

A HUNT to find the brightest young stars of the world's automotive industry is on.

/>There are also discs available for the Mercedes Sprinter and ML series, the BMW 3 series and the Honda CRV along with the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and VW Crafter. The company’s marketing manager Justin Archer said: “We are committed to providing the most up to date application information to our customer base and this can be found online or within our electronic and printed catalogues.”

THE GOVERNMENT has announced plans to boost the flagging car retail sector - on the condition that car manufacturing becomes greener than ever before.

/>The range covers the majority of applications within the UK car parc and the batteries come with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty. This includes the most popular 063, 096, 027 and 067 references. Features include a moulded plastic carry handle for easy carrying and protective plastic terminal covers for easy installation

MOT test stations that shelved investment plans during the 4-2-2 consultation should revive them now - that's the advice from the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF).

/>“The full weight of your vehicle rests on the springs, which are the primary link between the vehicle and the road,” says Universal Automotive’s managing director Nick Davies. “So fitting high-quality springs is essential for a better ride as well as improved handling and performance.”

ALEC Murray, the former head of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF), will monitor workshop standards for Motor Codes - the organisation behind the Motor Industry Service and Repair Code (MISRC).

/>The company says minimising wind noise was an important design objective. This has been achieved by combining a tilt and slide action for the main rear panel, which disappears between the roof and roof lining. A tilt action front panel acts as an oversized wind deflect

VOSA has announced plans to replace its "ageing" network of test stations for buses, coaches and lorries with privatised facilities run by separate companies.

A SUPPORT plan for apprentices and those affected by redundancy has been unveiled by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

/>The 500 series cameras need only one hole for fitment with a small cable fitted through the mounting bolt. They produce colour images with a wide viewing angle of 160 degrees and are, apparently, excellent in low light conditions. They are also dust tight and waterpro

/>The all-in-one display shows 25 pieces of information at once and will read engine fault codes and extract freeze-frame data within 25 seconds. It comes pre-loaded with more than 22,000 code definitions and features a back-lit screen for easy view

/>Rob will take charge on 1st February. He will combine the chief exec's role with his current position as chief executive of ReMIT, the RMIF's training

/>They are designed to give optimum performance, save on fuel and reduce engine wear and can also be used for either diesel or petrol engi

/>A green light means good health of 12.8 volts, amber means voltage is between 12.7V and 12.4V while red means the battery has started to sulphate and voltage is below 12.4. CTEK says the system avoids the hassle of using a traditional tester and programming in information about the battery under te

FRANK Massey has released details of a two-day fuel trim training course for anyone looking to get the latest diagnostic skills.

A CONSULTATION paper on changes to the MOT test has been released by the Department for Transport (DFT).

/>Bosch says the repair option is a significantly cheaper option than replacing the complete delivery module, making it a more attractive option for price-conscious workshop customers. All components in the repair kits are made to OE standard

/>Also available is the “entry level” Hunter 100 HawkEye aligner. It comes with custom software to support many of the standard alignment features found in the higher spec system. The camera bar takes up minimum amount of space, allowing even small workshops to benefi

THE GOOD Garage Scheme (GGS) has defended its decision to double the cost of membership.

/>The remote access tool can interrogate the vehicle’s on-board systems to help you with the repair whether you’re in the workshop or at the road-side. The Testpod and Testpod Pro aim to offer comprehensive coverage on Volvo, Saab, VW, Audi, Ford, Toyota models and many more

THE COMMERCIAL Vehicle Show for April 2009 has been cancelled. Organisers hope that by cancelling this year's event, the 2010 show will be better able to live up to the high standards set by previous shows.

CLUTCH manufacturer AP Driveline has been put into administration following difficulties caused by the financial climate.

/>The kit can be purchased together with the company’s Low Pressure Test Gauge set to form a complete system for testing common rail diesel probl

TECHS who want to take their knowledge of CAN systems to the next level could take advantage of new training dates from in-vehicle networking specialist Warwick Control Technologies.

/>Comma says it is particularly useful on cars with at least 10,000 miles on the clock – which means the vast majority of those on the road. It says D-Tox is a “proven aid” to fuel efficiency and the maintenance of peak engine power, bhp and overall performa

UNIPART Automotive has launched a campaign to help the trade understand and promote the benefits of type-approved exhaust systems to drivers.

/>Designed to speed up set-up times on a wide range of vehicles, the kit takes account of trends in modern vehicle designs that require additional access poin

PARTS distributor Comline has kicked off the new year with the introduction of a new name and brand identity.

/>Delphi says the option of combining diagnostic programmes and a technical vehicle database on one unit will help make the repair process quicker and easier for technici