INDEPENDENTS not signing up to the Motor Industry Service and Repair Code (MISRC) may well see the National Consumer Council issue its long-threatened super-complaint, according to the IMI's chief executive.

FRANCHISING could be a solution for small firms looking to expand but struggling to raise finance, according to the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

/>This cleanser is now available in a new three-litre dispenser. It uses a blend of surfactants and natural citrus oils to shift dirt. These are combined with small polymer beads that loosen stubborn, ground-in dirt. It aims to be tough yet pleasant to use with a natural, lemony sme

/>The alternator test checks output under no-load and full-load conditions while the starter test identifies lazy starter motors, which are often at the heart of associated problems. The battery analyser is designed to give precise information about the state of a battery on both 12V and 24V systems, including precise % readings of remaining battery l

GARAGES must stop chasing costs savings on parts at the expense of larger profits from labour rates, according to the new chairman of the Independent Garage Association.

The annual conference of the Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF) has seen the launch of the official launch of the ATA parts advisor scheme.

/>It is based on the same painting processes found in car manufacturing plants. It is based on the Envirobase mixing scheme to which two new products have been added; a waterborne engine bay converter and a waterborne activator. PPG says colour matching and mixing are both easy and by mimicking the process adopted in factories, the system aims to reduce process times and materials consumpti

CHRISTMAS has come early for tyre depot manager Tony Bowes after he won a £21,645 car thanks to Unipart and NGK.

REIGNING Top Technician champ Mark Banks has been appointed to the panel of judges for the 2009 contest.

/>The MG725 has a one-piece magnesium housing to give durability and minimum weight together with reduced vibration. It also has a patented ‘tip valve’ trigger mechanism that aims to increase air flow, and together with a twin hammer impact mechanism, give users greater control and pow

/>The parking heater pre-heats engine coolant and can be activated by timer, remote key fob or even a mobile phone to give pre-heated engines and an end to troublesome cold sta

LAUNCH X-431 has warned garages about the dangers of buying diagnostic tools from non-official sources.

/>It includes starters and alternators, brake calipers, drive shafts and steering racks. Also available as reman units are ECUs, air con compressors, radiators and clutches along with engines, cylinder heads, gearboxes and turbo charger

A GENEROUS donation from the Garage Equipment Group has taken Aftermarket's fundraising for BEN up to nearly £5,000.

/>Also out now from Maywood is a 2.5-ton version – although this is only available in three-phase. The company also offers a full range of two and four-post lifts for body shops and workshops

THE INDUSTRY must create "rings of steel" around budgets for research and development during the economic downturn - that was the message from Graham Smith, the president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) this week.

FRANCHISED car dealers have frozen pay to help cope with the economic downturn, according to the latest industry survey.

AUTOMOTIVE firm SPX has unveiled a £1.1 million training workshop in Gloucester, to help educate the next generation of vehicle technicians.

/>Also out now are curved radiator hoses for the latest Toyota, Fiat and Ford models. More than 40 of these hoses have been added to the company’s rapidly expanding range of cooling compone

/>The 12V halogen lamps are the latest additions to Philips’ range of automotive lighting products, which also includes the Blue Vision, X-treme Power and Vision Plus ran

BOSCH is planning a significant expansion of its Car Service network of garages, following a major review of its entire aftermarket operation.

/>The latest front axle suspension kits out now are for the Volkswagen Golf 4, the Astra G/Zafira and the Citroen C4/Peugeot 307. They incorporate link stabilizers, bushings for the wishbone and ball joints to

THE R2RC campaign is producing a series of garage marketing packs in a bid to win the support of drivers.

/>Its reman process is based on the complete replacement of all wear parts with detailed inspection of every single unit followed by electric and electronic testing to root out and solve any potential proble

TRADE association bosses have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling asking for a range of measures to help stimulate the ailing motor retail sector during the economic downturn.

/>“As the rising costs of fuel are straight off the bottom line, the combined influences of the controlling sensors and power management systems integrated into the REVO 180 will contribute to an average fuel saving of up to 75%,” says a spokesman for Tri-Sph

A MARKET trader caught selling bogus Autodata CDs in Dorset has been ordered to carry out 125 hours unpaid community work and pay prosecution costs of £1,000.

/>Comma’s products are designed to match the original fill products in modern vehicles, particularly the 70% of vehicles made in the EU that have OAT (organic acid technology) coola

DENSO wants to establish around 200 workshops to work on its common rail diesel systems within the next five to seven years.

/>The re-launched packaging coincides with the introduction of 64 three-piece clutch kits, two self-adjusting and three DMF kits. There are also 29 concentric slave cylinders availa

SUSSEX-based motor factor EBC has moved under new ownership, following the retirement of its founders.

/>Their absorbed glass mat construction allows them to be installed upright or on a side as there is no free electrolyte and, because they are sealed, there is no fear of acid spillage eith

/>The eCORPS systems aims to give rapid and reliable recognition of the majority of collected parts for an optimal remanufacturing process and a bigger and faster credit on surcharge. The system gives core collectors real time access to customer information, such as the number of products purchased against the number of cores returned. The database in the hand-held device contains more than 14,000 technical references and is updated daily

MOTAQUIP says garages may be missing out on profit by ignoring the regular replacement of cabin filters.

THE ENTIRE AC Delco parts business has been put up for sale by its owner General Motors, in a bid to raise funds for the cash-strapped US automotive giant.

/>The unit has been released alongside the C151 version and both can use conventional solid wire or self-shielding cored wire. They are designed for welding steel, stainless steel and aluminium as well as Mig brazing with wire diameters of 0.6, 0.8 or 1mm depending on the work-piece size and materia

PARTS company ZF Trading has stressed the quality and benefits of remanufactured products at an industry forum.

/>For added quality, the company double-fold the fin to give a strong surface that ensures handling does not damage the product. The company tailors each kit to the needs of end-users with blanks to help installers deal with radiators with or without small pipe

/>It is made from high-quality machined 6061 T6 aluminium with a 1050 steel friction surface, CNC machined fastener holes and chamfers. It is suitable for use with almost any clutch disc material, from organic to Kevlar and even sintered iron. For added durability, it comes with a heat-treated ring gear and military-grade fasteners.

/>The programme comprises 14 references and is out now. Applications include the Audi Q5, S5 and Mercedes C-class. It aims to produce the stiff pedal action that lets drivers control brake force with their foot. The caliper’s high torque allows maximum deceleration to achieve the shortest stopping distanc

GARAGES that reckon their suppliers could brush up on their parts picking skills might want to let them know about the latest ATA scheme.

Thursday 6th November . . .

/>“Remanufactured build quality is absolutely essential,” says Louise Wilkowski, XL’s account manager. “Wherever possible we improve on the original OE build quality to increase product performance and remove any OE weaknesses.

/>With its doors open, the booth can accommodate roughly half a car length to allow the refinishing of larger areas. The booth measures 3,800mm wide by 3,500mm deep and 2,430mm h

This is the lowest interest rate since 1955. Last month the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut rates from 5% to 4.5% in an effort to ward off recession. Says Richard Lambert, CBI director-general: "This is a bold and welcome move by the Monetary Policy Committee, and achieves what the CBI had been calling for."

/>Radiators for the Toyota Hiace Powervan 2.5DT D-4D and water pumps for the Isuzu Rodeo 3.0DT pick-up have also just been released. They are part of a cooling range that includes pressure caps, thermostats, viscous couplings and air con condens

Wednesday 5th November . . .