Mitchell 1 On Demand is owned by the Snap On corporation and has been a popular choice for automotive repair information for years. Many auto repair shops use Mitchel’s information including repair procedures, torque specifications, TSB’s (Technical Service Bulletins) and auto repair tips. Mitchell offers the DIY information available online, branded as eAutoRepair. The online repair information company, eAutoRepair offers an abreviated subscription for the DIY at a much lower cost than automotive repair shops pay. Each subscription covers only one vehicle, but this works out great for the DIY’er that needs to access automotive repair information and would like to get it with the convenience of the internet.

ALLData is another very popular choice for automotive professionals. As with Mitchell, repair information that was provided by the car manufacturers are made available to the auto technician or car owner. Diagrams, timing belt marks, trouble code information etc. And ALLData has now made their products available online for the DIYer as well at ALLData DIY.

There are many other good automotive repair manuals available from other companies as well, but these two are the ones that I’ve used the most over the years. The tips and information that these two companies provide are likely to make any DIY project a success.

About the Author. Hi I’m Dennis Bandy, thanks for reading. I’ve been an ASE Master Auto Technician for over 20 years and have also sold professional auto tools since 2005. I am in a unique position to help readers with automotive repair related topics since I’ve had personal hands on experience with many auto repairs and automotive specialty tools. This is not a hobby for me, this is my business. Your feedback is really appreciated, if you thought this article was helpful or informative, please rate it below (thank you in advance).

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Screwdrivers. Big, small, flat head, Philips head, 4 in 1, multi-head, etc. You can never have enough screwdrivers around. Screwdriver’s usefulness extends beyond the garage and into the rest of the house. It’s recommended to buy kits or sets, instead of buying individual screwdrivers. In fact, you should get two sets. One for the house, and one for the garage

Pliers. Needle nose pliers, locking pliers, channellocks, diagonal cutters, etc. Like screwdrivers, pliers come in handy both in and out of the garage. You should have two separate sets. Having dedicated set of tools for the garage and the house makes it easier to find them, and, just in case you misplaced one of the tools, you have a backup within reach.

Wrench. Wrenches usually come in sets, which is a good thing, you don’t want to waste your time buying one wrench at a time. It’s also a good idea to have a wrench rack to keep your wrenches organized. Every toolbox should have a large crescent wrench, and Allen wrench set. Instead of buying separate Allen wrenches, look for a set that has both SAE and metric.

Sockets and ratchet. Get both shallow and deep sets. You will eventually need both, might as well get them now. Usually a socket set includes one or two ratchets, I said usually, double check before you whip out your wallet.

This is by no means a complete list, it’s just a starting point, a guide if you will. If you are in the market for any of the tools mentioned above, check out our collection of automotive hand tools here.

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Before you choose one, take some time to get familiar with the many different types of hoists and their features. This will make it easy for you to find the one that works the best for the job you have in mind and keep you safe at the same time.

Types Of Car Lifts, Automotive Lifts, Truck Lifts & Motorcycle Lifts
The type of auto lift you need will depend on the vehicle you’ll be working on, how often you’ll use it, where you’ll be using it, and how much space you have available. Once you know that, you can match your needs to one of the available types, which include:

o Mechanical Styles — Also called a manual jack, this style raises and lowers with the use of a pedal, handle, pins, screws, or bolts. They are often found in smaller hoists including motorcycle and utility lifts. o Hydraulic Automotive Lifts — This method compresses a special liquid and uses a pump to force it through cylinders. This gives it added safety while making them easy to use.

o Electric/Hydraulic Truck & Car Lifts — This style has added stability and security while ensuring the entire system works quickly and smoothly.

o In Ground or Pit Models — Best used when space is at a premium and you need convenience, this style sits into the floor allowing you to drive the vehicles on and off. They run on hydraulics or electric/hydraulic systems, so they’re easy, fast and can move a decent amount of weight.

o Portable Automotive Lifts — If you travel frequently and need something you can take with you, these smaller versions are hassle-free regardless of the style you choose. o Air Powered Models — Generally reserved for motorcycle lifts and small utility/recreational vehicle lifts, you simply have to hook this style up to an air compressor to raise and lower the hoist.

Features Of Each Type Of Car Lift, Automotive Lift, Truck Lift & Motorcycle Lift
Once you know what type of car lifts will work best for you, take a closer look at the details to decide which one would be the best purchase. Automotive lifts for trucks and cars come in several main styles:

o Two Post Car Lifts — Great for home garages, this style takes up very little space and comes in two different styles: Symmetrical, which has two posts across from each other to center the weight (better for vehicles heavier in the rear), and asymmetrical, which holds the weight toward the front leaving room to access the interior of the vehicle.

o Four Posts Models — With a sturdier build, the four post style remains stable even under a heavier load and make it easy for you to drive the vehicles directly onto it.

o Scissor Styles — While unsuitable for permanent storage, they are ideal for a home garage. Both professionals and avid DIYers prefer this style for the increased access to the undercarriage and the ability to hold larger vehicles like buses.

o Low-Rise Models– These have a dropped crossbar and low profile to prevent body damage and give you the room you need to work.

o Pit Hoists– Whether you have a pit or want to save space, pit style automotive lifts make quick lube and tire rotation a breeze. With no cross bar, you have plenty of room to work. Portable or permanent mount, you decide.

When you need to store a vehicle, you need a model with stable and secure construction. Two automotive lifts that are ideal for storage include:

o Single Post Car Lifts — Suitable for cars, trucks, boats, and recreational vehicles, this style’s single-armed, wide platform is mounted for long-lasting stability.

o Two Post Car Lifts — With no anchoring or mounting, you can double your storage wherever there’s a concrete floor. The sturdy platform safely holds vehicles and keeps the entire undercarriage protected.

Larger vehicles like tour buses are tough, but they still require maintenance. Therefore, you’ll need a heavy-duty mobile column truck lift that can handle the weight and give you enough clearance to work comfortably. These easily lift approximately 64,000 pounds in as little as a minute and have added security, locks, and stabilization.

If you’ll be doing a lot of alignments, consider a two post, four post, or scissor alignment lift with an open front and clear center. Lawn maintenance and utility vehicles require a special turf equipment lift that will give you space and be fully adjustable to fit almost anything you can park on it.

Motorcycle lifts are available in several different styles, but use very little space and are very portable. While some use a pedal, others are air powered, or use a combination of electricity and hydraulics to raise the platforms.

Automotive lifts come in all different configurations, and choosing the right one will make a world of difference when it comes to actually doing the repairs. Simply match the right piece of equipment to the right job and you’ll discover just how quick and easy repairs can be.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_A._Harmen

Lead Time For Exhaust System Parts And Other Items

For companies in the repair industry, lost time can cost you immediate profits, current clients, and even future leads, potentially costing you millions of dollars. When you order tire changer parts or any other product, you need the item as soon as possible. Look for a provider that has a fast turnaround time and one that can get your purchase to you as quickly as possible. Choosing a supplier that has more than one warehouse can help since the items have less distance to travel.

Experience In Tire Changer Parts And Other Equipment

Choosing a knowledgeable company to purchase from is also important. You need the right pieces, the first time, and they need to be good quality. Otherwise, you will find yourself having to return and reorder the same things, consistently eating up a large portion of your time. A supplier with knowledgeable staff will be able to talk with you to help you find exactly the pieces you need to get that equipment operational and making you money.

The Ability To Supply Items For Various Machines

Getting tire changer parts, exhaust system parts, and pieces for other equipment from one supplier can be highly beneficial to a business. You build a relationship with the supplier that can improve the quality of your supply chain. It also eases the pressure repairs have on your business because you can order everything you need at once and save cash as you become a valued customer. Suppliers with large product lines can give you the added cost savings that comes with it. Because they have more of an item inventory than others, they can sell them at a lower cost to you.

Finding pieces for old and discontinued equipment as well as the newest styles on the market can be difficult. Either the manufacturer no longer supports a particular model, or there isn’t enough of them out there to make finding these items easy. By selecting a dealer who has comprehensive line, or ability to have the pieces made, will save you a lot of headaches.

Quality Customer Service

If you do happen to have a problem with an item you purchased or need help finding a specific piece, the provider needs to have superior customer service. If you have to wait two or three days for an answer to your question, that is already two to three days of lost time for you. The professionals you deal with should be patient and able to understand what your needs or concerns are. They also need to have a fast response time when it comes to communication.

The selection of a dealer who handles tire changer parts, exhaust system parts, and other equipment repair items doesn’t sound important at first, but you will certainly notice the difference when you need them. Find one with these traits and you can minimize the impact breakdowns have on your business and save yourself a substantial amount of profit.

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Early tools

Back in the 1990’s, the Group Tester One (GT1) was introduced. There were a few versions, like DIS Plus (stationary setup), however the GT1 is the most common and is what will be referenced here. The GT1 is a portable device which contained a rechargeable battery. It has a touchscreen display for easy use. It contained software for Diagnosing and also had software called TIS (Technical Information Display) which is the Service & Repair Information. Early versions of Diagnostics also contained software called Coding, Programming & Individualization (CIP). So from the same tool, you could Diagnose the problem, look up how to replace the component and then perform the needed initializations for the new part. Two interfaces were used: EDIC (yellow interface) and the OPS (orange interface). Later versions of the OPS were called OPPS, since they carried additional diagnostics for the Byteflite system and they were also yellow, but much bigger than the EDIC. Authentic GT1s are on the portable touchscreen unit. There are many “cloned” units out there, adapted to work on a PC. Either genuine or cloned, the interfaces work the same and connect via an Ethernet port.

Later versions of the GT1 software removed CIP, and moved it to a separate computer (for storage), but still accessible from the GT1. This new software was called Progman (short for Program Manager). This new software contained all of the CIP functions and added new features like multiple car programming and dual channel programming for each car (DIAGBUS and MOST bus simultaneously).

Third Generation equipment

Fast foward to about 2008 when the Third Generation (3G) of equipment was released: ISIS. The contents of ISIS are so large, that dedicated servers are installed at the dealership. An online version is available to the aftermarket for a fee, called OSS. It can be found at BMW’s tech website. With the introduction of ISIS comes a new interface, called ICOM. Previous interfaces (EDIC & OPS) won’t work with ISIS. ISIS consists of a few parts, since it completely replaced GT1 & Progman. The main part of ISIS that is used in the shop is called “ISTA”, which can be further broken down into two parts: ISTA/D for Diagnosing vehicles and ISTA/P for Coding, Programming & Individualization.

Comparison

GT1s can be found just about anywhere, including eBay for very cheap. BMW realized that the tool was easily cloned and sold worldwide. Many levels of security have been put into the creation of ISIS to prevent this, in both resident servers and online versions. This makes it much harder for non-dealer shops to work on the newer cars. One would think that since the GT1 was discontinued in 2009, you could just keep using that for several more years until the newer system became more available, however, BMW stayed one step ahead! Whenever a car is programmed with the new ISTA/P, it upgrades the software beyond the level of what Program can recognize. That means, once a car has been updated with ISTA/P, you can NEVER use Progman on it again, rendering the “cloned” versions useless on that particular car. Also, when a new module is installed, the software that is pre-installed on that module is also newer than what Program can recognize, which can stop the entire programming process, forcing the car to be programmed by ISTA/P.

So what does that mean for the BMW owner? As a result of the newer systems, many BMW owners can no longer repair the cars themselves. Many aftermarket shops are also sending the cars to dealerships as a result. However, not all aftermarket shops have fallen behind. There are a select few of BMW specialty shops that stay on top of manufacturer technology, so that no car is turned away! When looking for a place to service your BMW, make sure they can do ALL aspects of repair, including Diagnostics and CIP!

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When trying to build a home workshop, first you need to decide the repairs you would like to perform in your workshop. Some of the simplest repair service jobs that most of us would be able to carry out are light bulb replacement, engine belt replacement, oil and air filter replacement, fuse replacement, brake oil replacement, coolant refilling, engine oil replacement, wiring corrections, flat repair, minor dent and scratch repair, etc. The ideal way to select the jobs to be performed is by categorizing all the jobs, so that you can buy automotive shop equipment accordingly.

Besides some basic hand tools such as pliers, wire cutter, wrenches, L-keys, screw drivers and hammers, you will also need some advanced tools such as engine repair tools, body repair tools, flat repair tools, etc. If you own a high end car, chances are that you will need some vehicle specific tools as well. However, when shopping for vehicle specific tools, you should buy only those tools which are absolutely necessary as these tools may not be of any use when you will replace your car.

When shopping for automotive tools, you should always buy tools of premium quality from a trusted store. Cheap equipments may seem to offer you saving initially, but they are a sheer wastage of money in the long run. Thanks to the internet, now you can easily find the best names in the business using any web search engine. No matter whether you are looking for some basic hand tools or vehicle specific engine repair tools, online tool stores will be able to everything you need for your home workshop.

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If the financing part is taken care of, it provides the repair shop with the necessary equipments and they do not have to worry about the investment part too. However, if you are associated with this industry and looking for financial support, do not seek them with traditional lending options. There are some genuine and authentic financing companies that can provide you with the necessary fund and will also understand your needs and requirements. You can opt for the financing strategy that fits in your requirements and opt for the best possible rate of interest.

Any mechanic, new or experienced, can tell you that to run any automotive repair shop, a specific set of tools is required. No matter whether the person is doing this because of the hobby or he is a professional, he will be unable to do anything without the help of these tools. When we talk about sockets, there are different types of sockets and out of these impact sockets are typical and special ones to deal with. Impact tools are used along with impact wrench or pneumatic tools.

Although impact sockets can be used with hand tools, they are actually designed to work with speed tools. No matter whether you need a torque for fastening or loosening the socket, you need to have a high strength fastener for the fulfillment of purpose. When you are looking for impact sockets, be sure that you choose the right one. Some of them are black but are stamped non-impact.

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