Seminars | Automotive Service & Technology Expo

Seminars

Seminars

Friday September 28, 2018 – Morning Sessions

Rick White – Change is a Given (ALL DAY CLASS)

Do you struggle with change at your shop even when everyone knows it needs to happen? Then this workshop is for you! Change is tough. One in every three change programs fail. In this workshop, you’ll learn a proven process for transforming any area of your business with a lot less stress and headache. The reality of business today is the speed of change is increasing and your ability to drive transformational change and make it stick is going to be what separates you from the average shop. This workshop is designed to make sure your change initiatives don’t become just another statistic. It will provide you with practical tools you can use to implement new practices and processes into your shop successfully for the long haul. Because transformation doesn’t happen by chance; it happens by choice.

Jim Silverman – Effective Succession Planning

71% of entrepreneurs plan to retire in the next 10 years, but most are woefully unprepared. Join Jim Silverman from ATI as he shares how to create the life you want in your golden years. In this exciting 3-hour session You’ll discover:
1. How much money you really need to retire.
2. Why Social Security won’t be enough to meet your needs.
3. Why working IN your business instead of ON your business will dramatically impact what your business is worth when you sell.
4. How to create an effective succession plan to protect you and your loved ones as you step back or exit from your business.

David Patrick – Asian Security Systems Theory and Operation

Today’s Asian vehicle security systems are much more than a motion detector and an alarm. Current systems not only have the ability to sound an alarm, but they can render the vehicle completely inoperable. Because of the complex and integrated nature of these systems, many technicians can get lost diagnosing problems or, can create problems from simple actions such as replacing a key. This course covers Asian vehicle security systems and identifies the various tools needed to properly diagnose, service, and repair the systems.

Chris Peace – Duramax 6600 Diesel Engine

This three-hour seminar will focus on unique features of the Duramax 6600 diesel engine. Engine design, lubrication, cooling, turbocharger, electric air heater, glow plug, common rail fuel and engine management systems are covered in detail. The seminar will focus on aspects of the common rail fuel system including injector testing & service, injector pump, fuel injection, control module testing and system service. Inputs and outputs as they relate to the Duramax system will also be covered. This seminar will also cover the diesel particulate filter found on the 2007 LMM engine.

Aaron Stokes – ARO Killers – Simple Systems For Raising Your Average Repair Order

Simple systems for increasing your ARO. Shop owners and advisors will learn some simple key steps to raise the average repair which in turn will boosts profits. You will learn from Aaron Stokes who is known as an Operational Guru in the automotive aftermarket.

 Craig VanBatenburg – CAN Bus and Sensors For The Confused

This class is based on the Army Man model from last year’s show. ACDC will explain in the simplest of ways how sensors work, what a CAN bus does and where the problems start. WE will cover both conventional and sensors used in Hybrids.

Dirk Fuchs  – Volkswagen DSG Transmission

The class starts with the fundamental facts about a double clutch systems. The double clutch is a wet clutch system and the participants will learn how this technology works as well as common failures and diagnostics. The attendees will gain full working knowledge of the DSG transmission.

Jimmy Lea  – You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure

With modern marketing, everything is trackable. The data recorded helps us assess performance, make changes, and ultimately optimize the Return On Investment. This presentation discusses tools and process that help you track your marketing programs, how you can use tracking numbers to increase your phone conversions, and finally the importance of integrating your marketing with your POS-system.

Uwe Kleinschmidt – The Digital Shop®. Model – 7 Touch points of motorist engagement

Way beyond digital inspections, let’s dive into the complete shop process as we discuss the automotive repair shop of the future! This is not a product pitch, we have compiled data from shop’s all over North America, these 7 best practices will help you evaluate the effectiveness of your current process and begin future-proofing your strategy. Let’s take a detailed look at your digital communication at motorist acquisition, drop off, inspection, estimate, ready for pickup, education at pickup and post-visit engagement. Our 7 points will enable you to pivot your game plan so you can meet a new era when it arrives not be scrambling to catch up after it has passed you by. Stay in the game and learn why each touchpoint is invaluable to you and your customers. In addition, we will provide a hands-on experience how Digital Inspections, created by you during this class, make the interactions with the motorist real, educational and lets them see what you see. Tablets are provided or you can bring your own.

Friday September 28, 2018 – Lunch

Carm Capriotto – Town Hall

Technician Town Hall Forum

In this Town Hall we will discuss everything related to technicians including: technician shortage, retaining technicians, training, benefits & more.

Panelists are:

Chris Chesney – CARQUEST
Amy Mattinat – Craftsman Auto
Lucas Underwood – L & N Performance
Jim Lasley – Wilson’s Garage

Friday September 28, 2018 – Afternoon Sessions

Rick White – Change is a Given

Do you struggle with change at your shop even when everyone knows it needs to happen? Then this workshop is for you! Change is tough. One in every three change programs fail. In this workshop, you’ll learn a proven process for transforming any area of your business with a lot less stress and headache. The reality of business today is the speed of change is increasing and your ability to drive transformational change and make it stick is going to be what separates you from the average shop. This workshop is designed to make sure your change initiatives don’t become just another statistic. It will provide you with practical tools you can use to implement new practices and processes into your shop successfully for the long haul. Because transformation doesn’t happen by chance; it happens by choice.

Amy Mattinett – How to Put on a Successful Women’s Car Care Clinic and Brand Your Shop as THE Expert in Your Community

Car Care Clinics are a growing trend and a great opportunity to market your shop as the expert in your community. Discover four different styles of ‘Women Car Care Clinics’ that you can put on. Course materials will include a turn-key system for designing and implementing a clinic at your own shop. Don’t miss this valuable information to help you market yourself as THE expert in your community and grow your customer base.

David Patrick – Current Probe Revisited

Using amperage waveforms to diagnose electrical circuits is certainly not new. Technicians are routinely faced with the need to utilize an inductive amp probe to measure current. Proper diagnosis depends on not only operational knowledge of the amp probe, but a thorough understanding of the circuit being measured. In this course, CTI will revisit tips and techniques we have discussed in many of our diagnostic courses as well as introduce new techniques such as using a micro amp probe to diagnose circuits such as reference voltage and wide band air/fuel sensors.

Chris Peace – Diesel Emissions and the Aftertreatment

Modern diesel engines are subject to increasingly stringent emission regulations and monitoring requirements. This three-hour seminar will prepare technicians to effectively diagnose and repair diesel exhaust emission reduction failures by developing an understanding of the emissions created by diesel engines and the systems designed to reduce those emissions. Both pre- and after-treatment systems will be covered. Specific systems and components will include intake air swirl and heating, glow plugs, exhaust gas recirculation, oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filtration, NOx reduction technologies, selective catalyst reduction, and diesel exhaust fluid. Technicians will strengthen their diagnostic techniques by focusing on the conditions used by the Engine Control Module (ECM) to set codes related to these systems, developing an understanding of how false codes could be set, and determining the root cause of any code or failure. Common failures will be covered.

Edwin Hazzard – A Mobile Tech’s “Tips & Tricks” For Diagnostic Techs

This class will cover the diagnostic approach of a problem the way a mobile tech would and show your diagnostic techs a fast and thorough way to solve the problem. We will show you what you need, why you need it and then how to implement it. We will show them how to prepare for the problem at hand and how to be successful in solving the problem.

 Craig VanBatenburg – High Voltage Battery Packs

This class is based on ACDCs own research into NiMH and Li-ion based cells that make up a HV battery pack. What fails, how to prevent it from failing. How to diagnose it and fix it.  Where is the future going in terms for EVs range and charge times?

 Dirk Fuchs – Modern Chassis Technology

The foundations of chassis dynamics are reviewed. Details of how the chassis angles, such as toe, caster and camber, are influenced with different settings. Concluding with a short summary of Kamm’s circle.

The competitive advantages and disadvantages of all chassis systems will be presented. The latest and most complicated system, the multi-link system, will be discussed in detail, as well fitting instructions for control arms and shock absorbers for the suspension system. Electro-mechanical steering solutions will be summarized. The main focus is on the most popular electro-mechanical steering racks, namely axial parallel actuation (APA) and dual pinon type (DP). Explanations about the functions, diagnostics and the sensors will be covered. The initialization and activation procedure will be discussed. Dynamic steering systems have an impact on the steering angle. This confirms there is a correlation between the steering wheel angle and the tire wheel angle.

All assistance systems which have an influence on the steering system will be described. An overview about the abbreviations, such as ACC, PLA, Line Assist, Emergency braking and DSR, will be given. This module will end with the functions and impacts of radar and camera systems on this systems, and how to do a basic setting of this sensors.

After completing this training the participant will be able to:

  • Describe components within the suspension system
  • Explain different chassis angles and angle settings
  • Describe Kamm’s circle
  • Differentiate between popular chassis systems
  • Describe multi-link suspension system
  • Explain toe in curve and proper settings of the toe in curve
  • Differentiate differences in rear chassis systems
  • Explain torque vectoring
  • Identify proper wheel alignment
  • Identify different driver assist functions and their operations
  • Describe functions and impacts of radar and camera systems
  • Show basic settings of radar systems

Mandee Bradshaw – Communication & Management: Millennials &
Generation Y

If you want an efficient and productive staff, the key is to know how to motivate them. This, believe it or not, is highly influenced by the year in which they were born. Each generation has a stereotypical style and that’s not just referring to fashion but their learning and communication style. Are they a visual learner or do they respond better to hands-on techniques? What inspires them to excel and achieve their best results? This class will teach you how to attract our next generation through effective marketing techniques, the best ways to communicate and produce results, as well as facts and statistics on what this generation is looking for as both a consumer and your potential employee.

Saturday September 29, 2018 – Morning Sessions

Rick White – Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Gone are the good old days when a shop owner could just hang out a shingle and the customers would flock in. Studies show that today the average consumer is exposed to up to 10,000 brand messages a day. And as marketers, you are presented with more and more channels to reach your potential customers and that number is growing rapidly.  It is really easy to get overwhelmed and end up spending a lot of money on completely ineffective advertising. You may reach a lot of people, but are they the RIGHT people for your business?  This class is intended to help you define your ideal customer, learn what channels they live on and design an inexpensive, targeted marketing campaign to get them dialing your shop number using social media like Facebook and Instagram. This class is an absolute do not miss!

Danny Sanchez – Building a Winning Culture

Your shop’s culture is the frame that holds your business together. From service writers to technicians, every member of your team deserves an environment that breeds creativity, leadership, and internal empowerment. Great people thrive in the right environment and won’t stay long in the wrong one.

As a past owner of one of the most successful repair shops in the country and current CEO and founder of Autoshop Solutions, one of Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies, AMI certified instructor Danny Sanchez knows what it takes to cultivate the right environment. During this class, he’ll present his plan for bringing out the best in your team and give you the tools you need to create your own winning culture.

David Patrick – Ford EcoBoost Platforms Operation and Diagnosis

Since 2010 Ford has been putting the majority of their engineering efforts into the EcoBoost family of engines. Designed to satisfy a worldwide market, these engines have added over 128 patents to Fords development portfolio. Offering displacements from 1.0 liter to 3.5 liter, Ford expects this engine family to be an option for up to 90% of their vehicles. This class will present the operation and diagnostic techniques the aftermarket will need to service this massive segment of the repair market. Each major system of the EcoBoost will be covered using not only OE tooling but capable aftermarket scan tools and techniques. Topics will include: • Engine mechanical highlights • Fuel system operation and diagnosis • Ignition system operation and diagnosis • Air Induction and turbocharging • Emission components and monitoring strategies • Network configuration and reprogramming • Current service issues

Jeff Bly – Scan Tool Proficiency

Today’s technicians have access to more scan data than ever before. This class will focus on getting the most out of your scan tool. We will show how to interpret this data. What PIDs can be used together too quickly and accurately determine drivability problems. Volumetric efficiency, fuel trims, O2 sensor data, MAP, and MAF all tell a story. Learn to use this information to help understand what the PCM is trying to do. Bi-directional controls are available on many components, see how to cut diagnostic time by using these features.

We will look at scan tools from many manufacturers including OEM models as well as J2534 applications. Mode 6 and other useful information from the OBD II generic side of your tool can also be very useful, learn how and when to use this information. Don’t miss your opportunity to improve accuracy and speed up diagnostics in your shop. This class is a must attend for all who aspire to be better diagnosticians.

  • Maximize you scan tool … use it like it was meant to be used!
  • Case studies, real diagnostics to repair broken cars
  • Manufacturer and aftermarket scan tool tips, tricks and unknowns
  • Security, programming and communication simplified
  • PID display choices for quick data acquisition

This class is for both novice and veteran scan tool users.

Aaron Stokes – How to Grow Your Shop – The Real Reason You’re Not Succeeding

Many shop owners overlook simple changes that make all the difference in the world to having a stagnant business to a business that is thriving.  Learn from Aaron Stokes of Shop Fix Academy how to put your business in the growth mode. Aaron is know as an Operational Guru in the Automotive Aftermarket.

Craig VanBatenburg – Electric Cars; Chevy Bolt, Tesla S and BMW i3

ACDC has had hands-on training on these 3 EVs. We own a Bolt that has a range of over 230 miles per charge. These popular EVs are very different in how they build their battery packs. We will closely examine the drive systems and how
they are repaired.

Dirk Fuchs – 8 Speed Hybrid Transmission

The participant will gain full working knowledge of the 9 Speed Automatic Hybrid Transmission. Topics like torque flow, electric motor, clutch K0 and shifting elements will be covered. The different applications of brakes and clutches in the mechatronic will be discussed. This will transition into the function of the pressure regulator and solenoid. The greatest take away from the presentation is that the audience understands how the electric motor works and gets engaged as well as disengaged from the combustion engine. How the transmission shifts and how to read the specific shifting matrix will be thought.

The presenter will explain what an adaptation is and how to read it with a general diagnostic tool. They will be taught what those values mean and how to identify a mechanical transmission fault, such as a burned clutch or hydraulic pressure loss. In addition, the Limp Home function and coding issues will be discussed. Internal shift and external transmission faults will be presented. Through the use of these learning methods, common errors can be quickly diagnosed.

The participants will be introduced to different possibilities of oil change service. In the last part of this presentation the participants will receive step by step instruction on how to effectively take apart, and then assemble this transmission.

After completing this training the participant will be able to:

  • List internal components of the 8 Speed Automatic Hybrid transmission
  • Describe the function of the electro motor and clutch K0
  • Identify the torque flow of all gears
  • Describe differences between pressure regulators and solenoids
  • Identify the different characteristics of pressure regulators
  • Explain the shifting strategy of the 8 Speed Automatic Hybrid Transmission
  • Analyze transmission adaptation values
  • Explain an oil change service procedure
  • Explain how to properly check the oil in the transmission
  • Describe the common failure of this Transmission
  • Review the disassembly and assembly process of the transmission

Identify special tools needed for disassembly and assembly of the unit

Donny Seyfer – Robots Loose in the Streets

Automated Driver Assistance Programs ADAS – Learn to identify and breakdown these systems for diagnosis and service
• A “how does it work” look at the sensors and actuators involved in making self-driving possible
• We will break down network interaction for an in-depth look at how sensors work within their systems.
• Networked, distributed computing enables ADAS how does it work?
• Critical inputs for proper operation and how you should approach them.
• What does it take to service these cars that have been on the roads since 2008?
• Is ICE Dead? Where do EV’s fit in the ecosystem?

Jill Trotta – Price Transparency and the Autocare Consumer, How to Use it to Your Advantage

In this class we will talk about the modern autocare consumer, how they are using the internet, and how you can use this to your advantage. We will discuss parts pricing, labor rates, and how the modern autocare consumer is using this information.

Saturday September 29, 2018 – Afternoon Sessions

Rick White – The Customer Says “NO!” Now What?

In a typical shop sales scenario, the Service Advisor hears “NO!” and lets the customer walk out with a broken car and the shop’s reputation. Bottom line: it’s the end of the transaction and quite possibly the relationship as well. No one likes rejection and obstacles are just, well… hard, right? Wrong.  It doesn’t have to be this way. In this class you learn that “NO” just means “not yet”. You’ll recognize the difference between a complaint, an objection and a stall and how to deal with each. You will develop strategies for getting the sale tomorrow if you don’t sell it today. Your fear of overselling will be eliminated forever.  After attending this class, you can expect to immediately increase your successful close rate translating directly to your bottom line so this is 3 hours you simply do not want to miss.

Amy Mattinat – Increase Your Sales with Women

Studies shows 83% of women are responsible for the maintenance of their own vehicles, and women represent 73% of service facility customers. But most auto repair businesses don’t understand that women and men perceive, believe and behave differently. If you learn how to tailor your shop’s culture and marketing to women you will make more money per customer and gain a sales force of advocates who will help grow your business.
Amy Mattinat, independent auto repair shop owner, industry leader and marketing expert will give you the inside scoop on specific changes you can easily make to turbo-charge your market share with your most profitable prospects – women.
• Learn how women research the services they use and why they choose one business over another
• Discover how to create an appealing brand for women which will also build more business with men
• Find out how to effectively market to Women on less marketing dollars then you ever thought possible
• Identify that one simple signal that most automotive service advisors miss when a woman is losing patience with them and make more sales
• Learn how to leverage women’s referral as the ultimate marketing multiplier, making each new woman customer at least four times more profitable than a new male customer

David Patrick – Gasoline Direct Injection: Essential Operation & Testing

Gasoline direct injection is rapidly being adopted by most vehicle manufactures in an attempt to meet more stringent CAFÉ and EPA emissions standards. This course covers the commonly used components of a GDI system and makes their function and operation easy to understand. Learn how GDI fuel injector function and control differs from older PFI systems. Explore case studies which illustrate how high pressure fuel pump function and timing affects engine performance. This course is intended for working technicians as well as customer facing personnel who would like to improve their communication skills regarding gasoline direct injection systems and their potential problems.

Jim Silverman – Fixing a Dysfunctional Courtesy Check Process

Courtesy checks are critical to profit, employee pay, and customer satisfaction. Consistent courtesy checks turn first time repair customers into long term service clients. Yet, many shop owners are frustrated because courtesy checks in their bays aren’t being performed consistently. In this exciting session you’ll discover how to create consistency with every car and every technician by establishing optimized procedures and effective accountability. You’ll also uncover what your front counter staff must do to keep your technicians happy and your customers coming back on your time-table. Don’t miss it!

Edwin Hazzard – When To Scope & When To Scan

This class will show the techs how to scan a vehicle using certain data pids and then getting a close up look at that data using a lab scope. How to decide when using the scope is necessary and to be able to check the scan data for accuracy.

Kyle Holt – End the Shortage! Growing Your Own Technicians

The #1 problem facing the automotive industry is the technician shortage. The only sustainable competitive advantage is to grow your own technicians (while your competition continues to complain). In this session, we’ll cover multiple ways to find and recruit the next generation of technicians. We’ll discuss innovative ways to make your business attractive to new technicians. We’ll cover how to implement a mentoring system that is systematized, beneficial to the mentee, to the mentor, and to the business. We’ll also address ways to make long-term changes that create an environment that instills loyalty in technicians, and makes your shop the place techs want to work. Find the technicians you need now, and never worry about the technician shortage again!

Dirk Fuchs – Drivetrain Technology

All fundamental facts about the tasks and the functions of a clutch system will be defined. We will cover physical foundations of a clutch, specifically how to calculate the transferable torque of the clutch. This is the key to understanding the whole system, and to decrease mounting mistakes.

Peter Orlando – Vehicle Fluids: Lubricant & Filtration Technologies

Those attending this class will actively use provided worksheets and other support material to understand modern lubricants and filtration technologies. We will discuss advanced gasoline engine technologies which rely on proper OE oil formulations to work properly. We will examine the choices the consumer has with choosing the correct oil and filter media for their vehicles, so we can protect their powertrain warranty. Additionally, we will explore laboratory analysis of oils to fully understand what occurs to the oil in its useful life and how much life is left in it at the drain interval. The material presented in this class will enable today’s technician to understand why oil is an engineered part of a more complex drivetrain.