ACtion Magazine

1. ACTION™ PRSRT STD
P.O. Box 88 US POSTAGE
PAID
Lansdale, PA 19446 Baltimore, MD
Permit No.
4475
Printed in USA
January/February 2011

2. Reader Reply No. 3

3. Reader Reply No. 74

4. January/February 2011 www.macsw.org
™ 24
FEATURES
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS 24
2010 PIONEER AWARD HONOREES 36
DEPARTMENTS
Cooling Corner 34 Quick Check 43
Virtual View 18 Association News 44
News & Updates 20 New Products & Services 4 6
Classified 52
36
COLUMNS
Outlook Under The Southern Cross
Andrew Fiffick 6 Ken Newton 12
Expansion Valve Leonard’s Law
Jim Taylor 8 Keith Leonard, Esq. 14
Technically RELAY-ted Last Watch
Paul DeGuiseppi 10 Elvis Hoffpauir 54
MACS Tech Help Number 46
MACS Members please note: The phone number for technical help is
866-502-0068.
It is available Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central time.
Mobile Air Conditioning Society Mission Statement On the cover: Future MACS
To be the recognized global authority for the mobile air conditioning and heat transfer industry by: member Elliot Kotz plays the role
• Providing training and education for the mobile air conditioning and heat transfer industry.
• Providing a forum for exchange of trade information on a regional, national and international basis. of baby New Year.
• Facilitating business between all segments of the industry. Elliot was born August 30, 2010.
• Providing information on legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect the industry and advocating
for the industry to legislative bodies.
4 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

5. There’s something
Find out at www.omega-usa.com/alpha
1401 Valley View Lane, Suite 100 • Irving, Texas 75061
TEL: 972.812.7000 • FAX: 972.812.7001 • TOLL FREE: 888.286.6342
www.omega-usa.com • sales@omega-usa.com
Reader Reply No. 54

6. Outlook ™
Welcome to Walt Mobile Air Conditioning
Society Worldwide (MACS)
Andy Fiffick
MACS Chairman
Disney World! Andrew Fiffick
Chairman & CEO
AndyFiffick@gmail.com
Elvis Hoffpauir
opefully, if you are reading this issue, you are attending the 2011 MACS President & Editor-In-Chief
H Worldwide Convention and Trade Show in Florida. We welcome you to
our 31st annual event! Back home, one of our keys to success is keeping at
the forefront of technology and training while making sure our shop has the
elvis@macsw.org
Jim Taylor
Editor
jt@macsw.org
proper equipment to be profitable and successful. The MACS Convention and Marion Posen
Trade Show allows us to gain this knowledge all in one place in just a few days VP Sales & Marketing
and at a great value. marion@macsw.org
This past A/C season was another trying one and we, along with most of the Laina Casey
Graphics & Design Manager
automotive aftermarket repair industry, were caught off guard when we could mcasey@macsw.org
not get many needed parts on a timely basis to serve our client base. Therefore,
I’m going to concentrate on lining up my suppliers and purchase some new and Corporate Offices
Mail To: P.O. Box 88, Lansdale, PA 19446
updated equipment for the next A/C season while attending the Trade Show
Ship To: 225 S. Broad St., Lansdale, PA 19446
and I would suggest you do the same or get right on it once you are back home.
Phone: (215) 631-7020
Since it is impossible for one person to gather in all of the available train- Fax: (215) 631-7017
ing at the Convention, I always bring along two of my top technicians so we can E-mail: membership@macsw.org
cover all of the training available. The old adage, “You don’t know what you
January/February 2011 Volume 11, Number 1
don’t know” comes to mind, and we need to make sure we take advantage of the
ACTION magazine is published seven times per year by
training available. We must do everything possible to compete and prosper in our the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide,
hometown shop. We need to learn what we don’t know to keep maximizing our 225 S. Broad Street, Lansdale, PA 19446.
While MACS Worldwide takes reasonable steps to make
business opportunities – and I know that coming to the MACS Convention is sure that the information reported in ACTION is accurate,
errors can still occur. The accuracy of all information
the least expensive way to train my staff and myself. contained in ACTION should therefore be independently
evaluated by the reader. Since conditions of its use are
Of course, this will not be all work and no play. I always look forward to the outside of the control of MACS Worldwide, MACS
interaction with all of you during the Convention. Talking shop with the best Worldwide assumes no liability for the use of such infor-
mation or any damages incurred through its use or appli-
shop owners, technicians and trainers over lunch or during the many social cation. Nothing contained in such information is to be
construed as contractual or provide some form of war-
events gives me an insight into the industry that I cannot get anywhere else. I ranty on the part of MACS Worldwide.
always come away with new ideas and procedures to implement when I get back The opinions expressed in guest editorials are not nec-
essarily endorsed by MACS Worldwide. MACS
home. Worldwide is not responsible for any claims made in or
by advertisements or press releases published in ACTION.
If you see me milling around the Convention or Trade Show, stop me and All company names, products and product names,
emblems, logos, images, trademarks, service marks and
introduce yourself. Let me know if we as an association are meeting your expec- trade dress appearing in this magazine are the property
tations, wants and needs. And please tell me what you think of our Convention of their respective owners and are protected under fed-
eral laws of the United States and international agree-
and Trade Show. The staff and I are always open to new ideas and viewpoints. ments. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The ACTION logo
and MACS globe emblem are property of MACS
On behalf of the MACS Worldwide staff, thank you for attending this year; and we look Worldwide.
forward to seeing you in 2012 in Las Vegas. By the way, make sure you plan on staying for the Reproduction of contents without permission is prohibit-
bonus training session on Saturday afternoon. A ed. Send requests for permission to copy or reprint to
Editor@macsw.org or to ACTION Magazine, Box 88,
Lansdale, PA 19446.
Sincerely, Non-member subscription rates: one year (seven issues)
– U.S. $25; Canada/Mexico $40; international surface
Andy $45; international air $55.
Send subscription mail, including address changes, to
ACTION, P.O. Box 88, Lansdale, PA 19446 or
Andy Fiffick editor@macsw.org.
AndyFiffick@gmail.com For advertising information contact Marion Posen:
marion@macsw.org or 215-631-7020. x304.
440-667-3278
H.G. Roebuck & Son, Inc.
4987 Mercantile Road
Baltimore, MD 21236
2004-09 IAMA
ISBN 1949-3436 Awards Winner
6 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

7. Reader Reply No. 35

8. Expansion Valve
Plans and Intentions
Jim Taylor
“If I’d known I would live this long,” said the great jazz kets went boom or bust or both, and some haven’t yet
pianist and composer Eubie Blake on his 100th birthday, recovered. Some have few survivors.
“I’d have taken better care of myself!” Mercy! It’s 2011 A look at the ten-year graph for the Dow Jones indus-
already and it seems as if the millennium was just yesterday. trial averages shows an alpine landscape with enough peaks
Regardless of when you started counting it – 2000 or and valleys to challenge any financial skier. Even 2010’s
2001 – it’s been quite a decade, hasn’t it? Computers didn’t year-to-date graph would make a good thrill ride if you
crash from the feared Y2K bug, but soon after airplanes and could convert the blue trace into rails; plenty of ups and
tall buildings did. The dot-com bubble burst but the plenty of downs. It makes an interesting analogy as both
Internet survived; international governments rose and fell investors and rollercoaster riders scream during the steep
but nations survived; wars started, ended, or continued with drops.
survivors being counted as lucky. U.S elections came and At this moment in late 2010, things seem to be looking
went (who survived painful new strains of attack ads?), and up, but “past performance does not indicate future results”
some industries crumbled while others soared. Various mar- — they’re required to say that when selling financial prod-
ucts. However, there’s another adage we all know: “Those
who ignore the past...” Are we doomed or do we make our
own luck?
Obviously, the past can teach us if we’re smart enough
to learn from it. Does it indicate the future? Maybe, but
only under the same circumstances, and whatever we did
then controlled that outcome. New ideas and new oppor-
tunities can lead in different directions, and require differ-
ent and often bold actions.
Those new ideas and new opportunities provide our
focus this month. We asked a variety of MACS members –
each a success in their own right – to review their recent
business year and then tell us what they see as their oppor-
tunities ahead.
The results were as varied as the participants, and not
always what you’d expect. For example, although many do,
it’s plain that not everyone foresees either a new refriger-
ant or the hybrid and electric vehicle boom as the “next
big thing” for their operation. Some plan to crack new sales
markets, expand their product offerings, or even just do
more of what they’re already doing.
Additionally, many respondents included sound financial
management in their plans for another year, along with
staying on top of the game through technical training,
offering quality products across the board, and keeping a
close eye on the competition.
Sounds like a plan. What’s yours? A
You can reach Jim at
Reader Reply No. 90
jt@macsw.org
8 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

9. Reader Reply No. 37

10. Technically RELAY-ted
IMPA Test Days 2010
Paul DeGuiseppi
his past September, I once again took Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0 TR Spec – torquey twin-turbo, inline six, it helps
T the trek to Lake Harmony, Pa. to par-
ticipate in IMPA (International
Motor Press Association) Test Days. If
The absolute sports car bargain for the
day, perhaps the 2011 model year. This
vehicle has a base price of $24,500, and it’s
shoot this car from a standing start like it’s
a Ruger .204. Of everything I drove this
day, this would be the one I’d have taken
you’re a “car whack” (as I am), it doesn’t a quite nicely equipped R WD looker at home.
come much better than this – IMPA that. The car Hyundai provided had only Mazda2 – This new-to-the-U.S. market
members get the opportunity to drive a one option; carpeted floor mats for $105. subcompact could be the ultimate
broad variety of the newest offerings from I drove nothing else that matched this car’s demonstrator of the adage “it is more fun
most vehicle manufacturers that sell in the performance-for-the-price quotient. to drive a slow car fast than a fast car
U.S. market. Mazda3 2.5 Five Door – Another case of slow.” Its exterior dimensions also belie its
Here are the vehicles I drove, and my a very satisfying-to-drive car for the interior roominess. Overall, a pleasant lit-
impressions of them. I’ll give you this up money. Very crisp steering and handling, tle thing.
front – their individual missions consid- and not too shabby acceleration either. Audi A3 TDI – If you like the diesel
ered, not one of them was bad. However, Couple its great ergonomics and nicely engine in the Jetta (or Golf), but want a
some were “badder” than others. appointed interior with the fact that you nicer car wrapped around it, you need
Volkswagen Jetta TDI SEL – I’ve been can even haul stuff, and you have a fantas- look no further.
reading many good things about the tic all-around daily ride. Chevrolet Cruze LTZ – Word up to
newest VW diesels, so I chose this as the Camaro SS – This was the first of the Civic, Corolla, and a few others: be afraid.
first car to drive. It turns out that all the three American pony cars I drove, one Be very, very afraid.
good things I read are true. The average right after the other. It accelerates and Mini Cooper Clubman S – I’ve partaken
person would never know it was a diesel. brakes pretty well, but its interior is a shal- of one of these every time I’ve attended
It had almost imperceptible turbo lag, and low chasm, and its instrument panel is a this event. It just wouldn’t be Test Days if
accelerated briskly, with a nice torquey cartoon. Especially in light of its competi- I didn’t. I’m happy to report that the pol-
feel. To me, it’s the perfect anti-hybrid. I tion, this car (with a sticker price around ish is still on the apple. Driving one of
like that. $38K) did not appeal to me in any way. these might even be more fun than
Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SEL – It was inter- Mustang GT – Ford marked 2011 with watching mid-term election results on
esting to drive the gas engine Jetta direct- the return of the 5.0 in the Mustang. As TV.
ly after stepping out of the diesel. I didn’t good as the 4.6L 2005-2010 GTs of the Lexus ISF – This is the only Toyota I
see much difference in dynamics between current platform Mustang were, this one drove because it’s basically the only Toyota
the two, with the exception that the gas nudges the dial to “11.” Fantastic acceler- I like — excluding, perhaps, the essential-
car’s torque curve seemed to be more ation, braking, steering, handling, seats, ly “constructed of unobtainium” LFA. I
equally distributed over the engine’s rpm outward vision and sounds. With a sticker like this one because it doesn’t feel like a
range. of $40K, it’s a car so much better than the Toyota. It actually feels (dare I say) sort of
Camaro for only two large more.. like a BMW or Benz. Its 5.0L, 416 horse-
Dodge Challenger RT – My absolute power V-8, eight speed automatic trans-
A/C PARTS favorite of the three ponies. While it’s a
little slower than the Camaro or
mission, and R WD layout certainly con-
tribute to my fondness.
CARS-TRKS-BIG TRKS-OFF ROAD Mustang, this car just has a certain charm Suzuki Kizashi – I challenge you to find
1000’S OF NEW & REBUILT that the other two don’t. Its sight lines, a $24,000 car with a nicer interior. It’s also
larger dimensions and pistol grip shifter a pretty pleasing (if not exciting) drive.
COMPRESSORS & CLUTCHES catapult my mind back to lighter times. This car is truly the anti-Camry-Accord-
HUGE PARTS INVENTORY For me, that makes its sticker, which was Altima. Anyone considering the purchase
NEXT DAY ANYWHERE IN FL. $1K higher than the Mustang’s, well of a mid-size Japanese sedan really needs
AIR PARTS worth that small difference to check this out. A
1133 N MAGNOLIA AVENUE BMW 335iS Coupe – This car’s dou-
ble-clutch seven speed is the fastest-
OCALA FL 34475 You can reach Paul at
shifting automated manual transmission
(800) 233-7167
Paul@macsw.org
that I have ever experienced. Coupled
with the 320 horsepower from its
Reader Reply No. 6
10 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

11. Air Conditioning &
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our extensive range of OE quality and perfect-fit compressors.
Add PAO Oil, the only advanced synthetic and non-hygroscopic
universal compressor oil with UV leak detection, and you’ve got Hella, Inc.
the definition of success!
1.877.224.3552
www.hellausa.com
Reader Reply No. 159

12. Under the Southern Cross
Who’s next?
Ken Newton,
CEO, VASA
uccession plans are all very well, but all the best con- What’s the thread of this article, you’re asking about
S ceived plans in the world still won’t find you someone
to replace you after you’ve gone – not really gone, I
mean retired, had enough, taken your marbles and gone
now. I was leading up to saying that you’ll find the same sce-
nario in many voluntary organisations. The new reason for
not being involved, for not joining something and not going
home. to meetings or even social outings is, “I’m time poor.”
The secret to succession plans is that you have to find What does that mean? Isn’t life about setting priorities?
somebody to replace you, and that’s the really hard part. You don’t just run out of time to do things, do you?
Either lack of a succession plan, or inability to find So here we are at a recent VASA board meeting, with a
someone to walk in your shoes is the reason why, in this debate raging on the subject of how to encourage any mem-
country anyway, most small businesses don’t change hands. ber of the association to take a real interest in the adminis-
As happened with a couple of our top VASA members tration of the company. Like nominate for a position on the
recently—they advertised nationally, they looked under the board of directors, or put a hand up to help out at the next
local rocks, and couldn’t get anyone remotely interested in convention, or anything.
taking over well run and profitable workshops. They just I reminded the board that only once in VASA’s 17 year
auctioned off all their equipment, closed the doors and went history had anybody outside the incumbent directors ever
home. sent in a formal nomination for a board position. I added
Sad really, that private companies that build up a great that not once in VASA’s history had the annual general
name over half a century or so just disappear off the map. meeting of members experienced the thrill of having to cast
Reader Reply No. 28
12 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

13. Southern Cross
a vote to choose one out of two or more nominations
for the board.
If you really want the truth, the VASA board has
been ‘stacked’ from Day One, and we want volunteers
– you, you and you!
Current VASA president Ian Stangroome is a very
thoughtful guy, and he knows only too well that a
stale organisation is not a productive organisation.
The board members agreed. New blood, they said, is
needed.
I jumped in again to remind the directors that I
had placed a passionate plea in our last VASA newslet-
ter for young guns in the association to consider
being groomed for directorship and the result was, as
expected, zilch.
While everyone in the room was either looking
at the ceiling in the hope that somebody’s name
would be written by an unseen hand, or was pouring
another cup of hotel swill, president Ian said, “I real-
ly don’t think any member understands what it is we
do. If only they could listen to our debates and watch
how complex issues are decided, it might encourage
them to join in the game.”
Great idea, they all said. VASA has now adopted
two very bold succession plans.
The first is that each director will nominate a
likely candidate from the membership in his or her
zone. (Yes, we have our first female director.
Catherine Tocker represents our New Zealand mem-
bers – say hi Catherine.)
For every board meeting, one of the names will
be drawn out of the hat, and that member will be
invited, all expenses paid, to the next meeting wher-
ever it is held. They’ll be flown in, accommodated,
wined and dined and invited to join in any of the
debates if they wish. The hope is that the chosen
member will then go back to their local communi-
ties, if not with a desire to seek higher office then at
least with a better perspective on VASA’s role in the
industry.
The next plan is already taking off like a rocket,
and why not?–it’s free! We have invented a new
Student Associate membership, where auto students
are offered free membership while they are still
studying. When they get their certificates or their
degrees, they will be invited to join up as a full pay-
ing member.
The hope is that through receiving newsletters,
invitations at low rates to training sessions and access
to our technical pages on the website, they will learn
to understand the value of being in an industry net-
work with a bit of clout and a good brand name.
Now if I can only find someone to replace me! A
Reader Reply No. 101
AC T I O N • January/February 2011 13

14. Leonard’s Law
The heat is on!
Keith N. Leonard,
Esquire
here once was a car chase movie that became the second high- In the early 1900s, interior heat was oftentimes produced by
T est grossing film of that year. The movie was Smokey and the
Bandit and the year was 1977. For those who have never seen
the film, two men agree to drive from Georgia to Texas and back
exhaust gases circulated into pipes inside the vehicle. Into the
1920s, companies like Sears Roebuck still sold heaters that carried
heat from the exhaust manifold into the passenger compartment.
again within a limited period of time, bringing back a truck load And there was no carbon monoxide alarm in the interior of those
of Coors beer at a time when Coors was not available east of the vehicles.
Mississippi River. Another attempt to warm up the inside of a car was the hot
The two end up being chased by, but escaping from, about water car heater introduced in 1926. However, during that same
one-half of the police forces south of the Mason-Dixon line and period, inventors were designing a heating system that redirected
delivering the beer in the nick of time. The movie’s popularity coolant from the engine to the interior of the vehicle, providing
resulted in two sequels and an enormous increase in sales of the car some level of comfort to the otherwise frost-bitten driver and pas-
featured in the film – the Pontiac Trans Am. sengers. By the 1930s, the first designs of the now-standard heater
Over my Christmas break in 1976-1977, some college friends core (using heat from the engine coolant to produce heat for the
and I went on a road trip from Pittsburgh to New Mexico and interior) were coming into production. The core acts as a heat
back again. As in the movie, we picked up some Coors beer dur- exchanger, removing heat from the engine compartment and
ing our trip for our return to our college, though we brought back directing it into the interior of the vehicle.
considerably less than a tractor trailer load. We did not pick up a Electric cars and hybrids, without the hot fluids and gases from
woman who had run out on her wedding and we certainly did not an internal combustion engine, still use the heater core design.
get chased by police. However, we did learn a very important les- Therefore, most electric cars use positive coefficient electric heaters
son during that trip. that are similar to the heaters used in many homes.
That valuable lesson was not to drive an air-cooled vehicle (a In the late 1930s, Nash Motors introduced filters, more refined
Volkswagen van – “I call red punch buggy and no punch backs!”) climate controls and an optional conditioned-air heating and ven-
across the country during a time when most of the country was tilating system as features in its automobiles. Dual temperature con-
experiencing record cold. At the best of times the temperature trols for the driver and front passenger would have to wait until
inside the van was probably only five degrees warmer than the out- later in the twentieth century; but proved to be an invention that
side air; causing the beer to almost freeze inside the van. did a lot to save many a marriage.
That story is not an attempt to imitate or one-up the stories In 1951, Mr. Ballard invented the heated seat for motor vehi-
of my father’s or grandfather’s generations (“...back in my day, we cles, another practical invention for drivers and passengers through-
walked to school ten miles in snow...”) Instead, it is my off-hand out the world. An even more recent invention is the heated steer-
way of expressing my gratitude to people like Thomas Ahearn and ing wheel. This advancement allows the driver to avoid the choice
Robert Ballard for every time I have gotten into a vehicle in the of discomfort (a freezing steering wheel) or the potential hazard of
winter since that road trip. driving with gloves.
As we all know, vehicle technology has substantially advanced All of this technology has provided a safer and more comfort-
since vehicles were invented. The first cars were mostly open-bod- able time for both driver and passengers. Global warming or not,
ied, with no windows and certainly no heat. They were not a big winter, cold weather and snow in many parts of the United States
step forward from horse-drawn carriages. The first enclosed cars, and elsewhere around the world confront all drivers equally. Of
with glass windshields, emerged in 1907. course, we can all also rely on the change of seasons to bring
One important advance in technology has been in the area of warmer weather around again; and soon enough the need for air
climate control inside the vehicle. Mr. Ahearn is the inventor of the conditioning. Luckily, we have MACS’ members to keep us warm
electric car heater and he did it in 1890. However, he developed or cool in our vehicles. A
that invention for use in electric streetcars traveling along the streets
of Ottawa, Canada. Regardless, the heater was invented for cus-
tomer comfort, and as the inevitable change of seasons takes us into Remember that laws are constantly changing and are often not uniform through-
winter, those of us in the northern half of the United States cer- out the United States. Do not place unqualified reliance on the information in
tainly appreciate the fact that we can be kept warm while we drive. this article. Always contact legal counsel for detailed advice.
If you have a particular issue, law or problem you would like to see addressed
Early cars used portable gas lamps and burners to warm up the in a future column, please contact me at KLeonard@LeonardSciolla.com, or Leonard,
interiors – I am not sure about the safety of using a flammable liq- Sciolla, Hutchison, Leonard & Tinari, LLP 215-567-1530.
,
uid inside a car to keep us warm!
14 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

15. One Source to Keep Your Business Safe, Clean and in
Compliance
1 2
1. Uniform Rental
Uniforms present a polished,
professional image that build your allows carpet to dry within hours
brand. See how Cintas can help:
from furniture and drapes
your employees and business by your
customers
satisfaction
program
best
3 4 5. Safewasher™
regulations
2. Safe Floors
Cintas can help create a complete cycle
safety, produces measurable reductions
in hazardous waste, and reduces
dirt:
exposure
3. Clean Restrooms chemical cleaners by lifting grease
your customers and employees:
6. First Aid & Safety
4. Tile & Carpet Cleaning
standards
extraction cleaning process cleans and
5 6
system
solution
at:
101784 11.10
Reader Reply No. 155

16. The Right

17. Fit RTI Technologies, a leader in the distribution and development
of automotive maintenance service equipment, including air
conditioning service machines, has been acquired by the
Automotive Aftermarket Division of Robert Bosch, LLC.
By becoming part of Bosch, RTI is combining its industry
leading equipment distribution and engineering technologies
with the resources of a world leader in the automotive industry.
and new ways of bringing the best in automotive service
equipment to our customers worldwide.
Come see us at the MACS 2011 Convention, Jan. 27-29, 2011 800-468-2321
Reader Reply No.66

18. The Link: Familycar.com and AutoMD.com
The Grade: C- / D. Too vague, too general, and not helpful. Inaccurate pricing.
This site is openly designed to sell repair instructions identical to the Civic Si: to check for leaks.
parts, and the site content purports to help a 1. Open the hood and locate 15. If the system holds the vacu-
consumer perform repairs at home. The site your vehicle’s A/C compressor. um, charge the system with A/C
contains little A/C information except as a 2. Remove the A/C belt from servicing machine.
promo for parts sales. Tabs across the top the A/C compressor pulley. Again, not wrong but not right
include “Auto Repair” and “How Cars Work” 3. Evacuate the A/C system using enough—how to pull the vacuum? And for
among others. A click directs the user to a refrigerate [sic] recovery how long? How much gas to recharge or how
www.automd.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of machine. to know capacity? Interestingly, the $5100
US Auto Parts Network, Inc. AutoMD claims 4. Disconnect the negative bat- RRR machine is listed in the “Tools you
to be “the most comprehensive and unbiased tery cable. need” section, but the “Estimated cost of
free online automotive repair resource...” There’s nothing actually wrong here, but repair” for the DIY compressor repair is
Their “How-to” section asks for basic it’s not very helpful either.The compressor on $31.60. If anybody comes into your shop say-
data on the car to be repaired; we entered a the Civic is underneath and can barely be seen ing they can replace their own compressor for
2003 Honda Civic Si and then clicked on from the top. And doesn't everybody have a that price, you’ll know where they’ve been. A
instructions for “How to replace an A/C com- recovery machine just lying around? And after
pressor.” The resulting steps are disappointing, repairs we’re told: Note: Websites are updated or changed
and suffer from a “one size fits all” approach. 13. Evacuate air in the A/C sys- frequently. If you visit one of our finds,
The repair steps are generic, and the same pic- tem with an A/C servicing don’t be surprised if the information
tures always appear. A later search on a 2008 machine doesn’t match what we found.
Ford Explorer XLT SportTrac turned up 14. Pull a vacuum on the system
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Reader Reply No. 5
18 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

19. Reader Reply No. 78

20. Jack Chisenhall honored facility in San Antonio, Texas. new wave of alternative energy tech-
Lifetime achievement award In 1995, Jack took his street-driven nologies and increased jobs via new
1953 Studebaker to Bonneville and ran manufacturing. Some more provisions
219.585 mph — with the air condi- of AB32 begin to phase-in during
tioning on. Jack Chisenhall received 2011, and will require large emitters to
the 2001 Pioneer Award from the begin reducing air pollution from their
Mobile Air Conditioning Society for processes and plants. California’s goal is
his industry innovations. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
roughly 30 percent within ten years.
California: Prop 23 defeated in
Nov. elections Diagnostics from DENSO
AB 32 will continue Denso Sales California recently intro-
In the November elections, California duced three new technical training
voters roundly defeated the state’s seminars for technicians. The seminars,
Proposition 23, a proposal which taught by professional trainers and not
would have suspended the state’s sales people, focus on service, diagnos-
sweeping global warming law (known tic and repair best practices and will be
as AB32) until the unemployment rate available beginning in 2011.
dropped to 5.5 percent. At the time, The eight-hour classroom-style cours-
California’s unemployment rate was es, to be offered by local parts distrib-
about 12 percent. Voters downed the utors and held on-site throughout the
idea by an approximate 18 percent U.S. and Canada, will focus on topic-
margin, 59–41. related service, diagnosis and repair
Buried deep with the many pages of procedures for today’s domestic and
AB32’s requirements for reducing Asian vehicles.
greenhouse gasses are specific require- Each of the three seminars— “Advanced
The Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show ments for low-GWP vehicle refriger- Electrical Systems Diagnostics,” ‘ Network
and the Petersen Automotive Museum ants and various restrictions on manu- Systems Diagnostics” and “Advanced
will award the 2011 Robert E. Petersen facture and sale of small cans of Oscilloscope Diagnostics”— will incor-
Lifetime Achievement award to long- replacement refrigerant. Had the porate case studies and real-world shop
time MACS member and Vintage Air proposition passed, the state’s refriger- experience to help technicians use the lab
founder Jack Chisenhall on March ant mandates would have been put on scopes and scan tools that they have avail-
18th. The award will be presented dur- hold along with the larger and more able. More information is on the Technical
ing the show’s opening ceremonies in visible industrial controls. Training page at www.densoaftermarket.com.
Indianapolis. Supporters of Prop 23 had argued that
compliance with many of AB32’s pro- Bosch buys RTI
Chisenhall is credited with creating a
visions to reduce industrial and trans- Expands in automotive air conditioning
whole new market sector and being a
portation emissions would place an service market
founding member of the Street Rod
unfair burden on business and industry In early December, the Bosch Group’s
Manufacturers Association (SRMA),
and result in more lost jobs as business- Automotive Aftermarket business
now a SEMA council. He started his
es left the state to avoid the costs of announced it has acquired RTI
business, Vintage Air, in 1976.
compliance. Technologies Co., Ltd. based in York,
After finding that there were very few
Much of the funding for the proposi- Pennsylvania. RTI develops and dis-
parts available that could be used to air
tion came from large national and tributes automotive maintenance
condition hotrods and specialty vehi-
international transportation, energy equipment including air conditioning
cles, he worked with his brother
production, and petroleum companies service, recovery and recharge
Gordon and friend Milton Jones to
with operations in the state. There was machines. Terms of the sale were not
produce some basic but custom air
big money on both sides of the battle, disclosed but Bosch said it will retain
conditioning products.
and in this case the opponents raised all of RTI’s 36 employees.
He took the original products to the
and spent nearly three times the cash of Robert Bosch GmbH noted that “the
1976 Street Rod Nationals, where they
the supporters. business is uniquely positioned to pro-
met great reviews from custom car
Opponents of the proposition (and vide access to the technology for new
owners. Chisenhall soon bought out
therefore supporters of AB32) see air conditioning service machines to
his partners and expanded his business.
implementation as the first step in a deliver the new refrigerant R-1234yf,
Today, Vintage Air is housed in a large
20 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

21. which will be introduced into the market beginning in 2011 test center in Seattle to include dedicated facilities for conduct-
in Europe.” ing vibration, acoustics, electromagnetic and radio frequency
interference (EMI/RFI), and blower-lifecycle validation tests.
International enforcement The new labs will allow Red Dot's mobile HVAC engineers to
Nets large haul of ozone depleting substances accommodate the increasingly sophisticated performance and
A joint global customs enforcement operation initiated by reliability requirements demanded by their commercial and mil-
the World Customs Organization and the United Nations itary customers, including NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness)
Environment Programme (UNEP) led to the confiscation of and EMI/RFI emissions.
more than 7,500 cylinders of CFCs, HCFCs, and other The company said having these capabilities in-house will reduce
ozone depleting substances (ODS). the time and cost involved with validating Red Dot products and
A number of seizures were reported from Europe, Africa and components from outside suppliers. The vibration, acoustic, and
Central Asia, but the majority took place in the Asia/Pacific blower test cells are operational now, with the EMI/RFI test
region, notably in China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and India. capabilities available starting in early 2011.
Royal Thai Customs netted 1,200 cylinders of ODS, and The new facilities are part of the company’s H.G. Runnings
French Customs successfully stopped the illegal export of 44 Technical Center, which includes a full-vehicle environmental
tons of HCFCs in two incidents. chamber, advanced thermal imaging, and a dual-chamber HVAC
Customs administrations were actively supported by each system calorimeter.
country’s National Ozone Unit – the government entity
responsible for managing national compliance strategies Industry Briefs
under the Montreal Protocol. • During the Aftermarket Industry Week last November, the
Car Care Council Women’s Board announced Katie Noga’s
selection as the group’s 2010 “Aftermarket Woman of the
Red Dot Expands Test Facilities Year.” Ms. Noga has held her current position as SKF’s man-
In December, Red Dot expanded its advanced engineering and ager of communications and motorsports marketing since
Red Angel A/C Stop Leak & Conditioner has the
remarkable ability to repair and seal leaks in condensers,
evaporators, connection hoses, gaskets & o-rings. It
contains no solid or particulate matter that will clog your
A/C system or harm the recovery unit. Red Angel forms
a chemical weld sealing leaks in both R-12 or R-134a
systems. It’s safe and easy to use and best of all — it’s
a permanent seal. For more information, please call
888.863.0426 or visit us at www.USAsealants.com.
Visit USA Sealants at Booth #109 during 2011 MACS
show. Free samples and information available.
Reader Reply No. 7
AC T I O N • January/February 2011 21

22. NEWS & UPDATES
1992. She is responsible for supporting the North
American automotive, NAPA and heavy-duty distribu-
tion/OES markets as well as overseeing the company’s
media relations, sales promotions, websites and the SKF
NASCAR Sprint Cup program.
• In November, SPX Corp. re-affirmed its long-term
commitment to China with a ground-breaking cere-
mony marking the construction start of the company’s
new 53-acre China manufacturing campus. The project
represents a three-year, $40 million investment to sup-
port the SPX’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, and
completion of the first phase is scheduled for the end of
2011. SPX has been in China since 1994.
• Maxzone Auto Parts Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of
DEPO Group, recently moved and expanded its distri-
bution hub in Norcross County, Georgia. The new
facility is more than twice the size of the previous one.
The company held a grand opening celebration and
ribbon cutting ceremony on October 29, 2010. Noting
that the Georgia hub is a critical transportation center,
DEPO/Maxone said it will bring better service and
high quality parts to local distributors.
• The Car Care Council Women’s Board recently elect-
ed Ruth A. Ehlinger as its new president for a three
year term. Ms. Ehlinger has been a Women’s Board
member since 2001 and is AAA’s manager of Auto
Repair Network Programs and Services. She is active
with several organizations including Junior
Achievement, the American Red Cross and the
American Cancer Society.A
Reader Reply No. 13
22 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

23. Phoenix forum 2010: Emissions and measurements
Reader Reply No. 113

24. ow was last year for you and what’s ahead? Depending on cles after their machine shop customers men-
H
what you read or hear, the answers will vary from horren- tioned that they couldn’t find anyone to
repair their mining and quarry equipment on
dous to spectacular. Is the stock market up or down; the site.
economy expanding or contracting; is our industry healthy
again or still in malaise? You can always find someone to Was your shop successful this year, and how
say yes or no, and usually with statistics to support their argument. do you measure your success?
Andy Fiffick: We were successful. We
An entire industry is hard to represent on a chart, and
reports from the front lines are often much more valuable. So have three rock-
MACS contacted members in each of our main types— solid guidelines:
Service/Installers, Distributors, and Manufacturers. We asked we must fix the
each the same questions about their business, their vision for car right the first
2011, and where they see opportunities for success. time, we make
The responses to most questions were spirited, interest- sure our customers
ing and quite varied, but all agreed on one point: business are satisfied and
was up across the board, and 2009 was so bad that the suc- happy when they
cessful 2010 season was a welcome relief. MACS extends our leave, and we
thanks to all who took time to provide their insights. charge a fair price
for our work. In Andy Fiffick
Service and Installers 2010 sales were
For this group we talked to three people on the front up, we have a shop comeback rate of 0.3 percent, and sever-
lines of retail service: Andy Fiffick, R.C Schirmer, and Don al of those comebacks were actually a parts warranty matter,
Weaver. Andy, of course is the elected Chairman and CEO not workmanship or diagnosis.
of MACS, but he also operates Rad Air Complete Car Care, R.C Schirmer: It was not the worst year, but certain-
an expanding chain of eight retail shops in Cleveland, Ohio. ly better than last. Our car count is up. We have a varied cus-
R.C. runs Glen-Ray Rad and CDS, a specialty heating and tomer base that includes light vehicles, heavy duty and agri-
cooling shop in Wassau, Wisconsin, and Don Weaver is a cultural vehicles.
working technician at Rutt’s Machine in Elizabethtown, Don Weaver: This year was very good—we’re pleased
Pennsylvania. Rutt’s began repairing A/C on off-road vehi- and business was up.
24 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

25. Opportunities for success
Weaver: Most of our work is in places likes mines and
What changes did you make from previous years to make this quarries, and many operators have their own technicians. We
year successful? don’t even get a chance. There’s lots of potential there, but
Fiffick: We went back to TV advertising and it yielded there’s a lot of competition, too.
a banner sales year. We didn’t do any in 2008 or 09...It’s very
expensive. But in our area, the economy may have begun to Where are your new opportunities for growth and success?
get a bit better and we gambled on the ads. We ended up Fiffick: Opportunity comes from change, and comes
with a 7 percent increase in gross sales. with maintaining technical knowledge and productivity. A
Schirmer: We didn’t have to change anything. We have large percentage of our customers’ cars are 8-12 years old,
good word of mouth, and we only do minimal local adver- and we’re learning the details of those model years but we
tising. We’re a specialty shop and the only one in our area. have the newer cars for routine mainte-
Weaver: We continued doing what we do, but incorpo- nance, too, so we have to stay up to
rated many of the tricks and tips we get at the MACS date there as well.
Convention and show. In general, we maintained an even Schirmer: We’re moving into
keel but we’re always trying to find new customers. clean diesel service, and have added the
CDS to our shop name. The new diesel
What held you back this year or what could you have done particulate filters will need interval ser-
more of? vice and cleaning. Other places rou-
Fiffick: I always like to do more advertising; we see it tinely just use high pressure air to clean
as an investment not an expense. But it requires doing a cost- them, but since we already have a kiln,
benefit analysis and figuring out what works. we can bake them first and accomplish
Schirmer: Nothing! We’re doing exactly what we much better cleaning. On big diesels,
R.C Schirmer
want, and it’s working. some of the filters can cost more than
Reader Reply No. 153
AC T I O N • January/February 2011 25

26. Opportunities for success
$4,000, so service is much cheaper than replacement.
We’re also continuing with our line of reproduction
Mopar radiators, and licensed to us by Chrysler. We do good
business at Mopar meets with owners and restorers.
Weaver: We have to crack that “private market” at a lot
of sites and get more customers. It’s what we do; we don’t
even work on over-the-road trucks unless we’re specifically
asked to by a customer.
Overall, where do you see new opportunities for shops and the
industry in general? What’s the next big thing?
Fiffick: Sometimes I get scared for our industry. The
aftermarket faces a lot of competition from the dealers who
are making more effort to keep their customers. But the used
car market remains huge, and second owners are fair game
for us. Our industry needs to be perceived as at least equal
to dealerships in terms of convenience, knowledge, equip-
ment, accuracy and courtesy. A happy customer will come
back to your shop.
Schirmer: We want more old cars! The owners are will-
ing to spend the money and the car is usually straightforward
to work on. I don’t know about the next big thing; it’s too
early to tell. Keep up your training, stay current and watch
the industry...we may be dealing with different refrigerants
in coming years. [He did note that fewer shops are still an easy path to follow.
working with R-12.] We talked to Fritz Slagle, of Aaron Air Distributors in
Don Weaver was all over this one—the vehicles in his Miami Florida, a large regional distributor, and Jeff Shie,
market are starting to appear with more computer controls regional sales manager for RadPro Distribution, a consor-
and digital dashes. The lack of diagnostic info, even wiring tium of WDs with markets in the U.S and Canada.
diagrams, drives him crazy. “We can get into some real jams,”
he said. “We compete with the dealer, so where do we get Was your business successful this year, and how do you mea-
the training to fix this stuff? Each manufacturer uses their sure your success?
own proprietary diagnostic tool, so we need all of them to Slagle: This business is “exceptionally weird.” 2010 was
fix any of them. I’m not seeing any industry standards here. better than ’09—we’re in business 40 years next year, and
We need training!” 2009 was the hardest year in our expe-
rience. We’re doing a little bit better
What’s your advice to somebody just starting out in this busi- and just happy to still be in business. We
ness? must be doing something right, because
Fiffick: Hire the best technicians you can find and don’t a lot of others have left. I think those
be afraid to pay them. Advertise like hell and know your that left simply didn’t plan ahead and
competition. prepare for poorer times.”
Schirmer: Be conscientious and keep your nose to the Shie: It was a recovery year for
grindstone, but also keep an open mind because this business most, and certainly better than the pre-
always changes. Always learn the basics of heat exchange. Be vious years. The summer heat gave us a
willing to invest in good tools and quality parts; you’ll always welcome boost. I look at our sales, our
get your investment back quickly. gross profits and the number of invoic- Fritz Slagle
Weaver: “If he’s close by, nothing!” he said with a laugh. es written.
“But otherwise, learn everything you can and learn from
others. I’ll help anybody if he’s not a competitor, and a lot of What changes did you make from previous years to make this
people have helped me.” year successful?
Slagle: We’re listening to our customers more, and
reacting to their needs instead of our business needs.
Distributors We’re changing with the times and paying attention to
Members in this category get squeezed from both sides; the quality of our parts as well as tightening the belt; every
they have to deal with suppliers and manufacturers caught by penny counts and the small stuff adds up. We saved some
a tight economy and still provide affordable and reliable money simply by reducing the size of our trash dumpster.
components to their downstream customers. It’s not always Shie: We understood where we needed to be. We did
26 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

27. DYING TO FIND
A/C LEAKS?
The new Nano 5™ UV light finds leaks others miss.
Nano 5
High Output
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We found many shops use poor quality dyes with
ineffective blue lights. That’s when we challenged our PN: 413025
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the Nano 5.
Competitor’s “Best” UV Light UView’s NEW Nano 5 UV Light
Leading Competitor’s Dye UView Dye Leading Competitor’s Dye UView Dye
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The Nano 5 fluoresces the dyes brighter, plus the UView dye is virtually impossible to miss.
FEATURES:
Compact design
Adjustable focus
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
High Output UV LED
Durable aluminum construction Which light do you want in your toolbox?
Optimized UV wavelength fluoresces
dyes brighter than blue LED lights
Reader Reply No. 39
www.uview.com

29. Reader Reply No. 55

30. Opportunities for success
some “in your face” marketing through both our outside tunities. Banning consumer purchase of refrigerants in small
sales force and our direct marketing program. cans will help too.
Shie: There are opportunities, and we’ll react to indus-
What held you back this year or what could you have done try demand. Providing what the industry needs is standard
more of? business practice. We don’t know enough yet about what
Slagle: We can’t stock as much inventory as we’d like, hybrids or electric vehicles will need in the future
and we can’t predict what will move. But we can’t be stuck
with what doesn’t move. What’s your advice to somebody just starting out in this busi-
Shie: We do have to be fiscally responsible; if there was ness?
anything else we could have done, we would have done it! Slagle: Buy your parts right, and hire or train knowl-
But everybody had inventory problems this year – previous edgeable employees. Always have a back-up plan and put
years were so soft that when it took off, nobody could keep money in the bank. You can’t run a business on a shoestring
up. any more.
Shie: Keep your nose to the grindstone—those boxes
Where are your new opportunities for growth and success? won’t sell themselves. You need a strong industry sales force
Slagle: The Internet is astounding, and a customer can and a direct marketing program. There’s a lot of competition
find anything there at almost any price. It’s blurring the tra- out there!
ditional distribution lines, and we have to fight to keep our
customers. We have a website and we’re improving it.
We also still stock and sell stand-alone, add on A/C Manufacturers
units to be fitted into cars without A/C. Many of our cus- We spoke with Peter Coll, Refrigerant Analysis Division
tomers tell us they plan to ship the unit to Cuba for instal- Product Mgr, for Neutronics, Inc., the maker of refrigerant
lation on their fleet of older cars. I’m not sure how the kits identifiers; David Jack, Manager, Aftermarket Planning for
get there, but if trade with Cuba ever opens up, adding A/C Denso Sales California, a company with a large industry
to those cars could be a big market. footprint for both its thermal and electrictronic products;
Shie: We’re looking into more offerings and expanding and we received a prepared statement from Frank Ordoñez,
our parts lines as well as developing new markets. president of Delphi Product & Service Solutions.
Overall, where do you see new opportunities for the industry Was your business successful this year, and how do you mea-
in general? What’s the next big thing? sure your success?
Slagle: I’m hoping the next big thing is the new refrig- Coll: This year we met all our
erant. It will create new tools, machines and training oppor- goals, and business was up across all the
company divisions. We judge our suc-
cess by product volume and how well
our distribution system expands.
Jack: We exceeded both our dollar
and units goals in our Thermal Products
line. We modified many of our product
offerings and introduced new ones.
Ordoñez: Our rich OE heritage
plays a critical role in our success in two Peter Coll
key areas: providing quality parts with
high standards, and providing techni-
cians with diagnostic tools and training.
What changes did you make from previous years to make this
year successful?
Coll: Many factors affected our year and some of them
were outside our company. First, the general economy
improved – particularly as the auto industry stabilized – and
the freefall of a couple years ago seems to be stopping. That
helped, but additionally, we expanded our focus on new
world markets and used favorable exchange rates to allow
our customers to buy at very good prices.
Jack: We took a major step this year; we converted our
compressor line from remanufactured to new product across
about 95 percent of the line.
30 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

31. Reader Reply No. 150

32. Opportunities for success
Jack: We will be acquiring new customers and offering
more products. We are going to enhance our offerings and
expand our aftermarket line to include more OEM items.
Ordoñez: We are focused on expanding our product
coverage, but every Delphi part must adhere to the compa-
ny’s global technical standards for performance, noise and
durability.
Overall, where do you see new opportunities for the industry
in general? What’s the next big thing?
Coll: For the next few years, the big industry opportu-
nities will be in all phases of the HFO–1234yf. It’s all new
and we’ll have to gear up for it. Also, I think the next gen-
eration of hybrids and all-electrics will present some oppor-
tunities in terms of new or clever cooling systems, perhaps
for batteries or drivelines and other newer HVAC technolo-
gies. The present generation is again pretty well developed,
but there’s a lot of new technology coming out.
Jack: The new refrigerant will have a huge impact
across the industry. It will be the biggest hurdle, too.
Ordoñez: We have the benefit of foresight into OE
technologies for 2015 models being worked on today. I have
talked to the industry for several years about the Vehicle
Electronics Revolution. This year I said it is now the Vehicle
Electronics Reality.
What held you back this year or what could you have done We believe training, education and awareness are three
more of? key elements to keeping up with the vehicle electronics real-
Coll: Our division handles both stationary and mobile ity. Training is never ending. There will always be an ongo-
HVAC markets, and some of our product development was ing influx of vehicles with new technologies entering the
slower than we planned. This was partially due to the eco- aftermarket.
nomic climate of previous years, and it was probably the
right decision at the time, but the Any high-level advice to the industry at large, or somebody
reduced R&D meant slower develop- just starting out?
ment. Coll: Don’t focus on a single refrigerant; the environ-
Jack: We could have sold more if mental protection movement is big now and will get bigger
we had more inventory. We made sales and it will continue to affect our industry. Take a global view,
predictions based on the previous year and view the concept of refrigerants — and their effects—as
(which wasn’t the best), and ordered a whole.
based on that. But the combination of Jack: Don’t just buy on price—provide quality products
a hot summer and the appearance of a customers can rely on. Stay current on developing technol-
lot of delayed repairs was more than ogy and take advantage of the training many quality suppli-
we expected. ers now make available. Treat your cus-
David Jack tomers like family.
Where are your new opportunities for Ordoñez: Quality parts. We believe
growth and success? it is our responsibility to apply our OE
Coll: Our primary opportunity will be the release of engineering standards to all parts we
HFO-1234yf, whenever and wherever it appears in the bring to the aftermarket. As an industry,
world. Right now, nobody is sure who will be first on the if we don’t take this responsibility seri-
street with it, and we’re not certain what the various over- ously, we can over time drive the con-
sight groups will require. The R-134a market is fairly mature sumer away. Suppliers must make sure
and stable, but the new refrigerant will bring new opportu- proper basic steps are being followed to
nities for all the tool and equipment manufacturers. make sure the parts we put in the vehi-
cle are of the proper chemistry— Frank Ordoñez
We’ll also continue to expand our international market,
but that will be limited somewhat by our resources. We only whether it be steel, aluminum, or plastic
have so many people to put to the task. with the strength required to withstand a harsh vehicle envi-
ronment. A
32 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

33. Reader Reply No. 33

34. Ford goes orange
We mentioned this briefly in the last issue but thought the topic can be called by that name, and many chemical companies produce a
was worth a longer look. qualifying product. Moreover, Ford acknowledges this right in their
Ford refers to their recommended product as E-OAT, with the E Motorcraft parts catalog and other materials, noting:
representing the fact that the product is already in use in Europe. The
OAT designates the familiar term "organic acid technology" and refers “Meets the requirements of WSS-M97B44-D, GM 6277M and
to a product generally free of silicates, nitrates and borates in the chem- ASTM D 3306. Compatible with DEX-COOL® engine coolants.”
istry. The industry in general, and GM in particular began to move to a
new chemistry several years ago. But also, Ford is concerned that this specialty orange coolant not
OAT coolants pose a good news-bad news situation for a manu- be used elsewhere.That 2-EHA additive is also a plasticizer – meaning
facturer. They can provide better lubrication and longer service life, but, it's capable of making things soft or pliable.That's not a good idea where gas-
being an acid, they can also attack seals and gaskets not made to with- kets and seals are concerned, so the new Ford orange is being phased-in after
stand them. That's why mixing coolants types (colors) isn't recom- each engine family has been revisited and updated to accommodate the
mended on most cars; you may introduce a problem into a system that fluid.
can't handle it. There's another effect to consider – the 2-EHA acts as a cleanser on
The MSDS for Ford's Motorcraft coolant reveals that it is mostly the internal metal of the system. No problem there, a clean system is a happy
ethylene glycol, with 2-5% 2-EHA (you may see that on the jug's label) system. But if the coolant level drops and air replaces the coolant in those
added. The extra chemical is a salt form of the organic compound 2- passages, the shiny clean surfaces begin to rust almost instantly.When (or if)
ethylhexanoic acid and you'll find almost that exact mixture in a Dex- the correct coolant level is restored, the rust gets washed off and generates a
Cool product, give or take a few minor variations. brown sludge in the system. Seen that before?
So has Ford gone all GM-ish on us? Mostly not, because most peo- Don't mix coolants by type or color, particularly (now) on Ford
ple forget that “Dex-Cool” is actually a specification, not a distinct prod- engines. Use what the car was designed for, and if you're not sure look it up.
uct. Any product produced for GM and meeting the performance spec
34 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

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36. by Marion Posen, Vice President Sales and Marketing
he Mobile Air Conditioning Industry Pioneer Award was one of his primary products.
T
originally established by IMACA –the International Mobile Dave joined Parker Hannifin in January,
Air Conditioning Association – in 1988. In 2003, MACS 1979 and automotive mobile air condition-
Worldwide assumed the role of continuing the tradition of ing markets became his primary job focus. In
his 32 years at Parker he has held the titles
recognizing individuals who have made outstanding career aftermarket sales manager, business unit man-
contributions to the mobile A/C and heat transfer industry. ager, and he is currently the Global
On Friday, January 28, 2011 the Mobile Air Automotive Business development manager.
Conditioning Industry Pioneer Award will be presented to Dave has been involved with all channels of our indus-
the following four individuals at the MACS Worldwide try from shop owners to the largest OEMs both here and
Delphi Keynote Luncheon during the MACS 31st annual abroad. Some of his key accom-
Convention and Trade Show. plishments include leading the
development and promotion of
the universal accumulator in the
Dave Rudyk 70’s, a combination of aluminum
Dave Rudyk has been a manufacturer member of the can and several tubes to cover
Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide since many part numbers and reduce
1984. He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and is a 1971 grad- aftermarket inventory. Dave was
uate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. After college, instrumental in the initial offer-
Dave worked for Goodyear selling air conditioning hose as ing of a composite air condi-
tioning hose that combined the
low permeation levels of nylon
with better moisture ingression
properties of blended rubber
compound. He also worked on
the successful acquisition of the
Uniroyal air conditioning hose business and Eaton’s expan-
sion valve product lines.
36 AC T I O N • January/February 2011

37. Reader Reply No. 10