October 2021

www.aftermarketonline.net OCTOBER 2021 AFTERMARKET 3 CONTENTS BUSINESS 8 Big issue: E10 12 Julia Kirton: Diagnostics; Our approach 14 The Big UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 16 Classic metal: Footman James TOP TECHNICIAN/TOP GARAGE 18 Top Technician: Semi-final 2021 22 LKQ Euro Car Parts: Battery failure surge TECHNICAL 24 Altelium: The heart of the matter 26 Frank Massey: Ignition diagnostics: Part two 30 Snap-on: Polo problem 32 EVs and hybrids 34 Neil Currie: Information overload IN FOCUS 36 Batteries and chargers 40 Wipers 42 Timing systems 44 Exhaust system and DPF 48 Tyres and tyre bay PLUS... 52 General products/Competition 54 Coronavirus round-up 56 Day in the life: Schaeffler REPXPERT 58 Garage visit: Lushington Motors 61 Training update 64 Recruitment 66 Teabreak FUEL FOR THOUGHT Editor | Alex Wells alex@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Contributors Damien Coleman | Colin Cottrell | Neil Currie | Alex Johns | Julia Kirton | Frank Massey Sales Manager | Daniella Gavin Daniella@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 349 Managing Director | Ryan Fuller ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Operations Manager | Ewa Hodden ewa.hodden@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Project Liaison Manager | Emma Floyd emma.floyd@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Finance Manager | Caren Brown caren.brown@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Chief Executive | Ian Atkinson ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Published by | DFA Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE Alex Wells, Editor Average net circulation July 2019 to June 2020 23,616 aftermarketmagazine @aftermarket01 ISSN 2516-9149 Aftermarket is published 10 times a year and is sent free of charge to applicants meeting the publisher’s criteria. All others may subscribe at £60 per anum, £120 Europe and £150 rest of the world. While every care is taken to provide accurate information, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or ommisions, no matter how caused. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Copyright: DFA MEDIA LTD 2021. O n 1 September, the standard grade of UK unleaded petrol officially shifted to E10, containing 10% ethanol. The change was covered in our news section last month, but as any problems experienced by motorists resulting from the change are going to take quite some time to manifest themselves, we decided to wait to go more in-depth until this, the October issue. You can read all about it in Big Issue on pages 8-11. This is just the start on this subject, so expect more from us on this topic in the months and years ahead. That’s some fuel for thought for you right there. What else have we got for you though? Quite a bit around batteries and chargers, that’s what. 18 months of under-use will have left thousands of vehicles with batteries in a condition that could at best be described as borderline. With this in mind, Colin Cottrell from LKQ Euro Car Parts is offering some tips on how to manage the growing opportunity. That’s on page 22. Then, on pages 36-39 you can find our full batteries and chargers feature. Batteries are central to the success of electric vehicles too, in a shocking twist, if you’ll pardon the absolutely awful pun. On this front, Alex Johns from Altelium is on pages 24-25 offering some thoughts on how to keep EV batteries in the best state of health, and how to help your customers help themselves here too. We also have our regular round-up on all the latest around EVs and hybrids on pages 32-33. Other features in the issue include wipers, timing systems, exhaust system and DPF and tyres and tyre bay. Firmly back in the world of internal combustion engines, Frank Massey is continuing his two-part look at ignition issues on pages 26-29, while Damien Coleman from Snap-on has a Polo problem to contend with on pages 30-31. Then, 2019 Top Technician champ Neil Currie shows why you can never have enough information. That’s on pages 34-35. Speaking of Top Technician, we have a full write-up on the semi-final, which took place in early September on pages 18-19, detailing everything that went on. We now have five finalists in place, who will be vying for the top spot on Saturday 9 October. The live finals for Top Garage are taking place the same day, with both being held at In Town Automotive in Northampton, the home of TechMan. The winners for both competitions will be announced at the Top Technician and Top Garage Awards Evening, being held at the Jurys Inn Milton Keynes. You can read about all of this in the article too. After that, we have a revisit with Lushington Motors, who were subject to The Garage Inspector experience, courtesy of Andy Savva. We saw the before their makeover in late 2019, now see the results on pages 58-59. We also found out about a typical day in the life for a Schaeffler REPXPERT. Read that on pages 56- 57. Not enough for you? We also have a full breakdown on what to expect at The Big UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, the new show from the organisers of Automechanika Birmingham. That is on pages 14-15. Enjoy!