Aftermarket December/January 2023

colder weather can make the problem worse. This means that technicians become even more reliant on battery chargers to power up vehicles, so stocking a range of high- quality products could prove essential to meet demand – and allow technicians to complete jobs quicker and get to others sooner. Ring Automotive has launched the SmartCharge Pro, a versatile, 30A battery charger. Featuring a large LCD screen and diagnostic modes to check for potential battery and alternator problems before charging, Ring’s portable charger is the latest product addition to its award-winning range and removes hassle when working on any vehicle.” Lighting Then there is lighting. Henry observed: “With the nights getting darker earlier now, good quality lighting becomes even more essential, and with new technology bringing about opportunities for both the garage and motorist, it’s important that technicians and garages embrace the latest developments in bulb technology and vehicle equipment to keep vehicles safe and roadworthy. New upgrade bulb ranges present an opportunity for garages to upsell and deliver improved visibility for drivers. It’s important that garages opt for the latest OE-quality products, such as Ring’s award-winning Xenon200 headlamp bulb, to keep vehicles roadworthy and drivers and passengers safe. “Upgrade product lines give an opportunity to retailers to upsell to a brighter headlight bulb instead of a standard bulb, and for garages to offer an additional service that generates more margin. Xenon200 provides a colour temperature that is up to 3,700K, giving a whiter look in the headlamp and onward reflections, providing the optimum visibility in all conditions. The value-added product range from Ring is also relaunching with a new brand refresh, with the seven product lines, Xenon200, Xenon150, Xenon100, Xenon5000, Xenon4000, RallySport and SportzBlue, all hitting shelves across garages with fully recyclable packaging.” For more information, visit: www.ringautomotive.com With long nights and dark mornings, motorists will want to make sure their headlights are up to the task, as Terri Clark, Lighting Marketing Manager at OSRAM observed. “High-end vehicle lighting is crucial for optimum visibility as we head into the winter months. It’s important for 54 AFTERMARKET DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 WINTER CHECKS www.aftermarketonline.net technicians to embrace the latest technology and products on the market to ensure their customers vehicles are set up for darker nights and poor weather conditions. OSRAM also recommend that they check, change and upgrade their customers headlights to brighter, whiter ones this winter. Traditional lighting technologies, such as halogen and HID bulbs, will still be around for a considerable time to come and that means the most up-to-date solutions, such as whiter or brighter light, can still be retrofitted to older cars.” Terri continued: “OSRAM’s NIGHT BREAKER range offers 200% brighter light than the minimum legal standard. Available in H4, H7 and the newly launched H11 ECE bulb types, OSRAM’s NIGHT BREAKER 200 range generates 20% whiter light compared to the minimum legal standard. The bulb generates up to a 150-metre-long beam, helping drivers identify and react to traffic hazards more quickly. OSRAM has also recently relaunched the NIGHT BREAKER SILVER halogen range with optimised lifetime and introduced the XENARC NIGHT BREAKER LASER HID range with up to 220 % more brightness. Terri added: “Remember, always change bulbs in pairs, even if only one has blown, as it is not only a safer and more practicable option, but it presents an additional opportunity to upsell. Most of OSRAM’s upgrade bulbs are sold in twin duo packs – making it quicker and easier to upgrade. Both headlights are subject to the same stresses, so they will both be deteriorating together. Replacing just one failed bulb can result in an unbalanced or unpredictable headlight beam that can cause serious hazards for the driver and other road users.” For more information, visit www.osram.co.uk/am Air conditioning system Then there is the air conditioning. Nissens Marketing Manager Jan Zieleskiewicz noted: “It’s an unfortunate fact that A/C systems are often disregarded as the weather gets colder. However, as well as for the comfort of the occupants, a fully functioning A/C system is an important safety feature, because good visibility is a necessity, whatever the time of year. As a result, alongside other winter checks, technicians should ensure the A/C system is in good shape and all the joints in the loop are tight because, despite there being no need to cool the cabin in winter, the system can very effectively demist the windows, which is vital for general road safety. In fact, the system should be kept operational at all times, even if it may shut off automatically because of lower outside temperatures, as keeping it in working order is essential.” Jan continued: “The proper lubrication of A/C components and their internal parts, such as the inner moving parts in the compressor for example, is critically important for the overall lifespan of the entire system.” Joint tightness is also important: “Oily stains on the surfaces of the A/C loop can highlight leakages. Refrigerant losses can also come as the result of leaky service ports as the mechanical part of the Schrader valves is often vulnerable to leaks after long periods of inactivity or if the system is undercharged. The cost of changing a port valve is minimal, but can save the system from more severe failures, so is a worthwhile precaution. On the condenser, Jan observed: “The condenser is one of the most vulnerable parts of the A/C loop and yet, the most critical for the correct operation of the system. It can Garages should check the battery on every car that comes through the door ”