www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2024 AFTERMARKET 3 CONTENTS BUSINESS 8 Big issue: MOT consultation response 12 Handling a H&S investigation 14 Tina Drayson: Know your audience 16 Russ Houlden: Big shoes to fill? 18 Autodata: Mind the gap TOP TECHNICIAN/TOP GARAGE 20 JLM Lubricants UK: Only the best TECHNICAL 24 Technical update 26 Aftermarket of the future 28 Frank Massey: A month in the life 30 Neil Currie: Making the Smart choices 32 Repairify: ADAS added to the MOT? IN FOCUS 34 Vehicle electronics and engine management 40 Ignition 42 Turbos 45 EVs and hybrids 48 Bearings PLUS... 52 Competition/General products 54 On the road: Town & Country Covers 56 Garage visit: Personal Services 58 TomTom: Beyond cities 60EVs and hybrids 62 Training update 64 Recruitment 66 Teabreak PROS AND CONSULTATIONS Editor | Alex Wells alex@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Head of Sales | Angela Lyus angela@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 7823 736 629 Managing Director | Ryan Fuller ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Contributors Parminder Takhar | Neil Currie | Tina Drayson | Russ Houlden | Neil Kennett | James Lett | Frank Massey | Drew Meehan | Martin Pinnell-Brown Operations Manager | Emma Godden-Wood emma.godden-wood@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Marketing Manager | Hope Jepson hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 371081 Finance Department accounts@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 Aftermarket Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE Alex Wells, Editor Average net circulation July 2022 to June 2023 17,274 @aftermarketmagazine @aftermarket01 @aftermarketmagazine @aftermarketmagazine 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 Group 2024. The major news for the sector in the last month was the publication of the Government’s MOT consultation response, and the decision announced therein to keep the existing 3-1-1 frequency pattern for the test. This was a victory for common sense, but it took an industry-wide almost entirely wholesale condemnation of the idea of rolling back to a 4-1-1, or worse a 4-2-2 to get this through. The statistics were against shifting the pattern, and the experts were against moving the pattern, and yet every few years the sector needs to unite, get all the facts together, much of which the various Government departments actually collate themselves, and point this all out, again. I mean, talk about Déjà vu. When I first found myself in the Editor’s chair here at Aftermarket all the way back at the start of 2017, we were discussing the risk of the gap between MOTs being extended, and the first MOT being pushed back a y ear. In fact, I’m starting to lose track on how many times we have been through this in the last decade as a whole. Of course, the MOT must move with the times. Vehicles have changed, and systems such as ADAS need to be considered as part of the test, and emissions testing can also improve. I said this before, and I’ll say it again; How could the MOT be used to test vehicle emissions, with a view to improving the situation, if the test was being performed later and less often? Fortunately, the professionals in the sector are more than able to help the Government on all fronts. To find out what was said across the industry when the consultation response came out, turn to Big Issue on pages 8-11. If you are on your computer looking to read the MOT consultation response, the link to which can be found in the aforementioned Big Issue, what are you doing afterwards? Have you entered Top Technician and/or Top Garage 2024 yet? Both competitions are now open, and it just takes a few moments to register and take the initial online tests. Winners will receive big prizes including cash, tools and equipment. For Top Technician and Top Garage 2023, the total prize fund was in excess of £40,000. To enter Top Technician or Top Garage 2024, visit www.toptechtopgarage.co.uk click on the appropriate tab, and follow the instructions. Also looking at Top Technician and Top Garage, on pages 20-21 you will hear from JLM Lubricants UK on their reasons for becoming Full Event Partners for both competitions in 2024. We also have articles from long-time contributors including CCM’s Tina Drayson, as well as technical pieces from our regulars including Frank Massey, 2019 Top Tech champ Neil Currie, and Aftermarket of the Future from Neil Kennett. We actually have a triumvirate of contributors called Neil, but we are keeping the third for a forthcoming issue. Lastly, one of the major problems that emerged in the last few years was the problem of parts supply, which was an unforeseen side-effect of the pandemic lockdowns across the world. Recent events in the Red Sea are already causing disquiet as ships are required to eschew the Suez Canal and take the long way around Africa. With recent experience offering potential options, hopefully the sector will adapt quickly, and cost rises will be kept to a minimum. Subscribe for your FREE copy now
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