The recent hurricanes have taken a terrible toll on our East Coast, and our deepest concern and sympathy is rightly focused on the survivors and victims of these affected regions. The condition of the affected cars from these storms is indeed trivial, compared to the loss of human life and the damage to whole communities. However, an unfortunate aftermath of these storms could be coming your way. 

According to CARFAX, there were about a half-million water-damaged cars returned to the roadways in 2023. An estimated 100,000 waterlogged vehicles were damaged in the most recent four months of 2024; those numbers do not include the still-climbing damage tally from Helene and Milton.

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2014 GMC Sierra drivers have been surprised by an in-cabin light show. Upon applying the brakes or using the turn signals the dome lights over the passenger rows will flash or flicker. In the interest of ‘staying alive’, GM has issued a bulletin #Pl1268B that notes that this condition will not register any DTCs. The bulletin includes repair procedures and there is limited warranty coverage for this condition.

ALLDATA Repair Planner, the latest addition to ALLDATA’s integrated collision repair platform, is now available on the CCC Secure Share™ network. This means that ALLDATA Repair Planner customers can have their estimates imported automatically and securely from CCC Secure Share to ALLDATA Repair Planner.

The countdown is on for the 2024 SEMA Show and there’s plenty to be excited about! Whether you’re a loyal customer or just kicking the tires, make sure to stop by our ALLDATA booth (#31065 – located in the Upper South Hall). We have lots to show you, including product enhancements and our NEW ALLDATA Repair Planner. Plus, keep an eye out for our best deals of the year!

The importance of winterizing brake systems

Any time of year is right for brake system maintenance, but colder weather poses some special challenges for technicians. Key brake components are stressed by cold, moisture, and the salt that some locales use to deal with snow and ice. Added issues come from reduced driving during severe weather, resulting in cars sitting days without driving. Rust never sleeps even when the car is napping.

The holiday season brings lots of travel. Don’t forget to capitalize on this opportunity. To prepare for holiday season automotive repair promotions, it’s essential to develop a well-rounded strategy that combines marketing, customer engagement, service offerings, and operational efficiency. Here’s a guide to help you get ready:

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Economy-minded 2019 Mercedes Benz GLC350e owners were disappointed to discover that their ‘Eco start/stop’ feature suddenly was turned off. Instrument clusters may display the ‘Stop vehicle Leave Engine Running’ with the battery symbol to indicate that the separate start/stop battery likely needs to be replaced.

It’s not rocket science… Although they do use network topology

Occasionally, when you’re working with vehicular diagnostics, you may come across a certain scan tool issue. Either you have no communication with the scan tool, or you may retrieve communication codes indicating that one or more specific modules are not communicating. Always start by familiarizing yourself with the type of network topology (structure) used for the communication network on the vehicle you are working on. This will help you to be aware of possible faults and help you strategize how to locate a problem. For most of the common issues, there are only a limited number of ways the system can fail.

The countdown is on for the 2024 SEMA Show and there’s plenty to be excited about! Whether you’re a loyal customer or just kicking the tires, make sure to stop by our ALLDATA booth (#31065 – located in the Upper South Hall). We have lots to show you, plus, keep an eye out for our best deals of the year!

AutobodyNews' Stacey Phillips Ronak explores new opportunities in the parts chain 

Since launching this year, Auto Additive has positioned itself as a collision repair specialist provider of high-quality, OEM-grade 3D-printed parts, tools and jigs for the automotive repair and customization industry. The company is working with several launch clients in the collision industry from headlight reconditioners, product suppliers and collision repairers to understand the opportunity in these sectors ...

If you’re looking for repair information on pre-1982 vehicles, or if you can’t find specific information on a vehicle in ALLDATA Repair^® or ALLDATA Collision^®, the ALLDATA Library Research team is here to help.

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Some 2018 Equinox drivers became perplexed when using Advanced Parking Assist (APA) and the vehicle would abort the parking attempt.

Where the commitment to excellence drives success

Seven years ago, Antonio Pardini was a junior in high school when he started washing cars at Elk Grove Custom Collision Detail in Elk Grove, Calif. Today, he leads a dedicated team as the Collision Center Manager, overseeing a thriving business that has grown under his leadership.

2013 VW Jetta - Stalls/No Comms when hot

Mario Rojas (aka Super Mario Diagnostics) has been repairing cars since 2013 and sharing his repairs on YouTube for the last five years. Fitting to his username, he primarily focuses on diagnostics and troubleshooting – and he’s garnered quite a following doing so. He currently has over 52 thousand subscribers on YouTube and over five million total video views.

Sixty-one percent (more than 3 in 5) of shops said in the latest “Who Pays for What?” survey that they are researching OEM repair procedures on “all” or “most” of the vehicles they repair. That’s a nine percentage point gain since 2020. The survey was conducted in the spring by Collision Advice and CRASH Network. About 700 shops participated.

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2019-2022 RAV4 customers have noticed a sloshing or splashing sound from one or more door panels while driving. The cause: a waxy cavity substance in combination with debris clog the door drain holes. This condition affects all variations, hybrid and ICE RAV4s. Toyota has published bulletin T-SB-0084-21 which contains a repair procedure.

If your scan tool is capable of reading a data stream, there are a couple of tests you can perform that will save you time when you’re dealing with a complex diagnosis.

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2020-22 F350 Super Duty owners have been perplexed by their truck seemingly acting on it’s own. Symptoms include electric seats randomly moving, continuous horn blasts, and illuminated anti-lock brake system (ABS) indicator with trouble codes C0020 and U3003. Most troubling however is the engine will not turn off or in some cases will not crank (start).

ALLDATA President Satwinger Mangat, along with the company’s Sales and Marketing Directors, travelled from the USA on May 8 to visit three Quebec City-area workshops for discussions with their managers. The tour was coordinated by Philippe Blouin, ALLDATA’s Business Solutions Consultant for the Quebec City region.

Typically, when we feature an auto repair shop, it almost always includes a structure with ample workspace, air-tools, lifts and a waiting room. Black Top Auto Repair has set this standard on its ear with an exceptional mobile approach. The concept of ‘mobile mechanic’ has a long history with varied connotations, and owner/operator Dylan Loebel-Begelman understands this perception. This is why his mobile business incorporates a custom-built trailer, outfitted with a lift, air compressor, tool storage, waste tanks, leveling jacks and internet hotspot.

Like many in the automotive industry, Joshua Day was born into it. In 1979 – three years before Josh was even born – his father, Paul Day, became the very first mechanic at the then newly-opened Big O Tire^{® franchise in Woodland, Calif.}

Customers who need replacement catalytic converters often prefer the lower cost and greater availability of the aftermarket part rather than the recommended OE option. Unfortunately, these aftermarket catalytic converters often have bad reputations of quickly failing, and many assume it’s because they are not made with the same quality standards as their OE counterparts.

ALLDATA Repair Planner is a new add-on product for ALLDATA Collision®. Part of ALLDATA’s integrated repair platform, it automates the collision repair planning process with OEM accuracy to help shops save time, limit liability, and boost profits. 

No parts changing - 2010 BMW X5 not charging

Mario Rojas (aka Super Mario Diagnostics) has been repairing cars since 2013 and sharing his repairs on YouTube for the last five years. Fitting to his username, he primarily focuses on diagnostics and troubleshooting – and he’s garnered quite a following doing so. He currently has over 49 thousand subscribers on YouTube and over five million total video views.

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Porsche Caymans between 2010-21 with specific equipment combinations and the Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (PVTS) deactivated have the potential to suddenly prevent ignition.

Automates repair planning for collision shops with OEM accuracy

ELK GROVE, Calif. April 30, 2024 – ALLDATA has announced the launch of Repair Planner, which is the newest addition to the company’s integrated collision repair platform.

2015 BMW 228i No Comms - Rear Electronics Module Reprogramming

Mario Rojas (aka Super Mario Diagnostics) has been repairing cars since 2013 and sharing his repairs on YouTube for the last five years. Fitting to his username, he primarily focuses on diagnostics and troubleshooting – and he’s garnered quite a following doing so. He currently has over 49 thousand subscribers on YouTube and over five million total video views.

The proper match of oil filter to engine application is more important than it has ever been. Today's engines are designed with very tight tolerances: two-stage oil pumps and high flow lubrication systems. The oil pressure was increased to accommodate these tighter tolerances.

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Dodge Challenger owners who were using the steering shifter paddles to manually upshift were more than surprised when their car downshifted instead.

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2016-19 Camaro owners have noticed while driving that the tachometer occasionally fluctuates between idle and 7000 RPM. The actual engine performance is unaffected. The problem doesn’t seem to be related to engine speed, vehicle speed, and current gear selection. This occurs more frequently with Camaro’s equipped with LT1 engines.

In the spirit of April Fools’ Day, three of our Tech Tips are true … and two are pranks. But which two? Find out by clicking each one to unlock the true Tech Tips, or the pranks. Ultimately, we know there’s no foolin’ around when it comes to OEM-direct, tech-verified automotive mechanical repairs.

The Car Care Council encourages the automotive repair industry to support National Car Care Month this April. Here’s how to get involved.

Stellantis Ventures, the automaker’s corporate venture fund, has invested in SteerLight — the developer of a new generation lidar sensing technology. Employing silicon photonics technology, which combines a universal semiconductor material with the speed of photos, SteerLight’s lidar senses the surrounding environment in 3D with higher resolution and precision, and at a lower volume production cost, than other lidar systems, according to a news release from the companies.

Have you heard of ALLDATA Tech Assist®? It’s our diagnostic hotline staffed by our team of Master Techs, who can help with anything from advanced diagnostic troubleshooting to step-by-step repair assistance. Plus, we offer live video-streaming so they can show you the solution while you talk to them.

Three new laws went into effect Jan. 1 to address the theft of catalytic converters in California. One makes it illegal to remove a VIN from a catalytic converter, among other provisions. Another requires dealerships to have the catalytic converter engraved with the VIN before a new or used vehicle is sold. The third redefines what constitutes an automobile dismantler and creates criminal penalties for anyone acting illegally as an automobile dismantler.

New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found drivers who use advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) grow more comfortable with the technology over time---sometimes too comfortable. After weeks of using ADAS, attention to driving tended to drop. However, these drivers also used ADAS more when highway demands were lower.

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with a parasitic draw

Mario Rojas, ( aka Super Mario Diagnostics) has been repairing cars since 2013, and, for the last five years, has been sharing his repairs on YouTube. Fitting to his username, he primarily focuses on diagnostics and troubleshooting – and he’s garnered quite a following doing so. He currently has over 47 thousand subscribers on YouTube and over five million total video views.

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Some VW Golf owners have brought their vehicle complaining about false warnings while using the Park Assist feature. Volkswagen has issued a bulletin to address the possible reasons for the false warnings.

Staffed by a team of ASE-Certified Master Technicians, ALLDATA Tech-Assist is a diagnostic hotline that saves shops time by providing advanced diagnostic troubleshooting and step-by-step repair assistance.

If there is one thing that freaks out drivers, it’s when one or more of their brakes seize up or fail. Understandably, they get really upset when the car won’t stop, swerves abruptly, or stops unexpectedly.