You want to keep your customers happy and keep their cars on the road. But replacing one part of the serpentine, cooling, or timing systems isn’t enough and can result in unhappy customers returning with additional repairs sooner rather than later. When you have a vehicle in your workshop, be system smart and avoid comebacks by doing a complete repair.
The new ‘Protect The Ride™’ campaign from Gates Australia focuses on this complete system repair message to ensure more profitable jobs for workshops and less customer comebacks.
If you want to ‘Protect The Ride™’, Be System Smart every time:
Protect against a dead battery by ordering a belt, tensioner and pulley every time.
According to the alternator manufacturers, up to 70% of the alternators that are returned to the factory are for a “no charge” situation. Lack of belt tension was the main problem.
Protect against the heat by ordering a belt, tensioner and pulley every time.
A slipping belt reduces the performance of the compressor and creates heat for the compressor bearings.
Order a tensioner and pulley as well, every time.
99.8% of serpentine belts are forced to fail by another worn component. There is no real test to know if the idler pulleys have enough grease or to make sure your tensioner is not wearing out.
SOURCE: Reasons for replacement according to IMR INC. Automotive Research.
Protect against overheating by ordering a belt, tensioner and pulley every time.
A failed damper in the tensioner will transfer engine torsional vibration through the belt and into the water pump shaft, forcing premature failure of the bearings.
Protect against roadside breakdowns by ordering an upper and lower radiator hose every time.
Preempt your customers roadside breakdown from radiator hose failure, by having the foresight to replace.
Protect against system failure by replacing belts and tensioners at 150,000kms every time. Failure modes are hard to determine, so go beyond visual inspection and base your replacement recommendations on mileage.
As part of this campaign they have launched an overview of the program with a video on the importance of complete system maintenance targeted at the automotive consumer at https://info.gatesaustralia.com.au/PTR.html.
The second phase of the program is the launch of the ‘Protect The Ride™’ cooling system maintenance campaign. A dedicated web page has been setup and includes a detailed training video around the importance of cooling system maintenance and around modular hose. Mechanics are encouraged to visit the page at https://info.gatesaustralia.com.au/ptr-cooling.html, and watch the training video.
Recently launched is the latest component of the Protect The Ride™ campaign which covers the serpentine or Accessory Belt Drive System (ABDS). This covers common ABDS issues and solutions offered by Gates®. A video covering common issues with the ABDS is also included as well as a promotion for visitors to go into the draw to win a NEDS Whisky Racing merchandise pack or a minor prize of 1 of 25 Gates® Protect The Ride™ merchandise packs. Go to https://www.info.gatesaustralia.com.au/ptr-serpentine.html to learn more.
In the coming months Gates Australia will also release the last component of the campaign covering the Synchronous Belt Drive System (SBDS).
This article is brought to you by Gates
