Any feedback on the autel ts601 unit? It's about $750 so just want to make sure I am getting my moneys worth.
Thanks
TPMS services....why didn't I think of this sooner
Our shop uses the TS401 to read the sensors. It will tell us which sensor is faulty (will not activate it if it is faulty) and will show the PSI & ID for each sensor that responds. The scanner is pretty good. Then to replace the sensor we use the clone tool from Napa which you use on their brand TPMS sensors. With that you type in the ID from the faulty sensor (usually printed on the sensor) and then type it in on the napa device and it writes it to the new sensor. All in, for both pieces of equipment we have $200 invested and have made that back many times over. Obviously it adds 1 other step since it is 2 different devices but its not much more time and doesn't require the high priced tools. Worse case if that fails, our Maxisys scanner will write the IDs as well.
I can't really compare the TS601 to other tools since I've only used this one. But what I absolutely love is not having to write down ID's anymore. You walk around the car and scan all the sensors wirelessly (It will let you pick if the car has 4 or 5 sensors). Say you find one bad or has a low battery (the 601 will tell you if a sensor is still working but has a low battery). After you replace that bad sensor, you walk around the car and scan all the sensors again. Plug the 601 tool into the OBD port, select write ID's, and it automatically writes all the new ID's to the car. You don't have to punch them in manually since it remembers all the ID's. It's also super handy because two more clicks, and it will write it to a '2nd set' if the car has the option for 2 sets of tires. This prevents someone accidently pressing the '2nd set' switch in the car and causing a tire light since no sensors are programmed.
Hopefully that wasn't confusing. Is it worth $750? I dunno, I have nothing else to compare it to. I do know I have no complaints so far with it. I bought mine as a package deal with the maxisys pro, so I got a pretty good deal I think.
If this helps any, when a car now comes in with a tire pressure light, I reach for the 601 instead of the tire pressure gauge. I walk around the car and in 30 seconds I know if it's just low tire pressure or a bad sensor.
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Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?
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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog5 commentsI recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo:https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
If you would like to join their private Facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind
The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo:https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
If you would like to join their private Facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind
In this podcast episode, Coach Chris Cotton from Auto Fix Auto Shop Coaching hosts a conversation with Coach Al and Kevin, a service manager, about the importance of team culture in an auto repair shop. They share their experiences with team-building activities like axe throwing, camping trips, and Christmas parties, emphasizing how these events enhance employee relationships and work dynamics. The discussion also covers their thoughtful approach to hiring and the necessity of appreciating staff. Coach Chris admires their methods and reflects on the value of investing in employees, while Coach Al highlights the inclusion of these practices in their hiring process to attract and retain a committed workforce.
Culture and team building exercises (00:01:00) Discussion about the importance of culture and team building exercises in the auto repair shop industry.
Creating a positive culture (00:02:50) Description of the strong chemistry and positive culture in the shop, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and camaraderie among the employees.
Hiring process and culture fit (00:03:54) Insights into the hiring process, including assessing candidates for their skills and cultural fit through interviews and observations.
Annual Christmas party and other events (00:06:02) Details about the annual Christmas party and other team-building events organized throughout the year, such as axe throwing and other outings.
Christmas party preparations and employee appreciation (00:08:00) Discussion about the process of selecting personalized gifts for employees, the budgeting for the party, and the significance of showing employee appreciation.
Appreciating employees through events (00:11:15) Explanation of the financial investment in employee appreciation events, such as the Christmas party, as a reflection of the shop's commitment to valuing and retaining great employees.
Camping trip tradition (00:16:24) Origins and evolution of the annual camping trip, including the planning process, activities, and the inclusive nature of the event for employees and their families.
Inclusive camping trip and its cost (00:19:07) Inclusion of employees' families in the camping trip and an overview of the costs associated with organizing the event.
Maintaining order during the camping trip (00:20:32) Anecdote about managing noise levels and potential disruptions during the camping trip, highlighting the challenges of organizing a large group event in a campground setting.
Camping Trip Planning (00:21:57) Discussion on the timing and survey process for the annual camping trip organized for employees.
Employee Bonding (00:23:50) Kevin emphasizes the positive impact of team-building events on employee relationships and work dynamics.
Investing in Employees (00:25:27) The importance of investing in employees and showing appreciation for their efforts is highlighted.
Recruitment Strategy (00:26:05) Incorporating team-building events into recruitment discussions to emphasize employee appreciation and engagement.
Connect with Chris:
[email protected]
Phone: 940.400.1008
www.autoshopcoaching.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
AutoFixAutoShopCoachingYoutube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae
#autofixautoshopcoaching #autofixbeautofixing #autoshopprofits #autoshopprofit #autoshopprofitsfirst #autoshopleadership #autoshopmanagement #autorepairshopcoaching #autorepairshopconsulting #autorepairshoptraining #autorepairshop #autorepair #serviceadvisor #serviceadvisorefficiency #autorepairshopmarketing #theweeklyblitz #autofix #shopmarketingpros #autofixautoshopcoachingbook
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By Changing The Industry
The Basics of Owning An Auto Repair Shop - Balancing GP per Hour and Productivity
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Episode 162 - Lauralee Schmidt on Repair Shop Economics and Social Media Slips
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andybizub
You might want to check into the Wurth TPMS reader and their universal sensors. We are primarily a Euro shop, and we switched from OEM sensors to the Wurth ones, and we use their tool to read and register to the vehicle. They've saved a lot of time and money, and they work on everything from Audi to VW
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JimO
I agree with Dave, the NAPA sensors worked out well for us using the NAPA tool and my Snap-On Solus Edge scanner when needed. Unfortunately all NAPA stores in our area changed over to CarQuest so we needed a new supplier. One of our wholesale tire suppliers had a special that included a free Smart Sensor Pro tool with the purchase of (8) Smart Sensors. So far the tool and sensors have worked great, they are clonable and have very good coverage. I had a few questions initially and their support is very good. Another bonus - updates are free for life. The Smart Sensor Pro has an OBDII connection useful not only when replacing sensors but also for TPMS resets post rotation which is required on many vehicles. In the rare case we use an OEM sensor then we use the Solus Edge to introduce the new Sensor (if required).
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xrac
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