TECHTIPS FOR DECEMBER, 1998

IN THE LAST TECH TIP, I COMMENTED ON OLDER CARS BEING A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING OUR FAMILIARITY WITH THEM. LAST MONTH A CUSTOMER CALLED OR AN ALTERNATOR FOR A 1984 OLDS, DELTA 88, W/5.0L ENGINE. THE ALTERNATOR WAS LATER RETURNED AS "NOT NECESSARY". THE TECH FORGOT THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS DRIVEN OFF THE WATER PUMP AND THE WATER PUMP IS DRIVEN OFF THE CRANK. SO, WHILE THE ALTERNATOR BELT WAS TIGHT, THE BELT FORM THE CRANK TO THE WATER PUMP WAS LOOSE AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT TURNING FAST ENOUGH TO CHARGE THE BATTERY.

IT'S BAD ENOUGH TO HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE NEW CARS, BUT WITH AN AVERAGE CAR'S LIFE SPAN BEING 16+ YEARS, YOU GOTTA KEEP ALL THE OLD STUFF TOO!

THE HOLIDAY SEASON WILL SOON BE UPON US, A TIME TO BE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. FOR MOST OF US, WE HAVE FAMILY THAT HAS MOVED AWAY, REQUIRING TRAVEL TO SEE THEM. IN MY CASE, MY CLOSE FAMILY IS IN 2 PROVINCES, 2 STATES AND OVER SEAS. IN ORDER TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY, WE WILL CLOSE AT ABOUT NOON ON DEC. 23/98 AND REOPEN AT 8:OOam ON DECEMBER 28/98. FOR NEW YEARS WE WILL BE CLOSED JAN. 1/99 TO 8:00am ON JAN. 4/99. WE ALL HOPE THAT YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON IS SAFE AND HAPPY.

OVER THAT LAST ABOUT 5 YEARS, WE HAVE ACTED AS A "MINI" WAREHOUSE FOR INTERSTATE BATTERIES, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE COME HERE TO REPLACE BATTERIES THAT YOU HAVE SOLD. BY THE TIME YOU RECIEVE THIS TECH TIP, THAT WILL HAVE CHANGED. I HAVE DECIEDED TO SUPPORT A LINE OF BATTERIES THAT IS COMPETITIVLEY PRICED BUT OFFERS A 60 MONTH REPLACEMENT WARRANTY. THE BATTERIES ARE MADE BY DELPHI, WHICH IS ONE OF THE COMPANIES FORMED WHEN DELCO REMY WAS SOLD AND BROKEN UP BY GENERAL MOTORS.

WHILE THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY BATTERY LINE IS NOT YET COMPLETE, AND I WILL BE FILLING IN, UNTIL THE LINE IS COMPLTE, THE DISTRIBUTOR SAYS THAT THERE WILL BE MORE COVERAGE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE BATTERIES ARE BEING DISTRBUTED BY THE LARGEST "CANADIAN" MANUFACTURER OF BATTEIES. THE REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE CALLING ON MANY OF MY CUSTOMERS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER. IF YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A BATTERY WITH A 5 YEAR REPLACEMENT WARRANTY, CALL ME AND I WILL MAKE SURE THE REPRESENTATIVES STOP IN TO SEE YOU.

THE PICTURES OF THE NEW GM ALTERNATORS WHICH WERE INCLUDED WITH LAST MONTH'S TECH TIP WERE FROM DuBOIS MARCKETING, A SUPPLIER OF MINE. THEY HAVE PROVIDED SOME MORE OF THESE PICTURE A ONE IS INCLUDED IN THIS TECH TIP. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED, IS THERE SEEMS TO BE A DIFFERENT REGULATOR FOR EACH OF THESE ALTERNATORS, SO EVEN IN THE UNLIKLEY EVENT THAT YOU COULD GET THEM TO BOLT UP, THEY PROBABLY WON'T WORK PROPERLY.