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HARA NEWS, Canada

 

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HARA

Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association


HARA HAS TRADITIONALLY GONE OUT AND SOLVED THE INDUSTRY'S PROBLEM - OTHERS JUST TALK ABOUT IT

Enforceable POLICE TOWING contracts that provide fairness for collision shops and reduce accident scene solicitation were fought for by HARA and are now in place and next year body shops will likely have a municipal licensing restriction that can remove their ability to operate if they use a "chaser". All complaints are investigated and acted on, as shops who send us complains know, but we must hear from you with facts that can lead to license or contract revocation.

New ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS for your shop will occur in 1998. HARA is the only group that worked with governments to establish fair and, we believe, profitable changes that will benefit legitimate shops and penalize those that are unwilling to conform with industry norms. Originally, government wanted to put $150,000 VOC abatement furnaces at each shop and have you pay for them.
The new ACCREDITATION program will mean that shops can now attract business through use of normal marketing techniques and based on equipment standards and legal compliance.

INSURERS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND a "preferred" repair facility to some 45% of the owners of Ontario collision-damaged vehicles, that enter a Collision Reporting Centre. Although this applies to the 4,2 million person Toronto market, the 105,000 accidents that occur annually in that area also involve the one million cars a day that come from the areas surrounding Toronto.

HARA leads the industry stakeholder group for the RE-INSPECTION OF SALVAGE BRANDED VEHICLES. We are hoping to see this in place by July. More vehicles will be repaired, with less writeoffs at the shop level. Used parts become more plentiful and less expensive.

INSURANCE ORDERED PARTS PROGRAMS will not occur in Ontario, due to the diligence of HARA in meeting with insurers and stakeholders. This program is not profitable for shops and would only cause shop production delays and friction among the industry.

INDUSTRY SELF-MANAGEMENT is being discussed with increasing interest. We continue to meet with cabinet ministers, major insurers and media to improve our ability to address this major positive change for our industry.

FIRECODES for shops are up for review in the aftermath of the Plastimet fire and HARA will be working with the Fire Marshall on assuring that these changes will not adversely impact our industry.
The HARA office has all sorts of good things for members, including:
  • accident data for area including time of day, intersections, demographics, etc.
  • the latest updates on today's changes in industry, two months before trade magazines print it
  • our ISO 9000 program for shops
  • autobody management and counselling programs-lowest price in Canada
  • free waste assessment audits-save over $900.00
  • Ladies Car Care Clinics for your shop, with Car Doctor, CHML's John Booth
  • assistance with regulations and governments-HARA has fought and won zoning changes for our shops, environmental work with government has meant that shops with problems were able to use our help to meet compliance and were not charged
  • how to save thousands of dollars in waste management costs
  • special deals on solvent recyclers
  • computerized faxing service to reach your customers
  • computer web-site to give your shop exposure to anyone using the world wide web. HARA's web site has more shops on it than anyone else in Canada.
  • insurance relations assistance - our contacts at the highest levels of the insurance community mean that we can obtain policy directives that you can show to an appraiser to ensure no communication misunderstandings.

Tech Tips
If El Nino produces the winter rains as predicted, this flood checklist will be useful to repairers

Flood Damaged Vehicles Repair Checklist
  1. Check Dipstick For Water High oil levels on the dipstick and water bubbles in engine oil or if red and fluid turns pink water has entered the system.
  2. Pull Passenger's Floor and Trunk Plugs if so equipped. Wash all mud and silt out of passenger and trunk compartment.
  3. Remove Carpets, Seats and Interior Trim Panels and dry them or replace them. (Foam types usually don't dry.) (Drying can be done by using your heated spray booth for one or two nights.)
  4. Remove Spare Wheel jack and handle, clean it; use WD-40 on screws holding it.
  5. Remove Door Trim Panels and check window motors; use WD-40 on them, grease regulator, pivots and check door speakers!
  6. Grease Door Hinges.
  7. Check Battery & Terminals: clean terminals and grease them. Clean under the battery especially if its located in the trunk or under the seat.
  8. Look For Computers, Equalizers, Alarms (lo-jack) or other black boxes» under seats.
  9. Check Airbag Sensors under seats and seat belt retractors, and dry them. When re-installing seats, grease tracks and use WD-40 on seat motors and the belt retractors.
  10. Clean Debris off Radiator, A/C Condenser and Aux. Fan/Motor Assembly.
  11. Blow Out Starter Motor and Alternator with air.
  12. Pull Plug in Differential and check for water.
  13. Check Muffler For Water.
  14. Re-Pack Wheel Bearings. Grease suspenseion and steering when applicable.
  15. Shampoo Carpets, Seats and Interior.
  16. Re-Connect and Re-Set ABS and Main Computers. Run diagnostic on airbag computer.
  17. Re-Set Radio Codes.
  18. Detail Exterior and Engine Compartment.
  19. If The Car Has Been Kept Closed For Over A Day. Spray all the metal panels and upholstery with Lysol to kill the bacteria and odor.
AIR BAG EQUIPPED VEHICLES.
Volvo warns that if a car has been in a flood, an attempt to start it could inadvertently deploy the air bag. Other air bagged cars could also be affected. Check with the dealer.

FOR HIGHER WATER LEVELS
Change oil and filter, air filter, check relays and sensors. Pull spark plugs and crank engine; oil spark plyg treads and cylinders prior to starting engine; check spark plug wires for arcing. Check power steering and brake fluids.
A service of
SCRS