Autodata Australia Blog

New look for Autodata Online

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:16:33 +0000

Autodata Online subscribers will soon notice a complete refresh to the graphical user interface with new icons, backgrounds and features being updated.

Here’s a sneak peak at what’s to come!

Autodata Software Update v40

admin — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:20:48 +0000

Autodata Australia would like to announce our March 2012 software update – Version 40. With a total of 199 new models and over 4000 new pages of information for Complete (CD3) subscribers this is one of our most significant updates so far. Over 60 wiring diagrams for 7 separate system circuits have been added for the following models:

Ford Escape (ZC)
Holden Rodeo RA/TF

New and updated model ranges include:

Holden Barina Spark	Kia Sportage (10-)	Nissan 370Z (Z34)
Holden Caprice (WM II)	Mazda 121 Metro (DW)	Nissan Micra (K13)
Holden Captiva (CG/CG II)	Mazda 3 (BK/BL)	Nissan Navara/Pick-up (D40)
Honda Civic (06-)	Mazda Millenia	Subaru Liberty (09-)
Hyundai Grandeur	Mazda Tribute	Subaru XV
Hyundai i45	Mini Cooper (R56/57)	Toyota Camry (06-)
Hyundai ix35	Mitsubishi ASX	Toyota Landcruiser/Prado (150/155 Series)
Kia Magentis/Optima (06-11)	Mitsubishi Express Van (SJ)	Toyota Tarago
Kia Sorento (10-)	Mitsubishi Outlander (07-)

Don’t guess quotes – use Autodata’s Repair Times

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:05:20 +0000

One of the hidden gems of the Autodata information network is their Repair Times module, which lists accurate times it should take for up to 346 individual repair jobs per vehicle.

“With so much emphasis on the importance of technical data and diagnostics, it’s easy to overlook the one module which may influence whether a workshop makes a profit or loss on a quoted repair, no matter how good the diagnostics might be,” says Autodata Managing Director Brett Engeman.

The Repair Times module lists the recommended repair times established by the car manufacturers. The dealerships are expected to be able to carry out the repairs within these time frames. The manufacturers’ repair times are also used to calculate what they will pay out on warranty repairs carried out by the dealerships.

There are two good reasons why this is important to the aftermarket repair shops. First, it provides workshops with a guide on what dealerships are charging for repairs – important for competitive reasons.

The main reason, however, is to help workshops calculate their quotes correctly, rather than using guesswork.

“Misquoting of jobs is a big issue,” says Brett. “If a customer speaks to a non-technical person, or a mechanic who has never worked on a similar vehicle before, an educated guess can often be a costly embarrassment.

“Usually the workshop will wear the loss on labour charges because a quote is seen by the customer as being final.”

As an example, the Mercedes A160 has an odd shaped engine, with parts of the motor under the driver’s feet. Unless the technician was familiar with this model, he might quote a maximum of two hours to replace something as simple as a starter motor. He would be at least two hours out – the manufacture says it should take four hours.

Built into the Autodata module is a tool to help the workshop put an appropriate percentage on top of the recommended time. This is necessary because aftermarket workshops can’t be expected to compete with the dealership’s knowledge of the vehicle, and access to genuine tools.

Subscribers, check your mail boxes!

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:04:31 +0000

August is now upon us and that means update time for our subscribers. Like all of our updates, subscribers will be introduced to a wealth of new vehicles and information.

Autodata Australia Managing Director, Brett Engeman believes this substantial update will be welcomed by technicians because of its detailed body module, transmission, instruments and central locking circuitry which are known problem areas for aftermarket repairers. Circuits contain zoom features with ‘hotspot’ labelling, which gives a hovering mouse pointer the power to quickly identify components and wire colours.

Autodata’s mandatory standardising of component names and colour labelled circuitry have set a new industry benchmark. It allows technicians to navigate between our wiring, component testing and pin data with its integration and hot-linking features.

In fact, Autodata, who boast the largest database of wiring diagrams in Australasia are so serious about adding more wiring, tech room staffer Shayne Brooks currently underwent two weeks of specialist training in wiring diagram compilation. He is now a member of an elite team of seven wiring diagram drawers.

‘Autodata aims to produce 800 new diagrams every year. That’s a big ask considering it can take between eight and 20 hours to do each drawing.’ says Autodata Managing Director Brett Engeman

Mr Engeman considers the Airbag information another major highlight of V39 with an extra 222 models covered with this information. ‘Air bag information is one of the most popular requests our technical department receives. Autodata prides ourselves on subscriber feedback and this influence directed us to focus strongly in this area.’

Updates to Autodata’s extensive range of information are generated by our in-house team of more than 70 researchers in Australia, the UK and the USA.

To learn more about Autodata products go to www.autodata.com.au

OR call our office on 1300 764 432 and talk to one of our 13 helpful staff.

Autodata boosts drawing capability to meet diagram demand

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:02:04 +0000

The wiring diagrams which map the nervous system of a vehicle are the most requested pieces of information by the automotive aftermarket industry.

The demand for accuracy is treated seriously by data provider Autodata, which boasts the largest database of wiring diagrams in Australasia.

So seriously in fact that the Australian arm recently sent tech room staffer Shayne Brooks to Autodata’s UK headquarters for two weeks of specialist training. He is now a member of an elite team of seven wiring diagram drawers.

Autodata Managing Director Brett Engeman says the company aims to produce 800 new diagrams every year. That’s a big ask considering it can take between eight and 20 hours to do each drawing.

“It’s not a simple task. Shayne needed to learn special computer programming to allow for Autodata’s unique hot spotting, which brings up a description when the mouse hovers over a wire or component.

“With the new software the company has adopted, users can also zoom in to drawings to see the fine detail and of course our biggest edge is that our drawings are colour labelled,” added Brett.

Autodata’s main focus for 2011 is to boost their 4×4 engine management content and Brett has forecast that subscribers will see a wave of new content in the company’s August update release.

Data the new currency in car repair industry

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:01:27 +0000

Data has become the new currency of the vehicle aftermarket repair industry as technicians outside the manufacturer and dealership loop struggle to keep up with the growing technology explosion.

Brett Engeman, the managing director of one of the world’s biggest data providers, Autodata, says there are lucrative opportunities waiting to be tapped by wholesalers and makers of a variety of repair equipment, to value add to their products with useful data.

“The trade generally may think that all we do is sell our data to individual subscribers, and while that’s our core business, we can also license our data to other companies which might already have a healthy customer database and the tools to manage the data.

“Our company has a huge research team spread through Australia, the UK and USA, which continuously updates our extensive range of vehicle information. We research countless makes of vehicles so that we can independently produce the kind of information which is essential to the aftermarket, but often difficult to source from the car manufacturers,” said Brett.

“This idea of licensing our data to automotive service industry customers is not new. In America and Europe on-selling of data is big business for companies like ours. We would like more Australasian auto wholesalers to know that this option is available, and that it can play a big role in building customer loyalty.

“What many technicians may not know is that when they fire up some of the top name scanners, the wiring diagrams, pin data and trouble codes they access are actually the result of Autodata research.

“Imagine the sales advantages of equipment such as air conditioning service machinery, which could be loaded with licensed data from us, giving technicians instant detail on refrigerant charging rates and weights for a variety of models,” Brett added.

Autodata Australia believes there are licensed data opportunities going begging for repair franchises which offer fixed price servicing, which would find Autodata’s service times and parts descriptions useful.

Another could be lubricants and their capacities, which oil companies could use to advise customers of the correct oil, measured against the OEM recommendations.

Jump on the BUSS for the best data

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:00:40 +0000

Auto technicians are being encouraged to ‘jump on the BUSS’ in a novel approach to introduce workshop staff to the time and cost saving advantages of having a wide range of vehicle data on tap.

The BUSS in this case stands for the Burson Ultimate Servicing Solution, and in a way, it is the ultimate introductory solution for the busy auto technician who up till now might have shied away from data purchase. Burson Auto Parts and Autodata Australia have combined a range of key products and packed them into a stylish suitcase which will sell for $499 + GST.

The kit contains a 12-month subscription to Service Data, the entry level to the leading Autodata system. This level includes service light reset procedures, manufacturers’ service schedules, diagnostic trouble codes, key programming and wheel alignment specifications among many others.

In addition, purchasers of the BUSS will be able to access a technical help desk and will receive monthly technical bulletins.

There’s also a new range of safety inspection sheets which Autodata believes will go a long way towards educating customers on the need for vehicle maintenance checks at appropriate intervals. With times between services now longer than ever, technicians are noticing a rising tide of repair issues stemming from customer belief that modern vehicles will just go forever, almost amounting to total neglect.BUSS inspection sheets cover up to 166 point checks, and are printable for handing to the customer. Promotional stickers are included for workshops to inform their customers of this

service.

And if all that isn’t enough, there’s more than $100 worth of Permatex sealants, threadlockers and silicones in the kit.

Autodata introduces a clutch of new instructions

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:59:42 +0000

As engine technology advances and modern-day units become increasingly powerful,leading technical information supplier, Autodata, has added another new module that all independent workshops should be aware of – Clutch Replacement Instructions. Thanks to their greater efficiency, improved output and lower CO2 emissions, diesel engined cars in particular have greatly increased their market share in the last five years.*

But advances in both petrol and diesel technology, in turn, means that there has been a significant increase in different types of clutches and transmissions that workshops will come into contact with. Available on Autodata’s internet application, Autodata Complete Online, Clutch Replacement Instructions enables workshops to undertake the removal and installation of the clutch on a vast number of petrol and diesel vehicles.

Manufacturers have developed new ways to transmit greater power outputs whilst reducing vibration and torque fluctuations through the driveline and vehicle body. Clutch Replacement Instructions provides automotive technicians with precise, manufacturer specific information for the following:

• Transmission removal and installation overview

• Clutch type identification

• Special tools identified

• Special lubricants and greases listed

• Clutch pedal adjustment

• Clutch mechanism reset procedures

• Gear linkage adjustment procedures

Autodata Australia’s managing director, Brett Engeman, commented: “As any technician knows, most clutch-related work can be time-consuming, but as a revenue-earner it can be a productive job for the workshop, given the right tools and information. This is where the new module comes in”.

*Source: ABS Motor Vehicle Census, Australia, 31 Mar 2009: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/9309.0/

July Software Update v24

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:58:54 +0000

Autodata Australia would like to announce our July software update – Version 24. With a total of 288 new models and over 5927 new pages of information for CD3 subscribers this is one of our largest updates so far. CD3 customers will also be presented with a brand new module called ‘Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems’.

Thanks to your feedback we have been able to add such models as:

• Audi Q7	• Mazda 2
• Dodge Caliber	• Mercedes Benz C-Class (204)
• Ford FG Series, Escape (06-)	• Mitsubishi Pajero (NS), L200 (78-85)
• Hyundai Accent, i30	• Proton GEN 2
• Isuzu NPR/NKR series (05-08)	• Subaru Impreza (07-)
• Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee	• Suzuki APV
• Lexus GS450H	• Toyota Camry 40 series

Another area of the disc that we have paid a lot of attention to in this update is 4WD Engine Management. Such key models include:

•    Holden Rodeo (RA series)
•    Mitsubishi Pajero (NM, NP series)
•    Nissan Navara (D22 series)
•    Nissan Patrol (Y61 series)
•    Nissan Pathfinder (R50 series)
•    Toyota Hilux (1997-2005 series)
•    Toyota Prado (90 & 120 series)
•    Toyota Landcruiser (80 & 100 series)

Apart from more technical data in this update, you will also see a small change in the way we deliver your data. Due to the growing amount of content on our discs, all version updates will now be sent via the more popular DVD format. What this means for you is that all updates from now on will arrive on one disc instead of two. This new way of delivering data will require that all subscribers have a DVD drive installed in their computer.

Help is on the way for New Zealands complex car repair industry

admin — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:57:41 +0000

An automotive information system being launched through Repco New Zealand this month is virtually tailor-made for a country which boasts the world’s most diverse carpark.

New Zealand aftermarket auto technicians have to deal with car makes from many countries and diagnostic information is not always readily available.

The worldwide vehicle information group, Autodata has put together a unique database of information which combines all vehicles currently available in Australia and Europe. Called Autodata Asia – Pacific, the information package was designed for New Zealand and regional markets.

Autodata national sales manager Brett Engeman said that while Repco New Zealand had sold the Autodata product mainly through their own equipment division for the past three years, the new DVD will go into the Repco mainstream, through all 93 branch outlets in the country.

With the new DVD, technicians will be able to access a range of information covering 23 subjects related to more than 11,500 vehicles.

“In November, we will be adding three new specialty subjects to the system – electric park brakes, battery disconnect procedures and air conditioning connectors.

“Repco is confident that the information available through the Autodata DVD and its ongoing updates, will make vehicle repair information more readily available and shorten repair times,” said Brett Engeman.

“It’s a win/win situation, because the ultimate beneficiary of a more efficient repair network will be the customer.” he added.

Autodata has already established itself in Australia as a leading publisher and supplier of technical information in print and electronic formats. The company has its own dedicated team of 70 vehicle researchers working in Australia, the UK and USA.

On average, each bi-annual update includes an additional 200 vehicles and around 5000 new pages.