Auto-Wares Group of Companies

06/05/2026

Road trip season is here. Are you helping customers catch potential problems before they become roadside breakdowns? 🚗🛠️

🚗 Road-trip inspections aren't just about finding problems—they're about presenting a clear plan.

Every summer, customers come in with the same request:

"I'm heading out of town next week."

That's your opportunity to do more than just check a battery or measure tire tread. The best pre-trip inspections look at the systems that work hardest on long highway drives:

🔋 Battery & Charging – Weak batteries and charging issues often don't show up until they're far from home

🌡️ Cooling System – Coolant condition, hoses, belts, and airflow can make the difference between a smooth trip and an overheating vehicle

🛞 Tires – Tread depth, wear patterns, and inflation issues become much bigger problems at highway speeds

🛑 Brakes – Low pad life and worn components are easier to address in the shop than on the road

💧 Fluids & A/C – Fluid condition and A/C performance are easy wins that customers appreciate before a long trip

The key is to bundle your findings into one clear estimate instead of five separate recommendations. When customers can see the complete inspection, it feels less like they're being sold to and more like they're being taken care of.

✔ One Inspection.
✔ One Conversation.
✔ One Clear Plan.

💬 Want a customizable pre-trip inspection checklist you can brand for your shop? Comment "TRIP" and we'll send it over.

🔥 Techs—what's the most common road-trip-related repair you see every summer?

06/02/2026

Congratulations Pat Burke and thank you for all that you do! 🙌🏼

🎉 Introducing Setting the Standard 🎉

At Auto-Wares, we're fortunate to have team members who go the extra mile every day to take care of our customers. That's why we've partnered with Standard Motor Products to launch Setting the Standard, a new employee recognition program that celebrates employees who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer service.

Today, we're proud to recognize our first winner, Pat Burke, Store Manager at Auto Value North Muskegon #242.

When a part ordered for a customer was lost in transit, Pat didn't settle for telling the customer to wait. He took ownership of the situation, tracked down another part, and made sure the customer had what they needed that same day. It's the kind of initiative, problem-solving, and customer-first mindset that turns a challenge into a great experience.

Pat's dedication to taking care of customers is exactly what Setting the Standard is all about.

👏 Congratulations, Pat, and thank you for setting the standard for service every day!

05/29/2026

Thank you to our amazing customers for coming out last weekend! 🇺🇸

05/26/2026

The right tools make all the difference. Do you have the right tools for this A/C season?

The right diagnosis starts with the right tools.

In our last A/C post, we talked about how missed contamination, airflow issues, and incorrect pressure readings are what lead to comebacks—not just “bad compressors.”

That’s why having the right A/C tools in the shop matters.

👉 YF Manifold Gauge Set — quickly compare high and low side pressures to identify undercharge, overcharge, or restrictions
👉 Refrigerant Leak Detector — find leaks fast before they turn into repeat repairs
👉 Diagnostic Sight Glass Tool — visually inspect contamination, oil condition, and debris before major components fail

❌ And when compressor failures happen, don’t forget the fundamentals: Skipping the flush is one of the fastest ways to set up another comeback.

The shops that stay ahead during A/C season aren’t guessing—they’re diagnosing with the right equipment.

All of these Four Seasons® tools and service items are available through your local Auto Value or Bumper to Bumper parts supplier.

🔥 Techs—what A/C tool saves you the most headaches in the summer?

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Memorial Day is more than the start of summer or a long weekend, it’s a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. We’re grateful for those who served, those we’ve lost, and the families who continue to carry their memory forward.

From all of us at Auto-Wares Group of Companies, we wish everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day as we remember our fallen heroes. 🇺🇸

05/20/2026

We support our independent repair shops Right to Repair! Make your voice heard before the vote.

Most drivers have no idea this is already happening.

Independent repair shops are being blocked from accessing some of the repair data needed to properly service modern vehicles — and it’s becoming a bigger problem every year.

The numbers tell the story:

📊 51% of repair shops say they send vehicles to the dealership every month because they can’t access needed repair data.
⚠️ 63% say they deal with repair data access issues on a daily or weekly basis.
🚗 84% say Right to Repair is now their #1 issue.

That impacts more than just repair shops. It affects where YOU can take your vehicle, how quickly it gets repaired, and how much those repairs can end up costing. That’s why the Right to Repair Act matters.

Independent shops should have the same access to repair information, tools, and vehicle data needed to safely and properly repair today’s vehicles — not just the dealerships.

The vote is happening THIS WEEK, and lawmakers need to hear from the people this actually affects. The good news? It takes less than 30 seconds to help:

👉 Visit repairact.com
👉 Enter your address
👉 Hit send on the pre-written message to your lawmakers

That’s it. Quick, easy, and it genuinely makes a difference.

At Auto-Wares, we work with independent repair shops every single day, and we know how important it is to protect repair choice for drivers and communities everywhere.

Please take a minute to send the message — and share this post so others can help too. 💪

05/15/2026

If you support local businesses, fair repair access, and having the freedom to choose where you take your vehicle, now’s the time to speak up. Lawmakers are voting this week. Let them know where you stand on Right to Repair.

Right now, Congress is getting ready to vote on something that could have a huge impact on independent repair shops, technicians, and drivers everywhere — the Right to Repair Act.

At the end of the day, this is about keeping repair choices in your hands.

Independent shops should have access to the same repair information, tools, and vehicle data needed to properly service today’s vehicles — not just the dealerships.

Without that access:
📉 Your repair options get smaller
🧾 Repair costs can climb
🚫 Local shops get left behind

This isn’t some far-off issue anymore. The vote is happening THIS WEEK, and lawmakers need to hear from real people who care about protecting local repair shops and consumer choice.

The good news? It takes less than 30 seconds to help:

👉 Visit repairact.com
👉 Enter your address
👉 Hit send on the pre-written message to your lawmakers

That’s it. Quick, easy, and it genuinely makes a difference.

At Auto-Wares, we work with independent repair shops every single day, and we’ve seen firsthand how important this issue is for the industry and the communities those shops serve.

If you support local businesses, fair repair access, and having the freedom to choose where you take your vehicle, now’s the time to speak up.

Please take a minute to send the message — and share this post so others can help too. 💪

05/13/2026

We are so grateful to be a part of such a special event! ☺️

05/09/2026

Beautiful day at the track for the annual Bob Finley Memorial Race! Hope to see you there!

05/07/2026

Congratulations to our third and final Auto-Wares Technician of the Year winner! Good luck in the next round Timothy!

🔧🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 Auto-Wares Technician of the Year — Timothy Dunaway!

Timothy, of Daugherty’s Body Shop and Service Center in Taylorsville, KY, brings nearly 30 years of technical experience and a reputation for solving some of the most challenging mechanical and diagnostic issues in the shop.

An ASE Master Technician and Army veteran with 24 years of service, Timothy has developed a disciplined, methodical approach to diagnostics—handling everything from advanced electrical systems and vehicle programming to complex repairs and rebuilds.

What sets Timothy apart is his leadership. He’s not only a go-to problem solver, but also a mentor who actively helps develop other technicians—sharing knowledge, guiding teams through difficult repairs, and raising the standard across the shop.

The Technician of the Year program recognizes technicians who go above and beyond—and Timothy’s experience, dedication, and commitment to excellence make him a standout.

Next up, Timothy will represent Auto-Wares at the Alliance National Technician of the Year competition, where he’ll compete for the title of United States Technician of the Year. 🇺🇸

👏 Help us congratulate Timothy in the comments!