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Federated Auto Parts has launched a new website for its Car Care Center members. Besides a detailed Car Care Center locator on the home page, the site also offers seasonal vehicle maintenance suggestions as well as a service interval schedule for when vehicle maintenance should be conducted.

Ken Volland, who owns Ken’s Gas and Auto Repair in Ellensburg, WA, is closing the business at the end of September. He has owned the business for 28 years. During the shop’s heyday, Volland had four employees in addition to himself. Earlier this year, he had to lay off a technician who had worked at the shop for 27 years. The wear and tear of being a technician has taken its toll on Volland as he has back and joint pain in addition to having lost 20 percent of the use of his hands.

The owner of New Century Auto in Syracuse, NY, has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after a customer’s 2004 Mercury Mountaineer was wrecked. The shop owner had allowed his father to use the vehicle to drive to Utica, NY. The vehicle’s owner told police that she had never given permission for anyone to use her vehicle.

The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) has initiated a “Know Your Parts” awareness and educational campaign designed to address concerns over the low-cost, off shore, generic auto parts that are flooding the domestic aftermarket.

The Senate has passed “The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010,” H.R. 5297, by a vote of 61-38. The bill originally passed the U.S. House of Representatives June 28, 2010, and it now returns to the House for final passage. The bill creates a $30 billion lending fund that will be distributed to regional banks that will in turn lend to small businesses.

Four unfortunate people ended up hospitalized near St. Augustine, FL, after a one-vehicle crash on I-95 – caused, according to a Florida High Patrol trooper, by “old, dry, rotted tires.” What I want to know is just how long will it take for the product liability lawsuits to fly. Cause, you know, it was the tires. The old, dry, rotted tires.

A customer’s stereo worth hundreds of dollars is stolen from his vehicle while it is in the possession of an automotive repair shop. Is providing security for customers’ vehicles the responsibility of the repair shop? A reporter from WBNS-10TV in Columbus, OH, answers this question.

The private brand tire segment underwent a tumultuous 2009 as a result of the global economic downturn that affected all aspects of the tire industry, as well as the Obama Administration’s placement of heavy additional duties on passenger tires imported from China.

An employee of the Murfreesboro, TN, Firestone Complete Auto Care Center location was arrested on theft charges after his store manager caught him stealing $1,800 worth of tires. The 32-year-old man was spotted stealing the tires and loading them into his vehicle on Sept. 9 at around 9 p.m.

The Climate Protection Partnership Division of the U.S. EPA has partnered with the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide for monthly informational webinars throughout 2010. These webinars are focused on informing the mobile A/C community on environmental best practices for servicing mobile A/C systems and demystifying current and proposed regulations.

The Bosch 2010 Wiper Blades & Refills catalog (#221115 2010) covers more than 250 part numbers of wiper blades and refills for domestic, Asian and European passenger car, van and light truck applications. The catalog includes applications of ICON, Evolution, Excel+, MicroEdge, DirectConnect, OE Style blades and winter blades.

Pennsylvania Rep. Matthew Bradford, D-District 70, has introduced a bill to penalize fraudulent practices regarding airbag installation and reinstallation.