New Shop Location in Denver

For over 10 years, Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Shop has been a staple of the Denver community. Things have been really, really, really busy at Mastermind Enterprises. Thank you so very much for making our family auto repair shop a HUGE success in Denver! We have a BIG announcement to make. Drumroll, please!!

We are moving to a new, larger shop with secured parking 

to better serve our valued customers!

We really love the new space we have picked out for our family auto repair shop in Denver and we will be servicing cars during the move. This has been a huge effort so far, but it will be worth it to better serve our customers. We look forward to moving into our new location to give you the best automotive service possible in Denver. We are doubling our space and adding secure parking, too.

Here's the best part for our customers - we are keeping our prices the same, including our low tax rate!

We have needed more space for awhile, but we were looking for just the right spot for our company with the easiest access for our customers all over the Denver Metro Area. There is no room to grow anymore here in our current location at 5770 Clarkson St Unit F Denver, CO 80216. The new Denver location is on 74th Avenue just off York St near Highway 224, Highway 36, I-76, I-25, I-70. The moving process has already begun. Please have patience with us as we are moving to the new shop location over the next few weeks. We look forward to seeing old and new customers in our new location! 

Our new shop address is: 
Mastermind Enterprises 
2091 E 74th Ave Unit C 
Denver, CO 80229

The new shop is scheduled to open in November 2012.  

Stay tuned for more great things to come!

Don't let Winter catch you off Guard

October 29, 2012

Why do people always wait for the last minute to switch their tires. as soon as they see snow it becomes time to switch them. This is the time to do it, let us look and evaluate the condition of your winter tires, keep in mind winter tires last 3 to 4 years depending on the brand you own. The compound used in winter tires become harder each year making your tires not as safe as they should be, Most people think, well my tires look like they have a lot of tread left, but that is a misconception of what the expected life of a winter or any tire for that matter.

We are now Booking all our appointments for re and re tires on rims or off rims. When you do get your tires remounted, make sure that you have a follow up to have your tires re torqued, this is very important and should be part of your package. Re torquing means that your wheel bolts have a possibility of becoming loose and should be re torque, takes just a few minutes, we provide all our customers with a reminder that they should have this no charge item looked after. Safety is everything!

Some of the new special that are in effect at the moment with Tire-Craft Dealers have a look at the picture and enter your name and have an opportunity to win  a $4,000.00 winter escape, how nice would that be.

Good Luck with your entries and look forward to providing all our loyal customer with 

the professional service we have being doing since day one!

Don't forget to like our fan page on Facebook.

RJ PICK UP SERVICE
241A Main Street North
Uxbridge, Ontario, L9P 1C3
Phone 905-852-4238
Email: rjpickupservice@hotmail.com
TIRECRAFT!! We're driving towards a cure with every car we serviceshow your support and go pink!!

STEAL ?!

"A Thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom" a Chinese proverb

Well, it simply means that if you steal an original make, and not having the understanding, it would have a reverse effect on you.!

Scholl Concepts GmbH, has been manufacturing Polishing Pads for some years. These pads were designed in house and were manufactured to correspond with their own compounds and polishes. 

Following are pictures of the warehouse where the raw materials are kept before sending to the pad factory to be cut and shaped to a proper polishing pad.          
                                         

Look at the immensity of the place and amount of stocks to be kept as a manufacturer. 

So, if one thinks that by copying would treble your income and not anywhere near the pictures in terms of just stock keeping, surely the thorn would harm the thief ! 

Germany's Top Premium Auto Care Manufacturer

Scholl Concepts GmbH

It's a Sunday and I usually never lay my hands on the computer. Because I was away for about 14 days so kind of excited to spill out what's on the menu. 

That is Matthias of Scholl , Remseck, Germany. a very memorable visit while I was there October 1st & 2nd. 

In the next articles, you would watch new videos on training for the Scholl's China Distributor ( Detailing Sector ), new products and technics in Scholl's training center, in Remseck. 



  

Sno-Pro Snow Plows at RJ Pick Up Service

October 5, 2012

With winter fast approaching us, it is time too upgrade your snow plowing equipment on your truck, or get your existing one service so you will have a problem free plowing season. Why wait for the snow to come, when you can be fully prepared for the season and be ahead of your competition.

Here at RJ's, are fully trained mechanics have the knowledge to repair or install snow plows, all makes and models. We will also be promoting the brand of "Sno-Pro Snow Plows" this year. I will provide with all the information on the four models that we have chosen to promote.

Sno-Pro V-Plow Polymer

-Hitch-n-Run System, fastest attachment and detachment.
-Commercial Grade Hydraulics Package, (Heavy-duty large pump and reservoir)
-Spring Loaded Jack Stand to position the plow at the exact height required for reattachment
-Trip Edge Moldboard for operator and equipment protect
-World Class Fit and Finish,
-Hide-Away Mount, clean and professional describes our remaining receiver frame when the plow is removed.
High Visibility low profile halogen headlamps with park/turn signal lights

Sno-Pro 3000 Series Steel

-Hitch-n-Run System, fastest attachment and detachment.
-Hide-Away Hydraulics, cavity tucks away hydraulic power system
-Hydraulic Jack Stand, this patented device utilizes hydraulics to position the plow\
at the exact height required for reattachment.
-Extended Push Frame, wildest on the market, measures 4-feet end-to-end
-Full Trip Design, built to withstand season after season of hard use
-Aggressive attack angle provides better scrapping ability
-Center punched cutting edge extends life, just flip to new clean edge
-Hide-Away Mount, clean and professional describes our remaining receiver

Sno-Pro 3000 Series Polymer



-Hitch-n-Run System, fastest attachment and detachment.
-Hide-Away Hydraulics, cavity tucks away hydraulic power system
-Hydraulic Jack Stand, this patented device utilizes hydraulics to position the plow\
at the exact height required for reattachment.
-Extended Push Frame, wildest on the market, measures 4-feet end-to-end
-Full Trip Design, built to withstand season after season of hard use
-Aggressive attack angle provides better scrapping ability
-Center punched cutting edge extends life, just flip to new clean edge
-Hide-Away Mount, clean and professional describes our remaining receiver

Home-Pro 3000 Series



-Hitch-n-Run System, fastest attachment and detachment.
-Hide-Away Hydraulics, cavity tucks away hydraulic power system
-Hydraulic Jack Stand, this patented device utilizes hydraulics to position the plow\
at the exact height required for reattachment.
-Extended Push Frame, wildest on the market, measures 4-feet end-to-end
-Full Trip Design, built to withstand season after season of hard use
-Aggressive attack angle provides better scrapping ability
-Center punched cutting edge extends life, just flip to new clean edge
-Hide-Away Mount, clean and professional describes our remaining receiver

Watch This Short Video


RJ PICK UP SERVICE
241A Main Street North
Uxbridge, Ontario, L9P 1C3
Phone 905-852-4238
Email: rjpickupservice@hotmail.com
TIRECRAFT!!   We're driving towards a cure with every car we serviceshow your support and go pink!!

Storing newer collector cars for winter

If you live in snow country you know convertible and sports car season is coming to an end.  Soon it will be time to put our pets away till next year.  In this article I’d like to offer some pointers for storing late model collector cars.

Start by filling your car with fuel and pouring in the correct amount of fuel stabilizer.  I suggest Sta-Bil brand but alternatives are available.  A full gas tank minimizes the chance of condensation which happens when water vapor from the air condenses on the inside of the gas tank as temps drop in the evening.  If this happens every day in a car that’s in storage you can accumulate a great deal of water in the fuel.  Filling the tank to the top will prevent it.

I also suggest pouring in a bottle of octane booster as the fuel will lose octane rating the longer it is stored.

Note:  cars built after the 1990s have sealed fuel tanks which should not allow free circulation of vapors.  For these cars filling the tank is less important and indeed you may want to keep their fuel level low so you can fill with fresh gas in the spring.

Run the car at least 30 minutes to get it thoroughly warmed up; an hour’s hard run is better.   You want to make sure you have boiled any stray moisture out of the engine and exhaust system before shutting the car off for the season.

You want to store the car with reasonably clean oil; some suggest changing oil right before winter storage while others argue for changing the oil first thing in the spring.  In my opinion, the oil in your collector car should always be fairly clean so that no special attention is required for storage.  As a practical matter, I can say with confidence that cars often go into the shop to be "checked over for spring" where shop visits to "prep for winter" are fairly uncommon.

If you don't know the age of your coolant I suggest you either change it (most cars should get fresh coolant at 2-5 years intervals) or at least tests its ph to make sure it has not become corrosive.

The next step is washing your car, and vacuuming and cleaning the interior and trunk.  Spots that wash off easily now may not be so removable if left till next spring!  If your car is going to be stored in an area where mice may invade I suggest putting mothballs or some other repellant in the car to improve the chances that they won’t move in.

Check all your fluids and top them off right to the full lines before parking the car.  Make sure the antifreeze protection is good and the windshield washer system has solvent, not water, so that it does not freeze.

Spray all the door seals and the trunk seal with silicone spray before putting the car away.  Oil the hood, door, and trunk hinges, too.  If there are throttle linkage pieces on the engine I’d hit them with oil, and I’d also oil any moving pivots (like the parking brake linkage) under the car.

Before parking your car I suggest inflating your tires to the maximum pressures as shown on the tire sidewall.  This will minimize the tendency of your tires to develop flat spots as they sit.

Switch off the radio, heat, air conditioner and all other accessories before you shut the car off.  The will minimize the electrical load and transients when you reconnect power next spring.  It’s your best way to prevent electrical failures.

Drive your car into the spot where it will be stored.  Close the windows, and shut off the engine and remove the key.  If your car was made before the airbag and electronic engine management era you can go ahead and disconnect the battery.  If you have a newer car – wait a minute!   Newer cars often need as much as twenty minutes for their computers to store data and shift to low power mode.  If you disconnect the battery before that process is complete you can set fault codes that will require a trip to the shop to correct next year.

In the worst case, disconnecting the battery can even cause major electronic systems to fail.  Land Rover – for example – has a problem with this on their 2000-2005 Range Rovers.  Disconnecting the battery too quickly can send the navigation computer to never-never land where the only cure is a new $1,000+ unit.  Be patient and avoid problems.

If you are disconnecting the battery I certainly suggest you take the keys out of the vehicle.  The reason – when you connect the battery in the spring there is always a chance the central locking system will power up and lock the vehicle.  If that happens and the keys are inside, you’re stuck!

Modern batteries lose about 10% of their charge every month while sitting.  If you park the car at the beginning of November a good battery will still have enough juice to start the car in March.  Connecting a trickle charger will keep it at 100% buy you’ll need access to an electrical outlet.

The best way to protect your tires is to put wood blocks under the suspension at all four corners, lifting the car’s wheels slightly off the ground.  That will ensure the tires are round next season.

Do not set the parking brake.  Leaving the parking brake under tension all winter may well result in a brake that won’t release next spring. 

If you have a convertible you should usually store the car with the top up to prevent shrinkage.  Once it's closed don't open it until you have a warm day to heat the canvas unless you are in a heated space in which case that does not matter.  Every year we see plastic rear windows that split when opened on a cold day.

Some people prefer car covers; others leave their pets uncovered.  There’s one school of thought that says pulling the cover off and on will scratch the car and another that says the protection is invaluable.  If you want to get a cover and the car is indoors I recommend the heavy flannel.  If it’s outdoors Technalon is the ticket.

These tips will maximize your chances of an uneventful winter of storage.  I wish you the best of luck with executing the plan.  And remember to keep your insurance in force.  If there’s a water leak in the garage, or mice eat holes in the seats . . . those things are covered by comprehensive insurance in most states.  The times you are not driving the car may well be the times you need insurance most.

John E Robison

John Elder Robison is the general manager of J E Robison Service Company, independent restoration and Bosch Authorized Car Service specialists in Springfield, Massachusetts.  John is a longtime technical consultant to the Land Rover, Porsche, and Rolls Royce Owner's Clubs, and he’s owned and restored many of these fine vehicles.  Find him online at www.robisonservice.com or in the real world at 413-785-1665

When speakers stop speaking

Is the radio in your vintage car sounding tinny, scratchy, or generally awful?  If the vehicle is all original, and it’s more than 10 years old, there’s a good chance your speakers are shot.

Even if the car is hardly driven at all speaker cones are prone to dry out and fail.  The part that fails is generally the surround, which is the bit that connects the main body of the cone to the frame.

Take a look at these two photos and see the difference – one shows a good surround, while the other shows a surround that has fallen to pieces.  In this speaker the surround was made of foam, and the foam turned to dust and vanished.  When the speaker is played it will sound terribly scratchy because the voice coil (hidden under the cone) is scraping the frame.  If left unrepaired the coil may short out, and damage the radio electronics.

Interestingly, the speakers most prone to failure are those made with foam surrounds in the 1980s and 1990s.  Older speakers had rubberized cardboard surrounds, or simple paper, and they fare batter with time. 

And time isn’t the only thing that kills speakers – volume will do them in, too.  When you play the radio loud the speaker cones are pushed in and out greater distances, which stresses the cones and surrounds and will eventually lead to failure.

Speaker technology has improved quite a bit in the past decade, which means the speakers you can buy today are far better than what was in the older cars.  For that reason we tend to turn to suppliers like Crutchfield rather than buy oem from the carmaker.

If you are changing speakers in a 1970s car (or something older) you may find there’s only one wire to the speaker.  In those installations the other terminal on the speaker is connected to ground.  When wiring the speakers you’ll see the terminals marked in red, or with a + sign.  Ground the black or – terminal.

The polarity of speakers is important whenever there is more than one installed in a system.  When they are the same, they are said to be in phase, and they reinforce each other   When they are backwards they tend to cancel each other out.  Out of phase systems tend to sound tinny and faint.

Look at the speakers you are replacing and make sure the polarity is the same when you connect the wires to the new ones.