Incredible India ?

I had just returned from Bangalore , India. India is absolutely Incredible !

This is Leela Palace, where I put up for 4 nights. When the Reception counter said they upgrade my room, I agreed without thinking twice. Look at the last 2 photos just before my room. The journey was like having to take a bus to reach my room. But it was a beautiful place like the garden of Eden.

India is a humble country with Incredible growth in many aspects. This is my humble Distributor outlet. For the hunger of Scholl Concepts' - Detailing Technics and Quality Products, Mohsin Khan, the Owner of Ultimate Detailerz, Bangalore, India, built this place just for Scholl Concepts.

Like the saying goes,......there is always the first step. More incredible pictures to come............

$100 OFF Repair and Service $1000+

Mastermind Enterprises in Denver has another holiday special just for you! Don't put off that costly repair because of the holidays. Bring your car in for any service or repair over $1000 and save $100 instantly! No coupon needed. You can use this coupon on any job, including timing belts, water pumps, timing chains, tune-ups, heater repair and more!

Call Mastermind Today 

303-297-2886

View more of our holiday auto repair and service specials.

Thank you for making 2013 a great year for
our family auto repair shop in Denver! 

We look forward to serving you
the rest of 2013 and in 2014, too! 

Blessings from our family to yours!

Land Rover electrics and the people who fix them

Land Rover electrics have come a long way since the first Range Rovers made their way to North America in 1987.  I was one of the first to be working on those rigs, and I marveled at what an improvement they were in civility and function from the Series trucks they (sort of) replaced.

Those first trucks didn't have anything you couldn't fix with a test light and a meter, but that changed pretty quickly.

By 1995 we had SRS (airbags), traction control, and electronic ride control.  Then we got the P38 Range Rover, and a whole new test system - the Testbook - based on an HP computer.

The successor to that series - the L322 Range Rover - came with CAN Bus technology, and a host of electronics from then-parent BMW.  That came with another test system - T4.

Then Ford took over, and brought us the IDS test system.

Now it's Tata and more complexity than anyone could have imagined, back in 1987.

We've seen four corporate owners, but Bosch technology has remained a constant.  As one of the top-ranked Bosch Car Service shops in North America we've built a reputation as the shop of last resort when Rover troubles seem insoluble.

Through all those changes one thing has stayed the same - it still breaks, and we fix it all!  That includes all the new stuff - iPhone integration, software updates, key programming, and more.

J E Robison Service
Springfield, MA, USA
413-785-1665
www.robisonservice.com


In our 27th year of providing independent Land Rover service.  Pickup and delivery, and long distance transport available.  Tune ups to show winning restorations.  Call or email John Robison - robison@robisonservice.com

Fixing Power Steering leaks in Rolls Royce and Bentley

One of the most common problems on cars is leakage.  If we can say one thing for sure, when it comes to leaks, it is this:  The higher quality the car, the greater the variety and quantity of fluids it will have to leak.  And all of them will be top grade.  If the car was built in England, its pedigree ensures that every one of those premium liquids will eventually find a path to the ground beneath the car.

While the variety of fluids that can leak may seem infinite, this post will address just one, from one kind of car:  Power steering leakage in 1990-newer Crewe built Rolls Royce and Bentley motorcars.

We see two main sources of steering leakage in these fine cars.  The first is the rack itself, which tends to leak from the input shaft seal and the bellows at either end.  The input shafts leak when dirt works its way down the shaft and ruins the seal.  The bellows leak when the bushings that guide the rack wear, and the rack begins moving more than what the seals can contain.

Here you see dry lines and wetness from the rack seals

Wet rack bellows are a sure sign of bushing and seal failure

The drip below my finger comes from the input shaft seal (above, out of photo)

Looking at the photos you see a typical scenario.  The lines into the rack in the top photo (the most common leak source on many lesser cars) are dry.  The yellow paint on the lines in this photo mark the lines and rack as original to the car. 

The rack is the only leak on this 1996 Bentley undercarriage

This rack is dripping from the input, and the output bellows.  As the photo below shows, it’s the only wet thing on an otherwise remarkably dry undercarriage.  It veritably cries out for repair!

So what do you do?

Your first thought might be to simply buy a new rack. If only you could!  At this moment Bentley’s ability to supply factory-rebuilt or new racks is limited.  When new racks are available costs are generally around $3,000 – more than many owners wish to pay for a part that history shows may be worn out and leaking in 15,000 miles.   Simple resealing of the racks is not usually a long-term fix because of the bushing wear, which happens amazingly fast on some cars.  We suspect the most vulnerable cars are those that run fast on rough roads, for that sort of driving puts the maximum stress on the big bushings in the rack.  We think they get pounded from round to oval, and once that happens, leakage is inevitable.

We’ve been sending our racks to specialist rebuilders with good success.  They change the bushings and seals, and set the clearances.  The body of the rack and the big gear pieces seem pretty indestructible. 

The next problem area is the steering fluid reservoir.  It’s a simple plastic affair located right next to the engine oil filler.  On most cars a plastic reservoir like this would be a $100 part (or less) but Bentley seems to see the situation differently.  When they ran out of cheap (figuratively and literally) molded plastic parts they commissioned the production of Professional Grade stainless steel reservoirs.  At a cost of $1,200.  Yes, you read that right.  Over one thousand dollars for a container that holds a cup of steering oil.

Leaky reservoir removed from the car.  This one was glued, unsuccessfully.  Don't waste your time.

Even in the rarefied world of Rolls Royce owners balk at things like that.  But what can you do?  We have a solution.

Old reservoir and our replacement side by side

The new reservoir in hand.  It's made from the finest molded foam plastic

Setting the reservoir in place

The finished installation looks totally stock, and works better

We have adapted the common plastic reservoir used by Land Rover, Porsche, and BMW to fit our beloved RR/B motorcars.  We modify the original mounting bracket and with a few hours fitting it looks like the car was made that way. 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (which is about to happen, as I write this post) I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the discerning motorists who have chosen our company to care for their cars over the years. It's people like you (you know who you are) that make it possible for us to make these discoveries, and devise fixes like you see here.  It's what separates simple repair from craftsmanship, and it's what our crew does best.

John Elder Robison is the general manager of J E Robison Service Company, independent Rolls Royce and Bentley specialists in Springfield, Massachusetts.  John is a longtime technical consultant to the RROC 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.

Spider Pad, a Twinning Miracle.........

 

                                        

Twins just don't happen only in the natural. The Spider Pad was produced to have both the effects of Lambwool and Polishing pads. As said that Lambwool is airy and cooling , the Spider pad has the linear lines across the pads obtaining the same effect ! Aggressive yet she is Cool........!

We displayed this video to show the preparation before using a Spider Pad. Firstly,  unfold the pad. Since its a new pad, it's essential to have a little more compounds spread onto the pad using a spatula. Using a spatula would even out the compounds on the surface of the pad. Take note ! It's very important to spread the side of the pad because that's where the friction is going to be aggressive when operated onto the surface of the car. After the first time spreading the compounds, there is no need to repeat that amount. 

The Neighbour asked how was it that Scholl had this idea ....Spider Pad designed. Well, for sure Peter Parker did not turn up in Remseck one day cause he lost his job as the lead actor for Spider Man .!............but rather the concoction of Spider Pad was made by the second generation Executive Officer of today's Scholl Concepts. ! 

p/s

apologies for the video quality, as I was only allowed to upload Quick time  :(

Giving Thanks - 2013 Black Friday Specials

In less than a week, Thanksgiving will be here! Our way to say "Thank You" for supporting our family auto repair shop in Denver is

Black Friday Specials good through December 2013!

We know you have many choices for auto service in Denver, and we are honored you have chosen Mastermind Enterprises as your automotive service center for your vehicles.

As you prepare your home and plan the perfect feast for your friends and family, we invite you to post a review about our shop (if you have used our services) and other Colorado small businesses to thank these businesses that have made a difference in your life. They would be grateful for your kind words and you can help others find businesses they can trust in, too.

If you live in Denver and have not given us a try yet,

read our customer reviews and use one of these coupons!

Call Mastermind Today! 

303-297-2886

or Email Us

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

We look forward to serving you soon!

Region Developer: Mark Porcelli, Middlesex, New Jersey

Mark Porcelli has been working with cars since he was 10 years old. Mark grew up in Colonia, N.J. and worked a lot of his life in the family-owned truck dealership, so he’s always had experience with vehicles and repairs. The experience caused him to want to own his own business one day. On the road to that, he wound up at a Midas franchise in 1998, successfully running it for six years. When he joined them, he inherited $540,000 in store sales, and when he left, it was $870,000, so during his time there, he saw a 70 percent increase in sales and revenue. Deciding to sell, he then worked for Snap On Tools’ corporate location in 2004 and was responsible for managing franchisees, selling tools to shops and recruiting, as well as mentoring. After three years, Mark moved on and has been with Honest-1 since 2007.  

At Mark’s Middlesex location, he is also offering free brakes for much of May, most prominently during the week of April 29. Mark is offering this no-strings-attached service technically through Saturday, May 18, while supplies last. They are literally giving away front and rear brakes, and all customers have to pay for is the labor. On average, this can be $100 to $120 per front or rear pair. (Of course, if it’s an extremely rare vehicle, or there are more repairs needed following an inspection, additional fees may apply.)

How did you learn about the brand?

I heard about them through a letter when I was working at Snap On. They were looking for shops with an interest in selling and converting.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Honest-1?

Their core values are what I’m all about. I believe in integrity, which is what the brand is predominantly about. In 2006, I bought the master territory and opened a shop a year later while I still worked a day job.

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?

I have been a member of the local Elks Chapter for the past three to four years and have done a fundraiser for them in the past. I also continue to support local school organizations. Through the First Aid Squad members organization, on June 15, they are having a family fun emergency services day and will be selling good neighbor cards, which include two free oil changes, and two other coupons: $20 off front or rear brake service and 10 percent off anything your vehicle needs up to $25.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

The community here knows everyone, so to get through that, it took a bit of time to prove we can fix cars effectively and not take advantage of people. We continue to grow year after year, which touches back on the integrity.

How many employees do you have right now?

I have a shop manager that runs the front counter. I also have three full-time mechanics and myself.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Honest-1?

From a regional developer standpoint, I’m always looking for qualified franchisees that want to provide awesome customer service, in a very difficult industry.

My goal is to get one store open in every county of my territory area. You just do it one store at a time. I’m not looking to buy another for me, but I do want to find other franchisees that fit for other counties.

What are some of the publications you read? Local? National? What is your goal publication with your business?

Our challenge is our media market is technically New York City; my tiny town is a small fish in the big pond. But, there are local outlets such as About Our Town, which already covered us, but we would like to be in the Courier News or News 12 New Jersey.

The Home News Tribune did an article on us in February 2010, and there’s of course the Star-Ledger too.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

I like to snowmobile in the winter, motorcycle in the summer and go to the beach with my family.