How Paul Gaffney pushed decision-making down to the lowest level to drive new ...
23.05.12
When Paul Gaffney became president and CEO of AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah, the company had more than 4.3 million members, a century of history and $2.6 billion in revenue. At the same time, it was essentially a startup.
That summer the milestone decision had been made by the California State Automobile Association to split up its two big operating businesses, a motor club and an insurance carrier, into two separate companies.
“Whenever you have things combined that have some different business drivers, you end up being inefficient in surprising places,” says Gaffney, who assumed leadership of the auto club in 2010.
He wasn’t surprised to find that the 111-year-old company had gravitated toward a hierarchical culture, but he realized that the transition was a perfect time to reengage employees at the “new” company in a culture that was participative and would drive the kind of ideas needed to excel in the service business.
“So we really wanted to invert that leadership pyramid and put the folks who are on the front lines with our customers at the top,” Gaffney says. “That’s a change for people. People actually like where that’s going, but it’s different than their historical experience. So we’ve had to do a lot of work to explain to people what we mean by that.”
Should you buy a new car? A used car? What if the best economic choice is the car already in your garage?
Despite improving new cars sales, many Americans are avoiding car payments and holding onto their old cars longer. The average age of vehicles on the road in America has hit a record 10.8 years, according to research firm R.L. Polk. And a survey by the automotive web site AutoMD showed that 64% of respondents had a car or truck with over 100,000 miles on the odometer.
If you have a car that old -- or just want to keep your newer-model car running a long time -- car care experts have good news: A car built in the last decade has a good chance of running well up to 150,000 miles. Not long ago, owners could expect that cars hitting 100,000 miles would start to have lots of expensive problems.
But there is a catch. "Cars can run a long time with proper care, and that is an important caveat," says Mike Calkins, manager of approved auto repair for the national AAA. Here are the recommendations that Calkins and other car care experts give if you want to keep your old -- or not so old -- car running a long time:
Virtual Tour of AAA Auto Salvage in Rosemount Minnesota
Patrick McKinney and the leadership team at AAA Auto Salvage gives you a personal virtual tour at this rapidly growing facility, stocking ...
Which auto parts store will loan diagnostic tools out?
Jan 26, 2011 by chancellor | Posted in Maintenance & Repairs
My '96 Altima has a dead battery. I don't know if it's a bad battery (it's only 25 months old) or the alternator, because it died really suddenly with no warning whatsoever. Really strange. It took me to the store, but wouldn't take me home again until AAA gave me a jump.
Anyway, someone told me that one of the auto parts supply stores will loan out those little diagnostic computer readers that plug into the car's computer and interpret error codes, but I can't find any information online that tells me which auto parts supply store will do that. Anyone know?
Autozone will do it for free if you can get your vehicle to one of their stores.
Checkers rents them out for somewhere around $200. You get your money back when you return the tool.
7th Avenue Vagrant Chaser | Jan 26, 2011
The large chains used to but now it becoming a requirement to get it done there at the store as they are not loaning them out anymore.
Jason F | Jan 26, 2011
Let me get this straight, if you car died suddenly WHILST you were driving, then it is certainly an alternator issue, if it wasnt then it will most probably be a battery issue. But then you said it took you too the store so how do you know it was dying? Have you checked the connections arent loose? How often has it occured? These are all the answers you need to determine whether its the battery or an alternator fault.
Whatiswhat | Jan 26, 2011
What I don't see is a mention of the check engine light being on, and without that there are no error codes to check. That makes sense because the charging system doesn't affect emissions, so there are no error codes associated with it. What you need is a voltmeter to tell you what the charging system is doing. A handy style is like the one shown in the first source. You may find a better deal in auto parts stores near you.
I suspect your charging system uses the method popular in the 1980s, where the charging warning lamp is is series with the voltage regulator input and goes off when the alternator generates internal voltage to replace the current through the bulb. Those systems have a weakness: if the alternator brushes wear out the bulb never lights. Check to make sure your battery/charging light comes on when the ignition is in the "on" position before you start the engine. If not, the alternator is probably bad (worn out brushes).
Michael | Jan 26, 2011
Advance Autoparts. You need to leave your driver's license as collateral The scanner will not check your charging system, but Advance or Autozone usually checks them free also..
doane_nut | Jan 26, 2011
Auto Zone will loan you the diagnostic machine, but you need to put money down. I think here in Illinois we had to secure it with $120 or so. You get the money back in full upon return.
denomme | Jan 26, 2011
I have had this done at Advance Auto Parts. They can plug a computer in to your car to check things out, but you would probably have to bring your battery in to to see if it is okay. They also have a machine at Advance Auto Parts what will test your alternator. All testing is free. I have had really good warranty support from Advance Auto Parts, and the local store has a really great set of people that work there.
To find an Advance Auto Parts near you, go to:
http://www.advanceautoparts.com/
Places without and Advance Auto Parts can also try Autozone:
http://www.autozone.com/home.htm
They also will have computers that can be plugged into you car, and can do battery and alternator tests.
Auto parts stores often have tool lone programs if there are special tools that you would need to remove your battery or alternator.
Even a Sears store can test your battery, and often a WalMart can do battery tests as well (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.g sp?cat=495846).
depressible | Jan 26, 2011
The tool you are asking about is called an OBDII scanner. That will read any trouble codes that might be stored in your car's computer. The trouble codes (if any) for over/under voltage for a '96 Altima are vehicle specific - i.e, they are not among the standard codes that all cars might throw, so I don't know how much help a scanner would be in determining your problem. I'm not sure about lending the tool, but I believe AutoZone will read the codes for free.
However, it's easy enough to test the charging system with a simple Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter, which is a handy device to have anyway. You should see between 13.8 v and 14.4 v when the alternator is charging the battery. If the voltage is normal, then you probably have a dead battery. 25 months is not too short of a time for a battery to go bad, although it does seem a little premature.
Meaghan Cloke | Jan 27, 2011
How to use slim jim on a 1995 960 Volvo wagon?
Sep 13, 2009 by hopie | Posted in Volvo
I locked my only set of keys in my car. I'm just about broke. The police laughed at me(Los Angeles) and I haven't found a single friend who has AAA. Someone suggested a slim jim and I found an auto parts place that has them for $6. But, I'm not sure which size I need and how to use it
Try prying the door open with a flat head screwdriver and use a hanger to push the unlock button. good luck
mike | Sep 14, 2009
car battery dead again alternator checked out fine new battery installed 1 month ago?
Dec 06, 2010 by B.J. | Posted in Maintenance & Repairs
Brand new car battery installed 1 month ago. Wake -up it's dead AAA comes test it reads 1 dead cell take it back to Auto Part store where is was purchased they state the battery is low but no dead cell, States I left something on in the car to drain the battery.Know going to put it on a 4 hour charge No way. What could this be??
It's super easy to check weather or not you have a battery or alternator problem. *Never assume anything by saying: No way! Brand new batteries are subject to failure! With the vehicle running, touch the battery terminals with an inexpensive hand held volt meter. It should read between 13.5 - 14.0 volts. Check the battery again 12 hours since the last time it was driven. A fully charged new battery should test 12.85 volts with the car *not running.
Sears and other auto-parts stores including Sam's Club and Walmart sells *Automatic self leveling battery chargers. If AAA said the voltage was low on your battery it most likely was. They're not in the business to sell you another battery but to tell you what specifically is going on with your electrical system.
Sears and auto parts stores sells a very handy red rubber suction bulb for installing distilled water in the battery if the acid is low. 99% of the time, brand new batteries have low electrolyte levels in the cells.
There is one other battery test that should be done, after it has been fully charged. Private mechanics, new car dealerships Walmart or where ever you bought your new battery should to a load test to check its reserve capacity. By far the load test is the best test of all. It's as good as a Dr's office taking your temperature. You either have one or you don't.
Country Boy | Dec 06, 2010
A dead cell like AAA said just because it was new does not mean it cant be bad.Tell the clowns at the parts store to give you a new battery if they done ask for the manager and demand a new battery or ur money back and go else were and buy a new one.
Scott W | Dec 06, 2010
DIY: Isolate the source of the short by removing the negative battery cable, and disconnecting the alternator, starter, etc. and reconnect the negative cable. When you don't see a big spark you've found the problem.
Non-DIY: tow it to the shop.
joe | Dec 06, 2010
check that there isn't anything draining the battery, is the boot light going out when you shut it, or the glovebox light, if theres nothing drawing on the battery take it back and have it out with whoever sold you the battery, you can buy faulty batterys
M M M | Dec 06, 2010
I'm thinking you have a bad ground or a chance of it. A way to find out is 1st you can see if there is a draw on the battery. If so then a mechanic or someone with electrical test equipment can go threw your fuse box to see what fuse to drawing power when it shouldn't. It's often just a bad ground if there is no obvious other draw.
Rich | Dec 06, 2010
Could be a short in the electrical, that is always using the battery even when it's off. A test light will tell where it's coming from. I'd recommended taking it to a shop, even though it cost money.
Robert F | Dec 06, 2010
Does this sound like the starter?
Jan 10, 2011 by Court A | Posted in Maintenance & Repairs
In December, I left my lights on one day. The car died, and I tried to jump it, but nothing happened. The next day, it started up with no issues. I went and had the battery checked, and the battery is old, but still “good”, according to Advance Auto Parts.
On Thursday night, the car died in a parking lot. AAA came, and couldn’t get it started, so it had to be towed home. It would not start on Thursday night or Friday morning.
Saturday morning the car started fine. I had the battery checked again, and the battery is fine. I then drove it all day and shut it off/turned it several times. I must have started it at LEAST ten times, I picked up and dropped off my sister, went to lunch, shopping at a couple of different places, I got gas, etc.
Then I went to one last place and the car wouldn’t start when I got out of the store. AAA came, and the guy had to get under my car and “tap” the starter to get it to turn on. It turned on as soon as he tapped it. He said it is definitely the starter.
This morning, the car started fine.
Does this sound like the starter? I am bringing it into a mechanic tomorrow, but it is someone I have never used before, and I'd like to have an idea of what is going on before I talk to them.
Note- The car has never stopped working while I was driving. Once it starts, it runs perfectly fine. So I don't think there is an issue with the alternator.
Sorry, I should rephrase. When I said it died in the parking lot, I meant that I drove it to the store fine. When I came out of the store less than five minutes later, it did not start. It was not running when it died.
Yes, it is very likely that the starter is the cause of the issue. If you wish to confirm this do this test: turn on the headlights then start the engine. If the lights dim or go out, it may be a poor battery connection. Have the cables checked and cleaned. Otherwise, it is the starter.
| Jan 10, 2011
weird problem with 1999 Ford Taurus?
Nov 01, 2010 by underdog | Posted in Maintenance & Repairs
I replaced my battery in April and then went to use the car the other day and the battery was dead. I don't drive it very often...had AAA come out and jump start and then took it to Advance Auto Parts where I got the battery. They kept it overnight to recharge. I drove it home on Thursday 10-28 and did not use it until today which is Monday 11-1.
Twice today when I made a left hand turn, the two little overhead lights came on, along with a spot on the instrument panel that light up and showed the outline of the whole car and the car made a beep sound. It didn't feel like it died, as it kept on going and never did stall out. Any ideas from you smart folks out there.
I will probably call my Ford dealer and take it in tomorrow, but wanted to get an idea of what it might be. It just seems strange that this only happened on left hand turns. I made some left turns earlier when I was out and it didn't happen. Maybe the last two turns I was going a little faster?
Thanks
It sounds like an issue wit h dome light switches. The ones that turn dome lights on and off when you open and close the doors. Check make sure they are making full contact when doors are closed. Also check trunk make sure trunk is not open.
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