Andrew Markel

Akron

Content Director, Babcox Media at Underhood Service

Content Director, Babcox Media at Brake & Front End

Content Director, Babcox Media at ImportCar Magazine

Writer/Mechanic/Trainer

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Articles

Brake Hose Regulations: What You Need to Know

4 days ago | shopownermag.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: Brake hoses are the most government-regulated components on a vehicle. Anyone making brake assemblies must be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT). All aftermarket hose, fittings and complete hoses must conform to FMVSS 106 and SAE J1401. These tests are demanding and often exceed what a vehicle will see in the real world. The DOT standard, in a nutshell, says brake hoses must be flexible in...
Brake Hose Regulations: What You Need to Know

5 days ago | tomorrowstechnician.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: Brake hoses are the most government-regulated components on a vehicle. Anyone making brake assemblies must be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT). All aftermarket hose, fittings and complete hoses must conform to FMVSS 106 and SAE J1401. These tests are demanding and often exceed what a vehicle will see in the real world. The DOT standard, in a nutshell, says brake hoses must be flexible in...
Brake Hose Regulations: What You Need to Know

1 week ago | brakeandfrontend.com | Andrew Markel

Brake hoses are the most government-regulated components on a vehicle. Anyone making brake assemblies must be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT). All aftermarket hose, fittings and complete hoses must conform to FMVSS 106 and SAE J1401. These tests are demanding and often exceed what a vehicle will see in the real world.
Tire Wear Patterns Can Be Used As Diagnostic Tools

2 weeks ago | brakeandfrontend.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: How good are you at reading tire wear patterns? Interpreting these patterns is an essential skill that is equal parts experience, knowledge and skill. The key is to be able to match the wear pattern with the condition of the suspension. Tread patterns reveal the condition of alignment angles, suspension and ride control components. Learning how to read the tire and communicate your findings to your customers...
Ignition Coils for High Performance: Why Resistance Matters

2 weeks ago | underhoodservice.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: Summer is just around the corner, and if you have a customer with a performance car or truck, you might be looking at upgrades for your ignition system. There are many options, like precious metal spark plugs and thick ignition wires. However, the one area that confuses enthusiasts is ignition coils and ignition boxes. All ignitions are inductive discharge systems, regardless of whether they use analog points...
ADAS and Brake Pedal Position Sensors

2 weeks ago | brakeandfrontend.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: It was once called a brake pedal switch because that is what it was. The switch or pressure sensor would complete the circuit to turn the brake lights or a relay. The switch might have gotten complicated if the vehicle had cruise control. Things started to change in the late 1990s as ABS and stability control became more common. The engineers realized they needed more information about the brake system and...
Cabin Air Filter Q&A

3 weeks ago | autosuccessonline.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: Recommending a cabin air filter can be daunting if you are unprepared to answer a customer’s questions. Having a simple answer can help make the sale. After going through pages of consumer questions online, here are some of the top questions they are sometimes too afraid to ask: The purpose of a cabin air filter is to clean the air that enters the vehicle’s interior through the HVAC system. It helps protect...
Diagnosing Stop-Start Starters

3 weeks ago | brakeandfrontend.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: Stop-start systems may seem simple, but the specialized starters they rely on are anything but. This video breaks down the unique features of stop-start starters—such as additional solenoid connections and gear disengagement mechanisms—and explains how these components help enable smoother, quicker engine restarts. It also highlights the importance of supporting sensors like the brake pedal position and crank...
A Failed Thermostat Can Haunt You

3 weeks ago | brakeandfrontend.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: Let’s talk about the cooling system. A failed cooling system doesn’t just mean a leak—it can also mean damage to critical components like the thermostat. When a cooling system typically fails, it is due to a leak in the system to where everything is drained down. Everything has gotten really hot inside, and the engine overheats. Inside the cooling system is a thermostat, and your cooling system repair should...
Diagnosing Stop-Start Starters

1 month ago | shopownermag.com | Andrew Markel

Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: Stop-start systems may seem simple, but the specialized starters they rely on are anything but. This video breaks down the unique features of stop-start starters—such as additional solenoid connections and gear disengagement mechanisms—and explains how these components help enable smoother, quicker engine restarts. It also highlights the importance of supporting sensors like the brake pedal position and crank...