The Crawford County DOJO includes an office and training room, along with space for engine and transmission training that is separate from production areas.

“Building Better Associates through a Unique Learning Experience!” This is the mission statement of the JASPER DOJO at the Crawford County facility. Although it’s been operational for over three years, the DOJO has moved to a new location, within the facility, to better serve our customers and our Associates.

The DOJO is an off-line learning center designed to provide new, and existing, Associates the opportunity to learn not only about their job, but also the skills necessary to STRIVE and THRIVE in the JASPER culture. It’s based on a Japanese dojo room, or hall, where judo or other martial arts are practiced.

In addition, the DOJO is used for specialized quality training, as well as re-certification training. Associates learn a process in a one-on-one environment, away from the distractions of the production area. Associates follow a standard curriculum. Because the training is one-on-one, JASPER can provide a specialized learning experience specific to an individual’s needs.

Not only does this location allow JASPER to have both the engine and transmission DOJOs side by side, but a training room has been added. The new facilities have allowed JASPER to improve the learning environment and provide better training in the following areas:

• Hands-on Gauging Training at individual gauge stations.
• Offering book reviews on four different books.
• In-depth safety training.
• Computer Training, utilizing our new wireless system.
• Common warranty issues and ways to prevent them.
• Owner Maintenance Program.

As in any classroom, Associates are given homework, pop quizzes and in-house field trips to better enhance the learning experience.

Once an Associate completes the course, they can proudly say, “I Got My MOJO in The DOJO.”

Friddle: The Explorer is the successor to which compact sport utility vehicle?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Some automotive windshields feature a PAAS.                                      What does the acronym PAAS stand for?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Pre-applied Adhesive System

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Terry Stewart - San Leandro, CA

What? You’re not following JASPER on Facebook? We want your comments about our products, promotions and sponsorships. Come and join the thousands of others who have clicked the ”Like” button at: http: www.facebook.com/jasperengines.

Friddle: Some automotive windshields feature a PAAS. What does the acronym                   PAAS stand for?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Which division of General Motors produced the Grand Prix?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Pontiac

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: No Winner 

Dallas Auto Repair is just a short drive out of Dallas, Georgia, on the Villa Rica Highway. Since 1983, Dallas Auto Repair has been a family-owned general repair facility, serving the residents of Dallas, Hiram, Polk County, Aragon, Villa Rica and surrounding communities northwest of Atlanta. They also perform diesel service and repair, emissions testing and repair, and provide full service towing.

Mike Hulsey started his automotive career in 1973, when he opened a Gulf filling station on Main Street in Dallas. Mike ran the station until 1983, when he opened Dallas Auto Repair a few miles out of town at 838 Villa Rica Highway. He started with two mechanics in a two-bay shop. Over time, the business grew to the point where Dallas Auto Repair currently has six technicians working 14 service bays under 9,000 square feet. Two of their technicians are ASE Certified and regularly attend various technical-training sessions. Of course Dallas Auto repair pays for their technician’s training.

Over three generations of customers utilize Dallas Auto Repair as their first choice for vehicle repair. Personal convenience features, like free shuttle service to a customer’s home or office within the local area, are offered. “People do not have to wait,” says Hulsey. “We can take them home or back to work.” Should they choose to wait in the customer lounge, the shop offers free WiFi service.

Dallas Auto Repair has been an installer of JASPER quality remanufactured gas and diesel engines, transmissions, transfer cases and the occasional marine product since the early 1990’s.So why does Mike like using JASPER? “We use JASPER because of their quality, warranty, availability and price,” says Hulsey. “From the initial order to the product delivery, JASPER treats us like Family.”

The future looks bright for Dallas Auto Repair, as Mike Hulsey looks to grow his business every year, to be the shop everyone wants to patronize. “Repeat business is the true measure of success,” says Hulsey. “Referral business is what drives us.”

Friddle: Which division of General Motors produced the Grand Prix?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: In what year did JASPER start remanufacturing light-duty transmissions?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: 1957

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: No Winner

Friddle: In what year did JASPER start remanufacturing light-duty transmissions?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Is the Porsche Boxster a rear or mid-engine roadster?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: mid-engine

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Fred

Friddle: Is the Porsche Boxster a rear or mid-engine roadster?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: What automotive brand was the first to offer a production           sedan with a turbocharged diesel?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Mercedes Benz

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Matthew

Friddle: What automotive brand was the first to offer a production sedan                         with a turbocharged diesel?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Some transmissions require a MLPS. What does the                   acronym MLPS stand for?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Manual Lever Position Sensor

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Vincent Vallango

Jasper Engines & Transmissions, the nation’s leader in remanufactured drivetrain products, has incorporated automated data acquisition into its gas engine live-run testing program.

The test stands at the Jasper, Indiana, facility are being fitted with computers running a JASPER-written automated test program (using software from National Instruments). Over time, this conversion will occur on live-run test stands at the Crawford County and Willow Springs, Missouri, facilities.

While computer-assisted programs have been used to monitor live-run testing in the past, it was the role of the operator to check the gauges and write down the correct numbers. But the operators are expected to test a predetermined number of engines each day. “The operator prepares one engine for testing while another is being tested on the stand,” says Jacob Adams, JASPER Corporate Engineer. “This can lead to missing that critical engine temperature (145 degrees Fahrenheit) where we need to get our measurements. It only takes a couple degrees for the values to drastically change.”

Once the operator has the test stand ready, the engine is started and run at 1,400 rpm. From the moment the engine starts, the automated data acquisition system monitors critical readings and takes a data snapshot once engine temperature reaches 145 degrees. This can be from as little as five minutes for small 4-cylinder engines, to as-long-as 15 minutes for big-block V8s. “The data acquisition program collects readings on oil temperature, oil pressure, water temperature, vacuum and correct rpm range,” says Adams. “Once the live-run test is complete, the engine is shut down and the system can acquire compression data.”

The automated data acquisition program can shut down an engine during a test should readings exceed pre-determined parameters. “The system is always watching the temperatures and pressures,” says Adams. “So if it sees a spike in water temperature, or a loss of oil pressure, it immediately shuts down the engine, reducing potential damage. The program will also alert the operator as to the reason for the engine shutdown.”

The automated program gives JASPER a good standardization process to all of the live-run test stands. “In the past, using the manual gauges, we could not obtain repeatable results from different gauges on different stands, added Adams. “Borderline engines that would pass live-run testing are now being rejected on the stand, thereby reducing the chance of a customer warranty issue.”

For more information on the remanufactured gas engines of Jasper Engines & Transmissions, please call 1-800-827-7455.