ASE P2 Automobile Parts Specialist flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

VIN model year code

Position 10 of the 17-character VIN gives the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and digit 0 are excluded, and the code repeats every 30 years.

World Manufacturer Identifier

The first three VIN characters identify the manufacturer and country of assembly. They are used to confirm the vehicle's origin before ordering parts.

Cubic inch to liter

Multiply cubic inches by 0.016387 to get liters, or divide cubic inches by 61.02. A 350 ci engine is about 5.7 liters.

DOT 3 vs DOT 4

Both are glycol-based brake fluids. DOT 4 has a higher minimum dry boiling point (230 C) than DOT 3 (205 C) and is preferred for higher-heat applications.

DOT 5 brake fluid

DOT 5 is silicone-based and must not be mixed with glycol fluids (DOT 3, 4, 5.1). Mixing causes aeration and loss of braking performance.

Fuse color code

Automotive blade fuses are color-coded by amperage: 5A tan, 7.5A brown, 10A red, 15A blue, 20A yellow, 25A clear, 30A green.

Wheel bolt pattern

Described as number of lugs times bolt-circle diameter in millimeters (e.g., 5 x 114.3). Both values must match for a wheel to fit.

Tire size decoding

P225/60R16 means passenger tire, 225 mm section width, 60 percent aspect ratio, radial, 16-inch rim. Load index and speed rating follow the size code.

Gross margin percent

Gross margin = (selling price minus cost) divided by selling price, times 100. A $60 cost sold at $100 is a 40 percent margin.

Markup vs margin

Markup = (price minus cost) divided by cost. Margin divides by price instead. The same dollar profit gives a higher markup percent than margin percent.

Core charge

A refundable deposit added to the price of a remanufactured part. The customer receives the credit only after returning the old unit in rebuildable condition.

Price lining

Grouping products into fixed price tiers (good, better, best) so customers compare within a tier. It simplifies selling and protects margin on premium items.

Cross-selling

Recommending a complementary item with the primary purchase, such as rotors with brake pads. It increases average ticket size without changing the main product.

Upselling

Moving a customer from a base product to a higher-tier version of the same item, such as premium pads over economy pads, by explaining the added value.

Special-order deposit

A non-refundable deposit collected on parts not normally stocked. It protects the shop because the supplier may not accept the part back.

Magnuson-Moss Act

A federal law barring new-car dealers from voiding a warranty solely because aftermarket parts were used, unless the part caused the failure.

Inventory turnover

Cost of goods sold divided by average inventory value. Higher turnover means less capital tied up in stock and fresher inventory.

Average inventory

The mean of beginning and ending inventory values for a period: (beginning plus ending) divided by two. Used in the turnover calculation.

Reorder point

Average daily usage times lead time in days, plus safety stock. Stock should be reordered when the on-hand count reaches this level.

Safety stock

Extra inventory held to cover demand spikes or supplier delays. It is set from demand variability and desired service level, not from average usage alone.

Economic order quantity

The order size that minimizes total ordering cost plus carrying cost. Carrying cost typically runs 20-30 percent of part value per year.

ABC classification

Ranking SKUs by value and velocity: A items get tight control, B items moderate, C items looser control with larger order quantities.

Days of supply

365 divided by annual inventory turnover. It estimates how many days current stock will last at the present selling rate.

Fill rate

Units shipped divided by units ordered, times 100. It measures how often customer demand is met from stock without a backorder.

Obsolescence identification

Stock with no sales for a set period and no pending demand. It is cleared through return-to-vendor programs, discounts, or write-downs.

Repair order documentation

A repair order must record the customer concern, cause, correction, parts used, labor, and an authorization signature to be enforceable.

Flat-rate labor

A standard time allowance per operation. The technician is paid that time regardless of clock time, and the customer is billed the same time.

Effective labor rate

Total labor sales divided by total flat-rate hours sold. It differs from the posted door rate when discounts or comebacks occur.

Comeback rate

Vehicles returned for the same concern divided by total vehicles serviced, times 100. It is a key quality metric for the operation.

Three C's of a write-up

Complaint (customer's own words), cause (technician's diagnosis), and correction (the repair performed). All three must appear on the repair order.

Complaint handling sequence

Listen without interruption, restate the concern, verify the facts, propose a resolution, and confirm the customer agrees before closing the issue.

Parts warranty disclosure

The counter should state what the parts warranty covers and whether labor is reimbursed. Undisclosed terms cause disputes at the time of failure.