Auto-jet

05/29/2026

Summer heat exposes weak cooling systems faster than any other condition on a school bus. Charge air coolers and radiators give warning signs before they fail. Oil staining at boot connections, coolant tracks on the radiator face, the fan kicking in at idle. Catching any one of them in May saves a tow on a hot afternoon in July.

School bus cooling system failure: how to spot charge air cooler and radiator symptoms before summer service starts. Replacement parts in stock at Auto-jet.

05/27/2026

Auto-jet President John Rapp joined Leisa Fox on the Made in Iowa podcast for an episode titled "Tariffs, Supply Chains and Staying Power."

The conversation covers what 65 years of building school bus exhaust parts in Clive, Iowa has taught Auto-jet about leadership, supply chains, and the relationships that carry a business through shifting markets. John also shares how recent tariff changes have unexpectedly created positive momentum for domestic manufacturing demand.

Worth a listen for anyone running a fleet or watching how Iowa manufacturers are adapting right now.

Listen: https://vist.ly/55ppu

05/25/2026

Honoring and remembering those who have served. Wishing everyone a meaningful Memorial Day.

05/21/2026

Today's the day at Heartland Harness in Neola. Open house from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 105 Barrier Lane. Stop on out!

05/19/2026

A component that is marginal at the end of the school year is a failure at the start of the next one. Pre-summer is the right time to inspect and stock - not August when buses need to be on route.

Pre-summer school bus fleet maintenance checklist for exhaust and fuel system parts. What to inspect, what to stock, and what fails first when buses return to route.

05/14/2026

Big week ahead. Heartland Harness, which we acquired in September 2024, is opening their new 10,000 sq ft facility in Neola, Iowa next Thursday.

This is what we've been working toward. New building. New equipment. More room to grow with our customers.

If you're around, come see it. Open house Thursday May 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 105 Barrier Lane in Neola. Food, door prizes, and tours of the new building.

📍 105 Barrier Lane, Neola, Iowa 51559
📅 May 21 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Full details:

Heartland Harness Opens a New Facility in Neola, Iowa on May 21, 2026Heartland Harness, a custom wire harness and cable assembly manufacturer based in Neola, Iowa, is opening a new 10,000-square-foot facility on Thursday, May 21, 2026. We're hosting a public open house from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. a...

05/12/2026

Big day for our team at Heartland Harness. Open house at the new facility Thursday May 21 from 11:30 to 1:30.

Heartland Harness Opens a New Facility in Neola, Iowa on May 21, 2026Heartland Harness, a custom wire harness and cable assembly manufacturer based in Neola, Iowa, is opening a new 10,000-square-foot facility on Thursday, May 21, 2026. We're hosting a public open house from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. a...

04/24/2026

A school bus fuel tank leaking near exhaust components is an out-of-service condition. The signs that a tank is getting there are visible well before the leak starts - if you know where to look.

https://vist.ly/4zqe5

How to identify a failing school bus fuel tank — seam corrosion, strap damage, seeping at fittings. Know the signs before a small leak becomes a bigger problem.

04/09/2026

Ordering a school bus fuel tank? Capacity is one variable. OEM # is the first one to confirm. Call 800-247-5391 with your OEM # and bus make — we confirm fitment before anything ships.

https://www.auto-jet.com/post/school-bus-fuel-tank-replacement-fitment-guide

01/29/2026

Plan Ahead for 2026 Fleet Maintenance

January is when many maintenance teams review what caused the most downtime over the past year. Identifying those patterns early helps prevent the same failures from repeating during peak seasons.

Proactive planning is often the difference between scheduled repairs and emergency breakdowns.

Shop Planning Tip
Review last year’s work orders and flag:
✔ Parts replaced multiple times
✔ Repairs that caused missed routes
✔ Failures that occurred mid-season

Those patterns usually identify components worth stocking or replacing earlier in the service cycle. Auto-jet works with fleets to support maintenance planning—not just emergency repairs.

Read More About Winter Fleet Maintenance here: https://www.auto-jet.com/post/why-january-is-the-best-time-to-plan-fleet-maintenance

Need help with parts or availability?
Let’s talk before small issues turn into downtime.
📞 Call Now: 800-247-5391 | 📩 Get a Quote | auto-jet.com

01/14/2026

Winter is tough on our vehicles, and flex pipes and bellows often bear the brunt of it. Learn how cold temperatures, vibration, and frame movement contribute to exhaust failures in winter. Don’t let winter catch you off guard! Read more here: https://wix.to/yywzdwV

Cold temperatures, vibration, and frame movement make flex pipes and bellows one of the most common winter exhaust failures. Here’s what to check.