Auto-jet

07/09/2026

Wrong exhaust part again? It usually comes down to matching the bus body instead of the engine. Here is how to confirm the right Thomas Built exhaust part before you order.

https://vist.ly/5am5k

Thomas Built school bus exhaust parts by model and engine. HDX, C2, and MVP configurations covered. Mufflers, flex pipes, and hangers, fitment confirmed before you order.

07/04/2026

Celebrating the spirit of freedom this Independence Day! 🇺🇸

https://vist.ly/5a3wx

07/02/2026

Thanks to Amy Friedrich and Nate Schelhaas for spending time on our floor. Building exhaust parts that help get kids to school safely is the work we care about most, and it was a good day showing how it comes together.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/amy-friedrich-572270_when-curiosity-about-the-life-of-a-business-ugcPost-7476370777441927169-xgFY/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAG7UyEBoVB7h-P79EtOZ3I2RgQW1dDFKsQ

06/24/2026

A failed Blue Bird exhaust hanger transfers its load to the flex pipe and muffler inlet. That's what turns a hanger replacement into a three-part repair.

https://vist.ly/58vr3

06/04/2026

A Blue Bird fuel tank ordered by model year alone comes back wrong often enough that year is not a safe identifier. The OEM number on the existing tank points to one exact configuration. Where to find it and how to cross-reference it at the link.

https://vist.ly/56mqx

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.