Shop Press

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Is Your DVOM Ready for Work? (VIDEO)

Description Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier explains how to check the battery and fuses in your DVOM/multimeter to make sure that it’s ready to go for your next job.  Related Videos

A Brighter Future: The History and Evolution of Car Headlights

Every piece of a car’s puzzle shapes its identity: exterior design, performance, power, technology, or the badge on the hood. What’s easy to overlook is how these components have evolved over time. Every part of a vehicle has its own history of innovation, all the way...

Boost Isn’t New! A History of Turbocharged Cars

It seems every automaker has jumped on the forced induction bandwagon over the last decade. While some say there is no replacement for displacement, a turbocharged engine makes a pretty good argument to the contrary. Turbocharging is hardly new, though. You can read...

Two Common Oil Change Mistakes That Techs Can Make (VIDEO)

Description Too many technicians make these simple mistakes while performing oil changes for customers. Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier points out a pair of errors that can turn easy jobs into big headaches.  Related Videos

Fundamental Electrical Knowledge – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing electrical fundamentals. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A) All electrical circuits are made up of a load, a source, a control, a circuit protection device and a path that connects them all.B)...

Is an Appointment-Only Shop Schedule Wise or Madness?

You probably have an “Open” sign hanging in the shop window or door. But what if you didn’t? Could you—and your shop—function as a shop without regular hours? The answer, like so many things in life, isn’t completely binary. Before we begin, maybe it makes sense to...

What does dark brake fluid really mean? (VIDEO)

Description Don’t just rely on brake fluid color to determine its condition. Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier demonstrates how to use a quick DVOM test for a more precise brake fluid condition check.Related Videos

Is an Appointment-Only Shop Schedule Wise or Madness?

Is an Appointment-Only Shop Schedule Wise or Madness?

You probably have an “Open” sign hanging in the shop window or door. But what if you didn’t? Could you—and your shop—function as a shop without regular hours? The answer, like so many things in life, isn’t completely binary. Before we begin, maybe it makes sense to...
The Most Neglected Part of the Cooling System

The Most Neglected Part of the Cooling System

Cooling system jobs are, by and large, gravy repairs. Sure, we get the occasional hard-to-bleed system or the heater core that’s buried. But for the most part, the work is straightforward plumbing. And selling the stuff is easy! Even the most price-conscious customer...
When Selling a Job, Get It In Writing (Not an Emoji)

When Selling a Job, Get It In Writing (Not an Emoji)

This one’s for anyone who interacts with customers directly: service writers, small shop owners, and even techs who do some moonlighting or side work. Be careful when using text abbreviations, slang, or emojis with your customer, and that goes double when a customer...
Politics Ain’t Politic

Politics Ain’t Politic

Red, blue, or green? You’ve pieced together the point of this article by now, no doubt. This will not be a piece that risks raising the hackles of those who are deeply political. That’s not because you’re encouraged to avoid the topic, but instead, to do what makes...
Put the Second Floor to Work

Put the Second Floor to Work

Paying the mortgage (or the rent) on the bricks—the actual shop itself—is an expense. (A fixed cost, if you want to be particular.) But that building does more than keep your tools and techs dry. It provides room to work and house equipment. And if you’re like most...