Shop Press

Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle.

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The Future of the Trade Needs Us

Take a step back for a moment and look at how far this industry has come. Modern technicians routinely diagnose and repair vehicles that are more advanced than anything the industry has seen before. Today's repair pros navigate electrical systems, software,...

Why are Muffin Tins in the Shop? (VIDEO)

Description Keeping track of small parts during a job can be tricky, but there’s a cheap and effective way to solve that problem. Old muffin tins are perfect for storing and labeling auto parts. (Just don’t mix up your “shop” muffin tin with the one in your...

Service Writing Tip: Justify Your Recommendations

Writers, are you as tired as I am of getting lambasted by customers when you recommend work beyond the symptoms displayed by a vehicle that was brought to your shop? Between TikTok videos and fuel touching $5 per gallon (or six, for those of you burning diesel), it...

Start Fasteners by Hand Before Using Power Tools (VIDEO)

Description Cordless power tools are stronger and more common than ever, and they help to speed up all kinds of automotive work. But cross-threading or stripping a fastener can bring progress to a halt in an instant. Start by hand-threading fasteners before reaching...

Take a Step Back to Take a Step Forward (VIDEO)

Description Ever get up to your elbows in a diagnostic problem, only to wind up right where you started an hour later? It may be time to take a step back to get fresh perspective. That way, you can reevaluate the problem and potentially spot issues you’ve...

How to Hang Onto a Tricky Nut or Bolt (VIDEO)

Description Having trouble hanging onto a nut or bolt, especially in a part of the vehicle with minimal access or tight corners? Try these tips and tricks for keeping fasteners where you want them during installation.Related Videos

Service Writing Tip: Justify Your Recommendations

Service Writing Tip: Justify Your Recommendations

Writers, are you as tired as I am of getting lambasted by customers when you recommend work beyond the symptoms displayed by a vehicle that was brought to your shop? Between TikTok videos and fuel touching $5 per gallon (or six, for those of you burning diesel), it...
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...