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The smarter way to check electrical connection contacts (VIDEO)

Description When it's time to check electrical connections, don't risk damaged components and unreliable test results with improvised equipment. Learn how properly sized test tools can take frustration out of the equation during electrical diagnostics. Related...

Real Vampire Bites? Technicians, Watch Out!

While investigating an intermittent headlight this week, I caught a glimpse of something that raised my hackles and had me reaching for my flashlight in a hurry. Lurking in the dark, behind the headlight housing, was that … a vampire tap? With a skinny black wire...

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,...

Modern Power Window Switches: Smarter than You’d Think

Modern Power Window Switches: Smarter than You’d Think

When was the last time you rolled down the power windows in an older car or truck? I’m talking at least pre-2000. The older, the better. As a passenger, you’ll find that every door has a mix of buttons, switches, locks, and handles to mess around with, plus maybe a...
What are rear fog lights, and when should you use them?

What are rear fog lights, and when should you use them?

If you’re a vehicle owner or auto repair professional in the United States, odds are that you haven’t seen (or even used) rear fog lights on a vehicle. The vast majority of vehicles sold in the US do not include them, and in some cases, the feature is disabled or the...
What is a core charge?

What is a core charge?

The article title is a question I asked when I was a young counterman, and most of you oldtimer mechanics and parts people of course know the story: the core charge is a way to be sure the smoked part makes its way back to the parts counter. A core charge is a deposit...
Watch this video on the invention of the Ford V-8 engine

Watch this video on the invention of the Ford V-8 engine

If you enjoy pioneering developments in automobile history, this video on the development of Ford’s V8 engine is a must-watch. It’s a bit on the long side (a little over an hour), but it’s well worth your time to fully appreciate this revolutionary success in Ford—and...