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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

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...