In The Bay Archives

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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Vehicle weights are increasing. Can your lifts handle it?

Average vehicle weights in the United States have steadily increased since the mid 1980s, driven by sustained consumer demand for vehicles with more power, features, and room. Hybrid and electric vehicles can be especially heavy with their batteries and motors,...

Diagnostics case study: don’t overcomplicate things

A vehicle recently came to me that made me feel pretty terrible. The customer was not happy, and I know for a fact the shop lost money on the job, so presumably they were unhappy, too. The vehicle—and scenario—seemed ripe for a quick story, because there were so many...

Do you mind working on customer vehicles equipped with dash cams?

When you spot a dashboard camera inside a customer’s vehicle, how do you react? At this point I think we have all seen dash cam videos from customer vehicles that capture what mechanics are saying and doing at work. Some recordings are harmless fun, like this chap...

The story of the very first reverse gear in an American car

Making a car go backwards was not the most important part of the automobile’s development, but it sure is important in its operation. In fact, if the average automobile enthusiast was to guess which American-built car had the first reverse gear, he or she would likely...

How to get a little more (temporary) performance out of your air impact gun

I would like to start this article off by mentioning that yes, I know air impacts are slowly going out of style—which is exactly why you might want to keep this tip in the back of your head. Parts availability can be a challenge for some old impact wrenches, and even...

Are automakers starting to rethink OTA microtransactions?

Over a year ago, I wrote a piece on this very media hub about the trend of auto manufacturers offering customers over-the-air (OTA) microtransactions to unlock options on their vehicles. I talked about what Tesla, BMW, VW, and Kia had introduced in that area, and...

Top 5 mechanical oddities on RHD vehicles, and how to deal with them if one rolls into your shop

Working in a shop means working on many different vehicles, each of which have their own quirks. However, right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles have their own specific mechanical oddities that are distinct from LHD vehicles. The next time a RHD car or truck rolls into your...

The only two mistakes you can make on your first timing belt job (and why you shouldn’t worry about them)

Recently a friend of mine, a heavy-duty truck mechanic, asked if I’d help him replace the timing belt on his car. He’s an experienced wrench but this job left him wanting guidance, knowing the high stakes if something went amiss. I agreed, of course, and it got me...

Is it OK to plug a tire? (VIDEO)

by Lemmy | Apr 5, 2022

My career started with tire repairs, and I bet yours did, too. Depending on how many years ago that was, you may have been patching tires, plugging tires, or patch-plugging. I recall being told solemnly by my manager that I was never to plug a tire because it was...

Let’s bring back this tiny piece of archaic automotive technology

by Lemmy | Mar 22, 2022

In the halcyon days of the automobile, metallurgical processes were obviously cruder than they were today. Automotive lubricants were not as well-developed as modern equivalents. Because of the crummy metals and oils of the era, service was required...

Modern GDI systems have brought back decades-old maintenance issues

by Lemmy | Mar 10, 2022

Have you performed a mechanical valve cleaning lately? Did you ever stop to think about how strange it is we need to do that again, when “decoking” stopped being a necessity half a century ago? Have we outfoxed ourselves in the eternal automotive quest for higher...

Two reasons you should have a welder in your shop (and know how to use it)

by Lemmy | Mar 8, 2022

I learned how to weld when I was about 17. I was not a good welder, but I could operate the machine well enough to get by, and like most of us who can weld, I improved with time and practice. As a young mechanic, I distinctly remember tackling a few projects with...

This guide to being a mechanic-saboteur could teach you to be a better tech

by Lee Procida | Mar 3, 2022

Almost 80 years ago, the United States Office of Strategic Services, which eventually became the CIA, created a pamphlet to help people living in Nazi-occupied countries discretely undermine the enemy. This Simple Sabotage Field Manual was published in 1944 and...

The easiest way to remove a cotter pin (VIDEO)

by Lemmy | Dec 15, 2021

The easiest way to remove a cotter pin (VIDEO) Description For the longest time I used to remove cotter pins with either a hooked mechanic’s pick or a pair of needle-nose pliers. And when I say a long time, I mean, probably 15 years. Then my friend Zito showed me a...