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.

From the creative minds at:

FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

PSA: Be Safe With Brake Cleaner

If you work in a shop (and if you’re reading this, chances are you do), you are undoubtedly familiar with brake cleaner. And, if you know the scent of brake cleaner, you probably know that using it is not great for your health if it comes in contact with your skin,...

Compression Testing | ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Description Technician A has just completed a dry compression test of a four-cylinder engine. All four cylinders are below specification by about the same amount. After performing a wet compression test, values remained unchanged. What could cause this condition? A)...

When a Voltmeter Isn’t Enough (Video)

Description With the variety of electronically controlled systems on a modern automobile, the days when a test light or simple voltmeter was enough to diagnose problems are long gone. Using a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) can make troubleshooting faster and more...

P0420/P0430—The #1 DTC in the Country

DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) P0420 and P0430 are generic industry codes and part of the OBD-II standards. The descriptor labels the code(s) “Catalytic Converter Efficiency Below Threshold – Bank 1 (or 2)”. And the number one part sold to repair this problem is a...

Troubleshooting Fuel Trim–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing ways to use fuel trim as a troubleshooting aid. Technician A says that fuel trims that are correcting for a lean condition at high RPM and load conditions indicates a problem in fuel delivery. Technician B says...

Add or Delete These Simple Parts to Help Customers Save Money

Looking for an easy way to win over your customers that they’ll enjoy every time they drive? Look at their vehicles from a hypermiler’s perspective. In case you haven’t heard the term before, the hypermiling community is obsessed with optimizing their vehicles’ fuel...

Stress Test Vehicle Grounds

Stress Test Vehicle Grounds

Pop quiz, no cheating: how many amps does the ground side of any circuit conduct? If you said, “As many as the hot side,” get yourself a gold star and skip this article. For the rest of us who weren’t born innately knowing the answer to that question, stick with me...
The Tightwad’s Way To Install Any Wheel Bearing Race

The Tightwad’s Way To Install Any Wheel Bearing Race

I don’t own a bearing race driver kit, and I haven’t in 20 years of fixing stuff. I also refuse to use sockets to drive a race. I learned a method a long time ago I’ll pass along to you newer techs: I use the race I’m replacing. I primarily have used this trick when...
Check Out This Hacky Diag Tool

Check Out This Hacky Diag Tool

Disclaimer: Dorman Products purchased this kit at full price. In the interest of serious investigative reporting, I swiped the Shop Press credit card for $14.83 to try out a diag tool I thought looked super-cool: the relay bypass. What’s that? Short version: Imagine a...
Are You Adding Engine Oil the Wrong Way? (VIDEO)

Are You Adding Engine Oil the Wrong Way? (VIDEO)

Are You Adding Engine Oil the Wrong Way? (VIDEO) Description Think you know how to pour oil out of a jug? Are you sure about that? Lemmy and Nick talk about the best oil pour techniques to avoid making a mess. Related Videos Check Out This Hacky Diag Tool by Lemmy |...
Dealers make house calls. Why not you?

Dealers make house calls. Why not you?

I had a great experience recently when my dealer’s service department called to ask if I’d like to schedule some routine maintenance needed on my SUV from one of their fleet of nifty new mobile service vans, with the promise that my cost would be the same as if I...