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Boost Isn’t New! A History of Turbocharged Cars

It seems every automaker has jumped on the forced induction bandwagon over the last decade. While some say there is no replacement for displacement, a turbocharged engine makes a pretty good argument to the contrary. Turbocharging is hardly new, though. You can read...

Two Common Oil Change Mistakes That Techs Can Make (VIDEO)

Description Too many technicians make these simple mistakes while performing oil changes for customers. Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier points out a pair of errors that can turn easy jobs into big headaches.  Related Videos

Fundamental Electrical Knowledge – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing electrical fundamentals. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A) All electrical circuits are made up of a load, a source, a control, a circuit protection device and a path that connects them all.B)...

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...

What does dark brake fluid really mean? (VIDEO)

Description Don’t just rely on brake fluid color to determine its condition. Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier demonstrates how to use a quick DVOM test for a more precise brake fluid condition check.Related Videos

Beware the SAE Lead

The SAE connector is instantly recognizable to many technicians. Commonly found on electrical junctions that need the ability to be disconnected often but ought not be reversed, the plug seems like it should be a no-brainer—however, it’s anything but. If the picture...

DSO Settings – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says that when using a lab scope, most signals can be captured using the 20/20 Rule - that is, by setting up the scope to capture a range of 0-20v on the vertical scale and setting the time base to 20ms per division. Technician B says that a...

Average U.S. vehicle age reaches new record high, again

Average U.S. vehicle age reaches new record high, again

Does it feel like the cars and trucks in your repair shop keep getting older and older? Well, that’s because they are. The average U.S. vehicle age is now up to 12.5 years, according to a recent analysis by S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit). That’s a new...
Right to Repair gains momentum in Maine

Right to Repair gains momentum in Maine

The state motto of Maine, “Dirigo,” Latin for “I lead,” is being embraced by the members of the Maine Right to Repair Coalition who find themselves at the vanguard of a movement to ratify legislation that protects independent repair shops. Last February, a referendum...
Which road maintenance fleet has the best snowplow names?

Which road maintenance fleet has the best snowplow names?

Asking the public for creative input can sometimes be an effective way to crowdsource ideas and foster community engagement. Or, it can be an exercise in large-scale trolling, as we saw with the infamous tale of Boaty McBoatface. Nevertheless, over the past few years,...