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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...

Tire techs: Elevate your work with this one humble task

I have mounted and balanced many tires. I have also sold many tires, and there was a step I took when I was installing them that I insisted all techs did when I eventually began writing service. I’m going to share it here, and while I can’t insist upon anything from...

Tools beyond the basics for DIYers

Except when it comes to mountain bikes and drum kits, I’m frugal (read: cheap) by nature, so I’m not the kind of guy who would blow a chunk of change on tools that I will never use. I’m also keenly aware of the limitations of my skills when it comes to automotive...

Transfer cases: how to talk to your customers

The transfer case is an essential part of the part-time four-wheel drive system found on many traditional vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks. The customers you help at your service counter may well rely on vehicles with 4WD daily and understand the systems well. But...

Easy trick to transfer gear oil with a simple length of hose (VIDEO)

Description A fluid transfer pump is the cleanest and easiest way to fill a differential, transmission or transfer case with its necessary fluid. When you don’t have access to a pump, there’s another way to get the job done using supplies you probably already have in...

Bitten by a misfire

There are hundreds of great automotive technical schools around the country and they teach all the book lessons you need to know to start in this business. But nothing teaches better than real world experience. I consider myself a pretty good tech today and I got that...

Are stainless cars (finally) having their moment?

Are stainless cars (finally) having their moment?

In case you missed it during Super Bowl LVI (like I did) or haven’t heard about it since, the DeLorean was officially reintroduced with a 15-second commercial during the game. Here, let’s take another look at it! One of the unique aspects of the original DMC DeLorean...
What kind of car is that? A primer on esoteric body styles.

What kind of car is that? A primer on esoteric body styles.

We all deal with various body styles daily. I remember asking, “Lumina car or Lumina van?” in my salad days on the parts counter because I badly needed to know the body style for things like, say, a set of wiper blades. We all know the easy ones—sedan, convertible,...
The real history behind the fake turboencabulator (VIDEO)

The real history behind the fake turboencabulator (VIDEO)

I forget when I first saw the turbo encabulator video, but it was a long time ago, early in my life as a wrench. I came to understand most mechanics had seen it and was a bit of an in-joke, but had no idea it neither originated in the automotive industry nor was the...
Whaddya call two hybrid Toyotas?

Whaddya call two hybrid Toyotas?

No, it’s not a dad joke. Mike Principato and I recently were wondering what the plural of “Prius” is, because we needed to reference multiple vehicles in some copy. Now, even though we get paid to sling words around this joint, we don’t work in Latin too much, and I...
Detroit geology: all about Fordite, an automotive gemstone

Detroit geology: all about Fordite, an automotive gemstone

Ever heard of Fordite? Fordite, often called Detroit agate or motor agate, isn’t a rock at all. In fact, it has nothing at all to do with geology—but it’s not very different than a sedimentary rock. Unlike sedimentary formations, Fordite is not composed of layers of...