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Why Wheel Fastener Torque Matters More Than You Think (VIDEO)

Description If you’re still using torque sticks and impact power to install lug nuts and lug bolts, it’s time to reconsider. Pete Meier explains why the torque wrench is the only correct tool for the job … and what can go wrong when you don’t use one.Related...

A History of the U.S. Presidential State Car (Part 1)

The U.S. presidential state car (aka "The Beast", "Cadillac One", "First Car", and codename "Stagecoach") is an unmistakable symbol of our nation’s executive branch. Since we had a presidential inauguration this year, I thought it would be a good time to look at the...

Dead Battery? (Video)

Description With dozens of electronic control units on automobiles built in the last 25 years, incidents of battery drain caused by an ECU that will not turn off when it is supposed to are on the rise. Tracing the ultimate cause can be made easier, though, if you know...

Check Engine Light On?

Diagnosing an illuminated check engine light (CEL) is something professional technicians do on an everyday basis. The key to a correct diagnosis is following a logical diagnostic process and gathering the information you need to isolate and repair the cause. The...

CDK Global Outage: The Aftermath.

Nobody wants to hear it, but cyberattacks and ransomware are part of a complicated new reality for the digital systems supporting the auto repair industry. Are you prepared? Months after the CDK Global outage ravaged the auto repair industry, there are still lingering...

DIYers: Yes, You Can Handle a Window Regulator Replacement

I’ve had an ongoing disagreement with a few of my Shop Press colleagues for some time now. Personally, I believe that replacing a window regulator is a perfect job for a DIYer. I mean, I’ve done them myself, and I barely even consider myself a DIYer. However, some of...

Betcha Haven’t Serviced the Tool You Use on Every Job

The most dangerous thing we do all day long is one most of us don’t think about: we raise a vehicle weighing a ton or three high in the air and work beneath it. And yet, lifts aren’t maintained well in most shops. I’ve seen lifts out of plumb, bent legs, lifts with...

Book review: “Pump and Circumstance”

Book review: “Pump and Circumstance”

Recently I was organizing my books on a new bookshelf and came across one that I had almost forgotten about. I picked it up after seeing an exhibition called “See the USA: Automobile Travel and the American Landscape” at the Building Museum when I lived in D.C. The...
TECHNICIAN CHALLENGE: The Mystery Box, Part 2

TECHNICIAN CHALLENGE: The Mystery Box, Part 2

TECHNICIAN CHALLENGE: The Mystery Box, Part 2 Description The Proving Grounds crew takes on another round The Mystery Box Challenge with new parts and a few new faces. Could you guess these auto parts simply by the way they feel? It’s more difficult than it...
Vehicle weights are increasing. Can your lifts handle it?

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

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...