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How to Make Your Own Molded Hose in a Pinch

When a vehicle’s vacuum or heater hose is in need of replacement, we tell the service writer, they sell the job and a little while later, a custom-formed piece with eleventy-four bends shows up, just like magic. But it wasn’t always this way. In Ye Olden Days, we’d...

Diesel and DEF – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says that an empty DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) tank can result in a “no start” complaint. Technician B says that the quality of the DEF fluid in the tank should be checked when SCR system faults are noted. Who is correct?A) Technician AB)...

EDC: Mechanic Edition

EDC, or “everyday carry” has become a popular topic of conversation. At first I thought people’s interest in this was a zeitgeist, but I think it’s got more staying power than I originally surmised. I used to (and still) roll my eyes when someone posts a beautiful...

The Most Neglected Part of the Cooling System

Cooling system jobs are, by and large, gravy repairs. Sure, we get the occasional hard-to-bleed system or the heater core that’s buried. But for the most part, the work is straightforward plumbing. And selling the stuff is easy! Even the most price-conscious customer...

When Selling a Job, Get It In Writing (Not an Emoji)

This one’s for anyone who interacts with customers directly: service writers, small shop owners, and even techs who do some moonlighting or side work. Be careful when using text abbreviations, slang, or emojis with your customer, and that goes double when a customer...

The Stories Spark Plugs Have to Tell (VIDEO)

Description In the days of carbureted engines, mechanics would always take a moment to examine the spark plugs they were replacing as part of a routine tune-up. The plugs often provided valuable information as to how well the engine was performing and whether there...

Service Managers: Buy Brake Fluid by the Pint

If you’re in charge of ordering the supplies for your shop, volume discounts are great when they come along. Sniff them out where you can. But brake fluid is different! Buy it in bulk, but buy it in the smallest containers you can get away with. The reason? Brake...

Six Ways to Best Protect Yourself from Keyless Car Theft (For Now)

In 2023, a record number of vehicles were stolen in the United States; 1,020,729 vehicles to be exact. While that number has declined over the past couple of years (850,708 in 2024 and 659,880 in 2025), car thieves haven’t given up. In fact, they’re finding more...

Shop Profile: Hansville Repair

Shop Profile: Hansville Repair

It’s a small village, but Hansville, Washington makes a grand first impression. As Hansville Road crests a hill and descends into town, a breathtaking panorama unfolds—Puget Sound, Whidbey Island, and distant Mount Baker stretched across the windshield like a...
Shop Profile: Locked N Loaded 4×4

Shop Profile: Locked N Loaded 4×4

I’ve owned two Jeeps–the 1973 Super Jeep CJ-5 featured in a previous Shop Press article, and a 2010 Wrangler Sahara. The reliability and my enjoyment of the former wasn’t “super” in any way despite American Motors’ best efforts at model name puffery, and the latter...
Shop Profile: Top Auto Center

Shop Profile: Top Auto Center

Like a clueless lumberjack who couldn’t see the forest for the trees, it took me longer than it should have to figure out the secret to Top Auto Center’s success. It was hiding in plain sight and sound in the overflowing lot of cars and trucks awaiting service, sale...
Shop Profile: DeLorean Midwest

Shop Profile: DeLorean Midwest

As a Gen Xer, I have a soft spot for the “Back to the Future” movies and, of course, the DMC DeLorean used in those movies. Then I learned of DeLorean Midwest, a shop based outside Chicago that specializes in—you guessed it—DeLoreans. Watch this video profile of...
New to the team but not new to the business (VIDEO)

New to the team but not new to the business (VIDEO)

Greetings, Shop Press readers! I joined the Dorman team earlier this year and you may have already noticed a few posts with my name on them. Maybe you’re even asking yourself “What makes this guy qualified to offer an opinion or try to tell me how to work on cars?”...