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

Put the Second Floor to Work

Paying the mortgage (or the rent) on the bricks—the actual shop itself—is an expense. (A fixed cost, if you want to be particular.) But that building does more than keep your tools and techs dry. It provides room to work and house equipment. And if you’re like most...

The One Tool That Knows More Than Any Tech (VIDEO)

Description A factory service manual gives you every spec, procedure, and diagram—stop guessing, start fixing smart.Related Videos

How Does Regenerative Braking Affect Brake Wear?

We’ve come a long way since the days of rubbing wooden blocks against a wagon wheel to slow down a carriage. Modern braking systems are amazingly effective at halting several thousand pounds in a safe, controlled manner. The most common automotive braking technique is...

Air Conditioning Service Fundamentals – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description A/C system designs are changing, and new refrigerants are being introduced. Technician A and Technician B are discussing the importance of proper diagnosis and repair of today’s climate control systems. Which of the following statements related to A/C...

Don’t Overlook the Elementary

Today’s article is one borne from experiences. Exasperating experiences, no less. All novice mechaniclets are taught engines need fuel, air, spark, and compression to run. This is true, but we often take those for granted, and diagnosing even one vehicle with a basic...

ADAS Alignment and Calibration – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says that the thrust angle must be maintained at zero degrees when performing an alignment on many vehicles equipped with certain ADAS systems (like lane departure warning). Technician B says that the steering angle sensor must be properly...

What are Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Why are They Important?

It may sound crazy, but there was a time when automobile manufacturers were not required to make vehicles safe. Many manufacturers touted the safety of their vehicles, but some of those features were just as much marketing as they were practical. In the 1960s,...

Writers, Print Vehicle Service Histories for Every Vehicle

The fellas who taught me to write service were arguably some of the best I’ve seen do the job. They had all sorts of tricks up their sleeves, like the boomerang business cards you’ve read about before. Today, I’d like to share another tip my friend Sam gave me. It...

Shifting Gears

Watch this video on the four stages of grief for mechanics

by Jonathan Roth | Jan 14, 2025

1 Comments

You’ve likely heard of the psychological model called the five stages of grief. It’s used to describe the various emotions people might experience when dealing with a significant loss, and the the five stages of grief are commonly defined as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Well, a friend who owns an auto repair shop recently sent me this funny YouTube video from Carl Carlsson, which applies the model to wrenching. Check it out!

As you can see, he defines the four stages of grief for mechanics as shock/numbness, yearning/searching (for a different tool to use), disorganization/despair, and reorganization/recovery. I’d say that’s pretty accurate.

What do you think? Should there be a fifth step and, if so, what should it be?

The articles and other content contained on this site may contain links to third party websites. By clicking them, you consent to Dorman’s Website Use Agreement.