Shop Press

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

No bead seating tank? No problem!

If you’re a tech of a certain age, you’ll remember a time when a bead seating air tank was a somewhat exotic tool. Today, seating low-pro tires that have sidewalls resembling rubber bands is the norm and use of tools beyond the bead seater on the tire machine is the...

What are rear fog lights, and when should you use them?

If you’re a vehicle owner or auto repair professional in the United States, odds are that you haven’t seen (or even used) rear fog lights on a vehicle. The vast majority of vehicles sold in the US do not include them, and in some cases, the feature is disabled or the...

“Hot Rod Magazine: 75 Years” book review

For some reason, my grade school library had a subscription to “Hot Rod” magazine. My suspicion has always been that it was one of the few magazine subscriptions for boys my age that was acceptable to have in the school library. Nevertheless, I spent a lot of time in...

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...

Watch this video on the four stages of grief for mechanics

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,...

The first step I now take in vehicle diagnostics

The following four vehicles (which certainly are varied) all came to me for repair and I did not identify the root of their problems immediately. And that’s because I was staying stuck in my ways and not adapting to changing vehicles. Let’s examine. Situation One: A...

PSA: Stop throwing away brake rotor screws

Hello. My name is Lemmy, and I am guilty of throwing away brake rotor screws. At least I was guilty. I no longer commit this sin. You know the pieces I’m talking about. They’re the little screws with the huge heads that get boogered up when you try to remove them...

December Automotive Horoscopes

by | Dec 20, 2022

Aries: The shop has a somber attitude, so tone down the practical jokes on a friend. Stick close to home and get your chores done. Now is the time to to start thinking about spring tasks. Have you started seedlings for the garden yet? Restraint pays dividends this month. Watch out for a Sagittarius trying to knock you down.

Taurus: You have the tendency to take things overboard—life’s a roller-coaster in your bay. Take a chill pill. Does that car really need to fixed right now?. Make sure that all your actions are measured and well thought out. Control your emotions before you speak—your employment may depend on it.

Gemini: Take care of yourself, Gemini. Mind your creditors and clean up any loose ends in your love life. If you happen to work a parts counter, expect a real big sale this month that helps the paycheck. Patience.is key as always, but it’s eespecially important this month with a junior worker who looks to you for guidance.

Cancer: Be bold. Be cocky, even. Your stability allows exploration and risk-taking. Wield your power, and rely on your judgment—not every IPD is correct, and you’ll find an inconsistency between what the book says and what you actually find. Was the mistake made in the factory or at the technical writer’s desk? You’ll find out before the end of the year.

Leo: OK, Leo, you bought those new tools last month, right? Why don’t you get started on that project car or sell the thing off. And if you do it, do it right. Are you really going to just spiff it up and hope the mechanicals are in good shape? Go through it correctly—your safety matters here. Think through the project and plan out the work. The brakes are going to yield a surprise. Life should be pretty manageable these days—if you can stay focused. Virgo scores a win.

Virgo: Clear your bay each day, Virgo, so you can be ready for new work each morning—this is part of why you aren’t flagging very many hours. Interpret, plan, execute. Don’t fritter time away, and also be aware of what your body is telling you. Slow down and go the extra mile for your customers, because little niceties are badly needed by those you serve.

Libra: Take a day off. Take a load off, because you deserve a break! Once you’re rejuvenated, consider all the possible outcomes of your next course of action before setting out. Be decisive. No hand-wringing. Rack your cars carefully; the last close call was perhaps too close.

Scorpio: Continue your progress. Your previous observations and analysis may just pay off. The table has been set, so to speak, so put that information to good use. Be confident and strong in your romantic endeavors—the right thing is often painful. A gentle touch throughout the month will be profitable. Taurus has a surprising rising sign as well as a laugh at your expense.

Sagittarius: You’ll be richly rewarded for a measured approach in all things this month, Sagittarius, but it may be difficult getting started. Use the slow season in the shop to outline your plan; be optimistic,but keep at least one foot firmly grounded in reality, if not both. Your conservative outlook will gather quiet support from strong leaders around you. Eyes on the prize.

Capricorn: Harness your anger, Capricorn. Introspective. Realistic. Thoughtful. These are your watchwords. Don’t get carried away with worst-case scenarios. Did you check the ground path? The fuses? The silly little things that are easy to blow past? Take a long look in the mirror and ask if you’re really doing your very best. Higher highs come with lower lows, and parachutes are not provided. Start sewing now and be prepared to finish yours on the way down. Get all the facts straight before you shoot your mouth off.

Aquarius: Your romantic troubles have hopefully smoothed out a bit. Tone down the opulence and flamboyance for a little while; concentrate on the task at hand. Don’t waste your time trying to fix every niggling problem on every car; do the work on the RO and move on or you’re going to sacrifice lots of pay to tail-chasing, plain and simple. That said, don’t give up your joie de vivre that makes working next to you fun, be it at home or at work. Productivity and attention are interrelated, you know.

Pisces: Write big tickets this month. This is the time when big discretionary jobs start coming back in, putting you way in the black for December. Don’t get too big for your britches; make sure you’ve got the current job locked down before you step on someone’s neck for the next one. You have great potential. but unrealized potential is the diplomatic term for wasted talent.

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.

Related Articles

Shop Press Comment Policy

Participation in this forum is subject to Dorman’s Website Terms & Conditions. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline feedback
View all comments

Get Articles In Your Inbox

Subscribe to receive a monthly email summary of our latest Shop Press stories.

Shop Press

I agree to the above privacy statement and T&Cs

Thanks! You're now subscribed.