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Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle.

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FEATURE STORY

How Often Should You Really Flush Coolant? (VIDEO)

How Often Should You Really Flush Coolant? (VIDEO)

How do you know when it’s time to flush coolant? Technicians may have different views on the subject, but Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier explains how using a test strip at every service is a surefire way to get an accurate picture of the coolant’s health.

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Hot Off the Press

Colin Chapman: The Philosopher of Motion (Part 1)

Car designers have a lot of brain synapses firing. Some designers are driven by the pursuit of beauty, while others are motivated by the pursuit of speed. Giorgetto Giugiaro, Marcello Gandini, and Battista Pininfarina, though responsible for cars that raced, were...

Maximum Voltage Reading – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A is using the min/max function of a digital voltmeter to test the battery and charging system on a customer’s vehicle. He notes a max reading of 17.2 volts has been recorded. Technician B says that the alternator has failed and is overcharging....

The Story of Dagmar Bumpers

If you’ve read my work here on Shop Press, you know I’m a sucker for chrome and mid-century automotive design. This week, I'd like to take a look at one of my favorite examples of that era: "Dagmar bumpers," the colorfully common slang used to describe the...

Should You Charge More When Dealing with Tire Sealant? (VIDEO)

Description Aerosolized tire sealant is widely available, and in some vehicles, it is used in place of a full-size spare. While this “tire repair in a can” might be the best solution in a jam, it creates a messy, stinky situation for a tech changing the tire for a...

An Ode to “Car Talk”

Back in the early aughts, I lived in the Washington, D.C. area for about nine years. Since my parents live in Pennsylvania, this necessitated many three-and-a-half-hour drives (as little as three, if I was lucky) back home for holidays or just a regular visit. At the...

Testing Battery State of Charge – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing battery testing. Technician A says that an open circuit voltage of less than 10.5 volts indicates a bad battery. Technician B says that a reading of 12.5 volts indicates an 80% state of charge. Who is correct?A)...

PSA: Be Safe With Carburetor Cleaner, Too

Recently, I wrote about how brake cleaner can be hazardous if not used correctly, and how you should take safety precautions when using it. One of our readers had an insightful comment on the piece.Now, I think it’s debatable that carburetor cleaner is more hazardous...

The Real Meanings Behind OBD-II Diagnostic Trouble Codes (VIDEO)

Description When the check engine light (CEL) pops up and your OBD-II scan tool displays a code, that’s only the start of the diagnostic process. By breaking down the structures used to create DTCs, you can learn how to “decode” beyond the simple descriptions...

GARAGE GALLERY

Photo Gallery: Tate Automotive in Cross Plains, Tennessee

Our photographer Mike Apice was recently visiting the Dorman facility in Portland, Tennessee, when he stopped in to a small repair shop in nearby Cross Plains. Here’s a look around from his perspective.
Tate Automotive first opened as a Chevrolet dealership in the 1929 in Cross Plains, Tennessee. Customers would view a sample vehicle and then order exactly what car they would like, directly from the manufacturer.

Through the generations, it’s changed into the family repair shop that is still a local meeting place in this one-stop-sign town an hour north of Nashville.

I walked in cold with no calls or emails, and I met the owner Rich Rodriguez, now the sole proprietor after his father-in-law stepped away from the business. Rich not only gave me a history lesson in the shop but also introduced me to relatives, neighbors and friends who were all gracious with these incredible stories and showing pictures from the past.

I was allowed access to anywhere I wanted, and initially it looked like a regular auto shop. But within minutes a stream of people just started to show up and share things about this little town and Tate Auto.

It’s not uncommon for relatives or neighbors to just walk in and share a story or catch up on the local happenings. The drug store just across the street has that same welcoming appearance. You’d swear it was from the 1950s with its wooden booths and working soda fountains.

The shop and town are as charming as the owner, and things seem to move a bit slower down here, just like they say about the South. It’s refreshing to see a repair shop that’s not just located in a community, but is an active, vibrant part of it where customers stop in to share and get news, and take a moment to catch up with Rich. The tiny town is just adorable, and the prospect of a milkshake at the drugstore next to the barber is irresistible. In fact, that’s often where you’ll find Rich. I called him there to shore up a few details for this story!
General store dining area, Cross Plains, TN
General store interior, Cross Plains, TN
If you wanted to make a movie about the heart of America, you’d do it in a town just like Cross Plains. It’s no wonder the shop has been here for nearly a hundred years—that’s about as long as I would have liked to have stayed.

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