A practical approach to auto repair shop management.
Mastering the Numbers
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HOT OFF THE PRESS
It’s All About the Process
To reach a successful diagnostic conclusion, you have to follow the right diagnostic path.
Rookie Tip: LOF? Leave the Dipstick Sticking Out and the Oil Cap on the Hood Latch
A bent dipstick and a broken oil cap are lucky indeed!
Dealing with “System Lean” DTCs
“System lean” diagnostic trouble codes are among the top 10 codes faced by techs.
ABOUT 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. With interesting stories from around the world, features on creative people and solutions, and all kinds of other stuff that’ll make you use your mind and your hands.
SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Ford Door Latch Cable Repair Tips and Tricks: 926-111
Supplemental information to make your first rodeo a little easier.
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.
Colin Chapman: The Philosopher of Motion (Part 1)
This British engineer changed racing forever by making cars lighter, not more powerful.
Maximum Voltage Reading – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)
Technicians debate using the min/max function of a digital voltmeter to test the battery and charging system on a customer’s vehicle to determine if the alternator has failed. Who is correct?
The Story of Dagmar Bumpers
Is this the only car part named after an actress?
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SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
The Most Neglected Part of the Cooling System
Customers don’t realize it needs attention. Sadly, many mechanics don’t, either.
An Ode to “Car Talk”
A radio show that, hopefully, will live on for years to come.
Testing Battery State of Charge – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)
Technicians discuss battery testing, one says open circuit voltage of less than 10.5 volts indicates a bad battery, while the other says that a reading of 12.5 volts indicates an 80% state of charge. Who is correct?
PSA: Be Safe With Carburetor Cleaner, Too
Is carb cleaner actually more dangerous than brake cleaner?
The Real Meanings Behind OBD-II Diagnostic Trouble Codes (VIDEO)
By breaking down the structures used to create DTCs, you can learn how to “decode” beyond the simple descriptions presented by a scanner.
VIDEOS
Clean It or Crack It
Why clearing bolt holes of contaminants matters.
Set the Toe and Go!
The finer points of performing coarse alignments.
What Happens When You Don’t Drain Your Air Compressor? (You Don’t Want to Find Out.)
The shop maintenance task you can’t afford to forget.