Shop Press - Auto Repair News & Ideas

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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Hot Off the Press

The bumpy story of vinyl record players in cars

As a lover of vinyl records, I’ve often thought over the years of how to install a record player in my car, so I could enjoy the superior sound quality of vinyl while I’m driving. Of course, there are naturally a few ways that this idea is not practical. First, a form...

U.S. parents becoming slightly more likely to recommend their kids pursue trades, although prefer electrician and plumber over mechanic

Parents in the United States have become slightly more likely over the past two years to support their children in pursuing a career in the trades, although they would prefer their kids become electricians, plumbers and HVAC repair professionals over automotive...

Chasing down Volkswagen’s best-selling sausage

I recently settled into my easy chair and found this little tidbit in a recent copy of Car and Driver that made me want to shoot right on over to the dealer to see if this part was in-stock: I immediately asked a friend who is knowledgeable about all things German if...

Geography by way of fittings and couplers

As a little mechaniclet, I didn’t really give much thought to my air tool fittings or their air lines. Yes, the type of tool, the amount of air moving through the lines, and the distance from the compressor are all variables that determine how well a tool might work,...

How accurately can you torque a fastener? (VIDEO)

Description What do you get when you combine a bunch of cutthroat techs, a few fasteners and tools, and a device capable of measuring torque accurately? You get a competition. See who's got the best-calibrated arm in the Dorman Proving Grounds, and when you're done,...

Hidden external speakers are changing the soundscape of our streets

For more than a century now, people have been getting used to what it sounds like living around machines powered by explosions. The soundscapes of our roads, parking lots, communities and cities are filled with the familiar noises from engines and exhaust pipes. Of...

Automotive technical schools just saw the largest graduation drop in a decade

The number of students who earned postsecondary degrees as auto technicians dropped by nearly 12 percent last year, the largest single-year decline since auto tech graduations began declining in 2012, according to a new report from the TechForce Foundation. This is...

November Automotive Horoscopes

Aries: You’ve been stubborn lately, but that’s not always profitable, especially with diag work. You’ve been footloose and fancy-free, doing whatever you want. That has to stop due to financial constraints. Deal with your unresolved monetary issues; the shop’s success...

Check Out This Hacky Diag Tool

Why build what you can buy inexpensively?

HOT OFF THE PRESS

EGR system – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

EGR system – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Under what conditions would the EGR system be expected to be operational? We have the correct answer.

A low-tech favor you can perform for every customer (and yourself)

A low-tech favor you can perform for every customer (and yourself)

Break out your paint pen—you’re the service writer now!

ASE test prep requires more than sample questions (VIDEO)

ASE test prep requires more than sample questions (VIDEO)

Do you have a study guide to prepare for your ASE exams? Which parts of that study guide do you use the most? Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier explains.

SHOP STUFF

Auto care news and advice you can use.

Better ops with SOPs

Better ops with SOPs

Why you should use standard operating procedures for customer communications.

This tungsten scraper is my new favorite tool.

This tungsten scraper is my new favorite tool.

A fellow YouTuber recommended it. Why not give it a try?

Polishing headlights vs. replacing them! (VIDEO)

Polishing headlights vs. replacing them! (VIDEO)

Two solutions for yellowed, hazy headlights.

Parallel connectors vs. butt connectors

Parallel connectors vs. butt connectors

They look the same, but serve different roles. Here are the very specific scenarios where the lesser-known parallel connector shines.

What’s the deal with permanent and lifetime antifreezes? (VIDEO)

What’s the deal with permanent and lifetime antifreezes? (VIDEO)

Shop Press’ Andy Greaser breaks down permanent antifreeze and today’s coolant for your vehicles.

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.

Fixing cracked plastic parts with a hot staple tool (VIDEO)

Fixing cracked plastic parts with a hot staple tool (VIDEO)

When plastic parts break, sometimes replacements can be prohibitively expensive or hard to find. Learn how to use a hot staple tool to salvage broken plastics for auto repairs and other projects.

Diagnostics case study: don’t overcomplicate things

Diagnostics case study: don’t overcomplicate things

One basic vehicle checkover has several lessons to teach.

Do you mind working on customer vehicles equipped with dash cams?

Do you mind working on customer vehicles equipped with dash cams?

As dashboard cameras become more common, repair professionals should know how to deal with them.

The story of the very first reverse gear in an American car

The story of the very first reverse gear in an American car

Reverse is an innovation that’s easy to take for granted—but it was a revolutionary addition to the automobile.

How to get a little more (temporary) performance out of your air impact gun

How to get a little more (temporary) performance out of your air impact gun

“Rebuild in a can” is not the right way to fix the tool, but it will get you by until you can repair it correctly.

VIDEOS

The final days (and cars) of AMC

The final days (and cars) of AMC

In November 1988, two employees snuck a camera into AMC’s Kenosha plant for a farewell tour.

What is a core charge?

What is a core charge?

A little glimpse into the world of making old parts new.

How do you inspect a serpentine belt for wear?

How do you inspect a serpentine belt for wear?

Inspection of a belt goes beyond the old standbys of checking for cracks and fraying.