Shop Press - Auto Repair News & Ideas

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FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

Technicians vs. DIYers: How well can you gauge tire pressure? (VIDEO)

Description After seating the bead on a new tire, the valve core needs to be installed and the tire inflated to the correct pressure. Some techs can air up a tire, install the core and land right on the target final pressure… but it’s not as easy as it looks. In this...

EVs go through tires quicker: here’s what that means for your shop.

Recently, my Shop Press colleague Andy wrote a piece about vehicle weights increasing and whether your lifts can handle it. Much of that increase in weight is due to hybrid and electric vehicles, which can be especially heavy with their batteries and motors. That...

Separate gasket – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Description Which of the following is LEAST LIKELY to require a separate gasket for installation?A) EGR valve B) Exhaust manifold C) Oxygen sensor D) TurbochargerMore ASE Practice Questions

Smarter, not harder: relative compression testing

Pete Meier, one of our Dorman Training Center instructors, is a pretty smart cat. Since the day I’ve met him, he’s made it clear that the lab scope is one of his favorite tools and that not using one is a mistake. Now I’ve put a lot of miles on my DVOM over the years,...

Can’t break that crank bolt loose? You need a crank socket (VIDEO)

How to test for blown fuses in a car or truck | Fast and easy method Description Crank fasteners are often a real pain to remove. And sometimes, even expensive impact wrenches and large breaker bars struggle to remove them. A crank socket is just the ticket for these...

So you want to restore a classic or build a kit car? Think twice.

For reasons that have more to do with personality than pragmatism, I recently considered anew the possibility of restoring a classic car, or perhaps building a kit car. It’s an itch I’ve thought about scratching since the days when Popular Mechanics regularly featured...

EGR system – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Description Under what conditions would the EGR system be expected to be operational?A) Cold engine, full throttle B) Hot engine, idle C) Hot engine, full throttle D) Hot engine, part throttleMore ASE Practice Questions

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

In the modern age, it’s plenty easy to pull a vehicle’s service history; even the smallest shops have implemented shop management software. Paper tracking has become less and less important as time has marched on. Similarly, customers are less and less likely to keep...

Six Forgotten Electric and Hybrid Vehicles from the Not-So-Distant Past

EVs and hybrids that time forgot.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Tire Damage Assessment – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Tire Damage Assessment – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Assessing tire damage in order to make a repair decision, which technician is correct with the right repair?

Mastering the Numbers – Part 2

Mastering the Numbers – Part 2

Using your shop’s Cost of Doing Business (CODB) as a baseline for labor rates.

Learn Why You Should Never Skip Battery Isolation (VIDEO)

Learn Why You Should Never Skip Battery Isolation (VIDEO)

Tempted to skip battery isolation during a repair? Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier explains how this essential step can protect you from serious injury while working on a vehicle.

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.

The Stories Spark Plugs Have to Tell (VIDEO)

The Stories Spark Plugs Have to Tell (VIDEO)

We don’t think much about spark plugs unless we think they’re the cause of a misfire concern, do we?

Are You Properly Checking Hub Bearings For Wear? (VIDEO)

Are You Properly Checking Hub Bearings For Wear? (VIDEO)

Pete Meier explains how a dial indicator is necessary for a true wear check.

Efficiency is the Name of the Game

Efficiency is the Name of the Game

Four proven ways to run a tighter ship at your shop.

Misfire Cause–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Misfire Cause–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Technician A is diagnosing a misfire. He states that a misfire is caused by a fault in the ignition system and that new plugs and coils will repair the problem. Technician B says that a misfire is detected when the ECM detects a variation in crankshaft speed.

A History of the U.S. Presidential State Car (Part 2)

A History of the U.S. Presidential State Car (Part 2)

The commander-in-chief’s road transportation, from LBJ’s Lincoln Continental to “The Beast.”

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SHOP STUFF

Auto care news and advice you can use.

What are Frits? (And Why Does Almost Every Car Have Them?)

What are Frits? (And Why Does Almost Every Car Have Them?)

You probably see them every day, and that’s by design.

A History of the U.S. Presidential State Car (Part 1)

A History of the U.S. Presidential State Car (Part 1)

The commander-in-chief’s road transportation, from Pierce-Arrow cars to the Kennedy Lincoln Continental.

Dead Battery? (Video)

Dead Battery? (Video)

Diagnosing the cause of a battery drain can be a challenge today.

Check Engine Light On?

Check Engine Light On?

Grab a generic OBD-II scan tool and take these first steps to turn it off and keep it off.

Which Parts of a Tire Are Safe to Patch? The Answer Has Changed (VIDEO)

Which Parts of a Tire Are Safe to Patch? The Answer Has Changed (VIDEO)

Patching a punctured tire is a common job, but are you up to date on the latest guidance for safe plug locations?

VIDEOS

PSA: Be Safe With Carburetor Cleaner, Too

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)

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.

What’s Torque-to-Angle All About?

What’s Torque-to-Angle All About?

It’s like torquing a bolt, but with an extra twist.