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

Preventative maintenance is great, but are you performing preventative repairs?

In the world of commercial aircraft, parts are almost always replaced before the end of their expected service lives. Rather obviously, a plane that stops flying mid-flight presents some pretty serious hazards to the health and safety of the passengers and people on...

A/C bypass pulleys: a history lesson on a part you can’t get from a dealer

I’m going to share some theory behind bypassing air conditioning in this article. I recognize it may be elementary for some of you (who probably lived through the whole history I’m gonna delve into), but it may be quite the revelation for those who have not. In most...

The pros (and more than a few cons) of chrome

My Shop Press colleague Lemmy and I have had an ongoing debate about chrome. Since I’m a lover of antique cars, particularly Tri-Five Chevys, you can guess that I’m a pretty big fan of chrome. I think it makes any car look luxurious and stylish. Lemmy, on the other...

PSA: Make sure your Loctite isn’t fake!

Loctite’s threadlocking compounds are used by automotive professionals everywhere to secure critical fasteners. Unfortunately, Loctite's popularity has resulted in a wave of counterfeit products that can look remarkably like the real deal. Everything from the bottle,...

What sealed chassis parts can teach us about shifting customer habits and technology’s march forward

When I got to Dorman, I wasn’t bowled over by our chassis parts for one reason: for the most part, they are sealed. We do have a line of severe-service chassis parts (Premium RD™), but the bulk of our passenger-car offerings feature polymer bearings and the grease...

TECHNICIAN CHALLENGE: Can you identify these dash lights? (VIDEO)

Description Think you know your dash lights? Shop Press contributors Keith, Miriam, Chris, and Greaser try their best to identify all kinds of lights, symbols, and indicators. Some are easy, others obscure, and a few are even fakes. How many can you identify?

I’ll gladly pay an independent shop more for a rush repair, and I’m not alone

On a Sunday morning last May, the day before the planned start of a long-awaited vacation highlighted by a 1,200 mile road trip, I awoke to find a very slow but very obvious leak on one of the very expensive performance tires on my fancy SUV. My first and only call...

Dash warning lights: feature or bug?

Warning lights are something we’re all familiar with—all too often, they’re the reason a customer steps into your shop. Mechanics of a certain age will remember a time when the phrase “idiot light” was used to describe a dash light. The derisive term referred to the...

Forgotten Classics: The 1990-1993 Chevrolet 454 SS Muscle Truck

The 454 SS combines the time capsule looks of the GM GMT400 platform with an entertaining drive that harkens back to the muscle car heyday.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

CDK Global Outage: The Aftermath.

CDK Global Outage: The Aftermath.

How one dealership stayed open through the uncertainty of a cyberattack.

DIYers: Yes, You Can Handle a Window Regulator Replacement

DIYers: Yes, You Can Handle a Window Regulator Replacement

Here are some tips to help get you started.

Betcha Haven’t Serviced the Tool You Use on Every Job

Betcha Haven’t Serviced the Tool You Use on Every Job

The most dangerous piece of equipment in a shop is often the most neglected.

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.

Use the Little Radiator—and Have Customers Do the Same

Use the Little Radiator—and Have Customers Do the Same

Cars have a backup cooling system—use it when the situation demands!

Are you servicing your car’s oil correctly?

Are you servicing your car’s oil correctly?

It might be time to rethink oil changes.

No bead seating tank? No problem!

No bead seating tank? No problem!

There’s two ways to use tire mounting compound.

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

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

Get up to speed on a safety feature not often seen in the United States.

“Hot Rod Magazine: 75 Years” book review

“Hot Rod Magazine: 75 Years” book review

The celebration of a magazine that was, for some, where their love of working on cars began.

Want to contribute an article to Shop Press?

Are you a wrench and a writer? A counterperson and a communicator? A service writer and a scribe? Get paid to share your experience and expertise with thousands of Shop Press readers.

SHOP STUFF

Auto care news and advice you can use.

It’s All About the Process

It’s All About the Process

To reach a successful diagnostic conclusion, you have to follow the right diagnostic path.

Watch this video on the four stages of grief for mechanics

Watch this video on the four stages of grief for mechanics

A Facebook reel that applies a psychological model to wrenching.

The first step I now take in vehicle diagnostics

The first step I now take in vehicle diagnostics

I’m a slow learner. Don’t be like me.

PSA: Stop throwing away brake rotor screws

PSA: Stop throwing away brake rotor screws

They’re real important for two separate reasons.

What tools do you keep in your road box for car repair? (VIDEO)

What tools do you keep in your road box for car repair? (VIDEO)

Do you have a toolbox ready to go for repairs on the road? What do you keep in it?

VIDEOS

Tariff Talk: A Look Backwards at The Chicken Tax

Tariff Talk: A Look Backwards at The Chicken Tax

Lighten the mood at the next cocktail party you attend.

Watch This Video on the Inventor Who Put Lead in Gasoline

Watch This Video on the Inventor Who Put Lead in Gasoline

He also synthesized chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Why Some Vehicles Have More Than One Spin-on Filter (VIDEO)

Why Some Vehicles Have More Than One Spin-on Filter (VIDEO)

Ever spot what appears to be a second oil filter under a vehicle? Lemmy and Nick discuss the advantages of spin-on transmission filters for fluid protection and service.