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.

From the creative minds at:

FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

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...

PSA: Check that cabin air filter

Most of us know that we should change the filter in our home heating and air conditioning system monthly, but why? What does it do? The role of the filter is twofold. First, it traps dirt, dust, pet dander, pollen and other allergens and helps keep the air you’re...

Why sidewall styling is both worthless and wonderful for drivers and tire shops

I know the title is a little spicy, so I’ll get right into the meat of this piece: Over the past few years, I have seen more and more tires, usually all-terrains, that have been redesigned with very, very aggressive sidewall styling, and I think it’s fantastic....

Surprise: having snacks and phone chargers in your repair shop’s waiting room makes customers happier

If you’re an auto repair shop owner, you’ve probably heard advice before about the value of improving your waiting room. However, it can also be hard to gauge how much that extra expense makes a difference to your customers. Is it really worth it? Well, we have some...

Exhaust tips: three ways to fine-tune your method

Exhaust work is straightforward and (I think) easy to understand. If you’ve got a lift and a ‘cety torch, it really should be gravy work. That said, I have made plenty of my own mistakes and repaired the mistakes of others. Hopefully this article helps a few of you...

Four not-so-obvious ways grease can come in handy

I like grease. You may or you may not, but as a very cheap staple of most shops, I’ve learned to use it in a few unconventional ways, which has made me like it more. Here are a few times plain ol’ grease is what you should reach for.Vertically-oriented O-rings...

A Brighter Future: The History and Evolution of Car Headlights

You may not think it, but automotive lighting has come a long way.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Why Wheel Fastener Torque Matters More Than You Think (VIDEO)

Why Wheel Fastener Torque Matters More Than You Think (VIDEO)

If you’re still using torque sticks and impact power to install lug nuts and lug bolts, it’s time to reconsider.

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.

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.

ADAS Alignment and Calibration – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

ADAS Alignment and Calibration – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Technician A says thrust angle must be set to zero on many ADAS-equipped vehicles during alignment. Technician B says the steering angle sensor and front wheel position must be correct before camera or radar calibration. Who is correct?

Rules of the torque wrench, explained

Rules of the torque wrench, explained

A helpful video investigation of proper (and improper) torque wrench techniques and habits.

The cars of Stephen King stories: books and film adaptations

The cars of Stephen King stories: books and film adaptations

It’s much more than just Christine.

Shop Profile: Top Auto Center

Just when you thought The Golden Rule was out of style, this independent repair shop and used car sales center proves otherwise.

Are you servicing your car’s oil correctly?

Are you servicing your car’s oil correctly?

It might be time to rethink oil changes.

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.

Ferdinand Porsche: Engineering the Shape of Speed

Ferdinand Porsche: Engineering the Shape of Speed

How a visionary engineer shaped everything from early EVs to the world’s most iconic sports cars.

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.

Shop Profile: DeLorean Midwest

A Midwest mecca that offers services, sales, parts, and restorations—but only for DeLoreans.

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.

VIDEOS

Shop Profile: Hansville Repair

71 years of success started at the end of the road.

Do You Know the Right Way to Use Rasps and Files? (VIDEO)

Do You Know the Right Way to Use Rasps and Files? (VIDEO)

Any technician will have a few files in the toolbox for material removal jobs. But are you using these tools with the correct technique?

Mastering the Numbers

Mastering the Numbers

A practical approach to auto repair shop management.