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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FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

Ranking the best fictional TV mechanics

TV and automobiles were both major forces in America in the mid- to late-20th century, so it’s perhaps no surprise that mechanics are regular characters throughout the history of television. But which ones are the best? Let’s find out with this completely unscientific...

Jeep Spotter’s Guide (VIDEO)

Description If you can't tell DJs (2WD variant of the CJ) from PJs (the clothes you wear to bed), this is the video for you. Watch as Nick quickly walks you through identifying features of the Jeep. He covers the major iterations of America's 4x4. Become a Wrangler...

Quiz: Can you prove how big of a car nerd you are?

Is your brain filled with automobilia obscurity? Prove it by answering these questions pulled from the minds of the Shop Press editorial team.

Does your shop handle performance work?

If you turn wrenches for a living, odds are good you’ve either hopped up your own ride at some point or had someone ask you to hotrod theirs. (Or maybe you’ve done it virtually.) The work is often fun and rewarding on a Saturday afternoon. But in the shop? There are a...

Ralph Nader inspired a vehicle safety revolution and all he got was a lousy bolt named after him

In 1965, Ralph Nader published his best-selling takedown of car companies, “Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile.” The book accused automakers of prioritizing profits over personal safety, and caused an uproar from both politicians...

Before asphalt, automotive pioneers used the beach as their racetrack

If your idea of Jersey beach towns comes from “Jersey Shore,” Cape May is not that. As opposed to the ride-filled boardwalks of Ocean City or Wildwood or the casinos of Atlantic City, Cape May is a much more laid back, family-oriented shore destination. I recently...

Schedule more work by improving the life of the waiters

Everyone else knows a “waiter” as someone who brings you a burger. You and I, however, know a waiter to be a customer stranded in your customer lounge. Making waiting less painful can increase the likelihood folks schedule service. That seems pretty basic to me, but...

What’s in your toolbox?

Tools help ya earn your bread, which is why most automotive technicians have more than a passing interest in them. What brands do you buy? What do you buy, and what do you expect the boss to provide? Do you run a tab on the tool truck? Two Dormanites hash some of...

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

Transfer cases: how to talk to your customers

Transfer cases: how to talk to your customers

You can’t sell what you don’t understand.

Easy trick to transfer gear oil with a simple length of hose (VIDEO)

Easy trick to transfer gear oil with a simple length of hose (VIDEO)

A fluid transfer pump is the cleanest and easiest way to fill a differential, transmission or transfer case with its necessary fluid.

Bitten by a misfire

Bitten by a misfire

Formal education teaches you theory and the real world teaches you the rest.

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.

Tool Review: Permatex 25240 Thread Locker

Tool Review: Permatex 25240 Thread Locker

Can there be one threadlocker color to rule them all?

Brake drum – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Brake drum – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

What do you check during drum brake service?

How to choose a memory saver tool for cars and trucks

How to choose a memory saver tool for cars and trucks

These simple tools can be worth their weight in gold if you know how to use ‘em.

Welding tips for automotive repair: What you need to know (VIDEO)

Welding tips for automotive repair: What you need to know (VIDEO)

Any auto repair shop worth its salt has at least one welding rig to handle all kinds of jobs.

Virgil Exner: The creator of Chrysler’s “forward look”

Virgil Exner: The creator of Chrysler’s “forward look”

Exner was responsible for the look of cool cars of the late 1950’s, not just at Chrysler, but at other automakers as well.

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.

Dealing with “System Lean” DTCs

Dealing with “System Lean” DTCs

“System lean” diagnostic trouble codes are among the top 10 codes faced by techs.

Fuel pump designs are changing. Do you know what kind of fuel pump you’re troubleshooting?

Fuel pump designs are changing. Do you know what kind of fuel pump you’re troubleshooting?

Many vehicles today have made the switch to DC brushless fuel pumps. They don’t work like the older brush-type pumps do.

Mechanic trivia: Which vehicle has a longer passenger side wiper blade? (VIDEO)

Mechanic trivia: Which vehicle has a longer passenger side wiper blade? (VIDEO)

Almost every vehicle on the road has a longer wiper blade on the driver side. On older vehicles, you’ll also see two of the same size wipers working together. But can you think of any models that have the longer wiper blade on the passenger side?

The Shop Press Automotive Paragon series: a recap

The Shop Press Automotive Paragon series: a recap

Let’s review some of the icons and oddballs we’ve featured here so far.

Minimum rotor thickness – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Minimum rotor thickness – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

What does “MIN THK.” really mean?

VIDEOS

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.