Shop Press - Auto Repair News & Ideas

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Let’s bring back this tiny piece of archaic automotive technology

In the halcyon days of the automobile, metallurgical processes were obviously cruder than they were today. Automotive lubricants were not as well-developed as modern equivalents. Because of the crummy metals and oils of the era, service was required...

Break down ROs into three boxes

“Every time I walk into this place, you guys clean me out for a few grand.” I’m sure you’ve heard some variant of that if you’ve written service. Part of the reason is that the value of preventative maintenance is just lost on some vehicle owners. (“Don’t try to...

Holistic healing works on cars, too

Holistic seems to be a buzzword that’s (over)used in medicine. From a medical diagnosis perspective, that word may cause you to roll your eyes, but not a bad way to think about automotive diagnostics. If you work on a counter, approaching repair holistically helps...

Modern GDI systems have brought back decades-old maintenance issues

Have you performed a mechanical valve cleaning lately? Did you ever stop to think about how strange it is we need to do that again, when “decoking” stopped being a necessity half a century ago? Have we outfoxed ourselves in the eternal automotive quest for higher...

Two reasons you should have a welder in your shop (and know how to use it)

I learned how to weld when I was about 17. I was not a good welder, but I could operate the machine well enough to get by, and like most of us who can weld, I improved with time and practice. As a young mechanic, I distinctly remember tackling a few projects with...

Want to get kids interested in trades? Start with their school science fair.

While their interest in learning a skilled trade continues its precipitous decline, American youth and young adults seemingly cannot break eye contact with their phone screens. Coincidence? I think not, and humbly offer all parents a suggestion to help alter the...

This guide to being a mechanic-saboteur could teach you to be a better tech

Almost 80 years ago, the United States Office of Strategic Services, which eventually became the CIA, created a pamphlet to help people living in Nazi-occupied countries discretely undermine the enemy. This Simple Sabotage Field Manual was published in 1944 and...

7 things in Car Mechanic Simulator that will make a real mechanic’s eyes roll

These days, there’s a simulator video game for everything. There are games that simulate flying a plane, games that simulate working in an office, and yes … even a game that simulates what it’s like to be a goat. Add to that list Car Mechanic Simulator, a game first...

Cat DTC Diagnosis (P0420) – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Technician A says other codes should be diagnosed before replacing the converter for a P0420 code. Technician B says an upstream exhaust leak can trigger the code. Who is correct?

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Automotive terms that differ in other English-speaking countries

Automotive terms that differ in other English-speaking countries

Are they C-clamps or G-clamps?

LT-series vs. P-series tires

LT-series vs. P-series tires

The truck and SUV have never been more prolific than they are today. Learn when to sell each type of these tires.

If you have a soldering iron, you need a solder sucker (VIDEO)

If you have a soldering iron, you need a solder sucker (VIDEO)

Removing old solder is a crucial part of preparing a component for a new soldered connection, and a desolder pump (often called a solder sucker) is the ideal tool for the job.

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.

Colin Chapman: The Philosopher of Motion (Part 1)

Colin Chapman: The Philosopher of Motion (Part 1)

This British engineer changed racing forever by making cars lighter, not more powerful.

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.

Brake rotor thickness variation – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Brake rotor thickness variation – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

On a car with disc brakes, what is the most likely symptom of a vehicle with rotors that measured out-of-spec for thickness variation when measured at several places on the rotor surface?

The importance of testing engine coolant (VIDEO)

The importance of testing engine coolant (VIDEO)

Peter Meier discusses the importance of testing coolant and how mechanics can use simple strip testers to keep cooling systems safe.

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.

Testing Battery State of Charge – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Testing Battery State of Charge – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Technicians discuss battery testing, one says open circuit voltage of less than 10.5 volts indicates a bad battery, while the other says that a reading of 12.5 volts indicates an 80% state of charge. Who is correct?

Transfer cases: Married vs. divorced FAQ (VIDEO)

Transfer cases: Married vs. divorced FAQ (VIDEO)

When two transfer cases love each other very much…

New to the team but not new to the business (VIDEO)

New to the team but not new to the business (VIDEO)

A Master Technician and nationally known trainer joins the Shop Press family. Say hello to Pete Meier!

Square drive: make or buy before you need ‘em

Square drive: make or buy before you need ‘em

Female metric square drive plugs were new to me. They might be to you, too.

Customer states truck was vandalized… Do you know what happened here? (VIDEO)

Customer states truck was vandalized… Do you know what happened here? (VIDEO)

Each line item confirms it—cheating doesn’t pay.

VIDEOS

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.