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150+ of the truly best songs about cars, trucks and driving

You can read our methodology below, or click here to skip right to the playlist. Wrenching on cars and listening to music go hand in hand. Any work with your hands sure goes a lot faster and easier when you’ve got good tunes in the background. It gives you a little...

The easiest way to remove a cotter pin (VIDEO)

Description ​For the longest time I used to remove cotter pins with either a hooked mechanic’s pick or a pair of needle-nose pliers. And when I say a long time, I mean, probably 15 years. Then my friend Zito showed me a better way. I’ve since seen others use this...

How to fix a Ford cupholder for almost free

The in-dash cup holder on certain late '90s to early 2000s F-150s, Expeditions and Navigators - which also holds an ash tray in some vehicles - has a tendency to break in service, leading to a cupholder that has to be pried into the open position in order to use it....

The other “Phillips” head screwdriver you might not know about

Not every Phillips head fastener is a Phillips head fastener. I believed this was common knowledge until today, when I was speaking with another tech who had no idea what I was talking about, and I relived a lesson from my salad days of wrenching. Many moons ago, when...

In defense of the beam-style torque wrench

Way back when, torque specs didn’t exist. Oh, mechanics were familiar with busted fasteners. Prior to torque wrenches, factory tools often had handles of specific lengths, with the understanding that “cheater pipes” were not to be used and that an average man of...

A simple tip for burping a radiator

Ever drain and fill a coolant system and watch the temp gauge spike afterwards? Air trapped in there can cause a car to act like it has a cooling problem. It's annoying to let the car cool so you can work on it, then re-bleed and possibly still have the same...

Diagnosing a Prius Coolant Leak (VIDEO)

Learn how to pinpoint common Prius coolant leak sources with step-by-step diagnostic tips from the shop floor.

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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.

Hybrid A/C Compressor Oil-ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Hybrid A/C Compressor Oil-ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

On a hybrid vehicle’s air conditioning system that utilizes a high voltage electrical compressor, can only the oil specified by the vehicle manufacturer be used in the compressor or is PAG oil acceptable for use in an electric vehicle’s compressor?

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SHOP STUFF

Auto care news and advice you can use.

VIDEOS

Rust belt vs salt belt: Do you know the difference? (VIDEO)

Rust belt vs salt belt: Do you know the difference? (VIDEO)

The Rust Belt and the Salt Belt may sound similar, and you might even hear them used interchangeably, but they are distinct names that any automotive professional or enthusiast should know. Take a few seconds to get the real story on these terms.