Skillful interrogation is a wonderful way to make your professional life easier. Here are a few suggestions on where to start.
Ten (sort of serious) questions every service writer should ask
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HOT OFF THE PRESS
What are the first mods repair professionals make to a vehicle? (VIDEO)
Car mods to do first: auto technicians’ favorites!
Preston Tucker: Visionary or Villain?
The Tucker 48 had many innovative design features, but was Preston a scam artist?
Average U.S. vehicle age reaches new record high, again
Low new car inventory, inflation, and rising interest rates have all caused people to keep their vehicles at historic levels.
SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Why you shouldn’t throw out zip tie tails after a project (VIDEO)
Before you toss those zip tie scraps in the trash, consider saving them for plastic repair jobs. In many cases, the plastic used in zip ties will bond with common automotive plastics with the help of a soldering iron.
Automotive technical schools just saw the largest graduation drop in a decade
Troubling new report from TechForce Foundation shows that fewer and fewer people are graduating from technical schools with automotive degrees.
November Automotive Horoscopes
We read the astrological signs and predicted your automotive future.
What type of part should you use to repair a car?
There’s a spectrum of parts ranging from fresh and new to tired but cheap. What should you use and when?
Is side work OK for service techs?
Does the shop retain right of first refusal, or is moonlighting A-OK?
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.
Harmonic balancers – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)
A defective harmonic balancer can affect the accuracy of ignition timing readings or a defective harmonic balancer can damage the crank. Which technician is correct?
Jeep Spotter’s Guide (VIDEO)
ID Jeeps generation by generation with a few easy tricks.
Quiz: Can you prove how big of a car nerd you are?
Is your brain filled with automobilia obscurity? Prove it.
Does your shop handle performance work?
Here are a few things consider before taking on work that falls beyond the scope of repair or maintenance.
Ralph Nader inspired a vehicle safety revolution and all he got was a lousy bolt named after him
Door striker bolts became known as Nader pins after “Unsafe at Any Speed” caused a national uproar and led to the first FMVSS rules.
VIDEOS
How to test and fix a car USB charger (VIDEO)
USB charging problems? Dorman’s experts explore specialized tools and provide handy tips for these increasingly common repairs.
The best mechanic social media accounts to follow in 2023
13 of the most informative, interesting, and/or funny mechanic-related accounts on the socials
Junkyard therapy. It’s my kind of therapy.
When I feel like dropping off the grid for a couple hours of “me” time, I head out for a walk in the park—in the junkyard.