If your waiting room stinks, so does waiting in it.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Book review: “Car: A Drama of the American Workplace”
Mary Walton’s 1997 look behind the scenes of the Ford Taurus shows the human side of car production.
Fire the parts cannon! Is shotgun diag ever acceptable? (VIDEO)
Nick and Lemmy discuss the pros and cons of throwing parts at a problem.
Spoiler alert: Manual transmissions are not ‘100% useless’ as claimed
Is this what automotive enthusiasm looks like now?
SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Should you use anti-seize when installing spark plugs? (VIDEO)
Using a lubricant when installing spark plugs was once common practice, but today, you might want to think twice before adding anything to your spark plug threads.
In defense of the beam-style torque wrench
Beam-types have a few advantages that keep them relevant. If your arsenal doesn’t include one, you might want to think about acquiring one.
A simple tip for burping a radiator
I learned a trick from an old racer that works real well to bleed that rarely leaves me repeating my work.
7 low-tech tips to help bleed difficult brakes
Bleeding brakes is one of those jobs most of us know how to do, but when a hard-to-bleed system pops up, experienced techs have a few additional tricks up their sleeves to help get the job done.
Why service writers should always charge a diag fee – and let techs earn it
Vehicle diagnosis is no walk in the park. Proper diagnosis is critical and difficult, and it shouldn’t be done without doing the work.
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.
Creative repurposing: Shims have all sorts of uses in an automotive shop
There are applications for shims besides fixing camber and panel gaps.
The Toyota Tacoma just doesn’t make sense any more
Hordes of man-bunned millennials and newly-minted softroaders probably just picked up their pitchforks and are calling for my blood.
Welcome to Shop Press
Introducing the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle.
VIDEOS
Mechanics React: There are a few missing symptoms on these ROs (VIDEO)
Nick and Lem take a peek at what’s rolled into bays around the country and give their (unrequested) opinions on things.
Three tips from a lifelong parts professional to make sure you never get the wrong part
Follow these easy tips, and avoid these common mistakes, to help ensure you get exactly what you need the first time.
Gas vs. diesel (VIDEO)
Which fuel is right for your truck, gas or diesel?