Peter Meier discusses the importance of testing coolant and how mechanics can use simple strip testers to keep cooling systems safe.
The importance of testing engine coolant (VIDEO)
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HOT OFF THE PRESS
Minimum rotor thickness – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)
What does “MIN THK.” really mean?
Battery date codes are painfully unstandardized and you’re better off without them
Don’t waste your time with codebreaking. Just grab a paint pen.
Using a spaghetti trick to keep zip ties organized (VIDEO)
Chefs know a helpful hack to keep spaghetti from falling out of an opened bag, and the same idea happens to work perfectly for zip ties. Give it a try next time you have a pack of zip ties that doesn’t have a resealable closure.
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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.
Sergio Pininfarina: Sculpting Speed and Beauty in Metal (Part 2)
Tracking Pininfarina’s career from the beginning to 1987.
Thread repair for mechanics: an incomplete guide to essential products and procedures
Proper tooling and techniques are critical to repairing threads—and if you’re a mechanic, neither are marketed well to you.
The one part of the car you’ll never install for a customer
DIFM customers just won’t purchase this common underhood part.
TECHNICIAN CHALLENGE: Can you identify these dash lights? PART 3 (VIDEO)
Think you know your dash lights? Shop Press contributors Keith, Miriam, Chris, and Greaser try their best to identify all kinds of lights, symbols, and indicators.
Torches for courses: which heating tools should a mechanic own?
Supplement your shop’s oxyacetylene torch with alternatives.
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SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Clean It or Crack It
Why clearing bolt holes of contaminants matters.
A few tips for ball joint removal
If you’re a budding technician, a few of these pointers might help ya during front end work.
Automotive professionals vs. popular auto myths! (VIDEO)
We assembled a list of common and confusing advice, then asked the gang to weigh in on some very questionable practices.
Five things to know when working on HID headlights
Set yourself up for success with high intensity discharge lighting systems.
What’s the best way to move tools about the shop?
There are a lot of ways to approach the business of servicing the car in front of you. Which one is king?
VIDEOS
Stainless doesn’t mean stain-proof; just ask Tesla Cybertruck owners
Spoiler alert: be careful running it through the car wash.
Low-mileage JDM automatics: Worthwhile or worthless? (VIDEO)
Nick and Lemmy check out a flex plate from an imported Japanese automatic transmission with very few miles under its belt.
Fuse box-compatible circuit breakers are the ultimate spares when space is limited
Throw a set of these resettable “fuses” in your toolbox.