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.

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Use the Little Radiator—and Have Customers Do the Same

Disclaimer: If a car is overheating and it is possible to safely exit the road and stop the car, that should always be the first course of action to avoid the risk of fire. The solution described in this article should only be used where that is not possible. If a car...

PSA: The Right (and Wrong) Ways to Handle Iridium Spark Plugs

For the vast majority of vehicles on the road, swapping out spark plugs is gravy work. Yoink the old plugs, make sure the replacements meet the necessary gap spec, install the new plugs, and button up the ignition system. You’re in and out of there in no time, right?...

Tool Review: Permatex 25240 Thread Locker

Disclaimer: This chemical was purchased at full retail price at the expense of the author, with no compensation from the retailer or manufacturer to write about the item.Be honest: do you always check the manual for the correct grade of factory-recommended sealant on...

Try Doing It the Wrong Way

Today’s article is composed of two quick tips that are distinct and different, but interrelated because they’re used on the same items: the humble fasteners we remove and install hundreds of times daily. These tips are both geared to newer techs since we all must find...

Modern Power Window Switches: Smarter than You’d Think

When was the last time you rolled down the power windows in an older car or truck? I’m talking at least pre-2000. The older, the better. As a passenger, you’ll find that every door has a mix of buttons, switches, locks, and handles to mess around with, plus maybe a...

It’s All About the Process

Man, it feels like just yesterday you graduated with that Associate’s in Automotive Tech, but nope, it's been three months already, and you've landed a solid job at ABC Auto Repair back in your hometown. The boss has been taking it easy on you, dishing out a bunch of...

Dealing with “System Lean” DTCs

The Engine Control Module (ECM) is always keeping an eye on the amount of fuel it is adding to the cylinders, and it'll throw a code when it figures it can't keep the mixture right where it needs to be. You might see codes like "system rich" or "system lean," and they...

Back Away from the Wrenches

Back Away from the Wrenches

Today’s article is more of a philosophical one than a pragmatic one. You see, we’re in the business of buying and reselling auto parts, servicing automobiles, and getting paid for our efforts. But as automotive professionals, we merely delay the inevitable. The...
Side Business

Side Business

If your shop is a typical one, you wouldn’t turn down easy, profitable work, right? Of course not. Maybe it’s time your foreman, techs, and service writers sat down and talked through the car that isn’t a car: side-by-side (SxS). Like other not-immediately-obvious...
Mastering the Numbers – Part 2

Mastering the Numbers – Part 2

In our earlier article, Mastering the Numbers Part 1, we discussed why shop owners should understand the financial side of their business just as much as the technical side. We introduced the Cost of Doing Business (CODB) as an important baseline financial concept....