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Don’t Forget to Season the Automobiles, Mechanics!

I guess after you watch the following video, you won’t need much commentary. I thought this was common knowledge, but as I’ll explain in a moment, I may be wrong.I thought it necessary because a good friend at an independent repair facility recently bemoaned the fact...

Coolant Service – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing proper cooling system maintenance. Technician A says that time and mileage should be considered but are not the only factors to consider when recommending a cooling system service to a customer. Technician B...

What are Frits? (And Why Does Almost Every Car Have Them?)

It’s a pretty safe bet that most younger techs haven’t heard of frits before. Not one single customer, ever, has come into your shop looking for some help with a frit problem. So while this article won’t help you turn bays faster or improve your diagnostic skills,...

Cat DTC Diagnosis (P0420) – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing the troubleshooting procedure for a P0420 (Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold) DTC. Technician A says that the presence of any other codes should be considered first before replacing the converter. Technician B...

What Shape Is a Piston?

At this late date, if you work in a standard automotive facility servicing late-model vehicles, it’s probably infrequently you even see—let alone think about—pistons. However, if you are in a rebuild shop, a race environment, or the antique space, seeing a set of...

Cabin Filters – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says that cabin air filters protect the occupants from over 200 known contaminants found in a typical car’s passenger compartment. Technician B says that the cabin air filter protects the evaporator core from copper particles emitted by the...

Should You Replace That Damaged Plastic Intake Manifold?

It seems like plastic is everywhere under the hood of a modern car. You even have to remove a plastic cover to find the engine! But plastic and composite parts like distributor caps and ignition coil housings have been in use for over 100 years. In the 1970s,...

Tool review: Klein 3255 bull pin

Tool review: Klein 3255 bull pin

by | Dec 19, 2024

Disclaimer: I purchased this tool at full retail price at my own expense, with no compensation to write about the item. Most mechanics I know value tools that have either of the following characteristics: Useful, but from another industry (because it might be useful...
Tool Review: FNIRSI DSO152 Oscilloscope

Tool Review: FNIRSI DSO152 Oscilloscope

by | Nov 12, 2024

Disclaimer: I purchased this tool at full retail price. In fact, I actually purchased two so I could try out the version with a high-voltage lead. If you’ve met my fellow Shop Press contrib Pete, seen his videos, taken his classes, or read his articles, you’ll know...