Shop Press

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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

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...

The Misunderstood Ford 6.0

My wife and I are RVers and started our RV adventure with a 23’ toy hauler. When we started, we pulled the trailer with a Ram 1500 equipped with the 5.7-liter Hemi engine, and for most outings, it handled the task just fine. It wasn’t until we took a trip to the North...

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...

Power and Ground Testing on an Electrical Circuit

I'll never forget this one day in the shop. One of the other techs was wrestling with an electrical gremlin and swung by my bay for some backup. "Pete, mind giving me a hand? I've got this GMC pickup with a blower motor that's running super slow. I checked the power...

ADAS Repairs: Why Calibration Is A Must

Modern vehicles equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are truly marvels of engineering. What started as high-end options found only on luxury cars can now appear as standard equipment on some econo-boxes (e.g., blind spot detection). That means it is...

Tool review: Klein 3255 bull pin

Tool review: Klein 3255 bull pin

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

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...