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A History of the U.S. Presidential State Car (Part 1)

The U.S. presidential state car (aka "The Beast", "Cadillac One", "First Car", and codename "Stagecoach") is an unmistakable symbol of our nation’s executive branch. Since we had a presidential inauguration this year, I thought it would be a good time to look at the...

Dead Battery? (Video)

Description With dozens of electronic control units on automobiles built in the last 25 years, incidents of battery drain caused by an ECU that will not turn off when it is supposed to are on the rise. Tracing the ultimate cause can be made easier, though, if you know...

Check Engine Light On?

Diagnosing an illuminated check engine light (CEL) is something professional technicians do on an everyday basis. The key to a correct diagnosis is following a logical diagnostic process and gathering the information you need to isolate and repair the cause. The...

CDK Global Outage: The Aftermath.

Nobody wants to hear it, but cyberattacks and ransomware are part of a complicated new reality for the digital systems supporting the auto repair industry. Are you prepared? Months after the CDK Global outage ravaged the auto repair industry, there are still lingering...

DIYers: Yes, You Can Handle a Window Regulator Replacement

I’ve had an ongoing disagreement with a few of my Shop Press colleagues for some time now. Personally, I believe that replacing a window regulator is a perfect job for a DIYer. I mean, I’ve done them myself, and I barely even consider myself a DIYer. However, some of...

Betcha Haven’t Serviced the Tool You Use on Every Job

The most dangerous thing we do all day long is one most of us don’t think about: we raise a vehicle weighing a ton or three high in the air and work beneath it. And yet, lifts aren’t maintained well in most shops. I’ve seen lifts out of plumb, bent legs, lifts with...

Don’t let the grind of fixing cars wear down your love for ‘em

Don’t let the grind of fixing cars wear down your love for ‘em

Fixing automobiles all day is tough. The work’s too hard, the customers get ornery, the money ain’t what it oughta be, working conditions aren’t always the best, and the hours are too long. In spite of that, I have yet to meet a tech, service writer, or counterman who...
Preston Tucker: Visionary or Villain?

Preston Tucker: Visionary or Villain?

It’s possible you have already heard of Preston Tucker. He was the subject of “Tucker: The Man and His Dream,” a 1988 Francis Ford Coppola movie starring Jeff Bridges. More recently, he was the subject of the biographical book “Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build...
May Automotive Horoscopes

May Automotive Horoscopes

Aries: Your service writer will be keeping you busy this month, and you’ll need to keep your focus to avoid burnout. Pay special attention to the effects of distractions around you. Some coworkers have a way of keeping you from your work for a little longer than you...