Shop Press - Auto Repair News & Ideas

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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FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

Do You Know the Right Way to Use Rasps and Files? (VIDEO)

Description Any technician will have a few files in the toolbox for material removal jobs. But are you using these tools with the correct technique? Lemmy and Nick discuss the finer points of filing like a pro.Related Videos

Mastering the Numbers

Running an auto repair shop is about more than just fixing cars. While providing top-notch service is essential, managing a truly successful business also depends on understanding and acting on the financial barometers of the operation. One of the most important of...

Don’t Overlook This Step When Servicing Brakes (VIDEO)

Description A brake service job isn’t complete unless the reservoir cap’s diaphragm has been pushed back into place. This simple step is easy to forget, but it helps to reduce brake fluid contamination and ensure proper system function.Related Videos

Watch This Video On Dry Sump Oil Systems

Recently, I was talking with Shop Press head honcho (Chief Bottle Washer—Ed.) Lemmy about something I wasn’t familiar with: dry sump oil systems. If you’re a newer tech who hasn’t worked on any high-end sports cars, you also might not be familiar with these systems....

Tariff Talk: A Look Backwards at The Chicken Tax

Well, the mood’s been a little heavy with all the talk about tariffs as of late. There’s an automotive tax that’s been around for a long time that is a perfect thing to mention if a conversation is getting uncomfortable. And if you’re a car nut, you should at least...

Watch This Video on the Inventor Who Put Lead in Gasoline

Recently, I went down an internet rabbit hole about why gasoline once had lead in it and how it got removed. In my searches, I found this video on inventor Thomas Midgley Jr., who not only invented leaded gasoline to combat engine knocking but also synthesized...

Why Some Vehicles Have More Than One Spin-on Filter (VIDEO)

Description Ever spot what appears to be a second oil filter under a vehicle? Lemmy and Nick discuss the advantages of spin-on transmission filters for fluid protection and service.Related Videos

Basic Brake Fluid Testers Are Far More Sophisticated Than You’d Expect

My brake fluid tester sits in a drawer in my box, patiently waiting to dip its little legs in pools of iffy brake fluid. It really isn’t a tool I think about much, even while I’m using it. It’s that simple. Or at least I thought it was. Much like the tester you...

DSO Settings – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Technician A argues that the 20/20 Rule captures most lab scope signals, while Technician B counters that a DSO doesn’t record signals in real time but samples and plots voltage data. Who is correct?

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Try Doing It the Wrong Way

Try Doing It the Wrong Way

When it comes to threaded items, wrong is right. Or is it left?

Modern Power Window Switches: Smarter than You’d Think

Modern Power Window Switches: Smarter than You’d Think

Window buttons and toggles are going the way of the dodo. That’s by design.

It’s All About the Process

It’s All About the Process

To reach a successful diagnostic conclusion, you have to follow the right diagnostic path.

ABOUT 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. 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.

What Shape Is a Piston?

What Shape Is a Piston?

Cylindrical? Not really.

Chrome Overload: GM’s “Mistake of ’58”

Chrome Overload: GM’s “Mistake of ’58”

What happens when chrome goes too far?

Hand in Glove: EV and Hybrid Service Safety

Hand in Glove: EV and Hybrid Service Safety

Glove testing is important; don’t skip it.

Symbol of a Stumble: Edsel’s “Horse Collar” Grille

Symbol of a Stumble: Edsel’s “Horse Collar” Grille

This one part became the symbol of the Edsel’s failure.

Don’t Get Hung Up on Hanging Calipers

Don’t Get Hung Up on Hanging Calipers

A household trick to save time — and brake hoses.

Want to contribute an article to Shop Press?

Are you a wrench and a writer? A counterperson and a communicator? A service writer and a scribe? Get paid to share your experience and expertise with thousands of Shop Press readers.

SHOP STUFF

Auto care news and advice you can use.

Belt Noise – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Belt Noise – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Technician A says chirp is the most common belt noise complaint. Technician B says EPDM belts can wear out without showing visible damage. Who is correct?

Mastering the Numbers – Part 2

Mastering the Numbers – Part 2

Using your shop’s Cost of Doing Business (CODB) as a baseline for labor rates.

Learn Why You Should Never Skip Battery Isolation (VIDEO)

Learn Why You Should Never Skip Battery Isolation (VIDEO)

Tempted to skip battery isolation during a repair? Dorman Training Center instructor Pete Meier explains how this essential step can protect you from serious injury while working on a vehicle.

SLABs: Slow, Loud, and Bangin’

SLABs: Slow, Loud, and Bangin’

The unique culture of slab cars.

Decreasing Circuit Resistance – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Decreasing Circuit Resistance – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

When the resistance of a circuit is decreased and voltage remains constant, what happens to current?

VIDEOS

Best of Shop Press 2025

Best of Shop Press 2025

What were the most popular posts this year?

Lash is Cash

Lash is Cash

A tappy valve is a happy valve!

Clean It or Crack It

Clean It or Crack It

Why clearing bolt holes of contaminants matters.