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

Creative repurposing: Shims have all sorts of uses in an automotive shop

When you saw the image at the top of this article, you probably knew what you were looking at. If you hang panels all day, you said, “A body shim!” If your life is spent undercar, you said, “An alignment shim!” You might also think they're for antiques. But shims have...

Don’t let your scanner go unprotected

This article is a quick reminder to buy (and use!) a surge protector on your (or your shop’s) scan tool(s). The modern vehicle scanner has WiFi, a screen, and touch input. It is, for all intents and purposes, a computer, and it doesn’t like “dirty” power. Protect it...

One lesson is harder for more experienced techs to learn than their rookie counterparts (VIDEO)

Description If you're an experienced technician, you may feel as though you've seen, heard, and repaired just about everything. But don't let your wealth of knowledge and experience prevent you from learning more to stay up to date with today's complex...

Give your customers extra grease

I’ve mentioned the easy business you can score by offering to perform trailer service for customers that pull. When doing a job not long ago, someone asked me why I was adding lubricant to the dust caps. It’s a fair question. When getting into bearings, I know I’m...

This tungsten scraper is my new favorite tool.

Disclaimer: I purchased this tool at full retail price at my own expense, with no compensation to write about the item. I was watching a video the other day of Eric O. at South Main Auto replacing a manifold on a Pentastar. We have a little experience with that here...

Polishing headlights vs. replacing them! (VIDEO)

Description Yellowed, hazy headlights aren’t just ugly; they can reduce a headlight’s effectiveness for your customers. Would you rather polish the old lenses, or simply install a Dorman replacement?Related Videos

Parallel connectors vs. butt connectors

Dorman makes an item to join wires, the parallel connector, that is both helpful and widely misunderstood. If one reads reviews of these, they’re often rather negative. More than a cursory examination yields the issue, however: these are often purchased mistakenly by...

What’s the deal with permanent and lifetime antifreezes? (VIDEO)

Description Your customers may have heard the terms "lifetime" or "permanent" antifreeze, but those confusing names have very specific meanings. Make sure your customers know the limitations of antifreezes to protect their vehicles for many years of service.

Check Engine Light On?

Grab a generic OBD-II scan tool and take these first steps to turn it off and keep it off.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

What does horsepower really mean? (VIDEO)

What does horsepower really mean? (VIDEO)

The essential unit of automotive power has an unexpected history.

Sketching Skodas

Sketching Skodas

Stevan Ivanov strives to give a little-known brand its rightful place in automotive history.

Turbocharger repair and replacement: What you need to know (VIDEO)

Turbocharger repair and replacement: What you need to know (VIDEO)

Not so long ago, forced induction was mostly limited to high-performance sports cars and diesel trucks. Join Lemmy and Nick for a deep dive into modern forced induction systems and the parts that keep them running.

SHOP STUFF

Auto care news and advice you can use.

Shop Profile: Locked N Loaded 4×4

Learn about a shop that’s making Jeeps all they can be.

How to use a lockout kit (VIDEO)

How to use a lockout kit (VIDEO)

Powerful tools—if you know how to use ‘em.

Drag racing semi-trucks (VIDEO)

Drag racing semi-trucks (VIDEO)

Smokin’ tires and smokin’ stacks!

Bump steer – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Bump steer – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

You know what bump steer is. Where does it originate?

When NOT selling helps business

When NOT selling helps business

You don’t want to sell every job. Trust me.

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 an oscilloscope shows that your DVOM can’t (VIDEO)

What an oscilloscope shows that your DVOM can’t (VIDEO)

Your multimeter is a versatile tool. But for certain diagnostics, you need an oscilloscope to get a closer look at a vehicle’s electrical systems.

Why don’t you keep gloves in your car’s glove box? (VIDEO)

Why don’t you keep gloves in your car’s glove box? (VIDEO)

It isn’t the “registration and insurance card box,” after all.

Brake drum – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Brake drum – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

What do you check during drum brake service?

How to choose a memory saver tool for cars and trucks

How to choose a memory saver tool for cars and trucks

These simple tools can be worth their weight in gold if you know how to use ‘em.

Welding tips for automotive repair: What you need to know (VIDEO)

Welding tips for automotive repair: What you need to know (VIDEO)

Any auto repair shop worth its salt has at least one welding rig to handle all kinds of jobs.

VIDEOS

Choosing the right brake fluid

Choosing the right brake fluid

Just because it says “DOT 4” on the bottle doesn’t mean it’s the correct DOT 4 for the vehicle.

Five ways repair shops can address the rising costs of car ownership

Five ways repair shops can address the rising costs of car ownership

The struggle is real for many of your customers.

ICYMI: Secondary hood prop positions

ICYMI: Secondary hood prop positions

Props to second place, too.