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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Hot Off the Press

What are the first mods repair professionals make to a vehicle? (VIDEO)

Description When you purchase a new vehicle, what are the first changes and modifications you do to make it your own? Dorman technicians reveal their favorite vehicle modifications for comfort, performance, and practicality. Their recommendations cover just about any...

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...

Average U.S. vehicle age reaches new record high, again

Does it feel like the cars and trucks in your repair shop keep getting older and older? Well, that’s because they are. The average U.S. vehicle age is now up to 12.5 years, according to a recent analysis by S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit). That’s a new...

Witness marks: your reassembly guide when the service manual isn’t enough

I believe we’re all familiar with the trope of the shadetree mechanic who has hardware left over, right? While I’m sure you’re not sending vehicles out the door missing their hardware, I think it is safe to say we’ve all been slowed down by a pile of fasteners. A long...

The aggressive question you can ask that instantly calms a customer down

If you write service or sell parts, angry customers on the other side of the counter are an occasional part of the job. Maybe it’s someone picking up a car who is facing a bill that’s vastly different than the estimate. Or maybe in the parts store it’s a customer with...

The most entertaining social media accounts to follow for car enthusiasts in 2023

Everyone likes informative, interesting, or funny social media accounts. Here are a few entertaining ones about cars and the people who drive them. And don't forget to follow us, too, at the following accounts:Obscure Cars...

Catalytic converters are the coolest car parts that get no respect

The air in Detroit during the 1960s was so polluted that mothers were scared for their children to play outside. In certain places, you couldn’t see the sun at noon, and buildings had to be cleaned or repainted every six months. Some people wrote letters to...

Car designer Brooks Stevens: the man behind the first Jeep Wagoneer, planned obsolescence, an iconic Harley-Davidson, and more

Previously, I wrote about Raymond Loewy, an automotive, industrial, and graphic designer who I thought should be better known due to his contributions to the look of early- to mid-20th century America. After we posted that piece, a former colleague of mine, Todd,...

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

Peering inside the inner workings of a deceptively complex tool

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Minimum rotor thickness – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Minimum rotor thickness – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

What does “MIN THK.” really mean?

Battery date codes are painfully unstandardized and you’re better off without them

Battery date codes are painfully unstandardized and you’re better off without them

Don’t waste your time with codebreaking. Just grab a paint pen.

Using a spaghetti trick to keep zip ties organized (VIDEO)

Using a spaghetti trick to keep zip ties organized (VIDEO)

Chefs know a helpful hack to keep spaghetti from falling out of an opened bag, and the same idea happens to work perfectly for zip ties. Give it a try next time you have a pack of zip ties that doesn’t have a resealable closure.

SHOP STUFF

Auto care news and advice you can use.

Shop Profile: DeLorean Midwest

A Midwest mecca that offers services, sales, parts, and restorations—but only for DeLoreans.

Tapping V6 – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Tapping V6 – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Two technicians are examining a tapping sound coming from a V6 engine. See who has the correct response about what’s causing the noise.

Buy once, cry once: Auto parts that are worth the extra cost (VIDEO)

Buy once, cry once: Auto parts that are worth the extra cost (VIDEO)

We’ve all heard the expression “buy once, cry once,” and for some auto parts, those are words of wisdom. For others, it might be an unnecessary expense.

Making your own gaskets? Get a hollow punch set for pro results. (VIDEO)

Making your own gaskets? Get a hollow punch set for pro results. (VIDEO)

When it is necessary to make your own gaskets, small bolt holes are often the trickiest features to cut.

The best explanation of a differential is from 1937

The best explanation of a differential is from 1937

Featuring state-of-the-art editing, this video is still relevant nearly a century later.

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.

Best of Shop Press 2024

Best of Shop Press 2024

Let’s recap the best of this year!

Before selling a vehicle, make sure to remove personal data (VIDEO)

Before selling a vehicle, make sure to remove personal data (VIDEO)

Smartphones, laptops, and computers are normally cleared of all data before selling or discarding to protect personal information.

Dust Cap Tool Explained (VIDEO)

Dust Cap Tool Explained (VIDEO)

How many times have you seen a hub dust cap with ugly dents from a sloppy installation? A dust cap tool is a handy tool for installing caps on customer vehicles without damaging the cap’s appearance.

Why a magnetic drain plug is a worthwhile upgrade (VIDEO)

Why a magnetic drain plug is a worthwhile upgrade (VIDEO)

Do your customers know the benefits of magnetic oil drain plugs? Swap out their standard drain plugs to help protect against unnecessary engine damage.

Brake booster valve – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Brake booster valve – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

A customer states the brake pedal falls slightly when the brakes are applied while starting the engine. Which technician response is correct?

VIDEOS

Stainless doesn’t mean stain-proof; just ask Tesla Cybertruck owners

Stainless doesn’t mean stain-proof; just ask Tesla Cybertruck owners

Spoiler alert: be careful running it through the car wash.

Low-mileage JDM automatics: Worthwhile or worthless? (VIDEO)

Low-mileage JDM automatics: Worthwhile or worthless? (VIDEO)

Nick and Lemmy check out a flex plate from an imported Japanese automatic transmission with very few miles under its belt.

Fuse box-compatible circuit breakers are the ultimate spares when space is limited

Fuse box-compatible circuit breakers are the ultimate spares when space is limited

Throw a set of these resettable “fuses” in your toolbox.