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.

The habits you form first can be the hardest ones to break.
The Proving Grounds crew takes on another round of The Mystery Box Challenge with new parts and a few new faces.
Air filters are an easy service item to overlook, but most manufacturers recommend a new filter every year or 15,000 miles.
Auto care news and advice you can use.
The essential unit of automotive power has an unexpected history.
The appearance of off-road prowess while maintaining on-road comfort is what motorists want. Tire salesmen, take advantage.
A recent J.D. Power study found that a few simple amenities in your service center’s lobby go a long way toward making your customers want to come back, but few businesses have them.
Exhaust work is straightforward and (I think) easy to understand. Here are some pointers for service techs to avoid comebacks when hanging pipe.
Lubricant? More like lubri-can. A very cheap staple of most shops, I’ve learned to use it in a few unconventional ways.
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.
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Shop Press photographer Mike Apice recently visited Indiana, exploring the local scene and a few repair shops. Here’s a bit of what he saw behind his lens.
Any of these mistakes can lead to an unwanted oil leak or worse—a blown engine.
If your parking brake is weak or not working at all, a stretched cable is usually the issue.
It’s your job to tell customers about warning signs and bad repairs.
From the factory with the spare’s valve stem pointing up, but you can flip it over and reinstall for easy checks and refills.
As dashboard cameras become more common, repair professionals should know how to deal with them.
Reverse is an innovation that’s easy to take for granted—but it was a revolutionary addition to the automobile.
“Rebuild in a can” is not the right way to fix the tool, but it will get you by until you can repair it correctly.