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.

From the creative minds at:

FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

Fuel pump designs are changing. Do you know what kind of fuel pump you’re troubleshooting?

Whether you used a fuel pressure gauge or relied on the Fuel Rail Pressure PID on your scan tool, a reading of zero when testing fuel pressure is a bad thing. What are your next steps? Do you jump the relay to see if the pressure builds? Do you use an amp probe and a...

Mechanic trivia: Which vehicle has a longer passenger side wiper blade? (VIDEO)

Description Almost every vehicle on the road has a longer wiper blade on the driver side. On older vehicles, you’ll also see two of the same size wipers working together. But can you think of any models that have the longer wiper blade on the passenger side?Related...

The Shop Press Automotive Paragon series: a recap

If you read Shop Press regularly you've noticed we’ve been running a series for the past couple of years. It’s called “Automotive Paragons,” and it’s a series where we look at automotive entrepreneurs, designers, and engineers who were exceptional, ahead of their...

Minimum rotor thickness – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says the minimum rotor thickness specification etched into a disc is the minimum thickness beyond which a brake rotor should not be used. Technician B says the number indicates the minimum thickness to which the rotor can be machined. Who is...

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

While diagnosing an electrical issue last week, I suspected that the battery was tired. The terminals were banged up, the case was covered in grime, and the manufacturer’s decal was peeling and faded. It barely passed a quick health check, so I started looking for a...

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

Description 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.Related Videos

Book review: “Pump and Circumstance”

Recently I was organizing my books on a new bookshelf and came across one that I had almost forgotten about. I picked it up after seeing an exhibition called “See the USA: Automobile Travel and the American Landscape” at the Building Museum when I lived in D.C. The...

Piston rings – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Description Which of the following statements about piston rings is incorrect? A) End gaps must be evenly spaced around the piston B) Rings are installed on the piston using a ring compressor C) Rings must be installed facing the correct vertical direction D) End gap...

Easy trick to transfer gear oil with a simple length of hose (VIDEO)

A fluid transfer pump is the cleanest and easiest way to fill a differential, transmission or transfer case with its necessary fluid.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Watch how magnetizer/demagnetizer tools work in this excellent video

Watch how magnetizer/demagnetizer tools work in this excellent video

Demagnetizers demystified.

Tool review: Klein 3255 bull pin

Tool review: Klein 3255 bull pin

You can’t beat it. Well, actually, you can.

What does horsepower really mean? (VIDEO)

What does horsepower really mean? (VIDEO)

The essential unit of automotive power has an unexpected history.

SHOP STUFF

Auto care news and advice you can use.

Are you servicing your car’s oil correctly?

Are you servicing your car’s oil correctly?

It might be time to rethink oil changes.

How stop drilling can help to save cracked parts (VIDEO)

How stop drilling can help to save cracked parts (VIDEO)

Learn how stop drilling can help to prevent cracks from propagating with a little know-how and a drill.

Tool Review: FNIRSI DSO152 Oscilloscope

Tool Review: FNIRSI DSO152 Oscilloscope

Lemmy tries out the cheapest lab scope available on Amazon.

Making custom coiled wire is easier than you think (VIDEO)

Making custom coiled wire is easier than you think (VIDEO)

Coiled wire is a smart idea for adding service loops or mechanical strain relief on automotive electrical jobs or other projects.

New techs: hang in there. An old transmission pan mystery exemplifies the difficulties of being a mechanic

New techs: hang in there. An old transmission pan mystery exemplifies the difficulties of being a mechanic

What do you do when a part isn’t in an IPD/fiche?

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.

Watch this video on the four stages of grief for mechanics

Watch this video on the four stages of grief for mechanics

A Facebook reel that applies a psychological model to wrenching.

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.

Automotive terms that differ in other English-speaking countries

Automotive terms that differ in other English-speaking countries

Are they C-clamps or G-clamps?

LT-series vs. P-series tires

LT-series vs. P-series tires

The truck and SUV have never been more prolific than they are today. Learn when to sell each type of these tires.

VIDEOS

Making custom coiled wire is easier than you think (VIDEO)

Making custom coiled wire is easier than you think (VIDEO)

Coiled wire is a smart idea for adding service loops or mechanical strain relief on automotive electrical jobs or other projects.

New techs: hang in there. An old transmission pan mystery exemplifies the difficulties of being a mechanic

New techs: hang in there. An old transmission pan mystery exemplifies the difficulties of being a mechanic

What do you do when a part isn’t in an IPD/fiche?

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.