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Sergio Pininfarina: Sculpting Speed and Beauty in Metal (Part 1)

There is little argument that Sergio Pininfarina was a major influence in 20th-century car design. The proof is in the cars … many of them legendary Ferraris. Building on his family’s legacy, he led Carrozzeria Pininfarina into a period where design and engineering...

Best of Shop Press 2025

Another year is in the books here at Shop Press, and we thought we’d take this time to look back at 2025's most notable articles, videos, and more. Here’s what you (and we) loved this year on Shop Press as we head into 2026.Most-viewed overall Our most-viewed post...

Lash is Cash

There are some items on a maintenance checklist that neither mechanics nor writers will recommend. Sometimes that’s because a visual inspection or assessment seems at odds with an overly rigorous service schedule. Sometimes, the condition of the car or the financial...

Clean It or Crack It

Picture this: You’re installing a cylinder head, you’re tightening a head bolt to spec, and you’re feeling good—until crack! The sound every wrench-turner dreads hearing: your engine block saying goodbye to its structural integrity. So, what happened? Chances are, a...

Set the Toe and Go!

“Oh, and it’s pulling to the right a bit. Can you check that out?” If you run a small shop with just one or two service bays, it’s likely you’ve heard this before, since in a small shop the service writer, mechanic, foreman, parts department, and lube tech are often...

What Happens When You Don’t Drain Your Air Compressor? (You Don’t Want to Find Out.)

Who drains the air compressor in your shop? When was it last drained? If you can’t answer one or both of those questions, stop reading Shop Press for a minute and go crack open that drain valve. I’ll wait while the forbidden chocolate milk runs out. Let’s take a...

The History of the “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington” Bumper Sticker

Chances are good that, if you’ve spent any amount of time driving the roads of America, there’s a bumper sticker you’ve seen out there proudly declaring "This car climbed Mt. Washington." These stickers are so ubiquitous that in 2023, the Boston Globe published an...

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

I love chrome and mid-century automotive design. But I recently found a video that made me question my belief that there’s no such thing as too much chrome. The video is called “Mistake of '58: The GM Chromemobiles and Far Out '59s” from YouTuber Ed’s Auto Reviews....

What it’s like being a new tech in 2022 (VIDEO)

Shifting Gears

by Shop Press Staff | Sep 13, 2022 | 2 comments

Description

Torque specs. Electronics diagnostics. Foreign automobiles. 12V electrical systems. TPMS sensors. Disc brakes. 0W16 oil. All of the aforementioned technologies were changes that occurred in the automotive industry that changed the business and altered what techs “knew.” Learning is a career-long necessity for a technician—but in the beginning, there’s a lot of learning to be done all at once, and it gets harder as time marches on, because each year, there are new makes, models, updates, and challenges. Watch as a young tech and new tech share a bit about how they see the automotive world in 2022 and find out what’s not like it used to be. And don’t be shy, let others know how YOUR career kicked off in the automotive world, whether it was last week or many moons ago!

Interpreting Compression Tests–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Technician A completed a compression test, noting high readings suggest an exhaust restriction, while Technician B says the test checks volumetric efficiency.

Aug 26, 2025 0

When a Voltmeter Isn’t Enough (Video)

Many high-end scan tools come with a capable digital storage oscilloscope. Time to put that tool to work.

Aug 7, 2025 0

Troubleshooting Fuel Trim–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Technician A and Technician B are discussing ways to use fuel trim as a troubleshooting aid. Technician A says that fuel trims that are correcting for a lean condition at high RPM and load conditions indicates a problem in fuel delivery. Technician B says that this condition is caused by a vacuum leak.

Jul 29, 2025 0

Misfire Cause–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Technician A is diagnosing a misfire. He states that a misfire is caused by a fault in the ignition system and that new plugs and coils will repair the problem. Technician B says that a misfire is detected when the ECM detects a variation in crankshaft speed.

Jul 15, 2025 0

Dead Battery? (Video)

Diagnosing the cause of a battery drain can be a challenge today.

Jul 1, 2025 0

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