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5 surprising facts from the 2023 Auto Care Association Factbook

For more than three decades now, the Auto Care Association, the leading trade association for the automotive aftermarket, has released a massive trove of data called the Auto Care Factbook. It’s intended to provide a sweeping overview of what’s happening across the...

What do techs recommend for a “car crate?”

Many drivers on the road have what I call “car crates” or “car boxes”: the milk crate or cardboard box you keep in your car for auto needs. As a rather non-mechanically inclined individual, I have one in my car, which is primarily made up of things I use fairly...

RIP iPod, the best way to listen to music in your car, maybe ever

The news came out recently that Apple is no longer manufacturing the iPod Touch, the last remaining model of a piece of technology once as ubiquitous as smartphones are today. I must admit it made me feel extremely nostalgic, because the iPod was possibly the best way...

VIDEO: (Spoiler within) Crimp or solder?

The spoiler here is that Nick and Lem don't solder much at all, so if you're not a die-hard crimp aficionado, this might not be your favorite video. They’re pretty different mechanics working on very different items most of the time, but this is an area where the guys...

Where do you leave your hitch?

One of the things I really can’t stand is coming around a truck too quick and whackin’ my shin on a trailer ball. After this happens, I say “Ow!” real loud, and then a swear word. Then I wonder why in tarnation I just busted my leg. Why oh why is that thing hanging...

5 unconventional brake job tips

We’ve all read articles on brake jobs and are familiar with the standard tips. Check the rotor thickness and runout. Pay attention to pad wear patterns. Don’t add fluid to the system when pads are worn. Blah, blah, blah. Here’s another list of tips that’s slightly...

Windshield wipers have had a surprisingly messy evolution

We take many modern automotive conveniences for granted, and windshield wipers must be somewhere near the top of the list. You don’t think about them much until you’re driving in the rain with worn blades or, far worse, a bad wiper motor or linkage. Even on a clear...

Whaddya call two hybrid Toyotas?

Whaddya call two hybrid Toyotas?

No, it’s not a dad joke. Mike Principato and I recently were wondering what the plural of “Prius” is, because we needed to reference multiple vehicles in some copy. Now, even though we get paid to sling words around this joint, we don’t work in Latin too much, and I...
Detroit geology: all about Fordite, an automotive gemstone

Detroit geology: all about Fordite, an automotive gemstone

Ever heard of Fordite? Fordite, often called Detroit agate or motor agate, isn’t a rock at all. In fact, it has nothing at all to do with geology—but it’s not very different than a sedimentary rock. Unlike sedimentary formations, Fordite is not composed of layers of...
Can ICE vehicles be outlawed?

Can ICE vehicles be outlawed?

Since I was small, one of the things I’ve found marvelous about cars in America is the concept that old cars are always allowed. By this, I mean that once a car rolls off the assembly line in the USA, its owner can use it to traverse the roads of the nation and...
You don’t need a moonroof, either.

You don’t need a moonroof, either.

Drew Magary recently said I don’t need a sunroof. OK, Magary, I’ll take your bait. You’re right, but you’re also totally wrong, buck-o. I’ll explain how in just a moment. The premise of the article is correct: you definitely do not want a...