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Schedule more work by improving the life of the waiters

Everyone else knows a “waiter” as someone who brings you a burger. You and I, however, know a waiter to be a customer stranded in your customer lounge. Making waiting less painful can increase the likelihood folks schedule service. That seems pretty basic to me, but...

What’s in your toolbox?

Tools help ya earn your bread, which is why most automotive technicians have more than a passing interest in them. What brands do you buy? What do you buy, and what do you expect the boss to provide? Do you run a tab on the tool truck? Two Dormanites hash some of...

October Automotive Horoscopes

Aries: You will be where you are supposed to be, even if you aren't there now. When you’re undercar, rely upon intuition—and don’t forget the importance of timing. Keep the faith, because your goal is closer than you thought. Avoid Leo. This service writer is bound to...

Book Review: “Car: A Drama of the American Workplace”

We’ve all taken a step back from a vehicle, groaned, and asked why-oh-why did they do it like this. Car: A Drama of the American Workplace helps answer that question. Mary Walton, the author, was embedded within Ford with what appears to me to have been excellent...

Fire the parts cannon! Is shotgun diag ever acceptable? (VIDEO)

Anyone who's turned wrenches knows at least one "spray 'n' pray" technician. Just keep throwing parts at the car until the Check Engine light goes off, right? But where does good intuition meet good guessing? What do you do when a flowchart suggests replacement of...

5 unconventional brake job tips

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...
Quick tip for greasing clogged fittings

Quick tip for greasing clogged fittings

I’m showing my age a bit, but when I write a car up for a LOF job, while I’m undercar I’m sniffing around looking for spots to hit with my grease gun. Many newer cars have nothing at all, but an older truck? There might be a dozen. Older tractors and motorcycles,...
Which type of salvage yard do you prefer?

Which type of salvage yard do you prefer?

In the world of salvage auto parts, most yards fall into one of two camps: you-pull-it and full-serve. You-pull-it yards are just what they sound like: bring your tools; you’ll be removing the parts you need. Full-serve is just the opposite; you call up and either...
VIDEO: The fastest way to remove a wiper arm

VIDEO: The fastest way to remove a wiper arm

We’ve all gotten stuck using a pry bar, the smallest two-jaw puller in the toolbox, or a block of wood and a mallet to free a wiper arm, but there’s an easier way—a Dorman Wiper Arm Tool. Watch as Lem shows you the quickest way to pull wiper arms without...
Serviceability Hall Of Shame: captive chassis mounts

Serviceability Hall Of Shame: captive chassis mounts

In today’s SHOS, I’d like to discuss captive chassis bolts. You’ll find these holding things like subframes and control arms to unibody chassis, and probably in some other spots, too. In this article, I’m showing the way Dodge chose to mount the first-gen Dakota cabs...