It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon in late fall, around 3 p.m., when a silver 2012 Honda Accord pulled into the bay with the check engine light flashing and the owner looking white-knuckled. The customer, a nurse on her way home from a 12-hour shift, said the car had been stalling engine randomly—sometimes at stoplights … Read more
It was a sweltering July afternoon in the shop, the kind of heat that makes the concrete floor radiate up through your boots. A 2008 Toyota Camry rolled in, the owner sweating almost as much as his car. “It’s running like a dog, and the check engine light’s been on for weeks,” he said, tossing … Read more
Quick Answer: Oxygen sensor failure usually shows up as poor fuel economy, rough idle, or a check engine light. Most O2 sensors last 80,000–120,000 miles. Replacement is typically a moderate DIY job costing $80–$250, versus $250–$600 at a shop. That Cold Morning When the Check Engine Light Wouldn’t Quit It was a gray Tuesday morning, … Read more
By Hank Riggs, ASE Certified Master Technician (L1 Advanced Engine Performance Specialist) 15+ Years Turning Wrenches, Diagnosing Drives, and Solving the Toughest Automotive Mysteries When your car’s engine stumbles, hesitates, or flat-out refuses to pull like it used to, your gut might scream “transmission trouble” or “ignition coil failure.” And sure, those can be culprits. … Read more
It was a busy Tuesday afternoon in the shop, pouring rain outside, when Mrs. Johnson rolled in with her 2012 Honda Accord. She was shaking a bit—told me she’d been merging onto the highway when the car just bogged down. Foot to the floor, RPMs climbing, but barely hitting 50 mph with traffic barreling up … Read more
It was a sweltering July afternoon in the shop, the kind of heat that makes the concrete floor radiate up through your boots. A 2014 Honda Accord rolled in, the owner—let’s call him Carlos—frustrated after three different shops couldn’t figure out why his car bucked like a bronco every time he hit the gas. “It’s … Read more
Last Tuesday, 3:47 PM—heat index 104°F—a sweating guy in a 2016 Honda Civic LX rolled into my shop looking like he’d seen a ghost. “It’s doing this every time I hit the AC,” he said, mimicking violent shaking. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel. I popped the hood and saw it immediately: … Read more
It was 3:47 PM on a sweltering Tuesday in July when Mrs. Henderson’s 2012 Toyota Camry rolled into my bay. “It’s making this weird hissing sound, and the idle keeps dropping so low I think it’s going to stall,” she said, wiping sweat from her brow. I’ve heard this story hundreds of times, and my … Read more
Quick Answer: An engine rattling noise is usually caused by a loose component (like a heat shield or accessory bracket), an exhaust rattle, low or incorrect engine oil, or internal issues such as timing chain rattle. The key is identifying when the noise happens—cold start, acceleration, idle, or deceleration—because each points to a different failure. … Read more
Quick Answer: That ticking sound? 8 times out of 10 it’s hydraulic lifters needing oil flow or fuel injectors doing their normal business. But if it’s loud, irregular, or changes with engine speed—especially after an oil change—check lifter noise first. Exhaust leaks and timing chain issues are serious but less common. Diagnose properly before spending money! … Read more