It was 7:30 AM on a Tuesday that felt like Monday—rain coming down in sheets, coffee gone cold in my mug, and Mrs. Henderson’s 2012 Honda Accord on the lift doing its best paint-shaker impression. The poor woman’s hands were still tingling from her 20-minute drive to the shop. “It started last week,” she said, … Read more
It was a cold December morning in the shop, the kind where your breath hangs in the air like a ghost. I was sipping my third coffee of the day when Mrs. Thompson rolled in, her 2012 Honda Accord puffing white smoke like a steam locomotive. She’d been ignoring the temperature gauge for weeks, she … Read more
By a Master Tech who’s chased this ghost across 2,000+ bay stalls Quick Answer: If the starter spins the engine but it never “catches,” you’re missing one of three things—fuel, spark, or compression. Check for 35-45 psi fuel pressure at the rail, a snapping blue spark across a 0.035-in plug gap, and minimum 90 psi … Read more
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
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
Quick Answer: Engine hesitation during acceleration is usually caused by problems with fuel delivery, ignition timing, air measurement sensors, or throttle control. The most common culprits I see in the shop are dirty mass airflow sensors, failing throttle position sensors, weak fuel pumps, and worn ignition components. Accurate diagnosis saves hundreds of dollars by avoiding … Read more
It was 7:30 a.m., still dark outside, and the rain hadn’t let up all night. A regular customer rolled in with a 2012 Honda Accord that “just didn’t feel right anymore.” Rough idle, sluggish acceleration, and a check engine light that liked to disappear whenever he pulled into the parking lot. I’d heard this story … 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
Quick Answer Engine knocking noise is a metallic pinging or rattling sound caused by abnormal combustion (detonation) or worn mechanical parts. Common fixes: use higher-octane fuel, clean carbon buildup, replace spark plugs, or repair bottom-end bearings. DIY cost: $20–$400. Shop cost: $200–$3,500. Tuesday, 7:15 a.m., 38 °F in the shop—my coffee hadn’t even cooled when … Read more