Quick Answer: If your car stalls at idle—especially at red lights or when stopped—the most common culprits are a failing idle air control valve (IACV), vacuum leaks, a dirty throttle body, or a malfunctioning mass airflow sensor (MAF). Diagnosis starts with checking for error codes and inspecting hoses and sensors. Many fixes are DIY-friendly and … 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
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
It was a Tuesday morning in late September when Mrs. Chen rolled into my bay with her 2016 Honda Accord. “It just doesn’t go anymore,” she said, frustration clear in her voice. She’d press the gas pedal to merge onto the highway, and the car would wheeze like an asthmatic trying to run a marathon. … Read more
Tuesday morning, 7:30 AM. A ’98 Civic rolls into my bay with the customer white-knuckled and frustrated. “It keeps dying at every stoplight,” she says, her voice cracking. The poor girl’s been nursing this thing for weeks, restarting it in traffic like she’s playing Russian roulette with rush hour. One quick scan, a $47 part … 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: A rough idle is often caused by vacuum leaks, a dirty or faulty idle air control valve (IAC), worn spark plugs, or clogged fuel injectors. Start diagnosis with an OBD2 scan for codes, check for vacuum leaks, and inspect plugs and the IAC. Many fixes are DIY-friendly and cost under $200. It was … 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