We love our engines
Last Tuesday, a customer rolled into my bay with a 2015 Honda Accord that sounded like it was mixing marbles in a blender. She’d been ignoring the “change transmission fluid” reminder for about 40,000 miles past the recommended interval. The fluid that drained out looked like used motor oil—black, gritty, and smelling like burnt toast. … Read more
Quick Answer: Most Japanese cars (Honda, Toyota, Nissan) equipped with a rubber ** japanese car timing belt ** need replacement every **90,000 to 105,000 miles** or every **7 to 10 years**, whichever comes first. Always verify your specific year and model in the owner’s manual. The Tuesday That Changed Everything It was a rainy Tuesday … Read more
It was a Tuesday morning in February when a 2010 Audi A4 rolled into my bay on a flatbed. The owner—a software engineer who’d bought it used six months earlier—stood there looking like someone just told him his dog died. “It just stopped running on the highway,” he said. I popped the hood, pulled the … Read more
Quick Answer: An interference engine has pistons and valves that occupy the same space at different times. If the timing belt or chain fails, they collide—often destroying the engine. A non-interference engine has clearance, so a broken belt usually just leaves you stranded, not with a wrecked motor. Opening: The Day a Timing Belt Saved … Read more
It was a cold December morning back in 2018, pouring rain on the interstate outside Portland. This young guy pulls into the shop on a flatbed, his 2005 Honda Accord soaked and looking defeated. He tells me he was doing about 65 mph in the fast lane when the engine just quit—no warning, no weird … Read more
It was a rainy Tuesday in mid-November, the kind of damp morning that makes every old bolt in the shop feel like it’s been welded shut by time. A customer towed in a 2012 Honda Odyssey with a “no-start” condition. As soon as I pulled the upper timing cover, I saw it: a shredded … Read more
Quick Answer: Idler pulley replacement typically costs $40–$90 for the part if doing it yourself, or $150–$300 at a shop (including labor). It’s a moderate DIY job that most backyard mechanics can handle in under an hour. It was a cold December morning last year, the kind where your breath hangs in the air inside … Read more
It was a Tuesday afternoon in late November—rain tapping on the shop roof like a nervous drumbeat—and a 2014 Ford F-150 rolled in with the driver clutching his ear like it was ringing from artillery fire. “Sounds like a diesel with a coffee can full of bolts under the hood,” he said. I popped the … Read more
Opening: The Day the Belt Tensioner Gave Up It was a sweltering July afternoon in the shop, the kind of heat that makes the air shimmer over the hoods of parked cars. I was elbow-deep in a 2014 Honda Accord when the service writer walked in with a customer who looked like he’d just seen … Read more
Quick Answer: Where Do I Find My Belt Diagram? Most vehicles have a sticker placed by the manufacturer in the engine bay, usually on the radiator support, the strut tower, or the underside of the hood. If that sticker is faded or gone, check your owner’s manual or repair manual (like Haynes or Chilton). For … Read more