It was a cold December morning last year, frost still on the ground, when Mrs. Johnson pulled her 2008 Honda Accord into the bay. She said the car had been hesitating on acceleration for weeks, idling rough like it wanted to stall at every stoplight, and that darn check engine light had been glaring at … Read more
Quick Answer: Black smoke from your exhaust usually means your engine is running “rich”—burning too much fuel or not enough air. Common culprits include a leaking fuel injector, a clogged air filter, a bad sensor (MAF or O2), or a stuck open fuel pressure regulator. The $3,000 Mistake: A Shop Floor Story It was a Tuesday … Read more
Last Tuesday afternoon, a silver 2015 Honda Accord rolled into my bay with the check engine light glowing amber on the dash. The customer—a schoolteacher named Maria—told me her car had been “acting weird” for two weeks. “It hesitates when I step on the gas, and sometimes it just surges forward like it has a … 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: To fix an overheating engine, start by checking coolant level and condition, inspect the thermostat and radiator fans, flush contaminated coolant, repair leaks, and properly bleed the coolant system. Most overheating problems are caused by airflow loss, coolant flow restriction, or trapped air—not engine failure. What an Overheating Engine Really Looks Like in … Read more
By a Master Tech with 15+ Years Under the Hood Quick Answer: A failing ignition coil causes rough idle, misfires, poor fuel economy, and a flashing check-engine light. Swap the suspect coil to a different cylinder—if the misfire follows the coil, you’ve found the culprit. Expect $80-$180 for a single OEM coil versus $400-$700 at … Read more
By a Certified ASE Master Technician with 15+ Years Shop Experience It was a Tuesday morning, and the temperature had just dropped to 28°F overnight—the kind of cold that makes cars angry. A woman in a 2015 Honda Accord pulled into my bay with that unmistakable look of panic. “The check engine light came on … Read more