We love our engines
As an ASE-certified master technician with over 15 years of turning wrenches and diagnosing everything from clogged injectors to failing fuel pumps, I’ve seen one truth hold constant: a clean, well-maintained fuel system is the lifeblood of your engine’s performance, efficiency, and longevity. Neglect it, and you’ll pay the price in poor mileage, rough idling, … Read more
Quick Answer: Your car’s air intake system delivers clean air to the engine for combustion. A clogged air filter or leaky intake tract can rob power, hurt fuel economy, and trigger check engine lights. Replacing an air filter takes 10 minutes and costs $15–$40. Ignoring intake issues can lead to $500+ repairs. The Day a … Read more
It was a Tuesday morning in late October, the kind where you can see your breath in the shop before the heaters kick in. A customer pulled up in a 2015 Honda Civic with 87,000 miles, complaining about a rough idle and occasional stalling at stop lights. “It feels like the car wants to die,” … Read more
Quick Answer: The fastest way to test a fuel pump without tools is the “Listen Test.” Turn your key to the “On” position (without cranking the engine) and listen near the fuel filler cap or under the rear seat for a faint electronic whirring/humming for 2-3 seconds. No sound? Your pump isn’t priming. For a definitive … Read more
Last Saturday morning at 8:47 AM, a guy in his mid-thirties pulled up in a 2019 Accord Sport with the Maintenance Minder flashing 15% oil life. “The dealer wants $89 for an oil change,” he said, holding up his phone with the service quote. “I can do this myself, right?” I walked him through the … Read more