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
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
Last Tuesday, a regular customer rolled into my bay with his 2019 Honda Accord sputtering like it had asthma. Temperature gauge was climbing toward 90°F outside, and he’d already spent $340 at the dealership for “computer diagnostics” that found nothing. Misfires on cylinders 2 and 4, rough idle, and fuel economy had tanked … Read more
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
It was a scorching July afternoon when Sarah’s 2015 Honda Accord rolled into my bay with the AC blasting—or at least trying to. The compressor was cycling on and off, the battery light flickered occasionally, and she mentioned a “weird squealing” that started three days ago but went away. I popped the hood, and there … Read more
It was a humid Tuesday morning in July when a customer rolled in with her 2008 Acura MDX—105,000 miles on the clock, immaculate interior, and zero service records. “I just need an oil change,” she said. I popped the hood and immediately saw the original factory timing belt staring back at me through the inspection … Read more
Quick Answer: In 2025, the average timing belt replacement cost ranges from $500 to $1,200 for most vehicles. DIY costs typically land between $180 and $450, depending on engine design and parts quality. Interference engines, luxury brands, and bundled water pump replacements push costs higher. That One Tuesday Morning I’ll Never Forget It was … Read more
It was 6:47 AM on a freezing January morning when Sarah pulled into my bay with her 2015 Honda Accord. “It sounds like metal teeth chewing rocks,” she said, and honestly, that’s the best description I’ve ever heard for a failing starter motor grinding. I turned the key, and sure enough—GRRRRR-GRRRRR-GRRRRR—that unmistakable metal-on-metal shriek that … Read more