At the heart of all our vehicles, beating the drum day in and day out is the engine. A precision engineered feat of genius that starts up and runs everyday.  But, sometimes things go bad inside of the engine. Unlike brakes, or tires that are easy to see when you have a problem. Internal engine components are not so easy to see. If you are unfamiliar with what your engine should sound like, abnormal sounds and noises are masked by normal engine noises.  Let’s take a look at the most common symptoms of a bad valve  and how much an engine valve repair will cost if your vehicle star ..read more

Precise measurements and knowing how to use a feeler gauge are not always commonplace in the automotive world. After all, how many times do you need to measure brake pads by the 0.001”. While feeler gauges and other precision measuring tools are not used often, they are vital when needed. Measuring cylinder head flatness, piston ring gaps, and thrust clearances require the feeler gauge. Knowing how to use a feeler gauge is just as important as having the best set of the gauges that suit your needs.  So, if you have ever been left scratching your head looking at those small numbers on thos ..read more

With so many systems on modern cars it is hard to know where to start when your vehicle starts to have issues. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common symptoms of a bad fuel injector.  How do I know if I have a bad fuel injector? CEL (check engine light) is illuminated If a vehicle has a bad fuel injector the most common issue that you will notice is the check engine light illuminated on the dash. The PCM (Powertrain Control Module) or engine computer has the ability to do self diagnostics on all engine systems.  This self diagnosis will run multiple different tests as yo ..read more

10 Important Things to Check When You Bring Your Vehicle Out of Storage If you own a vintage or sports car, chances are you’d like to drive every day. Unfortunately, for most t this isn’t possible. Subzero winter temperatures, poor road conditions, and more can find your vehicle sitting in the garage all winter long.  To ensure your car’s exterior and interior areas aren’t battered by the elements, opting for long-term or short-term storage is recommended. This activity usually entails storing your car in a climate-controlled self-storage center or your garage. Depending on where you live ..read more

Since the beginning of the automobile, going faster was always a goal. While this is good if you are racing, if you are a law abiding citizen like myself you like to keep track of how fast you are going. Let’s take a look and learn more about the secrets behind your speedometer and what makes it all happen. The vehicle speed sensor or sometimes known as VSS.  What Is A Vehicle Speed Sensor? A vehicle speed sensor is a device that provides an input to the speedometer to indicate how fast you are driving. But, there is a little more to it than that. Unlike today’s complicated electronic veh ..read more

How to Remove Spark Plug Boot That Is Stuck — An In-depth Step By Step Guide As a vehicle owner, executing routine checks on it is essential. A small component getting stuck in your car’s engine could lead to breakdowns that could result in expensive repairs. When replacing your spark plugs you need to keep an out for stubborn spark plug boots. If they are stuck take a look below at how to remove a spark plug boot that is stuck.  What Is a Spark Plug Boot? A spark plug boot, commonly referred to as a coil boot or an ignition boot, connects the ignition coil to your engine’s spark plugs. M ..read more

Repairing a vehicle’s transmission can be one of the most expensive vehicle repairs that you can encounter as a car owner. With so many variables changing the price, what is the best option to get your transmission back up and running. Transmission replacement vs transmission rebuild, which one really is the best option.  Let’s take a look into the differences between transmission rebuild or replacement and which one is best for you.  Transmission Repair Options If your transmission has failed from something like a loose transmission band. There are two different ways that you can ge ..read more

Brand loyalty has remained part and parcel of the automotive industry since the first vehicle rolled off the production line. It’s typical to see gearheads get into debates detailing why their vehicle is better than others. The Cummins vs Powerstroke argument has been going on for years and they aren’t going away anytime soon — they’ve become a way of LIFE! In the diesel-powered pick-up arena, it’s no news that individuals tend to gravitate towards automotive brands like Ford and Dodge. But if you’d like to figure out  which vehicle fits your needs, getting a grasp of what’s under the hoo ..read more

There is nothing worse than spending the time replacing a head gasket only to have it fail shortly after. There are a few things that can be checked to make sure this does not happen to you. Measuring cylinder head warpage or checking cylinder head flatness is an important step in every head gasket repair job.  We spill the beans and let everyone in on the secrets to making sure your next head gasket replacement is a success.  A Clean Cylinder Head Is Important When Checking For Warpage The most important step of doing any major engine repair is cleanliness.  After all, we all k ..read more

Today’s modern transmissions are the most complicated component of the vehicle. Hundreds of parts are assembled with precision to give you precise shifting and performance. One of the components that live inside of the transmission is the transmission band or sometimes called a transmission brake band. Let’s take a closer look at what a brake band does and the common symptoms of loose transmission bands. How does a transmission band work Just like a manual transmission, an automatic transmission transfers the power of the engine through a series of gears to gain different speeds and torque out ..read more