Author Archives: Dan

Excessive Bedazzlement

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Dan

I’ve posted before about how some people like to stick little gems on various buttons and knobs in their car interiors, but this one beats them all in how much it has.

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Chewed Injector Wires

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Dan

I was given a Honda Ridgeline with a check engine light to diagnose. It came up with two codes, one current and one pending. The current code was P219A AF Ratio Variation of Cylinder, which on Honda Pilots and Ridgelines … Continue reading →

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Melted Spark Plug

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Dan

Misfires are probably one of the more common engine problems. They can be caused by a variety of problems, often something to do with the spark plug. Usually an engine can run okay with a minor misfire, but if it’s … Continue reading →

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How to Change All Bulbs in 2016-2017 Honda Accords

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Dan

New blog posts every Monday and Thursday, plus pictures throughout the week on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Watch Mechanical Malarkey on YouTube! Mechanical Malarkey T-shirts, hats, and stickers are available to order! -Dan

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Bolt-Bending Ball Joint Tool

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Dan

Several years ago, I bought a ball joint separator tool from Harbor Freight. It was the best $20 I’ve ever spent there. I don’t use it that frequently, but it works great. It’s finally failed on me, but not so … Continue reading →

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Rusted Out Gas Tank Straps

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Dan

A customer had their Honda Civic towed into the shop with a bit of a problem. They said that they had run over a deer carcass and now their gas tank was falling out. The car wouldn’t run, so it … Continue reading →

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Backwards Head Restraints are Dangerous

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Dan

New blog posts every Monday and Thursday, plus pictures throughout the week on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Watch Mechanical Malarkey on YouTube! Mechanical Malarkey T-shirts, hats, and stickers are available to order! -Dan

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Speaker Failure Diagnosis

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Dan

A Honda CR-V was in the shop, and one of the customer’s complaints was that the two rear speakers didn’t work, and the left front had a lot of static and distortion. After confirming that the speakers weren’t working, the … Continue reading →

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Throwback: Recalls Bring the Odd Cars

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Dan

Today is a throwback to a post from 2 years ago, in January 2018. Sometimes I wonder if people compete to bring in the worst condition car to get recalls done. This one was impressive.

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Worn Out Timing Belt Tensioner

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Dan

Timing belts need to be replaced at regular intervals to prevent them from wearing out and failing. At my Honda dealership, we recommend replacing them at 100,000 miles. We also replace the water pump, and often replace the tensioner. Over … Continue reading →

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