Author Archives: Dan

The Most Unusual Job of the Year

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Dan

This was a weird one. I’m not entirely sure how to describe everything about this one, but if anything fits the name Mechanical Malarkey, it was this job. Let’s start with the original customer complaint.

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How to Safely Lift and Support a Car

Posted on July 8, 2019 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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Oversize Wheels and Tires Are a Bad Idea

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Dan

Some people like to customize their car, to make it more their own, or to show off a little. A common modification people make are bigger wheels. Sometimes sticking to the stock tire diameter isn’t big enough for their tastes, … Continue reading →

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Over-Pressurized Tires

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Dan

Most cars have tire pressure specifications between 30 and 35 psi. Maintaining the correct pressure is necessary for long tire life and good performance. Usually when cars come into the shop their tires are a little low or a little … Continue reading →

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Working on Family Minivans

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Dan

It usually doesn’t matter whether a customer has kids. If I’m doing any kind of work outside the car, or on the engine, it doesn’t matter. But then if I have to work on the interior, it can make things … Continue reading →

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My Day at Autocross Novice School

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Dan

Today’s video is about my day at autocross novice school a few weeks ago. Click here or on the video above to watch it.

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Counterfeit Roof Rails

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Dan

Usually when a customer wants Honda accessories installed on their car, they buy through the dealership’s parts department for their service department to install. It’s not often that a customer brings in the accessories to have us install them.

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All 4 Outlets Don’t Work

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Dan

A customer came in with a few problems to diagnose. One of them was that none of their accessory sockets worked. The most common problem is a blown fuse, but this was all of their sockets.

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Tire Blowout? Accidental Off-Roading?

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Dan

Sometimes there are cars outside the body shop at the dealership that have interesting damage. I rarely get to hear what happened to cause the damage, so I have to try to guess what might have caused it.

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A Quick Word on Safety

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Dan

Today’s video is about safety while working on cars. Click here or on the video above to watch it.

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