Author Archives: Dan

Filthy Interiors

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Dan

I’ve seen cars filled with trash, I’ve seen dirty floor mats, but then there are some cars where I put on gloves before driving.

Posted in In The Shop | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

House Wiring in Cars

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Dan

My 1990 F-250 has led a hard life, and the wiring has taken a beating. It’s been hacked together enough that I don’t even want to touch any of it if I can avoid it. One thing I noticed with … Continue reading →

Posted in At Home, My Car | Tagged , | 1 Comment

It May Look Like A Walnut

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Dan

And it is a walnut. But walnuts have caused a surprising number of problems in cars compared to other plant material.

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Modifying Tools

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Dan

During a slow day at work I was doing some sweeping around the shop, and on different sides of the shop I found two cut off open end wrenches. Apparently two different techs really needed slightly shorter wrenches for whatever … Continue reading →

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Recalls Bring the Odd Cars

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Dan

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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Hitting Curbs and Potholes

Posted on January 18, 2018 by Dan

Winter brings more hazards for driving. The freeze/thaw cycle wreaks havoc on pavement, causing cracks and potholes to form, which can cause big problems with today’s low profile tires. The snow and slick conditions also make it easier to slide … Continue reading →

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Opinion: Customer Declined Service

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Dan

Fixing cars is a business. That means we have to make money. Often that means we have to try to sell work to the customer besides what they came in for. This can lead to mechanics getting a bad rap … Continue reading →

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My Truck: Burnt Out Starter Solenoid

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Dan

I recently purchased a 1990 Ford F-250 for cheap, and as expected, it’s been an ongoing project. On a recent Saturday I was in a Walmart parking lot picking up a toolbox locker from Craigslist, and when I went to … Continue reading →

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Opinion: Following Directions or Intuition

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Dan

This is a question I don’t think there’s a definite answer for. When performing a repair, should you take the time to look up and follow the instructions, or should you just follow your intuition? A lot of the time … Continue reading →

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Toyota Oil Filter Wrench

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Dan

I worked on Toyotas for almost two years, but now I work on Hondas. Despite this, I still use my Toyota oil filter wrench almost daily.

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