Author Archives: Dan

My Truck: Brake Light Switch Wiring

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Dan

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, my 1990 Ford F-250 has had its wiring hacked together by previous owners. Recently this came to light again as my brake lights stopped working.

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Incorrect Battery

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Dan

Getting the right battery for your car is important. It needs to have enough power to start your engine on a cold morning, and that depends on how big your engine in. Batteries are usually rated by their cranking amps … Continue reading →

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Dead Engine Autopsy

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Dan

We recently had a Civic in the shop with zero oil pressure. The oil was full, but while running there was no oil coming out of the oil filter or pressure gauge port. That meant that it needed a new … Continue reading →

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Aftermarket Remote Starts

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Dan

A CR-V came into the shop with a complaint that it went dead every few days. After confirming that the battery is good, the next step is to check for a parasitic draw on the battery, which is when something … Continue reading →

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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.

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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 →

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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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