Author Archives: Dan

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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My Car: Plans for 2018

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Dan

It’s a new year! I didn’t do so well at accomplishing my goals for my car last year, but this year I think I can do it. Here’s what I have planned.

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My Car: 2017 Report Card

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Dan

Early in the year I posted a list of the repairs, modifications, and activities I wanted to accomplish with my 97 Honda Civic during 2017.

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Merry Christmas 2017

Posted on December 25, 2017 by Dan

Merry Christmas everybody!

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A Pilot’s Untimely Demise

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Dan

In the few years I’ve been a mechanic, I’ve seen a few cars that were rusted to the point of being scrap. Sometimes they’re repairable, like with the rusted out subframe on my 96 Civic. Other times it’s the floorboards … Continue reading →

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Mechanical Malarkey Buys a Truck!

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Dan

I’ve teased this on Instagram, and yes, I bought a truck. It’s a 1990 Ford F-250. And it’s camouflage.

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Leaking Heater Core Cleanup

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Dan

Normally you do everything you can to keep water out of the passenger compartment of a car. However, if you don’t want to freeze when it’s cold outside, you need to bring some water inside, preferably contained within the heater … Continue reading →

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