Tag Archives: Engines

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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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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Double-Check Your Timing Marks

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Dan

Whenever you’re replacing a timing belt or chain, or doing any kind of work that requires removing and reinstalling it, you have to make sure that everything is timed correctly. If the camshafts aren’t timed properly to the crankshaft, at … Continue reading →

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When New Parts Fail

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Dan

Nothing lasts forever, but usually when something is new, you expect it to last a while. When you replace a broken part on a car with a new part, you don’t expect to be replacing it soon after.

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Snapped Timing Belt

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Dan

The most common reasons to have to push a car into the shop are a failed starter, or something majorly wrong with the engine. When this Odyssey got pushed into the shop, it was because the engine was damaged. The … Continue reading →

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Throwback: Blown-Out Spark Plug

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Dan

It’s a throwback post today, going way back to 2016 and a damaged engine. Originally posted December 1st, 2016. A Honda Element got hauled in on a tow truck one night. Big misfire, running horribly when we drove it into … Continue reading →

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How To Change Spark Plugs

Posted on December 2, 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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Chewed-Through Wiring Harness

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Dan

Check engine lights on new cars are not something you want to deal with, because usually it’s going to end up a warranty job and probably not pay as well as it would on an older car. Sometimes you get … Continue reading →

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Oil Leak and Ignition Coil Failure

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Dan

A Honda Odyssey came into the shop with a continuous misfire on cylinder 2. After confirming which cylinder had the misfire, the next step is usually to look at the spark plug to see if it’s damaged or covered in … Continue reading →

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