Tag Archives: Engines

Junkyard Engines

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Dan

When there’s a big problem with an engine so it needs to be replaced, usually the cheapest fix is to get an engine from a junkyard. However, you should always try to buy from a place that gives a warranty … Continue reading →

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Blown-Out Spark Plug

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Dan

A Honda Element got hauled in on a tow truck one night. Big misfire, running horribly when we drove it into the shop. As I plugged in a scanner to read the codes, another tech started pulling the spark plugs, … Continue reading →

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VTEC Stickers Do Not A Racecar Make

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Dan

It’s always kind of puzzling when you see a car that has stickers or emblems added on saying things like “turbo” or some other word that means it’s fast and fancy.  If they’re trying to impress people who know about … Continue reading →

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How-To: 1997 Honda Civic Noisy Idler Pulley

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Dan

My car’s engine began to make a high-pitched squealing noise at times, and I tracked it down to the idler pulley for the AC compressor belt.

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There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the…Engine Block

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Dan

The engine block, the largest and heaviest piece of the engine, is made of either cast iron or, in most modern cars, aluminum. It has to be strong to withstand the forces of combustion and torque and everything else going … Continue reading →

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Supercharged Toyota Tundra

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Dan

It was one of those things that everybody in the shop has to go take a look at at some point. One of the shop’s master technicians was installing a Toyota Racing Development supercharger kit on a brand new Tundra … Continue reading →

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Bad Dipstick Location

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Dan

In yet another edition of “what was the engineer thinking?” we have an example from Ford.

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Old Engines

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Dan

While I was in school, an older friend invited me to her husband’s engine shop. It was pretty cool seeing the shop, all the specialized equipment, and the engines they were working on.

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Broken Timing Belt

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Dan

The timing belt is one of the most important parts of an engine. It makes the camshafts turn in time with the crankshaft, so without it an engine wouldn’t run. Some engines are what’s known as an interference engine, which … Continue reading →

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