by Mark S. Taylor | Jan 3, 2026 | Maintenance
Stuck in your driveway on a freezing morning? It’s a bad feeling. Your car won’t start in the cold. This is a very common problem. I have seen it for years as a mechanic. The cold makes weak parts fail. The main issue is often the battery. But it can be...
by Mark S. Taylor | Jan 3, 2026 | Maintenance
A bad lifter makes a fast, rhythmic ticking sound that matches engine speed. It can cause misfires, power loss, and eventually severe engine damage. Do you hear a loud “tick-tick-tick” from your engine? That is a scary sound. I have been a mechanic for...
by Mark S. Taylor | Jan 2, 2026 | Maintenance
Common rail is a modern electronic fuel system that is quiet and efficient, while traditional direct injection is an older mechanical system known for being loud but simple. Shopping for a diesel truck or just curious about your engine? You have likely heard the terms...
by Mark S. Taylor | Jan 1, 2026 | Maintenance
The P0303 code means cylinder number 3 in your engine is not firing properly, which causes shaking and power loss. Is your check engine light on and your car shaking? A rough running engine is scary. It often means you have a misfire. The specific code for this is...
by Mark S. Taylor | Jan 1, 2026 | Maintenance
The letters P, R, N, D, and L stand for Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, and Low. Numbers like 1, 2, or 3 limit the transmission to lower gears for extra power or braking on hills. I remember the first time I drove a car with a “B” on the shifter. I had no...
by Mark S. Taylor | Dec 30, 2025 | Maintenance
Common symptoms include a delayed response when pressing the gas, the car entering “limp mode,” and an illuminated Check Engine Light. Does your car hesitate when you hit the gas, or feel like it has a “dead pedal”? These are classic symptoms...
