Overheating in Traffic but Fine on the Highway? Check the Cooling Fan

ByDavid Xu

Temperature climbs at a stoplight. AC feels weaker when you’re parked. Then you get on the highway and the gauge settles back down. That pattern is one of the clearest clues that your electric radiator cooling fan isn’t doing its job when there’s no ram air through the grille. The fan sits behind the radiator…

Check Engine Light On but Car Drives Fine? Here’s What P0420 and P0138 Actually Mean

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Check Engine Light On but Car Drives Fine? Here’s What P0420 and P0138 Actually Mean I’ve been behind the counter long enough to know exactly how this conversation goes. Customer walks in, sets their keys on the desk, says “light came on but it drives perfect, can you just turn it off?” Usually they’re hoping…

Clunking Noise When Turning or Driving Over Bumps: Ball Joint vs. Tie Rod End

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Clunking Noise When Turning or Driving Over Bumps: Ball Joint vs. Tie Rod End Thirty-plus years under a lift, and I still hear this question at least twice a week. Customer pulls into the lot, rolls down the window, and says “Hey, I got this noise when I hit a bump or turn the wheel…

ABS and Traction Control Lights Both On? It’s Probably a Wheel Speed Sensor

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ABS and Traction Control Lights Both On? It’s Probably a Wheel Speed Sensor I get this one at least twice a week. Customer rolls in, dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree — ABS light, traction control light, sometimes the stability control light too. They’re worried the brakes are gonna fail. Nine times out of…

Your Hood or Trunk Won’t Stay Up? Don’t Get Brained — Replace Those Lift Supports

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Your Hood or Trunk Won’t Stay Up? Don’t Get Brained — Replace Those Lift Supports Twenty years ago a guy comes into the shop with a knot on his forehead the size of a golf ball. His hood struts had been weak for six months, he’d been using a broomstick to prop it open, and…