Tony Harlin is a Master Gas and Diesel Diagnostic Technician with over 18 years of experience. He works full-time at a large independent automotive shop as a driveability and repair technician working on all types of vehicles with a focus on diesels. ASE certifications include A1-A9, L1 and L2, as well as X1.
Tony has a YouTube channel, “Nuts & Bolts with Tone,” with over 25,000 subscribers, devoted to automotive troubleshooting, repairs as well as tool demos and reviews. When not working on cars, Tony enjoys spending time with his three sons and wife in Sacramento, California.
Credentials:
Summary If your car’s air conditioner (A/C) is making a rattling noise, then it’s likely because of a worn belt…
Summary You can technically drive your vehicle with an illuminated ABS light, but you shouldn’t because the underlying problem that…
Summary Keep in mind that mild-weather wiper fluid does freeze at around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. If your winters tend to…
There can be many reasons why your vehicle burns more fuel than usual. The issue can be as simple as…
Summary Repairing or replacing your balancer can be a complicated process because there’s a risk of damaging other engine components…
Sometimes, the car door could shock you when you get out of your ride. It’s difficult to predict when it’ll…
Summary Fuel injectors deliver fuel into the internal combustion engine. It’s important to flush the fuel injector because the fuel…
When you see the charging system failure light illuminate while you drive, something’s gone wrong with one of the charging…
Summary The fuel system includes various parts like the gas tank, fuel pump, fuel lines, fuel filter, and fuel injectors.The…
Summary The A/C switch is the device that lets you to control your air conditioning system from your vehicle’s center…
Summary Dry rot is characterized by small, visible cracks that appear on the side of a tire. This happens because…
Summary Although tail lights and brake lights use the same bulb, there are some cases where the brake lights are…
Summary Yes, car batteries can freeze because the electrolyte fluid in them contains water and sulfuric acid, both of which…
Summary A jammed door latch, corrosion, and structural damage to the door are some reasons why your car door won’t…
Slamming on the brakes is not only bad for your car but also incredibly dangerous to you and your passengers.…
Summary The cross-traffic system detects oncoming objects or pedestrians and alerts the driver.Some issues that trigger the cross system fault…
Summary Power steering fluid can change color over time, and its color can usually help you identify issues with the…
Summary The shift interlock solenoid in automatic transmission vehicles stops the park gear from moving to prevent the driver from…
Summary Alternator belts are used to drive the alternator, making it an important component when it comes to powering your…
Summary Bidirectional scan tools are used to read the diagnostic data in your vehicle’s computer. They can also be used…
Summary Car batteries typically last anywhere from 3 to 5 years, but there are many factors that can cause one…
Summary There are two kinds of oil light: the oil pressure light that illuminates when the engine has low oil…
Summary Transmission fluid lubricates the transmission system, preventing metal parts from grinding against each another.Transmission fluid is usually changed every…
Summary Lug nuts are heavy metal fasteners that screw onto the lug nut studs of the wheel hub, securing the…
Summary Bubbles appear in car paint for various reasons like early overcoating, painting in humid conditions, and debris getting trapped…
Summary Although the Toyota Prius is seen as a reliable daily driver, some owners are left to deal with problems…
Summary Cars typically overheat when idling because you’ve been stuck in traffic for too long or if the cooling system…
Summary Rattling noises can be quite hard to diagnose because a lot of damaged or worn-out components can produce the…
Summary Regular wear and tear, broken honeycombs, and a loose heat shield can cause the catalytic converter to rattle. Driving…
Summary Some of the reasons your car stalls after getting gas include low-quality fuel and contaminated fuel pumps. A malfunctioning ECU,…
Summary Water can come out of your tailpipe due to water condensation during combustion, cat-con operation, and engine heat.In some…
Summary Hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) rely on two propulsion systems: an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Most hybrid…
Summary A ceramic coating is a type of auto body protection used to keep your car’s paint looking as good…
Summary Driving with a collapsed radiator hose can warp your engine’s cylinder heads, cause a head gasket leak, or bust…
Summary Activating the AWD lock means that power will be evenly split amongst all four wheels of your vehicle.Use the…
Summary Some of the possible reasons why your car battery can be drained overnight include accidentally leaving the lights on,…
Summary The charcoal canister minimizes toxic emissions after burning fuel. You can find the charcoal canister between the fuel tank,…
Summary Power seats let you adjust their height and position through levers, buttons, and switches.These specially designed seats are operated…
Summary Hydrolock happens when water or coolant enters the combustion chamber and cannot be compressed, leading to an engine lock.The…
Summary Premium air for tires is nitrogen. It’s when you use nitrogen to inflate tires instead of regular air.Some advantages…
Summary You will remove the torque converter, inspect the new converter's seal before flushing it with automatic transmission fluid (ATF),…
Summary The attention assist feature alerts the driver that they’re showing signs of fatigue or drowsiness behind the wheel. This…
Summary Roll start is a trick where an assistant pushes the vehicle while you turn the ignition to the run…
Summary The fuel system stores and supplies fuel to your vehicle’s engine to keep it running.It’s important to clean the…
Summary Upstream and downstream oxygen sensors check oxygen levels at different points in the exhaust system. Upstream oxygen sensors or…
Summary Freeze plugs seal the sand-casting core holes and keep the coolant in the engine.They can get damaged because of…
Summary If your vehicle’s A/C only works when your car is moving, you might be dealing with a bad A/C…
So, your car’s radio is not working. Now what? It’s time to learn what might’ve happened and how a mechanic…
Summary A track bar, also known as a panhard rod, restricts the lateral movement of your wheels by keeping the…
Summary Tire hairs are formally known as vent spews.While tire hairs usually show on new tires and shrink or disappear…
Summary Your car might jerk when stopped because of a bad transmission, dirty transmission filter, low transmission fluid level, and…
Summary The traction control switch is responsible for activating or deactivating traction control.Some signs the traction control switch has developed…
Summary Knowing how to replace a coil spring insulator is essential if you want to keep your vehicle in good…
Summary Replacing the headliner of your vehicle is difficult but not impossible with this detailed guide. The price of the…
Summary Unauthorized entry, vibrations, and impact can trigger car alarms.Car alarms are subject to false alerts due to a faulty…
Summary Misalignment can cause your front tires to wear on the inside. Some of the common tire wear patterns include…
Summary It can be frustrating and inconvenient if your manual key isn’t opening your car door. Some common reasons behind…
Summary The service park assist warning message on your gauge cluster indicates a possible problem with your park assist system.…
Summary Your heater core is most likely damaged if your car heater isn’t blowing hot air. Contaminated coolant, a faulty…
Summary Without diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), the exhaust system becomes clogged, and the powertrain control module might put the engine…
Summary Insufficient brake fluid in the brake system can cause brake failure, making it dangerous to drive.Brake fluid leaks can…
Summary An odometer measures the distance your vehicle has traveled over the course of its lifetime.Meanwhile, a trip meter measures…
Summary To pump the brakes means to step on the brake pedal multiple times.Pumping the brakes can help improve their…
Your vehicle’s power outlets are incredibly useful because they allow the driver and passengers to power or charge their devices.…
Summary The thrust angle is the angle of the rear wheels based on the total rear toe. The best thrust…
Summary The different wiring harness types are the air conditioning, engine compartment, floor, interior, and main harness.The common causes of…
Summary Your spare tire should hover around 35 to 60 pounds per square inch (PSI), but the actual amount depends…
Summary Bleeding is a process that removes any excess air that’s trapped in the brakes’ hydraulic system.There are several ways…
Summary A common complaint from many drivers is a transmission that’s stuck in neutral. Some potential causes for this problem…
Summary Stop-and-go driving refers to stopping for short intervals while covering short distances. Frequent stop-and-go driving can cause the brakes to…
Summary A twin-cam configuration or a DOHC setup uses two camshafts per cylinder bank.A twin-cam engine can produce more horsepower…
Summary Driving with less than a quarter of a tank of fuel isn’t bad for your vehicle, but driving on…
Summary Coolant or antifreeze circulates through the cooling system and keeps your engine’s temperature stable. Coolant boils between 300 and…
Summary Overfilling the gas tank is a risk to your engine because it can cause performance issues, pump more gas…
Summary If your car won’t start but your radio works fine, you might be dealing with battery issues, starter problems,…
Vehicle movement is backed by a series of principles. Energy is the most basic one, and a vehicle in transit…
Summary Sloshing sounds can be caused by air in the cooling system, gasket leaks, or a clogged evaporator drain.Sloshing sounds…
Summary The driveshaft bearing helps carry the weight of the driveshaft to keep them aligned and secure them to the…
Summary A dead battery, faulty starter, and an activated valet mode are some of the reasons why your remote start…
Summary Sitting in damaged or worn-out seats can harm your health and affect your driving experience. Always replace the car…
Summary There are two types of throttle bodies, namely the older style with a throttle cable and a drive-by-wire throttle…
Summary The easiest way to learn your vehicle’s windshield wiper size is by checking the owner’s manual. You can also…
Have you ever mixed up two different car parts because of their similar-sounding names? You are not alone. Some people…
Summary An overinflated tire could lead to excessive pressure on the tire walls, causing the tire to become too stiff.…
Summary The trunk latch is responsible for closing the trunk lid and keeping it shut as you drive. A trunk…
Summary Some symptoms of a bad automatic transmission gear-shift indicator include a malfunctioning indicator light, an illuminated gear that doesn’t…
Summary Push-button starts enable remote locking, minimize road accidents, and help prevent car theft. Unfortunately, push-button starts aren’t perfect. The…
Summary Drivability refers to a vehicle’s ability to be driven, but it can also indicate the vehicle’s condition as a…
Summary The parking brake is a latching mechanism that’s part of the overall brake system, which operates independently, connecting to…
Summary Lowering a vehicle’s ride height is known to bring performance and aesthetic benefits, but it also comes with some…
Summary When the adaptive cruise control (ACC) light turns on, it usually indicates an issue with the ACC, such as…
Summary 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines mainly differ in the number of power cycles their pistons make during a combustion revolution.A…
Summary The lane departure warning prevents collisions while drifting or leaving your lane. The system warns the driver via a…
Summary Hub caps cover the steel nuts and bolts that keep your wheel attached to your car.There are two types…
Summary A faulty brake caliper piston can cause a vehicle to pull to one side, create high-pitched noises, and have…
Summary A 1-ton truck is able to carry 1 ton. A modern truck that’s advertised to be a 3/4-ton can…
Summary Biodiesel is a combination of modified vegetable oils and diesel fuel. It aims to replace non-renewable fuels.Most biodiesel comes…
Summary A rocker arm moves the intake and exhaust valves when the camshafts aren’t mounted directly above them.Some common symptoms…
Summary Turbo lag refers to the delay between the driver’s input on the throttle pedal and the engine’s response.Turbo lag…
Summary A vehicle with a mid-engine set up means that the engine is positioned in front of the rear axle.…