Hey, I’m Dale Hendricks, and if you’re here, there’s a decent chance your car just made a noise it didn’t make yesterday. Pull up a stool. That’s exactly what this site is for.
AutoFix Tip is a library of symptom-first car troubleshooting guides for regular drivers. You start with what you hear, feel, see or smell, and I walk you through the checks in the order I’d actually do them in my own driveway: cheapest and most likely first, expensive and unlikely last.
How I got into wrenching
I learned on my dad’s hand-me-down pickup, mostly because we couldn’t afford to pay a shop every time it complained. He handed me a socket set, a shop manual with oil stains on every page, and one rule: listen before you buy parts.
That rule has saved me a lot of money over twenty-plus years. It’s also cost me a few Saturdays when I ignored it and replaced the wrong part first. I’ve chased a “bad alternator” that turned out to be a corroded ground strap, bought rotors for a shake that was really a tire, and once spent a whole weekend on a misfire caused by a cracked vacuum line the size of a pencil.
These days I keep three vehicles running out of a two-car garage in the Midwest: my own high-mileage pickup, my wife’s SUV, and whatever our oldest is driving this year. Between them, there’s always something to diagnose.
What I cover
- Engine and warning lights: check engine lights, misfires, overheating, oil pressure warnings and strange smells.
- Brakes and suspension: shakes, squeals, grinding, pulling, clunks and steering problems.
- Electrical and battery: no-start problems, dead batteries, charging warnings, fuses and flickering lights.
- Maintenance schedules: what actually needs doing, how often, and what to watch between services.
- Tools and garage: scanners, multimeters, jacks and stands, OBD2 codes and working safely.
My rules for every guide
- Symptom first. Every guide starts with what you notice, not with a part name.
- Cheap checks before expensive parts. A loose gas cap should be ruled out before anyone talks about a catalytic converter.
- Safety is not optional. I’ll tell you when to use jack stands, when to let things cool, and when to stop driving.
- Honest about limits. Airbags, high-voltage hybrid and EV systems, fuel leaks and anything involving brakes you’re unsure of belong with a professional. I’ll say so plainly.
How the guides are put together
I write from my own experience working on common sedans, SUVs and pickups, and I cross-check specifics against service information and manufacturer guidance. Vehicles differ, so specs like torque values, fluid types and service intervals should always be confirmed for your exact make, model and year. You can read more about how guides are written and updated in our editorial policy.
A quick safety note: the information here is general guidance, not a substitute for a professional inspection. If something feels unsafe, it probably is. Get the car to a qualified mechanic.
Say hello
Spotted a mistake, or have a symptom you’d like me to cover? Use the contact page. I read every message, and a lot of the guides on this site started as a reader’s question.
Thanks for stopping by. Now go listen to your car.