Engine Repair
Leaks, overheating, noises, and worn components, repaired after the cause is confirmed.
Engine repair covers a wide range of work, from replacing a leaking valve cover gasket or a failed water pump to timing belt and chain service, head gasket problems, and cooling system repairs. The right fix depends entirely on what has actually failed.
- Confirming the cause through inspection and testing
- Replacing gaskets and seals to stop leaks
- Cooling system repairs
- Timing belt or timing chain component service
Common symptoms
- Oil spots under the car or a burning oil smell
- Temperature gauge running high or coolant loss
- Knocking, ticking, or rattling from the engine
- White or blue smoke from the exhaust
- Milky oil or oil in the coolant
Overheating deserves special mention. Driving a hot engine can warp a cylinder head or damage a head gasket in a short distance. If your temperature gauge climbs, pull over safely and shut the engine off. Michigan’s big temperature swings are also hard on hoses and plastic coolant parts, which tend to crack as they age.
Before any major engine work, we confirm the cause and explain your options, including whether the repair makes sense for the age and condition of the vehicle. Every repair is quoted before work starts.
Every appointment is confirmed with a $100 booking/diagnostic payment (not credited toward repairs). If the cause isn’t known yet, the visit is used to diagnose it; the repair is quoted for your approval.
Repair labor is $100 per hour for every kind of repair — engine, transmission, electrical, heating and air conditioning, suspension, brakes and everything else. No higher specialty rate and no minimum labor charge. Labor hours are estimated for your specific vehicle and repair and shown on your written estimate before any work starts; we don’t sell flat-rate job prices.
Example: valve cover gasket leak
One common engine repair, shown as an example: an oil-seeping valve cover gasket, resealed and cleaned.
Signs you may need this
- Oil spots under the car or a burning oil smell
- Temperature gauge running high or coolant loss
- Knocking, ticking, or rattling from the engine
- White or blue smoke from the exhaust
- Milky oil or oil in the coolant
- Loss of power or persistent misfires
What the service may involve
- Confirming the cause through inspection and testing
- Replacing gaskets and seals to stop leaks
- Cooling system repairs: water pumps, thermostats, hoses, radiators
- Timing belt or timing chain component service
- Ignition and fuel component replacement
- A quote and your approval before any teardown or repair
Information to have ready
- Year, make, model, engine size, and mileage
- What you have noticed and for how long
- Whether the car is drivable or will need to be towed
- Past engine work or recent maintenance records
Questions
Is there a fee before you quote an engine repair?
If the cause is already clear, such as a visible leak, we can often inspect and quote without separate diagnostic work. If the problem needs to be diagnosed first, diagnostic services involve a $100 diagnostic fee, which is not credited toward the cost of subsequent repairs. We will tell you before any diagnostic work begins.
Is it worth fixing my engine?
That depends on the repair, the rest of the vehicle’s condition, and your plans for it. We give you the facts and an honest opinion; the decision is yours.
My car is overheating. Can I drive it in?
We recommend against driving an overheating engine. If the gauge is in the red or steam is coming from under the hood, arranging a tow is usually the safer choice.
