Another drop in the books, another pile of customer cars that tell stories nobody asked for. If you're tuned into the "Customer Complaints" series, you know we don't sugarcoat it: we read the notes, poke around, test drive the chaos, and call it like we see it. Usually with a side of roast. Episode 5 keeps the formula strong, clocking in around 28 minutes of straight shop therapy.
We kicked off with a pre-purchase inspection on a low-mile Dodge sitting at about 28k miles. Customer wanted the green light before pulling the trigger, but tags were still on and red flags were everywhere. Trunk looked like it got rear-ended and slapped back on uneven, quarter panel cut and rewelded, spot welds and glue residue screaming body shop work, mismatched paint thickness on the meter, suspension bits replaced from impact force. Even found random vent piece left inside from the crash. Smelled like fresh body shop. Verdict: hard pass... no dealer warranty, too much hidden damage.
Then rolled in a 2016 Ford Mustang GT with 56k miles complaining about flutter under hard accel, creaking only audible with windows down after pushing it, noise vanishes after idling. Valves just replaced two weeks prior, no CEL. We popped the hood: driver's side valve cover gasket leaking bad, oil soaked everywhere, dripping on the manifold and block. That oil burning off hot is likely the creak/flutter culprit, plus maybe a loose bolt expanding when warm. Gaskets need swapping, especially that side.
Next was a 2002 Subaru that ran like trash after a timing belt rip. Check engine light flashing P01303 misfire (cylinder 1-3), rough idle, plugs and coils swapped but not in order. Blinking light at start but no codes stored. Shifter loose as hell, bushings frozen, taped fuel line leak, starter crammed under the airbox wrong, parts scattered in the trunk including a battery. Timing components destroyed, bearings everywhere, pulley teeth chipped, skipped timing bad. One-time-use parts reused and ruined. Budget $1500? Nah, this one's beyond saving. "You need a new car."
We had a 2013 Honda Civic Si asking for a full checkup with fluid leaking from the bottom (oil pan due for change anyway). Dented right side skirt from curb kiss, lowered on Honda Performance springs/wheels/badge. Issues stacked up: bent control arm from the curb hit, blown axle (grease everywhere), springs installed upside down (daddy special), smashed rubber isolators, muffler crooked from bad welding. Head looked clean from recent work. Side skirt fixable cheap with pull/weld, muffler cut off and rewelded straight. Rest was mostly cosmetic/ride-related.
The high-mile closer: 2002 Toyota RAV4 around 165-168k miles throwing P0755, P0110, P0100 codes. Car pulls, RPM dips at stops when releasing steering, shakes but stays running, limited to 20 mph tops with "boom boom" sounds. Customer replaced everything under the sun: alternator, battery, tensioner, belt, PCV, injectors, plugs, valve cover gasket, MAP, IAC, trans flush/pan/filter, CAT, O2 sensors. Test drive was wild, shaky, squeaky, unstable, lashes falling out from the vibes. Diagnosis: classic electrical/ECU gremlin in that mileage range. Computer's confused and needs the right matching ECU variant swapped (three types exist). Pull the serial for the exact part, then it'll wake up.
Whole episode's loaded with the signature stuff: spot weld counting, paint meter demos, magnet jokes, finger smudges on lens, "fat a** through here" squeezes, and nonstop roasting on bad installs (Looking at you 'upside down springs').
Closing hits different, real talk about followers vs. real friends, how people switch up, and being good with it.
"Your friends now could be doing the same thing that your enemies do. I'm good with that. Peace."
If your ride's throwing codes, leaking, shaking, or just acting sus, swing by Santa Fe Springs or hit the comments. We diagnose the mess, fix what makes sense, and laugh at the rest.
Full episode is up on the channel. Go catch it before the next one lands.
Revolutionizing the Way You Drive. One inspection, One roast, One "you need a new car" at a time.
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