krisbuchowicz

krisbuchowicz šŸ“Miami FL
šŸš˜I like cars.
šŸŽļøCars are cool.
šŸ‘Øā€šŸ”§Letā€™s learn cars.
šŸ”°Certified Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid battery replacement āš”ļøšŸ’Ŗ Donā€™t be fooled, itā€™s a lot heavier than it looks! ...
09/20/2025

Toyota Highlander Hybrid battery replacement āš”ļøšŸ’Ŗ Donā€™t be fooled, itā€™s a lot heavier than it looks!

Need to get a stubborn taillight off? Layer a line of masking tape on the center of the light, grab it, and pull. The ta...
09/17/2025

Need to get a stubborn taillight off? Layer a line of masking tape on the center of the light, grab it, and pull. The tape sticks to the light and gives you enough grip to pop it out easily. No tools, no scratches, just a simple trick!

How hungry was this guy? šŸ˜³
09/14/2025

How hungry was this guy? šŸ˜³

6 years on original battery and still going strong! Whatā€™s the longest youā€™ve seen a battery last for?
09/09/2025

6 years on original battery and still going strong! Whatā€™s the longest youā€™ve seen a battery last for?

Itā€™s not as bad as it looks. I sometimes "borrow" parts from a known-good vehicle for diagnosis to confirm a problem qui...
09/06/2025

Itā€™s not as bad as it looks. I sometimes "borrow" parts from a known-good vehicle for diagnosis to confirm a problem quickly and avoid unnecessary replacement costs. This is a diagnostic shortcut that can be especially useful for common failures or intermittent issues that are difficult to replicate.

This intermittent noise was not caused by a wheel bearing as the swap didnā€™t address the customers concerns šŸ˜”

This is what a parasitic draw test looks like.A parasitic draw test is a diagnostic procedure used to check if something...
09/04/2025

This is what a parasitic draw test looks like.

A parasitic draw test is a diagnostic procedure used to check if something in a vehicle is draining the battery when the car is turned off.

It is performed by connecting a multimeter in series with the negative battery terminal and cable. This measure the current draw once the vehicle has gone into ā€œsleep modeā€ (usually after several minutes).

Most modern cars should draw less than 50 milliamps (0.05A) at rest. In this case I have almost 500 milliamps.

Iā€™m not sure what is causing it yet but the most common things Iā€™ve found are aftermarket accessories like alarms, remote starts, and tow hitch wiring. These short internally and prevent the computers from going into sleep mode.

What kind of things have you found that caused a parasitic draw?

Should we replace it or wait for it to make noise?
09/03/2025

Should we replace it or wait for it to make noise?

AC Leak Mystery Solved šŸ”A co-worker had been chasing down this A/C issue for a while, so I jumped in to help. The system...
09/02/2025

AC Leak Mystery Solved šŸ”
A co-worker had been chasing down this A/C issue for a while, so I jumped in to help. The system kept leaking out after about two days, even after a recharge.

Dye had already been added, but we couldnā€™t spot any leaks. The evaporator, condenser, compressor, and lines were all clean. The only trace of dye was at the fitting where the dye was injected, which seemed normalā€¦ at first.

To be sure, I hit it with some soapy water and, sure enough, the ā€œnormalā€ turned out to be the actual source of the leak. The fitting was leaking right at the base. Unfortunately, it was part of the A/C line, non-serviceable and no separate replacement available.

The good news? The vehicle was still under basic warranty, and the manufacturer covered the repair.

Sometimes the smallest leaks take the longest to find!

All this workā€¦ and Iā€™m only halfway to getting the evaporator box out šŸ˜…On most vehicles, the evaporator core is buried d...
09/01/2025

All this workā€¦ and Iā€™m only halfway to getting the evaporator box out šŸ˜…

On most vehicles, the evaporator core is buried deep inside the dash. That means pulling panels, disconnecting components, and carefully working around a maze of wiring and clips. Itā€™s one of the more time-consuming A/C repairs out there, but itā€™s the only way to get the job done right.

Would you believe me if I told you that on a 2018 Toyota Camry, all it takes to remove the radio is a 10mm socket and a ...
08/31/2025

Would you believe me if I told you that on a 2018 Toyota Camry, all it takes to remove the radio is a 10mm socket and a ratchet?

No specialty tools, no complicated steps, everything is held in with clips. Manufacturers design it this way for faster assembly, but it also makes it easier for DIYers to service or upgrade.

Always remember: disconnect the battery first to protect the electronics.

Question for anyone that owns one of these šŸ‘‡I just picked up this refrigerant leak detector and have been running it aro...
08/30/2025

Question for anyone that owns one of these šŸ‘‡

I just picked up this refrigerant leak detector and have been running it around the shop to see how accurate it really is. So far, itā€™s been solid especially around A/C line ports where itā€™ll pick up the residual Freon.

But what I really need it for is finding evaporator leaks. For those of you whoā€™ve used this type of detector:
How well does it pick up leaks through the A/C vents or even the drain tube under the car?

Curious to hear real-world experiences before I start relying on it for those tough-to-spot leaks.

When your engine mount calls it quits and tries to escape the Corolla.Hereā€™s what a ripped engine mount looks like on a ...
08/30/2025

When your engine mount calls it quits and tries to escape the Corolla.

Hereā€™s what a ripped engine mount looks like on a Toyota Corolla. When these fail, youā€™ll feel extra vibration, clunks, or even see the engine shift more than it should. Always check mounts during routine inspections!

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