Seaside Auto Repair

Why Is My Transmission Slipping? | Seaside & Monterey Transmission Repair If your car hesitates when shifting gears, revs higher than usual, or feels like it’s losing power, your transmission may be slipping. Ignoring this issue can lead to costly repairs—or even transmission failure! At Wayside Garage in Seaside, CA, we specialize in transmission diagnostics & repair to keep Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel drivers on the road. Let’s break down the signs of a slipping transmission, what causes it, and how to fix it before it gets worse ... read more

Why Is My Check Engine Light On? | Seaside & Monterey Auto Repair It’s never a good feeling when your check engine light suddenly turns on. Is it a small issue, or is your engine about to fail? If you're driving in Monterey, Seaside, Pacific Grove, or Carmel, CA, and see that dreaded dashboard warning, don’t panic—Wayside Garage in Seaside, CA, is here to help! Your check engine light could be triggered by something minor like a loose gas cap or a serious problem like an engine misfire. Let’s break down the most common causes, what they mean, and when you should seek professional help ... read more

Why Is My Check Engine Light On? PO430 Is your check engine light on, and your car's computer is throwing a P0430 code? For drivers of older vehicles like the 2000 Ford Windstar, this can be a cause for concern, but it doesn’t have to be. At Wayside Garage, we’ve seen this issue often and can help explain what’s going on. What Does a P0430 Code Mean? A P0430 code refers to "Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold" for bank two, which means your catalytic converter on that side of the engine isn’t performing efficiently. The catalytic converter is responsible for reducing harmful emissions from your engine, so when this component struggles, it could be bad news for both your vehicle’s performance and the environment. What Causes a P0430 Code? Several issues can trigger a P0430 code: Aging Oxygen Sensors: These sensors monitor your engine's fuel mixture. If they aren’t functioning properly, they can ... read more

Why Is My Check Engine Light On? Rodents Might Be to Blame! At Wayside Garage, we recently helped a client with a check engine light, traction control light, and poor engine performance. Our certified technician, Jonathan, found an unexpected culprit: rodents had chewed through the wiring! When the car was brought in, it wouldn’t stay running. After running diagnostics, Jonathan discovered a mass airflow sensor code. This sensor, which helps measure the air going into the engine, had been damaged, but that wasn't the only issue. Under the hood, we found clear signs of rodent activity—chewed wires and seeds near the sensor. Why Rodent Damage Happens Rodents like mice and rats are notorious for seeking shelter in warm engine compartments, especially during colder months. They can chew through wires, causing significant damage to your vehicle’s electrical system. In this case, th ... read more

Check Engine Light: A Deep Dive at Wayside Garage At Wayside Garage in Seaside, CA, we recently had a client come in with a Chevy Volt experiencing a check engine light issue. The modern Chevy Volt, like many vehicles today, is equipped with approximately 30 to 50 different computers, each monitoring various systems and components.  When diagnosing a check engine light, our first step is phase one testing, where we scan the vehicle's computer for codes. In this particular case, our expert technician, Jonathan, found multiple codes stored in the computer. Some of these codes were even duplicated across different modules. Decoding the Codes: A Layman's Explanation To make sense of this, think of the car as the trunk of an oak tree. When we plug the scanner into the vehicle, it's like identifying the trunk. Each code we find directs us to a specific branch, and from there, we may need to examine smaller branches and leaves to find the exact issue.&nbs ... read more