Sparky's Garage Starters & Alternators LLC.

10/09/2026

Buying alternators at your local parts store is taking a gamble on whether they actually work. The customer had replaced the alternator twice and thought there was something wrong with the car, when in fact they had gotten two bad alternators. We ordered one from our vendor, had it the next day, bench tested it, then installed it. The car passed the load test. We also tested the alternator we took off the car; it would charge for a few seconds then drop out.
If you work, drive, or play with it, we can fix it!
(515)282-4090

10/09/2026

We replaced all the bushings in the suspension and changed fluids, and finished hooking up the two air horns!
If you work, drive, or play with it, we can fix it!
(515)282-4090

10/09/2026

The exhaust leak was repaired at another shop and started leaking again soon after. The original gaskets were stuck inside the tubes, and the new gaskets were installed on the sleeve, causing the exhaust leak. Everyone makes mistakes, but that’s why when we do a repair, the area is cleaned and prepped to prevent mistakes like this one.

If you work, drive, or play with it, we can fix it!
(515)282-4090

10/09/2026

Customer had a module short straight to ground. The circuit is on 2 fuses, 1 40 amp and the other 30 amp. But the ground wire, being only 16ga, became the fuse. Melted parts of the harness clear across the cab of the van, taking down several communication lines. The van would still start, but the instrument cluster didn’t work, and several other modules were offline. A new harness is a few pretty pennies. It was cheaper for the customer for me to go through and fix the wires rather than the cost of the whole harness before labor. As you can tell from the pictures, it was a long way to the harness. After everything was put back together, none of the other modules were affected besides the one that melted down. A 5 amp fuse was put on the ground side of the module so if the new one tries to melt down in the future, it will pop that fuse and not melt the harness. All the wires were soldered, and marine-grade heat shrink was used. Doesn’t matter if you work, drive or play with it, we can fix it. Give us a call and schedule an appointment (515)-282-4090.

06/19/2026

Before your brake rotors split like these, give us a call and book an appointment. Our number is 515-282-4090!

06/15/2026

We might have a rear end and brake job on our hands, but we’re never to busy to smoke some meat! If you or anyone you know needs some wrench turning done, call us at 515-282-4090 and schedule an appointment today!

05/30/2026

Crank-no start on this 3 cylinder Kubota engine.
After a little diagnosing, it turns that out the high pressure pump retired itself. Also, we wired in the trailer lights and the electric brakes. If you or anyone you know needs anything you work, play or drive with it Sparky’s Garage can fix it! Give us a call and book an appointment 515-282-4090! Mon-Friday 7am-4pm

05/01/2026

Using what we call the Frankenstein test bench to test a positive ground generator, out of an old Allis-Chalmers tractor.

04/17/2026

Shoes off in the cab! Marvin is installing a computer mount and replacing the alternator on a beautiful Mack. If you or anyone you know needs truck work done, give us a call at 515-282-4090.

04/17/2026