Lee Myles AutoCare +Transmissions of Hazlet

Lee Myles AutoCare +Transmissions of Hazlet Lee Myles AutoCare + Transmissions – Hazlet has proudly served Hazlet and Monmouth County with trusted auto and transmission repair.

Expert diagnostics, honest service, and quality repairs to keep you safely on the road. 🚗🔧 Lee Myles Transmissions & AutoCare is a full-service Auto Repair Center, and we're here to help you! In addition to being Hazlet, NJ's premier transmission experts, our ASE-certified technicians are highly qualified to handle all of your general automotive needs big and small. From major engine repairs to routine vehicle maintenance, our Lee Myles Centers are your One-Stop Auto Repair Facility.

A vehicle recently came to us after another shop diagnosed a Cylinder #4 misfire and recommended a fix.That shop replac...
09/05/2026

A vehicle recently came to us after another shop diagnosed a Cylinder #4 misfire and recommended a fix.

That shop replaced all six spark plugs, the ignition coil, coil boots, an air filter (presumably part of a tune-up), an oil filter housing, a thermostat housing, and a steering knuckle. There's no documentation explaining why the oil filter housing, thermostat housing, or knuckle were replaced, or what testing — beyond pulling a code — led to any of these recommendations.

They had time to recommend, sell, and install all of those parts. They didn't have time to do the one test that might have told them whether the ignition system was actually the problem.

When the vehicle came to us, we found more than a misfire.

A pronounced tapping noise was coming from the upper engine — not just near Cylinder #4, but from the opposite cylinder bank too. The misfire itself was present at idle, but cleared at higher RPM in a way that pointed to a mechanical engine concern, not an ignition one. That combination is what led us to pull the intake and valve cover for a closer look.

What we found: camshaft wear, and metallic debris in the valvetrain area.

We performed the diagnostic work, including disassembly to inspect the valvetrain. The customer paid for that work — and they received the full picture in return.

We presented two options: extensive internal engine repair or engine replacement, with honest numbers for both. We also made sure they knew this vehicle has over 150,000 miles, that this transmission family is known for concerns that can appear at lower mileage than this, and that other wear items may be on the horizon.

We never told them not to do the work. We told them to consider the full picture before making an emotional decision on an expensive repair. We told them to take their time.

They declined both repair options for now. That was their decision to make — and we made sure they had everything they needed to make it well.

That's what we're here for.

📍 Lee Myles AutoCare + Transmissions, Hazlet NJ
📞 (732) 739-9600

Sometimes the honest answer is "we're not completely sure — and here's why we're telling you that."A 2016 Ford F-550 cam...
08/28/2026

Sometimes the honest answer is "we're not completely sure — and here's why we're telling you that."

A 2016 Ford F-550 came in with a transmission that stopped shifting around 40 MPH, no matter the temperature outside or how warmed up the truck was. When we went to scan it, nothing — the scan tool couldn't even talk to the vehicle. We found out why fast: the wire that powers the diagnostic connector had been cut at some point in this truck's past and rerouted into a different splice. The customer knew it had been rewired before, but wasn't sure why or when.

We temporarily reconnected it to get communication back, and found real transmission fault codes pointing to Shift Solenoid B. Road testing confirmed it — the truck got stuck in 1st gear, and our data showed the solenoid circuit shorting to positive in real time.

We pulled the transmission pan to dig deeper. Fluid and hardware all checked out within spec — resistance, voltage, load testing, all normal. As an added diagnostic step (not a repair), we swapped Shift Solenoid B with Shift Solenoid C to see if the fault would follow the part. It didn't misbehave the same way after the swap.

While all this was happening, a second technician found something completely unrelated: the engine was idling high, the coolant was seriously low, and there was a throttle body fault code too. Turned out there was a coolant leak, and the throttle body was genuinely dirty. We fixed the coolant leak and cleaned the throttle body.

Here's the part we want to be upfront about: after those unrelated repairs, the transmission started shifting normally again. But we didn't replace a single transmission component. So did fixing the coolant leak and cleaning the throttle body somehow resolve the transmission issue? Maybe — engine operating conditions can influence how a transmission behaves. But we're not going to claim that connection as fact when we can't prove it. The original electrical fault was intermittent, and the honest answer is: we don't know for certain why it stopped acting up.

What we do know: the truck is driving and shifting exactly as it should right now. We've recommended the customer monitor it, and if anything returns, we'll pick right back up with more targeted testing.

We'd rather tell you the truth — even when the truth is "we're not 100% sure why it's fixed" — than make up a tidy explanation just to sound confident.

📍 Lee Myles AutoCare + Transmissions, Hazlet NJ
📞 (732) 739-9600

"It's bucking when I drive, especially once it warms up." That's what brought this 2012 Nissan Altima in — and it wasn't...
08/26/2026

"It's bucking when I drive, especially once it warms up." That's what brought this 2012 Nissan Altima in — and it wasn't the transmission.

The customer described the bucking as worse once the engine reached operating temperature, and even more noticeable with the AC running. We scanned the vehicle and found an engine overheating code, plus an older transmission-related code. So we did what we always do: test before we guess.

We road tested the car to evaluate it — and didn't even make it two miles before the engine started seriously overheating. Coolant temperature hit 267°F by the time we got it back to the shop, and data showed it had spiked as high as 291°F during the test. We had to stop and let it cool down just to get back safely.

Once in the shop, we found the real problem: a pinhole leak in the engine's coolant water pipe, with clear signs it had been slowly leaking for a while — rusty residue had built up across the top of the engine and transmission from where it had been seeping out.

We replaced the leaking pipe, then drained the badly contaminated coolant. There was enough rust and debris in the system that we flushed and refilled it multiple times before it ran clean, then refilled it properly and bled the system.

After the repair, two different technicians independently road tested the car. Neither could reproduce the bucking or any abnormal operation. A full scan afterward came back clean across every module — no codes, warning light off.

No transmission repair was needed. The "transmission problem" was actually severe overheating from a slow coolant leak that had been building for who knows how long.

Moral of the story: don't assume the transmission is the problem just because that's where you feel it. Sometimes the real cause is somewhere else entirely — and it's worth having it properly diagnosed before assuming the worst (and most expensive) repair.

📍 Lee Myles AutoCare + Transmissions, Hazlet NJ
📞 (732) 739-9600

Sometimes the "fix" is the problem.A customer came in with several concerns on their son's 2012 Subaru Impreza — one bei...
07/25/2026

Sometimes the "fix" is the problem.

A customer came in with several concerns on their son's 2012 Subaru Impreza — one being that they kept having to add coolant and couldn't figure out why. We pressure tested the cooling system and quickly found at least one leak (there could be more — we're not done checking yet).

Here's what we found: the radiator had been replaced before — stamped "Made in China," and fitted with an extra outlet that doesn't belong on this model. Whoever did that repair didn't source the correct radiator for this vehicle. Instead of fixing that mismatch, they just capped the unused outlet with a rubber plug and a hose clamp and called it done.

That "solution" is exactly what's leaking now.

We won't install a radiator that doesn't correctly match the vehicle and then cap off the difference — that's not a repair, that's a workaround waiting to fail. We told the customer they were welcome to find someone who'd redo the same kind of fix, but that's not something we'll do here. The right call is a properly sourced radiator — OEM or genuine high-quality aftermarket — installed correctly for this specific vehicle.

The customer agreed. We're replacing the radiator, along with the upper and lower hoses and clamps (using OEM-style spring clips), then re-testing the whole system to make sure nothing else is compromised. Once confirmed, we'll refill with the correct coolant, bleed the system, test drive to confirm the heat functions properly and there's no trapped air, and do a final leak check.

If the previous shop had just sourced the right part in the first place — or caught their own mistake and fixed it — this customer likely wouldn't be facing a radiator replacement on a system that may have otherwise still been fine.

Repair isn't complete yet — we'll follow up once it's done.

📍 Lee Myles AutoCare + Transmissions, Hazlet NJ
📞 (732) 739-9600

Two problems. One visit. Neither one was what another shop thought it was.A customer came in with their 2015 Ford Transi...
07/22/2026

Two problems. One visit. Neither one was what another shop thought it was.

A customer came in with their 2015 Ford Transit work van shaking violently at highway speed. They'd just had new tires put on the front. When we checked things out, we found some seriously excessive wheel weights on the tires, and — more importantly — all four wheels were out of balance, and the new tires had been installed on the front instead of the rear, which goes against standard industry practice (rear tires should generally be your newest, especially for handling and safety in wet/slippery conditions). We rebalanced everything correctly and test drove it — shake gone.

The customer also mentioned a noise from the rear when turning. Another shop had told them it was just the spare tire banging around underneath the vehicle since the noise only happened while turning. They weren't totally sure that added up, but figured the pros would know. When we heard it ourselves, that explanation didn't hold — so we test drove it with a passenger in the back through sharp turns in the parking lot to isolate it. It pointed straight to the rear differential.

With almost 200,000 miles on the van, it was very possible the differential fluid had simply broken down and stopped protecting things properly. We pulled the diff cover to check for damage first — none found — then serviced it: fresh fluid, the correct additive, new gasket. Test drove it again. Noise gone.

Followed up with the customer after they'd put some real miles on it — problem solved, van back in action for a lot more miles to come.

Moral of the story: an explanation that sounds reasonable isn't always the right one. We test it, not guess it.

📍 Lee Myles AutoCare + Transmissions, Hazlet NJ
📞 (732) 739-9600

If you drive a Jeep, Dodge, or Chrysler with a V6, this one's worth knowing about.A lot of these vehicles — Jeep Wrangle...
07/10/2026

If you drive a Jeep, Dodge, or Chrysler with a V6, this one's worth knowing about.

A lot of these vehicles — Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler 200/300, and more — share the same 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine. And one of the most common issues we see on this engine is a leaking oil filter housing gasket.

Here's what that looks like once we get into it: oil pooling right in the valley of the engine, sitting near critical components. Left unaddressed, this isn't just a "small leak" — it can lead to bigger problems and a real mess under the hood.

If you've got a Pentastar V6 and you're noticing oil spots, a burning oil smell, or just want it checked before it becomes a bigger repair, this is exactly the kind of thing we check for as part of a full inspection.

📍 Lee Myles AutoCare + Transmissions, Hazlet NJ
📞 (732) 739-9600

Snapped in half. That's what a "transmission problem" turned out to be this time.A 2014 Honda Accord came in towed — the...
07/09/2026

Snapped in half. That's what a "transmission problem" turned out to be this time.

A 2014 Honda Accord came in towed — the customer heard a noise and couldn't get the car into Park, and was understandably worried it was the transmission. When we got underneath it, we found the right front axle shaft snapped clean in half. This is a known, common failure point on these cars.

A broken axle can absolutely cause exactly these symptoms — clunking, grinding noise, and issues with Park engagement — because the axle plays a role in how the wheel hub and driveline interact. It doesn't always mean the transmission itself is bad.
We're replacing the axle now. Once it's back together, we'll test drive and confirm the transmission is operating the way it should before calling this one fully resolved.

Moral of the story: a scary noise and a Park issue don't automatically mean a transmission replacement. Get it looked at first — the fix might be a lot more contained than you'd expect.

📍 Lee Myles AutoCare + Transmissions, Hazlet NJ
📞 (732) 739-9600

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3244 RT-35
Hazlet, NJ
07730

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