Tinker's Dam Automotive

07/01/2026

Get our Baseline Maintenance Bundle for exactly $225 flat—out-the-door! 🚗✨

Absolutely zero hidden fees. Everything is included (even taxes). We bring your vehicle back to a safe, reliable starting baseline with:
🛢️ Full Synthetic Oil
⚙️ High-Quality Oil Filter
🌬️ Fresh Engine Air Filter
🌸 Clean Cabin Air Filter
🌧️ Durable Beam Wiper Blades

Fast service. Clear pricing. Quality parts. Claim your spot today!
Call or Text 515-382-1222 to set up an appointment!

📅 Offer valid through the month of July!
Offer valid for standard gasoline passenger vehicles up to 5 quarts of oil. Excludes diesel engines. Appointment required.

06/29/2026

2016 Buick Enclave - No Start, No Crank

Initial Scan: Scan tool communicated normally with the High-Speed CAN network, but every single module on the Low-Speed CAN network was completely down and unresponsive.

Circuit Testing: Tested the low-speed circuit, and measured 9.9 Ohms of resistance, indicating a short to ground. Followed the resistance through the splice packs and it led me to a detection module in the bumper.

As you can see in the video, once the module is unplugged and the short is isolated, the car starts.

06/01/2026

It has been a minute since my last post. I have been incredibly busy and tend to leave Facebook—and most social media platforms—in the rearview mirror. However, Facebook has been notifying me about a lot of new visits checking out the page lately, so I figured I would drop a quick update!

Check out the photos and videos below from a recent repair on a Dodge Journey. This was a severely cracked flex plate, which was ultimately caused by bad transmission mounts.

As a bonus, I’ve included a picture of the real shop manager, Clementine, out enjoying some of this nice weather! Clarification for the new visitors: Clementine is my shop cat. She mainly manages the nap schedule and handles rodent control!

11/24/2025

08/03/2025

Don’t gamble with your safety on the road! Letting brakes grind for weeks and tire treads run this low is already dangerous to you and others on the road. The brake pad and caliper piston falling out drastically increases that level of dangerous.

07/11/2025

Metal shavings in a VVT solenoid. These things are extremely sensitive. Even just low or dirty oil will cause poor performance. Metal shavings will do the same while also an indicator of worn internal parts.

Timely maintenance is a great way to prevent or prolong issues like this.

07/01/2025

Dye can be a wonderful thing. Made finding this evaporator leak much easier.

06/14/2025

Bad input shaft seal on a 2013 F350 with only 47k miles.

06/07/2025

This week's scheduled timing job on a 2007 Honda. Turns out weighted sockets are pretty nice for loosening crank bolts.