Dirt Road Auto & Diesel LLC.

09/24/2026

❄️ Another happy customer back on the road in total comfort!
We recently welcomed a 2014 GMC Sierra Denali into the shop for an A/C diagnosis. The owner noticed the compressor wasn't engaging, warm air was blowing on the driver side, and he needed the truck turned around quickly.

Our diagnostic check pulled code B1325 (Control Module Power Circuit Low Voltage). Our tech findings revealed:
* A failed A/C compressor clutch and worn A/C belt
* A leaking low-side service port
* An aging battery with heavy terminal corrosion, causing low system voltage that directly ruined the HVAC actuator function

Once the customer gave us the green light, our team got straight to work:
* Installed a brand-new A/C compressor, drive belt, and fresh service ports
* Replaced the failing battery and cleaned the terminal connections to restore proper voltage
* Replaced the malfunctioning under-dash blend door actuators

The HVAC system passed every test with zero active trouble codes! The vents are now blowing a crisp 43.9° on the driver side and 43.0° on the passenger side, with full heating restored to 146°+ across both zones. 🧊
Big thanks to our customer for trusting us to get the family ride dialed in right!

09/23/2026

09/21/2026

No boost left behind at Dirt Road Auto & Diesel! 💨🛻

This 2013 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost rolled into the shop fighting a frustrating boost leak. The owner noticed slow boost build-up, sluggish Bank 2 response, poor fuel economy, and an audible chirp every time he let off the throttle. Because this is his primary ride, we got right down to business to get him back on the road fast.

Here is how our diagnostic team tracked down the issue:
🔍 Codes & Symptoms on Arrival:
* Diagnostic trouble codes included P013A & P013C (downstream O2 sensor lean/rich response), B124D (TPMS), B10F1 (key-in-switch), B1083 (recirc damper motor), and U3003 (battery voltage).
* Boost was slow to spool under load, robbing the twin-turbo EcoBoost of its low-end punch.

🕵️‍♂️ Technician Findings:
* Located multiple pressurized air leaks across the charged-air system.
* Upper driver-side boost tube at the front of the engine was actively leaking.
* Passenger-side boost tube at the turbo outlet was pushed off by roughly 1.5 inches!
* Found improper clamps installed: several clamps were oversized and failing to hold clamp load, plus a standard worm-gear hose clamp had been used in the front center where a proper V-band clamp belonged.

🛠️ The Solution:
* Customer approved the fix via phone, and we got straight to work.
* Removed and thoroughly cleaned all boost tubes and mating surfaces.
* Reinstalled all piping with properly sized, heavy-duty clamps and correct hardware to ensure positive, leak-free seals under full boost pressure.

Once all that compressed air stayed where it belonged, the twin turbos spooled right on command with crisp throttle response and no more lost power! 🏁

09/18/2026

Another successful diagnosis and fix out the door @ Dirt Road Auto & Diesel! 🔧

This 2014 Chevrolet Cruze LT came to us with 99,000 miles, a glowing Check Engine Light, and a customer preparing for an upcoming road trip to Hays, KS who needed peace of mind and dependable wheels. 🚗
Before coming in, a parts-store scan had led to replacing the MAP sensor, but the light stayed on. Guessing can get expensive fast, which is why proper testing always pays off!

Here is how our technician solved the mystery:
🔍 The Diagnostic Clues:
* Fault codes present: P0106, P015B, P0171, P0507, P1101, and P2270 (system lean, high idle, air flow, and O2 response).
* The 1.4L Ecotec engine was idling high with misfires detected across all 4 cylinders at idle.

💨 The Smokin' Gun:
* We hooked up our smoke machine to pressurize and test the intake system.
* We immediately discovered smoke pouring out of the PCV hose and the PCV diaphragm system.
* Because the PCV valve is integrated directly into the valve cover on these engines, unmetered air was being pulled in downstream of the MAF sensor-starving the engine of proper fuel-air balance and triggering those lean and sensor codes!

🛠️ The Fix & Final Outcome:
* Checked warranty coverage through the customer’s Route 66 policy to explore cost-saving options first (drivetrain only, so PCV was not covered).
* Customer gave the green light, and we installed a brand-new camshaft cover and the leaking PCV hose.
*Replaced the aftermarket MAP sensor with an OEM MAP.
* Topped off the engine oil (which was a quart low) and took it through comprehensive road and system tests.

Result? The idle smoothed right out, misfires vanished, and zero trouble codes returned- saving the customer from unnecessary replacements! Ready for the highway just in time for the weekend. 🛣️✨

09/17/2026

Another heavy-duty rig back on the road!

We recently welcomed a newly purchased 2002 Ford Excursion into the shop for a comprehensive pre-purchase baseline inspection and targeted repairs to get it running safely and reliably.

When buying a used diesel from a private seller, an extensive diagnostic checkout is critical. Here is a breakdown of what our technician uncovered, what was corrected, and what is on the radar for down the road.

Vehicle Inspection Findings & Initial Diagnosis
* Electrical & Glow Plug System: Active DTCs included communication faults between the PCM and the Glow Plug Control Module (GPCM), alongside multiple low-voltage codes. The existing batteries were dated 2021, leaking acid, and had heavily corroded terminals.
* Intake & Boost: The driver-side lower boost tube was leaking, the intake rubber boot connection was cracked, and the air filter housing was compromised, presenting a serious risk of ingesting dirt directly into the turbo.
* Fluid Leaks: The oil drain plug had silicone smeared across the threads from a missing crush washer, the oil cooler seals were leaking, the front timing cover was weeping, and minor seepage was found at the oil pan and rear main seal area.
* Chassis & Steering: Significant play was detected in the steering gear box, tie rods, and front driver-side ball joints, along with a leaking steering stabilizer shock.

Repairs Approved & Completed
* Starting & Charging: Installed fresh batteries and replaced damaged cable terminals to restore clean system voltage.
* Glow Plug Circuit Repair: Inspection revealed the GPCM connectors had previously been wired backward into the module (green and black reversed). Once repinned to factory orientation, our tech isolated a failure at Cylinder 1. The customer approved a full set of fresh glow plugs, and harness retention clips were installed to prevent common vibration-related disconnects under the valve cover.
* Induction Servicing: Replaced the cracked air intake boot, filter, and leaking lower boost tube to ensure clean, unmetered air and solid boost pressure under load.
* L**e Service: Stripped the silicone off the oil pan, cleaned the threads, and installed a factory-spec drain plug gasket, curing the drain leak completely.

Future Recommendations
The owner has planned suspension, steering rebuild, oil leak management, and hood struts for an upcoming visit. With the critical electrical, starting, and induction components resolved, this 7.3L monster has a strong baseline moving forward.

09/11/2026

Dirt Road Auto & Diesel is having a shop sale for Rose Hill Citywides starting Friday September 11th- Saturday September 12th from 8am-530p each day. Sale is inside the shop, you will not be able to see it from the end of the road.

To make things more fun- we have a no purchase necessary drawing for 2- $150 gift cards to DRAD and a Nascar lover bundle! All you have to do is show up to the sale and put your name in the hat! Limit 1 winner per household.

We have tools, shop heater, vehicle parts, toolbox, power tools, racecar parts, equipment & more. We will also have some brand new in package dog treats (our dogs can no longer have), home decor, toys, kitchen items, health & beauty, makeup, jewelry, printer, Nike shoes, and other random odds and ins! I will have a few plants & pots as well!

Our sale will be during business hours and only a portion of the shop will be utilized for the sale so please stay within the authorized areas. Dirt Road Auto & Diesel is not responsible for any accidents, injuries, or loss of personal property that may occur while you are on the premises shopping our shop sale. By entering the event area, you voluntarily assume all risks associated with attendance and participation.

09/04/2026

🐏 Solving a Heavy-Duty Transmission Mystery! 🕵️‍♂️

This 2020 Ram 3500 Laramie (High Output Engine) was dropped off for a "figure it out" diagnostic. It came to us from another shop where it ran before being dropped off, but wouldn't start when it left. The owner was told it just needed batteries, but he wanted a real, thorough investigation into a history of hard shifting, slipping under hard acceleration, and a strange "weedeater" noise from the transmission area.

Our team dug deep, sorted out the electrical issues, and even did some detective work to find out exactly what this truck has been through:
* The No-Start Fix: On arrival, the batteries were sitting at a weak 11 volts and refused to hold a charge. We took care of the customer by getting them warrantied out to get the truck fired up and running!
* A Critical Safety Catch: Before even hitting the road, our tech checked the fluids and found that the engine oil wasn't even registering on the dipstick. We made sure it was safe before beginning our road tests.
* The Test Drive: During our test drive, the truck didn't jump RPMs at idle, but the transmission definitely felt like it was slipping before catching the next gear- especially when accelerating hard.
* Digging Up the History: To give our customer the absolute best answers, we tracked down the previous owner and contacted dealership service departments. We discovered that the transmission had actually been replaced under warranty a few years ago at 55k miles after the lower reverse overdrive burned up and left clutch debris in the system!
* Our Final Diagnosis: Because the truck has an aftermarket delete and tune, any further dealership warranties were voided. Knowing that these models have notorious factory wiring issues between the TCM and the transmission harness (where wires show continuity but suffer a major voltage drop under load), we now have a clear path forward to get this heavy hitter truly fixed up.

When other shops guess, we find the facts! Huge thanks to this owner for trusting us to get to the bottom of his truck's history.

09/03/2026

🚐 Rescuing a Road Tripper! 🛠️
We had a 1986 Chevy G30 Cutaway RV towed to the shop after some major highway drama. The owner & her pup were traveling through town, filled up at Casey's in Hillsboro, and the RV started sputtering before completely dying. They managed to limp it to Newton before having it towed to us.

Here is how our tech tracked down the issue and got them back on their journey:
* The Intermittent Mystery: On arrival, the RV fired right up. But the next morning, it gave us a crank-no-start. Our tech checked the basics- it had plenty of spark, but when we sprayed starter fluid, it would run and then die. It was clearly starving for fuel.
* Tracking the Fuel System: The RV has a manual fuel pump, plus some newer fuel lines and a 3/8" metal inline filter already installed. The fuel gauge read low, so we added gas to ensure it wasn't just empty. Sure enough, during a test drive, it died again.
* The Fix: We tested the manual fuel pump and confirmed it was failing. After replacing the fuel pump and installing a fresh inline fuel filter, the old Chevy started up and ran flawlessly!

Safe travels to these folks on the rest of their road trip!

09/02/2026

🥵 From Hot Air to Ice Cold! ❄️

We tackled a tricky AC puzzle on this 2010 Ford Escape. The customer came in after their AC quit completely, only blowing hot air. What followed was a masterclass in thorough diagnostics by our team!

Here is how we dug in, found the root problems, and got it blowing ice cold again:
* The Initial Dig: On arrival, the vehicle had a blown AC fuse and several error codes. We replaced the fuse, topped off the system (it was low on freon), and got the system running normally. Because the customer accidentally leaked freon and dye before arrival, we gave the components a deep clean to monitor for any slow leaks.
* The Plot Thickens: After initial pickup, the AC stopped blowing cold again. We pulled it right back in to get to the bottom of it. Our tech hooked up live data and found the compressor kicking on randomly.
* The Breakthrough: Testing the electrical side showed the compressor was getting its full 12 volts, but an ohm test revealed the compressor coil resistance was at 67 ohms- well below the factory spec. The relatively new compressor was failing internally!
* The Resolution: With the customer's approval, we bypassed cheap remanufactured parts and installed a brand-new high-quality compressor. After adding some fuel to the empty tank, we took it on an extended test drive to, cycling the system repeatedly. It now cools perfectly every single time!
* Bonus Safety Notes: We also flagged a squealing main belt (the customer will handle this himself) and a sticking ignition key/switch that the customer is aware of.

We don't just guess- we test until the job is done right! Huge thanks to this customer for working with us through a complex diagnostic process.