Allison’s Automotive: 40 Years of Problem-Solving, Racing, and Growing with ALLDATA
Toyota RAV4 Intermittent Stalling
Vehicle: 2021 Toyota RAV4, 4WD, L4-2.5L (A25A-FKS), Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
Mileage: 163,956
Problem: This vehicle came in with a customer concern of stalling when stopping or idling and sometimes while driving. Each time the engine restarted. The customer stated that several other shops had worked on the vehicle and replaced the mass air flow (MAF) sensor, purge valve and spark plugs but the problem wasn’t fixed.
Chevy Suburban Transmission Runs Hot / Goes into Limp Mode
Vehicle: 2018 Chevy Suburban, 4WD, V8-5.3L
Mileage: 156,223 Miles
Problem: The Suburban was brought in because the transmission would run hot after driving four to five hours or more. The customer stated that they had a remanufactured transmission installed about one month ago at another shop (NOTE: second transmission in one and a half years). Earlier in the week, another shop found a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U0101 - Lost Communication with Transmission Control Module. They cleared that DTC, then the customer decided to take it to another shop.
Toyota Camry Engine Stalls Intermittently
Vehicle: 2003 Toyota Camry Sedan, L4-2.4L (2AZ-FE), Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
Mileage: 156,002 Miles
Problem: The customer had this vehicle towed to the shop. They stated it stalled at idle and would not restart. They also smelled fuel.
Unusual Cause of Jaguar XJ Valve Train Noise on Startup
Vehicle: 2004 Jaguar XJ (X350), V8-4.2L, Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
Mileage: 142,548 miles
Problem: This vehicle had excessive noise coming from both valve covers for about 10 minutes during the morning start-up only.
Poor Brake Performance, the Phenolic Fix
If you’ve worked in automotive long enough, you’ve probably seen it. The customer complains that the brakes don’t stop like they used to or that the vehicle seems to drag as it rolls to a stop. Sometimes there’s a faint burning smell they can’t quite explain or a noise they cancelled out via the radio. Often, though, the customer doesn’t mention anything at all, but to your trained eye, the story is already visible through the wheel. The rotors are heat scorched, the pads are worn unevenly, and something clearly isn’t right.
ALLDATA Becomes First Third-Party Provider to Add Electric Vehicle Manufacturer Rivian to Repair Software
Elk Grove, Calif. — February 13, 2026 — ALLDATA®, the industry’s leading provider of unedited OEM repair and diagnostic information for automotive professionals and DIYers, today announced it has entered into an agreement with Rivian, the innovative manufacturer of electric vehicles “designed for adventure.”
From Tow Truck Driver to Master Tech
AutobodyNews' Lisa McArdle Recounts How One Shop Built Its Own Top Talent
Eight years ago, John Melendez took a chance that many collision shop owners wouldn’t consider. Instead of hiring an experienced technician, the owner of JDM Collision in Thornton, Ill. brought in a tow truck driver with no formal collision repair background and committed to developing him from the ground up. The investment was significant. It took years of training, education costs, and lost short-term productivity. Melendez jokes that if he added up what he’s spent on that one individual, he could probably retire.
Full Tank, Empty Promise: Camry Fuel Gauges Play Hard to Get
TRENDING TSB
Owners of 2020–2022 Toyota Camry AWD models equipped with the A25A engine have reported fuel gauges that refuse to read “full” immediately after refueling, prompting second guesses at the pump. Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0005-22 addresses this condition when the instrument cluster/MID displays an inaccurate fuel level following a fill-up.
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