About Us

Mechanic Base is an independent car-repair website run by real mechanics.
We publish honest, experience-based guides to help drivers and DIY enthusiasts diagnose, maintain, and repair their own cars safely.

The site was founded in 2018 by Magnus Sellén, a certified automotive diagnostic technician with more than a decade of hands-on workshop experience.

After spending years fixing European cars such as Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, Magnus noticed how much poor or inaccurate information existed online. Mechanic Base started as his way to share real mechanical knowledge with clear explanations, step-by-step tests, and the reasoning behind each repair.

Today, the site covers a wide range of topics, from troubleshooting and warning lights to OBD-II fault codes, maintenance tips, and reliability insights, all written or reviewed by qualified mechanics.

Our Mission

Our mission is to make car repair information accurate, practical, and accessible for everyone.
We focus on teaching why a problem happens and how to confirm it with the right diagnostic steps, saving readers time, money, and frustration.

Why You Can Trust Mechanic Base

  1. Real-world experience
    Every article is written from actual shop work, not rewritten manuals or AI content. We include our own photos, measurements, and test results whenever possible.
  2. Verified expertise
    Our authors hold certifications such as ASE Certified Master Technician, Mobile Air Conditioning (MVAC), and Certified Electric Vehicle Technician (CEVT).
  3. Transparent authorship
    Each article lists its writer, credentials, and a link back to this page. You can easily see who’s behind every piece of advice.
  4. Educational purpose
    We don’t publish generic listicles or click-bait. Mechanic Base exists to share genuine diagnostic knowledge and first-hand repair experience.
  5. Connected expertise
    We also run an active YouTube channel with more than 60 000 subscribers and over one million views, where we demonstrate the same repairs and tests discussed on the site.

Our Team

Magnus Sellén – Owner & Main Writer

magnus-sellen

Magnus, the founder, owner, and main author at Mechanic Base, brings a wealth of experience and specialized knowledge to the platform. With over a decade in the automotive industry, he has specialized in advanced car diagnostics and troubleshooting, earning him the title of Certified Automotive Diagnostic Technician.

His expertise is further enriched by his background as a former motorsport (drifting) driver for Sellén Drifting. His mix of professional repair work and motorsport background drives the detailed, practical tone of every guide on this site. You can read more about Magnus on his about page.

Bojan Popic – Video, Editor & Writer

Bojan Popic

Bojan is a mechanical engineer and long-time technician who produces our step-by-step video guides. His engineering background helps translate complex diagnostics into clear, visual explanations that anyone can follow.

His multifaceted contributions in both video and written form significantly enhance the content on our website, making him a valued member of our team and a reliable source of automotive insight for our audience.

You can read more about Bojan on his author page.

Our Promise

Mechanic Base will always:

  • Publish content created or reviewed by qualified mechanics.
  • Be transparent about sources, data, and costs.
  • Keep advertising secondary to educational value.
  • Update or remove outdated information.

If you spot something that could be clearer, please let us know through our contact page.

Follow Our Work

Our Latest YouTube Videos

Is your car making strange noises, idling rough, or refusing to start? ⛔ You might be dealing with a bad timing belt. In this video, we’ll show you the most common symptoms of a worn or failing timing belt — and what it costs to fix it before it destroys your engine. 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Intro 00:47 Bad Timing Belt Symptoms 03:29 Wet Timing Belts (Belt in Oil) 04:23 Timing Belt Replacement Schedule 05:01 What a timing belt does 06:25 Timing Belt location 07:19 Timing belt replacement cost 08:35 What happens if the timing belt breaks 👉 Don’t wait until it’s too late — a broken timing belt can destroy your engine. Watch now to learn how to spot the warning signs early and save money on repairs. #TimingBelt #CarRepair #CarMaintenance #EngineFailure #CarProblems #MechanicTips
6 Symptoms Of A Bad Timing Belt
Can you really wash your car’s engine without damaging it? 🚗💦 Yes — if you do it the right way! In this video, we’ll show you exactly how to safely wash your engine and clean your engine bay like a pro detailer. We’ll cover what to cover before washing, which cleaners to use, how to rinse safely, and the best way to dry everything afterward. Whether you drive a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, or Honda, this simple step-by-step engine cleaning guide will help keep your car looking and running great. 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Intro 00:45 What to protect before washing 02:30 Best engine degreaser & tools 04:00 How to safely rinse the engine bay 05:45 Drying and finishing touches 07:00 Engine bay detailing tips 👉 Don’t risk electrical damage — learn how to safely clean your engine bay the easy way! #EngineCleaning #CarDetailing #CarMaintenance #EngineBayWash #CarCare #DIYCarWash
How to Safely Wash Your Engine | Step-by-Step Guide
Is your car running rough, idling weird, or showing a check engine light? ⚠️ A bad EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve might be to blame. In this video, we’ll show you how to test an EGR valve the right way — using both a vacuum pump and a diagnostic tool. The EGR valve helps control emissions and engine temperature, but when it fails, you’ll notice symptoms like rough idle, poor acceleration, or even stalling. Whether you drive a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, Honda, or diesel truck, this step-by-step EGR valve test will help you diagnose the issue before replacing parts. 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Intro 01:13 Typical EGR valve trouble codes 02:27 How to test EGR valve with vacuum pump? 03:30 How to test EGR valve with a diagnostic tool? 05:00 Symptoms of a bad EGR valve 06:30 How the EGR valve works? 07:30 Repair costs & final tips 👉 If your car shows EGR-related codes or runs rough, this guide will help you confirm the problem fast. #EGRValve #CarRepair #CarMaintenance #MechanicTips #CheckEngineLight #CarDiagnosis
How to Test an EGR Valve | Easy Step-by-Step Guide
Is your engine making a loud ticking or tapping sound? 🔧 That noise could be caused by worn or dirty valve lifters. In this video, we’ll show you how to quiet noisy lifters quickly and safely — without replacing them. We’ll cover what causes lifter tick, how to clean or lubricate them properly, and which oil or additive can help reduce the noise. Whether you drive a Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, or Honda, this guide will help you fix that annoying lifter tick fast. 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Intro - What causes noisy lifters 00:46 Check Oil Level 01:21 Use Different Engine Oil 01:53 Flush Engine Oil 02:47 Use Valve Lifter Additive 03:39 Check Oil Pressure 05:31 How Valve Lifters Work 06:30 Valve Lifter replacement cost 👉 Don’t ignore lifter tick — it can lead to bigger engine problems. Watch now to learn how to quiet noisy valve lifters and keep your engine running smoothly. #NoisyLifters #LifterTick #CarRepair #EngineNoise #CarMaintenance #MechanicTips
Noisy Valve Lifters? Here are 7 Ways to Fix That Ticking Sound
Is your car running rough, stalling, or showing a check engine light? ⚠️ A bad MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor could be the cause. In this video, we’ll show you how to test a MAF sensor step by step using a multimeter and OBD2 scanner. The MAF sensor is critical for your engine’s performance. A faulty sensor can cause rough idle, poor fuel economy, or even stalling. Whether you drive a Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, or BMW, knowing how to test and diagnose a MAF sensor can save you time and money. 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Intro 00:40 MAF sensor codes 01:45 Testing with OBD2 scanner 05:10 Testing with a multimeter 06:45 Cleaning the MAF sensor 👉 If your car is idling rough, losing power, or showing MAF-related trouble codes, this guide will help you diagnose the problem. #MAFSensor #CarRepair #CarMaintenance #EngineTroubleshooting #CarTips
Bad MAF Sensor? How to Test with Multimeter or OBD2
Is your car overheating, losing coolant, or blowing white smoke? 🚗💨 These could be signs of a blown head gasket. In this video, we’ll show you how to test a head gasket properly using different methods, including compression tests, leak down tests, and chemical block tests. A bad head gasket can cause serious engine damage if ignored. Whether you drive a Subaru, Ford, Chevy, Honda, Toyota, or BMW, knowing how to test for a blown head gasket can save you time and money. 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Intro 00:35 Common symptoms of a bad head gasket 02:10 Compression test explained 03:50 Leak down test method 05:20 Chemical block test demonstration 07:00 Head gasket repair cost & options 👉 Don’t risk engine damage — learn how to diagnose a head gasket problem before it’s too late. #HeadGasketTest #BlownHeadGasket #CarRepair #MechanicTips #CarMaintenance
Blown Head Gasket? How to Tell for Sure
Does your car shake when stopped at a red light or idling in park? 🚗💨 A rough idle can be caused by several issues, from bad spark plugs to worn motor mounts. In this video, we cover the most common reasons why a car shakes at idle and what you can do to fix it. Whether you drive a Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Honda, Dodge, or BMW, engine vibrations at idle are a common problem. Knowing the signs early can save you expensive repairs down the road. 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Intro 00:40 Why cars shake at idle 02:00 Bad motor mounts symptoms 03:15 Misfires & spark plugs 04:20 Fuel injector & throttle body issues 05:40 Vacuum leaks and rough idle 07:00 Repair costs & when to see a mechanic 👉 If your car shakes at idle but smooths out while driving, this guide will help you find the cause. #CarShakesAtIdle #RoughIdle #CarVibrations #EngineShaking #CarRepair #CarTips
Car Shakes at Idle | 7 Top Causes of Rough Idle Explained
Is the auto Start Stop system in your car saving you money or damaging your engine? 🚗🔑 In this video, we break down the real pros and cons of Start Stop technology, including fuel savings, engine wear, battery life, and long-term reliability. Whether you drive a Ford, Chevy, Jeep, Toyota, BMW, or Mercedes, chances are your car has (or will have) an automatic start stop system. But is it worth using—or should you turn it off? 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Intro 00:40 What is a Start Stop system? 02:00 Pros – fuel savings & emissions benefits 04:00 Cons – battery wear, starter life, engine concerns 06:00 Should you disable Start Stop? 07:30 Final thoughts 👉 Don’t forget to share your experience with auto Start Stop in the comments below! #StartStopSystem #AutoStartStop #CarTips #CarMaintenance #FuelEconomy #CarProblems
Is Auto Start-Stop Bad for Your Engine?
Is your car losing power, blowing smoke, or making strange whining noises? 🚗💨 These could be signs of a bad turbocharger. In this video, we’ll cover the most common bad turbo symptoms, what causes turbo failure, and how much it costs to replace or repair a turbo. Whether you drive a diesel (Cummins, Duramax, Powerstroke, VW TDI) or a turbocharged gas engine (Ford EcoBoost, BMW, Audi), knowing the early warning signs of turbo problems can save you thousands of dollars. 🔧 What you’ll learn in this video: 00:00 Introduction - about turbochargers 00:27 Bad turbocharger - common symptoms 04:05 How Turbochargers work? 05:27 Turbocharger Replacement Cost 06:45 Can I Drive With a Bad Turbocharger? 👉 Don’t ignore the early signs of turbo failure – your engine (and wallet) will thank you. #turbocharged #mechanic #cars #cartrouble
7 Signs of a Bad Turbocharger (Don’t Ignore This!)
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