Because torque specs lie, the check engine light doesn’t, and your buddy’s “mint” Civic isn’t.
Let’s get one thing straight…
Car guys don’t just wake up with trust issues — we earn them, one broken bolt and Facebook marketplace lie at a time.
We weren’t born suspicious. We were made this way — by friends who said “it’s a quick job”, dealers who said “runs great”, and manufacturers who thought plastic intake manifolds were a good idea.
Welcome to the pit lane of pain. Here’s why every car guy has trust issues deeper than your uncle’s 3-stage turbo theory.
1. “Runs and drives” doesn’t mean what you think it means
If I had a dollar for every time I read a Marketplace ad that said “runs and drives” and then showed up to a car that runs like it’s choking on its own timing belt, I’d be able to afford that sketchy $700 BMW with “minor rust.”
Runs and drives? Sure, downhill, with a tow strap.
2. “It just needs a tune” = It needs a new engine
Ah yes, the classic. Car won’t idle, stinks like unburnt fuel, misfires in every gear — but don’t worry bro, it just needs a “tune.”
Translation:
It’s been boosted, abused, and probably inhaled some boost leak sealer. It doesn’t need a tune — it needs a priest and a parts car.
3. Torque specs vs. “good enough”
We’ve all seen it.
You hand a friend a torque wrench. They laugh, grab the impact, and say “I’ve got a feel for it.”
Three weeks later your oil pan gasket is leaking, your valve cover is cracked, and you’re having flashbacks to that one bolt you should’ve checked twice.
Trust, but torque properly.
4. The Check Engine Light Is Your Only Honest Friend
Forget people — the check engine light (CEL) is the only thing that tells you the truth, even if it hurts.
Your buddy will lie to your face.
Your tuner will blame your fuel.
Your CEL?
It just blinks… like a brutally honest ex.
5. The group chat advice? Lies. All of it.
“Gap the plugs to 0.15 and send it.”
“Just unplug the MAF, it’ll run better.”
“My cousin’s done it a hundred times and it’s fine.”
And suddenly, your daily is sputtering like a lawnmower in a thunderstorm. Car forums may be free, but the advice will cost you a clutch.
6. OEM lied to you too
Remember when they said “lifetime fluid”?
They meant “lifetime of the transmission — which will die young.”
Or when they said “premium fuel not required” — and now your engine knocks like it owes someone money?
Even your owner’s manual is out here gaslighting you.
7. Paint match? Never heard of her.
You buy “Super White II” from the exact OEM code.
You prep, prime, paint… and it dries to a different shade of disappointment.
The only thing more unpredictable than spray paint is a car guy’s bank account after tax season.
Final Thoughts:
We don’t trust people because we’ve trusted spark plugs that didn’t spark, gaskets that didn’t seal, and project cars that became permanent garage furniture.
Being a car guy isn’t just a hobby — it’s a trauma response.
So the next time we torque every lug nut three times, triple-check the oil drain plug, or ask “you sure it’s mint?” with one eyebrow raised — just know:
We’ve seen things.
We’ve heard lies.
We’ve been promised “easy installs.”
And we still haven’t recovered.
Ready to cry, wrench, and repeat?
Stick around Chenaraa.com — where we air out our trust issues and engine bays equally.
