Proficient Auto — Car Care with a Conscience
Engine Service

Mobile Engine Repair & Diagnostics

Rough idle, oil spots in the driveway, a misfire under acceleration, or a check engine light that won't go away? We diagnose and repair engine problems at your home or office across Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, and the rest of the Triangle — with OEM-level scan tools and 17 years of experience on domestic, Japanese, Korean, and European engines.

Get an engine quote919-675-AUTO
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ASE-Certified
Same-week appointments

Diagnostic first — we don't throw parts at the problem

Most engine problems get misdiagnosed because someone read a code and replaced the part the code mentioned. A P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire) isn't a 'bad coil' code — it's a 'cylinder 1 isn't firing' code, and the actual cause might be a coil, a plug, an injector, a vacuum leak, low compression, or a wiring fault. We start with a mobile diagnostic that uses OEM-level scan data, fuel-trim analysis, and a physical inspection to find the real cause before we quote a repair.

If the diagnostic identifies a repair we do on-site, the diagnostic fee rolls into the written repair quote. You see the part cost and the labor before we touch anything.

Common engine repairs we handle in the driveway

  • Misfires — ignition coils, spark plugs, injectors, coil-on-plug boots, COP harness repairs
  • Oil leaks — valve cover gaskets, oil pan gaskets, rear main seals (where access allows), oil filter housing gaskets (BMW N20/N55, Mercedes M270/M274)
  • Coolant leaks — water pumps, thermostat housings, radiator hoses, intake manifold gaskets, coolant reservoirs
  • Timing components — timing belt service on most Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus, and VW/Audi (timing chain work is case-by-case)
  • Vacuum leaks and intake manifold runner failures
  • PCV system repair — common on BMW N54/N55, Mercedes M272, and VW/Audi TSI engines
  • Sensor replacement — O2, MAF, MAP, crank/cam position, knock sensors

When the engine work needs a shop

We're upfront about what mobile can and can't do. Internal engine work — head gaskets on most modern engines, timing chain replacement that requires the engine pulled, full rebuilds — is shop work, not driveway work. If your engine needs that, we'll tell you, and we can recommend a trusted shop instead of pretending we can do it in your driveway. Honesty matters more than the work order.

Brands and platforms we work on

Domestic (Ford, GM, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram), Japanese (Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infiniti, Mazda, Subaru), Korean (Hyundai/Kia), and European — including brand-specific scan-tool coverage for BMW (ISTA), Mercedes-Benz (XENTRY), Audi/VW (ODIS-style), Volvo (VIDA), Mini, and Tesla. Generic OBD-II readers can't see most manufacturer-specific codes; we can.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does mobile engine repair cost in Raleigh?
Engine work is quoted after we diagnose — there's no honest way to quote a misfire or an oil leak sight unseen. We confirm the diagnostic price in writing before the visit. You get a firm written quote before any parts go on the car. You get a firm written quote before any parts go on the car.
Can you fix a check engine light at my house?
Yes — that's the bulk of what we do. We pull manufacturer-specific codes (not just generic OBD-II), look at live data and freeze-frame, and tell you what's actually failing. Most check-engine repairs — sensors, coils, plugs, vacuum leaks, PCV failures, gasket leaks — are driveway jobs.
Do you do timing belts at my house?
Yes, on most Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus, and VW/Audi 4-cyl that have belt-driven timing. Timing chain work depends on the engine — some are driveway-friendly (BMW N20 lower chain guide), some need the engine pulled. We'll tell you upfront which yours is.
Can you repair an oil leak in my driveway?
Most external oil leaks — valve cover gaskets, oil filter housing gaskets, oil pan gaskets on cars with reasonable access — are clean driveway jobs. Rear main seals usually need the transmission dropped, which is shop work. We'll identify the leak source during the diagnostic and tell you honestly whether it's a driveway repair.
Do you guarantee engine repair work?
Yes — 12 months / 12,000 miles on parts and labor. If a coil pack we installed fails inside the warranty or a gasket we replaced starts leaking, we come back and make it right at no charge.

Ready to skip the shop?

Get a free, no-pressure quote — usually within the hour. We come to your home, office, or wherever the car is sitting.

Get an engine quote 919-675-AUTO