Editorial Policy

Last updated October 20, 2026.

FixOrPark is an independent website. This page explains how we research, source, review, and correct what we publish.

How content is researched

• Code definitions follow the SAE J2012 standard for diagnostic trouble codes, the same naming every OBD-II scan tool uses.
• Safety records come from NHTSA: the recall database and the manufacturer communications (service bulletins) that automakers file with NHTSA. We check these records weekly for the makes and codes we cover.
• Manufacturer service information is cited only when we can link a public copy of the document, such as a bulletin filed with NHTSA.
• Causes, symptoms, and repair steps are general guidance written in our own words from those sources and widely used public repair references. Owner reports are labeled as reports, never as facts.
• Cost estimates are typical parts ranges plus labor hours times an assumed shop rate. The math is shown on every code page. They are estimates, not quotes.

How we cite sources

Code, code-by-make, and make pages end with a Sources section that lists only the sources used for that page: the SAE J2012 definition, NHTSA records, and manufacturer documents where they apply. We prefer primary sources (standards bodies, regulators, and manufacturers) over secondary ones, and we link the document rather than paraphrasing a summary of it.

How pages are reviewed

• Pages are drafted and maintained with software, including AI writing tools, and checked against the cited sources before they are published.
• Every build runs automated quality checks: the safety verdict and quick answer must appear before any ad, structured data must be valid, and dates change only when page content changes.
• The Last reviewed date on each page is the date its content last changed. It is not updated just to look fresh.
• Safety ratings lean conservative. When the evidence is unclear, we tell you to park it.

Independence, ads, and affiliates

Advertising funds the site today, and affiliate links may in the future (no affiliate tags are live yet). Neither will ever change a verdict, a cause list, or a cost estimate. Ads are labeled, load only after you accept cookies, and are never placed above the verdict or quick answer. See the affiliate and advertising disclosure.

Corrections policy

If you find an error, email [email protected] with the page address and, if you can, a source. We review every correction request against the sources. When a page is wrong, we fix it and its Last reviewed date updates. Errors that affect a safety verdict are handled first.

Limits

FixOrPark gives general information, not a diagnosis of your vehicle. Always confirm with testing or a qualified technician before buying parts, and stop driving if a warning light is flashing, the engine overheats, or the brakes feel wrong.