Tim Allen’s new sitcom, ‘Shifting Gears’ is all about fixing cars and healing families. It hits close to home for the star.

If anything needs fixing, Tim Allen is your man, but make sure you have a backup plan.

“I’m good at diagnosing,” Allen told Yahoo Entertainment. “I usually clean it up before I fix it.” Case in point: He recently took apart his daughter’s rowing machine to fix a problem, but realized all it took was the push of a button.

That mix of good intentions and learning along the way is Allen’s signature, and it’s made him one of television’s most beloved dads. From the tool-wielding Tim Taylor Home improvement to the funny Mike Baxter Last man standing, he has built a legacy of relatable father figures known for being convenient and hilariously deceptive.

Now Allen is back inside To change gear, a new sitcom premiering January 8 on ABC. Only this time, things look a little different.

Unlike his previous sitcom roles, Allen’s Matt Parker is a gruff widower whose estranged daughter, played by Kat Dennings (2 broken girls), moves in with her two children in tow. Together, the family faces the challenges of coping with grief, rebuilding their relationships, and healing old wounds.

It’s a plot that hits close to home for Allen, who lost his father in a car accident as a child.

“My dad was a doer,” Allen said. “He always worked hard and we did things with him, whether it was gardening or working on his car. So I’ve always appreciated guys who know how to do things.”

This is evident from the roles he plays.

“In every sitcom I’ve done, I’ve always wanted the men and women to be best friends and affectionate,” he said. “Both my parents, my father and mother, were like that before he died. I always thought this set the tone for the family.”

Allen knows that sitcoms don’t fully reflect real life.

“Ultimately, this show is about how terrible things happen to great people, and they remain human. They don’t fall apart,” he said. “No one’s family can get these things settled in 24 minutes. Matt is dealing with grief. He restores cars, but what he really restores is his relationship with his daughter.”

For Dennings, performing alongside Allen is a full-circle moment.

“It feels like we’ve been doing this for a long time,” she told Yahoo Entertainment. “Everyone was really excited to see Tim do this again.”

Dennings’ character Riley is just as stubborn and strong-willed as her father. Riley is ideologically progressive, while Matt leans more conservative. Despite their frequent clashes, they share an openness to learn from each other.

“Their belief systems are very different, but she is his daughter,” Dennings explained, adding that the moments where their differences come to a head are among her favorites.

A little humor on set also helps. Referring to Allen as a “dad joke lover,” Dennings said she and the crew are often on the receiving end of his practical jokes — like when he routinely pretends to walk into walls to make them laugh.

“It gets to me every time,” she said. “It’s hilarious. He keeps the set a lot of fun.”

Riley is a far cry from Max Black, the snarky, funny waitress who brought Dennings to life 2 broken girls.

“I have such a different experience with this show, in a good way,” she said. “Now, in my thirties, I feel much more relaxed.”

The cast is also joined by Seann William Scott and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell as Gabriel and Ed, a duo who work in Matt’s car shop. They bring humor to the show and play a subtle role in helping Matt build his relationship with Riley, each in their own way.

“We have two different strengths, and it works perfectly,” Mitchell told Yahoo Entertainment of the duo’s on-screen chemistry: Scott’s knack for “dissecting scripts” and Mitchell’s knack for “carrying on the joke” in their scenes.

Scott joined the show after the pilot had already been shot, replacing a character played by Froy Gutierrez in the pilot. Scott said the cast and crew welcomed him to the set with open arms.

“Chill hugged me. He was so nice and so warm,” Scott recalled.

“And starstruck!” Mitchell intervened. “I was over the moon, dude. You came through that door and I said, ‘Yo, he’s about to collapse.’

“I think that’s exactly what you said,” Scott responded, noting that he and Mitchell often add their own “special sauce” to the script.

“There are things that happen in the car shop that are just for purpose [our characters]selfish,” he said. “We had fun with that.”

One moment shows Mitchell, who uses a wheelchair, playfully teaching Allen’s character the importance of using respectful language when referring to people who use wheelchairs.

“It was a really good learning experience,” Mitchell said. “Often, [people] I say things, and I don’t mean to be mean, but I’ve learned that people are simply ignorant of the facts.”

As for Allen, he said the auto shop was going on To change gear is more than just a background. It’s a metaphor for the deeper message of the show.

“I want Matt Parker to be there for everyone,” he said. “He lost the love of his life, his daughter is coming back, and in the middle of it all, there’s something about this man that thinks recovery is possible.”

To change gear premieres January 8 at 8pm ET on ABC.