Because hes a true master technician. Hes not your typical parts changer you deal with at your local dealerships. He backprobes, electrical tests and all that to TRULY diagnose the problem. Guys like me who are new to the repair industry (commercial for me) I look up to guys like Eric. I want to be a mechanic like Eric, not like Scotty.
David Petty yeah, I’m sure it saves time on the assembly line... tolerances can be loose and adjustments are not needed. Added benefit of customers either buying a new part or going to a dealership or shop if they “meddle”.
Agreed, I would have never thought about screwing the clutch switch by testing iit out - which is the natural thing to try when checking the start circuit.
Just wanted to thank you. I was working on my shaker 500 amps because my door speakers stopped working. I get done and my car won't start. I have had my Mustang for 15 years and this has never happened. I start troubleshooting and about 3 hours in still no luck. I decided it's time to check TH-cam,somebody has definitely had this problem. Finally I come across your video. Sure enough my switch is fully engaged, I must have hit it and didn't know it. I followed your video and broke it open popped the switch and it started first try. Now I can go pick my son up from school. I never new this was even an issue until I watched your video. Thank you so much.
Yea it’s sometimes aggravating because I get a lot of references because of this very thing. They call me when they have it all tore apart wires hanging everywhere, and can’t figure it out. Appliance’s furnace’s water heater’s etc. to many people trying to fix something that they know nothing about 😂. Just put a new oven/clock board in a practically brand new range why? They put a new plug on the end of a new wire that I ran months ago. This renter’s boyfriend said he could do it and save calling me back, and he put one of the hot wires where the ground went and put the ground where hot should have been. Blown circuit board as a result. $250.00 for a new one plus labor. Job security I guess!
I've seen a style of those pedal position switches where you can rotate the stem 90 degrees to 'unlock' it and get it back to the fully unadjusted position. Those ones like you found out you just pull hard. Thousands of dollars of stuff disabled by a few cents of plastic, such is modern day life.
The bit that galls me is the mechanic should have been able to tell whether the switch was working originally and after he was done the same way Eric did.
I've been a mechanic for 32 years and sometimes I ask myself why I still do it !! And you just hit the nail on the head with that clutch peddle SW. Detective work !! INSPIRING WORK
The old cars didn't have a clutch safety switch. You needed to be careful when starting the car to make sure you had the shifter in neutral and your foot on the clutch to prevent an accident when the engine started.
"Things become grounds you don't want to be grounds". I worked on a truck one time where the shift lever was frozen. Turned out a bad engine ground had caused the shift cable to become the ground and pretty well melted it!
Deboss Garage just had a video on his mustang project, he found 2 pieces of double stick tape between the tab and the switch. Makes sense now, i never knew there was such a thing as a self adjusting clutch switch.
I love how in depth this video was. You touched up on every area that it could be before getting to the source of the problem. Awesome video thanks for sharing this!
From my experience in life people who do not know their trade well are that way for a reason.. they refuse to learn for whatever egotistical reason or are simply unable to learn.
Damn near every shop in America (including dealerships) need to sit, watch and learn!!! Best mechanic Ive ever seen!! and HONEST!!! Damn shame that good and honest mechanics are so rare nowadays...
Ive seen so many times in SMA videos where he fixed a car that other shops couldnt, or the other shops told the customer a bunch of BS and Eric found and fixed the REAL problem!
Eric O, you have excellent detective skills. My wheels upstairs started turning when the ORIGINAL complaint was that the engine died while the guy was driving it. That rules out the clutch switch and the starter, both of which are not engaged during driving conditions. Then to brainstorm what would cause the engine to both die and not allow it to even crank upon trying...love watching your videos!
You are not only a great diagnostician and mechanic, but you are also highly entertaining to boot! Would I be crazy to drive 4.5 hours for repairs just to listen to the commentary? lol
In a world where engine ground straps are almost always accessible under the car, somewhere around the bottom of the motor, Ford had to hide it inaccessibly up there! Anyway, as ever, your analysis work is outstanding, and as many have commented, no wonder other repair shops use your business as the Too Hard Basket.
road salt plays havoc with those "easily accessible" ground straps. I'm thinking that has something to do with Ford's placing the strap up higher, yet it still loses ground in a road salt environment. Looks like one of those engineering changes that "worked good on paper."
@@LuckyBaldwin777 Or you could just not have the grounds under the block at all. It's literally a solid fucking block of conductive metal, there is no real reason you can't have the grounds coming out of the somewhere on the top in the engine bay. We just had a guys car in class that wouldn't turn over that ended up being a block ground, it was literally a six inch piece of wire from the upper block to a bolt on the front frame of the engine bay. It took literally 2 minutes to replace once we figured out it was bad.
The term No Start No Crank seems misused in automotive diagnostics. Obviously if it doesn’t crank it isn’t going to start. But the ground was good enough for a little push start. As was pointed out everything but the starter had a good ground. Should have been Start but No Crank.
Look at the big picture... Eric gets paid by the other shops, they bring the vehicles to him when they can't figure them out. Now if he snipes their customers, do you think they will continue to bring him the vehicles they can't fix? I don't think so. Short term gain for a long term loss. Doesn't make good business sense.
Eric, bro, I think I just found my new mentor. All instructors previous to this day , I order to serve you eternally. And by the power invested in me of Busted Knuckles Mobile Mechanic LLC, I crown you King,of all things with internal combustion engines. A true Master. I sir am subscribing.and may you live forever.
I always had to drive at least a hundred miles to service my customers. Some of my repairs only took 15 minutes. I learned to beat around the bush for about an hour so that customer thought I did more than actually did. They were happier that it was “difficult”to repair.
Eric, "You see three pedals? " Josh, "Yeah." Eric, "Well, push the one on the left to the floor, and turn on the ignition. That's the Millennial Anti-Theft Device!" Spit take! "Our shaft is fully erect." said with a slight chuckle. Double spit take! Starting another Friday morning with a wet shirt!!! Thank you Eric!!!
The part where you menioned 'sometimes things can become grounds that you do not want to become grounds" reminds me of a story... There was a jeep that was going through pinion bearings left and right ... they were replaced and then a certain amount of time afterwards they would be all galled up and causing noise when driving shortly after. Long story short - the engine ground was going bad and the starter was using the transmission and driveshaft as ground, and arcing on the pinion bearings in the differential causing them to wear! Some of the crazy things you see in this field!
@John pereira.... that is a combination that makes a great mechanic. I wish I could find one in my area. Mr O is the only one I trust.... and I'm 300 miles away.
no this is what a mechanic does... its the other shop that should higher mechanics along with other shops. this wasnt a complex problem and the shop couldnt figure it out because they lacked having mechanics.
I was working on my explorer one day and had my son push on the brake, he pushed so hard the switch broke. What I think happened with the Mustang is a bad ground and the driver was pissed it wouldn't start so they pushed extra hard on the clutch breaking the switch. One problem created another. Good fine!
Could you imagine being the owner of this car seeing this video after you collected it from “The Other Shoppe”? So to ‘fix’ my car, first you broke it some more, then sent it to some else to fix, then told me you fixed it? I hope the owner just comes direct to you next time Eric!
@@scottbaker9066 Probably not. Most people just take their vehicle to their favorite shop and expect to be fixed. I doubt many even think that shops pass off work to other shops.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I don’t usually comment on videos on YT, buy your vid helped me a ton. My dad’s mustang has been down for almost 2 months, we couldn’t figure out what’s wrong with the car. Found out that it’s the clutch switch. We gave up on it and was about to send it to ford next week. Glad I found your video and that saved us a lot of money.
Just now watched it. I am NOT a mechanic. I am a DIYer who could never DIY what you did. This was the most riveting 30mins of video I have seen in a looong time--TH-cam, Netflix, HBO, all that stuff. You provide great content, engaging diagnostic skills, all with a personal touch that makes me want to watch every video till the end. Keep it up! All the best to you, your family, and your business!!
Amazing Eric, you're unbelievable. I so wish we had more men like you in this world who takes the time to investigate and not be happy until you get the whole story. Most guys would have just called the auto shop and ordered another clutch switch. No, you go one step further and look into the problem and fix it, saving a customer the expense of buying one. I have to say Eric, I admire you, clone this guy!!!!
There ain't meny problem solvers like you around these days, mostly part changers. And what they do will cost someone a lot of money for new parts that is not at fault. So sir, I salute your skills and methods you use. Keep up the good work and keep the vids comin'. Greetings from a retired auto mecanic.
Some dealers have the best trained mechanics out there. It comes down to the actual mechanic taking time to learn and advance their knowledge, just like any occupation. You have to be a fool before you can become a master of anything!
@@defendermender4959 well, i know how to do most of any automotive work myself,i didn't imply that all dealer mechanics were less than trustworthy,it's just My personal preference.
Thank you so much for your time and energy putting together these wonderful informative videos. Never thought that I would be able to learn about modern computer driven cars, but you make it enjoyable and I feel as if it is feasible for an unqualified but keen older wannabe DIY'er from Australia. Please continue to provide your instructive and interesting diagnostic expertise.
Trust me - out in the bush stick to carbs and the old way. Computer controlled cars don't last out in that environment. Even up in Alaska mostly all the cars are 25-30-40 years old and carbureted.
@SMA - Thanks you bringing the diagnostic content back. No doubt it’s time consuming to provide all the content on your channel, but I especially enjoy the learning process in these vids. Keep it up Mr O
You can really tell Mr O likes his job by him keeping his cool, making it seem effortless, teaching younger people and keeping it classy. I wish you were around my city to bestow some of those gems to me.
long story. everyone seems to think the bakken oil boom is great. we had bad locals before but they were known. story /this out of state guy goes to store buys booze drinks it . then thinks the checker at the store was hot. goes back tried to kidnap her. gets in a vehicle in front of the store to steal it to make the getaway. the vehicle is running due to friged weather but bad guy can't drive a clutch. bad situation avoided. but now the people of north dakota will have to support the loser for a while.
What a brilliant case study. I stopped and started the video through the diagnosis to think through what I'd do next. It is easy to see why a flat rate shop would skip the voltage drop stage of diagnosis, they are focused on the most common solution and time management. You've previously shown how easy that screening step can be. Also this car had two problems which makes the diagnosis even more confusing.
just like the vw brake light switch auto adjuster i shall be stripping those in future and fixing it rather than spending 10 quid every time cheers mr O
No, they were throwing parts at it hoping something would stick because they don't know how to diagnose and read schematics. They ripped the customer off cause they don't care and the customer will never be told the truth, that they paid for a starter and labor they didn't need cause most mechanics are dishonest! Eric O is an amazing diagnostician! The customer will be told a complete lie by the other shop to cover their mistake and misdiagnosis. They should have gone to South Main Auto instead.
@@ptaweston Unfortunately most mechanical shops business model is to rip off their customers. Only those of us lucky enough to be trained by "old school" guys take the time to be as accurate as possible in our diagnostics. I remenber many ass kickings from the boss for basic errors when I was a youngster. He never let me forget that the car I was working on might be owned by a widow or a single parent and the bill could mean them eating or not.
Eric O said the other shop told him they didn’t think it was the starter....that’s because they already tried replacing it and it still didn’t start 😂😂😂.
Great video with some nice twists and turns. The “depressed” status in Autel may be referring to the switch plunger which can sometimes be the opposite of the pedal or it can just be the Chinese getting it wrong. I also wonder why Ford didn’t use just a single ECM switch as the ECM generates the crank signal and could just not allow cranking unless the clutch is depressed. It could be a safety thing to help keep you from driving it into your living room if only that circuit in the ECM fails but some clever software in the ECM could get around that by monitoring those circuits. I had a Fox body Mustang, and loved it, but can attest the assembly tolerances in that car were hideous so a self adjusting switch makes perfect sense. I’ve also seen long travel sliding style clutch switches that have a wide range of operation to cover sloppy tolerances, wear, etc.
Looked to me like the switch to the ECM was pushed in when the clutch was out and the plunger came out as the pedal was pushed...just the opposite of the other one.
@@moparscot9271 Yep. The starter circuit wants to be sure that the pedal is all the way to the floor. The ECM switch is used to cancel cruise control. In that case you don't want to wait until the pedal is to the floor. That reduces the amount the engine revs up.
You are the best auto channel bar none! I think I speak for everyone when I say that we don’t mind all the back ground noises and day to day noises it’s all part of the show!! And we all enjoy your show!! Keep up the great videos Dr. O
Eric, I'm always impressed by your approach to solving auto problems. I wish I could be as savvy as you when it comes to diagnosing problems and fixing them. Love the videos, they are always informative and instructional. Keep up the great work.
Hi im a X motor mechanic in my day we would of got a auto electrician in but with the scan tool's today they point you in the right direction watch all of your video's keep doing them all the best.
This reminds me of my 95 Eagle talon TSI a number of years ago... I went to leave work one night and had power etc but no crank. I had almost no tools with me but I instinctively went after the low hanging fruit, is the "low" clutch switch being engaged... I go look, there's a hole in the bracket on the pedal that lines up perfectly with the clutch switch shaft... on the floor was the hardended broken rubber bumper that's supposed to sit in the hole... Found a little bumper at work that was close, RTV'd it in place... problem solved :D
Reasons why shops trade work, one is time, a shop could be real busy and not want to deal with a possible long diagnostic issue. another is that they may not do diagnostics real well, that is common in many shops unfortunately or there might be one person who does most of the diagnostic work and they are out on vacation. Then there are shops that are strictly parts changers who get screwed up if they try to do diagnostic work. Most places are a blend of those with some shops being much better and a few much worse.
Wizard had a video about that. What was really funny is he had client come in and said that's to much money and took it to another shop. that shop brought it back to car wizard
Eric, I just so LOVE the mysteries you get to work on !!!! Like reading a mystery novel with lots of twists and turns and suspects !!! I was somewhat thinking a faulty starter solenoid intermittently working, but no. Then, the new starter has a contact / no contact starter brush problem, but no. Broken or loose wire / connection to starter, but no. Possible pitted starter relay contacts, but no. Gremlins under the hood, but no. Dirty / corroded battery terminal intermittent contact, but no. It is a poor ground of all things. I saw the green crusties on it when you showed it. And the clutch switch fiasco dilemma !!!!!! Never a dull moment at SMA !!! Always a problem to solve !!!! Excellent deducing Eric, proud of you, as are all your subscribers, and the lovely Mrs. O. !!! Eagerly awaiting the next SMA chapter of intrigue !!!
SMA is the best automotive show on YT hands down
one of them,There are a few good ones
Your forgetting Eric the car guy he’s pretty good
Because hes a true master technician. Hes not your typical parts changer you deal with at your local dealerships. He backprobes, electrical tests and all that to TRULY diagnose the problem. Guys like me who are new to the repair industry (commercial for me) I look up to guys like Eric. I want to be a mechanic like Eric, not like Scotty.
Well, scanner danner is the best electrical TH-camr.
Yeah, but Scotty Kilmer has the weird cat pillows.
That clutch switch seems like a trap for DIY folks if even a shop mechanic didn’t know it’s a one-way self adjustment. Nice diagnosis.
David Petty yeah, I’m sure it saves time on the assembly line... tolerances can be loose and adjustments are not needed. Added benefit of customers either buying a new part or going to a dealership or shop if they “meddle”.
@@QualityCraftsmen Modify it so it actuate similar to a brake pedal switch.
Agreed, I would have never thought about screwing the clutch switch by testing iit out - which is the natural thing to try when checking the start circuit.
Thanks Ford for making cars that way...not.
Just rubbish design. Absolutely no need for it to be that way.
“To be the man, yah gotta beat the man!” Eric O “Is the MAN!”
Yes he is, the man
Wooooooooooooo!!!
@Jamie M What is that supposed to mean and why do you copy it all over the comments?
whooooo!!!!
Just wanted to thank you. I was working on my shaker 500 amps because my door speakers stopped working. I get done and my car won't start. I have had my Mustang for 15 years and this has never happened. I start troubleshooting and about 3 hours in still no luck. I decided it's time to check TH-cam,somebody has definitely had this problem. Finally I come across your video. Sure enough my switch is fully engaged, I must have hit it and didn't know it. I followed your video and broke it open popped the switch and it started first try. Now I can go pick my son up from school. I never new this was even an issue until I watched your video. Thank you so much.
President. I liked how you Analysis, Access, Evaluate, and Verified every step. We need you in office.
My favorite videos start with "this car came from another shop". You have to feel a sense of accomplishment when you figure it out.
And then, to use that fact to support a further diagnosis of the real root cause.
He needs shirts that say, "SMA - The shop other shops go to."
Yea it’s sometimes aggravating because I get a lot of references because of this very thing. They call me when they have it all tore apart wires hanging everywhere, and can’t figure it out. Appliance’s furnace’s water heater’s etc. to many people trying to fix something that they know nothing about 😂. Just put a new oven/clock board in a practically brand new range why? They put a new plug on the end of a new wire that I ran months ago. This renter’s boyfriend said he could do it and save calling me back, and he put one of the hot wires where the ground went and put the ground where hot should have been. Blown circuit board as a result. $250.00 for a new one plus labor. Job security I guess!
"Remember, if I can do it you can do it ... unless you're that other shop !" :)
New SMA ad campaign: "We fix what other's can't."
@@markh.6687 New?! Always been so to the other shops.
Out of curiosity, why do you need to send the vehicle back to the shop it came from? Did they subcontract you?
@@zigman1976 Think so. "Diagose it Eric (that is, tell us what's wrong) then, we'll fix it."
@@zigman1976 I would imagine so the first shop can save face with their customer and be able to say “yeah it was tough but we figured it out”.
I've seen a style of those pedal position switches where you can rotate the stem 90 degrees to 'unlock' it and get it back to the fully unadjusted position. Those ones like you found out you just pull hard.
Thousands of dollars of stuff disabled by a few cents of plastic, such is modern day life.
*Thousands of dollars of stuff disabled by someone which didn't know how it works. The plastic switch does the job just fine.
The bit that galls me is the mechanic should have been able to tell whether the switch was working originally and after he was done the same way Eric did.
@@brandonknight7240 sad that you can't read and understand what flagMichael is saying.
Man I wish you were my mechanic. You know your stuff bud and i am sure you are very fair with your prices.
I wish their was more mechanic like you
A honest proud car mechanic
And I also wish you was close to me so I can bring you my car
I've been a mechanic for 32 years and sometimes I ask myself why I still do it !! And you just hit the nail on the head with that clutch peddle SW. Detective work !! INSPIRING WORK
The old cars didn't have a clutch safety switch. You needed to be careful when starting the car to make sure you had the shifter in neutral and your foot on the clutch to prevent an accident when the engine started.
My Dad's 1964 Chevrolet Malibu (283, four-on-the floor) did not have this clutch pedal switch. Excellent diagnostic skills.
"Things become grounds you don't want to be grounds". I worked on a truck one time where the shift lever was frozen. Turned out a bad engine ground had caused the shift cable to become the ground and pretty well melted it!
Yeah. I vaporized a choke cable many years ago...
I've welded a throttle cable solid the same way.
Thats crazy lol
In high school shop class we had a cursed Toyota pickup. When you turned the key the throttle cable turned bright red!
Deboss Garage just had a video on his mustang project, he found 2 pieces of double stick tape between the tab and the switch. Makes sense now, i never knew there was such a thing as a self adjusting clutch switch.
Brake light switches can be like that too.
I didn't know that self-adjusting switches were made period.
I love how in depth this video was. You touched up on every area that it could be before getting to the source of the problem. Awesome video thanks for sharing this!
Can you imagine what the other shop mechanic feels like when he watches this video. Keep up the good work Eric
"Excuse my nasty fingers" , those are hard working hands, thanks for your enlighten on the ground problem.
My local car shop should sit, watch and learn.
Eric O is the best mechanic ever! He's a diagnostic genius. He should open a chain called The Honest Mechanic.
From my experience in life people who do not know their trade well are that way for a reason.. they refuse to learn for whatever egotistical reason or are simply unable to learn.
Damn near every shop in America (including dealerships) need to sit, watch and learn!!! Best mechanic Ive ever seen!! and HONEST!!! Damn shame that good and honest mechanics are so rare nowadays...
Ive seen so many times in SMA videos where he fixed a car that other shops couldnt, or the other shops told the customer a bunch of BS and Eric found and fixed the REAL problem!
When I worked in a hardware store when we had to ask someone else for help we were instructed to listen to the answer. Not just pass off the customer.
Eric O, you have excellent detective skills. My wheels upstairs started turning when the ORIGINAL complaint was that the engine died while the guy was driving it. That rules out the clutch switch and the starter, both of which are not engaged during driving conditions.
Then to brainstorm what would cause the engine to both die and not allow it to even crank upon trying...love watching your videos!
You are not only a great diagnostician and mechanic, but you are also highly entertaining to boot! Would I be crazy to drive 4.5 hours for repairs just to listen to the commentary? lol
99.99 percent of mechanics would never have second guessed themselves and gone any further after they ordered a new clutch switch- you're a star bro.
In a world where engine ground straps are almost always accessible under the car, somewhere around the bottom of the motor, Ford had to hide it inaccessibly up there!
Anyway, as ever, your analysis work is outstanding, and as many have commented, no wonder other repair shops use your business as the Too Hard Basket.
That's one of Fords better ideas LOL
road salt plays havoc with those "easily accessible" ground straps. I'm thinking that has something to do with Ford's placing the strap up higher, yet it still loses ground in a road salt environment. Looks like one of those engineering changes that "worked good on paper."
@@LuckyBaldwin777
Or you could just not have the grounds under the block at all. It's literally a solid fucking block of conductive metal, there is no real reason you can't have the grounds coming out of the somewhere on the top in the engine bay. We just had a guys car in class that wouldn't turn over that ended up being a block ground, it was literally a six inch piece of wire from the upper block to a bolt on the front frame of the engine bay. It took literally 2 minutes to replace once we figured out it was bad.
The term No Start No Crank seems misused in automotive diagnostics. Obviously if it doesn’t crank it isn’t going to start. But the ground was good enough for a little push start. As was pointed out everything but the starter had a good ground. Should have been Start but No Crank.
You should slip a business card in the glove box with a note saying "I'm the guy who actually fixed your car". 😉
Ya, but the other shop won't properly fix that ground and when it fails again they'll think Eric's shop is the shady one.
Look at the big picture... Eric gets paid by the other shops, they bring the vehicles to him when they can't figure them out. Now if he snipes their customers, do you think they will continue to bring him the vehicles they can't fix? I don't think so. Short term gain for a long term loss. Doesn't make good business sense.
he gets paid the same this way and doesn't have to deal with the general public though ;)
And you didn’t need that new starter that they put in.
some good points 👍
Eric, bro, I think I just found my new mentor. All instructors previous to this day , I order to serve you eternally. And by the power invested in me of Busted Knuckles Mobile Mechanic LLC, I crown you King,of all things with internal combustion engines. A true Master. I sir am subscribing.and may you live forever.
Been a backyard mechanic since age 16. Now 74, this video went WAY over my head.
$10 to loosen a bolt and retighten it. $500 for knowing which bolt to loosen and tighten back.
Torally. Read about the engineer and the chalk mark
@@kjcorder Steinmetz lol, old GE engineer. Brilliant guy!
I always had to drive at least a hundred miles to service my customers. Some of my repairs only took 15 minutes. I learned to beat around the bush for about an hour so that customer thought I did more than actually did. They were happier that it was “difficult”to repair.
@@joebledsoe257 And you are the reason why nobody trust mechanics.
@@nathanwoodruff9422 lol right why lie because the drive was far 🤣
Eric, "You see three pedals? "
Josh, "Yeah."
Eric, "Well, push the one on the left to the floor, and turn on the ignition. That's the Millennial Anti-Theft Device!"
Spit take!
"Our shaft is fully erect." said with a slight chuckle.
Double spit take!
Starting another Friday morning with a wet shirt!!!
Thank you Eric!!!
And now you know why I drive a Mustang with a manual shift. If you want to steal my car you better know how to drive it :)
Now "that's" funny
@@CandorPerlicious I have the same thing but my car is a Honda Fit.
The part where you menioned 'sometimes things can become grounds that you do not want to become grounds" reminds me of a story...
There was a jeep that was going through pinion bearings left and right ... they were replaced and then a certain amount of time afterwards they would be all galled up and causing noise when driving shortly after. Long story short - the engine ground was going bad and the starter was using the transmission and driveshaft as ground, and arcing on the pinion bearings in the differential causing them to wear! Some of the crazy things you see in this field!
Yeah electrons are lazy, they like the path of least resistance.
Richard Bambenek sounds a lot like people I know in my life. 😂
Eric is the BEST mechanic in the WORLD! More people should go to him. If Eric can't fix it, NOBODY can!
Eric O makes all repairs look so easy.
Extraordinary talent. True professional. And wit...Clutch Pedal: "Millenial Anti-theft device." I'll be using that one.
And the thing is driving a stick is not really that hard. When a stick is really a drag is when you're stuck in stop and go traffic for an hour.
@@kellyherald1390 The hard part is buying a car with a stick anymore.
Should be a detective not a mechanic. Can’t hide anything from you
He is , Sherlock (Mechanic of Auto)
@John pereira.... that is a combination that makes a great mechanic. I wish I could find one in my area. Mr O is the only one I trust.... and I'm 300 miles away.
no this is what a mechanic does... its the other shop that should higher mechanics along with other shops. this wasnt a complex problem and the shop couldnt figure it out because they lacked having mechanics.
@Jamie M Good, find one in my State. Challenge issued.
Jamie M well even Eric says that -if I can do it you can do it !
I was working on my explorer one day and had my son push on the brake, he pushed so hard the switch broke. What I think happened with the Mustang is a bad ground and the driver was pissed it wouldn't start so they pushed extra hard on the clutch breaking the switch. One problem created another. Good fine!
Im pretty amazed at the quality of that clutch switch. Reminds me of the water squirt guns when I was a kid.
You cant convince me a good mechanic isnt smarter than the average surgeon lol you're so good! so much knowledge acquired throughout the years
I sure wish I lived near this guy... he's brilliant
Proud to live next door to his shop! My 2005 Chrysler Town & Country loves to visit Mr. O
Even odds that this car's going straight back to the customer as is with a $500 bill attached from the other shop.
Coffee and SMA... I like it!!!
"Well, there's your problem fella" Great diagnosis! You are the man!
Why do I also get a sense of accomplishment when you fix it 🤣 amazing job!
Could you imagine being the owner of this car seeing this video after you collected it from “The Other Shoppe”? So to ‘fix’ my car, first you broke it some more, then sent it to some else to fix, then told me you fixed it? I hope the owner just comes direct to you next time Eric!
And charged them for a new starter 🤣
In all fairness, the clutch switch is a bit of a booby trap. It's not unreasonable to test the switch by pressing it.
Don't you track your vehicles? who doesn't do that? You will see when this is going on ... often when "our expert is going to look at it tomorrow"
@@scottbaker9066 Probably not. Most people just take their vehicle to their favorite shop and expect to be fixed. I doubt many even think that shops pass off work to other shops.
Aaron,
If the customer watched Eric's videos, he could have fixed it himself. Follow the power, both sides, especially on high draw circuits!
Great job as usual mister O sad part of it is the customer on the other end will end up absorbing the cost for the lack of the other shops knowledge
Ivan would be proud: Component level repair!
Well done sir!
Couldn't agree more with you! spot on.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I don’t usually comment on videos on YT, buy your vid helped me a ton. My dad’s mustang has been down for almost 2 months, we couldn’t figure out what’s wrong with the car. Found out that it’s the clutch switch. We gave up on it and was about to send it to ford next week. Glad I found your video and that saved us a lot of money.
Just now watched it. I am NOT a mechanic. I am a DIYer who could never DIY what you did. This was the most riveting 30mins of video I have seen in a looong time--TH-cam, Netflix, HBO, all that stuff. You provide great content, engaging diagnostic skills, all with a personal touch that makes me want to watch every video till the end. Keep it up! All the best to you, your family, and your business!!
Yes, well, as good a diagnostician as you are.
If I recall, you never did figure out which one of your kids spilled soda in the back of Mrs. O's van.
😂 been there, we got 6 of them
Sure he did, it was "Not Me"
I’ve got 3 youngens and no one ever knows anything..
He did narrow it down to 3 suspects, it's up to the judge to get confession lol.
Very nice diagnostic Eric, damn that small towns lucky to have your expertise.
Amazing Eric, you're unbelievable. I so wish we had more men like you in this world who takes the time to investigate and not be happy until you get the whole story. Most guys would have just called the auto shop and ordered another clutch switch. No, you go one step further and look into the problem and fix it, saving a customer the expense of buying one. I have to say Eric, I admire you, clone this guy!!!!
There ain't meny problem solvers like you around these days, mostly part changers. And what they do will cost someone a lot of money for new parts that is not at fault. So sir, I salute your skills and methods you use. Keep up the good work and keep the vids comin'. Greetings from a retired auto mecanic.
No parts, just labor. I love it. Great job! Thanks for sharing!
I've been burned by one of those adjustable switches before too. They really suck too
this kind of expert diagnostic is why i never goto the dealer for repair,thx Eric for the usual Expert work !
Some dealers have the best trained mechanics out there. It comes down to the actual mechanic taking time to learn and advance their knowledge, just like any occupation. You have to be a fool before you can become a master of anything!
@@defendermender4959 well, i know how to do most of any automotive work myself,i didn't imply that all dealer mechanics were less than trustworthy,it's just My personal preference.
Other shops need to post a sign "warning parts cannon used here"
@@richardbambenek2601 haha 🤣
Thank you so much for your time and energy putting together these wonderful informative videos. Never thought that I would be able to learn about modern computer driven cars, but you make it enjoyable and I feel as if it is feasible for an unqualified but keen older wannabe DIY'er from Australia. Please continue to provide your instructive and interesting diagnostic expertise.
Trust me - out in the bush stick to carbs and the old way. Computer controlled cars don't last out in that environment. Even up in Alaska mostly all the cars are 25-30-40 years old and carbureted.
I learn something new from almost every SMA video I watch. Thanks Eric.
Hands down best mechanic channel on TH-cam. Nobody likes to be told they broke something or that they lied. Awesome job! Stay safe, and God bless
The patience of a Saint! Thanks for taking us along sir!
@SMA - Thanks you bringing the diagnostic content back.
No doubt it’s time consuming to provide all the content on your channel, but I especially enjoy the learning process in these vids. Keep it up Mr O
8:54 "Make damn sure the cars in neutral" I feel like this was something he learned the hardway. Thanks for the tip haha
Yep i had a car drive itself right off a lift once. Lucky nobody was in between the wall and the car
Been there and done that twice.
Don't know if he did, but I definitely learned it the hard way. Just don't ask :D
I'm just Joe Average DIYer but I watch SMA to learn how to diagnose better. Thank you Eric!
You can really tell Mr O likes his job by him keeping his cool, making it seem effortless, teaching younger people and keeping it classy. I wish you were around my city to bestow some of those gems to me.
Clutch pedal; "Millennium Anti-Theft Device" ............A true classic!! 🤣
@@justahasbeen Depends on the country, automatics are few and far between in most of the EU
@@justahasbeen Lol how true. Put them in an 18 speed un-synchronized Peterbilt and watch their heads spin! Or better yet an old twin stick! Haha.
In the UK you're more likely to find a manual than you are an auto 😛
For all you in USA the clutch pedal is the third pedal on the left, has to be depressed to start ( crank) the car.
long story. everyone seems to think the bakken oil boom is great. we had bad locals before but they were known. story /this out of state guy goes to store buys booze drinks it . then thinks the checker at the store was hot. goes back tried to kidnap her. gets in a vehicle in front of the store to steal it to make the getaway. the vehicle is running due to friged weather but bad guy can't drive a clutch. bad situation avoided. but now the people of north dakota will have to support the loser for a while.
What a brilliant case study. I stopped and started the video through the diagnosis to think through what I'd do next. It is easy to see why a flat rate shop would skip the voltage drop stage of diagnosis, they are focused on the most common solution and time management. You've previously shown how easy that screening step can be. Also this car had two problems which makes the diagnosis even more confusing.
Bravo- maybe one of these days you can give a video lesson on reading wiring diagrams. Seems to me 'thats the skill' for a real diagnostician.
“I’m gonna tap it from the back side. Classic move” 😂😂
My car is at the shop for a month. Mechanic gave up on fixing it. Thank you. I feel confident I'm having a similar issue.
Damn Eric, you've been chasing bad grounds for a few videos. I love it! Great vidja..
That clutch switch is too clever for its own good!
This literally happened to me tonight going down the road! Thank you for posting this!!!
You the man! "Fixing or repairing daily" is my life now I own a Mustang. Thanks for the push in the right direction.
Mr O I have to say, when it comes to anything with electronic issues. You are the man, beyond a Shadow of Doubt.
WOW! Excellent job! Just the process of logically narrowing down the problem. Or in this case problems
just like the vw brake light switch auto adjuster i shall be stripping those in future and fixing it rather than spending 10 quid every time cheers mr O
You impress me more and more with your electrical knowledge every day. I wish I had a skill like that. You'll be in business forever with that skill.
Bro you’re a star. You’re hands down the best automotive tech on TH-cam
You're like the Sherlock Holmes of auto repair. Great job. People don't understand how important those ground connections are.
I wonder if the other shop put the starter in thinking it was the problem
No, they were throwing parts at it hoping something would stick because they don't know how to diagnose and read schematics. They ripped the customer off cause they don't care and the customer will never be told the truth, that they paid for a starter and labor they didn't need cause most mechanics are dishonest! Eric O is an amazing diagnostician! The customer will be told a complete lie by the other shop to cover their mistake and misdiagnosis. They should have gone to South Main Auto instead.
@@ptaweston
Unfortunately most mechanical shops business model is to rip off their customers.
Only those of us lucky enough to be trained by "old school" guys take the time to be as accurate as possible in our diagnostics.
I remenber many ass kickings from the boss for basic errors when I was a youngster.
He never let me forget that the car I was working on might be owned by a widow or a single parent and the bill could mean them eating or not.
Brian I bet they did!
probably.
Eric O said the other shop told him they didn’t think it was the starter....that’s because they already tried replacing it and it still didn’t start 😂😂😂.
Great video with some nice twists and turns. The “depressed” status in Autel may be referring to the switch plunger which can sometimes be the opposite of the pedal or it can just be the Chinese getting it wrong. I also wonder why Ford didn’t use just a single ECM switch as the ECM generates the crank signal and could just not allow cranking unless the clutch is depressed. It could be a safety thing to help keep you from driving it into your living room if only that circuit in the ECM fails but some clever software in the ECM could get around that by monitoring those circuits. I had a Fox body Mustang, and loved it, but can attest the assembly tolerances in that car were hideous so a self adjusting switch makes perfect sense. I’ve also seen long travel sliding style clutch switches that have a wide range of operation to cover sloppy tolerances, wear, etc.
Looked to me like the switch to the ECM was pushed in when the clutch was out and the plunger came out as the pedal was pushed...just the opposite of the other one.
@@moparscot9271 Yep. The starter circuit wants to be sure that the pedal is all the way to the floor. The ECM switch is used to cancel cruise control. In that case you don't want to wait until the pedal is to the floor. That reduces the amount the engine revs up.
@@misterhat5823 Good point.
Love the line: "Millenial Anti-Theft Device" when referring to the clutch pedal. 🤣🤣🤣
okay Boomer
...having my supper and just listening your diagnosis. thanks Eric)
You are the best auto channel bar none! I think I speak for everyone when I say that we don’t mind all the back ground noises and day to day noises it’s all part of the show!! And we all enjoy your show!! Keep up the great videos Dr. O
I wish I lived near avoca. I would send all my vehicles to Eric O.
That was an awesome video ! pretty crazy how there is one problem but the other problem was man-made😖
Classic T-PIN 'tap it from the back side' move
Nice
Great Video
Accumulated knowledge. And a logical procedure. Works like a charm.
This wasn't even my start issue but I watched the whole thing. You are entertaining and I learned a thing or two.
Great testing, I love the use of the locking grips to make sure you get a good connection for the test light :)
"our shaft is fully... Erect" got me 😂😂
Eric, I'm always impressed by your approach to solving auto problems. I wish I could be as savvy as you when it comes to diagnosing problems and fixing them. Love the videos, they are always informative and instructional. Keep up the great work.
There's no substitute for understanding the system. Great work.
Hi im a X motor mechanic in my day we would of got a auto electrician in but with the scan tool's today they point you in the right direction watch all of your video's keep doing them all the best.
Giving it the classic reach across with a 24" extension.
I've heard of the Long Arm of the Law, but not the Long Arm of the Mechanic.
3:00 am damn it Eric you no the best time to upload
Just because it shows up on your feed at 3 o'clock does not mean that is when he uploaded it
@@kevinbarry71 yep, he probably uploaded at like 7pm-ish but for video to get to HD,, it takes a bit longer ✌️🤘
He could have uploaded this a month ago, you just select the date and time you want the video to go live so it can be watched.
@@Blazer02LS The date on the scantool is August 11th
@@dominicro For that one it is. But with youtube you can load in a bunch of videos and set it to automatically post them.
This reminds me of my 95 Eagle talon TSI a number of years ago... I went to leave work one night and had power etc but no crank. I had almost no tools with me but I instinctively went after the low hanging fruit, is the "low" clutch switch being engaged... I go look, there's a hole in the bracket on the pedal that lines up perfectly with the clutch switch shaft... on the floor was the hardended broken rubber bumper that's supposed to sit in the hole... Found a little bumper at work that was close, RTV'd it in place... problem solved :D
Always check the easy stuff first.I got stranded at Walmart,same problem on a Nissan.
That is one of the best electrical diagnostic videos I have ever seen
Wish there was a good mechanic near me, worth your weight in gold my friend!!! I’ve been looking for a good mechanic for 20 years.
Excellent logic as always
Great place to attach a ground wire Ford. It could literally go anywhere else.
How come you get so many jobs "from another shop" - are there that many shops around that can't do the job they're in business to do?
Unfortunately many shops are just parts replacers not mechanics. Eric is a true mechanic!
Just imagine how much more money the customers at "another shop" are paying, they've gotta pay Eric O's salary AND Mr another shop's salary as well
Reasons why shops trade work, one is time, a shop could be real busy and not want to deal with a possible long diagnostic issue. another is that they may not do diagnostics real well, that is common in many shops unfortunately or there might be one person who does most of the diagnostic work and they are out on vacation. Then there are shops that are strictly parts changers who get screwed up if they try to do diagnostic work. Most places are a blend of those with some shops being much better and a few much worse.
Wizard had a video about that. What was really funny is he had client come in and said that's to much money and took it to another shop. that shop brought it back to car wizard
Because he’s more of a technician while the shops are just mechanics.
You saved $30 by fixing the clutch switch. Cheers. Most of them will replace u r the only true mechanic. Another cheers to u buddy.
Eric, I just so LOVE the mysteries you get to work on !!!! Like reading a mystery novel with lots of twists and turns and suspects !!! I was somewhat thinking a faulty starter solenoid intermittently working, but no. Then, the new starter has a contact / no contact starter brush problem, but no. Broken or loose wire / connection to starter, but no. Possible pitted starter relay contacts, but no. Gremlins under the hood, but no. Dirty / corroded battery terminal intermittent contact, but no. It is a poor ground of all things. I saw the green crusties on it when you showed it. And the clutch switch fiasco dilemma !!!!!! Never a dull moment at SMA !!! Always a problem to solve !!!! Excellent deducing Eric, proud of you, as are all your subscribers, and the lovely Mrs. O. !!! Eagerly awaiting the next SMA chapter of intrigue !!!
Legend you are!