Eric O Is A Silver Bullet Cheating Machine!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- In this video I bring you along as I have a look at a customers 2010 Honda Pilot that has an issue with the battery going dead over night. It doesn't take long to find what circuit the drain is on but then I cheat a little by using Identifix to lead me right to the cause of the draw.
-Enjoy!
If an SMA Video has helped you out please consider giving using "Patreon" to help support us. The videos take real time to create and pull us away from real work that pays our bills. CLICK HERE: / southmainauto
CHECK OUT OUR "SMA SWAG" STORE! Go on Teespring and get your very own SMA merch!
teespring.com/...
If you don't like Patreon feel free to use the "PayPal Me" link: www.paypal.me/...
The South Main Auto Amazon Store:
www.amazon.com...
AES Wave Automotive Diagnostic Tools: www.aeswave.co...
Thank you for all the continuing support!
--Eric & Vanessa O.
Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?
Just ship it here:
South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
I had an old feller tell me, it's not about knowing all the answers, but knowing where to find em. No shame in using every available avenue to find the answer.
That old feller was me!
😂
As a college instructor, that's basically my advice to students. You're not there to memorize this stuff. You go to school to learn how to understand the technical language so you can go look stuff up when you need it.
Not only that but look at the money Eric saved his customer.
Henry Ford said that in court in defense of being called an idiot.
I'm an IT guy for the last 20-odd years - and while I can understand the sentiment of figuring it out on your own (and thus, have holistic knowledge), I always come back to the fact that almost all troubleshooting is born out of a collaborative hivemind. We don't do our jobs in a vacuum. I learned that a win is a win, no matter how I eventually got there. Thank god for the internet and helpful people, sharing knowledge alike! You gotta know you're our very own Silver Bullet, too - I've learned a loooottttt about my Silverado because of your videos.
I'm 100% on board with you. You absolutely have to go back and post your solution though.
The "Oh, I figured it out" without an explanation is grounds for divorce.
I've been doing IT for just about as long if not longer. With Google being what it is, troubleshooting an issue like it's only ever happened to you/the customer is a waste of time. But as someone else said, we have to share our results. Not ask for help and then dont come back. Although I usually assume if they don't come back, the last thing they did probably helped. Lol.
The difference between just tossing parts at it looking at silver bullets and looking at it AFTER you have already done testing is knowing what NOT to throw at it. And that's what makes you different, Mr. O.
That is how I feel when a Garbage Freight tool in my hands , cheap and dirty !
'collaborative hivemind' means what ? A 20-year IT guy cannot even use basic English to spell 'God' with a capital letter? Skip it.
@@DougHinVA I'm not a Christian; no need or reason for me to capitalize the g, my dude. Not everyone believes like you do, but at least read the post correctly - I've been doing IT for 20 years, not existing.
You have a source of information that helped you solve a problem much faster. This is not cheating, this is using your information wisely.
I have to say Mr. Eric you are the best Auto Technician, That I have seen on the eastern sea seaboard.
Some of us do this as a living. Silver bullet for the win and the pocket book. Not above using them. The reason I watch your videos is to sharpen my diagnostic ability and load silver bullets.😁
This is one TH-cam channel that I always like the video before I watch it. They are always great.
I don’t see a problem, you’re in business to fix cars and as many as you can a day. Use whatever tool you have at your disposal. Great video.
Great video. Being resourceful is not cheating but a sign of intelligence.
Right ?
Imagine being well informed.
These battery draw videos from Eric are my favorites.
Yeah, I'm not a mechanic. I went into academics, but my dad was a welder, mechanic, competent at everything, so I learned a lot of this stuff as a kid, you know, back when cars were cars and men were closeted. These vids are like my finishing school on how to deal with modern cars where there aren't actual switches, where everything sends a signal to a computer to tell the thing to turn on or off. And to be honest, these things are so much easier to diagnose.
If I wasn't on the other side of the pond I'd have a nice head-scratcher for him. 2009 VW Golf drains the battery but only if it's parked outside during longer heavy rains (two days plus), ideally with high winds. Nothing out of the ordinary as soon as it dries up. Happened maybe five times during current ownership (since 2017). The 2014 battery that was in there died last year and has been replaced. A few weeks ago the thing happened again but this time there was still enough charge in the battery to start the car, either because the draw was dicovered more quickly or because of the new battery or any combination.
That sounds right up Eric and Ivan's alley. Maybe you can get them to do a video chat
A wise tech never re-invents the wheel if he can avoid it. Well done Eric!!
DC current clamps are one of those things you need to get a feel for. With low current settings the position and orientation can result in rogue readings due to magnetic fields in the vicinity. I usually hold it in position near the cable, zero it and then clip it on without changing the orientation. Still worth their weight in gold.
Ahhh ok. Also if you can "loop" the wire through the jaws to make a multiplier, it can help with the accuracy too on low amp draw situations.
Big Clive!
I "listen" to the experiences of others but always confirm their idea before acting on it. Well done.
“ I feel so dirty”, had you broken out a can of brake cleaner I would had died from laughing!!! Great job, I too love the electrical diagnostic videos you do… keep it up.
Eric, again you are the man ! Using your trouble shooting skills to make a diagnosis, I was a heavy equipment mechanic for 44 years, 30 of which were in a supervising/support role for 40 + mechanics, I have seen many types of skill sets from apprentice to journeyman and foreman, none of which had the skills or patience you have for trouble shooting problems and making the repair. I wish we had you and you tube in my working years to help guide mechanics and teach what you share in every video.
Thank You for sharing ! I am a believer that "If I can do it so can you" if people would only take the time to do their home work and learn before doing . Do it right and you only have to do it once.
Your metaphors are classic dude. Never ever change.
Your proper use of the silver bullet saved the customer money = satisfied customer, so well done, sir. And I had to smile at your slick transition at the end - "Don't you be a tool". Good one!
Eric has a quick mind which is why he's a good tech.
Buddy you earn you're keep every day! You deserve an easy one now and again. Good show and good explanation of voltage drop across fuses.
You are so blessed to have Mrs. O by your side. You all are a great team!
With that full kitchen, you should have The South Main Cafe where people can dine while they wait for their minor auto services!
@@garybulwinkle82 Like Mrs.O isn't busy enough already !!
You are a man of integrity and honor Mr. O. You don't own a parts cannon. Keep on keeping on!
Rainman Ray doesn't own a parts cannon either.
Eric O Is A Silver Bullet Cheating Machine who deserves a Gold Medal - conveying this much data and in such detail is a selfless act of kindness rarely seen.
Thank you Sir.
You run a business...don't apologize! You still taught us to not use the silver bullet as permission for the parts Canon.
Your trouble shooting videos are my favorite!
If I was going to Tech School for Automotive, your classes would be my pick. I watch others, but you are most informative. With so many cars and problems, all classes are needed, but your channel is my choice.
You didn’t cheat. You used the knowledge available to you. Then you verified. Good work. Thank you.
No cheating there, Eric O! Based on the customer's choice to not replace simple (and likely inexpensive) components, it's likely they'd have chosen the silver bullet route anyway given the choice.
Yet another great SMA video--parasitic draw videos never get old and we can never learn enough from you.
My neighbor asked me to troubleshoot her clothes washer as it wouldn't run. My son was at home so I had him accompany me so he could learn how to troubleshoot controls. We opened the washer lid and I was connecting the leads to my voltmeter when I heard the washer relays clicking and saw the operating panel was lit up. I asked my son what he did and he said he googled the washer model number and "won't run" and google told him to hold down two buttons on the control panel. The moral to this story is - don't call an old guy with a voltmeter to fix your washing machine when a young guy with a smart phone is available.
I see nothing wrong with a silver bullet. Happens at my work sometimes where the symptoms and other items match exactly what someone saw before. Often worth trying before spending hours confirming if this duck is a duck.
For a channel that promotes sharing knowledge, why not reciprocate?
Payback would be adding a useful repair to help other shops diagnose.
As long as you check that the issue is actually what the fault code or fault analysis chart says then you are good.
In this case there was a suspected offending device that was easy to disconnect and the fault went away, so therefore the problem was isolated easily.
It's tougher when you need to check the CAN and/or LIN bus traffic, sometimes you need an analyzer to see what's happening. If a button don't change the traffic changes where it should then there might be a culprit, so those analyzers aren't totally useless. Even better if you have a "known good" reference.
The company I work for (a mobile diagnostics company) keeps a technician group chat specifically for weird/difficult problems. There are also three dedicated researchers in said chat. Oftentimes, we only have 20 minutes (or less) to get a car through pre-scan, diag and post-scan. We're constantly bouncing knowlege and experience off each other; I call it "consulting the hive-mind." :D
A huge part of being a successful tech is researching and being able to understand what you're researching. What you've shown in this video is real-world: Foundation, research, repair. Awesome stuff!
Non-automotive comment: Nice to see the *VitaMix* blender and *BigBerkey* water filter in your kitchen (just like mine). My BB is a couple years old and I had to make my own sight glass to keep from overfilling it when I go to bed since it would leak all over. They sure goofed up on THAT design. Shoulda asked you first. You would have told them that the lower tank needs to completely enclose the upper one. Common sense is becoming a rare thing these days...
The truly smart man builds on the knowledge of predecessors. Nice work.👍
Nothing wrong with using silver bullets. It can save a bunch of time as long as it doesn't steer you down a rabbit hole. Just don't take whatever you see or read as gospel. Thanks for taking the time to do this, Eric,
While you might think you've waisted 10 minutes with the silver bullet this is a component that would have needed to be checked eventually, so in reality starting with the 'more likely spot' from a tip really isn't a waste of time. Nice job Eric, have a great weekend.😊
This all goes back to the age old saying, "an error code only tells you where the problem is, not what needs to be replaced or repaired". Like you said, it is a valuable tool when used correctly. When i was watching one of the snapon diagnostics training videos, even the host said test, dont guess because the error code isnt meant to tell you what to replace or repair.
Another important point from the discussion at the end of the video, abuse of identifix would've lead you to a door switch as the first bullet in the cannon (most "common" fix on that identifix thread). You would've whiffed and got it on the second try. I''m happy you made this video Dr. O. No need to feel dirty, it was a GREAT demonstration on how to use the tool appropriately.
This was perfect. Bought a 2013 Elantra a couple years ago and soon discovered battery would go dead if left more than 1 day without starting, found a draw of 340 mA and got an AGM battery so we could get 2 days without starting and not strand my son when he used it. I later traced to one circuit and on that circuit found an old remote starter that I had no FOBs for. I did pay my local Hyundai dealer to get it cleaned up but as a car owner I saved hundreds of dollars of trouble shooting time. I suspect that’s why it got traded, but I got a good deal on a car that had low miles and came from the south with no rust,
Thanks Eric O..I’ve been baffled by auto electrics all my life now I have a start point for understanding the diag process..all the best from UK..
Lol. I have a 2011 Pilot EX very similar to the one in this video (bought it used in 2014). Never knew the little rear hatch glass switch was back there. I mainly use the hatch, not the glass. You learn something new every day from SMA! 😏
What ever gets the job done is not cheating it's clever use of the information available . Good job Mr O Cheers.
Thank goodness someone uses this technique. I teach this to my autos electrical class and while I would not use it for a definitive amp reading it certainly puts you in the ball park for exactly this kind of diagnosis. Well done Eric O, well done.
As a DIY type of guy, I am not familiar with the whole identifix system.
I have managed to use it twice to date, mostly to get wiring diagrams.
In one circumstance, I had a code from the ABS module/ignition on circuit. Based on the diagrams, I was able to determine that I had a broken wire after the fuse, and before the ABS module.
On my second use it was due to a "Can Bus B open circuit".
I again used the diagrams and was able to find (with some TH-cam video pointers) , a broken Can Bus B ) wire in the hinge area between the drivers door and the vehicle interior.
I was not even familiar with the ability to look for the "quick fix/silver bullet . but for the $40 that it cost me to diagnose and solve my problem, it was worth it to me.
No dirt here. You correctly and quickly narrowed a broad field of common offenders, isolated the problem,
Then confirmed it. No shame in using others experience as a guide. Smart imo. Proof before parts. Excellent
Another great video Eric. In one of the companies I worked, I was taught to “leverage the synergy” (use all the combined knowledge available to you) to find a timely resolution to the task/problem you are working on. That is exactly what you did, thanks for taking all of us along for the ride.
Eric, your a good person. It sometimes helps to see what other good mechanics have done..But we the viewers know how good your are. Keep on wrenching..
Eric. In most dealerships checking tech talk and tsb's is one of the 1st steps after verification. I know you dont want to "cheat" but it is really a means to and end. You diag everything more thoroughly than most on YT. Keep up the good work
Very true. Too bad it took me so long in my career to accept this fact. Good statement.
I just want to say thank you. Been watching/listening to your work (and a few good others around the you tubes) I spent about a decade as a service writer/management/jack of all and would help some of my mechanics research some of the work they were doing. Those programs are great for narrowing involved systems or getting the proper diagrams or testing procedures. You do an amazing job showing and explaining the when how and why you use them and walking people through your brain process. I enjoy the diagnostic procedures of these new cars and you are a good teacher. Thank you
That aint cheating. The customer wanted it fixed, You fixed it.
You and Mrs. O are so wholesome, you make the Waltons look like Boyz n the Hood.
Keep in mind that a lot of people are watching your videos either to learn something or for clues to their own problem. That site that provides clues to what possibly could be wrong is just a tool and I suggest using all available tools that are helpful to your bottom line. Love your video's dude.
That battery looks like it got the special, "I got a guy who can do it cheaper."
I have watched a good number of your videos now. They have no relevance to me at all, with living in the UK and being in the fortunate position of having a really good local repair shop.
But I love the way you work out what's wrong and do the repairs, unless you pass it back to the customer to carry out the repairs. Having served my engineering apprenticeship 50 years ago and having worked my way up to Chief Engineer on a number of sites, I would say ALWAYS take the silver bullet. When you have the experience you have, your head is full of silver bullets, no shame at all in taking one from someone else. After all, your channel is providing lots of them for other people.
Your not cheating, your planning!
Nice to see Mrs. O.
Even without the silver bullet, you had a plan, all-be-it a longer diagnostic version, but never-the-less a plan.
Good one Mr. O! Nice quick find.
Identifix is super useful. I wish my current shop had it.
Different field here, but similar experience. Sometimes it just helps to get the proper resource to help cut time troubleshooting. It’s usually a 50/50 shot, but when someone else’s findings help, it can feel like cheating! But you get over it quick especially if it’s a known common fault for a particular brand/model. Nice work regardless!
Not cheating. You saved the customer money. And gives you more time for next problem. Your just being a good mechanic.
If used correctly as shown, identifix is a great tool. Find common broken wire locations, may let you know common industry tests may not work on a certain system, and may mention common failures and proper ways to diagnose.
You are fortunate to have Mrs. O there to answer the phone. Nothing worse than having your mind on something and get get interrupted by the phone
In heavily regulated industries like nuclear, medicine, airlines, etc, they are typically required to maintain a database of issues (referred to as Operating Experience or OPEX), their causes and the corrective actions they took to fix them. This database is then shared with their peers so they can learn from it to see if they are vulnerable to the same issue, and in cases of serious issues, take similar corrective action prior to their own potential event. So, the use of knowledge learned to save time is no shame. Don't feel dirty. You still used your brain and your own knowledge plenty in this troubleshoot. I always find your videos interesting, insightful and entertaining. Keep up the great content!
You are still the man on wiring. The web helped me fix a work van that a local shop couldn't. Erratic no start on a Dodge, who woulda thought. Bad engine ground if they would have looked. Easy fix. When the cable is green it's usually bad. Was kinda disappointed they didn't find it. I've learned a lot thanks to you.
A bad ground on a Chrysler product, surely you cannot mean it... LOL
Utilizing shared information to fix a problem is not dirty, it is smart! Don't feel dirty, enjoy looking REALLY smart to your satisfied customer forever! Thank you Dr. O.
No need to explain or apologize! You 100% did the right thing for the customer. Nobody denies you would have found the issue!!
Kudos to you, Eric, for being so proficient in using all your electronic tools! Very impressive!
That thought process is unheard of and frankly inspiring. Not many mechanics would used that approach. Kudos to you!! Denny
The solution is one google search away. Try it.
Which is ironic considering DIYers go straight to the forums.
I know someone else that has your name 😂
And you saved the guy money by stopping and asking if the guy even wanted it fixed... 😊❤
Trying to run a Garage and Mrs is making More Noise than the SHOP!!😂
Every tool, Especially Silver Bullets are what experience is all about. Time to Fix Something Else! 😎
49 years as an Electrician for GM. Our Maintenance group did this type of documenting for Electrical, Mechanical, Pneumatic, and Hydraulic Machine Failures as part of our Repair strategy.
This allowed Tradesmen who weren't familiar with a particular machine to have reference material as an aid.
Mr. O, I see you as being resourceful AND responsible... Trust but verity. I have worked in IT for almost 30 years. You are rarely the first person to have the same problem. Knowledge Bases are priceless. Couldn't ALL of the ammo in that parts cannon explosion have been tested??? Lazy and borderline fraudulent IMHO... The service being provided is to fix a problem, not replace a bunch of parts so it cost the consumer a fortune and you never did diagnose the problem...
I see that AAA battery, and.... these days I'm afraid to let ANYBODY touch my vehicle -- it's either me or Eric O, and he's not likely to show up at my door here in OKC.😂 Thanks as always, Eric!
I DONT LIKE THEM CHEAP TIE SCREW DOWN TERMINALS
HAD THEM ON MY OLD 97 DODGE KEPT ON REPLACEING THEM
USE THE SOLDER ONES
MY 2018 SUBIE ALREADY ON MY 3RD BATTERY 21K ON IT
That Triple A deal is nothing but a lack of pride in their work. Fix it once and fix it right.
I say the same thing although I took this a step further and kinda mapped out who I believe to be respectable mechanics across the country just in case. Closest I can see near you would be Omega Auto in Newton Kansas. Good ole Car Wizard. lol
a few years ago out of curiosity, i called a local shop to see what they'd charge for 2012 ford escape 3.0 valve cover gasket job. $800!!!!! at that time i was pretty well off with tools but since then, ive invested quite a bit into the specialty tools in the cases, pullers, autel mx808, testers, basically everything a mechanic has except for a lift.
bought a 2004 dodge 2500 with a shot power steering pump. the shop the seller called wanted $1100 to change it!!! no thank you. now adays, its more economical keep the vehicle you have and fix it yourself. theres a wealth of knowledge online to do pretty much any and everything on your vehicle yourself. youll can save yourself, friends and family alot of cash better used somewhere else.
thank you, eric!!!
a little tip: hit your local pawn shops for tools. they usually have a wide variety of brand name tools there for alot less than retail. if youre a haggler, you can sometimes get it for even less than the price theyre asking. prices at pawnshops arent set in stone. especially if you become a regular.
The tool that actually has been a game changer is the inspection camera recommended by Eric O. I just used it today to diagnose intake valve carbon deposits on a VW.
The Depstech? I wasn’t aware of that video but I’ve been shopping for one so I’ll find it
That screen saver at the end lol! Takes me back!
I believe "hysteresis" is the word you are looking for, but drift is more descriptive.
Eric, Don't let them give you hell, I am a IT security engineer and i spend about 30% of my time doing google searches to see if anyone else is having the same problem. Only a fool diagnoses from scratch every time. In my case if I get a silver bullet i put that couple hours saved in my pocket for when the boss yells what have you been doing all day :)
Eric O. Is the Good Ole Country Mechanic that people can trust , and can survive even when times are rough because of that justified trust!
You did not cheat u fix the problem they going to be happy.great Job
Auto shop class with Mr. And Mrs O, happy st Patrick’s day
Several years ago when IF was new, I never found it to be helpful. After this video, I am rethinking that decision.
I cringe every time I see those replacement battery cable terminals. Nothing but trouble.
Thanks for walking us through your process!
There's not a lot of people like Eric honest and very good at what he does!
Sorry, but I was glad that the thermal imiger was "dead" so you had to do things an "older school" way, one that I can relate to. Bravo! A win is a win, don't feel bad about it.
That's helpful, and a little funny you feel guilty about taking the shortest pathway to a solution. I might have left a little note inside that door, explaining why the connector is not connected so the next tech doesn't hook it back up and then end up falling down a rabbit hole. You could even leave a link to your video, ha ha. I wonder if the disconnected wires might trigger a trouble code.
I don't believe the MICU's set a code against it. They are kind of dumb modules so to speak.
Identifix makes sense - time is money. Customers are always screaming for their vehicles back. Its a great aid to the diagnostic process.
Professional garages don't always have time to spend a day chasing down every obscure fault with a vehicle.
Ohhhhhhhh the shame of it all , LOL You still the man Mr.O
I like to see what others have done to fix their issues saves me time
The old days , the old guys used to go to the shelf , grab a 25 lb manual and start reading until he found the system he was working on . Then the trouble tree and detective work to source the problem. Often , if it was common enough , the tech could pretty much get right to the issue rather then the trouble tree method. Thats where I was finding identafix a useful tool. It got you to a known issue that many techs found already. I have seen guys play Russian roulette with the parts cannon. Makes for a lazy tech . I remember when interior light switches became part of the latch on Fords. After a few dead batteries, went there first
You are awesome! It’s not cheating Eric, it’s working smarter, not harder. Great job!
I appreciate a man that asks why.
Man identifix is such a amazing tool to have. Reference it a lot. Gives you a path to look in to.
No reason to feel bad at all! How is this different than using a service bulletin? You da man.
15:29 as Mustie 1 in NH says..we're in.....
Down south the "silver bullet" programs are referred to as a "little winder to look through", not a complete answer - just a peek at "what could be". Great diag Eric O.
The beauty of mass production makes using id fix a valuable tool, when used correctly.
Yes sir cause he's honest that way ! Keep em coming Mr and Mrs. O , we'll keep watching and 👍👍'ing !
This is intuitive troubleshooting. A master t/shooter uses tools at hand and draws logical conclusions. Saves time and gets answers. No guilt no shame. Use what God gives you and the experience you gain. Great Job Logical and efficient! Bravo
I’ve always said that if someone can show me a quicker solution and still accurate then why wouldn’t I use it, great post Eric
On my wifes vehicle the rear wiper wasn't returning all the way due to sticking causing a parasitic draw amazing what a little draw will do to your battery over time!
Being a good tech is all about utilizing ALL your resources.
Your comment about the thermal imager is dead on. 😂 Every time I reach for it the battery is dead from sitting so long without being used. I have quite a few tools like that. I’ve found the pico 30 amp clamp with the larger jaw to be pretty close for parasitic draw testing.
Good job Eric I don't care if you did use one of the tools available to you as you know how to use them, keep up the good work, I love watching you work on electrical problems that other people could not fix, keep them coming.
As a 23 year master tech... Identifix is one of the best tools in my toolbox..
Hi Eric!! Been watching your videos a lot. I like your content and learn a lot. I’m tech myself in Benz dealer. We have Audi dealer next door and they had a car with battery draw, tech left maintainer on it overnight to safe the battery and what ever was killing battery overheated and car started on fire. Please DO NOT leave battery connected overnight as you can have same problem.
Nothing wrong in taking the easy way Eric. By the way love the singing. Lol