One thing I’ve learned from watching Eric is the damaged wire is almost always within an inch of the connector. It’s taught me to always look there first instead of worrying it might be somewhere buried deep in the taped up wiring harness.
Large percentage of the time, that's the case because of strain vibration, wires rubbing against the connector itself. In other cases, like Peterbilt, it's poor wire routing around the frame that causes wire rubs on the steel frame.
Almost always, not always. Had a broken wire in the middle of the harness going across the motor, under the oil pan. Same exact dtc with the same issue, Ford super duty. Broken wire and another open at a connector in between, took forever to find it.
@@uenragedbro Damn that sucks. At what point do you give up trying to find the break and just run a new wire? I totally respect the work Eric does especially on newer cars but more than a few times I’ve just spliced in some bright yellow wire with a bullet connector and just bypassed the stock connector. Not as pretty but much faster and I think fairly obvious for any mechanic after me to know what happened.
Eric, you underestimate the value of your ability to know where to look for the information you need. But you have spent years developing that ability and we all appreciate your willingness and drive to share it with us. Besides - it is just fun to watch. Thanks!
No one likes working on modern vehicles, everything in their design is counter-intuitive and inaccessible. He may not be *Eric The Car Guy* but he's still an Eric and his eyes lit up like stars when that big block Nova showed up. Men will be men.
A lifetime ago, I was the LPO in charge of the topside tech. library onboard the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70. The library had a copy or was suppose to have a copy of every manual, including the prints, onboard. If the shop's copy had been misplaced they could come up and borrow ours. The best compliment I ever overheard was said by a Chief (E7) to his new division officer as they left the office. "If Treloar doesn't have it, he'll find it." (Information) I am firmly convinced that you can fix ANYTHING, if you can have 1) the manual, 2) the parts, and 3) the time. Nobody wants to give you the time.
I fixed a Airplane fuel truck alternator issue without a book. Alternator would bench check. I took off oily worn wires. Ohm them out and move them. Voila. Open. No parts. I had a assist from a contact. Part made / installed. The only symptom I discovered was the light would go out at 8 plus volts. The F700 charged well & start on the coldest days. Aviation school taught use about voltage drops. It paid off. Rich S. USAF 81-85.
What a refreshing change to see a professional mechanic advocating DIY. That’s exactly why I watch your videos. You show the real deal with good (safe) tips on how to do these things. Great video, thanks. Keep em coming.
Your statement at the the end was 100% spot on!! 26yrs as a mechanic and I always say if I have the right info, i.e. wire diagrams etc, I can fix anything. Without it, your just headed for failure
@@gwbuilder5779no doubt…our days of reverse engineering when in a bind with no info flew out the door when part of the diagnostic information is knowing the control module’s strategy in operating the system in question. I know you have seen it from the days of a handful of powers and grounds working on battery voltage to the now of let’s see how many wire colors and networks we can fit in a tin can….with almost as many different voltages from the same power source just to mix it up a little 🤦♂️ Glad to see others that have kept up with the advances instead of letting them get to far ahead. 👍
Eric O, 65 year old here. Really enjoy your channel,look forward to it each week. I live down in northeast Texas, been in construction all my life but also pretty handy fixen stuff. If your were my neighbor we would be best buds i gar-ron -tee. I would wait and mow my yard when you do so i wouldn't bother your vids LOL. I appreciate honesty and hard work.
I think Mr. O. is a wee bit higher up the scale.....Plus he is good at explaining, taking care of the customer, digging in to the real problem and go to Wilberts. He is a bit weak on the shooting/archery competition with Mrs. O,., but hey!
Another great video, Eric. FYI, if I put my tool(s) on top of the intake manifold, my 10-minute job would turn into a 2-day job as the tool would go into a "black hole" never to be found again. Greetings from the Old Jarhead in WNC
Half-split troubleshooting and a heaping helping of perseverance. Wisdom is knowledge applied. Keep up the stellar work and thanks for letting us ride shotgun!
Amazing to be (then again, it isn't) that multiple efforts to fix this thing didn't lead to *one* person checking a wiring diagram. Great as always, Eric! 😊
This channel left me the understanding and confidence to figure out a problem someone else was having in an online fan group for an obscure type of car that I also own. They mentioned three systems that had stopped working, and the wiring diagram was available. About three minutes, and it was clear that only one wire could be the problem, and the easy check was in the small engine fuse box. Sure enough, someone had previously used too small a fuse in that circuit, and it had blown. 1) Classify the problem 2) Understand how those items work 3) Locate any commonalities 4) Break down the system into easily checkable chunks It worked perfectly and easily. Thanks SMA.
@@mikeglasgow9618 I'm an advocate of learning the concept of the piece to memorize and remembering that concept. Also, filing away in my memory that there is something I can look up on the topic, if I need to recall that topic specifically.
Eric O. 73 years old, a 55+ year diy mechanic, really enjoy your videos. I am hooked on them. I really like the wiring problem content. Thanks. Don’t have to work on rusty vehicles in Texas.
So glad that Pop Pop saw the corrosion at the connector before having to expose the PCM and then finding the corrosion. I think there would have been a lot of "off-camera" time while you exercised your bad word vocabulary. As always, thanks for the logical approach and diagnosis. For some of us it doesn't come as easy or flow through our brains as smoothly, so having you beat it into our heads over and over is very helpful. Huzzah!
I really enjoy your content, sharing your methodology with us the viewers, it's refreshing to see someone who follows logic and doesn't get distracted by the noise of the problem and gets to the WHY!
I love that video years ago when Mrs. O was in the vehicle you said "don't start it till I say to" and you where on the coil under the hood, then she honked the horn and scared the shit out of ya!! LOL it was awesome!!!
Wait a minute...Eric O says don't rely on google to fix stuff, but that is how I got here 5 or 6 years ago. Working on my GMC desperately trying to find a solution to my evap dtc. After many tries and leaving the frustration stink all over the truck, I came across SMA and he had posted a video about my very issue. Diag'ed a not evident wire intermitent connection near a connector..."There's yer problem Lady". Since that day, and becoming a subscriber and supporter, and being convince of an AllDataDIY sub, if he can do it, so can I. Thanks Mr. O, you are an inspiration and SMART! Enhance....Enhance!
@@steveo2669 bro what connector did you find a wire issue on? I've got 2 gmt800s with EVAP codes and I've checked everything i can and everything looks normal on the scanner.
@@cieges_garage3368 It was the last connector in the circuit, the connector that plugged into the solenoid had a wire that had seperated inside the insulation. No evidence on the outside insulation of an issue, but after watching SMA, I did the tug teast and saw it stretching. My DTC keep telling me it was a "small leak". Good luck.
From a guy who has been working on cars and airplanes for 35 years, your pretty sharp, and definitely have a high level of common sense. You are 100% correct on the service data, gotta have it. So don’t cut yourself short. 😊
As a prior Chrysler service tech, I've learned when I see a vehicle with a battery leaking all over the battery box and has some electrical problem, I check all the wiring near it for the crusty stuff, then check of any blown fuses. Also, back in the 70s-80s, we did get quite a bit of burnt fusible links, especially in the charging circuits.
But, you are smart enough to look it up! Smarter than all the others in your area for sure! You make it look so easy, it makes us think we can do it, like you claim! Good on you for sharing your smarts with us!
@@garyalford9394 Sadly, the parts cannon works for some repairs. At least they stopped before loading it with a new Control Module. Techs get in a hurry or lazy.
I never get more excited, until I see another SMA video released. I might not have the car,but the Sherlock diag is always genius, and if a friend has a vehicle with an issue, I always check here first because I know that the problem that they have might have already by the doctor, If my friends are thinking about buying a vehicle, I always research problem, diag, how hard it is to fix, and how much parts might cost to either sway them towards away, or towards, a vehicle. I terribly wish we had a Eric O in my state because it's hard to find a great mechanic that uses logic to find and fix a problem. From Arkansas...and if I was rich enough to send my family/friends vehicles up to him;, not his prices, but the travel, I'd do it in a heartbeat. This is the best channel, been watching for 5+ years, and Eric definitely knows diag, wiring faults, after-market garbage messing up a normal system, and everything in between.
Thanks to some of your videos about diagnosing and checking the smaller things first, I saved a neighbor about $5k by checking their fuses first when they were told they needed a new engine. And then find a wire that rubbed and shorted on the frame. It took some convincing because they have money to throw away but decent people. I just told them that it’s free for me to do, what did they have to lose.
Hi Eric O, sure enjoy your channel! Love the banter with Mrs O and yourself. Just adds to the channel so much! I am (know you dislike) impressed by how simple you go bout things. Very hard to find honest garages like yours.
Well, Mr Eric O. I've watched your TH-cam postings for years, and you seem to worry that someone is going to doubt what you say. Believe me, there will always be those who don't know anything about auto repair that think THEY are the experts. THEY are nothing but Armcair Mechanics. You're the Professional..!!!
Did you hear the new NTSB report? That Key Bridge in Baltimore got taken out by a loose wire connection on the MV DALI. Small things can cause big disasters.
"Look it up and fix it" , words to live by ! It also takes the willingness to try, most people lack this along with common sense, both I feel can't be taught. You either have it, or you don't. I was fortunate to be raised in a" worked on everything" family, never afraid to try or ask advise from someone who knew, my Grandfather was the go to guy in my life.
Love your diagnosis process. I had to pause the video when you hooked up the 4 amp test light to run it through my head how and why it was lighting based on where you had your wires hooked up. But I shortly it made sense enough to move on in the video. I appreciate this detail.
Thank you letting me learn from your experience. I worked as a mechanic many years ago in a place much like yours and I really enjoy spending time in your shop. Thanks again ...stay safe.
I have to say Eric. O nailed it at the end by saying to be sure you have service info. I can tell you that I for sure use alldata diy. I also work the aviation industry, so having all the info you need before attempting to fix it is priceless. Has helped my entire family and friends help fix their cars.
I think everyone here appreciates your honesty when it comes to working on vehicles and how with the right tools such as the diagrams etc it is possible to fix a vehicle without the parts cannon. Thanks for your great work and information. Jason from Ct
I have fallen into a cycle of diaging cars during the day, coming home and watching South Main Auto diag cars until I fall asleep, which gets me excited to go do more diag tomorrow... Thanks Eric!
did i hear the classic there's your problem lady? love it every time. since 2015 i have fixed more wires in west tn watch you and i tell my customers that there's your problem thank you
Diagnostics is what I love watching)))) I always enjoy figuring out the problem through a process. when a confusing and complicated problem comes down to a simple repair.. that is fun ))))
Eric, You're so smart! 😆 Seriously, Your talent is in making the diagnosis process logical for my limited amount of attention. "I don't know this stuff, I look it up" is how I survived 23 years of factory work - Great video.
I survived nearly 30 years as a programmer by "looking it up". I was never the smartest guy in the room but (to paraphrase Mr. O) isolation of where the problem could occur and careful examination of those pathways meant I could find and fix both design and coding mistakes that others missed. Big props to Eric for taking the time to explain and demonstrate how he became the guy that can fix what the other shops can't.
Great video. I'm a DIY'er and I have Alldata DIY subscriptions for all of my vehicles. Watching channels like this for years has taught me that service information and wiring diagrams are vital to fixing electrical problems. I tell people all of the time that are having problems with their vehicles to pay the $20 or less for a month's access so they can look up and print off the information that they need. It's well worth the cost.
Super good mechanic even though he won't say that. One thing I've learned from Eric is that I'll never move back up north. I have two cars, a truck, and a Jeep and there's not one tiny bit of rust on any of them. I hate rust!!! From Myrtle Beach, SC, thanks for another great video!
I've often wondered Eric why the manufacturers run wires around by the battery so if the battery pukes acid then it screws something up I would think they would just keep them away from the battery it was a lot of things to be much much better but they don't smart job bud you done good thank you for the video
It is a pleasure to see a real fixer who understands practical electricity (corrosion, intermittent high resistance, etc.) Good description of the logical troubleshooting method - break the system in half, then in half again. I had the opinion that some people are fixers and some are not, but your viewpoint is much healthier. "You can do this".. A fixer and a teacher; well done.
A very smart man told me years ago "A smart man is not the man that knows everything; A smart man is a man that knows where to find things. There is a book written on everything". This was way before the internet was even thought of, hence the book reference.
Thank you, Eric, for teaching me/us very necessary diag techniques. You make it look easy. You are absolutely correct about wiring schematics, diagrams.
Great explanation and a nice easy way to break up the system & keeping it simple. I think the hardest part is getting the connectors apart and removing the pins.
I could probably break that connector just trying to unclip and disconnect the two sides, let alone remove-repair-replace a connection down in that awkward hole. Backbreaking. And I have r-r 30-pin amphenol connectors in the Navy.
Seeing you use the checklight a few times here helped me understand its use a little better. Looks like you've used it a time or two seeing as how fast you checked stuff. Really appreicate the diagnostic breakdowns you show. Hard to pass up learning from someone who does this so well and explains the thought process as you go along in a way thats easy to follow for a home DIYer. Thanks man.
Thanks again Eric, I'm fascinated with automotive control systems because it is so much like the work I did for decades in industrial plants. I'll for sure keep in mind the referenced service info you mentioned. I'm a guy that will fix my stuff if I can. Which is most the time. You are just making it easier for me.
You're a wizard Mr. O. Yeah, you look stuff up but you know the where, why and how. Years ago I quit the business when electronics started becoming essential. Watching you test, trace and repair is fascinating and who knows? I might still be at it with you as my teacher. It takes more than "just looking it up", don't shortchange yourself my man.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I love watching your videos. You use of the scan tools as naturally as breathing. Having had an issue with a way simpler charging system over thirty years ago and replaced a battery and two alternators I gave up and took the car to a great repair station. When they finally found the problem and let me know what caused it and I was happy to pay them and move on. The basics still apply but your skill set enables you to make it look easy. There is something to be said for experience and keeping current to deal with the issues plaguing newer vehicles. Thanks for sharing all the great content. At this point in my life I will defer to someone more knowledgeable and call it a day 😃
Kinda funny how the service info doesn't seem to help dealers and other garages as much as it helps SMA - - hell you're not smart - it's in your blood Eric, it's privilege to watch you "ham" things out - service info or not - - - appreciate all your videos and thanks for another good one.
Disagree. I don't think it funny. The problem is the dealership Technician are not paid for troubleshooting. I doubt the dealership even pays for the service information. It's only what the dealerships provide. Toyota has their own information, and so and so forth. The so called Techs are only given so much time. If they are told to replace the alternator, that what they do. Many people go to the parts stores and have it "diagnosed". I told a person, they don't diagnose anything, they read the codes. They hook up a battery/alternator test device and tell you the parts are bad. There is no testing or diagnosis involved. Any parts stores could not have found the problem. A local customer went to a shop. They told him that the alternator was bad, he went throug 4 alternator. Because the shop told them so. I don't know what they did or testing.
Your lecture at the end made me feel like you were talking directly to me. Yes, it was kind of spooky. But I learned somethin and I might be convinced I need to hide another Harbor Freight receipt for a T-10. I do like the light you sold me on for leaks. Forgot the name of it already, but it blasts! And seems built to last. I hate the leak detectors that go off as soon as you get them anywhere under the hood. But I digress. Thanks again for re-enforcing your methods of breaking down wiring issues and splaining how the 40 or so bucks for the correct schematic is worth the dough. I know... Never trust the color codes. Until the next exciting episode...Cya.
Awesome. Being an electrical guy, I would have used an eligator clip to bypass the fault to double check there was not an extra problem AND to double check it would fix the problem. Gj btw finding a nasty wire problem.
you might say it's simple but you are methodical and have a keen eye. you go over and above. Brilliant Eric, keep it up. The other "fixers" just try to shotgun, in this case "doh it must be the alternator" when all along it was a wire!
Almost all military cable assemblies or harness require a full complement of pins/sockets. This is two fold. One is for sealing and the other is for field repairs. Wouldn’t it be nice if the auto industry was the same? Great diagnosis and repair Eric! Always learn watching you and Pine Hollow
If you’re experienced enough to look like a real intelligent person because of it . Then the hat fits so wear it. I work on cars in a place where diagnosis of a stuck brake pad makes you look clever. I’m 40 years plus into this crap and I also don’t like cars much. I rely on your technical jobs to keep my brain from putting all my accrued knowledge out to grass. Well done fella you keep me current on some great work
one of the best videos i have ever seen on all of youtube was when you covered service info and it truly saved my butt i had a broken wire in a main harness going from the front to the back and the information enabled me to run a new wire from the pcm to the purge valve on my 06 explorer apparently it’s very common for this to happen and the service information from ford also allowed me to see i needed some software updates so i had ford take care of this
I live in Texas and I think if I ever had a problem with my car I could not fix I think I would be willing to drive to NY and have you take a look. Really like watching your channel.
One thing I’ve learned from watching Eric is the damaged wire is almost always within an inch of the connector. It’s taught me to always look there first instead of worrying it might be somewhere buried deep in the taped up wiring harness.
Hahaha same 😂 wire issues or I should say the fear of myself breaking a wire is always a stressor 😢
Large percentage of the time, that's the case because of strain vibration, wires rubbing against the connector itself. In other cases, like Peterbilt, it's poor wire routing around the frame that causes wire rubs on the steel frame.
Almost always, not always. Had a broken wire in the middle of the harness going across the motor, under the oil pan. Same exact dtc with the same issue, Ford super duty. Broken wire and another open at a connector in between, took forever to find it.
@@uenragedbro Damn that sucks. At what point do you give up trying to find the break and just run a new wire? I totally respect the work Eric does especially on newer cars but more than a few times I’ve just spliced in some bright yellow wire with a bullet connector and just bypassed the stock connector. Not as pretty but much faster and I think fairly obvious for any mechanic after me to know what happened.
🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤@@JosephArata
I appreciate you talking to us DIYers and giving us tips and tricks along the way.
Eric, you underestimate the value of your ability to know where to look for the information you need. But you have spent years developing that ability and we all appreciate your willingness and drive to share it with us. Besides - it is just fun to watch. Thanks!
knowing how to research is what hes memorized. confidence in diag skills.
You program ECU for 92 Buick?
The compliment about you being smart is not so much what you know but your ability to interpret the service data and wiring diagrams
I agree, it is an interpretation of data and how it is used.
Like videos
The best Not-Smart mechanic on the Tube.
What?
@@imtheeastgermanguy5431 Chuck was being sarcastic.
@@Supersonicff-dw6bs ohh sorry
Maybe the best humble and generous teacher on the web.
Yes it was sarcastic. In the video he said he wasn't smart, just knows how to look things up. Well I think he's the best out there.
“ I don’t even like cars “ Brilliant . Good attitude to work and home life 😊
But he *especially* doesn't like big trucks... childhood trauma I think.
No one likes working on modern vehicles, everything in their design is counter-intuitive and inaccessible.
He may not be *Eric The Car Guy* but he's still an Eric and his eyes lit up like stars when that big block Nova showed up. Men will be men.
@@scowell See he is smart ! big trucks suck !!
I'm a farmer and I hate farm equipment , especially of a certain colour and no its not green .
A lifetime ago, I was the LPO in charge of the topside tech. library onboard the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70. The library had a copy or was suppose to have a copy of every manual, including the prints, onboard. If the shop's copy had been misplaced they could come up and borrow ours. The best compliment I ever overheard was said by a Chief (E7) to his new division officer as they left the office. "If Treloar doesn't have it, he'll find it." (Information) I am firmly convinced that you can fix ANYTHING, if you can have 1) the manual, 2) the parts, and 3) the time. Nobody wants to give you the time.
Retired navy. The good texhs could. School techs... Ify
I have to add teacher was Bruce Rose. And amazing.
In 1971 was taught 6 step troubleshooting process. Also, if your memory is crap, take notes.
did you know ther is a Chilton's repair manual for Nimitz class carriers??? ISYN!!!
I fixed a Airplane fuel truck alternator issue without a book. Alternator would bench check. I took off oily worn wires. Ohm them out and move them. Voila. Open. No parts. I had a assist from a contact. Part made / installed. The only symptom I discovered was the light would go out at 8 plus volts. The F700 charged well & start on the coldest days. Aviation school taught use about voltage drops. It paid off. Rich S. USAF 81-85.
What a refreshing change to see a professional mechanic advocating DIY. That’s exactly why I watch your videos. You show the real deal with good (safe) tips on how to do these things. Great video, thanks. Keep em coming.
@@Tomthumb222 Yes he does show us good safe tips. And you gotta love his choice of safety squints! I have the exact same pair! 🤦🤔🤷🤣🏁🇺🇸 Later! J Poll.
Ya know, I fixed my '03 silverado from a video of yours that you uploaded 9 years ago!
Thank you sir.
Your statement at the the end was 100% spot on!! 26yrs as a mechanic and I always say if I have the right info, i.e. wire diagrams etc, I can fix anything. Without it, your just headed for failure
50 plus years fixing stuff here and the right information will always lead you to a positive solution.👌
@@gwbuilder5779no doubt…our days of reverse engineering when in a bind with no info flew out the door when part of the diagnostic information is knowing the control module’s strategy in operating the system in question. I know you have seen it from the days of a handful of powers and grounds working on battery voltage to the now of let’s see how many wire colors and networks we can fit in a tin can….with almost as many different voltages from the same power source just to mix it up a little 🤦♂️ Glad to see others that have kept up with the advances instead of letting them get to far ahead. 👍
@dieselsmiths
I have a modern 1990 F250 7.3 IDI diesel that has one wire to control the fuel shut-off.😂🤣
Famous last words - "I don't even like cars". Say what? Your troubleshooting skills are stellar !
Another one of Eric's classes on auto repair.
A true pleasure to watch.😊
Eric O, 65 year old here. Really enjoy your channel,look forward to it each week. I live down in northeast Texas, been in construction all my life but also pretty handy fixen stuff. If your were my neighbor we would be best buds i gar-ron -tee. I would wait and mow my yard when you do so i wouldn't bother your vids LOL. I appreciate honesty and hard work.
I wish the train conductor thought that way.
Guru like diagnosis once again Eric. The man the myth the legend 🙌 all hail SMA. 😆
if you keep this up he'll have to get a new ( bigger ) cap.
"you look it up and you fix it" Famous words from Mr O.👍👍
Eric is very good at looking up things,and fixing things. Probably better than 90% of others in the car repair industry.
I think Mr. O. is a wee bit higher up the scale.....Plus he is good at explaining, taking care of the customer, digging in to the real problem and go to Wilberts. He is a bit weak on the shooting/archery competition with Mrs. O,., but hey!
Good job Eric! You're a real mechanic, not just a parts changer.
Another great video, Eric. FYI, if I put my tool(s) on top of the intake manifold, my 10-minute job would turn into a 2-day job as the tool would go into a "black hole" never to be found again. Greetings from the Old Jarhead in WNC
Best value on the Tube for education, entertainment and general cleverness. Thanks again Eric! I never fail to learn something.
Strait talk and common sense....wish there were more like you brother. Keep up the great work.
Being humble is another reason I like your show. Since cars are not what they were in my youth 40 years ago. Thank you for your humbleness
I've worked on cars since they had points and condensor.
Following your methodology has helped me in finding "CAN", faults.
KEEP IT UP Eric👍🧑🔧
These young mechanics don't know what points and condesors are.😅
It doesnt matter, they are obsolete and no longer in use.
Half-split troubleshooting and a heaping helping of perseverance. Wisdom is knowledge applied. Keep up the stellar work and thanks for letting us ride shotgun!
Amazing to be (then again, it isn't) that multiple efforts to fix this thing didn't lead to *one* person checking a wiring diagram. Great as always, Eric! 😊
Gotta love it, "I'm not Smart, I don't even like cars, j just look things up"😂
This channel left me the understanding and confidence to figure out a problem someone else was having in an online fan group for an obscure type of car that I also own. They mentioned three systems that had stopped working, and the wiring diagram was available. About three minutes, and it was clear that only one wire could be the problem, and the easy check was in the small engine fuse box. Sure enough, someone had previously used too small a fuse in that circuit, and it had blown.
1) Classify the problem
2) Understand how those items work
3) Locate any commonalities
4) Break down the system into easily checkable chunks
It worked perfectly and easily. Thanks SMA.
Better too small a fuse than too large. Melted wiring harness is easy to spot, maybe impossible to fix.
"Don't memorize something you can look up." Very sound advice. So true.
@guyconnell2250 my civics teacher would disagree. She made us memorize the Preamble to the Constitution. I guess she never met Eric....lol
@@mikeglasgow9618 I'm an advocate of learning the concept of the piece to memorize and remembering that concept. Also, filing away in my memory that there is something I can look up on the topic, if I need to recall that topic specifically.
Eric, I think you are a bit humble. Knowing you need to look things up at the start of a job is actually the definition of being smart. 😊
Eric O. 73 years old, a 55+ year diy mechanic, really enjoy your videos. I am hooked on them. I really like the wiring problem content. Thanks. Don’t have to work on rusty vehicles in Texas.
So glad that Pop Pop saw the corrosion at the connector before having to expose the PCM and then finding the corrosion. I think there would have been a lot of "off-camera" time while you exercised your bad word vocabulary.
As always, thanks for the logical approach and diagnosis. For some of us it doesn't come as easy or flow through our brains as smoothly, so having you beat it into our heads over and over is very helpful.
Huzzah!
You succeed every time because you take the time where the others are only concerned about the revolving door. Great job as always, thanks!
I really enjoy your content, sharing your methodology with us the viewers, it's refreshing to see someone who follows logic and doesn't get distracted by the noise of the problem and gets to the WHY!
I love that video years ago when Mrs. O was in the vehicle you said "don't start it till I say to" and you where on the coil under the hood, then she honked the horn and scared the shit out of ya!! LOL it was awesome!!!
😅
The thorough check and understanding of the system for the win!
Wait a minute...Eric O says don't rely on google to fix stuff, but that is how I got here 5 or 6 years ago. Working on my GMC desperately trying to find a solution to my evap dtc. After many tries and leaving the frustration stink all over the truck, I came across SMA and he had posted a video about my very issue. Diag'ed a not evident wire intermitent connection near a connector..."There's yer problem Lady". Since that day, and becoming a subscriber and supporter, and being convince of an AllDataDIY sub, if he can do it, so can I. Thanks Mr. O, you are an inspiration and SMART! Enhance....Enhance!
@@steveo2669 bro what connector did you find a wire issue on? I've got 2 gmt800s with EVAP codes and I've checked everything i can and everything looks normal on the scanner.
@@cieges_garage3368 It was the last connector in the circuit, the connector that plugged into the solenoid had a wire that had seperated inside the insulation. No evidence on the outside insulation of an issue, but after watching SMA, I did the tug teast and saw it stretching. My DTC keep telling me it was a "small leak". Good luck.
AlldataDiy is a must have if you wrench on your vehicle IMO.
From a guy who has been working on cars and airplanes for 35 years, your pretty sharp, and definitely have a high level of common sense. You are 100% correct on the service data, gotta have it. So don’t cut yourself short. 😊
Eric O and Ray are the best honest mechanics online. Thanks for all you do.
Ray has gotten much better since he stopped imitating telephones....
I like Ray, seems like a nice guy. And he is entertaining. But Eric O is in a different category of excellence over Ray.
Don't forget schrodingers box channel!
@@guythejedi scanner danner
As a prior Chrysler service tech, I've learned when I see a vehicle with a battery leaking all over the battery box and has some electrical problem, I check all the wiring near it for the crusty stuff, then check of any blown fuses. Also, back in the 70s-80s, we did get quite a bit of burnt fusible links, especially in the charging circuits.
I remember the early 2000's Vans dripping battery acid down the harness.
You are smart in that you understand how electronics work and know how to read a wiring diagram. Your skill with those aspects of cars is impressive.
But, you are smart enough to look it up! Smarter than all the others in your area for sure! You make it look so easy, it makes us think we can do it, like you claim! Good on you for sharing your smarts with us!
Yes you did not buy another alternator like the others !!
@@garyalford9394 Sadly, the parts cannon works for some repairs. At least they stopped before loading it with a new Control Module. Techs get in a hurry or lazy.
I never get more excited, until I see another SMA video released. I might not have the car,but the Sherlock diag is always genius, and if a friend has a vehicle with an issue, I always check here first because I know that the problem that they have might have already by the doctor, If my friends are thinking about buying a vehicle, I always research problem, diag, how hard it is to fix, and how much parts might cost to either sway them towards away, or towards, a vehicle. I terribly wish we had a Eric O in my state because it's hard to find a great mechanic that uses logic to find and fix a problem. From Arkansas...and if I was rich enough to send my family/friends vehicles up to him;, not his prices, but the travel, I'd do it in a heartbeat. This is the best channel, been watching for 5+ years, and Eric definitely knows diag, wiring faults, after-market garbage messing up a normal system, and everything in between.
Thanks to some of your videos about diagnosing and checking the smaller things first, I saved a neighbor about $5k by checking their fuses first when they were told they needed a new engine. And then find a wire that rubbed and shorted on the frame. It took some convincing because they have money to throw away but decent people. I just told them that it’s free for me to do, what did they have to lose.
3 videos in one evening! My wife is gonna be upset at me tonight! 😂
And now it's 4
@@The98devilleyeah I’m gonna be sleeping with the dogs!🐕
@tluperz400 wives needs to understand that some things are more important to us guys 😂
Lol!!
😂😂😂
Eric, I am really impressed by your general troubleshooting.
Hi Eric O, sure enjoy your channel! Love the banter with Mrs O and yourself. Just adds to the channel so much! I am (know you dislike) impressed by how simple you go bout things. Very hard to find honest garages like yours.
Well, Mr Eric O. I've watched your TH-cam postings for years, and you seem to worry that someone is going to doubt what you say. Believe me, there will always be those who don't know anything about auto repair that think THEY are the experts. THEY are nothing but Armcair Mechanics. You're the Professional..!!!
Did you hear the new NTSB report? That Key Bridge in Baltimore got taken out by a loose wire connection on the MV DALI. Small things can cause big disasters.
"Look it up and fix it" , words to live by ! It also takes the willingness to try, most people lack this along with common sense, both I feel can't be taught. You either have it, or you don't. I was fortunate to be raised in a" worked on everything" family, never afraid to try or ask advise from someone who knew, my Grandfather was the go to guy in my life.
Love your diagnosis process. I had to pause the video when you hooked up the 4 amp test light to run it through my head how and why it was lighting based on where you had your wires hooked up. But I shortly it made sense enough to move on in the video. I appreciate this detail.
Thank you letting me learn from your experience. I worked as a mechanic many years ago in a place much like yours and I really enjoy spending time in your shop. Thanks again ...stay safe.
I have to say Eric. O nailed it at the end by saying to be sure you have service info. I can tell you that I for sure use alldata diy. I also work the aviation industry, so having all the info you need before attempting to fix it is priceless. Has helped my entire family and friends help fix their cars.
I think everyone here appreciates your honesty when it comes to working on vehicles and how with the right tools such as the diagrams etc it is possible to fix a vehicle without the parts cannon. Thanks for your great work and information. Jason from Ct
Ford offered service pins at one point a few years ago. But they don’t anymore. I still have a nice drawer of Mazda pins which come in handy.
I have fallen into a cycle of diaging cars during the day, coming home and watching South Main Auto diag cars until I fall asleep, which gets me excited to go do more diag tomorrow... Thanks Eric!
“I know how to fix things”. That is probably the understatement of the decade. Thanks for taking us along on another great diagnostic journey Mr O
Eric has taught me so much about diagnostics and where to look for failure points. Great to hear Mrs. O again. Thanks for everything you do.
Another top notch video. Instead of people saying you are so "smart" they should say you are so "experienced"
did i hear the classic there's your problem lady? love it every time. since 2015 i have fixed more wires in west tn watch you and i tell my customers that there's your problem thank you
Diagnostics is what I love watching)))) I always enjoy figuring out the problem through a process. when a confusing and complicated problem comes down to a simple repair.. that is fun ))))
That had to be the greatest quote ever.
Mr O "Dont you watch my channel?"
Mrs O "No I live your channel"
Positively brilliant!
Eric, You're so smart! 😆 Seriously, Your talent is in making the diagnosis process logical for my limited amount of attention. "I don't know this stuff, I look it up" is how I survived 23 years of factory work - Great video.
I survived nearly 30 years as a programmer by "looking it up". I was never the smartest guy in the room but (to paraphrase Mr. O) isolation of where the problem could occur and careful examination of those pathways meant I could find and fix both design and coding mistakes that others missed. Big props to Eric for taking the time to explain and demonstrate how he became the guy that can fix what the other shops can't.
Great video. I'm a DIY'er and I have Alldata DIY subscriptions for all of my vehicles. Watching channels like this for years has taught me that service information and wiring diagrams are vital to fixing electrical problems. I tell people all of the time that are having problems with their vehicles to pay the $20 or less for a month's access so they can look up and print off the information that they need. It's well worth the cost.
You are the most entertaining diagnostician I have seen. You make boring details and procedures fun to watch.
Super good mechanic even though he won't say that. One thing I've learned from Eric is that I'll never move back up north. I have two cars, a truck, and a Jeep and there's not one tiny bit of rust on any of them. I hate rust!!! From Myrtle Beach, SC, thanks for another great video!
I've often wondered Eric why the manufacturers run wires around by the battery so if the battery pukes acid then it screws something up I would think they would just keep them away from the battery it was a lot of things to be much much better but they don't smart job bud you done good thank you for the video
They work for the warranty period. After that, it's not their problem!
You are a diagnostic genius in my book Eric!!! Your modesty is admirable.
"Oh Eric, you're so smart!" 🤣
But here is the reality, you are smart and good at figuring things out.
It is a pleasure to see a real fixer who understands practical electricity (corrosion, intermittent high resistance, etc.) Good description of the logical troubleshooting method - break the system in half, then in half again. I had the opinion that some people are fixers and some are not, but your viewpoint is much healthier. "You can do this".. A fixer and a teacher; well done.
A very smart man told me years ago "A smart man is not the man that knows everything; A smart man is a man that knows where to find things. There is a book written on everything". This was way before the internet was even thought of, hence the book reference.
Thank you, Eric, for teaching me/us very necessary diag techniques. You make it look easy. You are absolutely correct about wiring schematics, diagrams.
Great explanation and a nice easy way to break up the system & keeping it simple. I think the hardest part is getting the connectors apart and removing the pins.
I could probably break that connector just trying to unclip and disconnect the two sides, let alone remove-repair-replace a connection down in that awkward hole. Backbreaking. And I have r-r 30-pin amphenol connectors in the Navy.
Seeing you use the checklight a few times here helped me understand its use a little better. Looks like you've used it a time or two seeing as how fast you checked stuff.
Really appreicate the diagnostic breakdowns you show. Hard to pass up learning from someone who does this so well and explains the thought process as you go along in a way thats easy to follow for a home DIYer. Thanks man.
Awesome save on re-pinning the connector! 😁 Thanks Eric! 😁
Corrosion at the wire in the connector area. Gee. What a surprise! New connector at the alternator....Nice.
Nice fix Mr. O.
Truth be told, Mrs O knows all the fix it answers. Notice after she comes out and "chats" it gets fixed.
Quiet, 7AM, coffee and this channel....awesome.
Thanks again Eric, I'm fascinated with automotive control systems because it is so much like the work I did for decades in industrial plants. I'll for sure keep in mind the referenced service info you mentioned. I'm a guy that will fix my stuff if I can. Which is most the time. You are just making it easier for me.
You're a wizard Mr. O. Yeah, you look stuff up but you know the where, why and how. Years ago I quit the business when electronics started becoming essential. Watching you test, trace and repair is fascinating and who knows? I might still be at it with you as my teacher. It takes more than "just looking it up", don't shortchange yourself my man.
Thought my tinnitus was acting up during the first 15 minutes of this video! 😁
Thank you for this Eric. '18 F150 here yesterday with virtually the same repair.
Eric O. - the K9 of finding the crusties... I swear you can smell em from 15 miles away! One hell of a fix.
Great job, Eric! You do have a special gift for finding corroded wires in weird places. And "no parts required" for the repair :-)
Oh Eric you are so Smart..... because you know how to read .....the service data.
Eric is so smart... Because he knows where to look for help. 👍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I love watching your videos. You use of the scan tools as naturally as breathing. Having had an issue with a way simpler charging system over thirty years ago and replaced a battery and two alternators I gave up and took the car to a great repair station. When they finally found the problem and let me know what caused it and I was happy to pay them and move on. The basics still apply but your skill set enables you to make it look easy. There is something to be said for experience and keeping current to deal with the issues plaguing newer vehicles. Thanks for sharing all the great content. At this point in my life I will defer to someone more knowledgeable and call it a day 😃
Hands down the best in the real world of auto mechanics
"I don't even like cars." - Hahahaha
Good stuff Eric. Thanks for sharing this repair with us.
Kinda funny how the service info doesn't seem to help dealers and other garages as much as it helps SMA - - hell you're not smart - it's in your blood Eric, it's privilege to watch you "ham" things out - service info or not - - - appreciate all your videos and thanks for another good one.
Disagree.
I don't think it funny.
The problem is the dealership Technician are not paid for troubleshooting.
I doubt the dealership even pays for the service information.
It's only what the dealerships provide. Toyota has their own information, and so and so forth.
The so called Techs are only given so much time.
If they are told to replace the alternator, that what they do.
Many people go to the parts stores and have it "diagnosed".
I told a person, they don't diagnose anything, they read the codes.
They hook up a battery/alternator test device and tell you the parts are bad.
There is no testing or diagnosis involved.
Any parts stores could not have found the problem.
A local customer went to a shop. They told him that the alternator was bad, he went throug 4 alternator. Because the shop told them so.
I don't know what they did or testing.
Your lecture at the end made me feel like you were talking directly to me. Yes, it was kind of spooky. But I learned somethin and I might be convinced I need to hide another Harbor Freight receipt for a T-10. I do like the light you sold me on for leaks. Forgot the name of it already, but it blasts! And seems built to last. I hate the leak detectors that go off as soon as you get them anywhere under the hood. But I digress. Thanks again for re-enforcing your methods of breaking down wiring issues and splaining how the 40 or so bucks for the correct schematic is worth the dough. I know... Never trust the color codes. Until the next exciting episode...Cya.
Those sniffers are hilariously useless, they go off from the slightest movement and detect moisture that exists wherever you might use them.
Awesome. Being an electrical guy, I would have used an eligator clip to bypass the fault to double check there was not an extra problem AND to double check it would fix the problem. Gj btw finding a nasty wire problem.
Knowing what to look up and where to start makes you a great mechanic
you might say it's simple but you are methodical and have a keen eye. you go over and above. Brilliant Eric, keep it up. The other "fixers" just try to shotgun, in this case "doh it must be the alternator" when all along it was a wire!
❤ Hmm why do they go elsewhere and fire the parts cannon before coming to see you? SMA for the win!
But the other guy said he can do it less, except that it ends up being more and still isn't fixed
If you think a good mechanic is expensive you should see how much a cheap one will cost you 😉
Almost all military cable assemblies or harness require a full complement of pins/sockets. This is two fold. One is for sealing and the other is for field repairs.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the auto industry was the same?
Great diagnosis and repair Eric!
Always learn watching you and Pine Hollow
The bean counters would not allow that. Gosh, it might cost an extra 10 cents per connector.
@@johncooper4637
They (auto makers) probably pay extra to have someone from the supplier (China) remove the extra contacts from the package 😁
Guys who don’t like cars make the best mechanics 🤗
If you’re experienced enough to look like a real intelligent person because of it . Then the hat fits so wear it. I work on cars in a place where diagnosis of a stuck brake pad makes you look clever. I’m 40 years plus into this crap and I also don’t like cars much. I rely on your technical jobs to keep my brain from putting all my accrued knowledge out to grass. Well done fella you keep me current on some great work
Eric
another Masterclass
your customers are very lucky indeed…..
Why did he not repair that other bad green wire on that same connector? Am I the only one that saw that?
one of the best videos i have ever seen on all of youtube was when you covered service info and it truly saved my butt i had a broken wire in a main harness going from the front to the back and the information enabled me to run a new wire from the pcm to the purge valve on my 06 explorer apparently it’s very common for this to happen and the service information from ford also allowed me to see i needed some software updates so i had ford take care of this
Excellent diagnosis & repair!
I live in Texas and I think if I ever had a problem with my car I could not fix I think I would be willing to drive to NY and have you take a look. Really like watching your channel.