Hey Eric, I guess this was a freebie job because the money life was not on haha great Diagnostics. Sometimes you get so wrapped up and diagnosing a problem and you don't go back to the basics
Before this video I thought of fuses as just a closed switch with no (measurable) resistance so wouldn't have thought of measuring across them for a voltage drop... I guess now that I think about it it makes sense they have to have a small resistance as otherwise they wouldn't heat and melt when there is over-current. Today's random thing I learned.
Closed switches also have a measurable resistance, everything does (except for superconductors, but unless you start working on MRI machines and stuff, you'll never have to worry about that)
Every current causes a voltage drop, it’s just a consequence of the current flow to equalize charges between poles. It’s the electrical equivalent to water pressure being reduced when you open a valve.
Exactly right. The same principal is used for the precision measurement of current. A shunt with a very low but precise known resistance is installed in series with the load to be measured. The voltage across the shunt, which is directly proportionate to the current flowing through it, is measured using the appropriate voltmeter, and is converted to amperes using ohm’s law where the current to be measured is equal to the voltage across the shunt divided by the shunt resistance.
After 20 years of doing my brakes wrong, I now do them like Eric tells us, result, I never have to touch them between pad changes, before I’d always have to disassemble and re assemble (making the same mistakes) every few thousand miles. Listen to him, he knows what he’s doing.
Dude Eric congratulations on having over 500k subscribers!!! That is amazing to see such a good humble guy achieve success and have the huge viewership you do entertaining, helping, and teaching the regular people, technicians, or fellow automotive enthusiast's who enjoy these videos very very much! Best wishes to you and the whole SMA family!
Absolutely informational, I’m currently in my electrical class at UTI. My next class is my final so this was perfect timing and amazing to see it from you
not necessarily over-complicate, just that people like you and me ANALYZE OBJECTIVELY these techy things....'it is what it is' not over-think the capability of a project, circuit, wireing harness, etc.
Eric .... YOU are the man. You said "I hope you learned something". I did which is almost always the case when watching your vids. Thanks once again. Btw, now that it's cold (even in Arizona) I stay warm by proudly wearing my South Main Auto hoodie!
It's my car! Mines the older style. The starting in neutral is a sign that the neutral safety switch is going, then she's going to lose reverse lights when in reverse. I love this channel always a blast to see new content!
@@machintelligence yeah, they are too expensive for the age. Luckily when I swapped my jeep from 2wd to 4x4, $400 got me a transmission, axles, lift kit, extra power steering pump, extra bell housing bolts, extra torque converter... You get the idea.
@@Kiktohero4 I might guess that you did the swap after 2008. After the cash for clunkers program there were a lot of Jeeps with (deliberately) seized engines in junk yards that had good running gear. Here in Colorado you almost never see a 2wd Jeep. Also the older ones don't rust out like in the Midwest.
Your approach to finding parasitic draw really helped me find one in my wife's 1989 Ford Probe. Took the same approach you did to finding what fuse had current flowing. That allowed me to narrow it down to the radio. Turned out that the motor for her retractable antenna was drawing current. That antenna got broken off years ago so it didn't hurt anything to just disconnect the motor and problem was fixed. As a DIYer I would not have had a clue how to figure that out without watching your video.
I've been trying to show guys the voltage drop method for over two years since I joined my place now, but they look at me like I have 5 heads. Low and behold gm just put out a video for techs that their new preferred method is a sensitive amp clamp and voltage drop across fuses. Made me chuckle. Great explanation Eric
You’re a great teacher as you have taught me to see things like you do. First thing I thought when there was the current spike was oxygen sensor heater! Thanks Professor O!
Being an EE grad, the first thing I thought of was "It's a capacitive load." I forgot that there would be no constant draw if that were true. I have much to learn Master O.! 8-))
Your diagnosis is impressive! The episode gets "boring" for a KO in few seconds -- I was expecting cursing, hair pulling and tons of frustration. Seriously you were spot on from the start and I learned a lot.
As you probably already know, XJ's have a common issue with the neutral safety switches failing. I enjoyed watching the process and the white board discussion.
Yep, this is a common issue on all Jeeps with the AW4 transmission. Most of the time a good cleaning of the contacts inside will do the trick. The reverse lights are also controlled by that NSS, so if the reverse lights on an XJ or MJ don't work that's a good place to look.
Eric O. edumacating the masses. Couldn't be more better than that. Nice tutorial. Found that my factory AM/FM radio was eating my battery by the same method. It works! It's logical. Excellent.
Had a similar problem last month. My nephew had his truck towed over for a no start. I figured out the starter was bad, but after checking powers and ground at the starter found the power on at all times. Finally figured out he had installed different incorrect starter relay that allowed constant power. As a diy guy it took me a bit but I figured it out. I’m sure the knowledge I’ve gained from you and others helped.
You have enough work as it is... Knowing my own limitations, similar to people everywhere, do you have a video on how to do effective You Tube/Internet searches? Like searching to find, say, those 3 SMA videos on parasitic current draws?
It is amazing the amount of knowledge in different fields of knowledge Eric has. In order to be such a great mechanic he has to also be a master electrician. Jeeze louise, he knows a lot.
During your white board explanation I norticed on its right side a decal for farmboy30117s TH-cam channel for farming and automotive work and I figured if YOU like him enough to have that decal there then he is good enough for me and he now has me for a subscriber. This was another excellent video showcasing diagnostic techniques thus getting right to the source. 👍
Thank you Mr O for the time and effort you put into videos for us, I've thoroughly enjoyed learning more about cars from you, not to mention you're incredibly entertaining!
I've been an EE for over forty years and I just learned today that PowerPro made a chart of fuse size vs voltage drop to determine current draw.... thanks! Printed out & placed in tool box!!
You sir are an excellent technician. I would pay double prices to have you available in my area. I was unaware of the voltage across the fuse tip. Thats a good one to know for parasitic loss. Thanks
This would make a great test for prospective employees to check their logical deduction skills, understanding of electrical circuits, and schematic reading ability. Might weed out the weak ones. One thing is certain, you have a real gift for teaching.
I've always wanted to be a mechanic since I could remember, but unfortunately I procrastinated through my life. Now I'm 40 years old and I'll be attending Lincoln Tech next month. Two very talented, knowledgeable and captivating mechanics have reignited my spark to become what I always wanted to be, which is a mechanic. Those 2 mechanics are Joe from JOE'S AUTO ELECTRIC and the man himself, ERIC from SOUTH MAIN AUTO. I want to thank you so much for making me realize it's never too late. The only thing is that I know I could only learn, but so much in school and even though they have hands-on, the hands-on out in the world is more to grasp. Yes, he would be a great instructor.
Well done buddy. I thought for sure when I saw the stray wire coming off the battery and the remote start fob that it was going to be an after-market accessory that was goofing up. Nope!
Great job, I worked at relay factory years ago, Auto companies have relay designed for a certain lifetime range,we could make a relay at whatever length of time for reliability required. Best relays have gold plated contacts,next is silver but most are made cheaper equals to short life. Thank you for all your videos
I love my Ut210e clamp meter for parasitic draws, no battery disconnect necessary (and I know you can sneak the probes in under the terminal, but sometimes even the best intentions fail due to unforeseen circumstances!) and also - NO FUSES :)
My 2012 Chevy Colorado has a similar problem since new, battery dies in a couple of days. When it was still under warranty I had GM tow it to the dealer for repairs. The dealer then tells me the battery was bad. The next weekend the same problem. Took it back to the dealer, they then told me I don’t drive the vehicle enough.😂🤪🤪. So that was a dead end. It ended up that it was the BCM. I installed a 70 amp battery disconnect relay, works great!😁
@@BobPegram Fortunately there is no conservation law for knowledge unlike for example energy, momentum or even dirt! Someone can get loads smarter without diminishing anyone else's capacity.
Your diagnosing technique is very scientific and well explained. You should teach because you give those young padawans (star wars lingo) an inspiration.
Who doesn't like Mary Ann more? That actress had more sex appeal in her little finger than "Ginger" had in her whole body! Playing against her nature just enhanced it.
Great diagnosis as always!! On a side note: How thoughtful of the guys at FCA to place the reservoir for the windshield washer LITERALLY NEXT TO THE FUSEBOX, another quality product FCA.
“Gimme a match book and a nail file”...brings back memories, but I never had a nail file. If they needed to be cleaned up, just use the striker on the match book!
Strange as it is I have had a fuse causing a draw, cheap fuse had corroded and the goo caused enough of a current path to another point in the box it created a drain. Was a pain to find because the drain didn't stop with the fuse out. Wasn't until I used a thermal camera and saw the heat under the fuse that it showed up.
Enjoy watching you breathing life into vehicles with mileage/age that would cause many of them to be sold to an auto recycling yard. You are preventing unnecessary waste.
When I bought my used 2002 Saturn, the dealer told me something his mechanic told him, that Saturns that won't shift may have a defective $25 relay that's hidden under the batter tray on cars like mine. Change the relay, fix the car!
Just bought a MK2 Supra damn thing dies every night gotta take it to a shop to get it fixed thanks for giving me some knowledge on this really needed it.
Learned to drive on a 2000 Cherokee it only had oil changes and a water pump with 200k + miles that was bought new. Would still probably have it if my sister didn't wreck it a couple years ago sliding out on wet deicer. Probably one of the best vehicles ever built.
I'm still chuckling at the "...that's why I don't work at a relay rebuilding factory folks!" - good craich! - Best wishes from the Highlands of Scotland. :)
I would always use the term IDVIP which means inspect ...diagnose ...verify ....isolate ...pinpoint Pretty much what you said at the white board thanks Eric ..keep cranking out these videos Brother as I tune in too each and everyone of them SMA Rocks!
Well, to a certain degree you would have been right, since Eric verified the draw by pulling the fuse. But it saves a little time just measuring on the fuse itself to start.
@@SouthMainAuto Erik! We was having a lean supply in former USSR - no access to NAPA or Autozone, Rockauto etc. As my grandma told: Time what You have equal money what You don`t! - Do not pay to Dorman - keep in Your pocket!
Whoa, flashback! The combination of those replacement battery cable terminals, a new Champion/Exide battery, and car trouble. I've seen that combination too many times. Nicely done! By the way, if you're considering taking non-automotive requests. Please put me down for a video that covers building an outdoor skating rink, on a slope, for the kids.
Think that was the best explanation on the parasitic draw by going along the fuses that I ever have seen. It certainly clicked more for me, and with newer and newer cars turning up that’s a big help
I got a Flir brand multimeter and the thermal image cam has saved heaps of time troubleshooting bad relays and short-stop breakers. She is hell on batteries though lol.
when i found out years ago that you could do a millivolt test across the fuses to find draws in a circuit it has been my go to non evasive test .... as you said with newer cars and modules staying on for a time ... you do have to remember even the hood , door and trunk depending where the battery hides ,have switches that can give false readings .... thanks from one E to another E .....
I was thinking some kind of component with an element. Being from a diesel background I didn't think about oxygen sensors. I'm so glad I found this channel, your definitely helping my diagnostic skills. Greetings from Australia.
@@SouthMainAuto Hmmm LenC could have a point, albeit a long shot. If the relay's switching the power side of the heater, and there's an intermittent short to ground, that might weld the relay contact. But you'd think it would also normally blow a fuse, so it would need to be just the right amount of intermittent resistance or time.
Old school put a test light between the positive terminal and the battery positive cable When the test light goes on Start pulling fuses to find the circuit. Find the short in that circuit
I had a baaaaad time with what I thought was a parasitic draw from a remote start system. Before I went down the electrical gremlin path I took my battery in to Canadian Tire to be tested and they gave me a printout of a excellent condition battery. After a month and a half of electrical diagnosing including a complete wire harness inspection and rewire of the remote start system (thinking I had an intermittent parasitic draw that I just couldn't catch). I replaced the battery and that was the issue. Even though the test came back excellent, the battery wouldn't hold a charge from alternator long and 1 crank would drop the resting voltage from 12.6 ish to 12.2 ish volts and the starter would click, click, click. Important to note that it's been fairly warm here in Canada until recently, so the temp change was a huge factor in the battery behavior. Always trust your gut even if the tester says it's a good battery
I like that advice. Wherever ya *wanna* start, start from t' other end, because it is always the last or nex ta last place you'll look. (But sometimes it is soothing for the OCD to start from where you wanna start, even if you know the problem will be at the last one you check😁)
Nice diag tricks for sure, always learning with every videos. It does help. You always have a JEEP hat when workin on everything and anything, now you work on a Jeep...
Eric have you ever thought to make little SMA stickers to go over the check engine light for customers that don’t want to fix the problem?
"Classic tape over the engine light"...... 🤣😂🤣👍
SMA rocks!!!
Hey Eric, I guess this was a freebie job because the money life was not on haha great Diagnostics. Sometimes you get so wrapped up and diagnosing a problem and you don't go back to the basics
Damn. You must be one of the best mechanics in the entire country. The speed, accuracy, and validation of your repairs are insane!
Before this video I thought of fuses as just a closed switch with no (measurable) resistance so wouldn't have thought of measuring across them for a voltage drop... I guess now that I think about it it makes sense they have to have a small resistance as otherwise they wouldn't heat and melt when there is over-current. Today's random thing I learned.
Closed switches also have a measurable resistance, everything does (except for superconductors, but unless you start working on MRI machines and stuff, you'll never have to worry about that)
Every current causes a voltage drop, it’s just a consequence of the current flow to equalize charges between poles. It’s the electrical equivalent to water pressure being reduced when you open a valve.
Even the wires of the circuit have some resistance and cause a voltage drop. It's not big, but it exists. More current=more voltage drop.
Exactly right. The same principal is used for the precision measurement of current. A shunt with a very low but precise known resistance is installed in series with the load to be measured. The voltage across the shunt, which is directly proportionate to the current flowing through it, is measured using the appropriate voltmeter, and is converted to amperes using ohm’s law where the current to be measured is equal to the voltage across the shunt divided by the shunt resistance.
After 20 years of doing my brakes wrong, I now do them like Eric tells us, result, I never have to touch them between pad changes, before I’d always have to disassemble and re assemble (making the same mistakes) every few thousand miles. Listen to him, he knows what he’s doing.
Best Channel Ever!!
One of my top 5 anyway. (In the auto category he has to live beside ChrisFix.)
Dude Eric congratulations on having over 500k subscribers!!! That is amazing to see such a good humble guy achieve success and have the huge viewership you do entertaining, helping, and teaching the regular people, technicians, or fellow automotive enthusiast's who enjoy these videos very very much! Best wishes to you and the whole SMA family!
Absolutely informational, I’m currently in my electrical class at UTI. My next class is my final so this was perfect timing and amazing to see it from you
Good luck brotha!
Good luck bro from a fellow alumni Avondale AZ campus
Good luck from a former Electrical Instructor from UTI Avondale!!
Good Luck; we're all counting on you. (Dr. Rumack, Airplane!)
Excellent diagnostic work, Eric! The customer is lucky to have brought the car into your shop.
"Ivan would be proud." Love it!
Things like this keep me coming back. I try to use the same thought process you do, but I always over-complicate everything.
not necessarily over-complicate, just that people like you and me ANALYZE OBJECTIVELY these techy things....'it is what it is' not over-think the capability of a project, circuit, wireing harness, etc.
Eric .... YOU are the man. You said "I hope you learned something". I did which is almost always the case when watching your vids. Thanks once again. Btw, now that it's cold (even in Arizona) I stay warm by proudly wearing my South Main Auto hoodie!
It's my car! Mines the older style. The starting in neutral is a sign that the neutral safety switch is going, then she's going to lose reverse lights when in reverse. I love this channel always a blast to see new content!
Thank goodness there are after market neutral safety switches out there. They cost North of $ 220.00 from a dealer.
@@machintelligence yeah, they are too expensive for the age. Luckily when I swapped my jeep from 2wd to 4x4, $400 got me a transmission, axles, lift kit, extra power steering pump, extra bell housing bolts, extra torque converter... You get the idea.
@@Kiktohero4 I might guess that you did the swap after 2008. After the cash for clunkers program there were a lot of Jeeps with (deliberately) seized engines in junk yards that had good running gear. Here in Colorado you almost never see a 2wd Jeep. Also the older ones don't rust out like in the Midwest.
@@machintelligence This year, actually. I've done a ton of work to it, I have done the rear disk conversion and the Big 7.
Your approach to finding parasitic draw really helped me find one in my wife's 1989 Ford Probe. Took the same approach you did to finding what fuse had current flowing. That allowed me to narrow it down to the radio. Turned out that the motor for her retractable antenna was drawing current. That antenna got broken off years ago so it didn't hurt anything to just disconnect the motor and problem was fixed. As a DIYer I would not have had a clue how to figure that out without watching your video.
If Eric ever gets tired of turning wrenches, he'd make a hell of an instructor.
Yeah but I’m sure it doesn’t pay as well. Nothing against my vocational instructor he was great. Most of them were service technicians at one point
@@brianbrundage1598 my instructors make about 150k a year, and that’s at a community college
...or English teacher
Yes true.. other shops put me to sleep. And no hands on...
@@brianbrundage1598 .
I’ve learned many things from you about modern mechanic procedures. I now don’t complain about the hourly rate my mechanic charges. Thanks Eric.
tape over the check engine light killed me xD
I've been trying to show guys the voltage drop method for over two years since I joined my place now, but they look at me like I have 5 heads. Low and behold gm just put out a video for techs that their new preferred method is a sensitive amp clamp and voltage drop across fuses. Made me chuckle. Great explanation Eric
You’re a great teacher as you have taught me to see things like you do. First thing I thought when there was the current spike was oxygen sensor heater! Thanks Professor O!
Being an EE grad, the first thing I thought of was "It's a capacitive load." I forgot that there would be no constant draw if that were true. I have much to learn Master O.! 8-))
Your diagnosis is impressive!
The episode gets "boring" for a KO in few seconds -- I was expecting cursing, hair pulling and tons of frustration.
Seriously you were spot on from the start and I learned a lot.
As you probably already know, XJ's have a common issue with the neutral safety switches failing. I enjoyed watching the process and the white board discussion.
That switch failed on my 92 xj.
Two of the three I had ended up with an "emergency bypass" on them because of the switch.
Changed one out already on mine.
Yep, this is a common issue on all Jeeps with the AW4 transmission. Most of the time a good cleaning of the contacts inside will do the trick. The reverse lights are also controlled by that NSS, so if the reverse lights on an XJ or MJ don't work that's a good place to look.
Eric O. edumacating the masses. Couldn't be more better than that. Nice tutorial. Found that my factory AM/FM radio was eating my battery by the same method. It works! It's logical. Excellent.
Please never stop making content Eric. You rule.
Had a similar problem last month. My nephew had his truck towed over for a no start. I figured out the starter was bad, but after checking powers and ground at the starter found the power on at all times. Finally figured out he had installed different incorrect starter relay that allowed constant power. As a diy guy it took me a bit but I figured it out. I’m sure the knowledge I’ve gained from you and others helped.
Maybe you can find time to start a side hustle teaching the “other shops” mechanics basic troubleshooting techniques.
I do... and your watching it just like they can ;)
@@SouthMainAuto I thought it was a bite but he may be being genuine. WOW
@@SouthMainAuto So, at local garage owners meetings are you the guy who says: "Yup, I've got 3 You Tube videos on that, have your guys watch 'em."?
You have enough work as it is... Knowing my own limitations, similar to people everywhere, do you have a video on how to do effective You Tube/Internet searches? Like searching to find, say, those 3 SMA videos on parasitic current draws?
@@SouthMainAuto wooozzzeerrzz that's gotta burn
It is amazing the amount of knowledge in different fields of knowledge Eric has. In order to be such a great mechanic he has to also be a master electrician. Jeeze louise, he knows a lot.
So, ya' do some pullin, ya' do some pokin, and ya' do some deducktin, and that's how you fix a car? Bullseye. Thanks Dr. O!
SMA is my favorite TH-cam channel hands down
During your white board explanation I norticed on its right side a decal for farmboy30117s TH-cam channel for farming and automotive work and I figured if YOU like him enough to have that decal there then he is good enough for me and he now has me for a subscriber. This was another excellent video showcasing diagnostic techniques thus getting right to the source. 👍
Thanks for pausing and letting your viewers think when you showed the increase jump when you reapplied the fuse in the circuit. That really helps.
Thank you Mr O for the time and effort you put into videos for us, I've thoroughly enjoyed learning more about cars from you, not to mention you're incredibly entertaining!
Your knowledge of electrical systems is downright scary smart .
Greetings and Happy Holidays from Miami Florida!!!
Christmas
I've been an EE for over forty years and I just learned today that PowerPro made a chart of fuse size vs voltage drop to determine current draw.... thanks! Printed out & placed in tool box!!
You are an excellent troubleshooter! Thanks for sharing!
You sir are an excellent technician. I would pay double prices to have you available in my area. I was unaware of the voltage across the fuse tip. Thats a good one to know for parasitic loss. Thanks
I do believe that you just helped me fix my old Chevy plow truck. Thanks a ton!
This would make a great test for prospective employees to check their logical deduction skills, understanding of electrical circuits, and schematic reading ability. Might weed out the weak ones. One thing is certain, you have a real gift for teaching.
Good diagnosis! I was betting on a stuck on brake light or tail gate switch...Soooo many possibilities that can cause that same battery drain.
I've always wanted to be a mechanic since I could remember, but unfortunately I procrastinated through my life. Now I'm 40 years old and I'll be attending Lincoln Tech next month. Two very talented, knowledgeable and captivating mechanics have reignited my spark to become what I always wanted to be, which is a mechanic. Those 2 mechanics are Joe from JOE'S AUTO ELECTRIC and the man himself, ERIC from SOUTH MAIN AUTO. I want to thank you so much for making me realize it's never too late. The only thing is that I know I could only learn, but so much in school and even though they have hands-on, the hands-on out in the world is more to grasp. Yes, he would be a great instructor.
Well done buddy. I thought for sure when I saw the stray wire coming off the battery
and the remote start fob that it was going to be an after-market accessory that was goofing up. Nope!
Great job, I worked at relay factory years ago, Auto companies have relay designed for a certain lifetime range,we could make a relay at whatever length of time for reliability required. Best relays have gold plated contacts,next is silver but most are made cheaper equals to short life. Thank you for all your videos
I love my Ut210e clamp meter for parasitic draws, no battery disconnect necessary (and I know you can sneak the probes in under the terminal, but sometimes even the best intentions fail due to unforeseen circumstances!) and also - NO FUSES :)
Yeah I have several inductive clamps but I prefer the precision of the meter myself. Especially when dealing with less that 1 amp
@@SouthMainAuto totally agreed on the precision thing! I usually deal with draws that are either around 800mA or 20mA (aka, either normal or not haha)
My 2012 Chevy Colorado has a similar problem since new, battery dies in a couple of days. When it was still under warranty I had GM tow it to the dealer for repairs. The dealer then tells me the battery was bad. The next weekend the same problem. Took it back to the dealer, they then told me I don’t drive the vehicle enough.😂🤪🤪. So that was a dead end. It ended up that it was the BCM. I installed a 70 amp battery disconnect relay, works great!😁
I am now smarter than when I woke up this morning.
And it didn’t make me mad or madder 👍
So, does that make Eric O. dumber now?
@@BobPegram Fortunately there is no conservation law for knowledge unlike for example energy, momentum or even dirt! Someone can get loads smarter without diminishing anyone else's capacity.
Squirrel!
@@peterkim5394 I was just kidding.8-))
Your diagnosing technique is very scientific and well explained. You should teach because you give those young padawans (star wars lingo) an inspiration.
Not Ginger with relays. I'm a Mary Ann guy myself.
@mchlross3 noice!
Who doesn't like Mary Ann more? That actress had more sex appeal in her little finger than "Ginger" had in her whole body! Playing against her nature just enhanced it.
Mary Ann?
Dawn Wells!
@@BobPegram Gingerrrrrrrrrr! But I'd never kick Mary Ann out of bed for eating crackers.
By a sad coincidence, the actress who played Mary Ann passed away today. Covid19. RIP Dawn Wells, 1938-2020.
Great diagnosis as always!! On a side note: How thoughtful of the guys at FCA to place the reservoir for the windshield washer LITERALLY NEXT TO THE FUSEBOX, another quality product FCA.
“Gimme a match book and a nail file”...brings back memories, but I never had a nail file. If they needed to be cleaned up, just use the striker on the match book!
You have a way of making most problems look easy.
How is Your dodge ?
@@maciejolejniczak151 Doing great! Just finished a video set on how to swap out the clutch packs on the rear LSD.
With 50+ years as a mechanic I can say I have never run into a defective fuse like that, good catch. 😂
Sherlock ( Mechanic of Auto) show his diagnosis can be understood by the common person. LOVE this channel.
Strange as it is I have had a fuse causing a draw, cheap fuse had corroded and the goo caused enough of a current path to another point in the box it created a drain. Was a pain to find because the drain didn't stop with the fuse out. Wasn't until I used a thermal camera and saw the heat under the fuse that it showed up.
Enjoy watching you breathing life into vehicles with mileage/age that would cause many of them to be sold to an auto recycling yard. You are preventing unnecessary waste.
When I bought my used 2002 Saturn, the dealer told me something his mechanic told him, that Saturns that won't shift may have a defective $25 relay that's hidden under the batter tray on cars like mine. Change the relay, fix the car!
Thanks for "relaying" this repair experience.
Just bought a MK2 Supra damn thing dies every night gotta take it to a shop to get it fixed thanks for giving me some knowledge on this really needed it.
You are a great teacher AND diagnostician!
Learned to drive on a 2000 Cherokee it only had oil changes and a water pump with 200k + miles that was bought new. Would still probably have it if my sister didn't wreck it a couple years ago sliding out on wet deicer. Probably one of the best vehicles ever built.
Awesome channel ! One of the first you tuber channels I cut my teeth on, still the best .
I'm still chuckling at the "...that's why I don't work at a relay rebuilding factory folks!" - good craich! - Best wishes from the Highlands of Scotland. :)
I would always use the term IDVIP which means inspect ...diagnose ...verify ....isolate ...pinpoint
Pretty much what you said at the white board thanks Eric ..keep cranking out these videos Brother as I tune in too each and everyone of them SMA Rocks!
I like your trick to measure fuse voltage. I would have started pulling fuses.
Well, to a certain degree you would have been right, since Eric verified the draw by pulling the fuse. But it saves a little time just measuring on the fuse itself to start.
Only thing that would make it better would be a arrow suddenly coming from the left, hitting the bullseye.
Nice work, as usual, Mr. O!
"relay rebuilding factory" Otherwise known as Pine Hollow Diagnostics!!
Full Russian style!
yes comrade
@mchlross3 Yep. Ivan could repurpose that relay.
Ivan would have test drove the relay with the scope hanging out the window!
@@SouthMainAuto Erik! We was having a lean supply in former USSR - no access to NAPA or Autozone, Rockauto etc. As my grandma told: Time what You have equal money what You don`t! - Do not pay to Dorman - keep in Your pocket!
Excellent analysis Dr. Watson. I've never seen a relay with the load side shorted like that. Of course I don't work in a relay rebuilding plant.
Thanks as always, Eric. Merry Christmas!
Of all the channels I watch, I think this has been the most helpful for myself.. nice job explaining...
“Classic tape over the engine light.” Why fix it when you can just cover it up🤣
Now I will lay awake nights wondering what the code(s) might have been on that.
Why not leave it on? The bulb will eventually burn itself out. Just curious Eric. Did you check the code to see if the relay tripped the mil?
Who wants to take bets that the code was set due to the faulty relay in the first place
And if you turn up the stereo all of the noises go away
I use it on my Subaru, I do not need to know if the seat switch is on or off all the time. A yellow light just gets irritating after a time.
Whoa, flashback! The combination of those replacement battery cable terminals, a new Champion/Exide battery, and car trouble. I've seen that combination too many times. Nicely done!
By the way, if you're considering taking non-automotive requests. Please put me down for a video that covers building an outdoor skating rink, on a slope, for the kids.
Congrats on a well deserved over 500,000 subs 👍🏽
Think that was the best explanation on the parasitic draw by going along the fuses that I ever have seen. It certainly clicked more for me, and with newer and newer cars turning up that’s a big help
I would love to see same problem on Honda that’s coming.
It will probably be something different.
There's your problem lady! There is something strangely satisfying about blurting that out once victory is achieved.
Terrific video with a summary of the pinpointing process. Thank you for all your videos!
"Spella-magician" lol, able to make spelling errors disappear at the wave of a wand! 🧙♂️
I really like the infrared camera idea that you talked about at the end of the video ,A lot of great information in this video thank you
I admit I can’t always follow your reasoning when it comes to electronics. Thank you for explaining this in excruciating detail for my benefit
Great Video, the short whiteboard session at the end was really useful.
Awesome sauce! Love it when you use the white board! Even a dummy like me can understand things! 😂
I like the thermal camera idea.
This man Eric O is a bloody genius. Videos are informative, can't buy experience. Keep up the excellent work.
Once again, I have learned. Thanks for sharing!
We all hope that you and those close to you have a Merry Little Christmas.
Just for future reference. The DVM was easier to see without the backlighting.
belated... congratulations on 500k south main family!
I got a Flir brand multimeter and the thermal image cam has saved heaps of time troubleshooting bad relays and short-stop breakers. She is hell on batteries though lol.
when i found out years ago that you could do a millivolt test across the fuses to find draws in a circuit it has been my go to non evasive test .... as you said with newer cars and modules staying on for a time ... you do have to remember even the hood , door and trunk depending where the battery hides ,have switches that can give false readings .... thanks from one E to another E .....
Could that also have been why the "money light" was on because of the o2 sensors
That voltage drop technique is just genius. Eric O is amazing I hope to get to his level one day!
Scotty better watch his back and I’m not talking Kilmer, Jim Kirk would hire Eric in a heartbeat. There’s your problem lady.
I was thinking some kind of component with an element.
Being from a diesel background I didn't think about oxygen sensors.
I'm so glad I found this channel, your definitely helping my diagnostic skills.
Greetings from Australia.
When a relay contacts are"stuck on" one needs to verify the load has not dr
awn excessive current on the new relay will also go bad.
We could see the circuit was drawing less than one amp when turned on. It's a 20 amp relay running a single O2 heater. Nothing more to see.
@@SouthMainAuto Hmmm LenC could have a point, albeit a long shot. If the relay's switching the power side of the heater, and there's an intermittent short to ground, that might weld the relay contact. But you'd think it would also normally blow a fuse, so it would need to be just the right amount of intermittent resistance or time.
That’s why you’re the best ...I don’t think another garage I would have found that easy 👍👍👍
I'm pretty sure OLF on your screen means Out-of-Limits Fella
Yeap relay welded together latched closed across load side.
Well done especially the bullseye concept to indicate homing in on the problem.
Old school put a test light between the positive terminal and the battery positive cable
When the test light goes on
Start pulling fuses to find the circuit. Find the short in that circuit
I had a baaaaad time with what I thought was a parasitic draw from a remote start system. Before I went down the electrical gremlin path I took my battery in to Canadian Tire to be tested and they gave me a printout of a excellent condition battery. After a month and a half of electrical diagnosing including a complete wire harness inspection and rewire of the remote start system (thinking I had an intermittent parasitic draw that I just couldn't catch). I replaced the battery and that was the issue. Even though the test came back excellent, the battery wouldn't hold a charge from alternator long and 1 crank would drop the resting voltage from 12.6 ish to 12.2 ish volts and the starter would click, click, click. Important to note that it's been fairly warm here in Canada until recently, so the temp change was a huge factor in the battery behavior.
Always trust your gut even if the tester says it's a good battery
I like that advice. Wherever ya *wanna* start, start from t' other end, because it is always the last or nex ta last place you'll look. (But sometimes it is soothing for the OCD to start from where you wanna start, even if you know the problem will be at the last one you check😁)
I would start with checkin the tire psi just to rule that out...
That's how amateurs do things. Pros like myself always check the Blinker Fluid level, and that the Muffler Bearings have been properly amalgamated.
Nice diag tricks for sure, always learning with every videos.
It does help.
You always have a JEEP hat when workin on everything and anything, now you work on a Jeep...
Thanks for tearing that relay open. I've never seen that before. I'd never thought about how they work. Very cool.
"Joey, you ever seen the inside of a relay before?"