Just keep in mind before you comment, Josh is a ROOKIE with ZERO hands on experience diagnosing cars. Yes he has gone to trade school for one year, but from the little bit I have gathered, what he has been taught I would consider to be questionable methods (just my opinion.) I am hoping to help him improve for his hands on section next year...
Great leading questions for instruction’s sake, fantastic job. This is the way to get people into a good direction and thought process!! Good on ya Dr. O
Josh is gonna be the smartest guy at that school come fall.... And, for Josh, if you read this, I can't imagine how hard it would be, to learn, knowing that over 1000 people are watching you. So, stay patient, take a breath, try to relax. No matter how smart we sound, we were all new once, just like you. And it's tough, to start out, and you feel stupid, and you feel like, wow, I'm the dumbest guy here. That will pass. The school, and the hands on, will all start to come together and make sense. I work in a different industry, but I play with electrical stuff all day. There is NO SHAME in being a "meter guy", even though Mr O is not a big fan. Get very very comfortable with your meters. There's a time & a place for a test light. There's a time & a place for a VOM. I would urge you to get very comfortable with as many different kinds of testing devices as you can. UNDERSTAND what each one does. Understand exactly what it is telling you... and what it's not telling you.... Lastly, Mr O was trying to make this point, I think... When you do a test, UNDERSTAND what you EXPECT TO SEE. Say it out loud if you have to. When I put the lead on here, I should see 12 volts, and that means my wire is good and my starter is crap.... Or whatever. I see this all the time, even in experienced people, they take some readings, and then they start thinking, okay, what is that telling me??? Okay, 1 last thing, I promise, but what will bite you in the butt someday is, you'll be testing... Seeing crazy numbers.... Nothing makes sense. You're losing your mind. 1 of 2 things has happened. #1, one of your test leads has gone bad. This will drive you nuts, and it will be the last thing you expect, because your meter is like your dog, or your best friend, it never lets you down... Or #2, the meter has broken. Don't loan out your meter. I defend my test sets with my life, and people understand, don't even LOOK at my test sets... Just keep it moving.... Anyways, good luck.
Patrick Morrissey Your last paragraph has the #1 piece of advice, make sure your test device (meter, scope on a rope, etc) & connection are working. I always test to a known voltage first (usually battery positive).
When I taught troubleshooting for copiers we would tell the recs to write down each test and the expected results.... Than make your test. Helps keep you on track
well put but always chk your test device first it is amazing how many times my test light bulb burned out or the meter lead went bad (or I hooked to a bad ground)
Watched this several times and it’s an old video I know. But I just had to commit on how patient Eric is with the young boy. I’ve wished a thousand times that I would have had such a patient teacher. Hats off to Eric for being such a down to earth good guy. It’s refreshing and it has a lot to do with with his growing popularity.
Awesome job Eric, love it when someone with experience passes it on to the young up and coming techs, there is no substitute for experience. Josh has a great teacher, and i am not talking about the instructors at school😉
You are doing Josh a great service by taking him out of the book and into the car. I agree with you that the school needs a whole lot more hands on from the get go.
Best way to learn is to do it and learn from those around you that do it the RIGHT way. May not always be the easiest, but if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right
@@waltschannel7465 Don't agree. Students are always taught the theory first in school; hands on afterward. That is how it was done eons ago when I got my trade ticket.
You'll make a good teacher, Eric, you're patient and you Explain what you would like for him to do. And shortcuts. Which is good, because in school they will not talk like you do. Because you are experienced and they are not so. Good job, Josh, good job Eric
Good job Josh, listen to Professor O, you will learn more from him in six months than 4 years trade school. It will get better once your confidence grows. Outstanding job Eric passing the knowledge to Josh to help him learn hands on and build his skill set and confidence. Josh, you are a lucky man to be learning from a top tier diagnostic mechanic. Be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as you can, it will only make you a better mechanic/diagnostic tech. Good luck. We were all rookies at one time, mistakes will happen...learn from them. Outstanding video Eric, wish I had a mentor like you, keep being you...all around great guy is my impression from watching your interactions with Mrs. O, Miss Hannah, Miss Marie, and Josh. God Bless. All.....btw caught this vid again in a binge watch wishing I had a lift. Ground and jackstand guy here, but I get er done.
Nice to finally meet you Josh. For a guy who avoided the camera in the past he was a good sport. Not only is he in front of the camera, he has pressure from the boss. :) The example of Josh holding the leads and seeing 12 volts was memorable. I'm positive 1000 people learned along with Josh on this one, including me. It's good to see the team back together. At least for a while.
Obviously, poor guy is spending thousands of dollars to learn from morons. Eric will teach him more in three months than he'll learn in a year at college. But, he needs that sheepskin to get a job.
One standout teacher does not make a majority. Paul's great and he lives in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. But for every Paul Danner there are 10 losers.
Teaching Josh and showing it to the word is a great thing, I appreciate you doing as I am a heavy truck mechanic and I have a son that is 13 and don't have the variety of vechicles to show my son Josh....thankyou for doing this ...
What a great worker. 4 years on from this video he's still there. Fairly self sufficient at this stage... cause we still get videos. Congrats to "The nicest boss ever" your a great teacher. I learn everytime I watch a video.
@@SouthMainAuto I have a similar rule but allow cell phones for taking pictures of what you are working on (if it is an emergency the caller needs to call the shop line) NO calls or texting on the clock period
Breath of fresh air to see another mechanic who wants to make 100% sure of a problem. Throwing parts at vehicles seems to be the norm in other shops. Love watching these shows ! Keep up the great work .
Great stuff, Eric. I hope that Josh realizes the opportunity he's been given. Hats off to you for mentoring the up and coming generation. My first job as a mechanic after tech school was working for an old guy who was a Korean War Vet, and had been building GTOs in the sixties. He was gruff but a great teacher. I'll always be thankful for what he taught me. Josh is in good hands. In my opinion he's learning from one of the best!
Hey SMA, I'm a long time subscriber but this is the first time I've felt the need to comment. Loved this video and it's content. I'm likely right where Josh is as a DIY type. I can rock a brake job and other wrench turning service. But this type of content is exactly what I'm looking for on this channel, and honestly I've felt on some other diagnostic videos while the content is great and I enjoy it the skill level is slightly above my pay grade. So I'd love to see more content like this but I'm not sure if it plays to your core audience or not. Thanks for putting out great content.
I 100% agree with you. I would love to see more videos like this. I'm sure if he had the time he would make more like this. It's great to see how a mind of a master works.
look on youtube for an electronics channel you will need that skill set in order to learn the diagnostics for cars. IE you need to know what different components are supposed to do in order to test them with can bus it is computer networking in addition
Josh, You are a Blessed young man to have Mr.O to help you get started with hands on diagnostics. Mr.O is a superb teacher. The hardest part is getting started. This will be a huge help going forward.
Josh looks like & reminds me of my nephew. My nephew used to always be tinkering with things as a kid, radios, small motors, minibikes , lawn mowers, just about everything he could take apart & put back together to see how it works. He is now a master mechanic & builds motors that lift the front tires off the ground. Keep up the good work Josh wish ya all the best brother - cool vid,
Very nice of you Eric to take time out of your busy schedule to help Josh learn diagnostics. The step-by-step approach is one of the best ways for people to comprehend troubleshooting. You should do more videos like this as I’m sure they would be very beneficial to folks new at electrical diagnostics. Also where Josh was a little confused with the lead placement, a diagram on the whiteboard could help clarify the theory. 😀👍
Thanks Terry! Another guy mentioned that too. Didn't even think of that TBH. I am not a teacher so I have to learn how to properly help him and that is what I will do next for sure. Show some more theory, then put the hands on it!
This is great. You will learn in the trade school, but you will learn 50x more once your out in the field actually doing it. I learned a lot in trade school, but it wasn't even close to how much I learned at my first shop right out of school. And nothing better than a seasoned vet teaching you the ropes on how to attack things efficiently. Good stuff
Great job not berating him and being patient. We as viewers have to understand people might not be as comfortable in front of a camera and can make mistakes we usually don’t make too.
Josh has the willingness to learn but also learn patience.it’s a lot to take in but remember you don’t learn ins/outs overnight.Keep up the good work Josh,you have a Great Mentor there too help you along.
I am a long time SMA viewer and I think this is my new favorite video. Diagnosis has always been my weakest point and I have been guilty of using a parts cannon more than once. Eric always make things look super easy and logical and when I am watching most videos I think "of course that is the next step" (after being told). When Eric started asking Josh questions about what can you do from the driver's seat, what system are you looking at, where are you going to start etc I immediately drew a blank and felt like I was back in school and the teacher had just called on me and I had no answer. I would love to see more videos like this because it forces me to think through the process of what to do instead of just watching Eric make it look easy (I will continue to watch those videos too of course). I want to thank Josh for letting us watch him go through this process, I think it will be really helpful for me and anyone else who isn't as skilled as Eric.
I agree with u man. Sometimes he makes thisng look so easy u think i could easily do that. Bit then when its time to do it u draw a blank. Its great to here his thought process. Josh is very lucky. Soak it all up josh your learning from THE MAN
Josh you will do good in this career. You have a good attitude and seem interested in learning. I wish you the best in the future. You also couldn't ask for a better mentor.
From over here on the west coast of Canada, this is awesome! Judging by young Josh's accent, he is from the most lovely east coast of this fine country. Good on ya for teaching an apprentice valuable skills, I know a lot of apprentices that would be very jealous of this kind of guidance early in their career. Great job Eric (and Josh)!
Josh has an excellent Dad and teacher,I just learned a different way of diagnosing and remember,"don't let schooling get in the way of your education"Mark Twain. Good Job Guys.
Great technicians start with great instructors. I think it's great that you start including him in diagnosing the general circuitry. You are without a doubt a master of your field! Josh is very lucky to have the opportunity to work with you.
Josh seems like a cool guy, he has the best teacher for sure. Theres nothing better than experience when learning to fix cars. 10 years on im still learning something new every day. Keep at it josh you will be a good mechanic.
Josh has a great mentor, if he keeps at I’m sure he’s gonna be great. First couple minutes in the video. & I gotta say we all started somewhere. Having a mentor defientely helps a bunch. School is supposed to teach us the fundamentals. And even then it’s a lot to take in. Day by day keep on learning. Hope to see josh in future videos! Thanks for all the content.
As someone that deals with mechanics often, especially considering I work in the aftermarket industry, I sincerely appreciate that you are teaching him electrical stuff. So many guys I run across have no basic understanding of how the 12v system even works. So often we have mechanics blame aftermarket items just because they are in the car. Not that it isn't them causing the problems in some cases. But when they just look at the aftermarket remote and instantly say it's the aftermarket system, that's a sign of an uneducated tech, and someone that doesn't want to do what they are being paid to do. Dia the problem with the car. And in this case, doing 15min of dia showed that the aftermarket system was not the issue.
Josh, you have the opportunity of a lifetime to work under a true master of the trade. Make the most of every minute of time Eric shares with you. Nice work, both of you.
I think it's awesome that you're not only showing him how to apply the knowledge (logical thinking, keep it simple, critical thinking, and other thought processes to reach hypothesis & then test that theorem), but doing so in a positive way, that doesn't make him feel negatively about the learning environment. Also, showing how & why to do certain tests, tools, etc will help him greatly in the future. Lastly, it was a definite boost, to show him, you don't need to know everything, just how/where to get the information.
Josh (and Hannah) has a great instructor in you, Eric. Effective mechanics know that it's all about 'the process' and you have a good one and what's more: you're willing to share it with others! Big thumbs up!
Josh, You should consider yourself the luckiest man on the face of the earth and should really feel honored to be taught and mentored by the magnificent Eric O - I know I would. I have no doubt that you will do well. God bless both of you Paul
When I was in Automotive school about 9 years ago, wish I would have had someone like you to intern with. You are very calm and willing to teach someone with no hands on experience on how to do the job right. Unlike the shop that taught me they were always in a hurry not willing to explain anything. Just wanted to say you did a Great Job. He is lucky to have someone teach him the Right way. He is going to make a Fantastic Mechanic.
Like I've been saying all along, you are a great teacher Eric O. I've been learning from you for over a year on tools (Pico labscope, Autel 908, OTC Encore, Launch, Snap On Verus) that i can't afford (at the moment). You are kind, patient, & you don't cuss a lot so i can watch it with my boys (5 & 3). They love your channel, your kids, Sheba & the fabulous Mrs. O. Thanks for the great content, bro. We might even come to visit & get some SMA swag! Josh is so blessed to have your family in his corner!
So glad that you took the time to help josh. We all know that it is hard to take the time to teach when you are trying to keep your shop running. Josh will reminder everything you have done to help him and teach him to be the best.
I am an industrial mechanic myself and i will say this, not every senior mechanic that you meet along the way is willing to pass on his/her knowledge, hoodoos to you. Great stuff as always, I have been following your channel for quite a long time, my friends consider me a me a car mechanic already I laugh and say not quite there yet but for sure I know a whole lot more than when I did my first break change. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Great to see a young guy like Josh wanting to enter into the business. Too often nowadays, kids don't want to get their hands dirty. I made my living doing this, as do you, Eric, and nice that you're teaching him, too!!!
Good job Josh, and Eric. A great student, and a great teacher. I always taught to verify the concern, do a visual inspection, gather service information, look at diagrams, and use common sense as to which test(s) will get your answers the quickest, I love watching your channel Eric, I repaired cars in similar ways when I was a Technician. And I really loved being an Automotive Instructor.Keep up the great work.
He's got a great teacher to teach him the right way. I can guarantee from what I see is Josh will learn a lot more from you then the instructor. Josh you'll learn a lot from Eric so take advantage of every opportunity which I know you will. Eric gave you kudos for the quality work you do. I was training my nephew who went to BOCES and he was like a sponge...going to be a great mechanic and technician and he's in the Air Force working on aircraft following in my shoes and making me so proud! His name is....Josh also :D
There is no dollar amount for experience, to know the why and how to troubleshoot and what steps to take to repair a trouble in the most efficient manner is invaluable. That's why you have apprentices and journeymen to teach the new person coming into a profession. Thank you for another great video.
My son is a great mechanic and I showed him early that Horse power is based on speed times torque. Volts are similar to speed and Amps are similar to torque so, you were right on with your training. Its a tough concept to grasp but once Josh grasps this concept, he will become very comfortable with electrical circuits. He could have jumped to conclusions but he didn't, Josh is going to be a great diagnostician. He has a wonderful mentor. My background Is electrical and mechanical Engineering. Eric you are one of the best "engineers" I have ever seen! I love your You Tube Vids because you are proof that real genius is rare, and definitely not the result of "advanced" degrees! Keep up the good work, I hope many young "kids' are Watching you.
When I check the neutral safety switch, I prefer to hold the key in the start position, keep my foot on the brake (in case the engine cranks), and run the shifter from park to low. This eliminates the possibility that the switch has shifted adjustment, which isn't very likely (I've never found a vehicle that cranked in reverse or drive before, but I just like to be sure). It's likely this starter has absolutely worn-down brushes inside. When we saw the voltage drop in the start position, that was from the hold-in winding in the solenoid. The pull-in winding has a much higher current draw, but the worn brushes opened the ground circuit for that winding. The hold-in winding alone can't pull the solenoid plunger into the solenoid, so the starter won't crank.
I vote that Josh has to try and diagnose every car that comes in... and as many as possible on live camera... in other words toss him into the deep end.... I have faith... ☺
R. E. Hill That was how I learned. Right off the deep end. Learned how to rebuild a two barrel Rottenchester Carb on a 69 Pontiac Catalina.( Rochester) Two months later, timing chain and gears. Then brakes, brake lines, master brake cylinder. My first car WAS my class room. And it HAD to be running by work on mondays. Every weekend was my class room under the hood
From being the new guy on this page, I'll say this. Josh, you are no doubt in the best of hands anyone could ever ask to have in learning this trade. Focus on everything he says, and you will be a seriously awesome mechanic!! Best of luck!!!
When verifying customer complaint, and checking for the obvious, testing cranking in neutral, etc, it may be a good idea to make sure the check engine light works and comes on in bulb test. This particular car may or may not use the ecm in the starting circuit, but it's a good habit to get into. Giving the remote start a shot was a great idea. Gives direction and a place to start.
I would recommend Josh to quite that school and attend SMA Automotive University. Would most likely learn more from you on how to properly diagnose and fix the car right the first time. But all kidding aside, this was a great instructional video. I myself learn by hands on also. Great job Josh.
Josh is one lucky guy. He will have the credentials from the school when he graduates plus the hands on learning experience from SMA. Best of both worlds.
It’s tough being on the spot with something you may not understand completely with someone who could tell you everything in their sleep. It makes you feel dumb but after it’s explained and you understand it you feel so good. Then the best part is when the problem arises again you feel so good to take care of it and you fix it. Been there many times before in construction when I was green but now I own my own construction business and am able to teach others. Great job josh you will be a fine mechanic. And great job Eric. It’s easy to just say what the problem is and how to fix it but taking the time to guide them with hints and help when they get stuck teaches for life
Trade school is doing its job josh is getting the basics down but there is no imitation for a good mechanic passing on his tried and true knowledge and I am so happy that josh and Hannah are back even if it is for the summer
I think this is great. I went to a two year automotive school and it was a great start. But since going into the field at a GM dealer for the past 4 years right out of auto school not everything I learned in school comes easy when it comes to hands on. I 100 percent agree that hands on real life situations and not bugged problems are the best practice. Currently am still going to hands on courses through GM at training centers and keep learning each time. Josh did great for his first time diagnosing. Hope to see more of these videos.
Eric, you never cease to impress me. You are such a wonderful teacher and when I was an apprentice I would've given anything to have a guy like you looking over my shoulder. You're a class act.
I remember these days. I graduated from WyoTech in 2001 and my first six months were interesting to say the least. My first shop was a 3 shift 40 tech large independent shop. Eric is the perfect guy to learn from. It takes time. Hang in there Josh!
Good video Eric I think you’re taking a lot of time to help Josh to learn and that’s important. And I look forward to some more of these videos. Just a little helpful hint on the Toyota and the Lexus when you insert the key and the security light goes out and stays out that means that the immobilizer security system has authorized for the vehicle to start and has done it’s job. If the immobilizer security light comes on and stays on when the key is in the ignition does not have to be on but just in the ignition this means that the key that is in the ignition is not programmed. If the immobilizer system is having problems the light will go out for a second come back on and begin flashing with the key in the off position but in the ignition. I thought I would offer this help for anyone else that may need it. I work with this stuff every day.
Josh clearly doesn't watch the channel. Gj but I was slightly disappointed, this channel has done so much for me, it's a huge wealth of knowledge and thanks to Eric I'm now in this field of work schooling all the UTI kids. Can't thank you enough Eric and love this channel. SMA for life!
rob m hit it on the head ..... josh needs to watch some of your basic videos that you have put out ..... first day of school and home work all ready... lol
Josh good job. I am always glad to see someone get into this trade. Your lucky to have a very qualified and patient teacher. There is no substitute for experience.
We all have to start somewhere to be able to broaden our knowledge. I am just a DIYER that tries to save myself some $$ on my truck's repairs. I have saved myself thousands by watching your channel and others like yourself. Another great video man. And thank you for passing your knowledge down; as the price of knowledge is truly invaluable.
I'd usually start at the starter relay myself. The relay is a good place to split the system and it's up top in the fusebox where it's easy to get to. On a lot of cars you have to get under the car to get to the starter, cramped engine bays usually leave no room up top to get your hand in. Even going under, you usually have to deal with splash shields and skid plates. And nobody wants to contort themselves under the dash if they can help it. I got to old to crawl under there unless I have to a long time ago. :)
I also like to "Start"(see what I did there, lol)at the relay on a lot of vehicles. Really your first step is always a guess until you have actually collected info. Let that info guide you. If the component is readily accessible than of course I'd start there too. It really just depends on the vehicle. The funny things I am constantly re-learning fundamentals because every approach is different.
Eric this is great content, I love the fact that you are teaching in a consuming, non threatening manor. We all were rookies at one point and someone had to show us the way. KEEP AT IT JOSH!! Nothing is better than real world experience. You have a great teacher :)
You never siese to amaze me man . Just watch the video you gave a car to a struggling single mom and know your teaching real world to the next generation 👍👍
Put key to ign and you use a meter to check for voltage at both sides of every fuse. No voltage on both ends is ok but not if one side is showing voltage. It takes a little bit of time but is effective. Also josh is awesome and does very well on camera. Very professional
I think Josh was a tad scared in front of the camera, he seems like a good guy, so a little help along the way, and im sure he will be fine, now a hint to Josh,, dont quit, read, learn, pay attention to us old guys, we need GOOD Techs ,,
I love that you share your skills, your methods of diagnosis and root cause analysis, the realities of working with customers, domain reduction, and just the freaking human part of... well, being human.
I know this video is about 10 months old now, but hats off to you SMA! Josh is a very lucky guy to have a teacher like you. I remember 19 years ago when I was getting into the business I worked part time as an apprentice at nights after trade school at a Nissan Dealer. It was a lot of bitter old men that saw new young guys as a threat and didn’t make for a very enjoyable experience. Luckily I moved on pretty quickly from there and am currently with a large police fleet in Illinois. We have younger guys starting and I thoroughly enjoy helping them out. Anyway just another great video from you guys and I wish you the best.
Just keep in mind before you comment, Josh is a ROOKIE with ZERO hands on experience diagnosing cars. Yes he has gone to trade school for one year, but from the little bit I have gathered, what he has been taught I would consider to be questionable methods (just my opinion.) I am hoping to help him improve for his hands on section next year...
Most of the best mechanics I know have no certs or formal instruction. Just shadowed and worked hard with an open mind.
Great mentor!
I'm sure that from a mix of certified learning and hands-on *SMA* trade knowledge he will learn faster and learn to not work in a dealership ;)
Great leading questions for instruction’s sake, fantastic job. This is the way to get people into a good direction and thought process!! Good on ya Dr. O
Agreed !!!!!!!!!! " Job Well Done " Eric....!
Josh is gonna be the smartest guy at that school come fall....
And, for Josh, if you read this, I can't imagine how hard it would be, to learn, knowing that over 1000 people are watching you. So, stay patient, take a breath, try to relax. No matter how smart we sound, we were all new once, just like you. And it's tough, to start out, and you feel stupid, and you feel like, wow, I'm the dumbest guy here.
That will pass. The school, and the hands on, will all start to come together and make sense.
I work in a different industry, but I play with electrical stuff all day. There is NO SHAME in being a "meter guy", even though Mr O is not a big fan. Get very very comfortable with your meters. There's a time & a place for a test light. There's a time & a place for a VOM. I would urge you to get very comfortable with as many different kinds of testing devices as you can. UNDERSTAND what each one does. Understand exactly what it is telling you... and what it's not telling you....
Lastly, Mr O was trying to make this point, I think... When you do a test, UNDERSTAND what you EXPECT TO SEE. Say it out loud if you have to. When I put the lead on here, I should see 12 volts, and that means my wire is good and my starter is crap.... Or whatever. I see this all the time, even in experienced people, they take some readings, and then they start thinking, okay, what is that telling me???
Okay, 1 last thing, I promise, but what will bite you in the butt someday is, you'll be testing... Seeing crazy numbers.... Nothing makes sense. You're losing your mind. 1 of 2 things has happened. #1, one of your test leads has gone bad. This will drive you nuts, and it will be the last thing you expect, because your meter is like your dog, or your best friend, it never lets you down... Or #2, the meter has broken. Don't loan out your meter. I defend my test sets with my life, and people understand, don't even LOOK at my test sets... Just keep it moving....
Anyways, good luck.
Patrick Morrissey Your last paragraph has the #1 piece of advice, make sure your test device (meter, scope on a rope, etc) & connection are working. I always test to a known voltage first (usually battery positive).
When I taught troubleshooting for copiers we would tell the recs to write down each test and the expected results.... Than make your test. Helps keep you on track
Good advice
And remember Josh if you can do it so can we?
well put but always chk your test device first it is amazing how many times my test light bulb burned out or the meter lead went bad (or I hooked to a bad ground)
You are hands down the most patient instructor of all time. My uncle would have cursed me after the first mistake.
More of these please Eric and Josh. I'm sure lots of people will find them useful . I know I did.
Josh will learn more in 3 months working for you then 4 years of a trade school. Lucky Guy!
jstutz101 hell I learn a lot just by watching these videos
100%
Hands on wins hands down.
Facts 👌🏿, solid video sir 🙏🏿
Yep
Starting from no crank, no start is never fun. What a gift to have Eric as a mentor.
Watched this several times and it’s an old video I know. But I just had to commit on how patient Eric is with the young boy. I’ve wished a thousand times that I would have had such a patient teacher. Hats off to Eric for being such a down to earth good guy. It’s refreshing and it has a lot to do with with his growing popularity.
Josh comes across as sharp, confident and well spoken. In a few years he'll have a 3 week customer backlog. Bright future!
Awesome job Eric, love it when someone with experience passes it on to the young up and coming techs, there is no substitute for experience. Josh has a great teacher, and i am not talking about the instructors at school😉
Thanks Berg!
I agree best way to learn is watch and ask questions. And always remember to listen. Great job Mr O
You are doing Josh a great service by taking him out of the book and into the car. I agree with you that the school needs a whole lot more hands on from the get go.
Best way to learn is to do it and learn from those around you that do it the RIGHT way. May not always be the easiest, but if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right
@@waltschannel7465 Don't agree. Students are always taught the theory first in school; hands on afterward. That is how it was done eons ago when I got my trade ticket.
It’s easy to forget that we all started knowing nothing just like josh. Hope he’s doing alright two years later.
You'll make a good teacher, Eric, you're patient and you Explain what you would like for him to do. And shortcuts. Which is good, because in school they will not talk like you do. Because you are experienced and they are not so. Good job, Josh, good job Eric
Good job Josh, listen to Professor O, you will learn more from him in six months than 4 years trade school. It will get better once your confidence grows. Outstanding job Eric passing the knowledge to Josh to help him learn hands on and build his skill set and confidence. Josh, you are a lucky man to be learning from a top tier diagnostic mechanic. Be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as you can, it will only make you a better mechanic/diagnostic tech. Good luck. We were all rookies at one time, mistakes will happen...learn from them. Outstanding video Eric, wish I had a mentor like you, keep being you...all around great guy is my impression from watching your interactions with Mrs. O, Miss Hannah, Miss Marie, and Josh. God Bless.
All.....btw caught this vid again in a binge watch wishing I had a lift. Ground and jackstand guy here, but I get er done.
Nice to finally meet you Josh. For a guy who avoided the camera in the past he was a good sport. Not only is he in front of the camera, he has pressure from the boss. :) The example of Josh holding the leads and seeing 12 volts was memorable. I'm positive 1000 people learned along with Josh on this one, including me. It's good to see the team back together. At least for a while.
KEY FOBS IN VOLVOS COST LIKE UP TO 300 DOLLARS A KEY
Robert Slackw
Josh will learn more from Eric over the summer than he learned all year in trade school.
grant wright even sooner than that..!
Obviously, poor guy is spending thousands of dollars to learn from morons. Eric will teach him more in three months than he'll learn in a year at college. But, he needs that sheepskin to get a job.
The schools are good for Theory and basic principles
One standout teacher does not make a majority. Paul's great and he lives in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. But for every Paul Danner there are 10 losers.
Teaching Josh and showing it to the word is a great thing, I appreciate you doing as I am a heavy truck mechanic and I have a son that is 13 and don't have the variety of vechicles to show my son Josh....thankyou for doing this ...
What a great worker. 4 years on from this video he's still there. Fairly self sufficient at this stage... cause we still get videos. Congrats to "The nicest boss ever" your a great teacher. I learn everytime I watch a video.
I think josh will be a great technician, he’s actually listening to you and not on his cell phone. He’s got the best teacher anyways. Good luck josh
I don't allow him or Hannah to have phones in the shop. They can answer them if it is an emergency....
@@SouthMainAuto I have a similar rule but allow cell phones for taking pictures of what you are working on (if it is an emergency the caller needs to call the shop line) NO calls or texting on the clock period
This is, hands down, the best video you have ever made. Nice step by step. This is what "the people" want. Nice work Josh!
Breath of fresh air to see another mechanic who wants to make 100% sure of a problem. Throwing parts at vehicles seems to be the norm in other shops. Love watching these shows ! Keep up the great work .
Great stuff, Eric. I hope that Josh realizes the opportunity he's been given. Hats off to you for mentoring the up and coming generation. My first job as a mechanic after tech school was working for an old guy who was a Korean War Vet, and had been building GTOs in the sixties. He was gruff but a great teacher. I'll always be thankful for what he taught me. Josh is in good hands. In my opinion he's learning from one of the best!
I'm learning something finally. 65 and still learning , good stuff.
Hey SMA, I'm a long time subscriber but this is the first time I've felt the need to comment. Loved this video and it's content. I'm likely right where Josh is as a DIY type. I can rock a brake job and other wrench turning service. But this type of content is exactly what I'm looking for on this channel, and honestly I've felt on some other diagnostic videos while the content is great and I enjoy it the skill level is slightly above my pay grade. So I'd love to see more content like this but I'm not sure if it plays to your core audience or not. Thanks for putting out great content.
I 100% agree with you. I would love to see more videos like this. I'm sure if he had the time he would make more like this. It's great to see how a mind of a master works.
I'm a DIY'er that struggles with the basics of electrical diagnostics. I learned much from this video.
I’m sure there are plenty of us that like this content. Whether Eric has time to do vids like these is up to him. If he makes them we will watch!
Ron Schmidt I agree. Big difference between a parts changer and doing diagnostic work . I would love to see more to .
look on youtube for an electronics channel you will need that skill set in order to learn the diagnostics for cars. IE you need to know what different components are supposed to do in order to test them with can bus it is computer networking in addition
All the best to you, Josh! Mr. Eric, thanks for teaching the next generation a very necessary trade!
Josh, You are a Blessed young man to have Mr.O to help you get started with hands on diagnostics. Mr.O is a superb teacher. The hardest part is getting started. This will be a huge help going forward.
As much as you hate being alone Eric you're going to be crying your eyes out when these two go back to school. You know it's true.
:'( don't remind me....
Particularly when a tire job comes in. 😂
You are a good man erik god bless you and your family.
Yes that was very good, practical hands-on testing to narrow it down to the starter.
Josh looks like & reminds me of my nephew. My nephew used to always be tinkering with things as a kid, radios, small motors, minibikes , lawn mowers, just about everything he could take apart & put back together to see how it works. He is now a master mechanic & builds motors that lift the front tires off the ground. Keep up the good work Josh wish ya all the best brother - cool vid,
Very nice of you Eric to take time out of your busy schedule to help Josh learn diagnostics. The step-by-step approach is one of the best ways for people to comprehend troubleshooting. You should do more videos like this as I’m sure they would be very beneficial to folks new at electrical diagnostics. Also where Josh was a little confused with the lead placement, a diagram on the whiteboard could help clarify the theory. 😀👍
Thanks Terry! Another guy mentioned that too. Didn't even think of that TBH. I am not a teacher so I have to learn how to properly help him and that is what I will do next for sure. Show some more theory, then put the hands on it!
South Main Auto Repair Great idea and hope to see you and Josh doing more diag stuff.Thanks
@@SouthMainAuto yes, a quick drawing on the white board will bring things into focus very clearly!
This is great. You will learn in the trade school, but you will learn 50x more once your out in the field actually doing it.
I learned a lot in trade school, but it wasn't even close to how much I learned at my first shop right out of school.
And nothing better than a seasoned vet teaching you the ropes on how to attack things efficiently. Good stuff
Great job not berating him and being patient. We as viewers have to understand people might not be as comfortable in front of a camera and can make mistakes we usually don’t make too.
Josh has the willingness to learn but also learn patience.it’s a lot to take in but remember you don’t learn ins/outs overnight.Keep up the good work Josh,you have a Great Mentor there too help you along.
I am a long time SMA viewer and I think this is my new favorite video. Diagnosis has always been my weakest point and I have been guilty of using a parts cannon more than once. Eric always make things look super easy and logical and when I am watching most videos I think "of course that is the next step" (after being told). When Eric started asking Josh questions about what can you do from the driver's seat, what system are you looking at, where are you going to start etc I immediately drew a blank and felt like I was back in school and the teacher had just called on me and I had no answer. I would love to see more videos like this because it forces me to think through the process of what to do instead of just watching Eric make it look easy (I will continue to watch those videos too of course). I want to thank Josh for letting us watch him go through this process, I think it will be really helpful for me and anyone else who isn't as skilled as Eric.
bigdaddy1103 yeah would be good to watch some more videos like this.
I agree with u man. Sometimes he makes thisng look so easy u think i could easily do that. Bit then when its time to do it u draw a blank. Its great to here his thought process. Josh is very lucky. Soak it all up josh your learning from THE MAN
@@davyarthurs I thought it was fustrating. Kids today can't think. Sad. I'm self taught. Wish ERIC O was my dad.
Josh and Hanna !! The whole crew is back !!!
You did a great job letting him think for himself, then pointing him in the proper direction. Thumbs up!
Your lucky to have a great teacher Josh, absorb all you can son. And enjoy what your learning.
Josh you will do good in this career. You have a good attitude and seem interested in learning. I wish you the best in the future. You also couldn't ask for a better mentor.
From over here on the west coast of Canada, this is awesome! Judging by young Josh's accent, he is from the most lovely east coast of this fine country. Good on ya for teaching an apprentice valuable skills, I know a lot of apprentices that would be very jealous of this kind of guidance early in their career. Great job Eric (and Josh)!
Yep he is from E Canada :)
Josh has an excellent Dad and teacher,I just learned a different way of diagnosing and remember,"don't let schooling get in the way of your education"Mark Twain. Good Job Guys.
you'd make for a great teacher Eric, respectful, patient and coming across very clear and understandable.
Josh has the best automotive diagnostic technician available, something no school can provide. Learn by doing! Great video! Best of luck Josh.
Good for you josh, you are very lucky to have such a great mentor teaching you...
Great technicians start with great instructors. I think it's great that you start including him in diagnosing the general circuitry. You are without a doubt a master of your field! Josh is very lucky to have the opportunity to work with you.
Josh seems like a cool guy, he has the best teacher for sure. Theres nothing better than experience when learning to fix cars. 10 years on im still learning something new every day. Keep at it josh you will be a good mechanic.
Hey Josh! You're a lucky man to be learning from Dr. O!
Josh has a great mentor, if he keeps at I’m sure he’s gonna be great. First couple minutes in the video. & I gotta say we all started somewhere. Having a mentor defientely helps a bunch. School is supposed to teach us the fundamentals. And even then it’s a lot to take in. Day by day keep on learning. Hope to see josh in future videos! Thanks for all the content.
As someone that deals with mechanics often, especially considering I work in the aftermarket industry, I sincerely appreciate that you are teaching him electrical stuff. So many guys I run across have no basic understanding of how the 12v system even works. So often we have mechanics blame aftermarket items just because they are in the car. Not that it isn't them causing the problems in some cases. But when they just look at the aftermarket remote and instantly say it's the aftermarket system, that's a sign of an uneducated tech, and someone that doesn't want to do what they are being paid to do. Dia the problem with the car. And in this case, doing 15min of dia showed that the aftermarket system was not the issue.
classrooms all well and good but you cant beat gettin down and dirty actually learning on the job....and what a great tutor.!!!!
Josh, you have the opportunity of a lifetime to work under a true master of the trade. Make the most of every minute of time Eric shares with you. Nice work, both of you.
This is what America needs more mentors like you Eric keep up the great work love your vids.
I think it's awesome that you're not only showing him how to apply the knowledge (logical thinking, keep it simple, critical thinking, and other thought processes to reach hypothesis & then test that theorem), but doing so in a positive way, that doesn't make him feel negatively about the learning environment. Also, showing how & why to do certain tests, tools, etc will help him greatly in the future. Lastly, it was a definite boost, to show him, you don't need to know everything, just how/where to get the information.
Josh (and Hannah) has a great instructor in you, Eric. Effective mechanics know that it's all about 'the process' and you have a good one and what's more: you're willing to share it with others! Big thumbs up!
Josh,
You should consider yourself the luckiest man on the face of the earth and should really feel honored to be taught and mentored by the magnificent Eric O - I know I would. I have no doubt that you will do well.
God bless both of you
Paul
You are a great teacher Dr.O, he will be able to learn a ton from you!
When I was in Automotive school about 9 years ago, wish I would have had someone like you to intern with. You are very calm and willing to teach someone with no hands on experience on how to do the job right. Unlike the shop that taught me they were always in a hurry not willing to explain anything. Just wanted to say you did a Great Job. He is lucky to have someone teach him the Right way. He is going to make a Fantastic Mechanic.
I learned more on the shop floor with OJT in 4-6 months than I did my entire school time. Good job Eric.
Like I've been saying all along, you are a great teacher Eric O. I've been learning from you for over a year on tools (Pico labscope, Autel 908, OTC Encore, Launch, Snap On Verus) that i can't afford (at the moment). You are kind, patient, & you don't cuss a lot so i can watch it with my boys (5 & 3). They love your channel, your kids, Sheba & the fabulous Mrs. O. Thanks for the great content, bro. We might even come to visit & get some SMA swag! Josh is so blessed to have your family in his corner!
I wish you all the best Josh in school, Eric is an awesome teacher, a fountain of knowledge in the automotive industry. Kudos!
So glad that you took the time to help josh. We all know that it is hard to take the time to teach when you are trying to keep your shop running. Josh will reminder everything you have done to help him and teach him to be the best.
I am an industrial mechanic myself and i will say this, not every senior mechanic that you meet along the way is willing to pass on his/her knowledge, hoodoos to you. Great stuff as always, I have been following your channel for quite a long time, my friends consider me a me a car mechanic already I laugh and say not quite there yet but for sure I know a whole lot more than when I did my first break change. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Great to see a young guy like Josh wanting to enter into the business. Too often nowadays, kids don't want to get their hands dirty. I made my living doing this, as do you, Eric, and nice that you're teaching him, too!!!
Good job Josh, and Eric. A great student, and a great teacher. I always taught to verify the concern, do a visual inspection, gather service information, look at diagrams, and use common sense as to which test(s) will get your answers the quickest, I love watching your channel Eric, I repaired cars in similar ways when I was a Technician. And I really loved being an Automotive Instructor.Keep up the great work.
One of your finest videos. The thought process is often overlooked focusing just on the repair process.
knowledge is the one thing you can give to another and not loose anything yourself.. you are a good teacher Eric
He's got a great teacher to teach him the right way. I can guarantee from what I see is Josh will learn a lot more from you then the instructor. Josh you'll learn a lot from Eric so take advantage of every opportunity which I know you will. Eric gave you kudos for the quality work you do. I was training my nephew who went to BOCES and he was like a sponge...going to be a great mechanic and technician and he's in the Air Force working on aircraft following in my shoes and making me so proud! His name is....Josh also :D
There is no dollar amount for experience, to know the why and how to troubleshoot and what steps to take to repair a trouble in the most efficient manner is invaluable. That's why you have apprentices and journeymen to teach the new person coming into a profession. Thank you for another great video.
My son is a great mechanic and I showed him early that Horse power is based on speed times torque. Volts are similar to speed and Amps are similar to torque so, you were right on with your training. Its a tough concept to grasp but once Josh grasps this concept, he will become very comfortable with electrical circuits. He could have jumped to conclusions but he didn't, Josh is going to be a great diagnostician. He has a wonderful mentor.
My background Is electrical and mechanical Engineering. Eric you are one of the best "engineers" I have ever seen!
I love your You Tube Vids because you are proof that real genius is rare, and definitely not the result of "advanced" degrees! Keep up the good work, I hope many young "kids' are Watching you.
I think we are all Josh. Thanks for all you do, Eric! I've saved thousands on my car repairs by learning to DIY and I watch your videos all the time.
When I check the neutral safety switch, I prefer to hold the key in the start position, keep my foot on the brake (in case the engine cranks), and run the shifter from park to low. This eliminates the possibility that the switch has shifted adjustment, which isn't very likely (I've never found a vehicle that cranked in reverse or drive before, but I just like to be sure). It's likely this starter has absolutely worn-down brushes inside. When we saw the voltage drop in the start position, that was from the hold-in winding in the solenoid. The pull-in winding has a much higher current draw, but the worn brushes opened the ground circuit for that winding. The hold-in winding alone can't pull the solenoid plunger into the solenoid, so the starter won't crank.
I vote that Josh has to try and diagnose every car that comes in... and as many as possible on live camera... in other words toss him into the deep end.... I have faith... ☺
R. E. Hill That was how I learned. Right off the deep end. Learned how to rebuild a two barrel Rottenchester Carb on a 69 Pontiac Catalina.( Rochester) Two months later, timing chain and gears. Then brakes, brake lines, master brake cylinder. My first car WAS my class room. And it HAD to be running by work on mondays. Every weekend was my class room under the hood
From being the new guy on this page, I'll say this. Josh, you are no doubt in the best of hands anyone could ever ask to have in learning this trade. Focus on everything he says, and you will be a seriously awesome mechanic!! Best of luck!!!
It’s a good day when you can pass on knowledge to someone else. Very good teaching style.
When verifying customer complaint, and checking for the obvious, testing cranking in neutral, etc, it may be a good idea to make sure the check engine light works and comes on in bulb test. This particular car may or may not use the ecm in the starting circuit, but it's a good habit to get into. Giving the remote start a shot was a great idea. Gives direction and a place to start.
I would recommend Josh to quite that school and attend SMA Automotive University. Would most likely learn more from you on how to properly diagnose and fix the car right the first time. But all kidding aside, this was a great instructional video. I myself learn by hands on also. Great job Josh.
visualtimer1 sma univ funny..!
Josh is one lucky guy. He will have the credentials from the school when he graduates plus the hands on learning experience from SMA. Best of both worlds.
SMA UNIVERSITY. SIGN ME UP
It’s tough being on the spot with something you may not understand completely with someone who could tell you everything in their sleep. It makes you feel dumb but after it’s explained and you understand it you feel so good. Then the best part is when the problem arises again you feel so good to take care of it and you fix it. Been there many times before in construction when I was green but now I own my own construction business and am able to teach others. Great job josh you will be a fine mechanic. And great job Eric. It’s easy to just say what the problem is and how to fix it but taking the time to guide them with hints and help when they get stuck teaches for life
Good job Josh. Learning from Eric is the best education you can get. Pay close attention you will do great!!
Trade school is doing its job josh is getting the basics down but there is no imitation for a good mechanic passing on his tried and true knowledge and I am so happy that josh and Hannah are back even if it is for the summer
I think this is great. I went to a two year automotive school and it was a great start. But since going into the field at a GM dealer for the past 4 years right out of auto school not everything I learned in school comes easy when it comes to hands on. I 100 percent agree that hands on real life situations and not bugged problems are the best practice. Currently am still going to hands on courses through GM at training centers and keep learning each time. Josh did great for his first time diagnosing. Hope to see more of these videos.
Josh is a lucky guy to have you as a mentor. Thanks for the excellent teaching methods.
Eric, you never cease to impress me. You are such a wonderful teacher and when I was an apprentice I would've given anything to have a guy like you looking over my shoulder. You're a class act.
Good job josh and Eric. Josh is lucky to have you!
I remember these days. I graduated from WyoTech in 2001 and my first six months were interesting to say the least. My first shop was a 3 shift 40 tech large independent shop. Eric is the perfect guy to learn from. It takes time.
Hang in there Josh!
Eric you are a great teacher. Josh you are a good student and I am looking over your shoulder
Good video Eric I think you’re taking a lot of time to help Josh to learn and that’s important. And I look forward to some more of these videos.
Just a little helpful hint on the Toyota and the Lexus when you insert the key and the security light goes out and stays out that means that the immobilizer security system has authorized for the vehicle to start and has done it’s job. If the immobilizer security light comes on and stays on when the key is in the ignition does not have to be on but just in the ignition this means that the key that is in the ignition is not programmed. If the immobilizer system is having problems the light will go out for a second come back on and begin flashing with the key in the off position but in the ignition. I thought I would offer this help for anyone else that may need it. I work with this stuff every day.
Josh clearly doesn't watch the channel. Gj but I was slightly disappointed, this channel has done so much for me, it's a huge wealth of knowledge and thanks to Eric I'm now in this field of work schooling all the UTI kids. Can't thank you enough Eric and love this channel. SMA for life!
rob m hit it on the head ..... josh needs to watch some of your basic videos that you have put out ..... first day of school and home work all ready... lol
Ha, that's a good point. Lesson one josh, you should watching this and other car channels on youtube if you really want to make this your profession.
Josh good job. I am always glad to see someone get into this trade. Your lucky to have a very qualified and patient teacher. There is no substitute for experience.
We all have to start somewhere to be able to broaden our knowledge. I am just a DIYER that tries to save myself some $$ on my truck's repairs. I have saved myself thousands by watching your channel and others like yourself. Another great video man. And thank you for passing your knowledge down; as the price of knowledge is truly invaluable.
I'd usually start at the starter relay myself. The relay is a good place to split the system and it's up top in the fusebox where it's easy to get to. On a lot of cars you have to get under the car to get to the starter, cramped engine bays usually leave no room up top to get your hand in. Even going under, you usually have to deal with splash shields and skid plates. And nobody wants to contort themselves under the dash if they can help it. I got to old to crawl under there unless I have to a long time ago. :)
I also like to "Start"(see what I did there, lol)at the relay on a lot of vehicles. Really your first step is always a guess until you have actually collected info. Let that info guide you. If the component is readily accessible than of course I'd start there too. It really just depends on the vehicle. The funny things I am constantly re-learning fundamentals because every approach is different.
Eric this is great content, I love the fact that you are teaching in a consuming, non threatening manor. We all were rookies at one point and someone had to show us the way. KEEP AT IT JOSH!! Nothing is better than real world experience. You have a great teacher :)
You never siese to amaze me man . Just watch the video you gave a car to a struggling single mom and know your teaching real world to the next generation 👍👍
That's the way I was taught. Good job Josh, be patient, it takes time.
Put key to ign and you use a meter to check for voltage at both sides of every fuse. No voltage on both ends is ok but not if one side is showing voltage. It takes a little bit of time but is effective. Also josh is awesome and does very well on camera. Very professional
But what if the fuse that is not powered up key on is blown?
Also ur mostly likely at work and theres no time for that if ur billing by the hour ur gonna loose xoustomers quick
I think Josh was a tad scared in front of the camera, he seems like a good guy, so a little help along the way, and im sure he will be fine, now a hint to Josh,, dont quit, read, learn, pay attention to us old guys, we need GOOD Techs ,,
I thought so also at first IMO he seemed to loosen up later on.
I love that you share your skills, your methods of diagnosis and root cause analysis, the realities of working with customers, domain reduction, and just the freaking human part of... well, being human.
Great teacher nice of you to take the time to teach the next generation of tech
Great learning experience for all! Best of luck to ya, Josh!!
I would rather have a $30.00 test light than a $5000.00 tool box. The box can not tell me anything.
Nice job young Josh. You've got a great teacher there.
I know this video is about 10 months old now, but hats off to you SMA! Josh is a very lucky guy to have a teacher like you. I remember 19 years ago when I was getting into the business I worked part time as an apprentice at nights after trade school at a Nissan Dealer. It was a lot of bitter old men that saw new young guys as a threat and didn’t make for a very enjoyable experience. Luckily I moved on pretty quickly from there and am currently with a large police fleet in Illinois. We have younger guys starting and I thoroughly enjoy helping them out. Anyway just another great video from you guys and I wish you the best.
Eric your a great teacher