Here’s Why You’ll Regret Buying These Cars: ruclips.net/video/wvN31Y5B1GA/видео.html Thanks for watching! Like and Subscribe for More Vids Daily ► ruclips.net/channel/UCuxpxCCevIlF-k-K5YU8XPA ⬇️Scotty’s Top DIY Tools: 1. Bluetooth Scan Tool: amzn.to/2nfvmaD 2. Mid-Grade Scan Tool: amzn.to/33dKI0k 3. My Fancy (Originally $5,000) Professional Scan Tool: amzn.to/31khBXC 4. Cheap Scan Tool: amzn.to/2D8Tvae 5. Dash Cam (Every Car Should Have One): amzn.to/2YQW36t 6. Basic Mechanic Tool Set: amzn.to/2tEr6Ce 7. Professional Socket Set: amzn.to/2Bzmccg 8. Ratcheting Wrench Set: amzn.to/2BQjj8A 9. No Charging Required Car Jump Starter: amzn.to/3i7SH5D 10. Battery Pack Car Jump Starter: amzn.to/2nrc6qR ⬇️ Things used in this video: 1. Common Sense 2. 4k Camera: amzn.to/2HkjavH 3. Camera Microphone: amzn.to/2Evn167 4. Camera Tripod: amzn.to/2Jwog8S 5. My computer for editing / uploading: amzn.to/301tYt9 🛠Check out the tools I use and highly recommend ► goo.gl/rwYt2y Subscribe and hit the notification bell! ► goo.gl/CFismN
*My Aunt has a 2006 Honda CR-V with 213000 miles.* NOTE: I checked her battery with a multimeter and it was still brand new after 2-3 years. Also her battery connections are good. Every time she starts a cold engine, she has to turn the ignition 2-3 times for it to start. But on a warm engine, it's starts like normal. Is it a computer aka hell, a ignition switch, or a starter. She does regular maintenance at a mechanic shop that's honest to her. What could it be? 12.8v battery with clean terminals. Help
@RR Extra He's not a big fan of the Honda 1.5 turbo, which my wife has in her 2018 CRV. It suffers from oil dilution-gasoline ends up in the crankcase. I have definitely smelled it.
Chevy Sonic pvc valve notorious for failing. It wasn't the problem in this case, but if it does fail you have to change the whole valve cover as it is integrated into the valve cover.
@@Rem694u2 in this situation this does not apply. When you can audibly confirm a problem with the timing chain, why the heck would you take it out for a joy ride and redline it? That's literally the worst thing you can do.
You don't have to have an honest mechanic like him, we all are learning a lot from Scotty in order for us to fix our vehicles and prevent to get scammed...
Not to mention, a COMPETENT one with the proper diagnostic tools for today's cars. Some of the older mechanics don't keep up with the newest tech or tools.
@@pookysdad4884 I find the younger ones are worse. Code for a sensor change the sensor. Code for the turbo change the turbo. I'm lucky I have a garage just a couple of hundred yards from my house that will properly diagnose a problem. my last Mondeo had a problem with the brake lights not working. code indicated the switch was at fault before changing the switch he checked the connector and discovered an intermittent fault on one feed to the switch he then traced that to a bad connection on the BCM that he managed to fix. 3 hours labour and no replacement parts needed. Small independent garages that use word of mouth to get business are the best places to go. They build a good reputation and will go the extra to protect their reputation
Here in the UK my local garage that I found and started to use is honest, but I get the sense that they just want to do a basic job and move onto the next car as soon as possible.
And yet he completely misdiagnosed this car! The noise is just a bad evap purge soleniod and the under boost and knock codes are from clogged catalytic converters I know because i own a 1.4 turbo!
@@rob5944 Boo agreed. I used to have a trusted mechanic (he's friends of my friends). 6 years ago he was excellent. Now he doesn't do the actual work, he hired a bunch of goons. He doesn't know electronics. They tried to do a rig around thing with one of my relays and lied to me. Had to pressure them for month to admit it. He gave me some diagram. Helped some. Took me 8 months to fix it.
@ethangonzales3000 AC still works great, only problem I have is my door locks have a mind of there own. They'll lock and unlock any given time, just hasn't bothered me enough to get into door and look yet. 268k miles now.
@@jasondelk7042 Probably the door switch in the door. The one attached to the physical lever that you push/pull up and down... at least that what mine seems to be. I'm going to be trying to fix it soon. Oh and you should have done the timing chain at 100k and I'm guessing 200k as well lol. At least my 2015 has a code pop at 100k that says to change the timing chain.
It's a small engined GM. Double whammy. GM that's a rebadged Daewoo, and a small turbo engine... All it needs is a 3 cylinder and a Nissan CVT and it'll win the golden pile of crap award!
@@panhuragan4388 That long warranty says otherwise. When a company has a long warranty on the product, they are admitting that they have a quality problem.
@@tedschmitt178 I have a hyundai of 2015 and it runs like a dream with 120k on it. Owned 3 American cars and they died at 40k to 70k and warranty was up to 40k.
The biggest issue with this motor is that GM skimped out on the cooling system and used as much plastic as they possibly could and those parts fail all the time. I replaced the full coolant system with aluminum replacements from ZZP and they are all 1-1 replacements, and it’s not very much money at all, plus you can also tune these cars to run way cooler as GM from the factory has the thermostat set to not open til I think 215 degrees? ZZP will tune it to run closer to 195 when it opens up. 120k miles and I bought it with 70k miles a few years ago and after cracking the coolant outlet I just replaced all of the pieces
Or if it was designed, engineered and built by Honda! But alas, GM affirmative action engineering department never fails to live up to its reputation 💩
scotty is definitely a pro - it was pretty informative to see the recommended trouble-shooting process. . . . . makes sense! Quite a treat to see a knowledgeable person work the problem down to the root cause - nicely done!
I had a Chevy Sonic for 5 years. Zero problems so far. It's a 2012 model with 50k miles. I think the problem with the car is people driving them like they were Camaros.
I Got My 2013 Sonic For 3k With 26,000 miles, It Hasn't Given Me Any Problems Yet But That's Because I Tend To Baby It😅 It's Got 55k Miles Now, Which One You Got? I Have The 1.8L
It's a pain in the wallet, but a 1000 bucks to replace the timing chain and keep the car on the road with no code seems a better deal than junking the car.
Kia 1.0 litre engines same as Hyundai 1.0 litres have plastic chain tensioners, they go noisy after 50k, Kia will fix the problem under warranty if you shout enough, they know it's a problem with poorly made tensioners but don't make it public knowledge.
The problem is they're just not enough of Scottie's around to fix everybody's cars. At least you're doing a good service having a RUclips channel and teaching us mechanical knowledge
I’m the original owner of a 2013 Sonic with 125k on it. Had very good luck with it only minor repairs and maintenance (knock on wood). I specifically opted for the 1.8 instead of the over complicated turbo.
@@autobotavengerfireballxl5339 Dude it’s an interference motor. Meaning if that belt goes you just destroyed the car. You’re playing with fire, my friend. It’s called preventive maintenance.
@OhYeaMista you think I don't know that? I have another complete drivetrain that has 104km on it not worried about it also it only a winter beater I have 3 different vehicles I can drive whenever I want
The clicking at the beginning is the emission bypass in the back that runs along the intake manifold and the fuel injectors that's normal for the fuel injectors. I have the same car plus I have HP tuners
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! At that mileage the evap purge soleniod makes that noise after the engine warms up above 175-180 degrees and is super cheap and takes 2 minutes to switch out! A clogged catalytic converter caused the under boost code at that milage! The timing chains don't have problems on these engines! These engines last several hundreds of thousands of miles if you don't overheat them if the thermostat sticks closed or overheats from a coolant leak. Coolant system problems are the only real problems with these cars! I own a 2012 chev cruze with the same engine. It's 2 simple fixes scotty! Replace catalytic converters and replace the evap purge solenoid! The turbo can't breath and can't boost all the way with the catalytic converters clogged up! Clogged catalytic converters can also cause the engine knock. A bad turbo wastegate actuator can also cause the turbo under boost and are cheap and easy to replace, but do the catalytic converters first!
I've heard unanimously from a bunch of mechanics that 1.4t engines are blowing up left and right. "It's a sturdy design it just can't be overheated" when they have multiple outlets of cooling system abject failure. It's a car that has much more built-in maintenance than a civic or Corolla of the same generations. The wise move would be a 1.8 na Chevy Cruze or a 10-11 cobalt
@@koreymayo8884 GM can't keep enough 1.4 motors around as they're blowing up. You're right about the Cobalt, I got mixed up with the last year of 8th Gen civic. A 2009-2010 Cobalt is better built than a Cruze for longevity also. No matter how you slice it the Cruze has all sorts of smears on its name
@Gods_Patriot it is very difficult to find 1.4 liter engines. That's true. And 1.8 liter blows head gaskets all the time. From now I'm I'm sticking to Asian vehicles.
@@koreymayo8884 it's sad because I'm a GM fan. I've worked on a friend's 2016 Cruze recently and not a fan. They can't even make oil drain plugs to last the life of the car, apparently a big issue. To date I've never seen a badly stripped oil drain plug on any vehicle but after research the Cruze just disintegrates. I had a 04 & 08 Cav & Cobalt, solid and cheap. The Cruze 1.4 can't compare simply because of allll that goes wrong. The water pump/turbo plus an electrically controlled thermostat! GM is known for electrical gremlins, I don't trust them with all electric t-stat with an engine that can't handle an overheat. I'm not trying to argue boss I just like the conversation! I agree
I drive a 1.8L 2015 Chevy Cruze LS. Got it used with just over 90,000 miles on it. I've had to replace the valve cover, the thermostat housing, and I believe it was the evap purge valve that I also changed out. Now it rides like a dream. Not a bad car for local driving but drinks gas on the highway. Scotties videos have saved me time and money trying to figure out whats wrong and it's usually something easy.
I have that motor in my Cruze, it has 150,000 miles on it and still running strong. I drive Uber, and beat the hell out of it, putting 300 miles on it per day, and it still looks and drives the way it did when it was brand new. I see them for sale in my area with over 200,000 miles on them all the time, and I know a few people who own them that have over 300k on theirs. This is a pretty reliable motor. Somebody either used shitty oil, or was lax on the oil changes.
I was going to say I have a 13 Sonic with only 49k miles hoping this don't happen to me but I use good oil and filters maybe they went to jiffy lube all the time 😆 ....or used non dexos oil.
@@sergeynemir Yes is a 1.4 turbo with all the mods Pcv 2 upgrade kit ,Trifecta turbo Advantage tune, Zzp cold air intake on it , B&R throttle body spacer, ported intake manifold and none of the above mods listed altered emissions because it passed the California smog test.
@@TheThirdWheel618 So in your experience, it’s a good car? I want to buy one for a daily driver and some light driving work. Just tired of lugging my ford V8 everywhere.
I just got rid of my 2016 Chevy Sonic. Had it for a year and didn’t even put 10K miles on it. In the span of that time the AC went out, tensioner belt went out, AND it had a continuous p0111 code for the whole year I had it. Dealership couldn’t figure it out. Gladly got another Corolla. Same year, miles, but no issues.
I've changed out a few timing chains, gears and tensioners in my day, but all on in-line, rear wheel drive vehicles. It's the transverse mounted front wheel drive configuration that makes the job so difficult. But, if a person wants to keep the car, it has to be done. Whaddya gonna do?!! Scotty is the BEST!!👍
I own a 2018 Chevy Sonic LT RS with a 1.8 L Ecotec engine. My Sonic has a timing belt. It's been a great car. (In 2018, the Sonic engine was available in 1.8 L or 1.4 turbo).
@@stanleymakafui A good mechanic might have $20-30,000 in tools for one brand of auto. It's all fun and games until you have to work under a dirty, dripping car in the middle of winter, for somebody who wants it done right, quick and cheap, and when something else goes wrong later, tell all the friends what a lousy mechanic you are, and so expensive!
I had a Buick Enclave and its timing chain went out prior to 100k miles. A mechanic told me that those GM timing chains were very small/skinny for that size engine and that he had seen larger/wider timing chains on much smaller Japanese cars/engines. Huge job to replace.
I took mine (same engine as video) to get serpentine belt changed bc I was short on time, they gave me a rental car and I was confused why? They changed my timing chain instead of my serpentine belt and when I picked it up the belt split on the way home 🤦♂️
@@kalashnikov1343 I had a sonic with the 1.8 for a couple of years. The 1.8 had a timing belt and not a chain. The injectors on my Sonic sounded identical to these injectors. They are alarmingly loud in person.
The unholy trinity, nice😂 I recently traded a 2016 GTI for a Mazda 3 turbo hatch, and while I never had any show stopping issues with the Vdub, I now have much more peace od mind on road trips outside my city.
@@johnk815 for the type of driving I do (winding country roads on a Sunday morning..nothing too high speed) the Mazda feels great. I'm not really missing the GTI for anything other than better rear visibility and slightly more interior space. The Mazda feels just as fast off the line as the GTI (probably due the AWD limiting wheelspin to a brief chirp) but I didnt have the performance pack limited slip diff on the Veedub. The Mazda interior is simply on a different level though..looks and feels good, and the GTI wasnt bad at all. I love the idea of a Mini Cooper, but a friend having a nightmare list of issues with a 2012 model a few years back cured me of wanting to own one.
OMG you are really screwed man. Let me guess, you have three divorces too and have to write three alimony checks along with three child support checks every month too huh
The 1.4 EcoTec is not the best engine GM has made. However, the 1.8 EcoTec in the Sonic is a pretty good engine. It's slow but I love the reliability of these engines! Just bought my second 1.8 Sonic.
That's why I bought a Sonic with the 1.8L normally aspirated engine and a standard transmission. We all know that the cheap transmissions are crap. It's slow, but I do not care. It gets me to work and to the food store.
The problem could just be a stuck timing chain tensioner, which allows chain slap. The knock sensor may be getting fooled by the mechanical knocking, which is why you get an implausibly error on the sensor at idle.
Get the naturally aspirated 1.8, preferably with the manual. No lag, just linear power. No timing chain wear, change the belt appropriately. In 12 years, 96k, had two codes, low airflow and lean fuel. It reduced fuel delivery to match the perceived air volume. One MAF sensor replacement, Bosch $46 on Rockauto, cleared the code during the test drive. Only oil loss is through the drain plug during oil changes. Always get the 1.8. I personally don't trust current automatic transmissions or turbo engines.
The customer should just wait on the timing chain as that little motor will have oblong cylinders very soon. Your past videos about these engines and the turbo produced manifold pressures pretty much guarantee engine replacement somewhere around the mileage this car has. You can't even take off from a stop sign without engaging the turbo on these tiny little crap engines. Love your diagnostic process.
I've got two vehicles with the 1.4L turbo. One has 160,000 miles, the other 42,000. I admit they are not fast but I haven't had any engine issues with them
Many mechanics these days are parts changers! Had a neighbor they went through $2000.00 in part at a repair facility and still wasn’t fixed! I ran the codes and the fuel pressure sensor was bad! I replaced it and boom it was fixed ! Saw the mechanic he went to and told him about it! He laughed until I told he needed to be punched in the face!
@@rachelgreen1368 I have 10 scan tools! From $40.00 to $5,000.00 ! I recommend everybody own one ! But yeah I agree buy parts online or local if you need em fast! Our boss is a Motorcraft parts distributor plus a few other lines!
Not all engine problems or car problems in general gives you trouble code. This is where knowledge and theory of how electrical system, mechanical system, engine, fuel system, etc work come into play.
@@abuelb A good scan tool on a modern car with a million sensors can help diagnose pretty much any problem. It doesn't just spit out a code. It allows you to monitor everything in realtime. You still have to know what you are looking at and what it means. Edit - so basically I'm agreeing that knowledge and experience is irreplaceable but disagreeing on the irreplaceable value of scan tools for mechanics.
I knew nothing about cars and bought as Sonic as my first car about 6 months before this video came out 😂I replaced the timing belt shortly after buying it just to be safe and it only cost me $500-600. I don't have anything to compare it too, but it's an okay car. Had to replace the transmission as well (bought it at 100K miles) which costed a reasonable $2000 parts + labour. That's really the only major problem I've had for the 30K miles I've owned it.
GM needs to eat about every production vehicle they make lmao. in recent decades it seems their quality has dropped exponentially. no reason a 1500 with 30k miles on it should need lifters done already yet here we are...
Mr. Kilmer thanks for your excellent and easy to understand analysis causing an irregular knock sensor reading. In defense of engine manufacturers , An engine irrespective of its size is built to certain tolerances. Therefore, its reliability is designed to be consistent. And meet prescribed specifications. Some Sonics accelerate from 0 to 60 under nine seconds. The under boost code is signaling that the turbo is not operating at its normal pressure, causing slow acceleration. Mr. Kilmer you’ve mentioned in another video that it’s always important to change the oil on a turbo.. GM didn’t design this engine to be a high horsepower variant, although people may drive them as if they are.
The OEM suspension is made by KYB, just like on most of the Japanese dirt bikes its all made by KYB. KYB is second to none in the suspension business and is not an aftermarket it is the factory suspension.
I once thought KYB was some new stuff...when it was actually Kayaba (a known name in suspension on motorcycles since way back) renamed! But about being second to none...we have SHOWA to put up a fight for that
My 2016.5 Cruze has served me well. 200k all original. Definitely starting to show its age now. For me though, I don’t have any reservations with the 1.4t. At least no more than any other car running a small displacement turbo. It’s just the nature of those beasts, they’re just under much more stress than a NA 2.4L.
You have the latest version. I have a 2018 bought it new it only has 19k on it But still i haven't had a single issue with it in the over 5 years of ownership It's an LT hatchback
my mom drives a 2010 GMC terrain with the 2.4 ecotech engine. I'm a mechanic and i replaced the timing chain twice in it. the first time the chain was rattling and one of the timing chain guides was actually broken, but surprisingly there was no check engine light. the chain stretches because of the high pressure fuel pump ( this being a Direct Injection fuel system) putting more strain on the chain. port injection is the best way to go for reliability for this reason
The problem is finding a good mechanic/garage. In my experience here in the UK they range from honest but usually disinterested to downright incompetent. In a perfect world they'd all be similar to Scotty, then again in a perfect world we'd all be driving around in brand new Toyotas.........
Even though I don't always agree with you when it comes to Modern Dodges/ Chrysler I wanna say that I've learned so much about cars since the beginning of the Pandemic from you. My co worker's and family are like where did all this come from as i didn't know much before. I ALWAYS watch specific videos multiple times relating to what I'm about to get Repaired so I can learn just enough not to get Ripped off. Keep up the great work and looking forward to future videos.
Driving a 2016 with 141k miles on it. Runs great, only thing ever replaced was a wheel bearing, and a water pump. (Other than breaks, and fluids and whatnot). Nothing wrong with this engine at all IMO...
ken the diesel mechanic ,your spot on Scotty ,i,m just removing heads on a chevy cruze 1.4 turbo and i have 2 exhaust valves with melted plastic in it ,chipped in there from exhaust manifold and coolant parts .Just trying to save as much as i can on this 1.4 ,it even melt on one of the pistons .wow just wow
Thank you scotty, all you do is very helpful and I also got a 2016 chevy sonic recently with 99,000 original miles it's the LS without the turbo and I love it.
I’m the original owner of a 2013 Sonic with 125k on it. Had very good luck with it only minor repairs and maintenance (knock on wood). I specifically opted for the 1.8 instead of the turbo.
I own a Sonic. It was a good car until it got old. It lives at the Mechanics but it's cheaper than a car note and I've reached the point where there's not much else to be fixed.
Oh that matches the PLASTIC thermostat and PLASTIC water outlet..couple that with a 217-221F full-open ECM stock tuning and using shitty GM 'COOLANT' (looking at you Dex-os).. and the coolant temps regularly hitting 240°.. Wtf was GM thinking... Engines are pretty good. I love my 1.4T '12 Cruze.. but by God don't buy these cars unless you like working on them yourself.. as they're rather easy to do so with fairly minimal tools..
Don’t buy any General Motors product with the 1.4 turbocharged engine. Buy the 1.8 liter engine cars if you have to have one. Keep in mind that you can only get the 1.8 liter engine in the Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Sonic, and Saturn Astra.
I have a 2013 sonic. 1.8 with the 5 speed. It’s a good running little car. 123k miles. About to replace the timing belt since it’s overdue but other than that she goes. I can’t hate on them. The fuel mileage is great too, doesn’t cost too much for the work commute
@@shidfard Well? There are other claims that the turbocharged 1.4 L Sonic engine has a major problem with both the chain tensioner and/or the timing chain. With the unstable ignition timing, it appears that the timing chain is not providing a good basis for ignition data. It could just be the tensioner and that is a typical problem for that car but a worn chain may also be the problem.
My mom has a 2015 sonic lt with the turbo engine that she bought from her cousin for like 5500 dollars. It was previously in an accident, had to have the whole front end replaced, and it’s the most reliable car she’s ever had.
The first generation Chevy Cruze has that same engine. I had a 2014 Chevy Cruze I bought used. When I bought it, I made sure to buy the extended warranty. Two years later into ownership, the engine needed $2000 in repairs. The valve cover, oil pan gasket, cooling fan, coolant pump, and a vacuum hose all went bad. Of course, this was all in the first 50k miles that this car had. I just figured that these were problems that the previous owner didn't bother to fix. When I heard how much it was going to cost to fix the problems the engine had, I was glad I did buy the extended warranty or I would have been singing a different tune. Aside from the engine repairs, I really had no major or ongoing issues with it. It was a good, reliable car.
Buick Encore with the same 1.4L Turbo engine. Currently at 145k and it has been amazing. These engines are notorious for throwing the “Engine Underboost” code due to the computer being over sensitive to the turbocharger speed. If the turbo for even one second is not spinning as fast as it needs to be depending on engine speed, the code gets tripped. GM has an open TSB on the problem but it only applies to vehicles that see cold weather, strange issue but usually not indicative of an actual turbo problem (though the 1.4L is also notorious for blowing turbos though mine hasn’t yet which I am absolutely grateful for) My neighbor also has a Buick Encore with 222k and she is going to be trading it in since it recently developed an electrical issue with the StabiliTrak system and would rather get a newer Encore GX. I think these engines are fine, but they do not take abuse well. Unlike a Toyota or Honda engine where you can probably stretch one or two oil change intervals, you absolutely cannot miss one on the 1.4L since by nature it’s very hard on the oil as it’s considered a high stress engine.
@@richsweeney1115 It can handle stress, it is literally classified as a high stress motor. The thing is, oil changes need to be done exactly at intervals and you should use a high quality oil designed for turbo engines. (I personally use oil designed for german turbos since the GM 1.4L is a very close copy of the VW 1.4L) the only difference between the two is the VW TSI is direct injected and the GM EcoTec is port injected. I also drive my car like a maniac, constantly passing people, driving at near 100, and my engine has held up flawlessly all this time. You just have to take care of your cars.
Good video. Had 1.4 turbo for 6 years. Enjoyable engine to drive in a chevy cruze but it wouldnt stay warm after -25 celcius, on hot days it had cooling problem, oil passage problem, wiper arm broke. But it got 4litres per 100km so it still saved money lol.
I had a 2012 hatchback with the 1.8 engine, loved it! It had fuel economy it was nice looking, it had de 17 inch wheels and fog lamps, it was fast for a small 4 cyl car. Never gave me any problems. Had it for 3 years as a daily driver
I'm sitting here watching inside my 2012 chevy sonic with over 185,000 miles 😬. I'm completely intrigued about everything said in this video but I don't barely know anything about cars. My sonic is my first car but I love it and want to learn more about it and cars in general. This video has given my a lot of inspiration to say the least, and a little worry but eh, she's an inferno orange fighter.
my 1.4 has 140K miles on it and the timing chain is just fine, seen it twice with 2 PCV cover replacements. beats a silly rubber band any day for timing.
@@scottykilmer I got a choice of a 2014 Chevy Cruze 1.4 turbo 105,000 miles or a 2007 Toyota Corolla 1.8 185,000 miles. Both cars look great. Which car is probably going to be the most maintenance in the next 75,000 miles?
Funny, there are so many people out there that believe timing chains don't give problems, yet there is so much proof out there about timing chains stretching, while they technically may last longer they are still problematic where as a belt, just change it every 75k miles and you're golden. While you're there change the water pump and tensioner and timing wise you'll never have an issue unless you have a bad part or had an tool install it. While there may be more maintenance, it's less costly if there's a failure
I own an gen 2 1.4. good engine. So far at 64k water pump went out. I drive my RS hard. I believe these are one of the best GM made if it's an gen 2 engine. Change your oil!!
I kept reminding my automotive tech students to consider the simple things first. Sure, electronics can mess up, but understand and consider the mechanical possibilities first. Get your head inside that machine!
This literally explained what the he'll happened to my car after it was worked on by the worst so called mechanic...dude scotty you have a special place in hevan waiting for you man. Your awesome. And I wish more mechanics were like you. They would make more money being honest. Thank u so much
You people think he doesnt talk about it with the owner before he does it? You think he wouldn't fix it if he hurt it? Use common sense .....I'm sure it's agreed before it's happened ... especially since it's in a vid!!! Wow.... People always have to find something to complain about..
One big problem. I live in central Wisconsin I haven't found any mechanic that has this level of scan equipment and knows how to operate it. They get a code and go to the book to look it up. I can do that with my $59 scanner I got from auto zone. Then they want to charge a hundred bucks for hooking up that fancy scanner. Scotty says get a mechanic like me to hook up his fancy dealer level scanner to check this or that. I'm in the Dells area I've driven a hundred miles any direction and can't find one. It's really hard to find a good and trustworthy mechanic these days that knows how to operate and understand these complex scanners. Most are parts changers and when parts are hundreds of dollars who can afford them.
@@JayCeeMax Years ago Paul Harvey talked about ASE Master certified technicians as an equivalent as having A PHD in the automotive field ! Find one with those credentials !!
Still driving my 2013 Sonic Turbo. It needed a couple inexpensive things that I fixed myself with how-to videos from other RUclipsrs. Gas mileage has been 30 to 40 mpg. I'll keep the car until a small ev pickup comes out. My other car is my 4 year old Chevy Bolt that has been great. I'm sold on ev's. Won't buy another ICE car.
Glad I saw this, I've been thinking about a used cruise with this same engine... Have always been Leary of turbos, especially if you don't know the history of it
From what I have seen and experienced from these 1.4L Turbo engines they are very hit or miss engines. You could get one like mine that's been babied, well maintained, and had routine maintenance. There was only 1 owner before me on my 2012 Cruze RS mine is at 245k, got it with 215K miles and those engines could get to that or more and keep going. Or you could have one that is nothing but a money pit. Whether you baby it or not it, take care of it or not, and do maintenance or not feels like a gamble with these engines. You could get a diamond in the rough, or you could end up with a lemon. Honestly, I feel lucky as hell that the car is chugging along still just fine and has no codes either.
I have heard that loud clicking noise can also be the fuel purge canister on the back of the intake seem people replace it and it gets much quieter. Mines made that noise for the last 60,000 miles, but after it got louder the code finally went off for the purge flow canister. Comes back a few weeks after clearing it. It's getting a head gasket job, and a cracked turbo. Thankfully I have family member that works on cars for fun or I'd be screwed. 129,000 miles.
I love the fact that Scotty makes crybabies curl up in a ball on the floor, just being himself. Seems like a pretty good guy to me. Man, times have changed, and not for the better.
Here’s Why You’ll Regret Buying These Cars: ruclips.net/video/wvN31Y5B1GA/видео.html
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*My Aunt has a 2006 Honda CR-V with 213000 miles.* NOTE: I checked her battery with a multimeter and it was still brand new after 2-3 years. Also her battery connections are good. Every time she starts a cold engine, she has to turn the ignition 2-3 times for it to start. But on a warm engine, it's starts like normal. Is it a computer aka hell, a ignition switch, or a starter. She does regular maintenance at a mechanic shop that's honest to her. What could it be? 12.8v battery with clean terminals. Help
@RR Extra
He's not a big fan of the Honda 1.5 turbo, which my wife has in her 2018 CRV.
It suffers from oil dilution-gasoline ends up in the crankcase. I have definitely smelled it.
Scotty you are wrong! Just replace the evap purge soleniod and the catalytic converters on that 1.4 turbo! I know because I own one!
Chevy Sonic pvc valve notorious for failing. It wasn't the problem in this case, but if it does fail you have to change the whole valve cover as it is integrated into the valve cover.
My chevy Sonic kasted 278,000km. Total amount of fixes around 3,200 in it's lifetime and the maintenance was around 1100 per year. Had it for 11 years
I've got the non-turbocharged Sonic. 160,000+ miles on it and she's still holding on! Praying we reach 200
what u at now?
I got mine to 150k and then I gave it to my mom. It took my mom driving it to blow it up
Hey what year is yours? I just got a 2017 LT 1.8L.
You are the mechanic I’d want on my car. Fixing the issue not the symptoms.
bro forget a mechanic, I need Scotty to fix my LIFEEEEEEEEEE
He's a mechanic that redlines your car while "diagnosing"
@@Toyeboy89 that's how real mechanics do check for vehicles
@@Toyeboy89 How else are you going to find the problem if you don't put it through it's paces to trigger the check engine light again? lol
@@Rem694u2 in this situation this does not apply. When you can audibly confirm a problem with the timing chain, why the heck would you take it out for a joy ride and redline it? That's literally the worst thing you can do.
We all wish we had a honest mechanic like Scotty👍
You don't have to have an honest mechanic like him, we all are learning a lot from Scotty in order for us to fix our vehicles and prevent to get scammed...
Not to mention, a COMPETENT one with the proper diagnostic tools for today's cars. Some of the older mechanics don't keep up with the newest tech or tools.
Facts
@@pookysdad4884 I find the younger ones are worse. Code for a sensor change the sensor. Code for the turbo change the turbo. I'm lucky I have a garage just a couple of hundred yards from my house that will properly diagnose a problem. my last Mondeo had a problem with the brake lights not working. code indicated the switch was at fault before changing the switch he checked the connector and discovered an intermittent fault on one feed to the switch he then traced that to a bad connection on the BCM that he managed to fix. 3 hours labour and no replacement parts needed.
Small independent garages that use word of mouth to get business are the best places to go. They build a good reputation and will go the extra to protect their reputation
not all are not honest,but very few are as good like scotty...
CSI: Scotty edition! That's impressive when you solve a false diagnosis!
It’s turning into a lost art all around, a lot of mechanics are parts changers first.
It's concerning that other mechanics don't
this video again emphasizes the problem not of the vehicle, but of finding a mechanic who KNOWS how to diagnose a problem with your car.
Here in the UK my local garage that I found and started to use is honest, but I get the sense that they just want to do a basic job and move onto the next car as soon as possible.
And yet he completely misdiagnosed this car! The noise is just a bad evap purge soleniod and the under boost and knock codes are from clogged catalytic converters I know because i own a 1.4 turbo!
@@koreymayo8884 you'll have to let him know.
@@rob5944 Boo agreed. I used to have a trusted mechanic (he's friends of my friends). 6 years ago he was excellent. Now he doesn't do the actual work, he hired a bunch of goons. He doesn't know electronics. They tried to do a rig around thing with one of my relays and lied to me. Had to pressure them for month to admit it. He gave me some diagram. Helped some. Took me 8 months to fix it.
@@AF_1892 nightmare!
Both my daughter's bought new sonics in 2014 one turbo one non turbo. Both are still driving them. Regular maintenance. No problems. So there Scotty.
I have 241k miles on my 2014 sonic, runs like a dream. Done nothing except water pump and a few thermostats and housings. Its the 1.8
Yea im ngl these cars are lowkey reliable lol I have a 2016
2015 1.4 turbo 70k most reliable car ive ever had. Replaced the water outlet housing and the stero after the key chime update 🙄 I love my Sonic
Any problems with the AC?
@ethangonzales3000 AC still works great, only problem I have is my door locks have a mind of there own. They'll lock and unlock any given time, just hasn't bothered me enough to get into door and look yet. 268k miles now.
@@jasondelk7042
Probably the door switch in the door. The one attached to the physical lever that you push/pull up and down... at least that what mine seems to be. I'm going to be trying to fix it soon. Oh and you should have done the timing chain at 100k and I'm guessing 200k as well lol. At least my 2015 has a code pop at 100k that says to change the timing chain.
Knock sensors seldom fail. This is why we need to test and not guess when it comes to diagnosis. Good job Scotty
gm ls suffer from water getting near them i wouldnt say seldom fail a corroded harnes or bad connector is still a failure
I’ve got a 2016 Cruze with the same engine and I agree! Today it started to have the worst problems I’ve experienced with a car
It's a small engined GM.
Double whammy. GM that's a rebadged Daewoo, and a small turbo engine... All it needs is a 3 cylinder and a Nissan CVT and it'll win the golden pile of crap award!
@@allentoyokawa9068 Hyundai and Kia are great :-)
@@allentoyokawa9068 Nissan is Japanese...
@@panhuragan4388 That long warranty says otherwise. When a company has a long warranty on the product, they are admitting that they have a quality problem.
Daewoo was very good my friend.
@@tedschmitt178 I have a hyundai of 2015 and it runs like a dream with 120k on it. Owned 3 American cars and they died at 40k to 70k and warranty was up to 40k.
The biggest issue with this motor is that GM skimped out on the cooling system and used as much plastic as they possibly could and those parts fail all the time. I replaced the full coolant system with aluminum replacements from ZZP and they are all 1-1 replacements, and it’s not very much money at all, plus you can also tune these cars to run way cooler as GM from the factory has the thermostat set to not open til I think 215 degrees? ZZP will tune it to run closer to 195 when it opens up. 120k miles and I bought it with 70k miles a few years ago and after cracking the coolant outlet I just replaced all of the pieces
I have the exact same knock code in my car and the best of mechanic couldn't figure out what was happening. Great respect.
The Sonic would be a good car... if it was built in 1952
The sonic would be a good car if it only cost $1,952.
I'd buy a Henry J instead .
@@steveshattah which it would have in 1952
I’d have bought a 1948 tucker
Or if it was designed, engineered and built by Honda! But alas, GM affirmative action engineering department never fails to live up to its reputation 💩
scotty is definitely a pro - it was pretty informative to see the recommended trouble-shooting process. . . . . makes sense! Quite a treat to see a knowledgeable person work the problem down to the root cause - nicely done!
I had a Chevy Sonic for 5 years. Zero problems so far. It's a 2012 model with 50k miles. I think the problem with the car is people driving them like they were Camaros.
I Got My 2013 Sonic For 3k With 26,000 miles, It Hasn't Given Me Any Problems Yet But That's Because I Tend To Baby It😅 It's Got 55k Miles Now,
Which One You Got? I Have The 1.8L
@@lilj2142 where can i get a smae deal?
It's a pain in the wallet, but a 1000 bucks to replace the timing chain and keep the car on the road with no code seems a better deal than junking the car.
Right! especially with the car market right now.
Agree. Fix it keep it.
A timing chain should not be bad after 60,000 to 80,000 miles. That's poor manufacturing.
@@charlesfranks1902 Agreed, unfortunately it's a throw away world as as many things are concerned. As long as they last the warranty (hopefully).
@@charlesfranks1902 at 59 999 it is still under waranty but GM won't acknowledge the issue ....
I heard a wise mechanic once say those ecotech motors also have plastic timing chain guides that might succumb to premature wear.
Kia 1.0 litre engines same as Hyundai 1.0 litres have plastic chain tensioners, they go noisy after 50k, Kia will fix the problem under warranty if you shout enough, they know it's a problem with poorly made tensioners but don't make it public knowledge.
@@audimanuk Haven't BMW had similar problems?
Yes they do. Owned a cobalt, now wife drives sonic w 1.8L. I drive Malibu with 2.5L ecotec. I'm at least a LOYAL sucker!😂
Pretty much all guides and tensioners are "plastic" or some sort of composite.
The problem is they're just not enough of Scottie's around to fix everybody's cars. At least you're doing a good service having a RUclips channel and teaching us mechanical knowledge
I’m the original owner of a 2013 Sonic with 125k on it. Had very good luck with it only minor repairs and maintenance (knock on wood). I specifically opted for the 1.8 instead of the over complicated turbo.
hope you did your timing belt about 25k ago, lol
@@ZombieZim713 yep. All done
the timing belt lasts 125miles no problem I have 305000km on mine lol
@@autobotavengerfireballxl5339 Dude it’s an interference motor. Meaning if that belt goes you just destroyed the car. You’re playing with fire, my friend. It’s called preventive maintenance.
@OhYeaMista you think I don't know that? I have another complete drivetrain that has 104km on it not worried about it also it only a winter beater I have 3 different vehicles I can drive whenever I want
The clicking at the beginning is the emission bypass in the back that runs along the intake manifold and the fuel injectors that's normal for the fuel injectors. I have the same car plus I have HP tuners
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! At that mileage the evap purge soleniod makes that noise after the engine warms up above 175-180 degrees and is super cheap and takes 2 minutes to switch out! A clogged catalytic converter caused the under boost code at that milage! The timing chains don't have problems on these engines! These engines last several hundreds of thousands of miles if you don't overheat them if the thermostat sticks closed or overheats from a coolant leak. Coolant system problems are the only real problems with these cars! I own a 2012 chev cruze with the same engine. It's 2 simple fixes scotty! Replace catalytic converters and replace the evap purge solenoid! The turbo can't breath and can't boost all the way with the catalytic converters clogged up! Clogged catalytic converters can also cause the engine knock. A bad turbo wastegate actuator can also cause the turbo under boost and are cheap and easy to replace, but do the catalytic converters first!
I've heard unanimously from a bunch of mechanics that 1.4t engines are blowing up left and right. "It's a sturdy design it just can't be overheated" when they have multiple outlets of cooling system abject failure. It's a car that has much more built-in maintenance than a civic or Corolla of the same generations. The wise move would be a 1.8 na Chevy Cruze or a 10-11 cobalt
@Gods_Patriot the 1.8 liter has even more problems and there are no 2011 cobalts
@@koreymayo8884 GM can't keep enough 1.4 motors around as they're blowing up. You're right about the Cobalt, I got mixed up with the last year of 8th Gen civic. A 2009-2010 Cobalt is better built than a Cruze for longevity also. No matter how you slice it the Cruze has all sorts of smears on its name
@Gods_Patriot it is very difficult to find 1.4 liter engines. That's true. And 1.8 liter blows head gaskets all the time. From now I'm I'm sticking to Asian vehicles.
@@koreymayo8884 it's sad because I'm a GM fan. I've worked on a friend's 2016 Cruze recently and not a fan. They can't even make oil drain plugs to last the life of the car, apparently a big issue. To date I've never seen a badly stripped oil drain plug on any vehicle but after research the Cruze just disintegrates. I had a 04 & 08 Cav & Cobalt, solid and cheap. The Cruze 1.4 can't compare simply because of allll that goes wrong. The water pump/turbo plus an electrically controlled thermostat! GM is known for electrical gremlins, I don't trust them with all electric t-stat with an engine that can't handle an overheat. I'm not trying to argue boss I just like the conversation! I agree
I drive a 1.8L 2015 Chevy Cruze LS. Got it used with just over 90,000 miles on it. I've had to replace the valve cover, the thermostat housing, and I believe it was the evap purge valve that I also changed out. Now it rides like a dream. Not a bad car for local driving but drinks gas on the highway. Scotties videos have saved me time and money trying to figure out whats wrong and it's usually something easy.
I have that motor in my Cruze, it has 150,000 miles on it and still running strong. I drive Uber, and beat the hell out of it, putting 300 miles on it per day, and it still looks and drives the way it did when it was brand new. I see them for sale in my area with over 200,000 miles on them all the time, and I know a few people who own them that have over 300k on theirs. This is a pretty reliable motor. Somebody either used shitty oil, or was lax on the oil changes.
I was going to say I have a 13 Sonic with only 49k miles hoping this don't happen to me but I use good oil and filters maybe they went to jiffy lube all the time 😆 ....or used non dexos oil.
But do you have turbo option or not ?
Or they went to jiffy lube for the life of their vehicle
@@sergeynemir
Yes is a 1.4 turbo with all the mods
Pcv 2 upgrade kit ,Trifecta turbo Advantage tune, Zzp cold air intake on it , B&R throttle body spacer, ported intake manifold and none of the above mods listed altered emissions because it passed the California smog test.
@@TheThirdWheel618 So in your experience, it’s a good car? I want to buy one for a daily driver and some light driving work. Just tired of lugging my ford V8 everywhere.
I just got rid of my 2016 Chevy Sonic. Had it for a year and didn’t even put 10K miles on it. In the span of that time the AC went out, tensioner belt went out, AND it had a continuous p0111 code for the whole year I had it. Dealership couldn’t figure it out. Gladly got another Corolla. Same year, miles, but no issues.
I've changed out a few timing chains, gears and tensioners in my day, but all on in-line, rear wheel drive vehicles. It's the transverse mounted front wheel drive configuration that makes the job so difficult. But, if a person wants to keep the car, it has to be done. Whaddya gonna do?!!
Scotty is the BEST!!👍
I own a 2018 Chevy Sonic LT RS with a 1.8 L Ecotec engine. My Sonic has a timing belt. It's been a great car. (In 2018, the Sonic engine was available in 1.8 L or 1.4 turbo).
This gentleman makes a lot of sense, am almost becoming a mechanic
You're not alone
@@stanleymakafui A good mechanic might have $20-30,000 in tools for one brand of auto. It's all fun and games until you have to work under a dirty, dripping car in the middle of winter, for somebody who wants it done right, quick and cheap, and when something else goes wrong later, tell all the friends what a lousy mechanic you are, and so expensive!
congratulations
I'm going to hire him to be my Doctor. Cant be that different . Since I turned 50 I been throwing codes right and left .
I had a Buick Enclave and its timing chain went out prior to 100k miles. A mechanic told me that those GM timing chains were very small/skinny for that size engine and that he had seen larger/wider timing chains on much smaller Japanese cars/engines. Huge job to replace.
They are like a bicycle chain.🚲
I took mine (same engine as video) to get serpentine belt changed bc I was short on time, they gave me a rental car and I was confused why? They changed my timing chain instead of my serpentine belt and when I picked it up the belt split on the way home 🤦♂️
Jesus
You can physically hear that the chain is broken. How did 3 different mechanics miss that lol, did they not even bother turning the car on?
So many parts changers out there.
That ticking you hear is actually from the injectors. They are notoriously loud on these cars. I can’t hear any chain slap in the video.
@@mmaaddict78 I've never heard injectors tick that loud...that's pretty extreme
Yeah that chain is clattering like a mother lol!How did those mechanics miss that? smh
@@kalashnikov1343 I had a sonic with the 1.8 for a couple of years. The 1.8 had a timing belt and not a chain. The injectors on my Sonic sounded identical to these injectors. They are alarmingly loud in person.
Why? I have four cars in the fleet with this motor. The one with the least mileage has 123,000 on it...works fine.
It’s amazing I watch Scotty as I much as I do considering I own a Mini Cooper, a VW and a Dodge.
The unholy trinity, nice😂 I recently traded a 2016 GTI for a Mazda 3 turbo hatch, and while I never had any show stopping issues with the Vdub, I now have much more peace od mind on road trips outside my city.
@@jbm0866 How is the handling on the Mazda three compared to the GTI? The handling on the mini Cooper is amazing, considering.
@@johnk815 for the type of driving I do (winding country roads on a Sunday morning..nothing too high speed) the Mazda feels great. I'm not really missing the GTI for anything other than better rear visibility and slightly more interior space. The Mazda feels just as fast off the line as the GTI (probably due the AWD limiting wheelspin to a brief chirp) but I didnt have the performance pack limited slip diff on the Veedub. The Mazda interior is simply on a different level though..looks and feels good, and the GTI wasnt bad at all. I love the idea of a Mini Cooper, but a friend having a nightmare list of issues with a 2012 model a few years back cured me of wanting to own one.
@@jbm0866 sounds good.
OMG you are really screwed man. Let me guess, you have three divorces too and have to write three alimony checks along with three child support checks every month too huh
Easy fix, trade it for a Toyota Corolla
Or trade it for AE86 Trueno for tofu drifting goodness.
Or an older Yaris (:
Get whatever you can for that Sonic and just pay the difference for the Toyota.
@@Toyeboy89 Older cars have even prices. For example 7 years old corolla = 7 years old camry or any 7 years old Toyota
@@panhuragan4388 good point!
I love it. First problem is that it’s a chevy sonic hahahahaha. That should be your first red flag don’t buy Chevy
The 1.4 EcoTec is not the best engine GM has made. However, the 1.8 EcoTec in the Sonic is a pretty good engine. It's slow but I love the reliability of these engines! Just bought my second 1.8 Sonic.
Some googling tells me that the chain tensioner bolts accessible from under the valve cover are loose.
That's why I bought a Sonic with the 1.8L normally aspirated engine and a standard transmission. We all know that the cheap transmissions are crap. It's slow, but I do not care. It gets me to work and to the food store.
The problem could just be a stuck timing chain tensioner, which allows chain slap. The knock sensor may be getting fooled by the mechanical knocking, which is why you get an implausibly error on the sensor at idle.
Yae very plausible. Either or would have to be inspected.
Yea, i can't see spark knock at idle, I was thinking mechanical too. Although I haven't seen that before either. Seen plenty of noisy chains too.
@@motorbreath7174 always something new and different hahaha.
The clicking sound is the injectors.
if youre going that deep you may as well just do the chain too. better to spend 100 extra and be done than throw another 1000 at it
Get the naturally aspirated 1.8, preferably with the manual. No lag, just linear power. No timing chain wear, change the belt appropriately. In 12 years, 96k, had two codes, low airflow and lean fuel. It reduced fuel delivery to match the perceived air volume. One MAF sensor replacement, Bosch $46 on Rockauto, cleared the code during the test drive. Only oil loss is through the drain plug during oil changes.
Always get the 1.8. I personally don't trust current automatic transmissions or turbo engines.
The customer should just wait on the timing chain as that little motor will have oblong cylinders very soon. Your past videos about these engines and the turbo produced manifold pressures pretty much guarantee engine replacement somewhere around the mileage this car has. You can't even take off from a stop sign without engaging the turbo on these tiny little crap engines. Love your diagnostic process.
I've got two vehicles with the 1.4L turbo. One has 160,000 miles, the other 42,000. I admit they are not fast but I haven't had any engine issues with them
Many mechanics these days are parts changers! Had a neighbor they went through $2000.00 in part at a repair facility and still wasn’t fixed! I ran the codes and the fuel pressure sensor was bad! I replaced it and boom it was fixed ! Saw the mechanic he went to and told him about it! He laughed until I told he needed to be punched in the face!
You can buy your own good car scanner for $1000 and run diagnostic yourself .Then buy parts online and bring car to mechanic for repairs.
@@rachelgreen1368 I have 10 scan tools! From $40.00 to $5,000.00 ! I recommend everybody own one ! But yeah I agree buy parts online or local if you need em fast! Our boss is a Motorcraft parts distributor plus a few other lines!
Not all engine problems or car problems in general gives you trouble code. This is where knowledge and theory of how electrical system, mechanical system, engine, fuel system, etc work come into play.
@@abuelb A good scan tool on a modern car with a million sensors can help diagnose pretty much any problem. It doesn't just spit out a code. It allows you to monitor everything in realtime. You still have to know what you are looking at and what it means.
Edit - so basically I'm agreeing that knowledge and experience is irreplaceable but disagreeing on the irreplaceable value of scan tools for mechanics.
I knew nothing about cars and bought as Sonic as my first car about 6 months before this video came out 😂I replaced the timing belt shortly after buying it just to be safe and it only cost me $500-600. I don't have anything to compare it too, but it's an okay car. Had to replace the transmission as well (bought it at 100K miles) which costed a reasonable $2000 parts + labour. That's really the only major problem I've had for the 30K miles I've owned it.
Love your expertise professor!! GM needs to eat this one and repair it!!
GM needs to eat about every production vehicle they make lmao. in recent decades it seems their quality has dropped exponentially. no reason a 1500 with 30k miles on it should need lifters done already yet here we are...
Mr. Kilmer thanks for your excellent and easy to understand analysis causing an irregular knock sensor reading.
In defense of engine manufacturers , An engine irrespective of its size is built to certain tolerances. Therefore, its reliability is designed to be consistent. And meet prescribed specifications. Some Sonics accelerate from 0 to 60 under nine seconds. The under boost code is signaling that the turbo is not operating at its normal pressure, causing slow acceleration. Mr. Kilmer you’ve mentioned in another video that it’s always important to change the oil on a turbo.. GM didn’t design this engine to be a high horsepower variant, although people may drive them as if they are.
The OEM suspension is made by KYB, just like on most of the Japanese dirt bikes its all made by KYB. KYB is second to none in the suspension business and is not an aftermarket it is the factory suspension.
I once thought KYB was some new stuff...when it was actually Kayaba (a known name in suspension on motorcycles since way back) renamed! But about being second to none...we have SHOWA to put up a fight for that
Scotty is not only honest, but he's very intelligent mechanic and that's a very good thing.
My 2016.5 Cruze has served me well. 200k all original. Definitely starting to show its age now. For me though, I don’t have any reservations with the 1.4t. At least no more than any other car running a small displacement turbo. It’s just the nature of those beasts, they’re just under much more stress than a NA 2.4L.
You have the latest version. I have a 2018 bought it new it only has 19k on it But still i haven't had a single issue with it in the over 5 years of ownership It's an LT hatchback
my mom drives a 2010 GMC terrain with the 2.4 ecotech engine. I'm a mechanic and i replaced the timing chain twice in it. the first time the chain was rattling and one of the timing chain guides was actually broken, but surprisingly there was no check engine light. the chain stretches because of the high pressure fuel pump ( this being a Direct Injection fuel system) putting more strain on the chain. port injection is the best way to go for reliability for this reason
The problem is finding a good mechanic/garage. In my experience here in the UK they range from honest but usually disinterested to downright incompetent. In a perfect world they'd all be similar to Scotty, then again in a perfect world we'd all be driving around in brand new Toyotas.........
Couldn’t agree with you more
Rhat's not the chain, it sounds like the purge solenoid firing. The thing is loud and clicks intermittently.
Even though I don't always agree with you when it comes to Modern Dodges/ Chrysler I wanna say that I've learned so much about cars since the beginning of the Pandemic from you. My co worker's and family are like where did all this come from as i didn't know much before. I ALWAYS watch specific videos multiple times relating to what I'm about to get Repaired so I can learn just enough not to get Ripped off. Keep up the great work and looking forward to future videos.
Driving a 2016 with 141k miles on it. Runs great, only thing ever replaced was a wheel bearing, and a water pump. (Other than breaks, and fluids and whatnot). Nothing wrong with this engine at all IMO...
Scotty you are THE MAN
I swear I’d drive from NC to take my car to you.
i need to export my bike from kittygystan to be given a diagnosis by uncle scotty!
ken the diesel mechanic ,your spot on Scotty ,i,m just removing heads on a chevy cruze 1.4 turbo and i have 2 exhaust valves with melted plastic in it ,chipped in there from exhaust manifold and coolant parts .Just trying to save as much as i can on this 1.4 ,it even melt on one of the pistons .wow just wow
I must be smarter than I thought. My first thought was the timing chain as well. Very surprised it was going out at such low miles.
Yeah, me too! The owner must have skipped out on the frequent oil changes that these turbo motors require
It's a good small car, My friend is at 300 miles on it, No major repair and it still goes.
Thank you scotty, all you do is very helpful and I also got a 2016 chevy sonic recently with 99,000 original miles it's the LS without the turbo and I love it.
I’m the original owner of a 2013 Sonic with 125k on it. Had very good luck with it only minor repairs and maintenance (knock on wood). I specifically opted for the 1.8 instead of the turbo.
so it has the 1.8
I own a Sonic. It was a good car until it got old. It lives at the Mechanics but it's cheaper than a car note and I've reached the point where there's not much else to be fixed.
More than likely just the PLASTIC tensioner broke
Oh that matches the PLASTIC thermostat and PLASTIC water outlet..couple that with a 217-221F full-open ECM stock tuning and using shitty GM 'COOLANT' (looking at you Dex-os).. and the coolant temps regularly hitting 240°..
Wtf was GM thinking... Engines are pretty good. I love my 1.4T '12 Cruze.. but by God don't buy these cars unless you like working on them yourself.. as they're rather easy to do so with fairly minimal tools..
Don’t buy any General Motors product with the 1.4 turbocharged engine. Buy the 1.8 liter engine cars if you have to have one. Keep in mind that you can only get the 1.8 liter engine in the Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Sonic, and Saturn Astra.
What does a Chevy Sonic and Bic lighter have in common? When their out of fuel you throw them away😜
I have a 2013 sonic. 1.8 with the 5 speed. It’s a good running little car. 123k miles. About to replace the timing belt since it’s overdue but other than that she goes. I can’t hate on them. The fuel mileage is great too, doesn’t cost too much for the work commute
I'm totally impressed, the timing chain stretch would have been very low on my list of possibilities. I respect Scottie's experience.
the noisy engine was dead giveaway...im surprised the earlier 3 mechanics ingored that
Scotty is clueless. It isn't the chain.
@@shidfard Well? There are other claims that the turbocharged 1.4 L Sonic engine has a major problem with both the chain tensioner and/or the timing chain. With the unstable ignition timing, it appears that the timing chain is not providing a good basis for ignition data. It could just be the tensioner and that is a typical problem for that car but a worn chain may also be the problem.
@@charlestatakis9363 Its a boost leak causing a knock at idle.
Chain is fine. Real mechanics know that.
@@shidfard Ok, I've limited experience with turbos on Honda upgrades and Subarus. I don't know of that phenomenon and trust your experience.
My mom has a 2015 sonic lt with the turbo engine that she bought from her cousin for like 5500 dollars. It was previously in an accident, had to have the whole front end replaced, and it’s the most reliable car she’s ever had.
The first generation Chevy Cruze has that same engine. I had a 2014 Chevy Cruze I bought used. When I bought it, I made sure to buy the extended warranty. Two years later into ownership, the engine needed $2000 in repairs. The valve cover, oil pan gasket, cooling fan, coolant pump, and a vacuum hose all went bad. Of course, this was all in the first 50k miles that this car had. I just figured that these were problems that the previous owner didn't bother to fix. When I heard how much it was going to cost to fix the problems the engine had, I was glad I did buy the extended warranty or I would have been singing a different tune. Aside from the engine repairs, I really had no major or ongoing issues with it. It was a good, reliable car.
That sucks idk if reliable and engine failure go together though. I may be wrong but
I’d bet you still spent more money on the warranty than those repairs were though
Lemme guess, the extended warranty probably cost $2,000 as well right
I have a 2019 Chevy Sonic LT RS. This little car moves and holds the road.
Buick Encore with the same 1.4L Turbo engine. Currently at 145k and it has been amazing. These engines are notorious for throwing the “Engine Underboost” code due to the computer being over sensitive to the turbocharger speed. If the turbo for even one second is not spinning as fast as it needs to be depending on engine speed, the code gets tripped. GM has an open TSB on the problem but it only applies to vehicles that see cold weather, strange issue but usually not indicative of an actual turbo problem (though the 1.4L is also notorious for blowing turbos though mine hasn’t yet which I am absolutely grateful for) My neighbor also has a Buick Encore with 222k and she is going to be trading it in since it recently developed an electrical issue with the StabiliTrak system and would rather get a newer Encore GX. I think these engines are fine, but they do not take abuse well. Unlike a Toyota or Honda engine where you can probably stretch one or two oil change intervals, you absolutely cannot miss one on the 1.4L since by nature it’s very hard on the oil as it’s considered a high stress engine.
Yeah, if you don't abuse it and drive like an maniac it should last like any other makes.
Seems like you basically said it can't handle any stress...which means it's not a good motor
@@richsweeney1115 It can handle stress, it is literally classified as a high stress motor. The thing is, oil changes need to be done exactly at intervals and you should use a high quality oil designed for turbo engines. (I personally use oil designed for german turbos since the GM 1.4L is a very close copy of the VW 1.4L) the only difference between the two is the VW TSI is direct injected and the GM EcoTec is port injected. I also drive my car like a maniac, constantly passing people, driving at near 100, and my engine has held up flawlessly all this time. You just have to take care of your cars.
@@marco.morel04 My 2018 cruze is GDI
Good video. Had 1.4 turbo for 6 years. Enjoyable engine to drive in a chevy cruze but it wouldnt stay warm after -25 celcius, on hot days it had cooling problem, oil passage problem, wiper arm broke. But it got 4litres per 100km so it still saved money lol.
Scotty, is the most smartest person on the planet.
He gives Judge Judy a run for her money.
I had a 2012 hatchback with the 1.8 engine, loved it! It had fuel economy it was nice looking, it had de 17 inch wheels and fog lamps, it was fast for a small 4 cyl car. Never gave me any problems. Had it for 3 years as a daily driver
I have the 1.8 motor in my Astra....good engine. Not turbo but more reliable than 1.4 turbo
You only had it for 3 years.....what happened to it.
Those other mechanics must of been ASE certified. (Ask someone else). Good thing they found Scotty.
I'm sitting here watching inside my 2012 chevy sonic with over 185,000 miles 😬. I'm completely intrigued about everything said in this video but I don't barely know anything about cars. My sonic is my first car but I love it and want to learn more about it and cars in general. This video has given my a lot of inspiration to say the least, and a little worry but eh, she's an inferno orange fighter.
The previous mechanics should be sent this video...a lesson from the Master-Master Mech!
my 1.4 has 140K miles on it and the timing chain is just fine, seen it twice with 2 PCV cover replacements. beats a silly rubber band any day for timing.
I'd love to see more videos like this where you see how he diagnosis issues.
Wow, Scottie shame todays 100 plus per hour mechanics not competent enough to read there machines.. love your video's
What's up Scotty!! Appreciate all you do! Always like the new info on my mustang
afternoon and thank you!
@@scottykilmer I got a choice of a 2014 Chevy Cruze 1.4 turbo 105,000 miles or a 2007 Toyota Corolla 1.8 185,000 miles. Both cars look great. Which car is probably going to be the most maintenance in the next 75,000 miles?
Funny, there are so many people out there that believe timing chains don't give problems, yet there is so much proof out there about timing chains stretching, while they technically may last longer they are still problematic where as a belt, just change it every 75k miles and you're golden. While you're there change the water pump and tensioner and timing wise you'll never have an issue unless you have a bad part or had an tool install it. While there may be more maintenance, it's less costly if there's a failure
I like that particular bounce too, Scotty
I own an gen 2 1.4. good engine. So far at 64k water pump went out. I drive my RS hard. I believe these are one of the best GM made if it's an gen 2 engine. Change your oil!!
I kept reminding my automotive tech students to consider the simple things first. Sure, electronics can mess up, but understand and consider the mechanical possibilities first. Get your head inside that machine!
So true !
It's terrifying that 3 mechanics couldn't hear the timing chain slapping around in there.😮😮😮😮
this makes me relies how awesome your scan tool is.
This literally explained what the he'll happened to my car after it was worked on by the worst so called mechanic...dude scotty you have a special place in hevan waiting for you man. Your awesome. And I wish more mechanics were like you. They would make more money being honest. Thank u so much
It's the timing chain and you're revving to 6000 RPM? Are you trying to destroy it?
Yeah, Scotty always does the 0-60 Sh*T too on all his customers cars too - for show I guess.
@@samt1039 yeah I would be pissed if I watched a video of him hot-roding my car.
You people think he doesnt talk about it with the owner before he does it? You think he wouldn't fix it if he hurt it? Use common sense
.....I'm sure it's agreed before it's happened
... especially since it's in a vid!!! Wow.... People always have to find something to complain about..
@@richsweeney1115 common sense tells me that doing a 0-60 test in a car with an internal engine sound is pretty dumb.
@@Toyeboy89 so what? You think if he broke it he wouldn't fix it? You think the owner cares? No, bc she knows hed fix it, so...noone cares
One big problem. I live in central Wisconsin I haven't found any mechanic that has this level of scan equipment and knows how to operate it. They get a code and go to the book to look it up. I can do that with my $59 scanner I got from auto zone. Then they want to charge a hundred bucks for hooking up that fancy scanner. Scotty says get a mechanic like me to hook up his fancy dealer level scanner to check this or that. I'm in the Dells area I've driven a hundred miles any direction and can't find one. It's really hard to find a good and trustworthy mechanic these days that knows how to operate and understand these complex scanners. Most are parts changers and when parts are hundreds of dollars who can afford them.
Easy to see how Scotty could have been a PhD if he'd wanted to. He just passed the guard like a red belt. 😆
He is a PhD doctor. I think he mentioned it in a previous video.
He did study PhD but Didn’t pursue
@@theeconomicsofthings9752 Ah. OK. Cheers.
Scotty has too much common sense to be a PhD
@@JayCeeMax Years ago Paul Harvey talked about ASE Master certified technicians as an equivalent as having A PHD in the automotive field ! Find one with those credentials !!
Still driving my 2013 Sonic Turbo. It needed a couple inexpensive things that I fixed myself with how-to videos from other RUclipsrs. Gas mileage has been 30 to 40 mpg. I'll keep the car until a small ev pickup comes out. My other car is my 4 year old Chevy Bolt that has been great. I'm sold on ev's. Won't buy another ICE car.
Love how you can see the skid marks on the road where Scotty's always doing acceleration tests, lol.
Glad I saw this, I've been thinking about a used cruise with this same engine... Have always been Leary of turbos, especially if you don't know the history of it
Scotty should have said "Don't rev up your engine" in the intro for this car.
lol
Then he proceeds to redline it on a test drive..
A friend of mine leased a full size Chevy pickup with a turbocharged 4 cylinder. I can see this happening to his engine.
Myself and my cat both watch Scotty's videos the minute they pop. I don't know what my cat gets out of it, but get a lot out of the vids.
The stock 12 is not worth changing the timing belt just to fix parts that may still need another belt change just to fix the other problems detected.
From what I have seen and experienced from these 1.4L Turbo engines they are very hit or miss engines. You could get one like mine that's been babied, well maintained, and had routine maintenance. There was only 1 owner before me on my 2012 Cruze RS mine is at 245k, got it with 215K miles and those engines could get to that or more and keep going. Or you could have one that is nothing but a money pit. Whether you baby it or not it, take care of it or not, and do maintenance or not feels like a gamble with these engines. You could get a diamond in the rough, or you could end up with a lemon. Honestly, I feel lucky as hell that the car is chugging along still just fine and has no codes either.
The 1.8 liter engines are more reliable than the 1.4 turbo engines.
@@atx-cvpi_99 I dont doubt it. Only downside to the 1.8's is they use a timing belt and not a timing chain.
I have heard that loud clicking noise can also be the fuel purge canister on the back of the intake seem people replace it and it gets much quieter. Mines made that noise for the last 60,000 miles, but after it got louder the code finally went off for the purge flow canister. Comes back a few weeks after clearing it. It's getting a head gasket job, and a cracked turbo. Thankfully I have family member that works on cars for fun or I'd be screwed. 129,000 miles.
perfect case of "cause and effect"
I think alot of these issues are from people not changing their oil regularly or using the wrong oil
Bingo!
I love the fact that Scotty makes crybabies curl up in a ball on the floor, just being himself. Seems like a pretty good guy to me. Man, times have changed, and not for the better.