Actually, the v12 Malibu project (Jaguabu?) has been the one I've anticipated the most.Something about the idea of a 4-door hardtop with a torque-y, smooth V12 just fascinated me
I've been watching the Car Wizard since his debut on Hoovies garage some years ago. To me this is the best car guy channel on youtube. Period. Mr David Long & his wife are just awesome!!
For the Malibu, I really hope you finish it with the original idea; having the Jag engine in it is just SO much more unique than the usual LS swap. Worth it alone just to set up a camera and capture people's reaction at car shows when they look under the hood.
A wise man once told me, “good mechanics, don’t need to advertise, since people will find them by word-of-mouth”. This seems to be the case with the Wizard’s shop. And the fact that people are bringing cars from all over the country, is an indication of how many bad mechanics there are in the rest of the country.
When I drove Saab's (for 35 years), I was lucky to have a Saab specialty shop that only worked on Saab's. Never had anything major repaired but we had an excellent relationship. I trusted his word as to what needed to be repaired on my cars. It was always fixed right the first time, every time.
@@jamesellsworth9673 Not necessarily a reflection on other mechanics. Every population breaks down into three segments: the highly capable, the mostlycapable, these folks are in the wrong profession.
I agree good mechanics are hard to find… I get people that ask me why I take my 16 year old car to a dealer 50 miles from my home. I went to a local shop a “specialist” in the brand of vehicle I own because the valve cover gaskets were hemorrhaging oil into the spark plug wells and leaking oil onto the floor in my garage. The specialty shop charged me for a diagnosis, gave me my car back an hour later and said nothing is wrong… that’s not the first time I’ve had places be incompetent with my cars. I had a 1990 Mercedes with mechanical fuel injection, it was running poorly, I had one shop tell me it was bad injectors, one shop tell me a bad fuel distributor and another shop tell me it was a bad intake manifold gasket… the final shop I went to told me it was one of the two fuel pumps is weak. It WAS the fuel pumps. So I’ve been taken for a ride by lots of mechanics. It’s few and far between mechanics have enough confidence to welcome you into their shop and show you what they fixed and why they fixed it.
I can’t wait to se me a vid on that. That is such a cool car. Let’s see if there is a water pump or if it has to go back to the UK to get rebuilt, and want to see if they have to remove the radiator. I heard that is a tough job and after 30 years it may need to get recored.
@@edwoll i recently had to close my business because i couldn't get enough clients. It was disheartening and very stressful . Now i am looking for work.
A bad economy is actually a good thing for a garage since people will actually keep and repair their cars instead of trading it in when maintenance starts to pile up.
With that being said, can you even believe that people are still shelling out $90k-$110k for a new pickup truck? Absolutely ludicrous to me...I can barely afford to fix my 2001 Dodge Ram with 400k miles on it...let alone a brand new vehicle 😅
That problem with the Odyssey A/C clutch stator coil failing was super common on those. Between that, the expensive active engine mounts, and the VCM system, we did not experience "Honda reliability" with ours.
A busy workshop is far better than an empty. I have worked in places where everyone is waiting for the next job and it's scary. Cash flow is crucial, it kills more shops than anythng else.
6:40 - bless you for your patience, Wizard. You really go out of your way to work with customers and do your utmost to help them get their cars back to their happy place. It's a joy to see someone who cares so much.
Gosh it sure would be nice to see ya follow through with the Malibu. You're lucky to have a nice classic I sure wish I could. I've been excited to see it on the road. You got it Wizard. Go Army 🇺🇲
Finish the Malibu! The Jag V12 swap is such a cool idea, that's really the project that I'm most excited about. And it would make a fantastic family car once it's done.
When I was stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Montana back in 1966, while we were waiting at guard mount, one of the guys there said "Yes, hurry up and wait." We already had our M2 carbines, and so we had been waiting a long time to be deployed to the vehicles or choppers to go to the LCFs we were going to. We were working 4 on and 4 off.
Your Malibu needs your crazy engine swap, please try to find some time to continue your work on it. It is nice to see something different, everyone else are doing the V8, so a V12 is definitely worth making videos on. 🤗🤗🤗🤗
We are super busy as well! Thank you and Mrs Wizard's Ways for the Motivation and great advice on filming for my first YT video of our LS swapped Rav4.
I still want to see that Malibu get done the way you envisioned, with the Jaguar V12 put into it. I don't mind you taking your time with it, because I know it'll definitely be worth the wait!
If it was mine, I would bail on the Jag and build the sport sedan GM should have: A 350 or 383 crate engine, TKX 5 speed MT, aftermarket suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, and quick ratio steering. Inside... bucket seats from a 2-door, console and IP like the SS of the day, and trim the outside like an SS that was never available with 4 doors.
I have been waiting for a full restomod on the Malibu. The Jaguar purr at the stoplight would be magic to my ears. This car should look stock from the outside but with updated brakes and suspension. Do your magic.
Really happy for you Wizard that you are so busy and business is thriving! You and your family & emploees deserve all the best success. Really not sure about the financial judgement of that TT owner... I mean, they are horrifically bad cars mechanically - and they continue to depreciate... I guess maybe it's an emotional decision there.
The Malibu is a classic, do I nice modern resto with the suspension, engine (LS) & mechanicals then have someone do a nice upgrade on the body/paint/interior and you'll have something you can treasure for a while. Some of those other rides you have might be nice but don't compare to what that Malibu can be.
RE: '66 Chev Malibu 4-door Wizard, I'd consider a revamp to a restomod 100%, similar to what Count's Custom Las Vegas does to some cars of that vintage. Then, sell or raffle off for a charity.
"What to do with the Malibu?" - I think you should put a basic small block in it and make it a decent driver for someone who wants to get into classic cars but is priced out of a 2 door version (i.e. it has two doors too many). Would have been cool to see the Jag engine in it but a solid runner/driver is probably a more practical option....
Please David, finish the Malibu project. I know how it can be to loose interest in something after not working on it for a long time. Just get back to it and motivation will come along. I personally hope to see your video showing the end result. All my support, keep up the good work
I just love seeing that Chevelle in the background. I understand having projects unfinished . I have two in my yard. I think whatever you decide with the Chevelle just don't get rid of it. It watches all.
$1000 to fix the Honda is still worth it. Honda A/C seem to be a weak spot. I have had issues with Honda A/C but still think they are rock solid cars overall. Thanks.
I had a 1988 Lotus Turbo Esprit. Red on Tan . Beautiful car ! I daily drove it for over 2 years. Never had a problem. I'm 6'3" 225 lbs. I was quite a bit cramped in that thing. Then I decided to go back to the old faithful Porsche 911 Carrera. Plenty of room for my big arse. And still drive a 911 today.. I must say however, that Lotus handled almost as well as my old 1970 Porsche 914-6.
A wise master tech told me years ago, there is a difference between a mechanic and a technician. The Wizard is a Technician. Techs are definitive in their diagnosis and repair. Mechanics are parts changers with hopes it’s fixed.
David you have to jump back into the Malibu. We all would love to see the finished project with the V12! Especially us folks who have been with you since day one! Finish the citron and Ferrari and focus on the bus and the Malibu!
I feel your pain , gravitational pull to a certain car myself . It’s easier once who are familiar with one cars quirks , a diesel Mercedes with the steady 617 . A w123 model has its place in time and certainly over my limit currently at 9 . The plan , sell the worst and keep the best . Their all good , just can’t deal with that letting go period of reality .
Put the malibu on top the building with a car wizard mannequin driving it. 4 door malibu's aren't worth money, plus they are gas guzzlers. Gas is going up again. Thanks for the great videos!!
My car: 2014 Toyota Camry LE. Sat for a while, not sure how long several months. AC Compressor was dead. Went to my dealership and they put a brand new Toyota OEM on on, and I think two electrical things behind the dash. All factory, dealership OEM. Works better than new cars for how cold it gets. Though the AC Compressor alone was $750 for just the part. I budgeted $2,000 for the repair it was just about $2500, though it was worth it.
Good that the fuel pump went out right when it got there. Otherwise, you can sometimes deal with the customer claiming you did something to it. Happens all the time in any business that does repairs. Things hanging on by a thread that happen to die when something else needs to be fixed.
I usually don't second guess your decisions. But... I had a 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L with the same AC system. Cool air would stop flowing on hot days after several minutes of normal cooling. The car was 12 years old at 180 K miles, so I could only hope for the best. My mechanic found a failing AC compressor clutch, and replaced only the clutch. AC restored and it ran fine at 201K miles when we traded the vehicle in four years ago. Maybe your customer lives in a warmer climate, perhaps the vehicle is much lower miles (it looks excellent). BTW... The active motor mounts on our Ody gave up. The VCM system still worked fine, but the vibration became annoying. I installed a VCM defeat device (AKA muzzler) which worked fine.
I had two Hondas that the relay AC compressor relay failed on; replaced the relay and bought two spares. A week later my brother-in-law had the same exact issue. Cars were 2008 Odyssey, 2006 Civic, and a 2008 Cr-V. Failed relays were all the same lot. Never had another failure as long as we owned those cars
My brother had a crazy battery drain on his Honda element. It was making us crazy! We went on the Element Fourm and found out about Honda A/C relays. It was shot and energizing the a/c clutch with the power off😮New relay and everything is fine👍🤣
I have had several Hondas that failed ac clutches. It’s a big electromagnet, they do go bad from time to time. I did have a customer opt for clutch replacement but I never did another one because it’s on the lower side of the vehicle and it was not fun getting to it. However, I got it done. I agree it’s really best to recover the system, replace the entire compressor, flush, vac it down and charge it to factory specs as well as put oil in the system. A full service and a fresh compressor never hurt anything.
What a gold mine if the customer has extra $$$. Video of repairs and optional repairs gets the extra business! I'm betting you thank Hoovie in your dreams!
Sell the Malibu to Derek Bieri of Vice Grip Garage and have a collaboration video! The two of you have very different personalities but your both car guys and I'm sure fans would live the collaboration. I would also love to see Hoovie give Derek a ride in his countach!
Good luck with "New" compressors.15 years ago most all were actually re built. i have had several "New" compressors fil at the rear seal and have to be replaced in warranty. IF you can get Original Honda NOS, it is a better idea.
David, you’ve done so much. Save your 4-door for another day. The only other exception would be if you did a “Omega Day Raffle” for a Labor Day video and gave that car away on a live RUclips stream o the Holiday. Other than that, just take care of yourself and give Hoovie the support he needs. Y’all are good guys.
That Honda van with the bad compressor clutch is a similar issue with our Subaru. Won't engage or stays on for only ten minutes then goes off. Clutch not replaceable. Ended up taking the clutch plate off and removing one shim so now it is closer and grabs. Yes, it is likely temporary, but after spending $450 at the dealer and NOT getting a correct diagnosis, it was time to break out the old training and figure it out along with the RUclips hack for getting it going. Put off a new compressor for another year, I hope.
Hi Wizard, regarding your 1966 Chevelle, drop a small block Chevy 327(era correct) and back it up with a turbo hydromatic 350 or 400. That car is nice, keep it period correct. In the long run if you ever want to sell it you can make a substantial amount of cash being that it’s original.
As much as I love the idea of a v12 malibu, chuck that thing. Its just not that compelling compared the Ferrari or Wander Lodge. Find someone who wants to finish it and then have them bring it to the shop when its done. Win win.
I am noticing a really frustrating trend of either abandoning projects half way through or finishing them only to immediately get rid of them. It hurts my soul. You never get to enjoy the stuff of your own that you work on.
It's pretty obvious what's going on. The price of new and used cars is forcing people to fix and keep their existing vehicles. As usual, the only people benefiting are the shops and car dealers, not the majority of us.
On Malibu, assuming no constraints, finish restomod, including, say, LS engine or some similarly practical/reliable muscle car power train, and keep as show and race car, or sell to well-screened buyer. Congrats on ongoing book of business. Godspeed and continued success to you and your team.
A solid Oder car, especially the ones known for reliability are definitely worth keeping on the road. I learned my lesson years ago. I bought a 92 LS400 with 65k miles in 2000. By 2005 I had close to 300k miles. Instead of spending money and have suspension work, new power steering pump, brakes, etc…I sold it and bought a new car. Bad idea. Within a year I realized my mistake and purchased a used car and sold the new car.
Please finish the Chevelle. I was excited about it when you got it, and I've been patiently waiting for you to get to it. Even if it's during a slow time in the winter.
Hey Wizard, on the old Malibu, either restore it to showroom shape (they get big dollars...oops, I forgot you don't have the time) or sell it as-is to someone who will.
My .02 is sell the malibu and any other projects that you are losing interest on. Just get them a bit sorted in order to recoup your money and ship them out the door. Don't stretch yourself thin with all the projects else nothing will get done and your personal deadlines for each vehicle will stretch. You don't want to turn your passions into a second full time job else you might get burnt out.
Soon after getting my barn find Supra running by cleaning the fuel system extensively, the Denso FP locked up dead on me! I replaced it but was able to get it back turning again on the bench.
Good call on the Audi. I mean by putting it off, you're doing just that. If you need tires, you might as well do them now as it could actaully save you money by not having an accident by having bad tires (or brakes, or other issues that people tend to put off). For me, when it comes to tires or brakes, or anything that could impact your safety or someone else's it's not worth skimping on and its not worth waiting (too long) on. If the brakes perhaps are starting to squeak, then maybe you can put it off for a little while, but if they're grinding and you have ah ard time stopping, that's different. And if it's an issue like AC not working or heater not working or it burns/leaks oils -- those likely are not going to kill you or someone else and can wait however long they need to. But one thing I stress to people is that important stuff like tires and brakes, take care of them as soon as you can because your life and others will depend on it. I really value the mechanics that are honest and tell you what can and cannot wait. Some will tell you that you MUST repair your oil leaks now or it will get worse later. Mayb true, but not always, and more importantly, likely isn't going to kill you. Those mechanics who are looking to make a quick buck, I don't care for. An honest mechanic will tell you it can probably wait unless it's a massive leak that is causing the engine to run out of oil and possibly seize, but a good mechnic will probably tell you it can wait, or if it's a "minor" leak, just leave it and add oil as oil is cheap, and fixing oil leaks/burning oil can be more expensive than just adding oil periodically (those types of things).
I am hoping that the Car Wizard will do another video on a Toyota, if Mrs.Wizard (his wife) will be planning to buy and purchase the all-new, 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander HybridMax Platinum AWD seven-passenger full-size crossover, which has the 2.4 L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, which produces 362 horsepower and the six-speed automatic transmission. These Grand Highlander's are the best vehicles in the brand-new market and they were in production and in dealerships for a couple months already. I am hoping that Mrs.Wizard's, 2018 Maserati Levante will be traded-in eventually for the all-new, 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander HybridMax Platinum AWD seven-passenger full-size crossover, so she will be very happy to own the nicest Toyota and the Car Wizard will be so surprised, because he currently has his older, 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD with the 4 L V6 engine, which produces 259 horsepower and the five-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Highlander will be more fuel-efficient than the FJ Cruiser. Just remember, if you are planning to buy a used vehicle, a Toyota or a Lexus will be the best option, as well as a Honda or an Acura. You can still look at some Mitsubishi's or most likely Mazda's for a used vehicle, because they are very reliable, as well. Anyway, I hope you have a great night and we will check out the next all-new video upload from the Car Wizard on Thursday.
Whoever Honda was using for AC compressors (maybe Denso?) had an issue with those clutches. We have two 2009 CR-Vs and both of them had the AC clutch coil fail at around 120k miles, about nine months apart, and it's a very common issue with many owners with similar model year CR-Vs (and other models). As I didn't have a refrigerant recovery system at the time, I had the dealer repair them. (Actually, the first one was on a road trip halfway across the country, and I had to find a good dealer in Salt Lake City to handle it.) Cost for both was about the same as what the Car Wizard charged for the Odyssey.
Finish the Malibu!
Put the V-12 in it like originally planned.
At least get it to the driver stage.
Thanks for the shop update.👍
Actually, the v12 Malibu project (Jaguabu?) has been the one I've anticipated the most.Something about the idea of a 4-door hardtop with a torque-y, smooth V12 just fascinated me
I've been watching the Car Wizard since his debut on Hoovies garage some years ago. To me this is the best car guy channel on youtube. Period. Mr David Long & his wife are just awesome!!
For the Malibu, I really hope you finish it with the original idea; having the Jag engine in it is just SO much more unique than the usual LS swap. Worth it alone just to set up a camera and capture people's reaction at car shows when they look under the hood.
Please do the jag engine in the Malibu!!!
I'd really like to see the Malibu get finished
Was looking forward to the jag engine in the Malibu.
I really hope the Malibu gets finished. I love the whole concept.
The 1960s Malibu was a very cool looking car when it came out in the mid 60. It would be great to see one of these fully restored.
A wise man once told me, “good mechanics, don’t need to advertise, since people will find them by word-of-mouth”. This seems to be the case with the Wizard’s shop. And the fact that people are bringing cars from all over the country, is an indication of how many bad mechanics there are in the rest of the country.
Being a popular RUclipsr doesn't hurt either
When I drove Saab's (for 35 years), I was lucky to have a Saab specialty shop that only worked on Saab's. Never had anything major repaired but we had an excellent relationship. I trusted his word as to what needed to be repaired on my cars. It was always fixed right the first time, every time.
The Wizard does a lot of specialty vehicle work. His 'drawing power' is not a reflection on any other mechanics or shops.
@@jamesellsworth9673
Not necessarily a reflection on other mechanics.
Every population breaks down into three segments: the highly capable, the mostlycapable, these folks are in the wrong profession.
I agree good mechanics are hard to find… I get people that ask me why I take my 16 year old car to a dealer 50 miles from my home. I went to a local shop a “specialist” in the brand of vehicle I own because the valve cover gaskets were hemorrhaging oil into the spark plug wells and leaking oil onto the floor in my garage. The specialty shop charged me for a diagnosis, gave me my car back an hour later and said nothing is wrong… that’s not the first time I’ve had places be incompetent with my cars. I had a 1990 Mercedes with mechanical fuel injection, it was running poorly, I had one shop tell me it was bad injectors, one shop tell me a bad fuel distributor and another shop tell me it was a bad intake manifold gasket… the final shop I went to told me it was one of the two fuel pumps is weak. It WAS the fuel pumps. So I’ve been taken for a ride by lots of mechanics. It’s few and far between mechanics have enough confidence to welcome you into their shop and show you what they fixed and why they fixed it.
Lotus = Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious
The Lotus Esprit is worth the extra work! Beautiful car! 😍
I can’t wait to se me a vid on that. That is such a cool car. Let’s see if there is a water pump or if it has to go back to the UK to get rebuilt, and want to see if they have to remove the radiator. I heard that is a tough job and after 30 years it may need to get recored.
Imagine how much more stressful it would be to walk into the shop in the morning and have nothing in there to work on.
Sounds like a whole bunch of stress having no work with all the overhead.
@@stephanieonlife3657 Exactly the point I was trying to make.
@@edwoll i recently had to close my business because i couldn't get enough clients. It was disheartening and very stressful . Now i am looking for work.
@stephanieonlife3657 I pray that things will turn around for you soon. Just have faith.
@@edwoll Thanks for the support. Hope you have a great day.
A busy workshop is awesome, especially in this bad economy. I hope you won't give up on the Malibu!
A bad economy is actually a good thing for a garage since people will actually keep and repair their cars instead of trading it in when maintenance starts to pile up.
With that being said, can you even believe that people are still shelling out $90k-$110k for a new pickup truck? Absolutely ludicrous to me...I can barely afford to fix my 2001 Dodge Ram with 400k miles on it...let alone a brand new vehicle 😅
That problem with the Odyssey A/C clutch stator coil failing was super common on those. Between that, the expensive active engine mounts, and the VCM system, we did not experience "Honda reliability" with ours.
A busy workshop is far better than an empty.
I have worked in places where everyone is waiting for the next job
and it's scary.
Cash flow is crucial, it kills more shops than anythng else.
I know spare time is scarce but I really want to see that Malibu finished and flying!
Glad to see business is booming for you.
6:40 - bless you for your patience, Wizard. You really go out of your way to work with customers and do your utmost to help them get their cars back to their happy place. It's a joy to see someone who cares so much.
You have to finish the Malibu. I have been patiently waiting.
By the way..GREAT TRANSITION FROM YOUR PREVIOUS FORMAT MR.&MRS.WIZARD!💥🙌👊
AUSTRALIA!🤍💙❤👍
little 250 6cyl. in the Chevelle and enjoy the simpleness and ease of maintenance
theses shop updates are awesome keep them coming wizard 👍
Gosh it sure would be nice to see ya follow through with the Malibu. You're lucky to have a nice classic I sure wish I could. I've been excited to see it on the road. You got it Wizard. Go Army 🇺🇲
I would love to see the Malibu get finished... maybe another project for Jared to work on?
Finish the Malibu! The Jag V12 swap is such a cool idea, that's really the project that I'm most excited about. And it would make a fantastic family car once it's done.
When I was stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Montana back in 1966, while we were waiting at guard mount, one of the guys there said "Yes, hurry up and wait." We already had our M2 carbines, and so we had been waiting a long time to be deployed to the vehicles or choppers to go to the LCFs we were going to. We were working 4 on and 4 off.
The 308. I LOVE crossovers and knowing that the people I like watching also get along and help each other. Makes me like you guys even more
Your Malibu needs your crazy engine swap, please try to find some time to continue your work on it. It is nice to see something different, everyone else are doing the V8, so a V12 is definitely worth making videos on. 🤗🤗🤗🤗
I was very invested in the V12 Malibu project, I hope it gets finished!
We are super busy as well! Thank you and Mrs Wizard's Ways for the Motivation and great advice on filming for my first YT video of our LS swapped Rav4.
Thanks for the update!
The Malibu needs to be a lowrider.
Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wizard!
I still want to see that Malibu get done the way you envisioned, with the Jaguar V12 put into it. I don't mind you taking your time with it, because I know it'll definitely be worth the wait!
Bad dicision; best to go with an LS swap.
@@johna.4334 Sure, like an LS swap hasn't been done to death
@@johna.4334what's the big deal with ls swap. Everyone seems to do those
If it was mine, I would bail on the Jag and build the sport sedan GM should have: A 350 or 383 crate engine, TKX 5 speed MT, aftermarket suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, and quick ratio steering. Inside... bucket seats from a 2-door, console and IP like the SS of the day, and trim the outside like an SS that was never available with 4 doors.
Congratulations to you, Mr and Mrs Wizard on your well earned successes with Omega and RUclips.
I remember when you started the Malibu project, I had such high hopes. Please get back on it and get it running.
I have been waiting for a full restomod on the Malibu. The Jaguar purr at the stoplight would be magic to my ears. This car should look stock from the outside but with updated brakes and suspension. Do your magic.
Really happy for you Wizard that you are so busy and business is thriving! You and your family & emploees deserve all the best success. Really not sure about the financial judgement of that TT owner... I mean, they are horrifically bad cars mechanically - and they continue to depreciate... I guess maybe it's an emotional decision there.
The Malibu is a classic, do I nice modern resto with the suspension, engine (LS) & mechanicals then have someone do a nice upgrade on the body/paint/interior and you'll have something you can treasure for a while. Some of those other rides you have might be nice but don't compare to what that Malibu can be.
It is a blessing that an honest and truthful mechanic business comes in.
Much blessings 🙌
Finish the Jag Conversion / Chevelle Sounds Good
RE: '66 Chev Malibu 4-door
Wizard,
I'd consider a revamp to a restomod 100%, similar to what Count's Custom Las Vegas does to some cars of that vintage. Then, sell or raffle off for a charity.
"What to do with the Malibu?" - I think you should put a basic small block in it and make it a decent driver for someone who wants to get into classic cars but is priced out of a 2 door version (i.e. it has two doors too many). Would have been cool to see the Jag engine in it but a solid runner/driver is probably a more practical option....
60's Gasser-(raised straight axle up front)on the Chevelle
That is so cool that you have the car from Up! I can't wait until the video. Squirrel!
This would be an awesome vehicle to fly to your yacht.
Please David, finish the Malibu project. I know how it can be to loose interest in something after not working on it for a long time. Just get back to it and motivation will come along. I personally hope to see your video showing the end result. All my support, keep up the good work
I just love seeing that Chevelle in the background. I understand having projects unfinished . I have two in my yard. I think whatever you decide with the Chevelle just don't get rid of it. It watches all.
Thanks Wizard.....l really look forward to you fine videos
Old Flying Shoe🇺🇸
$1000 to fix the Honda is still worth it. Honda A/C seem to be a weak spot. I have had issues with Honda A/C but still think they are rock solid cars overall. Thanks.
Especially is you disable the VCM….
I swear that 82 Corvette has been in the shop since the beginning of the channel! 😂
Great update Wizard. Still think the Citroen is my fave!
That is really cool, your customers watch your videos as the rest of us do, so mush information on what can & does go wrong with the different rigs...
I had a 1988 Lotus Turbo Esprit. Red on Tan . Beautiful car ! I daily drove it for over 2 years. Never had a problem. I'm 6'3" 225 lbs. I was quite a bit cramped in that thing. Then I decided to go back to the old faithful Porsche 911 Carrera. Plenty of room for my big arse. And still drive a 911 today.. I must say however, that Lotus handled almost as well as my old 1970 Porsche 914-6.
Nice car Wizard❣️ good job as always!
Congratulations on your business growth looks like the RV going to have to wait
Disable VCM while you’re working on that Odyssey! Makes them burn oil
A wise master tech told me years ago, there is a difference between a mechanic and a technician. The Wizard is a Technician. Techs are definitive in their diagnosis and repair. Mechanics are parts changers with hopes it’s fixed.
You should sell the malibu to me, been looking for one just like it, dont need the jag engine though, wanna put it back stock as a driver.
Best channel on you tube ..period. the wizard rocks !!
My dude(s) have been following for a few years. Both your personalities are amazing for RUclips. Hire kid to edit, help story line.. much love ❤
Yes the ac on the Honda van needs to have the air gap adjusted.Put in a smaller shim.
David you have to jump back into the Malibu. We all would love to see the finished project with the V12! Especially us folks who have been with you since day one! Finish the citron and Ferrari and focus on the bus and the Malibu!
I feel your pain , gravitational pull to a certain car myself . It’s easier once who are familiar with one cars quirks , a diesel Mercedes with the steady 617 . A w123 model has its place in time and certainly over my limit currently at 9 . The plan , sell the worst and keep the best . Their all good , just can’t deal with that letting go period of reality .
Would love to see the Malibu project finished its what sucked me in to this channel! Projects take time, ill wait patiently.
Put the malibu on top the building with a car wizard mannequin driving it. 4 door malibu's aren't worth money, plus they are gas guzzlers. Gas is going up again. Thanks for the great videos!!
Love this channel. Glad i found it. 🏍️💨👍🇬🇧
My car: 2014 Toyota Camry LE. Sat for a while, not sure how long several months. AC Compressor was dead. Went to my dealership and they put a brand new Toyota OEM on on, and I think two electrical things behind the dash. All factory, dealership OEM. Works better than new cars for how cold it gets. Though the AC Compressor alone was $750 for just the part. I budgeted $2,000 for the repair it was just about $2500, though it was worth it.
Good that the fuel pump went out right when it got there. Otherwise, you can sometimes deal with the customer claiming you did something to it. Happens all the time in any business that does repairs. Things hanging on by a thread that happen to die when something else needs to be fixed.
I usually don't second guess your decisions. But... I had a 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L with the same AC system. Cool air would stop flowing on hot days after several minutes of normal cooling. The car was 12 years old at 180 K miles, so I could only hope for the best. My mechanic found a failing AC compressor clutch, and replaced only the clutch. AC restored and it ran fine at 201K miles when we traded the vehicle in four years ago. Maybe your customer lives in a warmer climate, perhaps the vehicle is much lower miles (it looks excellent). BTW... The active motor mounts on our Ody gave up. The VCM system still worked fine, but the vibration became annoying. I installed a VCM defeat device (AKA muzzler) which worked fine.
I had two Hondas that the relay AC compressor relay failed on; replaced the relay and bought two spares. A week later my brother-in-law had the same exact issue. Cars were 2008 Odyssey, 2006 Civic, and a 2008 Cr-V. Failed relays were all the same lot. Never had another failure as long as we owned those cars
My brother had a crazy battery drain on his Honda element. It was making us crazy! We went on the Element Fourm and found out about Honda A/C relays. It was shot and energizing the a/c clutch with the power off😮New relay and everything is fine👍🤣
If I could bring you my Ecoboost Mustang for service Wizard I totally would. I have learned much from your videos! Thank you.
Thanks Wizard..!!!!! My Odyssey's A/C just failed .... same thing........ 220,000 miles
I have had several Hondas that failed ac clutches. It’s a big electromagnet, they do go bad from time to time. I did have a customer opt for clutch replacement but I never did another one because it’s on the lower side of the vehicle and it was not fun getting to it. However, I got it done. I agree it’s really best to recover the system, replace the entire compressor, flush, vac it down and charge it to factory specs as well as put oil in the system. A full service and a fresh compressor never hurt anything.
Continue with the Malibu project. I want to see that glorious v12 running.
That 2008 Honda van is a great car.
What a gold mine if the customer has extra $$$. Video of repairs and optional repairs gets the extra business! I'm betting you thank Hoovie in your dreams!
Sell the Malibu to Derek Bieri of Vice Grip Garage and have a collaboration video! The two of you have very different personalities but your both car guys and I'm sure fans would live the collaboration. I would also love to see Hoovie give Derek a ride in his countach!
Good luck with "New" compressors.15 years ago most all were actually re built. i have had several "New" compressors fil at the rear seal and have to be replaced in warranty. IF you can get Original Honda NOS, it is a better idea.
David, you’ve done so much. Save your 4-door for another day. The only other exception would be if you did a “Omega Day Raffle” for a Labor Day video and gave that car away on a live RUclips stream o the Holiday. Other than that, just take care of yourself and give Hoovie the support he needs. Y’all are good guys.
That Honda van with the bad compressor clutch is a similar issue with our Subaru. Won't engage or stays on for only ten minutes then goes off. Clutch not replaceable. Ended up taking the clutch plate off and removing one shim so now it is closer and grabs. Yes, it is likely temporary, but after spending $450 at the dealer and NOT getting a correct diagnosis, it was time to break out the old training and figure it out along with the RUclips hack for getting it going. Put off a new compressor for another year, I hope.
Hi Wizard, regarding your 1966 Chevelle, drop a small block Chevy 327(era correct) and back it up with a turbo hydromatic 350 or 400. That car is nice, keep it period correct. In the long run if you ever want to sell it you can make a substantial amount of cash being that it’s original.
for the malibu, you should swap in a big block chevy and go drag racing
As much as I love the idea of a v12 malibu, chuck that thing. Its just not that compelling compared the Ferrari or Wander Lodge. Find someone who wants to finish it and then have them bring it to the shop when its done. Win win.
Totally agreed, get rid of it. Not sure it’s worth the time and head ache for an old Malibu.
I am noticing a really frustrating trend of either abandoning projects half way through or finishing them only to immediately get rid of them. It hurts my soul. You never get to enjoy the stuff of your own that you work on.
Great shop review!
shop's packed on good proyects, that atemporal lamborghinni is a jewell
the malibu needs a big block 454 with a holley double pumper carburator.
my 1988 subaru xt water pump just started failing, coolent coming out the weep hole, I am my own car wizard
LS and a T56 for malibu.Put A/C in it.
PLEASE do a 383 Stroker small block CHEVY!!! Love your content, thank you.
Hoovie’s van is funny - when he slides the side door back, the sign on the side reads “Old cock”. 😅
It's pretty obvious what's going on. The price of new and used cars is forcing people to fix and keep their existing vehicles. As usual, the only people benefiting are the shops and car dealers, not the majority of us.
On Malibu, assuming no constraints, finish restomod, including, say, LS engine or some similarly practical/reliable muscle car power train, and keep as show and race car, or sell to well-screened buyer.
Congrats on ongoing book of business. Godspeed and continued success to you and your team.
it has a Jaguar motor in it
Old cars are worth more than spending a lot of money on a new car! Thanks
Manufacturers keep adding more features, next year more features....so just more to break, fail.
Depends on what you need it for.
A solid Oder car, especially the ones known for reliability are definitely worth keeping on the road. I learned my lesson years ago. I bought a 92 LS400 with 65k miles in 2000. By 2005 I had close to 300k miles. Instead of spending money and have suspension work, new power steering pump, brakes, etc…I sold it and bought a new car. Bad idea. Within a year I realized my mistake and purchased a used car and sold the new car.
Please finish the Chevelle. I was excited about it when you got it, and I've been patiently waiting for you to get to it. Even if it's during a slow time in the winter.
Hey Wizard, on the old Malibu, either restore it to showroom shape (they get big dollars...oops, I forgot you don't have the time) or sell it as-is to someone who will.
Wizard needs a Delorean !
Same thing happened to my 08 Honda AC Compressor clutch.
My .02 is sell the malibu and any other projects that you are losing interest on. Just get them a bit sorted in order to recoup your money and ship them out the door. Don't stretch yourself thin with all the projects else nothing will get done and your personal deadlines for each vehicle will stretch. You don't want to turn your passions into a second full time job else you might get burnt out.
Soon after getting my barn find Supra running by cleaning the fuel system extensively, the Denso FP locked up dead on me! I replaced it but was able to get it back turning again on the bench.
Car Wizzard, king of the unfinished projects
LOL !! I so remember the Military term "Hurry Up and Wait". HooAH ?
Good call on the Audi. I mean by putting it off, you're doing just that. If you need tires, you might as well do them now as it could actaully save you money by not having an accident by having bad tires (or brakes, or other issues that people tend to put off). For me, when it comes to tires or brakes, or anything that could impact your safety or someone else's it's not worth skimping on and its not worth waiting (too long) on. If the brakes perhaps are starting to squeak, then maybe you can put it off for a little while, but if they're grinding and you have ah ard time stopping, that's different. And if it's an issue like AC not working or heater not working or it burns/leaks oils -- those likely are not going to kill you or someone else and can wait however long they need to. But one thing I stress to people is that important stuff like tires and brakes, take care of them as soon as you can because your life and others will depend on it.
I really value the mechanics that are honest and tell you what can and cannot wait. Some will tell you that you MUST repair your oil leaks now or it will get worse later. Mayb true, but not always, and more importantly, likely isn't going to kill you. Those mechanics who are looking to make a quick buck, I don't care for. An honest mechanic will tell you it can probably wait unless it's a massive leak that is causing the engine to run out of oil and possibly seize, but a good mechnic will probably tell you it can wait, or if it's a "minor" leak, just leave it and add oil as oil is cheap, and fixing oil leaks/burning oil can be more expensive than just adding oil periodically (those types of things).
hi wizard get the mailibu back on the road 🚗
I am hoping that the Car Wizard will do another video on a Toyota, if Mrs.Wizard (his wife) will be planning to buy and purchase the all-new, 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander HybridMax Platinum AWD seven-passenger full-size crossover, which has the 2.4 L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, which produces 362 horsepower and the six-speed automatic transmission. These Grand Highlander's are the best vehicles in the brand-new market and they were in production and in dealerships for a couple months already. I am hoping that Mrs.Wizard's, 2018 Maserati Levante will be traded-in eventually for the all-new, 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander HybridMax Platinum AWD seven-passenger full-size crossover, so she will be very happy to own the nicest Toyota and the Car Wizard will be so surprised, because he currently has his older, 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD with the 4 L V6 engine, which produces 259 horsepower and the five-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Highlander will be more fuel-efficient than the FJ Cruiser. Just remember, if you are planning to buy a used vehicle, a Toyota or a Lexus will be the best option, as well as a Honda or an Acura. You can still look at some Mitsubishi's or most likely Mazda's for a used vehicle, because they are very reliable, as well. Anyway, I hope you have a great night and we will check out the next all-new video upload from the Car Wizard on Thursday.
Whoever Honda was using for AC compressors (maybe Denso?) had an issue with those clutches. We have two 2009 CR-Vs and both of them had the AC clutch coil fail at around 120k miles, about nine months apart, and it's a very common issue with many owners with similar model year CR-Vs (and other models). As I didn't have a refrigerant recovery system at the time, I had the dealer repair them. (Actually, the first one was on a road trip halfway across the country, and I had to find a good dealer in Salt Lake City to handle it.) Cost for both was about the same as what the Car Wizard charged for the Odyssey.