Just did this repair yesterday. A basic repair after watching your video. Customer states her 2008 Chrysler Town and Country had intermittent wiper and headlight activation, audible bell sound, dash lights all flash , tach and speedo stop working when idling and/or when driving down the road. Windows and locks also not operational. Quick diagnosis and located a white with gray line wire broken in driver's side front door harness by the door jam connector. Solder repair and heat shrink installed. I am still amazed this one broken wire could cause so much chaos.. Also , customer states drove vehicle for a month because she thought it was haunted and she feared a mechanic would condemn her vehicle. Thank you for the informative video.
@@txc500 I pulled the wire protection sleeve back to inspect the wiring harness. I did use a screwdriver to release the tabs on the plastic connector to unplug it by the drivers door kick panel. . I replaced all parts and the sleeve which I messed with for 20 minutes to put back in place correctly. Maybe use silicone to waterproof the connector.
I have NEVER seen the use of a little Back Electrical Tape be a bad thing! I like your style!!! You have the integrity and ethics to go the extra mile to make sure the repair holds up!!!! Great Job SIR!!!
First time watching your channel this evening I had similar issues with my 09 grand caravan and thank God you did this video. It saved me all of the trouble and hassle. I went directly to the harness and at the connector I found the white wire with the gray tracer stripe broken soldered it back together and works like new. Thanks for this informative video.
NEVER APOLOGIZE when doing electrical diagnostics ! ! When others question your time to locate the problem, they're probably parts swappers or parts cannon users! AND we all learned something about that (no longer) mysterious C.A.N. NETWORK ! ! Thankyou for a Great Video ! !
Just because you can do it does not mean we all can. Do it, you have all the tools and knowledge and experience. And you are good and honest, to bad all service techs were as competent and hostess as you. Mrs. O is so lucky and your children are cute as buttons.
Don't sweat it Mr. O, any technician that says they're good at everything are lying. The difference is your man enough to admit and don't let it stop you from doing what you do. Mad respect for you, hope to be half as good as you some day, don't let all these haters get to you.
Watching your videos 3 years later (Sept 2019) and I think you are mastering these COMS and Networks. You don't only need to know the mechanics, but need to be a computer tech to work on these things nowadays. Great job Eric! Keep evolving, keep learning!
This guy is great! I wish I knew him in my 30 years of growing up in Chicago. I think my town and country's problem is a rear blend actuator, but this guy makes the best videos. I hope he makes some more about T&C's. Thank you very much Sir.
I just bought a used 2010 Chrysler town and country van and the drivers window won’t roll down I’m going to follow your path see if I can get it fixed myself thank you for sharing. I always appreciate your videos they have helped me out many times in the past as well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience
There is so much talent in this community. It's good to hear that guys like Keith, Ivan and Paul are available to you. I enjoyed the process. Yes, it became apparent it was a broken wire but for guys like me who like to see some scope action, it was time well spent. Thanks again for letting us hang around the shop.
Time and time again I come to your channel to get your help. I’m going to check my harness this weekend cuz I have this exact issue suddenly. Thanks for being here 👍
That is the truth! I’ve even started mounting my own tires, because I have such little faith in the local shops. The only thing I hire out is road force balancing. If there were an economical way for me to do that myself, I would...
You are a lifesaver! I was having the exact same problem with a 2010 Caravan, but didn't have the scanners that you do. Thanks for saving me the trouble of shipping this vehicle somewhere else!
All door controls when dead on my 2014 Durango except for the window controls for the two back door windows. My research online told me that the door module was bad.After watching your video I did what I learned from your video and discovered that possibly a bad mechanic cut two wires. The red and black wires passing between the door and body clearly were cut partially so they would break overtime . Thank you for the video that was well done.
Ice cream is my kryptonite. I am just learning how to troubleshoot networks and watching a video where you are learning is actually quite helpful because I was following along with your thought process. My logic seems to be very similar to yours so it was almost like I was doing it as I watched you. Thank you for a great learning experience.
*Eric saves the Day* not to mention hundreds of dollars for the customer. I just bought a new Ford *Escape* and I am sure I will need this type of info. Cheaper to spend an hour of my time that paying for it at the dealer. Around here there really isn't anywhere I know of that does anything close to what you show here on your channel. Great Job *Eric* as always. -John
I'm a dealer tech and honestly based on my training my diagnostic work would be done as soon as I saw the broken wires. We'd just throw a wiring harness in it. But I know I don't feel a whole lot of pride doing that compared to what I'd get if I repaired the wires myself. Good work!
As long as Manufacturers keep using plastic coated metal wires- the "Tap and Wiggle" test will always be used. This was an excellent video, as always, Eric. Thank you.
great video as always Eric. I got slid on an 05 Cobalt about a year ago( can bus no com ) what a nightmare. .lol but two days of scope on a rope a lot of reading and a lot of swearing..I found 3 faults .. 1)a break in The Wire driver's door 2)a bad connection at the main connector into the electric power steering.. and 3) an aftermarket radio with no can Communications.. the 2016 can convention sounds like a great idea I may see you there ...thanks again always I have never watched one of your videos I did not enjoy you are truly the best
Ericthecargu Eric O.... No need to take that can class.....Your knowledge is priceless.....I admire your patience and perseverance to figure out the solution. Thank You much for all the great videos.
When I was at mini cooper I had a new car off the lot with the same issue. Found the Passnager side mirror bringing down the Driver switch and LIN bus. Its always a pretty fun day when you have to put your thinking cap on and not do the same stuff day after day.
I left the motor trade in 96. I don't remember anything like this. OBD was just coming in. Take my hat off to him! Good skills...Learn something new everyday.
Thanks, I was braking my head still I saw this video. I just moved a bit the connections between the door and the car and now mirrors, windows and locks work great. Thanks.
Hey...., what's a world without a little from our friends! Outstanding! This is what will separate the shops in business from the ones that don't keep up with the changing times. Great video!
I know it's an old video, but great job once again Eric. You taught yourself some things, and you taught us some things. I hope you did get to those classes (Havn't seen any videos of you mentioning that so far). Once again, love your work.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I'm 17. This was so awesome to see all off this. Keeping car, we already paid the carbon foot print for , on the road, is the best way to save the environment. Can you imagine , trying to repair these new EV's?!
Never a dull moment...fire trucks, meat wagons....tangled scope wires... unidentified intruders through the front door... and it still getz fixed! I learned!
Its always a problem fixing someone's elses fixes. They did their way and it lasted X years. Never easy and learning on the fly sucks. Good job and keep Hanna from the the hoses and cords!
Great tutorial, my parents have issues with the passenger door not locking or unlocking. I tore the pnl off and it was clear someone had been in there before... I did t get to the harness yet... now I know what to look for...! Keep up the great work
Over the years of also being a tech I’ve run across so many broken wires in the door harness it’s one of my 2nd checks after testing the switch and. Module it’s such a common due to those wires constantly breaking
The great video that Chrysler looks a lot more complicated than a Nissan frontier I just did one the other day on my own, but I love your entertainment. It’s very satisfying. You’re a very knowledgeable mechanic you’re worth every penny you get you don’t like say hi to Mrs. O
Eric , don't beat yourself up about your "weak spot" (i.e. lack of CAN bus knowledge). You now know the most important thing, WHAT A "NORMAL" CAN BUSS SHOULD LOOK LIKE ! 90+% of the failures you are going to run into are standard electrical issues. Bad power, ground or signal wire(s). Your deep understanding of basic electrical/electronics and your real world experience put you light years ahead of others with more "book learning". With so many modules on a car, and multiple CAN busses and different cars sending the same data differently, it is impossible to be an expert. But you ARE already a FANTASTIC "generalist". That and good old "common sense" are a winning combination.
yep well written theoldwizard998, that's what i get from Eric o, he is better than most due to this very analytical common sense diagnosis methods+thinking. also always gonna be critical opinions on social media. Eric o dont let them get you down and feel the need to apologise/explain for "apparent shortcomings" that in my opinion is not there, your a GREAT Mechanic+ i believe you go the extra distance to get close ups and show and explain why it is what it is and that takes time and energy/efforts so BIG THANKS.
After your class it would be super awesome to pass on anything interesting you can! I also have very little understanding of the CAN networks! Thanks for all you do ! I have learned more from watching RUclips videos from pros like you, scanner Danner, and Ivan than I did from any book or class I have taken !!!
I had the same issue with my 04 colorado 211k miles, bought a use door lock switch didn't work try a brand new acdelco door switch, same thing, took apart the door wire harness, bingo 1 broken wire, solder it together, now everything works, thanks for the video.
I’ve gotten extremely OCD with my electrical repair over the years. Ideally I would have a wall of wire spools in every possible color combination. Until my ship comes in though, in applications like this I use white wire and then match the OEM colors with an assortment of multi-colored sharpies. I was really hoping to see you depin this one. Obviously no one can keep every style of pin terminal in stock though. I think I probably would have depinned it and soldered my new wire directly to the pin if that was possible. Whether or not that would be better or worse, I don’t know, but I prefer to have as few splices between terminals as possible. In the past I have used a pick to uncrimp terminals and then crimp again on the new wire. It is no easy task though and can easily render a pin damaged beyond use if you aren’t careful. I am really looking forward to you learning Can Bus networking! I know the general concept. Troubleshooting and diagnostics are beyond my self-taught education though. It is very frustrating to me. There is virtually nothing I can’t do on the modern automobile. From setting up a differential to circuit board repair, I can do it all and am equipped to do it well. Data networking is my one weakness and there is more and more of it. As each year passes there is more data networking stuff crammed into vehicles and I remain as ignorant of it today as I was yesterday. I don’t know a single person that knows more about it than I do and my attempts to learn about it on the interwebs have not been very successful. There is not much out there and the little bit of information that is available starts off out of my league... Go forth and learn Eric! Then come back and educate me. :D Hopefully once you get learned you’ll have an influx of customers with networking problems. Lol
Great video Eric. Just remember Eric it's still about the wires and what they are attached to. If the wires and connections are good then a device is bad.
Nice job Eric,CAN faults can been fun to find and sometimes a nightmare.i know how it feels to be weak at them and try to understand,the can class will help a lot.
Great vid Eric and thanks for sharing this with us. Very cool that you talked to Keith about it. Sharing knowledge is a beautiful thing. A harness like that might just be found at the good old junk yard.
Is James serious? I've learned tons watching this, "Couple thousand dollars in tools?" Um if you are a pro and doing it day in and day out but last I checked a Scope on a Rope is still pretty inexpensive, as for the rest....well as cars get more and more complicated you will need some more complicated tools, that's not Eric's fault. Keep up the vids amigo, we are LOVING them!!
I took a class on can bus systems and the ones we learned about had replacement pins so you could install new wires. there are also some tools required but worth it. they don't recommend replacing the harness like you said there 2 expensive. another great job my man👍👍
Also the existing harness will most likely fail again in no time since its old so a new harness makes more sense to me. That being said I appreciate your efforts in trying to save the customer money and btw keep up the good work, your videos are great.
SInce a previous repair also failed, I agree. At this point I would stop and tell the customer that they need the door harness for a long term repair. I don't trust the rest of the wiring, even though Eric did a good repair on those 2.
The magnetic clip holding tool for soldering comes from lisle, Thanks for taking the time to scope the system and showing us how to understand these comm systems, I am also weak on these systems, but I am learning. Thanks again
Great video Eric. Sometimes electrical is challenging but nothing that we can't overcome with just a little patience which you seem to have a lot of. And I think going to that can conference will be a great deal of knowledge look forward to what you can share with us from there.
I would choose you on a day where you really are not sure what you are doing verses the mechanic at the dealer. At least you are honest and admit your weakness and work from there. Instead of throwing the parts cannon at the problem and maybe getting the correct result. You inspire me and I dont even work on cars, except my own. Blessings to you and yours.
Nice job Dr. O. Can systems are pretty interesting. I had one last week that had a wigging out steering angle sensor which pulled down the whole system. It's cool to see your approach. Take care
Your common sense is off the charts. That's what makes you a stand out and the best mechanic I've seen on here. Your video and editing skills also serve to make this an excellent channel. Was the two alligator clips on the magnetic swivel base a home made tool or store bought as they say?? Can see where that comes in really handy as it's essentially extra hands to hold your wires. Thanks for all the great videos !
I have come across this many times on these vans and I always just replace the whole door wiring harness for peace of mind. The harness is cheaper then you think and the "SealerShip" can get it within a day if there not in stock.
Btw how I found out what the issue was, was by opening and closing the door. It revealed Intermittent contact. When I checked the harness I found 3 broken wires in the same area between the cab and the door on the left side. These were related to my left speakers, power mirrors, and window lift switches on the left side. I do still keep an eye on it and rewrap the harness yearly.
Nice find Eric. CAN seems to be difficult more because we don't deal with it on a daily basis and tend to have to think more about it as we see them come in. Great use of the scope and comparing the known good module. Takes time to do this, but always better to be sure.
My buddies grand caravan has the exact same issue, like to a "T" I'd bet money when I dig into it I'll find one or both of the same wires broken. SMA for the win!
Great job Dr. O! As you have demonstrated, an oscilloscope and a known-good waveform is the only sure-fire way to diagnose a high-speed network. Looks like the Autel scope was shining in this application :)
Hey Eric. The only thing you screwed up on. After you soldered the splices and put on the clear heat shrink tubing and even though it had inside adhesive, I just can't believe you forgot to seal the ends of those heat shrinks, with the clear liquid electrical tape! What a rookie mistake. Hey, all kidding aside, your honest and good and that's why I love your videos. We don't make mistakes, we make LEARNING EXPERIENCES! Jpol.
Eric you may have already learned this in your class but whenever I'm working on a can bus issue the first place I start is measuring the resistance on the bus if you know what you should have then you can work off that. on J1939 bus (heavy trucks) all can networks should be @ 60 ohms =1x 120ohm resistors on each end referred to as terminating resistors. knowing this if you wiggle wiring and see the circuit going open you have a fault then if you go to a known junction and see proper resistance you can narrow it down to an area or side of the circuit. i hope this makes some sense as it's harder to explain than it is to do
A Controller Area Network (CAN bus) is a vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other in applications without a host computer. It is a message-based protocol, designed originally for multiplex electrical wiring within automobiles, but is also used in many other contexts. I did not know that, thanks Wikipedia.
Thank you for another great video. Thanks for mentioning the CAN Conference. I never heard of it till now. Signed up for the classes also. See you there.
Watching you playing with the CAN stuff here and watching Ivan restore the retro ZAZ in Russia. Quite the contrast! But, both are fun. I've spent 25+ years working with computer networks and you on cars. Our worlds are now colliding. I'm learning about cars and you about computer networks. :)
Good choice to solder the can wires. With can if you install butt connectors they can introduce excess resistance which would cause communication issues down the road. The modules use a set resistance to allow communication between themselves. Also the soldering hold downs you can buy almost anywhere, ex Snapon, Matco, Cornwell, Sears, etc.
Well I sure learned something! That manufacturers are making DIY repair virtually impossible in the years to come. That is so infuriating. Door locks and windows worked perfectly fine without the need for CAN communication. The only purpose I see of adding this to the system is to confound people, and cost them more money. Well done, Fiat ... GRRR! In other news my new Autel just arrived!!! Got the 906TS, so now I don't need another few hundred for a dedicated TPMS tool. VERY happy with this thing! My only gripe is it didn't come with a Ford OBD-I adaptor. Not a big deal, since our '86 Grand Marquis will become carbureted some day anyway, just for simplicity. In testing I found my Silverado had 17 body and communication codes stored in the dark recesses of the ECM, BCM, & TCM. Could've been the trip to the body shop after getting sideswiped, or could've been when my twin Viair compressors ran a half hour key off, and drew the battery down to almost 9v. Everything is working, so most be old codes.
Unfortunately, this was before Fiat bought Chrysler, this has to be Daimler's fault, or most of it. They didn't quite know what to do with Chrysler and thus drove it into the ground, and made the cars way too complex for their own good. I can't say Chrysler today is perfect, as they sure aren't, but they should be way better than when this van was made though.
Ahh, yeah '08 - seemed newer than that for some reason. I heard him say it too, and read it in the beginning! Just didn't compute, lol. My brother just bought a '16 Ram 1500 Longhorn this weekend. Thing is pretty sweet, but I wasn't too crazy about the unserviceable 8-speed gearbox they threw in there. No dipstick, like so many other manufacturers have been doing lately. Not sure I like the idea of having a $7k (just guessing) throwaway part under there ...
40:01 Replacing the pin inside the connector. Sometimes with just a small screwdriver you can bend the pin clip pull the pin spread the legs of the pen to open it up to crimp it within the new wire removing any type of solid joint within the ironing harness. The fixie you've done is a great solution. Thanks for making this video it was an excellent show and tell :-)
Morning Eric, Don't worry I am still learning about Can bus diagnostics myself. But I do have a idea for a upcoming video. How about a quick say ten minute video on all your scan tools. Pro and cons. I am the same way as you I like to be universal on scan Equipment. Keeps the mind active.
I am an industrial mechanic/troubleshooter/electrician and can bus is is a pain to find issues, especially in long strings. I was surprised to find they are in cars. I did not know that.
Hey Eric just took a class for Chrysler on vehicle com "upstate" haha in Harriman they got the Chrysler school there I'm from Long Island. Make sure when you repair bus wires if your only repairing one wire you have to cut and solder the equal length of wire that you repaired the other one with. So the signal speed remains the same. On both bus wires + and -
+South Main Auto Repair great video. Watch all your vids learned a lot from your work. Keep it up. Thanks for all the technical info and how your go about diagnosing different stuff. Being a flat rate tech I need to be fast and accurate.
not a waste of time at all I had a similar issue with my 2000 Grand Cherokee , I couldnt lock any doors and only the driver window and mirror worked.. of all things turned out to be a break in the passenger door flex thanks Eric O
Finding a wiring diagram for the whole thing is a process, I just ran into this type of problem today...AGAIN...I did fix it, but that's why I'm here, to LEARN STUFF. Watching your approach Eric and very curious to see how you attack um🤣🤣🤣👍 Ok back to watching now.
Great video!!! I love watching your videos Eric O. and i continue to learn so much from you, as a up and coming auto tech you give me the confidence to go out be the best I can be. Thank you so much!!!! Good diagnosing and plenty patience good stuff.
I just did a older Jeep Liberty. The guy wanted just the 5 wires repaired in the harness that were broke instead of a new harness. Needless to say about 4 months later, more wires were broken.
Being a car mechanic requires you to be a bit of a jack of all trades type of guy. Need to be a bit of a traditional mechanic, fitter, plumber, HVAC technician, electrician, machinist, fabricator, and these days IT guy. Part of the reason I love it. Edit: Forgot welder.
Enjoyed the video alot. Being an old guy that I am the CAN system is new to me and a bit of a worry. But your video showed that basic testing still applies. My only critical comment would be a solder joint in a flexible harness. Why not just remove the pin from the connector block and replace the wires? 2 wires and 4 terminals. Great video Eric. Cheers
Great video. Say you don't have a scope you could use a multi-meter that records min max values and check the network that way, It wouldn't show you as much detail but it still works. Good luck on your class learning about networks! One network that GM has out now that can get very confusing diagnosing is the MOST network for infotainment systems...
Good video. I didn't even know the new cars used a network to control stuff so I really learned something. I wonder how many years until the network becomes wireless in the cars and there are little WIFI like transmitters and receivers incorporated in each component. Chris
I really like that door flex design. I hate the ones where it runs through a hole in the sheet metal of the door. It just seems like this Chrysler design is easier to diagnose, that all your wires are on the outside of the door, behind the door panel, that you dont have the whole harness inside the door where the regulator is.
I keep a roll of trailer cable for harness repairs -- here in Europe it has 7 cores. You chop a length of up to about 2 yards off and easily pull individual individual wires of different colours out of the outer sheath.
I know far far less than you do Eric but I've heard about CAN wiring being twisted pairs and those wires need to remain twisted in order to work properly, much like ethernet cable. I don't imagine it makes a huge difference for that short length of wire but it would be something to consider, if that is correct anyway.
im currently watching this at 9:32, im going to say you need a new door switch module. cat wait to see how this turns out. WOW, I was wrong. Awesome Video!
Just did this repair yesterday. A basic repair after watching your video. Customer states her 2008 Chrysler Town and Country had intermittent wiper and headlight activation, audible bell sound, dash lights all flash , tach and speedo stop working when idling and/or when driving down the road. Windows and locks also not operational. Quick diagnosis and located a white with gray line wire broken in driver's side front door harness by the door jam connector. Solder repair and heat shrink installed. I am still amazed this one broken wire could cause so much chaos.. Also , customer states drove vehicle for a month because she thought it was haunted and she feared a mechanic would condemn her vehicle. Thank you for the informative video.
Is there a trick to getting the body side of the harness off and reinstalled so it's water tight?
@@txc500 I pulled the wire protection sleeve back to inspect the wiring harness. I did use a screwdriver to release the tabs on the plastic connector to unplug it by the drivers door kick panel. . I replaced all parts and the sleeve which I messed with for 20 minutes to put back in place correctly. Maybe use silicone to waterproof the connector.
I have NEVER seen the use of a little Back Electrical Tape be a bad thing! I like your style!!! You have the integrity and ethics to go the extra mile to make sure the repair holds up!!!! Great Job SIR!!!
First time watching your channel this evening I had similar issues with my 09 grand caravan and thank God you did this video. It saved me all of the trouble and hassle. I went directly to the harness and at the connector I found the white wire with the gray tracer stripe broken soldered it back together and works like new. Thanks for this informative video.
NEVER APOLOGIZE when doing electrical diagnostics ! ! When others question your time to locate the problem, they're probably parts swappers or parts cannon users! AND we all learned something about that (no longer) mysterious C.A.N. NETWORK ! !
Thankyou for a Great Video ! !
Lllll
Ll
Just because you can do it does not mean we all can. Do it, you have all the tools and knowledge and experience. And you are good and honest, to bad all service techs were as competent and hostess as you. Mrs. O is so lucky and your children are cute as buttons.
Don't sweat it Mr. O, any technician that says they're good at everything are lying. The difference is your man enough to admit and don't let it stop you from doing what you do. Mad respect for you, hope to be half as good as you some day, don't let all these haters get to you.
Well that is why I am a mechanic and not a tech. I know when I don't know. However I ask learn and move on :)
Watching your videos 3 years later (Sept 2019) and I think you are mastering these COMS and Networks. You don't only need to know the mechanics, but need to be a computer tech to work on these things nowadays. Great job Eric! Keep evolving, keep learning!
This guy is great! I wish I knew him in my 30 years of growing up in Chicago. I think my town and country's problem is a rear blend actuator, but this guy makes the best videos. I hope he makes some more about T&C's. Thank you very much Sir.
thats the same issue in mine!! i deal with the blinking defrost button!
I just bought a used 2010 Chrysler town and country van and the drivers window won’t roll down I’m going to follow your path see if I can get it fixed myself thank you for sharing. I always appreciate your videos they have helped me out many times in the past as well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience
There is so much talent in this community. It's good to hear that guys like Keith, Ivan and Paul are available to you. I enjoyed the process. Yes, it became apparent it was a broken wire but for guys like me who like to see some scope action, it was time well spent. Thanks again for letting us hang around the shop.
Ditto!
Time and time again I come to your channel to get your help. I’m going to check my harness this weekend cuz I have this exact issue suddenly. Thanks for being here 👍
If I thought 1/16 of mechanics were as competent as you I would have a lot more free weekends. Good job as always Eric!
That is the truth! I’ve even started mounting my own tires, because I have such little faith in the local shops. The only thing I hire out is road force balancing. If there were an economical way for me to do that myself, I would...
You are a lifesaver! I was having the exact same problem with a 2010 Caravan, but didn't have the scanners that you do. Thanks for saving me the trouble of shipping this vehicle somewhere else!
All door controls when dead on my 2014 Durango except for the window controls for the two back door windows. My research online told me that the door module was bad.After watching your video I did what I learned from your video and discovered that possibly a bad mechanic cut two wires.
The red and black wires passing between the door and body clearly were cut partially so they would break overtime . Thank you for the video that was well done.
Ice cream is my kryptonite. I am just learning how to troubleshoot networks and watching a video where you are learning is actually quite helpful because I was following along with your thought process. My logic seems to be very similar to yours so it was almost like I was doing it as I watched you. Thank you for a great learning experience.
*Eric saves the Day* not to mention hundreds of dollars for the customer. I just bought a new Ford *Escape* and I am sure I will need this type of info. Cheaper to spend an hour of my time that paying for it at the dealer. Around here there really isn't anywhere I know of that does anything close to what you show here on your channel. Great Job *Eric* as always. -John
Talk about having the patience of Job. The man is the epitome of it!
I'm a dealer tech and honestly based on my training my diagnostic work would be done as soon as I saw the broken wires. We'd just throw a wiring harness in it. But I know I don't feel a whole lot of pride doing that compared to what I'd get if I repaired the wires myself. Good work!
Well done Eric, another lesson in rocket surgery . Your patience is over the top. Great video. Keep'em coming.
As long as Manufacturers keep using plastic coated metal wires- the "Tap and Wiggle" test will always be used. This was an excellent video, as always, Eric. Thank you.
Always tap and wiggle...yes sir
great video as always Eric.
I got slid on an 05 Cobalt about a year ago( can bus no com ) what a nightmare. .lol but two days of scope on a rope a lot of reading and a lot of swearing..I found 3 faults .. 1)a break in The Wire driver's door 2)a bad connection at the main connector into the electric power steering.. and 3) an aftermarket radio with no can Communications.. the 2016 can convention sounds like a great idea I may see you there ...thanks again always I have never watched one of your videos I did not enjoy you are truly the best
Ericthecargu
Eric O.... No need to take that can class.....Your knowledge is priceless.....I admire your patience and perseverance to figure out the solution. Thank You much for all the great videos.
When I was at mini cooper I had a new car off the lot with the same issue. Found the Passnager side mirror bringing down the Driver switch and LIN bus.
Its always a pretty fun day when you have to put your thinking cap on and not do the same stuff day after day.
I left the motor trade in 96. I don't remember anything like this. OBD was just coming in. Take my hat off to him! Good skills...Learn something new everyday.
Thanks, I was braking my head still I saw this video. I just moved a bit the connections between the door and the car and now mirrors, windows and locks work great. Thanks.
Hey...., what's a world without a little from our friends! Outstanding! This is what will separate the shops in business from the ones that don't keep up with the changing times. Great video!
I know it's an old video, but great job once again Eric. You taught yourself some things, and you taught us some things. I hope you did get to those classes (Havn't seen any videos of you mentioning that so far). Once again, love your work.
IMO this was by far your best, most informative video. Thank you so much for your time. I'm going to watch it again and take notes lol.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I'm 17. This was so awesome to see all off this. Keeping car, we already paid the carbon foot print for , on the road, is the best way to save the environment. Can you imagine , trying to repair these new EV's?!
Never a dull moment...fire trucks, meat wagons....tangled scope wires... unidentified intruders through the front door... and it still getz fixed! I learned!
Great Diagnosis and repair .
Its always a problem fixing someone's elses fixes. They did their way and it lasted X years. Never easy and learning on the fly sucks. Good job and keep Hanna from the the hoses and cords!
Great tutorial, my parents have issues with the passenger door not locking or unlocking. I tore the pnl off and it was clear someone had been in there before... I did t get to the harness yet... now I know what to look for...! Keep up the great work
Over the years of also being a tech I’ve run across so many broken wires in the door harness it’s one of my 2nd checks after testing the switch and. Module it’s such a common due to those wires constantly breaking
The great video that Chrysler looks a lot more complicated than a Nissan frontier I just did one the other day on my own, but I love your entertainment. It’s very satisfying. You’re a very knowledgeable mechanic you’re worth every penny you get you don’t like say hi to Mrs. O
Eric , don't beat yourself up about your "weak spot" (i.e. lack of CAN bus knowledge). You now know the most important thing, WHAT A "NORMAL" CAN BUSS SHOULD LOOK LIKE !
90+% of the failures you are going to run into are standard electrical issues. Bad power, ground or signal wire(s). Your deep understanding of basic electrical/electronics and your real world experience put you light years ahead of others with more "book learning".
With so many modules on a car, and multiple CAN busses and different cars sending the same data differently, it is impossible to be an expert. But you ARE already a FANTASTIC "generalist". That and good old "common sense" are a winning combination.
yep well written theoldwizard998, that's what i get from Eric o, he is better than most due to this very analytical common sense diagnosis methods+thinking. also always gonna be critical opinions on social media. Eric o dont let them get you down and feel the need to apologise/explain for "apparent shortcomings" that in my opinion is not there, your a GREAT Mechanic+ i believe you go the extra distance to get close ups and show and explain why it is what it is and that takes time and energy/efforts so BIG THANKS.
After your class it would be super awesome to pass on anything interesting you can! I also have very little understanding of the CAN networks! Thanks for all you do ! I have learned more from watching RUclips videos from pros like you, scanner Danner, and Ivan than I did from any book or class I have taken !!!
I had the same issue with my 04 colorado 211k miles, bought a use door lock switch didn't work try a brand new acdelco door switch, same thing, took apart the door wire harness, bingo 1 broken wire, solder it together, now everything works, thanks for the video.
Great video and tutorial on troubleshooting an electrical issue and how one problem causes other issues with communication.
I’ve gotten extremely OCD with my electrical repair over the years. Ideally I would have a wall of wire spools in every possible color combination. Until my ship comes in though, in applications like this I use white wire and then match the OEM colors with an assortment of multi-colored sharpies. I was really hoping to see you depin this one. Obviously no one can keep every style of pin terminal in stock though. I think I probably would have depinned it and soldered my new wire directly to the pin if that was possible. Whether or not that would be better or worse, I don’t know, but I prefer to have as few splices between terminals as possible. In the past I have used a pick to uncrimp terminals and then crimp again on the new wire. It is no easy task though and can easily render a pin damaged beyond use if you aren’t careful.
I am really looking forward to you learning Can Bus networking! I know the general concept. Troubleshooting and diagnostics are beyond my self-taught education though. It is very frustrating to me. There is virtually nothing I can’t do on the modern automobile. From setting up a differential to circuit board repair, I can do it all and am equipped to do it well. Data networking is my one weakness and there is more and more of it. As each year passes there is more data networking stuff crammed into vehicles and I remain as ignorant of it today as I was yesterday. I don’t know a single person that knows more about it than I do and my attempts to learn about it on the interwebs have not been very successful. There is not much out there and the little bit of information that is available starts off out of my league... Go forth and learn Eric! Then come back and educate me. :D Hopefully once you get learned you’ll have an influx of customers with networking problems. Lol
Great video Eric. Just remember Eric it's still about the wires and what they are attached to. If the wires and connections are good then a device is bad.
and in this case the wires were bad
Nice job Eric,CAN faults can been fun to find and sometimes a nightmare.i know how it feels to be weak at them and try to understand,the can class will help a lot.
Great vid Eric and thanks for sharing this with us. Very cool that you talked to Keith about it. Sharing knowledge is a beautiful thing. A harness like that might just be found at the good old junk yard.
Always nice to see Hannah
Is James serious? I've learned tons watching this, "Couple thousand dollars in tools?" Um if you are a pro and doing it day in and day out but last I checked a Scope on a Rope is still pretty inexpensive, as for the rest....well as cars get more and more complicated you will need some more complicated tools, that's not Eric's fault. Keep up the vids amigo, we are LOVING them!!
I took a class on can bus systems and the ones we learned about had replacement pins so you could install new wires. there are also some tools required but worth it. they don't recommend replacing the harness like you said there 2 expensive. another great job my man👍👍
Also the existing harness will most likely fail again in no time since its old so a new harness makes more sense to me. That being said I appreciate your efforts in trying to save the customer money and btw keep up the good work, your videos are great.
SInce a previous repair also failed, I agree. At this point I would stop and tell the customer that they need the door harness for a long term repair. I don't trust the rest of the wiring, even though Eric did a good repair on those 2.
The magnetic clip holding tool for soldering comes from lisle, Thanks for taking the time to scope the system and showing us how to understand these comm systems, I am also weak on these systems, but I am learning. Thanks again
Great video Eric. Sometimes electrical is challenging but nothing that we can't overcome with just a little patience which you seem to have a lot of. And I think going to that can conference will be a great deal of knowledge look forward to what you can share with us from there.
Able Lock h
I would choose you on a day where you really are not sure what you are doing verses the mechanic at the dealer. At least you are honest and admit your weakness and work from there. Instead of throwing the parts cannon at the problem and maybe getting the correct result. You inspire me and I dont even work on cars, except my own. Blessings to you and yours.
Makes me glad to have manual windows and locks.
I don't miss those manual door mirrors. Huge PIA to adjust the passenger door.
Nice job Dr. O. Can systems are pretty interesting. I had one last week that had a wigging out steering angle sensor which pulled down the whole system. It's cool to see your approach. Take care
Good News; Eric does a LOT of Dodge GC videos. Bad news: I own a Dodge G Caravan!
Your common sense is off the charts. That's what makes you a stand out and the best mechanic I've seen on here. Your video and editing skills also serve to make this an excellent channel. Was the two alligator clips on the magnetic swivel base a home made tool or store bought as they say?? Can see where that comes in really handy as it's essentially extra hands to hold your wires. Thanks for all the great videos !
I have come across this many times on these vans and I always just replace the whole door wiring harness for peace of mind. The harness is cheaper then you think and the "SealerShip" can get it within a day if there not in stock.
Well a bit of solder and a piece of wire is pretty cheap on an old van like this :)
Amazin work smart man thx my town and country driver door is heading down to that problem I’ll try to fix it before it’s worse thank you so much
The repair you did is a big issue with the earlier Equinox 2006 - 2009. I went through all that you did to repair mine.
Btw how I found out what the issue was, was by opening and closing the door. It revealed Intermittent contact. When I checked the harness I found 3 broken wires in the same area between the cab and the door on the left side. These were related to my left speakers, power mirrors, and window lift switches on the left side. I do still keep an eye on it and rewrap the harness yearly.
Nice find Eric. CAN seems to be difficult more because we don't deal with it on a daily basis and tend to have to think more about it as we see them come in. Great use of the scope and comparing the known good module. Takes time to do this, but always better to be sure.
MEA right? I have to know it's been bugging me for days now
MEA? Do I know you?
My buddies grand caravan has the exact same issue, like to a "T"
I'd bet money when I dig into it I'll find one or both of the same wires broken. SMA for the win!
awesome as usual Mr E. any body else doing that would say it needed a new connection well done keep up the good work fun watching.
just bought a cheap harbor freight scope on a rope.. that thing is so handy. good job eric
Great job Dr. O! As you have demonstrated, an oscilloscope and a known-good waveform is the only sure-fire way to diagnose a high-speed network. Looks like the Autel scope was shining in this application :)
Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🤬🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕
Nice job Eric!! This 2008 is already on its second engine 😱 I can't wait see that video and hear about its autopsy.
Hey Eric. The only thing you screwed up on. After you soldered the splices and put on the clear heat shrink tubing and even though it had inside adhesive, I just can't believe you forgot to seal the ends of those heat shrinks, with the clear liquid electrical tape! What a rookie mistake. Hey, all kidding aside, your honest and good and that's why I love your videos. We don't make mistakes, we make LEARNING EXPERIENCES! Jpol.
Eric you may have already learned this in your class but whenever I'm working on a can bus issue the first place I start is measuring the resistance on the bus if you know what you should have then you can work off that. on J1939 bus (heavy trucks) all can networks should be @ 60 ohms =1x 120ohm resistors on each end referred to as terminating resistors. knowing this if you wiggle wiring and see the circuit going open you have a fault then if you go to a known junction and see proper resistance you can narrow it down to an area or side of the circuit. i hope this makes some sense as it's harder to explain than it is to do
A Controller Area Network (CAN bus) is a vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other in applications without a host computer. It is a message-based protocol, designed originally for multiplex electrical wiring within automobiles, but is also used in many other contexts. I did not know that, thanks Wikipedia.
Yup, it's a brand new thing . . . since 1986.
James C I know I am 6 years late but that is the most honest and no bs answer I have ever seen you rock PEACE ☮️
Congratulations. Now, what does it mean, what do you draw from that information?
Thank you for another great video. Thanks for mentioning the CAN Conference. I never heard of it till now. Signed up for the classes also. See you there.
Watching you playing with the CAN stuff here and watching Ivan restore the retro ZAZ in Russia. Quite the contrast! But, both are fun. I've spent 25+ years working with computer networks and you on cars. Our worlds are now colliding. I'm learning about cars and you about computer networks. :)
Good choice to solder the can wires. With can if you install butt connectors they can introduce excess resistance which would cause communication issues down the road. The modules use a set resistance to allow communication between themselves. Also the soldering hold downs you can buy almost anywhere, ex Snapon, Matco, Cornwell, Sears, etc.
Yep here is a link to Amazon amzn.to/2bEmMaM
Well I sure learned something! That manufacturers are making DIY repair virtually impossible in the years to come. That is so infuriating. Door locks and windows worked perfectly fine without the need for CAN communication. The only purpose I see of adding this to the system is to confound people, and cost them more money. Well done, Fiat ... GRRR!
In other news my new Autel just arrived!!! Got the 906TS, so now I don't need another few hundred for a dedicated TPMS tool. VERY happy with this thing! My only gripe is it didn't come with a Ford OBD-I adaptor. Not a big deal, since our '86 Grand Marquis will become carbureted some day anyway, just for simplicity.
In testing I found my Silverado had 17 body and communication codes stored in the dark recesses of the ECM, BCM, & TCM. Could've been the trip to the body shop after getting sideswiped, or could've been when my twin Viair compressors ran a half hour key off, and drew the battery down to almost 9v. Everything is working, so most be old codes.
Unfortunately, this was before Fiat bought Chrysler, this has to be Daimler's fault, or most of it. They didn't quite know what to do with Chrysler and thus drove it into the ground, and made the cars way too complex for their own good.
I can't say Chrysler today is perfect, as they sure aren't, but they should be way better than when this van was made though.
Ahh, yeah '08 - seemed newer than that for some reason. I heard him say it too, and read it in the beginning! Just didn't compute, lol.
My brother just bought a '16 Ram 1500 Longhorn this weekend. Thing is pretty sweet, but I wasn't too crazy about the unserviceable 8-speed gearbox they threw in there. No dipstick, like so many other manufacturers have been doing lately. Not sure I like the idea of having a $7k (just guessing) throwaway part under there ...
Hmmm... Shared media, kind of like Ethernet in the thin net/hub days. These cars are going to get easier and easier for us network engineers to fix!
Haha some one will need to fix them :)
40:01 Replacing the pin inside the connector. Sometimes with just a small screwdriver you can bend the pin clip pull the pin spread the legs of the pen to open it up to crimp it within the new wire removing any type of solid joint within the ironing harness. The fixie you've done is a great solution. Thanks for making this video it was an excellent show and tell :-)
Morning Eric, Don't worry I am still learning about Can bus diagnostics myself. But I do have a idea for a upcoming video. How about a quick say ten minute video on all your scan tools. Pro and cons. I am the same way as you I like to be universal on scan Equipment. Keeps the mind active.
I am an industrial mechanic/troubleshooter/electrician and can bus is is a pain to find issues, especially in long strings. I was surprised to find they are in cars. I did not know that.
Hey Eric just took a class for Chrysler on vehicle com "upstate" haha in Harriman they got the Chrysler school there I'm from Long Island. Make sure when you repair bus wires if your only repairing one wire you have to cut and solder the equal length of wire that you repaired the other one with. So the signal speed remains the same. On both bus wires + and -
ok interesting I will keep that in mind next time if I have to repair one.
+South Main Auto Repair great video. Watch all your vids learned a lot from your work. Keep it up. Thanks for all the technical info and how your go about diagnosing different stuff. Being a flat rate tech I need to be fast and accurate.
not a waste of time at all I had a similar issue with my 2000 Grand Cherokee , I couldnt lock any doors and only the driver window and mirror worked.. of all things turned out to be a break in the passenger door flex thanks Eric O
Finding a wiring diagram for the whole thing is a process, I just ran into this type of problem today...AGAIN...I did fix it, but that's why I'm here, to LEARN STUFF.
Watching your approach Eric and very curious to see how you attack um🤣🤣🤣👍
Ok back to watching now.
Great video!!! I love watching your videos Eric O. and i continue to learn so much from you, as a up and coming auto tech you give me the confidence to go out be the best I can be. Thank you so much!!!! Good diagnosing and plenty patience good stuff.
Hey thanks for doing the Town & country's I own one it gives me a reference just in case I had the same problems
I just did a older Jeep Liberty. The guy wanted just the 5 wires repaired in the harness that were broke instead of a new harness. Needless to say about 4 months later, more wires were broken.
In the field, you got what you got and you know what you know.
Being a car mechanic requires you to be a bit of a jack of all trades type of guy. Need to be a bit of a traditional mechanic, fitter, plumber, HVAC technician, electrician, machinist, fabricator, and these days IT guy. Part of the reason I love it.
Edit: Forgot welder.
Enjoyed the video alot.
Being an old guy that I am the CAN system is new to me and a bit of a worry. But your video showed that basic testing still applies.
My only critical comment would be a solder joint in a flexible harness. Why not just remove the pin from the connector block and replace the wires? 2 wires and 4 terminals.
Great video Eric. Cheers
I do not have those terminals in stock
Great video. Say you don't have a scope you could use a multi-meter that records min max values and check the network that way, It wouldn't show you as much detail but it still works. Good luck on your class learning about networks! One network that GM has out now that can get very confusing diagnosing is the MOST network for infotainment systems...
I had to do a similar repair on a 2009 Dodge Ram. Nice video!!
Good thing you learned the CAN systems of vehicles. If you CAN learn learn it so can we.
Good video. I didn't even know the new cars used a network to control stuff so I really learned something. I wonder how many years until the network becomes wireless in the cars and there are little WIFI like transmitters and receivers incorporated in each component. Chris
newer cars already communicate wirelessly on some circuits, like tpms reading tire pressures..
Good video Eric!
Stay safe in these strange times!
All the best from The Netherlands
I admire your courage.
I really like that door flex design. I hate the ones where it runs through a hole in the sheet metal of the door. It just seems like this Chrysler design is easier to diagnose, that all your wires are on the outside of the door, behind the door panel, that you dont have the whole harness inside the door where the regulator is.
Not the first time I've seen the 'door flex' broken wire prob.....had them in Crown Vics before....whatta pain! Good one!
Nice fix. I was ready to throw a switch at it, I would've been wrong. Absolutely not the first time. Thanks for the video.
I keep a roll of trailer cable for harness repairs -- here in Europe it has 7 cores. You chop a length of up to about 2 yards off and easily pull individual individual wires of different colours out of the outer sheath.
Sounds like I'm going to the amazon store , thanks for the tip
always learn something new all the time. thanks for all the videos.
great video Eric we learn as we repair
Love them magnetic croc clips. Never seen them before, so useful!
I know far far less than you do Eric but I've heard about CAN wiring being twisted pairs and those wires need to remain twisted in order to work properly, much like ethernet cable. I don't imagine it makes a huge difference for that short length of wire but it would be something to consider, if that is correct anyway.
im currently watching this at 9:32, im going to say you need a new door switch module. cat wait to see how this turns out. WOW, I was wrong. Awesome Video!
Thank you so much Eric. I have a 2012 Town& Country that is doing the same thing. I now know where to look.
Lisle 55000 is the magnetic clamp.