Intermittent Stalling Ford F-250 : The Real Fix
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- In a previous video • Ford F250: Stalls Out ... I had a look at a customers F250 that was stalling out on him. Our testing lead us to the start run relay. About a month later the truck shows back up at my shop with the same symptom and guess what! The same row of fuses had no power in the fuse box. Oh boy....
-Enjoy!
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Looking back on my first video I think our testing was solid. Fact is, touching the relay disturbed the box (making the connection) and gave us a false sense of the repair. THE GOOD NEWS is we had solid testing so when the vehicle came back we knew what we did previously and exactly where to begin. If there was no testing performed previously we would still be flying blind at this point. This is why I try to stress to you folks to carry out the best method you can and be minimally invasive when dealing with an intermittents. As I proved, "touching" something can hide the real issue. Hope it all makes sense in the end.
-Eric O.
Yep, if you did good testing you already have a foundation as to where to look. The old "miracle touch" can drive you bonkers. Watched both vids, you did test and voltage was there. I'm guessing there were a couple of strands left and that was enough to usually trigger the low current relay. Then it rotted some more and failed. Switching the charger likely dropped the voltage and now that the battery had a better charge the second you switched it was enough to trigger the relay from the momentary voltage spike from the unloaded charger.
just like you eric, i hated going into the fuse box on modern cars, the places they put them is just silly, a broken wire can drive you crazy...
Eric, your first go round was flawless. The intermittent connection remade itself and so the problem was gone.
Intermittent problems are the worst!
Keep the faith buddy.
I know you hate fixing these issues but that's you have to pay for the excitement of the chase which is the best adrenaline rush for a diagnostic mechanic 😂😢😮🎉 then the pain sets in as you have the task of the repair
You are’the man ‘the explorer in you makes you awesome.
If that’s the biggest thing you’ve missed, you’re doing better than 99% of mechanics out there.
I still think he should quit being a mechanic like he said. What good is he anyway? ;) ........
Wow Sasha Ramirez u may want to be his data file organizer . Good job. In his defense. I was sick for over 2 weeks an now things from before tht time seem foggy and forgot some stuff. Craziest thing ever . Like a hangover from a late night of partying.
I have been an electronics repair technician for almost 45 years. Intermittent issues happen. Multiple failure points happen. Multiple Intermittent failures happen. They'll drive you to question yourself. I started testing repairs by picking up and dropping the item repeatedly to see if there weren't hidden issues that would reveal themselves down the road. If you work long enough you're going to run into stuff like this. Congratulations on your sticking with it and fixing it. Well done
Computer programmer here --> I do this with code too "I started testing repairs by picking up and dropping the item repeatedly". After a while you develop a really nasty set of test cases.
I found once you disturb the connection and everything starts working just leave it on the bench and come back after a while and the issue has resurfaced.
The one that drives me mad is the (Works until the case cover is on and screws are in.)
Then it fails.
Often it's a hairline crack on the pcb and the case dares to move the pcb slightly.
Well said….heat..cold…opens…intermittent shorts…all can drive you nuts when your working with electronics.
Have you ever read the NASA study about "tin whiskers"
The first shop was actually correct in their diagnosis. But, they didn't want to make the effort to find out why the fuse box was bad. They would have replaced the entire fuse box and wire harness. That would have cost a fortune. As a repair technician for 40 years in the mainframe computer industry, I commend your troubleshooting techniques and your tenacity. Job well done!
Yep gotta love the irony there. Good work Eric.
It says a fuse box is $125 and an hour or two labor. Nice try. Would have been fixed a month ago and probably cheaper than what Eric charged.
@@cjr1881 what is "it"?
I find that very hard to believe.
Maybe for the cover, sure.
Maybe for the shell, but I doubt even that.
@@cjr1881 that "fuse box" is not serviceable. It only comes with the harness, that's why it's so expensive
@@cjr1881 Say that fuse box really IS $125, which I doubt it is. As you saw in this video, there are literally zero connectors that connect the wires to that fuse box. As others here said that makes the fuse box something that is not serviceable to the tech. So if you actually found someone willing to take this job on, the tech would have to remove the pins from every single terminal in that existing fuse box and accurately put them onto the new fuse box. An hour or two labor my ass, and the risk of human error is very high. Not to mention that if they don't see the problem wire in the first place they go to all that effort and thing thing is still broken.
YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG ERIC! You specifically said in the previous video of this pickup that if it happen to come back with the same issue after replacing the relay that you would immediately know the problem was on the control side. Quit beating yourself up man. You followed through,fixed the problem and have another happy customer. Job well done!
Yea, I went back and double checked. He had 2 powers on the relay contacts then. What must have happened is that the crappy wire was JUST barely making contact, showing voltage, but when wiggled slightly from moving the relay, it had no current carrying ability, and the voltage drops out. He had no way of knowing that at the time, because every time he measured that control power, it was there! This time, it was broken enough that it was gone completely when measured, and that lead him to the broken wire.
The process was good and correct, he was just unlucky basically. The crappy wire won the battle, but Eric O won the war!
Wish I had a fanboy club, to make excuses for me😘
"YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG". Wow what's wrong with you. LOUD NOISES.
Eric... You're being awful hard on yourself brother. You can work on my vehicles any time. You're honest, and humble. Keep up the good work !
Back in the 50's started going on TV repair calls with my dad when I was about 10. Mid 60's USAF started my career in computer repair. That was when a single computer took up a full portion of the building and you stood inside it to work on it. Retired a few years back, but I can tell you there is NOTHING worse than an intermittent wire to troubleshoot. The first GE mainframe I worked on had huge racks (3 per bay) that the outside racks had to be swung open to troubleshoot the center rack. Problem was all the inter-rack wiring was not designed to be flexed multiple times. By the time the thing was 5 years old, we were instructed to never open a bay unless there was no other way to troubleshoot the original problem. The computer in question was used to detect and plot intercepts of aircraft that violated the East/West German border. Not exactly a piece of gear you wanted out of service for any length of time. Wonder how all my friends would have slept knowing that 25% of the entire 3 years I was overseas the most critical air defense system in Germany was being maintained by me.
I think they all slept better knowing someone was on watch. 🫡
here a broken or bare wire, there a broken or bare wire, everywhere a broken or bare wire. lesson one of anything electrical or electronic, hands off!
but sadly, just vibrations of natural daily things effects it all and will cause issues anyway.
As my friend serving in the us military said " we protected the peanut butter from the Russians.
Lol now that type of computing power is in the palm of your hand.
When I was 7 back in 1967 I walked into UD university of Dayton collage campus the room was full of giant reel to reel tape players this room was the size of 3 football fields
The most that computer could do was add 2+2. And it took it an hour to figure it out.
The fact that this fella brought his truck back to you says a lot about the trust he has for you. I wish I could find a mechanic that I could trust 1/2 as much in my area. We all miss things from time to time. However, without trust you never get a second chance.
Plus the fact that he figured the second time around would be free, so… I think that also played in Intrachol part in his decision.
Eric O has INTEGRITY, it’s why we come back and watch every video! I included you all as I’m sure you all agree.
Intermittent issues are the worst. They will make you cuss and think about a career change. You did well on this diag and repair my man. Hold your head high.
Eric, although its a pain in the hoo haa either way, removing the driver side wheel well liner gives beautiful access to the bottom of the fuse box. I usually will do that if I have to track a wire issue like this so the fuse box is undisturbed for troubleshooting.
Hoo , haa alias PITAaahhaaa.....
I had a day and job just like this today, but a toyota. PITA to get it up and apart enough to test. I feel your pain! The fact the truck came back with the same symptoms, and you still made and posted a video, shows the quality of your character. To be admired for sure.
Great job on making it right 👍. I would think I'm speaking for 99% of your subscribers taking a vehicle to sma the job will be done right. And for me that's priceless.
That is why I feel I must be a DYI'er. Around where I live if you want it done to your complete satisfaction, you better do it yourself. Tried to take mine to SMA one time, when I was in the area. SMA just stays too busy, and we know why. :)
How about chasing a thermal intermittent on a CCTV balun on top of a utility pole while the wind is blowing about 40 mph? I, too am a (now-retired) technician and I forgot the basics for a minute until it all came back to me. Broken wire two inches back inside the jacket that would expand (circuit good) during the day and contract (open circuit) at night. Frustrating, but solved. Now, it's time to go drink a cold NON-ANHESUER BUSCH beer.
👍
You are my favorite auto technician on RUclips. A real professional without all the profanity that some use. I've always hated working on Ford's for the kind of stuff they do. They don't consider the technician when they design stuff.
Dude your a great mechanic. I’m in tech school to be a mechanic and your videos inspire me. The stuff I’ve Learned in school doesn’t even really click till I watch you do it. Keep your head up. You’ve been doing this a long time. You know what you’re doing.
Don't give up! The auto industry needs people like you. Unfortunately or fortunately, however you wish to look at it, you are probably one in a thousand "technicians" that has the knowledge and ability to diagnose these intermittent problems. Good job Eric!
Intermittent problems like this are the pits. Your diagnosis was spot on. “There’s the broken wire we are looking for…” The wire was probably damaged during assembly. After years of vibration and temperature cycling it finally broke.
Don’t quit, you’re one of the best out there. The fact that you found the problem and fixed it is testimony to your abilities as a mechanic. Your videos are invaluable to us all. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
DON"T kick yourself for the return issue I recall you did everything right and your assumption of having power to that second terminal was right. I had a mechanic take four months to chase down a bad wire in a engine wire harness. Cool new tool.
No other mechanic would have opened Pandora’s box. You the man. Don’t ever give up.
Now we know why most shops won’t touch intermittent issues!
Please don't quit!!!!! You are the best electrical mechanic I have ever seen and I only wish that at 74 I could figure out the stuff that you do. Keep up these great videos , Who knows , maybe I can still learn something ??
You displayed your professionalism by sticking it out and refusing to quit until the problem was found and solved.
I've been a electrical troubleshooter in a industrial complex for 40 + years and the only thing I say about an intermittent problem, is time will tell if it is fixed or it comes back.
I think your logic is always great. Thanks for all your videos, and one gets by you, it shows you are human, after all.
When I have a crappy day at work, I just try to remind myself that everyday is an adventure. And it ultimately feels good when you finally get it done.
Awesome work! 99% mechanics would have walked away from that one. Now, you have another knowledge nugget added to your war chest.
Sometimes the frustration will make us make bad diagnosis and possibly miss the obviously problem! We’ve all had that happen ! You did a fabulous job in tracking down the problem and repairing it! This was a 1 in 10,000 problem! As you stated in the 1st video that the dealership said needed a new fuse box!! I’ve learned that you aren’t afraid to think outside the box!
Eric, I'm a 70 year old "FOSSIL" electronics tech / Shade Tree. One of the hardest intermittent problems to find is a poor connection. Like you said, the only load on that 10 AMP fuse was the relay coil? So that particular circuit was a load of DAMN NEAR NOTHING ! BTW, I liked the relay tester. Years ago when I worked in manufacturing, we built several pieces of test gear that allowed us to access signals in circuit without having to dismantle EVERYTHING. I also agree with your assessment of FORD trucks. HORRIBLE to access that Fuse box ...
We all understand the frustration with this repair. Manufactures dont give a rip about repair after assembly. They want to get it together as fast as possible and out the door. Thanks for showing us the frustration of this repair. We feel your pain at sometime or another with auto repair. Please keep showing us the real side of repairs. Thanks Mr O
This is so real, so many of us can relate to the frustration. Love the line about giving the fuse box lid flying lessons. 😂
But Mr O missed threatening to introduce his fist to the engineer that designed it. I would have. Well done Eric
After 40 plus years as an auto Tech I feel your frustration.........great job finding and fixing the problem ! ! ! ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Eric don't forget that on that first video you were not feeling well, so things like this happen, just don't be so hard on your self.We all still love your videos.
The good news is that after a rough day, you can go home and dig out a stump to get rid of all that frustration.😉👍
resisting the temptation to use a jumper wire for a repair. Nice work Eric.
Intermittent problems are the hardest type to fix, and you did have control voltage the first time. Don't beat yourself up I doubt if many others would have found it better than you did. Keep up the good work!
I hada feeling when it "fixed" itself after touching that relay this story wasn't over. Like you say, follow the process!
Pull the fender well. I work on lots of these trucks. In fleet trucks the fuse box cover is almost always gone. I kinda laughed a little when I saw you had to pull it. First time is very frustrating it feels like its going to come out, but it doesn’t!
Hey Eric. I’ve work on these quite a bit up on the Alaskan oil field. The best way that I’ve found to access the bottom of the box is by dropping the wheel liner and then you can have it hang low enough to work on. I had this very ckt rub through behind the left headlight housing. Too late now but easier next time. Thanks for posting the vids even though you were ticked about it. It is super lame that Ford doesn’t make it serviceable or even easy to access for that matter.
As a 26 year old mechanic with 30 years experience I always go straight to the broken wire under the fuse box... just messing with ya keep up the awesome work you've helped me keep the parts cannon in the safe many times
So you start be mechanic even before you are born. wow.
@@zell863 whooosh
Was born with a ratchet on his baby 🍼... awesomeness 😅
@@zell863 exactly tells me he is capping and lying
eric, the fact that you repair as many vehicles you do on a daily basis by yourself makes you a better mechanic than most. with bad designs of spaghetti messes like ford makes, stupid crap is bound to happen. unlike some other wrench turners, you didnt get on the pitypot, stuck with the task at hand and made a customer happy despite idiots at ford.
thanks for all the work you do to bring us your videos. been watching since 40k subs and my knowledge of repairing vehicles have grown thanks to you.
Your are so patient compared to what I would be. Mother lover is nice compared to what I would call it.
Also you are more like an electrical engineer rather than a mechanic! Keep up the great work. I so much look forward to your videos because 90% of the time I learn something.
Lol so it off camera because you are gonna swear a little bit I love it
2000 likes says you’re doing it right, we all have had the “straw that broke the camels back time” but you got it done!
I would not even know where to start. Hats off to you for your persitance and ingenuity.
intermittents can be a real ass-kicker especially if you aren't able to reliably duplicate the symptoms, nothing will stress your competence at electrical troubleshooting than chasing intermittents, it always seems so simple when you find the root cause but my god the path to get there. Great to see a guy doing his due diligence and taking care of customers, this is a great video, we need more guys like you.
Eric O. is awesome! Considering the amount of electronics in today's vehicles, I hope most other technicians are being provided with an electronics-based automotive training. Electrical systems were so rudimentary when I received automotive training in the '70s, I wound up attending an electronics school to learn. I hope that has changed.
No , it got more complicated
with software like autosar .
Honestly, hearing Eric O. beat himself up over something which he is an expert made me feel better about myself doing the same thing when I mess up. It's nice to see you're human and brave enough to not edit it out.
You are one of the best automotive mechanics out there…. Appreciate your ability to be self critical and honest. Great work… wish you were closer to Connecticut
I went back to the first video. The initial diagnosis was correct. The truck did need a new fuse box (which wasn't available) because most mechanics wouldn't want to invest the time and energy that it ultimately took to determine what the problem was within the fuse box. That is the problem today. Most mechanics would rather replace than determine what the cause of the problem actually was. In this case it was a disconnected wire inside the fuse box. I'm glad that you got it working and saved the day for the customer.
If I recall correctly, the other shop diagnosed the problem as requiring a new fusebox that was unavailable. Sell that guy a battery! Very nice work!
I had a 250 for about 3 weeks intermittent stall and battery drain. Turns out the 3rd brake light was leaking during moderate rain soaking the RTM and waking errything up.
I swear that when you said "maybe I should just quit", I heard that truck, and every other vehicle at the shop say "don't quit Dr. O! We need you!
There is a real possibility that a broken wire could have damaged the relay by over-working and arcing the contacts. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
The two videos that make up this case study were a very informative case study for me. I'm glad Mr. O decided to upload them.
After recently watching your first video, I think your first fix was correct, I don’t need to tell you that it’s possible to have two issues on the same problem, unfortunately, do you think the customer would believe you, I doubt it.
Good job Eric as usual 👍🏴
No, I don't think it was your fault Eric. You are the most thorough automotive diagnostician I know. The fact that someone else was poking around under the hood leads me to suspect the whole story is not being told. Cheers.
I'm pretty sure I remember you checking for both power and grounds on that relay. You did everything right. Just a rare anomaly
Anyone who works on vehicles has those hating my job days! I bet you had a few new names for the engineers off camera! 😁 Great work on solving the problem AGAIN!
Eric O. - you are a mechanical Dr House as far as I’m concerned. Never give up! You have to be one of the best techs I have ever seen and a bit of an automotive hero to me. Mistake or not your diagnostic work is always on point!!
At the beginning of my career at age 18 I worked as a mechanic on aircraft engines. Experiences like the one in this video motivated me to press ahead to get an EE degree. I really do admire people like Eric who can do this work for a living. It's too hard for me.
Eric O. don’t get discouraged! You’re kicking butt and teaching all of us every day. Thank you for sharing your process with us. Any other shop would have had this guy in the hole whole for an entire harness and an ECU. You rock!
The fact of the matter is that when you find a fault you double-check if if the other ("true") fault doesn't present itself, you need to call it a day. If you were to go further in your diag every time you fixed the fault, you would be wasting hours per diag. It just goes like this sometimes, you do great methodical work and don't beat yourself up about it. You have to understand that you already do things to a higher standard than the average tech - you got this dude.
Well done finding that, I watched your other vid on this and I seriously don't think you misdiagnosed it. The rats nest under the fuse board could have hidden many special secrets and you took your time to find it. Good on ya Eric. Top job as normal.
Your the man Mr O. !!! I was just telling a friend how just seem to find that one bad wire among the spaghetti!!!!
After your 2nd diagnosis, I said the same thing, as you suspected the problem was under the box. Good job, Mr. O 👍🏾
I also thought the same thing. Many times electrical problem nightmares are the hidden wires under fuse/relay box due to either corrosion or broken wires. First time I have ever seen Eric get really pissed with the job he was doing.
You just having an off day. I know you edit the videos to keep the mother lover parts out but you have to be the best auto electrical mechanic I've ever seen. Most mechanics around my area would not even touch that.
Love your work stay strong 💪🏼
100%
So I’ve been watching your videos for a few months now and your trouble shooting skills are impeccable. I have learned a tremendous amount just by watching your vids. Thanks for taking us along on your troubleshooting adventures. BTW…greetings from South Texas and I don’t mean San Antonio. lol
Eric is the right man for the job always on the ball
That control wire, when it was making a connection, was still probably at a reduced voltage (even for a low draw on the relay coil) could have been too weak to close the relay contacts enough to prevent arcing/deterioration of the contacts (I know you took a brief look at them), and could have made the relay just as unreliable as the broken wire... I'd be curious to take little closer look at the old relay, if it wasn't long gone in the trash.
You see the old relay (a bit) in the first video
He opened the old relay in the previous video. No visual signs of failure.
No young fella , don't dis yourself , I'm 15 years into this longer than you and you know 10 x than I ever will . Thanks for what you do .
A little Eric O. And a good cup of coffee…….. does it get any better ? Unless you were having your coffee sitting with Eric O. Ha ha ha
I don't think he ever sits down
When You can talk to Yourself, Talk to viewers all at the same time you have talent. Great Vids!
I’ll tell ya, you’re a hell of a mechanic Eric. If I couldn’t figure out a problem with my vehicle, and I lived in the PRNY, I’d definitely be bringing it to your shop. Especially with the dedication you have to your trade. You can tell you’re dedicated too because if you weren’t it wouldn’t piss you off so bad to have something come back. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Agreed! SMA (Eric O) is still where I'd take my vehicle problems to get healed.
Mechanic? Well in this case electrical technician HAHA!!!
Mr. O, there be days like this then there are great days. I was a heavy mechanic for 32 years so I know your pain
Eric let me tell you I think you are One of the best damn mechanics I have ever seen in my life. I watch your videos all the time I learned so much from you I just wish you were closer by the war you're at to me you would be my mechanic barnun.
Erick your the best auto mechanic on RUclips I been following your channel since 2015 an really enjoy your videos saying hi to u from Canada 🇨🇦 keep up the awesome work.👍
Great video! It seemed like the first time you had a separate issue, it happens. With the customer smacking the box to get it to run, it would work with both of these issues. Good job!
Logic, step by step, frustration normal, finally fixed!! Great job. Keep up the great work. Been there done that, not fun at times, BUT in the end satisfaction that problem solved!!
You didn't misdiagnose anything, you did what any honest guy would do and you went with the most obvious answer on the 1st video and not only that you properly tested the circuits as you always do. It's an intermittent how much time do you want to bill? Relay is cheaper than labor regardless. I thought this was an excellent video series; so thanks a lot for sharing it with us Eric; hope all is well and I'm glad to see you're feeling better. God bless brother 🙌 🙏
Let's go Brandon 😂
It was a difficult problem to find. Intermittant problems can have you chasing yourself in circles. He got there in the end and it would have saved the customer a wiring loom replacement at another garage. Eric's method does work. 👍Didin't help that he had a cold.
@@Sean006 Absolutely.
Being able to diagnose intermittant electrical problems and solve them is a trade onto itself and with todays cars, well done.
Eric, love your persistence and logical approach. The only thing that you noticed in the first video that concerned me was that the old relay looked and worked really well. You noted a little crustiness on the contacts, but really it wasn't that bad. So that was almost maybe, possibly, perhaps, not-out-of-this-world...a clue that there was maybe another cause. In the end, you found the culprit...of course! So proud of the example you set for all your viewers--young and old. Best wishes for continued success from Florida.
He had power on the control in the first video, so the wire was not completely broken. The intermittent nature of the bad wire could also negatively impact the relay. It probably should be replaced and without an absence of control power it would be the logical culprit. If you want to be accurate the dealership recommendation to replace the fuse box which includes both the relay and the wiring harness would have been the fastest repair and possibly the most cost effective given the tow and time spent. However it wasnt available as he stated originally so this is what he had to do.
Damn, dude! Last I checked, you're human. It's impossible to fix a vehicle without touching it. Things do move/vibrate when being driven even in a Bentley let alone a bucking bronco like an F250. We STILL love you.
Yessss, I was hoping we would get the real deal later. BTW Eric O, even on your worst day you are a far better Technician than most on their best day. It's hard to find ones that don't immediately fall onto the parts cannon button. Real Techs get to the root cause. I love your channel because I was an Avionics Tech in the Navy and this brings back some awesome memories and let's me keep my skills up.I always love when something electrical breaks at my house. Gives me something to tinker with.
MR. O, now we know why when the other garage said when they hit the fuse box, it would work and they said it needed a different fuse box. The wire was broke. Your the guy, you find the issue and fix it. The other garage just wanted to replace the whole fuse box. Way to go. Love the way you diagnose the issue further. 👍😊🔧
Hello Eric, nice teaching lesson for all of us, your persistent is incredible. The other shop gives up so fast. But you didn't the problems may have been related to each other just by being right next to each other .your diagnosis was right the first time. And your diagnosis the second time was right. You are a terrific auto tech, and we must learn these lessons from you. Take care, thanks 😊...
Eric, you did no harm in the first video. It was hidden from you and it was working for you. So don't worry about it. You fixed it when you had more to work with. Great job!!!!!!!!!
Since that first video, I always wondered if it started messing up again.
I just keep thinking what my Ford dealer would have done and what it would have cost me😢
Dealership I work for doesn't have that problem, it's full of techs and formans who want to fix cars.
didn't the dealer say replace the fuse box which seems intergal with the wiring harness OUCH
If memory serves, you did check all of that! I think the wire was still conducting intermittently. Solid fix. Don't worry about it. You're the most thorough, honest mechanic I've seen in my life. I don't even trust oil changers. I mark the filter before going in the old days. I just change my own. I've even diagnosed an alternator problem on my truck using your methods, checking voltages etc. Bought an alternator rebuild kit and back up and running!
Unbelievable what you have to go through. I admire your talent despite the off camera words. I would NEVER have the patience to do what you do.
Wouldn't have been the first time I drilled a hole through something and installed an outside fuse!LOL!
It was nice to see that everything you repair 99.9 percent of the time is fixed right. It proves to us that one... YOU ARE HUMAN... two with your testing the first time you had a starting point when the job came back. and 3 you always show us to FOLLOW your testing to prove you are fixing the right thing
Another excellent process video. Makes all the difference when you formulate a plan and stick with it!
Eric as an aircraft mechanic for 40 yrs I wish I had a dollar for every time I said "if I could get my hands on the engineer who designed this" . I wish I lived near you, you would be the only one who worked on my vehicles. Keep up the good work. 👍
No one is always perfect, especially as a technician, there's so much to keep track of its easy to forget to check something. Don't be too hard on yourself, you are fantastic at what u do.
I think your approach to intermittents is the right way to go about it. The fact that it was intermittent in the very beginning is what made it so difficult to resolve. I had a nagging intermittent on my 86 Camaro with TPI. I would be driving and all of a sudden the SES light would come on and the car would run like absolute poo and then after a bit, it would run normally. I ohmed the TPS sensor all along the sweep range, I checked the MAF sensor and datalogged it a few times. I actually replaced the TPS because it kept giving me a TPS code and there was voltage on the 5v ref wire and ground. Then while I was poking around the TPS I saw it, there was a piece of missing insulation on the signal wire coming from the TPS to the ECM. It would move around when I was driving, especially on turns, ground out on the metal intake and set a code. It was on the bottom side of the wire and was easy to miss, but the visual inspection is a key part of diagnosis. My friend called me over once because he couldn't get his TBI to run right, it kept missing. I looked it over and in 10 seconds I saw a huge chunk missing in one of the spark plug wires and you could literally see the spark jumping across the gap in the insulation. He used to be a mechanic but you can go "snowblind" by all the possibilities and forget about the simple ones. Good videos, don't feel bad, those intermittents can be a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Ain't no shame in having to fix it twice. It'll be just as nice.
I’ve said those words under the hood and dash of many fomoco. Fact is, having the perseverance to finish the job and help your customer maintain a reliable vehicle, doing it honestly, and adding dollars to your cash drawer, makes South Main the shop that it is.
Don't beat yourself up over this, all of us saw what you did, none of us noticed anything out of the ordinary. I would certainly tell you if I didn't like something you did, as would many others who watched. The problem returned, you honored your warranty and your work, and having removed the fuse block, found a bad wire. Hopefully, problem solved for good now. That is super service from a great mechanic. You did your best, that's all one can ask for. A dealer would rack up more charges and parts - you found the problem !!!!! Sometimes we only fix 90% of the trouble, and that 10% leftover comes back to bite you in the ass !!! Been there, done that. No one thinks any less of you for the comeback, they think more of you for your commitment to completing the job. My hat is off to you, Eric, as so many others hats. Job extremely well done sir !!!!! We all pat you on the back for this one !!!!!! SMA rocks !!!!! 😀🥳💯👍👍
Sometimes as a tech in the auto industry, working on all makes, you can get so discouraged by the mountains you have to climb everyday. The exasperation, aggravation, stays sometimes even when you fix the vehicle after a tough diag. Hard-core mechanics/techs are tough mofos, good thing it feels like you've won the super bowl all by yourself after some fixes. Thanks for the videos dude.
Stop being so hard on yourself Eric, as they say crap happens. You are still one of the most honest and caring mechanics I've seen.
Eric,very much thanks for keeping this channel a Family channel 😊😊