Thank you for the work you do. I teach Auto Shop in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. We were reassembling the front end on an old Dodge pick up when I heard heard a student say "It needs a couple of ugga-duggas". It made me laugh. He is a fan of Rainman Ray. He is also a Co-op student working in a repair shop. He uses your channel as a learning resource. Keep up the good work.
Yeah, except if you know at least a little bit about what you are doing. I once helped a mechanic work on my truck. I didn't have tools or a lift, but I knew how to do a lot of the work I was paying him to do. My truck had two plugs per cylinder, and while he was working on pulling the plugs on one side, I got the other side gapped (properly) and threaded into the holes (properly) so all he had to do was torque them down and double check them. Then we swapped sides and I prepped the other side. I also handed him the correct tool before he even had a chance to think what he wanted next, because I was watching him and anticipating. When it was done, he took off half the bill, because I hadn't gotten in his way, and had taken half the job off him. I didn't ask him to do that. I was helping because it was late in the day and I needed to get away. I protested that I hadn't asked for a discount, and he responded that I had done half the work.
Cars were a whole lot easier to work on then, Mechanics didn't earn much either. However no reason to try EXTORT more $$$ from those that attempted repairs...THAT is NOT the technicians concern, being paid to diagnosis and repair no matter potential causes. Enough 'corrupt' mechanics in the business
@@darkquintet1047 exactly. Not everyone can afford to take their car to a mechanic. And if they wanna try to learn and work on their vehicle then more power to them. Now are you gonna charge them for the time it takes to find out what they messed up? Of course. But don’t charge them extra
I learned a little over 50 years ago, yes I'm old, to tape the cups into place before you take the shaft off after removing the cap brackets. Ends a lot of headaches. Learned that at a very early age of 10 helping at a local garage. The owner would be arrested today for child labor as me and another 10 year old managed the garage when he had to leave for his cancer treatments. We didn't do a lot of major work unless he was there to help, but we did gas, old, cleaned windshields and other minor work. Learned a lot from him, but he was way before your time. MSgt David R. Smyth, USAF, Ret.
@@ivanolsen7966 They knew where I was all the time. There was 3 gentlemen that I learned a lot from. The owner of a garage, an engineer, and last was a watch repairman. If i went to any of their houses, a call was always made to my mom. While helping the watch repairman, if a watch costs to much to repair and the owner didn't want it back, my job was to hang it in the tree high enough to shoot out the window. We took turns until it fell down, then I picked all the pieces up for trash. By the way, scored expert in all classes when I joined the military. Grew up shooting. Father was an NRA smallbore instructor and an engineer. I use the skills I learned from them throughout life and including my own gunsmithing.
kids can absorb a lot with encouragement and interest in them. i had no idea there were end caps. thought it was one unit. well, just before ray started re-assembly i thought i'd have put tape around them, too.
From someone who knows very little about cars . Don't you put some grease on those two connectors from the relay box, you had to clean up . Won't they corrode again ?
@@welshpete12 Typically no. While they may corrode assembled dry, grease will collect a lot of dust/dirt that will then be prone to working it's way in between the contacts due to vibration.
Trust me, it is made removable so that there is greater odds of breaking something that needs to be ordered. When you think they did you a favor; it is a trap.
Those bearing cups... I was working on the rear half shafts on my '66 Corvair Corsa street-sde 50 years ago when a couple of those cups popped off from the outer U-joint. I found all the needle bearings that scattered across the asphalt and managed to reassemble it. All the neighbors within maybe a mile knew that I'd had a problem.
I've watched several videos of 2007-2010 Silverados because I have one. My truck has more miles than this one and pretty much every other video I've watched and has been phenomenally reliable. No engine problems ever and just a smattering of small issues over 11+ years. This leads me to conclude 2 things: 1) I must be living right; and 2) I'm on borrowed time.
"Living on borrowed time." You and me both. I have 30-year-old truck with 221k miles on it. It still runs and looks news, but I too know both it and I are living on borrowed time. God Bless you and yours James.
You and me both James.. have an 08 with 270k and haven't had nearly the problems some of these have trucks have had...engine and trans still run great but some of the suspension components need replaced.. as soon as it gets a little warmer I'll go through and thoroughly check everything and replace what's worn
I burst out laughing when you mentioned ”It’s my first day”. So relatable moment when stuff doesn’t work out and you remember the time you started out💀😂
I’ve noticed one thing that seems to happen a lot with Ray. Ray working on a GM product. “ Don’t make me use a pry bar Chevy.” Chevy gives up. Ray working on a Ford. “Don’t make me get a pry bar Ford.” Ford replies. “ Better get a big one. I’m not giving it up.” 🤣 Ray, you’re the best thing on the internet.
i would agree with this but im a transmission mechanic and nothing says get a bigger pry bar like trans to engine dowel pins.... more often than not they just say "Pry bar? Maybe try a torch."
Funny thing regarding the wildlife eating the insulation, I was reading a document about Nissan, Suzuki & some other manufactures changed the insulation of the wiring looms in a lot of cars to starched based insulation a few years back due to reports that these looms were environmentally unfriendly. This made them attractive to wildlife, warm, safe and food what more could they want. ~Trooper
Rainman Ray’s trouble shooting skills are on point! Hope your customers realize how fortunate they are to have such a skilled and knowledgeable technician working on their vehicles. Blessings
The best attitude from a mechanic that I have ever witnessed knowing somebody tried to repair something that they probably should have not. You can tell you just want to find out what happened and then fix it!! Freaking awesome!!
hey, some of us get stuck and have no choice.... I'm always honest and tell the mechanic what and did and why and bring donuts and bagels..... then tip well or as much as I can. i do this on my motorcycles as well. (I am disabled and terminal now. cant fix much anymore heheheh) appreciate Dave and his vids. he isn't too far from me me thinks..
Oh wow dude. As someone who has been working on cars since age 12, learning electronics and soldering starting at 10, and being in the electro-mechanical field for 27 years, my trigger meter went off the charts on this one! I can appreciate folks wanting to do things for themselves, but it when it comes to stuff like this, DON'T DO IT! Crappy wiring fixes or add ONS are the worst, along with car design engineers who implement stupid designs. Dealing with this currently on my 77 Dodge W200. So frustrating. Keep up the awesome videos. Entertaining and educational. 😊
You know, I started watching your vids as a bit of a learning experience, tips and tricks and what not, since I'm a DIY mechanic by financial necessity. Normally, for me, working on cars involves lots of banging, cursing, a bit crying at times, and whole heaps of frustration. But, somehow, your videos are so awesome, I actually find them rather cathartic and watch them as I drift off to la-la land. Cheers to some incredible videos my friend!
The two red wires on the front of box are for the trailer harness and trailer brake controller. The wires are normally disconnected and folded up on the under hood wire harness, unless needed.
Yeah, the wires bundled under the dash are just loose until a trailer brake controller is wired in. I'm guessing that's why they aren't connected up at the factory. Wish the posts came with nuts pre-installed though, had to dig around in the tool box to find some old ones to hook up a controller.
He will come back and say since you touched it. Saying that before he brought it in the cam shaft sensor was OK so he will claim you caused the problem with the sensor in order to boost the bill for repairs. I will bet that will be his excuse for you to fix it for free
@@johncherish7610 Which is a great reason to record your work, as Ray has. You can show the customer the whole process, he doesn't have to take your word for it, and adds to your credibility.
@@johncherish7610 Yup, tbh I've learnt to spot these types of customers quickly and generally try to send them down the road elsewhere if I can. Sounds callous but they often far more trouble than they're worth.
I have to remind myself, after watching episodes like this one, that you (and we) only see the ones that were ineptly fixed. There are a good number of folks out there, like myself, who despite not being a professional mechanic, know enough about wiring to have gotten that one right to begin with. Of course, I'd move to FL for access to a mechanic I could see working and build up trust like one can with Ray.
ABSOLUTLY...I AM WAY RETIRED...BUT WATCH RAY QUITE A BIT...ON THIS FIX...I KNEW IT HAD CORROSION IN MAIN FUSE BOX...(MAIN STREET REPAIR HAS HAD THESE ISSUES )
I was thinking the same. He knew the gear selector on the dash was not working and that the customer had replaced the neutral safety switch. That should have lead him strait to the neutral safety switch. Not trying to bash him. I love the videos.
@@calebbeery2538 I was saying the same thing but my guess was the switch was put back aligned wrong( not being in park so it wouldn't let it start). What is puzzling to me is why any wires had to be cut at all? Did he just go to a junk yard and get one to save money? I bought a brand new one for my Acura at Rockauto for only $60....no wires needed cut
@@captinbeyond He actually said that the customer told him a mouse or rat had chewed up the wires to the neutral safety switch. But the was after he had taken the fuse box out of course. I just know from experience that people skrew the switches up alot. So I wouldn've started their but hey man we all think differently so who really cares.
@@calebbeery2538 Yeah, I remember now, but seeing the old switch there made me think he bought one that didn't allow pin/connector to match up. Guess we can blame it on the rats....lol and bad connectors.
I went and bought a soldering iron kit, just because of these videos..... haven't used it yet, because I used to just do the crimp method..... I've dealt with those failures...... and frustrations.....
@@cavemansnow4346 Before you jump into something serious you should probably practice on some different types of soldering. An hour of soldering scrap wire and stuff will help you make quick secure connections when you get to the real thing.
I appreciate that you soldered the wires and used shrinking tube to isolate them… Don’t see that often nowadays… To all those diy car mechanics, that’s how it’s properly repaired! I do repair and recreate wiring harnesses for old cars (they tend to get crispy after some 50+ years) and i have seen almost every possible way, how not to do…
Long crank is almost guaranteed to be "relearn crank sensor". It's got to figure out where the cam is relative to the crank, if the sensor isn't relearned, it has to spin more to pick up the part of the reluctor that says "I am in X rotational position".
Your use of the English language, is one of my favorite parts of your videos. Learned a new word. Infotainment. Was amazing to see that my phone knows how to spell it! You have good grasp on the process of elimination. 👍👍
I impressed myself . The first time you tapped the u-joint cup and it didn't move I said one of the needle bearing had fallen to the bottom of the cup .
I caught that on the floor also.... pausing and looking closely, I think it was some of the wire trim cutoffs. Some of the connectors were laying close by also. Go back to about 26:00
Just a note. If you have the starter relay, take your Power Probe and trip it. If the motor cranks, you know your starter and battery are decent and you can go for the neutral safety, ignition switch. I was never one for a probing until I got a power Probe, it has litterally solved all my electrical issues since I bought it. Bad grounds, broken wires, corroded light sockets (jeep)
It’s the same with small engine repair. “Fixing” customer repairs are fun, especially all the newfangled safety devices and associated potted circuit boards and wires! Great vid!
Sometimes I'm jealous of these customers. I once changed the coolant on my first car, an old volvo, worth less than the coolant I bought. Still I spend hours on youtube, different facebook groups and forums to find out how to do that. I ended up buying new copper washers, original volvo-plugs and screws, then after draining the coolant, I filled it up with a ridiculus expensive volvo-made special cleaning solution, which took me weeks to get since it was a wholesale-only product. After letting the engine heat up, I drained it again and filled it up with what experts advised to use as coolant mixture just for this type of engine. Still I was nervous for weeks if everything had worked and that the engine would explode on the next traffic light because I did something wrong. And here we are, a customer fiddling up crucial sensores with duct tape and with absolutely no clue what could be wrong with the car, since he "repaired" so much on it already...
HA, to funny. I used to be the same way. Now if I did a repair on the cooling system I catch the old coolant in a bucket, run it through a paint strainer and reinstall it. Its to much effort to dispose of the old stuff properly. I'll change it out if its old and nasty.
I love watching your videos!! I used to work as a service advisor and when they had difficult customers or a high payment that needed to be paid they sent me, I would tell them the whole breakdown and what needed to be done on their vehicle. I grew up around mechanics so I knew the work behind such items. They also sent me because I knew how to talk to customers and sometimes calmed them down and most customers would come back and ask for me until I switched to sales. Unfortunately I had major health problems that I had to leave my job that I loved and still have customers calling me for help. Keep up the great work and videos!! 💙 I’m also from New Mexico so it’s nice to watch yours when I’m not able to move.
Been working on a friend's truck periodically but he has also had it to a shop when I wasn't available. This vid could not have come at a better time. He's got an issue that the shop supposedly addressed but it came back. I'll check their work. Thanks!
Although I haven’t looked at the circuit diagram to confirm this, but most wiring that connects to an ECM control circuit operates on 5 volts with very little amperage. If a connection isn’t perfect, it can create major havoc in the system. Going behind another shop or a DIYer can sometimes take hours to figure out what they’ve done. Great job in finding that pretty quickly! He should have had the cam sensor fixed.
I’ve never seen such an ambitious mechanic. I love it. Usually they’d look at it and say a bunch of negative shit and say it’s junk. He’s fixing shit out here!
Honeslty, the fact that your so chill about things and just a genuine human being is what makes me trust your work despite never having seen it first hand. "Wobbly bit engaged" and "a couple ugga duggas" are great and thank God means you don't take yourself too seriously. Makes you really enjoyable to watch
Ray; Just as an FYI on the GMT900 platform (2007-2013 Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe and the GMC equiv's) The two RED wires that connect to the studs on the front of the Engine compt Fuse panel are the FACTORY ASSY power for 1.) 12V to Trailer connection 2.) 12V for Trailer Brake controller.
I must say this is one of the most interesting car videos I’ve seen yet. My respect for you mechanics only increases with time. Keep up the great ,yet sometimes unappreciated work. Good mechanics are really in a class of their own,Lester from Canada
My wife drives an 08 nissan quest. Rat ate ALL the wires behind instrument cluster. I spent about an hour soldering and heat shrinking new wires in. It's amazing, everything works and looks great!
Sooo, the most prominent thing I took away from this is that you have experience wrestling with a big, heavy shaft in tight spaces. 😳 You nailed the perfect balance between dialogue and the work and stayed away from overexplaining. You have the "can/will-do" attitude, articulation and tact to have success in life. Have you thought about going into business for yourself? You could incorporate videos of all lift stations as well as shop area's and make money on the front and back end of the work. I sense that the intestinal fortitude is within you. Do it while you're young. A journey starts with the first step. Cheers!
Yup. First time I ever did the head gaskets on my dodge 360 it ran like CRAP. Who knew there was a torque sequence for the intake manifold? I didn't, not at first anyway 🤷
I know how this story goes. Client pick ups vehicle knowing additional issues and declines work. Attempts "cheaper" fix and returns to shop. Looking forward to the second chapter.
Ray, if you haven't already done so, look into a spray product for rejuvenating electrical connectors, contacts and controls called Deoxit. There are several versions of it. I use Deoxit D5. It's 15 bucks for a small can so don't douche the crap out of the project like you do with the brake cleaner. I've used it in everything electrical and it's by far the best I've found. A little spritz and electrical contact restored. I was yelling at the screen when the u joint caps wouldn't go together, " a needle is sideways under the cap". Wife stuck her head around the corner and gave me a funny look and then when you found that to be the case she just shook her head and said, "I see why you watch this show every day, you really connect with him". And that's the truth. Love your work and videos. I don't always agree with everything you do, but you always get the job done. Thanks for your work and pretty damn good video production values too .
what I do appreciate about your work style is, you don't jump to immediate conclusions, you say, "I wonder what that's about" then you look and learn what's needed.
Personally, the person did the Safety Neutral Switch. Did a good job. The duct tape on electrical though? Not so good. It is amazing what a person can do with 8-12 inches of room lying on their back with their arms above their heart for what seems like hours. Now I know not what to do. Thanks Ray! :)
I like it how he talks to himself the whole time does that have people focus too he's got add and then give some focused he hears himself thinking and talking
I foresee a comeback "Ever since you worked on my truck it keeps stalling and barely starts." Yeah, that would be the cam sensor you declined. Oh well.
I was a dedicated GM customer until 7 years ago. If it's not a mechanical problem, it is a rust problem. As much as I hate to say it, I like My Honda and my Nissan. They are very reliable and they don't rust in 4 years
That PRNDL switch takes me back aways ... I used to fix arcade games here in the ATL area. The "creativeness" of a North Georgia game operator, in particularly on pinball machines, cannot be understated. And often looked a lot like that attempt at wire splicing.
I laughed way too hard when that bearing cap fell. I've had to search for lost needle bearings so much that I now have a little jar of spares just for the occasion.
As soon as I saw one cap not seated, I had a flashback to when one of the needle bearings did the same exact thing to me years ago. I learned to use a sticky grease after that point any time I had to remove a U-joint cap! Also, isn't the common duct tape response "the handyman's secret weapon"?
Loved the Alvin and the Chipmunk's rendition of Zombie. I'm curious if your shop has a schedule on who gets to pick the tunes. Some days the playlist is great, other times it's country. Pity the customer didn't opt for the full diagnosis and repair.
Hi from uk ray👋👍 we got a new "CLICK" driveshaft bearing cap ""click"" so we now have ""CLICK"" "" REVERSE CLICK"" and bearing cap ""CLICK""👍😂 thanks for your time and be safe see you soon👍👋
I've found it often helps to threaten the vehicle with power tool attack. They're especially afraid of "The torch" Also a couple turns of e tape around the u-joint caps keep them in place during re-install. Just keep it biased toward the shaft. Rats probably got the cam pickup wires too.... Hate leaving something almost fixed.
What an excellent video, entertaining and educational! To my surprise, the front propshaft on older Chevy's will spin passively while at idle, even when not in 4WD, although I've never had the courage to grab the shaft to see if it has torque. You had me wondering when you started the truck with one end disconnected. What a strange decision he made, not to get you to do the relearn on the CMP.
The "new" PCM the customer installed had that code present because it was a replacement and had been reprogrammed. When Ray reinstalled the original PCM, the code was no longer present because the crankshaft variation learn had already been performed on this truck. In other words, the customer's tinkering led to the P0315 code being present. The P0340 code was existent before. I figure the rodents got to the wiring there too.
@T.J. Kong o.e.m will never solder a connection for reasons of assembly, and replacement parts, i do agree that crimps for end connections are best, but a proper soldered “western union” wire splice for connections in side of a harness is best with heat shrink and a sealed! Being a service tech and having gone through engineering classes, this was emphasized and that a hidden connection should be a permanent repair, if the complete harness cannot be replaced for one reason or another!
Ray. "Found the issue it was the bad wiring of the neutral safety switch. The neutral safety switch also needs replaced." Customer. "Thanks. I don't want to pay for that now." A few days later the truck is back in the shop. Truck wont start. Ray. "Found the issue. The neutral safety switch was replaced with a junkyard unit but the wiring was a hack job. This time the customer used masking tape and bubble gum."
The two red wires are for trailer towing. Big one runs back to the 12V power pin on the 7-way trailer plug, the smaller one powers up the brake control circuit under the dash for a trailer brake controller.
Well... there is also a company called "Stelllantis", formerly known as Groupe PSA, they're also responsible for A LOT of work... because French cars suck when it comes to reliability, especially the electronic side of their cars.
FordBossMe Super tough Diag Ford Raptor ruclips.net/video/7vNyPLBwoAI/видео.html
E for effort on the customers part….great job Ray
This is why you don’t “fix it yourself”.
Thanks Brother
Love it - Ray, Eric and Rich!!! How about a joint live event???
I own a 08 5.3 suburban the amount of information to me in this video is insurmountable. Thank you Rainman
Thank you for the work you do. I teach Auto Shop in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. We were reassembling the front end on an old Dodge pick up when I heard heard a student say "It needs a couple of ugga-duggas". It made me laugh. He is a fan of Rainman Ray. He is also a Co-op student working in a repair shop. He uses your channel as a learning resource. Keep up the good work.
🦊🇧🇲🇨🇦
Ugh dodge… Windsor must be a great place to be building cars
Thank you for being a teacher.
@@dirtyaznstyle4156... and Brampton for those Chrysler/Dodge muscle cars.
Tell your student its "hugga-duggas" , not duggas duggas
Asking questions from the customer is crucial.
A sign from the 70s in an auto shop. Our labor rates is $25/ hr, $50/hr if you watch, $75/hr if you help and $100/hr if you worked on it first.
Yeah, except if you know at least a little bit about what you are doing. I once helped a mechanic work on my truck. I didn't have tools or a lift, but I knew how to do a lot of the work I was paying him to do. My truck had two plugs per cylinder, and while he was working on pulling the plugs on one side, I got the other side gapped (properly) and threaded into the holes (properly) so all he had to do was torque them down and double check them. Then we swapped sides and I prepped the other side. I also handed him the correct tool before he even had a chance to think what he wanted next, because I was watching him and anticipating. When it was done, he took off half the bill, because I hadn't gotten in his way, and had taken half the job off him. I didn't ask him to do that. I was helping because it was late in the day and I needed to get away. I protested that I hadn't asked for a discount, and he responded that I had done half the work.
Had a mechanic friend who literally charged owners a premium for their dumbass DIY, and told them so beforehand.
now that sign costs 3 times as much!!
Cars were a whole lot easier to work on then, Mechanics didn't earn much either. However no reason to try EXTORT more $$$ from those that attempted repairs...THAT is NOT the technicians concern, being paid to diagnosis and repair no matter potential causes. Enough 'corrupt' mechanics in the business
@@darkquintet1047 exactly. Not everyone can afford to take their car to a mechanic. And if they wanna try to learn and work on their vehicle then more power to them. Now are you gonna charge them for the time it takes to find out what they messed up? Of course. But don’t charge them extra
I learned a little over 50 years ago, yes I'm old, to tape the cups into place before you take the shaft off after removing the cap brackets. Ends a lot of headaches. Learned that at a very early age of 10 helping at a local garage. The owner would be arrested today for child labor as me and another 10 year old managed the garage when he had to leave for his cancer treatments.
We didn't do a lot of major work unless he was there to help, but we did gas, old, cleaned windshields and other minor work.
Learned a lot from him, but he was way before your time. MSgt David R. Smyth, USAF, Ret.
and you were not on the streets getting into trouble .... like YKW
and your parents were responsible for what part/s of that
@@ivanolsen7966 They knew where I was all the time. There was 3 gentlemen that I learned a lot from. The owner of a garage, an engineer, and last was a watch repairman. If i went to any of their houses, a call was always made to my mom. While helping the watch repairman, if a watch costs to much to repair and the owner didn't want it back, my job was to hang it in the tree high enough to shoot out the window. We took turns until it fell down, then I picked all the pieces up for trash. By the way, scored expert in all classes when I joined the military. Grew up shooting. Father was an NRA smallbore instructor and an engineer. I use the skills I learned from them throughout life and including my own gunsmithing.
@@davidsmyth5770 Making clocks is a wonderful and rewarding hobby.
Don’t mind the Wack-do’s
kids can absorb a lot with encouragement and interest in them.
i had no idea there were end caps. thought it was one unit.
well, just before ray started re-assembly i thought i'd have put tape around them, too.
If you are going to make a fuse box that's subject to corrosion, it's nice that they make it removable.
Until the corrosion welds it in place...
From someone who knows very little about cars . Don't you put some grease on those two connectors from the relay box, you had to clean up . Won't they corrode again ?
@@welshpete12 Typically no. While they may corrode assembled dry, grease will collect a lot of dust/dirt that will then be prone to working it's way in between the contacts due to vibration.
@@welshpete12 yes, dielectric grease. (If you're interested in learning more, a brief google search will provide a better explanation than I could😂)
Trust me, it is made removable so that there is greater odds of breaking something that needs to be ordered. When you think they did you a favor; it is a trap.
lol at the duct tape on the wires. A real professional electrician right here folks
He tried. Not everyone can afford to take their vehicle to a shop.
Those bearing cups... I was working on the rear half shafts on my '66 Corvair Corsa street-sde 50 years ago when a couple of those cups popped off from the outer U-joint. I found all the needle bearings that scattered across the asphalt and managed to reassemble it. All the neighbors within maybe a mile knew that I'd had a problem.
🤣🤣🤣🤣anger mechanic moments....
Funny thing is, once you've replaced u-joints you end up finding those pins around the garage for the rest of eternity!
There could be a hole video on replacing drive shafts. 🦊🇧🇲🇨🇦
HAHAHAHAHAHA...I HAVE YELLED LIKE THAT BEFORE...HAHAHAHAHAHA...
If we weren't meant to swear, God wouldn't have created swaer words.
"It's my first day." Gold. Gonna use that lots. Keep up the infotainment, Ray.
I've watched several videos of 2007-2010 Silverados because I have one. My truck has more miles than this one and pretty much every other video I've watched and has been phenomenally reliable. No engine problems ever and just a smattering of small issues over 11+ years. This leads me to conclude 2 things: 1) I must be living right; and 2) I'm on borrowed time.
"Living on borrowed time." You and me both. I have 30-year-old truck with 221k miles on it. It still runs and looks news, but I too know both it and I are living on borrowed time. God Bless you and yours James.
@@millerscorner2 226,000 on my '07 Silverado.
IDK, I had a 2007 Tahoe with 230k and currently have a 2014 with 125k. I have to constantly tinker with them to keep them going.
You and me both James.. have an 08 with 270k and haven't had nearly the problems some of these have trucks have had...engine and trans still run great but some of the suspension components need replaced.. as soon as it gets a little warmer I'll go through and thoroughly check everything and replace what's worn
how much offroading do you do
I burst out laughing when you mentioned ”It’s my first day”. So relatable moment when stuff doesn’t work out and you remember the time you started out💀😂
I’ve noticed one thing that seems to happen a lot with Ray. Ray working on a GM product. “ Don’t make me use a pry bar Chevy.” Chevy gives up. Ray working on a Ford. “Don’t make me get a pry bar Ford.” Ford replies. “ Better get a big one. I’m not giving it up.” 🤣 Ray, you’re the best thing on the internet.
i would agree with this but im a transmission mechanic and nothing says get a bigger pry bar like trans to engine dowel pins.... more often than not they just say "Pry bar? Maybe try a torch."
Great job showing the importance of repairing wiring correctly.
Now he's going to try to replace the cam sensor and he'll be back and have you fix it again
Probably... Lol. Dude shouldn't be fixing his own stuff for sure.
@@garyr7027 Or just help him learn 👀
That's not the problem, as long as he learns from his mistakes. Its good to know your own limits.
Funny thing regarding the wildlife eating the insulation, I was reading a document about Nissan, Suzuki & some other manufactures changed the insulation of the wiring looms in a lot of cars to starched based insulation a few years back due to reports that these looms were environmentally unfriendly. This made them attractive to wildlife, warm, safe and food what more could they want. ~Trooper
Rainman Ray’s trouble shooting skills are on point!
Hope your customers realize how fortunate they are to have such a skilled and knowledgeable technician working on their vehicles.
Blessings
That is an understatement!
that's why it was brought in ....me thinks already
Ray is honest which is the first big plus he has
The best attitude from a mechanic that I have ever witnessed knowing somebody tried to repair something that they probably should have not. You can tell you just want to find out what happened and then fix it!! Freaking awesome!!
hey, some of us get stuck and have no choice.... I'm always honest and tell the mechanic what and did and why and bring donuts and bagels..... then tip well or as much as I can.
i do this on my motorcycles as well.
(I am disabled and terminal now. cant fix much anymore heheheh) appreciate Dave and his vids. he isn't too far from me me thinks..
Oh wow dude. As someone who has been working on cars since age 12, learning electronics and soldering starting at 10, and being in the electro-mechanical field for 27 years, my trigger meter went off the charts on this one! I can appreciate folks wanting to do things for themselves, but it when it comes to stuff like this, DON'T DO IT! Crappy wiring fixes or add ONS are the worst, along with car design engineers who implement stupid designs. Dealing with this currently on my 77 Dodge W200. So frustrating. Keep up the awesome videos. Entertaining and educational. 😊
You know, I started watching your vids as a bit of a learning experience, tips and tricks and what not, since I'm a DIY mechanic by financial necessity. Normally, for me, working on cars involves lots of banging, cursing, a bit crying at times, and whole heaps of frustration. But, somehow, your videos are so awesome, I actually find them rather cathartic and watch them as I drift off to la-la land. Cheers to some incredible videos my friend!
The two red wires on the front of box are for the trailer harness and trailer brake controller. The wires are normally disconnected and folded up on the under hood wire harness, unless needed.
Yeah, the wires bundled under the dash are just loose until a trailer brake controller is wired in. I'm guessing that's why they aren't connected up at the factory. Wish the posts came with nuts pre-installed though, had to dig around in the tool box to find some old ones to hook up a controller.
mystery solved for me!
23:35, when he fast-forewords “Zombie”! Lol!!! Hilarious! Good info, bud! Amazing what the lack of a little switch can do! Lol
I bet this one will be back in a couple of weeks after that dude tries to repair the camshaft position sensor by himself.
Yes I will put my money on these odds as well.
He will come back and say since you touched it. Saying that before he brought it in the cam shaft sensor was OK so he will claim you caused the problem with the sensor in order to boost the bill for repairs. I will bet that will be his excuse for you to fix it for free
@@johncherish7610 Which is a great reason to record your work, as Ray has. You can show the customer the whole process, he doesn't have to take your word for it, and adds to your credibility.
@@johncherish7610 Yup, tbh I've learnt to spot these types of customers quickly and generally try to send them down the road elsewhere if I can. Sounds callous but they often far more trouble than they're worth.
😄😄😄😄
I am a self taught "mechanic", learned before I was 10 . I learn new things from every video.
looks like my work when I was a teenager, before I learned the right way.
Right!
I give him credit for trying. He almost got it.
Ray: "no good deed goes unpunished"
Silverado: "hold my beer"
Rays videos replete with rayisms are the highlight of my day. I’m learning so much and having way too much fun while doing it.
Yep, never stop learning....
Unclick, gravity, click, done. Next!
I have to remind myself, after watching episodes like this one, that you (and we) only see the ones that were ineptly fixed. There are a good number of folks out there, like myself, who despite not being a professional mechanic, know enough about wiring to have gotten that one right to begin with. Of course, I'd move to FL for access to a mechanic I could see working and build up trust like one can with Ray.
ABSOLUTLY...I AM WAY RETIRED...BUT WATCH RAY QUITE A BIT...ON THIS FIX...I KNEW IT HAD CORROSION IN MAIN FUSE BOX...(MAIN STREET REPAIR HAS HAD THESE ISSUES )
I was thinking the same. He knew the gear selector on the dash was not working and that the customer had replaced the neutral safety switch. That should have lead him strait to the neutral safety switch. Not trying to bash him. I love the videos.
@@calebbeery2538 I was saying the same thing but my guess was the switch was put back aligned wrong( not being in park so it wouldn't let it start). What is puzzling to me is why any wires had to be cut at all? Did he just go to a junk yard and get one to save money? I bought a brand new one for my Acura at Rockauto for only $60....no wires needed cut
@@captinbeyond He actually said that the customer told him a mouse or rat had chewed up the wires to the neutral safety switch. But the was after he had taken the fuse box out of course. I just know from experience that people skrew the switches up alot. So I wouldn've started their but hey man we all think differently so who really cares.
@@calebbeery2538 Yeah, I remember now, but seeing the old switch there made me think he bought one that didn't allow pin/connector to match up. Guess we can blame it on the rats....lol and bad connectors.
You have the patience of a saint. When I saw that duct tape cable mess even I felt frustrated haha
I guarantee he deals with more than that on a daily basis.
Its sad people are not able to do simple things like a wiring job properly especially nowerdays with youtube, tutorials etc. readily available...
I went and bought a soldering iron kit, just because of these videos..... haven't used it yet, because I used to just do the crimp method..... I've dealt with those failures...... and frustrations.....
@@cavemansnow4346 Before you jump into something serious you should probably practice on some different types of soldering. An hour of soldering scrap wire and stuff will help you make quick secure connections when you get to the real thing.
@@108gk my dad was an electrical engineer, I grew up soldering PC boards.... but yes always good to practice before diving back in.
I appreciate that you soldered the wires and used shrinking tube to isolate them…
Don’t see that often nowadays…
To all those diy car mechanics, that’s how it’s properly repaired!
I do repair and recreate wiring harnesses for old cars (they tend to get crispy after some 50+ years) and i have seen almost every possible way, how not to do…
that's how I do mine. I hate to re-do any connections. It's a muddy area. not worth doing it half-cocked.
Long crank is almost guaranteed to be "relearn crank sensor". It's got to figure out where the cam is relative to the crank, if the sensor isn't relearned, it has to spin more to pick up the part of the reluctor that says "I am in X rotational position".
Will a crank position sensor do the relearn on its own over a period of time?
@@patd4346 no
@@Bryan-Hensley Thanks.
@@patd4346 No you have to do it with a scan tool
@@patd4346 That's Chevy LS specific, some others MAY be able to relearn themselves.
Your use of the English language, is one of my favorite parts of your videos. Learned a new word. Infotainment. Was amazing to see that my phone knows how to spell it! You have good grasp on the process of elimination. 👍👍
I impressed myself . The first time you tapped the u-joint cup and it didn't move I said one of the needle bearing had fallen to the bottom of the cup .
I feel robbed.... came for the online soldering lesson. Ya let me down Ray :-(
Ha ha. Good one, Eric!
I’m partial to Eric’s Editing 🤭
I don't think you need a refresher
Me too!
Lol!
As you were moving the lift arms out from under the car, I am sure that I saw a needle from one of the drive shaft caps on the floor.
I caught that on the floor also.... pausing and looking closely, I think it was some of the wire trim cutoffs. Some of the connectors were laying close by also. Go back to about 26:00
u evil 😂
Just a note. If you have the starter relay, take your Power Probe and trip it. If the motor cranks, you know your starter and battery are decent and you can go for the neutral safety, ignition switch. I was never one for a probing until I got a power Probe, it has litterally solved all my electrical issues since I bought it. Bad grounds, broken wires, corroded light sockets (jeep)
Awesome tip!
Honestly I'm a auto tech but ray makes our industry look good with the extra step he takes! Cheers rayo!! 🍻
Good video showing that the customer forgot to connect the ground And grounds are important Nd are needed for things to run @Rainman Ray's Repairs
It’s the same with small engine repair. “Fixing” customer repairs are fun, especially all the newfangled safety devices and associated potted circuit boards and wires! Great vid!
That was a brilliant moment of self promotion, I'm truly impressed 👍
Sometimes I'm jealous of these customers. I once changed the coolant on my first car, an old volvo, worth less than the coolant I bought. Still I spend hours on youtube, different facebook groups and forums to find out how to do that. I ended up buying new copper washers, original volvo-plugs and screws, then after draining the coolant, I filled it up with a ridiculus expensive volvo-made special cleaning solution, which took me weeks to get since it was a wholesale-only product. After letting the engine heat up, I drained it again and filled it up with what experts advised to use as coolant mixture just for this type of engine. Still I was nervous for weeks if everything had worked and that the engine would explode on the next traffic light because I did something wrong.
And here we are, a customer fiddling up crucial sensores with duct tape and with absolutely no clue what could be wrong with the car, since he "repaired" so much on it already...
HA, to funny. I used to be the same way. Now if I did a repair on the cooling system I catch the old coolant in a bucket, run it through a paint strainer and reinstall it. Its to much effort to dispose of the old stuff properly. I'll change it out if its old and nasty.
The 2 red that you say are "aftermarket" are wires are for the factory trailer lights/power plug and brake controller. :)
Thanks for your videos. Have A Great Day.
I love watching your videos!! I used to work as a service advisor and when they had difficult customers or a high payment that needed to be paid they sent me, I would tell them the whole breakdown and what needed to be done on their vehicle. I grew up around mechanics so I knew the work behind such items. They also sent me because I knew how to talk to customers and sometimes calmed them down and most customers would come back and ask for me until I switched to sales. Unfortunately I had major health problems that I had to leave my job that I loved and still have customers calling me for help. Keep up the great work and videos!! 💙 I’m also from New Mexico so it’s nice to watch yours when I’m not able to move.
Been working on a friend's truck periodically but he has also had it to a shop when I wasn't available. This vid could not have come at a better time. He's got an issue that the shop supposedly addressed but it came back. I'll check their work. Thanks!
@ 12:49 reminds of when Shooter McGavin is talking to that giant dude but when he looks up to him he says the same thing!
Happy Gilmore great classic!
Although I haven’t looked at the circuit diagram to confirm this, but most wiring that connects to an ECM control circuit operates on 5 volts with very little amperage. If a connection isn’t perfect, it can create major havoc in the system. Going behind another shop or a DIYer can sometimes take hours to figure out what they’ve done. Great job in finding that pretty quickly! He should have had the cam sensor fixed.
Maybe due to the economy he couldn't afford it right now or he will be selling it
I'm betting that truck will be back on another video fixing the duct tape/ attempted repair of the cam sensor
I’ve never seen such an ambitious mechanic. I love it.
Usually they’d look at it and say a bunch of negative shit and say it’s junk. He’s fixing shit out here!
Honeslty, the fact that your so chill about things and just a genuine human being is what makes me trust your work despite never having seen it first hand. "Wobbly bit engaged" and "a couple ugga duggas" are great and thank God means you don't take yourself too seriously. Makes you really enjoyable to watch
He edits out the wrench throwing. lol
@@denttech8447 wrench throwing is just a fact of mechanical work lol
this was extremely informative and easy to follow along with you. You're very clearly knowledgable and know your stuff! awesome video
Ray's train of thought while searching for the problem: "It's just a neutral safety switch, it's not that diffic...HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!"
The way he says “oh my god” right there reminds me of the “why you lying” meme 😂😂😂
My late husband taught me some stuff. Love whatching these videos.
Ray, you are such a good mechanic, thanks for teaching us !
I hear what sounds like a 6.0 power stroke idling in the background great background noise can’t get enough lol
After a struggle, getting the shaft all the way in, so satisfying!😂
Getting shaft in is always so satisfying.
That’s what she said lol 😝
I need lots of grease these days on the bearings . Mine ceases up
We do it nice cause we do it twice.
Ray; Just as an FYI on the GMT900 platform (2007-2013 Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe and the GMC equiv's) The two RED wires that connect to the studs on the front of the Engine compt Fuse panel are the FACTORY ASSY power for 1.) 12V to Trailer connection 2.) 12V for Trailer Brake controller.
I literally came to comments to see if anyone else knew that and tell him. I had to scroll a ways to find your comment too. Hope he sees it!
I must say this is one of the most interesting car videos I’ve seen yet. My respect for you mechanics only increases with time. Keep up the great ,yet sometimes unappreciated work. Good mechanics are really in a class of their own,Lester from Canada
My wife drives an 08 nissan quest. Rat ate ALL the wires behind instrument cluster. I spent about an hour soldering and heat shrinking new wires in. It's amazing, everything works and looks great!
Good detective work on this one Ray. I always loved fixing the customers folly's and then fixing the problem.
You have a very good attitude I would have been Furious
When i was 16 i was looking for lost needle bearings under a 68 mustang in 6 inches of snow at 4am. After changing a clutch . Fun is not even the word
Feeling your pain with needle bearings have had that happen myself. Great video. Your diagnostic's are first rate!
Sooo, the most prominent thing I took away from this is that you have experience wrestling with a big, heavy shaft in tight spaces. 😳 You nailed the perfect balance between dialogue and the work and stayed away from overexplaining. You have the "can/will-do" attitude, articulation and tact to have success in life. Have you thought about going into business for yourself? You could incorporate videos of all lift stations as well as shop area's and make money on the front and back end of the work. I sense that the intestinal fortitude is within you. Do it while you're young. A journey starts with the first step. Cheers!
I've had to unfix my own work many times until I got it right.
Sounds familiar from my own janky work.
Yup. First time I ever did the head gaskets on my dodge 360 it ran like CRAP. Who knew there was a torque sequence for the intake manifold? I didn't, not at first anyway 🤷
If you don't make mistakes, you don't learn anything.
That's how you learn, buddy.
I know how this story goes. Client pick ups vehicle knowing additional issues and declines work. Attempts "cheaper" fix and returns to shop. Looking forward to the second chapter.
Ray, if you haven't already done so, look into a spray product for rejuvenating electrical connectors, contacts and controls called Deoxit. There are several versions of it. I use Deoxit D5. It's 15 bucks for a small can so don't douche the crap out of the project like you do with the brake cleaner. I've used it in everything electrical and it's by far the best I've found. A little spritz and electrical contact restored. I was yelling at the screen when the u joint caps wouldn't go together, " a needle is sideways under the cap". Wife stuck her head around the corner and gave me a funny look and then when you found that to be the case she just shook her head and said, "I see why you watch this show every day, you really connect with him". And that's the truth. Love your work and videos. I don't always agree with everything you do, but you always get the job done. Thanks for your work and pretty damn good video production values too .
I bought the grease version of Deoxit because I was not aware it was available in a spray.
what I do appreciate about your work style is, you don't jump to immediate conclusions, you say, "I wonder what that's about" then you look and learn what's needed.
Ray: Who'd have thought this would be the hardest part? Me: Raises my hand.
Because no one greases the drive shaft......
Self included..... until I had the front diff replaced and heard the issues my mechanic told me he had.....
@@cavemansnow4346
They used to have zerk fittings on them..
Personally, the person did the Safety Neutral Switch. Did a good job. The duct tape on electrical though? Not so good. It is amazing what a person can do with 8-12 inches of room lying on their back with their arms above their heart for what seems like hours.
Now I know not what to do.
Thanks Ray! :)
I admire your patience Ray - keep up the good work !!!
Thoroughly fascinating. I’ve always been a closet Motörhead. This channel is my new best friend. 💜
Looks like wires were dragging on drive shaft! There is a very smooth spot that should be rusty if you consider how the rest of it looks!
I like it how he talks to himself the whole time does that have people focus too he's got add and then give some focused he hears himself thinking and talking
I foresee a comeback "Ever since you worked on my truck it keeps stalling and barely starts." Yeah, that would be the cam sensor you declined. Oh well.
I was a dedicated GM customer until 7 years ago. If it's not a mechanical problem, it is a rust problem. As much as I hate to say it, I like My Honda and my Nissan. They are very reliable and they don't rust in 4 years
You did the hard part for the customer. You got it running, he probably would not of double checked his wire repair
That PRNDL switch takes me back aways ... I used to fix arcade games here in the ATL area.
The "creativeness" of a North Georgia game operator, in particularly on pinball machines, cannot be understated.
And often looked a lot like that attempt at wire splicing.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge for free!
Very good schooling teacher good job thank you for sharing your knowledge thanks again
I laughed way too hard when that bearing cap fell. I've had to search for lost needle bearings so much that I now have a little jar of spares just for the occasion.
Found myself binging your videos, no idea why I find them so fascinating! I love your duets with the telephone. Also I have tool envy.
As soon as I saw one cap not seated, I had a flashback to when one of the needle bearings did the same exact thing to me years ago. I learned to use a sticky grease after that point any time I had to remove a U-joint cap! Also, isn't the common duct tape response "the handyman's secret weapon"?
I was in the same boat. I ended up busting the cup because i was hammering on it to get it in the yoke.
Saw the failure on the driveshaft, immediately though stray needle... you confimed that. So easy to get that happening!!!
Guarantee customer's gonna come back to the shop with more spade connectors for the cam position sensor.
One's a gen Raymond you have saved but one more with your midis touch of your golden reaches you are my mechanical hero RR.
Loved the Alvin and the Chipmunk's rendition of Zombie. I'm curious if your shop has a schedule on who gets to pick the tunes. Some days the playlist is great, other times it's country. Pity the customer didn't opt for the full diagnosis and repair.
Country just puts me in a bad mood. I got my fill of that on construction sites over 40 years.
Low on funds ?
Those where my thoughts exactly
Hi from uk ray👋👍 we got a new "CLICK" driveshaft bearing cap ""click"" so we now have ""CLICK"" "" REVERSE CLICK"" and bearing cap ""CLICK""👍😂 thanks for your time and be safe see you soon👍👋
What happened to the oil you had tested on the suburban? Fuel pump was jumpered..,,
None of my samples have been analyzed yet. 🤷♂️
@@RainmanRaysRepairs …weird. That was like 3 months ago. Curious to see what they find. Have a great day Ray Ray
I've found it often helps to threaten the vehicle with power tool attack. They're especially afraid of "The torch"
Also a couple turns of e tape around the u-joint caps keep them in place during re-install. Just keep it biased toward the shaft.
Rats probably got the cam pickup wires too.... Hate leaving something almost fixed.
What an excellent video, entertaining and educational! To my surprise, the front propshaft on older Chevy's will spin passively while at idle, even when not in 4WD, although I've never had the courage to grab the shaft to see if it has torque. You had me wondering when you started the truck with one end disconnected. What a strange decision he made, not to get you to do the relearn on the CMP.
CMP will not relearn with a cam code.
The "new" PCM the customer installed had that code present because it was a replacement and had been reprogrammed. When Ray reinstalled the original PCM, the code was no longer present because the crankshaft variation learn had already been performed on this truck. In other words, the customer's tinkering led to the P0315 code being present. The P0340 code was existent before. I figure the rodents got to the wiring there too.
My ex had a Datsun PL510 that I was known to threaten with a can opener. Worked every time!
Man that must be really frustrating to fix
Thanks!
I could feel your pain when dealing with the needle bearings on the driver shaft. That would have been how it went to for me.
12:50 Chris Farley voice.. OH MY GOOODDDD!!!
Shame the owner didn't just bring it to you from the start.
I don't trust crimp connectors, always use solder and heatshrink.
I've had very good success with double crimp terminals. The single crimp lugs/terminals/splices are very prone to failure.
You shouldn't fly then because crimp connectors are the only thing that is used on aircraft. :)
@T.J. Kong try to get a proper crimp connector from a cheap auto parts store! Solder works best on cars if done correctly!
@T.J. Kong o.e.m will never solder a connection for reasons of assembly, and replacement parts, i do agree that crimps for end connections are best, but a proper soldered “western union” wire splice for connections in side of a harness is best with heat shrink and a sealed! Being a service tech and having gone through engineering classes, this was emphasized and that a hidden connection should be a permanent repair, if the complete harness cannot be replaced for one reason or another!
Thank you Ray from your Sarasota fan club member "in good standing".....
Ray. "Found the issue it was the bad wiring of the neutral safety switch. The neutral safety switch also needs replaced."
Customer. "Thanks. I don't want to pay for that now."
A few days later the truck is back in the shop. Truck wont start.
Ray. "Found the issue. The neutral safety switch was replaced with a junkyard unit but the wiring was a hack job. This time the customer used masking tape and bubble gum."
never fixed a car in my life, addicted to watching you fix cars
Lmao... It gave up when it heard prybar.
The two red wires are for trailer towing. Big one runs back to the 12V power pin on the 7-way trailer plug, the smaller one powers up the brake control circuit under the dash for a trailer brake controller.
Without general motors, technicians all over the country would be sitting on buckets for most of the day.
Fiat/Chrysler gives them a run for their money.
GM is pure trash. I still buy the junk and wrench on it though. Shame on me.
Fiat/Chrystler Builds Garbage. Nothing works for long.
Well... there is also a company called "Stelllantis", formerly known as Groupe PSA, they're also responsible for A LOT of work... because French cars suck when it comes to reliability, especially the electronic side of their cars.