****FOLLOW UP**** GM cooperate and the dealer contacted the owner of the vehicle and made restitution by offering a full refund of close to $1000. Customer is happy and all is well in the world once again 😁

@fdryer5116

Жыл бұрын

I discovered your videos a few years ago and came away impressed with your superior diagnostics knowledge. Time passed and rediscovered SMA again. Not a thing has changed. The last video I viewed was about bent pins in an ecm leading to almost a wild goose chase but deductive reasoning prevailed to undo mistakes from another repair shop. This video saved the owner a thousand dollar headache of GM firing the parts canon when your skills pointed to electrical problems; a ground issue. As shown, more electrical and electronic additions can create new and unusual problems. It would be miraculous if repair shops view your videos to learn about diagnosing problems. This presumes each person has basic education in mechanics, electricity, electronics, EFI systems, abs, etc and continues learning.

@Bagom80

Жыл бұрын

GM should hire you to train thier techs

@jrevillug

Жыл бұрын

Good good. Hopefully they issue a bulletin on this, to save others without access to SMA the pain of a $5000 bill for a $100 fix.

@leonmcclaran5081

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear GM did what they should have . And to you my friend I think GM should send you that money LOL Fat chance of that though . Another one in the books for you , You are very knowledgable .

@islipfdchief

Жыл бұрын

" Follow up "Glad to see the GM and the dealer made some restitution. Do you think was a fault of flowchart diagnostics ? I have had this same problem with GM vans in the past. Test light on battery ground and tip to frame rail, lights on ! The codes can send you down the rabbit hole fast.

Morning All. I tried to add this comment earlier, but I don’t think it went through. I am the truck owner and I spoke with the service manager this morning to nicely let him know how badly they screwed this diagnosis up. He promised a call back today to let me know how they will rectify this. This experience has been an absolute nightmare with them. I’ve been without use of my truck for almost 3 weeks. Eric O had it for a matter of hours and had me heading home with it. I’ll let you all know how it turns out. If the dealership does not give me a full refund I’m ready to go to the media.

@gregsly1247

Жыл бұрын

I would love to hear the outcome of this situation and I hope Eric will either pin it or do a short follow up video to let us know.

@stevebaines7535

Жыл бұрын

I hope the dealership does right and issue a full refund! Eric is a great diagnotician.

@dropinbiking92

Жыл бұрын

Glad you went back to the dealer in a mature fashion. No point blowing up and making a stink, however, media is a GOOD choice. They HATE getting drug through the coals by media. In this case you and Eric are the clear winners.

@SuperPropwash

Жыл бұрын

Buddy we are behind you on this. I would show the dealer these comments to hopefully embarrass them and if that does not work, head straight to the nearest TV station or at least email them this video and have them make a story about this dealer. THAT would be what I would do and IF that did not work, I would find an attorney who needs some money and sue this dealership so that you and the attorney may own it.

@nahimibrahim107

Жыл бұрын

The best of luck friend. I hope they do what's right.

I've diagnosed electrical problems for 40 years. I learned ages ago that if you have more than one problem look for the commonality. Rarely do things fail more than one at a time on their own. Good work on this one. I liked seeing the voltage drop testing. Auto technicians are smart people, always learning, and learning from others' mistakes is a great shortcut to investing one's own time in every lesson.

@JustaRandomDude1791

2 ай бұрын

That is absolutely true. It just sucks when they do happen to fail at similar times.

@steveo6631

Ай бұрын

I had to thumbs up your comment just because you used the word commonality... Well done, sir...

@mkernen

Ай бұрын

@@steveo6631 Haha, thanks! Once and I while I say something cogent and coherent!

@joey9511

5 күн бұрын

until you get a jeep in and 3 separate electrical issues, lifter tick and oil leak all started overnight 😂

@TehShizno

Күн бұрын

They call it a common (ground or power) wire for a reason!

So I checked the grounds on my GM after this, the ground strap was loose and corroded, cleaned them up and no more codes! Makes so much sense! Thanks your the Best

@46fd04

5 ай бұрын

I'm sure Dr. O. would appreciate a small donation to his Patreon acc't for helping you.

Eric, I actually work at a GM truck assembly plant. I work right across from the job where that same ground strap is fastened down. I’ve always wondered how long they would handle the salt. Now I know the answer. Your diagnostic skills are 2nd to none. Wish I knew half of what you do.

@jimo2627

Жыл бұрын

I too work in a gm truck assembly plant so cool👍

@equallywrong

Жыл бұрын

@@jimo2627 Only assembly skills I have is in the kitchen making a sandwich. I never could get a job at a GM factory. I figured robots took all the jobs. Good knowing there are still jobs being done by human bad not being able to get one of them jobs.

@RandyDBPFilms

Жыл бұрын

Are those ground straps tinned (silver looking) to start with or are they straight copper? In the amatuer radio world we always use tinned ground straps outside.

@snoopy5736

Жыл бұрын

@@RandyDBPFilms Does rhe tinning provide corrosion protection?

@kittty2005

Жыл бұрын

@@RandyDBPFilms Those are straight copper if they were tinned they would still be there, I live in Michigan and had a 2 gage ground strap fully tinned on my '69 Cutlass grocery getter for 20 years before I sold it I inspected the electrical connections it was in brand new condition, this ground strap went from the battery to the engine then to the frame.

Sounds like the dealer gave him the good old autozone diagnosis then got pissed he wasn’t an idiot

@victorpena9824

Жыл бұрын

I enjoyed the part where the owner decided to go to Eric for a second opinion. Now that's smart!

@misterhat5823

Жыл бұрын

Yep. This sounds alot the video where the guy went to Advance for diag.

@notsureigaf

Жыл бұрын

Knowing how dealerships operate, I wouldn't be surprised if they knew what the issue was all along and wanted to soak the guy for $4k in parts instead of a few bucks for a ground strap. Charge for all those modules, replace the strap without mentioning it, no one would be the wiser. Well, except this guy and Eric.

@KStewart-th4sk

Ай бұрын

@@notsureigaf I don't think they are really that smart. Watching these videos one often hears accounts of taking a vehicle to a dealer, parts thrown at it, and still not fixed. Then they resort to real techs like Eric O. here, ScannerDanner, Pine Hollow Diagnostics, etc.

I am a retired avionics technician and I guessed ground problems in first two minutes. You have outstanding troubleshooting skills guy. So many aircraft and car mechanics throw parts at it first then get the meter out. I enjoyed watching you whittle down the problem. Great video!

@kotcher69

8 ай бұрын

Same here 6333 a6e electrician, always check grounds during diagnosis.

@chuckwelden972

6 ай бұрын

I am also a past avionics communication tech trained by our military back in 76 and I was thinking voltage issues when first watching this. I am happy to see a mechanic with excellent troubleshooting methods,hats off excellent job.

@docohm50

6 ай бұрын

@@chuckwelden972 I joined the AF in 82' and retired in 04' then went to LM. My mind was there but my body was to sore to effectively do the work so I walked away. I worked on the SR-71, U-2, KC-135Q, T-38, C-23A, C-141, EC-130E, C-5, and lastly the F-35. Thanks for serving.

@John-Adams-Can

5 ай бұрын

Im so curious why so many use the parts cannon instead of finding the real problem.

@bobwright992

5 ай бұрын

I figured a ground or maybe the ign. swith picking a bad connection. I've seen positive circuits pull a ground before so it does happen. People say I'm crazy but I know it happens.

As an electrical engineer, former tech, and shade tree mechanic since I was 14, I found this video riveting. Soon as you found the voltage fluctuations using the scan tool (so envious of that) I immediately said "bad ground" but when you showed that trailer brake module had no common wiring with the PS module I was wondering if I was wrong. I would never have expected the entire frame rail to have a bad ground connection, so great job. Couple of comments though. (1) those braid straps have a high equivalent AWG to insulated wire, and 4 AWG can only handle about 80 amps before the insulation starts degrading (melting) but this is likely an intermittent high-load so maybe it will be okay. (2) GM and every other Big 3 auto company use the cheapest crap they can get. There are marine or military nickel-coated braid straps that WILL handle that high salt environment and will have the flexibilty to handle the extensive bending that the 4 AWG won't. (3) you referred to the 4 AWG as solid wire which is incorrect, it is stranded wire. 4 AWG solid wire wont bend without a considerable amount of force, so I knew you weren't using 'solid' wire. As to the shift to park, I hope it's fixed but i have my doubts. My 2019 Blazer with floor shifter had that and it was the microswitch in the shifter assembly. Apparently GM got a really crappy switch and LOTS of 2019s have this issue. Only way to fix is to replace shifter assembly but I raised a stink with GM and they covered half the cost. May not be the case with this one but if it comes back, go straight to that microswitch. Enjoyed your video immensely and your wife and daughter are adorable. You're a lucky man and a smart and honorable one. Wish you'd relocate to the Fort Worth area, we'd be honored to have you...and no more salt corrosion issues!

@mikeharsch858

6 ай бұрын

It looked like it was fixed as well as he ran several into the drive and back to the park sequences and no warning at engine shutdown or horn at the door opening....

@KStewart-th4sk

Ай бұрын

Well i think that was just a slip of the tongue saying solid wire. Pretty sure he would know it was stranded wire. If not the braided type i would have used 4 AWG welding cable and made my own. That is fine stranded compared to the thick strands in 4 Gauge automotive wire and very flexible as well.

Back story: This vehicle was at the local dealer to address a customer complaint of no power steering, ESC and service trailer brake light coming on. They made the call and told the customer that he needed a new rack and pinion, a trailer brake control module and a new transmission control module! That is a $4000 repair! The customer didn't think this was right (even though he is not a mechanic) Then they charged him over $900 for diagnosis and "restocking fees" because he wanted a second opinion. Good news is I fixed it for wayyyyyyyy less and only $20 in parts 😉 I hope with some evidence he is able to get some of his money back.

@thomas7770

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for teaching us this one!

@Yoyo81828

Жыл бұрын

You rock Eric O

@andrewkennedy9704

Жыл бұрын

Why was it not covered under warranty?

@SouthMainAuto

Жыл бұрын

@@andrewkennedy9704 no idea, I didn't ask. Maybe out on mileage?

@georgemartin1436

Жыл бұрын

They "shotgunned" it...throwing a bunch of modules at it never works. There'll be a bad connection living up here in the land of ice and snow I'd bet

Quote of the day: "Wait til everybody starts driving their electric cars. This should be a real show in New York." Excellent diagnosis Eric!

@for2utube

Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

@josedejesus6134

Жыл бұрын

Eric is going to be a very, very wealthy man!

@brockwagner939

Жыл бұрын

Wait til they learn that if you like heat in the winter, you aren't going to get anywhere near 300 miles per charge 🤣

@matthewbegin3462

Жыл бұрын

I have been saying the same thing thing!!! All these electrical gremlins will kill the average family

@kurtvonknipper3902

Жыл бұрын

@@brockwagner939 Yeah, rear defogger is on, the blower is on high, the wipers are going, both heated seats warming people's buns and the average driver is not going to understand the correlation.

Having an honest, trustworthy is worth a fortune. Last new car I bought was 2015. I took it back to the dealership for recalls only. Didn't really have many problems with it, but when I did, "I know a guy", just like you, has his own shop, very knowledgeable I'll probably never meet you, but IMO, it's people like you that make America great...thanks

I am so impressed that there is still someone who will actually diagnose a problem instead of just swapping out parts. Keep up the good work!

@michaelszczys8316

Жыл бұрын

From Eric's shop you can hear the parts cannons firing in the distance.

I used to be an assistant service manager at a GM dealership. Good to see there are still GOOD Diagnosticians. That was the hardest type of technician to find and retain. Glad to see there are ethical and dedicated technicians still working. GREAT JOB!

@roberthamlin8414

Жыл бұрын

The silly part is the good diagnostic technicians have all left the dealerships because they can make way more money in the aftermarket. I sure did

@plhebel1

10 ай бұрын

too many parts hangers has always been a problem

@ericnieto2092

10 ай бұрын

@@plhebel1 because of pay. It all comes down to pay. Very competent techs at dealerships but eventually you stop being thorough when 1-3 hours of diagnostics get rolled in to a single labor op code of .7 hours for module replacement.

Just used this video from a year ago (I commented on a year ago) to repair a co-workers truck that he was quoted over $4000 to repair at the dealer. Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge.

@royalwins2030

4 ай бұрын

Thats crazy. I bet thats a great feeling

"Just wait until everyone starts driving their electric cars" -- COMEDY GOLD right there Eric. Had me laughing my butt off.

@TheBrookian

Жыл бұрын

If it wasn't inevitable it would be funny. Wait until the grid goes down because of high demand and people can't charge their cars, their phones and their MSNBC won't appear on the TV. They will be BEGGING for more coal power... and gas cars.

@aday1637

Жыл бұрын

Is that before or after the grid goes down from overload?

@MotoEPhil

Жыл бұрын

Bad news is GM already can't make vehicles last gas or electric!

@KevinWindsor1971

Жыл бұрын

@@aday1637 A level One charger only draws about 12 amps on a 120v circuit. Electric ovens typically pull about 30- 50 amps on a 240v circuit. EV owners typically charge overnight when demand is lowest and depending on where you live electricity is cheaper.

@woodworking5979

Жыл бұрын

@@KevinWindsor1971 the battery for the car is 22 thousand I’d be interested to see how stores will get food with no tractor trailers allowed in California or New York trains either

I have to say that this was the one of the most entertaining videos ever made by SMA. I appreciate the way Eric approaches the problem and takes it step by step until problem discovered and repaired. This one deserves the Sherlock Holmes award for finding the ground problem amid all of the other issues that were being manifested in the scan tools and a testament for sticking with the facts and not getting distracted. As a retired engineer, I appreciate his step by step, follow the data approach to a successful conclusion. WELL DONE!

@benistingray6097

Жыл бұрын

Shouldnt that be the standard? The more videos i watch from american repair shops the more i start to believe there is an underlying problem with the mechanics education. I dont want to sound arrogant or anything but basic diagnostics like this is something every car mechanic here in switzerland learns in their third year of apprenticeship (they have 4).

@dwb812

Жыл бұрын

That's what mechanics used to do. It seems all these "certified" mechanics at the dealerships are no more than trained parts replacers to rack up huge bills. The thing is, had the dealership replaced all those modules the problems would have persisted and the bill would have kept climbing until the ground cable(s) were replaced. Worst of all is, the customer is rarely, if ever, made whole!

@eddieboss5934

Жыл бұрын

GM dealership should refund his diagnostic charge. Second opinions are the way to go it seems. We have problems with rodents mice and squirrel going after engine wires here in East Texas. The reason I keep a warranty with so many modules and sensors. Yep, the EV will be even more vulnerable to corrosion and fires it seems.

@michaelpressman7203

Жыл бұрын

I appreciate the talent of engineers and their ability to come up with all kinds of things and make vehicles wonderfully technological and all the bells and whistles and things that light up but I think they got in too carried away putting all these modules computers and all these other electronic components that with one little thing going wrong the thing goes haywire you know you might want to justify your job but not at the expense of customers and if you got people on the other end is the support staff they ought to be able to fix the vehicles that you guys come up with have a great evening bye

@benistingray6097

Жыл бұрын

@@dwb812 The problem is, nowadays as a mechanic you often have to replace complete modules. There isnt even the possibility to order small spare sparts anymore. When i started as a mechanic 20 years ago you could order ever little shitty piece of sparepart, today the manufacturer only has the whole module or part to order. SImple things like wishbone bushings or new sliding contacts for your alternator so you can actually repair it for a few $ instead of replacing the whole part. Thats not something you should blame the machanic for but the manufacturer.

Eric, I’m retired military, and I was a jet engine mechanic for a long time, and then a crew member on cargo planes; that’s a long way to say I’ve been wrenching for a while now. Your troubleshooting / diagnostic approach is awesome! Especially when you’re dealing with a platform you’ve either never seen, or very rarely seen…either way, well done dude!

Great work and diagnosis! As a semi retired tech with over 50 years in the business I really admire your straight forward approach. One of the most valuable lessons I learned while working as an apprentice mechanic long ago was the K.I.S.S system of auto repair , Keep it simple stupid. That approach has served me well for many years. Amazing how many seemingly difficult problems turn out to have a simple fix. Keep up the great work.

As Eric implied, what kind of tech believes that all those components fail at the same time. Are you kidding me! No wonder the owner wanted a second opinion. He certainly picked the right guy to get that opinion from.

Eric, I'm 70. As a rule of thumb, When ever I see multiple failures in an electrical system, I always look at GROUND connections FIRST. When I was in my 20's and working at an Automotive electrical shop, I chased my tail over a car with ELECTRICAL gremlins running through it for half a day. Then the shop owner came out and LAUGHED at me and said to replace the ground strap that ran between the engine and frame at the firewall. I looked at it and said it was BRAND NEW. He laughed even harder, and said REPLACE IT ! Sure enough, my gremlin was found... Somebody Installed a junk cable and ran a ground for a CB radio install (Remember them ?) from the same ground point. Moral of the story: Ignore how good it looks. CHECK IT ANYWAY !!! And ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS look for modifications from stock. 45 years later, I still remember that man, and his laugh...

Kindness is a weakness to the indecent but virtuous to the decent. You and Mrs O are among our most decent. I watch pretty much all mechanics content even the bad ones. I always come back to S.M.A and restart and binge watch his content. Only vary few mechanics content is this good. Bravo sir. I might have left numerous comments on your older videos but each time I watch I like to comment. I have watched your family grow up in the years gone by. You are a lucky man and so is Mrs O. Great roll models and parents.

Once again, a clear drift in repair philosophy. Today it’s mainly a replace parts and pray attitude to repair. The days of actual diagnosing a problem to its roots isn’t an approach much in practice, especially at dealerships. Thank you for your efforts of keeping that working methodology alive. I have to believe your customers as well as we who watch appreciate you. Keep up the great work!

A very disciplined diagnosis. I worked in a large GM dealership and found many problems with grounds even in the San Francisco Bay Area. If the GM tech had called the GM Tech help line, they would have instructed him to do voltage drops on all of the applicable circuits before they would authorize the replacement of any module. Obviously the tech did not do the basic proper inspections or call the help line, which is free.

@theinternet9456

4 ай бұрын

You are 100% correct. That dealership definitely put the wrong tech on it. There is no way all of those modules went bad at the same time. Even if he were to confer with a fellow tech he would have learned that. But Eric is the best. I've never seen a better independent and he might be the best I've seen at diagnostics.

Once again, Eric O reaches into his toolbox and pulls out the magic wrench. Again, living proof that a great mechanic is worth their weight in diamonds.

Great to see an honest mechanic. I hope the customer goes after the dealer and get his money back.

Thanks to your skill and honesty, the dealer and GM did the right thing. Before my 38 year career in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, R&D, Machine Shops and industrial plant management I spent 15 years as a mechanic with 10 yrs as a certified master technician at 3 Chevy dealerships including positions as shop forman and service manager, plus 2 yrs at UPS as a tractor-trailer mechanic so I have seen it all. We had 11 Mechanics at Massaro Chevrolet in Niagara Falls, New York and only three of us were competent at electronic and electrical diagnosis and troubleshooting back in the '70s, when many mechanics were just parts changers. While I am absolutely certain that the competency ratio had to have vastly improved since then, due to the proliferation of computer controls, some mechanics will still be poor diagnosticians and will mostly just replace parts, as this customer experienced. Thankfully there are a few extraordinary experts like you who are willing to share their knowledge with those of us who still repair our own vehicles and help our friends and families. Thank you Eric, for doing all this with grace, humility and kindness ! Sincerely, Dan Cook

I have a friend that is a mechanic like your self, and is awesome at fixing problems like this, as are you. Finding true,honest mechanics like you guys is hard. You guys have an amazing talent and actually find the problems and not just throw parts at it. You are truly awesome and I thank you. Love watching your videos.

I'm an un-certified mechanic... This man here is a true diagnosis solving fellow. I would definitely have my vehicles looked at but I'm in Texas over a 1000 miles away. Just admire the help he gets from his wife & daughter also... This is somebody to admire...

@williambowers5783

Жыл бұрын

Awesome I always went for the easy stuff first simple thing are almost the answer. I could go on but don't wanna bore anyone lol great job

@johncasor9698

Жыл бұрын

use a trailer to take your car to Main street auto...

@anonimous2451

Жыл бұрын

@@johncasor9698 I would not drive any of my vehicles into NY unless it was life or death. And Gov Hockey-puck convinced me to leave, so I will never ever be back.

@ACommenterOnYouTube

Жыл бұрын

ONLY because he has that scan tool that shows everything he needs to see WHILE moving the steering wheel to trigger that dash message, without that scan tool, how good are you as a mechanic to diagnose an issue like that ????? There was another video like this from another mechanic that diagnosed a similiar issue down to a rusted ground strap ... As he said those straps are garbage. They hold water and corrode. That strap should have been an insulated 4 or 8 gauge wire from the factory

@bobblack3870

Жыл бұрын

@@ACommenterOnKZread You have revealed that you are not a mechanic, therefore do not have the standing to criticize. Eric is excellent, with or without tools. Without the plug-in tool, the process would have been to connect a voltmeter to each module's in and out. He clearly explained that, but you weren't paying attention.

As a master heavy duty diesel tech, the feeling you get when you find the cause of an issue is unlike any other, reason #1 why I love this industry

You and fordtechmakuloco both amaze me to no end with proper diagnosis.

Finally a mechanic that can sleep at night. Good job.

The dealership would have replaced all those parts, and when it didn't fix it, they would have found the real problem and charged for all the parts.

@billdang3953

17 күн бұрын

More likely they would tell the owner to buy a new truck and offer low leasing payments or a low down payment as an incentive.

I'm dumbfounded the dealership would even dare to charge restocking fees when they didn't get approval for the parts cannon in the first place. I really hope the customer show's your video to the service manager and make him come to his senses.

@jacksmith2315

Жыл бұрын

I said the same thing. He never gave them the ok to make the repair so they shouldn't have pulled or ordered the parts so how is there a restocking fee? This seems like a very shady stealership. I can only imagine how many ppl they screwed doing this job, this guy was smart enough to know something was right so they found other stuff to charge him and screw him. Ford charges a flat rate of either $129 or $159 for diag, so whether its 10mins or 5 hrs its the same diag fee. This dealership charged him to diag every single component in the complaint even though it was all related and they were clearly wrong. This guy needs to get coorperate and the media involved the get his money back and this shady stealership red flagged

God bless you Eric!!! You don’t how relieved and happy your customers and viewers are for you!! Wouldn’t be surprised if the customer was crying when you told him the good news! I probably would’ve of been!! Thank you for what you do and who you are.

Awesome troubleshooting, sir! I wish every mechanic would follow your customer service attitude. You exposed GM technicians' lousy and costly service performance. GM needs to, NOT SHOULD refund the customer's money with a written apology. Again, you're awesome! More highly commendable is your helper who can probably outperform those technicians at GM. Great job, young lady.

I've seen more problems caused by poor/ bad grounds than I can shake a stick at. This Mechanic's using voltage drop to diagnose the problem is pure genius but then again it makes perfect sense. Kudos to you sir!

I was a station owner and mechanic many years ago when vehicles were much simpler than anything on the road today. But what doesn't change between then and now is that diagnostics and logical thinking are the key ingredients to solving a problem. There are many talented techs at dealerships today but it seems like parts often get replaced without much thought to identifying the root cause. I've spent many hours watching Eric and marvel at his ability to tackle anything. I hope the gentleman with the truck gets his money back. That's a no brainer and the right thing for the dealership to do. And if Eric ever gets tired of getting his hands dirty, his next career should be training auto mechanics on the right way to fix a vehicle.

@cruisepix

Жыл бұрын

He could really make a great workforce with his knowledge if he taught others at a tech school, hell I twisted wrenches over 25 years and I always learn something from him! I'm from the generation when electronic ignition and fuel injection were working their way on the scene.

You would think building cars for 100 years that GM would have supérieur knowledge, guess its not the case. good work, i have been inspired to be a better mecanic because of you i used to be a parts swapper and now i diagnose until i know exactly which part to change, yes it takes more patience and some head scratching but i have succesfully fixed my truck many times without changing parts which saved me money and time to fix !!!

@lexustech48

2 ай бұрын

They do have superior knowledge. If they locked the bean counters in the room, they have the engineering prowess to engineer cars and trucks so reliable that it would make Toyota blush. But, GM is a publicly traded company, so the bean counters are there FOR the shareholders to maximize their dividends. Can't make a lot of money if you cant sell new cars/trucks and repair parts. If your cars and trucks are too good, you'll have a loyal customer but only see them for sales every 10-12 years. And they'll only need basic maintenance parts. Build a Chevy as they do? It's not total junk, but you'll need to make repairs to it after warranty and you'll be buying a new vehicle sooner rather than later.

Troubleshooting complex systems is an art for sure. I did electronic repair for 40+ years, and I can tell you nothing makes you feel like you're in the wrong business faster than troubleshooting a strange problem for 30 minutes, and then finding out the thing isn't even plugged in. Nice Job! Seems like spraying the ground straps with Fluidfilm once a year would be a good thing for us all.

@jacksongunner7122

5 ай бұрын

LOL that happened to me early in my career building satellites. The breadboard unit we were testing was not doing anything, took us an hour before we checked to see if it was plugged in. Now that is the first thing I check. Live and learn.

So satisfying to watch an experienced mechanic use his head and his knowledge to find a simple fix to a complex problem. you are the man Eric O!

In my 40+ years of troubleshooting electronics I've learned to almost always inspect the power supply first; and seen many others led astray by not doing this basic check early on. #2 lesson is if there's multiple failures in different systems, check the grounds.

@machinehead6892

Жыл бұрын

Problem these days is that most so called techs are very electronically challenged, most guys I have known cannot figure out a simple circuit never mind understand a wiring diagram.

@buixote

Жыл бұрын

@@machinehead6892 took the "career track" auto-tech class at the local JC... Asked the instructor to help me... He looked at the diagram, and responded..."I don't do Mercedes". This was a school in Silicon Valley. I don't know if instruction is this bad, elsewhere, but there's no excuse for this sort of incompetence. I raised it with the Administration... They did nothing. :-(

@bloothedog4443

Жыл бұрын

great advice. and #3 NEVER go to the dealer for service (Their only function is for the part you cant get anywhere else, or proprietary computer stuff.)

@stevennunez6013

Жыл бұрын

Yup check power and grounds first saves you a lot of time from the start

@chrisbrown4870

Жыл бұрын

i used to work on log trucks 🚚 . back then it was always one of the ground connections that cause electrical problems

I was trained to troubleshoot electrical with the first rule that DC power flows negative (supply) to positive (return). That's why when battery negative is disconnected the system can be worked on. If a component doesn't have supply (ground) it could get it from a different component thus affecting different systems. Most people are concerned with a big positive cable and view the negative as an afterthought if at all. Great content, thank you for your time and willingness to share your knowledge.

When you shined your light down there and it was so green, ya knew. A cheap stap on a truck that cost a fortune. Most dealers are lucky if they have one master mechanic. Dude you are freakin awesome.

I believe when a dealer tech is recommending 4 grand worth of parts and labor, there needs to be a sit down with the service manager, the tech who diag, and a shop foreman. Tech needs to explain their diag plan and results and show why they believe all those parts could be faulty before allowing the adviser to call the customer with a quote. Either there was some electrical diagnostic ignorance going on or fraud.

@dafirnz

Жыл бұрын

Usually in situations like that the tech line should be involved in some capacity, so they aren't just firing the parts cannon randomly. Honestly anyone worth their salt should default to 'primary power or grounding problem' when that many problems arise. A module failure is random enough, but 3? On a 3 year old car with lowish miles? Give me a fucking break.

@Discretesignals

Жыл бұрын

@@dafirnz I agree! Unless it got smacked by lightning three bad modules in three different locations with voltage codes looming reeks of power or ground issues.

@MegaBbqbbq

Жыл бұрын

GM should be paying Eric for all of the free training he provides.

@scrappy7571

Жыл бұрын

@@notsevenfeettall Another+ for lightning. And more than just 3 modules. Also seen where vehicles jump started, with the cables reversed, take out several modules. shit happens

@scrappy7571

Жыл бұрын

@@dafirnz GM tech line is usually a waste of time. They authorize the parts cannon, and then "let us know what fixed it"

Eric I'm 65 still working as a Emergency Vehicle Technician here in Florida i can't tell you how informative your videos are you are an extremely talented technician that deserves tons of praise for your knowledge, honestly, and being a great father and husband. Keep it up. ..

@paulsmith9341

Жыл бұрын

​@@robertbreton2921 absolutely. Without at least a inexpensive scan tool you are flying blind. Mr O, more times than not, starts each diagnosis with a code scan to point him in the right direction for the hunt. I'm a shade tree mechanic that bought a hundred dollar code reader 16 years ago when I bought a 2006 vehicle. It has helped immensely.

@markevans4645

Жыл бұрын

@@robertbreton2921 it absolutely will. That's how I started out 20 years ago.

I love watching when a really good mechanic diagnoses a problem. Well done! Reason I never go back to a dealer unless there is a recall or obvious warrantee issue.

Once again I am blown away with the illogical logic from the GM dealer. Happy to hear the customer was reimbursed, but only after being shamed by your complete diagnosis. In my mind I would expect the reverse situation with the local garage unable to properly diagnose the problem due to lack of training and the factory trained GM mechanic having to come to the rescue.

GM should pay you to write TSB's for them. You just saved them a lot of money with this video, where dealerships will not be able to rip them off for all of those "warranty" work that these new cars require. Appreciate your hard work Eric, while making it interesting in the process.

@Danman1972

Жыл бұрын

Yes... 100%

@mph5896

Жыл бұрын

That will be a recall on that truck. Gm should have at least grounded the rack to the block on the ground side.

@jkbrown5496

Жыл бұрын

Likely reply would be "It doesn't do that". That's what I got from an email software company 25 yrs ago when I sent them the solution to a problem that had crashed my server. The engineers just denied the system could crash that way rather than simply verifying my solution and using it to help others.

@SiteReader

Жыл бұрын

You're right, Bojan. Really they should hire Eric (if he wanted the job) as a high-level consultant for design and trouble shooting, at a high level rate of pay. He's worth every penny they could pay him. I just wish he would keep making repair videos, even so.

Clearly the GM dealer’s “factory trained diagnostic tech” doesn’t even know how to measure a voltage drop. Awesome video Eric O!

@SouthMainAuto

Жыл бұрын

A self taught mechanic and his 11 year old daughter can though 😂

@patrickfarneth3876

Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately, there are still many mechanics out there undertrained. OBD 1,2 is here to stay. Gotta jump in...learn.

@DjResR

Жыл бұрын

More like corporate greed makes service personnel replace as much parts as possible._

@fulf

Жыл бұрын

can only speak for my self but my case is probably verry common. I work at a dealer (been a mechanic for 20 years) and i have never been teached how to do electrics becouse they often have people that do diagnostics and people that do mechanic part. Some times when its lot of jobs or a sick person they can give the "mechanic" a big diagnostic job (even if he realy dont know) and say solve it.

@jkbrown5496

Жыл бұрын

It doesn't matter how smart you are, unless you stop and think. --Thomas Sowell Training is the transfer of knowledge, but applying that knowledge requires discipline of intellect, regulation of emotions and established principles.

You are one smart mechanic! America needs more people with your honesty and determination for all businesses.

The difference between a real mechanic and a parts changer, GREAT JOB!

I worked for a GM dealer for 11 years and most of my electrical issues with new body style vehicles have been ground related. I also come from the rust belt of Wisconsin so the IGS is not new. Great job doing complete and accurate diagnosis. You have the best KZread channel for automotive diagnosis that I have been able to find! Keep up the good work and I love that it is a family business.

Total and Proper way to Diagnosis a Difficult but persistent problem, yes I've seen Terrible Shotgun troubleshooting procedures by Master Technicians.

I appreciate your knowledge and patience in tracing and fixing electrical issues instead of replacing huge parts.

I remember my old shop teacher telling us sometimes it takes longer to find the problem than it does to fix it

I wonder how the GM dealer-principal feels watching this video and thinking, “holy crap everybody in the Avoca region is watching how my business tried to screw the truck owner out of $4000” - OR - “I have the worst mechanics in New York and everyone knows it now.”

@michaeldunagan8268

Жыл бұрын

Yah- -a good shop will ensure the parts they're replacing are out of order before firing the parts canon of new parts. Seems to me that everyone at the dealership gets a piece of the action on any work done. They may have lost the battle with this guy but they'll try and win the war with other people that will go ahead and pay the $4, 000.00.

@startingtech3900

Жыл бұрын

it was only a 500$ diag, they billed for 4k to "fix" still it should be refunded no biggie sometimes people screw up

@jamespalmer7830

Жыл бұрын

We dont know the name of the Dealer do we ?..I am thinking if they dont give her a Refund we will know the name of the Dealer soon

@bunsdad4530

Жыл бұрын

They knew what was going on, 4 things at once. In Canada the smart money oil sprays their cars

@Leon-qc7fe

Жыл бұрын

I was told this years ago. The auto makers do not care about customer service or if they scare away a customer with bad service. There are only so many auto makers and everyone needs a car. The way they seen it is if they lose a customer another one will come along to replace them.

I had (for a very short time) a 2020 Silverado (purchased new) that had the "same" power steering and trailer brake problem in the winter of 2020. I live in Northeast Ohio, so salt on the roads is very common here also. Had the truck to dealer (only 7000ish miles) under warranty 4 times for the same problem. The replaced the steering rack, module and TB module twice. After the 4th trip failed, I got them to buy the truck back at full original price. Based on what we are seeing in this diagnosis.... it could easily have been the same issue..... and I know of several other people locally that have similar issues ......

@dlewis9760

Жыл бұрын

Stuff does happen. But 2 replacement racks? That's 3 racks total. A company with their heads not up their butts would be checking the pulled parts after the fact to see if they were within specs. If they were (and probably were) it ain't those parts. One of the uses of a VIN # is to track issues.

@PontoonGrandpa

Жыл бұрын

@@dlewis9760 only one replacement steering rack, but two Trailer Brake modules (sorry if there was confusion on how it was typed)

Used to work for a GM dealer, solution for everything was to throw parts at it! Diagnosis is a lost art! Had to leave due to a conflict of service ideologies, been much happier since. Great work by the way! I live in Canada where the roads, highways and even the sidewalks are salted all winter long.

In a 12v DC automotive system, ground connections are critically important. In my 1998 Buick LeSabre, the engine stalled, with crank but no start. Turned out, the ground point for the fuel pump went to the same screw as the power window, and both were inoperative. The ground screw location was a notoriously damp area of the driver door frame, and the ground screw long ago had surrendered to 12v-powered corrosion. Except for your salt environment and the braided ground strap, my situation was identical. To remedy the situation, I soldered all connections to the ground screw, after cleaning corrosion from all points. Thanks for an outstanding diagnostic session.

"Wait 'til everyone starts driving their electric cars." LOL. Well said Eric. Phenomenal diagnosis. I learned so much in the first viewing, I watched it a second time. Thanks Eric.

@garyalford9394

Жыл бұрын

Can't even imadgeon electric cars and trucks in the rust belt!!!

@Hogger280

Жыл бұрын

No problem because it's not going to happen.

@yhird

Жыл бұрын

@@Hogger280 The Green people will try. They will of course fail, but not before wasting billions or even trillions of taxpayer dollars in the process.

@yhird

Жыл бұрын

@@garyalford9394 Agreed.

@LynxStarAuto

Жыл бұрын

I'm licking my lips in anticipation.

I bought a Porsche 911 $8000 under market value several years ago due to a bunch of electrical issues. Turned out to be a bad ground to the body. Took about a half hour to diagnose an $0 to repair. Only negative side effect was I had to replace the alternator since the bad ground damaged the internal voltage regulator.

@mdotguy

Жыл бұрын

"Negative side effect" 😄

great job of teaching logic and trouble shooting.The problem was presented in a very methodical way.your family helping is inspiring.

Once again Mr.O. You cut thru the dealers crap to get to the heart of the problem with intelligence, logic and deductive reasoning!! Another in a long line of jobs well done!!!

Once I was charged over $900.00 to correct an overheating problem. Drove the vehicle 1/2 mile after the problem was "fixed" at the GM Stealership and it overheated. Paid a local radiator shop to boil out the radiator for $50.00 and it completely cured the overheating problem. Eventually got the Stealership to refund some of the money. Never went back to them and never will. This was before the internet, now I would just Google the problem and hopefully there would a SMA video on the issue. Thanks Eric O and the lovely Mrs. O. Because we all know behind every good man there stands a great woman.

@billdang3953

17 күн бұрын

Probably caused by the leak sealant that GM uses to address the engine coolant seepage issues caused by Dexcool spec coolant. The leak sealant eventually gels up and plugs off coolant passages thereby contributing to overheating.

This was an amazing example of diagnostic work and more importantly of family with your daughter helping out. My wife is still the best brake bleeding assistant I ever had, 40 years and running

This is one of the reasons I don't go to a dealer for repair work unless it's under warranty. All they seem to know how to do is replace parts...... Good Video.

I’m a new subscriber!! The one thing that I notice about a lot of service techs working for any dealership is they do not do enough diagnostics to find the actual problem, they just like to throw parts at it until it’s fixed! So many times if just simple diagnostics are done and reveal a very simple solution to the problem! Looking forward to more videos from this channel.

Eric slays when it comes to troubleshooting. A true mechanic and I use your motto of "test don't guess" daily. Dealership absolutely owes that guy a refund and apology. In that order.

@sandygrungerson1177

Жыл бұрын

it was a case of eric sniffing out a hookup with a rusty brown ring...yet again

@donniegombel

Жыл бұрын

Done Proper. Yes indeed they owe him his money back. I doubt he will get it though cause the name of the game is money at any cost. It is a good lesson learned and he got him a customer for life and free advertising to boot. Well done.

@GuessWho-uc5uq

Жыл бұрын

@@donniegombel The owner of the vehicle wrote a reply a few posts up and said the dealership was gonna make it right

I love how you talk with your wife and daughter! ❤ I’m a retired guy who was in the automotive industry for 20+ years and I enjoy the content and appreciate the way you talk with people! I hope y’all have a wonderful day and 2023 brings you happiness!

One thing I’m learning from multiple videos: when multiple modules seem to go south, check your grounds. It seems that 80% of all videos about electronic issues end up having a crusty ground…

The highlight of the video was when the cable disintegrated in your hand I had an issue where my headlights would flicker on and off while driving , it turned out to be the braided ground cable from the body to the frame, another time my starter would not turn over, I checked the battery and starter, both were good, I connected a single jumper cable from the positive battery post to the starter. problem solved, turned out to be the braided positive cable - one to many thin braided strands had corroded and broke internally in the cable, dropping voltage. I enjoy your videos Excellent Job Diagnosing:

I realize this is "just another day at work" for you but you've cleared reached a level of understanding in your work that makes what you do seem like absolute magic to the layperson. Well done, I'm sure your customer is very grateful.

He needs to call GM customer service and open a case. He should be adamant about getting refunded for the dealers incorrect diagnosis. I highly doubt he will get anywhere with the Service Director but I would at least try that route first. Just remember to keep your cool and don’t fall for their first offer. Play the long game! Oh and I was a GM service director and warranty administrator for 25 years and know the game. Honestly I would have made a good will repair because of the mileage. Good luck.

@leftyo9589

Жыл бұрын

that, and do a credit card chargeback.

@willemstreutgers1154

Жыл бұрын

@Mike MacCracken, I disagree, first give the dealer the opportunity to solve the complaint, if not then go to GM customer service.

@sewing1243

Жыл бұрын

If the dealer doesn't resolve the issue in the customer's favor then that would be the next step. Unfortunately if the Truck's owner doesn't have a sibling or in-law that's a lawyer (and will do the work gratis) it's probably going to cost more than what the dealer took him for to pay a lawyer. If the legal route is all that is left a diy small claims suit is probably the best bet.

@mikemaccracken3112

Жыл бұрын

@@willemstreutgers1154 It is quite obviously this dealer did not want to help this customer. GM dealers have the ability to goodwill a repair and GM encourages it. Opening a customer service case gives the customer a mediator who will document and advise.

It is my belief that a lot of mechanics are not as adept at the electrical side of the business. Eric seems as good at electrical diagnostics as he is with mechanical. It is a changing time in which just grunt force mechanical ability no longer cuts it. Good work Eric - I love the way you diagnose electrical issues.

You my friend are honestly a master in your craft and world needs more people like you. Thanks for providing the content all these years. Thank you and wish you all the best.

Ex electrical engineer here: Really enjoyed the analytical approach and the good understanding of basic electricity type stuff. I wasn't very surprised that a dealer mechanic would not diagnose this problem accurately: 1. I don't trust dealers in general. The goal of dealers is to sell you stuff you don't need and make a lot of money on repairs. 2. I am skeptical of any mechanic on electrical issues. IMO the best way to get affordable, reliable car repairs is to find a good independent mechanic and stick with them. After a while they trust you and you trust them. Kumbaya

@2secondslater

Жыл бұрын

As a mechanic who specialises in electrical and electronic diagnosis and repairs, I don't trust electrical imagineers to design a product that is fit for purpose, the ground strap on this vehicle is a huge case in point.

@YourMom-ro1ig

Жыл бұрын

The goal of any shop is to sell what you need (dealership or not), and to make money while doing so. I own an independent shop after working at dealership for ten years. No car I ever worked on was sold a repair it didn’t need and I paid for my own misdiagnoses. Some dealerships are not run with a culture of theft and dishonesty, although it seems they’re getting fewer and further between. It mostly comes down to the individual and their scruples (or lack thereof). All that said, I’ve seen independent shops rob people blind out of both dishonesty and incompetence - it’s not exclusive to dealers.

@raymondjunk6996

Жыл бұрын

sorry I missed the whole thing . I was eating lunch.

One of your finest videos yet, Eric. Don’t ever discount your skills. You’re one of the best at your craft and the proof is all on video. Well done with solving this riddle.

This was an excellent example of how great mechanics use a scientific approach. Most machanics think, "X would explain this issue, so X is the problem." And then they replace X, but it doesn't solve the problem. Instead, you looked at all of the symptoms, figured out a couple of possible explanations that parsimoniously accounted for the symptoms (hypotheses), then started testing them to disprove your hypotheses (empirical falsifiability), and then tested the limits of the solution (generalizability). I suspect you had a very good science teacher at some point. :) Pair that with clear mechanical aptitude and you get a top-notch mechanic. This was great to watch, and the interactions with your family were heart-warming. :)

Great job, need more shops and mechanics that are honest and care about their customers. Hats off to you man!!!!!!!!!

As a retired electronic technician of MANY years (mostly a/v stuff), I can say that whenever I was faced with a complaint that involved multiple and seemingly unrelated problems, the first place I would look was the power supply = the second was the ground. Cars are getting more and more like what I used to do. One other thing I would like to say is, the thing that separates good technician from a not so good technician is the ability to troubleshoot, and, you ARE a good technician. It is a great pleasure to watch you work.

Great diagnosis Eric, as always. As a teacher of Automotive Apprentices for the past 35 years, when teaching electrical diagnosis, I can not overstate the importance of checking Powers and Grounds. Particularly when three different modules start misbehaving at the same time. It's frustrating to know, for many shops, the Parts Cannon is the default diagnostic tool.

@troyturner8221

Жыл бұрын

Couldn't be better said cheers

@sidvis7235

Жыл бұрын

I recall my apprenticeship here in Canada. In third year we tackled electrical. I dare say half of the class couldn't grasp why charging systems only neede a voltage regulator once alternators. They also could not understand voltage drop, or why you coud only test for it when there was actually current running through the conducter. It goes to show, not everyone is cut out to be a tech, particularily an electrical tech.

@alchemy1

Жыл бұрын

@@sidvis7235 Consider the great obstacle, language itself. Is it signal, is it votage or is it current? Up to certain resistance value, you have full voltage transfer, less than you have too much current. Beyond certain value you have less voltage, i.e. voltage drop.... and that is just small potato stuff as some might say.

@flash490

Жыл бұрын

I am with you on that. Being a licensed electrician for 46 years dealing with bad connections causes problems in places you wouldn't believe. Modern electronics magnifies the problem 10 fold.

@josephb.2087

Жыл бұрын

Thank you the first thing I thought was make sure you have good connections. Always, I live Chicagoland area and sale and ground straps are enemies so quick time saver KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and then keep on keepin' on!!!!!

Great job Eric! I first found you when I needed to replace a wheel bearing on my 2010 Corolla. I wanted my 14-year-old son to help me do the work, and showed him your video, so he would feel comfortable helping out. He said, " I feel like I just got a whole engineering degree in 30 minutes. " Then he helped me replace the wheel bearing and CV shaft, without a hitch. I've been a fan ever since! Also, part of why I watch your videos, is because I am a gearhead who also is a psychotherapist and Women's Empowerment Coach. While watching this video, I noticed how you were talking to your daughter, and I could see the positive, affirming way you were talking to her while she was helping you. Good job Dad!

I don’t like to say it but lots of deals are out to rip people off. Glad to see you are honest service center. I really like your work and the the diligence in the way that you go about finding the problem and not adding parts.

Only Eric O. can make a bad-ground repair video as exciting as any crime scene thriller! I was on the edge of my seat the entire video waiting to find the culprit! The best mechanic I've ever seen and the best auto repair videos on youtube! It is so educational to see how you work through the problems. Thanks much Eric, and keep up the great work!

@edmessina8392

Жыл бұрын

It hooked me too. I even paused it while I walked the dog. Every state needs at least a dozen Erics....Not only is he a 5 star mechanic but he has mastered critical thinking.

@jafopt

Жыл бұрын

In the first couple minutes the trailer brake had a ground fault code on the scanner.

@michaelbarnaart9484

Жыл бұрын

It’s amazing how it becomes suspenseful and interesting when he’s “on the trail”

@jcheck6

Жыл бұрын

lol good one John!

@terryavery9918

Жыл бұрын

@@jafopt Shhh, who cares at this point, he found it the old fashioned way, logic and proper research, to which is sometimes far more fun in the end, and at the very least, fun for us who get to watch this process and learn from it!

Eric, if you don't win Mechanic of the Year, I'll be shocked. Wish there were more HONEST technicians like you !! You deserve all of the Kudos that you receive on this one !! Honest, dependable, ethically moral...that is YOU, my friend !! I wish you Nothing but the BEST down the road...you, sir, are my Hero !!

@dosu6089

Жыл бұрын

Most mechanics are in fact hidden salesmen of carparts... and only a few really look into the problem and analysis the electrical issue, but brrrr electrical issues that is way up to difficult for many mechanics as it is not a 'mechanical' issue, dhow so they try to sell you some so called broken parts which aren't broken in the first place. Great evidance that the fancier the workshop, the crappier the service might be, all over the world, not only in US, same problem also in EU.

@nievesjacinto1650

Жыл бұрын

As a 50+ yr tech, I give you an A+. But see serious design mistakes in this truck..... GM would be wise to put you into their tech trailing dept... IN CHARGE....!

@LedzeppelinDogsGuns

Жыл бұрын

@@nievesjacinto1650 he would be a great teacher

@prism8289

Жыл бұрын

How much does the kid charge per hour? She probably knows more than the dealers.

@safffff1000

Жыл бұрын

How does one find mechanics that can diagnose like this? Can this be done on 2000 to 2010 models

My Chevy dealer DENOOYER sold me an extended warranty.. My mistake.. told them exactly what was wrong....wanted to charge me about $1250 to fix a power mirror. I found the exact same mirror on line for $125. fixed my self.. NEVER TRUST dealers.

As a tech that troubleshoots daily I fully understand that feeling of excitement but also disappointment. sometimes I am disappointed in myself for missing something for so long and other times I am disappointed with my co workers for overlooking something simple and passing the call onto me without double checking the simple things. The excitement is great though when you fix something that everyone else overlooked all day or week. There is that one guy in the shop that don't like me because I tend to find the issues that others get stuck on. That is mainly because I simply wont give up trying and I go where others don't or wont go to find the issue. Bad grounds do crazy stuff. good catch.

As a former mechanic and now mechanical engineer you impress the hell out of me. It is good to see that there are still skilled mechanics that are honorable in their trade. Love watching your program keep it up. Once again impressive from an old mechanic in the great state of Texas.

@DeadEnDCrew

Жыл бұрын

"former mechanic" professionally or personally as far as i remember once a mechanic always a mechanic! lol at least that what my grandpa always said when i was little

As a heavy duty tractor technician I have to complement you on your diagnostics skill. To many young technicians lack your skill set. Takes time to season good diagnostic technician. You are a great representative of the technicians of this world

I was doing the front hose for my brake line and I touched my ground wire on my F250. 2004 and it’s that braided stuff and it disintegrated now I’m going to buy somebody’s ground wires 20 bucks for two but it’s for solar panels. That’s all I could find foot-long. You’re like a genius before I have all kinds of crazy problems. I got enough problems. Thank you.

My dad, a life long (40+ years) mechanic, taught me to check the ground first. His advice has proven well, my entire life. Excelkent work SMA... showing the diagnosis steps.

For most of my adult life I did component-level electronics troubleshooting. I am here to say: Your logic and thought processes are flawless, keep up the good work!

Love a true diagnosis. One of the first things we learned in automotive school was don’t be a parts replacer.

Great stuff here. Exactly the same thing happened to my 2019 Silverado this morning. I figured it was going to cost me a couple thousand dollars to get it back on the road... but the dealership (yep...i went to the dealership) found the ground problem right away. GM needs to do a recall on this issue. Imagine losing steering at 55 mph as you enter a curve on a mountain. Thanks for posting this video! VERY helpful!

Eric, I hope the owner DOES do something about this. A lot of customers in the rust belt NEED to be made aware of a MAJOR potential problem that will turn repeat customers away.

@ralfie8801

Жыл бұрын

This makes me wonder how much longer it would last if you coated the braided ground strap really good with fluid film when the vehicle is new.

I was a licensed tech for years and years and have recently switches fields for the last few. I love watching videos like this because it keeps my mind fresh. Cars are complicated, and when you stop working them, even if you "know" everything about them, you certainly lose your diagnosis ability quickly when it comes to electrical. Mechanical components are always straight forward and easy to diagnose but things like this are things I would struggle to find being out of the game for so long. Amazing diagnosis work

If the truck is still under warranty. Why is the owner paying anything to the dealership? Eric O is one of the best mechanics I’ve ever watched. He’s super educated and can explain in a way that most can understand. Plus his experience is worth a ton of money by just being able to solve problems quickly.

Wow, all I can say is I'm glad I'm still driving my 5-speed '68 International 4x4 pickup as a daily driver. I had a near-new, very nice top-of-the-line Buick Century I inherited. Yes, it was very comfortable and quiet to drive, but with less than 30k miles on it, I had many endless problems with it. Two problem examples: at times the trans would slam into park occasionally when driving 40 mph - turns out it was some trans relay or control module. And occasionally it would just die. No pattern - sometimes it would go weeks without dieing, sometimes several times a day it would die, sometimes when cold, sometimes when hot, sometimes when on the freeway, sometimes when sitting at a traffic light, sometimes day, sometimes at night, etc. No warning, just totally dead for exactly 10 minutes, crank but no starting. Then it would start and run like nothing happened. I replaced every sensor, every module, coil pack, etc. $2k later I put it on eBay. Not a scratch or dent or rip in it anywhere and would drive like a dream most of the time. Didn't get much for it as I had to morally disclose its unrepairable problem. I really wish the auto manufacturers would just offer a basic, dependable model without all the electrical crap they put in vehicles now for the brain dead who don't know by feel or checking the oil to know when their power steering is going out, or if their door is shut, or if it needs an oil change etc. A new basic, mechanical, dependable vehicle would be nice. I'm sure the new stuff being offered today won't still be on the road 50 years later.

If auto repair was considered an art form, Eric would be considered the Michelangelo of your generation. Trinity looked like she was having so much fun. God bless you and your family!

Damn This dude is just smart...he wouldve been great at anything he pursued, Imagine him as a doctor tracking down what rare disease you have based on your symptoms lol he's the Dr House of mechanics without the drug problem, narcissism and limp lol

@WTFwuzdat

Жыл бұрын

"without the drug problem, narcissism and limp" bloody hilarious!!!

@LynxStarAuto

Жыл бұрын

Most mechanics are smart at many things, because we have to wear many hats in the field. Makes us very diverse, and informed.

@bigpicturethinking5620

Жыл бұрын

He is like the Dr House of cars. he can be “Dr car house” or something like that.