I was a computer tech for many years. One thing I learned was that testing circuits for voltage doesn't always give you the right answers and can be misleading. the lesson I learned is that sometimes checking the current in the circuit will tell what the problem is. While voltage is important if current is also important. IF I remember my physics correctly, current times voltage equals Force and force time distance equals work. So if the voltage is correct and the current is not, the work doesn't get done. You are a pretty smart guy, in my opinion, because you were not fooled by chasing the voltage alone. BTW, I hope the emergency was a minor one. Keep up the good work.

@timd1833

9 ай бұрын

Yes, I concur. Not enough current to light a test light?

@rodx5571

9 ай бұрын

@@timd1833 thats what i was thinking. What i do is power through the isolated wire and see if the test light lights. If so, then its good. you can get 0 ohms and still have a "cold connection" that wont carry current. Ask me how i know, ☹. It only takes getting it wrong and being embarrassed like that once to figure out to load and wiggle test all wires, THEN check computer output.

@sasquatchrosefarts

2 ай бұрын

Every five to fifteen years, all harnesses need to be cleaned with alcohol, as well as all ground bolts. It's basic maintenance. All means all. Ground bolt for the computer to the frame. Everything. Once you do this, then check the quality of the harnesses and connections with the test light or a smart probe that checks resistance on a charged circuit. You can also get corrosion and broken wires inside insulation that looks fine.

One thing I've learned about wire integrity is, don't rely on the ohm or volt meter. Always double check with a load on the circuit. You can have continuity but still have a voltage loss under load.

@WrenchingWithKenny

3 ай бұрын

You are absolutely correct! Thanks for watching & keep wrenching 🔧

There is no need to apologize about shop noise. It's a shop it's going to get loud.

Prolly shoulda backprobed for voltage at the PCM. If the PCM is outputting 12.xV, then there is a drop through the harness. If it's not, then PCM.

@williamtanner8222

8 ай бұрын

Yeah, the only thing I would've done different is load testing the wires with a headlight bulb. Ohm checking wires will get you into trouble

Many years ago, I put a GM trans in a 1996 Olds Aurora at a dealership I used to work at (the guy abused the car and the old trans was smoked): The new trans kept setting a ratio error code and I tried many many things as I was working with GM tech assistance - all to no avail: I spoke with an engineer who finally figured out that I had a 1996 model vehicle built in 1995 and the torque convertor had a higher stall speed on the 1996 trans. We reprogrammed the PCM with a special calibration and it was fine. You never know with cars!

@crimeboyish

Ай бұрын

Great diagnosis Mark ! Michael Krukowski .

Worked in a little shop for about a year after retiring from the military almost 25 years ago. We had a car that came in that was running really rough but code scanning came back as all good (several times) but still barely ran. After a good bit of thought we decided to swap in a used ecm, then the code scan produced a list half an arm's length long. We learned that if the computer is schizo a code scan is basically worthless.

So what you’re saying is you actually need to be a mechanic/technician to diagnose this, young guys just follow the trouble shooter and that means some poor sod has to pay for a new transmission. What will we do when all the old school mechanics are retired 🤷‍♂️😱. Thanks again Kenny.

@AT-wl9yq

9 ай бұрын

That's not entirely accurate. You're looking at the problem from a consumers point of view. The reason the manual doesn't have you check all of the wiring basics, is because its assumed you've already done that. You have to check that stuff first. Does someone have to tell you to put your shoes on before you go walking down the street?

@CodycoWeb

9 ай бұрын

I would bet that the manual also says check the control side of the circuit but doesn’t include it in the trouble tree. Even if it doesn’t it’s called critical thinking. The skill of breaking a problem down and testing every possible cause. Trouble trees are a guide not a tell all. Hell many manufactures still tell you to ohm grounds and such.

If you can, make a follow up video. It will be interesting to find the disposition of the problem. Thanks.

@timd1833

9 ай бұрын

Definitely! either way. fix or not fixed

One of your fellow KZreadrs loves his meter for checking circuits, saw him measure voltage at an ac compressor clutch on a single wire clutch and see battery voltage and say the compressor is bad because it’s getting power. Using a meter to check voltage doesn’t prove the circuit can provide the needed amperage to engage the clutch or prove the ground path is complete. Loading the circuit is the only way to prove where the fault is. Many times corrosion at the relay will let voltage pass but drop completely out when loaded. Load test circuits to test them not static testing for voltage and continuity.

You can always check your data list and see which ones are on and off. One might be stuck off and cause it not to shift. Hopefully not corrosion in the module. These are bad about ECM problems due to the sunroof drains failing on the passenger side. Corrosion city. Bad ecms arent uncommon. Check the sunroof drain if it is!

@tonytango6676

9 ай бұрын

One more reason to despise sunroofs.

Wiring diagnostics with Kenny. ❤

So interesting !!! Thanks.

Awesome thinking. Hope everything is OK. Be careful.

Cool vid.

Thank you kenny for doing a video like this to go to all dianostics for this you are one of a kind tks a lot sir Godbless you and yur family keep wrenching!!@

In some ways you need to think _inside_ the box: the PCM box! It may be a "black box" where you don't know exactly what is inside it, but you can still think of it as inputs, outputs, and functions. The output to drive that solenoid may be a transistor or relay, and you can consider its output voltage or current capability. So it sounds like either that solenoid output drive from the PCM is bad, there's something internal to the PCM that isn't telling that output to drive the solenoid, or there could even be an input signal to the PCM that's bad or not being read that's fooling the PCM into acting up. From what you've shown I'd say the PCM is a likely candidate to swap. I hope that fixes it, and your urgent issue gets resolved. Take care, Kenny.

Great video. As you say, think outside the box

Love all your amazing work! This why I take care & maintain all my cars myself (family too). 91 Isuzu Trooper, CLS 550, Rav4, GLC 350, Toyota Corrola, Ford Exursion, GLC 300, Aston Martin Volante. Daughter lives closer to you, so you can work on her Volvo SC 40 when she might need it.

I learn something every time

22 years and still on the road , that's great .

When I was in the Navy, I was an electronic technician and I ended up troubleshooting some very difficult situations. One thing I did was I would get the wiring diagram, as well as the schematic because schematic is a logical diagram and the wiring diagram tells you how things are actually connected. Just about everything I had to troubleshoot wasn’t in the manual and I ended up rewriting some troubleshooting and maintenance procedures. Good luck and if you do figure it out, more luck trying to get the troubleshooting charts changed. Also, I hope your emergency wasn’t too bad and everything’s OK.

That's why it's called trouble shooting. If all you did was follow flow charts, you would be a parts changer thats experienced in reading

I immediately thought of the PCM after you described all of the symptoms and testing.

always load test wires with bulb not just meter that will send you down a rabbit hole

The Transmission for that year TL was recalled. I know mine was replaced at no cost. On those low voltage problems, it's a good idea to use a light bulb that draws current. Use it with a separate power/ground to see if the testing leg is carrying enough current. It might say 12 volts on your meter but not have enough current to drive the circuit.

@GeekBoyMN

9 ай бұрын

Eric O uses a light bulb tester for that very reason.

@stealthg35infiniti94

9 ай бұрын

@@GeekBoyMN And also Ivan @ Pine Hollow Diagnostics.

@1:07 legit a spider or ant crawling up negative lead 😆 🤣 😂 😊. Hopefully everything is ok!!!

👍👍

The 10V is interesting because it is just a fractional drop instead of a large drop out. I haven't seen that come up before, and it makes more sense to me that the PCM had a component go out that stopped it from being able to support the current required for the solenoid (which would explain the voltage drop) instead of the harness. Did the PCM put out full voltage with the solenoid disconnected? Without a load, it may have been able to support the full operating voltage.

I saw your problem at the first glance in the engine bay, the problem/bug can be seen on the black wire

Loaded circuit test is a quick way to eliminate module or wiring issues. Stick a park light bulb on the connector leading to the solenoid If it lights up there's no issues with your wiring or pcm

Make sure you got good ground abd power to the pcm and good ground on engine/trans. Just cause it looks good doesn't mean it is actually check. I know you said power and ground wires you ohmed for solenoids themselves and power and ground at the solenoids. If you have broken strands it will bite ya.

In my experience both Hondas I had displayed the CRAP CODE ! Boss had a Acura = first engine blew at 60k then standard transmission gone at 65k.

Hondas of this era were known for trans problems. Yes, the Acura is a Honda. Also.. yes, change solenoid is a common first move.

Hope everything is ok with emergency. I have an Acura TL 2006 and had a bad 3rd gear shift solenoid. I replaced all solenoid switches since car is now 17 years old.

Check it with a test light to see if it lights.

I didn't see the solenoids but I saw that bug crawling across the black wire lol.

Alright i just finished, sorry to blow up your comments. Check the passenger side drain before you ship it. What happens is, as they age, the sunroof tubes running down the A pillar actually shrink a little bit and lose length, come off the elbow at the firewall/wheel well and dump water in the floor instead, all over the computer. The drain tube can be a total bastard to replace btw, not for the impatient, lots of silicone spray, prayers, luck, and snaking. Sometimes they get stuck on dirt and debris and fight like hell. I replace the elbow also, its brittle by now.

Could still be wiring, check it with a load A meter doesn’t pull enough current to verify if it’s capable of firing the solenoid. If wiring checks out including earth then do the same at the PCM then you can be certain it’s not wiring or connectors.

Only problem with car is pine needles stuck in electrical..lol

Ahh, this is my brand. Does it need a solenoid or did someone goober the wiring? Im only a few seconds in

Voltage doesn’t make a solenoid work amperage does. You obviously had a voltage drop somewhere. Why wouldn’t you put a higher load test light in the circuit and see if the circuit could carry the load and light the test lights. Many make it so hard to diagnosis when logic and using loads to test circuits is very simple. Ohm testing wires is not a good way to test circuits. Ohm testing can and will lead you to a wrong diagnosis. Load test all circuits with known good loads. Use ohms law, measure the ohms of a solenoid and at a given voltage it will draw a given amperage. That’s how ohms law works, substitute a load of light bulbs to roughly equal the amperage and substitute them for solenoid. Activate the solenoid and see if they light. If they don’t then move to pcm and see if it does. Move your power and ground and recheck to pinpoint where the drop is. It’s fast simple and never lies.

I couldn’t handle that air hose.

Thats the difference between a mechanic and a technician you kenny are a technician because you go outside the box when the computer or the list of what the check out sheet tells you to do !

I’d it possible to reboot the PCM?

@WrenchingWithKenny

4 ай бұрын

Most PCMs can be reprogrammed by an automotive reprogrammed, a dealer or a custom programmer or tuner (you would have to look that up). If you're talking about a reboot, like a laptop, just disconnect the battery overnight. I hope this answers your question. Keep wrenching 🔧

@DaddyyCrab

4 ай бұрын

@@WrenchingWithKenny yeah I had an issue with a Jeep Wrangler TJ, and the Chevy dealer told me the pcm word have to reprogrammed by Jeep dealer. Not reboot. Thanks Kenny.

@DaddyyCrab

4 ай бұрын

@@WrenchingWithKenny forgot to mention that it may be an option before purchasing a new pcm. (Reprogramming)

I can tell you first hand that Honda/Acura does not like generic aftermarket parts, if indeed that solenoid has been replaced with one before. Either way, aftermarket parts for these cars cause issues further down the road even if they work right at first, they often don't last and create other problems. Also, Honda will not give you full diagnostic details because they don't want us working on them. Honda takes the right to repair laws and finds loop holes in it and hides diagnostic information. The average guy out there will have a tough time finding problems with these cars, specifically in the transmission areas and give up taking it to a dealer after other mechanics can't find the problem either. The worst part of these Hondas are the transmissions, they can be very hard to figure out. A slight malfunction in these solenoids create major transmission issues even when the transmission itself is still good.

When I am I trouble, how can I contact you?

To the average guy working in his driveway. Even if he had enough knowledge of chasing down a problem circuit, many times any helpful info is not available. As indicated by your flow chart referring you to replace the transmission. I thought in the past the car mechanics I apprenticed under were so secretive with their experience and the knowledge they gained from it that everything was a deep dark secret. Well now the car companies are doing the same to you newer mechanics. I guess this is how they are going to control the repair of their vehicles now. Fighting any right to repair notion people might get.

The old solenoid in the old transmission may have shorted out killing the PCM. Isn't it fun making up your own tests? I was a tech for 17 years. Poor customer. It sounds like the original shop may not be entirely at fault.

Most of the flowcharts are nonsense. Its better to familiarize yourself with a system and apply common sense diagnostic troubleshooting. All the while asking yourself "what else could it be" and " how can I prove it ".

The problem is COMPUTERISED CRAP !

Didn't have these electrical gremlins in the past, out with the old and in with queer trons.

Quality of your videos aren't as before , keep improving

This is why automatic transmissions should be illegal, if you cant work a clutch, a gear shift and drive at the same time you shouldn't be allowed to drive anyway

@tonytango6676

9 ай бұрын

But then people would not be able to text while they drive! Yes, that was sarcasm.

@mph5896

9 ай бұрын

Why have a fancy car when you can just walk everywhere. 😉

Obviously you shouldn't go bananas with your assumption that it's 'fixed' when the part you ordered is in transit. Customer: How's my car? Kenny: It's fixed. Customer: Oh good, I'll come pick it up, I'll be there in 20 minutes. Kenny: It's not fixed fixed the part has been ordered and is on it's way. Customer: Can I drive it? Kenny: No, the part is on it's way. Customer: How can it be fixed if I can't drive it, are you assuming that it's the right part because you always say to be mindful and never assume? The headline to the video says "We fixed it"? Can I drive it home with no issues? Kenny: No, the part is not in but I'm not too concerned about that. Customer: So it's not fixed? What are you doing now? Kenny: I'm driving. Customer: Test driving my car? Kenny: No, I have something else to do but someone else will put the part in when it comes in. Customer: So it's fixed in theory, it just can't be driven? When you put the new part in are you going to test it? Kenny: Of course. Customer: Why? Kenny: To make sure everything is okay. Customer: To verify that it's fixed? Kenny: Yes Customer: Didn't you test it before saying it was fixed the first time?

Jesus that background noise. I’m out.

@dans_Learning_Curve

9 ай бұрын

Yeah, it was a bit annoying. I'll cut him some slack. Learning a lot from him.

@JT-LV

9 ай бұрын

@@dans_Learning_Curve 👍

@richzahnle8198

8 ай бұрын

Sounds like the shop is making money.