McCuistian

McCuistian

This is where we learn about fixing cars and dealing with customers. We believe mechanics should be honest, dependable, dedicated, and tough, with Performance, Attitude, Integrity, and Dependability. McCuistian logged in more than 25 years as a professional technician and has been writing for Motor Age magazine since May 2000, and teaching college auto mechanics since Jan 2001.

Photos and a Practice Test

Photos and a Practice Test

Customer Caused Concerns

Customer Caused Concerns

Old Buggy

Old Buggy

Saving Cars From Death

Saving Cars From Death

Barned in the USA

Barned in the USA

Finding a Noise

Finding a Noise

HVAC   Controlling Cold

HVAC Controlling Cold

A Few More HVAC Tips

A Few More HVAC Tips

A Shop Story and some Pix

A Shop Story and some Pix

Chasing Alero Noises

Chasing Alero Noises

Random Principles Exam

Random Principles Exam

Cloaked Concerns Can Bite

Cloaked Concerns Can Bite

Belt Tensioner Forensics

Belt Tensioner Forensics

F150 LED Conversion

F150 LED Conversion

Knuckle Busters

Knuckle Busters

Manual Transaxle Basics

Manual Transaxle Basics

Пікірлер

  • @vegandollsunited
    @vegandollsunitedКүн бұрын

    Mr. McCuistian. Thanks for your help. I was able to fix my 2008 Kia Spectra5 2.0L. I did not replace a coil pack or the oxygen sensor. What happened is i had gotten into an accident where i was rear ended a few weeks ago. Well, what must have happened is it disrupted the engine compartment enough to wiggle the spark plug wires. well, i didn't realise that after checking the spark plugs and the coil packs that the metal connectors inside the spark plug insulation had receded or the wires were maybe not built right to extend enough down to reach the spark plug and it wasn't making good contact. after doing all the testing on the coil and seeing that the secondary windings were 10,000 ohms, i thought that i should take a closer look at the wires and when i noticed that on both cylinder 2 and 3 they were very easy to pull up on i pulled the wires up and saw that the metal connnectors were too receded within the insulation. i was not stupid enough to go through the parts cannon, thankfully. i didn't think in my assessment that two wires could go bad at the same time and knew the wires weren't old enough to be bad, but it was the manufacturing of the wires perhaps that caused the problem. i switched them with some old wires and it's running fine now. no codes, not even the oxygen sensor P2232 code. i only took the car out for a short run but it seems all the bucking and hesitation is gone. I didn't think it would be a fuel delivery issue because remember i was getting -10% at 3,000 rpms for the STFT. Thank you for putting in my mind about the coil packs.

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor84322 күн бұрын

    Good evening ,my mentor .Sir Richard McCuistian Thank you very much for sharing your brilliant knowledge with us The bottle of water is very good for your body 💧 ,Sir Richard McCuistian Take care 👍 SHREWD,Sir Richard McCuistian From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 22:44PM

  • @petar443
    @petar4432 күн бұрын

    This video is worth in gold. Not much information on carburettors these days, especially from true masters. The only other guy is Uncle tony's garage. Thanks for the good info. thank you😊

  • @Creaturemotorsport
    @Creaturemotorsport3 күн бұрын

    Did a carburetor with grandpa as a kid. He told me "you can mechanic". Yeah carbs come in many flavors. Have an awesome day

  • @vegandollsunited
    @vegandollsunited3 күн бұрын

    Mr. McCuistian. I have a P2231 DTC on my Kia 2008 Spectra5. I also am getting cylinder misfire DTCs on cylinders 2 and 3. The car is hesitating and bucking, especially at idle and when i try to get the car going as if it has a bad fuel filter. It has 171,000 miles on it and I had replaced the upstream O2 air-fuel ratio sensor about 3 years ago when the car had approximately 135,000 miles on it. I connected a code reader with live data and i saw that the O2 sensor had a lambda of 1. The STFT also goes to -10% at 3000-4000 rpm. Not sure if the O2 sensor is what i should replace. The trouble code says it's a signal circuit shorted to heater circuit. The air fuel ratio is quite expensive at my local auto parts store and i don't have enough time to order online because i have to be at work on tuesday. Is this code almost always a bad O2?

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian3 күн бұрын

    Well, 2 and 3 are companion cylinders unless it's a 2.7 V6 (is it a 4 cyl?), so you might have an issue with the coil or with one or both of those cylinders. And as I remember, having the spark plugs connected backwards the coil pack on 2 an 3 (sounds odd) can cause issues. I'd be checking compression on all four, paying particular attention to 2 and 3 and further, I'd like to compare the spark plugs on 2 and 3 with the others. Set the O2 sensor aside for now and focus on those two misfiring cylinders. The code might be significant, and no two vehicles are the same; you might disconnect the O2 sensor entirely, drive it, see if that makes a difference, and then check to see if you get a different code. It's possible the short could be in the harness, so be aware of that.

  • @vegandollsunited
    @vegandollsunited3 күн бұрын

    @@McCuistian i was afraid you would say that, Mr. McCuistian. Something I left out hoping it wouldn't sway your response. The car had been leaking antifreeze from the water pump and i've been filling the radiator intermittently. I hope its not a blown head gasket, although I don't think the car ever ran hot enough...i've been keeping an eye on the temperature gauge and it's never gone into the hot zone. I will try to disconnect the O2 sensor as you said and will get back to you with further assessment. Thank you so much.

  • @vegandollsunited
    @vegandollsunited3 күн бұрын

    @@McCuistian and yes, it's a 4 cylinder. for a while now, it sounded when i would start the car initially that there was probably an issue with compression. but, not sure why im getting the O2 sensor code.

  • @vegandollsunited
    @vegandollsunited3 күн бұрын

    @@McCuistian I disconnected the upstream sensor and drove the car. It drives the same with the hesitating and bucking. The lambda reading of 1 i gave u before i think was for the downstream sensor. the upstream sensor is voltage based and is 2.3 - 2.6 at idle and around that when gas is applied. I am going to do a compression test on those two cylinders.

  • @vegandollsunited
    @vegandollsunited3 күн бұрын

    @@McCuistian the spark plugs are most likely fine but i will check them. i had replaced the plugs and wires at 100,000 miles and never had an issue with them since. they are the iradium 100,000 mile plugs i put in there.

  • @maxsanchez4256
    @maxsanchez42563 күн бұрын

    Thank you so much

  • @maxsanchez4256
    @maxsanchez42563 күн бұрын

    Thank you. You helped me so much. #honorablemechanic

  • @oldred2470
    @oldred24705 күн бұрын

    Did they change how many questions because google says it 25 question and open book test

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian5 күн бұрын

    They might have - it's easy to take the test though, and yes, it's an open book test -

  • @marktatum2592
    @marktatum25928 күн бұрын

    Sounds like flock of pissed off cicadas

  • @billybobs841
    @billybobs8419 күн бұрын

    I ment good video

  • @billybobs841
    @billybobs8419 күн бұрын

    Goof video

  • @lynnweaver9281
    @lynnweaver92819 күн бұрын

    On your next video can yo do something about carburetors drum brakes or points I'm a john deere mechanic but I'm the only one in the shop that can tune a carburetor or set points those things aren't in school anymore

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian9 күн бұрын

    Goodness, well, I guess time has faded carburetors into the past. I can do a video on carburetors, but I'm not sure how many views it might get. It's an idea, though.

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor84329 күн бұрын

    The bottle of water is very good for your body 💧 ,Sir Richard McCuistian My mentor 👍 PERCEPTIVE,Sir Richard McCuistian Take care From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 21:55PM Good Evening 🌧 and more 🌧

  • 9 күн бұрын

    Thank you Richard you are a blessing for us all.

  • @bobdoingbobthings
    @bobdoingbobthings9 күн бұрын

    I recently bought a 96 Lumina from my brother. He was going to junk the car, but I wanted to save it because it only has 120k miles. It misfires on 5. My brother already replaced the spark plugs, plug wires and coil packs and it still misfires on 5. Driving it home, I noticed the engine does not warm up. That makes me suspect a blown head gasket (the GM 3.1 L v6 is famous for that). But it doesn't smoke (neither blue nor white) and there is no evidence of exhaust gases in the coolant and no evidence of water in the oil. It's been parked since I bought it, but this weekend I'm gonna try to diagnose the problem.

  • @mph5896
    @mph58969 күн бұрын

    Still remember this, I did an intake gasket on a 3100 25 years ago. I did plugs at the same time. Fired it up and it had a dead miss. Looked it over for days. Turns out, one of the rear plugs I put in, the electrode was bent over. Sloppy work on my part.

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian9 күн бұрын

    Interesting challenge!

  • @Creaturemotorsport
    @Creaturemotorsport10 күн бұрын

    Mechanics should know about the different kinds nut's they may encounter. Good Monday morning to ya

  • @georgebonney90
    @georgebonney9010 күн бұрын

    Thank you Sir

  • @simpleautosolutions5147
    @simpleautosolutions514710 күн бұрын

    Current ramping on the labscope is great for coil performance analysis.

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian10 күн бұрын

    If the person who is doing the work has a scope and a current probe it's the best way!

  • @king300c
    @king300c11 күн бұрын

    I could really use some advice. My Father drives a 2010 Dodge Caravan 3.3l v6, approx 210,000 kms. He bought it used several years ago but was looked after properly. It's been literally bulletproof beside brakes and rotors. He believes he's having brake issues. He had the front and rear passenger brake randomly stick on. We checked the brakes expecting to find a problem, but can't find anything wrong. The calipers are not sticking. Brake hoses aren't new but don't seem to be holding residual pressure. Have you had any similar situations? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much.

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian11 күн бұрын

    Sounds like a problem with the ABS hydraulic control unit. I've seen problems similar to that on other vehicles when the HCU has sticking and corrosion in its internal valving.

  • @king300c
    @king300c11 күн бұрын

    @@McCuistian Thank you very much for your response, I really appreciate it. If I understand you correctly, the failing hcu can possibly mimic sticking calipers and/or degrading brake hoses? Is replacing that unit the only solution or can it be cleaned or rebuilt? Thanks for making videos and sharing your knowledge and experiences.

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian11 күн бұрын

    @@king300c Yes, the HCU can trap fluid at just some of the wheels - if you loosen the bleeder when they're locked up and they release that's the most likely cause - but you'll need to replace the HCU. I've never known of anybody rebuilding one.

  • @king300c
    @king300c10 күн бұрын

    @@McCuistian Thanks very much, I really appreciate it.

  • @_crg_
    @_crg_12 күн бұрын

    Gang it george I said left not right

  • @tubescanner
    @tubescanner12 күн бұрын

    Straight to the point. Subscribed.

  • @curtwilliams2606
    @curtwilliams260616 күн бұрын

    🫤🤔

  • @Creaturemotorsport
    @Creaturemotorsport17 күн бұрын

    Them ole under hood fiberglass mats that would make you itch all day were fun. To me common sense is parts that get warm or hold a pressure difference should be made of metal when possible. Oh Yeah Good Monday Morning

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian16 күн бұрын

    Mornin' Mike!

  • @bobdoingbobthings
    @bobdoingbobthings17 күн бұрын

    @ 22:30 That thing looks like a cannon loaded with powdered donuts :-)

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian16 күн бұрын

    funny!

  • @bobdoingbobthings
    @bobdoingbobthings17 күн бұрын

    I inhaled a LOT of brake dust as a kid in the 1980s before I knew better.

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian16 күн бұрын

    Me too!

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor843217 күн бұрын

    Good morning, Sir Richard McCuistian My mentor 👍 INTVITIVE, Sir Richard McCuistian From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 7:23AM

  • @Sage93166
    @Sage9316619 күн бұрын

    Thank you, I’ve been having problems recently after changing my brakes in my vocational shop myself and turns out it I was sold 4 wheel abs rotors instead of RABS equipped rotors therefore the ring for the sensor wasn’t there and there is no way to scan those modules on a 96 due to the failure to integrate it with the OBD until 97 but I still appreciate your expertise

  • @Creaturemotorsport
    @Creaturemotorsport24 күн бұрын

    Yeah them custom 80's. The ole crt, vcr, mini bar, ash trays, couch bed thingy, huge console phone, auto flip/fwd tape deck, and extra vapor cloud a/c systems. I was still using a custom tape deck in the daily in the 2000's. It worked. Nissan heater lines a plastic & aluminum mixed no don't do that. Parts house replacements on several models is no plastic all aluminum. MONDAY TIME have a super week.

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian23 күн бұрын

    Have a great week!

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor843224 күн бұрын

    Good morning, Sir Take care, my mentor 👍 PERCEPTIVE, Sir Richard McCuistian From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 6:40AM

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistian24 күн бұрын

    Morning! Hope things are well in the UK!

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    Good evening, Sir Richard McCuistian My teacher 👍 WHIP SMART, Sir Richard McCuistian From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️21:58PM

  • @chickinbonematt
    @chickinbonemattАй бұрын

    Sound is still a bit off

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistianАй бұрын

    That sound was captured by the wrong mike - Sorry

  • @mph5896
    @mph5896Ай бұрын

    Friend called me for a no crank condition. I gave him plenty of suggestions of what it could be. He asked me to come over in which I did. Problem was, he added in all kinds of variables into the problem since he touched EVERYTHING. And added an aftermarket radio and had the front windshield tinted in which a river of water was used. I spent an hour just to get back to the original problem. He had one of the bcm plugs unseated, and the shifter interlock out of place 🙄

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistianАй бұрын

    I've worked on more than a few where I had to fix the original problem after de-engineering everything they had messed up trying to fix it!

  • @Creaturemotorsport
    @CreaturemotorsportАй бұрын

    Seen a dude doing testing what is and what is not working to figure lean or rich stall on obd1. My experience would have me sniff a plug the moment it stalls before complex testing. Some windstars had them head gaskets did some at barely over 50,000. An engineer had one and wanted to watch every wrench turn of the entire job to see why so I got set up real nice in that dudes garage doing that one. Ford IAC sticking is common seen more than a few of them. Maximum Monday

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistianАй бұрын

    You have some GREAT stories too, Mike! Good mornin!

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    Take care, Sir Richard McCuistian 👍 SHREWD, Sir Richard McCuistian From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 23:46PM Good Evening

  • @ruben85374
    @ruben85374Ай бұрын

    Hello. Recently did a ac job on my car replaced faulty expansion valve. After vacuum and charged ac is cold. But has intermittent issue when running feels like it cuts off and you get that humid smell out the vents, stays cool though. Feel like its not 100 efficient.

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    Take care 👍 My Mentor WHIP SMART, Sir Richard McCuistian From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 07:33AM

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    👍 😂 PROFICIENT ,Sir Richard McCuistian From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 7:14AM

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    SHARP, Sir Richard McCuistian Thank you very much for sharing yours knowledge with us My Mentor From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 23:18PM Good Evening

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    ACCOMPLISHED Sir Richard McCuistian 👍 From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 23:08PM

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    SUBSTANTIAL Sir Richard McCuistian 👍 From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 23:01PM

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    KNOWLEDGEABLE Sir Richard McCuistian 👍 From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 22:59PM

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    👍 INTVITIVE, Sir Richard McCuistian From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 22:33PM

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    QUICK-WITTED, Sir Richard McCuistian My teacher 👍 From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 22:08PM Good Evening

  • @nickayivor8432
    @nickayivor8432Ай бұрын

    ASTUTE, Sir Richard McCuistian 👍 From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 22:04PM Good Evening

  • @bobb7792
    @bobb7792Ай бұрын

    A banshee is a 4 wheeler

  • @gransergranser9756
    @gransergranser9756Ай бұрын

    Learned alot thanks

  • @Creaturemotorsport
    @CreaturemotorsportАй бұрын

    Using a creeper makes me want to nap under the car. Actually I have woke up a few hours later in the driveway with a frame touching my nose wondering what happened more than once. I thought DEF was one of them left handed screwdriver type things before it was in the trucks. Fooled by bad testing procedures Yep Good Monday Morning to Ya

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistianАй бұрын

    Good mornin' Mike! Dad used to go on weekends and lie on his creeper in his shop in the dark to take a nap. I know what you mean about a comfy creeper putting you to sleep.

  • @84combat
    @84combatАй бұрын

    That's why you should use cardboard instead of a creeper :)

  • @Creaturemotorsport
    @CreaturemotorsportАй бұрын

    My Dad AKA Red to certain folks. 80's was a different earth. I agree and got about 18-20 man size card board in a 83 F150 camper ready to use.

  • @KristopherSmith-km7pr
    @KristopherSmith-km7prАй бұрын

    Great video man ! U got lots of knowledge and i aspire to be as knowledgeable as yourself, i have 6 out 8 certs so far took my a2 and failed by 6 questions but take my a3 soon and watching your videos has helped me tremendously thank you !

  • @McCuistian
    @McCuistianАй бұрын

    Glad to help!!!!

  • @Creaturemotorsport
    @CreaturemotorsportАй бұрын

    Kids without phones do what