Chevy Malibu: Runs Rough On Cold Start, Sometimes Stalls 

I never really thought about my cars ever needing computer updates till I started watching the SMA channel. I love the diligence that Eric O has in regards to checking a customers car for needed updates. Even if my car is coming in for service for something mechanical, I would be more than happy to pay the additional work time for him to check my current software codes to make sure I'm running on the newest version. We preach it all the time in the information technology world with our computers but seem to forget that our cars contain a lot of the same technology that also needs updates. The owner actually needed more than just the fuel system update so she'll be thankful to know Eric O was on the job! Great video.

Why on earth would someone thumbs down an SMA video??? This is the best stuff i watch on RU-vid!

Dude.. Your videos never suck. And it's adaptt or die. That's how everything evolves..

If I ever have this problem guess where I am taking my car. It will be a long drive but well worth it. You are the master!

Starting school in May for my master tech certs.... not excited for autonomous cars and for repairs to be less wrenching in the future. That's just how the world works.... got to keep truckin'!

I don't usually go for the diagnostic (ie fancy scan tool) videos simply because as a DIY I get confused with all the tech in these cars. However I think this was the most entertaining SMA video I've seen. Thanks Eric, I learned a lot just now.

I found this program to be informative and very well produced. I heard down south, their cars have a moonshine monitor reset.

Very cool. I recently had to update the firmware in our washing machine. Welcome to the future. Great video as always sir.

These days you got to be a mechanic and tech support. Great video Mr. O

If one is not in tune with the down and dirty explanation of the future of "non-wrench" repairs, the typical customer would think as you stated....oh....it needs a plug and wire fix. I am 71 years young and am thankful for guys like you ,Eric, that take our hand and give us the informed understanding of these space age vehicles that we think operate the same as they did 30 years ago. I learn every time I watch your videos. You have educated me as to how my 2005 Chrysler Pacifica operates and needs the modern attention that you teach. Only wish I where 20 years younger and I would be the first in line to educate my mind to modern automotive electronics and ecm knowledge! Thanks. You are a bright light to honesty and education. Bless you.

Another great video and a real honest mechanic.

Fixing cars with updates sucks! Warranty pay at the dealer for doing tsb updates sucks... You're still the man for keeping up with all this new technology and fixing cars right for your customers!

“If I can do it, you can do it.” I love this line!

The amount of money you have invested in electronic equipment is astounding! No one should ever complain about labor rates at professional shop like SMA!

Once again you have explain a problem that even is none mechanics can understand thanks big O !!

Another superb video Eric, I dread to think the level of complexity that some of us may have to deal with in 20 or 30 years time. Software configuration is and will be paramount in the majority of vehicles prior to even thinking about starting to fault find. Certainly in the industry I'm in, we first check the software config before starting anything !! "that is for returned systems that come in for repair" . Keep up the good work.

Eric, Your awesome, i have a 2012 with the same issue, had GM do the ECM/TCM update and like yours, resolved it. Thanks for the info

After all that, I was going to say you can do a tune up with a computer these days. But then you took the words right out of my mouth. I'm not sure I'll ever get to this point, or that I'll need to be, but it sure is interesting. Your staying ahead of the technology so far, great stuff.

Looks great video it's good to know that sometimes it just takes a kick in the transistor LOL

Thank you for sharing this with us. A Big Thumbs UP. I'm waiting for your WUW I missed the last one due to the weather. Not this week short of hell and high water it's not the same if your not able to watch it live.

Yall pay attention this will F a mother up if you haven't seen this. Seen it probably 5 or 6 times now. Always well over 50%. And had a 16' Silverado with a tank full of water readin 90%+ lol. This is annihilating DIYers and small shops in our area. We have E85, reggie, & full strength all the hell over to. Great video sir.

Another great Video Eric and seems like every week or so theres a update on alot of cars and this covers multiple makes so its definitely worthwhile to check for updates. Great job

Thanks for a fantastic tech lesson. This is what the world is coming to.

I work in IT and I really like the video's that depict issues with software/firmware and how they relate to something mechanical. For me it's the perfect marriage between two passions I have - computers and automobiles. I agree with you Eric it will eventually reach the "stupid ridiculous" stage at some point. Whadda going to do ? right ? Fall in line and buy another over priced tech tool to fix the car and get it back on the road. LOL. Keep up the good work. I actually work at a community college and directly support the automotive program so I get a front line view of how the technology has evolved over the years. Pretty interesting stuff.

Around my neck of the woods I am given the title of Superman for solving automotive problems. I relinquish this title to you Eric. Remember if you can do it I can too. This video was great.

"Chuggles"? I'm amazed at how many Mr. O expressions are creeping into my daily vocabulary. "WHOA!", "Give her the beans", "Ugga duggas", "Safety third", etc... I can't even say Malibu without throwing a gang sign anymore! My wife thinks I'm possessed, especially when I start waving Brake Klean around and yelling "Where's the music? Where's the music?" There's more here that's contagious than your cold, Mr O!

Another great video from Mr O at SMA.

Great video great technique on the ‘classic reach arounds’ it’s been a while!

Awesome update fix !!!

Nice one Eric. Very interesting to see some programming.

Wow !!! Has things changed with computer controlled engine management systems. Your average Joe shade tree mechanic can't fix a present day vehicle without having access to all of the car manufacturers latest software updates and they own thousands of dollars in scan equipment to install it. Nothing against you Sir by no means but heck they've made it to where no one but the repair shops can even do a repair on a vehicle. That's in some ways is a very scary thought if you ask me because not everyone is as honest as you Mr Eric O and man am I thankful for folks as yourself. Awesome video Sir 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

I'm a bit of a technophobe but you help me to understand this stuff. I have a long way to go to feel i'm able to follow some of this stuff. But i'll hang in there lady!

Excellent video oh by the way that popcorn trick works great I got my wife with it. I told the guys at work about it and now the platoon is doing it to their wives. That advice was better than an automotive tip.

Great video - I learned a lot and always do from your videos. BTW you 'adapt' very well. God bless Paul

Back in the day the first thing you did for any engine condition was a tune up. From watching your videos it seems like if you get good with the computers and electronics that it might actually help you find problems much quicker. I took a ford van to a friends shop this week for a misfire that was not throwing a code. Hooked to his verus and saw #1 was lagging. Changed the coil and the plug and she was good to go (300,110 miles fleet vehicle). Back in the day you would of had too pull wires and find out which one was missing, not easy on a van. I personally feel the newer drive trains are better, if they would just quit rusting out before the vehicle wears out. I know.....I'm preaching to the choir !!!!! Thanks for the videos

Another learning experience. Thanks. Good info.

Just because the sign says AUTO REPAIR doesn't mean they can actually do it. Another good one from SMA. TheReaper!

Let’s see a 500.00 battery tender a 800.00 tech 2 a 1000.00 computer a 1000.00 bosh the what ever the subscription is for the update yup easy peasy good video nice content you can do it I would just go broke trying

Good video Eric O. Thanks for video's that you put out .

Another great video, thank you Eric O!

Good video and great info Mr O, thanks for sharing.

Flex fuel - what a nightmare. Thought one of those computers was going to flash a gang sign. Thumbs up video production!

Tundras are really bad about this too. Had a 2015 come in just last week reading 83% alcohol and puffing black smoke. Basically same process

Thanks for the videos. What's the saying....adapt to survive!

Great video as always Mr O, still waiting on how I go about getting my own South Main Auto Shirt

Dr.Eric O, once again fixes it. Making money and not even getting dirty.. nice..THese 2 me are what i like 2 call money makers for the dealerships. Computer controlled vechiles, b.s...Where do i get my softwear update for my 79 Square body...lol....I really hate newer cars, because this is exactly why most people cant fix this kind of repair,( backyard mechanic) u would haft to take it somewhere to be repaired, because it would be cheaper than buying all of equipment to do it.great explanation by u eric, another solid repair.i do as much of my repairs as i can, and thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with all of us..take care of the family, best to u and yours..

Thanks brother. Not an area I am very comfortable. (old dog new tricks thing) But like you said this is the way things are going adapt or die. It's like the whole "Modular thing" "Nope that rear end has reached the end of it's service life" we just replace the whole unit. Ya ever wish you chose another profession?..lol Keep up the great work my friend...

14:15 I wonder how long GM has been using that graphic of a late 80s/early 90s Macintosh ;) Great vid as always, and yeah, even this non-mechanic thinks cars have gotten way too complicated. No wonder the average car costs $36K now!

Mr. O, do a video of how to read a wiring diagram and how to follow it. Good videos as always!

I have both an alcohol compensation and composition issue, rehab just doesn't work for me.

could not see your hand held pig to well but good to know its an easy fix thanks to the hand held pig!

My dad had over 34 years in auto repair. He owned his repair shop. He did not want to adapt and retired. My expertise is in electronics and computers. He used to call me out to the shop to help diagnose electronic problems. I thought the newer cars were much easier to work on than the older ones. LOL

"Car needs a tuneup" Beep boop beep boop boop beep beep. "All done"! "That'll be $300."

Who in the He&& gave this man a thumbs down????

adapt? you did a great job

Silicone Mechanic Auto :-) Happy Easter O's

Great job Erick

Great Video! Definitely saving this one! I'm surprised the commies up in Sacramento never sanctioned E85 for my area! The L.A. DWP actually put that trash in small auxiliary engines. Every day you have to run it, and drain it out when it gets cold, or.....LOTS of parts cleaning when the stuff gels, separates,.....etc!

great vid well said and explained but i am checking my alcohol content and i am out of beer

What I find frightening is not the ever increasing complexity of our vehicles but rather the ever diminishing amount of highly skilled techs to find problems. Dealerships won't pay top technicians the top money so they branch out to work on their own. Which is fine but that leaves us consumers not knowing where the top technicians like Eric can be found and sadly, more often than not, we fall victim to those far less able. I found your channel about a month ago and I've been binging to catch up. I'm in Melbourne Australia and my experiences over the years with mechanics and so called technicians have not been very happy ones. I drive a 2005 Mitsubishi 380 3.8 v6 that's had a niggling electrical issue since I bought it almost new 13 years ago. It isn't serious, keeps pulling up "soft codes", I've been managing it but no one has had the gumption to find the problem. I gave up on Mitsubishi and then paying "techs" to find the problem who never could despite paying for diagnostics. If I was in the U.S. I'd bring it to you in a heartbeat. Good on ya Eric, I've been enjoying binging on your videos, your style and attitude to your repairs and life in general.

hell, if you can fix it without getting dirty that's a win win in my book

Great video Eric

nice work eric..

Haven't seen a bad video from u yet,all of em awesome! Always learning something from u

Now I've loved your videos for a long time, I'm a nerd and love seeing the way you find problems. But goddamn I hate this car computer business, used to be you'd need a screwdriver to fix a fuel issue, or just bash the carb with something heavy till you could fix it!

The lament about software reminded me of a comment on EEVblog by Jack Ganssle, an embedded systems expert. He mentioned consumers place about 70% of a cars value on the electronics. And electronics these days are software configurable. There does seem to be a nice business in deciphering when the wires and magic boxes succumb to the ravages of salt baths and have driven the magic smoke pixies mad.

I realize I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I would assume Eric appreciates and encourages candid discussion. By profession, I'm an electrical engineer who has a keen interest in automobiles and automotive repair. I work for a company that manufactures power supplies which are used in aircraft, and that is my area of expertise. Not unlike automobiles, these power supplies are also using increasingly complex software-controlled hardware. Like it or not, we engineers are not infallible - we are often under immense constraints, namely cost and schedule. As a result of this, we often are not always able create a finished product which totally adheres to our original vision. And as we all well know, hindsight is always 20/20. In the past, based on production yield, and field failure data, engineers would often write change orders to modify circuitry, often to improve design margin, reliability, and longevity of the product by physically changing components in circuits. However, unlike in the past, sometimes all it takes to make the changes we always wanted in the first place, based mainly on failure data analysis, is modifying some lines of code in FPGA software. This allows us improve design margin at a much lower cost and more easily than replacing any physical hardware, or make changes to better compensate for component tolerance variation, or wear throughout the life of the product which was not originally predicted accurately. It has become apparent to me that GM, and other manufacturers have started using this approach, often to the dismay of the end users or repair technicians. For example, my 2008 Corvette Z06 required a software update after only 10,000 miles in 2013. However, I can say with absolute certainty that software changes are not taken lightly. While it may seem trivial to go in and change a few lines of code, this can often have unintentional consequences. As such, these changes are often very thoroughly qualified, or verified (and may even be an obligatory NTSB requirement) before being released. I truthfully admire GM and others for being willing to support the improvement of a nearly 10 year old vehicle by creating a "product improvement" software upgrade, it shows they still care about existing vehicles as well as new. While it may be easy to be angered and frustrated that the vehicle "only needed a program upgrade", I can confidently say it is almost certainly far less costly, easier, and safer than replacing physical mechanical components. Believe me, it would be much easier for GM to say "screw the customer, we already made our money on the sale" and do nothing at all. It would be interesting to know what exact software parameters were changed, my suspicion is the intent in this particular case was to accommodate for component wear.

U dam good man like watching ur video s keep it coming Sir thanks

SMA vids, AWESOME as always! Eric O putting it down like the BOSS that he is, keeping it real & helping the public with his knowledge & know how. It's the newer car's that suck! squeezing every bit of juice they can out of a 4 banger, adding more & more tech & gadgets & gismo's, & making the junkier cars both, More expensive to buy, & more expensive to fix. Added cost to the mechanic who needs all the new scan machine's! The die hard big & small block's were tuned with a set of strait blade screw drivers, tweaking the air & fuel mixture's & maybe a timing light. heck, they want to keep adding more parts, turbo's, direct injection, variable this & that, squeezing ever turd they can out of a 4-banger until they are less & less reliable with higher & higher compression & hotter temps, give me a small block 400 anyday!!!

I am about to start a college course in Agricultural Engineering this September, tractor technology is apparently only now starting to embrace CAN bus and electronic control modules. The course tutor told a story about how when a farmer called in a fault on his new tractor and a lad turned up with a laptop to fix it, he refused to pay the bill, because he thought he didn't fix it and the young guy was just playing with the laptop on his time! As a former IT guy, I am interested by your videos of doing diags with scantools, etc. but generally I like the rewarding nature of fixing stuff with your hands, which is sadly quite far removed from working on computers these days, very few IT techs work on hardware, it's all software stuff that your boss wants you to fix as fast as possible over the phone or via remote access... Thanks Eric!

another great video Eric keepum comming

If you can do it, I can do it yeah I will try to remember that.. Thanks for what you do

I'm surprised you don't have ethanol in Avoca. Hell, you've got corn growing everywhere up there. Thought you'd use it for fuel. One thing I can tell you is that you've got the tastiest corn I've ever had. That was some GOOD STUFF.

My car's engine is recalibrated by me and my trusty screwdriver on the carburetor (gasp!!) idle mixture.

Looks like there might be a good reason for the 'recall' notice on my new Chevy pickup. It arrived in the mail a week after I brought the truck home, and I copped an attitude.

Your Videos Do Not Suck --- they are always good. I just do not understand why people buy flex fuel vehicles, when the fuel is not avail or they wouldn't pay the price, if it was. Your starting to see older gas & electric vehicles with issues,so why buy one,especially a used one.

You need to be a computer nerd to work on today's cars. Eric your knowledge amazes me.

Yeah my mom has a 2015 Chevy Malibu & I am sure it will need updates for it also eventually. Me & her will go to the Chevy dealer for everything.

You mean to say, “Ya need plugs, points and a condenser, lady!” wont fix it?

One day you're trying to free a seized nut; the next day, you're almost a software engineer.

cant wait for WUW!!!

Job well done

I knew this generation of the Malibu was going to be trouble. My roommates dad had a Malibu in that gen, the 4 cylinder model and he had to have the engine replaced in it twice. And he kept up on all the maintenance, took it to a Chevy dealership for all the maintenance (and repair) work.

Eric As soon as you mentioned the flex fuel vehicle I knew what was wrong from a previous video you have done. Thanks for the refresher. Just like Trump says you got a bigger button and it works. Lol

Eric, My shop bought a Snap-on battery charger a few months back that has all the same features and the control head looks EXACTLY the same, except for it's in red team colors. Costs $300 more than the one you have on Amazon! The only difference is that the Snap On is a cart but sheesh, for $300 keep your wheels!

Always good it could be changing a flat on the side of the road and I’d watch it

Bios updates have been common place in the pc industry for years. Our only difference is we can get our updates for free. Car updates are restricted to specific tools and must be paid for. I understand the reason in though. You screw up an update to an ecu and it could mean someone's life. Especially since the drive by wire systems are commonplace.

Very interesting and informative Eric! Just curious, are there any risks of bricking the ECM with these kind of software updates, or is it a relatively failsafe process?

Sometimes it's nice to diagnose and program and never get your hands dirty. Does your laptop have Windows 7? Nice diagnosis & video!!

Yes, adapting is you way to survival....

I'm old school really miss the old days when you could tune up with set of plugs and points.

The advent of computer systems on vehicles made them more reliable and easier to assemble. Back in the day, you had to stomp on the gas to set an automatic choke and that was far from trouble free. With technology comes change and with that technology comes new ways to run automobiles. What we used to do with vacuum controls we now do with electricity.

So true that I still driving trucks that are more dependable the new stuff

There's your problem lady To much Alcohol trying to get your Car Drunk is a no No lmfao 🤣 😂 good Video Eric O some Extras on the Programming @SouthMainAutoRepairLLC

Hey, look, that is a fix.... Sometimes you work smarter, not harder.... To be brutally honest, I get paid for what I KNOW HOW TO DO, not necessarily what I do, at any given moment.... Updating software is easier than digging a ditch out in the sun at a quarry.... but that knowledge, of HOW to do it, HAS VALUE..... Fixing the car, does not ALWAYS mean wearing out the battery on the impact driver..... You still fixed it.... it's not wrong.... It is what it is. the world is changing, and it's going to keep changing. We all adapt.... Tech, is coming into these cars, and it's going to keep coming.... At the same time, the latest & greatest tech, that massages your genitalia while you drive, still needs oil changes, shocks, struts, brakes, ball joints, wheel bearings, and all the rest of it.... So, we go forward, but, a car is still a car, and your skills still have real value.... And I daresay, integrity, is priceless. You could have thrown plugs & wires at it, and made more money.... You did not take advantage of the situation.... that is priceless. A mechanic, who you can trust, truly is priceless..... Sadly, not everyone in your profession, has that level of integrity.... great video!

Once again thanks for the video :) Quite interesting that it's different enough to run pooh with high alcohol fuel on old firmware... Java? Java is involved in reflashing a PCM? Ewwwwww! Icky! Hahaha!

Another great video, but wait till Dorman starts getting into electrical stuff just saying.

He says Malibu and throws up gang signs... Lol...

Nice. One more reason to do away with that dastardly flex fuel boondoggle! Thanks Dr. O!

You can run a free program called Virtual Box, it will allow you to run multiple operating systems from one “laptop”, in this case. This might be of use to you if different manufacturers requiring different laptops.