Wes, we'll watch whatever videos you make. I personally like the 'real life' scenarios you show. Everything doesn't always work out right. It's your scathing sarcasm and witty humor that make the videos gold for me. Keep it up, and hope you had a great Father's Day!
@@haagentwat The worst part was dealing with customers. I'm not a "deal with customers kind of guy." Had a guy ranting and raving about some old heap he'd bought at one of the tent sales - complete with "special financing" - put on by one of the Ford dealership. I just stood there looking at him showing his ass on the service drive, then, when he took a breath, said "I'm gonna get a cup of coffee. I'll be back when you calm down and are ready to deal with this like a human being." Nowadays, I'd be accused of speciesism, or something. It did calm him down, though.
You have no idea how much it helps a DIYer/neighborhood mechanic to see someone like you unable to fix a car, or make a mistake that costs you a day's work fixing. I don't mean that in a jerk way. When I end up in those situations I genuinely wonder if I shouldn't just give my tools away. But if it can happen to you . . . Thanks!
You take the bad with the good. Fortunately most repairs are not that stressful or there would be no techs. Wes is gutsy and I think he is sort of the court of last resort for many of the vehicles he works on. In other words no one else would touch the ones he dares to take on. Hopefully he is well rewarded for his courage and skill. Some mistakes you eat, but other "mistakes" are a judgement calls to save time. The effort to then fix them should be on the customer if it does not work. This is especially true for the old stuff he takes on. I presume he turns down a lot of work as well to avoid hopeless cases. Been my experience the cheaper the customer, the more they expect.
While your week was bad Wes, you still turned out good entertainment. We feel your pain and as you have said before "we do it right cause we do it twice". Unlike many creators you show the warts and all, that is why we watch and come back for more. Happy Fathers day and here is to a better week.
Some days you're the big dog, some days you're the fire hydrant. No worries, the roller coaster will bring you home, and we will be here watching. Thanks for sharing.
This is the only channel on RU-vid where I watch every single video the day it comes out. All of your content is awesome in my opinion. The best mechanic channel on RU-vid.
The Buick LeSabre is 30 years old. To put that into context, that's like working on something from the '50s back in the '80s! Some of these vehicles truly are ancient.
The brake line bursting as you brought the car on for service is a reminder how rust is so much fun to battle . I live in the rust belt and find rust and the supply chain to be an uphill battle. Good video, it hopefully helps more people understand what mechanics go thru every other day.
No telling how many customers would blame you for brake line. Worse, knew of the problem and try to trap you into fixing them for free because of other work to get a discount. Best advice I got while wrenching from my boss. All car problems belong to the owner, we just fix them.
I had that happen to me on a used car I was getting ready to go over in prep for a tent sale that the Ford dealership I worked at was fixin' to put on. I hate tent sales. I walk down the the lower lot, find the POS, and drive it back to my bay. As I'm pulling in, one of the lines burst as I'm placing it so I can lift it. Ran smack into my MAC rollaway hard enough to smash in all the drawers and damage the chassis. If you guessed that the dealer refused to replace my rollaway, you guessed correctly. Bastids. I'd had that toolbox for 10 or 12 years at that point; kept it for another 20 years until I finally gave it away. I didn't have any red, so the drawer fronts and the front of the chassis stayed black for that entire time. Don't park your tool boxes where they can get run into. Park something the dealer owns, like a workbench in front of your stalls instead.
@@WatchWesWork Just remembered that blue is another color used for chroma key compositing, so just like with a green screen with a bit of movie magic you could be sitting on the international space station!
Wes, Wes, Wes, Wes, Wes. How many times do I have to tell you that you don’t have to upload frickin Masterpiece Theater! You drop a video, we’re gonna watch it! C’mon man! Geez! Happy Father’s Day!
Mr Wes , don't think that people aren't interested . Regardless if what your doing , it is always interesting, without fail . From wood elfery, processing deer , or working on cars and equipment , they are all great bud !
The video was fine Wes. Just shows that you suffer the same as the rest of us and I appreciate you being open about it. Not bad work on your part, perfection has only been accomplished by one man.
Duramax oil leak story time: I have a 96 GMC with a Duramax swapped in place of the 6.5. I watched the initial turbo replacement video several weeks ago when it came out, and thought to myself “I’m glad my turbo is comparatively easier to access than in a stock truck, I bet I could swap mine in a fraction of the time it takes on a stock application.” *1 week later, I blew the turbo* As it turns out, whilst it is easier on my truck than a stock truck, it still sucks. As I sit here and watch this video about a tiny oil leak, I can’t help but chuckle; ever since doing my turbo swap, I too have a small oil leak. I’m dreading it being the drain gasket, and I think this video sealed my fate. Thank you as always for quality content, Wes.
Gaskets seal on new parts in ideal factory conditions. After prolonged use the heat cycles warp the sealing surfaces rendering the gasket unable to seal. Apply a thin film of silicone on the gasket to seal the microscopic imperfections invisible to the naked eye.
Well done, Wes. You’re honest, you have a good heart, you’re smart and hardworking. Which is often not a lucrative combination these days, but we’re all pulling for you.
When i talk down like you did today..my wife screams at me, she knows its self-defeating a bad habit. Silverado..a success( forget the comeback)..buick good diagnosis, mustang got its carb fixed and some brake work. Good job kid
in my service station work days, one of our customers had a 428 mustang. 1968 i believe. i was 16 and was in awe. there wasn't enough room under the hood to slide a sheet of paper between the engine and the fender wells. a slight exaggeration. i on the other hand owned a 1967 beetle, with no ac. in south Texas.
Had a customer bring in a 72 Nova one in the 80's for a v8 tune up........ popped the hood and there was a 502 caddy under the hood. That Ford had lots of room compared to that Nova.
I wasn't sure if I ever wanted to own a diesel from the last 2 decades until I saw the original video where you replaced the turbo. That solidified it for me. Absolutely never.
Your channel is a breath of fresh air. I'm tired of watching clean, sterilized videos of RU-vidrs fixing a car without showing any of the actual struggles. It creates a false narrative to those who want to start working on their own stuff. I kinda feel like car RU-vidrs need to start being more transparent about the real life obstacles. What if you only have one vehicle and need that vehicle daily? Making a mistake could be devastating to that particular person.
i had the same problem somewhat on my 90 bonneville. When the crank sensor got warm the car wouldn't start after cooling down it cranked over and drove like a dream.
@@JobyFluorine-ru4bd Because as with Wes, the problem is not consistent/reproducible. Most of the time it works fine. Plus a fuel pump is likely to cause issues at other times also.
@@KnifeNerd9 I had a similar issue years ago on a 89 bonneville when the fuel pump got warm it wouldn't start and after cooling a few hours it started right up. But when it failed you obviously couldn't hear the pump prime. On my 90 i was getting a no spark condition when the crank sensor was acting up and having a bad miss that felt like the transmission was slipping real bad. But the fuel still did prime even in the no start condition. Put a new delphi crank sensor in it and its ran fine ever since. I even ohm checked the plug wires to make sure they were within spec as well.
The blue walls are a soothing color. I hope Wes gets a nice desk moved in for Mrs. Wes and himself. Perhaps a small desk for the young feller would be nice when he's in the shop so he can draw, color or do homework as he grows.
Had an oil drain tube that developed minor porosity on 30 y/o Volks diesel. Bolted to bottom of turbo, accessible from below with about 2 feet of ratchet extension with an inline flex joint. Guaranteed bolts would snap off if I even tried. Gravel drive, I put an old coco mat down and parked same place for 4 years. Alternative was pulling the engine.
As you pointed out with regards working on modern Diesel engines being so specialised nowadays and requiring specialist tools, it seems all modern vehicles are going that way now!
Watching Wes Work is the one of the best things that happen on my Sundays! Thank you for your content sir! I enjoy it very much! Keep up the great work. The new office looks amazing too! Never been a big fan of the GoPro… :(
Something that I learned from an older mechanic was to use spray adhesive on gaskets to get them to stay where you want them to. I have used it and it does work.
I will never own a vehicle with a turbo. I have heard and seen too many stories and videos about them failing. Wes is the man, comebacks or not. This video was worth the watching.
Hi Wes, we've been watching your videos for ages and heard many times that people want you to not talk during the making of your videos. What can we say other than PLEASE PLEASE NEVER STOP TALKING!!! Ever. Your sense of humor is delightful and we like how teach. We're old people (really! 74! That's old😊) those who are telling you to do silent movies HAVE to be younger than us and who knows better the young "kids" or older people who have waaaay more knowledge than they do? I mean really! Plus if they listened a little they might just learn something. Next thing our minds are screaming to tell you is we sincerely appreciate your honesty. If you screwed up, you tell us. We believe you are as honest with your customers are you are on your videos. Please never change.
This video is the real stuff you have to do. Your comments are a gold mine to anyone designing, building or repairing. Thanks for making videos even when it's tough.
Wes, I Love to watch your vids. I'm a retired Master Mechanic. Watching you do all the stuff that I did is soothing to my soul! I sit back and think to myself,,, GOD I've been there and I Never have to go back!! LOL !!!
I am up in western Wisconsin myself Wes and truly look forward to your videos! The humor you bring when working reminds me very much of growing up and what I deal with today!
As from a former jet engine mechanic, I know the feeling when you followed the book and the thing is completely rebuilt and then when mounting the exhaust cone, a screw drops down in the fan area and panic strikes as the screw can't be found. Eventually found it back using a borescope and it was lodged between two stator blades that are inaccessible without completely disassemblling the engine. again. :) Still, it's good content. Keep up the spirit !
man take it easy on yourself !!!!!!!!!!!!!! being a mechanic is hard , mentally and physically !!!!!!!!!!!! i know after 35 years of it !!! you do great work and fix every little thing you come across !!!!! people like you and me are never the big money guys in a shop !!!!! the crooks and the hacks always make alot of money !!! they always take the easy , quick jobs versus the real jobs !!!!! of course they always sell every flush known to man !!!!!!! so take it easy and be proud of your work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sometimes things go smooth, sometimes they have different plans. I appreciate you taking the time to show when they don’t go according to plan. Appreciate the Videos. Happy Father’s Day, Wes and your Dad.
Wes either you have the patience of Jobe or you really got us bamboozled watching you work without getting mad, even a little. I’d be shouting down the house doing some of the things you choose to do. You’re an amazing mechanic and your skill set is unparalleled. I’ve been twisting wrenches for over 50 years and I can literally work on anything with an internal combustion engine but you blow me away. Take care my friend and thank you for the videos, I learn something every time I watch.
I was talking to one of the younger guys at our shop not long ago when he said he was tired of all the problems in our business. I pointed out that our entire existence is fixing and finding problems to fix. Without them we aren't needed. I think he gets it now and I'm sure you know this too, just some weeks it's harder to accept, lol.
There are times that will test Jobe. You did ok, kept your cool, didn't throw or brake anything. The best and most satisfying part of this video is the very nice, clean room and desk that you filmed the ending in. So satisfying to reap the fruits of your labor. Ya did good kid, ya did good. Nothing to hang your head about. Look forward to your next challenge, thanks for sharing.
Wes, there are days that you win and days that you lose. In your case, you win a hellva lot more than you lose. Keep up the great work, great videos, and all of the knowledge you share with us.
Helped a friend do a water pump and a couple of other things on a '67GT 390 auto. Started at midnight on a dirt driveway. Can't remember how many hours it took but it was light when we finished. His regular mechanic was out of town so we tackled it. I later did one on my uncles Ford by myself with the knowledge gained on the Mustang. Wasn't too bad. My friends mech drilled holes in the fender wells to get at a couple of the spark plugs which made sense because they were a bear. He then put plastic plugs in the holes for future replacement. Looking back I do miss working on our old cars rather that just leaving them somewhere to be worked on. Thanks for the video, jack
I just had to spend over $500 on "extra" parts to attempt to get some customer's old junk working that I can't bill for, so I know the feeling of "why am I doing this again?".
@@kylegallardy1894In my experience it’s usually because you broke/messed it up while repairing something else, misdiagnosed it, or grossly underquoted. It’s usually not so much a can’t charge situation, more so a don’t feel comfortable charging type of thing.
@@kylegallardy1894 One of the major pitfalls of car repair is the customer wants to know up front how much the repair will cost. When you give that price they expect it to be that and no more. In some case you do not know what problem you will run into, until you get into the job. Then expecting the customer to cover the extra is a tough sell. You price too high, you may not get the job. Not many customers will accept a blank check repair. Wes has a lot of experience so I am sure he covers his bets in most cases. So if he loses in once case, he does not lose the customer for the next repair job.
Regarding the second vehicle, as a former [Illinois] Buick Lesabre owner of that vintage, the mounting plate and hardware for the ignition coils gets corroded and loses ground if I remember correctly. Disassembly and a good dose of WD40 solved that intermittent dying problem. I still had to replace all the brake lines.
More than interesting, doesn't always have to be exciting. We watch for the content but also for your wit and humour and determination to do a good job. Sometimes owners need to accept the reality that vehicles pass a state of economic repair - for most of us. Thanks again I hope your feeling better I'd call that 3 out of 3! All the best, Ian.
I have never not watched any of your videos all the way through. OK, maybe I did step away during a leaky hydraulics chapter. But I've always come back to watch to the closing adieu. How tall is the corn? A little Agriculture progress amidst the chaos of a Jack of All Trades' challenges might be a non-Brits version of a cup of tea.
I what's blessed to work in one of the biggest shops in our area, I used to have to do all the rework that would come in from the other mechanics missing something or something would happen. How is really good at saving the shop money on the rework. On that problem with the one car shutting off, the cheap duralast plug wires we're so cheap that would cause the module to overheat and quit and then when it cools down everything was okay.
I tried twice to film bead blasting the intake valves on my direct injection vw. About 5 minutes in, I quit because it takes way more time with a camera and narration. Wes is a great mechanic but wins the patience award hands down.
I've had those turbos off and back on more than a few times. The job is a bitch every time. GM designed the service to be done with the entire cab lifted off the frame. With the cab lifted it’s a piece of cake to do the service… but regular guys hardly ever do it. It would have been nice if the design engineers gave us just a tad more space knowing most guys would do the job like Wes… but when have design engineers EVER been our friends?
I believe that the designers should be made to run through service scenarios on prototypes of their designs. If they saw firsthand what they foist upon others they may change their ways. Yes, I know I’m delusional.
@@joedowling5452 Problem is, the engineers would be able to fix it, but the beancounters would make them put it back the way it was for the service department revenue.
Speaking from the experience of being a powertrain packaging engineer... We don't get a choice. The engine is generally treated as a sourced component and is designed in its own silo, like a nut or a bolt, then it's thrown over the wall to us and we're told to make it fit. Sometimes we could get editorial changes done, but most times not... and asking for a complete packaging redesign of the turbo location wouldn't even be a conversation starter. Changing the body, especially the firewall, was virtually impossible. I never saw it done. We had what we had and that was it. People who have never worked in that industry have a wildly inaccurate idea of how it works. It's not like an engine guy and a chassis guy sit next to each other, with unlimited budgets, and design the whole vehicle together. It takes teams of people all over the world to design a product so poorly. 😂 With that said, 99% of any vehicle is designed by the accounting team. We just sweep up the pieces as best we can after they have made every bad choice for us. The flip side of that is that if engineers actually designed cars, no one could afford to buy one.
Greetings from Australia. We have in our country vehicles called Holden Commodores. Think GM down under.....Mine has that 3800 motor as many do, albeit in a rear wheel drive configuration. Your Buick segment solved for me the exact same problem with random stalling which I have been battling for a year. So please know your videos can help someone half a world away who is very grateful.😊
My brother-in-law has a 2000 LeSabre I fixed three broken lines in one day on that turd, finally I just want the entire kit from lines to go problem solved. Keep up the good work as a long time mechanic I can certainly empathize with having to do, a job twice
You have hit the nail on the head. They are making automobiles just like everything else, either throw away or you have to take it to the dealer. I am a good tinkerer (not a mechanic in my estimation). I have worked on rigs for 50+ yrs and am about ready to quit. All our rigs are 20+ yrs old so I can fix most problems but getting parts for something that old is a hassel. I commend you for your work. You are one of the most honest tell it like it is person I watch.
@ 7:37 "It's like borescope Inception..." Heh heh heh heh!!! It was!!! I'm still laughing about the Asymptote of Despair.... Are you you are killing me again!!!! Great job.
12:46 hey wes, former GM driveability tech here, the GM 3800 in that car are known for crank/cam sensor failure. Watching rpm like you did on the scanner is the correct way to diagnose. We would always replace both the crank and cam together
its a good day to have a new video from Wes ! I have a 2016 2500HD and I am not looking forward to making this repair. Thanks for taking us along to see how its done.
The video (which I watched to the end) was worth it just for the opening 40 seconds. I worked at an abattoir a long time ago, brought back some memories.
Great video Wes! As a third year apprentice I always get a lot out of your videos and this one was a good reminder that it happens to everyone. Keep up the great work!
I gave up the spanners about 15 years ago. Don’t miss it! Those V6 Buick motors were good. We had 5 Holdens with them in, only had problems with one, nothing major. Still work on my own stuff, at the moment it’s a 1968 Valiant ute.. love your work Wes, don’t know how you keep your cool! Bring on the Malibu! 🇦🇺🍺🍺
Years ago I had to replace the water pump on a 72 Opel Manta. Couldn't pull the radiator because the trans cooling lines were rusted tight. Shredded the back of my hands but got it back together. Poured in the coolant and watched it running on the floor. I folded the bottom of the pump gasket squeezing it in. Awesome! Had to do it again:😢 Second time the charm! Redoing stuff sucks!!
Look on the bright side, Wes - you recorded the last bit in your sweet new office!!! And if all your repairs were perfect and you never encountered problems, we’d know you were lying and no one would watch. The fact that you have such a dedicated viewership says a lot about your honesty and integrity. I’ll always keep watching because you put out good, honest stuff.
Just did a turbo on a 2012 duramax service truck. Taking the cab off wasn’t an option considering all the extras it had on it. I actually removed the transmission to gain access to the up pipes and it was a breeze. And I’m not a diesel tech. I work on old hot rods almost exclusively
One thing about the crank sensors on those 3800s - they require a special fixture to replace and position them properly. They live behind the crankshaft pulley and sense 2 reluctor wheels that are riveted to the backside of the pulley, but the sensor bolt holes are slotted and require the fixture to in order to position it properly. Without the tool, you won't make any money on that job. I've replaced about a million of those for random stalling and no start issues.
Wes, I enjoy watching your stuff. Informative, entertaining, and a good reminder that I’m not the only one that has things go sideways on. Best of luck on the next one!!!!
Your videos are great, they are real world repairs. Your worst video is better that a lot of guys best videos. The newer diesels, anything above 2004, is why I keep my 2000 Dodge 2500 diesel, an ECM, an Air Bag module and rear anti lock brake module, that’s it. Love that truck, have had it since 2002.
Wes, you're an honest guy trying to make your living with serious work. Some are just doing this work differently and if something doesn't look profitable, they prefer to step away from "old junk". I tihnk you have a special set of skills to look for troubles in a different manner and that's why usually desperate things get fixed.. Obviously, with all the systems, differences and electronics you can't win every single time, so here and there lays some hard pill to swallow.. but.. it is what it is. 😉 Cheers, never step down, unless you know you're about to do something stupid.. 😅 in that case.. measure once, cut three times.. regardless, it will still be too short...
I feel your pain on the BooHick, Wes. I spent many hours replacing lines on those things. Never a fun job, got a drawer of now unused tools for removing the fittings from the module. Almost 40 years in the biz, i'm glad i got away from the Dark Side.
