Was reflecting hours after seeing the video and I realized something. Even though Eric is getting freebies from the old Horror Fraught, he's handling it the right way, state it's a freebie and move on. He doesn't let the video turn into a sponsorship commercial. There have been, shall I say, a rise and fall of RU-vidrs in the automo industry and that channel had a lot of sponsored content that really turned me and several others away from it. If every RU-vid channel was as much educational, as humourous, as honest as SMA... This world just might be a little better of a place.
When HF wanted to know if they could send it to me, I was clear with them that I do not do dedicated sponsor videos, but I am happy to take a free tool and I will use it (a) if it like it (b) if it works like it says it does and (c) if I think it may benefit the people because it is a tool they have been thinking about or might purchase sometime. HOWEVER..... if the tool is junk everyone will see it because I won't and don't sugar coat anything. Honestly so far it is a pretty impressive tool for the price point. I get contacted by tool companies all of the time and as soon as you tell them that you won't upsell their tool on a dedicated video, they don't want anything to do with you. That is fine by me because I am not going to betray my viewers into thinking something is a great tool when it's not just to make a few thousand. We call that lying where I'm from haha. HF only wanted one thing from me. I must declare that the tool was received free of charge. That way the federal trade commission doesn't get all wound up I guess 🤷🏼♂️
@@SouthMainAuto bravo, sir. Being a DIYer, I have a good mix of HF tools. I love my 72" US General box, most of my wrenches and sockets are Icon. The ratchets are Pittsburgh Pro. For the light use that they get + the lifetime warranty it's hard to beat. I try to keep a mix of quality based on how much I use it. Though I learned one thing the hard way. Stay far away from harbor freight trailer wiring. I had a 4 way plug on magnetic tow light rotted clean off with the green crusties within a year of buying it... Twice. Talk about a money shot. These things were well taken care of, too, put away in a tote by themselves when not in active use, not subjected to high moisture, etc.
@@SouthMainAuto Casey Ladelle made an honest review of a horrible e-bike. Another company approached him. "We and your viewers know you are honest and we think our product solves all the shortcomings you pointed out with the other." Sometimes honesty works for you.
Mr. O. demonstrates again that other shops don't take the time to diagnose properly, but they will take the time to change a part and charge you for it. I suspect he gets the job because the customer came back or the other shop knew the parts cannon wasnt going to do it and didn't want the comeback. They're almost there if they were motivated to prevent a comeback.
@@harrylister804 if i ever had to take my car to a shop, i'd make them put it in writing that if replacing a part doesn't fix the problem, i'm not paying for it
you left out the most important tool - the uscope - i dont have one, but i have two pico's and a topdon 4ch scope, and if i get really hard up i will go pull out the snapon vantage.
Just a quick explanation of the 200mV to ground of the signal. It is likely that the output of the sensor is using a standard NPN transistor to do the grounding of the signal. There is a spec called Vce Sat (Voltage Collector to Emitter Saturation). This is normally near 200mV. Many 5V TTL circuits work this way and 200mV is totally normal here.
It’s funny, I heard Mr. O say in a previous video that he doesn’t do planes. Well, I’m not the fondest of flying either. It’s amazing because me and my wife just came back from Greece, which is a 10 hour flight. I needed something to calm my mind, and what better than watching some SMA! I offline downloaded 10 hours of SMA videos and watched every minute of them. Definitely helped occupy my mind, while learning at the same time ! - Thanks Eric 👍🏽
The way Boeing is going... doncha WANT him working on planes?? Or spaceships for that matter? Those astros wouldn't be stranded if Boeing had just swallowed their pride and towed their space vehicle to SMA for a pre-flight inspection... frigholes...
@@SouthMainAuto you would be alright trust me. My wife has forced me enough times now that, I’m pretty numb to it lmao 🤣 I’m amazed that Mrs. O hasn’t forced you on a “leave the kids at home” vacation out of country already
It's also a lesson learned that what's probed on the scope/meter as 5V doesn't necessary mean it is supplied from the intended source. Great diagnosis as always.
I'm such an electrical diagnosing 304... I find all my own power, ground, and signal wire issues when they pop up on my stuff. Matters not, I just can't get enough working through such problems and finding them, though. I *have* to sit through every single one of these basic sleuth efforts to find out where the issue resides. Truly is amazing the number of professional repair personnel that can't do these most basic trace-downs. And, it's one of the reasons that I refuse to have anyone look at my stuff.
The Honda earthdream engine is a paint to replace the alternator on. One of the bolts for the alternator is hidden behind the tensioner pulls housing Eric O 7:30 @South Main Auto Repair LLC
Clear nail polish is the best for poke holes, drys fast no mess like liquid electrical tape!! These troubleshooting videos are the best!! Awesome job!!
Hey there Eric. Im a retired utility compny mechanic of 37 years at one company lol. You sir are taking the steps needed unfortunately needed this age, to FIX modern vehicles. Its the same with big trucks sadly. I sumwhat became the fixit man after many years as I would take the steps needed, and time, to find whay makes sense in all of it. I found over the years that many folks I worked with would read the codes,throw all the parts at it, company had money, and when that didn't work, get the fixit man on it. I sulute your diligence in troubleshooting. You are one of the few willing to take all the steps needed to find the money shot. By the way, you are underpaid.
Clue was the noise spikes on the 5v scope trace. Indicates the 5v is high impedance. The exhaust cam 5v was clean. Great work. Most shops don't know how to do this!
I hope you take it as a great compliment that other shops bring you cars to diagnose circuit codes. They know what’s up. You have patience, experience and a great intuition for bad wires. I believe circuit diagnosis should be an Olympic sport and you might get the gold.
I never ran into voltage drop or current carrying capability issues till I started my current job as an airport gse tech (all the trucks, tractors, belt loaders and stuff around planes at the airport). Watching and learning from your videos has gotten me through some serious binds! Thanks for doing what you do Eric!
“HARBOR FREIGHT, NOT NOT A SPONSOR!” ERIC allowing someone to send him a tool to review is pretty cool, as I know he probably says no to a lot of companies. Interesting diagnosis.
There somebody who spent 35 years in the tech sector, I can tell you those teeny tiny wires break very easily and even worse if the insulation is made of silicone, they can break and you’ll never even see it. . Watching you diagnose that cam sensor gave me flashbacks of my years diagnosing broken wiring harness. Get a set of phone company scissors. The little notches on the side are made for stripping those little wires. Klein makes great ones and they are not pricey. That’s one of those things you don’t think about because why would wires break inside the insulation? Good job though. I wish I had those little scopes I Had to drag around a tektronix. I did snag a snap on vantage at a pawn shop for short money.
Maybe not the most common thing but i have run across broken wires inside insulation that had no external damage visible. Pawn shop scanner? Probably stolen. Lots of stolen tools end up at pawn shops. Not everybody marks or keeps a record of serial numbers. Years ago where i worked two mechanics had their tools and toolboxes stolen. The thief(s) had stolen a Company Chev 1/2 Ton out of the compound, got into one huge building where the guys were working on railroad equipment, and loaded up. Several months later another mechanic spotted the truck in a bar parking lot--it had been repainted a different color. The bar just happened to be a few blocks from our shop.
Remember when all you needed was air , fuel and spark to run an engine??? Those were the good old days. NOW the engine needs multiple computers, 15 miles of wiring, 60 or so sensors, and a series of software updates to run. Thank goodness we have Mr."O" to speak the modern car language.
Some day I'm going to get off the thruway and zip past SMA. I'm going to honk in the hopes that I'll be "that guy". But I won't be the one to just drop in. You too too much fine work for someone like me to steal your time for nothing. I appreciate your videos. I always learn a little bit more.
I’m no mechanic by trade but can do some shade tree stuff. I’ve been watching your channel for some time now and am really impressed how you can diagnose electrical issues. I’ve learned quite a bit from your channel. Thanks for sharing.
Harbor Freight sells tools for $1700. I didn't think they could count that high. Pretty cool: built in coffee delivery system. No chia, no mice, must be a semi fatal manufacturing flaw. Thanks Mr. O!
Like always Eric, great diagnosis and explanation bud. I truly appreciate your method of finding the root cause of the problem. It help me in my diagnostics. I always ask myself what would Eric do next. 👍👍👍👍
I use the Pomona piercing probes a lot and love them but the best… That belongs to Phil’s probe! That thing has saved me a lot of time getting to wires that I would normally have to disassemble things to get to. I couldn’t live without that thing anymore.
I agree Connector Pinout is amazing not just showing the pinout but the color and locsyion on Ecm. Wish more manufacturers would do that setup of pinout. with honda There service data always Had sucked just usless 34:04 @South Main Auto Repair LLC
That was a fantastic find. Those little bugs like that are the hardest ones to find (speaking as a software engineer who likes to throw a wrench around in my spare time)
I forgot to mention the turbo waste gate sound effect in your repertoire of mechanic sound effects. So your torque wrench sound and turbo waste gate sound are believable, but your cylinder deactivation solenoid needs work. 😜 That was a fun ride. Thanks for taking us along. Huzzah!
Nothing like a broken signal wire . It fools some of the guys all of the time and makes the smart ones work a little harder. Good foresight finding the reason it was running lean. All in all solid days work at SMA. I’ve learned so much from Eric O and some other good diagnosticians on RU-vid. Fun stuff
You blow my mind. You are the man!!! I pray I never need your service and if I do I doubt I'll find anyone around here with 1/10th your skill set. Well done sir, well done.
Seeing that garbage on the 5V line, which then clears up could easily be dismissed as a fluke. I wouldn't beat yourself up too much about that. You found the problem, and that's what is important. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is what those guys in the white coats like to call it! You are very good at it.
You tried out the HF Earthquake battery powered impact gun and it lasted a while and then gave up the ghost later so you sent it to the Torque Test Channel and they said it was basically kaput. Some of their stuff is fine but most of it is for the DIY crowd. I'd buy one of their floor jacks if my 40 year old Craftsman ever craps out. I'll probably be worm food before then. Glad you have the integrity to tell it like it is with no frosting on top. You the Main Man.
They are trying to move into the high level professional market also. Basically the Icon line is to compete with snap on. Higher price than a lot the low level tool price anywhere, but much cheaper than the tool truck price.
Kudos to the other repair shop for shipping to EO seems like they’re interested in fixing issues for their customers. Now I suggest they watch some SMA videos so they can be the man instead of sending it to the man EO! Excellent work Eric!
I remember way back when AUTEL first came out the shop I worked at we had Snap-On Modis that was a POS. The Cornwell dealer let me demo an Autel and it was great. At that time a lot of other tool dealers were talking crap about them and when I went to training classes the trainers weren’t impressed with AUTEL and dissed it. But now all these training videos the majority are using AUTEL scanners!
You gave an honest non biased description about the tool. Will it work for everyone? Probably not. But it does look like it'll work for a diy application. May work great on a service call or a road test also. HMMMM! That was a tricky one with that intermittent connection, but persistence paid off! Nice to see Mrs. O also.
Might be a wild take, but man your my hero. I grew up being the flashlight holder at my grandpas shop and took on the trade because of him. Sadly he passed and it just didnt feel the same. Ive been watching for a couple years or so, not to bloat you head, but your knowledge and expertise is awe inspiring and very invigoratin! #ericoismyherO
this was one of my favorite videos because i was able to understand the testing procedures you described. i fixed subway cars for the port authority trans hudson for 28 years and learned something new almost everyday. i am sure the same thing happens in your trade
2 Videos in a day! More good content. PS Eric you're price per hour is the same the place I go to here in San Antonio. Oil changes every 3 months for my 2013 VW Beetle TDI and odds and ends.
