Know When To Quit- ETCG1 

I love your show(s). I have learned so much about servicing and repairing my car. I watch most of your videos.

i swear this is your best video i have had the pleasure of watching so far. This is or was an issue i learned early on in my career as a shop owner, back when i "thought" i could repair anything, lol. Automatic transmissions are a specialized animal, best left to that special tech that has a proven track record of successes.

I had the Honda Dealership install a genuine Honda remanufactured transmission in my 2001 Odyssey, back in 2008. The genuine Honda remanufactured transmission was from Asia. Still running, 90k later.

I have my 1999 saab 9-3 and I simple don't know how to give up! It worths each fix and you show that as well! Old cars are awesome!!!

hey i am a car guy also and really enjoy your videos. i have worked for dealerships for twenty years and now have my own shop. i must say you have a great attitude and very good advice for the young person thinking about doing this for a living. we have all won and lost some battles on cars and all we can do is try to learn from our mistakes and move on. great video...

This is unbelievable I just had a heated discussion about replace used vs rebuilt. The vehicle in question was a chrysler/dodge mini van with damaged bearings and 175K. Some guy charged $500 to put in new bearings and then the car wouldn't start. I went on car-part.com and found an engine with 121K for $550. Why replace the bearings for $500 when you can get another engine with 50K less on it?

As a shop owner, I think you are great!!! Do what you do !!!!

Eric I like you for you are honest + you are not burning rubber racing or turning up car like so many auto repair channels. There is one that opens each session by burning up his tires. Thank you for teaching how to take good care of your car.

Yes. Before I even watch your video, I had to finally part with a Blazer of mine I did EVERYTHING I could to get right.. And I probably could have, but I simply had to make a choice, and went with an identical vehicle, that works perfectly.

Eric nobody's perfect no matter how good you are and mechanics but continue your show love your videos very educational God bless you and your family

You don't know until you are, when you are in over your head. A better approach, especially for diyers is to start each project with a risk analysis. Even if you're so expert that you absolutely know exactly what a problem is and how to fix it, there's a probability that you're wrong, a probability that you'll break something else while fixing it, a possibility that youll injure yourself , and a lost opportunity cost.

THANK YOU ERIC FOR THIS TIP AND ALSO FOR YOUR FAILURE.....

I look up to you - Sir

good info!

I love how this was done with an Odyssey on jack stands.

This is what makes your channel great, honest straight forward real world situations, I love the fact that you don't edit your videos to make yourself look like Mr. Perfect-expert in all things automotive.

I have no experience with rebuilding transmissions, but I have seen attempts by others. The lesson learned there was: if you do it, do it all the way. Replace absolutely everything during the rebuild.

Way to man up on this one. Good wisdom here, Eric. thanks.

Love your vids. I've learned a lot from them.

Great video Eric, I look forward to the Sonoma video being available, I thought it was great in addition to the reason behind it.

hey eric, keep up the good work. I have spent hours working on our cars using your videos. My son has a good feel for doing minor repairs and the experience of working with him has been good for father son bonding. We talk about car repair a lot and ETCG comes up a great deal!!!

I can watch your videos for hours!

Thanks Eric. I've actually learned more from ETCG1 then from your repair videos.

This video was posted on my birthday, since this video my birthday hasn't seen a Monday so please remember next September 16th Eric. Even your voice has changed since my last Monday birthday. THANKS FOR ALL THE FREE HELP.

Don't be scared to fail is a good starting point. As a DIY mechanic I have looked at some jobs that I thought were beyond me or my tool box. I start, thinking that I will go as far as I can and then call in professional help. Lots of times I have found that I can actually finish the job with maybe just the purchase of a new tool. I also learn lots.

I deal with autos in 1 way, I take them out, and then put a re-man in. I'm well versed on the remove/install of a 2wd 700R4

You're the man bro.

Thanks for tips and ideas.. Good video😀

Love your sincerity. I also send all trany work to my friends in Homestead. WIWI. They have been doing trany work for more than 50 years. they are good because they specialized on that as all mechanics should. Specialize.

your show is great you have taught me so much...you should have your own show on tv

this is a great video because how many if us ignore the costs..of everything. It isn't until you've spent just about everything you've got only to be left without satisfaction do you start to even ask the question if should I invest my time, money, energy, time with my family, etc. Work, challenges to guys is like a flame to a moth, it can't resist it and is consumed by it.

This advice applies to anyone in the business of fixing things. I'm in IT and all this advice easily carries over to large computing systems. Sometimes you have to cut your losses when performing repairs. Experience teaches you the "when". Often that experience is hard won. Cheers.

Another great vid. I am currnetly debating dropping 2-3 k into my 06 subaru forester or getting a new vehicle. I already had to do the heads and now the cats and the suspension. Plus who knows what else...

The automotive school at the community college I went to years ago had an auto transmission class I took. You could bring your own transmission in and rebuild it yourself. So you learn how to tear it apart, put it back together, you have someone knowledgeable there, extra hands when you need it, all the tools you'd need to do the job, a library to look things up and the class was cheap. If you already have an idea of what you're doing, you fix it yourself and get an A. I seriously considered this option when I destroyed an MTX years back too. Same with the engines class.

Just had to deal with this today. I was looking at a friends rear brake cylinder, and one of the sliding pins corroded into the mount point, and the pin snapped off with just hand pressure (it was a ticking time bomb). I could remove the snapped threaded end, but then I would also have to remove the corroded sliding end from the cylinder. I imagine it would take at least 4 tp 6 hrs in prep, removal, and cleaning off the rust. A remfg's cylinder assembly with all the mounting parts is only $50 with a $95 core. I talked him into replacing the part. Thanks for the video Eric... You're helping a noob become a useful home mechanic.

I thought this would be about when to call it quits before you start throwing and breaking stuff.

Wise words... i hear ya!

Great video Eric.

great vid... love the thinking with the right head comment

Eric, some really good honest videos.

Enjoy all your videos cause i just love working on cars and trucks. I own a 96 2500 dodge ram with a diesel and everyone always tells me i should sale it cause it has over 200 thousand miles on it and still runs strong even though it needs transmission service now and the main seal on the rear end replaced.

I'm glad you addressed it at 5:05. I've had so many friends balk at spending that kind of money on a car repair when they could buy a replacement car for that kind of money. They just don't seem to realize that $2300 now for a transmission that will last you 3 more years is a much better investment than $2300 now for another van that might last another 3 months, or might last another 3 years...

When the transmission was slipping on my Lincoln Mark VIII, I did some research and had replaced the "multi-lever position sensor" on the bottom of it which fixed the problem. The mechanic I had do it thought it would do nothing; that philosophy you had that a mechanic is an extension of the customer's will and wallet is, at least for me, true!

Thank you for this. Knowing your shit as opposed to knowing you're shit is what matters

I found this video at just the right time. I do have a 90's vehicle with multiple problems that I'd toyed with the idea of restoring. It has turned into a money pit and I was pretty much committed to just replacing it. After seeing this video, my decision is final - it's time to quit. I will be trying to sell the money pit afterward - but I WILL represent it fairly... it's a "beater" and the only promise I'll make is it'll leave my property under it's own power.

very true sometimes when possible its better to call it a night and come back in the morning. my own personal story I did a complete brake job myself i have no official training and limited tools and i was much younger. but I battled with the last bolt for near six hours it was like 3am I said I give up. went to bed in my dirty clothes woke up the next morning and went back to work straight away. 14 minutes in and the bolt breaks loose finally I was near tears.

This is why I have a manual. Hardest part is taking the damn thing out and pulling the gears. Everything else is just a matter of reading the manual straight and keeping organized during disassembly.

I would go with re-manufactured if you're on any sort of a deadline. On a project car I would try at least once and see if I learn anything.

I bought my first carbureted bike, a 1994 Cbr f2. I love the bike and of course I bought it used and the people you buy it from never really tell you what's wrong with it until you take it home and deconstruct. After 3 months of buying parts and long hours on RU-vid I got her to turn over last night and it was such a glorious feeling. Turns out my petcock was still leaking so I sealed it with sealer and re attached it to the tank and it didn't start at first till I gave it some gas. It's still leaking but after these 2 petcocks I have soaked in petrol for 24hrs are ready i will be ready to install them again and have no Leaks!

Every Honda trans I have built has had no hard part failures. Some will sound like they're going to explode but a banner kit has taken care of the dozen or so that I have done. I mostly do GM units.

I love Odyssey’s, was planning on buying one this week, one of them has a warranty (2001) but I’m hesitant.

Hahaha, I've been here... When to quit. Good video:-).

Eric, I was a class A mechanic for GM and was strapped to do most warranty work with the vehicles being less than 18 months old. This was because I was 3 years out of tech [therefore can read a manual] and ASE certified. I was paid salary, so that whenever non-money making problem jobs came in, I got them. 75% of all warranty A/T repairs. I have replaced many valve bodies [and a couple trans cases] because they were porous therefore under pressure would pressure two clutch systems at once.

I see the "rolling dumpster" phenomenon in Ford Taurus form more often than any other make. They are great cars up to about 170K miles and then it's best to quit.

In the heavy duty world we rebuild everything, even in factory warranty , and when its customer pay we give 1 yr warranties on all repairs and rebuilds. and in heavy trucks 1 yr is 100,000 miles

just stay away from AAMCO, my 95 f150 has the 4eod trans I change the fluid and filter every year,it has over 200,000 miles on it, one time it wouldnt shift right, it was slamming into the gears, yeah aamco wanted 3000 bucks to fix it, guess what it was a 15 amp fuse that blew, the electric soleniods are on the same circut as the odometer, and over head map litecost to fix was less then a dollar vs aamco pulling a scam on me

Made me feel beter thanks

Eric: truly, a man of great character. Just like Keith Fenner

the old saying hindsight is 20 20 vision, but you probibly would have done it all the same way if you did not know the outcome, some cars just have a way of kickin your ass,

I am no transmission pro either but I have rebuilt some of the easier units and done some repairs. I have had times were I didn’t fix the problems, couple times where the transmission guys messed up. So what I do now is call my transmission guy when I have a problem. If he feels 100% confident with fixing it I will have him do the build. If he isn’t 100% confident because it’s a unit he doesn’t have much experience with then I will buy a used unit at a junk yard. I have a used car lot so I like the peace of mind knowing that a transmission guy went through this transmission and it has a ton of life left in it rather than buying a used unit I know nothing about. Yeah it costs me more money but I am more concerned about selling quality cars.

Been in your position, my nemesis of defeat was a Renault Megan. A stupid car that is built upside down so if you do not have all the right tools(Renault specific) then you are in a world of pain. That is what i love about American made cars, they are built so that the consumer or smaller garage can work on the car. All be it newer American cars are getting very much proprietary locked in but your American classics are pretty damn awesome to mod and work on.

The drum was fine. I thought the clearance was a bit loose but didn't do anything about it because I would have had to order parts that I didn't have time to wait for. I also replaced all the seals in the drum. I'm fairly certain it's a clearance problem. Thanks for your input.

I also see your Subaru and your brothers Integra in the background :) Long time viewer.

Thanks for info :)

good stuff

I did a transmission repair for my mustang gt only thing it cost me was time and 400bucks for parts 4R70W btw is really easy to work on

I'll give you one example that just happened very recently to me where I learned it was time to quit. I was changing out a central a/c thermostat at my house and my grandparents house and unfortunately it wasn't all plug and play which was what I was hoping for. So long story short I now need a new one so I went out and bought one but this time I'm gonna have an electrician install it. The reason, I'm worn out. And I made my life more difficult by making an attempt at this. So now I know, it's time to hire a professional

Btw I think it was a win because this experience you earned and won't most likely never make that move again

been here too many time to recall. but the good news is that it happens less and less over time.

Eric I am a 15 year diesel and auto Master and I think your statement Here is spot on!!! You and I are on the same page. Great info for the rookies, the weekend wrench turning guys, and even the seasoned VETS!! I hate Techs that can't admit fault or admit wrong doings, mistakes and even failures...... Those Tech will never be as good as you and I. Good stuff Eric much respect..!!!! But for the love of GOD please....... Buy a lift hahhahaha!!! Respect!! ;)

Knowing when to let a car go...my 2006 Magnum. That was a great car but rust was getting out of control and after 100,000 miles things were starting to fail. I had to get something else.

I lost all my fluid (atf) bottom-out and replaced all the fluid with OE. Then i bought a non OEM transmission filter with one of the four bolts not lining up.. The thing is only three bolts lined up but i had to kinda bend one of the four bolt hook ups and now third gear is not working. I'm driving a 2.5, 97 TL five cylinder Acura. What im saying is sometimes the filter not being sealed right will make a couple gears work but only if you floor it a certain way it shifts on all gears. i also need to check the screen on the solenoids that rest on top of the tranni. If i shut it off then on again it will shift for a few minutes then eventually stops all together and feels like in neutral. Then when cold it kinda start fine except lost 3rd.

There are some cars that are getting really old now, that won't get you anywhere by spending on, but if everyone just sends them to the wreckers there will be none left. Given the way the car industry is going, that would be really sad, so I really appreciate people who put money into cars that are worth nothing for sentimental reasons.

Had "5th gear popout" problem in my 92 Sentra SE-R (common in those cars) - spent $1,200 parts and labor to repair/rebuild the 5th gear when I could have gotten a used transmission for $500 installed, but without any guarantee it wouldn't have or develop the same problem eventually. That's the big issue, whether or not the new one has or will "catch" the same issue.

These are problem transmissions. Getting a used one might end me up in the same place. The reman came with a warranty.

I'm looking at a 1600$ remanufactured transmission on a dodge neon.. Guy at a rebuild shop wanted 2600$... I can buy the 1600$ reman and put it in myself in less than 5 hours.. Easiest damn auto transmission I've ever seen or dealt with so far!

you a good guy

definitely!

That cricket in the background is driving me crazy! KILL IT!! KILL IT!!

Great vid man, I enjoy the insight and experience. Also, it's refreshing to hear a tech be sincere enough to admit being mistaken. If more professionals did, many industries would vastly improve! However... Funny how many problems in life can be solved with the tech's mental flow chart: 1) What IS the problem? (Troubleshoot). >>Next>> 2) Is it easily repairable in situ? >>If "no", next>> 3) Is it repairable without more cost than transport to the repair facility and replacement?>>If "no", next>> 4) Is there any possibility of salvage that will justify time spent inspecting? >>if "no", next>> 5) Just quit! >>If "NO", next>> 6) WTF, either you're an idiot to have gone this far OR requiring psychiatric assessment. >>!! Go next!!>> 7) Remove coveralls/ work clothes, replace open-closed sign with Permanently Closed sign and walk away.

Like he said, don't be afraid to fail. Its not rocket science, just a matter of how bad you want it. Yes it may be difficult your first time and yes you may spend a lot of time the first time, but in the end you can say you rebuilt your own trans. You will never learn if you give up and pay someone else to do it.

Got a 99 Odyssey, ex Japan, so its a 3.0. Now done approx 120 miles on the original trans.

Been there!!!! Done that!!!! I know what you mean!!!!!!! Good at what I do but, I'm not the greatest!!!! Let someone that works on this piece of a vehicle!!!! I wouldn't go to a Gyneocologist for brain surgery right???? TY for the video!!!

feed tube pipes in the back cover probably cut the o ring it's vary odd to need to change the pressure plates unless damaged to the point that you can't clean it up

fyi if your oddy is a 5 speed auto, the third gear drum itself is notorious for hairline cracks and not holding proper piston apply pressure. Also the o-rings on the piston go bad. If i remember correct the small spring underneath the bottom steel digs into the steel, so on rebuild you can flip it over for an extra few thousanths.

Failing is part of learning. Years ago I decided to rebuild my master brake cylinder on my 69 Pontiac Catalina,I failed on it,tryed it again three times,went and bought a reman...I felt like an idiot. It was much less painful and faster. I learned that sometimes its just better to walk away from a mess,sometimes ots better to just push on and chalk it up to experience. I have actually bought cars just for parts. One guy pulled out on the sale because he was horrified that my intention was to strip his car for parts,I learned to keep my mouth shut after that. After the title changes hands its ok to say,oh yeah,I am going to strip it down. I had a guy twll me he would have never sold it to me had he known. That was my plan,but non of his business. Any car is never worth as much as the time and labor we think they are. I know ego can break the bank too.I always say,if you have deep feelings for the vehicle,your better off just keeping it because you will never be happy that you sold it,and the other guy dont care,to him its just a car.

I'm always wondering what they do at remanufacturing? Would be interesting to see.

Our e-series superduty is going to need a transmission soon. Having rebuilt the engine in our minivan before I looked into a diy trans rebuild and decided I’m just going to by a professionally rebuilt trans. Yah, it’s almost $1800 more than the rebuild kit itself but once I crack that transmission open what else am I going to find and have to order? I don’t want unexpected delays and I definitely don’t want to put it back in there and find out something ain’t right. Not to mention all the special tools required and the shop space etc. Oddly I can get a Ford 4R100 cheaper than a trans in that odyssey are those odyssey trans that bad??

My 2001 Odyssey ate it's first tranny at 90k, the replacement (Honda - done at the dealership) only lasted a little over 30k miles. That was enough for me. It was a great vehicle except for that one, rather large, exception. Oh, and the stupid electric doors. I almost forgot about those pains in the $%^.

Guest what day It is... quit day at, I hope, hump day. Great video !

@ETCG1 I have a 2001 Honda Accord V6 with a B7XY 4- spd auto. It was a remanufactured one replaced about 6k miles ago by a shop I trust. The car has 127k mi on it now. Around January this year, we had a big rain spell that flooded a street next to my house up to the curb (bout 6 inches deep) and I happened to drive through it. Cautiously and not over 3mph as I didn't want to get any electronics wet or suck any water into the Trans breather port. Since then I get a P0780 code intermittently, and the trans will start shifting wayy off. This only happens when I don't let the car warm up. I pulled off the check bolts and inspected for the dreaded milkshake. Luckily the fluid is still a translucent salmon color. What are the odds the shop used the wrong ATF? Or could it be one of my solenoids got wet?

If you're really sentimental, you can do what my father in law did. '73 Saab Sonett, took off the road in 1986. Sat in a garage for 14 years. He's retired now, so he's doing a full rebuild and restore on it, and got it up and running and driving under its own power this summer - for the first time in 20 years. But, I figure, at this point, the car is a hobby. I hope I'm as spry and youthful as he is when I retire. :-)

what should I do with a car that sat for four or five years in someone's yard but the transmission was still in good shape before the car was parked? should I just do a flush and filter and call it good or should I go further and either rebuild or replace the transmission? it's a gm 4t65e in a 2002 buick rendezvous with awd.

Never let your enthusiasm outstrip your ability, too many people trivialize what doing the job correctly is vs just making something "work" again is. I'm pretty handy with manual gearboxes/transaxles from motorcycles to construction equipment but when it comes to automatics I learned long ago to as Eric said "leave it to the experts", saves lots of aggravation, not cheap but worth the investment!

I think everyone suffers that stubbornness to some extent. If you build or repair "stuff" you eventually get to something that kicks your ass. Being human, (and male), it becomes personal. "NOTHING'S gonna beat me". It took me thirty years to reach the point that when I was stuck, at a loss, I had to just WALK AWAY. More often than not a nights sleep would allow me to look at things from a different perspective and resolve the problem without much fuss. Something as intricate as a transmission offers even more potential for "getting stuck". And another problem with which we are all familiar is giving up on something when we KNOW it's time. All of us have gotten stuck with the "just one more tiny part" bit, which repeats, and repeats ad nauseum. I've done it with service trucks. When the smart thing and me KNOWING it was the smart thing was to give it up and buy a new one. In the meantime I throw away another grand and hours of labor for ZILCH. I'm afraid it's part of what makes us human. But something that can't be taught, it must be learned. Self taught.

I currently have a 2001 chevy silverado 2500 hd with 280000 mi that about 3 months ago I had to replace a bad ball joint in. I spent the money on the ball joint and after trying for 3 weeks with various methods to get the old one out it wouldn't give up its hold on the spindle. I finally got it to give up by cutting off the threads, drilling out the remainder, heating the spindle cherry red and hitting the sob with the biggest sledge hammer I could get my hands on. I then couldn't get the new one seated properly so I got it on good enough to drive and still had to take it to a mechanic who put yet another ball joint on it. So I wasted 3 weeks and the money spent on the part and tool I destroyed. Wonderful experience there. Good thing was the mechanic was nice enough to let me watch his method so I could do the next one.

Hey Eric--Since you are steering us in the direction of remanufactured transmissions, can you recommend or share where you got your transmission from? Thanks

I had a recent experience where I could have pushed on and got more frustrated, or quit while I still had some sanity left. Decided to quit and borrow a car to get to work next day. That was more than a week ago and the issue still remains, even the expert can't pick it! Who knew putting 2 new drive shafts in could cause so much headache, 3 new shafts and a replacement hub later and I'm no better off...know when to quit...

Chryslers are always notorious for transmission issues. Find out what the resale value is for your truck and make that your budget for repairing it. That way if all fails you can break even. I recommend either a rebuilt transmission or a salvage yard one. Diesels will run for quite a long time if maintained, only put work in for what it's worth.

I've got a Warner T9 that goes to a Fairmont Ford 4 cyl. I doubt I can get a rebuilt trans. Truck transmission from the 50's.