Throughout my career and personal life (I'm 71), I have come across so much incompetence this doesn't surprise me. I have always tried to do everything myself, but when you find that gem of a person with integrity and knowledge they MUST be supported. I'm sure the demand for your services is very high. Keep up the good work!
I'm fortunate enough to live within a reasonable drive of Brian's shop. I've been using Brian almost exclusively for any/all of my vehicle maintenance. I'm a retired mechanic/transmission builder that grew up in my dad's transmission shop. Brian is a rarity in his industry, an honest mechanic. I've been using Brian's services (& videos) since his mobile mechanic days. I send anyone that's looking for a good honest mechanic his way. His prices are fair and you're absolutely getting what you're paying for.
God bless you I going to to. Start a timing Jody on my 5.4 3 vale it got the start up death rattle man I went to ford had a heart attack pray for me it take some time put I get it done I am 70 never say die
Heck, even some Ford dealer service departments can’t even do a “one and done” repair. And I speak from first hand experience. It’s very frustrating taking your vehicle in for a repair, even once much less multiple times.
@@dieseldabz7104 everywhere. Most places aren't going to pay more than one or two master mechanics. It's much cheaper to hire the dudes strait out of tech school and have them shadow your master mechanic.
@@rey3468 yea. But the problem is we have a massive shortage of techs as millennials don’t even own a toolbox, much less know how to use tools. Zoomers prefer to be RU-vid stars. So dealers are short handed. Which puts more stress on the techs that do know what they are doing, and forces the ones that don’t know what they are doing to take on jobs they are not trained for.
At Firestone shop I went in for a realignment n water leak . They said I needed a new water pump n water hose for $ 850 parts n labor for my 2012 f150 XLT excluding realignment. I said oh man not ready for this . I went home looked up your video n wa-lah. Just a 35$ water hose . I fixed w your guidance. You are the best . Wish you were in so cal. 🙏
Had a Goodyear shop quote mother in law $550 for a alternator on a ‘03 Honda! Rebuild Honda go for $150. Told my mil I’d do it free. Then I went back to GY and told them about law in Ohio preying on seniors. They came down to $250. MiL said for them to do it… Aholes some how punched a hole in her radiator doing a 20 minute job🤪! Let’s say karma bit them in the ass!
I had a customer bring in an older explorer a few years ago. Coolant leak. He says shop up the street told him over a grand, water pump, radiator, tstat, hoses, all that. He wanted a second opinion. He left my shop after being charged a half hour, gallon of coolant and a worm drive hose clamp because the factory squeeze clamp had rusted in half. Yeah, it's really easy for us to rip people off and overcharge for repairs but I gotta answer to my maker someday
Shit even my local ford dealer broke a nipple off my turbo intake pipe and just jb welded it back together…. It’s plainly visible when you open the hood. They also said jack shit about it till I decided to check their handy work.
@@albaker2938 we had a guy that sucked so bad here at the Ford dealership. Every car he touched even just a regular oil change would come back. Such a sloppy technician.
Love the work you do Brian. I’m OCD too and I totally agree with you. Cars these days REQUIRE a level of OCD. I did flat rate (crap rate) for a while and it is an absolute tragedy dealer shops and others put such a focus on production. I could not make enough money for the Ford dealer I used to work for but they didn’t care about the customer surveys put my quality at 97-100% I was let go for “being unprofitable”. I sincerely hope the industry realises flat rate died in the 80’s and put a focus on the quality over quantity. Good techs are hard to find.
I think the biggest problem other than these guys ethics is that they won't just admit when they don't know something. Only one thing worse than someone who doesn't know what they're doing is someone who doesn't know and thinks they know! Great work Brian
This is EXACTLY the problem my daughter had. Took it to a shop to have timing components changed, they said engine was toast, they put in a "remanufactured" engine, now it is dead after 2 lousy years. Engine never was quite right but I didn't wanna mess with it until warranty was up. Died right after the warranty expired...go figure.
Great timing for this video. Just rebuilt the 5.4 in my 06 and I was getting low readings in power balance on one bank. Tore it back apart and sure enough it was off by one tooth on one bank. Buttoned it back up and ran great. Mistakes happen, but honesty and standing behind your work goes a long way.
Soooo... Yeah I did the same with min 07 expedition... However I timed both phasers to L...... It ran but man horrible.. uh.. mistakes happen.. lol.. still felt like a total idiot.... But when corrected.. runs great 👍
Actually it did. Power balance evened out above 1200 rpm. Truck ran surprisingly well for it being off a tooth but I could tell power was a little down
That’s the problem no one is honest anymore. We’re all human and we do make mistakes. Just admit it and fix it properly. Last year I did an alternator on a Honda CR-V and it’s in a very tight spot. Gotta remove the cooling fans and then wiggle the alternator out. Well I went to remove the alternator and it got stuck, I gave it a hard pull and it put a small hole in the radiator. I was so mad and upset but I called the customer and told him. I’m sorry I damaged your radiator but don’t worry I have a new one coming tomorrow and I will put a new one in for you. She was a little concerned but after picking up the car she was happy that I was honest with her about what happened. I lost money on the job but she has used my services a few more times since.
What were your issues? Reason is my 04 has a full bank one power balance dip BUT no codes at all just a slight rough idle. Off idle power balance flattens out.
Brian, you've increased my Ford mechanicin' skills 100% and saved me probably $1000's of dollars doing the work myself. BTW, is that OCD a chip upgrade or what? 😀
Thanks Brian. 60% of the "tough problem" repair concerns I encounter are PMS, Previous Mechanic Syndrome. Catch a lot of cars that have bounced from shop to shop. They wind up getting referred to me. A lot of electrical concerns, but many mechanical problems due to plain old shoddy repair. Crap repairs so clever, it is sometimes very time consuming to figure out what the heck happened. Best of luck to you.
First thing, thank you so much for your incredibly detailed and thorough knowledge and understanding you've shared. You're #1 and unmatched with this stuff. I finally bought an '07 f150 step side with the 5.4 3v (180,000) and I'm intending on making it reliable with your advice but for now I just want to replace the ring or valve guide in one cylinder without pulling the engine if you think it's feasible. The previous owner never changed the spark plugs and when I did I found why it was smoking and missing. Now with new OEM plugs, the misfiring has ceased but burning oil (and dumping into exhaust pipes) has not. Number 3 cylinder was the only damaged plug that might have damaged the ring or valve guide? to cause this and I'm a traveling electrician with my family and just hoping to open it up and replace whatever will stop the smoking til I get the time to upgrade my oil pump and maybe timing chain kit. I just want your thoughts on how feasible this is without pulling the engine.?
Your videos have helped me out a lot thank you for always being honest I'm from Michigan and the only person that I absolutely trust with the Ford 4.6 5.4 three valve is Matt's Auto service in Dearborn heights Michigan Matt is an absolute genius when it comes to those motors and only uses OEM Ford parts and he is honest just like you
OMG! I got one of those old school engine building shops here, I try to indirectly inform the guy what's going on with his 3 valves that have trouble but they just dont listen, they put a quart of lucas in them and send them down the road.
I don't know how they are still in business all these years.!.. they do shit work..I've known a handful of people personally that were screwed by them.!... Beware.!
Brian, you should start a certification process for Mechanics. They can go to your school and when they graduate, they can receive a special certification. When we visit a Mechanic we can ask if they are "Brian Certified" . If you have a website we can check for Mechanics in our area that are certified by your school. We may have to pay a little more for service but we know it would be worth it. I am TOTALLY SERIOUS Brian. Love ya man!
You rock brother! Most people will never recognize the impact a dishonest mechanic can have on a families day to day life until they are victimized by a one. I appreciate knowing there are good people in this field helping inform others.
Why rebuild a 5.4 3V? There are tons of low mile used ones in the boneyard for less than 4K retail (dealers pay less) with under 70K miles. Plug and play.
I got screwed too about 2 months ago,up n Iowa I did reviews decided to go to a shop based on reviews,well wrong deal,it's a Detroit diesel 60 series, should of went to a Detroit diesel shop,but this place did everything,my problem a fuel injector and fuel n oil,low oil pressure,,so when done ,one injector and mains they clipped me for over $5300,plus I had a tow separate$1074,a month later I lost another injector came out to$1563,at a Detroit shop plus injector harness,I found out I could of went to Detroit diesel shop near dat other place got injector n harness and mains done for about a $1000 less,if I was home n Arkansas I could of got it all done for less than $2090,but Detroit diesel I would of got all six injectors and harness plus mains done at same time,oh well don't believe reviews I think there planted to mislead alot of times
Great video, Brian. Most modern engines are very complex and not everyone knows what to do to fix them. It's a shame that our industry still has this stigma over our shoulder. Keep up the good work.
I really enjoyed your analysis of the problem, and your caution to Ford owners who need extensive work on their Ford products. Even a Ford dealer cannot be trusted to do this kind of work correctly. Very sad state of affairs.
The diesel industry is probably a thousand times worse. I have a 2015 Freightliner, the dealer wants $18k to fix a DPF/DEF issue. I brought my truck to another place that's Freightliner authorized that got ke going for $450 out the door. Was a bad wiring harness for my Doser and DPF pump. The One Box never goes bad, unless in an accident.
As you said, a rebuilt Ford factory engine is probably the best route for a high mileage vehicle. The old engine is removed, the new one goes in with known-good genuine Ford parts. I learned a lot. Thanks very much.
Your final point is what I suggest to customers when needing an engine rebuild or major failure. You can't bet the ford remanufactured engine. Even used 5.4 engines are almost as expensive around me in iowa
Brian, your relentless attention to detail and integrity (what you call OCD) is what is missing today in the auto repair industry. Too many shops that don't have a clue what they are doing too hungry for money that they won't turn a job down. This gives a bad name to those like you, although I am not sure there is anyone else like you. I have never met/heard anyone else like you. This lack of knowledge and integrity is in all trades/industries, sadly. Please keep up the great work and never compromise.
Good channel Doing good honest work You will always be booked up!!! I specialise in just one model here in the UK (the Rover 75) Folk come from all over and my books are full 6 weeks ahead !!! ⚠️The crux of saving time and customers hard earned cash is accurate diagnosis!! I spend time double checking stuff before throwing parts in. So many shops just guess & play the parts roulette game.
LOL any good tuner would lock the tune after a mod. Idle according to what my original file shows should be 600. I will say this, I do allot of lockouts simply because people request them but I would have never thought to increase the Factory Idle because of a low rpm issue. Good Idea I need to remember that one. Nah, just kidding!!! I would never do that. Nice Vid. !!
Machine shops around here HATE the late model Ford engines....SO many little things to go wrong trying to rebuild them it's not worth it when you can get a NEW Ford engine..for about the same money. I've put several 6.2's in and wouldn't even think about trying to rebuild one....go with the new engine and the old saying 'buy once, cry once' is very true. Got to say the Ford trucks run great when everything is right on them...(except the 5.4 and 6.2's use a lot of fuel) but damn they're hard to work on and when something is difficult it makes it more likely to have a problem. Ford engineers have been struggling just to make the vehicles work....let alone any consideration about making them easier to work on.
So he spent $7000 to have his engine rebuilt and now they still gotta go back in and pull the driver side head off and put the right Cam in which is gonna cost him another three or $4000 just to get it right. That’s so sad people do stuff like that. 😔 Great Videos ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is why I like my older Lincolns ... my 68 mark III 460 never a issue 22 k on clock Amarillo to Toccoa Georgia round trip Next trip for Christmas the mark II 1956 37 k on clock will have next 8 hour trip going south or i might take the convertible
I always look at the OBD drive cycles. Easy quick way to tell if it’s been tuned. Should be in the high thousands not 190 lol But also check the pcm numbers too.
7 grand!?!?! My 5.4 3V cost me 8 grand at a stealership, and they didn't replace exhaust and all that.. It does still run good though, not rust infested like the salt belt where y'all are at..
I had the same issue on a 08 Navigator. I had a roller lock up and while I was in there, I replaced all the lash adjusters with the rollers.. After everything was back together, the engine had a terrible miss at idle. Ran great otherwise. Finally found that the aftermarket Melling lash adjusters were just ever so slightly taller that the OEM causing the valves not to seat properly and overlap.
I'm blessed to live close enough to Brian's shop that he does all of my Ford work. PTU fluid changes, struts and springs, 3.5 timing job as well as the water and oil pump, and my dad's Ford Ranger. Brian's work definitely speaks volumes as to his character and superior attention to detail. I honestly can say when I pull out of his shop I have 100% confidence in the work he's performed. Great guy and I can't say enough good things about the man and his business. Greg Sicinski
Had a similar misfire low idle on a 06 town car with the pi 4.6 comes in with egr transducer codes and maf and lean codes.... the rebuilder put nonpi heads on (wrong port shape) and siliconed the ports oval to bell..... customer was so fed up with the shop they just had us replace the motor. Some of the stuff we see as techs.......
When I was having the cam phaser issues with my '06 F150 with the 5.4. I went to several shops and realized I knew more about the engine than they did. I followed FTM's 4 part series and did the work myself including the Melling HV oil pump and all of the roller rockers. What a difference in that engine. I now wear my FTM shirt with pride! The least I could do is buy a shirt to say "Thanks".
We ordered a crate engine from Ford dealership for a 351w Lightning. Was very upset it came with the wrong heads. It came with the standard E7TE heads found on most trucks instead of the GT40 heads it should have which make a decent amount more power. Dealership told us "casting numbers dont mean anything, it has the correct heads" and the shop that assembled the engine said "its been ported to match the GT40 heads". Both of which were BS to try to get us to leave. Cant trust anybody
I wish there were more techs such as yourself. I find today hardley anybody diagnosis problems anymore, they just throw parts at the problem. Keep up the excellent work. Love the channel!
Brilliant knowledge and up to date analytics. Too many people in all trades and professions do basic training and achieve a passing grade then shut off and never learn anything else for the rest of their lives.
Imagine being one of these scammy repair shops, and your shoddy work ends up on RU-vid! 😱 That’s why I push for all OEM parts, and like my dad always says *do it right, do it once*
I like to pick at Brian for being a Ford guy, but no joke... he can whip me on some computer diagnostics 10 ways from Sunday. I'll stick to my GM and we'll all hand grenade it together.
That reminds me of a old Jeep Grand Cherokee I worked on, post purchase inspection from some shady used car lot. Had a bad injector driver in the PCM so they just hooked up the injector to the circuit for the companion cylinder and pulled the check engine light bulb and sold it.
I am a 65 year old retired mechanic and I done a few ford 5.4 and 3.5 timing jobs that are still running strong.yes I used O.E.M. parts and I am also O.C.D. about doing it right the first time.
Well done. I'm the same with OCD a bit and wanting to do a job correctly ONE time. I'm going to fix the shocks/struts on my 16 fusion titanium 2.0 Ecoboos GTDI but don't know what parts to get; wondering if you(or anyone who reads this really) could help me there? "Completely blown out" When i go to check for the parts there's a million different of the same thing to my uneducated eye. What are the parts i'll need for the fix and how can i verify for myself this info? Thanks to everyone that bothers here.
Amazing! Love the time and thought you put in. The devil is in the details. Thank you for what you do. Goes to show that there are good trustworthy mechanics and shops but you gotta do your homework. Thanks Brian keep the videos coming. 👍
I can feel your passion thru the monitor. I swear I saw your eyes changing color form blue to green and back as you were voicing your disappointment. I repair a lot of welding jobs that have been brought to me broken. It just burns me when someone tells me the botch job I am fixing was such a great deal from the previous welder.
Every time I watch one of his videos I learn something. Hats off to ANYONE that can work on modern engines. I grew up with the old small blocks and appreciate their simplicity.
There's never any guaranteed way. I don't trust shops with the whole car unless I have to. Brilliant plan, I thought. So I needed a wheel bearing. I brought a spindle in with the hub, bearing, new bearing and new seal. Simple job right? How could this get screwed up? Well when I was putting spindle back on the car I realized the seal wasn't on the back and it wasn't returned to me. The guy forgot or didn't know where it went, whatever I brought it to him without the seal "in place"... my bad, I get it. Moving past that, by the next day the bearing was humming again and the rotor was rubbing on something. The sway bar link broke off the lower control arm (control arm side of course.) Ford Escape style control arm, bearing is Fusion style, sway link Miata, 626, style, in case you wanted to picture all of this. Not done yet. I'm trying to figure out why a new bearing just goes, when it hit me the guy was talking about packing bearings at some point. Not unusual conversation to have when getting a bearing replaced, except this is a sealed bearing, oiled from the factory. To pack it one would have to open it and compromise it, in some way mangle it with tools. I screwed up the link, so throw another $20 on the fire. $40 for the bearing, 2 drilled and slotted front rotors, pads $120 minimum (maybe 1000 miles on them,) another $40 bearing, LCA $40. Now I have to take that off the car, bring it to another shop, test their competency on wheel bearings and then pay them to do something I already paid someone else to do. I think I paid $80, already too much in my opinion for what should have been 4 goes at the press. I believe I'm at the cost of just paying someone to do the job outright. Wait, I forgot the tie rod and the alignment I now need from all of this. Lots of lessons learned. 3 more bearings that haven't been done, 27 years, probably. :-D
I like watching your videos. I've been a Ford tech since 2004. My department is transmissions. Time and technology has changed a lot since. I rather dig and dig until finding the cause of concern. When you are on commission it's getting hard to make money. Managers at dealerships want to see number going up but they don't get that you can't rush a job. On top of that, you got new kids that want to be techs. Yet don't have a clue how to hold a wrench and over think on what's wrong with the car. Example: car came in for slow crack. The young very "Master Certified" tech declared engine seized. Put new engine. Same concern. Guy scratch his head. Then a veteran tech walked up to the car, noticed he couldn't spin the AC compressor pulley. Told the kid the AC was seized. Kid replaced the AC compressor. Engine started right up. Ford denied the warranty claim. Manager had to pay for the repair. My point is, we are headed to a point where it's hard to find good reliable techs. Most veteran techs are retiring. I spend time trying to calm a customer and then explain to then what's really wrong with the vehicle. Sadly most customers feel like we are screwing them over again. There are times a feel like giving my two weeks notice and work for the city. Just doesn't feel the same.
A master tech right out of skool. Knows more than anybody else. Wants the highest pay. Yet has very little experience. I've seen those young guys before.
You never disappoint! Wish you were local, but Chicago isn't far from Ann Arbor, Michigan. 🙂 I've got 2 Expeditions 2011 & 2013. Thank you very much for your expertise and these videos. You've saved me from so many mistakes. What a great asset to us Ford people... Stick around please👍
Wow great info. So hard to find a shop that number 1 will be that honest with a customer and 2nd finding the individual expertise. I think a lot of shops throw in a rebuilt from the junkyard and send you on your way. I am like you I’m a retired high performance military aircraft mechanic so I have the same OCD. PLUS I’ve been taking automotive courses just to learn today’s cars. I’ll probably die with a wrench in my greasy hands, plus nothing like buying new tools Lol 😆. Hey buddy been watching you quite sometime you definitely know your stuff. You and family stay safe and well in these crazy times 🇺🇸👍
That's what taught me to work on cars since 1983. Watch a mechanic @×#% up a carburetor. I've worked on my cars and trucks (no training) since. They didn't fix anything and destroyed the treads on the jet. Best money I've ever spent!
Brian, I am sure most us that subscribe to your channel do our own service and repairs. Besides saving money, it is very hard to find a shop we can trust. You have helped me with your channel. Keep'em coming!
When you know the "car line" you know all the particulars of that car line. Brian knows that, which is why he can diagnose and pinpoint the problem. This particular vehicle is one of those that's had way to many hands touching it.
Yup, pretty much why I started doing my vehicles myself. That way I can learn and move into the trade having experience on my own vehicles and fail on my own vehicles plus I know what I most likely skrewed up lol. saves me alot of money, and hopefully I can do the same for others soon enough here.
Dude, I'm "NOT" any kind of "FORD" guy,,,, nor a DODGE Guy,,, nor a "CHEVY"/GM guy........ but : "IF" I do ever get me a FORD,, (say P/up)> I'll come to YOU to get something worked/fixed/rebuilt! Thanks : I watch all of your stuff for now about 2+ yrs now!
another relevant reliable video sir thank you..... in these parts (Arkansas) the cost of just the parts for this repair would be more than the vehicle would sell for .... by a lot..... I do motorcycles an powersports toys for 30ish years now and its always best practice to keep factory service perimeters and guidelines at the top of your priority list.... common sense added to that and yer good to go.... my personal goal is to provide a customer with a vehicle they can put thier mom, wife, daughter in send em on a road trip and be ok with it .... until then its not right and i have to answer for why sooooo
Same here im OCD I'm expensive but its going to be right and I don't want come backs I work on fleet trucks F250-F750 and they tell me I want the best.
It’s a hard transition from OHV to OHC. That being said, it doesn’t help that Ford changes every freakin thing from year to year in the same engine!! Ford has always did this stupid stuff and I’m a Ford guy. They should design a good product and stick with it. It seems they rush things into production.
Thank You, My 2004 5.4 F-150 would have been in the junkyard a long time ago if it wasn't for you sharing your knowledge. Saving up for my reman engine now.
