2017 GMC Denali: Service Suspension System - Total Hack Job

In this video I have a look at a 2017 GMC Denali that came in with the "Service Suspension System" light on. It doesn't take long to find this truck has been "touched" in all the wrong places and is only a short time away from the crusher.
-Enjoy!
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.

[@ddognine]

As a southerner, all that rust on a truck only 5 years old and under 100k makes me wanna cry. Before I started watching SMA, I had never heard of fluid film or even knew why it existed. Now I know.

[@red95gts]

As a Southerner, the amount of rust on a 2017 model is terrifying

[@royanderson1429]

Between the snow the cold and the rust, it's not very smart to live in the North.

[@kevinerickson84]

😂 🤷‍♂️

[@michaeldose2041]

@Billy Hatchet Yeah they should make the whole car out of plastic.

[@michaeldose2041]

@Billy Hatchet Okay let me dumb it down for you. Steel is the main structural component of ALL cars. It's common knowledge that if you spray it with salt water and don't maintain it, it rusts. That's not an ''engineering'' thing.

[@michaeldose2041]

@Billy Hatchet The grade of steel? hahahahahahahaha. You think high carbon steel rusts less? Not a metallurgist there are ya billy. The only cars that don't rust are because the owner maintains it. I drive a 96 Yukon and there is no rust. Steel lasts forever if you take care of it. Do I need to draw a picture for you?

[@needleonthevinyl]

24:30 Got to love it when you repair broken wires for a single complaint, and after you return it to the customer they call up happy that some other unrelated stuff started working again

[@abnddreams]

Customer: "what was the problem" Eric O: *Plays Knife Party Bonfire*

[@DonRRicks]

First comment here. As a Texas boy, born and bred, I’m not accustomed to the catastrophic damage that we see on the under carriage of an otherwise nice truck. I’m always amazed at your patience with the problems, no cuss words and absolutely no thrown wrenches. This is the reason that I subscribed and watch every video WELL DONE SIR!

[@shanesgettinghandy]

Right there with ya, I can barely believe how crusty and rusty a five year old vehicle he works on is. I have a 1993, 1999, 2003, and 2006, and every single one is in way better condition than this truck on the underside. Salt kills.

[@Dirtyharry70585]

It’s called editing 🫥

[@alfonsogobaleza7968]

I agreed no f word, which is fine. That’s why I enjoy watching and learning

[@elcheapo5302]

Eric: This is an old truck... Me, still daily driving my 1998 Ram: 😳

[@lalitoojos]

In the salt belt?

[@elcheapo5302]

@@lalitoojos Yep. Rust on the bumpers and just starting on the bed over the wheels. Had the door bottoms fixed. Other than that, it's been amazingly reliable. Original owner.

[@billmorgan9731]

Mrs O has no clue what a star she actually is.. Eric gets it!

[@artvance8251]

I owned an auto repair shop for 41 years and your repair was spot on. All young techs should be shown this video as training to diagnose and repair an electrical problem. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@brianburns7211]

You’re right start with the simple things first. As Eric says, powers and grounds first.

[@user-sy8zq7jc5u]

😂😂😂😂 ese pendejo del eric de puro milagro encontró la falla!! Ni siquiera sabe usar el short finder!!😂😂😂😂

[@coltcartel3108]

Please put your cap on i can't cope 🤣🤣

[@matthewriordan-solidaxlesa5810]

GM,s finest candle wax coated frame.

[@joed8423]

22:40 "you could really open pandoras box this thing been split front to rear". ( flicks razor blade open) "and I'm going in" 😆 🤣 😂 I swear I miss working in the shop. Such funny times with the guys.

[@beaviswashere8009]

Once you got under that truck, I was thinking you meant 2007 not 2017. Holy rust belt Batman!

[@petermclaren7276]

Here in Scotland we appreciate your translations for aluminium and solder, you sir are a man of culture.

[@Teribus13]

Aye that we do. Next he'll be spelling tyres with the y rather than an i 😂

[@petermclaren7276]

@@Teribus13 With a user name like yours, you must come from Hawick. My mother’s home town. Safe Oot, Safe in

[@Teribus13]

@@petermclaren7276 you are correct, born in Edinburgh (the maternity ward in Hawick was full when my mother went into labour), raised in Hawick but now live in Selkirk these days.

[@dashcamandy2242]

Mrs. O: We come here for the auto repair, but we stay for the marital banter. 35:12 - Eric, my Cherokee has an actual pull-out headlight switch. When's the last time you've seen one of THOSE? lol

[@hobozazz8120]

Hey Eric, just wanted to give you a big thanks for helping me continue to improve my fledgling electrical diagnostic skills. Recently worked on a car that had developed a dead misfire on one cylinder. Using your troubleshooting tips I was able to narrow it down to no ground on injector #3. Wiring diagram showed all the injectors' ground wires joined together before going to the ECU harness, so with a good ole' visual inspection was able to check the section of harness that #3's ground wire was located in and found the break in the wire along with several other wires that were severed or almost severed. Turns out the owner had accidentally sliced into the wiring harness while installing aftermarket audio equipment. Couldn't have done it without your help!

[@williammason7092]

He does help me a lot too Ben working on vehicles from the age of 13 and you learn a lot from younger techs 68 now and still working 6 days a week

[@caduceus33]

Seems like installing aftermarket audio equipment is a major cause of wiring problems!

[@jamesandrews1130]

We stand on the shoulders of giants.

[@dantonliam]

Anyone that suggests anything other than solder doesn’t know anything about electrical…12v or otherwise. You are 100 percent right to do it the way you are.

[@scottgm321]

Don’t forget to remove the new batteries from the probe thingy so you can use them in something more useful. Thanks for the video.

[@Dirtyharry70585]

Those energizers tend to leak, I’d pull them-

[@kramnull8962]

@@Dirtyharry70585 Cannot say much for Duracell. Have a pack of 10 year AA batteries. Half of them corroded on the negative end within a year.

[@G31mR]

Yes. AND I'm surprised that tester sat for as long as it did without being damaged by battery leakage

[@glassvial]

If Eric O keeps forgetting his hat, I'm going to have to start wearing shades to watch SMA! 😎

[@danielclawson2099]

It's nice to see you working on newer vehicles. The reason WHY you are working on newer vehicles is terrifying.

[@williampankratz600]

I have bought and thrown away and lost more miracle tools like that for 40+ years The old fashioned method is always the solution if there is a solution

[@Sam-pi6ch]

We use salt in Michigan but that is just insane a 2017 is rotted like that.

[@vincepalaa]

Wild how only 5 NY winters turned that frame into a science experiment. Seasonal Fluid Film application should be taught in Junior High.

[@Rhaman68]

Farm vehicles get exposed to moisture, mud, road dirt moved by tires at high speeds, etc. year round. Add the low (er) metal protection used by vehicle makers and there’s the answer. My only Ford product 2008 Mariner SUV, mid western urban life, rusted frame and components by 2018. 10 years. Just inadequate Ford engineering. Never again, Ford.

[@vincepalaa]

@@Rhaman68 Growing up in Mass it was a part of life. Before Fluid Film it was bar and chain oil mixed. Fluid Film doesn't last as long but it's easier to work with and smells much better.

[@michaelstride7208]

Eric's right we all wanna see Mrs O in every video

[@mikemarshall1394]

You my friend are truly the official rust belt wire whisperer.

[@steveearwig]

Ex-'phone company here, cable pair identification works great on a balanced pair yes, but on a car where most if it isn't they're pretty much useless. Saying that I think this did its job, forcing Eric O to survey the whole length of the wiring loom, but a banana would've worked just as well.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

I can just see him using a Sidekick. Retired Ma Bell 15 years ago.

[@stevenakn1]

😂😂

[@k1n2g4]

As an active cable tech.. these wire tracers are absolute rubbish. Pretty much common sense is the only thing that works.

[@navvet4518]

Agreed! 35 year telecom guy here . The old school method is the best in this situation. I still use my buttset for troubleshooting complex VHF radio systems. No dB meter for me.

[@svengonzales2664]

😁

[@JamesP33R]

Funny part is that the detector actually did find the break. ;) When you were going along the plastic tubing, it got faster, then just stopped. The spot where it beeped the fastest is the open end of the wire. If you look at the video, you were right next to that opening in the tubing where you found the crusties, when the beeping got fast, then stopped. But yes, there is definately a fair amount of finesse to get used to those things and to get them to be more easily usable. Back-up eyeballs always do the trick. Best, as always.

[@bradyc1450]

Like the channel

[@maarten1164]

The detector actually found shit.

[@jmathis3]

I noticed that too. I’ve never used a tracer like that, but I thought it was definitely trying to tell him something. Either way he made short work of turn diagnostic and repair.

[@robpeabo509]

I know you have said many times cars don't last much more than10 years where you are Eric, and I have seen 10 year old rust buckets on your videos, however I can't recall seeing a 5 year old video with holes where the rust has already gone straight through the metal! I am so glad we do not put salt in the snow areas we have in Australia. If you were a mechanic here, you would be working on as many 50 year old vehicles through to new vehicles as you wanted to. There are older vehicles than that, quite a lot actually. It is crazy Americans would tolerate such a situation, the vehicles would want to be cheap when new, that's all I can say!!

[@SmudgyContent]

Eric ain’t lying… Mrs O is such a mystery. She only shows just enough to make it even hotter. Ontop it all she can Cook!!!‼️

[@chrissmithz314]

This reminded me a lot of your video called "Don't Be A Dirtbag Mechanic - Take A Little Pride In Your Work" from September 20, 2019

[@bobmcdoggish9659]

Another awesome fix. A tip-o-the-hat to your skill set. And, yes, we come to see Mrs. O, not you.😀

[@waynekent-if3sj]

Was a mechanic in the "real Upstate NY", near Plattsburgh from 1983 until 2020 when I retired. I am glad to see there's someone else who knows how to trouble shoot and diagnose problems. Todays "Techs" can't fix crap, they just change parts until fixed. The "you should solder it" crowd must be right, because that's how the manufacturers do it and they never do anything the cheap way (solder degrades over time).......... All I know is a solid connection that is properly sealed will last. I'd like to find the person that made the wire probe and created most of the issues seen mid span in wiring. Why would you open up a perfectly sealed wiring and probe it? ............ Anyways, keep up the Good work

[@chiledkidsfbombgarage6095]

Being a socal native, the rust we get out here is from the coastal areas and being parked under a tree. Hat is off to you sir

[@simonparkinson1053]

I use a LAN tone and probe kit a few times a week for finding the green crusties. It's an audible tone rather than a beeper that speeds up like that you used. You mentioned that the whole harness acts like an antenna. Here's a top tip! What I do is apply the tone generator between the wire and ground, then the next step is the important one for success: Ground the other end of the wire! That makes sure you get a full voltage drop across the crusties, otherwise the signal just goes straight on through the crusties. In "busy" harnesses, it's usually best to apply the tone generator at the end you think the fault will be closest to. This also helps minimise signal transfer to other wires.

[@SouthMainAuto]

Okay I see. That would make sense when you're looking for an open and there is that possibility of it being a high resistance from a giant pile of green crusties. Duly noted I will revisit this 👍

[@yhird]

Thanks Simon. Great tip!

[@EmptyPocketsTrapping]

Would like to know more on how to use a tone generator

[@pl5882]

Sounds like good info. I’d like to see a vid because I’m not sure exactly how this would be done.

[@scrappy7571]

Thanks Simon, will give this method a try. In this case. the fuse would be pulled, circuit grounded at the fuse box. And the signal injected at the chassis module connector, since that end had some questionable areas.

[@johnsteger]

Eric says "Like my wife this fuse is supposed to be HOT at all times" 😅 Legendary

[@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq]

I’m amazed that a 2017 model is already toast. New York winters must be rough

[@1QKGLH]

Born in the north, worked in a dealership and a indy shop and came to HATE salt on roads. I'm in the south now. Being able to remove exhaust bolts in a 10-year old car is still mind-bowing

[@nonyabiz2777]

We do love a Mrs O sighting now and then. Your eyes have to have scratches in the corneas from rust and dirt. I used to get mad at dirt and bit of rust but after watching your conditions you work in I never do now. In Colorado the rust is not nearly as bad. Nice work.

[@IanSlothieRolfe]

I had one of those tracing tools back in the 90s and they were pretty effective on cars then, that didn't have too many wires and the wires had thick insulation. Modern cars have many more wires in the looms and they are thinner and as such the signals couple with eachother more and render the tools less effective. I find it incredible they put so much electronics below the floopan. GMC must have a lot of confidence in the waterproofing of those modules and connectors. You'd think they'd want them inside somewhere dry.

[@peetky8645]

built ion obscelesence

[@sunbeam8866]

Only built well enough to get past the warranty!

[@jimjardine4705]

Yeah! Looks like GM needs to use thicker wire in their looms!

[@w8what575]

Why? Then u won’t need to replace that expensive part as often…that’s the money maker…

[@williamallen7836]

It's not thinner insulation. It's the fact so many items share the same ground wire. So image you are trying to trace a wire that is powering something like a light bulb that power & ground side are constantly connected. The signal ends up traveling down every wire connected to that ground wire.

[@evilmrx5837]

“Doesn’t matter what she tells ya... she’s lying” 😂😂

[@monkieeeee]

Holy sh*t....quite literally! No way that's only five years old chief...the underside of that Denali looks like the hull of a fifty-year-old Icelandic fishing trawler.

[@gnohn9366]

It’s always interesting to see how a professional mechanic goes about the troubleshooting process to find the problem. Unbelievable frame rust on that vehicle.

[@BigJohn4516]

Chevy truck frames of that vintage disintegrate pretty quickly up here. The goo the factory puts on just speeds the process.

[@charlespryce7067]

All of the truck are rust out that is a shame that they can't build a good truck there All junk

[@Bobbywolf64]

@@BigJohn4516 It isn't limited to Chev. I have a 2018 F150 with the all aluminum body. Guess what? The frame is very rusty, and very similar to this chev. I am on the east coast as well, up in canada, and the salt is brutal on everything.

[@mmaaddict78]

This happens to every vehicle in the rust belt unless you fluid film the undercarriage religiously every year.

[@fixitallpaul4847]

@@BigJohn4516 I spend most days working these rust belt crusties. Needle scaling and rockers. Its a dirty job but it pays well.

[@assassin_asa]

She's a lovely woman for you man, actually brings me hope that she knows exactly what's going on and understands exactly what you mean and yet plays it off like the internet is full of decent humans. I hope y'all are doing quite well out there, and thank you for being a rarity

[@David-cm7jl]

Pretty sure your the only real channel on KZbin. All others are click bait and lies. Love your channel! Very informative and fun to watch.

[@patrickmorrissey2271]

@ 29:33 omg!!! I just had to explain to these people, why I just bursted out laughing..... Eric O: I try not to piss people off.... Mrs O: (Makes the greatest "yeah right, uhh huh" face of ALL TIME..... ) omg that was TOO FUNNY!

[@frankhartford5194]

As a mechanic in the earlier stages of owning my own garage. I learn so much to put in my arsenal from you Eric. Thanks for making these awesome videos

[@mitchs323]

I've been where you were on this truck, I used to work for the WVDOH, and when I started, the wiring harnesses were maybe 6 to 8 wires going to the back. SRIC equipment is the worst, being in salt almost constantly from November to April. On the older stuff, we would completely rewire the beds and spreader box harnesses about every two years. I've seen more green crusties than I care to remember. Our biggest problem was somebody that would take a test light and probe the wire every 6 to 12 inches until they found the problem. then they would repair it leaving all the puncture in the insulation of the wire. A few days later it was back to what it was before, only all along the wire.

[@throttlebottle5906]

TERMINATED, is what they should have been. 🙄😬

[@cesargallo7424]

God job Mr O., this is real life, no time to deal with junkie tools.

[@leakyboatent-fr1yw]

Your method of wire join is 100% correct. Electronic Engineer is my background if anyone chooses to argue. Yes, Solder does have an "L" in it. You may be able to tell from my Australian accent.

[@BillinSD]

Sensitive electronics should ALWAYS be mounted outside the interior of the vehicle /s

[@zx8401ztv]

Manufacturers have to create secondary incomes from all the failing parts :)

[@BillinSD]

@@zx8401ztv TRUTH - Isn't Detroit in the rust belt????

[@gillgetter3004]

I’m in Detroit, just as bad as upstate NY. Gotta keep us workin!!!

[@moconnell663]

In my Subaru EVERYTHING is on the inside, even the brake lines. I've never needed to replace more than the last 6" of any brake line. I've never had a wiring problem. (Though I did need to replace a rotted fuel tank)

[@joes2085]

Outside the interior???

[@kellykonoske91]

The idea of this truck in the scrap yard in five years is just amazing to me! My 26 yr old truck here in Western Oregon will live its life out as long as I take care of it and still want to drive it! No salty crusties here though. Todd the retired trucker.

[@mikeske9777]

The same here with my 18 year old Dodge Ram 2500 cummins. I was just under it today for my spring inspection. The underside is pristine I was under it for its oil change, fuel filter, transmission, transfer case and front and rear diff service. I did have to repair a couple wires going to the left rear door window switch in the rubber boot that goes from the B pillar to door but that a normal for that era Dodge. I go under to one thing I am constantly looking around for loose wires, anything leaking. I did find a lifetime NAPA shock leaking and I have the receipt so I pull it in the next week and take that in for NAPA to take care of it. Of course I save money as I do all the work myself and since I am retired I find anyway to save money.

[@MARKE911]

Living in South Arkansas, I'm quite sure Snow Is a mythical creature that appears only 1-2 times a decade to close everything down and cause hundreds of wrecks per mile. We are talking 1-2 inches that might last 24-48hours.

[@vincentrolfe1384]

I met a guy from Tibet with a similar beep beep tool and the magical words he would say with the tool was, "do you love me?" And, the beeper would become very sensitive. Worked every time.

[@barblemons5397]

I feel certain all vehicles built today no matter brand or country they are from are junk! Poor investment from the get go. A man on another channel I watch summed it up as just a matter of what brand of junk do you want to work on. You do a great job of taking it in stride have a great day.

[@Driving-the-Backroads]

Yes, I work for the phone company and yes I can reliably find opens and shorts using a toner. It takes a little time to get to know your tools. While you can hear a signal on neighboring wires in time you will be able to discern the difference between crosstalk and the primary signal. Use your toner more often. The more you use it the more useful it will become.

[@9HighFlyer9]

Once again I'm so incredibly thankful that I live in Arizona. I have a trailer that's been mostly unpainted for years and it has nothing more than surface rust.

[@guymitchell3842]

As an Aircraft and Power plant mechanic. Fancy word for a guy that fixes aircraft. I’ve seen wires and in aircraft’s you can only do so many repairs and they have to be fixed over a certain length of the wire. I always fixed the wire and heat shrieked then put it through a smaller conduit then added it back to the bundle. A lot more work but made me sleep better at night knowing I fixed it good with no possible cross circuit issues. I didn’t want to cause a plane wreck. If I seen anything close to that bundle I would have had a heart attack. Lol nice find. I never used those beeping machines to find a broken wire. Too many large loads inside them for that to work. Just look for areas where they been fixed or they are bent.

[@frankish5314]

Sure glad I live a salt free state! I've scrapped one car at 20 years old with zero rust and my 33 year old F250 farm truck has light surface rust on the frame! Now if my Chevvy Cruze ever stops leaking coolant life would be perfect..:). I love how Mrs O delivers sarcasm when she tells you how impressed she is.. Mrs F does the same, it keeps us humble.

[@remondro]

WOW !!!! What a diagnosis and repair of a seemingly impossible to find issue.. Just goes to show that your patience and perseverance pays off. GREAT JOB.

[@floorpizza8074]

"They come to see me, but hope to see you..." Nothing better than the two best things in the world at once... working on a car, and seeing a beautiful woman. You've done very well. On the soldering topic, I've switched over to crimp connectors that include a built in piece of solder. You crimp the connection initially, then melt the solder piece and surrounding shrink wrap in one go. Like all things, there are people that swear by these types of connectors, and others that swear *at* them. Personally, I think they're great. Oldest one I have in use is now five years old, and still works fine. Edit: Dang, all I had to do was play one minute more of the video, and I'd see you're using something very similar. The only difference is the ones I use have a place to crimp them, too.

[@lthutchins9473]

"Enhance, unenhance." That never gets old. Makes me chuckle every time.

[@haroldlm64]

Connection restored. Everyone is happy.

[@upman664]

Sometimes it's just time to call it on the harness. I work for an open pit Iron mine. We have so much mud the harness rubs on the corrugated wire loom and cuts the wires. We struggled until we found out we could purchase a complete harness relatively cheap and spend 4-5 hours to be trouble free for many more years.

[@Spadedinthe801]

Eric, you are an inspiration. I know you probably won't see this, maybe Mrs. O will. You're videos are the most honest POV of working in the life of an everyday mechanic I have seen.(other than all the rust, good lord the rust I see on your channel is terrifying). Yeah that device is shotty. Even the Dynatech's the power company uses for underground big boy wires are never accurate. I am contracted with Pacificorp in Utah running a Vac Truck and even the stupid expensive Dyna's suck. I would love to see a collab with Rainman Ray if that would every be possible. He's my other go to of no nonsense Honest repairs. You guy's have inspired hundreds of thousands if not millions to tackle their own vehicles instead of forking out their own hard earned money for sometimes simple repairs. Keep at it. Love ya from afar!

[@nevetslegasi5686]

I moved Far far away from NY BECAUSE of the huge rust salt damage problem. I tell people WIRING HARNESS rust out up north, and nobody believe's me. Down south here, 300K miles and everything is still perfect. Amazing difference.

[@stewartadams5884]

... Oh, and we are always happy to see Mrs. "O" as well.

[@Chevymacjr]

Eric, your teachings in the dying art of troubleshooting is encouraging. Please keep up the great work and keep sending down your pearls of wisdom.

[@freetolook3727]

@2:10 Great planned obsolescence design, put electronic modules where they're most susceptible to water and salt corrosion!

[@simonjones7785]

nice to see the lovely Mrs O out in the shop, solder solder solder and plenty of heat shrink action

[@Stevie_B_0828]

*HI MRS. "O"!!!* 👋👋👋 *GOOD TO SEE YA!!!* 😉👍

[@scottsmrcka2769]

This chip shortage may be the best thing that ever happened for GM. All those new trucks out there without half of the options they normal come with. Should produce roughly half the electrical failures you would normally expect from them.

[@Stover1928]

I have always wondered how effective the wire tracers would be on a auto. You have answered that question for me in spades. As always you are a genius! Loved the video.

[@mikeske9777]

Yeah I almost bought one about ten years ago and one look at the price for it and I said no thanks as I still have the scope on a rope and back probes that will do the same thing along with the 4 eyes I have, glasses and eyes work well for the past 45 plus years I worked on vehicles and aircraft

[@SteveP-vm1uc]

I had one back in the late 70's early 80's and they were even junk then.. Far less wiring and wire insulation that would all fade to a yellow/white, so chasing was a mother.. But yeah, even with few wires in the harness they were junk.

[@dwb812]

Also, you can use a miliamps test to locate a break in a wire if you know which one you want to check. Old school electrical trounleshooting is faster once you know the techniques. Trouble is, learning them takes time and effort...something people have no "time for" in our "instant gratification" society.

[@Tommerd]

Breaks my heart. A five-year-old truck that looks like a 1980s vehicle in Canada. Freezing weather is good for one thing!

[@trevorbooth7945]

Right , i don,t like to complain BUT....your door bell is the same as ours and every time it goes off ,the dog barks thinking someone,s at the door....lol

[@GetReal3327]

I like how you always tell it as it is. Thank you:) Old homeschool DIY car mechanic trying to keep up with the times. Just got my first diagnostic tool because my old Dodge Ram Minivan didn't have a OBD port or computers that died in 2021 with over 300,000 miles. Now that I have a 2008 Chevy Cobalt LS 4-door 2.2L, now it's time for this old fart DIY car mechanic to go back to school. lol

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Good Lord...I've lived in NY my entire life and even I'm appalled at how rotten that frame is after only 5 years 😳

[@repro7780]

Thats what I said! wow, 5 years, 80 some odd thou miles. Sad....

[@bradfa]

The body and engine compartment looks pretty good. It’s just the frame that’s all rusted out. So GM knows how to rustproof, they just choose not to do it on the frames of these pickups.

[@OnusofStrife]

I was thinking the same. I'm from CT and was and this looks worse than my 1990 f250 that came from NY and has 360k on it. But as I understand it GM still doesn't bother to paint their frames. They just wax them which doesn't hold up.

[@yoshy4072]

I had a 81 F150, no start in my driveway one morning. Called a tech who comes to you. Fuel pump wasn't turning on. Got er fixed up. Over the next 7 years 5 more break downs, everywhere he probed the wiring harness he poked a hole in the wire insulation and one by one they all corroded. Canada lots of salt. Taught me a lesson

[@theusconstitution1776]

You’re right Mr. O we come here to see a little bit of you but we really come here to see Mrs. O and what she’s cooking today❤️

[@thegmguy1]

Your findings are why I am more willing to diag and repair my own vehicles. To many sloppy hacks out there and the dealers are extremely guilty of that.

[@kevincampbell8298]

What ever works for each person is what they should go with! I am with you solder and heat shrink. I kept a couple of roles of the good ole 60/40 it never let me down.

[@robinrousseau1087]

YOU AND IVAN AND RAY ARE THE BEST ON KZbin THE CAR WIZARD IS A JOKE.

[@PeaceMarauder]

I learned the old fashioned way since those tools didn't exist. By the time the kid could get the tool running I could find the problem. However the job gets done and works, works. Fix it and ship it.

[@fredflintstone8048]

I've used those signal tracers during my career not only in automotive applications, but also in industrial controls settings where there were large wiring trunks, and I had the exact same experience as you described. The signal is induced onto the other wires in the harness and will lead you on a wild goose chase. It takes quite a bit of practice and playing with the sensitivity on the receiver. I've also use some where you can attenuate the signal on the transmitter side as well and that can be helpful. Bottom line: They can be helpful when used with a little practice but are not as good as advertised.

[@shadetreemech290]

Even as an electronics tech. I tend to agree.

[@SocketSilver]

They work great for network cabling. The big difference is a network cable has only 4 pairs of wire. So it’s a lot easier.

[@timdeibler4]

Same experience using it in a harness. We wire guided forklifts where one wire is in the floor and it works great for finding the break

[@fredflintstone8048]

@@timdeibler4 I agree that in some applications they're the best possible tool to use.

[@rhavasy]

@@SocketSilver And the twisted pair structure of network cabling is used specifically to reduce cross-talk between the pairs, to the signal induction is minimized. Maybe as cars & trucks become rolling networks it's time for manufacturers to start wiring them like networks and not the same way they built cars in 1970.

[@srautollc6831]

The best notification of the day! Love me some SMA

[@mrjimbobtx]

Not gonna lie, it’s awful nice seeing Mrs. O. Oh yeah, you do good work.

[@frederickburns1739]

Fine job on a RUST BUCKET. It will live till the next time!!!

[@billbrown6889]

You're right, we watch what you're doing in hopes that Mrs O will come out and help/comment! You r a lucky guy

[@Yawwee]

Good thing for bad service exploration work, it enables you to find the right spot and see the crusty wires that were never sealed properly !!! Good diagnosis and repair, Eric. Nice of Mrs. O. to visit and add her 2 cents. And Luna the kitty always has a good word about you whenever you call her name - love it !!!!! On to the next one !!!!!! 😀😺

[@jackgreen412]

I moved to Tennessee about 10 years ago with a 2003 Ford Ranger, New York veteran. One day, the spare fell out from under. The mount was rusted onto. Once I chased the spare down, it ride in the bed like a dog for the rest of the time I had the truck.

[@Esteb86]

Idk why, but hearing, "you gotta calm down, my guy" made me crack up

[@54leedaley]

I've been on all sides of the debate. For many many years it was twist solder and shrink. Then I was told that on boats it should be crimp because solder would make the wire stiff and it would break from vibration (what about salt water?). Then I found the solder and seal connectors and have been pretty happy with them. But all in all, solder and shrink has never failed on me.

[@dendkmac]

At the end of the day you have to do what works for you and your customer, reaching that conclusion can go a few different ways this one worked out for you. almost forgot I used one of them tracing things a few times I can never get it to work right and always ended up doing it by hand, you have such a knowledge base on this good job!

[@cgoad]

"Nope. They come here to watch me in hopes of seeing you...." Yup! 😆

[@waynerobati6940]

Simple oldschool is the meanest! AWESOME job brother!

[@richardcook9738]

Thanks!

[@billnone3173]

I use both the wire tracer and peepers and paws... good job eric.... I think you should get into dowsing.... You definitely have a gift for it sir. always love your video's... when I grow up I am gonna do mechanical video's too!.

[@craigsowers8456]

I HATE ELECTRICAL WIRING TROUBLESHOOTING !!! LOL 4 decades of doing this on Military Aircraft where the harness bundles are miles long and huge, just like "Dealer Techs", we have "Airmen" that take the same approach (not adequately trained and just don't give a crap). Your "Sensor Unit" will only work well if tracing a single wire. In your situation (and with your amazing prowess) the best way to use it is to only have power to the wire you're searching ... meaning unplugging the others in the same bundle at the Fuse box; as you rightly pointed out, the bundle gives spurious signals called "EMI". Otherwise, "old school" tracing using "jumper wires" to isolate where in the path it's broken. Great job !!!

[@msethhunter]

I was literally yelling at the screen, “YOU HEARD HOW FAST IT WAS BEEPING WHEN YOU HAD IT BY THE FUSE BOX! YOU’RE SMARTER THAN THIS!” Fox and hound works great if you use it right. When you find the break, it’ll start screaming.

[@jack002tuber]

I have a fox and hound type tool too, and I was never able to make it work for me. And your splices are good to go. I know you have been doing this a long time and you would know what splices work and what don't work. No callbacks when you splice, there's the proof. Another great job. A human broke wire sniffer. 🔧🔧🔧

[@wssides]

That detector reminds me of the powered test light that was popular a number of years back. You didn't need a ground- touch the probe to the copper wire or terminal and your other hand to any metal part of the car- if it beeped and flashed you had voltage. Great! BUT the voltage could be going though greenies that won't carry enough current to do any work- like operate a trailer light which was what I was usually trying to repair.

[@michaelcanto6175]

Ah Ha, The Gremlin killer has slayed a few more! Excellent work Eric!

[@MD-ob1gq]

I start every day off trying not to piss people off. But eventually I have to speak so there's always tomorrow! 😆