DO NOT try to fix your car until you've seen this video!

[@hamstirrer6882]

I'm a fully qualified mechanic (though not working in a garage), and I still do TONS of research before attempting anything on my own car if it's something I'm unsure about, that way I can find out either how to do it, or if it's something I don't wanna mess with. Arm yourselves with knowledge!

[@-jimmyjames]

Yes sir. Do it and do it right

[@spooderdoggy]

Totally agree. The real problem for guys like me is finding a truly “qualified mechanic” to fix our car. I simply don’t trust most mechanics because sadly many are either incompetent or are greedy and have ethic issues. Then what method can be used to find a good one? I used to fix my cars on my own. Now other than simple stuff I’m afraid to repair my wife’s 2022 Honda CRV. I will still work on my 2011 CRV, but her’s?🤔🤷🏻‍♂️

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

Excellent advice! It's like the carpenters principle: Measure twice, cut once!

[@MrFezco]

Heck even a surgeon studies before they do an operation

[@froggmann01]

Same here, been working on my own and family's crap since I was 14. As you said, K N O W the procedure in the FSM backwards and forwards, read up on other's experiences and sometimes you can get some tips off the old youtube. As for anything 2013 and newer VERIFY programming does not have to be completed to replace a mechanical part, i.e. Wizard's experience with the Chrysler 200 a couple of years ago. This is one of the reasons I don't own anything past model year 2004 anymore. I found early CANBus stuff to be an annoyance, later stuff (2010s and later) to be a nightmare in waiting.

[@anthonyrice8528]

I have an 18 year old Toyota and a 20 year old Honda Element, both with about 233,000 miles. If I had to take these cars to a shop every time something went wrong, I'd be better off making a car payment on something newer. I've done a lot of my own work myself over the years, replaced throttle bodies, various sensors, brake calipers, etc. Sure, you have to be careful- I've made mistakes- but that's how you learn. And it's a very rewarding process.

[@donaldlee6760]

I'm pretty much like you. I am the DIY mechanic for my 3 vehicle "family fleet" of 2006 through 2012 Hondas and Toyota. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area I was quoted $2k to change the timing belt/water pump of my wife's 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (KBB value is only $6k). As my very first DIY timing belt job it was both exciting and terrifying(!) but afterwards wasn't the hugely complex deal I imagined it to be. We can now afford to send our daughter to Cal with all the money we've saved over the years.

[@oldfag_adventures]

vehicles that old are from before computers got downright pissed at you. it wasn't until the late 2000s and early 2010s when things started to get really bad; especially on hondas and yotas

[@anthonyrice8528]

​@@donaldlee6760That's awesome! I've never attempted to change out a timing belt, you have my respect!

[@TempoMontages]

@@anthonyrice8528 my 2000 toyota 4runner has been very diy friendly ive done lots of work on it over the 5 years ive owned it

[@trundlepufpendants]

Own 4 hondas- all 200kish No check engine lights 😮

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

A basic tip: Always disconnect the battery before working on electronics, use your cell phone camera and take pictures of all wires, connectors and hoses before disconnecting them. When you're certain you've put everything back together again exactly as they should, then you re-connect the battery again. Not before! Most fuel and ignition systems will go into re-calibration when battery is re-connected and you start the car again.

[@safffff1000]

Yes my Toyota's relearn themselves after a while

[@BariLopesh]

That can go wrong as well though , if you leave stuff disconnected for too long on some vehicles you need to have stuff coded by the dealer..

[@Yugophoto]

when disconnecting wires and vacuum lines, What I like to do is put painters tape on both sides before disconnecting anything and label them. That way i dont have to figure out what goes where, i just match up my labels.

[@lactusgalacto1174]

@@BariLopesh And that is how dealers they get to fleece you.

[@BariLopesh]

​@@lactusgalacto1174 a lot of the time you can make stuff relearn itself by switching key to on, pushing down a pedal, turning key to position 2 etc etc, 90% of the time you don't need to disco the battery to make it relearn stuff..

[@philb707]

So basically what the Wizard is saying is, don't break your car worse than it was then bring it to him to fix 😅😅

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Or just get a scan tool.. They're absolutely required for newer vehicles.

[@hotpuppy1]

You have to know what the scanner is telling you.@@R3TR0R4V3

[@FWDSUXARSE]

​@@R3TR0R4V3Absolutely. Depending on someone's budget, you can get a basic one for less than 30 dollars. I use a Bluetooth OBD2 ELM device (OBDlink brand) and the Torque phone app. It does everything that I need and I've been using the app for ten years now.

[@Fly-aaron92]

It's 125 an hour base rate. It's an extra 25 an hr if you wanna watch, 50 if you wanna tell me how to do my job. Amd its double time if you worked on it first. 😮‍💨🤣

[@Rogue-Mike]

Pretty much sums it up if you listen to anyone with actual knowledge. Posers & the dishonest will say a job is simple, won't elaborate, and then you foolish take a crack at the job and fuck it up. Now you're up shit creek with no paddle with you boat full of holes. Practice makes perfect still applies.

[@jimgarofalo5479]

Dave, one thing you need to take into account is that many shops are there to sell you as much as they can - and at highly inflated costs. Labor rates approaching $150 per hour will encourage even more DIY repairs - or just simply repairs gone unrepaired. I know that when I was working in shops, I simply refused to clean up other peoples' messes. I recall one time, I went to a tire shop for new tires. I looked out in the shop, and my hood was open, doors were open, and my wheels and tires were just laying around the car. Then they came in with a "laundry list" of repairs that they thought I needed. More incentive to DIY. What we REALLY need is a return to more honesty in the auto repair business and to weed out the robbers.

[@terry_willis]

"Honest mechanic". That's an oxymoron today. They're still out there but you need to look real real hard.

[@paulandrews5611]

I'm sure you don't care, because you're rich now thanks to Hovie, but most people can't afford to pay $400 every time a $30 sensor goes out. You're speaking to a small subset of morons with little to no common sense and you come off sounding extremely aragant and full of yourself. "Bring your car to me because I'm smarter than you, and you're too stupid to do it" is the basic premise of this video. Who am I kidding? He's never going to actually read his comments. Why am I wasting my time...

[@raiden031]

Can't say I can blame anyone for attempting DIY repairs no matter how unprepared they are simply with the current rates charged by shops

[@laveritesurlestemoinsdejeh8522]

At the shop where I work, every time we do 4 tires we check all the lights, the suspension for loose parts (tie rods and such), visuallly check the brakes, and look under the car for any leaks. IF we see something, we tell the customer. Just because you get a "laundry list", it doesn't necessarily mean that you're being ripped off. I'd much rather warn a customer that his balljoint is very loose than see the guy come back on the tow truck or even get into an accident because I wasn't professional enough to tell him.

[@jimgarofalo5479]

@@laveritesurlestemoinsdejeh8522 There are very few things that would cause one to have a collision. A loose ball jiont will give symptoms long before it becomes a TRUE safety hazard to that point. For that matter, is it "professional" to attempt to oversell? One example is the time I went for new tires. They told me that I needed brakes. They asked me if I would like to put them on. I just replaced those brakes - 3 years later. Why? Because they wanted to replace brakes that were not even half worn down. What comes with professionalism is HONESTY. High ideals are one thing. Dishonesty and an attempt to oversell is something else, and I would NOT call it professional!

[@JonesNate]

You're really reinforcing my insane desire to hold onto my '77 C10.

[@heiner71]

Good choice. Pamper your old cars and they will keep going as long as you can still find parts. Really anything starting late 90's has built in obsolescence. Some sooner some later.

[@robertbigler7743]

Yeah! I was thinking the same thing! "I'll keep my old car!" Who needs to drive something as complex as a space shuttle???

[@-jimmyjames]

You should! Besides your not crazy, they are the ones that are crazy. Need a pepsi?

[@Ward413]

I had a 1989 Suburban that I sold and regret it everyday. Definitely hang onto your truck. My Suburban even had the original window sticker and I was only the third owner. It was even bought locally to where I live so it had been in essentially the same Silicon Valley city it’s entire life. On the bright side, the fella I sold it to road tripped it to Mexico and then Alaska without issue. Thing was a beast.

[@tomast9034]

forever together ....till the spare parts run out or gasoline/diesel stops flowing....

[@davidjernigan7576]

Sometimes even headlight/foglight bulbs are a challenge due to having to pull wheels, partly remove fender liners, battery, etc.

[@digitalrailroader]

Some cars are so difficult that you basically have to completely disassemble the front end and remove the headlight assembly just to change a bulb; if it’s a late model with LED headlights or taillights, be prepared to get sticker shock; because they have to be replaced as a unit and they can be thousands of dollars! (A good example of the out of control prices for these parts is the 2015- Present Ford F-150 equipped with Blind Spot Monitoring; the Blind Spot Radar Assemblies are a part of the taillight, and are $1,200 PER SIDE, and requires a trip to the dealership for programming to the truck!)

[@1BergerVongSchlauigkeitHer]

I'd like to replace some burnt out bulbs in the interior and I have to take so much shit apart that I just can't be bothered.

[@jimharper6073]

Thanks... That is reason 84,487 NOT to buy a FORD again@@digitalrailroader

[@Fevebblefester]

$130 to change a headlight bulb on my Chevy Traverse. Disassemble the entire front end. My old Plymouths look better and better.

[@isbemorph]

Yea, all these safety regulations forced car manufactures to equip cars with systems like ABS, ESP, multiple airbags, etc. just for people's safety. Meanwhile when a bulb goes out at night a driver cannot change it on the road, how safe is that?

[@batmayn]

Mr and Mrs Wizard about to be the owners of a KZbin 1 million subscriber channel. So happy to see this. Yall deserve it. Great content, thanks for all the valuable information and entertainment!

[@GlycerinZ]

i remmeber subscribing to Wizard many years ago, after finding him out thru Hoovie. He had under 100k subs. I knew his channel was gonna constantly grow

[@jonathanfreedom1st]

I can touch my car as much as I like because I understand all of those things discussed. And I have my own OBD scan tools. 😊

[@John-o9v4n]

Most of my cars are over 20 years old and fairly easy to work on. I am still cautious and do a bit of research before touching sensitive electronics though. No problems working on most issues here. Glad I do not have some of these newer complicated headaches. Oldie but a goodie...still rings true.

[@ralphnewman2479]

Yup! I only buy used, bone-stock and non-modded Jeeps. I have had a ton of them and love them. forget the new ones though. Too much tech, which is *nice* ....while it's under warranty. Once the warranty is up: Forget it! $$$$$$$$

[@clarke7230]

Same me here. I had Jeep's Volvo's Audi's and other cars all made in the nineties and early 2000's. Those cars are extremely easier to work on. Even their maintenance is very affordable. If you want to fully fix your 4.0 Jeep then you just buy another one cheap, get all the parts you want then make money selling the rest(if you have time) Just a month's instalment of a new car I fix my car for a full year with it excluding tyres, fluids and on the road paperwork

[@xscorpx]

​@@ralphnewman2479drive by wire is the Achilles heel of modern jeeps. I loath drive by wire, almost the stupidest tech to ever be added to a car after plastic gear HVAC actuators.

[@wellnessotr]

I’ve been the victim of shops who don’t look into the matter, and don’t fix the problem, but have wiped out my wallet! And that’s why I’m taking the auto repair classes, now!!

[@vigilantemotors]

Good luck and welcome to the trade! You will do awesome!

[@abeneufeld9690]

I fix my own now, after being ripped off by local shops

[@Chayliss]

You paying for those classes?

[@wellnessotr]

@@vigilantemotors Thank you! It’s been fun learning in classes.

[@wellnessotr]

@@abeneufeld9690 Seems like it’s everywhere. 😤

[@tompas11A3n52KkX]

There's a reason I drive a 35 year old Volvo 740 estate wagon. I have owned this car for 20+ years. So far it has never let me down. Quality lasts. I have worked as a professional mechanic for 35 years but now I am retired.

[@scottimusgarrett15]

Another example of why you're an awesome, honest mechanic. Excellent work, man! Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wizard for yet another informative episode! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦

[@shekharmoona544]

I remember my local garage topd me fixing my thermostat would be $700. I googled it and you literally had to take off so many parts and almost all of it had to be torqued to spec. I called back and authorized the repair. I honestly thought ot was going to be like a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass supreme. 😂😂

[@michaelmartinez9602]

What car is it

[@shekharmoona544]

​@@michaelmartinez9602jeep JK. The thermostat housing is made of plastic. And it will heat cycle so many times before it cracks. They put it buried at the top in the valley of the engine.

[@shekharmoona544]

​@@michaelmartinez9602if you are in their replace the plastic part where the heat sink is to a metal version of you have a gen 2 pentastar.

[@Noah_E]

@@shekharmoona544 making parts like that out of plastic is done on purpose to insure a steady stream of income from repairs after the warranty expires. When the thermostat housing on my XJ Cherokee started to leak I replaced it with an aftermarket one made of metal that was designed with a slightly different angle so it flows better and won't break like the guaranteed to fail plastic OE one. Car companies will continue to pull this crap as long as consumers keeps buying their faulty products. We need better consumer protections in this country.

[@throwback19841]

@@shekharmoona544 Sounds like they hired Jaguar engineers lol. Jag XK8s have a similar problem. Plastic thermo housing. Irony is the supercharged XKRs are more reliable cos they HAVE to have a metal thermo tower.

[@throwback19841]

there's a reason the toyota service docs say to disconnect the battery before working on the car and its not just a safety/over caution step. Its to prevent synergistic codes like this. Certainly, never turn on the ignition or start the engine with sensors disconnected unless the diagnostic procedure tells you to. So many people just pull codes and think that's the whole story, but if you read the manufacturer diagnostic procedures its more systematic than that. The codes only tell you part of the story. The whole diagnostic procedure is required. The main lesson Ive learned is always get the proper manufacturer documentation (you can buy a few days subscription to the toyota database for about 30 bucks) if you are gonna do your own work, AND LEARN HOW TO READ IT. There is a skill to comprehending those documents.

[@richardhandler8606]

Is that true for other OEMs? The whole purchasing a short period of their repair service, how do you even do that?

[@davidgrisez]

Since I am 72 years old I grew up in a time when automobiles were a lot simpler. While I was growing up my father did almost all the work and maintenance that our cars needed, to save money and also he did not trust mechanics. But those were the days when the most electronic thing on the car was an optional AM radio. Those were the days of carburetors and distributer ignition systems. I did do a lot of my own work on my first car, a 1977 Datsun B210, but after that car about the only thing I did was replace windshield wiper blades.

[@stonefox9124]

Today they make traps so if u do it urself u pay 10x as much to fix the self destruction sequence...

[@carwashadamcooper1538]

My first car was a 77 Datsun b210! Four door, four cylinder, four speed and it would hold 9 high school kids!

[@sproutpits]

I would emphasize that even if you're only at a DIY level of understanding, you can often learn a lot about how to work on a given car over time. I do a lot of work on my wife's and my 2 Subarus because I've owned Subarus for over 20 years, so I know what to expect. Give me a Toyota or a Chevy, and I'm back at square 1 in many ways. But I just correctly diagnosed a bad coil pack on cylinder 2 with no scan tools or codes. I just unplugged coils and injectors until one of them didn't make the engine run worse. Then I switched the coil pack to another cylinder and the misfire followed it. I'm so familiar with this particular engine layout that I always know what I'm looking at. Just want to encourage people to research and learn. Even if you end up deciding you need to take it to a shop (and I still do that plenty), you'll gradually become more familiar with your vehicle, and just being able to do a few things like oil changes and brake linings can save you hundreds a year.

[@oengusfearghas9608]

The fact that modern cars are so unnecessarily complicated is a significant reason why I will keep my 90s and older cars on the road into perpetuaty. I actually prefer my older cars because they are easier and less expensive to keep on the road with virtually no drawbacks.

[@Noslime]

After many years of frustration, I finally bought my own scan tool. Best 70 bucks I ever spent.

[@arthursmith643]

Make sure you know your radio reset code to get your radio working again. Some vehicles have a security code to reset your radio after battery is disconnected. Some dealerships charge a labor charge to reset it. This is for security. Someone steals your radio it won’t work without knowing the code.

[@AbronHawkins]

Love your videos Wizard!!! DIY repairs are great if you have a car like a 1978 Ford LTD for example. But never advisable in today’s vehicles

[@Zatoichinisanyon]

I’ll KZbin and parts cannon. If part doesn’t work, return it. If videos don’t work, find another. Last resort is take it to a shop. By the way, I’ve lost more money on bad shops than anything I did myself - I think I found a good one now (which actually makes me more comfortable trying stuff myself because I have a good backup)

[@R3TR0R4V3]

I work in all my own stuff, but with these newer vehicles, you _have_ to own a scan tool. You also need to research whatever you're trying to fix and do your homework, or else you may end up like this guy and pay the piper for something silly that got overlooked.

[@jamesredman1263]

Yes. And "newer" covers 1996 and later.

[@dannydaw59]

Where do you research? Are there KZbin videos?

[@watts300]

@@dannydaw59Just start with Google. Search results will include KZbin videos, but also forums and mechanic shops’ websites. Sometimes shops will add descriptions of various issues and an overview of what they are. It’s good for search engine optimization which brings in more customers. It’s still a good resource for DIY.

[@WilC379]

Yes, and for a lot of vehicles you need a decent bi-directional one. I ended up with an Autel MaxiPro.

[@stevedeleon8775]

Back in my days high school auto shop 1974 thru 1977 vehicles were so simple to diagnose & work on..

[@heiner71]

My Audi A6 also bricked after the steering lock module failed. It had to be dragged to the dealership and they replaced the entire steering column, as it is sold as one piece only (column+lock module). Took them hours to sync up the module with the rest of the car, due to older SW etc. This adventure ended up costing me $3300 + $250 for towing. Looking at the market value of the car at the time, it would really have been totaled. Since the car did not give me really any other trouble for 11 years and still had fairly low mileage, I decided to have it fixed, as a comparable car would have cost me more than $3500 and would have had an unknown history. So far so good for the last 2 years.

[@CarShopping101]

New, and even used, cars are so expensive now that it's almost always worth it to repair instead of replace. Especially if the car is paid off or almost paid off.

[@heiner71]

@@CarShopping101 So true. I bought this thing with cash all these years ago. What do they say... "the best car is one that has been paid off".

[@mattburke6346]

I had exactly the same thing happen to my A6. I paid about the same as you, then the transmission failed a couple of months later, ended up totally upside down on that car and put me off the brand for life.

[@heiner71]

@@mattburke6346 Ouch. I hope mine lasts for a while longer. It has only 105k miles on it but it's 18 years old now. These days, age matters just as much as mileage, with all the electronics failing over time in heat and humidity. I had my transmission serviced at 75k miles, even though it should "last for the life of the car" without service. I hope that helps. I also have the 3.2L. I heard that the transmission tends to fail more often on the stronger V8 models.

[@18_rabbit]

@@CarShopping101 well, no, obviously we cannot make blanket stmt for all cars. As the toyota mechanic called Car care Nut explains repeatedly, even with Toyota, it totally depends on the status of the particular car. These days a major engine job that traditionally would have been under 4 or 5K, is now 8, 11K, etc. On a basic toyota! jobs like head gasket, with timing chain job, plus plus. Really adds up fast now. So, it really depends on the timing and whether the customer knows the history of the car (almost always original owner in those cases) and whether they can afford or want a new/newer car at that time, and how long they're willing to use that older car. It's math.

[@interstellarconundrum4774]

I love this channel. Your voice is smooth and relaxing, making the stressful aspects of owning a car, bearable. I wish I could clone you for every mechanic out there.

[@nvamember]

I agree 100%. I just had an issue with my 08 MB e350 where it showed a battery issue on the dash and lost the power steering completely as well as the command control shut down. I waited til next morning and it started at the same condition and wrestled driving g it to my mechanic (opted not to change the battery until it was tested as well as the alternator. I so happy I opted for that as it ended up being the idler pulley was frozen as well as the belt needed replacement. Doing this prevented me from having a major headache

[@timothythompson4036]

Im old enough to remember the 1970s. My first car was a 74 Ford Pinto I bought for $100. That car was a joke, but it was very simple to work on. Today's cars I buy parts but I have experienced mechanics do the work. Cars today are too reliant on software.

[@RexerYTRexer]

Wizard anyone can be their own mechanic and I know that from experience. Im 20 years old and have been in the car flipping bussines for the past 3 years. Nothing scares me and no issue is unfixable excepy rotted undercarrige. I have replaced timing chains , belts, head gaskets, computers imobillizers and keys and it has made me bank over these last few years. As long as car is priced accordingly there is room for profit. KZbin helped a lot and any repair is probably listed on forums or a video you can easly follow. Only if your physicly or mentally challanged you shouldnt touch a car otherwise if your a capable person you can do anything yourself hardest thing is getting all the tools even after 3 years a car still shows up needing a speciallty tool to do a certain job.

[@PrimericanIdol]

I stopped reading at "your" when you should have used "you're". What a shame. You were making a good point.

[@edwardinvegas]

Been there done that....had to reset TPS with a scan tool after cleaning TB on my 07' Honda Civic Si otherwise the idle runs HIGH. You need to buy a scan tool that will support it. After that my idle dropped to Honda Spec. 750 RPM, NORMAL.🙂

[@rudolphvanthoff1391]

I’m reasonably competent and my mate has been a mechanic from his home for decades. I got error lights galore on my 2006 beetle. With the help of my mate we started fixing. We got most errors cleared but made something worse after the car got hot one day… from then on other errors lit up. After throwing new parts at it I ended up taking it to our local dealer who diagnosed a fuse had blown… that fuse made the brake light switch warning code throw (EPC) and oil pressure light flash…. Also stopped the ambient temp display and the cooling fans…. We had checked fuses ages before, but not since the car got hot…

[@JohnWaldron-cm7ce]

Readers Digest had an excellent article concerning John Deere and the proprietary technology they engineer into their farm equipment. It can prevent farmers from DIY and forcing them to go to the dealership for repair-John in Texas

[@armankordi]

I had a similar story when I did the blend door actuator in my 98 town car. The alternator wouldn’t charge, and some other strange things didn’t work . Battery light, CEL, etc. Was about to tear into the wiring harness. My friend who’s a mechanic told me to check all the connectors and make sure they’re all tight…. One connector didn’t seat properly. Connected it. Everything worked. I sold the car 2 years later lol and bought a ‘90 civic

[@huntmachine4505]

Wizard...we all know that fixing something that is untouched by human hands is best..but that is why you exist. We F it up and you charge us to fix it. The best symbiotic relationship ever. You make me wish I lived in Kansas so I could have Omega work on my vehicles.

[@Heavypsychoverdose]

I always thought cars would become less complicated and more reliable with computers but it's gone totally the opposite direction..

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

I had an interesting discussion with a systems engineer some years ago, when I worked as a test driver/mechanic for a major vehicle manufacturer. His point of view was like every other engineer: Since we have all this fancy technology and gadgets we must use them! My questions about why and how that would complicate things a whole lot for the everyday people actually driving these vehicles on a daily basis was totally incomprehensible to him and his colleagues. "But, but, we've got the tech...?!?"

[@bakgammon]

Planned obsolescence was already in motion.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

​@@marcusjosefsson4998 Has that brainchild figured out how to put a microchip in a push broom and convince us its better ?

[@jimmyfleetwood1118]

​@@bakgammon Consider this--years ago when the phrase "Planned obsolescence" was coined, it was about exterior design. The drivetrains often went decades. Now, the exteriors stay greatly the same it's the drivetrains that changed, and they're greatly more expensive to design and build.

[@jamesmedina2062]

well it could often be that way but then dealers would not make as much money. Difficult or easy to repair is part of any design. Also when there are many many pieces, all those pieces could be tested for durability or not. Very different end result.

[@Murgledoo]

I’m a weirdo American that purchased a late 80’s Lancia Delta… tried for weeks to fix a radiator fan issue without much information than a questionable schematic. Took it to a local expert technician and turns out the car had a number of questions “fixes” that were the culprit. I wouldn’t of ever fixed it on my own. Not in a million years.

[@Jack-tx2ve]

Nice car, I have a delta too. Hf turbo

[@parkerbohnn]

Just oil the bearings and It'll run for another 10 years.

[@jamesmedina2062]

where did you find a Lancia tech? Those things are worth it.

[@LaurenceHoneytoast]

That 3.4 Toyota is fantastic I have that engine in my Tundra it is so simple to work on plenty of resources and research to learn how to take care of it.

[@markbeeman6894]

I just ran into that same problem a few days ago with my 2016 Honda Accord I was trying to self-diagnose from the internet why it was starting hard and I finally came to the conclusion after almost spending $600 on an alternator that to stop what I was doing put the stuff back on the old Japanese alternator and take it to a shop and have it diagnosed so I clean the corroded cables on the battery and took it to the shop for free they diagnosed that everything look great I don't need anyting and I said well okay sounds good must be that the cleaning of the cables was the solution . Also the mechanic there said do not change out a Japanese alternator on a Honda with an aftermarket one they are junk. Also he said do not ever rely on the expertise of the backyard mechanic at Advance Auto.

[@ManxAndy]

Evening Wizard….I do all my own services and repairs, using a basic scan tool, to read codes….I’ve done injectors, front hubs, new intercooler, Maf sensor, wheel speed sensors , plus brakes and shocks etc….the only thing I won’t attempt is a cambelt, I don’t have the locking pins, or the knowledge of doing them, so it goes to the shop for that…..most stuff is pretty self explanatory, but if I’m not sure, I will either find out what’s involved, or just get it to the shop. 👍😉🇮🇲👌

[@CarShopping101]

What make and model is your car?

[@jamesmedina2062]

do you mean timing belt? Yes some are difficult but its not as hard as it may seem. One tooth off though can make a big difference indeed.

[@ManxAndy]

@@CarShopping101 I’ve got a an Audi Q3 TDI S-Line , and a Modified VW caddy SWB….👍🇮🇲

[@ManxAndy]

@@jamesmedina2062 exactly, doesn’t take much to get it wrong, if it’s in the shop, and they bugger it up, then it their issue not mine.👍

[@jamesmedina2062]

@@ManxAndy yup. Audi has complex timing systems.

[@jean-marcmathers3215]

Thanks Wizard for all the good advice

[@bobcook8576]

Great info. Rules to live by if you're unable to refill washer fluid correctly.

[@abyssalsoul6216]

I cleaned the TB of my sons 2010 honda civic but before I did I researched the process and found out that a relearn must be done for the idle to be "normal". Since I am a gadget person I went ahead and purchased a diagnostic tool that enabled that. There are more Hondas in the family so the tool is an asset. In contrast a TB relearn is not required on my 06 Toyota Sienna. Great video!

[@stephenglennan9963]

I noticed on Mrs Wizards Z3 rear window there is a crease/stain in the middle of the window this is due to the top down structure. The BMW OEM part is a blanket/cover that goes on the rear window so when the top is down, it is protected from creasing or staining. I had my Z3 for 20 years, always used the blanket, and never had a crease on the plastic rear window.

[@seamasrigh2162]

It was Dirty Harry who said, "A man's got to know his limitations." This is so true with the modern car. I grew up with '60's and '70's cars. Friends of mine would pull an engine, rebuild it and be cruising a week later. Now many engines are just toss replace jobs. As far as the Volvo connector it's not just the DIY guy that fails to finish the job - a lot of "Techs" get sidetracked by their texts and Apps, too. Thanks Wizard.

[@davva360]

I always research what the issue is and how difficult it is to do on that specific vehicle before I attempt anything. Even changing a bulb on some cars is a nightmare.

[@DonOblivious]

>Even changing a bulb on some cars is a nightmare. Old car: bulb housing is exposed and you can just swap it in the parking lot of the Autozone after the cops pull you over as pretext for a DUI stop New car: hey, we're pulling off 3/4 of the front of your car, do you want us to do the remaining quarter to replace the other bulb so you don't get charged twice for this service?

[@safffff1000]

I watch several repair youtube videos and look at aldata for pointers before I fix my own cars. And don't touch anything I don't know till I learn what it does and how it's adjusted.

[@kokoshadowstryder9020]

I got a great deal on a 1981 Corvette that was barely running that the prior owner simply gave up on out of pure mechanical frustration. Although there were several issues created by the prior owner while trying to self-troubleshoot the cars issue, one of the main issues I found was that the wires on the connector for the CCC QuadraJet, for reasons I still don't understand, were twisted together. Once I had corrected that, I could time the car and it ran great. The prior owner had sunk $16k into a brand new drivetrain, just to dump the car for a bit over $3k over a shorted out CCC QuadraJet connector. 🤷‍♂

[@GetTheFO]

I tried the same type of easy fix deal for an 80’s F150 one time… the factory oil pressure gauge dropped to zero when it was warm but the engine made no noise at all and ran quite well. Figured it was probably a bad sender, got it for 1k. Turns out my gamble was wrong when I put a mechanical gauge on it… nope, dropped to nearly nothing at idle and fluttered on throttle application. Woops hahaha

[@petrosaguilar8916]

How long did the F150 run afterwards?

[@GetTheFO]

@@petrosaguilar8916 Stil runs lol. Haven’t decided what to do with it, whether it’s worth the effort to take a gamble and replace the oil pump to see if that’s all it is or try and have the engine replaced. Unfortunately I don’t have the facilities and time to do an engine swap myself… however raising the engine is within my limitations. I want to have a leak down test done on the engine to determine the health before I bother doing anything else to it, but I’m still amazed that it makes absolutely no knock despite the mechanical oil pressure I’m seeing.

[@petrosaguilar8916]

@@GetTheFO is it the 5.0? I had a Ford truck with that engine and when cold the idle pressure gauge showed zero until warmed up. Then it started showing zero when warm sometimes but I just ignored it because even if it was a genuine pressure problem the body was so rusted its days were limited. I got 307k miles out of it.

[@GetTheFO]

@@petrosaguilar8916 It’s a 5.0. Unfortunately it starts off at around 50psi cold, drops to nothing when warm. I installed a mechanical gauge just to see if it was the factory sensor, and it wasn’t unfortunately.

[@AllanBrogdon]

My father had a shop when I was a kid. I remember he could put power steering brakes from a Buick and put them in a 51 Ford pickup along with the 455 wildcat. I cannot ask his advice anymore but KZbin is a great source of knowledge. Retired I could no longer afford a newer car. Buying a 2000 Montero sport and getting it road worthy, working on it in the dirt and weather actually got me moving, motivated me having a vehicle that is paid for is great!

[@bolt5564]

Moral of the story. Get a scan tool to see what the codes are before you start doing anything. Don't randomly mess around with things if you're not sure what is wrong. And finally, new cars use computers to prevents repairability thus causing planned obsolescence.

[@GamerPolygon]

it gets worse, manufacturers are forcing oem parts to fail to register with the ecu, some can be coded out to the vehicle again, however others just fail to register

[@echobeefpv8530]

I've seen under the hood of my car, long enough to check fluids. I've changed bulbs, and that's about the extent of it. My mechanic must be of your breed, because he is straight up honest about his work, and he is really good at it. I pay my bills with a smile, and he is remembered at Christmas. Take care of your mechanic, he will keep you rolling !!

[@killerbs7533]

I do DIY stuff, it's different now though from older cars. Takes a high attention to detail and you have to be really comfortable with a scan tool, electronics, and proper vehicle specific documentation. None of that stuff comes without a cost. I'm easily $500 into DIY grade scantool, software, manuals, etc. Paid itself back really quick to do all the maintenance a European car wants without dealer prices or skimping.

[@kennethhowell1272]

Perhaps I got lucky when I changed out the defective plastic thermostat housing on my 2009 V6 Mustang. I had to remove the TB to remove the housing and noticed the TB was dirty so I cleaned it with carb cleaner. Didn’t realize that could affect the idle speed. Also found out that when messing with radiator hoses it’s common to create a air bubble in the cooling system, leading to overheating. Which means you have to purge the system or as most shops do vacuum fill the system. Wizard you use experience, knowledge of how systems operate and scan tools to “diagnose” what’s wrong, then replace that. So many of todays mechanics lack diagnostic skills nor have an effective knowledge of systems making it very hard for us the consumer to get our vehicles repaired !!

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Id hope the aftermarket has cast aluminum housings for those cars,ive got em on my vws.

[@davidrix804]

Thank you car wizard,I’m not going to clean my throttle now because of what you stated.I’m going to have it checked at Honda when I book it for a service,thank you sir👏👏👏🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@shekharmoona544]

Why does he sound like one of my old commanding officers right before a weekend safety brief? 😂😂😂 It would behoove of you...

[@CarWizard]

Dont end up in jail where you’re squad leader has to come bail you out. Dont get a sunburn or its 45 days hard labor, and forfeiture of pay. Check in any guests with CQ.

[@shekharmoona544]

@@CarWizard 😂😂😂 don't fix your car if you don't know what you are doing.

[@Mr-pn2eh]

Car wizard used to serve in the military as a fleet mechanic. It makes perfect sense why you would think he sounds like one of those, and I don't blame him.

[@SuperSnakePlissken]

I learned this lesson early in my life. I also learned my lesson tonight ask people where should I take my vehicle because those repair shops tend to be terrible. So what I do now is if somethings wrong I go to Goodyear. I get a quote and then I take it to the dealership. I go to the people that work on my type of vehicle all day every day every week every month and then ask them to match good years quote. 100% of the time it’s worked so I get dealership service at a discount price. Never had a problem.

[@timothyevans4323]

Don’t drive new cars. Problem solved.

[@safffff1000]

Bingo, I stick pre 2009

[@senditc20]

@@safffff1000yup the newest car I got is a 02 Denali

[@3rdworldgarage450]

Same. However, the problem comes in 10 years or so when those cars become scarce along with the parts. At that point we have no choice.

[@oGPoLa]

I think my LC500 will do just fine....

[@-jimmyjames]

Late 80s 90s rice burners / sake sippers cant be beat.

[@sgttombailes3380]

Back in the '50's-'60's and '70's growing up on the farm, we fixed / repaired our vehicles wherever they broke down. Right there on the spot. Tractors, cars, trucks and farm machinery. It didn't matter what it was. We repaired it. Nowadays with this newer crap. No way I'd even attempt it.. Pisses me off. I've always been a DIY guy. I'm 72 now and I just take stuff to my mechanic. Especially my Porsches and BMW's. OH how I miss the good ole days. Carry On Wizard, you do an Outstanding Job... I don't miss an episode. HooAH !

[@phildavis3105]

So here’s the other side: years ago I had a 2000 Maxima (bought new) that developed drivability problems which prompted a check engine light. Without me doing anything, I took it to the dealership which informed me that it needed a new wiring harness. The car was relatively young, in a mild climate (no salt), and well maintained, so I said no and left, after paying a $125 diagnostic fee. Found a well regarded local mechanic who told that it had a bad cam position sensor AND a bad throttle position sensor. This caused the computer to throw multiple codes. The dealer just assumed the multiple codes meant a bad wiring harness. To be fair, the dealer did refund the $125 when I went back with the mechanic’s report, but I learned that 1. Don’t tr to fix it yourself; 2. Don’t take it to a dealer.

[@nickaa827]

scummy dealer didn't know what they were doing and asked for FU money so you'd just go away

[@Steverz32]

I had to do a throttle relearn when my 2005 Lexus had a dead battery. It really wasn’t that hard to put a Toyota in a learning mode.😊

[@davidrix804]

Your the man!! Being honest makes all the customers come to you👏👏👏🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@THAT3GGT]

Great video! Now I'm gonna go install these polyurethane bushings and Moog ball joints on my front control arms of my 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Gt. I have done my research (unlike these people) and am KZbin certified by ChrisFix and You, I'm G2G

[@deadprivacy]

Do the final tightening on the bushes on the ground with the suspension compressed! otherwise your setting them twisted and they will tear out much sooner. just in case you missed that step.

[@kenc8359]

​@deadprivacy Exactly right! I replaced my front lower control arms a year ago. The car didn't feel right. I did some YT research and it was recommended that the bolts should be tightened when the car is on the ground. I brought this to my mechanic's attention and he said not to believe YT mechanics. Well, I then took my car to a suspension specialist and he rectified the issue. He said my mechanic should stick to oil change. I never went back to my mechanic.

[@electric_thumbs]

Wizard most of the problems that your customers had small snowball into bigger ones either didn't put things back the way they go and firmly connect or they're trying to work on super complex vehicles I would never test drive yet alone buy to take home. You said it. Make sure you know what you're doing. I never take anything out that I don't know how to get back in. If I'm not sure how to do a repair I study hard and cram like it's a final exam in college. If a repair doesn't afford me such time to get something fixed I have to farm it out to a tech. Repair takes common sense. My 2000 s10 doesn't have anything except the computer that will brick it altogether. You just talked me out of ever buying such a car.

[@digitalrailroader]

And the Wizards advice ESPECIALLY applies for vehicles equipped with drive-by-wire throttle bodies; if you’re aren’t careful cleaning the throttle body, you could damage it!

[@robertbigler7743]

I'd never heard of this before, but what a pain!

[@AlessandroGenTLe]

Not damage but mess up with the calibration. I mean, even on a basic 1.2 liter Fiat Panda with 68HP you NEED to do the ricalibration of the throttle body if you clean it...

[@deadprivacy]

particularly true on vw throttle bodies ...you can end up washing oil and soot into the circuits if it hasnt gotten in already.

[@tiko4621]

@@deadprivacylol eary drive by wire VW throttle body’s suck.

[@jonmullaly7497]

Well thanks to KZbin how to this is all irrelevant

[@josephtrunk3565]

Right on Wizard! But I have spent many hours researching how to do the projects myself. The wheel hub assemblies, I replaced. The radiator, starter, alternator, power steering pump, all done thanks to researching how to do such. However, I have older cars that aren’t prone to these complications, thankfully. Doubtful I’d consider working on something from the last 10 years.

[@josephtrunk3565]

Right on, thanks for sharing!

[@RichieRouge206]

Moral of the story : don’t buy a car made after 2010. New cars are just ridiculous.

[@randyfrommesaarizona6927]

1966 and earlier is my rule, 1967 is when things started to change.

[@TheRetarp]

​@@randyfrommesaarizona6927 Anything post WWII is throw away garbage!

[@TheOzthewiz]

Consumer Reports agrees. In the mid 2000's, CR said that cars made after 2010 were NOTABLY LESS reliable than previous models. Their recommendation was to buy a good USED car made before 2010 versus buying a NEW one. I have relied on CR recommendations for MANY decades, it's the FIRST time CR has recommend used over new! The BEST used car to buy, if you are not out to prove something, is late '90s to early 2000's, V6 (3.8L) Buick (ANY model Buick). These things are BULLETPROOF, probably more so than a Camry. These Buicks were CONSISTENTLY on CR's BEST used car list, year after year. I am sure Mr. Wizard will agree!!

[@xpvrrish]

5vzfe is the easiest engine to work on, ive had 5 3rd gen 4runners. just did a timing belt on one.

[@anthonybezzina2638]

you are great Mr wizard. I am from Australia and it isn't that different over here. I find the new cars are just rubbish and I really miss the old cars.

[@CorgiConnect]

Years ago, I did some work on the 2007 Mustang V6 that I had at the time, a power steering sensor I believe. When starting it up it would run for a few seconds and die. I am thinking "it needs to have a throttle relearn" since the sensor reads the throttle to help adjust the amount of power steering boost you get. I followed the relearn procedure and it made no difference, hmmm. Procedure for relearn states to turn off all the accessories, including the radio, until the relearn is complete. After some thought, I realized that since I had replaced the original radio with an aftermarket one, I tried something. I turned the radio off, unplugged the battery, let it sit, and reconnected. Upon turning the key, I noticed that the aftermarket radio comes on immediately upon receiving power. So even though everything else was off, the radio was not, and with the radio input set to AUX with nothing plugged into it, so no sound, I did not know any better. So, I turn off the radio again just before doing the start and relearn, viola, everything back to normal.

[@CaptainReverendo]

I do all the work on my Briggs and Stratton go kart. I also change my oil and fluids. Everything else goes to a pro ❤

[@richardrieman5316]

First thing you need to work on modern vehicles is a decent scanner. Research online for the same issue, issues. Don’t start throwing parts on it

[@DylanL69]

Definitely need to do research when diying a modern car I'm a trained tech and I do my research all time because I don't have the resources of a shop

[@ericswires8534]

GOOD FOR YOU!!! YOU ROCK🤟🏻

[@Fosten12]

Just disconnect the battery before unplugging stuff. ofc be aware that some cars also don't like you do that.

[@48VAC]

Well, sounds like some good reasons to keep driving my 1970 VW Beetle and 1984 VW Rabbit. The Rabbit is fuel injected, but fairly straight forward CIS system. NO COMPUTERS

[@jmn_kll1645]

I wish I had your Rabbit 🥹

[@puregsr]

By now I have accumulated so many tools that I feel guilty not fixing my own cars.

[@OCtheG]

The shame of tool ownership compels me to frequently attempt repairs I’m not comfortable servicing. C’est la vie

[@WorkshopGreg]

I've been in tech for 25 years - including coding and building out data centers, so I'm used to reading up and researching unnecessarily complicated processes. I've been doing DIY repairs on cars with computers for years with no issue, including Toyota Hybrids. That said, a big part of my success in this is knowing when to not touch anything and take it to a qualified technician and spend the big bucks to do it right.

[@parkerbohnn]

I;ll try anything as long as its on someone elses car

[@jamesmedina2062]

just remember one thing: every qualified tech was ignorant at some point and had to learn things so if you can find that information you become golden too

[@risinbison1106]

Never, EVER, try to self fix a modern Audi. Speaking from experience.

[@rodneyking4183]

My 2015 Mustang gave me a battery charging malfunction warning and I noticed the temperature was starting to go up. I immediately parked it and looked under the hood to see what happened. Both belts had come loose. 6 years and 67,000 miles from new without a single issue. Got it towed to Rusty Eck Ford here in Wichita. They let me know the tensioner pulley had locked up. They replaced it and the mangled belts and I was back on the road. I don't mess with cars anymore. I could fix a lot of stuff on my 1969 C10 Chevy truck but not on the new Mustang. I never would have figured out that pulley needed to be replaced on my own. $450 and it was perfect again. Belts were probably getting due anyway.

[@Engineering_Improvisation]

Devil's in the details. Had a blazer with TBI. Pulled the heads to put in new valve guides. Everything went back together without issue but wouldn't start. Found the coolant temp sensor was unplugged. Plugged it in and it started perfectly. Never would have guessed something that simple would have such an effect.

[@laveritesurlestemoinsdejeh8522]

Oh, I've seen that many times in the shop. When a coolant sensor is unplugged, on many models this will make the computer think the engine is hot, and it will send much less fuel than it should for a cold start, hence, either a no start, or a very long crank followed by a very rough running engine until it gets warm.

[@scott8919]

I stopped working on my car except for real basic stuff since I have a tendency to rush. This was compounded one winter when I decided to swap to winter wheels in -1°F weather. I used the wrong lug nuts for the rims and not only did they try to loosen up while driving, I also stripped a stud. I put my family's lives at risk and cost myself an extra $130 in repairs to fix my mistakes. Be humble enough to admit you need help instead of thinking you can do it yourself.

[@JustaPersonTryinToHuman365]

Inb4 that guy shows up talking about mr wizzard and the Pantera walk

[@burntnougat5341]

The fat car wizard's walk...

[@JustaPersonTryinToHuman365]

@@burntnougat5341 Haha, then you must know who I'm talking about.

[@JSFGuy]

Well, if the wizard would appoint a moderator or two they could broom this copy paste lewzer that keeps posting that.

[@notDonaldFagen]

HEY HOSS, AM BOB GABLE

[@burntnougat5341]

@@JSFGuy na he's funny no need to block him

[@redneckdave1968]

Honest mechanics are definitely a bit harder to find. I'm lucky enough to be able to take my 2018 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD with almost 54k miles on it now to the dealership that I bought it from because my dad worked there for years and I get taken care of. I usually only have to pay for the parts and get a break on the labor if I have to pay it. When I was a mechanic I used to run into the problems with customers trying to fix their own vehicles and of course they made it worse. I would have to explain to them what I found and why it's going to cost x amount of money to fix it. I want to thank you for being one of the rare mechanics that are honest with your customers, I give you much respect. I've been in the automotive industry for 38 years starting in 1984 to 2003 as a mechanic. I started working in auto parts from then on. I enjoy watching your channel and I still learn somethings I didn't know that I can pass the information on to my customers. Keep up the great job.

[@williamsquires3070]

It goes without saying that you can (probably) safely check the fluids and air filter yourself. You may be able to check the serpentine belt to see if it’s still flexible and not cracked. Beyond that, take it to a reputable shop (Like Car Wizard, or Eric. O of South Main Auto (New York) , or Ray of Rainman Ray’s Repairs (Florida).) Just a few shout-outs to my favorite YT car repair mechanics!! 😀

[@ColinMill1]

I have a 2006 Subaru that is fairly basic "square-nut" engineering that I do most repairs and maintenance work on. However, my favourite car is a Caterham 7 that I built from a kit and, as a consequence I know far better than any other car I have had.

[@tracydiller9378]

You are 100% right you lay your hand on a vehicle its yours. We get vehicles in the shop all the time because the owner or DIY tried to fix it and now well don't have to tell you. One came in the other day with CAN bus codes and they replaced all kinds of things with no luck. We found it had a bad BCM. Now the customer is mad because they have spent a ton of money. Rule of thumb get it checked out by a really good shop that can do Diagnostics, it will save you money in the long run.

[@KKemp-bt6nl]

A good, honest, knowledgeable mechanic is your best friend.

[@smesui1799]

Nice Toyota truck but I'll stick with the older ones. Less computers & techie electronics means less headaches.

[@henrykim4230]

after cleaning throttle body sensor, it is normal to idle high. I owned a 2004 Honda Accord with V6 did the same thing. It was doing that for couple of start ups. After computer learned it, it was back to normal. Wizard did similar video where he cleaned up a throttle body and mentioned while ago that it was idling high. Don't get scared, it is normal.

[@kevinmurphy3464]

First off, If you’re lucky enough to find an honest and good mechanic like the Wizard you hold on to them like a bull-rider on a bull. New cars rely on so many computers and electrical needs that you really need to be careful. It seems counter intuitive that the car’s computers can and will start shedding power to multiple components. As a man that works on his own cars and some friends to help them out, you have to steal a line from Dirty Harry: “A man has to know his limitations”. Great video Mr. Wizard…

[@steveb319]

Great advice. I’m a DIY and mechanically inclined person. I purchased a XTool D7 scanner and it has been invaluable. But I also know my limitations and how something can go wrong with a person like me who doesn’t have the expertise. Combine that with the sometimes confusing lack of proper English instructions and it could result in disaster. So I try to stick with things I feel relatively comfortable with and research as much as possible online. I also mainly stick to working on American cars and avoid European models as they tend to be more complicated or over engineered at times IMO.

[@R.Roman1988]

This is the whole reason why people like car wizard ( who we love) are doing so well on this platform, because we are fighting back against the ridiculous rates, and upselling of parts and services, unreasonably high mechanic prices are whats motavating more and more DIY'ers TO learn and work on their vehicles,and people like car wizard are really helpful, i would say learn to work on your car and you will not only save money, but headaches if researched correctly and take your time

[@jt9411]

I was just contemplating changing the engine coolant thermostat in my Grand Cherokee, since it threw a P0128 code, but now you're giving me 2nd thoughts.

[@martykong3592]

:) TRUE! I used to be able to work on my own cars, BUT not anymore! I took a night school class back in the day to learn how to do a tune up etc. Points, gaps plugs, timing... Too many computers and such for us X DIYers:( THANKS for sharing and great PSA! ALL the BEST! Cheers! :)

[@doriangray2347]

If I ever have a big problem with one of my favorite cars, i want to ship it to wizard. He is wonderful and so so knowledgeable

[@TheReaperchen]

We really need a "No muffler Newton" counter :D Everytime someone drives by while making a ruccus, we over here just yell NO MUFFLER NEWTON! and have a great laugh. Thanks folks for this informative video, I am in the process of getting my drivers license here in Germany, and I have gained so much valuable information about cars ever since I started watching this channel as well as being entertained. Much love!

[@permanentvacation2406]

Take off your muffler

[@nodsib]

I try to do pretty much all my own work on my cars, it helps that I have more cars than I need, all older and fairly simple to work on, so if one needs work I don’t need to rush through a repair to get it back on the road, I can take my time and spend as many weekends as needed to do a job (and the research required) so I don’t make any mistakes. It took me a while but I finally worked up the courage to do the timing belt on one of the cars a few years ago, it’s not a job I wanted to risk getting wrong, absolutely an interference head on that car so any mistake would be extremely costly and wife would probably never feel comfortable with me doing work on our cars ever again lol, so I’m glad I took my time and did it right

[@prun8893]

Toyota Tacoma basic tip: Nothing ever breaks except the secondary air injection system and maybe the AC compressor. Shiznit just needs to be cleaned sometimes. Replace the secondary air injection system (if you have one) with a bypass from Hewitt. Hell, I just remove the engine oil, hose it off and pour it back in.

[@rhinofro]

I can guarantee that every single regular guy that got in over his head on a repair has a horror story in his past. I'd love to see a video on how to find an honest and competent mechanic.

[@nathanlamont9920]

Very hard to find one. You can rule out anyone charging you 100+ to use their scan tool to give you the exact code/issue you already know. I mean, likely you have a similar tool, or you went to autozone and did it for free. Also don't bother with the big guys like Firestone, Midas, and dealerships. I have a family member that is dead set on not learning and got scammed making two separate trips for spark plugs. Because they told her, only one of them needed changing. Now two of them need changing and watch come back for the 4th one a few months later. Any half decent mechanic would recommend changing all spark plugs. Many dishonest mechanics (not to say they are bad mechanics), they love stupid customers and hate anyone who is even a little informed. No offense to women, but they tend to take advantage of women more than men.

[@270eman]

You are correct on the research part. I think it is actually even easier to fix your car now than it use to be if you just take the time to go online and research. You can find the dealer service manuals for a lot of vehicles and step by step guides on how to trouble shoot and find your issue. Vehicles like the Tacoma in the video were so popular and widespread that most of the issues you will face have been well documented by this point. I am changing the timing set and headgasket on my 05 civic just following a step by step video on youtube.

[@DocMackGarage]

I know the one the car Wizard was referring to on the BMW , it is a valvetronic motor, people are supposed to turn it into a service position before removing it or the worm gear can break.