Ford Escape: Customer Threw In The Towel - No Start, No Crank

[@markchidester6239]

These electrical problem videos are like watching a really good suspense movie.

[@_Lazare]

Haha I agree

[@Bjintexas]

Eric; How I wish I could find a mechanic that I can "TRUST", AND, who is as Honest and logical, such as yourself. It has been my experience, that you are a rarity... Sadly, you are a Gazillion Miles from me... My hopes for your continued success!

[@kalabash72]

It's actually impressive that the guy figured out how to start it with jumper wire.

[@michaelslattery2121]

I think "the guy" is another auto tech that reached the end of his troubleshooting ability for this problem.

[@EddieLeal]

@@michaelslattery2121 😆

[@jack002tuber]

This time the customer tip was handy. Could have gone either way

[@jimjoyce4514]

I know there was a time when I could get all your cable-tv pay-per-view channels this way. But I could never get a car to run with anything like this.

[@neverstoplearning382]

Who is the "guy"?

[@haywardsautomotive6156]

Nice diagnosis & repair! Congratulations on 750K subscribers. You have helped me get thru all my days fighting my cancer by enjoying your videos. I wasn't able to work on cars for the last 3 years but it was like I was watching you. I am cancer free now thanks to stem cells from my brother & the medical staff at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit & God! Hopefully next year I'll be back to fishing & working on cars again! Thanks again for your videos!!

[@dlewis9760]

Hang in there. 👍 I get my MRI/Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy prostate cancer results in 45 minutes. I have PC, and I'm in Active Monitoring. 2nd time for this one. 2 MRIs and 3 needle biopsies overall so far. Piece of cake, takes 30 minutes in a doctor's office, but the anticipation is horrible. Took 9 months to diagnose in Feb of 2021 because biopsies during COVID were Elective Procedures. Luckily PC is a very slow cancer and ideally you die of something else first.

[@haywardsautomotive6156]

@@dlewis9760 I'm doing better every day. Prayers for you.

[@dlewis9760]

@@haywardsautomotive6156 Just got back. Doctor: "How you doing?" Depends. How's my #s? "No change". Then I'm doing great. Maybe another MRI in a year or so and maybe another MRI/Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy in 3-5 years if the PSA #s don't go crazy. The cancer that's there is still there, but hasn't spread. You don't realize how much tension you are under until after. I want to go to bed and it's not 5 PM yet.

[@zoidberg444]

I remember Eric when I was like his 1500th subscriber or something. I've learned a huge amount from him, very few repairs or diagnoses I won't tackle now.

[@watchdogu.s.a.8973]

@@dlewis9760 Good luck with the PC. I had a mere prostate infection once and my doctor and I talked about PC and I remember him telling me that a lot of people die WITH it rather than FROM it because it spreads so slowly.

[@dlewis9760]

Give the owner some applause for figuring out a jumper wire started it.

[@donreid6399]

Yup. And for pointing toward the BCM as well.. He just had one more step, and he would have had it!

[@garysgarage3669]

The owner must be a South Main Auto suscriber.

[@DirectCurrent4u]

@@garysgarage3669 If not a subscriber I'm sure he is now! lol

[@michaelpendarvis7814]

But he could've also fried something else, he got lucky. and helped Eric a little also.

[@bob1505]

Yes and start it without bricking the ECM or BCM.

[@edwardhugus2772]

I'll bet 99% of any other shop would have thrown a BCM in that puppy, considering everything pointed there.......Eric O to the rescue, as usual. Great job, sir!

[@brianbanks3044]

Eric, you are a better man than me....I usually pass on electrical and stick to all the bearings, brakes, suspension, frames etc....diagnostics is an art and I am not well versed in that so I let the professionals do it....i can find a squeak, rattle and bang under your vehicle but as soon as the money light goes on, my brain goes off...LOL

[@SouthMainAuto]

A man's gotta know his limits!

[@brianbanks3044]

@@SouthMainAuto I do and have absolutely no problem saying, "I don't know"

[@devil1577]

@@brianbanks3044 electrical problems can be an absolute nightmare. I, myself, have been down the rabbit hole a time or 2

[@sebastien4565]

@@brianbanks3044 I vastly prefer a man who says "I don't know" than one who thinks he knows but really doesn't!

[@mph5896]

Electrical issues like this are an absolute blast for me. I have spent days splitting harnesses to find a broken or pinched wire. Makes it even better if somebody was already there and could not figure it out.

[@optophobe]

I'm an electronics tech, not a mechanic, but your electronics skills are incredibly good. Well done Mr. O.

[@johntrauger68]

I'm primarily electrical/electronic, these days demand a multi-craft approach to most things. I've learned as the decades slipped by....

[@fixitdude74]

my 26yrs in transport refrigeration repair taught me to be very thorough when fault finding, I can honestly say in all those year I had only diagnosed 2 faulty microprocessors, it was nearly always connection or broken/bad wiring. Good job Eric, thoroughly enjoy your diagnostic prowess.

[@codycopithorne6294]

Your analytical skills and methods helped me in fixing my own vehicle and solved why I couldn't fix an issue 40 years ago also. I went over what I learned this time and it dawned on me what the problem was then. So by watching how you analyze and solve problems, has helped myself and an unknown number of others. My hat off to you sir!

[@porkchop4604]

Eric, please go into teaching future mechanics. Your analytical approach is an excellent example towards problem solving

[@nicholasmatlak4342]

Ditto!!!

[@JboBakey]

Could you tell us the vehicle and the issue you faced?

[@2blkSSs]

I freaking LOVE how you talk about the video looking cohesive “a couple clicks on the computer and boom we’re done!” God my entire life is the background work in which nobody appreciates. I admire your dedication to finding the correct answer and I learn so much from your troubleshooting ability. I don’t have any of the vehicles you work on, but the way you go about things is always fun to watch.

[@donsurlylyte]

i feel the customer's pain, can imagine how much time he spent trying to figure it ou- we've all been there. SMA shows the value of intelligent experience, for the win.

[@markjohnson5081]

Great video..as always. I, and I suspect many others, appreciate you've taken several hours of research and work and netted the actual video down to 35 minutes. In 35 minutes, you covered all of the essential learnings, methods, and key points required to make a worthwhile video.

[@davidmotoman4956]

You are becoming my favourite Electrical circuit Guy :) Number one is Information, Number Two is Knowing how to use that information. Great find from Process an proper testing. All the best from Australia

[@wallingj68]

That was quite the ride Mr O! The mystery, the misdirection, the intrigue, the logic, the resolution, and the freebie! I thing I need to go have a smoke now.

[@scottcarper1401]

I like learning something new every time i watch this guy my hats off to ya and love to learn more all the time

[@BD-fw2gm]

Eric O , is getting a lot of shout outs in the rainman ray channel. It's amazing how differently things get done in sunny Florida!!

[@peterhodgkins6985]

Once again you followed the knowns and discovered the unknown. Your methodology is truly a sight to behold.

[@privatedata665]

Eric's content is probably the best educational content available and presented very well . I have attended almost all forms of training available from a 2 year college course to GM training back when it was a live in person classroom with Instructors . Eric and his explanations are much better ! Eric makes the diagnosis almost hands on for the viewer .

[@terrygaddy7768]

The classroom problems are generally structured to go with the course. Eric's problems are real world and constantly varying. Being able to problem solve is an aptitude. Couple that aptitude with education, experience, and an honest work ethic along with being gracious enough to share that talent, and you end up with Eric!

[@privatedata665]

@@terrygaddy7768 oh okay . 99% of the training I attended was theory of operation and the fundamentals of concerns , causes and corrections rather than what you stated . More of the thought process needed to repair correctly which Eric does very well and explains it as he does so ...

[@posttoastees]

I watch eric da mechanic ( car detective ) in my spare time and he has given me the confidence i need to at least investigate my automotive issues before i bring to a garage for repairs….

[@davedrew9328]

Yes I have done five year’s at the College of Eric’s and Mrs O’s .

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

30:00 I am a lineman for an ISP ... You would be shocked how much copper breaks INSIDE the jacket and the jacket holds together. Trouble shooting an open or break in a copper line can be fun especially when the jacket maintains its shape.

[@thedogbarber]

Three quaters of a million subs my man! Look at you go! (P.S. Bring back the big nasty and brake clean sound effects lol)

[@dlewis9760]

Also drives around town with the old music and the video running at 1.5 speed.

[@jack002tuber]

I second the motion!

[@brucejones2354]

I'm REALLY disappointed when Eric pulls out the breakclean and the sound effects are not there.........Man, what a letdown! But still......... it must take some extra time to put them in. Maybe time Eric doesn't have to spare. I would assume that he is a very busy man.

[@jayjudd6518]

I would have difficulty given up also you Mr. O” are a genius on wire brakes it’s amazing your talent for rooting out green corrosion in side cables.

[@andrewg6238]

Nice work Eric O. I love the method you use, the restraint against going with your gut, and the simple do the right thing mentality. Thank you yet again for being the man you are! Your family as well as Avoca are blessed to have you!

[@uenragedbro]

Not only do the right thing, if he or anyone called it a bcm, it wouldn't have made a difference and the car would still be broken. It's almost never a module.

[@sb3973]

You are the GOAT! Glad I finally found a REAL mechanic on KZbin. I’m a little older, so my opinion might be swayed in your favor since I remember when auto mechanics actually DIAGNOSED issues with a vehicle instead of throwing new parts at it until it’s fixed. PLEASE keep doing what you do, and I’ll make sure to spread the word about your channel. Again, THANK YOU SIR!!!

[@annoyedatthis1]

Watching Eric's videos makes me feel like early man when the wise person in our village showed us the magic of fire. I'm awestruck.

[@StumpyVanLife]

I love your videos. As an ASE Master L1 Certified Technician who's been in the business on and off for over 30 years and worked at several dealerships I have to say hats off to you. I learn something from almost every one of your videos I watch. Please keep doing what you are doing, your efforts are appreciated!

[@thomasdemooka4341]

Very interesting video! I'm impressed as usual. It's beyond me how 18,000+ people can watch an amazing trouble shooting as we saw here and NOT give the video a thumbs up.

[@09priusman]

Fantastic job! I worked for 30 years on complex multifunction copiers with even more wires, most often with the all the same colored wires…… But excellent work. One tiny lil wire that got crushed / cut- can totally sink the ship. Very impressed and reminded me of my old days before I retired. You are smarter than the average bear!

[@jacktennant8426]

you never cease to amaze me, its like you can almost smell those broker wires, great job!

[@jamespritchett1886]

Definitely one of best mechanic I’ve ever seen. People lucky to have you in there town. Good job.

[@gavinmcclenaghan7787]

Really appreciative of your discipline to confirming that you really know what you think you know. You can do a lot of “unnecessary” triple checks before you exceed the wasted time and unnecessary frustration that comes from believing something that isn’t true. Plus it is a super effective way for us to learn the purpose and outcomes of your tests. Love your diagnosis videos!

[@rickeypennington2675]

i have been working on cars for 40 years evertime I watch one of your Videos I learn something

[@scotsiain1970]

Another top job Eric, good methodical approach. Wiring is a rats nest in most cars I think that's why a lot of folks don't want to touch it. You have patience and a good logic. 👍

[@halbud]

You would think in 2022 most new cars would have less wiring in them instead of more then the cars of 50-60 years ago!!!

[@Ghauster]

In the 1950s some cars had 8 fuses. Now there room for over 100 in two or three different fuse panels. Modern cars are nothing but a rolling wire chase.

[@wendwllhickey6426]

Wires get that way cause owners think theyccan fix it then when they cant take it in some there mistake can be fixed then fix the original problem.

[@mchammer655]

Thanks for sharing!! This helps build confidence and skills to keep asking questions until fixed. Can only imagine how many cars I see just sitting/rotting are one wire away from running… Great work!!!

[@davidb.fishburn9338]

Hey Eric! Glad that you were able to find and fix the cause, that would try anyone's patience. This is one where experience does help in figuring out the cause of the issue. I do remember that episode that you were fixing the head lights inop issue, same kind of cause, and same area of the wiring harness. I've got something similar hanging on my hoist right now (Sunday 11/27/22), a 2011 Durango, cranks but doesn't start. Checked the dtcs, (there were numerous dtcs, and the battery was nearly dead) noticed a dtc for the fuel pump control circuit high, and three dtcs for the fuel level sensors low and high. Checked the relay, got both powers there at the relay. So I tried some starting fluid in the throttle body, starts and runs on the starter fluid. It was written in the customer complaint that 2 fuel pumps have been put in at other shops. So I decided to check the wiring. Found that the wiring harness is pinched between the tank and the body. Going to be asking for additional time tomorrow morning to drop the driveshaft, exhaust, and the tank to access and repair the harness. Pissed me off that people don't double check their work to prevent this kind of issue. Watching your videos inspires me to be more confident in my electrical work. Seeing what you do gives me ideas to diag these cars. Electrical is getting to be a bigger part of auto repairs than it has been in the past.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Two fuel pumps put in after the wires were pinched which caused the first pump not to run? Am I missing something?!

[@rodkennedy9800]

We don’t know if the wires were pinched prior to fitting replacement pumps…think you’re jumping to conclusions!!!

[@Ragnar8504]

Poor connections have been haunting cars for decades though. My parents' late-80s very basic Japanese van started randomly cutting out after longer drives when it was a little under ten years old. Several mechanics couldn't find an issue over the course of almost a year until one finally figured out it was an intermittent plug on a wiring harness that fed, among other things, the fuel shutoff solenoid. The harness was tied to a brake hardline somewhere around the engine so there was definitely a lot of vibration going on. Simply cutting the cable ties holding the plug to the pipe fixed the problem for a while until it started raining and water splashing up made the connection bad again. The next morning a garage bypassed the wire for the solenoid and that got us home, some 800 km. In the end my parents got a free wiring harness replacement because their garage had missed the real problem the whole time and was a bit embarassed. Granted, it did help that the problem suddenly went from "only occurring after several hours of motorway driving" to "rendering the car almost useless after half an hour" making the fault easier to observe. Several mechanics had rightfully concluded it was a no fuel condition but never made the connection it might be an electrical issue rather than a clogged fuel filter or something along those lines.

[@davidb.fishburn9338]

@@dans_Learning_Curve It is unknown when the wiring got pinched. The pumps were put in at other shop(s). It was towed in, and I don't have the full story. Regardless, the pinched wiring is saying a lot about previous techs. Imo, it means that they did not double check their work. I double check, because i've been bitten a long time ago by not double checking my work.

[@mhallett364]

It's very generous of you to let us inside your head the way you do. I really appreciate it as do a lot of other people I'm sure. Keep up. The good work. Improving the world in your own way. One video at a time.

[@SM-vs4ro]

You would make on hell of a teacher. You make it look so easy, so logical.

[@mikerago9093]

I'm glad there are Great mechanics like Eric that know they can't work on everyone's vehicles...but yet are willing to share their experience with us! I am always amazed at your troubleshooting skills.

[@josecervantes161]

You’re the man!!!! Not just any shop or person for that matter could figure out a case study like this one. Nice job! I learn something new from everyone of your videos..

[@georgereiss998]

These really remind me of my time in the Navy. I was an FC (Fire Controlman) and some faults would drive us nuts. Most solutions would be found either by trying to explain it to someone on the smoke deck or you would bolt up out of a dead sleep with the answer. I guess the take away from that is don't let a fault drive you nuts, take a break and let the brain static die down.

[@sebastienlemay6120]

Same thing for me when programming and faced with a problem. Sometimes you need to walk away and let your brain do some thinking while resting.

[@ccole9080]

Thats the fact Jack. Some faults are best revisited after a breather

[@rodneyjohnson4794]

our subconcious is a wonderful thing.

[@TheAutomotiveKid]

A few months ago I wouldn’t have been able to follow. But since then until now, it’s worlds apart. I had a cooling fan issue that I was able to solve thanks to this channel along with a few others. 🙌

[@tioganh]

Love the way you analysis the entire system and not just the problem. We need a lot more like you Honest always doing what is right for the customer. Thanks

[@edwardbickford4666]

Nice fix. Have to admit I wouldn’t have been able to do that. Such electrical trouble shooting skills are rare. Your mind works in mysterious ways! 🤪 Enjoy your channel immensely.

[@MichaelSteeves]

"That will be $4 for splicing a wire, and $400 for knowing which wire to splice".

[@lecnac855]

He is the best i have ever seen in 72 years. Well done!

[@JT-dx1qk]

Too bad most techs just throw parts at a car , it seems like very few can even follow a wiring diagram. Great job as always

[@jazbah2194]

These find the circuit issues and the smoke tests are my fav videos

[@arlo0011]

I love all your videos, but, as a retired electronic technician, I enjoy watching how you troubleshoot an electronic problem the best. I have to say, your technique is spot on. I was always at a bit of a loss as to how to explain to a customer exactly why repairing a small wire, (or whatever it was), cost them so much.

[@jimahlgren6177]

If you can do it ...... I can watch you do it! I love your videos. This one is an example of how a very small problem with a cut wire can shut down a vehicle. Who would of thought? Thanks for your videos. They are incredible.

[@carlmarshall6666]

Been a mechanic, I appreciate you educating the public on what it takes to diagnose a fault. I use to enjoy diagnose until autozone came out with free scan and I found myself spending more time explaining cost then actually diagnosing.

[@fredlane7313]

I watch your videos because I am amazed by your diagnostic abilities, esp. with electronics and wiring. Your logical, systematic approach is outstanding! When I look at newer car wiring, I usually feel defeated before I start. But watching your channel proves it can be done. Keep it up!

[@donaldross1077]

Hi Eric O During the last 5 years of working on vehicles they were nice enough to drop the electrical problems on me. I understand they did not want to tie up the younger guys time with unimportant stuff. I never liked to follow up other mechanics because they may have created additional problems. Working on the one circuit, one wire problems was also no fun. Here is what I did if it can be of any help to you or others out there. Take your long "YO YO" test leads and bridge the wire end to end to jump the broken circuit. If it starts working then you are looking in the right place. Now take your jumper leads and cut the wire "mid way" and again bridge the circuit. This method helped cut a lot of time off locating the area of the broken wire. I worked on a lot of abs speed circuits, suspension controls and circuits, trailer brakes and control circuits. The stuff that was covered with mud and rust. It looked like you found the stretchy "rubber band" broken circuit. Where the plastic coating was intact but the copper wire was broken inside. Heat shrink butt connectors are fine by me. I always gave them a tug test, if they passed I am good to go! Great Job, Happy Thanksgiving.

[@rodbirch5876]

Kudos to the customer for diagnosing down to relay off the BCM, AND not just swapping the "mystery box" (BCM) like many would! I also enjoy following along with Eric, and the thought process. Dood!

[@jeepjoe1996]

This is the stuff I absolutely LOVE tracking down on my own! It's hard to figure out and trace down, but you learn so much through the whole process and mind-set in doing the job... It makes you feel like a true professional when you test things; figure out what works and doesn't, and then use your mind to trace down where the issue lies after you've mentally figured it out in your head already and verified it all along the whole process... And then the BINGO moment when you suddenly spot the issue, and are like... Yep, it's a 30 second fix and a 5-cent part (adheasived lined butt connector), but it's a several hour experience tracking down that one little broken wire! Been there, done that! And I tell you, I still get enjoyment each time I run across a job like that one!... The main key though, is like you said, access to the wiring diagrams & connector pin-outs and general description of how the circuits are supposed to work... Without all that, you're basically dead in the water and VERY VERY difficult to figure out that info on your own (difficult, but not impossible as I've unfortunately had to figure them out on my own a few times without access to the info I needed like wiring diagrams and schematics)... As Doc Brown said in Back to the Future 3 (when inspecting the schematic for the time circuits that got fried by the lighting strike) "Unbelievable that something so small could cause such a big problem!"... No wonder that circuit failed, it says it was "Made in Japan" hahahahaha

[@Ragnar8504]

I absolutely love some systematic fault finding, both doing it myself and watching others! Some people immediately jump on a wild goose chase when they see a fault and I always tell everyone to take a deep breath, step back and think clearly what the symptoms could mean and what's a plausible cause.

[@rockyj2008]

I WOULD TAKE JAPANESE OVER CHINESE

[@jeepjoe1996]

@@rockyj2008 That part was a Joke from Back to the Future 3 where the time circuit control micro-chip shorted out during the unexpected lightning strike in the 2nd movie... The reason they added that "made in Japan" joke was because they had literally just won the war when they dropped the atomic bombs on Japan; and after that Japan was recovering from the war and were known for not being able to produce high-quality stuff after the war till things recovered lol

[@rockyj2008]

@@jeepjoe1996 👍

[@amythompson6494]

I know talking all of us through the process took a while and editing it. Thank you Eric and family. It is helping many and those of The Kingdom.

[@paulsimard5314]

Your skill, knowledge, and determination go unmatched by anyone Eric.

[@surferdude4487]

Yet another example of how proper diagnosis leads to a cure without firing off the parts cannon. Thanks for another great video.

[@privateer0561]

Watching this and Diagnose Dan's channel for years leads me to believe that when there are all those seemingly unconnected codes being set, the problem has always been a broken or melted wire. And I agree with those who say that 99% of Ford dealer "technicians" would have bailed on this. I think any dealer might have done the same. Well done, Eric O.

[@kennethbode2017]

dealer would have sold him a BCM and then a harness

[@mikebuffing727]

Probably 99% of all dealers no matter the make. Most arent trained in it.

[@Jpilgrim30]

@@kennethbode2017 you’re not lying. I just had a car where the Nissan dealership tried to sell them a $1000 TCM and their only problem was a speed sensor behind the starter that was left unplugged. In those instances I usually call those places and inform them of their misdiagnosis. Some get defensive and some seem grateful but I doubt any of them really care. I guess I hope that the service writer handling that ticket cares enough about the way it makes him look that he will try to get something done about it in their shop. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble but I would much rather our industry not look like crooks so much of the time due to incompetence.

[@olymono2625]

I like your methodical train of thought on repairing all of these electrical issues in your videos.

[@duanedelestienne2997]

I really appreciate that you approach each problem with an open mind, even if the initial information points down a particular path. Troubleshooting is always a matter of gathering the available data, no matter the source, creating an hypothesis, and testing. Nice!

[@Certrrr]

Impressive that you take the time to investigate every option instead of just replacing every module, not many mechanics would do what you do !

[@duaneb193]

Interesting, and one that is a textbook example of being careful to not jump down the rabbit hole but to stick with one item and do your best to ignore everything else until you are satisfied with that one initial item. You, Ivan and Ray all tell us powers and grounds, and this, even though convoluted was still proof of that statement. Belated Happy Thanksgiving wishes to the O family!!

[@brianmason8400]

Just my opinion, I actually quit watching Ray because all to often he fires the parts cannon with out testing, and he guesses A LOT, again, without testing. I just feel he thinks he's better than he shows he is.

[@brianmason8400]

You and Ivan on the other hand are two top notch guys, along w Scanner Danner and of course Keith!

[@SmashMat]

@@brianmason8400 he probably had to coverded ALOT of parts over time 😅

[@bryantoth5249]

When it comes to finding bad wires and connections, you are the GOAT.

[@louisharris6398]

These videos are the ones I really love. I love watching Mr O doing a diagnostic on a electric problem. Great job and video Mr O 😊😊😊😊

[@handyandy7706]

Eric, this is one of my favorites!!! I feel for this customer, You can smell the frustration. You make it look easy but..... "The more I practice , the luckier I get" A true Professional. Thank You for all the content You push out, I watch them all.

[@moefuggerr2970]

Excellent troubleshooting. I do that all day on different equipment. Cool to see someone else doing it.

[@Roger21989]

As usual, a logical, methodical diagnosis fixes the problem! You continue to amaze, thank you.

[@ArkMark58]

I'm continually amazed at your attention to detail when troubleshooting issues along with your overall ability and skills to make the repair itself. I sure wish my area had someone as competent and professional as you are. You probably get that comment or something similar all of the time. Wishing you all of the continued success in the world as it is people out there like you that certainly deserve it.

[@daviddavid9046]

I've been watching you for years Eric. You never cease to entertain. Your work ethic is admirable. Keep up the good work Thailand.

[@warbirdwf]

I love the thorough troubleshooting and diagnostics when you chase down electrical issues. These are my favorite type of videos on your channel. Well done.

[@derekbridges1126]

Eric, you are the man when it comes to using the old grey matter to find the faulty electrical issues, I take my hat off to you.

[@scottnusser6232]

This goes to show how important a thorough visual inspection is. Good find Eric.

[@Thewierdone2025]

These are my favorite videos I always love to chase broke wires. But nowadays I would never even think about doing what you do with all these electronics. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@josephshawler1901]

Nicely done! Now THATS a mechanic! Great troubleshooting and research. Very impressive.

[@markwitte6458]

nicely done eric, i learned a lot from you. few weeks ago i did a no crank forklift where the owner tried on for a year by different mecanics. the jump wired every fuse🙄. the problem was a broken off pin in the power feed for the ecu in the engine compartment. thnx again for educating us in such a simple way✌

[@frankf2485]

Great video that shows the value of a competent and honest technician. It also shows problems can't always be properly diagnosed by simply pulling fault codes. As a technician it has always been interesting how many people will throw hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of parts at a car because they won't pay someone who knows what they are doing to diagnose their problem. Over the years I have seen many cars come in that the customer wants a part replaced and doesn't want the problem diagnosed, only to have to pay for diagnosis after the part they wanted replaced didn't fix their problem.

[@jluna1279]

Once again never a dull moment and always informative. Diagnostic skills on another level.

[@kc0rzw]

Definitely the correct approach in this situation. Normally I try to ignore whatever the previous shop or customer did and start from scratch, but considering it ran with the jumper wire it clearly makes it a bad BCM, relay, or open circuit.

[@richardthomas1743]

Eric , you are the overlord of wiring!

[@noway5683]

It’s amazing watching find the issue when other shops have given up helps when you are honest and have integrity Can’t count the amount of times OEM Dealerships do nothing but rip the customer off

[@superbestdad]

As someone who does pretty much the same thing you do and been at it for about 31 years professionally, I try to guess how much time you have in diagnosis and repair. I get up front approval for three hours diag time. If it ends up being something I’ve seen before and go straight to the trouble area then the time is approved that I can go for wiring repairs without waiting for customers to call back. Too many different makes/models to know everything about them all. I find that half that time will be burned up in research and pulling diagrams. Nice diag and repair!

[@mph5896]

Yeah, the somewhat complicated electrical repairs take research and time. I spent 2 hours tracking down a dead pcm due to a missing fuse.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Got to love when the customer does a bunch of diag before you get it Always helps a ton when the customer can give direction good video Eric O @South Main Auto Repair LLC

[@ice44567]

Some absolutely amazing work tracing this down. Thank you for going over the whole process and explaining the methodology as always, really helps get an idea for how these control circuits work. Lots of people would have just put a BCM in and then been very, very upset when it still didn't start....

[@duanemasterssr.658]

YOU ARE THE MAN , LOVE YOUR VIDEO'S I HAVE LEARNED A LOT , THANKS AGAIN

[@robpeabo509]

Great diagnosis by sticking to your principles Eric. You have got to be one of the luckiest guys re locating breaks in cables. It was interesting to hear how long it took with respect to the research side of things. I recall hearing Ivan & Raynman saying the same thing recently.

[@bnelson313braveheart]

Difficult to diagnose and get too for the repair. Always enjoy your videos.

[@Codadams]

As always Eric - very impressed with your troubleshooting skills and logic deductions. Way to help this guy out - saving hours of labor

[@scotthill1278]

Every car you work on gives you a small piece of knowledge that carries over to the next, you have a lot of knowledge and the right mindset to use it. As a retired mechanic I enjoy learning from you as you share your days with us. Thank you.

[@rider547]

Nice work as always Mr. O! I always try to focus on one symptom at a time but the problem here was which symptom to follow. Great job! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@fordltd1983]

This is the exact kind of issue that will put a decent car in the junk yard. That is since some mechanics/techs won't take the time to actually fix it. I'm happy for the dude and that wire being so easy to get too for you. Thanks for the videos.

[@jeffcarroll3831]

Awesome diagnostic job, great video as always

[@maigematthews5620]

I love these wiring diagnostic videos! More please?

[@ryanbrady5968]

excellent troubleshooting skills. awesome video, Eric.

[@michaelvtx1]

I have been an automotive technician for over 40 years I love to watch you work rather than myself lol do a good job just like I would do.

[@I-watch-at-2x]

Wow! Nice job as always Mr O!

[@ricardogabbiani7816]

You are teaching me a lot about getting there quick without wasting so much time

[@marccarrier9589]

Great job, Eric! These jobs, though potentially tough, are great to come across coming from a diagnostics perspective. Very satisfying. Great diagnostic strategy and the kind of video I look forward to seeing.

[@craigsparton]

This was a good diagnosis. You did all the steps you needed to do to verify a faulty BCM, and in the correct order, and you also proved why this verification that so many people skip is important. You listened to what the customer said and took it into account (but verified it because customers are NOT techs). You tested the power sources to the relay, then bypassed the relay to see if the system operated properly, then tested the relay itself. At this point you correctly determined it was either a faulty BCM or an open circuit, and used your resources efficiently to find the correct BCM connector and test the control circuit. One minor critique here, you should have used a voltmeter. You want to see voltage at the BCM through the relay coil without affecting the circuit. With a low amperage circuit like a relay coil, the test light might engage or it might not, depending on its internal resistance. You indicated your intent was to engage the relay with the test light to see if the circuit powered up, but this is iffy and just seeing if there is voltage present at the BCM is better in my opinion. Anyway, once you determined there was an open circuit, you used a wiring diagram to identify potential failure points and then checked the most logical place for the failure to occur, at the power distribution box. Bravo! 10/10. Please don't interpret this as criticism, because it isn't, but I find it sad that these types of repairs are regarded as genius level stuff. A relay controlled by a control module is a very simple circuit, and very easy to test. The biggest challenge is usually accessing the related components and wiring. There's nothing spectacular about this fix, it should be far more common in the automotive industry. But you have too many techs that lack fundamental knowledge and training, but they've bought an expensive tool and they expect it to tell them exactly what to fix. The scan tool was an important part of the repair, because it lets you test a lot of systems quickly and gave you a direction to look. But the real MVP of this diagnostic was his knowledge of the circuit and a cheap test light. When techs don't have this knowledge (and so many don't), you end up with lots of expensive parts replaced unnecessarily.

[@watchdogu.s.a.8973]

Regarding this being regarded as genius-level repair... when we consider the fact, as you stated, that too many techs lack the fundamental knowledge and training we might conclude that these techs either don't care OR they don't possess the logical thinking ability/skills necessary to actually learn proper techniques. The concept is pretty simple. Find which circuit is at fault for the problem at hand and then find out why it isn't working. That concept, though, is overwhelming to most people. Therefore, in a sense, maybe it is genius-level work when compared to those others. I've always fixed my own vehicles - at least those things that I had the physical ability and tools to fix. I've bought many tools with the mindset that investing in the tools and gaining the knowledge was far better than paying someone else and then having to pay again later if I didn't bother to learn. Now, at age 65 and having retired, I have purchased a good scan tool, tablet oscilloscope, accessories, and other test equipment and through Eric and a few others intend to be doing diagnostics as a new business in the near future. I have spent many, many, MANY hours learning from these videos and using the tools. Fortunately, my entire life to this point I have always had the attitude and have always said that if someone else can do it - I CAN DO IT. I love hearing from Eric at the end of every video - Remember viewers, if I can do it, you can do it. It is a shame that so many of today's mechanics/techs don't have that very mindset.

[@craigsparton]

@@watchdogu.s.a.8973 Good for you! The great thing about these skills is the diagnostic process itself is pretty universal and can apply to a lot of things. I believe you are right about the lack of logic and deduction skills, as they are crucial to diagnostics. People who naturally have these will have a good advantage. I think what has happened is there is this misconception if you have these expensive tools, you'll be able to fix these vehicles. I'm sure the people that sell them push this idea too. As Eric demonstrates very clearly in his videos, the most important tool you can have is a fundamental understanding of how these systems work.

[@watchdogu.s.a.8973]

@@craigsparton I've been amazed at the number of people who think a diagnosis should be nearly "automatic" based on scan tool data. You are definitely right about applying the logic to a lot of things. Because I've fixed so many things in my life people often ask me "what is it?" after telling me a few symptoms about a car, motorcycle (my first job ever was as a motorcycle mechanic), stove, etc. and while I might not be able to tell them right then what is wrong I often tell them what is NOT wrong based on symptoms. Anyway.... It's enjoyable watching good techs trace down issues. By the way, are you part of the east TN Partons? I knew some Partons when I was a very young man working as a night auditor in Gatlinburg, TN.

[@craigsparton]

@@watchdogu.s.a.8973 As a matter of fact I am. I live in Sevierville, TN, which is right next to Gatlinburg. If you were in Gatlinburg you might have known my dad, Bill Parton. He was a manager at Jack's Hamburgers, and then he got into automotive work. He was a big partier back in the day and knew just about everyone. He always had some kind of souped up car and they used to drag race the streets back in the day when you could get away with it.

[@watchdogu.s.a.8973]

@@craigsparton His name sure sounds familiar. Was Jack's by the bridge at the bottom of Ski Mountain Road? I lived about 1/4 mile up Ski Mountain Road and stopped at that restaurant fairly often. I remember meeting the very nice people who worked there. Besides being night auditor at the Holiday Inn I was previously night auditor at a small motel on 441, right smack in the middle of all the chaos, called Bon Air Mountain Inn. That was a little over 40 years ago.

[@dbengineering4209]

Good job Eric. It is through watching your videos I am able to understand what you are doing and why. I recently had a problem with my 2012 escape doing weird things power windows operating with key out and doors open , intermittent parasitic drain, the common denominator was the GEM module. However after taking off covers and testing the problem went away without me knowing what I touched or did it reflash itself IDK. Thanks again for helping us with direction to our electrical problems , they are my favorite episodes !

[@Calico_on_pawz131]

Understanding how a system works is half the battle. You do a great job at explaining. Thanks for be so thorough Mr. O.