GM Dealer Made Huge Mistake! $500 Diagnosis & $3900 In Repairs!

[@SouthMainAuto]

****FOLLOW UP**** GM cooperate and the dealer contacted the owner of the vehicle and made restitution by offering a full refund of close to $1000. Customer is happy and all is well in the world once again 😁

[@fdryer5116]

I discovered your videos a few years ago and came away impressed with your superior diagnostics knowledge. Time passed and rediscovered SMA again. Not a thing has changed. The last video I viewed was about bent pins in an ecm leading to almost a wild goose chase but deductive reasoning prevailed to undo mistakes from another repair shop. This video saved the owner a thousand dollar headache of GM firing the parts canon when your skills pointed to electrical problems; a ground issue. As shown, more electrical and electronic additions can create new and unusual problems. It would be miraculous if repair shops view your videos to learn about diagnosing problems. This presumes each person has basic education in mechanics, electricity, electronics, EFI systems, abs, etc and continues learning.

[@Bagom80]

GM should hire you to train thier techs

[@jrevillug]

Good good. Hopefully they issue a bulletin on this, to save others without access to SMA the pain of a $5000 bill for a $100 fix.

[@leonmcclaran5081]

Glad to hear GM did what they should have . And to you my friend I think GM should send you that money LOL Fat chance of that though . Another one in the books for you , You are very knowledgable .

[@islipfdchief]

" Follow up "Glad to see the GM and the dealer made some restitution. Do you think was a fault of flowchart diagnostics ? I have had this same problem with GM vans in the past. Test light on battery ground and tip to frame rail, lights on ! The codes can send you down the rabbit hole fast.

[@JR-my7nd]

Morning All. I tried to add this comment earlier, but I don’t think it went through. I am the truck owner and I spoke with the service manager this morning to nicely let him know how badly they screwed this diagnosis up. He promised a call back today to let me know how they will rectify this. This experience has been an absolute nightmare with them. I’ve been without use of my truck for almost 3 weeks. Eric O had it for a matter of hours and had me heading home with it. I’ll let you all know how it turns out. If the dealership does not give me a full refund I’m ready to go to the media.

[@gregsly1247]

I would love to hear the outcome of this situation and I hope Eric will either pin it or do a short follow up video to let us know.

[@stevebaines7535]

I hope the dealership does right and issue a full refund! Eric is a great diagnotician.

[@dropinbiking92]

Glad you went back to the dealer in a mature fashion. No point blowing up and making a stink, however, media is a GOOD choice. They HATE getting drug through the coals by media. In this case you and Eric are the clear winners.

[@SuperPropwash]

Buddy we are behind you on this. I would show the dealer these comments to hopefully embarrass them and if that does not work, head straight to the nearest TV station or at least email them this video and have them make a story about this dealer. THAT would be what I would do and IF that did not work, I would find an attorney who needs some money and sue this dealership so that you and the attorney may own it.

[@nahimibrahim107]

The best of luck friend. I hope they do what's right.

[@SlimFarmer]

Eric, I actually work at a GM truck assembly plant. I work right across from the job where that same ground strap is fastened down. I’ve always wondered how long they would handle the salt. Now I know the answer. Your diagnostic skills are 2nd to none. Wish I knew half of what you do.

[@jimo2627]

I too work in a gm truck assembly plant so cool👍

[@equallywrong]

@@jimo2627 Only assembly skills I have is in the kitchen making a sandwich. I never could get a job at a GM factory. I figured robots took all the jobs. Good knowing there are still jobs being done by human bad not being able to get one of them jobs.

[@RandyDBPFilms]

Are those ground straps tinned (silver looking) to start with or are they straight copper? In the amatuer radio world we always use tinned ground straps outside.

[@snoopy5736]

@@RandyDBPFilms Does rhe tinning provide corrosion protection?

[@kittty2005]

@@RandyDBPFilms Those are straight copper if they were tinned they would still be there, I live in Michigan and had a 2 gage ground strap fully tinned on my '69 Cutlass grocery getter for 20 years before I sold it I inspected the electrical connections it was in brand new condition, this ground strap went from the battery to the engine then to the frame.

[@wadeterheide8873]

So I checked the grounds on my GM after this, the ground strap was loose and corroded, cleaned them up and no more codes! Makes so much sense! Thanks your the Best

[@46fd04]

I'm sure Dr. O. would appreciate a small donation to his Patreon acc't for helping you.

[@vpimike2646]

Quote of the day: "Wait til everybody starts driving their electric cars. This should be a real show in New York." Excellent diagnosis Eric!

[@for2utube]

🤣🤣🤣

[@josedejesus6134]

Eric is going to be a very, very wealthy man!

[@brockwagner939]

Wait til they learn that if you like heat in the winter, you aren't going to get anywhere near 300 miles per charge 🤣

[@matthewbegin3462]

I have been saying the same thing thing!!! All these electrical gremlins will kill the average family

[@kurtvonknipper3902]

@@brockwagner939 Yeah, rear defogger is on, the blower is on high, the wipers are going, both heated seats warming people's buns and the average driver is not going to understand the correlation.

[@PaintmanJohn]

Eric, I'm 70. As a rule of thumb, When ever I see multiple failures in an electrical system, I always look at GROUND connections FIRST. When I was in my 20's and working at an Automotive electrical shop, I chased my tail over a car with ELECTRICAL gremlins running through it for half a day. Then the shop owner came out and LAUGHED at me and said to replace the ground strap that ran between the engine and frame at the firewall. I looked at it and said it was BRAND NEW. He laughed even harder, and said REPLACE IT ! Sure enough, my gremlin was found... Somebody Installed a junk cable and ran a ground for a CB radio install (Remember them ?) from the same ground point. Moral of the story: Ignore how good it looks. CHECK IT ANYWAY !!! And ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS look for modifications from stock. 45 years later, I still remember that man, and his laugh...

[@SouthMainAuto]

Back story: This vehicle was at the local dealer to address a customer complaint of no power steering, ESC and service trailer brake light coming on. They made the call and told the customer that he needed a new rack and pinion, a trailer brake control module and a new transmission control module! That is a $4000 repair! The customer didn't think this was right (even though he is not a mechanic) Then they charged him over $900 for diagnosis and "restocking fees" because he wanted a second opinion. Good news is I fixed it for wayyyyyyyy less and only $20 in parts 😉 I hope with some evidence he is able to get some of his money back.

[@thomas7770]

Thank you for teaching us this one!

[@Yoyo81828]

You rock Eric O

[@andrewkennedy9704]

Why was it not covered under warranty?

[@SouthMainAuto]

@@andrewkennedy9704 no idea, I didn't ask. Maybe out on mileage?

[@georgemartin1436]

They "shotgunned" it...throwing a bunch of modules at it never works. There'll be a bad connection living up here in the land of ice and snow I'd bet

[@mkernen]

I've diagnosed electrical problems for 40 years. I learned ages ago that if you have more than one problem look for the commonality. Rarely do things fail more than one at a time on their own. Good work on this one. I liked seeing the voltage drop testing. Auto technicians are smart people, always learning, and learning from others' mistakes is a great shortcut to investing one's own time in every lesson.

[@JustaRandomDude1791]

That is absolutely true. It just sucks when they do happen to fail at similar times.

[@steveo6631]

I had to thumbs up your comment just because you used the word commonality... Well done, sir...

[@mkernen]

@@steveo6631 Haha, thanks! Once and I while I say something cogent and coherent!

[@joey9511]

until you get a jeep in and 3 separate electrical issues, lifter tick and oil leak all started overnight 😂

[@TehShizno]

They call it a common (ground or power) wire for a reason!

[@danmark61]

I used to be an assistant service manager at a GM dealership. Good to see there are still GOOD Diagnosticians. That was the hardest type of technician to find and retain. Glad to see there are ethical and dedicated technicians still working. GREAT JOB!

[@roberthamlin8414]

The silly part is the good diagnostic technicians have all left the dealerships because they can make way more money in the aftermarket. I sure did

[@plhebel1]

too many parts hangers has always been a problem

[@ericnieto2092]

@@plhebel1 because of pay. It all comes down to pay. Very competent techs at dealerships but eventually you stop being thorough when 1-3 hours of diagnostics get rolled in to a single labor op code of .7 hours for module replacement.

[@cindymuss]

I am so impressed that there is still someone who will actually diagnose a problem instead of just swapping out parts. Keep up the good work!

[@michaelszczys8316]

From Eric's shop you can hear the parts cannons firing in the distance.

[@larryllamas8409]

I'm an un-certified mechanic... This man here is a true diagnosis solving fellow. I would definitely have my vehicles looked at but I'm in Texas over a 1000 miles away. Just admire the help he gets from his wife & daughter also... This is somebody to admire...

[@williambowers5783]

Awesome I always went for the easy stuff first simple thing are almost the answer. I could go on but don't wanna bore anyone lol great job

[@johncasor9698]

use a trailer to take your car to Main street auto...

[@anonimous2451]

@@johncasor9698 I would not drive any of my vehicles into NY unless it was life or death. And Gov Hockey-puck convinced me to leave, so I will never ever be back.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

ONLY because he has that scan tool that shows everything he needs to see WHILE moving the steering wheel to trigger that dash message, without that scan tool, how good are you as a mechanic to diagnose an issue like that ????? There was another video like this from another mechanic that diagnosed a similiar issue down to a rusted ground strap ... As he said those straps are garbage. They hold water and corrode. That strap should have been an insulated 4 or 8 gauge wire from the factory

[@bobblack3870]

@@ACommenterOnKZbin You have revealed that you are not a mechanic, therefore do not have the standing to criticize. Eric is excellent, with or without tools. Without the plug-in tool, the process would have been to connect a voltmeter to each module's in and out. He clearly explained that, but you weren't paying attention.

[@Happyoldfashionfamily]

You and fordtechmakuloco both amaze me to no end with proper diagnosis.

[@Shawnsullivan7]

Sounds like the dealer gave him the good old autozone diagnosis then got pissed he wasn’t an idiot

[@victorpena9824]

I enjoyed the part where the owner decided to go to Eric for a second opinion. Now that's smart!

[@misterhat5823]

Yep. This sounds alot the video where the guy went to Advance for diag.

[@notsureigaf]

Knowing how dealerships operate, I wouldn't be surprised if they knew what the issue was all along and wanted to soak the guy for $4k in parts instead of a few bucks for a ground strap. Charge for all those modules, replace the strap without mentioning it, no one would be the wiser. Well, except this guy and Eric.

[@KStewart-th4sk]

@@notsureigaf I don't think they are really that smart. Watching these videos one often hears accounts of taking a vehicle to a dealer, parts thrown at it, and still not fixed. Then they resort to real techs like Eric O. here, ScannerDanner, Pine Hollow Diagnostics, etc.

[@Tom-mc6fm]

Eric I'm 65 still working as a Emergency Vehicle Technician here in Florida i can't tell you how informative your videos are you are an extremely talented technician that deserves tons of praise for your knowledge, honestly, and being a great father and husband. Keep it up. ..

[@paulsmith9341]

​@@robertbreton2921 absolutely. Without at least a inexpensive scan tool you are flying blind. Mr O, more times than not, starts each diagnosis with a code scan to point him in the right direction for the hunt. I'm a shade tree mechanic that bought a hundred dollar code reader 16 years ago when I bought a 2006 vehicle. It has helped immensely.

[@markevans4645]

@@robertbreton2921 it absolutely will. That's how I started out 20 years ago.

[@johnd6036]

I have to say that this was the one of the most entertaining videos ever made by SMA. I appreciate the way Eric approaches the problem and takes it step by step until problem discovered and repaired. This one deserves the Sherlock Holmes award for finding the ground problem amid all of the other issues that were being manifested in the scan tools and a testament for sticking with the facts and not getting distracted. As a retired engineer, I appreciate his step by step, follow the data approach to a successful conclusion. WELL DONE!

[@benistingray6097]

Shouldnt that be the standard? The more videos i watch from american repair shops the more i start to believe there is an underlying problem with the mechanics education. I dont want to sound arrogant or anything but basic diagnostics like this is something every car mechanic here in switzerland learns in their third year of apprenticeship (they have 4).

[@dwb812]

That's what mechanics used to do. It seems all these "certified" mechanics at the dealerships are no more than trained parts replacers to rack up huge bills. The thing is, had the dealership replaced all those modules the problems would have persisted and the bill would have kept climbing until the ground cable(s) were replaced. Worst of all is, the customer is rarely, if ever, made whole!

[@eddieboss5934]

GM dealership should refund his diagnostic charge. Second opinions are the way to go it seems. We have problems with rodents mice and squirrel going after engine wires here in East Texas. The reason I keep a warranty with so many modules and sensors. Yep, the EV will be even more vulnerable to corrosion and fires it seems.

[@michaelpressman7203]

I appreciate the talent of engineers and their ability to come up with all kinds of things and make vehicles wonderfully technological and all the bells and whistles and things that light up but I think they got in too carried away putting all these modules computers and all these other electronic components that with one little thing going wrong the thing goes haywire you know you might want to justify your job but not at the expense of customers and if you got people on the other end is the support staff they ought to be able to fix the vehicles that you guys come up with have a great evening bye

[@benistingray6097]

@@dwb812 The problem is, nowadays as a mechanic you often have to replace complete modules. There isnt even the possibility to order small spare sparts anymore. When i started as a mechanic 20 years ago you could order ever little shitty piece of sparepart, today the manufacturer only has the whole module or part to order. SImple things like wishbone bushings or new sliding contacts for your alternator so you can actually repair it for a few $ instead of replacing the whole part. Thats not something you should blame the machanic for but the manufacturer.

[@user-jd5sj8jx7r]

As an electrical engineer, former tech, and shade tree mechanic since I was 14, I found this video riveting. Soon as you found the voltage fluctuations using the scan tool (so envious of that) I immediately said "bad ground" but when you showed that trailer brake module had no common wiring with the PS module I was wondering if I was wrong. I would never have expected the entire frame rail to have a bad ground connection, so great job. Couple of comments though. (1) those braid straps have a high equivalent AWG to insulated wire, and 4 AWG can only handle about 80 amps before the insulation starts degrading (melting) but this is likely an intermittent high-load so maybe it will be okay. (2) GM and every other Big 3 auto company use the cheapest crap they can get. There are marine or military nickel-coated braid straps that WILL handle that high salt environment and will have the flexibilty to handle the extensive bending that the 4 AWG won't. (3) you referred to the 4 AWG as solid wire which is incorrect, it is stranded wire. 4 AWG solid wire wont bend without a considerable amount of force, so I knew you weren't using 'solid' wire. As to the shift to park, I hope it's fixed but i have my doubts. My 2019 Blazer with floor shifter had that and it was the microswitch in the shifter assembly. Apparently GM got a really crappy switch and LOTS of 2019s have this issue. Only way to fix is to replace shifter assembly but I raised a stink with GM and they covered half the cost. May not be the case with this one but if it comes back, go straight to that microswitch. Enjoyed your video immensely and your wife and daughter are adorable. You're a lucky man and a smart and honorable one. Wish you'd relocate to the Fort Worth area, we'd be honored to have you...and no more salt corrosion issues!

[@mikeharsch858]

It looked like it was fixed as well as he ran several into the drive and back to the park sequences and no warning at engine shutdown or horn at the door opening....

[@KStewart-th4sk]

Well i think that was just a slip of the tongue saying solid wire. Pretty sure he would know it was stranded wire. If not the braided type i would have used 4 AWG welding cable and made my own. That is fine stranded compared to the thick strands in 4 Gauge automotive wire and very flexible as well.

[@danieldillon6436]

A very disciplined diagnosis. I worked in a large GM dealership and found many problems with grounds even in the San Francisco Bay Area. If the GM tech had called the GM Tech help line, they would have instructed him to do voltage drops on all of the applicable circuits before they would authorize the replacement of any module. Obviously the tech did not do the basic proper inspections or call the help line, which is free.

[@theinternet9456]

You are 100% correct. That dealership definitely put the wrong tech on it. There is no way all of those modules went bad at the same time. Even if he were to confer with a fellow tech he would have learned that. But Eric is the best. I've never seen a better independent and he might be the best I've seen at diagnostics.

[@docohm50]

I am a retired avionics technician and I guessed ground problems in first two minutes. You have outstanding troubleshooting skills guy. So many aircraft and car mechanics throw parts at it first then get the meter out. I enjoyed watching you whittle down the problem. Great video!

[@kotcher69]

Same here 6333 a6e electrician, always check grounds during diagnosis.

[@chuckwelden972]

I am also a past avionics communication tech trained by our military back in 76 and I was thinking voltage issues when first watching this. I am happy to see a mechanic with excellent troubleshooting methods,hats off excellent job.

[@docohm50]

@@chuckwelden972 I joined the AF in 82' and retired in 04' then went to LM. My mind was there but my body was to sore to effectively do the work so I walked away. I worked on the SR-71, U-2, KC-135Q, T-38, C-23A, C-141, EC-130E, C-5, and lastly the F-35. Thanks for serving.

[@John-Adams-Can]

Im so curious why so many use the parts cannon instead of finding the real problem.

[@bobwright992]

I figured a ground or maybe the ign. swith picking a bad connection. I've seen positive circuits pull a ground before so it does happen. People say I'm crazy but I know it happens.

[@Discretesignals]

I believe when a dealer tech is recommending 4 grand worth of parts and labor, there needs to be a sit down with the service manager, the tech who diag, and a shop foreman. Tech needs to explain their diag plan and results and show why they believe all those parts could be faulty before allowing the adviser to call the customer with a quote. Either there was some electrical diagnostic ignorance going on or fraud.

[@dafirnz]

Usually in situations like that the tech line should be involved in some capacity, so they aren't just firing the parts cannon randomly. Honestly anyone worth their salt should default to 'primary power or grounding problem' when that many problems arise. A module failure is random enough, but 3? On a 3 year old car with lowish miles? Give me a fucking break.

[@Discretesignals]

@@dafirnz I agree! Unless it got smacked by lightning three bad modules in three different locations with voltage codes looming reeks of power or ground issues.

[@MegaBbqbbq]

GM should be paying Eric for all of the free training he provides.

[@scrappy7571]

@@notsevenfeettall Another+ for lightning. And more than just 3 modules. Also seen where vehicles jump started, with the cables reversed, take out several modules. shit happens

[@scrappy7571]

@@dafirnz GM tech line is usually a waste of time. They authorize the parts cannon, and then "let us know what fixed it"

[@Mudcat50]

Having an honest, trustworthy is worth a fortune. Last new car I bought was 2015. I took it back to the dealership for recalls only. Didn't really have many problems with it, but when I did, "I know a guy", just like you, has his own shop, very knowledgeable I'll probably never meet you, but IMO, it's people like you that make America great...thanks

[@222boneal]

Once I was charged over $900.00 to correct an overheating problem. Drove the vehicle 1/2 mile after the problem was "fixed" at the GM Stealership and it overheated. Paid a local radiator shop to boil out the radiator for $50.00 and it completely cured the overheating problem. Eventually got the Stealership to refund some of the money. Never went back to them and never will. This was before the internet, now I would just Google the problem and hopefully there would a SMA video on the issue. Thanks Eric O and the lovely Mrs. O. Because we all know behind every good man there stands a great woman.

[@billdang3953]

Probably caused by the leak sealant that GM uses to address the engine coolant seepage issues caused by Dexcool spec coolant. The leak sealant eventually gels up and plugs off coolant passages thereby contributing to overheating.

[@bensmith6051]

Clearly the GM dealer’s “factory trained diagnostic tech” doesn’t even know how to measure a voltage drop. Awesome video Eric O!

[@SouthMainAuto]

A self taught mechanic and his 11 year old daughter can though 😂

[@patrickfarneth3876]

Unfortunately, there are still many mechanics out there undertrained. OBD 1,2 is here to stay. Gotta jump in...learn.

[@DjResR]

More like corporate greed makes service personnel replace as much parts as possible._

[@fulf]

can only speak for my self but my case is probably verry common. I work at a dealer (been a mechanic for 20 years) and i have never been teached how to do electrics becouse they often have people that do diagnostics and people that do mechanic part. Some times when its lot of jobs or a sick person they can give the "mechanic" a big diagnostic job (even if he realy dont know) and say solve it.

[@jkbrown5496]

It doesn't matter how smart you are, unless you stop and think. --Thomas Sowell Training is the transfer of knowledge, but applying that knowledge requires discipline of intellect, regulation of emotions and established principles.

[@medomedolino]

GM should pay you to write TSB's for them. You just saved them a lot of money with this video, where dealerships will not be able to rip them off for all of those "warranty" work that these new cars require. Appreciate your hard work Eric, while making it interesting in the process.

[@Danman1972]

Yes... 100%

[@mph5896]

That will be a recall on that truck. Gm should have at least grounded the rack to the block on the ground side.

[@jkbrown5496]

Likely reply would be "It doesn't do that". That's what I got from an email software company 25 yrs ago when I sent them the solution to a problem that had crashed my server. The engineers just denied the system could crash that way rather than simply verifying my solution and using it to help others.

[@SiteReader]

You're right, Bojan. Really they should hire Eric (if he wanted the job) as a high-level consultant for design and trouble shooting, at a high level rate of pay. He's worth every penny they could pay him. I just wish he would keep making repair videos, even so.

[@jammasterjay]

Eric, I’m retired military, and I was a jet engine mechanic for a long time, and then a crew member on cargo planes; that’s a long way to say I’ve been wrenching for a while now. Your troubleshooting / diagnostic approach is awesome! Especially when you’re dealing with a platform you’ve either never seen, or very rarely seen…either way, well done dude!

[@deniscarr469]

As Eric implied, what kind of tech believes that all those components fail at the same time. Are you kidding me! No wonder the owner wanted a second opinion. He certainly picked the right guy to get that opinion from.

[@jojofire450]

I worked for a GM dealer for 11 years and most of my electrical issues with new body style vehicles have been ground related. I also come from the rust belt of Wisconsin so the IGS is not new. Great job doing complete and accurate diagnosis. You have the best KZbin channel for automotive diagnosis that I have been able to find! Keep up the good work and I love that it is a family business.

[@marksouza8705]

I was a station owner and mechanic many years ago when vehicles were much simpler than anything on the road today. But what doesn't change between then and now is that diagnostics and logical thinking are the key ingredients to solving a problem. There are many talented techs at dealerships today but it seems like parts often get replaced without much thought to identifying the root cause. I've spent many hours watching Eric and marvel at his ability to tackle anything. I hope the gentleman with the truck gets his money back. That's a no brainer and the right thing for the dealership to do. And if Eric ever gets tired of getting his hands dirty, his next career should be training auto mechanics on the right way to fix a vehicle.

[@cruisepix]

He could really make a great workforce with his knowledge if he taught others at a tech school, hell I twisted wrenches over 25 years and I always learn something from him! I'm from the generation when electronic ignition and fuel injection were working their way on the scene.

[@nonyabiz2777]

Kindness is a weakness to the indecent but virtuous to the decent. You and Mrs O are among our most decent. I watch pretty much all mechanics content even the bad ones. I always come back to S.M.A and restart and binge watch his content. Only vary few mechanics content is this good. Bravo sir. I might have left numerous comments on your older videos but each time I watch I like to comment. I have watched your family grow up in the years gone by. You are a lucky man and so is Mrs O. Great roll models and parents.

[@buds.8645]

Once again, Eric O reaches into his toolbox and pulls out the magic wrench. Again, living proof that a great mechanic is worth their weight in diamonds.

[@realMrVent]

This video reinforced two valuable lessons for me: 1. Always check the ground side voltage and 2. Never underestimate corrosion Thank you for contributing to a better world man, it's appreciated!!

[@jima3129]

"Rust never sleeps" lolol

[@etulfkrow]

Done well = Well done. ... Well done, sir.

[@jima3129]

Considering the amount of corrosion we see on every vehicle that Eric works on, bad grounds should always be the first thing to look at for ANY electrical problem.

[@pwrrpw319]

Yep it only takes the smallest & simplest things to screw something up! :)

[@mos8541]

we dont allow or condone corrosion in MY country... SFMF

[@idbuythatfora4223]

So satisfying to watch an experienced mechanic use his head and his knowledge to find a simple fix to a complex problem. you are the man Eric O!

[@howitstartsmm]

I was trained to troubleshoot electrical with the first rule that DC power flows negative (supply) to positive (return). That's why when battery negative is disconnected the system can be worked on. If a component doesn't have supply (ground) it could get it from a different component thus affecting different systems. Most people are concerned with a big positive cable and view the negative as an afterthought if at all. Great content, thank you for your time and willingness to share your knowledge.

[@williamallen4236]

I've seen more problems caused by poor/ bad grounds than I can shake a stick at. This Mechanic's using voltage drop to diagnose the problem is pure genius but then again it makes perfect sense. Kudos to you sir!

[@ImaDrummer55]

Eric, if you don't win Mechanic of the Year, I'll be shocked. Wish there were more HONEST technicians like you !! You deserve all of the Kudos that you receive on this one !! Honest, dependable, ethically moral...that is YOU, my friend !! I wish you Nothing but the BEST down the road...you, sir, are my Hero !!

[@dosu6089]

Most mechanics are in fact hidden salesmen of carparts... and only a few really look into the problem and analysis the electrical issue, but brrrr electrical issues that is way up to difficult for many mechanics as it is not a 'mechanical' issue, dhow so they try to sell you some so called broken parts which aren't broken in the first place. Great evidance that the fancier the workshop, the crappier the service might be, all over the world, not only in US, same problem also in EU.

[@nievesjacinto1650]

As a 50+ yr tech, I give you an A+. But see serious design mistakes in this truck..... GM would be wise to put you into their tech trailing dept... IN CHARGE....!

[@LedzeppelinDogsGuns]

@@nievesjacinto1650 he would be a great teacher

[@prism8289]

How much does the kid charge per hour? She probably knows more than the dealers.

[@safffff1000]

How does one find mechanics that can diagnose like this? Can this be done on 2000 to 2010 models

[@drivedb7]

One of your finest videos yet, Eric. Don’t ever discount your skills. You’re one of the best at your craft and the proof is all on video. Well done with solving this riddle.

[@ReneGate63]

Great to see an honest mechanic. I hope the customer goes after the dealer and get his money back.

[@ThatEEguy2818]

The dealership would have replaced all those parts, and when it didn't fix it, they would have found the real problem and charged for all the parts.

[@billdang3953]

More likely they would tell the owner to buy a new truck and offer low leasing payments or a low down payment as an incentive.

[@circuitsmith]

In my 40+ years of troubleshooting electronics I've learned to almost always inspect the power supply first; and seen many others led astray by not doing this basic check early on. #2 lesson is if there's multiple failures in different systems, check the grounds.

[@machinehead6892]

Problem these days is that most so called techs are very electronically challenged, most guys I have known cannot figure out a simple circuit never mind understand a wiring diagram.

[@buixote]

@@machinehead6892 took the "career track" auto-tech class at the local JC... Asked the instructor to help me... He looked at the diagram, and responded..."I don't do Mercedes". This was a school in Silicon Valley. I don't know if instruction is this bad, elsewhere, but there's no excuse for this sort of incompetence. I raised it with the Administration... They did nothing. :-(

[@bloothedog4443]

great advice. and #3 NEVER go to the dealer for service (Their only function is for the part you cant get anywhere else, or proprietary computer stuff.)

[@stevennunez6013]

Yup check power and grounds first saves you a lot of time from the start

[@chrisbrown4870]

i used to work on log trucks 🚚 . back then it was always one of the ground connections that cause electrical problems

[@jameshood3692]

As a master heavy duty diesel tech, the feeling you get when you find the cause of an issue is unlike any other, reason #1 why I love this industry

[@mckeehan1943]

Do not insult this man. He is not a auto mechanic. He's an auto Tech. Everybody is a mechanic, but very few are auto techs.

[@danielmaddox5670]

The difference between a real mechanic and a parts changer, GREAT JOB!

[@john_c]

Only Eric O. can make a bad-ground repair video as exciting as any crime scene thriller! I was on the edge of my seat the entire video waiting to find the culprit! The best mechanic I've ever seen and the best auto repair videos on youtube! It is so educational to see how you work through the problems. Thanks much Eric, and keep up the great work!

[@edmessina8392]

It hooked me too. I even paused it while I walked the dog. Every state needs at least a dozen Erics....Not only is he a 5 star mechanic but he has mastered critical thinking.

[@jafopt]

In the first couple minutes the trailer brake had a ground fault code on the scanner.

[@michaelbarnaart9484]

It’s amazing how it becomes suspenseful and interesting when he’s “on the trail”

[@jcheck6]

lol good one John!

[@terryavery9918]

@@jafopt Shhh, who cares at this point, he found it the old fashioned way, logic and proper research, to which is sometimes far more fun in the end, and at the very least, fun for us who get to watch this process and learn from it!

[@yhird]

"Wait 'til everyone starts driving their electric cars." LOL. Well said Eric. Phenomenal diagnosis. I learned so much in the first viewing, I watched it a second time. Thanks Eric.

[@garyalford9394]

Can't even imadgeon electric cars and trucks in the rust belt!!!

[@Hogger280]

No problem because it's not going to happen.

[@yhird]

@@Hogger280 The Green people will try. They will of course fail, but not before wasting billions or even trillions of taxpayer dollars in the process.

[@yhird]

@@garyalford9394 Agreed.

[@LynxStarAuto]

I'm licking my lips in anticipation.

[@dancook8114]

Thanks to your skill and honesty, the dealer and GM did the right thing. Before my 38 year career in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, R&D, Machine Shops and industrial plant management I spent 15 years as a mechanic with 10 yrs as a certified master technician at 3 Chevy dealerships including positions as shop forman and service manager, plus 2 yrs at UPS as a tractor-trailer mechanic so I have seen it all. We had 11 Mechanics at Massaro Chevrolet in Niagara Falls, New York and only three of us were competent at electronic and electrical diagnosis and troubleshooting back in the '70s, when many mechanics were just parts changers. While I am absolutely certain that the competency ratio had to have vastly improved since then, due to the proliferation of computer controls, some mechanics will still be poor diagnosticians and will mostly just replace parts, as this customer experienced. Thankfully there are a few extraordinary experts like you who are willing to share their knowledge with those of us who still repair our own vehicles and help our friends and families. Thank you Eric, for doing all this with grace, humility and kindness ! Sincerely, Dan Cook

[@ezrhino1803]

There are mechanics and then there are artisanal mechanics. Guys like Eric are becoming harder and harder to find. He is truly an artist. Dealer just plugs in a scan tool and load and shoots the parts cannon to fix problems that would not be fixed even with all the new parts. great job and even better that your lovely assistants obviously enjoy helping the old man out. Truly a family business. I am so glad I found this channel......

[@boblister665]

Harder to find yet needed more than ever with all the wizardry in modern cars.

[@JamesChurchill3]

Plenty of parts swappers that know what modules make up a car, very few of them know how those modules work.

[@georgemartin1436]

"Artisanal mechanics" AWESOME

[@johnnyblue4799]

@@boblister665 I suspect this is one of the reasons why the capable mechanics are harder to find. Some just don't have the brain power to work in the "modern wizardry" department. Many look at electrical problems like they're some sort of demon possession cases and would rather call an exorcist. He, he ... the way some electrical issues manifest really make it look like paranormal activity.

[@DapimpBDSD]

@@johnnyblue4799 idk, personally If it's acting really funky, it's a dead giveaway of electrical/voltage issue and not the part itself. The problem lies in finding the exact cause. Idk, could be cause I've started working on alot of odd electrical issues lately at work.

[@mennoregts208]

I'm dumbfounded the dealership would even dare to charge restocking fees when they didn't get approval for the parts cannon in the first place. I really hope the customer show's your video to the service manager and make him come to his senses.

[@jacksmith2315]

I said the same thing. He never gave them the ok to make the repair so they shouldn't have pulled or ordered the parts so how is there a restocking fee? This seems like a very shady stealership. I can only imagine how many ppl they screwed doing this job, this guy was smart enough to know something was right so they found other stuff to charge him and screw him. Ford charges a flat rate of either $129 or $159 for diag, so whether its 10mins or 5 hrs its the same diag fee. This dealership charged him to diag every single component in the complaint even though it was all related and they were clearly wrong. This guy needs to get coorperate and the media involved the get his money back and this shady stealership red flagged

[@alankessel8891]

I love how you talk with your wife and daughter! ❤ I’m a retired guy who was in the automotive industry for 20+ years and I enjoy the content and appreciate the way you talk with people! I hope y’all have a wonderful day and 2023 brings you happiness!

[@thaitiger]

Once again, a clear drift in repair philosophy. Today it’s mainly a replace parts and pray attitude to repair. The days of actual diagnosing a problem to its roots isn’t an approach much in practice, especially at dealerships. Thank you for your efforts of keeping that working methodology alive. I have to believe your customers as well as we who watch appreciate you. Keep up the great work!

[@usdms13]

Eric slays when it comes to troubleshooting. A true mechanic and I use your motto of "test don't guess" daily. Dealership absolutely owes that guy a refund and apology. In that order.

[@sandygrungerson1177]

it was a case of eric sniffing out a hookup with a rusty brown ring...yet again

[@donniegombel]

Done Proper. Yes indeed they owe him his money back. I doubt he will get it though cause the name of the game is money at any cost. It is a good lesson learned and he got him a customer for life and free advertising to boot. Well done.

[@GuessWho-uc5uq]

@@donniegombel The owner of the vehicle wrote a reply a few posts up and said the dealership was gonna make it right

[@michaelschmidt1402]

As a Chevy tech that primary does electrical it's awesome to see you work on something I'm deeply familiar with. I wish this video was part of training for all new techs. As always your process was spot on. Whoever diagnosed this clearly missed the basics. Low voltage codes and multiple problems is always a red flag go check your basics and try to find the pattern. Keep up thr excellent work!

[@craigsowers8456]

Amen and good comment. As an Engineer, I would further recommend that GM Engineering Dept. be in the loop on this specific design failure that can be easily remedied ... "Braided Cables" CAN be coated during the manufacturing process !!! This is the kind of stuff that makes me scratch my head. And as Eric rightly stated ... "just wait until the Rust Belt meets EV's" !!!

[@tomkurtzhals7369]

Gm quality is shit. Has been for a decade. This is why many people are not buying them. I'm sick of working on this absolute garbage. Nothing but stupid ass problems because stupid ass people coming up with stupid ass designs.

[@thepaperboy9009]

@@tomkurtzhals7369 A decade? Try like over 4 decades AFAIK. Will never buy a GM.

[@super6954]

@@tomkurtzhals7369 I'm actually looking for a truck now in the 2010 to 18 age, it don't matter what make it is they are all crap when you start googling potential problems to look for. My 99 7.3 turbo superduty with 600,000 KMS on might get the minor rot fixed up on the body and be repainted yet. It's totally paid for, reliable ,mechanically right and I don't see the point in spending huge money on 10 to 18 years newer, That are in worse condition. With half the k's on it and 15 times the hassle being expensive for parts. Then needs some shop life support I can't provide myself like I do with the 99 and will be regularly unreliable to boot.

[@LynxStarAuto]

@@thepaperboy9009 it started going down hill in the early 2000's.

[@efrin23]

As a former mechanic and now mechanical engineer you impress the hell out of me. It is good to see that there are still skilled mechanics that are honorable in their trade. Love watching your program keep it up. Once again impressive from an old mechanic in the great state of Texas.

[@CHawkens]

"former mechanic" professionally or personally as far as i remember once a mechanic always a mechanic! lol at least that what my grandpa always said when i was little

[@petemorton4114]

Once again I am blown away with the illogical logic from the GM dealer. Happy to hear the customer was reimbursed, but only after being shamed by your complete diagnosis. In my mind I would expect the reverse situation with the local garage unable to properly diagnose the problem due to lack of training and the factory trained GM mechanic having to come to the rescue.

[@davefoc]

Ex electrical engineer here: Really enjoyed the analytical approach and the good understanding of basic electricity type stuff. I wasn't very surprised that a dealer mechanic would not diagnose this problem accurately: 1. I don't trust dealers in general. The goal of dealers is to sell you stuff you don't need and make a lot of money on repairs. 2. I am skeptical of any mechanic on electrical issues. IMO the best way to get affordable, reliable car repairs is to find a good independent mechanic and stick with them. After a while they trust you and you trust them. Kumbaya

[@2secondslater]

As a mechanic who specialises in electrical and electronic diagnosis and repairs, I don't trust electrical imagineers to design a product that is fit for purpose, the ground strap on this vehicle is a huge case in point.

[@YourMom-ro1ig]

The goal of any shop is to sell what you need (dealership or not), and to make money while doing so. I own an independent shop after working at dealership for ten years. No car I ever worked on was sold a repair it didn’t need and I paid for my own misdiagnoses. Some dealerships are not run with a culture of theft and dishonesty, although it seems they’re getting fewer and further between. It mostly comes down to the individual and their scruples (or lack thereof). All that said, I’ve seen independent shops rob people blind out of both dishonesty and incompetence - it’s not exclusive to dealers.

[@raymondjunk6996]

sorry I missed the whole thing . I was eating lunch.

[@PontoonGrandpa]

I had (for a very short time) a 2020 Silverado (purchased new) that had the "same" power steering and trailer brake problem in the winter of 2020. I live in Northeast Ohio, so salt on the roads is very common here also. Had the truck to dealer (only 7000ish miles) under warranty 4 times for the same problem. The replaced the steering rack, module and TB module twice. After the 4th trip failed, I got them to buy the truck back at full original price. Based on what we are seeing in this diagnosis.... it could easily have been the same issue..... and I know of several other people locally that have similar issues ......

[@dlewis9760]

Stuff does happen. But 2 replacement racks? That's 3 racks total. A company with their heads not up their butts would be checking the pulled parts after the fact to see if they were within specs. If they were (and probably were) it ain't those parts. One of the uses of a VIN # is to track issues.

[@PontoonGrandpa]

@@dlewis9760 only one replacement steering rack, but two Trailer Brake modules (sorry if there was confusion on how it was typed)

[@mortofromoz1]

Great diagnosis Eric, as always. As a teacher of Automotive Apprentices for the past 35 years, when teaching electrical diagnosis, I can not overstate the importance of checking Powers and Grounds. Particularly when three different modules start misbehaving at the same time. It's frustrating to know, for many shops, the Parts Cannon is the default diagnostic tool.

[@troyturner8221]

Couldn't be better said cheers

[@sidvis7235]

I recall my apprenticeship here in Canada. In third year we tackled electrical. I dare say half of the class couldn't grasp why charging systems only neede a voltage regulator once alternators. They also could not understand voltage drop, or why you coud only test for it when there was actually current running through the conducter. It goes to show, not everyone is cut out to be a tech, particularily an electrical tech.

[@alchemy1]

@@sidvis7235 Consider the great obstacle, language itself. Is it signal, is it votage or is it current? Up to certain resistance value, you have full voltage transfer, less than you have too much current. Beyond certain value you have less voltage, i.e. voltage drop.... and that is just small potato stuff as some might say.

[@flash490]

I am with you on that. Being a licensed electrician for 46 years dealing with bad connections causes problems in places you wouldn't believe. Modern electronics magnifies the problem 10 fold.

[@josephb.2087]

Thank you the first thing I thought was make sure you have good connections. Always, I live Chicagoland area and sale and ground straps are enemies so quick time saver KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and then keep on keepin' on!!!!!

[@frankkerze9608]

Total and Proper way to Diagnosis a Difficult but persistent problem, yes I've seen Terrible Shotgun troubleshooting procedures by Master Technicians.

[@Steve-cl7oy]

Im an automotive wrencher who went to school for electronics and your diagnosis was great!! It never ceases to amaze me the amount of stuff that can get thrown off by a bad ground and how much they’re overlooked. Especially in places with road salt and corrosion issues. Like they say “the meter never lies.” The dealer would of replaced all those modules and still had the same problems. Love the video and the message at the end. Very inspiring!!

[@dennyheitzer9457]

I serviced hospital radiology equipment for 47 years. High tech equipment that has multiple problems mostly fails in a low tech way. Connections, broken wires or strands of wires broken or making a resistive connection, intermittent poor connections like a potentiometer or switch, corrosion, bad solder or crimp connections, wires with degraded insulation, connections with mildew that need to be cleaned. Never forget the grounds and power connections.

[@mortifersoldat]

Or they replace it all, then happen to stumble on the ground afterwards.

[@anthonywilson4873]

Good logical steps no false paths at all. Unfortunately there are few in the game who have your skills, if a workshop has one they are blessed, they put them on the difficult jobs and they earn low bonus and they leave, if they have two, they either buddy up or scratch each others eyes out. It takes a good understanding of electrical systems, voltage, current, resistance and what they do in a vehicle to use some simple tests (line drop test in this case) to find the fault. Impressive.

[@xcofcd]

@@dennyheitzer9457 exactly, how would 3 entirely different modules fail at the same time...

[@tonypybus8003]

I am a retired vehicle electrician and electronics engineer- at the beginning of the video I would have laid my bottom dollar on a bad ground. I have learned over may years of experience that if there is more than one unassociated fault it more than likely a grounding issue. GM are not the only mark with this issue. Just yesterday a close friend of mine with an Audi Q7 could not get his car to start. The indications were that when he turned the key all that happened as a constant clicking. He assumed bad battery so he purchased one. Still the same fault!! He called me and I suggested taking a jumper cable from the under bonnet (hood) ground charge terminal and to clip it to the engine. Problem solved _ engine started. The problem was isolated to the chassis to engine ground strap. Never take your vehicle to a dealer unless the vehicle is under warranty- most guys here are learning their trade. I have never had a dealer diagnose a fault correctly. Great video and love your fault finding process. Best wishes from the UK.

[@Yoyo81828]

That guy would have spent $4k at the dealer and it wouldn't have solved the problem. Unbelievable. Great work Eric

[@snoopy5736]

They probably would have fixed it

[@rickdecarlo]

@@snoopy5736 yes, they probably would have fixed the problem and left all the new parts in there and never said a thing.

[@snoopy5736]

@@rickdecarlo You're at the mercy of the mechanic.

[@ryanwagner3156]

"Just wait until everyone starts driving their electric cars" -- COMEDY GOLD right there Eric. Had me laughing my butt off.

[@TheBrookian]

If it wasn't inevitable it would be funny. Wait until the grid goes down because of high demand and people can't charge their cars, their phones and their MSNBC won't appear on the TV. They will be BEGGING for more coal power... and gas cars.

[@aday1637]

Is that before or after the grid goes down from overload?

[@MotoEPhil]

Bad news is GM already can't make vehicles last gas or electric!

[@KevinWindsor1971]

@@aday1637 A level One charger only draws about 12 amps on a 120v circuit. Electric ovens typically pull about 30- 50 amps on a 240v circuit. EV owners typically charge overnight when demand is lowest and depending on where you live electricity is cheaper.

[@woodworking5979]

@@KevinWindsor1971 the battery for the car is 22 thousand I’d be interested to see how stores will get food with no tractor trailers allowed in California or New York trains either

[@joehernandez7163]

Finally a mechanic that can sleep at night. Good job.

[@markminehan6778]

Hi Eric, I'm a retired communications engineer and from my experience over the past 40 years, I find the lack of 'critical thinking' in most technical fields is commonplace these days. The training of old included fault diagnosis and repair down to component level but that isn't possible with modern electronics and it just isn't cost effective... as a consequence, higher level diagnostic skills have suffered a significant drop over the decades. Dealers and big repairers aren't investing in high quality training of their staff and only appear interested in making a buck as quickly as possible. The customer ends up paying for the poor guesswork and a dumbing down of our young mechanics, they really need to invest in people of your caliber and train their staff..... a young apprentice under your care would out shine any of the dealers staff.

[@2fathomsdeeper]

Like the old RCA XL100 TV's. We'd get one with a fault, isolate to the card, replace the card, and out the door! Then we'd troubleshoot the card, fix it, and have it ready for the next one that comes in with the same problem. Life was good! Now, it's go buy a new TV cause we can't fix it!

[@CrazyCat229]

Part of the issue is the good mechanics don't make flag hours cuz we don't upsell things that arent needed and we get written up all the time. OR Because of flag hours under warranty at the stealership we don't make money. A combination of both or we are way overworked most dealerships expect you to work 12 hours a day with an hour lunch 6 days a week because we aren't paid a salary or hourly. My mornings started at around 7am and didn't end till the service department closed. OR I don't know what the rate is today at the dealership I worked at but it was around 160 hr labor when I was there, these were LUXURY cars I worked on. and we got paid maybe 15 a flag hour if we were lucky and we had to do the stupid work like change oil if one came in we did not have someone else changing the oil so it was drop everything and get the oil change done. Flag hours should be outlawed. Plus at the smaller dealerships I worked at oh yeah we got a little more per hour but wasn't worth it cuz they would haggle over the price so basically they didn't care if they were taking money out of our pockets to appease a cheapskate since the shops made money on up charging on the parts but not the labor. SURE WE'LL eat that 2 hours of diag the guy put in probing out your entire electrical system not to sell you the wrong parts. 2 hours of my pay were gone. That's why there are few mechanics left that are honest and good. We get treated like shit plain and simple or we get harassed out of the business by not selling you things you don't need. A few of us get lucky and can afford to open a shop where we do right by our customers and stay in business.

[@michaelzona9880]

@@CrazyCat229 This is appalling. When a dealership waives a two hour diagnosis fee it means the mechanic gets paid nothing for those two hours. Then the dealership charges a large repair charge with lucrative parts sales. The number of mechanics leaving must be huge!

[@CrazyCat229]

@@michaelzona9880 the whole industry has gotten pretty toxic and I laugh at the trade school ads saying 100k shortage no more like all the good mechanics quit so we gotta replace them. Like I said that huge repair bill at a stealership the mechanic might get 22 to 25 a flag hour these days and it took most of the good tech quitting to get up to that. When I was active a team lead mech might get 21 a flag hour plus he had to meet tight hour requirements that the techs under him had to get in weekly hours to get any kind of bonus… and the whole mentor system is a joke for the young guys.

[@brianporter4352]

As an HVAC technician i am seeing similar issues with the lack of diagnostic skills. Modern furnaces and some of the higher end equipment all have diagnostic codes, but that just points you in the right direction. Still have to know where to go and how to repair.

[@ericl452]

I bought a Porsche 911 $8000 under market value several years ago due to a bunch of electrical issues. Turned out to be a bad ground to the body. Took about a half hour to diagnose an $0 to repair. Only negative side effect was I had to replace the alternator since the bad ground damaged the internal voltage regulator.

[@mdotguy]

"Negative side effect" 😄

[@joshuaknappenberger4984]

Completely not a mechanic; but a neurologist. Watched the whole thing and loved every minute. The analogy to medicine has been made before, but the thought process and humility going through it is the same. Also the thrill of the chase. You would be a great medical diagnostician, but I'm thankful you are out there filling the ranks of competent mechanics.

[@brianburns7211]

I saw a news story about a mechanic went back to college to advance his business acumen, and expand his business at his shop. He had a science course requirement, for which he took biology. He ended up liking biology and took more classes on the subject. Eventually he went to medical school and became a doctor. Apparently the logical deduction process from his former career was a parallel to his new one.

[@kirkboswell2575]

Have to add my story to this. Worked with a doctor many moons ago who, I found out along the way, was a construction engineer with a good career going. I asked him what lead him into medicine. His answer? One of his employees got hurt on the job, so he took him to the local hospital. Long story short, he said "if that idiot could make it through medical school, I darn sure could." And he did. I'll finish by saying he was one of the best doctors I've ever worked with.

[@chasboomer2588]

@@brianburns7211 I have a high level maintenance millwright with high diagnostic skill like Mr. O. Since becoming a kidney transplant I have used my skills to help maintain my health and challenge my doctors at times. Even more so after writing a research paper about how to best take my medications. I don't like to change parts unless they are bad.

[@robertgary3561]

I’m a software engineer and often have to debug issues. Same methodical process.

[@maikolim37]

You are right about the similarity between bad mechanics and bad doctors. I had a problem that when I drank beer I would get swelling in my navel area and become ill. Went to my doctor and he told me to "stop drinking". That was his solution. So I was condemned for life not to drink beer again. I went to a 2nd doctor for a 2nd opinion and right off the bat he says, "You must have H Polaris". Apparently it's a small bubble or bacteria located in my navel area that gets agitated with beer. He gave me a diet to follow for 30 days and some pills to take for 60 days and I was cured for life.

[@ncooty]

For anyone who relies on a vehicle, a good mechanic is worth their weight in gold.

[@odiesclips7621]

I have no words. Well, words that I have aren't permitted. However, this is one of the best SMA vids I have seen, and I never miss one. Very entertaining and most informative. Excellent diagnosis, Eric. Thank you.

[@shawn_530]

I was thinking the same thing. This might be one of my favorites, and I've watched em all too!

[@chestercalloway3812]

I love it when people actually put full effort into doing their job.

[@TalonPro]

This isnt full effort, its just good work ethic. The bar has been lowered so far, that this seems like going above and beyond.

[@joshhansen2301]

I've been a technician at a gm dealership in Wisconsin since 2004, I've sure ran into a lot of corroded wires especially with trailer brake systems. I've never ran into corroded ground strap...good to know. You're a great tech and I like watching your videos

[@donalddesnoo5303]

the backwards hats are now in charge of the world 🥴💤

[@marlu6373]

this breaded ones are junk.i had one on a mitsu here in Chicago

[@JohnAsang]

Subaru's eat the braided cables for breakfast and then cause sensor codes for cams and such that are really because the oil control solenoids do not have enough ground to function properly. Voltage drop your harnesses people!

[@rknight7509]

You have never had trouble with ground straps where did you train ???😀

[@danharold3087]

It is kind of sad that GM (and others) has not figured out that it needs to pay more attention to electrical power and gnd given that cars are now rolling computers.

[@JamesAgans]

I learned when I was very young that most electrical problems on vehicles are caused by bad grounds. Looks like that still applies. It's got to apply in spades where vehicles rust like they do in NY State.

[@Pete-xm4qs]

This was an amazing example of diagnostic work and more importantly of family with your daughter helping out. My wife is still the best brake bleeding assistant I ever had, 40 years and running

[@donnlowe9129]

This is a wonderful example of why you are in my estimation one of the best mechanics I've ever seen you have the ability to analyze and diagnose problems like no other guy on KZbin. It would not surprise me if the dealer refused to reimburse this guy for their mechanics lack of ability to properly diagnose the problem.

[@seanevans6901]

Check out Rainman

[@jormalonnberg1578]

Watch Wes Work, also.

[@rickdecarlo]

@T.J. Kong I've seen him a few times. Ivan spends way too much time trying to figure out why a broken electrical part is doing what it does. I'm and electronics guy, he not doing component level troubleshooting. It's broken, replace it and move on.

[@Screwdriversteve1]

I have been diagnosing equipment of all types for close to 30 years; I think I am a competent troubleshooter. But Eric is a master at it; the logic and direction working with the "known values" in trouble shooting keep him from chasing "Ghosts" and sticks to the root issue. Well done sir!

[@lawrencesteger5574]

Wow!!!!!!!!

[@regimatic]

My dad, a life long (40+ years) mechanic, taught me to check the ground first. His advice has proven well, my entire life. Excelkent work SMA... showing the diagnosis steps.

[@arlo0011]

As a retired electronic technician of MANY years (mostly a/v stuff), I can say that whenever I was faced with a complaint that involved multiple and seemingly unrelated problems, the first place I would look was the power supply = the second was the ground. Cars are getting more and more like what I used to do. One other thing I would like to say is, the thing that separates good technician from a not so good technician is the ability to troubleshoot, and, you ARE a good technician. It is a great pleasure to watch you work.

[@FrankenShop]

I realize this is "just another day at work" for you but you've cleared reached a level of understanding in your work that makes what you do seem like absolute magic to the layperson. Well done, I'm sure your customer is very grateful.

[@federiconalos8202]

Awesome troubleshooting, sir! I wish every mechanic would follow your customer service attitude. You exposed GM technicians' lousy and costly service performance. GM needs to, NOT SHOULD refund the customer's money with a written apology. Again, you're awesome! More highly commendable is your helper who can probably outperform those technicians at GM. Great job, young lady.

[@petesilvestri]

First .. my hat off for your honesty. That dealer should definitely refund his money. I can’t imagine how many people have been mis billed for work and parts they didn’t need. The customer shouldn’t have to pay for the dealers incompetence.

[@Ebooger]

For most of my adult life I did component-level electronics troubleshooting. I am here to say: Your logic and thought processes are flawless, keep up the good work!

[@hopelessnerd6677]

Troubleshooting complex systems is an art for sure. I did electronic repair for 40+ years, and I can tell you nothing makes you feel like you're in the wrong business faster than troubleshooting a strange problem for 30 minutes, and then finding out the thing isn't even plugged in. Nice Job! Seems like spraying the ground straps with Fluidfilm once a year would be a good thing for us all.

[@jacksongunner7122]

LOL that happened to me early in my career building satellites. The breadboard unit we were testing was not doing anything, took us an hour before we checked to see if it was plugged in. Now that is the first thing I check. Live and learn.

[@computergeek1599]

Watching you methodically track down a weird electrical issue like this is super gratifying. Awesome stuff!

[@Rx4Lyfe]

I'm a domestic electrician and we can't rely on plug in laptop diagnostic equipment other than multimeters.. but rely on good old decades of experience where to look for certain pointers for our faults. This guy worked thru eliminating variables to pinpoint the exact fault and yip...emmensly satisfying when you smash the fault thru good out detective work.

[@dtbmjax]

Using the Brave browser and "Return KZbin Dislike" extension, I can see that 26 people (so far) have disliked this video. Wonder if all of those who disliked this video work at this dealership? Or maybe they're "mechanics" who rip people off everyday and videos like this expose them. Another great video, Eric!

[@kennygee2715]

some people just click dislike because A) they just like to be negative about everything, or B) they don't understand it and think they are disliking that the dealership tried to screw the car owner.

[@ScottPuopolo]

Cool, didn't know that extension existed.

[@babydriver8134]

About 50 years ago a master mechanic drove home the importance of the grounding system. That man saved me a lot of time and money.

[@LouinVB]

Good to hear dealer made restitution to customer

[@Jay.Tee.H]

Just used this video from a year ago (I commented on a year ago) to repair a co-workers truck that he was quoted over $4000 to repair at the dealer. Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge.

[@royalwins2030]

Thats crazy. I bet thats a great feeling

[@williambaskin4801]

This dude is the man. Just sold my duramax that I babied for 8 yrs and loved that truck. Intermitten electrical issue that 2 different mechanics looked at and could not figure out. Of course I'm sure all they did was plug a scan tool in. Most mechanics suck now days. But Eric here is the undisputed champ. Wish I lived closer to your shop. Would still be driving my truck...

[@JayJay-gl2df]

As an electrician for 33 years I thought you diagnosis was excellent, it feels good when you have found the problem fix it and everything is fine. A bit like when you have a snapped bolt you've drilled it out you put an easy out in and it starts to come out that feeling is great

[@emanuelblanchette2940]

You would think building cars for 100 years that GM would have supérieur knowledge, guess its not the case. good work, i have been inspired to be a better mecanic because of you i used to be a parts swapper and now i diagnose until i know exactly which part to change, yes it takes more patience and some head scratching but i have succesfully fixed my truck many times without changing parts which saved me money and time to fix !!!

[@lexustech48]

They do have superior knowledge. If they locked the bean counters in the room, they have the engineering prowess to engineer cars and trucks so reliable that it would make Toyota blush. But, GM is a publicly traded company, so the bean counters are there FOR the shareholders to maximize their dividends. Can't make a lot of money if you cant sell new cars/trucks and repair parts. If your cars and trucks are too good, you'll have a loyal customer but only see them for sales every 10-12 years. And they'll only need basic maintenance parts. Build a Chevy as they do? It's not total junk, but you'll need to make repairs to it after warranty and you'll be buying a new vehicle sooner rather than later.

[@Maintenance_Mark]

As a tech that troubleshoots daily I fully understand that feeling of excitement but also disappointment. sometimes I am disappointed in myself for missing something for so long and other times I am disappointed with my co workers for overlooking something simple and passing the call onto me without double checking the simple things. The excitement is great though when you fix something that everyone else overlooked all day or week. There is that one guy in the shop that don't like me because I tend to find the issues that others get stuck on. That is mainly because I simply wont give up trying and I go where others don't or wont go to find the issue. Bad grounds do crazy stuff. good catch.

[@motordown7664]

“Classic” dealership misdiagnosing the vehicle at the owners expense. Great video Eric.

[@joshuawoodall5856]

I was a tech at a few different manufacturers for several years before making a career change and I can say from experience most of the problems with misdiagnosed vehicles at dealerships can be narrowed down to 2 things 1) poorly trained technicians 2) manufacturers making it almost impossible to get paid for diagnostic time, there are so many "parts changers" because of these 2 issues. I LOVE watching your channel because I learn things every video that I was never trained when working at the dealership. Your awesome! Thanks for making great content!

[@sockmonkey3393]

exactly this. i diagnosed a water leak on a 2022 highlander and i had to remove the the entire headliner out which includes the middle and rear seats and majority of the interior to access the mounting for the roof moldings. i got paid a whopping 2.3 hours. like how the hell is someone supposed to make any money with shit times like that.

[@daniels9520]

I also was a GM Master Technician. Dealership doesn’t take care of the good technicians. They feed the work to the hourly mechanics so they get dealer profits and want to “up sale” for max profits. Warranty doesn’t pay for the diagnostic time and they back flag you hours if it is determined that you got paid to much for a warrant job. Gets rejected and a lot of “no charge to customer”

[@rickruler2783]

Just changing parts doesn't always fix it because the root cause might be outside the parts. Dishonest dealers will charge you for all the parts and the other thing they eventually found. Your parts were fine, it was a loose wire or improperly installed from the factory. I noticed that the mechanics can call a number with highly trained troubleshooters to make up for their lack of skills.

[@iracefastfordsc-ya1291]

@@daniels9520 This all started in 2010 when the majority of parts were made in CHINA BY THE LOWEST BIDDER .How many main wireing harnesses have you repaired/replaced ,or the airbag/seat belt codes for pin fretting .(Former GM Master Tech retired 2013)

[@daniels9520]

@@iracefastfordsc-ya1291 yes! Dielectric grease on airbag connectors. Knew the fix grease and go. And then those bad fuel tank level sensors that will still mark 1/4 tank on those cavaliers. They would come in on the hook daily. Then warranty wouldn’t pay because of a vague story for cause and correction. Even though they knew it was a problem

[@LupeSaldaña-s2y]

Excellent work. It's rare to find honest mechanic like you

[@nicholaswalsh3016]

This guy and his daughter putting the dealer to shame. Love to see it. Well done.

[@razhartoonian3315]

Hey Eric, I’ve been turning wrench 40 plus years and I own my own shop. Let me tell you something, technicians like you are hard to come by and very rare find. I respect you for your honesty and your knowledge. I take my hat off to you Sir. Bravo and Keep up the good work make our community proud. Yes, absolutely, the GM dealership definitely should give this customer’s money back with big apology attached to it and reimburse his rental bill if any for three weeks being out of his truck. I also had my share of similar situations. It seems like dealerships nowadays like to use their “part’s cannon” more than their brain.

[@jeffpatrick9800]

You're exactly right. Because they get paid more money to change parts with parts markup and labor then a simple ground wire.. I've always said with a dealership, if there isn't a major problem they will find one..

[@kennedy796]

Well it doesnt help all dealer literature ends with replace module

[@adobedoug2564]

The dealership is either unethical or incompetent. Either way they should definitely refund this guys money. My guess is they won’t unless lawyers and/or media get involved.

[@tomtheplummer7322]

Call Steve Lehto😆

[@m3rdpwr]

Or both.

[@scrappy7571]

Blame is on the so called tech. Dealer should refund the diag monies.

[@mph5896]

My guess is incompetent.

[@ursamajor26]

To be fair, could be both. I'd be back at that dealer and drop the remains of the ground strap on the desk and ask them to 'explain' that...

[@kirbyschneider4187]

God bless you Eric!!! You don’t how relieved and happy your customers and viewers are for you!! Wouldn’t be surprised if the customer was crying when you told him the good news! I probably would’ve of been!! Thank you for what you do and who you are.

[@neshotah1976]

The difference between a so-so mechanic and a Great Mechanic is doing a thorough diagnostic on the issues. Thank You for going the extra mile for your customers!

[@dewfall56]

As well as fixing the real problem.

[@mikemaccracken3112]

He needs to call GM customer service and open a case. He should be adamant about getting refunded for the dealers incorrect diagnosis. I highly doubt he will get anywhere with the Service Director but I would at least try that route first. Just remember to keep your cool and don’t fall for their first offer. Play the long game! Oh and I was a GM service director and warranty administrator for 25 years and know the game. Honestly I would have made a good will repair because of the mileage. Good luck.

[@leftyo9589]

that, and do a credit card chargeback.

[@willemstreutgers1154]

@Mike MacCracken, I disagree, first give the dealer the opportunity to solve the complaint, if not then go to GM customer service.

[@sewing1243]

If the dealer doesn't resolve the issue in the customer's favor then that would be the next step. Unfortunately if the Truck's owner doesn't have a sibling or in-law that's a lawyer (and will do the work gratis) it's probably going to cost more than what the dealer took him for to pay a lawyer. If the legal route is all that is left a diy small claims suit is probably the best bet.

[@mikemaccracken3112]

@@willemstreutgers1154 It is quite obviously this dealer did not want to help this customer. GM dealers have the ability to goodwill a repair and GM encourages it. Opening a customer service case gives the customer a mediator who will document and advise.

[@JBJHonez]

Dude, I wish there were more mechanics like you around. It’s hard to just go around to different ones that’ll stay true through and through every time. I hate dealing with dealerships because they’ve told me crap before and wasted my time. I even caught them lying about replacing parts and it’s not just one, it’s been several. Great video and that awesome that you did your magic and helped the guy out. And a good thing the dealer helped the guy out with a refund. Probably because they really didn’t do squat anyways.

[@donaldlee6760]

The root problem is it takes a very intelligent person to diagnose the way Eric O does. People like that have many different careers to choose from and employers are willing to throw money at them. You'll notice Eric and his wife run their own business. You will not find people like Eric working at a shop with techs less intelligent than himself.

[@robertmeineke2174]

​@@donaldlee6760 You are absolutely correct. What the dealerships and people in general fail to realize is that this type or work just doesn't pay well anymore, Owners are greedy and don't want to pay for people who are truly skilled in this area. He made this look simple because he is an experienced and good tech. It is so much harder to teach and to get techs who truly understand the concepts and what is necessary to accurately diagnose. I myself am a GM master/ASE master tech who left after 23 years because even though I was continuing to produce the quality and amount of work I always had. My wages kept decreasing and not keeping up with the times. There is actually a nationwide significant shortage of skilled technicians and as long as dealerships and manufacturers keep being greedy it will only continue to get much worse. This guy is a good tech to have caught that so quickly a lot of guys would be lost from the get go. As a lead master tech in a dealership being the guy who got these kinds of problems no one else could fix regularly I can tell you there are not a lot of guys in the industry that are as capable as they should be. I would also like to add, that this isn't a dealership problem it is an industry problem and occurs significantly more among independent shops, A lot of independent shops would never even tough this truck. So Kudos to you sir. This is the kind of guy you want to bring your business to. Support him because with all of the expenses necessary to run even an independent shop these days guys like him need your business and support so it doesn't just end up dealerships left around.

[@botchvinik8668]

@JBJHonez I'd say it's more probable that the dealership (and GM Corporate) were so accommodating and gave the man his money back because Eric O's video has 1.8 Million views and they knew if they didn't make it right they would receive a shit load of massively bad PR and likely lose a lot more than just $1000.

[@jamesfisher3502]

I believe that every town has one. The problem is that most people take them for granted and don't give them the recognition they deserve. There's one in South Florida that I follow regularly, and I think that Eric does, too. In MY town, it's my son-in-law. Fully trained and certified, he tired of the "dealership mentality" of numbers over service and was able to become independent. Over the past 15 years he has been able to build a very profitable business which is based on the most important asset of all...INTEGRITY. That alone will cause customers to drive 50 miles out of their way for your service. Money can't buy that kind of trust.

[@philkenyon3280]

From a retired Chrysler service Diagnostic engineer. Great job! Check the basics first.

[@jeffreywhitlatch1409]

When you shined your light down there and it was so green, ya knew. A cheap stap on a truck that cost a fortune. Most dealers are lucky if they have one master mechanic. Dude you are freakin awesome.

[@garygruber1452]

If auto repair was considered an art form, Eric would be considered the Michelangelo of your generation. Trinity looked like she was having so much fun. God bless you and your family!

[@briansmith9972]

I have been a mechanic for 42 years and I learn a lot by watching you do diagnostic work like this. Thanks for sharing your knowledge