Information Is Key - Leveraging The Power Of TSB's

[@dlschgo]

Merry Christmas to the whole South Main Auto family. And a prosperous New Year!

[@simplygregsterev]

Interstate Batteries got sold to a Private Equity firm. Brookfield Business Partners.. they essentially bought Johnson Controls entire battery portfolio as well. Fill in the blanks why they suck.

[@hittman8592]

If something that was good now sucks private equity is usually the reason...

[@Sam-pi6ch]

The American dream

[@simplygregsterev]

@@hittman8592 the problem is everything has become so consolidated now that there are no other options except to continue buying the same products

[@1wheeldrive751]

Bah. That’s too bad.

[@milfordcivic6755]

Private Equity is a wealth extraction vacuum.

[@jimandnena4]

Eric, thank you for all the videos this past year. It is like having Christmas every month. Merry Christmas to you and Mrs. O! God bless.

[@garygarafano2953]

Merry Christmas to the SMA family!

[@MeL1AutoDiagnostics]

Now imagine the technician that doesn’t check TSBs, you’d waste countless hours on this. Checking TSBs and doing homework is a very important job for us technicians. Always informative videos Eric!!!

[@abw121]

Well it looks like SMA will have a White Christmas this year! I want to Thank You for your video channel along with your after hours channel…..as a Retiree, it does make my day when I get a notification you dropped a new video. Then I grab a coffee and learn something new every episode! It reminds me of best days in Shop class as a young teen. Merry Christmas!

[@miketeeveedub5779]

Seafoam is AWESOME! I had drivability issues with my Mk1 VW Jetta with the infamous CIS Bosch Jetronic fuel injection. It would not rev past 4000 rpm under load. The engine would buck terribly! I added a can of Seafoam on my next gas fill (along with Premium fuel). Well let me tell you - it revs to 6500rpm like it was brand new! Amazing! I never believed in "Tune up in a can" but Seafoam worked wonders on my ancient FI system that was not designed for ethanol fuel (which sadly all I have in my area). I will use it on a regular basis for now on! Cheers!

[@LesReeves]

Your first mistake was buying a VW 🤣

[@JackdeDuCoeur]

Laggier and slower and more unstable. I resemble that - getting old is hell! Nice work.

[@rickwensel2313]

Merry Christmas, Mr. and Mrs O. and family. Happy New Year.

[@jamesbruno5896]

Merry Christmas SMA Family 🎉

[@floorpizza8074]

Comment for the algorithm, and while I'm here... Merry Christmas, Mr. O. and family. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@mikeb.7972]

You always leave a smile on my face. I'm sure a lot of folks feel the same way. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours

[@billziegmond4943]

Being an old GM guy I always check TSB's. Merry Christmas to you Mrs. O and your families. May you also have a prosperous New Year.

[@patrickmazzone9066]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year To All

[@jordanvargovich]

Dont ask me how I know I'm cracking up Merry Christmas Mr O , Family , and SMA viewers !!!!

[@stevemccauley5734]

When Eric O mentions the car show points… I laugh every. Single. Time.

[@thomashopkins2609]

FYI: I was looking at the ICON T10 reviews on HF and what do you know someone mentioned SMA! You made the big time!

[@user-mv5bu2kk8b]

Hobo freight and a scary business practice 😅

[@TheBurnsStuff]

By far, simply the best. Merry Christmas Eric (and all of SMA family).

[@johnbennett8961]

Thoroughly enjoy your videos. Not a mechanic, but I pretend to be. I appreciate your attention to detail. Merry Christmas!

[@randyhughes5160]

As a do it your self guy that has my butt handed to me regularly on reprogramming you have my respect I often wonder how guys make any money with the cost of the tools the cost of programming then the time investment to do it

[@braaapattack2937]

Interstate is still junk, my neighbor needed help changing the battery in her boat (small bayliner with zero room for even a mouse). Literally took me an hour hanging upside down to change…. Get the battery in, and she went to use the boat and it was dead, stone dead, another hour of hanging upside down. Got the battery out. Took it with her to the marina she got the battery at, and the owner rolled his eyes and said “that’s the 4th battery this week to be bad”…. Gave her another new one and back to working like a bat to put it in, so far this one has held up for its 2nd season. But it’s now a frozen brick here in the PRNY

[@LesReeves]

When Mr.O. commented on the battery my first thought was now a Chinesium piece of junk just has the company in the US stickers on it.

[@ppeterson9359]

I was hoping Eric would mention what batteries he installs now.

[@notchback93]

So I was schooled early in my illustrious career at the local Ford Motor Company dealership, that the first step to diagnosis is to verify the concern the second was to check ford TSB’s and SSM’s. Twenty years later I’m fixing an odd front end noise on a late model subie from a TSB about control arm bushing failure!

[@danlemke6407]

Pretty sure this is above my pay grade. I just don't have the resources. I would imagine all the Pros on here do. I have a short to ground issue with my Bobcat and was surprised at how many modules are in it. I will be using the valuable information I learned on here to divide and conquer this issue. Even has a high and low can bus... It would have to happen after a decent snow storm, which is enough to piss off the pope. Anyways, I think my watching your videos will be of great help tracking this down, and I thank you very much for the time you spend with us.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

What's happening that makes you think it's a short to ground? Dead battery?

[@brnmcc01]

@15:45 you're absolutely right about the Interstate batteries, they used to be good, until they got bought out by JCI (Johnson Controls International). Which also happens to make private label batteries for Wal-Mart like the Never-Start brand. Best batteries I've found lately are like the Deka/East Penn brands like Duracell from Sam's Club or the NAPA branded batteries are also Deka (not sure if all BCI numbers are Deka). Deka/East Penn manufacturing is the LAST family owned USA battery manufacturer left. So support our local manufacturing.

[@Tom-6502]

Your information is very outdated. Interstate Batteries is a privately owned company, they were not bought out by anyone. However, they are a battery MARKETING and DISTRIBUTION company, not a manufacturer. Their batteries are manufactured by several different suppliers, and Johnson Controls is one of them. Walmart batteries haven't been made by Johnson controls in nearly a decade. They are supplied by East Penn, which makes several OEM batteries, and Clarios (who also makes Optima batteries).

[@brnmcc01]

@@Tom-6502 Really? Wow, I didn't know that Walmart batteries aren't made by JCI anymore. Well, companies keep buying out others all the time, it's hard to keep up with it.

[@brnmcc01]

@@Tom-6502 Well, I've had good luck with brands made by Deka or East Penn Manufacturing.

[@slalomking]

I’ve had great life out of Walmarts Everlast brand. Last 5 years normally. The warranty is the best, Nationwide.

[@brnmcc01]

@@slalomking This is only anecdotal of course, but I had a EverStart battery in my 1992 GMC Van, installed it circa 2007, didn't replace it until 2016. It still worked, but only tested at 250 CCA. I didn't even know it had a problem until one day I was broke down on the side of the road for awhile, and the 30-40 minutes of running the 4 way flashers ran the battery too low to engage the starter. The lights and radio and solenoid worked but not enough to get more than 1/2 a revolution before the click of death. That's a pretty good life for a battery in Indiana with the cold winters and hot summers.

[@johnscott8592]

You need to change your nick name to “Honest Eric”. I do all my own work and have done for many years. I’m not a trained mechanic but comfortable having a good go as almost any repair. And the reason is I can find any mechanic I can trust, just to do their job. I wish I lived round the corner from SMA. But the UK is too far to travel lol😂. Happy Christmas to you and all your viewers Eric 🎉

[@cgoad]

Hi Eric. A very Merry Christmas to you, Vanessa, the kids(E.,G.,&T.), Josh, and - of course - Luna and the dogs! Have a terrific holiday season!

[@DIYDaveOK]

I'd love to be able to program an ECU/PCM like that. Cool fix. Thanks as always, Eric!

[@stshort500]

Eric, the more I watch your videos, the more I like the 72 LTD and 73 Coronet that are in the family. I'm too old school for all this computer stuff. I went to a mechanics school back when you needed a paper clip and an analog voltmeter 😂😂😂 that said, I absolutely dig your content!

[@texpegan705]

I love you guys mr. and Mrs. o we’re on the same wave link and we will keep honesty and integrity alive. Water dog out.

[@billloomis3907]

Thanks for the interesting video. Even though being retired, I still very much enjoy your videos. DDOP = Unbelievable! My Dad would be rolling over in his grave. Our shop also was an Interstate Battery outlet, until as you said, they left the good and went elsewhere. Seems too many vendors are doing that. Thanks for all you do for us, and have a great holiday season

[@LMacNeill]

Ohhhhhh... I have a Ford Bronco that turns on the fuel pump every time I open the door. I thought I was hearing things -- "Why does this thing sound like it's running the fuel pump every time I get in?!" Now I know. Clearly Ford has that Door Open Prime thingy on its newer vehicles as well. Learn something new every day. 🙂

[@SouthMainAuto]

That's right, the fuel pump will run for a few seconds when the door is opened on a lot of cars now.

[@pudermcgavin4462]

My golf does that as well but it's a proximity to my key or if I unlock it!

[@Dirtyharry70585]

@@SouthMainAutoif it’s got front shutters they close too.

[@glenharper3136]

Thanks for the video Eric. Merry Christmas to you and your Family.

[@CraigGrant-sh3in]

Project Farm (KZbin channel) tested batteries. The one that performed the best was Wally Worlds brand. Heat,sub zero , crank time.... It beat all of the batteries in the test. Their oil also tested to be equal to the flying stalion 1. That oil company has been in the oil business since the 1920s.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Just posted the same about Walmart's Everstart battery and Project Farm!

[@lukem7203]

From what I understand east penn is the supplier for walmart Everstart. Good batteries for sure.

[@digitalrailroader]

@@lukem7203actually, there are 3 different suppliers for Everstart batteries; and you can tell which supplier you got via the first few characters of the battery serial number: JCH=Johnson Controls/Clarios EP=East Penn EX=Exide. Also different regions have different suppliers; Clarios batteries are more common in the south, East Penn is more common up north, and Exide I believe is more common out west.

[@floodway2955]

Thanks for a year full of entertaining and educational videos Eric and Mrs. O. Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year from up here in Manitoba Canada.

[@doncarrigan4502]

Thank you Mr.O And may you and your family have a Merry Christmas.

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

Interesting video, Eric! Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!

[@GregoryBirulkin]

Merry Christmas 🙏

[@SouthMainAuto]

Same to you!

[@jerryhilgendorf2498]

I like your YT videos, they show how troubleshooting skills are as important as the actual repair. I recently ran into a miss on my wife's car. Bad coil on #6 cylinder. Ran good for about a week and started having an intermittent miss on light throttle. I replaced the #6 coil with a Duralast and ordered the remaining 5 from GM. The miss got progressively worse (didn't throw a code. I was all set to change out the fuel injectors when the code finally showed. #6 misfire, replaced the Duralast with one of the old coils and all fixed. Just reinforces new isn;t always right and the OEM has a higher quality! Thanks for the training in trouble shooting rather than throwing parts at a problem!

[@rediz4rubes]

NEW = Never Ever Worked :)

[@kenmohler4081]

The “People” do appreciate a better view!

[@jimhilt1652]

Merry Christmas to you both you “O’s”.

[@Carcrafter7165]

12:26 where did you get the Aldi looking AlDeezNuts sticker from that’s hilarious Eric.

[@donaldcaverly2763]

This!!!

[@RK-kn1ud]

Just type it into the Googler and you'll come up with at least 5 options.

[@Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Just Google: "aldeez nuts sticker", you'll find lots of options...

[@LesReeves]

I like the one that says shrewd but I would like one that says screwd 🤣

[@Wayman_Simmang]

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and the family!

[@scottjarriel6761]

Make sure you have a 'battery maintainer' on the laptop as well, if the update is going to take an hour or so...

[@oldspokes]

Merry Christmas

[@johnwaby4321]

A happy Christmas to SMA 👍👍

[@everettparkin9795]

The last time I saw any battery test information was a couple years ago and Everlast that is sold by Walmart was a top rated brand.But it’s tough to keep up with products when companies are sold to who knows.Anyway may you and MrsO and family have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@barrycassaday6316]

Thank you and Merry Christmas

[@ricktotty2283]

Merry Christmas! I use BG induction system cleaner. Does a beautiful job. I don’t use all their products, but I do use the induction system cleaning and the fuel injection cleaner. I have the special tool. I don’t work for BG, but I’ve been using it for 25 years. Mine 2007 Honda Civic hybrid has never had any check engine issues. I clean the injectors, induction system, and change the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles no matter what the manufacture says. Serve me well so far.

[@rharris7635]

Every SMO video is like opening a present. Thanks.

[@goodcitizen64]

Thanks and Merry Christmas y'all

[@ProVest97]

I bought a used 2002 Lesabre a number of years ago and drove it every day. Finally the battery failed. I pulled it out and it was an 8 year old Interstate battery. But that was then.

[@deansapp4635]

Eric flossing a throttle body. Got to love it.

[@trotva]

Hope you & your family have a great holiday season.

[@thedogbarber]

Not that tiu need more video ideas, but i for one would loooooove to see a video by you on super basic stuff concerning diagnostics. How to use and read a wiring diagram, basics of multimeter usage for diagnosing, stuff like that. I k ow there ate tons of videos out there, but youre an excellent teacher who has a gteat way of explaining those typea of things to us common folk out here. Just a thought, a notion, an idea of sorts. 😅

[@jeffr0]

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@tomriggs3926]

A couple of years ago a parts store buddy said Johnson Controls and Globe Union were the only battery mfgs left in the U.S. and, all the specs were the same except for 'Diehard' and 'Delco'.

[@Gizmo42Rodeo]

East Penn is still a US battery company and the only one that makes good batteries.

[@franklotion8]

I think we need a luna clip at the end of every episode🐈....

[@petergondolier4088]

I have a spare TB and swap it out every 18 months or so depending on the mileage. I found the easiest way to thoroughly clean it is inflate a cheap dollar store balloon and use it to plug the orifice, then keep it on a level surface, fill the entire TB cavity with TB cleaner, leave like that as long as you like, restores it to better than new.

[@superjoe83]

I'm a lead mechanic for a city shop and I agree that interstate batteries are trash now, They used to stock us with all of the common batteries we use, they stopped that about 2 years ago and now you have to call them to get a battery, which is supposed to be same day, but it hasn't happened yet. We run a mostly Ford fleet so I'm buying motorcraft batteries from the Ford dealer and can get same day delivery about 90% of the time.

[@PaulLorenzini-ny2yw]

And it's just the taxpayers pocket, so who cares right?

[@ColeTanner88]

​@PaulLorenzini-ny2yw how's that relevant to the originals person comment?

[@peterbenson3776]

I guess mine is shot at 2yrs. Just great

[@I_Dont_Answer_Questions]

@superjoe83 The fact you clowns run a fleet of ford anything tells us all we need to know. Interstate is not the issue...

[@Heyyo_Friday]

I work for a dealership that is supplied by interstate. They are just hot garbage now. They don't stick to their own delivery schedule. To make it even better. The battery that ends up in most of our vehicles will not make it past 2 years

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Thanks Eric and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@mikeycod7377]

Love your content and no 🐂 sh!t approach to diagnosing everyday common problems. I'd like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year...

[@dougheywood4692]

Merry Christmas to you and your family, thanks for all the videos.

[@rider547]

Great info as always! Thank you and Merry Christmas!🎄

[@Lake_Lover]

So interesting to hear your take on the Interstate batteries. I TOTALLY agree with you! I had two in my boat and had nothing but issues with them. Replaced them with DEKA and no more issues.

[@danielg4228]

Merry Christmas Eric. Thanks for nother great video . About the Driver Door Open Prime , that's another solution in search for a problem . I thought that turning the exterior lights on while opening the doors was dumb . Now the fuel pump is on too . I had a situation once when I got stranded at a car wash while detailing a van. The interior aftermarket lights that the previous owner installed drained my battery to the point where I needed a jump when I finished . A fuel pump it's an extra big consumer, even if it's design to turn off after a while if engine is not started

[@nogarage_ou812]

A tsb saved me from chasing my tail on an 08 tacoma. It had a code for a very small evap leak. I found the tsb for my code and it said to reprogram the pcm to the latest software as it was a ghost code. After reprogramming it the code hasn't returned since.

[@rayleonard21]

Applicable across all makes. More good info,

[@BlewShirtGuy]

This is the 2nd most common issue I see in my shop. Not sure if you experience it a lot there like we do in Iowa but I get a ton of P050D codes in the winter from leaking down injectors causing rough cold starts in the cold weather. Almost like clockwork they are coming in again.

[@stevenclaeys6252]

Merry Christmas !! Thank you for another Great video. Cheers

[@user-uv8rx6tl3t]

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@oldmarine3438]

Interesting. With reference to Interstate batteries, my daughter had one go bad about a year after purchased, and her friend had one go bad at about 18 months. NAPA honored the warranty, but we paid the difference to get other than an Interstate replacement.

[@Troy_Built]

I've never thought about using Seafoam for that. It's always on the shelf for small engines and motorcycles.

[@caffinefreedavid]

I really like when you say something about taking it to the car show Hahaha!

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

I follow his tips and haven't lost any points!! 😂

[@rogergoins8118]

Thanks for the video very useful information. Merry Christmas

[@knobrush]

Eric, when you beep the horn you should say....."hey, I'm that guy!"

[@wingman8447]

Merry Christmas. Hope it was a successful hunting season for you and the Mrs.

[@65bugnut]

Merry Christmas Eric, to you and Mrs O.

[@joshbreeze1865]

Merry Christmas to the SMA crew,family and viewers

[@OldManBadly]

Like most things computerized, failures are often very intermittent. This is a good example of requiring a certain combination of things to happen for the fault to occur. Good job checking the facts before firing a parts cannon, when all you needed with a bit bucket and a some sea foam.

[@frankcarpenetti5776]

Merry Christamas and a Happy New Year to you and family Eric. Thanks for the great videos through the year! From Canada.

[@davidlampe4153]

Merry Christmas to all. Amazing video another use for sea foam the additive designed for outboard boat motors! Pretty good subject matter and your presentation was awesome as usual.

[@Mag_Aoidh]

I got into a habit with my 99 Z71 spraying down the throttlebody and pulling the cable and giving it a little gas while I was doing it. My 17 Z71 I discovered that’s out the window.

[@JohnSvensson-j6m]

Intermittent problems on cars / pickups is the same pain as finding them in electronic devices…experience taught me this

[@intercede007]

Toyota 5S-FE 4 cylinders in the 96-01 Camry had that same sticky throttle body issue. It's also the generation that was susceptible to sludging and worn valve guide seals. Probably related.

[@Smegheid]

The 3S-FE was also bad for it. We had a 1st-gen rav4 back in the day, and after a few years I had to clean out the throttle body every year or two, otherwise it got really sticky in the idle position. It barely had enough power to get out of its own way, but the sudden lurch from a stop as the throttle broke free got real old real fast.

[@pudermcgavin4462]

Have a sticky throttle (not that I care now cuz car is in rebuild restore more) but my 99 prelude does that! I just set the idle screw a little higher lol

[@NatesHomeTours]

I worked at Orielly for 6 years. The amount of Interstate and Walmart batteries we would change out was staggering, in comparison to any other brand.

[@1wheeldrive751]

Walmart doesn’t make any batteries.

[@NatesHomeTours]

@@1wheeldrive751 They sell batteries and the brand they sell don't last.

[@douglash3129]

I used Interstate for a while and your right they went in the toilet! They used to stock and warranty or batteries at work and we had to change suppliers we just couldn't get any to last from interstate! Postal fleet!

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Fun fact: KZbin channel Project Farm tested automotive batteries. Everstart from Walmart came out one of the top units!

[@Gizmo42Rodeo]

Depends on which ones you get. Some are made by Johnson Controls and are junk, some are made by East Penn which is the best you can get these days.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

@Gizmo42Rodeo is the manufacturer listed on the batteries? 🤔

[@lukem7203]

@@Gizmo42Rodeo I heard East penn is the main supplier now and Johnson Controls use to be. Maybe It just depends how long ago bought one if you have a Johnson controls one.

[@lawnboy8401]

That generation is a disaster Eric. Those trucks will be your bread and butter in the coming years. They are all coming out of warranty. They are one problem after another.

[@LouJustlou]

My mechanic is using AAA branded batteries and seems to like them. He had the same issue with Interstate. Did t he gifts show up for Josh and Mc Coy? Merry Christmas to all the O clan! 🎅

[@theminicooper]

"It's a ChEvRoLeT!!" *Swipe* *tap* 😂😂😂

[@GrevilleRyan]

Another good video Mr 'O'. Thank you for all your videos throughout the year. Hope you have a great Christmas and New Year. Looking forward to more videos in 2025....

[@ronaldanderson9263]

If those windows updates bother you and you wish your windows 10 machine would just work as it is without interuption, I know how to make them stop forever. Thanks for the video. Very entertaining and informative.

[@scottyparker2534]

Merry Christmas Eric to you your family and your fellow co-workers, God bless you all and hope you have a great blessed and prosperous new year, and I have really enjoyed your videos all your log Thank you sir

[@freetolook3727]

Merry Christmas to you, your family and your friends! Keep up the good work!! 🎄🎀🎁🎉😁

[@RacerRoss]

I agree with you, Eric about the interstate batteries. I was having trouble with one quite a while ago and they checked it charged it overnight told me it was a good even though it had one dead cell. I checked out with my own hygrometer. Junk for sure

[@1320pass]

CHEVY THUNDER! Merry HoHo Mr O

[@scottsautomotivecenter5612]

They really suck in the Florida heat had several gas up and explode

[@molsky13]

Merry xmas from the uk and a happy new year😊

[@jimamizzi1]

Imagine working on cars today without the OBD II connection

[@Ryan_Duncan1]

I still daily drive an OBD1 vehicle. It's not bad to work on at all, however I would love to get live data out of it without an expensive scan tool and adapter.