Jaguar XS just Towed In. I’m in over my head! Customer States: “Check Battery”

Flood Damage Begins! Warranty VOID! Used a Drill on a Seat?? 2019 Dodge Challenger 6.4 • Flood Damage Begins! W...
Visit my Second Channel on KZbin, RainmanRay Off Duty / rainmanrayoutoftheshop
Follow on Twitter: @RainmanRay4Real
Check out Spicy Shorts on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@rainman_rays_repairs
Check out my Merchandise (because I don't say MERCH) for Men's and Women's Apparel, MUGS and Stickers! rainmanraysrepairs.myspreadsh...
Support the channel on Patreon: / rainmanraysrepairs
Patreon is a "Tip Jar" I don't post much there, daily YT uploads are all that I can manage for now
Amazon List, must have for any toolbox!
ATD Tools 13782 10-Piece Triple Square Spline Bit Socket Set amzn.to/3RV2fUB
Same as Matco. Mountain 5-Piece Metric Double Box Universal Spline Reversible Ratcheting Wrench Set; 8 mm - 18mm, 90 Tooth Design, Long, Flexible, Reversible; MTNRM6 amzn.to/3OJTRp2
Mercedes BMW VW Wheel Stud Master Kit: amzn.to/3OszRaL
Bahco "Frustrated" Pliers AWESOME tool! amzn.to/3IfDeOa
Brake Caliper Compressor: amzn.to/3gQBuiB
My Camera Gear:
Gopro Hero 8 amzn.to/3mPnpFA
Gopro Hero 9 amzn.to/3EKDcM1
Hero 8 Dual Charger amzn.to/3EId84c
Flexible Camera Mount amzn.to/3Jywrk5
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. #commissionsearned.
Also, I personally use or have used the products featured in my links and only recommended them if I feel they are of good quality.
“All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel does not claim any right over them.
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.”

[@matthewsykes4814]

The honesty to say to a customer "I don't know how to fix this, your better off with the dealer" is a big thing to do. And the right thing too. Big respect to you Ray

[@halweilbrenner9926]

It's OK to say "You need a factory trained tech on this particular brand" of auto.

[@gpt3342]

Everyone wants a honest mechanic. Perfect example, right there.

[@onebadsavage26]

Those cars can be very complicated I know this first hand. I have a 06 7 series BMW which is similarly complicated. Good decision to refer it to the dealer. They have the training and tools to perform the repair.

[@jacobwebb8818]

​@@onebadsavage26 as a person who works on 2006 BMW 7 series DME's, I can 1000% certainly say your car is more complicated

[@bigclivedotcom]

Good move. All those other issues could have been a network issue or worst case a wrongly connected battery or jump pack that wiped out some modules. It could have been a bottomless pit of time and parts.

[@watershed44]

@bigclivedotcom Very good guess, someone fried and damaged the ECU with an improper jump/boost

[@FlyEaglesFly19111]

Oh wait.. Big Clive.. your watching Ray too.. cheers. Have a good day

[@timbersrcadventures]

I completely agree

[@stuartdavies78]

As always you did the right thing!

[@hellfolf7343]

@@watershed44 I watched someone send 24V through a 12V system. Luckily not long enough to damage much, but it really didn't like it

[@JM-xz8sc]

This was painful to watch. I’m a Jaguar/Land Rover technician and this is something I deal with more often than not. I’m also surprised to see so many people applauding you for concluding that you don’t know the answer. Even without a dollar amount attached to that answer, I’ve always encountered a customer tantrum and/or accusations of incompetence when I’ve suggested this both at a dealerships and at aftermarket shops. It takes skill to know what you don’t know. I enjoy your content. Thanks for taking the time to record and display your repairs.

[@LVLouisCyphre]

European vehicles are an absolute pain to work on. You pretty much need a rocket science degree to work on them. I won't own a vehicle that's not simple to work on or has a reliable track history. Jaguars are notorious for being in a service bay more often than on the road. Ray isn't a Jaguar dealer tech. If someone takes their Jaguar to a dealer, they expect the dealer to resolve it as their techs are suppose to be factory trained and have the appropriate tools to diagnose the problem. Many repair facilities will refuse to work on European vehicles because of how difficult they are to diagnose and the expense involved in training and tools to properly diagnose them.

[@MileytheJeepV2]

I literally bought a 97 jeep cause i know how to fix that and i dont know much about my 2010 focus that usually sees a shop when something breaks

[@LVLouisCyphre]

@@MileytheJeepV2 This was a pet peeve of my father's. Anything that's newer and more computerized is more difficult to diagnose. You then have to have decent scan tools to diagnose the problem. My father avoided buying newer vehicles. He'd be happy if fuel injection was never invented and everything still had a carburetor. My father was an old school mechanic and machinist. He believed vehicles shouldn't have computers in them.

[@fernandohernandez-mf8fk]

@@LVLouisCyphre that’s not true it’s actually not as complicated to work on new cars as people think it is. People don’t want to learn new technology and get qualified to diagnose newer vehicles but as long as you learn how the systems work, learn good diagnostic techniques like using a lab scope and having common sense you can pretty much diagnose anything. A real technician never turns down a car.

[@LVLouisCyphre]

@@fernandohernandez-mf8fk Most automotive savvy YTers refuse to work on them because of how difficult they are to work on and require specialized tools and software. I guess Car Wizard, Scotty Kilmer and Rainman Ray's Repair are all wrong. BS. I will never own a POS European money pit car. The mutual consensus is they are money pits. A real tech knows their limitations and walks away from something beyond their pay or equipment and tool grade. A smart vehicle buyer stays away from money pits. You're probably some BMW or Jaguar boy. Tell you what, I have six figures in my inheritance and pretty much can afford anything. How about if *YOU* maintain my vehicle for the life of the vehicle if I buy one of these money pits?

[@memyself7413]

Your decision to turn the job away, based on your experience as a motor mechanic was, in my opinion, the absolutely correct thing to do. Added to that, your further decision to make no charge, puts you in a league of one of the most honest and decent mechanics that ever drew a breath of fresh (or stale) air. Your sense of "fairness" is a credit to you and knowing when not to get involved is vitally important if you are going to avoid the unenviable task of trying to climb your way out of the slimy pit of doom, gloom and failure. So, Ray, "well done, Sir..........................the world needs a hell of a lot more more, "Rays."

[@davimel4051]

As a retired technician (mechanic) I have been in similar situations here in the UK. I was even threatened with the sack for not being able to diagnose the first Lexus with the digital dash that had a fault in one of the modules and the displays were all over the place. My boss was too bloody tight to get the workshop disks at £700 each and expected me to just start pulling wires, chase the circuit board tracks and 'play' with it for 6 hours so he could charge a massive amount and then send it to the Toyota dealership for repair. I refused then walked out.. Smartest move I ever made. Kudos to you for your honesty, it's a bitch when customers think we know everything about anything mechanical and assume we are just trying to get more money!

[@paulspeight8398]

Suspect on the xf it will be the ecu (ecm) found on the lower right side. As mine had the same problems? Common problem! These get damp and rust the pins after finding the cost of a replacement plus the added nightmare of getting it to read the vehicle after, I decided to have it taken apart and solder repairs made✔Problem fixed.

[@MrOddball63]

What? A mechanic humble enough to realize his limits? That earned you a new sub, Sir...

[@roo1871]

Real mechanics don't have limits

[@lea-rw5cb]

Needs to take it to nasa lol toooooo many electronics for my liking

[@shawnwimberly9294]

A smart person knows when to play dumb

[@phat-motoxer9022]

I would rather have a mechanic say they don't have the experience to fix it then one who says they know but don't have a clue

[@shawnwimberly9294]

@@phat-motoxer9022 yep, honesty should always be rewarded

[@hea5843]

Respects man! For admitting you can't do it, not continuing and for not charging for your time! Very noble of you!

[@Leonarco333]

That’s a good call. Having the experience to know “hey I see these problems but I don’t know enough to know if they are symptoms or causes” is a sign of true wisdom. We all strive to be experts in our fields but knowing when something isn’t in our field is an equally valuable lesson. Thanks, Ray. Everyone has something to learn from you.

[@jimc.7121]

Ray, I'm a fan. It's amazing to me to see a professional mechanic go through a logical, methodical process to diagnose troublesome vehicle problems. Watching many of your videos is helping me in my thought processes as I attempt to diagnose and repair my own vehicles. I have nothing but respect for you for your honesty and acknowledging your own limitations. Thank you.

[@wolleysegap9740]

Ray, a good mechanic friend of mine once told me..."a good mechanic knows when to say no". You made the right call. 👍

[@rogerd4559]

Very admirable of you not to charge the Jag owners for your labor. I wish more mechanics where like you

[@timbaumann9046]

My friend, I worked for the Penske Automotive Group in Los Angeles back in early part of 2000's. We had several dealerships (ALL Import models ONLY) and one of them was a Jaguar location. Anyway, while I worked in the IT department I KNEW enough to know that EVEN MB's were EASIER to fix than the Jag's were!!! YOU DID PERFECTLY RIGHT when you figured out that beyond the simple things such as an OIL change or a new battery EVERYTHING BEYOND THAT POINT TAKES AT LEAST 2 FULL YEARS of schooling BEFORE you are able to work on any type of Jag AFTER 1998 on up to the present! So you've done right ALL AROUND HERE OK!!! I've been watching you now on and off for about 1/2 a year or so and I WISH you were here in UTAH!!! It seems that ANY of the mechanics around here are EITHER INEPT OR CROOKED BEYOND BELIEF!!! YOU ARE NOT and because of that I just wanted you to know that WE ALL APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO!

[@ckm-mkc]

I've owned several Jags (and just bought another) and do most of the work myself. It's not that hard if you have 1/2 brain and can follow directions. You also need to have access to factory service manuals (via AllData ~$60/year) and access to Jags factory computer diagnostics (~$300 plus hacked Chinese software). The real problem with Jags is that, particularly used ones, they are bought by people who can't afford to maintain them. Same is true for just about every other high-end luxury Euro car, but used Jags are generally esp. cheap. TL;DR - if you want to own a high-end European car, you need to be able & willing to spend the $$$ to maintain it otherwise it will break and cost a lot more to fix.

[@vincevendrasco839]

@@ckm-mkc this is what I usually find as well. Its not that they can't afford to maintain them either, they just don't get shit serviced until the repair bill is 3/4 of the value of the car and they off them

[@johnd5398]

jesus.... did you find any polyps while you were up there?

[@datgamerboy123]

"I don't posses the knowledge to fix this." These words (I know it's not exactly what he said but still) are okay to say. No one person can know everything there is to know about everything. If you can't fix it, send it to someone who can. It's perfectly fine.

[@CrazyCat229]

Trust me all the euro cars require some very bs special tools. Its not worth it. I've turned down jobs only for another guy in the shop I worked in to say HEY I CAN DO THAT ITS EASY. Only to have them cause thousands of dollars in said damages to the car they made fun of me turning away, after me saying we don't have the specialized tools to work on that car here.

[@datgamerboy123]

@@CrazyCat229 ain't that the truth 😅 lol

[@tdadp]

I think this why my Mechanic has a sign on wall the I am a domestic repair shop with some knowledge of imports if your car is over 90k be warned I will most likely send your Vehicle to the dealership if it not a simple repair .

[@rzbkfan190]

And exactly the right thing to do.

[@datgamerboy123]

@@tdadp I like that lol

[@bettyro1959]

Gotta respect a man that knows his limitations instead of letting his ego get him in too deep then having to make excuses to get out of it. Much respect!

[@peterbilt8799]

As I've always said, drive what you can afford to fix, you buy a high end vehicle take it to the dealership. I like how Ray is willing to admit even though he is a skill technician, we all have our limitations.

[@RageUnchained]

Sometimes it’s not a matter of skill, sometimes it’s a matter of experience. Two of my cousins are mechanics one is a diesel mechanic one is a motorcycle tech for Kawasaki and Suzuki. Both consult my father on matters regarding jeeps from the 90s or GM small block V8s made from 68-99. My father holds no certifications, but he’s worked on those engines himself for so many years he knows what symptoms usually indicate what issues on those engines.

[@halweilbrenner9926]

NO SHAME

[@jgtemperton]

Or you get a premium five year warranty and fixed servicing. You’d be surprised what you can get through a decent dealer. I recently purchased a 17 plate XJ and they gave me a full plan for less than a grand and chucked in a wear and tear policy for just £30 a month paid over a year. Car drives sublime.

[@alexlabs4858]

I’m sure there are lots of people even at the dealership who don’t know how to fix this. I bet it takes a tech who has a special endorsement to figure out what’s going on with the computer system.

[@a20axf]

It’s the one thing people forget/neglect regarding cars… I generally maintain all of my cars but, I also will know when to call in a professional. Prevention is better than a cure in this case.

[@trentharvey7508]

My experience with European cars is that they are absolutely crazy when the alternator goes out. Replacing the alternator and battery solved all issues.

[@SoulTransfusion]

Exactly what happened to mine. Had the same exact problems. It was in fact the alternator. Love my Jaguar to death.

[@roji556]

@@SoulTransfusion No idea why Jag owners love them so much. There’s honestly a laundry list of cars that are better or that’s I’d rather have.

[@postergmail6202]

I inherited one. My head said sell it. I picked up a wrench just to tighten a couple of things and now its worse than a crack addiction. I’ve about rebuilt the whole damn thing. It’s hard to put into words why 😩

[@bo64hellfire]

@@roji556 agreed. while i was in europe i drove a lot of different vehicles and jags were by far the absolute bottom of the barrel for the class and price. Feature for feature BMW, MB (and i really didn't like MB's styling) and even Audi just made the jags look and feel like trash by comparison. Materials, fit and finish, power delivery....the jag really had nothing better than the others, and the automatic ones shifted like a 13 year old american kid who stole their dad's ride and hasn't learned to drive stick.

[@cawsticky1322]

@@bo64hellfire Jags are cheap here in the uk, you get a lot of car/performance for the price, 70's and 80's ones were great designs built very badly by a militant socialist workforce with weak management, 90's onwards were ford based (floorpans/engines) granted they don't have the build quality of german cars but they cost less.

[@bryanrobertson6844]

I enjoyed the fact you knew when to stop while you're ahead. You dodged a major headache as professionally and as efficiently as possible. Kudos for that!

[@truckntech3347]

As a German auto owner I applaud your attitude and handling of this, any time I’ve need a tow from breaking down I’ve had to fight with my towing coverage to take to a repair shop specializing in European vehicles.

[@marksd5650]

You clearly do not have AAA. For a few bucks more, AAA will tow me 100 miles wherever I say to go. Used it three times for towing so far.

[@truckntech3347]

@@marksd5650 so I’m paying for AAA premiere coverage with trailer and motorcycle coverage for nothing.

[@HallStevenson]

@@marksd5650 AAA's rules or benefits seem to vary by state. It's feasible that not every AAA member gets the same 100 mile towing allowance.

[@bogieman101]

@@truckntech3347 TFC is right. I think it is the next step up from the standard AAA. The one time I needed it, the driver asked me where I wanted to go. I told him home. I fixed it myself.

[@Angl0sax0nknight]

Even as a European tech I hate Jags and land rovers , work on them only because my boss tells me to.

[@anthonymauger9388]

Its very easy for viewers to suggest faults and what to do but spending customers on new parts that do not fix the problems but cost the customer more cash . Respect for sending this away

[@richardjack1848]

Great job Ray! I wish there were more mechanics like you Ray!👍👍

[@bbeckers24]

You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold en, know when to run lol.

[@michaelgiannone2192]

My thoughts exactly

[@TiborRoussou]

If you are going to quote someone, give them credit! RIP Kenny Rogers.

[@calvinevans8305]

You never count your money when you're sitting at the table. There'll be time enough for count'en when the dealen's done.

[@NemoConsequentae]

@@calvinevans8305 You never count your money when it sitting in the repair stall. There'll be time enough for count'en when the fixin's done. FTFY! :D

[@jamescourtney8771]

Nothing but respect. You can tell you're becoming a master of your trade. The hardest part for any Tradesmen is to know when to walk away.

[@GGoblin1]

I know techs who know how to work on European vehicles and they walk away when they see a JLR product 🤣

[@hxd9321]

Not really. The hardest part is taking a full bee bee sea

[@appealingpit]

Your an honest and caring mechanic. Great work. You did your best, with what knowledge of jaguar car issues it had.

[@sn0wshooter]

I subscribed because it seems like you are a really good mechanic. Your honest, caring, and looking out for the best of the customer. Videos showing situations like this are good to show character.

[@Akotski-ys9rr]

This video doesn’t reflect that he’s a good mechanic. I know more than him of what is happening and I don’t even have direct experience with something like this

[@rickcrain8685]

You are a class act for not charging them, that was the right thing to do! I would definitely come back to your shop for giving me an honest answer! keep up the good work!

[@martinungar6146]

i mean he did charge them... with a cable...

[@simonkhsonne]

@@martinungar6146 bruh

[@travisbradley9458]

Great job. Realizing something is beyond your expertise and suggesting that they go to the dealer. Honesty is the best thing to do.

[@andynghiem1014]

Joyful to watch you work on cars. Learned a lot from your video. Thank You! Keep up the good work.

[@jaguarantony]

You did your best , were very smart and extremely kind to not charge them. Honest and good man you are.

[@EdSpfld73]

Dealership told customer to take it to Ray. 😁

[@crawlinjohn]

“I’m hot and tired and my coffee has worn off.” Been there, done that.

[@calinjohnson9368]

I really liked this video because it shows that sometimes it's better to know when to stop because of lack of knowledge then it is to just start replacing things without knowing what's wrong or where to start to find the issue.

[@albertosierra3478]

It is very difficult to admit to not have the knowledge but it show how honest you are great job 👍 👏 😀

[@therealdeakins]

We seriously need more tradesmen like yourself. You're a good man.

[@Loneman_OG]

☝This.

[@michaeldupont6029]

As a person in the automotive field myself, i greatly respect your diagnosis of "you would be better served by the local specialist".

[@zeke112964]

A lot of times "The local specialist" doesn't know how to fix it correctly

[@docferringer]

@@zeke112964 Yeah, but this is a Jag. Dealerships live in fear of users randomly selected by the automaker for a satisfaction survey, especially rich owners that like to blow things out of proportion. Hell, it doesn't even have to be a luxury brand: Even Toyota will penalize a dealership for a bad review. I brought my car in for regular service about 7,000 miles after the warranty expired. The service advisor spotted a small amount of condensation in one of the headlights and replaced it under warranty, because I was still CLOSE enough to the warranty period that Toyota could still send me a survey.

[@georgeholme612]

This shows what a good and honest technician you are ray

[@daffydlwellen1270]

You sir have learned from Saint Clint! "A man's got to know his limitations." Good on ya!

[@DavidBurgess-captainindustry]

As an owner of some older (and some much older) European vehicles, "I'm not qualified to work on this" is a perfectly acceptable response from a mechanic. But to give you some added perspective from the customer, I'm very willing to pay time for a mechanic who is willing to dig in and learn a little bit about a vehicle he's not familiar with. Contributing to my mechanic's education is money well spent rather than just taking it to a dealer whose techs are often no more knowledgeable than the independent, and are just going to start swapping out parts on my dime until the problem goes away. I know not every independent mechanic has the inclination or time to dig in and learn an exotic, but when I find one that does, he's got my loyalty.

[@alexanderquilty5705]

I think the difficulty is what shops are willing to pay for software. Automotive is extremely expensive, and of the dealerships have the software for their vehicles. If I had to bet money then I’d say that the dealer is just going to clear and reprogram the entire system and then slap you with a $5-10k fee (or probably more). Some times some really odd stuff can happen to the E2PROM in the vehicle, and at that point there isn’t a way to fix it without reprogramming it. Who knows what happened though, I just think it’d be a huge hassle to actually pinpoint the exact issue, because it could of messed with a number of things, especially if it was just sending random signals all willy nilly.

[@shawnwimberly9294]

Came here to make the software comment

[@RobSnyder]

Sadly I live in the same town as Ray I had a Jag, The jag dealership is crap.

[@LordStraightBanana]

I totally agree, but an even better solution is to find a good independent who specialises in the vehicle or manufacturer you own. That way, you benefit from the experience they gained on other people’s identical cars.

[@kevinpedersen5290]

Its always awkward to be a european hearing our cars spoken about as if they were an ancient creature found in the forest 😂

[@JeffreyKB]

You have my respect sir. You showed great wisdom in seeing the bigger picture, not only for the technicians down the road but by your empathy for the owner in not billing them. "It's the right thing to do" Bravo !

[@walkerm777]

Awesome video. I was the third generation of an auto electric shop. My grandpa started it in 1938. I closed it in 2006. We rebuild alternators, starters, generators, magnetos, distributors and so on, as well as wiring jobs. This type of thing is what closed us down. And why my truck is a 1972 dodge w200. Lol. I feel for ya these days.

[@lueebra]

Excellent. I'm very mistrusting of mechanics, but if I still lived in Florida you'd have not only a new subscriber but a new customer. Skill, honesty, and humility are a rare combination. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@walttrotter535]

Way back in the day I was a young man learning on the job, We had a customer bring in a Jaguar xke carbureted V12 that "Didn't seem like it's running right." I did the basics first and decided it had carburetor problems. The thing was though I had never worked on those. I seem to remember they were Stromberg carburetors correct me if I'm wrong. Fortunately I had a buddy who knew Jags inside and out. He came by and overnight he taught me how to diagnose, repair, and synchronize those things. I had a customer for life after that and I gave my buddy his half of what I got paid for that job. I saw that Jag many times after that for many repairs. One thing I loved was test driving that Jag. Oh my god it was quick and super smooth. Manual gearbox, sweet ride. One and only Jag I ever worked on. Thanks for this video Ray brought back some good memories.

[@MasteringHow-To]

That’s awesome. Nice post. And cool to share half with your buddy

[@Ironink]

You tried. You’re always honest and in this day and age, that’s hard to find. 👍

[@irmajimenez6236]

I love your honesty it speaks very highly of you 🥰👍🏼

[@durstondarden8765]

I really like the way you handled that problem.. when I was a mechanic, and when I decided to go back to college and get my computer science degree, I learned enough along the way to tell people I don't know at the moment but I will find you an answer.. I knew others who would not do that, and ended up over their heads. It's refreshing to see someone else take that position. I do admire that about you!

[@Chill_Vibes_Gaming]

Hey I totally understand where you coming from and I commend you for being an awesome person and admitting it. I've run into some mechanics that literally screwed me in past. Your a great human being and very entertaining

[@stevenleach9522]

You are a top notch auto-mechanic! It takes courage & integrity to make the decision to decline this job. You can't ask for a better mechanic, a mechanic who knows their limits. We need more mechanics like you. I am impressed!

[@craigdonaldson6308]

You definitely did the right thing and even took it a step further by not charging them. Totally agree 👍

[@drron689]

Your decision on this vehicle was absolutely correct and highly commendable. You were wholly honest with your customer and he should consider himself extremely fortunate to have consulted an engineer with principles, and who stood by them. My sincerest compliments to you.

[@Bags2723]

Good call! Again it's good to see you're doing your best to help your customer. Other mechanics would've started with the alternator and then kept adding to the parts list until they realized it was out of their league. You're an honest man. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Ontario Canada.

[@etherealrose2139]

Of course the alternator would have likely fixed it but sure....

[@RyeOnHam]

I had a friend come to me with a gunsmithing job. I had to tell him that I was unable to do it. His stock was broken and the gun was over 100 years old. Hand-fitted stocks from Belgium. Not a chance. He seemed upset with me, but it was his family's fault for leaving the gun in a barn and using bailing wire to fix the original crack from 1920 or so.

[@reallifeengineer7214]

Refer him to a carpenter instead. Custom made, hand fitted stock... 😅

[@buckhorncortez]

@@reallifeengineer7214 Sure...a framing carpenter would be perfect...

[@todddenio3200]

I used to do antique firearms restoration as a hobby to relax after twisting wrenches all day. Those were the ones I loved working on. I found it relaxing to either repair the original parts so there was no indication that it had ever been damaged or if it was beyond repair I would replace the damaged stock or portion of the stock with wood that matched the original which usually required getting a large enough piece of the correct type of wood from the country/region of origin from the same timeframe that the original was made, usually from a piece of furniture, or something from an old building that had been dismantled and salvaged. It wasn’t cheap, but was worth it to some people as it was a family heirloom. I also used the same types of stain (often aqua-fortis on really old or hand crafted ones) and finish (usually many coats of hand rubbed boiled linseed oil, sometimes shellac, or on a rare occasion varnish)as the original and would tint it to match the original so it looked right and any relief carvings or inlays matched the originals.

[@thetinpin]

@@reallifeengineer7214 Custom 2x4 stock for the win! It's custom because he used a Hyper Tough jigsaw... and there will never be another one exactly like it.

[@davidparker3573]

I appreciate a mechanic (and other skilled workers) who admits he or she is outmatched by something.

[@muchadoaboutnothing6196]

As an XF owner myself I’m intimately familiar with this problem. They’re a terribly temperamental and expensive machine but are beautiful and fun to drive when they’re actually in working order.

[@MFSE7EN]

So what does it take to fix it?

[@jncg2311]

@@MFSE7EN A sufficient and consistent electrical supply. It's absolutely the most important thing to sort out when you have communication errors throughout the system. Most likely a charging fault and Ray knew it here but didn't want to find out it wasn't that after changing the alternator. Fair enough.

[@1011wrestlemania]

Kinda like anything with the word "Luxury" near it.

[@johnnyx9892]

"They’re a terribly temperamental and expensive machine but are beautiful and fun to drive when they’re actually in working order." Sounds like every high maintenance woman I have ever known.

[@nlo114]

A parallel might be - "don't go to a doctor with a tooth-ache, go to a dentist". Right to turn customer away with the correct advice.

[@DanYoungKF7OBA]

The sign of a good mechanic is when they know that the problem is out of there skill set, I commend you for knowing when to throw in the towel and being completely honest with the client, and I'm pretty sure a lot of other people are doing that too.

[@stargazer7644]

The sign of a good mechanic is one that can diagnose a basic charging problem in a car. If I was the owner, I'd be pissed too.

[@jeffreyellis5343]

You are the wise one Rainman Ray. The customer won't forget your honesty.

[@BillFromAZ]

I've been checking out your videos and liking them. But this one made me subscribe.

[@markbranton1240]

As Dirty Harry once said "a man's got to know his limitations ". Great call and great video. Thanks for being a decent human and doing what's best for everyone, including yourself.

[@NemoConsequentae]

The Great Sage himself! (Although he was playing the UNO Reverse card by quoting the line the bad guy used on him earlier in the movie back to him. Although he used it at at the right time & place, & the BB didn't.)

[@muimasmacho]

Puussy. "A man has got to NO! his inhibitions."

[@dwarvensmith80]

Hallmark of a professional, admitting when their knowledge/skills are inadequate for the current challenge and they should seek more qualified assistance.

[@braeburnhilliard8340]

Yeah, that's what I like to hear. It's never too hot or too late for coffee! I do not mind that you did not fix the car and I enjoyed watching!

[@AhitagniDasgupta]

I love your honesty and dedication 😊👍

[@JoseVGavila]

I work daily repairing complex electronics and sometimes find myself on a similar position. The key is to know when to admit defeat and move on. You did it wonderfully, kudos!

[@stevejette2329]

"A man's got to know his limitations." Poet and philosopher Clint Eastwood

[@RoboGeeeeeek]

Absolutely the right call. Great content as always.

[@normhart3606]

Love your integrity. You do your chosen profession proud. It’s very hard to say I don’t know.

[@watershed44]

@Rainman Ray's Repairs *I'd love to hear what the diagnosis was from the customer when they take it to the Jag Specialist.* I'm darn curious, and frankly I think a decent customer would respect you for trying to follow up on the repair!

[@r3wturb0x51]

id bet dollars to donuts its a short and/or a bad alt. modern luxury cars are sensitve to voltage issues

[@TheDeejaydex]

I have a Jag and the clue is in the multiple error codes, that's always a sign of a battery/alternator/earthing problem. I'm sure the dealer just fixed that charging issue, be it a dead alternator or bad earth and everything else would totally fine after.

[@PhantomBlank]

I would bet that its a bad alternator, or something in the alternator circuit. But chances are that someone damaged the bcm trying to jump start the car after the alternator died. Like i have seen quite a few times.

[@jimholahan8250]

Great decision Ray. Selfless. Btw: a regular viewer report: painters removed door sensors at my house, and when I reinstalled the screws I said “I’m going to do this the Ray-way and thread them by hand first”!

[@charlessutton2856]

I really like ur videos I enjoy I loved working on cars even though I’m not licensed mechanic I always helped out friends and learned in my father And a retired master Mechanic to but it just seems like I have lost my passion at doing this work but since started to watch ur videos I have felt the urge to work on cars again thank u

[@tyronemarcucci8395]

The last time I did anything to a Jaguar, was1955 helping my buddy Bill M. change the spark plugs on his XK 120 Jag. Baby Blue and fast.

[@Jrsturdevant]

I usually like all of your videos, but your comment “If you enjoyed watching me not fix this car...” deserved a like and comment. Also the bit about the “real jump-box” was priceless! Keep up the gear content 👌🏻

[@LagunaTurbo]

May not be of much help but I own one in the UK and had a similar issue last year with just about every warning it could throw at me and took two jump packs just to get it to crank. Turned out it was a shot circuit in the alternator pulling the voltage too low for any of the modules

[@Oh-Jay52]

Parasitic drain from Alternator , Red warning light on dashboard in the past .... (Alternators need a power source to engage their charge system unlike Dynamos ) ...❤

[@ianburit3705]

Read my story Carl, old BMW, alternator refused to put out enough volts ECU said NOPE and shut everything down,

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

I just had that happen to me on an Acura. It drained a fully charged new battery in less than five minutes, or whatever the metric system converts to from American.

[@LagunaTurbo]

@@InsideOfMyOwnMind yes my fully charged battery was down to 4 volts in less than 5 minutes and the battery was very warm. Thought I would need to replace the battery as well as the alternator but it’s still good a year later

[@TheFrenchPug]

Just what I commented on. Happened in my BMW as well.

[@dougdegraff5892]

Ray in this day and age of electronic everything, information is critical!!! As you said with no training and no way to get proprietary diagnostic data, your hands are basically tied behind your back.. All the experience in the world wouldn’t lend itself to a proper diagnosis.. I commend you for knowing that and doing the “Right Thing” and sending that nightmare down the road.. So many times in my 48 years of turning wrenches I came upon this exact situation, fortunately for me a lot of those years were before all this gee wiz electric crap. So in that I’m eternally grateful.. good job brother..

[@markwilliams6378]

Love Rainman Ray. He's a talented mechanic and funny as hell

[@joelyrs]

This shows how honest mechanics work.

[@Suntas]

"Let's check the electron supply" is the best phrase i have ever heard for a battery check.

[@robertbuteau557]

Damn good on you, Sir 🎩 Hats off to you! Real tech right there, folks.

[@territ1231]

I cracked up when you got the jumper cables out of the truck!

[@jbnryay]

You're a skillfull mechanic. It's simply that cars are turning more into computers causing mechanics to spend much money to become qualified. You do great work.

[@gotworc]

cars are becoming more complicated so you better get more skills or get left behind lol

[@garrettyankton5411]

You know it’s a good episode when he’s still outside and it’s half way through the video

[@sesingalindo205]

you gained my respect for your honesty, Great job, after watching your video I became one of your subscriber 👍👍

[@pzzuo1387]

Wow. You are quite the honest mechanic. It’s not easy being that honest. Admitting you aren’t able to do a job? That’s a tough one. But it was the smart one. Wish we had mechanics like you around here. Well, we might. Maybe I just don’t know them. So I change my wish. I wish I knew a mechanic that was as straight shooting as you. There. That’s better. This was a great video, Ray. Appreciated it.

[@alwolschleger7242]

I'm on my third Jag, the current one a '17 XE. I'd wager real money that an alternator replacement and a full charge on the correct battery would have sorted the whole thing. In my experience, Jags a) are very sensitive to low voltage and start to do some very interesting downstream things you would not expect if they don't have correct voltage, b) do not respond well to replacement parts like ABS modules unless you can program them to the car, and c) like any cat, they'll let you know quickly if they're not happy. All that said, you absolutely made the right call on this one. Lot of ways this could have been interesting for sure.

[@planetzogg1]

Those symptoms/fualts were exactly what I had with 2010 XF a few months ago. The alternator had died and decided to take the battery out with it.

[@ryangross5446]

@@planetzogg1 yeah ive also worked on fancier and or more complicated vehicles, and the thing about them is they need literally 14.4v or they start freaking out, the tcm on that jag probably uses 3 or 4 volts on its own just to operate and im sure the lack of power is just killing that system. but being an armchair warrior without a business on the line, id say ray completely made the right decision here

[@planetzogg1]

@@ryangross5446 Oh he totally did make the right call there. Unloading the parts cannon on a Jag can be eyewatering in the extreme. I hope his customer gave him a lot of respect for that decision.

[@rickgesell9468]

Yup. JLR products do not like low voltage at all, confuses the CAN bus and modules. If my rover did that, I'd put in a new 'nator for sure. I was cheering for Ray to figure it out, but better safe than sorry. Also I'd touch the battery cable ends together to reset any lingering data, and charge the battery fully before re-installing. Course I have ten years experience nursing the rover. Bad grounds can cause gremlins too.

[@ryangross5446]

@@rickgesell9468 man rovers are tricky business and it sounds like you know your stuff about them

[@traxnada]

Jaguars will tend to throw countless of random errors like that when the alternator fails, making the car undrivable... Chances are high that changing the alternator fixes everything. But then again, as a Jaguar owner without the budget to have someone work on it for me, I tend to throw the part-cannon at it too haha

[@UserUser-ww2nj]

Just a fully charged battery might get rid of those errors , modern cars like that are power hungry and just a small drop will make them throw a tantrum

[@traxnada]

@@UserUser-ww2nj from experience not with jags... XJ and XF will throw insane codes with a bad alternator and render the car useless... No reason for it to be different with XE...

[@UserUser-ww2nj]

@@traxnada I had s jag , luckily not one of the mega complicated ones like this one , it was from when ford owned them , the x-type , good solid transit diesel engine and gave me no problems . One thing I learnt from that car was how companies cut back on things to save money . The wiring harness wires got thinner and thinner the further back towards the rear you went , ended up ey the kind of gauge you find in computers . Only real disadvantage was with the fibre optics system, you had to buy the accessories made for the car if you wanted a c.d changer and they were not cheap. Advantages were that once you found out it ran the same running gear as the Mondeo you bought those parts and saved a third on price parts

[@harleyjones5200]

Many euros are similar. My bmws throw all sorts of tantrums if the voltage is below 13.7v (charging from alternator)....You get endless codes from all modules...Putting a new battery in wont fix it because it expects to be seeing 13.7v when running and not ~12v.....however, a new alternator, use bmw software to clear all the codes and like magic its all good again.

[@misseselise3864]

i nearly bought a jaguar as my first car and got talked out if it for these exact reasons

[@daviddavies8098]

well done the industry needs more with your attitude and professionalism

[@Mystixpt1]

You've got my respect for sure. If every mechanic was like you the world would be such a Great place. Keep the good, and I would you're client if I lived there, for sure.👍

[@slimdugger99]

Not only is it difficult to find a good mechanic it’s even more difficult to find one who will level with you and tell you the truth. You get an “A” on both counts Ray.

[@Jimschrbr]

As the old saying goes, You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run! I think you made a good move there letting the Jag-You-Are specialists take care of this issue. Seems like it would come back to haunt you in the end!

[@MultiMightyQuinn]

Ray, your ethics and focus on what's best for the customer is a fantastic thing to see. I know many mechanics take pride in their work, but the one or two bad ones you run into in your life color all interactions, and that is unfortunate. True professionals with ethics want to earn that money through fast and clean fixes, so while they are not wrong that your time is worth money, I completely understand your not wanting to charge with no fix proffered. More mechanics like you need to show that your profession is honorable and we need to call out the bad ones to get them out of the industry. Thanks for the videos and all the infotainment. See you on the next video :)

[@almostfm]

I used to do computer repair. In ten years, I only charged a diagnostic fee one time. A guy called me and wanted to know I if I could install a new HDD and copy over the data from the old one. This was back in the olden times when you could power down the computer, take a side panel off the case, set a jumper on the new HDD, plug it into the ribbon cable, and give it power. Once the computer booted, you could use the XCOPY command with the appropriate swtiches, start copying the files, and have a cup of coffee while the comptuer moved everything over. Once it was done, reset the jumpers, pull the old HDD and install the old one in it's place, and you were good to go. If they provided a new HDD, I charged a flat $50. The guy told me that was an outrageous amount of money and a kid down the street would do it for $10, so I told him to go with the kid. About three days later he called in a panic because the computer never booted after the kid worked on it. I told him that looking at it was going to cost him $25, and if I could actually fix it it would be $75-$50 to do my work and $25 to undo whatever the kid did. He acted like I was trying to cut his arm off (he actual quote was "$100 to fix the computer? Where the hell do you think you are, the Bay Area?" But he finally agreed. I got there took the case off, and saw what the problem was. When the kid tried to plug in the drive, the molex connector wouldn't fit. Rather than notice that the connector was keted so it only went in one way, the dumbass took out a knife and cut off the other two corners so it would "fit". I got the $25 for finding the problem. I then explained that by trying to go cheap on the repair, his brand new HDD was junk (that happens when you put 12V on the 5V pin on the drive). And because the kid buggered up the connector and there weren't any spares, he was now going to also have to get a new power supply. I never heard back from him again.

[@MrRightNow]

Worked on a similar Jaguar not too long ago with a similar issue. Replaced the alternator and it seemed to work just fine ☺️

[@ultranovahd6417]

Your honesty is appreciate because I’ve seen so many say i can fix this and end up eating their words. Being unsure and knowing your limits is a part of what makes us fully human. I wish more mechanics and specialist think this way instead of making ppl hate more of the automotive industry as liars and money hungry corporations

[@rickmytych738]

Being honest with a customer can be hard... but it’s always the right thing to do. Great job.

[@rocka207]

Thank you for ur honesty

[@deant714]

Yep I’ve done a similar thing, held up my hands and said I haven’t got the knowledge to diagnose and repair a particular issue when I’ve come across it

[@alanlawz]

had a similar fault a few years back, put an alternator and a battery on and it was good to go, but i agree with your diagnosis you have to know when to say NO.

[@evilbrat5376]

Thank goodness someone who knows when to say "This is beyond my skill set and knowledge." This is why I keep coming back. Honesty in the work place.

[@FinnProp]

V40 Volvo started in the middle of winter and voltage dropped below 9V. Still fired up nicely with radio on and everything.

[@gussyshield2456]

Good, honest service, well done.

[@weslabrash8593]

Class act as always. Good on ya! Smart enough to know when to pass, and kind enough to not charge. These behaviours will pay dividends for you.

[@josephfaraci7849]

Wow I really like your work ethic on this job, reminds me of myself! I do feel bad that you lost time and labor, but after watching you a video if I ever had to bring a car in for service I would bring it down to you for your honesty and integrity

[@aaronbuildsa]

@10:49 that grunt when you heaved the battery out .. I felt that (having had to do the same recently .. repeatedly .. on my Range Rover, trying to track down an electrical fault!)

[@davepoxson8337]

What I particularly liked in this video was that you were honest with the customer and refused to charge the customer. If I had been the customer I would have insisted that you received more than my thanks.