Mazda 626: Ready For The Scrap Heap

It's always my job to just tell a customer just how I see it. In the case of this high mileage Mazda 626 I quickly saw that the engine was drinking copious amounts of oil therefor replacing the catalytic convertor would be pointless without fixing the original problem of the oil burning. The customer had told me they hoped the "light" could be fix for just a couple hundred bucks. The EVAP code? Sure that could be fixed cheap enough. The P0421, well there is ways around that but it's a tad on the illegal side for me to tamper with emissions control devices so I'll leave that for "the other shop" to decide. -Enjoy!
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Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.

[@JackdeDuCoeur]

Your smoke machine quit out of embarrassment for being outclassed by the car's smoke machine.

[@matthewknoedler4394]

I'm honestly impressed at the fact that this thing still runs LOL A Mazda 626 with 233k in the state of New York? That's got to be a record of some kind...

[@jeffhitchcock3368]

“southern car”! 🤣

[@rpp1348]

@@jeffhitchcock3368 southern NY?😆😆

[@GCULPEX]

my Alero has 3666XX miles on it, still runs like it only has 80k (4 cyl.).

[@jeremyb4493]

About 20 years ago,, I gave my younger brother my 85 626 5speed with 390k miles and he drove it another year before it died. But he's also killed a dodge,BMW and Acura so I don't blame the Mazda.

[@oceanbytez847]

@@jeremyb4493 oof. Sounds like he abuses the F out of his cars.

[@CMDRSweeper]

You know what Eric, if you want a more powerful smoke machine, you should buy this Mazda, plug the exhaust holes and pipe the output to whereever you need smoke... It will give you a lot more pressure and visible smoke :D

[@TonyRule]

He could check there's no cross-contamination between the town's sewer and stormwater systems with that bad boy!

[@elcheapo5302]

On the bright side, if Avoca had a mosquito problem, it doesn't anymore!

[@waiting4aliens]

Look at the data, go thru the the evaporative emissions checkoff list. Gate by gate. Check the supposed faulty part before making a recommendation. Eric's trouble shooting algorithm, with all the needed steps and no short cutting, while taking a few minutes longer delivers a close to unassailable conclusion. Thank you for having instilled this disciplined thought process in us. It has made us better for it. I've gotten to habitually flow chart the diagnostic steps to solve the problem. Spend less money on stuff I don't need. Stay well.

[@miketeeveedub5779]

I haven't even seen that model of Mazda for almost 10 years. Amazing to see one in the Rust Belt in 2021.

[@miketeeveedub5779]

I got hearted! Thanks from Winterpeg!

[@gillesthibault429]

10 years is pretty much a full life for a Mazda...

[@Graham_Langley]

@@gillesthibault429 Got a '06 Mazda3 Sport (2 litre, UK) that's fine body-wise but there's a few age-related things to be done come spring - new 'stat, looks like there's a small PS leak somewhere and I got an advisory on a brake hose ferrule last MoT (annual inspection).

[@gillesthibault429]

@@Graham_Langley I had a '12 Mazda5GT 6MT for 6 years (Aug. 2011- Nov. 2017) Trans mounts corroded through, as well as a rear suspension bar, and the engine mounts were about to go. Floor pan was 100% covered with rust, with a 2-3cm hole under the spare tire pan. Mazda refused to cover any of the damage. Plus the GD thing sucked gas like a big V6! I also have a 13-year-old Honda Accord (242 000 km so far) and the '18 Honda Civic Hatchback I traded the Mazda for (77 000km so far), and both of them together have cost less in out-of-pocket repairs in those 13 years (in fact under 1000$ total) than than Mazda in 6 (93 000km when traded in).

[@Graham_Langley]

@@gillesthibault429 Wow. From the $ and km I presume you live in Canada so road salt is the problem? Here in the southern UK (Surrey) it's not. FWIW I've just realised the '3 is now the oldest car I've owned and currently I see no reason to start looking for a replacement. Hope I've not jinxed it.

[@synthpro]

Every time I watch your videos it makes me so happy we don't have emissions inspections or salty roads here where I live.

[@gonesideways6621]

Yep some of us southern folks don't have thousands to fork out for these new fangled pollution free cars, parking lots where I live are full of oil leak spots especially Advanced Auto this is how we roll.

[@thefogisgone3662]

That was my first car. Damn good car. And the a/c vent above the stereo had a "swing" button. Like a real fan. Classy stuff lol

[@garysgarage3669]

I feel bad for people in this situation. I remember the day when I drove a car that had everything wrong with it and couldn't afford to get a better car. Great video as always!

[@rustypotatos]

I remember those days for me too. I especially remember my mom and dad having the worst cars in the world lmao

[@russbarrows6689]

Finding an honest competent mechanic is golden. When I moved to Colorado Springs it took me a while but, by luck, I was directed to shop run by a man and his sons. Signage for his shop was minimal but he was very, very busy because of his reputation.

[@christheother9088]

LOL "Fill the oil, check the gas".

[@williammason7092]

The old Chevy Vega

[@dot7107]

CDAA powered volkswagen ag product...

[@mikemassegrafixshopmike]

This is my current cars situation

[@mmiller1188]

I got a truck like that. Very leaky head gasket. 35 gallon tank. It'll go 350 miles on a tank of gas, but only 150 on a quart of oil. No need to change the oil, just the filter every 5000!

[@jessj3010]

Oh yea, lemme check the oil... ...said after pegging the rpms at 2000 for a few sessions!! Was all that ticking from a count down to explosion timer?

[@GeekGinger]

When I was a kid Cherry Bombs were extremely popular for two reasons, they were cheap and they were loud. When you’re 16 that’s a winning combination!

[@chuckschillingvideos]

It's a winning combination at any age.

[@ford300rippergarage]

straight pipes are cheaper

[@chrismarek7864]

And they lasted about as long as a celebrity marriage

[@chuckbanks7851]

Absolutely, 16 was a very bad year for my families only car. The old furry would turn off while in gear and reignite when you turned the key on again. Cherry bombs became a necessity . Each time would ripe the old one in half, with an explosion heard all over town. Ah, those were the days.

[@edschwendiman2566]

Didn't they add about a 1000hp to most applications

[@farwest571]

Didn't know Mazda made a two stroke passenger car

[@jussikuusela7345]

LOL XD When I was younger I thought that an old model of Lada had a two-stroke... but nope! Good old Mother Soviet Union went all four-stroke like in the 1960's and East Germany was left to deal with the two-strokers, they only upgraded to 4 stroke for the last production years of Trabant, 90-91 and Wartburg, 88-91. My maternal grandfather owned a Trabant until 77 and a Wartburg until 81. It was not then thought of as a political decision, but when USSR produced Ladas gained grip in the early 80's, many saw it as a political choice. They were, though, fairly inexpensive and reliable cars, plus easy to repair, which was likely the more prominent motivator than leftist views for most owners. In the first few post-WW2 decades there was this thing nicknamed "suomettuminen" (finlandization maybe?) that involved keeping superficially pro-Soviet politics even though we have been a sovereign country since 1917.

[@WatchWesWork]

It's handy that it has a built in smoke machine!

[@curban0520]

Wes! My other go to channel for repair entertainment.

[@waltertiamfook7389]

Mosquito killer 😂

[@HouseCallAutoRepair]

lol He could have...just ran a hose from the exhaust to the evap.

[@diemman70]

Just need a disco ball. 😂

[@W.Khairi]

Hahahaha

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Oh that thing was SWEEEET! HAHAHA! Brought back vivid memories of me own '85 Monte Carlo in the day. I had the same glass pack muffler, complete with coffee and beer cans, plus copious use of wire coat hanger. Never had 2nd gear - it used to skip right over. You'd have loved it! I bought it for $600 in '93 - thing had hit everything but the lottery, as the junkyard guy with whom I had to argue to get my $100 from for driving it there, coined it. I could take sweeping right hand highway turns with no hands on the wheel - I used to demonstrate this frequently, and take in the reactions of severely anxious passengers. Ahh what a gem she was! Never let me down, though! Went to the mountains of NH a few times, NYC, and everywhere in between. Drove straight through the Bronx with it - I fit right in, HAHAHA! Mine failed emissions at 2,7xx PPM of hydrocarbons, HAHAHAHA! The guy couldn't even cheat that by yanking the sniffer out early - was too high! So I grabbed 4 bottles of Christy Dry Gas, dumped them all in a 1/2 tank of gas, and drove around in 1st gear for a while. Brought it back in later that afternoon, and I got her down to 190 PPM, HAHAHA! The inspector was wide-eyed, "WHAT DID YOU DO???" Told him I fixed it! HA! She was snot green, and had " Sex, Drums, Rock n Roll" etched in the quarter glass by the previous owner, LOLOL! I still have VHS-C video of me driving that thing around in '93. Good ol' days!

[@golferpro1241]

The Bronx still sucks

[@rustypotatos]

Jeez man I feel like I just watched a movie and went back in time

[@farmingsmallkubota1783]

Fun fact 2 million of those cars were made. i watched the last one roll into the plant show room beside the first one made. Ford Cougar was made in the same plant. Then we ripped all of the equipment out to produce the Mazda 6 and Ford Mustang. Now only the Mustang is produced there. Flat Rock Michigan

[@anon9364]

First car I ever got was made in Flat Rock on October 11, 1994 by AutoAlliance International. Ford body and Mazda engine and transmission. Fun cars to drive. Mine has 213,000 miles now.

[@pgtmr2713]

@@anon9364 I still have a 94 Probe GT. Love it.

[@rickw4160]

@@pgtmr2713 that was a great car!

[@jamespfitz]

Mercury Cougar?

[@rickw4160]

@@jamespfitz ahh you are correct. If your in the U.S. he's correct if he is in europe. We used to kindly refer to them as 3rd gen ford probes.

[@65bugnut]

When the Cherry Bomb muffler is the best looking thing on the car, you got troubles.

[@neilmurphy845]

The second I saw the battery I had a feeling this car's days of driving were over.

[@rnreajr9184]

I grew up in the 70's - these are the signs of a car you are trying to keep running without spending too much money!

[@Nighthawke70]

I've seen the end results of a loose battery. One guy had a chevelle and it's battery got away from him and went into the radiator fan, what a mess! Battery acid everywhere. The engine compartment was liberally soaked in sulfuric acid and the radiator was toast.

[@neilmurphy845]

@@rnreajr9184 Yah they were my thoughts aswell it looked like a beater car.

[@mariosaccoccio1688]

"It's got brand new O2 sensors, of course." The parts cannon has been fired!

[@baxrok2.]

Times are tough, gotta do what ya gotta do. Thanks Dr. O.

[@OkinSold]

Best mechanic on YT!

[@drmurphdurf4921]

Dudes no Scotty kilmer

[@dropinbiking92]

Soon as I saw 626 I knew where this was going.

[@bazabal1]

Ford Fusion...

[@mdotguy]

@@bazabal1 Mazda 626 used the same platform as the Probe. The Mazda6 uses the same platform as the Fusion.

[@Stoney3K]

@@mdotguy Still a Ford platform and motor. Burning oil means it's probably the valve stem seals that are completely wasted.

[@mdotguy]

@@Stoney3K Ford and Mazda shared a lot in that time, but this car uses the Mazda-designed 2.0L FS-DE engine on the Mazda-designed GF platform.

[@dustinkauffman5868]

Had one.. Same year.. Same color.. Same engine.. Burned a quart of oil every 200 miles.

[@raulf779]

Very thorough, I wish all mechanics are as honest as this channel.

[@danf4616]

After living most of my 63 yo life in FL and CA, still shocks me to see these rusted out vehicles. I have regularly bought, sold, and driven (and never has anyone but me worked on them) 10-20-30 yo cars and trucks with hundreds of thousands of miles on them. None of them were ever as messed up as the typical SMA customer's. *feel blessed* 😎

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

I live in Florida as well. The closer you are to the coast the greater the possibility of surface rust. That's our worst enemy.

[@waynemichel]

Same here. I live in Queensland Australia. My daily drives are a 98 Ford and a 97 Lancer. I occasionally take out a 1960 Series 2 land rover. All registered and going great

[@bryanfuentez7640]

Hell yea I was just doing the same thing last night with a protege5. I did everything you did Eric to verify my pending P0421. It’s a good feeling to see that watching your videos does help me be a more knowledgeable mechanic. Hours of watching does pay off. Thank you Eric

[@willrowzee8065]

Its amazing the difference between different states and how well the emission laws are enforced. Here in Mississippi the recently did away with any type of vehicle inspections. Pretty much if you pay the registration fees your good to go. Whether it has CA emissions or not, or whether it has all the properly working parts, or just straight pipes from the engine they dont care. Something like that 626 would be welcomed with open arms down here. Even when they did have the vehicle inspection requirements here it was completely seperate from the DMV. You could still get a tag with or without the inspections sticker. The only one that bothered you about the inspection sticker was the highway patrol, but if you knew someone at an inspection station and could slip them a couple extra bucks on top of the $5 they charged for the inspection, the would just give you a sticker. So now it doesnt matter if your ce light is on, has massive evap leaks, massive oil consumption, bald tires, cracked witnshield, or non functioning safety equipment, as long as you pay your reg fees then your good to go. Alot different the CA emissions I was use to dealing with. In CA if the smog inspection station brands your car as what they call a Gross Polluter, then your pretty much sol on being able to drive it anywhere or register it with the DMV.

[@av8tore71]

I love the smell of burning oil in the morning!!

[@kevingallineauii9353]

Oddly enough, I had (my wife had it before we got married) a 1996 Mazda 626 with a vent valve problem. The system was to a Ford engine/tranny system. I fixed the valve by uncrimping the valve body, taking out the plunger, adding blue silicone to it (wrapped it in a small sandwich bag to make the sealing surface smooth) and re-assembled. I was soooo proud when that check engine light went off by itself. the whole fix cost me the price of a tube of blue silcone. That car had other issues and sits in my father's yard to this day (dang rust belt claimed another one!) but ran all the way there (no check engine light). Great video, it even brought back memories of happier days.

[@thehappytexan]

Time for the old stp special. 😂. Just make it too thick to get past the rings. It’ll be fine.

[@mikeoneill7360]

I think it’s hilarious that some people think there gonna pass inspection with codes, not to mention a catalytic converter that’s coated in oil. You gotta love it......

[@adkancapadventures7738]

She’s ready for the demo derby at the steuben county fair.

[@brianburns7211]

She needs last rights performed by Stuntman.

[@Francois_Dupont]

i bought a 250$ 19yo cavalier from a demolition rally (before they starting modding it) and after fixing like 20problems on it ive been driving it for 4years now.

[@robj2704]

Likely need to pull that catalytic converter off first so it's not too down on horsepower to make it up the jump ramp.

[@ford300rippergarage]

you mean cut the cats off and daily drive for probably 2 years before its ready for the derb.

[@cpufreak101]

@@ford300rippergarage not everybody is interested in committing felonies and intentionally ruining air quality for others. Plus, this is an NY car, that would NOT pass inspection and I believe you would also risk getting your vehicle towed if ever pulled over by police (I know Mississippi is a state notorious for this apparently)

[@carlosanzola2938]

I had a 2002 Kia Rio, both of my kids used it to learn how to drive. It was the only car that they could not destroy. They grew up and moved away, I continued to use that car for many years in upstate New York, drove like new. I loved that car, it finally rusted so bad that I had a evap leak, broke my heart to see her go to the junkyard, I'd buy another Kia in a minute.

[@darkwaterblue]

I think those 2.0 mazda engines were used in fords over the pond. Well known for rings going out and eating oil.

[@axwomble8776]

darkwaterblue you’re spot on, the 1.8 and 2.0 ‘Duratec’ petrol engines are known for consuming their own piston rings!

[@Graham_Langley]

I believe the 626 used the FS engine. The Ford Duratec is the Mazda L-series, which was introduced in 2001.

[@pgtmr2713]

@@Graham_Langley Didn't the FS go back to 93. Probes had them.

[@Graham_Langley]

@@pgtmr2713 Possibly - the Probe was based on the same platform as the 626.

[@smokedawg7923]

@@Graham_Langley yes. And I have a 93 mazda 626 with 299912 miles on it RightNow and only thing it's wrong is valves. It smokes when I start it in the morning then goes away.. it's a 5 speed same clutch from mazda and I did the timing belt one time. Still running strong fast. The engine are good if you keep up with maintenance some people are lazy and procrastinate that's why a lot of Mazdas are not on the streets today will the old school ones. But I'm doing a OVER HALL NEXT KEEP THE CAR. HAS NO DENTS BODY IS AWESOME NO RUST.. SO MAZDAS ARE GOOD CARS .

[@christophrichter8234]

I watched this on the big screen, HDTV and all that, surround sound...the experience of burning oil was not fully immersive until the subwoofers took hold...I swear I closed my eyes and the room filled with blue oil smoke...then I remembered I left my old Ford F150 with a straight six running in the garage. Your video smelled familiar!

[@kevindelacoudray7272]

Those Rock Auto Magnets thou at 14:17

[@redscortgt93]

My 1996 F150 has the p0421 code. Convenient that I clicked on this video. Mine only has 124k miles on it. Runs great and doesn’t burn oil. Sounds like my catalytic converter is just toast. It doesn’t have an exhaust it was cut off a few feet behind the cat.

[@darkarvindrakkar9898]

Ok, I lost it on the cherry bomb muffler 🤣, I mean I have bolted a donut and those to the collectors of fresh headers on the ole SBC, but, wow.

[@adamsears1403]

I had a 98 Mazda 626. When it blew the head 2 years ago I had to let it go. Drive it till the wheels fall off or not worth repairing. I drove it for over 17 years. Got my money's worth I dare to say

[@steveseamans7167]

Loved my old 626.. The oscillating heat vents were the shit

[@chrisstoddard1144]

Oscillating face level vents. Absolutely! We had a '92.

[@steveseamans7167]

@@chrisstoddard1144 I had a 99. Loved it except for the alternator replacement..

[@monkeywrangler5200]

Threw a cherry bomb on a Saturn L series (Opel clone) when the lady was told $250 for a new muffler not counting labor... $20 for the cherry bomb and some droning. She chose the cherry bomb and I got a sweet sticker for the toolbox and +20HP

[@HoboJoeGarage]

So much smoke Cheech and Chong would be jealous.

[@chasboomer2588]

Or ford pinto!! LOL

[@ladeseddy5994]

Or Willy

[@HouseCallAutoRepair]

Thus.... The purple haze.

[@richardmurry9866]

😃

[@MrCJF75]

Fuel trims are off but the oil trims are spot on

[@richardlucy3822]

Haha 😂! The “hair “ was absolutely hilarious!!

[@charleskosyjana1295]

OMG you sneezed all over that pristine car, it's now contaminated and HAS TO GO to the scrapyard !!!! 😄😄😄😄😄😄 Just the force of the sneeze probably cracked that rusty frame !!! PS-- just saw the tail end of the video, you are so trusted even THE POLICE send their cars to you for repair !!!! Congratulations !!! What happened, the State fleet repair garage couldn't figure out a weird problem ???

[@pauldionne1665]

The Police need a Sherlock (Mechanic of Auto) to find a problem they can't. So it's off to SMA. Sherlock (Mechanic of Auto) For help.

[@hightttech]

Sounds ok. Some 20W-50, a dose of magic in a bottle... and 300k here we come.

[@blue03r6]

lucas lol

[@jamespfitz]

STP

[@MrSloika]

Actually Mazda engines of this era were good for 300K IF you took care of them. I had a 1st gen Ford Probe with the Mazda 2.2. Car went 260K miles and was scrapped because of tin-worm infestation in the body which was fed by New Jersey road salt. Engine still ran fine when I had it junked.

[@hightttech]

@@MrSloika: Very nice. I got 412k miles out of one Ford 3.8L Windstar engine & trans and 350k out of another before water-in-oil disease. Removed tool boxes and scrapped them.

[@keithbowers3980]

That car looks like a good candidate for the dirt track

[@4b131]

Welcome to my world Eric, performed a deflood on a RX8 today and killed a few brain cells from the smoke!

[@SouthMainAuto]

You pretty much have to do that every time you start one of those crap boxes

[@metoon3092]

233k miles of absolutely no maintenance or care. I have never owned a Mazda; but I think it's WELL ahead of most cars. Truly.

[@chieftain20]

Having a few years dealing with the FS-DE motor in my MX6 I can relate to this. The V6 model is much better but still has it's fun share of issues.

[@rustedgraffiti8257]

I had a 03 Mazda P5. Same engine. When I got it it was burning so much oil it was leaking out the exhaust gasket, flushed the engine out a couple times with fresh oil with half a quart of diesel fuel. It tremendously helped.

[@gs3504]

Had a 327 back in the day, buddies called it the mosquito killer!! Check the gas, fill the oil!! Never tried the rubber over the batter trick though!!

[@XtremeKremaTor]

I've had exactly the same mazda. The rust is not excessive.

[@jeffgreiner80]

your honesty is a breath of fresh air in the auto mechanic industry. keep up the good work.

[@mattcat231]

i don't know if the air was THAT fresh in the shop though, lol,

[@Firebird400]

My parents had a 87 with a 2.2 turbo and digital dash. Cool car for the time

[@DaFoxQc]

Surprising you managed to lift it. Over here in Canada almost any of those and Protégé rusted through way before the mechanicals gave up :P

[@LatitudeSky]

Well south of the rust belt here but still running Protegés are very rare. Saw an absolute cherry pristine Protegé last week. The BG 89 to 94 version. I mean this was in showroom mint condition. So used to seeing them dragging parts and fluids on the ground and all the paint peeled away but not this one. The driver left before I could ask him how in the hell he had managed the impossible.

[@a.c.t.solutionsinc8024]

Lol... you said it! If you get 20 years out of a vehicle before major rust sets in you've either garaged it, or been religiously BATHING it in fluid film. Got to say that those rust inhibitors that use a small charge actually work! **Make sure your grounds are good and hook them up as you're supposed to** I've seen quite a few that have survived outside for 20 years without anything but surface rust underneath and no paint boils or rust through! But up here you really need to garage your vehicle and wash it regularly... salt is a cruel mistress and with our 6 month winters lol... nothing will last outside without serious investment over time.

[@christopherhylton8462]

A 2000 Mazda 626 actually survived New York for 20 years and over 200,000 miles. Not a big fan of Mazdas but that is impressive.

[@niklasgroning5792]

Thats nothing for a Mazda, 400 000-500 000 km is pretty normal here in Finland, when the German boxes need engine rebuild after 200 000 km!

[@itneverwasme]

How classic is that with the Environmental Police truck in the next bay

[@Senkino5o]

Is this a common thing in America these days or does it depend on the State? I was born in IL but have been in Australia since 1999, the idea of 'environmental police' parading around here is laughable. We have no mandated EPA emissions standard/they haven't changed since the 80s, if a car/truck has a DPF, EGR, DEF, etc that's fine, some companies or state agencies might require them, but if you pull them off you'll face no strife and the DMV doesn't care. Crazy to think of 'environmental police'.

[@urygen]

@@Senkino5o fairly common in most states. not my county, but other counties in my state has exhaust emissions testing required as a part of annual inspection.

[@KnuckleHeadGarage27]

So sad that car has had a bad life for sure . I used to have a 97 626 2.5 v6 loaded options , that car was a really good car wish I still had it but lost it over a car wreck . Only main problem I had with the car was egr valve an egr boost sensor constantly having problems but other than that perfect car never let me down .

[@CStockner]

I’m glad we aren’t required to get inspections where I live. Idk how people afford to live in NY.

[@THEACERASPIREMAN]

The cars I see people drive in states that don't have inspections make me think they should be mandated federally.

[@FishFind3000]

@@THEACERASPIREMAN yea I’ve seen some bad cars that shouldn’t be on the road but it’s gonna be another cash grab by the state. I’m surprised illinois hasn’t gone down that road.

[@hungryjack8032]

@@THEACERASPIREMAN Ohio had inspections in most of state years ago then just in Cleveland area. This car would have passed with just the valve being replaced. Spend $300 and didn't have to fix anything else. Inspections were just a money grab by the state. Blew up a lot of cars too running engines at max RPM for two minutes to run the test.

[@caduceus33]

They afford it by being stockbrokers.

[@markh.6687]

@@FishFind3000 Illinois politicians: Soon.... I'm waiting for them to legalize prostitution for the tax revenue. Everybody sing! "Illinois, where ex-governors go to jail!"

[@ford_probe_garage_studio]

- Glad it wasn’t the 2.5 V6 engine version being junked, Those engines are in demand and very rare now, for those in the know. Great channel and video.

[@jaydaniels8698]

and remember if I can breathe blue smoke so can you

[@thomasfletcher4765]

thanks for watchin' !

[@s.j.5850]

20 year old car - the lady got her money's worth. Would proper maintenance have gotten her more total mileage? Maybe, then it becomes of question of what you know about cars & what you have to spend to keep it in good running order. The fact that you verify the defective part says a lot about your integrity. I wish all techs were like you then the industry would have a much better reputation.

[@Tnenamrep2]

To quote the eternal Steve Lav. "She's a crusty one, Mr. Grinch".

[@billibarou]

That's funny. I love Steve Lav's videos also. If you haven't already you should check out Andrew Camarata his vids are as good as South Main and Steve Lav.

[@Tnenamrep2]

I'm always up for a good recommendation... I'll check him out. Thanks. (Steve Lav. is awesome! Love his attitude... anywhere from surly to sweetheart. I admire his business model and attitude too)

[@Firebird400]

I am so glad we don’t have to deal with inspections or emissions crap. Well.. you have to get a safety inspection sometimes when the car is 10 years old + for insurance but it’s pretty lenient.

[@harveylong5878]

i cant stand the rattle trap death trap tourist vehicles that come in PA from non inspection states. who needs brake lites,headlites, working turn signals or general safety right?

[@Firebird400]

@@harveylong5878 well . I am in Canada and honestly most people keep their vehicles in decent condition. You don’t see a bunch of junk on the road. Plus you get a ticket from the police if any of your lights aren’t working. I was more referring to the emissions end of it , some people abuse it but most people are fairly good about it. Putting a $1000 plus converter and those stupid evap parts on a old car ? No thanks .

[@upsidedown4155]

A single penny spent on that heap is literally throwing your money in the bin, Done over 200k miles, its fit for retirement its lasted a good run, And you can see with the amount of "it'll do" work done to it so far whatever work happens will be a cheap bodge and will prob break in less time then it takes a coffee to go cold Eric o, you da man 👍

[@rusty1187]

Award to Eric for keeping a straight face while doing this video!

[@vstabill36]

So glad we don't have those inspections.

[@alextran8188]

And I'm glad we don't get that type of rust!! Lol

[@vstabill36]

I have a 21 year old Excursion. 275,000 miles. Zero body rust. Barely any rust under it.

[@emkayusa]

So you would rather have the unsafe shitboxes on the road instead? No thanks.

[@andrewlaw]

@@emkayusa Nothing like people driving deathtraps is there! Probably thinks it's against his rights. 😤

[@hungryjack8032]

@@emkayusa Inspections don't always check safety. Ohio used to have them and all that was checked was the engine light codes. Saw a truck with no rear brakes that passed because it ran well.

[@gplusgplus2286]

I remember when these came out in Europe they had 4 wheel steering, really innovative car. Off to the junkyard now.

[@niklasgroning5792]

626 GD Hatchback came with 4WS in 1987 and then GE Hatchback had it also in the first years.

[@blablablaqwd]

You're the best mechanic on earth! I really love to watch your videos, even if it's 00:00am and I have to wake up at 6:30. Greetings from germany

[@Syntax.error.]

Whoa calm down there buddy. We all know someone that has been a mechanic for 600 years that knows everything better. I can hear him screaming from Texas right now.

[@davidefinland6886]

@@Syntax.error. ...He no longer live in Texas. He is in Clarksville Tennessee now...

[@CubasAutomotive]

@@davidefinland6886 🤣🤣🤣🤣 amazing how we know who Empires Fall meant.

[@blablablaqwd]

@@CubasAutomotive well I‘m from an completely different continent so there might be a insider which I‘ve missed lol.. do you mind telling me who he‘s thinking about?

[@CubasAutomotive]

@@blablablaqwd my hint .. his famous quote while climbing out of a trunk, "rev up your engines!!" 🤣🤣🤣

[@christopherdherman1518]

I wish I lived closer to your shop. Hard to find decent and honest mechanics.

[@jamesspash5561]

years ago way before emissions testing, a guy came in for inspection. When he put the care in gear we noticed it flex between the drivers door and front fender. HUH? do that again. Front unibody completely gone. we never even looked further. Northern Ny car. another victim of mr salt. we envy you guys down south.

[@JW...-oj5iw]

What did you put in gear?

[@robertl.fallin7062]

Do not buy a southern car cause we got somthing sneeky down here called floods!

[@cpufreak101]

@@robertl.fallin7062 that's fine when you have a functional rust bucket to take what you need from it lol. I know it's a fairly common thing where someone will bring a car up from down south and replace the interior with a rotted out car from up here to eliminate mold and such. Flood damage is a lot more fixable than cancer

[@j.markkrzystofiak9907]

Ready for a high schooler in the upper Midwest! Where there aren’t used car inspections! That’s nicer than 75% of the cars in the local HS parking lot here in NW Cheddar.

[@chrisE815]

The Avoca Smoka! Love it!

[@EHKOS]

There's a lot here! I wonder why we couldn't see the smoke anywhere, that's just me being a rookie. 233K, I'd say you got a good life outta that thing, if it was in NY the whole time count me super impressed it lasted this long. That brake bit, saving the best for last eh Dr. O? I gotta be concerned about that lady driving this deathtrap. Hope she was the one who put most of the miles on it and I wish her good luck on finding a replacement.

[@G31mR]

Finally.....a car Eric could NOT fix.

[@SouthMainAuto]

No I could fix it, customer just doesn't have the funds

[@G31mR]

@@SouthMainAuto I was referring to the oil-burning.....but, I guess given the money you could have fixed even that.

[@brianmason8400]

I personally applaud any state that does have mandatory safety inspection. Especially w my wife and kids, now a g-son as well, at least you know "theoretically" the cars on the road are safe. It wouldn't bother me a if our part of town (west me) Mo went to emissions inspection. The "safer" you know the vehicles on the road around you are, the better you should feel.

[@davidefinland6886]

This was when you could actually HEAR them rusting...

[@tbag-2224]

Not a good sound to hear when it's hanging above your head on a lift

[@richardmurry9866]

😂

[@deanbarrett7180]

Ok I've been doing this for decades, and that car takes the cake. It checked off every box on the "it's gotta go" list.

[@hugglescake]

@ 15:45 Purple haze is more than a Jimi Hendrix song. My deep thought of the day.

[@bertgrau9246]

in some states that wouldn't be a bad car just put some Lucas oil stabilizer that stops the smoke fix the e vap valve and it's good for another 10,000 miles of trouble free driving, or until something else goes wrong

[@hillbillyrigrepairs1814]

Tires looked good!

[@daleburrell6273]

...well, just because the tires LOOKED GOOD- that doesn't mean that you can EAT THEM-(!)

[@gord7025]

I know a guy that had a late 1980s 626. He bought it off a guy that worked for Chrysler, and he had repainted it with some Chrysler Sublime paint with a matte black hood. It looked pretty good lol

[@jbrhel]

"The Avoca Smokah?" Don't breathe the water droplets! lol!That Mazda died with its tires on. Thanks for another great vid!

[@HobbyOrganist]

So glad we dont have that inspection crap here where I live!

[@hollywd269]

I absolutely love your channel, I get a kick out of your humor but honest comment and the fact I have learned stuff from your channel that has help me fix my own vehicles. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and keep those cameras rolling!

[@jo6520]

You made the right call it needs to be scraped!

[@sufferinsilence6474]

The converter is worth twice what the car is.

[@mctag1756]

Had my CAT stolen last month - being in wonderful California it did cost an arm and a leg to replace (CARB compliant) - but have to get to work and that was the cheaper option. $3,400 donation to my favorite mechanic.

[@johnhpalmer6098]

@@mctag1756 Was yours a Prius? I ask as they do have more precious metals in them than most everyone else, and are now being stolen by crooks and given to the scrap metal dealers for the $$$ they command and it's likely everywhere now, even here in Washington State. I don't have a Prius but have heard about this from members of Nextdoor that have them, and their cats stolen, in come cases more than once.

[@mctag1756]

@@johnhpalmer6098 Yep... Now sporting the Cat Security GUARD :-) Metal plate covering it.

[@poiiihy]

gen 3 isn't affected right? cat is deeper in and hard to get to

[@sufferinsilence6474]

Any LEV and especially ULEV cars have a valuable converter. I saw miatas cats go for over $1k. Honda accords with a slanted o2 sensor can go for $700-900.

[@DJDevon3]

It's similar to Ford? Yes you could say that hehe. It's the same engine found in the Ford Probe except Mazda continued to make them until 2002 while the probe was phased out in 1997 along with the GE 626. In fact you can swap the Ford Probe valve cover onto a 626 with no problem. Plenty of 626 owners trying to be cute have Ford Probe valve covers. The 93-02 American made (Flint, MI), Mazda 626 was a joint project by Ford and Mazda using Mitsubishi ECU and sensors. The location of the purge solenoid is in a different location in the 93-97 vs the 98-02 models (GE vs GF chassis). I have a GE with OBD-I. You're working on a GF with OBD-II. Also the 2.0 FSDE engine isn't the big engine there's a 2.5L V6 KLDE. Only the OBD-II 626 has a canister vent valve. The 93-95 models do not have one. California emission means it shipped with a pre-cat but obviously with the cherry bomb and other ungodly aberrations done it ain't exactly a stock version you're dealing with. If they swapped out for an ebay stainless steel manifold (stock is iron) sometimes they're for the 93-95 Probe which doesn't have as many downstream O2 sensors bungholes, which can throw off fuel trims for those ricer kids who only know enough to be dangerously stupid in slowly causing cancer to their own engine health due to inefficient combustion and eventual buildup on the piston and valve heads... essentially... and inevitably... turning a non-interference engine into an interference engine. No way you'd make a 626 video without me commenting on it. :P Great to see a 626 in the shop but far too late for that owner to start caring about their car. Excellent diagnostics done the right way... as always. Excellent video. Here's a video for posterity putting a SMA sticker in my 626 garage 6 years ago. Time flies.. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3WaoY1olqd5e5o Yes I still watch your content even though I don't comment often. Keep up the great work. You are truly one of the best, if not the best, automotive repair channel on youtube.

[@auroraboy95]

Hey it just wants to be a two-stroke that's all

[@paulmoir4452]

It's trying too hard!

[@SmittySmithsonite]

That's a car after my own heart. ♥️

[@ford300rippergarage]

@@SmittySmithsonite buy an old saab

[@SmittySmithsonite]

@@ford300rippergarage - I want to take two 6-cylinder outboard motors, combine them together to make a V12 two-stroke, then put it in my 07 Chevy Silverado 1500 4 x 4. 😁 That would be fan-friggin-tastic. 😄

[@ford300rippergarage]

@@SmittySmithsonite Mercury made v8 autoboards too 🤷‍♀️ I love my old 2 cylinder Johnson’s 24:1 oil mix 🤤

[@mikethompson7290]

James Bond would love that car, leaves a smoke screen and an Oil slick at the same time

[@rpavlik1]

Was feeling a little targeted reading the description: I've got an 02 Saturn with millennial anti-theft (stick shift) I mostly use for pulling a trailer or otherwise hauling cargo. Like all Saturn S series, especially those bought from older ladies who swear it burns no oil because of slick 50 every change and that magical "platinum" fuel saver scam canister, it definitely uses some oil. There was a period where I was putting in a tank of thin gas and a few glugs of the thick... But I've never seen it blow any blue smoke, much less something like that car, yikes! So I'm still ok to put a few miles a year on my little ol Saturn that could 🤣

[@markh.6687]

Bought a 2002 Saturn coupe in Oct. 2020; burns about a quart every 2,000-ish miles I found. No blue smoke cloud, no MIL, no codes. I'm good for awhile.

[@petesdelivery4495]

@@markh.6687 Yeah, my daughter had a '92, then a '99... both liked to use oil... when it was low for the third time, you knew it was oil change time :)

[@markh.6687]

@@petesdelivery4495 That's one way to do it. :)

[@rpavlik1]

Quart per 2000 mi is not too bad at all.

[@K.Kelly87]

I feel her pain. My car is not as bad! @ 276,000 miles I needed a full exhaust from the manifold back. It doesn't burn oil at all. It's just old and high mileage. In the last 3 months, to pass NY inspection, I needed a fuel pump (because it croaked and it had to be towed), front rotors/pads, new tires, a complete exhaust, and one new O2 sensor. (I had 2 fairly new O2 sensors already, my car has 3) My car has the dreaded California emissions. For a total of almost $5000 for all that work. (done at different places) My 2006 VW New Beetle, 2.5L GAS, 5 spd Manual transmission, is almost like new! Some people say WHY???? Because I cannot get this good of a car for only $5G used, ANYWHERE that's why!!! I'm 278,000 now and need an oil change soon.

[@agger838]

Lol. That evap leak i dont think is the worse of that cars emissions problems.

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

Yeah, that things obviously gonna need an entire engine rebuild at this point...

[@rjb6327]

Still driving my original owner 2001 Mazda Tribute with 245K on it. Giant 3.0 V6. Got plenty of miles to go. This Mazda obviously hasn't been taken care of. 7:31 "What's wrong with our smoke machine?" YOU TURNED IT OFF! 5:13

[@markh.6687]

Good help is so hard to find anymore. :)

[@Mrflash222006]

On the bright side it’s burning less oil than a VW diesel

[@jetjazz05]

Probably meeting the same emissions, too.

[@williammason7092]

Keeps the mosquitos down

[@andrewlaw]

My Passat diesel has used less than a quart of oil in 4 years. But then again it is a German built one not a Mexico knock off.

[@dot7107]

Actually vw diesels doesn't burn oil... However Cdaa petrol is different story...

[@CertifiedGShep]

Huh? TDIs don't burn oil, it's blowby that you need to worry about due to the higher compression ratio. Maybe you're referring to their gasoline engines?

[@williammontgomery295]

I've still have a 1988 Mazda 626 thats got 504653 miles on it and still runs.

[@jeffboyer8214]

Ny state test vehicle to see if everyone is honest with the nys inspections i bet it hits a lot of shops. Be safe

[@jrh6869]

Great video. I could literally smell that mixture of fuel and oil burning while watching. 😳

[@d.a.2742]

I was waiting for the timing belt to pop as he was revving it .....😅😅😅😂😂

[@paulhoskins7852]

Eric is kind of a hero to me. Eric O., in the know, another informative show!