Fixing The Trashed Trax - Part II

We saw in part I the other shop really made a mess out of this poor guys Chevy Trax. Let's pull apart the left side now and see what kind of mess they made over there.
-Enjoy!
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Disclaimer:
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.

[@nathanimel6849]

"Other then screwing everything up they did a good job" lmao love sma

[@momanddad1193]

This. Should be the next SMA t-shirt.

[@lvsqcsl]

I am not really sure that piece that Eric ground out wasn't there before. However, that should have been removed.

[@devschlong]

Mrs. O left us hanging on the question of whats for lunch....

[@ferrumignis]

But we know she's impressed with Eric's hole polishing skills.

[@JohnAsang]

I have always enjoyed being the "dealership" tech who fixes all the comebacks. Parts cannons, swapnostics and straight up tri-ags. I love to see Eric just proving that slowing down and actually performing the diagnostic pays in the end!

[@larswilms8275]

That sounds a lot like work. And the customer has to pay less in the end. How is that advantages to the shop? Yes, I am joking...

[@TheWhale45]

Did you see that Rotor try and make a break for it>? lol

[@athletikonaol]

Finding a good shop is very much touch and go... most often GO. You try them out, they fumble, you move on. I end up doing myself... things I've never done... better than someone who does it for a living. Shocking.

[@pepawspostings9231]

I agree. I had a shop try and talk me into a valve job for a Subaru with 65k on it. I didn't bite and took it to another shop and found out that it only needed a coil pack. Huge difference.

[@thestoiccontrarian8962]

I don't go to shops most of the time. I watch SMA videos, invest in tools and do my own work. Seriously...between SMA and ChrisFix I have saved me thousands over the years. I've even managed to diagnose electrical issues and have a couple of "no parts required" fixes under my belt. Thanks Eric! Love your channel

[@Papa7557]

I have to agree with you Sir! Watching these videos and a two others that are informative, I believe that I can tackle my vehicles issues. As you mentioned, I have save thousands of dollars 💵 DYI.

[@Chevy-f4l]

Pine hollow is great too

[@fixingitrightish]

Get a nice scanner and some tools, good to go

[@mrpiccolo23]

Eric is real good at teaching the techniques.

[@mrpiccolo23]

@@fixingitrightish Any recommendations on a scanner for a guy with one or two cars? I got an expensive cheap one but of course it doesn't have any of the actuator testing nor many of the data PIDs I see Eric looking at all the time.

[@justbob999]

So happy to see you save the customer as much as you could, two knuckles and a axle was probably like a thousand bucks. I imagine most shops would have just replaced them and moved on. Integrity doesn't get much better than that. Thank you Mr. O. Great Job.

[@gatolibero8329]

I still can't believe another shop did this and it wasn't just somebody doing someone a "favor" and "fixing" their car.

[@devschlong]

I guess it's a liberal application of the word "shop". Some dude was correcting every one last video of where someplace Eric says he knows the shop and showed receipts or something. I still don't believe it's a legit shop, how could any insured business do work like this? It's incredibly dangerous to lots of people and this "shop" should be reported to someone ( the police maybe? ) for public safety reasons. I imagine it could be construed as negligence for not reporting it. Would you want anyone you cared for being on the road along with this vehicle?

[@lvsqcsl]

Just the marks left on the bearings from the vice leads me to believe what you state because if it were a legitimate shop they would have the necessary tools to complete the work.

[@KenMagee]

Eric's humor is just perfect on a Sunday morning. "Sure makes it easier to take off" HAH

[@seabulls69]

"pecker marks" made me chuckle.

[@wyattoneable]

I'm glad you got the job so we can follow along.

[@johnbattista9521]

Your customers are blessed to have someone so knowledgeable, personable, and honest!!! Great video Mr. O

[@adamt4742]

I was a tow truck driver for quite a while, so I went to pretty much every shop in town. the one we take our cars to (and have been for a long time), was chosen because of the quick turn around and the owners being great people. I've had minimal issues with them and will continue to go there for the forseeable future.

[@79USA1]

I've used your video information many times. Between you and Ford Tech Makuloco I have been able to find the information needed to complete many repair jobs on my own as well as family and some friends rides.I do have one or two local shops that I would trust their work just due to the lot being full and always having business. Dad was a mechanic for a well known catalog store, I "Blame"😉 him for the knowledge I have today...Just don't have him here to verify the problems I come across today which is why I'm thankful for folks like you. Keep up the good work!🍻

[@DC71295]

Such an honest guy! Very refreshing this day and age.

[@sspnugen]

Perfect Sunday morning, PHAD and SMA

[@devschlong]

PHAD?

[@mok4191]

@@devschlong Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostic

[@lvsqcsl]

@@devschlong Eric's buddy, Ivan Temnykh, with PIne Hollow Auto Diagnostics.

[@devschlong]

Awesome, I'll check that channel out too.

[@jerryking2418]

Honest Eric. That's why we keep coming back.

[@davide.s.9880]

Hahaha ! I got that speed sensor bearing retainer joke as soon as you said it was a joke. It went right over my head at first.

[@rael5469]

When my car broke down on the road and I lived in an apartment (they didn't allow car maintenance) AAA recommended a repair shop and each time I was very satisfied with the work they did. Busy California freeway.....very stressful place to break down......the AAA towing company took me to a shop that turned out to be A-OK. They didn't take advantage of me. What a relief.

[@Jaync5894-ge1em]

I can’t find any shops in my area that can do what you do. The people in your area are lucky to have you.

[@surferbummg]

Eric (SMA), thanks for continuing to put good content out. Your approach to repair and showing content makes this one of the best channels. Your level of detail and educating the viewer is first-rate and the overhead of making, editing and publishing these episodes is nontrivial. You should make a video of what's involved in "making a video". I enjoy your restraint is throwing rocks at others even if it's deserved as in these videos. Keep up the good work.

[@agger838]

Mr. O: Hey Mrs. O just got done hole polishin. Mrs. O: Looks like you did a good job like you usually do 😂

[@pandrosik]

You and your better half play well together.

[@stevenkroot31]

My vocational school instructor described toe out wear on your tire as petting your fish, smooth when your rubbing in one direction (with the fish scales) and chattering in the other (against the fish scales). Got the point across.

[@klwthe3rd]

Awesome analogy.

[@rayvonp]

I can’t beat this coffee and a new video from South Main auto it’s gonna be a great day folks

[@reAllyNoWayyy]

Watching you and Scanner Danner makes me regret leaving the automotive industry. But now I live vicariously through you guys 👏

[@donniev8181]

Thanks for another great video Eric, hope you and the family are having a great weekend!

[@GRANITEMONUMENT]

Just go the upstate new York and see this guy Eric at SMA, can’t go wrong!

[@faxmen09]

Wish it was that simple. Loonnng drive from NC.

[@nicklicari6007]

Thanks for sharing this video series with us Eric. You did a great job communicating with the customer to help him prioritize what should be fixed. As always your workmanship is excellent. There's a valuable lesson for all of us, you get what you pay for. I'm guessing you've earned a new customer.

[@toenails.]

Awesome job Eric. That thing was a mess.

[@Kiltylake]

Just found your channel recently and found out your quality of work is well done. Ran my own shop for over twenty years before retiring and did work very similar to yours. Unlike many mechanics I loved repairing electrical and HVAC, especially those that others couldn't figure out. Good diagrams, scanners, scopes and meters were essential. While it's great being retired I do miss doing those repairs.

[@Dude7840]

Thank you for doing what you do Eric. A camera on the life of the people that fix the world.

[@erickdanielsson6710]

Just watched SpaceX launch AND recover the Star ship and Mega Booster, Now this great video from Erik... Thanks for a nice start to Sunday.. Off to church..

[@Chuchi-2325]

Pennsylvanian Chris here, SpaceX you wouldn't even think they could catch that boost the way they did the specialty angle when it was coming down. Trump 2024 🤗✌️🇺🇸

[@mrpiccolo23]

I doubt SpaceX's cotter pins look as good as Eric's.

[@johnnysechrist6313]

Eric over the years I've had to correct shoddy and crooked mechanics mistakes, or cons. This year at 70 I sold my garage and everything in it, even my rad vat and old Hunter algn rack....and even some machinists tools. Your honesty will keep me a fan of your channel....and and occasional view of Mrs. O

[@JeffWinter1]

Perfect timing. Went to a store that wasn't opening for a half hour, so i found out, so watched this episode of SMA. Score.👍

[@VanessaMalabanan-j9h]

Your channel is not just a KZbin channel, it is a real educational portal. Thank you for your contribution!💪👄👋

[@rick195208]

I found two local shops for my OBD1 and/or carb'd vehicle. My newest is a '93, two more payments and it's mine. 😂

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

10:35 Mrs O fantastically impressed at the polishing skills

[@Mr.Z1776]

The finger action putting that banjo bolt back in... very impressive!!!🫴😉

[@randycarpenter2914]

I know why your shop is full and busy all the time. You have good judgment and ethics on your work. Common sense goes a long way. To bad most have none. I guess years of working on cars helped. It's sad other shops can't fix simple things that are glaring them in the face. I would pay good money if you were my mechanic. I would know it's done right. Great work Mr. O.

[@MichaelNomura-i9n]

The good shops have a shop cat.🐱

[@dgreen8388]

Love the Tommy Boy reference 22.27 🤣

[@crisprtalk6963]

It is a scary world out there when it comes to shops. I was trying to tell you that years ago when your channel was new and I was explainng to you why your channel was so popular way back then.

[@lvsqcsl]

I am almost exactly as you, Eric, because I started working with my dad when I was 8 years old and don't usually take my vehicles to be repaired. I can tell anyone who to go to if they need service in my town. My rule-of-thumb when considering a shop: If I see an advertisement on television or radio or the internet I do NOT go there. If you are good, you don't need to advertise; people will find you. I think you are right, you can't know what it's like to call someone for service. Of course, all members of your family are pillars of the community. If I needed a tow or had a semi I'd call your brother Doug. If I needed tires for farm implements, I would call your brother, Scott. If I needed to lose weight, I would call your sister Elizabeth for a gym membership. I wouldn't call you for anything because I have watched you for years and know the kind of work you do....JUST KIDDING! GREAT VIDEO!

[@jameslovitt994]

That was likely the most humorous part of mechanicing, we also had a contract with the local Sheriffs office to repair their cruisers. Highly entertaining unfrigging some of the stuff that came in, as long as you didn't take into consideration the fact that rolling shitshow was driven to your shop.

[@tomwallace3103]

Good job! Always enjoy your insights and humor. And I learn.

[@SuperDave21]

I sure wish I had more confidence in the techs in this area of the USA... really hard to trust people after getting stung a time or two! Great video, thank you !

[@CodySoutheard]

Thanks Mr. O for your video and your time I appreciate you

[@rickgaine3476]

note to anybody that considers opening up an automotive repair shop in New York State. Whatever you do, do not call it the other shop. It won't go well for you.

[@SouthMainAuto]

Hahaha 🤣😂

[@riblets1968]

We're fortunate to have found a shop near us that does good work, guarantees it, and with whom we've developed a good working relationship over the last several years. We've had very few "oops" type comebacks with them, and they were nothing major. It was a process to go find them, but it was part good luck, and a lot of process of elimination. There's no real formula for finding a good shop, unfortunately. If you're lucky, however, you'll get a referral from another shop! We had that once when we lived elsewhere, and the referred-to shop was freakin' gold! When you find a good shop, stick with it!

[@davewallace.8303]

Eric, you’re the ONLY mechanic I truly trust!

[@georgesokolov4155]

Maybe the owner did it himself and just said "another shop." In any case, it is a pleasure to watch you work. Thank you for the video!

[@daverichards190]

Good morning SMA! Eric, I converted my press to a pneumatic 20 ton bottle jack, works great and saves quite a bit of time, I am sure you have probably thought about it a couple of times, I used the HF jack, picked it up when it was on sale for $89.99. (lol, just got to the part where you talk about this very suggestion) Enjoy your vids, pretty much am always learning something off of them even if it is only to be thankful I don't live in the rust belt. As a mobile mechanic it would really suck

[@rbailey225]

Mr O. What makes your shop great is you give a crap about doing things right and you don't hire others to do your work. When shops start hiring other guys the mechanics they hire don't have the same skin in the game that you do. That's when things start going south. I do most of my own work but man when I'm stuck I wish I lived in Avoca.

[@algorithm-w7o]

SMA is a good shop, lots of good reviews.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

Don't pee in the wind. Best advise of the day. Thx!

[@zakuraayame5091]

if you must go; downwind, no cross-breeze :D

[@yottaforce]

Don't eat yellow snow.

[@ferrumignis]

Confucius say, man who pees into wind get his own back.

[@DarylSAdams]

Don't tug on Superman's cape

[@lvsqcsl]

@@DarylSAdams Meh. I did that at the Superman Festival in Metropolis, Illinois last year. Of course, I knew the guy that was dressed up as Superman and he worked at the Metropolis Planet Newspaper.

[@jimandnena4]

It never fails. Every time you get really busy in the workshop, somebody wants you to stop and go eat! Mrs. O is just trying to keep you nourished. We are starting to think that this car could last you until retirement?!

[@flatdaddio]

Great Video Mr. "O"! I tried reading reviews to choose a shop and it didn't help. Still got taken to the cleaners and my car left with the same problem it went in with. The guys at the parts store told me about a garage that does good work and they also specialize in Fords. I started going there and no complaints. Seems like they do good work.

[@jamesherbert8391]

Do you think perhaps the owner tried to DIY this and then blamed “the other shop”? What mechanic would make this sort of mess? 😅

[@bombardier3qtrlbpsi]

U wouldn't............. I mean I wouldn't be surprised what some or alot of jobs I seen and heard what licensed mechanics can do

[@cpzmelbs]

Faked receipts and everything?

[@amplituhedron5582]

nope, he said in previous video he has seen the receipts and knows the shop

[@BucketList22]

I've been saying that since the first video but if he had receipts then that's probably not the case

[@donniev8181]

New to the channel? There are plenty of horrible mechanics out there.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Last year my daughter showed up at my house with a 2021 Chevrolet Trax she had just purchased as a certified pre -owned with 30,000 mikes on it. Not thrilled because so often I end up paying for many of the repairs on her car. Hoping for the best. Good news is she doesn't put a lot of miles on her car annually.

[@2nickles647]

I have a Pre-certified Pre-owned by a 60 year old lady who only drives it to church on Mondays. All for 50k...any takers

[@mph5896]

4cylinder turbo GM. Who can say no 😂

[@lvsqcsl]

They aren't very good cars. Continue to hope for the best!

[@JeffWok]

I look for a shop with a smart mouth mechanic who loves movie quotes apparently. Snuck another Tommy Callahan in on us. lol

[@HayesTech]

If you are in Pa. in the Lock Haven area, I can highly recommend D&G Auto. Been using them for over 30 years. Always the best service. Not the cheapest, not the most expensive, right in the middle. I can promise you they don't screw customers over.

[@klwthe3rd]

Eric O saved this customer a ton of money that he probably didn't have after that last shop's poor performance. He reused those old knuckles and fixed that CV axle where most shops would have charged the customer for new units. This kind of customer service is why i have been coming back to this channel for over a decade. It kills me that we don't have a shop like this around me. 😪

[@andreim841]

Even for the most non mechanically inclined DIY person this job is a cluster#$%

[@bbdodge5151]

i replaced the turbo on my mothers 14' , was chasing an oil leak, did the valve cover gasket [cover was good], pulled the hose off the bottom,oil poured out so it was passing right thru, changed turbo, fixed the oil leak,,turbo prop is the size of a silver dollar lol.

[@PeteyMcSavage]

I got my butt kicked by inner tie rod took me 2 days. Red thread locker is a beast I was ready to send to south main auto. You have tough job brother! I have a desk job but wanted to tinker cause of your channel. I got my man card renewed for another year now.

[@JohnDarwin7]

A job worth doing is a job worth doing correctly.🖖

[@randyhughes5160]

I like the new shirt I look forward to our trip’s harbor freight has a inexpensive 20 ton air jack for your press ask them to test one

[@TheoldBiker-bi1ho]

Eric, If I was living in your area, then I know how to go to with my cars.... You are very good to fix cars ! And, send a hug to your little garage cat also 🙂

[@davidgoodwin5808]

Aww dang I was totally looking forward to a video on the oil leak fix.

[@PatrickJago]

Master hole polisher- wife approved

[@kenmohler4081]

I have no idea where to go with that without getting myself in trouble. So I will just leave it alone. Discretion is the better part of… Oh well, you know.

[@GlennBalent-nq7rh]

Good morning Eric from Bucks County Pennsylvania!

[@shadetreemech290]

Greetings from Washington County PA.

[@shadetreemech290]

It's time to go deer hunting.

[@maui6446]

Good shops are few and far between. I only know of three in my area (three towns of about 130K folks total). The one that does alignments had a 6 week waiting list for alignments! The kids at our local corporate tire store just do not have enough experience. They are all supposed to be trained but don't have enough time on the rack to do a good job as they do everything else too. The 6 week wait place has one guy in his 50's or 60's that does alignments all day, every day. He has showed me his results vs. the corporate place and they were way, way off. I could tell because the car drove bad.

[@mph5896]

Yeah, it’s hard to find a good alignment place. Local one I use is hit and miss, but they get cars through. 😢

[@devttyUSB0]

aweome videos, mr. o. thanks for your efforts and great work.

[@magnusstuff]

Finding a good shop is like finding any other good repair man/construction company. If they got time for you in the next 2 weeks, they're nongood. The good ones are booked from now 'til forever. 😢

[@hahaha12345678993]

that looked like a weld splatter in that snap ring groove that cant be it

[@ferrumignis]

Yep, they may have welded inside the old bearing outer cages to help extract them.

[@alanprather8399]

I love how Eric spends just as much time trying to diagnose how they mangled the previous install hmm waffle hammer or vise?

[@DanClark-r4b]

Another example of competence by the Master! I did all of my own work for many years simply because I wanted it done right, now that I'm too old and infirm I'm also lost when it comes to finding folks who actually understand what they're doing. Stay away from the dealers, in over 50 years I've seen only a few that are actually competent.

[@ronnieboardman1673]

Just plain honesty is all I'm looking for it's not so bad paying for a repair if it's being done right and not getting overcharged for it.

[@zoranvrzovski]

South main automotive is the best and honest auto shop in the world take that to the bank

[@helgew9008]

Wheel bearing number 12 and 13 done. For this guy, 13 is going to be a lucky number.

[@hazadus2u]

While you were polishing that whole hole, My eyes were focused on the wizzy wheel falling off hitting the floor😮

[@davidkroth]

I continue to be impressed that Hoselton Chevrolet is SMA's Chevy supplier. That's a long drive. They must have multiple shops on that route.

[@freetolook3727]

@22:44 And with that Brakleen sound effect, I feel like I'm watching Netflix! 😂

[@jbrhel]

Good morning SMA. Do your family a favor and wear your seat belt when you take it for a shake. Another great video; thanks.

[@mh-tn3ic]

We do miss the brake Kleenex sound affect 😊

[@steveb6103]

He has this video to take to small claims court! I would call that. Having an expert witness!

[@marcnotyou3191]

Why didn't we get to see what's for lunch?

[@mph5896]

Prob lunchable

[@PierreClavie]

All I can say is, do not Pee on Electric Fence! Cheers

[@Jordendog]

other than screwing everything up, they did a pretty good job! Classic.

[@GrevilleRyan]

Loved the video Mr 'O' keep doing the same...looking forward to the next one..

[@anthony-i1k8c]

A front axle on my 11 year old Lexus. ~$950 for the part only if you buy from Lexus. 😢 But I was able to save it and it's been good for 10k miles so far.

[@cpzmelbs]

Sounds like a good deal to me! I’ve got 2 GM vehicles with just about zero support for new genuine parts, or direct aftermarket for that matter. Getting an axle would be a fancy custom “chrome alloy titanium tool steel billet speed shop made to order” type of ordeal 🤣

[@mikew6193]

Guilty. I never knew those bolts were splined. They were all smooth as a babies bottom when I took them out with my impact.

[@brianbanks3044]

i remember when those splined strut bolts first came out, the y didn't have a regular six sided bolt head on them so the mechanic knew that it was splined...looks like they changed the design over the yrs so now if the mechanic puts the gun on the bolt head, if it eventually spins, it will strip the splines.....oh well, the alignment just became more adjustable

[@hasletjoe5984]

I think you should start a new "Click and Clack" type show. Your humor and with a bit of assistance from Mrs. O, it would be a great time. I listen to their reruns off the innerweb today. Thank you!

[@michaelhawthorne8696]

"Other than screwing everything up....they did a pretty good job"....🤣🤣🤣 Way to go Eric O.........Call it as it is......👍

[@Twin_Flyer]

have to wonder if it was another shop or a case of his uncle's cousins brother that said 'hey, I can do it for less in my carport!' lol

[@chucktx5957]

These videos are a pretty decent display of how to use correct tools correctly. 😂. and vice versa. 😄

[@fertilious]

Rockin the Wilbert's shirt.........

[@mickblock]

I did my own wheel bearings, which failed soon after, as in I could feel the spindle get very hot and hear the hum. I think I didn't do the hub bearing to spec as it it was 52.7 lbft + 90° & it wouldn't go the full arc without feeling ridiculously tight. So I just took it in to a good shop the second time around. Big relief.

[@AR-ed3xw]

7:19 maybe not the best way, but way better than the other guys!

[@DrFiero]

Back in the early 70's when I was a kid my mother got ripped off big time at 'a shop' (names withheld to protect the guilty!), which became one of the large reasons I became a mechanic (amongst other things) myself!