TOO EXPENSIVE! Repairs Declined! Twice! Jeep Cherokee 4.0 & Ford Explorer Noises While Driving

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Customer States: Vehicle makes noises, check brakes and suspension. This Geep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 came in for an undercarriage inspection. It looks ok, but up close, things aren't quite right. We found several home gamer level repairs with electrical tape, bailing wire and drywall screws. We found seral electrical wires run all over the engine compartment and the ever ever classis wire nut connections. Several defects were seen right away. There is even a jumper wire from the starter motor that runs into the dash to accommodate a push button starter modification. After lifting the vehicle we and removing the wheels with an impact gun, we found several defects. On the rear axle, the brake pads are gone, literally gone, they fell out! The brake caliper was disable by clamping a vise grip to the brake hose. Other brake calipers were found to have twisted hoses due to incorrect caliper installation. The tires are rubbing against the suspension and have worn a hole into the shock absorbers. Continuing to inspect the suspension, we found damaged bushings on the sway bar with damaged end links. The steering damper is missing and we found found loose and worn tie rod ends. The list continues with leaking engine oil and collapsed motor mounts. We moved on the a grinding and screeching noise on a Ford Explorer 3.5 The engine noise immediately begins to make the sound in startup. After pulling it into the shop we found that the serpentine belt system seemed to be making the noise. In order to determine of the the cause is the engine or the accessory drive, the serpentine belt was removed. After restarting the engine, the noise went away. While the belt was off, we checked the pulleys and tensioner and we found that the alternator bearings were completely destroyed and was the cause of the grinding noise. After looking into the cost of a new alternator, we found that the replacement was remarkably expensive for a quality component. The new Motorcraft alternator was over $500 for just the part! After building the estimates, both vehicles customers declined repairs!
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Intro 0:30
Jeep Cherokee Suspension Inspection 1:30
Inspection ENGINE Screeching / Grinding Noise Ford Explorer 3.5 15:55
Diag Complete: Pricing new parts 22:45
Alldata Labor Guide 25:10
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[@SWATStrachan]

This isn't an inspection, it's an autopsy 😳.

[@CraigGrant-sh3in]

It's a Jeep

[@Flies2FLL]

Welcome to Flori-Duh, where there is NO vehicle inspection of any kind~

[@SWATStrachan]

@@Flies2FLL Seriously? Even in the UK our vehicles have to pass an annual MOT (short for Ministry Of Transport, an inspection to ensure road-worthiness).

[@ki5aok]

@@SWATStrachan Texas is going that way in 2025. I can just image what kind of nonsense mechanics will find when that happens.

[@Flies2FLL]

@@SWATStrachan Completely serious. If you pay for your registration, down the road it goes, the state could care less~

[@PintoPopProductions]

It's like watching a "customer states" compilation, but it's just all the same car. Amazing.

[@charlesreid9337]

The owners probably don't have a lot of money. That jeep was probably all somebody could afford and they just patched it together the best they could. Auto repair used to be affordable and mechanics we're actually experts not parts changers. How much of what you are paying for is middleman and corporate profit. You're telling someone who makes 18 an hour to pay another dude who probably makes $18 an hour 135 an hour so the owner can drive a new Lexus as a manager and receptionist can make a living

[@Sako85]

I was a business owner for 35yrs and a fellow owner once said "90% of customers are fine, 7% are potentially a problem whinging about nothing ect, but 3% of customers are *********s and should be turned away". The problem is spotting the 3%, however occasionally it's pretty obvious !! Don't let them grind you down Ray. 👍

[@Jay.Kellett]

Ray, don't put band-Aids on gun shot wounds!

[@randybeard6040]

@@Jay.Kellett --Good Analogy...

[@LEOelLEON27]

3%?? 10% in my case!😂

[@loudelvis610]

I always said 98% of headaches come from 2% of customers....know when to say NO to a customer

[@sergiopinto6356]

I've always figured it was 10% of the clients cause 80% of the headaches.

[@jaimelopez6050]

I'm an Systems Engineer but been working on my own vehicles for 30 years. If I could only find an honest mechanic like Ray to work on my cars. Ray is an exceptional tech/mechanic and instructor. Not to mention the courage to start his own business! Keep up the good work and much success.

[@RainmanRaysRepairs]

😊

[@Ed-shot500]

He's honestly not far from me (I'm in central FL) . I was thinking of seeing if he'd do the a.c in my mustang. But idk honestly if it would be something hed wanna do cus a few local shops near me have already turned it down

[@Ed-shot500]

​@@RainmanRaysRepairs so Im local to you. I've got an 01 mustang 4.6 2v with no a.c that pretty much needs everything, (old owner pulled it out and put a pulley in its place) it's also probably going to need lines ran as well. Is that something you'd be interested in doing ? Couple other shops didn't want to do it due to the car being slightly modified.

[@RainmanRaysRepairs]

@@Ed-shot500 I’ll do it! Come by the shop or email Lauren…. [e-mail]

[@ZerotheWanderer]

Seriously, I just wish he was closer. I'll occasionally head down to Bradenton for Freedom Factory events, but he's not set up to have people wait, don't even know if you could drop by for a simple oil change.

[@grahamherbert3612]

As a UK MOT inspector, I would condemn this wreck.

[@joevk6274]

Never underestimate people's ability to ignore horrific noises and massive safety issues. Especially when the repair is over $50.

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

To be fair, a professional mechanic won't fart on your car for less than $150 these days. And any shop offering to do it for less is usually trying to scam you.

[@jimandersen3003]

@@jacobrzeszewski6527 Sad but true.

[@jimandersen3003]

LOL on that. I know a guy with a newer Chevy diesel . The DEF and fuel are next to each other(STUPID BTW). He put DEF in his fuel by accident twice. first time, filled the diesel tank and thought to dilute it. nope. ran 20 minutes and died. $20,000 to fix. Second time towed the truck before starting. He has money and sense. Crap happens. I'm the gearhead poor people call.But, when they do, I don't do the band aid stuff. Glad you're here btw.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Never ignore peoples ability to cause those horrid noises in the 1st place.... never mind in this case make the vehicle plain dangerous - including other road users which is not cool.

[@LinuxJedi]

he’s gonna come back and then complain his battery not charging..🤦🏻‍♂️

[@not-a-raccoon]

Customer: What's wrong with my Jeep? Ray: ...Yes.

[@Skylancer727]

"It's a Jeep" All that needs to be said.

[@YouveBeenMiddled]

The owner.

[@timetryp422]

Jeeps are trash.

[@dashcamandy2242]

"It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand." "Oh, no, trust me, I DO understand." Just Empty Every Pocket. 🤪

[@NemoConsequentae]

Previous owner, I'd bet...

[@mjra5121]

OMG. I've made some sketchy repairs in my misguided and poor youth, but this is downright scary. I would be embarrassed to bring that to a professional to assess.

[@Stetsonhatman]

Yep I did my own car repairs at 16 but had more ability and common sense than the hilljack mechanic wannabe assaulting the poor Jeep.

[@Flies2FLL]

I'm not sure I would even let that thing into the shop.

[@IR-nq4qv]

​@@Flies2FLL When its obvious that the owner don't care, neither should a shop owner.

[@Flies2FLL]

@@IR-nq4qv The shop owner should care because if he does ANY work at all on that car and then if something breaks catastrophically in traffic, the shop could get sued. Even if the shop didn't touch the component in question.

[@isleofthanet]

So what happens re insurance if your unroadworthy car causes an accident?

[@jppianoguy]

Seeing that jeep makes me happy to live in a state with safety inspections. That hunk of steel could be barreling at you at 80 mph when something critical gives way,

[@halh865]

if its on I-75 or I-95 in Florida, its more like 90mph (not kidding...)

[@crazy4gta1]

I live in a state that has safety inspections. It wouldn’t stop this from barreling at you on the highway

[@blueoval250]

Changes nothing, I live in a state with inspections and I’ll get a sticker on that Jeep no problem.

[@zoggrog8823]

Here we have someone that has no idea that your state "inspection" is anything but.

[@SchafdoggGTO]

that jeep really wasn't that bad compared to some shit around the midwest. especially with rust.

[@caretakergaming21A]

I just started my mechanic career at a shop in my town, I’ve already started learning so much and am excited to learn more

[@maxpeck4154]

It's amazing the amount of effort that goes in to mangling a decent vehicle in every way rather than fixing small issues as they arise.

[@2605155]

Look, why pay $400 today to solve a problem when I could wait a year and pay $1,000 to fix the same problem??? I gotta buy the newest Iphone16,000 and that 400 bucks is needed for those sneakers that match my shirt. Priorities man. Get with the knowin'.

[@johnm4556]

@@2605155 Peoples priorities are so backwards lol, cant afford rent but you watch them grab their lunch everyday from the uber eats driver lmao

[@TheGuruStud]

It's a dodge. It wasn't decent when new.

[@orinmangar2333]

On the Exploder, always charge a diagnostic fee. You can apply the fee to the repair if accepted by customer. Because some customers will sometimes use shops until they find one to do it for cheap. Your expertise, time, and labor should not be free. Also when wife unit is relaying details to customers, just ask them to look at the video for proof of all details on your diagnosis and prices. Especially for 1st time customers.

[@davidworsley7969]

You do know he's not new to this game?

[@Tedybear315]

@@davidworsley7969 The comment is a good one so that people new to this line of work take the hint. We used to charge a "lift fee" for all the dingle-nuts that where known for 'shop-shopping'. "Hey, my truck has a noise. Can you check it?" (and they've already been to several shops) Sure. That'll be $40 bucks for the lift fee....(or insert your fee here....)

[@JeffDeWitt]

That's totally fair. The customer didn't know what was wrong, for all they knew the engine was about to blow up. Now they know what the problem is and what it will take to fix it. Well worth paying the diagnostic fee.

[@bobbg9041]

On the ford, and i had to do this on my 40 year old sons car, 2005 acura tl, pull the cooling package and bring it out the frt, it might also come out the wheel well The guys going to take it home buy a cheapo reman and try to do it in his driveway finding out he doesn't have the tools or skills. The jeep, just slap him upside the head he's too stupid to own a car. You might pinch off a brake line to get home, but its not a permently repair.

[@forgetfulme1719]

he never said the noise diagnostic was free, probably charged $49.99

[@LabCat]

I agree with some of the other commenters, Ray. Almost every business, from tech to the trades to the healthcare sector, charges a diagnostic fee (or "office visit"). You can always forward it towards the cost of the repair, or waive it if you choose. Your time is just as valuable as anyone else's, and it speaks for itself with regards to integrity and quality.

[@stefanpuffer]

It's a good practice to charge a fee and then apply it as a credit on the final bill if the customer wishes to proceed with the repairs.

[@ClumsyCars]

@@stefanpuffer Yea you can, but then youre eating the labor on the diag.

[@deaconyates2671]

Charging a diag fee needs to be mandatory in every shop, you cannot ask a technician with years of training to just check your car and not charge you. Especially when the customer is going to go home with the info and hack the hell out of their vehicle. KZbin is amazing but doesn’t make for amazing techs.

[@MA-mh1vs]

Yep, most of the shops around here are charging around $100 for a diagnostic fee that they deduct off the bill if you have them do the repair.

[@deaconyates2671]

@@MA-mh1vs being in the business a long time, I can tell you that the diag labor is in addition to the repair time, the shop may say it goes to the repair (and technically it does) but only as a whole. It be like asking a doctor to refund all of the visit costs up to actually doing the surgery. They’d probably say that is part of the associated costs of the surgery.

[@bobmcdoggish9659]

The black Jeep is an entire "Just Rolled In" video. Sweet!

[@OVCArchion]

This jeep is the poster child for needing a safety inspection program in Florida.

[@jeffclark5268]

I don’t need the gubberment babysitting me! It’s my life! /s

[@57Blackwood]

What about the lives of the people you hit when your brakes fail?@@jeffclark5268

[@gamer4thebest]

@@jeffclark5268 Clearly you do as you have failed to see that a car in disrepair doesn't just affect you it effects other people on the road I come from a country where yearly inspections are mandatory and give advisories on what might fail next year (monitor and repair if necessary) I like this system as it essentially gives me a safety report on my car every year and I can then fix things without needing to pay a diagnostic fee as its checked every year, I do most repairs I can on my drive myself with axle stands etc. Would you trust a stranger to maintain your car? of course not so why would you trust them to maintain theirs on the road that you share with them!

[@Not_Based]

@@gamer4thebest /s means it was a sarcastic comment

[@gamer4thebest]

@@Not_Based yeah I had a feeling and he said gubberment but I thought up some good points and commented anyway

[@SteveVaczovsky]

I always wondered what Ray’s labor rate was. Any shop in my area charging only $135/hr would have a line down the street. And he gives an oil cap rotation for free.

[@bluestorm1944]

I’d say $65 to $80 dollars is average in UK. Crazy how much difference there is. $120 to $190 would be main dealer prices. Fair play tho, time is valuable. Wish we had more decent honest mechanics like Ray.

[@myacidninjatheamazing1025]

@@bluestorm1944 when I was around 15 or 16, a mechanic shop near me was $30/hr. this is kinda crazy

[@jimandersen3003]

$135 is low where you are?

[@myacidninjatheamazing1025]

@@jimandersen3003 kansas

[@myacidninjatheamazing1025]

@@jimandersen3003 and the dealership near me is like $95/hr so

[@SuiLagadema]

I'm not a mechanic nor a car enthusiast but how the hell would you take your family for a trip with a clear conscience knowing that thing is, most definitely, not safe to drive. I hear my brakes squealing and take it to a trusted mechanic for him to check it out. Edit: Also, I love that Ray explains everything he does and also the reasoning behind it. I've learned a lot thanks to him.

[@deaconyates2671]

Money, people need a car to live in America and many of them don’t have the funds to perform maintenance. No one wants to drive around like this.

[@slayn2]

Must be nice to be able to afford things

[@dodgeplow]

@@deaconyates2671No excuse for putting other people's safety at risk. that thing is a disaster and the owner actively made it worse

[@deaconyates2671]

@@dodgeplow not condoning it, just saying how people get their vehicle to this point.

[@dodgeplow]

@@deaconyates2671 I understand. My old Dodge truck was similar - 120v wire nuts, wood screws, etc, just not quite so egregious with the vice grip lol.

[@randallsimmons391]

Morale of this story is: no matter how well you maintain your own vehicle, there are people like this guy that drive on the same highway as you with this tragedy of a Jeep with components that could fail at any time, careening into someone at highway speed.

[@NemoConsequentae]

And remember: It doesn't matter how skilled you are, if someone else fucks up badly enough, you are toast. (From personal experience...)

[@michaelmartin2276]

Ahh, a scary thought indeed as I send my granddaughter out with a Christmas car that I meticulously maintained for over a decade.

[@rodx5571]

I drive some old stuff, But mine is road worthy. I see that kind of sketchy crap often as a tech. The car isnt worth the money to fix, but its all they have. Its not necessarily my problem unless i end up in front of them in traffic. Scary stuff.

[@jimandersen3003]

@@rodx5571 Love the honesty. Not everyone, very few these days, can afford $135 an hour for a mechanic + extras and that Jeep is a mess or $30,000 for a 30,000 mile Honda.

[@hellfireclub86]

I mean I get that it's the USA and the prime directive is "mind your own business" but...don't you guys have inspections? Here in the EU, in many parts a piece of crap does not pass inspection it is barred from driving. Worst case it is impounded. Can't you call the cops on shit like this?

[@georgegonzalez2476]

My first alternator repair, got a new front bearing from the Ford dealer, $8. Alternator was right in one's teeth. Half an hour later, new bearing all installed and no more rumbly noise. Things sure have gotten harder to do and spendier too.

[@Fazer_600]

Cars like this make me glad we have annual vehicle inspections where I live. It wont catch everything but it definitely helps to keep disasters like this not being able to stop and slam into me.

[@johnnyolson258]

Just keep it there. I don't want that nonsense in my state

[@wykydytron]

What a stupid take, you rather die in crash then have yearly check? Let me guess, you like your sister too mucho, u vote for moron Trump and you think yearly inspections is against freedom? You are reason why states went from first world country into 3rd world country in many statistic like deaths in car crashes, you have worse statistics then any 1st and 2nd world country. Yearly inspections are not to take your fake freedom they are there to make sure you survive year more to enjoy your freedom. And if you are too poor to maintain car maybe you should not own one?

[@ILovePancakes24]

Unfortunately most places do just a cursory glance and pass if it doesn't throw error codes

[@JamesF0790]

As an Australian and we have annual safety inspections for cars I 100% agree. People shouldn't have the right to drive on the road if their car is a danger to others.

[@Suds.]

Dream on. There are soooo many dangerous vehicles rolling around inspection mandated states. The whole inspection system is a scam.

[@jdbarney]

Our first overlay phone ring sing-a-long in ages! That is classic Ray from the old shop.

[@OldMadScientist]

Wouldn't it be simpler and faster to document everything right with the Jeep instead of everything wrong with it?

[@21Piloteer]

Short list

[@ianmcleod8898]

I think the list could say it looks like a jeep.........the rest is junk.

[@404notfound.....]

No, Because jeeps have more things wrong with them then right! 😁

[@rogeratienza1951]

You’re an idiot. Why would you document what is right with the car. When you visit the mechanic, there’s obviously something wrong with your car!

[@bobbg9041]

​@@404notfound..... Thats what he said, list of things right with it.

[@johnbower]

Good video Ray diagnosing and confirming the alternator fault, checking out best option for replacement / cutting down labor cost, this work alone probably took up around one hour of your time, around here in the UK the customer would get charged for that, and if it looked like a dodgy customer he would not get his car back until the bill was paid.

[@mikemccabe5492]

Here in New England there would be a minimum diag fee of 1 hour labor on declined work.

[@Thetasigmaalpha]

Let’s face it in the uk that would never pass the MOT. You probably wouldn’t let it leave except on a tow truck.

[@Drew-Dastardly]

@@Thetasigmaalpha Not passing an MOT is quite common - usually for shitty things like wiper blades or indicator lights, tyres worn below 1.6mm. You can take the vehicle away, fix it, and most MOT stations will do a free retest within 10 days. However anything in the Jeeps condition will be instantly considered dangerous. The owner will be told it's illegal to drive it away without repair, but nobody can stop it (because realistically who wants to die on that hill?). The police will instantly have the vehicle marked and if stopped the driver will have massive fines and car taken for crushing.

[@sebbykaiser6466]

​@@Drew-DastardlyPretty much how it is in Nova Scotia, Canada. In Ontario we just hand out liability waivers. Safety inspections only required when transferring ownership

[@1decks]

Now that the owner knows what is wrong, will probably going to try and replace the alternator themselves. Good luck 😅

[@cbsdracster6494]

This is gold. I have a notepad full of ideas now for my 20 y/o Ranger. 🤣

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

Jeep wasn't as bad as some of the commenters were saying, it just needs maintenance and comprehensive de-crapping. It's straight and rust free, so good bones = a good starting point. I've put those on my lift and had rust raining down on the floor, with the vehicle rusting into three large pieces and several smaller ones; just a mummified corpse on wheels.

[@jimandersen3003]

My friend has 5. The 4wd coupler is pathetic. They were designed for 4.0 inline 6 cyl and with the v8 the often failing crank sensor is a joke to replace. Can you say alarm issues stranding you and too high tech nonsense for a cheap Jeep.

[@hdfxrs9121]

I agree. Since I do my own work, I can have that thing roadworthy for about $500. Fix a few electrical things and whatnot. That 4.0 liter is a great engine. Add a few more $$ for the body and you'll have a pretty good vehicle. I'd say $1000 total, no more. With the cost of used vehicles now it would be worth it.

[@genel4405]

You should not feel bad on high cost for repairs! The doctor,dentist or pharmacy never adjust their prices! Happy new year Ray🎉!!!

[@ChadSwango]

I was thinking the exact same thing

[@ChadSwango]

Some customers have no intention of having the work done anyways, they're just looking for a free diag.

[@waleyefish9026]

Diagnostic Fee's Apply in both cases. They don't apply for routine maintenance. The Jeep should be rated unsafe to drive. The Exploader driver had no idea what was wrong so they wanted a free Diagnosis. 💲

[@TriforceOfCourage97]

that is what people have insurance for, but being American that doesn't mean much for you lol

[@cenewton3221]

True but very few people have to pay out of pocket for the entire cost of a trip to the doctor, dentist or pharmacy.

[@alanm.4298]

I fully understand and agree with your concerns about cheap, remanufactured alternators, BUT... Years ago and in another state than where I live now, I had a local shop that rebuilt alternators, generators, and starters. Those guys were GOOD! I never had one of their rebuilds fail and they often came back better than factory spec. Unfortunately, those kinds of shops are rare and most rebuilds are done who knows where and are rolling the dice.

[@hjsn1]

Exactly what I was going to mention. I have one really close to me that rebuilds them and one a little further away. You get your same alternator or starter and it has the bad part replaced. I've never paid more than $80 but it's usually about $60 compared to $150 and up for a remanufactured unit from who knows where. It would be nice if Ray found one around him and they would probably rush his jobs since he'd be giving them so much business. The shop near me rushes mine and I don't give them anywhere near what ray would be bringing them.

[@dogsense3773]

In san francisco we have a shop that rebuilds alternators generators starters, got a Asian woman on my block that can rebuild them too!

[@sakaraist]

rebuilds are good, remans aren't. Typically with a rebuild the company will pull it down to the stator and replace anything inbetween that's bad. Remans from MOST manufacturers are unfortunately just a housing that's been through a parts washer and repainted with everything being the same except a replaced pulley or ***sometimes*** a voltage regulator if it went bad bad. That's just the world we live in unfortunately. They're honestly super simple to rebuild your self, It's been my go-to for years.

[@davidrobertson606]

Always amazed what is out there on the road.

[@keithmalmberg8395]

My son bought a 96 Grand with a lot of the same stuff done in the past. He (with my help) is making the required repairs to bring it back. Started with the safety issues and working on the rest as the time and $$ is available. It is a reliable and safe vehicle. It is going to be an overland adventure vehicle when he finally gets it all done.

[@martinbalmforth2665]

Just freakin scrap it, with the owner inside it!

[@Torsee]

😂

[@Zippadeedoodaa-nt8om]

Put you with him😂

[@HawksDiesel]

This is the most floridaman jeep I've ever seen...i thought the vise grip was a kicker, the one sprig spacer gave me a great belly laugh. As always, thanks Ray, love your videos!

[@jimandersen3003]

It's not a Florida thing. I see this all the time.

[@lvsqcsl]

I couldn't imagine letting a vehicle that I depend on get in this condition. GREAT VIDEO!

[@navyreviewer]

you are soooo kind. As soon as I opened the hood and saw the red wires zip tied in the back I would have closed the hood and backed it out.

[@pennytull6459]

Drove into the Shop❤. People trying! Looking for help😊 Rodent Damage no doubt, & hours & hours of work on it with no money to spend on the job.😢 Rainman Ray, bless you for showing this video. 😊

[@tomtke7351]

customer thinking, "I can change the alternator myself!" Good luck

[@milwaukeeroadjim9253]

I'll give my buddy a few beers and he can get a junkyard nator installed for me.

[@Skylancer727]

I mean I did it myself, but I also had a 97 Camry where the nator is quite literally right in front of you when you open the hood. This thing it's buried down at the bottom. Plus that nator I got only cost me like $80 after sending back the core.

[@tomtke7351]

@@Skylancer727 exactly

[@tomtke7351]

@@milwaukeeroadjim9253 sometimes...

[@timetryp422]

Refrigerant hose in the way? Next dilemma for DIYer - inoperative air conditioner with no coolant.

[@gezdipz5425]

Repair going to cost more than the jeep is worth,had one come to me like this refused to touch it absolutely shocking. Keep up the great content 👌

[@bluedog4286]

G'day Ray, if I could offer some advice; never give you talent away for free. You should charge a diag fee and offer the client 50% back if they agree to the repairs. Unfortunately over the years I have come to realise that people only really value what they have had to pay for. Your clients are coming to you because of your reputation and that reputation has real $ value which you should benefit from. Just good business. Your ethics and work diligence is beyond question, keep it up.

[@kurtisstutzman7056]

No one in Florida charges for estimates...! I own & operate three businesses in Sarasota Florida and wouldn't get any work if we charged for estimates...! No one in their right mind would pay for an estimate...!!!

[@adambeimel104]

@@kurtisstutzman7056 Of course you shouldn't charge for estimates, as long as they order your services. But if they let you do the work (that was at least 15 minutes with the driving and so) and than e.g. try to do it themselves, why not bill that? Here in Hungary they already do that for several years, if you want them to read out the data with a diag, it will cost at least a half hour rate. People work, so they must be paid.

[@andrewschrim6676]

I think you garage might be better off sometimes with junk yard parts off wrecked cars rather than those crappy rebuilds from Mexico . When I worked at Sears when had so many bad starter and alternator rework/return problems .It didn't seem to matter where we got them .

[@alphamaccao5224]

"no one in your right mind would pay for an estimate" would you pay for the time, effort and knowledge to find and list what's been broken and how it'd be fixed? because I would. Just because you're a malicious and cheap sack of excrement doesn't mean you should shove your malice on others. @@kurtisstutzman7056

[@simonsventroschke8187]

I think you're the best guy that can perform repairs with only one hand. Great video as always, love to watch. Greetings from Germany, Simon

[@GA-250RX]

Thanks for being an honest man @rainman ray!! Can appreciate guys like you working on our cars.

[@RickDeckardt]

That jeep is a horror show, what happens when you wait to do anything

[@johndonovan7018]

dude its a jeep. keeping it out of the junkyard is an epic achievement in general

[@Skylancer727]

Well it's also the "I think I can fix that" mentality. Puts wheels on that don't fit and burns hole through the fender flairs and shock absorbers. Must have been doing that for a long time.

[@46bovine]

If you can’t afford to do the repairs, you shouldn’t be driving. Get a bicycle.

[@johnengland8619]

Deferred maintenance

[@michaelearl6991]

I won't use a remand alternator the two times I've done it they just run to the end of their warranty and then that's it about 18 months put on a new one and it runs for years

[@williammccauwley8345]

As a mechanic I’m all for a person wanting to do there own work but for god sakes if you don’t know what your doing you have a world of resources to teach you. I started when all you had was dealer Haynes and Mitchell manuals.😂

[@wolleysegap9740]

Used to buy one for every car I've owned. No sense in being kept in the dark.

[@dt3510]

Never had enough money for books . Had to go to the library. Get copies for a dime . Doing the best I could with no money .

[@mph5896]

@@dt3510 Technology has changed. My local library has a repair guide on the internet. Log onto the library website (at home) and I am able to use that guide. Plug in the car by year, make model and its right there. Includes wiring diagrams, labor guide, and all at no charge (besides the taxes I pay to the library yearly)

[@owensomers8572]

What, no love for Chilton? 😁

[@PlymitBoy]

Some people are just lazy. Case in point: the bumper cover. The person could have just got the correct clips online or somewhere, but didn't want to spend the 30 minutes figuring that out.

[@sfeddie1]

10:01 Quite the fog lamp upgrade from round to bolt on rectangle. Real classy lookin’!

[@robertbezak7605]

A good hallmark of such wrecks, next time I will definitely re-park my car if the next car will have such signs...

[@isaac198428]

It’s a Jeep thing you wouldn’t understand. 😂😂

[@michaelmaas5544]

I understand the Jeep thing, that’s why I drive a Toyota!

[@swoleowl]

love the shock delete build

[@zedley1000]

I can see a scrap yard in this Jeep's future.

[@GARDENER42]

Body looks reasonable - basis for a DIY project.

[@brandonstclair6530]

Or maybe sell it to Troy for $500 🤣🤣🤣

[@GARDENER42]

@@brandonstclair6530 Yeah, I was thinking it's in better shape than his.😁😁

[@williamwallace9826]

I see an accident in that Jeep's future.

[@billgraff4809]

COPART needs rust free Jeep parts..

[@Wakeupandsniffthecoffee]

You are so tuned into having "us" with you. When you told Lauren to start the car for "us" I had to laugh.

[@brianspencer6397]

The alternator noise is the rotor rubbing on the stator, because the front bearing has collapsed. This usually wrecks the insulation on the coils in the slots of the stator, and renders the alternator not only damaged, but dead, because it's un-rebuildable without an (uneconomical) rewind.

[@pnotuner1]

You can replace every component inside the alternator. But you might as well just get the remanufactured unit, but get the cheapest one with a lifetime warranty. My first job 45 years ago was rebuilding alternators and starters. This was about the time that GM started using internal voltage regulators and got easier to rebuild. The other companies caught up eventually. But there is a reason that GM is the alternator of choice in the hot rod and resto-mod community. It was even the go-to when fixing a Jaguars electrical system. Oh, and I always buy my parts from a national chain so that if something fails when I am out of town, I can still get the parts covered under warranty.

[@blairedmonds6374]

Yeah, but hes saying that the drive end bearing and prob bearing housings so fucked that its polled, therefor needing a rewind. And if you guys are getting over a hundy bucks an hour to diagnose, then the rewinds prob not worth the money.

[@stevegabbert9626]

Put the starter button on the floor where it belongs.😉 That brings back some memories right there.

[@3800scgp]

That Jeep makes me feel better much about my decaying Trailblazer 😁 I had to do the alternator on my G8, and it was cheaper to get a OEM than a reman! And faster to get it delivered.

[@silversurf6159]

Here in the UK we have what is known as the MOT, where once a year every vehicle over three years old has a thorough check of emissions, lights, seatbelts, correct door operation, all suspension parts, tyres, brakes, oil leaks, warning lamps, wipers, steering, exhaust, fuel system, drive shafts, and so on. All the test points can have one of three results, pass, fail, or advisory, a fail on any one item and the whole vehicle fails, advisories are items that will need attention soon such as treads getting low, slight oil leak, slight brake pipe corrosion. etc. It takes approx. 45-60 mins and costs £50 or about $63, so not a fortune and can save lives. I can never understand why they don't have something similar in the whole of the USA, I know some states have a similar system but not all. This one and like many similar ones seen on such as Rays and other channels are absolute death traps and should be off the road forever or until all repairs are completed. Many times in the event of an RTA involving one of these sheds, folk die, I'm not bothered in the least if the driver/owner dies, but often sadly totally innocent folk are killed.

[@reamie]

Same in sweden. Usually MOT is a big worry/pain in the ass to go through every 14 months but seing stuff like this kinda makes me appreciate having such a system.

[@erik_dk842]

MOT takes 10 minutes tops here in Denmark. Keep up with the basic maintenance and it's a non event.

[@reamie]

@@erik_dk842 do you regularly swap suspension or ball joints as basic maintenance? Basically the only thing they dont check is the state of your filters and fluids, which i would consider regular maintenance. Brake maintenance is the only point i would agree that regular maintenance would prevent MOT trouble. But also there calipers can get stuck, leak, etc so unless you rebuild your calipers every few years, you could still fail there

[@Michael-yi4mc]

In America, every cent of the 63 dollars is allocated towards a Starbucks coffee.

[@hughjarse1381]

The MOT was introduced because we had "sheds" on our roads.

[@stephenhookings1985]

Your honesty and transparency is legendary Ray. I guess the Explorer driver likes exploring how to change battery and getting their hearing fixed?

[@sparksalot4950]

Jeez Ray, I think an alert to Troy is in order, this would be considered "almost new" to him !!!😊

[@Stealth86651]

Always love the "It makes noises". Yeah, it's a chunk of metal containing explosions, they tend to do that.

[@ssweeney8491]

Vice grip zip tied to brake line...Approved!!

[@mikkolempinen2717]

I like seeing you two working together. Keep making great videos! 🙂

[@Bailes1983]

Voting for you and your wife for the Matt’s Off Road Olympics as the non-off roader team. It would be awesome to see favorite KZbinrs on the same videos! :)

[@Shododaan]

OMG.... that first vehicle was on the roads where there are good people with good children driving near them. Florida needs to bring back inspections =P

[@RaceOplasmaz]

This is a WILD inspection. Thank you for the entertainment

[@Streamer687]

Definition of a JEEP that should have to have a DOT inspection is THIS video for sure.

[@rhinohino]

I'm amazed as to how clean the undercarriage is. Coming from the rust belt, I see potential.

[@dashcamandy2242]

Agreed. Low mileage for its age, body seems pretty good, undercarriage is clean. Totally worth the repairs needed, as long as the engine, trans, and transfer case are as good as the rest. The 4.0L is a great motor, one of Mopar's best engines in my opinion.

[@bcubed72]

@@dashcamandy2242 Worth the repairs IF you get a good rate or DIY. There is a LOT of labor to make that okie-dokie, and it ain't worth all that much.

[@jonanderson4474]

Yeah why fix a jeep when you could fix a McLaren.

[@rhinohino]

@bcubed72 I thought most of us on this chat were dying mechanics. That body and frame is worth a rebuilt short block and tranny up here.

[@golf25radioman]

I was surprised that the Explorer (exploder) owner declined. The vehicle looked to be in fairly good condition, high mileage but still okay. The way that alternator pulley moved it might just be an exploder on its way out. Good documentation on both the Jeep and Ford. The Jeep definitely is a vehicle I would hate to share the road with. It's no joke when messing around with questionable brakes. The vice grips on the left rear was a tell on everything, plus the other noted deficiencies.

[@jameslovitt994]

That is a classic "have a mechanic diagnose the problem", then have family member/significant other replace the part with reman'd (cheap) junk for $20

[@jimandersen3003]

How much was the estimate. At my minimum wage rates I figured $1500.

[@jameslovitt994]

@@jimandersen3003 I'm guessing you didn't watch the video?!

[@wendwllhickey6426]

People have money to drink and party and buy cigarettes,but no money to fix car😂

[@williamsquires3070]

Hmmm, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a turbocharged alternator before. More Powah, Scotty! 😀

[@ChrisCaramia]

See: M-B water-cooled alternators.

[@MXSLICK]

As someone in the salt belt I'd say this is a great project Jeep. It's just parts and bushings but otherwise solid

[@joeyboone3680]

I’m always amazed at the amount of people who do not take care of their cars. It’s so much cheaper in the long run to maintain.

[@ChrisLincolnHomes]

You're 100% right about chepo parts failing. I remember the alternator failing in my 88 Formula 350 when I was in college in SW VA. I was able to limp it to the GM dealer and had them install a new GM alternator. Easy job but I didn't have tools down at school but it fixed the problem.

[@Triggernlfrl]

Have the same problem with cheap parts on my Ferrari F40. The ashtree is cheap and to small. Even on small yourney there is no room enough to smoke a few joints.

[@wallebo]

You are a good man, Ray. Sad, but true, no good deed goes unpunished. The effort that you made to do the best job at the lowest cost to the customer did not appear to be appreciated by the customer. So, let them go somewhere else and see what they get. Rock on, Ray!

[@lancenorton1117]

YEP, our 2017 Ford F150 needs the Cam Phasors replaced and the water pump looks to be leaking. When everything is out replace it all at the same time OR you get to PAY twice.

[@wallebo]

True, you will definitely pay twice.@@lancenorton1117

[@lawdawgmon6901]

Customer probably thinks that it's an easy alternater swap and they plan to DYI. Wait until they figure out that it's not easy.

[@wallebo]

I have seen that many times. Things look easier than they are. Once the job starts, reality sets in. @@lawdawgmon6901

[@beardsntools]

Lmao his hour is $136. That isn't something that counts as "good deed" that's probably just "normal" for US.

[@owensomers8572]

Is it just me, or is that pair of vise grips pinching off the rear brake line not only nice and shiny, but also very cleanly mounted with those zip ties!

[@rossgee2950]

It reveals a long history of such jury-rigged repairs in this owners past. Practice makes perfect.

[@robsterenborg]

Brake lines in general are cross connected That means front left and rear right to ensure at least two wheels can break in case of but that rule (and more) doesn't apply for this car lol

[@Jay.Kellett]

Derek of VGG approves this repair. "We'll pretend we didn't see that."

[@joshcrd7925]

Makes me wonder if that was done by a previous owner so they could dump the thing. If you have the skills to know what to clamp the vice grip on and be able to do it that elegantly you have the skills to swap out some pads and rotors

[@somethingtrulyhorrifying]

@@Jay.Kellett The owner did the right thing and pretended he didn't see that, because who needs brakes when you got a working analog clock on the dash feller.

[@simonrelic8402]

This is the exact reason you should completely check any used vehicle you buy. You never know what “quick fixes” are previous owner has done. If the vehicle has been sold several times, the person you’re buying it from may not even know what “customizations” are on it. In my experience Jeeps always hold the best secrets. Some I have scene are absolutely crazy, but you cannot be mad cause of the creativity.

[@carlmcdaniel5681]

You went above and beyond and I see you always do. And the price for the alternator replacement is about as good as one could hope for unless you go with a shade tree special. Overall your an exceptional mechanic

[@markpromo7179]

😆😆😆😆 I am a mechanic for 30 years and these are some of the most hilarious repairs I’ve ever seen. There’s no way I would work on this!

[@smccrory3]

Enjoyed watching you build the estimate. Would like to see more of this.

[@orasmiller1273]

Back in 93 we had a lady come in complaining that her brakes were grabbing. Upon inspection pads were completely worn to the point that the roters were paper thin with holes. She refused the work and wanted to leave. We refused to let the vehicle leave because it was a death trap. After she screamed and had a Karen fit we had her sign a waver that we are not responsible for death or accidents due to the fact. So she got the car screeching tires out of the parking lot and got T-boned. Came back and said she was going to sue us for the accident. We all just laughed at her and went back to work. 😂😂😂

[@hugh007]

I understand that you were reluctant to allow her to drive away, but theft is theft. The waiver was the proper way to go.

[@jonsworld5307]

should have just offered waver first making people mad by threating to still there stuff makes them drive faster so in away could of been you fault.

[@petersylvester2347]

Can’t really even call that an “accident”!

[@scannerlanier471]

Dealing with computers, we have customers sign waivers all of the time. It is the only way to "cya" I once did a remote session with a customer. Only to have them blame me for a virus after the session. I once had to work on a file server. I did nothing more than turn the power on and it went down for the count. Both times I'm glad I had a waiver to back me up. I'm surprised that automotive doesn't have signed waivers before they do anything. Cars can be so finicky that you change a tire and the computer blows out before the customer gets home. Although the 2 are not related, you can bet they will come after you because it was working before you changed the tire.

[@garrywilding6077]

In Australia it's comment practise for mechanics to charge a diagnostic fee , then it's your choice to accept the repair quote.

[@jamescardwell3254]

I've used the duralast nators on a couple different autos I've owned as of today I've not had a problem with one. I've installed probably 5 of them. But with this being your lively hood and business I don't think I would use 1 unless customer wanted it or provided it themselves, and I would put in writing that any labor cost due to a failed part would be the customers responsibility to recover from the parts source. Just my opinion.

[@kenthatfr]

How can you not like Dave? He's always smiling.

[@sdrape4964]

I am impressed at how unrusted everything is.

[@mike.47]

Don’t you just love a wiring mystery installation. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@ragnarironspear1791]

That's just nuts 😮😮 no pads

[@dt3510]

I was amazed when I saw the vice grips . Must be HER car.

[@timetryp422]

Jiffy lube repair.....@@dt3510

[@trillian23x]

Car the owner's ex-husband 'fixed' and didn't fight her for in the settlement...

[@gregdcross]

After seeing the cob job under the hood I wasn't surprised to see how bad the brakes were, yet the vice grip application was unnerving. If I was working on it, I would put the wheels back on and park it outside and tell the owner to come get his vehicle. Way too much liability there.

[@stevepreskitt283]

It's a shame too, because Florida *used* to have car inspections until 1981, and they did them at state inspection stations instead of having private repair shops do them like a lot of states do now. I remember going to the stations with my dad when I was a kid, and that Jeep would have had the inspector calling his co-workers over to look in amazement.

[@atomicchewbacca1663]

Its nice to actually see the inner workings of a mechanic shop.

[@beardyeighty]

I soooo wanted to stop in on my way through Sarasota on Tuesday on my drive from Naples coming back home to Georgia. I didn't figure just dropping in would be warmly welcomed. Cheers to a great New Year, though!

[@brownbear5258]

7 minutes in and i cant believe they drive around this death machine

[@kevinbarry71]

It is Florida; land of no safety inspections

[@tkrys]

You’d be surprised. Had one who’s tie rod was so bad the tire wobbled being pushed with one finger.

[@Michael-yi4mc]

@@tkrys👍Which finger?

[@tkrys]

@@Michael-yi4mc Yes. 🤣 It was bad from index to pinkie. Wish I'd taken a video of it. Best part was the customer asked if an alignment would fix it. 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Kafroonkaboo]

I sure hope you charged them for a decent diagnostic fee, Ray!

[@johnchaffin5494]

5 or 6 thousand dollars of repairs for a truck that will only be worth a couple thousand. But the vise grips are priceless...lol

[@stevemccooleq]

You would need to get at least $2k upfront before starting work. Customers like this often order the repairs, then change their minds and just abandon the vehicle. Then the shop is stuck with $4 or $5k invested into a $1k car.

[@waterloo123100]

Where do you see 5k in repairs 😂

[@thomasaccuntius9946]

I have replaced the alternator on my 1999 Suburban twice. Its on top and easy to get to and only takes 10 miutes. I replaced it the first time with a rebuilt one with a lifetime warranty from Auto zone. So the second one, no charge. But this is easy to replace. I replaced the power steering pump 8 months ago and that was a challenge, hope it lasts. 195,433 miles, lots left.

[@frankmartin8471]

I knew a guy from the South, and this could be one of his vehicles. He liked Jeeps, and he loved using baling wahr and sheet metal screws. I think he had a radiator held in place with baling wire too. Amazing.

[@hotpuppy1]

$600 alternator? I come from the days of $30 alternators! That dates me a LITTLE. Gotta love those declines on safety stuff. I'm sure they will botch it up in their driveway and the car will appear on one of those nightmare car channels and blame the 'last shop'.

[@eddiexxxx]

I just this minute said exactly the same.

[@dashcamandy2242]

**"Just Rolled In" enters the chat**

[@andiehyde3714]

$600 for a Ford alternator. Try a high output liquid cooled jobby for a top end Mercedes-benz and I will let you imagine a number. Then double it.

[@TSyoyo]

Really makes me wonder how much they are gouging us on things like this. You can find generators/inverters for that price. Doesnt really make sense.

[@timgould5104]

Yes I remember buying an alternator for £30 30 years ago but that was 32 amp, not 200 amp. So per amp really the price has not changed much.

[@phillipsharpe6459]

That jeep is a death trap, as for the second one why not have it done it's knackered, as for your wife, gorgeous as ever, 😁👍

[@swpags2024]

Florida needs to implement vehicle inspections even if it’s just for basic safety components. Cars like this are a danger to all of us. Smh.

[@muddrmike]

You overlooked the rear upper comtrol arm on that jeep. At 14:21 that upper bushing is shot. Willing to bet the rear upper balljoint located directly above the rear diff is also shot. Just replaced mine a couple months ago.

[@makdaddy8399]

Coolest brake system I've ever seen.....engineering at its finest.

[@BA-gn3qb]

Wait till the Explorer's alternator locks up, causing more expensive repairs. And the JEEP owner blames you for all the problems.

[@jeffcarello7446]

Always cracks me up when you see someone add a "power reduction device" to the air intake... If you aren't upgrading other things like heads, exhaust, etc, you're almost 100% guaranteed to be reducing your engines power... bank on it. 😉

[@jimandersen3003]

The C&N filters cause problems with the airflow sensors from the oil and usually don't get cleaned right causing less air flow. Also, the Explorers are not exploders, that's a term I use for Toyota 4.0 and other newer crap engines.

[@joshcrd7925]

They also let horrific amounts of dirt through and Project Farm did test proving that they barely flow any more air than a quaility paper filter

[@ManleyMachines]

Coming fron the northeast, the fact that this WJ has NO rust means its still quite viable. The 4.0 will run forever, and there are plenty of parts in the yards locally to fix whatever is wrong at a tenth the cost. You all see garbage, I see what looks like a few weekends and kinda fun. Maybe its a Jeep thing>

[@stevewhite3424]

I'm always amazed at how many rich people Watch ray's videos. They always seem so ready to just scrap the vehicle and go buy a new one. 😊

[@ManleyMachines]

@@stevewhite3424 agreed. I I'm certainly not rich, but I do have quite a few Jeeps in my yard. I would love to have this WJ and start sorting it out, the comments seem to feel otherwise.

[@Skylancer727]

@@stevewhite3424 I think fixing that car will cost far more than it's worth. You're better off going to the used car dealer and buying something for less than $3K. That thing is well beyond what I'd consider fixing. And not sure why you'd specifically say "buy new". If you're casually driving a moving scrap yard like this, I kinda doubt you ever buy new.

[@noredcr]

@@Skylancer727 the jeep could be fixed in a weekend or two as a home mechanic for not a lot of money, its all just maintenance issues that are easy to fix on these older vehicles, now paying some one to do the work is definitely not worth it.

[@YouveBeenMiddled]

But it's a 2wd Jeep, with all those problems. Sure, it's a great candidate for a driveline swap but there's all the other pieces that need transferred over too. And you're still left with something that's only worth $3-4k (still titled as a 2wd model).

[@ColinPedley-ex5rz]

Looking at that jeep makes me realise the value of our annual MOT tests in the uk. If that was presented for an mot, the garage would refuse to let it out on the road until suitable repairs were made

[@vbarbee1]

21:51 just did an alternator on a Ford Edge with that exact same problem. It was the Alternator as we'll. The person told me some friends told them have their mechanic look into piston slap, possibly cam grinding ext. Took me about the same time it took you to diagnose the alternator. Took me two hrs, including going to get the alternator.

[@KaycieCarryl22654]

Dave's a real good guy and employee.

[@dlcarburetor]

In my 16 years of working as an auto mechanic, I saw vehicles like that Jeep all the time. Really wish we as mechanics had the ability to retain vehicles that are unsafe like that one. People should not be allowed to drive dangerous cars on the road. When they decide to do that they're no longer just a danger to themselves but everyone else on the road.

[@timetryp422]

California once had a CHP safety check required. For some reason, it was scrubbed. Now anything can hit the road.

[@WraithCustomsFirearms]

​@@timetryp422 well, if you watch south main auto with Eric in the PRNY, you'll learn that "safety inspections" are worthless and "passing" one means nothing lol. Just another way for the gubmit to take your money.

[@michaelsnively3621]

Every once and a while people should just take some personal responsibilty- more govt. Is not the answer.

[@acdii]

Right there with you. So many cars out there today that are just like that Jeep. It's scary.

[@AdamantineAxe]

We used to have the authority as licensed provincial vehicle inspectors to tie a "Do not move or operate vehicle' banner across the windshield that was illegal for the customer to remove. It was abused by crooked shops, now people can just drive off with vacuum tube brakes lines or whatever

[@Mythrell]

I can feel the disappointment all the way here from the decline. I can imagine it being quite heart and bank breaking if that would be occuring more as a small business owner.

[@MichaelPlant-z3x]

It's nice to be able to watch the mechanic work on your car it should be like this at every car shop to bad it's not

[@DannyNeal-g8y]

Since this wasn't posted on April 1st, I assume this "vehicle" is actually being driven. I would either call 911, or wheel out the cutting torch. No way the vehicle will ever be worth the cost of repairs.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

It's Florida. The state doesn't much care about vehicles being sound and safe to be on the road after the initial purchase inspection.

[@hugh007]

Coming from states with annual inspections, I'm better off in FL. Owners are easily scammed, especially for minor gigs like a ding in the windshield or curb rash on a tire. You can't get another inspection at different joint if you have a red sticker. I've waited hours on inspection lines in NJ years ago. @@MonkeyJedi99

[@ZSAZSS09]

​@@MonkeyJedi99what does the insurance companies say if you end up in a car accident with a car like that, and yo could have avoided the accident if the car and brakes were in a better condition?

[@joshcrd7925]

It may not be, but the repairs are more affordable than buying another vehicle with potentially the same issues