Honda DIY Gone Wrong - Misfire on EVERY Cylinder! - Bizarre Diagnosis

I've seen some weird stuff, but this might just take the cake. 2009 Honda Accord barely runs with misfire codes on every cylinder.
Sorry, my editing software stripped out some subtitles for reasons that are still unknown.
This is the Launch tool I have: amzn.to/471Asbs
There are newer models out now but they all use the same software.
This is the borescope I use: amzn.to/48g9AVS

[@WatchWesWork]

This is the Launch tool I have: amzn.to/471Asbs There are newer models out now but they all use the same software. This is the borescope I use: amzn.to/48g9AVS

[@glencaple3888]

Thanks for the link to the borescope. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and your family. 🎅

[@harrywalker968]

heres a Q,, where you buy the under hood lite.. i have one, but cant find anymore. its over 10 yr old now, fixed it 4 times.. needs to be sent to aus, . harbour fright,,, dont ship..cant find any decent in amazon... thanks. ausie..

[@harrywalker968]

come work here in aus.. no rust.. just sunshine..

[@fredmalito9869]

@WatchWesWork, does the Launch scantool have module topology (red light green light tree of modules)? If not, got a recommendation for one that does for $850 or less?

[@wandameadows5736]

Leave the rust belt & move south where there's better weather & government & no rusted out frames. Im in Georgia just south of Atlanta & its common to see 20+ year old cars on the road down here. That rust is the worst. I watch South Main Auto & see the stuff he deals with & I couldn't imagine buying a car knowing the frame & body is gonna fail before the engine & transmission. The only time i've seen rust on a car here is if a rock hits a car & chips the paint. There's gotta be a better way to deice roads than salt.

[@falcordamascus4420]

You definitely are not "the bad guy " when it comes to denying repairs . It is a great standard to live by , integrity! . Not to mention as you say , getting sued out the Ying yang for doing work on a unsafe vehicle. These rust units are cruising down the freeway mere feet from your vehicle and family. We need more mechytechs like you and Eric O !

[@Hjerte_Verke]

A good reminder, with your statement about "rust units" being everywhere, to avoid large groups of cars and to also stay away from the big 18 wheeler trucks too. Pass them all quickly, get out of their way and stop driving in the herd.

[@goose300183]

yeah it's good to see Wes do the unpleasant job of declaring a vehicle unsafe and recommending it be scrapped. It's needed over in the USA. Here in the UK, we have yearly vehicle safety checks, commonly known as the MOT. The government imposes this for all cars over 3 years old. They check everything from brakes, fuel system, lights, exhaust system, tyres and wheels, general stuctural integrity and wear of the running gear, corrosion etc. etc. It's mainly focused on safety, and the tests are pretty strict. Yeah we moan about it here in the UK, but it really does largely prevent unsafe cars from being on the road. If your car fails an MOT or you don't get one and keep driving, you will be stopped by the police, fined and in some cases get a criminal record for driving a dangerous vehicle. It has become much stricter in recent decades. When I was a kid, I saw plenty of clapped out rustbuckets in rural parts of the UK. Not so much now, the standards are high and the roads are safer for it.

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Only Wes would not charge the customer after seven hours spent on his Honda. How I wish I could meet you some day and shake your hand Wes.

[@ricebike]

He charges a minimum diagnostic fee... Just spent too much time with it for the viewers to see what is happening to that poor owner car😢

[@WatchWesWork]

Correct. I had enough to call it DOA after about 2.5 hours. The rest of the time is for my own benefit, if you want to call it that.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

@@WatchWesWork Totally understand that stance and agree with it, and as you were revealing more and more issues, I could feel our collective brain power expand with all this new knowledge--truly a transcendental experience.

[@myfavorites1016]

​@@WatchWesWorkthat car had a major problem, that was a good video, even tho it was not able to be fixed

[@ethandoanemusic6420]

"Door handle is upside down." Thanks, I hate it.

[@armedpreacher]

Right! Plus idk how I haven’t noticed that until he pointed it out.

[@samholdsworth420]

Hahaha holy shit

[@BFT88]

Thanks I hate it too!

[@tbirdracefan]

Didn't look bad till he mentioned it.

[@POVwithRC]

Once you see it, it never goes away.

[@GreyRockOne]

You are not the Bad guy, you are the SMART guy in more ways than you give yourself credit for. Thanks Wes!

[@Reservoirdogs617]

Great video. I appreciate the inclusion of the other bad news clips at the end. Sorry you had to be the bearer of bad news for the customer but I agree safety and liability is too important to take on jobs like those.

[@davidcolesr.8628]

We can merely Pray for a Two Hour Video from Your Ole’ Man Mrs. Hufflepuff Towing Service.

[@suterfamily5578]

Wes, I too have had to deliver bad news to the same friend...twice about his cars (2 different VW's) that were too far gone from rust to repair, it sucks to be the messenger, but you're right to turn the work away. What do you think about doing a video for us rust-belt folks where you show how to diy rust prevention on a new or slightly used vehicle to save them before salt kills them?

[@TokyoCraftsman]

You are not the “Bad Guy” you sir, are the “Good Guy”, IMHO. You are saving the customer money by getting rid of a vehicle not worth fixing and potentially saving them from harm. Kudos. Cheers from Tokyo!

[@SkylineFTW97]

Classic VCM induced piston ring failure. The VCM (cylinder deactivation) lives on bank 1 (rear bank). The rings get gummed up and bank 1 burns oil. Then said oil burning gums up the cats. Very common on VCM equipped Hondas (most 08 and later J35s. Only manual transmission Accords, Ridgelines until 2015, and low trim Odysseys until 2011 didn't have it). We swap piston rings on J35s a lot at the Honda dealership for this reason. Only real preventative fix is a VCM muzzler.

[@StreuB1]

Wonder if pulling the rear bank plugs and letting the cylinders wash in mineral spirits (through the plug holes) a few times a day for a week or so, then changing the oil, then running it would free up the control rings? Then muzzle it. With the rings freed up a little and the muzzler, I wonder if the rings would free up further to allow the engine to operate properly?

[@Kingsoupturbo]

Is it full motor out to do the rear rings, I assume drop the trans, pan and heads to rering it?

[@lacombar]

Can you swap the ring with the engine in or do you pull the engine ?

[@SkylineFTW97]

@@Kingsoupturbo The ring replacement can be done with the engine in the car. I've never seen anyone pull one to do it.

[@madmax2069]

​@@lacombaryes you can replace the rings with the engine still in this car, BUT not all cars can do that due to the oil pans location could be blocked by the frame.

[@redmondjp]

The oil is from the VCM deactivating the three bank one cylinders. This is a well-known issue. It can be disabled but it’s probably too late for that engine.

[@jeremyhelton984]

Hey Wes , I also operate my own business. There are times when walking away from the job is just the right thing to do. I will always put safety and also my ability to keep providing for my family above any repairs that could compromise any of that.

[@donhunter5.56]

It’s his wife’s car 😂

[@deplorablelibertarian]

It’s not that he wants to walk away from the job, he’s walking away because he would have to drop the engine in order to fix it. The pistons need new rings and you would need to delete the VCM on the engine in order to fix it….the cars too old in order to be worth it.

[@woopimagpie]

Some jobs are just more trouble than they are worth. Years ago I ran a computer repair business, if I walked into a business and the computers were more than 3 years old I'd refuse to work on them. If you're putting that much trust in something that costs so little you're a a fool and I wasn't going to be a part of that. In my early days in the job (before I learnt) I got caught with so many old dodgy systems that would just fail again the minute I walked out, I copped so much flak for that I soon caught on. Also, the older it is, the harder it will be to fix, and the longer it will take. It's just not worth it.

[@Tromador]

Thing is, Wes, I'm sure it's frustrating for you, but actually these wierd issues are so much more fun to watch. We've all seen brake jobs and whatever other routine jobs, but this kind of content is pretty unique every time. Hopefully you make your labour costs back by keeping your YT audience engaged. That's what I think anyway.

[@vincebrown5158]

I see the safety officer (Max) was concerned about your approach. Don't worry, people care about your channel and videos. Loved the back and forth with the wife.

[@lacombar]

The repeat bad news and "doing it the short economical way" is kinda getting against the yt spirit of doing it the right long way.

[@MattOckendon]

Your honesty is a even bigger asset than your legendary skills, Wes. Fwiw I’d insist on you billing me for the diagnostic work, even if the poor old thing was off to be razor blades. Your doctor doesn’t waive his fees if you’re knackered.

[@Jesselovespinball]

Wes , when it comes to our jobs morals are important. I’m not a mechanic, I’m a construction superintendent. I run into similar problems. For example right now I’m working on a building that was erected in 1851 . After ripping out ceilings and walls we found major structural issues . The owner has a budget , as do all projects. But in good conscience I can’t just pretend that I haven’t seen these issues . So moral of the story is , if you want to fix it properly, I’m your guy . If you want someone to cobble it together, I’m sure there is someone out there willing to do that for you , but it’s not me .

[@TOLDyouSOagain]

I really appreciate that you show data on the scan tool. You point out when you notice data values that you know are wrong. I'm sure that's helpful to anyone experiencing similar faults

[@paulcooper9135]

This is why pre 1970 cars are so much nicer to work on ... Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@susanrollinson]

Pre 1970 cars are much nicer to own and drive, too.

[@Discretesignals]

Not everyone can buy and own a pre 1970 vehicle that is in decent shape, well because there aren't that many still around. Not many vehicles in that era would go over 100k miles without an engine rebuild. If everyone now drove pre emissions vehicles, there would be smog and acid rain everywhere. Believe it or not there are newer vehicles that are just as easy to work on and much more reliable.

[@TheOtherBill]

@@Discretesignals Name them, please.

[@paulcooper9135]

@@Discretesignals show me anything made after 2000 that doesn't require a laptop or scanner to diagnose ...

[@Discretesignals]

@@paulcooper9135 I'm not chat GTP or Google. Go do your own research.

[@joeyf504327]

I don't know why but the brake lines on GMT 800 trucks rot out like crazy. They changed something as our GMT 900 suburban with over 200k NY salty miles that was totally rotted out by the end, never needed a single brake line. They were still in semi~decent shape at the end.

[@ScottDLR]

Good vid, Wes and I don't blame you at all for not patching frames. There's just too much liability there. I was thinking perhaps the massive amount of oil in the cyl's was helping the rings to seal and show good compression.

[@billywird]

I would not patch a frame either. Way back in the early eighties when I was in the tool business (Mac Distributor) I was at a shop here in Florida (at the time we had annual auto inspections, in fact when it first came out it was semi-annual auto inspections) A lady brought a Ford van in to this tire store I stopped at and I watched the service writer sit in the van and turn the steering wheel quite a bit and the tires did not move (finally they did) and he turned the steering wheel the other way and the tires did not move (finally they did). Well they had a conversation with the lady and she left. So asked him "what did you find?" His reply was "the frame where the steering box was rotted away and there was one bolt still attaching the box to the frame, so what was happening was the wheels did not turn until the box wedged up against the frame in one direction and then wedged against the frame in the other direction." He told the lady that they did not do any frame repair and he doubted that any reputable shop would do the repair either. I am sure that the lady found somebody to patch up the frame but due to liability no regular shop would touch it. Of course the vehicle would not pass inspection that way so she really could not drive it on the roads here in Florida. Of course the vehicle inspection system was done away with that year or the next I think. (1982 or 1983)

[@JasonSmith-vd1sz]

You’re a great mechanic, I wish I lived closer to you.

[@papawheelie5835]

Well, Wes, about the nicest thing you can do for the owner of this Accord, would be to install some heated tail lights. That way, when it breaks down and they have to push, at least their hands will stay warm.

[@WatchWesWork]

That's great!

[@Hjerte_Verke]

All those "old fashioned" lights with incandescent filament bulbs ARE heated lights and the beauty of them is snow and ice build-up on them isn't a problem. But if you're driving a newer car with "cold" LEDs, the ice doesn't melt. I'm gonna miss hot bulbs.

[@tsparky236]

Most people just do not realize that it is your butt on the line, your butt going to get sued for cobbleing the job? Too man y cobble Charlies out there and you sir are not one of them. Thank you for sharing your time and videos.

[@FensFirewood]

Hey Wes! Hope you’re keeping well and still loving what you’re doing. We love watching!

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

I can't understand how it all works with car maintenance and repairs in the US; I watch a number of KZbin channels and it looks like people go from shop to different shop with no apparent loyalty, reject recommendations for the work that needs doing, then have a go at it themselves, screw it up, and then somehow search out a competent and decent guy like you and expect all the problems to go away. Why don't the customers show some loyalty with repeat business over the life of a vehicle so the repairer has at least a chance of knowing the history and the transition of the vehicle into high mileage and old age? Vehicles don't become completely knackered overnight usually. I think it's perfectly reasonable to select who you want as a customer and over the years I have certainly 'fired' a few, much to their surprise. Be ruthless in decision and compassionate in delivery is a good mantra.

[@MinniMoR]

That generation v6 Accord I believe fell under the umbrella of Hondas re ring campaign that ran several years ago. Just like your wife’s rav 4. Hondas procedure would be to replace the rings on just the rear three cylinders but that poor engine may be too far gone at this point 😢

[@bigmikex2333]

You are absolutely making the right call to not repair that frame. That one spot is the tip of the rustberg in addition to the liability.

[@applefordguy76]

I've owned multiple Honda's, and luckily only had one that was a severe oil burner. 1998 CRV with 191k on it. But also had a 2004 Accord with a 3.0, bought with 60k and sold it with 265k on it. Never used a drop of oil, and only engine work was a routine timing belt. Changed trans fluid every other oil change, and never had issues with that either. Was a phenomenal car! Now drive a 2011 Fusion with a 2.5, and this car is every bit as good as that Accord. Currently 277k on original motor and trans.

[@dave-ish8098]

My mom had one of these, glad she traded it at 130k and before any problems set in. That v6 used to use oil even at low mileage, that cylinder deactivation system was a headache.

[@davidyates748]

As someone who also loves to fix things I can concur that there's few things more frustrating than a succession of DoA cases. I only work on my own stuff too so it must be even worse having to break the bad news to a customer who likely depends on the vehicle and can't easily afford to replace it.

[@KarateSensei71]

Poor Max, for just $5 dollars a day, you can help this helpless animal to find mice, get some compassion, and a warm coat for winter.

[@w0lfy651]

Hey Wes ! Just because you tell your customer the facts, it doesn't make you the bad guy ! The bringer of bad news ..... maybe. Thanks for the video. Inc. Mrs W and the pooch.

[@bryand1204]

Personally, Wes, I appreciate your ethics and doing the right thing by not fixing vehicles that shouldn't be. There is enough junk on the road, and adding one more POS isn't the answer. I know cars aren't cheap but neither are Law Suits...

[@henrydunbar397]

Great way to start the day - another Watch Wes Work video. I owned 6 Accords over 35 years and never had a major problem with any of them but the newest one was a 2000 4 cyl model which was sold 10 years ago with 175k miles on it.

[@MC-ft8zv]

20 minute repair job my Rs!! Problem is there are so many people who are so ignorant to any unsafe mechanical defect. You did the right thing, say bye bye before your spanners touch it

[@mikeluscher159]

It's probably too late, but a VCM Muzzler would probably help keep all 6 cylinders firing all the time Piston soaks with solvent and engine flushes might free the rings, but it could be too late Maybe PCV valve sticking? There was a campaign/extended warranty for re-ring jobs on VCM V6s, but that's long expired

[@alouisschafer7212]

If this was my car id dump it and cut my losses.

[@jptrainor]

I put an S-VCM on mine after the first cylinder 3 misfire. Running fine a year later with VCM disabled. I got a 140k miles of trouble free driving from it stock. The next 140k will be with VCM disabled. It doesn't burn much oil. Very reasonable. It's a 2010.

[@-CLASSIFIED-]

As a Honda tech , the re-ring isn’t that bad to do on everything except the oddesys . We usually quote around 18 hours for re ringing the whole back bank plus the front bank that has cyl deac.

[@packerman1203]

@@alouisschafer7212taking the heads off on this generation accord is super easy, even taking the engine out would be a good way to do this job, i can get my crosstour’s engjne out in probably 12 hours with no lift.

[@firstlast---]

Crankcase pressure tested good per the video

[@GoughCustom]

Wish you were my local mechanic Wes! We have a 2010 Honda Fit, I heard a squeaking noise at the front right and took it to the mechanic near my partner's work... They said it was a bad CV axle bearing, and that we should replace the entire CV axle as that would be about the same price... $1,200 for the CV axle, plus labor, about $1,500 - $1,600 total... High price for the axle because they can 'only get that part from the dealership'. I took it to the one man shop down the street, they said about $600 for an aftermarket CV axle including install. He and I poked around underneath and found a loose exhaust heat shield on the passenger side, I poked it a few times and heard the exact squeak I was hearing inside the car. Pulled that off and the squeak is gone... $1,500 saved.

[@WatchWesWork]

Sounds like you can fix it yourself!

[@GoughCustom]

I know enough to be a pain in the ass lol

[@ThatPNWGuy2024]

173k miles and I’ve only had to change the starter in my 2013 civic. Crazy seeing how many problems people have. Cheers from one Wes to another. Keep up the good work.

[@jptrainor]

I have a 2006 Civic. The starter lasted until 246k miles. Alternator was replaced around 200k miles.

[@andythekitsune]

356,000km on my 09 civic. Has gotten a new alternator, Ac compressor and starter but that's really it.

[@ThatPNWGuy2024]

@@redrider7730 sounds like you got one built on a Friday. 🤷🏻‍♂️ almost a million miles on 4 different Hondas. The salt ate the first three before any mechanical issues.

[@ThatPNWGuy2024]

@@redrider7730 don’t know what to tell ya bud, I don’t work for Honda. I don’t make the cars. Just drive the hell out of them.

[@deplorablelibertarian]

I’m working on my third Honda Civic, and Ive logged almost a million miles between the 3. I also have a Ridgeline.

[@kimberlymartinmaas730]

Great video! Just another V6 Honda that crapped the bed. I had an 09 Pilot with a lot of problems too. I spent $6,000 trying to chase down a power steering and AC problem. I finally gave up and got a Toyota instead. You know Wes, I think as far as the bonus footage on this one being about being the bad guy, you should have included that footage where you "gracefully" drove that vibe into a wall. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that phone call...but accidents happen and couldn't have happened to a better vehicle. That was the first video I ever watched of yours. Thanks for the videos~

[@josephroth3982]

Two of my favorite customer quirks in one video, lol. Customers who have loaded up the parts cannon themselves, and it's still broke. And customers who have driveability concerns and bring it in with no gas, lmfao! That poor engine is just flat worn out. The glazing on those cylinder walls is impressive. That repair is gonna be wicked expensive. We won't even lift a vehicle if its rotten like that. I live at the Jersey shore, we got rust on rust here, lol.

[@csham8875]

I can't imagine bringing a car to someone like Wes to diagnose with no gas and a dead battery. If' I was him I'd charge $20 a gallon for the gas I had to put in it.

[@waiting4aliens]

I too have received the request to please remove my sorry pile of rust that for liability reasons we will not touch. Sorry you got in so deep for an unbillable problem. Thanks for all the great content in the past year. The best to you and yours. May Santa bring you in the coming year a string of Arizona and New Mexico cars.

[@John-xu5rr]

I currently run an '11 and '12 Pilot that have VCM. I've diabled it and oil consumption went down. Have been running that way for a couple years and don't see a mileage difference and the car seems to run better. The '12 I got later in life, so it had burned enough oil that I had to replace the rear bank upstream catalytic... Not a pleasant job. The best advice over on Piloteers board is that this issue can sometimes be reversed when there is still good compression... The oil rings get stuck and that's what usually causes the leak/burn. The recommendation is to do a couple flushes with Liqui Moly and over a month or so see if you can get the rear bank oil rings to free up. Do a PCV valve at the same time... they get super crusty and jam. Personally what I'd do with this one is to knock out the center of those catalytics, do a couple flushes, and run it for a month, after adding one of the devices to disable VCM. If after a month or so the oil rings still are not sealing properly, I'd call it scrap at that point. If the oil leakage gets better, I'd put the catalytics in it and run it. My bet would be 40% chance that the engine is salvageable, given that you still good compression. Now whether or not it is worth $1500+ in catalytics if the engine was good... can't answer that for the owner.

[@John-xu5rr]

Also worth noting that the downstram catalytic (horizontal under the car) doesn't have a sensor behind it, so if the center of the downstream converter could go missing and you wouldn't throw a code.

[@tchads_57]

Nice catch on the door handle. 👍 My son works designing online car ads for dealers and got a laugh over that. Road rescue - another reason to live near family. My sister taught 2nd grade for 30 years and had some great stories, so always listen to the venting of a teacher.

[@999benhonda]

Cylinder deactivation is perhaps one of the dumbest attempts to increase mpg. I can't see how engineers thought it would work without side effects.

[@sdvten]

Just so it helps up their CAFE rating a miniscule amount and makes it out of the warranty period. These manufacturers don't seem to mind the tarnishing of the brand that occurs. Granted all the manufacturers are loaded with problems now.

[@MattExzy]

It was BS attempt at making relatively large displacement engines look like mother earth hugging Mother Teresas.

[@kisielthe1st]

@@sdvten Don't blame the manufacturers, they only make what the customers want to buy. And for some unknown reason seemingly everyone needs to have 300 horsepower in a car for hauling kids to school and buy groceries at walmart.

[@sdvten]

@@kisielthe1st The multi displacement systems on these vehicles has nothing to do with what the customers want. It is all about the manufacturers doing this to try and meet the CAFE and emissions requirements set by the government. Not all the manufacturers use those systems FYI. With all the money they throw at lobbying they could put up more of a fight but they continuously bend over and take it.

[@seanwieland9763]

@@kisielthe1stthe problem is manufacturers have to make products that conform to the idiotic regulations mandated by the government. Ratcheting targets for fuel economy and emissions are the chief reason why modern cars are unreliable junk.

[@kmatch1]

I've had the "intermittent cat converter" as well. Plugged and broken made it run perfect until the core moved and shut it down. As for the oil puddling I'd have to consider plugged oil return passages keeping oil above the valve guides making it dribble down the valves.

[@williamhenderson9535]

I must admit, my heart goes out to those folks who live in the northern parts of the USA and have to deal with their vehicles falling apart. I grew up in Buffalo and understand the frustration! Living in Southern Indiana the past 30 years.

[@ryans413]

What causes rust you need air water and some type of what I like to call food the part rust love mud dirt salt chemicals mix that together and you get rust. Everyone thinks it’s temperature based no you can get rust in hot places to but it’s more common where there’s more food for the rust to feed on like road salt and chemicals used to break the ice. Best you can do is wash that stuff off your vehicle as much as possible. Yea you might have to wash your car 5 times a week to keep up on it but that’s the only way unless you undercoat the car with a rust barrier but that’s also messy and has actually led to trapping water which leads to rust so you can’t win.

[@madmax2069]

Fluid film every year either prevents it or severely kws it down (and avoid that rubber coating as it'll actually accelerate the rust issue).

[@madmax2069]

​​@@ryans413fluid film works great (you just have to reapply it every year), just avoid any rubberized undercoating as it's the rubberized undercoating that traps moisture and leads to the car rusting out faster.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

@@madmax2069 Mustie1 has several videos on his home brew undercoating, and he has the same opinions as to the ills of factory undercoating. I think he uses or has used Fluid Film for the inside of frame rails but he coats the main frame body and underside with bar & chain oil thinned enough to pass through a pneumatic sprayer. A messy job but once he drives it for a few weeks, the oil is 'cemented' in place by an increasingly thicker layer of road dust that sticks to the oil and creates a combined dirt/oil barrier that is more or less impervious to road salt. At the same time, the coating breathes and doesn't trap moisture like a tar-like factory undercoating.

[@madmax2069]

@@Hjerte_Verke yeah I watch Mustie1

[@mdouglaswray]

Wes, YOU are NOT the 'bad guy' - if fact, you're the BEST GUY. The one who DOESN'T just half-ass it and gouge the customer, but gives them the TRUTH. Truth often HURTS. Especially when you don't take care of your machines, the truth is, it's the customer's fault for not doing scheduled maintenance.

[@jeffcarruthers2605]

I was an automotive tech for 35 years and best decision I ever made was walking away after the introduction of OBD/ OBD2. I put up with it for a few years but flat rate and what warranty pays spelled the end. Not to mention the general grief associated with it as we have seen in your excellent videos. Living in Alberta, Canada, I didn't have the rampant rust issues of eastern provinces or your state which made life a little easier. Happy holidays to you and your family Wes and looking forward to more of your adventures.

[@mph5896]

Honestly, I started out in the mid 90's with obd1 and obd2. OBD 2 was a game changer, much simplifying repairs. Some of that old 80's and early 90s stuff was absolutely miserable to wrench on. Over the past 10 years it has gotten MUCH more complicated wit all the networking and 20 modules in the system.

[@POVwithRC]

OBD is magnificent. Imagine not putting up with a diagnostic aide which is designed to assist you.

[@ravenfeather7087]

I had an 83 Toyota hi-lux 4 X 4. Beautiful truck. Ran great. Took it out west a couple of times. Loved it. The first really good vehicle I ever owned. Had the frame welded three times and finally my friend the welder said, "Sorry", and that was that. I always figured there was a close and knowing relationship between the salt industry, new car salesmen, and the town and county highway folks who spread the salt on every road here in NE Wisconsin.

[@peteraitken6494]

Great video Wes that thing throws out more smoke than any of your tractors sometimes you just got to let go and move on ,telling that to the customer though is a whole different story I feel your pain mate lol merry Christmas to you and the family and max take care and all the best 👌👍🔧🔧🔧🦴🐾❤️

[@joebear1194]

Reminds me of what I went through with my new motor for my 96 bronco… got a 351w short block from an engine builder, put it in and it wouldn’t run right, no power, lots of shaking. 2 melted cats and 1200 dollars later my mechanic figured out he put the wrong firing order cam in it… switched around the spark plug wires and it now runs great, 200 miles so far on the new engine + zf5 5 speed swap

[@SammyFender]

To answer Mrs Wes’s question about being in 2 videos so close together?? I look at it as her gift to us!!

[@robertdewar1752]

Agreed. She's fantastic.

[@iFixJunk]

I appreciate the integrity and the honesty, Wes. Hope the trucks' owner saw it the same way. Not too many people still have a backbone. Maybe that's why there are fewer people entering the skilled trades. "Twenty minutes" of whose time? Forget about the ambulance-chasing lawyer who will ruin your career and put your family out on the street (if he can), I know you're the kind of man who wouldn't want to take someone's money and give back a vehicle in questionable repair. Good for you. Thanks for sharing.

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hey Wes - like the song says 'know when to hold'em, when to fold'em and know when to run' - I'm with you when it comes to keeping a wreck on the road. There has to be a limit and your livelihood is worth more than a 20 welding job ( yeah right 20 mins ) I had the same comments when I was a DOT vehicle inspector. The favourite comment was 'If you pass it I'll give you a drink' - My reply was ' that drink better be enough to pay my bills for the next few years as I'll loose my job' Have a happy holiday to you and the family and thank you for the years videos 😎😎

[@redeyedmongoose2963]

I sure do reminisce over the days when engines didn’t have computer modules, hanging all over them was so much simpler

[@ryans413]

Mechanical fuel pumps mechanical throttles the reason cars went to computers because it’s way more efficient in terms of operation but when it fails it’s a headache

[@georgebrumell2814]

It’s not your fault man. It was doomed from the start. I have an 2010 Mdx that has had 2 different j32a motors in it. Honda fumbled the bag with the alignment of the piston ring gaps. They allow oil to pass by too easily. Only permanent fix is an aftermarket ring set but that’s a complete tear down. My solution was to run it on low oil till it blows up but the thing won’t die. Got me 60k miles so far. Cats were lost in a boating accident. She mostly lives on the farm now. 😅 . Love the videos man.

[@dannylim3318]

Nice. Not the first time you got stranded. 🤣 Luckily MIL was available.

[@bwlyon]

Welcome to Auto Medicine Dr. Wes. Sometimes, you have to tell the patient’s family that the patient is either dying or dead. The bright side is it’s an automobile and can be replaced. Sadly, these days replacement cost is off the charts. Merry Christmas!

[@joshuahenry1791]

I completely agree with you. Send the rotted junk down the road. People will not hesitate to sue, even if you have them on video giving the thumbs up to do the "not recommended" repair. Just not worth the trouble.

[@MatWalter-q3h]

For a long while I was feeling like vehicles were made to be junk and no doubt some have flaws. Most vehicles though you can drive off the lot and never change a single fluid or spark plug or filter and still get 100 000 miles. sure its garbage at that point but not a dime was spent on repair. As I have already commented most cars get so much neglect you just cant blame the car any more. Thanks for sharing.

[@southstreetbarbecue7875]

I had a coworker ask me to help figure out what was wrong with her 2017 Accord. Whenever she made a right turn, it would lose power and belch out white smoke like she was spraying for mosquitos. Just during right turns though. I checked the oil for water/antifreeze and it was fine. A compression test showed everything was fine. There were no fuel leaks or signs of running rich either. I pretty much gave up (I'm absolutely not a mechanic, I just know more than her) and went back to check the oil one more time. THAT'S when I finally noticed that the oil level was way too high. The dealer had overfilled her oil on the last oil change by a full 2 1/2 quarts. Every time she made a right turn oil was fouling the cylinders on the left side. I can't believe I didn't notice the oil level the first time I looked at it. I was just too focused on the idea of a head gasket being the problem.

[@SteelheadTed]

I’ve now added this to my mental list of possible dumb issues to find on other peoples car!

[@ryans413]

The headgasket is what everyone always thinks or the battery we have to stop doing that and do proper tests just because a engines not running right it doesn’t mean it’s a headgasket problem. The engine would overheat so quick if it was a headgasket problem.

[@desi4lyfe379]

There is something crazy about this engine especially during winter times. Most mechanics coudnt figured out the problem. Before I was going to crush it, I tried one last mechanic who was able to fix the issue. He took apart the camshaft & cleared all the oil passages. Also, replaced 1, 2 and 3 exhaust valves and did the timing belt as well. I think this engine goes through a thermal shock during bitterly winters affecting the hydraulic driven VTEC system eventually jamming valves. Someone needs to do case study on this engine and figure out if Honda screwed up somewhere in the software or bad engineering.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

I'm always kind of shocked at how many people that live in the rust belt never seem to look under their vehicles.

[@dustinkinnard619]

Out of sight out of mind🤷‍♂️

[@Jehty_]

I'm more shocked that there doesn't seem to be regular mandatory safety inspections in his state/country. Quite obviously people can't be trusted with keeping their cars in roadworthy condition without oversight. I don't understand how people just accept that cars like that are allowed on the road?!

[@bill3641]

After watching this, I feared for the life of my 2007 Pilot ( @ 130K ). Then ,thanks to Wiki , I found that this cylinder deactivation folly didn't start until 2008 . Dodged that bullet . Thank Wes for another one ......... and Merry Xmas to you and yours .

[@lionandthelamb2907]

Atta boy Wes!! Your wife is pretty brave leaning up against stuff in your shop.

[@calholli]

She probably doesn't mind a little fluid smeared on her every now and then..

[@kentmckean6795]

Truly a surgeon with the cutting torch!

[@silent1967]

Don't sweat it Wes, I'm 63 and I know you just can't fix everything or it just isn't worth it. Enjoy the wife, kids and critters. It's Christmas time brother and everything is temporary but family and friends. ✝️🙏☃️👍

[@ricebike]

I mean Wes can fix it... Just with shop rates and used parts are sky high nowadays... It was cheaper for the owner to scrap it and move on. Shame since the body was still in good condition when wife walked under it and noticed that it wasn't a rust bucket for a 2009😢 Now, if the owner has connections to friends and family that will do the job for pizza and beer, he'll go that route 😅

[@silent1967]

@@ricebike That was the " it just isn't worth it part". I know he could have fixed it. But, let's not give Wes the big head or Mrs. Wes won't be able to live with him.

[@ricebike]

@@silent1967 time for the owner to DIY it in his own driveway and learn a few things I guess 😉

[@madmax2069]

​@@silent1967the issue with the Honda is due to the VCM, all it needs is the VCM to be deactivated, the rear cylinders soaked in solvent to attempt to unstick the oil control rings, or just outright replace the oil control rings if solvent doesn't work (which can be done with the engine still in the car).

[@silent1967]

@@madmax2069 Tell the owner, don't tell me.

[@ronaldheit196]

Wes, you really are a bizzarro magnet when it comes to salt challenged northern vehicles. Those oil guzzling cylinders sure are a head scratcher. Unfortunately you can't pay bills and feed your lived ones with jobsyou can't give back fixed. Thanks for some really nice Sunday entertainment. Good luck on the next 10 jobs to make up for this labor waster.

[@williamebert120]

I still enjoy watching your videos Wes Keep up the awesome work Yes it's great to see your family involved in your videos I know what you're feeling when it comes to rust cuz I live in Minnesota As I said great video Wes

[@Mickey_Bauer]

OMG...had the same issue on my dad's Altima 3.5 V6. Amazing engine that was pulling so hard with 120k on it and didn't burn any oil. Bank 2 catalytic converter fell apart into hundreds of little pieces and completely clogged the exhaust. As soon as we cleared the exhaust, the engine ran like a champ again. However, by the time we had it diagnosed, the engine already sucked in a few of the pieces and started burning a ton of oil. Two of the cylinders where at 90 and 60psi, the rest were at 145. I have no idea how but that engine still ran strong except there was lots of blue smoke coming out of the tailpipes. We had to scrap it and buy another engine from a junkyard. I was surprised to see your bank 1 catalytic still in tact and good compression on all cylinders. I feel like that plastic clip is not the first thing he dropped in the intake 🤔

[@jimpawlak7806]

remember jr techs...e on the gas gauge means enough...and remember to check the blinker fluid...

[@hpda44]

I think you’re evolving. I can’t remember before you ever having a stopping place and now there’s hope.

[@mastertech7104]

Yeah, fixing rusted out frames, anyone who wants to stick their neck out on that, have at 'er. Stay safe Wes.

[@ryans413]

A rusted frame is like buying a house with a bad foundation

[@williamj3843]

Even failures make interesting content. You reaffirm my belief that random badness can happen to anyone. Thanks for the episode.

[@erik_dk842]

Same story as with the 1.8 Audi/VW TFSI engines. They burn oil at an alarming rate even at relatively low miles, they run fatally low on oil and get damaged for good, but they have to drive on since the owners are upside down on the payments and can't afford to replace them.

[@BobOMKE858]

I applaud your moral conviction regarding compromised frames. Good for you!

[@MrAPCProductions]

Had that Honda situation a couple times in the last year. Complete engine rebuild or crusher is the option for the customer. Surprised that either that ford or gm were able to survive on your side of the river for how much salt your state uses. Especially given their age. Even more surprising is that they were able to even drive to your house. Always hated telling customers their cars were scrap metal, but I've never been in a court case involving my work for almost twenty years now.

[@madmax2069]

The VCM is the issue here, causes the one bank (the rear 3 cylinders) to suck oil up through the rings which leads to the oil control ring to gum up a seize which leads to fould plugs and excessive oil consumption and plugged cats. Disabling the VCM, replace the control rings is all that's needed here, and all that can be done with the engine still in the car. I'd say if the car was swiss cheese with rust then yeah, Crusher time. But that car seems to not have a lot of rust on it so I'd say it's worth putting a little money into.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

@@madmax2069 Agreed! If the engine has enough useful life left in it, then perhaps replacing the rings on the bank 1 pistons and disabling the VCM will bring it back to life and be worth it; others seemed to think the car was worn out. I would like to see a third video on this car--it really was in good shape otherwise.

[@titanicsauce2152]

You've done your job. You can't fix what's unfixable. Merry Christmas sir.

[@billdyke9745]

That was probably the owner of that car on the bicycle... Life goes on, but not as we know it, Jim... What's the mileage on that car? My daily is a Mazda 2, a year older and pushing 90k. Drives like a dream. The CD player doesn't work, so I have to sing... There's my problem... Mrs. Wes turning up on videos? Seriously, everybody loves Mrs. Wes. Everybody wants one, and you have a 3D printer... Hmm...🤔🇬🇧👍

[@garyhawthorne4599]

Cars just do not last forever in the rust belt. I am amazed on the stuff you do work on

[@larrytalley117]

GAWD I love your channel. I’ve been watching for years. Thankfully there’s not much rust here in Arizona.

[@michaelbenoit248]

I agree with you Mr. Wess on that F250 rotted frame. I had bought an F350 here in the south, & the trash was in an accident to where you couldn’t see the vent frame at all. Wasn’t until I got it home on a trailer cuz it didn’t drive when I realized it was totaled. When a frame is destroyed that bad there’s no saving it. That truck went from being “daily” to complete part out.

[@gardeningpreacher]

As a former GM service technician from the 90's, I enjoy watching your videos! I feel your pain!

[@phillipgarside4438]

Hey Bro ! I was trained by a Euro master mechanic that the Euro cars go Rich as the Battery fails. Or is replaced without resetting the battery age. The premise of the Firmware on the EEPROM is, battery fail, excite altinator to max, go rich “I’ll make it home” My Holden with a Chevy LS in it had the Optima fail on me once while driving she jacked her voltage up to 17v dc.

[@flocksbyknight]

I don't know wether to congratulate or chastise you for spending so much time on this 😂

[@madrew2003]

I had a random loss of power on a '96 Dodge Stratus 2.0, 5spd. It had a side inlet to the muffler and it was internally rotted but still intact externally. It would run fine and then when stopped at a light you would try to go again and all of a sudden it struggled to get up to 35 mph. No check engine light. No codes. I had to hook a pressure gage to the EGR fitting on the exhaust to figure it out. New muffler fixed it!

[@corvettekro818]

Wes, you are doing the correct thing. It's not your fault people don't rust proof their trucks and cars when living in a rust belt....

[@COMM114]

You are never the bad guy for telling the truth. Tell that farmer to drive to Arizona and pick up a frame rail off a scrapped truck and transfer everything over. I doubt he will be interested. If the metal is completely gone on a frame rail, there are few economical repairs. And besides, who wants the liability? I’m glad to see that your wife dropped the idea of running off with the snap-on tool guy. I was worried. Happy Christmas.

[@scotthill1278]

So glad all my wrenching years were in Calif. You rust belt guys are sorta crazy.

[@chrisw73]

Thanks for posting Wes! I just can't imagine driving a car into the ground like this and having no idea what's going on, scary. A couple of pressure washes a year to the underside of these cars would go a long way folks!!

[@needsaride15126]

Agree 100% on avoiding all frame work. For the exact reasons that you mentioned. You have a great channel. Thanks for the videos.

[@alantorrance6153]

I read one article about that "Check Engine Light", which indicates a "Restricted Power Output". It is said to reset if you turn off. But your battery....... Helps to have a good one. Yes, it did reset, and you got your power back ... until it came on again. Over to.... Best of luck!

[@mickestahl6178]

I think you 100% made the right decision, if the car is dangerous and you can't make it safe it's just to say I won't do that job. You loose money but you have clear conscience and can sleep well at night. Have a really happy Christmas and a Happy New Year all of you in the WWW family and hope to see some more of these fantastic videos next year.. Love from Sweden // Micke

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

My initial guess ( 4 minutes) after you mentioned zeroes on the rear cat O2 sensors: clogged cats. I rarely get the diagnosis right. I enjoyed this video and learned a lot from watching. Mrs. Wes and Max and their cameo appearances were great. The other vehicles you showed- good ole Illinois salt got to them. And finally, MERRY CHRISTMAS 2023 TO ALL. GOD BLESS.

[@CS-oe8og]

You are one of the very few KZbinrs that teach your viewers and entertain us, Thank You! Getting to see Mrs. Wes again was awesome! You guys should do a few cooking shows together, that would be fun!

[@Barbaratio]

The oil burning is the oil control rings, VCM causes them to have issues.

[@richardwarfield7386]

Kudos Wes to your integrity. Not every job is meant to be done - some things just have to be let go.

[@BangBangBang.]

Max's distance when he would usually be inspecting the car for mice and his look tells all of us he's seen some horrors in that garage. He just has intuition to keep distance lol

[@thethomasj1795]

Wes, you have shown me something that I have NEVER seen before, a broken Honda.

[@alrodgers2947]

Love your sense of humor. Merry Christmas to you and your family from Charlotte, NC

[@HODGEPODGEDODGEGARAGE]

Hats off to you for trying your best on the oil burner car. Dont blame you either for not getting into patching frame on the Super Duty 😬

[@lyndonwebber1389]

I think valve seals , don’t think rings , good vid ,good find on the zip tie 🤙