Welding DISASTER... (Bonus Part 4 - NO CRANK AFTER REPAIRS??)

Customer is on his way to pick up his restored 2010 Chevy Cobalt beater.... but now it REFUSES TO CRANK!!! WHAT? I thought I was done with this car!
Let's see what the issue is now, and if it's related to any of the previous repairs.
This car is driving me NUTS!!
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Ivan

[@kerrylewis2581]

Glad to hear the Cobalt is road worthy again. I was beginning to think it might need its own channel.

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

LOL!

[@VolvoGonzo]

😂😂😂

[@paulmuff9883]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@raymondreiff8170]

At least anyone who has wiring problems with a Cobalt has some nice detailed info to go with for Free 🇺🇸👍, So glad You found that Relay ground fault before the Customer had it back.

[@dreadnaught2707]

All it needs is a gallon of gas and a match

[@MaxAirGo]

Very few techs would take this job and even fewer finish it. Amazing case study Ivan. Thank you!

[@htownblue11]

You know Ivan is just about completely “over” trying to fix a car when he breaks out the “Russian repair” warning in his videos. He wanted this thing GONE like pronto by this point. You’re the King Ivan.

[@jamespeck2638]

I am in awe of Ivan...he works in the dark of night and the freezing temps too. Talk about never say die. Ivan just never quits and is the sharpest guy I gave ever seen on auto diagnostics. Splice all 4 video parts together and this is mystery movie is better than most (ALL?) of the fake, phony movies they put out today. What great camerawork and narration/teaching from his helmet mounted camera. Congratulations on an impossible job well done.

[@markmalikowski4971]

Guarantee the Russian repair lasts longer than the car. Great video as always Ivan!

[@JPAutoService]

I hate to admit it but 99% of "mechanics" would have had absolutely no chance at even coming close to fixing this car. I've learned more just watching your videos than I ever did at Honda or Kia tech school.

[@100SteveB]

Couple of things to learn I guess. Disconnect battery before welding, and make sure your not welding next to a bunch of wires! (Also, from my personal experience - be careful when using grinder next to wiring looms. I pulled a wiring loom back once in order to prep an area for welding - loom was well out of the way. But you know what wire bundles can be like, they like to settle back to their original placement. Which is exactly what it did, right onto the back side of my grinding disc. Several wire splices later I had learned my lesson). But I had at least disconnected the battery, so no melt down like this one involved.

[@gorak9000]

Grinding or welding also has a way of detecting ANY blue shop towels within a 5 mile radius of where you are. I always seem to get one smoldering every time I grind or weld... those things are f'ing dangerous!! Welding... welding... [sniff sniff] "gd f'ing blue shop towels are on fire again - where even is it this time??"

[@davem4845]

I always leave the battery connected, it acts as a current soak, what I don't do is set fire to wiring! 🤣

[@TheOnespeedbiker]

Best not to be listening to the car radio working on or near the electrical system. Don't ask how I know this.

[@bobspurloc]

@@davem4845 the fire didnt cause this damage, its not possible for it to have done this. the welders over voltage did it.

[@davem4845]

@@bobspurloc I'd imagine the insulation burning off & cables shorting sent battery voltage down cables to components that really didn't want to see 12v, I've never fried an ecu in 20 years of welding - I could be wrong tho!

[@billkaczynski7709]

Customer should be very happy he had the best of the best fixing his beater. Thanks Ivan for another great video.

[@jamesgeddes797]

The gift that just keeps on giving! Just like Gonorrhea ... 😲

[@smh988]

Because the future reliability of this car is trending towards zero, your video documentation is maybe the best guarantee you could have. For you, not the customer :-\ As usual, your commitment to proper repair sets a high standard. Impressive.

[@arcademania7544]

Wait till electric cars with their proprietary software take over! The OEM's don't want guys like Ivan saving people money. They want you to buy a new car, every 7-8 years. 😏

[@brianw8963]

@@arcademania7544 That’s exactly why I’ve came to despise John Deere. They will not even allow the owners access to any diagnostic information for the newer equipment . You know where they can stick it. 🇺🇸

[@lvsqcsl]

@@brianw8963 Not to mention some of the mechanical accessories are proprietary. I was going to buy one, and decided to go with some orange paint instead.

[@nikkojones2784]

IVAN !! After all that fine diaging & repair...you gonna McGyver the man...really? Sending off with the old paper clip & a prayer...From Russia With Love 🤣

[@ChrisWilliams-pu8pj]

Persistence pays off. Eric O would have said "turning off camera!". Great job.

[@porky7753]

Ivan, never a dull moment at the Pine Hollow compound.

[@ojmbvids]

This was probably a long-standing issue before since the relay wasn't properly seated in your previous video. I bet it was purposely left a bit wonky to make contact.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Different relay lol

[@ojmbvids]

​@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics Ah yes - that was the powertrain relay. What a concoction of issues!

[@chadhelmer3835]

Ah man, I was thinking the same thing. Then Ivan comes in with the kill, LOL.

[@karlkoenigstein4138]

Cobalt: the gift that keeps on giving (content)… nice quick diag on the no-crank!

[@DeclanBirmingham]

As much as I wish you fixed it quick. I loved having multiple videos posted so close to each other.

[@paulmuff9883]

Your the man 👍👍 and like you said it’s really a good job that it broke down now as it would have let him down in no time at all! Bet you’re pleased to see the back on this one!🤣🤣🤣

[@ThisIS_Insane]

Sometimes you just need to show 'em who's boss!! Another conquest under your belt, Ivan!! Great Job!! 👍👍👍

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Good one Ivan. Finally the customer is happy with it! That last problem was a good thing it happened at your place and not many miles away. Old cars are like that. More problems than a car should be allowed to have!

[@davidmcclain5180]

The best scenario happened for both you and the customer. That was a bad thing getting ready to happen and fortunately, it happened in your yard. Consider yourself lucky on that one.

[@montestu5502]

Yeah that’s a blessing it broke and you noticed it before he showed up.

[@stever41g]

You're incredible Ivan.

[@dustcommander100]

Amazing that you had to work thru another issue on this one, but you came thru as always! I didn't see a lot of rust, but if the owner's son was welding up rusty areas, there could be multiple failures about to surface. The car looked good from the outside, but you can't judge a book by its cover. As my coworkers used to state: with enough time and enough parts, we can fix anything". It's a shame that the original issue was so expensive and difficult to troubleshoot. I'm not going off on a tangent about planned obsolescence, but even if the designers' intentions were otherwise, the end result is that very few owners can make these repairs themselves. The result is more new cars sold.

[@albutterfield5965]

I was surprised to see part 4 when i got up this morning LOL

[@metoon3092]

Ivan places a bumper sticker on the Cobalt *_NO WELDING WITHIN 200 FEET OF THIS CAR_* . 🤣😂

[@joeandgod1]

This bad ground at the starter relay is an extremely common problem with some gm fuse boxes. I believe you had a Malibu with the same problem. These fuse boxes are junk.

[@theblackhand6485]

You fixed it! Great. I was already sweating all over!

[@clintprice2123]

He took it to the correct shop!

[@noelcastle3986]

The money pit that just keeps on giving .. how frustrating even Ivan can get over it sometimes , good to see you are human Ivan we didn't get the usual "cool " when something else comes up. Makes you wonder how many other connections and contacts are on the way out on the fuse panel at least it's not a Chrysler with a TIPIM . I have great respect how you dont knock back any problems no matter how difficult or multiple failures. Your vids just keep getting better .

[@petepeabody8905]

When it rains it pours. This won't be the last you see of this rig

[@ckm-mkc]

It's the gift that keeps on giving.... What a mess - I have screwed up cars in similar ways, but never a modern car. Certainly burning stuff while welding is a very good teachable moment. Congrats on getting through this rather quickly (at least from what I can see in YT time), most shops that would take this on would take months to complete the work.

[@mattbrown5511]

What a time to find this fault. Hopefully you don't have to see this Cobalt again for quite some time.

[@pmkstudios]

Who knew a Cobalt could be your Moriarty? Your determination and discipline are one in a million!

[@montiac1970]

Dude, I love your channel. I used to buy 98-02 Ford Escorts to fix and flip. Crank no start on quite a few was a bad fuel pump ground. Ford ran the ground wire for the pump all the way through the interior and out to the battery. There were around half a dozen 18ga or so wires tied into the negative terminal at the battery. I simply grounded the pump to the access cover for the tank under the rear seat. Sometimes the simple hacks are better than factory!

[@baxrok2.]

Last minute challenges are never fun. Good job Ivan!

[@geraldc.37]

Good diligence Ivan. You likely have not heard the last of this vehicle.

[@dnlmachine4287]

Ivan you are correct, "ghetto" is the proper diagnosis. Ghetto car gets reliable but creative repairs. "Dont never go full re-pair (on a ghetto car)." - Robert Downey Junior in Tropic Thunder. Stay gold.

[@mrwick4875]

Wow can’t win this car is possessed must had feed it after midnight those dam gremlins 😂 but as always great job finding and discovering the issue

[@sixtyfiveford]

Love the repair. I did the exact same on a Buick to get the AC clutch relay to work.

[@WW-bt3tx]

I humbly suggest picking up some flux for soldering as it will help with bonding to cold metal.

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

You earned every single cent on that one Ivan Well done for getting it sorted.

[@lvsqcsl]

You need to thank your lucky stars that relay connection in the fuse box failed with YOU and NOT your customer. At 7:39 you said, "This has to be an extra charge!" YES IT DOES! You are not working for free here, Ivan. (I do think 1/2 hour is fair; $75.00?) You didn't cause it and if the customer has any doubts, all he/she has to do is simply watch the video like the rest of us. I am certainly glad it turned out like it did. Great video!

[@norcal715]

Its like the jelly of the month club. Its the gift that keeps on giving the whole year!

[@mikedaugharty5544]

All I have to say is when it rains it pours at times but it sure is good that it conked out at your place instead of conking out on him then we would not be a happy camper you God blessed on this one there Ivan

[@thewishmastur]

Great videos. You are a genius. So knowledgeable. One of the best mechanics in the world.

[@RogerPeacock-q3m]

Ivan your a better man than i ! my suggestion would be drive it to the bone yard and put it in the crusher.I applaud your efforts but with the wire repair under the seat and did he heat anything up to not fail now but open down the road, and nothing you did , its what the owner put in as a bug to be repaired at a later date from welding you never no what can happen! i enjoyed watching all your diagnostic ability's on this vehicle, and there were lots! I love your " Russian repair "😀 keep up the great diagnostics . Your the cats meow!

[@timwheeler1503]

Ivan went to beast mode on soldering that relay. I was thinking bypass the ground on the relay, "off camera" then he said Russian repair do not try this at home and filmed it. That's a confident Russian repair. Great job all the way around when you only have a engine and drivetrain to start with. Scanner should have said, P0#JUNK THIS ONE#, but Pine Hollow prevails again. This repair would have tested most of the best techs.

[@SuperJoes70]

I have seen this same problem no start no crank on other Chevy's the circuit board is bad the fuse box is almost impossible to get indefinite back order great repair comrade ! You saved the day again ! Happy Ivan = Happy customer

[@douglasjones3799]

A win is a win even if it's dirty!

[@sspnugen]

Eric O loves Chevys

[@GregoryGlessnerViolin]

Chevy Thunder!

[@cullenmiller8170]

I guess I jinxed you when I said the Cobalt is the gift that keeps on giving. 😂😂

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

Seems I spoke too soon :-) That Cobalt still had some tricks up its sleeve. Tearing the fuse box apart just to reflow one solder joint would have made customer very unhappy with the bill. Great that bypass ground held tight for 2,000 miles. I'm not saying anything else - it might jinx it :-)

[@thatdudeca]

Lucky that relay decided to act up then! Hopefully you’ll never see that cobalt again haha great video Ivan

[@calholli]

My old 97 Isuzu Rodeo had a similar no crank at the relay just like this; except it's on the control side. Either a broken wire or a burnt out driver, not exactly sure. I did the "Russian repair"-- and just wired up a push button and mounted it in my dash. Worked well for over a decade, and then I finally had to replace the dirty push button once. Easy repair, and looks factory from the driver seat. It's a 5spd manual with manual 4x4, so it already feels like an old tractor as it is-- and the push button fits right in. :)

[@albertpipkins6611]

Great job finding the problem with the relay ground terminal, 👏 I have noticed on a lot of car repair channels that a lot of cars have bad fuse boxes in them and / or substandard materials used in the construction of them, and to be installed in a hot / cold / wet / dry weather environment and constant high and low currents flow through them no wonder so many vehicles are catching on fire nowadays 😢😵‍💫 sad situation!¡

[@stealthg35infiniti94]

I have a feeling that car's days are numbered before the next break down. Good money after bad.

[@aceautonewportky]

You did a great job! Catching that ground, brilliant!!

[@allant2742]

Wow. What a royal PIA the car was. Great job on finding and fixing 👍👍

[@positively_broad_st3780]

I knew you weren't done with this Cobalt!🤣

[@nomad4x]

This car hasn't given up it's demons but you've exercised most of them!

[@chooch502]

Not sure if that jumper gnd on the relay was an Official Russian repair after you complained about the cold but it worked and I like your style. Great video!

[@jamesnall569]

The little Cobalt that could and won’t die.😅

[@Blazer02LS]

That box doesn't use soldered terminals, the board has physical wire tracks and the fuse terminals press onto the wires similar to a scotch lock or a phone style tap with similar results! I repair them by opening the box, spreading the contacts friction pin and then clean the wire, next put the terminal back in with the contact tightened down, Then I like to flux and solder the terminals. Stops bad connections quick.

[@brianw8963]

The gift that keeps on giving! 😄👍👍🇺🇸

[@stevencox75]

the car that keeps on giving

[@jackiemay9471]

the car liked the attention and love you gave it and didnt want to leave you

[@farmermiyagi1338]

I see possible future problems with grounds. He probably messed around and super charged all those ground pins when he was welding on it. I can feel your relief from here Ivan.

[@Chris-Fennimore]

Wow, that Cobalt is gonna give you PTSD. LOL Great job getting it running 👍😎👍

[@davidgrisco1939]

Ivan = good human being

[@Mr2004MCSS]

Wow, never ending with this car. My daughter owns the same car and the same year. Luckily in the five years she has owned it, it's only needed a MAF sensor and two O-rings replaced on one of the AC lines. Luckily, I have all of the equipment to evac and recharge the AC system so it didn't cost her much. It did set some codes for both VVT solenoids one time, but I pulled them out and cleaned them and told her to make sure she doesn't go over 5,000 miles on an oil change and to use good oil. That was a few years ago and no problems since. I think hers has around 125,000 miles on it now.

[@W.Khairi]

The kind of job that makes u have a second thought about this whole diag business

[@TheFrenchPug]

That's flipping amazing. I'd be totally fine with that repair as well. A ground is just a ground.

[@williamwhite9767]

Well, if the owner gets a couple more years out of the car, it will be worth it. Great job saving the customer mucho bucks on this last repair!

[@richb419]

Hi Ivan some cars just belong in the junk yard! I had one like that, it pulls real hard every time you pass by the dump and causes you to be stranded.

[@hikerJohn]

Dang . . . Good thing you tried to start it that morning.

[@marknaravas318]

The cobalt channel: part V, Ivan held prisoner!

[@sabemoistowellette5341]

that is always a tough one, a new diag after work completion...its trying to work with the customer and i think you handled very well...taking notes

[@MrRudyBar]

I get your frustration , I really do ! Even I was upset.. LOL !! Great job Ivan ! Great series of videos as well !

[@noahark200]

Ahhh, the sweet sound of sucess!!

[@MattyEngland]

When you have the problem with the solder not sticking to relay, a bit of extra flux normally helps.

[@tam1381]

cleanliness is the key to soldiering.

[@gorak9000]

Yeah, cleaning that white powdery corrosion off with scotchbrite goes a long way. Solder does NOT stick to corrosion... not in the slightest.

[@MattyEngland]

@@gorak9000 That's why I said to use flux, it chemically cleans off the oxidation, allowing the solder to bond with the metal.

[@gorak9000]

@@MattyEngland I doubt he has separate flux (from what's in the middle of his solder), but everyone has a green scotchbrite pad kicking around. And yes, flux will remove some oxides on the surface, but it's no replacement for mechanical cleaning when there's that much corrosion. Flux is not miracle juice or liquid scrubbing (or "scrubbing bubbles"). Nothing beats a couple quick passes with scotchbrite for removing 95% of the corrosion, and let the flux handle the tiny bit that's left.

[@MattyEngland]

@@gorak9000 Proper flux (when heated with a soldering iron) is an extremely aggressive de-oxidiser.

[@shanestrains2849]

That repair was really cool, we don't think any less of you for it 😁

[@bernardaflores1720]

This video will serve as a reminder to the owners son of what not to do in the future. Great job!

[@MattyEngland]

"Hello Sir, I'm sorry, there's been a terrible accident! Your car has shot itself 9 times with a shotgun, hit itself 20 times with lump hammer, then set itself on fire!" 😂😂

[@frugalprepper]

Remove the key, gently close the door and walk away, and pray as the customer pulls off.

[@normyanke2515]

been there done that as an electronics tech my worst memory an inland ferry radio telephone would drop out mid call. Numerous trips, removing all equipment to shop, never failed ever or while I was on board. Finally eliminated ferry power with external battery. NO problem. Someone rewired the power panel and did not tighten the spade connector on power terminal strip. Vibration with ferry moving created random intermittent. aaaarggghhh..,..

[@richardgreene7198]

If you flux that relay pin first the solder will take easier . A good liquid flux on hand helps even flux core solder .

[@hooptierescue2540]

boy, bet you were glad to see that one GO!

[@adotintheshark4848]

This car likes you Ivan. It doesn't want to go away, sort of like when you feed a stray cat. Afterwards you can't get rid of it!

[@sabrekat7904]

Ok so the customer got a big bill for an older car.It sort of got to the point of no going back in the end.Very well done for even taking this on in the first place, I would bet that the customer would have been turned away from many shops who would not want to tackle the series of problems encountered.

[@arcademania7544]

A $2000+ repair bill, on a rusty car that might be worth that much. I would have found another nicer Cobalt, and used the old one for parts.

[@hendriediepenbroek5344]

Ivan fixed it again

[@advancedleveldiagnostics]

Great series, Thanks!

[@kevincrawford6734]

Put a dob of solder on the relay pin ..might just work!!🤪

[@gorak9000]

not going to make the pin contact to the PCB become magically re-soldered. it might work initially, but it will fail randomly later. Much better to attach a wire with a solid connection like he did.

[@mike-yp1uk]

What did you expect the car is running late for a date at the local scrap yard. Lol

[@ScottDLR]

Reminds me of the time I drove a car across the country. got close to destination and could hear the AC making noise and a knock from the engine. $1000 for AC repair and then had the eng blow 2 weeks later - replaced for $4400... Car was never "right" again and was only worth maybe $4~5K. Should have junked it! We will see this wreck again.

[@arcademania7544]

Remember "Barbara's van" from ETCG? That's what this reminds me of. Ivan, I hope the owner comes to his senses and junks that thing. I know the used car market is screwed, but I have a feeling this car will keep coming back to you! 😏 With all the money he sunk into that rusty beater, he could have brought a nicer Cobalt, and used the dead one for parts. 🤔

[@hrentr]

I am wondering if the "Disconnect battery before welding" is too simplistic on these vehicles. When the body was the only ground it made sense. With the electronics supplying both power and ground, there seems to be many more points of failure.

[@swordofthelord7104]

Cars can really test your patients sometimes

[@diymisfit_Mechanic_UDX404]

Do not try this at home lol😅😂 I did this exact Russian repair to my daughter's 06 G6 GTP about 6 months ago. She lost the ground on the control side of the starter relay. I initially soldered the solid copper lead inside the fuse box that had a stress crack in it. After heat soak it would separate and turn into a no crank. I didn't trust it to last long, so I soldered a wire on the relay with a small gator clamp on the other end, and told her, if it does again hook the gator clamp to a bolt on the strut tower. Low and behold it failed a month later, and is now relying on the gator clamp, but still working. Those fuse boxes are a nightmare to open to get the inards

[@zciwonapo]

Could you have just bent a small copper wire into a 'U' shape and pushed it down into the pin receptical?

[@jessicav2031]

If the solder joints are cracked on the board, vibration will probably make that lose contact again. Why not do a wire? It's pretty easy and this way that pin will last as long as the eyelet. Now the only worries are other joints on the board.

[@GarnConstructionInc]

This customer is lucky to have a mechanic with a gun, soldering type. The only issue might be if the original ground fails in a way that everything routes back through the fuse box contact to the smaller wire. It hopefully would just burn out the circuit board as it already is intermittent.