Episode Title: Cadillac SRX Power Steering Fail, Tacoma Coolant Advice, F-150 Power Loss, and Parking Lot Tips
Description:
This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor:
🔧 A 2016 Cadillac SRX loses power steering, ABS, and StabiliTrak—and GM no longer makes the control module. Ron discusses whether a Delco replacement is worth the risk.
🌡️ A 2016 Toyota Tacoma owner asks if switching from pink to green coolant is safe. Ron breaks down coolant chemistry, the dangers of poor advice, and the right way to do a coolant exchange.
⚠️ A 2010 Ford F-150 with a 5.4L engine suffers from intermittent power loss. Ron explains how to use freeze frame and Mode 6 data to find the root cause.
🅿️ Plus, smart parking lot habits that reduce steering wear and improve safety.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to Ron and Nanian The Car Doctor, nationally
recognized auto expert trusted by Mechanics, Weekend wrenchers and vehicle
owners Alife. Ron brings over forty years of hands on
experience and deep industry insight to help you understand your vehicle.
Join the Conversation live every Saturday from two to four
pm Eastern by calling eight five five five six zero
nine nine zero zero. That's eight five five five six
(00:25):
zero ninety nine hundred, your direct line to honest answers
and practical advice. Looking for more, visit cardoctorshow dot com
for past episodes, repair tips, and Ron's latest insights, and
be sure to subscribe to the Car Doctor YouTube channel
for exclusive videos, real repair footage and more. Now start
your enginies. The Car Doctor is into garage and ready
(00:48):
to take your call.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Let's get right into it. Let's go to John and
Florida sixteen Catillac SRX and some lights and things and
something's not working and hey, they what a mess? John?
How can I help?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Now?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
The abs the power steering and Stabela track lights come
on on the dash and I have no power steering
and I took it to first I just put a
fixed finder on it, and it's said that it needed
(01:30):
an electronic control unit hardware, and I took it to
a Cadillac dealer and they confirmed that, but they said
that the manufacturer itself no longer makes a replacement part
for it. And so I looked on the internet and
(01:55):
I found an ac Delco part, but Caillac said they
would install it, but they wouldn't guarantee that it would
talk to the rest all electronics on the car.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Okay, your question to me, well.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Should I risk the money we're talking with the part
about twelve hundred and fifty bucks to see if that
takes care of the trouble or is it time to
just get rid of the car?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
How many miles are on the card?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
John, one hundred and twenty thousand.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So you know, the easy way out of this conversation
is we play what if? Right, if you've listened to
me long enough, you know I'm going to ask you
what if the next thing fails?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Right?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know, if we spend the twelve fifteen two thousand
dollars on this car and the transmission were to fail,
trans in that car is probably every bit of five
six grand. As I guess you know, what would you do?
Would you replace the car or would you replace the
trans I always like to look at major component failure.
(03:11):
It's yeah, you know, it's a sixteen. I think the
painful part of this conversation is it's a sixteen, right, Gee,
it's only eight years old. Nine years old doesn't seem
very long, right, right, But the price of components start
(03:32):
to add up quickly. Let's let's let's let's go back
to the beginning. Can you afford a new Cadillac? John?
Speaker 6 (03:40):
No?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Okay, can you afford to? Can you afford a two
year old one?
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Probably?
Speaker 6 (03:47):
Right? You know.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
It's it's technology, in my opinion, is changing the way
we look at cars in their longevity. It just is, Yeah,
we start to get the things. You know, y're of
my generation, I ventured. I guess, all right, yeah, maybe
you're a little older. Yeah, you're a little older than me, right,
(04:10):
but you're of the generation the cars lasted fifteen years
and they just they do. But it comes at a price, right, Yeah.
I've also I've also come to the conclusion certain cars, Ah,
you know, yeah, maybe it is time to move on.
Life's too short. What we what do we want? To
put up with, right, you know. I also I also
(04:33):
always think about I had had this conversation with a
customer just this week where the daughter came in from Philadelphia.
It was a thirteen Honda CRV with one hundred and
thirty thousand miles on it. It was like it was
if it was a horse, it would have been rode hard,
put away wet, as the cowboys like to say. And
it just wasn't properly cared for it. At what point,
(04:55):
you know, where, where when? And how young lady on
the road all hours of the day and night. You know,
there's there's got to be a question of reliability and survivability.
And you know, and you know, you're you're an older gentleman.
You're out in your Cadillac, if you're out late at
night coming home from an event or something, if there's
some sort of electrical issue or some sort of a problem,
(05:15):
do you want to deal with that? You know? I think,
you know, I'd be willing to bet the Catillac if
Delco says, if it's a real Delco piece, good quality apart,
and it's correct for the application, I would venture to
guess that it will work in the vehicle So it's
(05:38):
the question in the back of my mind isn't whether
or not the part will work. If Delco says this
is the replacement piece and it's a true Delco re
manufactured component, and you could verify that talking to Delco, yes,
I would say it's going to work. The question is
do you want it to?
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Is it as it reached the point where for your
safety and your enjoyment, you know, is it time to
go look at you know, a three year old certified
pre owned something that's going to have newer parts available
when you get five or six years out of that one.
By then you'll be eighty We'll go on to one
more car. You call me back because I'll probably still
(06:16):
be here working, and when you're eighty five, I'll talk
you into a yellow Corvette.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
All right, all right, thanks, Ron.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
You're very welcome. John, you will Yeah, I think I
think technology jeez. You know the theme of this week's
show is technology.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Technology is just beating us up to the point that
can we keep up with it? You know, I we can,
but at what kind of a price. Let's go to
Paul in Virginia real quick, Paul Virginia, some observations and comments.
Always a pleasure, sir. How can I help?
Speaker 7 (06:52):
Yes, Hi, Ron, I've noticed this for years and I
thought it'd be helpful people to understand them when when
you're maneuvering in a parking lot, if you're turning the
steering wheel, the vehicle really needs to be in motion.
Speaker 8 (07:12):
If only one mile an hour or half a mile
an hour makes a huge difference. Is putting a lot
of strain on the power steering pump, the hoses, the
tie rod, ends, the tires, all of that, and it's
going to end up costing you money parking lots.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I'll tell you what, Paul, it's a it's a it's
a timely conversation. I think parking lots are some of
the most dangerous places on the road, so to speak.
I think an awful lot of things go on in
parking lots, and you're absolutely right. You watch people in
parking lots and the way they maneuver, the way they
drive through open parking spaces and across lanes as if
(07:52):
they're a street. It behooves me some of the things
I've seen. I had an incident just the other night
and I'm still running it over in my head if
I was right or wrong. I was backing out of
a parking space. I saw the fellow come out of
the pizza store. He was carrying his two pizzas. I
would swear. He disappeared two cars before where I was parked.
(08:13):
He made a right and went between those two cars,
and he ended up right next to the suburban. He
was in a blind spot where I couldn't see him.
And you know, we had the New Jersey exchange. Uh.
He looked at me. I looked at him. He gave
me the scowl, and I smiled and I let him
go then. But you know, you you there's there's a
(08:34):
there's there's a lot going on in parking lots. You
are absolutely correct. And sometimes it's hard though. Sometimes parking
lots are built so tight and packed together so well
that you just can't you can't be moving and turn
the wheel at the same time. But I get your
point absolutely well. Uh, well taken and well understood, sir.
Speaker 8 (08:56):
All right, all right, yeah, and people should also back
to the parking spot that way you pull out and
you don't have a little kid just take off running
right behind you.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yeah, you know what, I agree with that one. Hundred percent.
I like backing into a parking spot. I can't always
do it, but I like backing into a parking spot,
especially if I'm getting there in daylight and I have
to leave from where I'm parking at night in the dark,
because this way I can see, you know, I can
see what's in front of me, you know. But we
(09:29):
always have to be aware in parking lots. There's a
lot of hidden danger in parking lots. And it seems
like people aren't driving as well as they once did.
And I can blame that on a lot of things.
But in any event, points well, taking Paul, I appreciate
your comments, sir, you'd like it. You'll be well, yes, sir,
be well eight five five five six zero nine nine
zero zero running any of the car Doctor. We're back
(09:50):
right after this. Let's go right to the phone. Let's
go to Tim in Pennsylvania sixteen Toyota Ta coma. Tim,
Welcome to the car Doctor. How can I help Tim?
Tim going once? Tim going twice? Is Tim gone? Maybe
(10:10):
Tim's gone?
Speaker 6 (10:11):
Tim?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I'm here there you go, I'm here, yep.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
So the technology, the technology gremlins are at it.
Speaker 6 (10:16):
See.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Technology is the theme of this week's show. I'm telling
you it's going to be our undoing. So how can
I help you?
Speaker 6 (10:22):
Sir?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Well, I'm a retired technology guys.
Speaker 6 (10:24):
So who you get it?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
You get it? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Okay? Twenty sixteen Tacoma changing the coolant, and my mechanic
has recommended that I switched from the pink to the
green coolant.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Why.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
He says it's less corrosive on on plastic parts that
might be located within the you know, the coolant chain.
I was just curious as to your thoughts. I was
thinking I'd like to stick with recommendations.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I'm with you, brothers. Oh, I'll tell you what I think.
Coolants are one of the most underdiscussed, underrated fluids in
a vehicle. You caught me at a great time, Tim,
because I'm on this kick where lately I've been reading
what manufacturers. Each manufacturer calls for a different type of
(11:20):
water to go in their coolant. So, for example, if
you buy straight Dex cool for a GM product, GM
says you can use tap water to mix that water
that coolant. You know, to do the fifty to fifty mix.
If you buy Chrysler coolant for your jeep, jeep wants
(11:41):
distilled water. I'm still having a problem where am I
going to find distilled water? But you get my point.
It seems that every manufacturer wants a different level, quality
or type of water to mix with that specific coolant.
Crazy right, Yes. And the specificity of and I like
(12:04):
that word it rolls off the tongue so well, specificity
of fluids. It's there for a reason. I don't always
understand what the engineer is thinking. I will admit that,
but I know that they don't create these things just
on a whim. Certain things I think they do, but
that's a that's just a theory. That's part of being
a mechanic for fifty something years. But when it comes
(12:25):
to fluids, the short winded answer is I would stay
with the Toyota Long life, you know, pink, because it's
got to be a phosphate based organic fluid or poat
as they call it. If you want to do some reading,
go out to the Peak website Peak Coolant OWI dot com,
(12:46):
OWI dot com and start looking at the different types
of coolant they've got. And part of my research now
in how different manufacturers are requiring different water filled tap
so on is making me think that from this point forward,
(13:06):
I think using a Peak fifty to fifty pre mixed
coolant is absolutely the way to go, because you know,
if Peak did it, they're the standard. In my mind,
If Peak did it, then you know it's done right
and it's got the correct chemical balance. When you're a mechanic,
when your mechanic's going to do the exchange just out
(13:26):
of curiosity, does he say he's going to use a
machine or he's just going to drain the radiator.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
He's just going to drain the radiator.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Okay, that's the second mistake, all right. If you just
drain the radiator, you only get out about a third
of the coolant out of any car. You have to
do a coolant exchange. Okay, draining a radiator, and let's
just talk on that for a second, if we can.
(13:55):
Draining a radiator is the most inefficient way of servicing
a cooling. So I like to think of it as
theft by deception. You have to do a fluid exchange,
have to because you're getting all the coolant that's in
the block and the crevices in the back cylinders of
a V six or a V eight. You're getting the
heater core exchanged. You're getting the rear not so much
(14:18):
in a the coma, but you know in a lot
of vehicles today there's a rear heating and AC unit.
How is draining the radiator going to get the coolant
out of the heater core in the back of the vehicle.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Right, that's a good point. Yeah, I just relying on
gravity at that.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Point, right, And it doesn't because I'll tell you what
you know. You can tell him try the experiment, drain
the pink out and start the truck up, or put
his green in start the truck up. But I guarantee
you that green is going to be discolored within a
matter of minutes because the rest of the pink that's
in the in the block itself is going to unless
he's pulling side plugs out of the block, which is
(14:53):
another inefficient way of doing it, since you can't get
to anything from underneath anymore. It's so difficult. You absolutely
need to use a coolant exchange process and not to
take anything away from your mechanic. While you're out on
the web. You're a technology guy and you're out at
ow I dot com. Go to bgfind ashop dot com.
And find a shop that's got a coolant exchange machine
(15:16):
and have the process done that way. That's the correct
way to do any sort of fluid exchange, definitely with
a coolant right A G I, BG, BG, find a shop.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Dot com BG, find a shop.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Okay, yes, sir, all right? And you know BG has
some very excellent proprietary sources and resources and procedures and
the correct machines to do fluid exchanges on vehicles, and
you'll find it to be a very worthwhile endeavor. I'm
not going to say your mechanic is too old school
for me, but he's too old school for me, all right.
(15:53):
And he's got to get some education, and he's got
to start to look at the processes that he's doing.
I talked to shop owners on a weekly basis, and
the one line I always love is, you know, I've
been doing it this way since my father taught me.
And the guy's sixty five years old, and I have
to turn and say, but your father's either retired or
passed on. Don't you think technology has changed a little
(16:15):
bit in that timeframe? You know, we can't do Somebody
asked me the other day, Ron, do you run the
shop the same today as you did five years ago.
And I had to stop and think for a minute.
You know what, Tim, I don't think I run the
shop the same way today as I did two years ago,
the procedures and processes, because it's caused me to change,
(16:40):
and it's just part of the business. It's evolving and
expanding at a much faster rate than we all like
to admit or sometimes even think about.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So all right, all right, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
You're very welcome. Stay with the pink. You're thinking right,
and you'll be just fine. Yes, sir, appreciate the call. Tim,
Thank you so much. Technology is just boy, it's just
it's it's evolving. I've got a good one for you.
I heard this the other day. We were talking. Not
all oils are the same, and I don't have proof
(17:13):
of this yet, but the example, and I'll mention the brand.
And I don't know this to be one hundred percent true.
I haven't finished my research Mobile one zero twenty just
because Mobile one, I think is a good oil, but
not all Mobile one zero twenty is rated for every
vehicle that takes that zero twenty. It's got to meet
that specificity for that vehicle. Are we pouring the correct oil?
(17:38):
A lot to be thought about. I'm not an any
of the Car Doctor. I'll be back right after this.
Don't go away. Let us go to Nevada and talk
to Robert Nelko. Robert, welcome to the Car Doctor. Eight
five five five six zero nine nine zero zero. How
can I help?
Speaker 9 (17:56):
And I just gotta tell you, I go out of
my way to listen to your show.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Uh.
Speaker 9 (18:00):
And I don't do that with many things, but it's
it's one of the those things my week.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I didn't know we had my family members on today.
Thank you so much, Robert. I appreciate that. So what's
going on? Brother?
Speaker 9 (18:11):
I got a twenty ten f one fifty. It's got
about one hundred and sixty thousand miles on it, and
I'd got it from a buddy about six months.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Ago, just broken in and.
Speaker 9 (18:23):
Well ten thousand miles ago. He had a new motor.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
Put in it.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
What engines in this?
Speaker 9 (18:28):
Uh crap?
Speaker 3 (18:29):
It's the big one five yes, sir, okay.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
And he told me when I got it from and
I got a good deal. I helped him fix up
the place and he sold his house and I got
a real good deal. On it from him, but he
said at times it'll lose power just now, and then
he says it hardly ever happens, and he's had it
in the shop a few times and he couldn't. They
never figured it out. And about two weeks ago it
(18:55):
happened on me getting on the freeway and then the
engine light had come on and it kicked out. It
said three codes, but one of them it gave me twice,
which was P zero one four one What.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
Were they were? Heat?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
What was the other one? Do you remember?
Speaker 3 (19:10):
It's it said seventy e eight engine seventy nine A flash,
t okay, so.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
And then it momentarily it happened, and then it momentarily disappeared.
Speaker 9 (19:25):
Well, the next time I started it, I I was
just going two miles on the freeway and I couldn't
stop or set it off or do it. I mean,
I just didn't. I just and once it got going
it was probably from twenty to thirty thirty five miles
an hour. It just really was having problems there for
a minute. And it doesn't seem like in between check
and transmission or I don't like it. I'm I'm not sure.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
You know.
Speaker 9 (19:48):
A couple of places to think or look, but how
it happened and how he said, and it just every
now and then once or twice a year.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Okay, so yeah, walk in your ankle's hurt all the time, right, Yeah,
it's the age or your negoes out and you go
to the doctor and he tells you, well, it could
be this, and it could be that you need to
lose some weight, you need to slow down, you need
to get more sleep, and he's kind of going through
(20:17):
the list of possible fixes, but he's also trying to
figure out what's good, so we can figure out what's bad, right, right,
And that's what you sort of have to do with
a problem like this. So we can look at the
fault codes. But if you live by the code, you're
going to die by the code. So you know, let's
start to look at some of the other information. And
(20:39):
for this we need an intelligent mechanic and somebody that
understands freeze frame in mode six, freeze frame is the
video snapshot capture of an approximation of what was happening
on that vehicle the moment before your ankle started to hurt.
(21:00):
All right, right, it's it's going to show some critical sensors.
It's going to show a variety of different things they
can look at. It might point them in a direction
if they apply critical thinking. Mode six is the test
language that your body uses to determine uh oh, Roberts
(21:24):
ankle's about to give out because the cartilage on the
right side is warned and he's going to send an
electrical pulse pulse shock to the brain. The brain's going
to say, buckle right. Mode six is that physical testing language.
It's in hexadecimal format. Makes all the old computer programmer
guys excited. But it's a little difficult to read. You
need a good scan tool. But there are some clues there.
(21:46):
There are typically clues there where I want to go,
all right, if I can get this to happen again,
I'd love to see, for example, where was fuel trim?
Did this cargo? Did this cargo stink and lean? Did
it just sort of fall on its face? Where? Where?
And and and for that matter, if I if I'm
(22:07):
diagnosing this car in the bay, I'm going out for
a ride, I want to do a volumetric efficiency test.
How well does this car breathe when it's running right?
I want to know what was the barometric pressure the
day the car had that problem, and what was engine
vacuum at that moment, which I will probably find engine
vacuum readings in the freeze frame data, which is why
(22:28):
I sent you there right.
Speaker 6 (22:30):
Right, all right?
Speaker 9 (22:31):
No, I got that wrote down there.
Speaker 6 (22:34):
Now.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
And there's one last piece to this puzzle, all right,
that generation truck, the battery junction box under the hood.
I want you to go to a few seventy six,
few seventy six. I want you to make sure that
fuse is good, which it probably is because this is
an intermittent fault. But I want you to find few
(22:57):
seventy six and physically pull it out of the block
and look at the spade terminals. Do they look burnt?
Are they recessed? Does it look like somebody squeeze them
real tight between their thumb and forefinger and they made
like a little dent in the fuse And it's dark.
That darkness is because that fuse holder in the junction box,
(23:22):
the fingers are loose. You ever look at how it
you've taken fuses out right, and you know, yeah, they're
they're they're held they're held like between your thumb and
forefinger real tight that battery. That battery junction box is
a known problem child where the fuses loosen up. How
critically you think it would be for a fuse to
(23:42):
have a good, clean, solid contact with the circuit. It's
trying to power right right and then dirt what you have?
Dirt and dirt roads in Nevada? Really? Yeah, my god,
gee whiz, that's you. Guys are kind of different. But
you know, you start to look at fuses and you
can look at the rest of them and just take
(24:04):
the fuses out one at a time. Don't take them,
you know, I told somebody to do. I'll never forget this, Robert.
I still think about this guy. I told him, I said,
look at the fuses. He called me the next week
he says, I got this pile of fuses on my toolbox.
Now what do I do? No, one at a time, brother,
and then put it back in. It's either good or
it's not.
Speaker 6 (24:23):
So.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Now if the fuses are good, get a wiring diagram.
There's a green wire that powers that fuse. It actually
feeds power to all of the oxygen sensors. Make sure
do a loaded voltage drop test on that green wire
that feeds that section of the fuse box. That wire
(24:45):
has been known to have internal problems because of the
way it's routed. That green wire could be a problem
child as well, because if it loses if it loses
its voltage, it will create and create running issues just
like you're describing. So pay attention to that junction block.
Look at freeze frame, look at mote six fuses one
of the time.
Speaker 9 (25:05):
All right, Nope, I appreciate it. And it was a
pews Yeah, a couple of months ago. It was a
little fuse because it all of a sudden, it just
didn't start, and it was a ninety cent little fuse
for the fuel pump and some other stuff.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Under the hood, battery junction box under the hood.
Speaker 6 (25:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
You know, it's almost like I know what I'm doing.
Speaker 9 (25:25):
I need to go through all the infuses. Yeah, I
appreciate it. Thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
You're very welcome, Robert. You'd be well, well, you can't
make that up, huh. I love those moments, you know.
I just I don't know what I want to be
when I grow up. I think I'll be a mechanic
eight five five five six zero nine nine zero zero.
Why wouldn't I I'll be back right after this, don't
go anywhere. Let's go to Jerry and Delaware. Jerry, you're
(25:50):
on with the car doctor. How can I help?
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (25:52):
How you doing today?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (25:53):
What's going on?
Speaker 6 (25:54):
I have a two thousand and six Stormacks diesel. Okay,
first problem I have with it is that I had
a code go off for the mass mass air sensor
and then I fixed that. I got one online, put
it in there, took it right off. Three months later,
four months later it's back.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Okay, what makes you think your new part isn't any good?
Speaker 6 (26:19):
Well, I mean that's the thought I have. But yeah,
so it wasn't that expensive, right?
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Is it? Is?
Speaker 3 (26:26):
It?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Is it the exact same fault code?
Speaker 6 (26:30):
I didn't I check. I forget, I forget, I forget
it's the same fault code. And then they just said
mass Air.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Well, yeah, what scantooler? You know it's listen. You can't
look at scan tool terminology. What scan tool are you using?
For example, let me start the conversation.
Speaker 6 (26:48):
Here, I forget cheap. Yeah, it's a cheap.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Right, So you can't look at scan tool terminology and
assume every scan to lit software writer has correct language.
Take the code?
Speaker 6 (27:05):
Look, I did right?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
And what was the actual code?
Speaker 6 (27:13):
I don't remember at this time. Was it was it was? It?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Was it the same code last time as it is
this time?
Speaker 6 (27:19):
I believe it is, okay, and I don't know what
what what would be the difference?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Well, there's more than there's there's more than one fault
code for a mass airflow sensor failure.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
Is my point. Okay, that's what I want to know.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Yeah, there's there's you know, there's Believe me, they test
things fourteen different ways nowadays. So to make a long
story short, you know, I would say, let's do some
basic testing on that mass airflow. But if it was
cheap enough, perhaps we want to start with something from
a good quality source. Or let's diagnose that fault. All right.
I'm not saying your sensor didn't fix it, but is
(27:54):
your sensor still working? Parts online Amazon? You know, it's
kind of like walking past the ice cream shop at
eight o'clock at night, going, yeah, just one cone. It's
a heck of a temptation, but it gives you a
belly ache later on. Second are second point, second question.
Speaker 6 (28:13):
Second question. I put new calibers, new brakes, everything on there,
and I have the same problem since I bought the vehicle.
When I stopped the vehicle, it always pulled for the
left just a hair, and I put the new calibers,
do everything on there, and it still does the same thing.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Pads, roders, calipers, hoses, hoses, no, and on. How many
miles around the truck? Two hundred thousand eight, yeah, two
hundred thousand. So I'm gonna make you go buy another tool,
all right, Okay, I want you to go buy a
temp gun, an infrared temp gun. And you'll like this.
(28:56):
What do you do for a living?
Speaker 6 (28:57):
Are you?
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Are you in construction or something?
Speaker 6 (28:59):
It used to be a truck driver, dow, I'm just retired.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Okay, I would tell you to go buy an infrared
temp gun. Take the vehicle out for a rod all right.
Can you see the brake roaders through the wheels?
Speaker 6 (29:11):
Yeah? Pretty much?
Speaker 8 (29:11):
All right?
Speaker 2 (29:12):
You know, I would find a spot and I would
start measuring temperature. If you want to see that, If
you want to see the difference, go take it for
a normal ride, normal application. Start reading temperature. All right.
Do we have one breake rotor that's hotter than the rest?
For that matter, do we have one brake rotor that's
cooler than the rest I got you, all right. And
if we've got if the right front is cooler than
(29:33):
the left front, that tells me it's not getting full
clamping force. And perhaps perhaps I've got a restriction in
a break hose.
Speaker 6 (29:40):
That's okay, that sounds pretty good, all right?
Speaker 2 (29:43):
I like that, Yeah, it's it's that's a real strong possibility,
real quick at.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Okay, one other thing off. I can't throw another one
at you, real quick, go ahead. My wife had a
two thousand and nine Ford Escape six cylinder she had
to back to unswer replaced, not made somebody else, right,
and they replaced it, and it keeps on going on
and off, on and off.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Okay, So we'll get We won't ham, we won't hammer
the conversation with quality of part. You already know how
I feel about that.
Speaker 6 (30:16):
Right.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
If we're getting the same repetitive fault code and it
is a performance fault not related to wiring or heater circuit,
all right, here we are again, right, there's more than
there's more than one way or one fault code for
for a component. There's probably eight different fault codes for
two sensors on average. Okay, on an on an older
(30:37):
vehicle like that, I'm going to start to look for
bulletins and I'm going to start to look for an
exhaust leak. Does that vehicle have any sort of an
exhaust leak ahead of that downstream two censor?
Speaker 6 (30:48):
Okay? Just to give you a little lead up of
what happened.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Well, i'll tell you what. T Let me pull over,
take a pause. I don't want to cut you short.
Let me pull over, take a pause. I'll finish with
you up on the other side of the of the break. Jerry,
I'm running ady in the car. Doctor. I'll be back
right after this.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Jerry.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Are you still there, sir? Can I just real quick?
I want to revisit your miss airflow question comments issues.
Was it a P zero one on one?
Speaker 6 (31:15):
I think it was.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Okay, so P zero one on one. It shows it
sets because there is incorrect airflow detected across the sensor.
If you have a scan tool that shows data stream,
and I don't know if the one hundred dollars scan
tool will you should you should be able to see
grahams per second. You could expect anywhere from forty to
(31:39):
fifty grams per second of airflow at idle on a
warm engine on a Duramax. So you may want to
you may want to go look and see what that
number is. The other thing that I'll mention real quick
is sometimes that code will set because deducting the air
ducts leading up to it, you know, after it, for
(31:59):
the lead going to the turbo become loose and old
and porous and leak, and you need to find a
shop that has a smoke machine. And here's another example
of using a smoke machine that has something like a
speed smoke from redline detection that will actually put the
system under higher pressure and make sure that the ducks
don't have leaks going through and up to the turbo itself.
(32:22):
So your last question comment.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
I'll ask question that back two cents of my wife
had done. The lead up to that was the guy
was supposed to fix my oil leak, put a new
deskt in there, and then of course you have to
take a part of exhaust to do that, right, I
didn't have I did not have a cove for that
back two cents or before he'd done that.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Yeah, it makes kind of makes that exhaust leak idea
the possibility, right right.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
That's why I wanted to tell you about that.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Yeah, I mean what I what I would physically do.
I have a real high tech piece of diagnostic equipment
to check for exhaust leaks. It's an eighteen dollars mechanic
stethoscope that I will put I'll put it up in
the air and I'll just sit underneath the vehicle and
I will start it. I'll bring the vehicle in the
night before, set it up on the lift. In the morning,
I'll put it up in the air. I'll put Danny
(33:08):
in the car, start it, and I will take the
stethoscope and I will just start to listen before things expand,
and just just I'm looking. I'm looking for It should
be stone, whisper quiet the entire length down the line.
So sometimes the simplest tests are the best. Jerry, I
appreciate the interaction. I appreciate you taking the time today.
Good luck with your durhamax. If you need more, you
(33:30):
know where to find me. Wow. A busy week, really
a good time to be here. I was happy to
do it all for you. I hope you all got
something out of it. I'm running andy in the car doctor,
happy to be here and proud to serve till the
next time. Good mechanics aren't expensive, they're priceless. See you, baby,
You're listening to Ron and Nanian The Car Doctor, nationally
recognized auto expert trusted by Mechanics, Weekend wrenchers and vehicle
owners Alife. Ron brings over forty years of hands on
experience and deep industry insight to help you understand your vehicle.
Join the Conversation live every Saturday from two to four
pm Eastern by calling eight five five five six zero
nine nine zero zero. That's eight five five five six
(00:25):
zero ninety nine hundred, your direct line to honest answers
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be sure to subscribe to the Car Doctor YouTube channel
for exclusive videos, real repair footage and more. Now start
your enginies. The Car Doctor is into garage and ready
(00:48):
to take your call.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Let's get right into it. Let's go to John and
Florida sixteen Catillac SRX and some lights and things and
something's not working and hey, they what a mess? John?
How can I help?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Now?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
The abs the power steering and Stabela track lights come
on on the dash and I have no power steering
and I took it to first I just put a
fixed finder on it, and it's said that it needed
(01:30):
an electronic control unit hardware, and I took it to
a Cadillac dealer and they confirmed that, but they said
that the manufacturer itself no longer makes a replacement part
for it. And so I looked on the internet and
(01:55):
I found an ac Delco part, but Caillac said they
would install it, but they wouldn't guarantee that it would
talk to the rest all electronics on the car.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Okay, your question to me, well.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Should I risk the money we're talking with the part
about twelve hundred and fifty bucks to see if that
takes care of the trouble or is it time to
just get rid of the car?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
How many miles are on the card?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
John, one hundred and twenty thousand.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So you know, the easy way out of this conversation
is we play what if? Right, if you've listened to
me long enough, you know I'm going to ask you
what if the next thing fails?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Right?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know, if we spend the twelve fifteen two thousand
dollars on this car and the transmission were to fail,
trans in that car is probably every bit of five
six grand. As I guess you know, what would you do?
Would you replace the car or would you replace the
trans I always like to look at major component failure.
(03:11):
It's yeah, you know, it's a sixteen. I think the
painful part of this conversation is it's a sixteen, right, Gee,
it's only eight years old. Nine years old doesn't seem
very long, right, right, But the price of components start
(03:32):
to add up quickly. Let's let's let's let's go back
to the beginning. Can you afford a new Cadillac? John?
Speaker 6 (03:40):
No?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Okay, can you afford to? Can you afford a two
year old one?
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Probably?
Speaker 6 (03:47):
Right? You know.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
It's it's technology, in my opinion, is changing the way
we look at cars in their longevity. It just is, Yeah,
we start to get the things. You know, y're of
my generation, I ventured. I guess, all right, yeah, maybe
you're a little older. Yeah, you're a little older than me, right,
(04:10):
but you're of the generation the cars lasted fifteen years
and they just they do. But it comes at a price, right, Yeah.
I've also I've also come to the conclusion certain cars, Ah,
you know, yeah, maybe it is time to move on.
Life's too short. What we what do we want? To
put up with, right, you know. I also I also
(04:33):
always think about I had had this conversation with a
customer just this week where the daughter came in from Philadelphia.
It was a thirteen Honda CRV with one hundred and
thirty thousand miles on it. It was like it was
if it was a horse, it would have been rode hard,
put away wet, as the cowboys like to say. And
it just wasn't properly cared for it. At what point,
(04:55):
you know, where, where when? And how young lady on
the road all hours of the day and night. You know,
there's there's got to be a question of reliability and survivability.
And you know, and you know, you're you're an older gentleman.
You're out in your Cadillac, if you're out late at
night coming home from an event or something, if there's
some sort of electrical issue or some sort of a problem,
(05:15):
do you want to deal with that? You know? I think,
you know, I'd be willing to bet the Catillac if
Delco says, if it's a real Delco piece, good quality apart,
and it's correct for the application, I would venture to
guess that it will work in the vehicle So it's
(05:38):
the question in the back of my mind isn't whether
or not the part will work. If Delco says this
is the replacement piece and it's a true Delco re
manufactured component, and you could verify that talking to Delco, yes,
I would say it's going to work. The question is
do you want it to?
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Is it as it reached the point where for your
safety and your enjoyment, you know, is it time to
go look at you know, a three year old certified
pre owned something that's going to have newer parts available
when you get five or six years out of that one.
By then you'll be eighty We'll go on to one
more car. You call me back because I'll probably still
(06:16):
be here working, and when you're eighty five, I'll talk
you into a yellow Corvette.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
All right, all right, thanks, Ron.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
You're very welcome. John, you will Yeah, I think I
think technology jeez. You know the theme of this week's
show is technology.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Technology is just beating us up to the point that
can we keep up with it? You know, I we can,
but at what kind of a price. Let's go to
Paul in Virginia real quick, Paul Virginia, some observations and comments.
Always a pleasure, sir. How can I help?
Speaker 7 (06:52):
Yes, Hi, Ron, I've noticed this for years and I
thought it'd be helpful people to understand them when when
you're maneuvering in a parking lot, if you're turning the
steering wheel, the vehicle really needs to be in motion.
Speaker 8 (07:12):
If only one mile an hour or half a mile
an hour makes a huge difference. Is putting a lot
of strain on the power steering pump, the hoses, the
tie rod, ends, the tires, all of that, and it's
going to end up costing you money parking lots.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I'll tell you what, Paul, it's a it's a it's
a timely conversation. I think parking lots are some of
the most dangerous places on the road, so to speak.
I think an awful lot of things go on in
parking lots, and you're absolutely right. You watch people in
parking lots and the way they maneuver, the way they
drive through open parking spaces and across lanes as if
(07:52):
they're a street. It behooves me some of the things
I've seen. I had an incident just the other night
and I'm still running it over in my head if
I was right or wrong. I was backing out of
a parking space. I saw the fellow come out of
the pizza store. He was carrying his two pizzas. I
would swear. He disappeared two cars before where I was parked.
(08:13):
He made a right and went between those two cars,
and he ended up right next to the suburban. He
was in a blind spot where I couldn't see him.
And you know, we had the New Jersey exchange. Uh.
He looked at me. I looked at him. He gave
me the scowl, and I smiled and I let him
go then. But you know, you you there's there's a
(08:34):
there's there's a lot going on in parking lots. You
are absolutely correct. And sometimes it's hard though. Sometimes parking
lots are built so tight and packed together so well
that you just can't you can't be moving and turn
the wheel at the same time. But I get your
point absolutely well. Uh, well taken and well understood, sir.
Speaker 8 (08:56):
All right, all right, yeah, and people should also back
to the parking spot that way you pull out and
you don't have a little kid just take off running
right behind you.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yeah, you know what, I agree with that one. Hundred percent.
I like backing into a parking spot. I can't always
do it, but I like backing into a parking spot,
especially if I'm getting there in daylight and I have
to leave from where I'm parking at night in the dark,
because this way I can see, you know, I can
see what's in front of me, you know. But we
(09:29):
always have to be aware in parking lots. There's a
lot of hidden danger in parking lots. And it seems
like people aren't driving as well as they once did.
And I can blame that on a lot of things.
But in any event, points well, taking Paul, I appreciate
your comments, sir, you'd like it. You'll be well, yes, sir,
be well eight five five five six zero nine nine
zero zero running any of the car Doctor. We're back
(09:50):
right after this. Let's go right to the phone. Let's
go to Tim in Pennsylvania sixteen Toyota Ta coma. Tim,
Welcome to the car Doctor. How can I help Tim?
Tim going once? Tim going twice? Is Tim gone? Maybe
(10:10):
Tim's gone?
Speaker 6 (10:11):
Tim?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I'm here there you go, I'm here, yep.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
So the technology, the technology gremlins are at it.
Speaker 6 (10:16):
See.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Technology is the theme of this week's show. I'm telling
you it's going to be our undoing. So how can
I help you?
Speaker 6 (10:22):
Sir?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Well, I'm a retired technology guys.
Speaker 6 (10:24):
So who you get it?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
You get it? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Okay? Twenty sixteen Tacoma changing the coolant, and my mechanic
has recommended that I switched from the pink to the
green coolant.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Why.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
He says it's less corrosive on on plastic parts that
might be located within the you know, the coolant chain.
I was just curious as to your thoughts. I was
thinking I'd like to stick with recommendations.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I'm with you, brothers. Oh, I'll tell you what I think.
Coolants are one of the most underdiscussed, underrated fluids in
a vehicle. You caught me at a great time, Tim,
because I'm on this kick where lately I've been reading
what manufacturers. Each manufacturer calls for a different type of
(11:20):
water to go in their coolant. So, for example, if
you buy straight Dex cool for a GM product, GM
says you can use tap water to mix that water
that coolant. You know, to do the fifty to fifty mix.
If you buy Chrysler coolant for your jeep, jeep wants
(11:41):
distilled water. I'm still having a problem where am I
going to find distilled water? But you get my point.
It seems that every manufacturer wants a different level, quality
or type of water to mix with that specific coolant.
Crazy right, Yes. And the specificity of and I like
(12:04):
that word it rolls off the tongue so well, specificity
of fluids. It's there for a reason. I don't always
understand what the engineer is thinking. I will admit that,
but I know that they don't create these things just
on a whim. Certain things I think they do, but
that's a that's just a theory. That's part of being
a mechanic for fifty something years. But when it comes
(12:25):
to fluids, the short winded answer is I would stay
with the Toyota Long life, you know, pink, because it's
got to be a phosphate based organic fluid or poat
as they call it. If you want to do some reading,
go out to the Peak website Peak Coolant OWI dot com,
(12:46):
OWI dot com and start looking at the different types
of coolant they've got. And part of my research now
in how different manufacturers are requiring different water filled tap
so on is making me think that from this point forward,
(13:06):
I think using a Peak fifty to fifty pre mixed
coolant is absolutely the way to go, because you know,
if Peak did it, they're the standard. In my mind,
If Peak did it, then you know it's done right
and it's got the correct chemical balance. When you're a mechanic,
when your mechanic's going to do the exchange just out
(13:26):
of curiosity, does he say he's going to use a
machine or he's just going to drain the radiator.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
He's just going to drain the radiator.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Okay, that's the second mistake, all right. If you just
drain the radiator, you only get out about a third
of the coolant out of any car. You have to
do a coolant exchange. Okay, draining a radiator, and let's
just talk on that for a second, if we can.
(13:55):
Draining a radiator is the most inefficient way of servicing
a cooling. So I like to think of it as
theft by deception. You have to do a fluid exchange,
have to because you're getting all the coolant that's in
the block and the crevices in the back cylinders of
a V six or a V eight. You're getting the
heater core exchanged. You're getting the rear not so much
(14:18):
in a the coma, but you know in a lot
of vehicles today there's a rear heating and AC unit.
How is draining the radiator going to get the coolant
out of the heater core in the back of the vehicle.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Right, that's a good point. Yeah, I just relying on
gravity at that.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Point, right, And it doesn't because I'll tell you what
you know. You can tell him try the experiment, drain
the pink out and start the truck up, or put
his green in start the truck up. But I guarantee
you that green is going to be discolored within a
matter of minutes because the rest of the pink that's
in the in the block itself is going to unless
he's pulling side plugs out of the block, which is
(14:53):
another inefficient way of doing it, since you can't get
to anything from underneath anymore. It's so difficult. You absolutely
need to use a coolant exchange process and not to
take anything away from your mechanic. While you're out on
the web. You're a technology guy and you're out at
ow I dot com. Go to bgfind ashop dot com.
And find a shop that's got a coolant exchange machine
(15:16):
and have the process done that way. That's the correct
way to do any sort of fluid exchange, definitely with
a coolant right A G I, BG, BG, find a shop.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Dot com BG, find a shop.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Okay, yes, sir, all right? And you know BG has
some very excellent proprietary sources and resources and procedures and
the correct machines to do fluid exchanges on vehicles, and
you'll find it to be a very worthwhile endeavor. I'm
not going to say your mechanic is too old school
for me, but he's too old school for me, all right.
(15:53):
And he's got to get some education, and he's got
to start to look at the processes that he's doing.
I talked to shop owners on a weekly basis, and
the one line I always love is, you know, I've
been doing it this way since my father taught me.
And the guy's sixty five years old, and I have
to turn and say, but your father's either retired or
passed on. Don't you think technology has changed a little
(16:15):
bit in that timeframe? You know, we can't do Somebody
asked me the other day, Ron, do you run the
shop the same today as you did five years ago.
And I had to stop and think for a minute.
You know what, Tim, I don't think I run the
shop the same way today as I did two years ago,
the procedures and processes, because it's caused me to change,
(16:40):
and it's just part of the business. It's evolving and
expanding at a much faster rate than we all like
to admit or sometimes even think about.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So all right, all right, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
You're very welcome. Stay with the pink. You're thinking right,
and you'll be just fine. Yes, sir, appreciate the call. Tim,
Thank you so much. Technology is just boy, it's just
it's it's evolving. I've got a good one for you.
I heard this the other day. We were talking. Not
all oils are the same, and I don't have proof
(17:13):
of this yet, but the example, and I'll mention the brand.
And I don't know this to be one hundred percent true.
I haven't finished my research Mobile one zero twenty just
because Mobile one, I think is a good oil, but
not all Mobile one zero twenty is rated for every
vehicle that takes that zero twenty. It's got to meet
that specificity for that vehicle. Are we pouring the correct oil?
(17:38):
A lot to be thought about. I'm not an any
of the Car Doctor. I'll be back right after this.
Don't go away. Let us go to Nevada and talk
to Robert Nelko. Robert, welcome to the Car Doctor. Eight
five five five six zero nine nine zero zero. How
can I help?
Speaker 9 (17:56):
And I just gotta tell you, I go out of
my way to listen to your show.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Uh.
Speaker 9 (18:00):
And I don't do that with many things, but it's
it's one of the those things my week.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I didn't know we had my family members on today.
Thank you so much, Robert. I appreciate that. So what's
going on? Brother?
Speaker 9 (18:11):
I got a twenty ten f one fifty. It's got
about one hundred and sixty thousand miles on it, and
I'd got it from a buddy about six months.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Ago, just broken in and.
Speaker 9 (18:23):
Well ten thousand miles ago. He had a new motor.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
Put in it.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
What engines in this?
Speaker 9 (18:28):
Uh crap?
Speaker 3 (18:29):
It's the big one five yes, sir, okay.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
And he told me when I got it from and
I got a good deal. I helped him fix up
the place and he sold his house and I got
a real good deal. On it from him, but he
said at times it'll lose power just now, and then
he says it hardly ever happens, and he's had it
in the shop a few times and he couldn't. They
never figured it out. And about two weeks ago it
(18:55):
happened on me getting on the freeway and then the
engine light had come on and it kicked out. It
said three codes, but one of them it gave me twice,
which was P zero one four one What.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
Were they were? Heat?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
What was the other one? Do you remember?
Speaker 3 (19:10):
It's it said seventy e eight engine seventy nine A flash,
t okay, so.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
And then it momentarily it happened, and then it momentarily disappeared.
Speaker 9 (19:25):
Well, the next time I started it, I I was
just going two miles on the freeway and I couldn't
stop or set it off or do it. I mean,
I just didn't. I just and once it got going
it was probably from twenty to thirty thirty five miles
an hour. It just really was having problems there for
a minute. And it doesn't seem like in between check
and transmission or I don't like it. I'm I'm not sure.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
You know.
Speaker 9 (19:48):
A couple of places to think or look, but how
it happened and how he said, and it just every
now and then once or twice a year.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Okay, so yeah, walk in your ankle's hurt all the time, right, Yeah,
it's the age or your negoes out and you go
to the doctor and he tells you, well, it could
be this, and it could be that you need to
lose some weight, you need to slow down, you need
to get more sleep, and he's kind of going through
(20:17):
the list of possible fixes, but he's also trying to
figure out what's good, so we can figure out what's bad, right, right,
And that's what you sort of have to do with
a problem like this. So we can look at the
fault codes. But if you live by the code, you're
going to die by the code. So you know, let's
start to look at some of the other information. And
(20:39):
for this we need an intelligent mechanic and somebody that
understands freeze frame in mode six, freeze frame is the
video snapshot capture of an approximation of what was happening
on that vehicle the moment before your ankle started to hurt.
(21:00):
All right, right, it's it's going to show some critical sensors.
It's going to show a variety of different things they
can look at. It might point them in a direction
if they apply critical thinking. Mode six is the test
language that your body uses to determine uh oh, Roberts
(21:24):
ankle's about to give out because the cartilage on the
right side is warned and he's going to send an
electrical pulse pulse shock to the brain. The brain's going
to say, buckle right. Mode six is that physical testing language.
It's in hexadecimal format. Makes all the old computer programmer
guys excited. But it's a little difficult to read. You
need a good scan tool. But there are some clues there.
(21:46):
There are typically clues there where I want to go,
all right, if I can get this to happen again,
I'd love to see, for example, where was fuel trim?
Did this cargo? Did this cargo stink and lean? Did
it just sort of fall on its face? Where? Where?
And and and for that matter, if I if I'm
(22:07):
diagnosing this car in the bay, I'm going out for
a ride, I want to do a volumetric efficiency test.
How well does this car breathe when it's running right?
I want to know what was the barometric pressure the
day the car had that problem, and what was engine
vacuum at that moment, which I will probably find engine
vacuum readings in the freeze frame data, which is why
(22:28):
I sent you there right.
Speaker 6 (22:30):
Right, all right?
Speaker 9 (22:31):
No, I got that wrote down there.
Speaker 6 (22:34):
Now.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
And there's one last piece to this puzzle, all right,
that generation truck, the battery junction box under the hood.
I want you to go to a few seventy six,
few seventy six. I want you to make sure that
fuse is good, which it probably is because this is
an intermittent fault. But I want you to find few
(22:57):
seventy six and physically pull it out of the block
and look at the spade terminals. Do they look burnt?
Are they recessed? Does it look like somebody squeeze them
real tight between their thumb and forefinger and they made
like a little dent in the fuse And it's dark.
That darkness is because that fuse holder in the junction box,
(23:22):
the fingers are loose. You ever look at how it
you've taken fuses out right, and you know, yeah, they're
they're they're held they're held like between your thumb and
forefinger real tight that battery. That battery junction box is
a known problem child where the fuses loosen up. How
critically you think it would be for a fuse to
(23:42):
have a good, clean, solid contact with the circuit. It's
trying to power right right and then dirt what you have?
Dirt and dirt roads in Nevada? Really? Yeah, my god,
gee whiz, that's you. Guys are kind of different. But
you know, you start to look at fuses and you
can look at the rest of them and just take
(24:04):
the fuses out one at a time. Don't take them,
you know, I told somebody to do. I'll never forget this, Robert.
I still think about this guy. I told him, I said,
look at the fuses. He called me the next week
he says, I got this pile of fuses on my toolbox.
Now what do I do? No, one at a time, brother,
and then put it back in. It's either good or
it's not.
Speaker 6 (24:23):
So.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Now if the fuses are good, get a wiring diagram.
There's a green wire that powers that fuse. It actually
feeds power to all of the oxygen sensors. Make sure
do a loaded voltage drop test on that green wire
that feeds that section of the fuse box. That wire
(24:45):
has been known to have internal problems because of the
way it's routed. That green wire could be a problem
child as well, because if it loses if it loses
its voltage, it will create and create running issues just
like you're describing. So pay attention to that junction block.
Look at freeze frame, look at mote six fuses one
of the time.
Speaker 9 (25:05):
All right, Nope, I appreciate it. And it was a
pews Yeah, a couple of months ago. It was a
little fuse because it all of a sudden, it just
didn't start, and it was a ninety cent little fuse
for the fuel pump and some other stuff.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Under the hood, battery junction box under the hood.
Speaker 6 (25:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
You know, it's almost like I know what I'm doing.
Speaker 9 (25:25):
I need to go through all the infuses. Yeah, I
appreciate it. Thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
You're very welcome, Robert. You'd be well, well, you can't
make that up, huh. I love those moments, you know.
I just I don't know what I want to be
when I grow up. I think I'll be a mechanic
eight five five five six zero nine nine zero zero.
Why wouldn't I I'll be back right after this, don't
go anywhere. Let's go to Jerry and Delaware. Jerry, you're
(25:50):
on with the car doctor. How can I help?
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (25:52):
How you doing today?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (25:53):
What's going on?
Speaker 6 (25:54):
I have a two thousand and six Stormacks diesel. Okay,
first problem I have with it is that I had
a code go off for the mass mass air sensor
and then I fixed that. I got one online, put
it in there, took it right off. Three months later,
four months later it's back.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Okay, what makes you think your new part isn't any good?
Speaker 6 (26:19):
Well, I mean that's the thought I have. But yeah,
so it wasn't that expensive, right?
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Is it? Is?
Speaker 3 (26:26):
It?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Is it the exact same fault code?
Speaker 6 (26:30):
I didn't I check. I forget, I forget, I forget
it's the same fault code. And then they just said
mass Air.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Well, yeah, what scantooler? You know it's listen. You can't
look at scan tool terminology. What scan tool are you using?
For example, let me start the conversation.
Speaker 6 (26:48):
Here, I forget cheap. Yeah, it's a cheap.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Right, So you can't look at scan tool terminology and
assume every scan to lit software writer has correct language.
Take the code?
Speaker 6 (27:05):
Look, I did right?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
And what was the actual code?
Speaker 6 (27:13):
I don't remember at this time. Was it was it was? It?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Was it the same code last time as it is
this time?
Speaker 6 (27:19):
I believe it is, okay, and I don't know what
what what would be the difference?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Well, there's more than there's there's more than one fault
code for a mass airflow sensor failure.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
Is my point. Okay, that's what I want to know.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Yeah, there's there's you know, there's Believe me, they test
things fourteen different ways nowadays. So to make a long
story short, you know, I would say, let's do some
basic testing on that mass airflow. But if it was
cheap enough, perhaps we want to start with something from
a good quality source. Or let's diagnose that fault. All right.
I'm not saying your sensor didn't fix it, but is
(27:54):
your sensor still working? Parts online Amazon? You know, it's
kind of like walking past the ice cream shop at
eight o'clock at night, going, yeah, just one cone. It's
a heck of a temptation, but it gives you a
belly ache later on. Second are second point, second question.
Speaker 6 (28:13):
Second question. I put new calibers, new brakes, everything on there,
and I have the same problem since I bought the vehicle.
When I stopped the vehicle, it always pulled for the
left just a hair, and I put the new calibers,
do everything on there, and it still does the same thing.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Pads, roders, calipers, hoses, hoses, no, and on. How many
miles around the truck? Two hundred thousand eight, yeah, two
hundred thousand. So I'm gonna make you go buy another tool,
all right, Okay, I want you to go buy a
temp gun, an infrared temp gun. And you'll like this.
(28:56):
What do you do for a living?
Speaker 6 (28:57):
Are you?
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Are you in construction or something?
Speaker 6 (28:59):
It used to be a truck driver, dow, I'm just retired.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Okay, I would tell you to go buy an infrared
temp gun. Take the vehicle out for a rod all right.
Can you see the brake roaders through the wheels?
Speaker 6 (29:11):
Yeah? Pretty much?
Speaker 8 (29:11):
All right?
Speaker 2 (29:12):
You know, I would find a spot and I would
start measuring temperature. If you want to see that, If
you want to see the difference, go take it for
a normal ride, normal application. Start reading temperature. All right.
Do we have one breake rotor that's hotter than the rest?
For that matter, do we have one brake rotor that's
cooler than the rest I got you, all right. And
if we've got if the right front is cooler than
(29:33):
the left front, that tells me it's not getting full
clamping force. And perhaps perhaps I've got a restriction in
a break hose.
Speaker 6 (29:40):
That's okay, that sounds pretty good, all right?
Speaker 2 (29:43):
I like that, Yeah, it's it's that's a real strong possibility,
real quick at.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Okay, one other thing off. I can't throw another one
at you, real quick, go ahead. My wife had a
two thousand and nine Ford Escape six cylinder she had
to back to unswer replaced, not made somebody else, right,
and they replaced it, and it keeps on going on
and off, on and off.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Okay, So we'll get We won't ham, we won't hammer
the conversation with quality of part. You already know how
I feel about that.
Speaker 6 (30:16):
Right.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
If we're getting the same repetitive fault code and it
is a performance fault not related to wiring or heater circuit,
all right, here we are again, right, there's more than
there's more than one way or one fault code for
for a component. There's probably eight different fault codes for
two sensors on average. Okay, on an on an older
(30:37):
vehicle like that, I'm going to start to look for
bulletins and I'm going to start to look for an
exhaust leak. Does that vehicle have any sort of an
exhaust leak ahead of that downstream two censor?
Speaker 6 (30:48):
Okay? Just to give you a little lead up of
what happened.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Well, i'll tell you what. T Let me pull over,
take a pause. I don't want to cut you short.
Let me pull over, take a pause. I'll finish with
you up on the other side of the of the break. Jerry,
I'm running ady in the car. Doctor. I'll be back
right after this.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Jerry.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Are you still there, sir? Can I just real quick?
I want to revisit your miss airflow question comments issues.
Was it a P zero one on one?
Speaker 6 (31:15):
I think it was.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Okay, so P zero one on one. It shows it
sets because there is incorrect airflow detected across the sensor.
If you have a scan tool that shows data stream,
and I don't know if the one hundred dollars scan
tool will you should you should be able to see
grahams per second. You could expect anywhere from forty to
(31:39):
fifty grams per second of airflow at idle on a
warm engine on a Duramax. So you may want to
you may want to go look and see what that
number is. The other thing that I'll mention real quick
is sometimes that code will set because deducting the air
ducts leading up to it, you know, after it, for
(31:59):
the lead going to the turbo become loose and old
and porous and leak, and you need to find a
shop that has a smoke machine. And here's another example
of using a smoke machine that has something like a
speed smoke from redline detection that will actually put the
system under higher pressure and make sure that the ducks
don't have leaks going through and up to the turbo itself.
(32:22):
So your last question comment.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
I'll ask question that back two cents of my wife
had done. The lead up to that was the guy
was supposed to fix my oil leak, put a new
deskt in there, and then of course you have to
take a part of exhaust to do that, right, I
didn't have I did not have a cove for that
back two cents or before he'd done that.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Yeah, it makes kind of makes that exhaust leak idea
the possibility, right right.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
That's why I wanted to tell you about that.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Yeah, I mean what I what I would physically do.
I have a real high tech piece of diagnostic equipment
to check for exhaust leaks. It's an eighteen dollars mechanic
stethoscope that I will put I'll put it up in
the air and I'll just sit underneath the vehicle and
I will start it. I'll bring the vehicle in the
night before, set it up on the lift. In the morning,
I'll put it up in the air. I'll put Danny
(33:08):
in the car, start it, and I will take the
stethoscope and I will just start to listen before things expand,
and just just I'm looking. I'm looking for It should
be stone, whisper quiet the entire length down the line.
So sometimes the simplest tests are the best. Jerry, I
appreciate the interaction. I appreciate you taking the time today.
Good luck with your durhamax. If you need more, you
(33:30):
know where to find me. Wow. A busy week, really
a good time to be here. I was happy to
do it all for you. I hope you all got
something out of it. I'm running andy in the car doctor,
happy to be here and proud to serve till the
next time. Good mechanics aren't expensive, they're priceless. See you, baby,
Host
Ron Ananian
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