1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: You're listening to Ron and Nanian The Car Doctor, nationally 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: recognized auto expert trusted by Mechanics Weekend wrenchers and vehicle 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: owners alike. Ron brings over forty years of hands on 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: experience and deep industry insight to help you understand your vehicle. 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: Join the Conversation Live every Saturday from two to four 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: pm Eastern by calling eight five to five five six 7 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: zero nine nine zero zero. That's eight five to five 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: five six zero ninety nine hundred, your direct line to 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: honest answers and practical advice. Looking for more, visit cardoctorshow 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: dot com for past episodes, repair tips, and Ron's latest insights, 11 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: and be sure to subscribe to the Car Doctor YouTube 12 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: channel for exclusive videos, real repair footage and more. Now 13 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: start your enginies. The Car Doctor is into garage and 14 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: ready to take your call. 15 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 2: I want to tell you about this sixteen Ford Fusion 16 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: that I got to work on this week at the show. 17 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: Sixteen Ford Fusion, one hundred and sixty six thousand miles 18 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: on it. Recent purchase by the customer from down Florida 19 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: Way brought it up to North Jersey. And you know 20 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 2: if mechanics intuition could pick lottery numbers as accurately as 21 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: they can pick bad cars. Boy, I'll tell you what, 22 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: I'd be retired. You know, you ever just look at 23 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 2: a car and I really think there is something to 24 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 2: mechanics intuition. You just look at a car and you go, boy, 25 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 2: there's something not right about this one. They purchased the car, 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 2: and about two hours into the ride north from Florida, 27 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: they drove it home the eighteen hundred mile trip. About 28 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 2: two hours into the ride, the check engine light pops on. Well, 29 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 2: in Florida, I'm told, and I don't know that this 30 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: is true, but I was told by the owner that 31 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: the check engine light doesn't matter in Florida because they 32 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 2: don't have inspection down there. And I'd like to get 33 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 2: an answer on that if any of our Florida listeners 34 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: can tell me. Do you guys go to a regular inspection? 35 00:01:57,840 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 2: You know, in New Jersey we go to inspection every 36 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 2: two years. We plug in, we look at monitors, we 37 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: look for codes, We look to see, you know, what 38 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 2: state of readiness and operation is the vehicle computer in 39 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: and we pass or failed based on that. Primarily that's 40 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 2: the big one. Well, I'm told in Florida. That doesn't matter. Well, 41 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 2: I don't know. I didn't really look at that, but 42 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: necessarily not the point of the story. The point is 43 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: two hours into the trip, the check engine light comes on, 44 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: and you're coming to a state where a mission's inspection 45 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: is mandatory, it has to pass emissions. By the time 46 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: it got to my doorstep, the fault code was gone, 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: The check engine light had turned off, the fault code 48 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: was gone. There was nothing in history. They waited a 49 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: while to bring it in, but they just told me 50 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: the story. They said, Hey, this check engine light came on, 51 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: but it went away, and now we just want to 52 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: get it serviced. So hesitantly I serviced the vehicle. I 53 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 2: went through when I looked, and you know, did what 54 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: needed to be done, breaks tires, et cetera. We put 55 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 2: a bunch of money in it whatever it was, twelve 56 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 2: fifteen hundred bucks and sent it out the door and 57 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 2: I said, you know, when the check engine light comes back, 58 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 2: then you need to, you know, bring it back. We'll 59 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: look at the check engine light. Check engine light came back, 60 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 2: showed up on my doorstep on Tuesday, and it had 61 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 2: a P zero eighteen B, which is a low or 62 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 2: plausibility error message in the low fuel pressure sensor. This 63 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: is a GDR car gasoline direct injection. There's a low 64 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 2: pressure fuel pump. There's a high pressure fuel pump. The 65 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: low pressure fuel pump has a sensor on the line 66 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: in this particular car, not all of them do. This 67 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: one does. And it has a high pressure sensor that 68 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: feeds the on the rail that feeds the injectors that 69 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: goes directly to the engine. And it also had a 70 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: P zero two ninety nine turbo underboost turbocharger underboost fault. 71 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 2: You know, you used to think catalytic converters were the 72 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: most expensive code the car could have, and then turbo 73 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 2: charger under or boost came along, and it could be 74 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: anything from a wastegate, soleno or assembly problem to the 75 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: whole turbo charger. And you know, in terms of dollars, 76 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: it could be, you know, five hundred to four thousand. 77 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 2: It's a very wide range. I wish mechanics intuition could 78 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 2: pick lottery numbers as bad as easily as they can 79 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 2: pick a bad car. Because I'm not surprised. I just 80 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 2: knew working on this car that there was something there. 81 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 2: I really think it should be mandatory that when you 82 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 2: buy a used car they have to provide you with 83 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: a clean bill of health showing the monitors ran the 84 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 2: self tests that show that the computer ran its monitors. 85 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 2: It ran the monitors at least a half a dozen times, 86 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 2: that it's a consistently good passing emission system. It protects you, 87 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 2: It protects you the vehicle purchaser, or you know, we 88 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,119 Speaker 2: should we should set up a scan tool that somehow 89 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: everybody can rent the scan tool for twenty four hours 90 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: or something, or buy a scan tool. They're cheap enough. 91 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 2: What am I saying? And understand the basic parameters of 92 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 2: how to use it, because I think it would go 93 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: such a long way to helping you identify a good 94 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 2: car versus a bad car. This car is going to 95 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: need at a minimum five hundred and in a maximum 96 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: I'm not sure. The sad part is you have to 97 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: fix the low fuel pressure plausibility problem before you can 98 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: solve the two ninety nine. I look, the waistgate moves, 99 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 2: it's got movement and the turbo chargers working. Whatever the 100 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 2: issue is, it's not there right now. The low fuel 101 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: pressure sending you an issue is there. It's reading one 102 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: tenth of a pound on the scan tool. So it's 103 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 2: clearly got a problem. Whether it's the sender, which it 104 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 2: probably is. Senders are not uncommon, but it could be wiring, 105 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: it could be PCM, and you've got to go through 106 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 2: your due diligence and scan and test and so forth. 107 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 2: The sad part is you've got to do that five 108 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: to six hundred dollars repair in order to find out 109 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: if you need to do the four thousand dollars repair 110 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 2: on a car with one hundred and sixty six thousand miles, 111 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 2: And it fast becomes a game of what if. You know, 112 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: what if we do this, and then what if we 113 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 2: do that? And then what if the transmission fails? Cars 114 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 2: are getting tougher in terms of the economics and making 115 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: the economics work, and trying to get a good used 116 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: vehicle is becoming more and more of a chore. I 117 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: really encourage you to take it to a mechanic get it. 118 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: And I realize it's not in everybody's budget, and I 119 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: understand that one hundred percent, but you've just got to 120 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: be prepared. You've got to have money put aside. You've 121 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: got to understand and I get it. The cars have 122 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 2: gotten so gosh aren't expensive that it's it's becoming difficult 123 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 2: to purchase something, a good, clean, used car for under 124 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 2: ten grand today. You've really got to understand what happens 125 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 2: in the process. I got to explain to the vehicle 126 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 2: owner what we're doing and how we're doing it. But 127 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 2: to add insult to injury, unfortunately, an hour after I 128 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: spoke to them about the fusion and what the fusion 129 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 2: is going to need, they well, as she put it, 130 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 2: the guardrail jumped out in front of her and wiped 131 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: out the left side of the car as far as 132 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: the suspension. She cracked the two wheels on her twenty 133 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: twelve Infinity with two hundred thousand miles on it, and 134 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: in all likelihood probably totaled the car. We haven't had 135 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: a chance to look at it yet. We moved it 136 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: around the parking lot Friday afternoon. And you know, when 137 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,119 Speaker 2: you turn the steering wheel and it only goes three quarters 138 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: of the way in one direction and then stops, something's 139 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 2: bent hard and there's grinding and crunching, and you know, 140 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: you've got to start telling people. So let's see, you 141 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 2: need one car, you need two cars? Is there a 142 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: third car that we want to go for the trifecta. 143 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: Not trying to be a wise guy. Yeah, sometimes mechanics 144 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 2: intuition is just it's it's too accurate too many times. 145 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 2: So just think about scan tools, think about diagnosing, think 146 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 2: about paying for some sort of a code scan. And 147 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: I don't mean something you're going to get a local 148 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: parts house. I mean taking it to a local mechanic 149 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: and asking them, because doing a scan tool analysis is 150 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: probably just as or maybe more important than looking at 151 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 2: the traditional things. How clean is the oil, tires, break, suspension, chassis, undercarriage, 152 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 2: what does it look like, what components work, what components 153 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 2: don't work. Counting on a trusted mechanic for their opinion 154 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: on what sort of shape that vehicle is in is 155 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: worth quite a bit if you've got the right trusted mechanic. 156 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 2: So just something to think about. I see Tom shot 157 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: me a note here. Hey, Ron, In Florida, there is 158 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 2: no safety or emissions inspection. Wow, just like New Jersey, 159 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 2: well worse than New Jersey, because I think New Jersey's ridiculous. 160 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: There's no safety inspection in New Jersey, which is to 161 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 2: me abominable, But there's no emissions inspection. In Florida. Either 162 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 2: that's just crazy. I wonder what they're expecting or what 163 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: they're thinking. I'd like to hear from my Florida listeners 164 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 2: if anybody out there has any comments. What are they 165 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 2: thinking out there that we're just going to drive cars 166 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 2: with check engine lights on. I wonder if they're susceptible. 167 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 2: I wonder if they're susceptible in Florida to roadside inspections 168 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: and if they fail, there's a hefty fine. And because 169 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 2: that's the way it is in Jersey in terms of safety, 170 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 2: so we took away safety in New Jersey. But if 171 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 2: you're caught by a mobile unit, it's a hefty fine. 172 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 2: So in other words, we've turned it over to enforcement. 173 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 2: So we're just generating dollars for the state treasury instead 174 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 2: of actually worrying about keeping people safe and fixing cars. 175 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 2: So anyway, eight five five five six zero nine nine 176 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 2: zero zero. I'll be back to open up the phones 177 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: right after this. Don't go away, Let's go over, let's 178 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: kick the garage doors open. Let's go over to the 179 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: Larry and Oregon O two to T bird. Larry, Welcome 180 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 2: to the car doctor. Sure you're on at eight five 181 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 2: five five six zero nine nine zero zero. How can 182 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: I help? 183 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 3: Well, I have a two thousand and two T Bird. 184 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 3: I've talked to you before about stockpiling parts, and I've 185 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 3: you told me that I should exchange all the coolants 186 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 3: or change them. And I started with the coolant. And 187 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 3: when I had it done at the local Ford dealer, 188 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 3: they said one of the charges was a coolant service kit, 189 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 3: and I was wondering what that was. I'm also wondering 190 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 3: what the next cop uh exchange of the fluids I 191 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 3: should do? 192 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 2: Well, what did they say the coolant service kit was? 193 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 2: My thought would be it would be some sort of 194 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 2: chemical additive or treatment for the system. What did they say? 195 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 3: They didn't say, it's just on the on the charge 196 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 3: for exchanging the coolant. 197 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 2: Is there is there is coolant listed separately. Yes, it 198 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 2: is okay, I would ask her. I would ask him, listen, 199 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 2: it's it's it's not the it's an abnormal charge. Every 200 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 2: shop's got a different way of writing things, and as 201 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 2: many different processes. As many different ways as there are 202 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 2: to do one process, there's there's more than a few 203 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,599 Speaker 2: ways to do cooland service. I'm not saying which is 204 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 2: right and which is wrong, And sometimes it's predicated based 205 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 2: on local local laws and what's allowed. And sometimes it's 206 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 2: you know a matter of how are they disposing of 207 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: the chemical waste and things like that. So certain times 208 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 2: you're going to run into things like this. But I 209 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: would ask them, Hey, what's in that cool and service kit? 210 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 2: My guess is it's additives, cleaners, or source some sort 211 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 2: of protector or protectant for the system. All right, So 212 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 2: once it's done, as far as what's the next fluid? 213 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 2: Just do them all? Are we? You can't You can't 214 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 2: be on a budget driving a classic like an O 215 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 2: two T bird, Larry, you can't. 216 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 3: I want you want to compare prices with East Coast 217 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 3: to West coast? Or don't you want to get into. 218 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 2: That ken What did it costs to do a cooling service? 219 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 3: Well? I had that done and I had an oil 220 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 3: change with the filter, of course, and they charged me 221 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 3: two hundred and eighty five dollars, which I didn't think 222 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 3: was too bad. 223 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 2: I think that's dirt cheap. Let me tell you, let me, 224 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 2: let me let me rail about oil change pricing philosophy. 225 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 2: If you win, you opened up, you opened up the door, right, Yes, 226 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 2: So I look at oil changes as a shop owner, 227 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 2: as time spent. A typical oil change, if you're doing 228 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: it how I consider it to be correct, runs anywhere 229 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 2: from a half hour to forty five minutes, depends on 230 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 2: the vehicle. Sometimes it's sometimes it's eight to ten minutes 231 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 2: setting up some of the bigger trucks on the lift 232 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 2: to the point where you feel secure underneath it. And 233 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 2: for anybody out there doubting me, go ahead, you get 234 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 2: underneath a vehicle. Some of these go get under a 235 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,079 Speaker 2: ram twenty We did a twenty nineteen ram with a 236 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 2: six seven comings in it, and I think my Mohawk 237 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 2: lifts are some of the best in the world. But 238 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 2: it took us every bit of eight eight to nine 239 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 2: minutes I was the clock to get it centered to 240 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 2: the point where we felt secure under that vehicle. It 241 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 2: takes time. There was a road test involved in the 242 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 2: case of the diesel. We did more than just the 243 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 2: three rights. We wanted to get the diesel good and warm. 244 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 2: We took it for a little bit of a ride. 245 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 2: We got it up to temperature. How does it feel 246 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 2: on the road. This is a real work truck, so 247 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 2: you're being very cautious with it. In terms of your approach. 248 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 2: Not that you're not cautious with others, but you know, 249 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 2: this is a little bit more to look at. It's 250 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 2: not a four cylinder Toyota Corolla. So to me, an 251 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 2: oil change is half hour to forty five minutes. Right, 252 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 2: If the shop laborates one hundred and eighty dollars an hour, 253 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 2: that comes out to one hundred and twenty five dollars 254 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 2: in labor to do an oil change at forty five minutes. Right, 255 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 2: material a good quality oil. Let's cap the price of 256 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:52,079 Speaker 2: a good quality synthetic at ten bucks a quart. Five courts, 257 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 2: there's fifty bucks. That's one hundred and seventy five an 258 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 2: oil filter. Ten bucks a good quality oil filter these days, 259 00:13:58,280 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 2: so the shop can make a little bit of a 260 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: living sor are we two hundred dollars? 261 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 4: You know? 262 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 2: It's it's fascinating though, because I hear comments from time 263 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 2: to time about people still looking for the seventy nine 264 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 2: ninety five oil change. And and here's my point, right, 265 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 2: if we can agree that time and material is what 266 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: a repair shop sells, and it costs that repair shop, 267 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 2: let's make it thirty minutes, so it should be ninety 268 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 2: dollars in labor plus material. That's still one hundred and 269 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 2: seventy five dollars right, right, If they're doing it cheaper 270 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 2: than that one hundred and seventy five dollars, how are 271 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: they making a living? How are they making up for it? 272 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 2: And the answer I most commonly get, well, you tell me, Larry, 273 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 2: how do you think they're making up for it? If 274 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 2: they're doing the oil change cheap, how do they make 275 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 2: up for it? They got to charge more somewhere else, right, 276 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 2: I suppose, So it's I mean, math is math. Math 277 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 2: never lies. Two and two has to be four. So 278 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 2: that oil change that you're doing cheap, they have to 279 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 2: compensate for it by overcharging somewhere else. They're either overlapping labor, 280 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: which I see is the most common way to see 281 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 2: people that they'll write up a job that they'll say 282 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 2: out of the book is nine hours. And I just 283 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 2: recently went through this with a local Toyota dealer. They 284 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 2: gave somebody a quote of nine point two hours, and 285 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 2: there was about three and a half almost four hours 286 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 2: of overlap because it was it was common jobs. It 287 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 2: was front drive axles, ball joints, and an axle seal 288 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 2: and you all if it was in the same area, 289 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 2: and they quoted it out of the book as if 290 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 2: it was three separate labor operations. So you know, I 291 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: think you did all right. But my question to them 292 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 2: would be, what's their labor rate? If their labor rate 293 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: is one hundred dollars an hour, how long did it 294 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 2: take them. If their labor rate is two hundred dollars 295 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 2: an hour, how long did it take them. It's all 296 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 2: based on you know, it's all time and material is 297 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 2: what I'm coming down to. 298 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 3: It's similar to what you charge. I think, yeah, a 299 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 3: whole bucks an hours. Anyway, I had another question, but 300 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 3: you're call the guy that hooked me up with you 301 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 3: couldn't really tell me. I went here in Apata Junction, Arizona, 302 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 3: and I couldn't find the radio station and that you 303 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 3: are on and in a Patrick Junson, which is East 304 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 3: a Mesa. So I hope he calls me back and 305 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 3: tells me what it is, OK. 306 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 2: He you know, Larry, I don't know that he will 307 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 2: because I'm not sure if we have the whole list 308 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 2: we are. We are in an over two hundred stations 309 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 2: around the country. I can make a request to network. 310 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 2: I can't promise you that I'll hear from anybody because 311 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 2: there's a thousand things going on. As much as we listen, 312 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 2: we're doing our best. Brother. You know, people call me up, 313 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 2: they want I have people email me at two o'clock 314 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 2: in the morning, and then they get annoyed at me 315 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 2: that I didn't respond about their car problem. You know, 316 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: it's it's it's there's there's a lot of moving pieces 317 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 2: to this radio show, and it's a very grassroots effort. 318 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 2: But if we find out where we are in Arizona, 319 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 2: we're on in more than a few places in Arizona, 320 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 2: we'll happy announced it up on air. How's that for 321 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 2: an answer? 322 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 3: That's good. And another thing is you are on here 323 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 3: at eleven months and you were also on at again 324 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 3: the next morning at five am. 325 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 2: And then yeah, that's because I guess we're what you 326 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,959 Speaker 2: call popular, and you know everybody's looking for us, Larry, 327 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 2: I know, believe me, brother, I know, LARRYB. Well, enjoy 328 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: your tea, bird, go do the rest of the fluids, 329 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 2: get them all done, and make sure that you're asking 330 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 2: and inquiring about why the bills as says what it does, 331 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 2: because it's important to know before you pay. I'm running 332 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 2: ady in the car. Doctor. I'll be back right after this. 333 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 2: I just want to touch on that topic real quick 334 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 2: one me. I want one minute while it's fresh on 335 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 2: everybody's mind. If repair shops actually started to charge legitimate 336 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 2: times for some of the services they do versus trying 337 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 2: to do it cheap to get people in the door, 338 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 2: I think you'd raize I think you'd elevate the entire 339 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 2: industry to the point where they would start to operate 340 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 2: like businesses instead of I consider it too emotional and 341 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 2: reacting to the market to keep people happy. I think 342 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 2: it's important because we're losing a lot of people that 343 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 2: don't want to be technicians anymore. And the number one 344 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 2: reason why because they can't get paid enough to support 345 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 2: what they do on a regular basis. And it's got 346 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 2: to come from somewhere, folks. It's we're going to be 347 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 2: left without mechanics very soon because the pool is dwindling 348 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 2: every day and it's getting worse and worse. Steven Louisiana 349 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 2: was seven Chevy Colorado. How can I help sir? 350 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 4: Yes, sir, thank you for this opportunity or whatever I 351 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 4: want to ask you about my two thousand and seven 352 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 4: Chevy Colorado five cylinder truck. Okay, a couple of years ago, 353 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 4: it's started developing a problem. Then, after a bunch of 354 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 4: deductive reasoning, I finally figured out what the problem was. 355 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 4: And master mechanics have never heard this problem before. But 356 00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 4: the power control module, which looks like a little car 357 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 4: amp on the on the firewall with an aluminum body. 358 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 4: To get the things running, I had to put a 359 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 4: heat source on there, in other words, the engine compartment. 360 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:20,360 Speaker 4: Once it got to like operating temperature, it would run 361 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 4: the car. The truck would run fine. But how did 362 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 4: you know? How do you get it to operating temperature 363 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 4: if you can't get it started anyway? I finally I 364 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 4: finally figured out what was wrong with it. How to 365 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 4: do it? Well, I don't I don't know, because it 366 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 4: progressively got worse, and I kept saying, well, I was 367 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 4: looking at maybe trying to change uh PCM. I know 368 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 4: you have to have them program to your Vendo number 369 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 4: and stuff or whatever. But anyway, before I could get 370 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,920 Speaker 4: it going, it finally pretty much died out all the way. 371 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,880 Speaker 4: And the truck has like two hundred and fifty thousand 372 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 4: miles on it. I changed all it every six years, 373 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 4: So seventy thousand miles, whether or not a need now, 374 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:04,919 Speaker 4: I'm just kidding, it hasn't been well taken care of. 375 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 4: But now it's a big paper weight at the end 376 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 4: of the driveway, and I'm just asked wondering if what's 377 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 4: the viability of perhaps getting the PCUM swapped out. 378 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 2: And first of all, I've seen that I have experienced that, 379 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 2: I've experienced vehicles that don't start hot or cold because 380 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 2: of problems with PCMs, and not just Chevy Colorado's a 381 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 2: lot of vehicles. It's not an uncommon experience or a 382 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 2: common story that yet happens. As far as getting that 383 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 2: PCM replaced, the real question is are there re manufactured 384 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 2: ones available? Does GM still put out a PCM for that? 385 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 2: Are there any in the automotive aftermarket? And as far 386 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 2: as getting it programmed, sure, I don't think that's that's 387 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 2: as difficult a solution as there are difficulties would be 388 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 2: to actually find somebody to program it. So do you 389 00:20:55,200 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 2: have a regular mechanic down Louisiana Way? Yes, sir, have 390 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 2: you asked have you asked him about his ability to program? 391 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:03,959 Speaker 2: Does he program? 392 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:11,359 Speaker 4: Uh? Yeah? But actually the person I'm thinking of didn't 393 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 4: do it, but someone's top to help me one time 394 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 4: on the side of the road and he had like 395 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:19,959 Speaker 4: a like a speed shop type deal or something like that, 396 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:23,399 Speaker 4: and he said he had the ability to program. 397 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 2: But yeah, programming is not an impossibility on an older 398 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 2: vehicle like that. They've just got to be set up 399 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 2: with the right computers and the right software and the 400 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 2: right you know, the right training. There are some cases 401 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 2: with GM vehicles, for example, where computers are proprietary to 402 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 2: the vehicle and there may or may not be a 403 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 2: replacement computer available, and there's a I'll say it like this, 404 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 2: there's a dark subculture in the automotive industry that is 405 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 2: now chip swapping, where they will unsolder chips from one 406 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 2: computer and solder them back into the replacement used computer 407 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 2: to allow that vehicle computer to be programmed to that vehicle. 408 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 2: That's going on too, That's been going on probably the 409 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 2: better part of seven or eight years. You know, I know, 410 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 2: I know people in New Jersey that do this on 411 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 2: a regular basis, for example. So there are guys out 412 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 2: there that do it. The real question is, you know, 413 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 2: can you get a computer for that? I prefer to 414 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 2: see something new, because I don't think anybody can really 415 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 2: reman a computer. I don't think anybody's got the technology 416 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 2: or the capability, yes to test it the way the 417 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 2: manufacturer would test it. I think technology is the greatest 418 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 2: thing for the automotive industry and the worst all at 419 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 2: the same time. I think it puts us it's a 420 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 2: double edged sword, brother that I think that it is 421 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 2: going to take away the ability to enjoy older cars 422 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 2: after a certain age, when you can't get components anymore. 423 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 2: I understand, you know we've got we've got more than 424 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 2: a few customers driving the generation of Ford Explore oh six, 425 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:04,239 Speaker 2: oh seven, oh eight that need computers. I think, if 426 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,360 Speaker 2: I'm not mistaken, one fellow Brandon's was a ten nice vehicles. 427 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 2: They were great vehicles. They are great vehicles. You know, 428 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 2: good engines, you know, big solid vehicles. They need PCMs. 429 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 2: You couldn't find a PCM for that vehicle. Use new 430 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 2: Reman really, Yeah, it's ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous. And the 431 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 2: other problem is you will go and buy something from it. 432 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 2: I know one fella that did he put four he 433 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 2: put four, No, he put five. Used PCMs in before 434 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,719 Speaker 2: he finally got a good one, and the question becomes 435 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,959 Speaker 2: how long will that list? Because the components are you know, 436 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:43,920 Speaker 2: things are being depleted on a regular basis, parts of 437 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 2: the single biggest problem facing the industry after mechanics or 438 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,360 Speaker 2: the lack of them. So you know it can be done. 439 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,120 Speaker 2: Your Colorado can be done, but you've got to look 440 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 2: at the entire vehicle. Steven all right, right, you know 441 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 2: you know is this is this worth it? Because I 442 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 2: would venture to guess in New Jersey dollars, I'm going 443 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 2: to tell you that computer's five hundred bucks. We'll throw 444 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,360 Speaker 2: an hour at it to put it in. There's two, 445 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 2: that's seven, and it's probably three hundred dollars to flash 446 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 2: that computer and get software working and to go through it. 447 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 2: So I bet you, I bet you you're gonna throw 448 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 2: a grand at it in New Jersey to fix that. 449 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 2: Equate that to Louisiana. I don't know what you know, 450 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 2: how their labor rates are and so forth, but it 451 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,439 Speaker 2: gives you, It gives you a ballpark to work from, 452 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 2: and that's it. That's all dependent upon that processor, that computer. 453 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:32,679 Speaker 2: We could look that up. We could find out that 454 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 2: computer is fifteen hundred bucks. You don't know, so you've 455 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 2: got to look at the whole vehicle at a quarter 456 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 2: million miles. You know, you got to play what if? 457 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,640 Speaker 4: Right? All right? Man? So well, I appreciate you. I 458 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 4: appreciate your advice. Thank you. 459 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 2: You're very welcome, Steven. Always a pleasure. So you'll be 460 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 2: will I there probably won't be anything as an old 461 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:03,440 Speaker 2: truck pretty soon, you know. I saw a little sticker 462 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 2: the other day on an older truck in ninety five Ford. 463 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 2: It was kind of neat. It's you know it. Real 464 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 2: trucks rattle. And I thought about that, you know, and 465 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 2: I said, how many real trucks are going to be 466 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 2: left soon? Because the older they get, the more technology 467 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 2: they have, the lack of parts. You know, you're gonna 468 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 2: see a definitive timeline. Things from the nineties down will survive, 469 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:29,680 Speaker 2: but that ninety eight through twenty ten, all that stuff 470 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 2: seems to be going away for some reason. And even 471 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:33,680 Speaker 2: the older ones they're gonna you're gonna see, there's gonna 472 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 2: be there's gonna be some issues there. So but yeah, 473 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 2: real trucks rattle. The question is for how long eight five, five, five, 474 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 2: six zero nine nine zero zero running any of the 475 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:47,880 Speaker 2: car doctor coming back right after this, let us go 476 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 2: to Tim in California. Tim, you're all running any in 477 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 2: the car doctor, sir? How can I help you in 478 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 2: your twelve Honda Fit. 479 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:58,639 Speaker 5: Oh well, thank you for talking to me today. So 480 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 5: a couple of weeks ago, though, I was out in 481 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 5: California on I five, our famous freeway, and the temperature 482 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 5: was one hundred and seven and the Honda Fit air 483 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 5: conditioning stop stopped producing cold air, and also the flow 484 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 5: the amount of what do you call it CFM the fan. 485 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 5: You know, I wasn't getting much airflow. 486 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 2: Right, So the the AC was on and the blower 487 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 2: was on, but you just stopped getting airflow out of 488 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 2: the ducks. So obviously the condenser, I'm sorry, the evaporator 489 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 2: coil froze. 490 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 5: I'm thinking that and on this particular car. I've experienced 491 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 5: it on other cars. On this car it seems to 492 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 5: recover pretty fast. So what I did is I I 493 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 5: have a button for the air conditioning independent of the 494 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 5: knob that controls the. 495 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 2: Fan, right, So you turned it off the butt right, Yeah. 496 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 5: So I shut it off, and you know, I'm ten 497 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 5: or fifteen minutes later it was producing cold there again. 498 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 5: So it was capable of producing cold air at that temperature. 499 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 5: And you know, I stopped going to one shop that 500 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 5: was close to my house. I was going there because 501 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 5: you know, they had told me that, you know, I 502 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 5: need to replace the Canon condenser coils got it, you know, 503 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 5: and they had done a pull of vacuum and recharge 504 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 5: the system on me. And when I when I went 505 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 5: back and told them, hey, I'm getting this symptom. You know, 506 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 5: They're saying, well, you know, shoot the parts cannon. You know, 507 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:34,199 Speaker 5: let's just replace the condenser and the progressor. And I'm amazing. 508 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 2: First of all, I'm amazed they actually found a condenser 509 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:40,120 Speaker 2: for it. But you know, I go ug because can 510 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 2: we diagnose it first? Can we try and take a 511 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 2: shot at diagnosing it right? And I know you feel 512 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 2: the pain also financially and the aggravation factor. 513 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,920 Speaker 5: Right, yeah, So I you know, I declined that service, 514 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 5: and I got some coil cleaner, foaming coil cleaner, and 515 00:27:57,119 --> 00:28:00,199 Speaker 5: I cleaned the radiator and the condenser coil. And and 516 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 5: when I'm a happy way knowing that this problem only 517 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:07,160 Speaker 5: exhibits on the hottest of days. So then I went 518 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 5: to a friend who owns a mechanic shop, which you know, 519 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 5: I've had three new cars I bought in twenty twelve, 520 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 5: I haven't had much need for a regular mechanic. But 521 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 5: I know this person personally. I work on his car 522 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 5: as a matter of fact, because I do window tinning, 523 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 5: I work on his car. So I know him pretty well. 524 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 5: And so you know, I said, hey, why don't we 525 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 5: pull a vacuum, you know, and because I know the 526 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 5: cars have such a small amount of refrigerant that it's 527 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 5: critical that it be perfect in the quantity. And so 528 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 5: I had him do that just you know, I asked 529 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 5: for it. I didn't ask for a diagnosis. Let's try this, 530 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 5: you know, a couple of years later, same result, you know, 531 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 5: on the hottest days. And I think, I think mechanics 532 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 5: are a little dismissive when you know you have a 533 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 5: car like that. He drives enough two fifty, you know, 534 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 5: so you know, it's like, well, this is what happens 535 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 5: when you buy a car with such a small air conditioning. 536 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 2: So can we let's let's talk about air conditioning physics, 537 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 2: can we? Yeah, how does air conditioning work? Air Conditioning 538 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 2: doesn't produce cold air? Air conditioning conditions air all right, 539 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 2: that's that's the thought process. We take a liquid and 540 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 2: we push it through a line, and when it gets 541 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 2: to a restriction of the proper size, drops come out 542 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 2: the end. It's sort of like you know the waterfall 543 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 2: that we plug, and then instead of a rush of 544 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 2: water or a rush of liquid refrigerant, we get drops. 545 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 2: And as those drops fall over the edge into the evaporator, 546 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 2: they're they're falling from pressure into a vacuum state. And 547 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 2: when they go into that vacuum state, that liquid then 548 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 2: becomes a gas. As it goes through and use that 549 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 2: transition from liquid to gas, it has a tendency to 550 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 2: absorb heat as it's pushed across the evaporator coil by 551 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 2: the blower motor with me, makes sense, yeah, all right, 552 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 2: And then when it gets out to the condenser out 553 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 2: in front of the vehicle, it's a reverse process. It 554 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 2: gets to the condenser as a gas, and as it 555 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 2: changes back to a liquid, it gives off the heat 556 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 2: that it absorbed from the engine from the passenger compartment. Right. 557 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 2: So the concern here if we're really freezing the evaporator coil. 558 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 2: The first question I've got is what system pressure on 559 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 2: the low side when we're doing that. So if it 560 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 2: goes below the rule of thumb is, if it goes 561 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 2: below thirty pounds, we're running the danger of having evaporator 562 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 2: freeze up. Now in that particular car, I've seen anywhere 563 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 2: from twenty six to thirty. I'd really be curious. You know, 564 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 2: maybe we've got a bad pressure switch. The pressure switch 565 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 2: itself normally opens, I believe at twenty eight pounds. I've 566 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 2: seen them out of calibration where they'll run all the 567 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 2: way down below twenty six, and we run the risk 568 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 2: of freezing up the evaporator coil. And you know, perhaps 569 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 2: that's going on. But you know I'm not hearing anybody 570 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 2: do that. All we're doing is we're changing parts. I'll 571 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 2: tell you what, Tim, Sit tight, let me pull over, 572 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 2: take this pause. I don't want to go through this 573 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 2: too quick. We'll finish up with you on the other 574 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 2: side of this. I'm running any in the car. Doctor, 575 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 2: we'll return right after this. Don't go anywhere, Tim, you're 576 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 2: still there, sir, Tim, Yes, okay. So what I'm trying 577 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 2: to get at, and thanks for sticking around. What I'm 578 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 2: trying to get at is, you know, if we have 579 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:52,920 Speaker 2: a true freeze up problem based on evaporator temperature sensor readings. Okay, 580 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 2: there are ways to go through and test and modify 581 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 2: for this. Now. The evaporator tem censor on that I'm 582 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 2: sure you know this by now is buried in the 583 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 2: evaporator case under the dashboard. Kind of a pain in 584 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 2: the neck to get. 585 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 5: To, right, Yeah, and you got to pretty much disassemble everything. 586 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 2: Right, And I'm I like to kind of try and 587 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 2: think my way outside the box if I can. So 588 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 2: what I would like to do is if we turn 589 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 2: the AC on and low speed, I like to do 590 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 2: a low speed reading in this case because you're going 591 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 2: to get maximum evaporator freeze up potential at a lower speed. 592 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 2: The air moves slower over the evaporator will tend to 593 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 2: freeze it faster. I would do that and watch my 594 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 2: temperature on the low side gauge as I see it 595 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:41,960 Speaker 2: fall below thirty two thirty pounds, where it's approaching freeze up, 596 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 2: which is where we establish that's when refrigerant will it's 597 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 2: too cold anything below thirty really okay, I want you 598 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 2: to disconnect the evaporator connector, which you'll find I think 599 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 2: coming through the firewall on the right side. I have 600 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 2: to look at the car because some of these are different, 601 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,479 Speaker 2: and I try and get a resistance reading off that 602 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,960 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, off that evaporator switch to see what it is. 603 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 2: Where does it fall? Could you wire a resistor in 604 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 2: series to sort of calibrate that and a had a 605 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 2: little bit more resistance to it to keep it from 606 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 2: keeping the compressor on that extended length of time. I've 607 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 2: also done things like this for AC systems, where I 608 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,480 Speaker 2: will put a potentiometer a variable switch that I can 609 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 2: control and prevent the freeze up. Some ideas to try. 610 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 2: Call me back if you need more until the next 611 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 2: time I'm running ade in the car. Doctor, good mechanics 612 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 2: aren't expensive, They're priceless. See you