In this video we have a look at a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu LS 2.4L, L4, Flex, VIN 0, Des LE9, 16V, DOHC. The customer complaint was poor running when cold, skips, chuggles, coughs and stalls but only when cold. We get a good reminder that not all problems are fixed with wrench's and screwdrivers. We show how to reset the alcohol content value back to zero and preform the flash programming update to correct the issue. P0171, P0172, P1174, P0131. -Enjoy!
TSB: #10-06-04-004B
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OEM Websites for programming and GREAT info: https://www.nastf.org
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--Eric O.
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair
TSB: #10-06-04-004B
OTC 700A 70 Amp Power Supply/Battery Charger: https://amzn.to/2IappS5
OEM GM Tech 2 Dealer Package: https://amzn.to/2GiIyRv
GM MDI Diagnostic Tool (Wi-Fi) with Multi-Language Without Software (Blue): https://amzn.to/2GePfI4
GM Cal Id's: https://tis2web.service.gm.com/tis2web/
OEM Websites for programming and GREAT info: https://www.nastf.org
If an SMA Video has helped you out please consider giving using "Patreon" to help support us. The videos take real time to create and pull us away from real work that pays our bills. CLICK HERE: https://www.patreon.com/southmainauto
THANKS A MILLION!!
--Eric O.
If you don't like Patreon feel free to use the "PayPal Me" link: https://www.paypal.me/SouthMainAuto
The South Main Auto Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/southmainautorepairavoca
AES Wave Automotive Diagnostic Tools: https://www.aeswave.com/cart.php?m=affiliate_go&affiliateID=2525b91fc8e906e8215984074c9d9e8f&go=
WANT AN "SMA" STICKER OF YOUR OWN!?!
Simply send and E-mail to SMAstickers @outlook.com including: your shipping address and e-mail address in the text, I in turn will send you a Paypal invoice for $5 each USA or $6 each international. Let me know how many you want and as soon as the Paypal invoice is paid I will ship them out ASAP! Thanks for your support of our channel!!
--Eric & Vanessa O.
Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?
Just ship it here:
South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair
There's your problem lady To much Alcohol trying to get your Car Drunk is a no No lmfao 🤣 😂 good Video Eric O some Extras on the Programming @SouthMainAutoRepairLLC
I'm not pleased with setting equipment on the car paint – – laptop on the roof.
Yes, adapting is you way to survival….
Flex fuel Toyotas have the same issue with forgetting the alcohol percentage and starting like crap.
I live in Florida and even when its warm my car knocks/taps on startup. And lately has started to stall.
Cars went from needing a mechanic to needing a mechanic & a IT Tech. How is a DIY supposed to do this? Most of us don't own a Bi-Directional scan tool that can do programming. Sad the way the industry has gone.
I have a 03 and just replaced the air control sensor it still stalls only when I come to stops idk what to do anymore mines not flex it’s the old 3100
The mechanical world was turning that way back when I was a young shade tree mechanic and it's been getting progressively worse by the day ever since
0's & 1's tuneup
I have the same car, the same year, with the same issues. I don't live in Boston though to bring it to you.
Wow I thought there would be updates. Mine is a 2015. Do you think it takes updates? Also I'm in Indiana and I may come to you cause I got an issue I cannot figure out
Once again thanks for the video 🙂
Quite interesting that it's different enough to run pooh with high alcohol fuel on old firmware…
Java? Java is involved in reflashing a PCM?
Ewwwwww! Icky! Hahaha!
Mine was a cracked exhaust manifold. Always check under the heat shield.
It's only gonna get worse, ain't that the truth!
Question could that apply to a non flex fuel malibu because my car got a code p2097 rich fuel problem
It would aggravate me to death to work on somebody's car that can't even keep the inside clean. If the inside looks like that, you know it didn't get the maintenance it should have
You need to be a computer nerd to work on today's cars. Eric your knowledge amazes me.
Chevy ballyhoo
Hi Eric. Hey, you don't know why they put a counter in the computer programs when they are never really accurate? For the same damn reason you can buy vehicles with technology that could get you to the moon, but they still put gauges in the dash that may be accurate at one mark, but are marked so strangely that it would take a mathematician to figure out the spacing between the hash marks on the rest of the stupid gauge. You look at the alternator gauge in most any vehicle with an alternator gauge and I challenge you to find one that resembles a normal gauge marked in regular spaced increments like 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. Not .7 or 1.2 or 2.6 or 4.9 like my alternator gauge. That drives me berserk! You do the math and tell me the voltage it's reading! I quit. I'll take an idiot light over gauges like that any day. They can keep em! Jpol.
Hey Eric just stumbled across one of these same engine same year down in North Carolina with the same problem. There is also a P0420 in memory. I have a generic obd reader so can't do the reset how much do you think Chevy may charge for the reset and update? I also explained to the customer that they have a CA Emissions Vehicle and that the Cat will not be cheap.
Scary mr o,I can think of a shop not far from me ,has all the latest tec, cars go in running ,never leave runners,he charges mega,even when it’s now a none runner,what you just did I have stayed away from because of the shop,but I can see that was wrong,get video mr o.
No break clean was used to make this video.
Ozone layer over Avoca is safe.
She thought it needed a tune up or something. So she dumped in 3 cans of dry gas and the computer recognized it had a lot of alcohol and compensated for it.
Alcohol in your drink. Fuel in the Tank. Not the other wat around…..
Don't computer programmers have a saying, "garbage in, garbage out", or something to that effect..:-)
Great Video! Definitely saving this one! I'm surprised the commies up in Sacramento never sanctioned E85 for my area!
The L.A. DWP actually put that trash in small auxiliary engines. Every day you have to run it, and drain it out when it gets cold, or…..LOTS of parts cleaning when the stuff gels, separates,…..etc!
Usually when my computer is running slow I just unplug the battery for 10 seconds and plug it back in….works great.
What I find frightening is not the ever increasing complexity of our vehicles but rather the ever diminishing amount of highly skilled techs to find problems. Dealerships won't pay top technicians the top money so they branch out to work on their own. Which is fine but that leaves us consumers not knowing where the top technicians like Eric can be found and sadly, more often than not, we fall victim to those far less able.
I found your channel about a month ago and I've been binging to catch up. I'm in Melbourne Australia and my experiences over the years with mechanics and so called technicians have not been very happy ones. I drive a 2005 Mitsubishi 380 3.8 v6 that's had a niggling electrical issue since I bought it almost new 13 years ago. It isn't serious, keeps pulling up "soft codes", I've been managing it but no one has had the gumption to find the problem.
I gave up on Mitsubishi and then paying "techs" to find the problem who never could despite paying for diagnostics. If I was in the U.S. I'd bring it to you in a heartbeat. Good on ya Eric, I've been enjoying binging on your videos, your style and attitude to your repairs and life in general.
I am about to start a college course in Agricultural Engineering this September, tractor technology is apparently only now starting to embrace CAN bus and electronic control modules. The course tutor told a story about how when a farmer called in a fault on his new tractor and a lad turned up with a laptop to fix it, he refused to pay the bill, because he thought he didn't fix it and the young guy was just playing with the laptop on his time! As a former IT guy, I am interested by your videos of doing diags with scantools, etc. but generally I like the rewarding nature of fixing stuff with your hands, which is sadly quite far removed from working on computers these days, very few IT techs work on hardware, it's all software stuff that your boss wants you to fix as fast as possible over the phone or via remote access… Thanks Eric!
A GM tech 2 huh??? kind of an elitist scan tool. your snapon scanner looks better on camera.
U dam good man like watching ur video s keep it coming Sir thanks
just put a block heater on it!
Now I've loved your videos for a long time, I'm a nerd and love seeing the way you find problems. But goddamn I hate this car computer business, used to be you'd need a screwdriver to fix a fuel issue, or just bash the carb with something heavy till you could fix it!
My dad had over 34 years in auto repair. He owned his repair shop. He did not want to adapt and retired. My expertise is in electronics and computers. He used to call me out to the shop to help diagnose electronic problems. I thought the newer cars were much easier to work on than the older ones. LOL
What made you think it was a updating issue? Sorry if I sound dumb
Is there an update for that filthy interior? S.m.h.
You're right about doing a tuneup on the new vehicles. your thoughts on a 05 dodge caravan 3.3 non flex fuel, no service engine light but acts like it's not getting enough fuel especialy
when not up to operation temp, 105,000 mile on speedometer, I live in Pensacola, Florida
So true that I still driving trucks that are more dependable the new stuff
I don't usually go for the diagnostic (ie fancy scan tool) videos simply because as a DIY I get confused with all the tech in these cars. However I think this was the most entertaining SMA video I've seen. Thanks Eric, I learned a lot just now.
Any chance you could do a quick video explaining fuel trims? If you have one already I'd like to find it. Thanks.
Looks like there might be a good reason for the 'recall' notice on my new Chevy pickup. It arrived in the mail a week after I brought the truck home, and I copped an attitude.
Around my neck of the woods I am given the title of Superman for solving automotive problems. I relinquish this title to you Eric. Remember if you can do it I can too. This video was great.
Nice one Eric. Very interesting to see some programming.
I think the digital systems are far superior to the old mechanical control systems.
Anyone who lived through the "lean burn" days of the first attempts at "smog control" might, if they can remember what day it is, tell you of the engines that routinely stumbled as stalled as they warmed. Calibrated orifices that slowly advanced timing assuming the engine warmed at a specific rate. Huge catalytic converters that routinely got so hot that safety bulletins were issued warning people not to park over dry grass or leaves due to fire hazard.
Things are better and different. Before the service, that car was running poorly, after the service it was running much better.
Points and condenser just don't cut it anymore.
When technology came popular everything expedite and now you see it in just about everything from vehicles, refrigerator, washer and dryers, all electronics. Kudo Eric O on another successful repair and yes either have to adapt to new technology in everything or your kind screwed with trying to diagnose or repair anything new
The advent of computer systems on vehicles made them more reliable and easier to assemble. Back in the day, you had to stomp on the gas to set an automatic choke and that was far from trouble free. With technology comes change and with that technology comes new ways to run automobiles.
What we used to do with vacuum controls we now do with electricity.
Good video Eric O. Thanks for video's that you put out .
So where can Joe Anyone find out if there are updates for our cars and trucks? I have an 02' F250, V10 that hasn't ever been back to a dealer or repair shop because it has always run very well. Only it is drinking more fuel than usual lately. 114K on the clock with factory plugs and coils. Never misses a beat. Yeah, I know those plugs are going to be murder, but that's also why they have never been out! A 4 level back fusion is my real excuse!! lol… I just wouldn't mind getting a little better mileage or at least back to the lousy 11.5 MPG I use to get!!
If one is not in tune with the down and dirty explanation of the future of "non-wrench" repairs, the typical customer would think as you stated….oh….it needs a plug and wire fix. I am 71 years young and am thankful for guys like you ,Eric, that take our hand and give us the informed understanding of these space age vehicles that we think operate the same as they did 30 years ago. I learn every time I watch your videos. You have educated me as to how my 2005 Chrysler Pacifica operates and needs the modern attention that you teach. Only wish I where 20 years younger and I would be the first in line to educate my mind to modern automotive electronics and ecm knowledge! Thanks. You are a bright light to honesty and education. Bless you.
I never really thought about my cars ever needing computer updates till I started watching the SMA channel. I love the diligence that Eric O has in regards to checking a customers car for needed updates. Even if my car is coming in for service for something mechanical, I would be more than happy to pay the additional work time for him to check my current software codes to make sure I'm running on the newest version. We preach it all the time in the information technology world with our computers but seem to forget that our cars contain a lot of the same technology that also needs updates. The owner actually needed more than just the fuel system update so she'll be thankful to know Eric O was on the job! Great video.