In this video we learn the value of taking the time to test a component even when you are SURE you know what is wrong! Although I have over 15 years of experience working on cars and know what a bad starter sounds like I still take the time to prove the failure even though it can sometimes be a pain in the neck to do. We see a perfect example in this video of a poor connection (voltage drop) that makes the vehicle exhibit the classic sound of a bad starter... -Enjoy!
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

48 thoughts on “Test don’t guess!”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars buffy stclair says:

    Mrs.O’s fear should be if you walk away and leave her up in the air one day

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Johnny Sechrist says:

    A crooked mechanic would have charged her for a starter….greed aint good for keeping long term customers. Did you sell her a fluid film treatment?

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars gunsaway1 says:

    You are a very honest man.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars William Mason says:

    She said she wanted a raise

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Drew Bush says:

    Maybe a garage loosened it to get more work? Seems to happen to me with extended warranty and the dealership bad combination

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars kahrnivor says:

    Did anyone else WTF!? when you saw the spark?

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mr.DJCoon Coon says:

    300.00 CASH!!! And this car needs some Ziebart….

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Paublus Americanus AMERICANUS says:

    Josh was so nervous and looked so bad hooking positive to positive. I can see him behind the car hitting his head going DOOOOH!!

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars james daniels says:

    I had a Buick like that and replaced the starter but didn't solve the problem. End of story it ended up being the ignition switch. Rare but true. Replaced it and it fired every time.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Harrell says:

    test,,test,,,test….works*

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Oscar Rojas says:

    You are great mechanic

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Repair Ambulance says:

    Pretty good temporary fix 👌

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Watch Wes Work says:

    Doesn't every mechanic have a pile of partially melted tools from taking the wires loose "real quick" without disconnecting the battery? Maybe it's just me…

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Donnie Robertson says:

    Great job

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Juliana Rodriguez says:

    Hey Eric can you please do a video on how you make your test light

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dr Wrencho says:

    I got a fuel pump work order on an 09 GMC truck. I disconnected the connector for fuel pump pulled it over frame into rear wheel well, plugged a light bulb between power feed pin and ground pin of connector turned key on and no light. Imagine I had trusted that the past guy had done his diligence when calling the F pump….

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jim Oliver says:

    Made myself a test light like yours today. What great idea!

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jeff Bohn says:

    KIA's a Winner. If you take the time to TEST or not..If we had just replaced the starter..Well..would have cleaned up the fittings for a good connection 🙂

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Darren Ellert says:

    Looks like SMA got rust money luv it

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars philstuf says:

    I am stealing the phrase of, "Test, don't guess," to leverage in my IT job with my tier one folks that want to escalate everything before even replicating and witnessing the problem because they have never seen it or assume it's a server/infrastructure issue. (How can the mail server be down when 299 out of 300 people are OK, but 1 user has an issue? C'mon…)

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Brian Glade says:

    The lady is still in the car!!!!!!

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars wiktor poliszczuk says:

    very helpful ,,thx

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars adam0U812 Davies says:

    Worked for a auto repair shop for a few months and I was shocked about how he worked , I seen so much wrong going on , I quit because I was sick of all that was going on. Such a shame
    Everything was real quick , do this , screaming , yelling.
    Was just too much for me and how little he paid

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Erik Johnson says:

    Your videos often make me wonder how many times I've been unnecessarily parts-changed. That's why I'm doing my own work again. Eric, your videos are the best. I think I've made this same type of comment every time I've posted on SMA videos, but I'm just darn grateful!!

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Richard John says:

    how much in diag time would u recommend charging?

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Paul Schmied says:

    "Replaced starter for intermittent crank" is throwing parts at a problem. A bad connection at the starter is not unusual. I've seen loose connections there (and in many other places) on brand new cars. Most recently a Ford Fiesta was towed twice and had a good battery replaced before it was taken to a Ford dealership, where an older mechanic troubleshot it properly.

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars J. J. springer says:

    under 67 Catalina in Michigan, using cinder blocks, trans ready to fall out, broke every cinder block. then I hear what do I do? I yelled" go to lunch," lucky frame fell on trans and I crawled out! two years later did it again another 69 Catalina in Ohio. No more blocks only jack stands. tell your wife they do fall on the mechinic

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars BUZ1952 Z says:

    Eric, she might get vertigo potentiated by the sodium azide flash. Now what's for lunch?

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Clifford Hill says:

    I like your three thumbs up final test on this video. You got to love your 100% approach!

  30. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sarah Sargent says:

    Don’t say sorry,good man always confirms his gut,that’s y allways check,enjoyed the video mr o.

  31. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars A Physics Professor says:

    Perfect Kia. Place the starter next to a massive heat source. Absolutely nothing could go wrong with that.

  32. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Notten says:

    Why are you….wow ..good video.

  33. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars GNX157 says:

    I've seen this happen quite often on older chevy and dodge starters, but the bad connection happens on the inside of the solenoid, between the post and copper contact ring. Those solenoids you could take apart and clean the contacts, polish the copper ring, and be back in business. Also, a bad starter will also mimic a bad battery but you can do an amperage draw test on a starter and see if it's out of specification before replacing it.

  34. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars mark lavrack says:

    Really don't know the percentage of guys that would tell the customer it need a starter, but I lay a bet it's really high. Wish there was more honesty. Eric you are a rare breed. So greedy out there.

  35. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars daveogarf says:

    HIIII, the Lovely Mrs. O! Seeing you is like a breath of fresh air.

  36. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mark L says:

    0.36 You May have apologise to UK viewers for the word ‘Wank’ which isn’t normally used to describe starter motor solenoids. Google should help Always good videos and techniques even if the language is getting a bit fruity!! 😂😂😂

  37. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Real World Garage says:

    Only criticism I have is undo the negative 👎, teach good practices. It only takes one oh crap 💩 and blow up a battery.

  38. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mike Chiodetti says:

    Awesome! Great Video! It's surprising how many problems like that one come along. Diesels are notorious for bad electrical connections. I've seen some good ones. NICE repair job! Many thanks to Mrs. O for all her hard work to help bring this video to us.
    Does she get diagnostic tech pay for this job? Have a great one!

  39. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars COMM114 says:

    My guess is that with the East Coast "crusties" everywhere you go, connections would be the first place you look for any electrical circuit.

  40. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Joe Vignolo says:

    When checking for voltage drops it depends exactly where you touch the test light. If you touch the light to the stud or nut on the starter itself and it goes out when the key is turned then you move the point of the test light to the ring terminal on the cable and try again. If the light stays on then the cable is okay and the problem is the connection right there. But if the light goes out then the problem is between the ring terminal and the battery. So then you move up the cable towards the battery. When you jump over the bad connection the light will stay on when the key is turned. In this particular case you lucked out because it sparked and you noticed it, but that doesn't always happen. Sometimes turning all the lights off in the shop can help you find bad connections (as well as bad spark plugs, coils and wires that are arcing).

  41. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Len in MI says:

    Oops.. contact 🤔

  42. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Len in MI says:

    Bad ground

  43. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars dan mackintosh says:

    Interesting you mentioned removing the negative lead first, the way it's always been the "done thing"… But strangely a lot of modern cars with lots of electronics "prefer" the positive lead removed/connected first… I can't remember the reasoning behind it but its something to do with spiking of chips :/

  44. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars n8pu says:

    The people that design these vehicles don't have to repair them so they don't care…

  45. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars hostilityy says:

    I love your work. this was nice. I never trust connections without seeing the condition for arcs or corrosion and tightening

  46. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Titan Fall says:

    Mrs O doin another great job at SMA she's a great boss you should give her a raise Eric…. lol

  47. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jk Canvas says:

    Love Fluid Film, use it for everything.

  48. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Norman Gallant says:

    Good test and repair

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.