Come along as I have a look at a customers 2004 Toyota Rav4 that starts and runs but nothing works. No windows, radio, turn signals, heater, I mean nothing... Weird right?
-Enjoy!
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--Eric & Vanessa O.
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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.
-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
CHECK OUT OUR "SMA SWAG" STORE! Go on Teespring and get your very own SMA merch!
https://teespring.com/stores/the-sma-store
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=https://www.aeswave.com/Miscellaneous-p9347.html
Thank you for all the continuing support!
--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.
People don't realize that most shops have to follow protocol like M.A.P. "motorist assurance Plan" which prevents work without customers consent we can only do what we are authorized and paid to do
What blew the fuse? Most likely that battery hit the frame. A dead short would allow (very temporarily) a draw of several thousand amps
My guess is his battery died after the fuse blew. Someone checked voltage at the battery while the truck was running and didn't get 14 volts so the conclusion was made that the alternator was shot and he should replace both he did and when it started nothing was still working.
Maybe the original alternator shorted, blowing the fuse. Alternator was replaced and whoever did not check the fuse.
How's the Tundy treating you?
What? There was probably a hold down clamp at the wreckers you could have put in there. Not fixing that dangerous issue is poor form.
Always learn something from you, thank you 🙂
My 2 cents: grab the battery hold down(s) and a few clips while you're there. Takes an extra 3 minutes, the yard prob won't even charge you for the plastic clips (or they could fall to the bottom of your toolbox, who knows) and the holding strap/brace is likely $3 to $7 from them. Then you try upselling the customer. "I fixed the car and it runs. This will happen again if you don't strap the battery down. I can do that for another $40. Also if you want I can replace your zip ties with the OEM clips for another $15/$20."
Even if the customer says no, how many RAV4s might have similar issues? Could be useful parts to have on hand for the future. And OEM Toyota clips are good to have on hand in case you break one in the future on your car or a customer's car (it happens to the best of us sometimes).
Just a thought. Customer says No and you're down $10. Customer says Yes and you're up $20 to $40 (depending on how much you decide to charge for the extra time and part cost). $20 for the 3 extra minutes at the yard seems worth it.
I have to imagine the people who are complaining that you don’t fix other things the customer didn’t ask you to fix are 14 year old kids who don’t know how the world works.
Could you cause that by jump starting another car with jump cables wrong way round 🦘👍
You do a fantastic job Keep it up
You are doing the right thing. Doing more than you're allowed to do is called assault. Illegal. Nobody wants that.
Logic Wins The Day!!!
I would have grabbed that window switch at the junkyard for an upsell attempt to sell them that service, easy sale and would have made the trip to the junkyard that much more profitable. You saw it before you left, kill 2 birds with one stone and looked like a hero. I probably would have grabbed a few more broken bits and clips, like those battery and plastic trim if I found that exact ride in the junkyard. There is no way I wouldn't have grabbed those items to have them on hand for the sale or tossed them in for free because that's the person I am. We are talking peanuts and very little extra time. They would have paid to fix that window because driver window is a necessary safety item IMHO. That's how you make the money, by selling a necessary service and going the extra mile. and customers love that. If the guys at my shop weren't trying at least to find such blatantly obvious work ,they wouldn't have a job. You may not convince the customer to replace a set of leaky shocks or a trans service, but they will fix a broken driver window 9/10 times. Did you honestly contact that customer about that window switch or mention it to them? I could not return that car with that broken window without making the most valiant attempts at getting them to OK the repair. Still, as always love the video and your channel.
You mentioned there was a aftermarket alternator on it, quite possibly whoever installed it shorted the main cable while disconnecting it from the old alternator? Nice work as usual mr O.
The universal fear of getting locked out of a vehicle. 🔒
My speculation that the original battery was dead and someone attempted Jumpstart it incorrectly, and then assumed it's alternator, when that didn't work, they went and bought the cheapest battery, when that didn't work, they dumped it on the marketplace.
Fixing what you are ask to fix is about the best way to run a shop. If he was to start for example fixing the window switch, putting on the missing clips, putting in the correct battery and so on. When the owner comes back and looks at the bill he would ( and rightfully so) say "I just ask you to fix what ever it was that took out all my gauges, not all of the other stuff, I don't have money for all of this" and then your off to the races. The owner is right. So when you fix what your were ask to fix it cuts out all of that drama.
The only thing I can think of that would do that was maybe it was being driven by Scotty's place while he was waving his hands around on the driveway, which created a massive static electricity surge as the car drove by his house. ZAP⚡⚡
Battery Plugged in backwards.
awesome job and if someone makes negative comments on why you dont this that or the other thing either they are not informed or understand how a business works. you are hired to do a job and that is the job you do. Im sure you wouldnt mind doing all the things that need to be done but you have to make a living and dont want to get stung by someone saying i didnt ask you to do that. keep up the good work .
Interesting to see that Toyota designed their car to still run after blowing a main fuse. Maybe it's common but I've never thought about that.
I know what you mean about salvage yards, I could spend hours and hours just scoping things out in a yard imagining what I could put back together. Keep up the fantastic work!
I can't believe the customer didn't see the magic smoke coming from under the hood? 140A fuse? I'm surprised it didn't create a wormhole in the space time continuum😳😳
At the junkyard, Eric says, "there's lots of good stuff here", then the next islenwe see is full of dodges….
just saying
Try to save the World and it’ll come tumbling down on you.
I agree everything is a separate job I would of picked up the other stuff in case the customer wanted it done including the window switch 🤷🏻♂️
Love it
" That's how the world works."🍻
Classic reverse polarity situation. Bought the wrong battery and just slammed the terminals on. Current travels through the alternator diodes and pops the ALT fuse, makes a nice pop sound. You'll often see the ETCS, DOME, and AM1 fuses blown as well.
Hiya Eric
Good call / well well done
I agree with you Eric – YOU CANNOT FIX EVERYTHING WRONG WITH A CAR AND EXPECT THE CUSTOMER TO PAY YOU WHEN HE OR SHE DID NOT AUTHORIZE YOU TO DO THAT. !!!!!!! You can bring items to their attention that NEED fixing – but it is the customers car and it must be approved by him or her first !!! I work on some things that have piles of problems that need fixing immediately – sometimes so many that putting the car in the crusher is cheaper !!!! Just keep it going for another day, and if it breaks, offer that they can bring it back to the shop and hire you again to correct it and get it going again !!!! Good deducing on the way to fix it !!!! Well done !!!!!!!!
“You look fresh.” Well struck, Mr. O – that right there put the ‘pun’ in ‘pungent’. 🙂
battery was dead so they jumped it off but hooked up jumper cables backwards.. most likely then went to parts store and got new battery..
Eric, if someone changed the alternator without disconnecting the battery and grounded the wrench while removing the + wire, it would open the fuse.
Follow the evidence and do what you are told. And still struggle to make payroll, rent, insurance, subscriptions, tool man payments.
I think they put the battery therminals backwards or they jump start backwards one or others
I love your diagnostic videos. I actually specialize in Auto Electric and I love watching how other people diagnose so that I can try new things. But another way for that fuse to blow is if when replacing the alternator, the battery isn't disconnect, the main alternator cable gets grounded somewhere and will blow a main fuse. I've had a couple of my techs do this. So that's probably what happened
Looked like the insulating cover was missing from the old fused distribution block, which left the alternator stud exposed
I'm kinda with ya with what's all is going on in the video. I'm a mobile mechanic and I try to sell it as I see it, since I'm already with the customer. In the shops I've worked in, I agree 100% Now as to the blown fuse, I believe you said something about the alternator was replaced….. maybe not that's when it blow, because someone forgot to disconnect the battery. But like ya said, it's a mystery and we'll never get the full true story.
Eric!. Your my freakin Hero Man!!.
I can say I don't blame you for not nitpicking the other stuff. Customer said fix it so it runs, the motor runs, now the instruments and such runs, and you've done what the customer wanted. if they want other things they'll bring it back and tell you to fix those. If you try upselling, even though it's obvious it needs some big time care, then your customer will think you're trying to gouge them or something. If I had been the customer I would have said fix everything and let you do your mojo on it and not worried about those other items and what they cost. They'll be back. You did them a service like they wanted and didn't try to sell them the Brooklyn bridge..lol. Take care. Keep Mrs O out of that kitchen. Poor lady has to buy premade stuff to warm up. Get her a maid…lol.
just to let you know about that 140 amp main fuse just hooking up a new battery will blow that happened to me a couple of times i even put a and currently running a marine battery in my truck just to ask you would it hurt the electrical systems on a vehicle with a marine battery vs. a regular battery please let me know what you think about that i would like your input on this matter thanks
Great video Eric. I learn from you all of the time.
Long, long ago, when we were still running Ni-cad batteries and brushed motors in our R/C cars, the company that made the speed controller that I was using had their units protected by a "Solder-pop" fuse – it was literally a small gob of solder between 2 posts that stuck out of the case. I only ever popped it once, with a dead-short across the motor leads, so it took a good 100-ish amps.
I've never seen a fuse that big before …. see … never too old to learn something new
The way it looks someone may have connected the battery cables backwards. Positive ground usually results in a problem! LOL!
I'm guessing they tried to weld the new alternator in place when it was changed…
My 05 RAV4 was the best vehicle I ever owned, drove it to 165k then sold it as my family grew. It had 4WD and I never got stuck, through thick and thin, mud, derp snow, ice. Thanks
I like that old Gulf cap!. By the way you make great videos!
Well rainman ray fixes stuff is not supposed to fix when he works on cars
Found SMA recently. I am not a mechanic, but love this channel. I spent several years in the Avocado area and love the scenery and Eric’s “accent”.
Eric only people who have never worked in a shop would make such comments.
If they have worked in a shop must have only had customers who have had plenty of money to pony up for extra charges.
Wait til they have to start giving away service to ungrateful customers or giving away their bosses money one way or another you go broke or get fired
Great job to test by loading system before just throwing a fuse block at it. No egg on face that way.
you he always has something interesting to show us
Repair as per customer say,shop life 101,LOL!!!,some don't know,some find out,some stay in dark about matters,such is life,good deal Obrachta,sunny side up,greasy side down,truck on!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder if it got boosted backwards or they took the alternator out without disconnecting the battery. Had a 2010 Santa Fe come in with the same problem. Guy left the shop down the street and made it to our shop a few minutes later with a battery light on.
Should be more auto service companies like South Main.
Read about too many stories that are parts replacers .. These places leave the customer with a wallet short hundereds of dollars and a non-repaired car
Old Toyotas never Die, they just Rust Away.
Yea … gotta love a mechanic who looks at acres of junk cars (in the rain) and says …. "Damn, there's a lot of good stuff here"…. I'm betting the repairs stop here and the guys going to pop in the "On the road again" CD for the trip to the bar ; ) … then go for the bungee/zip tie fix on the "batry"
Betcha it got hit by lightning! 🤔
Not made it to the end for the full diagnosis. But as soon as I saw what it was doing I thought blown main fuse and probably jumped backwards.
You make it look so easy!
I wish all shops were like SMA. Nearly all shops always upsell from the tires to the crooked rearview mirror.
I'm guessing whoever replaced the alternator shorted the hot lead on the alternator side. Great investigation as always!
Nice repair. Agree with comments
He 100% arc’d a combo wrench to ground.
Do the job and no more or any less.
I understand, ,fix only what told! Next ,really good job finding what was wrong {The big fuse block}& fixing it Quick! Thanks Eric……..
I second El Cheapo's comment. Way to go.
Good little tip. I'll have to keep that in mind. Looking for different stuff. 👍👍🙂🇨🇦
possibly the original alternator was shorted out blowing that fuse. They replaced the alternator trying to fix it not realizing the fuse was blown?
Wait until you have to work on that u240 piece of shit transmission. Better have a planet set hanging around.
Uhh…Epic?!!
How about; during a jump start, the jump battery + cable was connected to the alternator stud? I preferred the SD that taught at Rosedale Tech and SD Premium to the current SD.
100pct..fix what customer asked for and advise on rest. Want more gotta pay more..love it!.
I know that Nissan that if you jumped a dead battery but the battery was so low they where notorious for blowing the main charging fuse because the alternator would send more amps than the fuse was rated for but not sure if that Toyota would have the same issue.
I’ve never seen a main fuse blown blown before! Also, I was worried that solder blob would become a plasma ball if it blew again.
You're obviously right. I was lucky enough to establish a relationship with the shop I used so they understood I wanted broken stuff fixed and wouldn't argue about it. It worked out fine.
The thumb nail got me I was waiting and trying to figure out what could of blown the fuse and why the bumper needed to come off. Then it wasn't till the end of the video when I clued in that the thumb nail is from the pick and pull
Here's what happened. I've seen it a few times working at a dealership. The original battery was dead, they jumped it but didn't know red goes to red and blew the fuse. Case solved, you're welcome Eric lol
Can't believe you didn't spend ten more mins fixing it correctly and charge for it.
Didn't disconnect the battery when changing the alternator.
I wonder if someone changed the alternator without first unhooking the battery? It would have sparked for a second, then nothing. So gomer went ahead and changed the alternator and battery, and never bothered to check if it was charging or not
this was dumb ass error not a toyota desighn fault. this has never happened to any toyota i have heard of
another pre-owned gem hits the road……good job
Bet someone replaced the alternator with the battery hooked up and let the cable hit something.
That motor sounds terrible. Exhaust leak i guess.
Good man and good honest ethics. 👍
I need to remember the phrase "do the work you hired to do" for my next career, the last retail job I was at wanted me to run the entire place like I owned the whole franchise. Help the customers, cash them out, count the drawers at night, close and open the store, block the shelves, stock the shelves, clean the floors, sanitize for virus prevention, collect carts outside, stand out in the snow with a promo sign, but all I was hired to do was to fry chicken in the prep kitchen for $7.25 an hour.
I used to love going to the junkyard and finding those treasures. Sometimes getting sidetracked by looking for things I know I'll need later.
There aren't many places in my area that you can still pull your own parts. But I'm happy to go hunting it you need.
Client boosted his dead battery backwards. Then threw the parts canon at it loll
I used to love the fusible links on GM
On that model, many people had the "fuse" blow,when jump starting .amd they connected to the fuse stud,instead of the battery terminal,…and OOOPS the cables were backwards !
Given the new battery. I would think that they tried to boost the vehicle and reversed polarity.
Great video
Thanks Eric! Great channel and video. Let us know if you ever come to Long Island
considering that alternator looks new could have been the old alternator blow that fuse and the guy was looking in the driver side fusebox because he or she didn't know about the fusible link box
I need to find another shop like yours. My wife's car is currently in a shop with a punctured oil pan, being repaired. I'm going to eat the excess costs for the parts because this shop refuses to buy from anything that the rep is calling a "DIY" seller. That includes junkyards, RockAuto, NAPA, Autozone, Advance, O'Reilly, etc. So, instead of the oil pan being $200 for a good Dorman, it's going to be whatever brand they get from their "professional" distributor, at close to $400. I get not wanting to use customer purchased parts – but my last shop would do it, they just wouldn't warranty the repair. Deal. This shop won't even order the part I want them to buy.