I once lost an engine because the lower rad hose blew out and the engine was junk before I could even pull over. I wouldn't have minded so much but the car had just been serviced and I told the mechanic that there was Dexcool on the driveway, could he please find and repair the leak? The guy gave the car back to me saying that he couldn't find the leak. Not only did I find the leak, I also found a new mechanic.
One of the many things that I sincerely appreciate about this channel is the willingness to show the oversights that routinely occur with ALL of us. It's not a question of whether or not we make a mistake or overlook a problem upon pre-work inspections, but how we deal with it when we discover it. You always do it with class and humor Eric. You're just the damned best.
This is exactly why I prefer this kind of channel over those who show some fake reality where everything always works perfectly smoothly. Also it make me feel less stupid when I mess up :)
Yes sir. The constant work ethic is a welcome fact in todays screw you and move on to the next sucker. It’s definitely harder to find a mechanic with integrity now a days.
My dad always told me “show me a man who’s never made a mistake, and I’ll show you a guy who’s never done anything ! Great video! Hate those sharp fan blades!
Never apologise for making a mistake. Your honesty is why you have so many return customers! Remember that last guy that made NO mistakes was nailed to a cross! Thanks for the great videos!
I spent 40 years post grad in Engineering and can honestly say I never made a mistake. Not once. Ever. I was however fed with the wrong information from time to time, which resulted in a sub optimal result, but that's not my fault is it?
JESUS was Perfect. Sinless. HE came to Save the Rest of us that are not. HE died on the Cross. Death did not hold him!!! He will save all who ask Him to save them!!!
Eric O, I used to listen to Car Talk with Click and Clack the Tappet Bros. Your videos are truly an embodiment of their message and humour. You deserve a Peabody Award for what you are creating! Regards
I have a feeling that Eric’s fame has yet to reach its peak. PBS has This Old House about home repair and reno. Why not have one about auto repair and maintenance? The only auto shows are either dumb reality, or the silly shows where a guy installed something like a lift kit, assisted by some airhead babe. This as opposed to SMA where the female assistants Hannah, Marie, and Vanessa are hardly airheads, but seriously good at what they do, and perform legitimate repairs.
Eric O, you didnt force the fan out like Rainman Ray does every time he takes one out! He makes me so nervous on some of the ways he does things. Sure like your professionalism.
I worked on a few Datun's back in the day. Head gaskets on 210 and 510's were common. Even had a homemade wedge tool for the timing chain. One time a customer brought in his '69 or '70 Fairlady, right hand drive. That would be worth some $ today.
but they make those in the county next door (USA). And they SUCK!!! marginal heat and A/C absolute Suck-vegas for a work truck-where we need heat and A/C at idle many hours per day.
Thats 1 reason why so many people love watching your videos, it's because you're honest. Anyone could have missed that little weap from that bottom coolant hose, it takes a real man to admit he missed it at first! Another awesome job!!
Between Eric and Ray I always get my daily dramatic Brake Kleen appearance 😉Also I heard once or twice when a New Yorker says "Trust Me" it means something very specific lol
I've used manilla folders too. Made an "emergency" water pump gasket that way as well. But it never leaked, so I just left it, sold the truck that way about 2 yrs later.
I recently learned something about 'no heat' that surprised me. My 22 year old Camry seemed to need to have the heater cored flushed every few months to get better heat. The surprise was when I found, that in spite of both radiator hoses looking good on the outside, one of them was degraded so badly on the inside it was constantly shedding small rubber particles.
@Duane K When you live out here in Arizona, a good mechanic will recommend changing hoses and belts every 5 years. The 150 degrees experienced in the engine compartment during the summer just destroys them that quickly.
This brought back nightmares of trying to change the thermostat on my old Frontier. The good part was the thermostat housing was right up top in front of the engine. The bad part was that the housing had three bolts that were NOT the same. I didn't know this and it was pitch black and freezing cold by the time I began putting it together and I could not get that damn housing to go back on. It took many freezing hours reconsidering where my life had gone so horribly wrong before I figured out what was wrong. Amazing how quickly things go back together when you put the right bolt in the right place. It all worked out in the end. That truck taught me a lot. Learned how to do a total radiator replacement, a skill which came in handy when my next vehicle got a cracked radiator. I did that swap in the daylight.
I had a 2004 with thermostat on top. My mistake was taking out the hose that goes to back of engine when I didn’t need to. It was a mother lover to get back in. Good times.
The thermostat on my Jetta is hidden behind the alternator and power steering pump, and to get to it I have to take the exhaust manifold off. Not very keen on doing that any time soon... Good thing I live in a city with good public transportation, so I've parked it for the winter.
never get rid of any videos I think I speak for most of us. We enjoy all of your videos the easy ,the hard,the funny,and the long ones!! Keep them coming Dr. O
You get the Jinksyguy hall of fame award for thoroughness . . Every bit as particular as me . . kudos . . keep up the GREAT work ! People who can't diy really appreciate you...
And once again, the ONE spot you don't look at/check, in cooling, A/C, brake lines, etc., is going to be THE spot with the problem. Seeing this video was a great reminder of this unwritten law. Great video overall......
My Grandad taught me about 40years ago when you need to make a Gasket out of a Cereal Box, smear it with Grease (which not only holds it in place, but also softens it!)
This is an excellent video. I appreciate the fact that you showed the steps and components to remove to get to the source, in this case the thermostat. No short cuts, real time situation. Just found out my son has no heat problems and yes, the same type of pickup. Enjoyed your humor in the video and how you made it easy to understand. Thanks Eric, for making this video. Keep em comin. Now, it's my turn to git er dun.
I have a 2014 Frontier. They are notorious for air pockets in the the coolant system. The air pocket migrates to the heater core and thus no heat unless going up a hill. Park on a good hill, take cap off and let idle. It will force the air out and problem solved. Using a vacuum fill also fixes it. They are also very touchy with aftermarket thermostats. I did, made the truck run hot. Put in a Nissan thermostat and runs perfect now.
my wife had a corsa years ago, every winter she complained about the heating not being hot, i had to jet blast out the heater matrix every year, rust and junk used to collect and start to fill it up, we only had that car 3 years, the heater was just 1 complaint of many, i sold it and bought her a bmw compact, never had to touch the heating system in 5 years.
Have you had any other issues with your frontier. I’ve been thinking about buying a used one lately and haven’t talked to anyone who owns a newer to see if they are any good or not. I know the old hard body Nissans were tanks like the Toyotas but I’m not so sure about the newer ones. Any information would be appreciated
Thank you for not tossing the video when you realized it was just a broken clamp! I have to drive an hour to rescue my wife’s Frontier for not building heat. Knowing better what to expect is HUGE!
Yes this is a known issue. I have a 2015 Frontier SV air locked and low fluid. The back hose near the fire wall. Other UA-cam videos exist as well. I raised my front end added fluid and worked the air lock out. Been good for a year now.
I just read in these comments it is common to overfill the reservoir to an inch or so over the seam. I have a 2011 and have the same issue with the heater with the reservoir level at the "MAX" line. I am going to try overfilling it.
Good call old man,, Eh I don't think any of your viewers wouldn't trust you. Transparency, honesty and humility and you can laugh at yourself are all good traits in my book. Keep up the great work and ugga duggas !
No heat sounds like a real emergency, given the weather lately. The owner is lucky you are on the job. Hope you and Mrs O and the family had a great Christmas! Happy New Year!
I didn’t see a mistake Eric, simply further issues upon dismantling. You found them and fixed them. It’s just a diligent work ethic. Don’t be so harsh on yourself. You’re a human like the rest of us.
Brings back memories. Driving from Rochester to Buffalo in mid January when my thermostat decided to stick fully open. My girlfriend and I were nearly frozen to the bone by the time we got to Buffalo. Once we warmed up I had to go outside and replace the stat, and in those days I didn't have a garage to work in. Fun times. Also used a crap load of gas with the engine running at such cold temps on the thruway.
It looks to me like that thermostat was working as the temp gauge was the same before and after. But, given your experience maybe it wasn't such a bad move.
The roadside move is to take a floor mat out and wedge it in front of the radiator. Thos will save your toes from frostbite until you get the thermostat replaced. Don't forget to remove it when the weather warms up!
As a kid, I watched my father install the Prestone flush kit on his 1954 Plymouth Savoy Flathead 6. Tee fitting permeant on heater inlet hose you connected a garden hose to. A 90 degree plastic diverter went into the radiator fill. A drain, flush and coolant replacement took all of 10 minutes and dad did it every fall. And yes, the coolant was dumped in the road back then.
I had a Chinesium plastic heater control valve give out on my '68 Cougar back a few years ago. I had a 5/8" deep socket in my toolbox in the trunk, which I swapped the bad heater valve with. It got me home.
Hey Eric. You area a great mechanic. No need for embarrassment. You discovered the problem because you are thorough. Another good job! Your videos are never a mistake. They are always interesting .
I had to replace the thermostat, radiator and reservoir tank on my 4.0L 2014 on three separate occasions over the past couple of years. When the thermostat opened up wide, the truck would not warm up at all so it ran like I had just started it on a cold day; the needle never got above the first line and very little cab heat. The radiator blew last February on my way to work but I was able to limp it home in a couple of stages of cooling and refilling. Two days later it was a clear miracle of a 60 degree day (I'm in NJ) and I'm a driveway mechanic so I took the day from work and replaced it and the belt. I did remove the bottom part of the shroud before pulling the top part, tho - saved me from pulling off the fan. Hoses and clamps were AOK so just reused them. Reservoir tank had an invisible crack and was always leaking just ever so slightly but constantly so that's why it got replaced. Plenty of cab heat and no leaks now. But this video brings back a bunch of memories of working those issues on mine. Sure is much easier watching someone else do this work - more entertaining, too. Thanks for the video, Eric, warts and all.
Astro vans were famous for heater cores plugging. Someone told me they didn’t get all of the core sand out of the block. I had to flush mine every year.
Speaking of making cardboard gaskets reminds me of the time I brought my friends Buick Skylark to night tech school in the late 70's planning on replacing valve cover gaskets as part of engine class. I had the wrong gaskets, quite a smoky ride home. Cardboard didn't seal very well. LOL
16:19 - he's not lying about the classic chrysler broken clamp --- our 2012 dodge grand caravan which is regularly oil sprayed, had a broken hose clamp last winter, and you wouldn't notice the leaking coolant until the car was parked and the pressure was off in the system, when there was pressure (ie motor on) it didnt seem to leak much. So new clamp did the trick as the old one was rusted, just like that one.
I appreciate every video you produce. My godfather always taught me that experience is the best teacher. And your videos teach me a lot. I think you are the best example of how to CORRECTLY work on vehicles. Everything you post allows others to learn from your experience and expertise. Keep up the good work and the awesome videos you produce! You help the experienced mechanic as well as the novice ones. Thank you again for showing how it should be done!
As a training video this is great. You show us what Not to do as well as explaining what TO do. I also appreciate what you go through to make these videos. Thank you.
Eric I'm enjoying your video sitting by the wood stove. Gotta love the rust belt. Remember when the tstat housings were up top and literally would take like 10 minutes to replace. Keep em coming
Why would anyone complain about you having your heating fan on in your own garage? It's all just part of it. I'm here to learn something and you're entertaining.
Eric, you are a better man than I am, my friend. I can't believe how much plastic (junk) there is under the hood now. I wouldn't know where to begin - I grew up working on my 6 cyl. 230 and everything was nice and simple !! That was probably way before your time, but I miss those days. I always enjoy your videos, because you dont stop until you find the problem ( There's your problem, Lady !! ), and you just do things right. You are a man of honor, my friend !!
Mr. O’’ you have done it again . Congratulations. I’m thinking that you are god like in your quest for perfection in repair and prevention. Thanks for another adventure. Your admirer.
Awesome procedure. I made one of those blaster hose thingies out of a 3-way hose connector from Lowes, as Amazon didn't have one of those last summer when I needed it. Worked perfectly. Just ran the water hose into one of the threaded connections, air into another one, and the 3rd hooked to a hose going to the heater core. I ALSO used your trick to get a small water pump, and some CLR in a bucket, and forward flush plus back flush the heater core with that stuff, for an hour each way.. My 98 S10 had not had heat in 3 years. That process did the trick! A WHOLE lots easier than ripping the entire dash out to replace that core. Thank you for that inspiration. Happy New Year Eric and Mrs O!
@Simr Khera an hour each way is what was recommended based on the dilution of the liquid I used. It worked perfectly. So that is what I will continue to use.
Showing what would have been an unseen issue and fixing it after peeling the onion a bit more isn't a mistake...it's honesty. I am glad you posted this video...nobody is perfect that's alive today. Thanks for all of the great videos this year Eric..between you and Rainman Ray I have learned a ton...firstly that there are some top notch honest mechanics out there. Happy New Year to you and Mrs. O :-)
I've learned more about diagnosis using wave form and all the updated equipment needed now a days, and as a retired mechanic, the only thing I had to work with was the snap on red brick, and I rebuilt automatic transmissions for thirty years,
Finding that lower rad hose broken was a good find. But, it looks to me like that thermostat was working as the temp gauge was about the same as when you started. The heater core flush was a good move and well worth doing while you were there. The air filter would not have been an "up sell" as it needed to be done. But, telling the customer about it was OK too. Tell him to get it with the next oil change.
Remember in the old days when you could do that job in the driveway and just let the coolant go down the drain and replace everything you needed too without much effort? Now you have to take precautions to catch all the old coolant and take off half the top parts in an engine compartment. I like the old days better, never torked anything either. . Happy New Year Eric.
Did that a lot on Cat graders doing water pumps, cut bottom rad rad hose and done. If I was on a city street park by a catch basin to keep the Karens from seeing coolant running down the gutter.
I've always been impressed by how good your audio is, and the fan is only a minor inconvenience. A lav mic might improve audio at the cost of lots more effort to splice audio in later, probably not worth it. What I really like is the opportunity to pause the video and think about what I'd look for and do. This time I was in line with what you decided. I don't know why you are beating yourself up about a hose that was deep inside and not visible. Even the weep hole would have been hard to see without getting into the repair. It's actually good to find a reason for the coolant leak.
My truck is doing the same thing. Thanks for not taking this video down! Not looking forward to this repair this time of year. Probably wait for better weather.
Problem is low coolant, not the thermostat. Thermostat is issue if engine is not to temp...heater not hot when engine is means you have to "burp" the heater core. Just overfill the reservoir a bit, parking nose up helps too.
Hi, Mr. O. A beautiful Holiday season. I hope your family enjoyed this week. Good on you for finding the corrosion. "Did" always beats, "coulda shoulda" Lookin' forward to a happy new year. Anyway, thanks for sharing! Stay healthy!
When I was in the Army we would use Manila File Folders to make gaskets if we couldn't get gaskets. Mostly for the differential housing cover, axle shafts and transmission shift housing cover.
I love that you use so many salvage yard parts to replace everything from subframes to vehicle computers (ok not in this video so much) but I was horrified when you reused that nasty mushy old heater hose and left the dirty filter in. 😱 Everyone is a critic. But I love your videos Eric! 😬
Your dad was a wise man. Also, you can learn how do do a job, and everything is great as long as things go normally. But one day, everything goes belly up, either due to something happening you've never seen before, or better yet, something that YOU screwed up yourself. THAT is where the REAL learning process commences! 😮😮😮
Eric: I watched your clip end to end, & if I had the job done at any shop around southern Alberta I would be presented with a $500 to $600 bill. I do most of my own work, not because I want to (I'm 84) but because of the cost. Whatever you pay retail in the USA you can double the price here, & you are charged an hour's labor for any portion of an hour. Last Spring I had my 2003 Buick Park Ave. put on the hoist & had the pan dropped, a new filter installed & the pan re installed & filled with fluid. $366.00. Ten years ago I would have used my ramps & crawled under the car & would have done the job myself. BTW, my Buick has 280,000 miles on it & runs fine, & there is NO rust on it anywhere. The only nuts or bolts that are hard to break loose are on the exhaust system, & I expect the exhaust manifold is the same. I replaced a master cylinder & could not figure out WHY I could not thread one of the brake lines into the master cylinder. I removed the master cylinder & examined it in the light & discovered the port in the cylinder had no threads! Napa replaced the unit & I bench bled the new one & installed it & bled the system & three months later the device developed an internal leak (pedal would sink slowly to the floor with light application of pressure on the pedal). I asked a local mechanic WHERE I could buy & proper cylinder & he directed me to an old boy my age who rebuilt Master cylinders (wheel cylinders are so cheap he doesn't do them, but he rebuilds hydraulic rams & spool valves and the like as well) His rebuild was about half again as much as a new Chinese piece of owl shit from NAPA but that was 5 years ago & the cylinder still works as well as new. I am told that new parts are so bad that shops have to buy used ones from a junk yard. BTW, I smile at the prices you pay for pull outs at your local junk yard. I ask local yards what they want for parts , & sometimes new parts from auto parts stores are cheaper ! I usually buy my used parts from a Washington state yard. I can generally buy the part in Washington state, figure in the 35 % loss on the dollar, & the ridiculous shipping charges, & still come out well ahead of buying from a local yard. Eric I love your videos , & I enjoy the inclusion of your family. You are the MAN ! Thanks for all your videos & for sharing your knowledge. Cheers! Brian
Appreciate these short identify and fix vids. Gives confidence to check out things for the dyi-er but also when to say: Hey ya can but doesn't always mean ya should!!!!
Forty years ago I was an undergraduate getting college credit for working in a research lab. The full professor, a 50 year old lady, said, "I am going home. Everything I do today I make a mistake. The _only_ way to stop making mistakes is to go home." It was 10 a.m. and she usually stayed until late afternoon. This was the most valuable lesson I learned in college. Eric does not have that luxury, but that is what fixes it.
Having worked at a Gas service station. We didn't have cereal boxes to make gaskets, but we had a boat load of air filter & oil filter boxes. Glad to see you weren't snowed in like them poor suckers in buffalo. Keep up the good work.
Its good to keep in mind that by adding the worm hear drive clamp on any used plastic fitting, do not over tighten or it may very well crack. The factory style's clamping force is greater than 360 degrees.
Thank you Eric for all your informative videos of the automotive world. Happy New Year to you and Mrs. O and the rest of your fine family, cats, and dogs included. I will keep supporting your channel, thanks again!
Cool, I was driving the 03 Dakota around this weekend with a circular thermometer in the dash vent and it still has the original heater core as well and it was producing 170° heat 😉
Exactly; up here in the frozen north Christmas is when the temps really drop. Here in MN we start dipping to the 0F/-17C and lower and hover around there for a few weeks.
I'll continue to trust any mechanic who receives divine interventions. Since you asked for comments, which I rarely do, I feel divinely inspired today. You probably already know... different microphones can have very different frequency responses; in other words, trying an external mic might pickup less of your furnace noise (equally, it might do the opposite!) - providing your camera has a mic socket. A "directional" mic might provide additional attenuation of background noises; perhaps less so in a highly reverberant environment like a workshop... I was thinking the heater room thermostat was connected to the speedo (modern microprocessor electronics, ho-hum). As for a solution to your shorter left arm, just give me another moment... Very impressive shoulder-mounted reverse flushing aparatus! (I was waiting for the discovery of big water in cabin - it's how it would've gone it were me). My two bits' worth. Hippy New Year.
Good to see you Eric hope you all had a happy Christmas and that you've not been hampered too badly by the atrocities that the weather is dishing up Stay well safe and warm.
"Nobody's gonna trust me anymore" Mate I would trust you with my car any day of the week. Hope your Christmas was great and you have a happy and successful New Year......from you hordes of fans in Australia.
As always TY Eric totally enjoyed the video, May 2023 bring you more strength more love and constant work and a safer fresher New Year. Sending love and hugs from Australia. Keep Safe Keep Strong 🦘🦘🦘🦘🎄🎄🎅🤶🎄🎄
No way! What a tip? What ratio of concentrate to distilled water do you need? On the other hand, if you only have distilled water available, I'd add some blue food colouring and an odd number of eggs. Works every time.
@@stevensutcliffe533 I reckon the ONLY sensible way of doing this is add distilled water at the same rate as 100% blue concentrate like what was done! Or the ONLY two other ways is do something completely different, or not bother. That's the ONLY way I can think of. Is 50:50 the same as half and half? And uh, does it depend on density or volume of said liquids? Astro-physics and engineering were wasted on me. I think we have both learnt something from justlooking2222 though. Important, don't forget, it's a ODD number of eggs - never use an even number as that will block your MAF big time on a Datsun.
OTC 6043 Blast-Vac Multipurpose Cleaning Gun: amzn.to/3G1811O
Where did you get those red handled pliers at? Looks like a good tool for clamps.
@@jeffcooper5789they are off the snap on truck. I have the same ones
Thank you do you have a part number or description?
@@jeffcooper5789 LN47ACF
Thank you very much.
Finding that lower hose clamp problem was not a mistake, I call it continual discovery. The mistake would have been, if you hadn't found it at all.
Yeah... just think like Your the James Webb Telescope.
no one learns a damned thing if they never make mistakes...!
@@kpdvw As a mechanic that kind of mistake could have been a very expensive mistake.
I once lost an engine because the lower rad hose blew out and the engine was junk before I could even pull over. I wouldn't have minded so much but the car had just been serviced and I told the mechanic that there was Dexcool on the driveway, could he please find and repair the leak? The guy gave the car back to me saying that he couldn't find the leak. Not only did I find the leak, I also found a new mechanic.
@@surferdude4487 An expensive way to find a new mechanic.
One of the many things that I sincerely appreciate about this channel is the willingness to show the oversights that routinely occur with ALL of us. It's not a question of whether or not we make a mistake or overlook a problem upon pre-work inspections, but how we deal with it when we discover it.
You always do it with class and humor Eric. You're just the damned best.
Agreed!
It’s a Nissan so oversights are guaranteed. I don’t really like working on them.
This is exactly why I prefer this kind of channel over those who show some fake reality where everything always works perfectly smoothly. Also it make me feel less stupid when I mess up :)
Yes sir. The constant work ethic is a welcome fact in todays screw you and move on to the next sucker. It’s definitely harder to find a mechanic with integrity now a days.
My dad always told me “show me a man who’s never made a mistake, and I’ll show you a guy who’s never done anything ! Great video! Hate those sharp fan blades!
Never apologise for making a mistake. Your honesty is why you have so many return customers! Remember that last guy that made NO mistakes was nailed to a cross! Thanks for the great videos!
Smart guy told me: If you catch your own mistake, is it an error? No, it’s quality checking. 🤷♂️😉👌🏻👍🏻
I spent 40 years post grad in Engineering and can honestly say I never made a mistake. Not once. Ever. I was however fed with the wrong information from time to time, which resulted in a sub optimal result, but that's not my fault is it?
@@MrRunner It is a mistake as an engineer to not recognize bad data. 😁.
@jhaedtler...... amen !!
JESUS was Perfect. Sinless. HE came to Save the Rest of us that are not. HE died on the Cross. Death did not hold him!!! He will save all who ask Him to save them!!!
Eric O, I used to listen to Car Talk with Click and Clack the Tappet Bros. Your videos are truly an embodiment of their message and humour. You deserve a Peabody Award for what you are creating! Regards
I always enjoyed that show.
I have a feeling that Eric’s fame has yet to reach its peak. PBS has This Old House about home repair and reno. Why not have one about auto repair and maintenance? The only auto shows are either dumb reality, or the silly shows where a guy installed something like a lift kit, assisted by some airhead babe. This as opposed to SMA where the female assistants Hannah, Marie, and Vanessa are hardly airheads, but seriously good at what they do, and perform legitimate repairs.
Don't drive like my brother
@@brianburns7211
Try watching Fantom Work.
I still catch it on my podcast feed twice a week... Reruns of course but fun to listen to if you are a car person.
Hey Eric, I don't care I would trust you all day everyday any day of the week because I know you are one of the most trustworthy men that I know.
Eric O, you didnt force the fan out like Rainman Ray does every time he takes one out! He makes me so nervous on some of the ways he does things. Sure like your professionalism.
Being a retired Nissan technician for 35 years seen that a lot .I would of recommend the same service you did keep up the good work
I worked on a few Datun's back in the day. Head gaskets on 210 and 510's were common. Even had a homemade wedge tool for the timing chain. One time a customer brought in his '69 or '70 Fairlady, right hand drive. That would be worth some $ today.
@@scrappy7571 They are definitely more now, and RHD even rarer but still affordable compared to the mass produced mustangs. Very unique fun cars.
I up
Was looking at my timing chain jam wedge i made out of plexiglass other day, didnt throw it out due to memories 😂@@scrappy7571
"Nissan.....= Chrysler of imports"....That is a good one Eric!!
but they make those in the county next door (USA). And they SUCK!!! marginal heat and A/C absolute Suck-vegas for a work truck-where we need heat and A/C at idle many hours per day.
Thats 1 reason why so many people love watching your videos, it's because you're honest. Anyone could have missed that little weap from that bottom coolant hose, it takes a real man to admit he missed it at first! Another awesome job!!
Between Eric and Ray I always get my daily dramatic Brake Kleen appearance 😉Also I heard once or twice when a New Yorker says "Trust Me" it means something very specific lol
I've cut out several cereal box thermostat gaskets that worked great back in the days of my old 79 Trans Am SE.
I've used manilla folders too. Made an "emergency" water pump gasket that way as well. But it never leaked, so I just left it, sold the truck that way about 2 yrs later.
I recently learned something about 'no heat' that surprised me. My 22 year old Camry seemed to need to have the heater cored flushed every few months to get better heat. The surprise was when I found, that in spite of both radiator hoses looking good on the outside, one of them was degraded so badly on the inside it was constantly shedding small rubber particles.
@Duane K When you live out here in Arizona, a good mechanic will recommend changing hoses and belts every 5 years. The 150 degrees experienced in the engine compartment during the summer just destroys them that quickly.
Great info...thanks.
It happens with rubber fuel lines also.
@@327JohnnySS AND rubber brake lines that collapse and seize the brake piston out and won't let the fluid go back and retract it
@@LAactor I actually had that happen to me a few months back. The broken rubber inside acted like a one way check valve. Locked up the caliper.
This brought back nightmares of trying to change the thermostat on my old Frontier. The good part was the thermostat housing was right up top in front of the engine. The bad part was that the housing had three bolts that were NOT the same. I didn't know this and it was pitch black and freezing cold by the time I began putting it together and I could not get that damn housing to go back on. It took many freezing hours reconsidering where my life had gone so horribly wrong before I figured out what was wrong. Amazing how quickly things go back together when you put the right bolt in the right place. It all worked out in the end. That truck taught me a lot. Learned how to do a total radiator replacement, a skill which came in handy when my next vehicle got a cracked radiator. I did that swap in the daylight.
I had a 2004 with thermostat on top. My mistake was taking out the hose that goes to back of engine when I didn’t need to. It was a mother lover to get back in. Good times.
The thermostat on my Jetta is hidden behind the alternator and power steering pump, and to get to it I have to take the exhaust manifold off.
Not very keen on doing that any time soon...
Good thing I live in a city with good public transportation, so I've parked it for the winter.
“If it’s worth doing. It’s worth doing RIGHT.” South Main Auto, quite possibly one of the best shops in North America.
Thanks for taking the time to remove the fan & shroud to make the thermostat changeout video’ing better for us!
The peel and stick gasket is a trend I can really get behind tho I won't pretend gasket dressing on a cereal box won't still do the job lol
never get rid of any videos I think I speak for most of us. We enjoy all of your videos the easy ,the hard,the funny,and the long ones!! Keep them coming Dr. O
You get the Jinksyguy hall of fame award for thoroughness . . Every bit as particular as me . . kudos . . keep up the GREAT work ! People who can't diy really appreciate you...
And once again, the ONE spot you don't look at/check, in cooling, A/C, brake lines, etc., is going to be THE spot with the problem. Seeing this video was a great reminder of this unwritten law. Great video overall......
My Grandad taught me about 40years ago when you need to make a Gasket out of a Cereal Box, smear it with Grease (which not only holds it in place, but also softens it!)
I'm glad to see you took the time to post on your break! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a happy New Year!
This is an excellent video. I appreciate the fact that you showed the steps and components to remove to get to the source, in this case the thermostat. No short cuts, real time situation. Just found out my son has no heat problems and yes, the same type of pickup. Enjoyed your humor in the video and how you made it easy to understand. Thanks Eric, for making this video. Keep em comin. Now, it's my turn to git er dun.
I have a 2014 Frontier. They are notorious for air pockets in the the coolant system. The air pocket migrates to the heater core and thus no heat unless going up a hill. Park on a good hill, take cap off and let idle. It will force the air out and problem solved. Using a vacuum fill also fixes it. They are also very touchy with aftermarket thermostats. I did, made the truck run hot. Put in a Nissan thermostat and runs perfect now.
my wife had a corsa years ago, every winter she complained about the heating not being hot, i had to jet blast out the heater matrix every year, rust and junk used to collect and start to fill it up, we only had that car 3 years, the heater was just 1 complaint of many, i sold it and bought her a bmw compact, never had to touch the heating system in 5 years.
My 2014 Frontier had the same problem. I just over filled the coolant reservoir and the air bubble in the heater core went away.
Have you had any other issues with your frontier. I’ve been thinking about buying a used one lately and haven’t talked to anyone who owns a newer to see if they are any good or not. I know the old hard body Nissans were tanks like the Toyotas but I’m not so sure about the newer ones. Any information would be appreciated
Huh...
Weird...
After 7 year's my Silverado needed a thermostat, when I would get off the expressway my temperature would drop .
VERY easy fix...
My wife had a Xterra, which has the same drive train. We had the same problem with air getting into the system.
Thank you for not tossing the video when you realized it was just a broken clamp! I have to drive an hour to rescue my wife’s Frontier for not building heat. Knowing better what to expect is HUGE!
Yes this is a known issue. I have a 2015 Frontier SV air locked and low fluid. The back hose near the fire wall. Other UA-cam videos exist as well. I raised my front end added fluid and worked the air lock out. Been good for a year now.
I just read in these comments it is common to overfill the reservoir to an inch or so over the seam. I have a 2011 and have the same issue with the heater with the reservoir level at the "MAX" line. I am going to try overfilling it.
Good call old man,, Eh I don't think any of your viewers wouldn't trust you. Transparency, honesty and humility and you can laugh at yourself are all good traits in my book. Keep up the great work and ugga duggas !
No heat sounds like a real emergency, given the weather lately. The owner is lucky you are on the job. Hope you and Mrs O and the family had a great Christmas! Happy New Year!
I didn’t see a mistake Eric, simply further issues upon dismantling. You found them and fixed them. It’s just a diligent work ethic. Don’t be so harsh on yourself. You’re a human like the rest of us.
Brings back memories. Driving from Rochester to Buffalo in mid January when my thermostat decided to stick fully open. My girlfriend and I were nearly frozen to the bone by the time we got to Buffalo. Once we warmed up I had to go outside and replace the stat, and in those days I didn't have a garage to work in. Fun times. Also used a crap load of gas with the engine running at such cold temps on the thruway.
I still don't have a grudge to work in hopefully by the time I check out I will have one lol
So how did you two stay warm like that?
It looks to me like that thermostat was working as the temp gauge was the same before and after. But, given your experience maybe it wasn't such a bad move.
@@shadetreemech290 Where does he say the temp gauge was the same before and after?
The roadside move is to take a floor mat out and wedge it in front of the radiator. Thos will save your toes from frostbite until you get the thermostat replaced. Don't forget to remove it when the weather warms up!
Smart guy told me: If you catch your own mistake, is it really an error? No, it’s quality checking. 🤷♂️😏👍🏻👌🏻
Good to see even the master drops some things and takes out unnecessary bolts. It's good to leave these things in to show you are human!
As a kid, I watched my father install the Prestone flush kit on his 1954 Plymouth Savoy Flathead 6. Tee fitting permeant on heater inlet hose you connected a garden hose to. A 90 degree plastic diverter went into the radiator fill. A drain, flush and coolant replacement took all of 10 minutes and dad did it every fall. And yes, the coolant was dumped in the road back then.
I had a Chinesium plastic heater control valve give out on my '68 Cougar back a few years ago. I had a 5/8" deep socket in my toolbox in the trunk, which I swapped the bad heater valve with. It got me home.
My 68 Cougar was my first sporty car. Loved that car. My friend totaled it.
Hey Eric. You area a great mechanic. No need for embarrassment. You discovered the problem because you are thorough. Another good job! Your videos are never a mistake. They are always interesting .
That extra effort payed off big time and saved some embarrassment. End result is a happy customer which is always good for them and the wallet.
Lol, I call Nissan the Chrysler of imports as well.
Great work today. I am currently waiting on a my new Frontier to arrive.
I love seeing when other people make mistakes and take out too many bolts, etc. I always thought I was the only dummy.
Classic brake clean noise! Other channels took notice and the originator shared the love.
do others misspell too?
@@silverSScamaro brake. Your welcome.
Better to clean stuff than using it for starting fluid😏🤷♂️
@@tomtheplummer7322 I have been known....
I had to replace the thermostat, radiator and reservoir tank on my 4.0L 2014 on three separate occasions over the past couple of years. When the thermostat opened up wide, the truck would not warm up at all so it ran like I had just started it on a cold day; the needle never got above the first line and very little cab heat. The radiator blew last February on my way to work but I was able to limp it home in a couple of stages of cooling and refilling. Two days later it was a clear miracle of a 60 degree day (I'm in NJ) and I'm a driveway mechanic so I took the day from work and replaced it and the belt. I did remove the bottom part of the shroud before pulling the top part, tho - saved me from pulling off the fan. Hoses and clamps were AOK so just reused them. Reservoir tank had an invisible crack and was always leaking just ever so slightly but constantly so that's why it got replaced. Plenty of cab heat and no leaks now. But this video brings back a bunch of memories of working those issues on mine. Sure is much easier watching someone else do this work - more entertaining, too. Thanks for the video, Eric, warts and all.
Astro vans were famous for heater cores plugging. Someone told me they didn’t get all of the core sand out of the block. I had to flush mine every year.
Never hurts to pressure test VS a visual inspection, the fact that you mentioned it only worked uphill gave me a hint to LOW coolant
Speaking of making cardboard gaskets reminds me of the time I brought my friends Buick Skylark to night tech school in the late 70's planning on replacing valve cover gaskets as part of engine class. I had the wrong gaskets, quite a smoky ride home. Cardboard didn't seal very well. LOL
13:10 Glad you mentioned a much overlooked technique for the inexperienced , Eric.
Good catch on the missed leak, You've made it easier for us DIY guys to feel confident that we can make it right.
16:19 - he's not lying about the classic chrysler broken clamp --- our 2012 dodge grand caravan which is regularly oil sprayed, had a broken hose clamp last winter, and you wouldn't notice the leaking coolant until the car was parked and the pressure was off in the system, when there was pressure (ie motor on) it didnt seem to leak much. So new clamp did the trick as the old one was rusted, just like that one.
I appreciate every video you produce. My godfather always taught me that experience is the best teacher. And your videos teach me a lot. I think you are the best example of how to CORRECTLY work on vehicles. Everything you post allows others to learn from your experience and expertise. Keep up the good work and the awesome videos you produce! You help the experienced mechanic as well as the novice ones. Thank you again for showing how it should be done!
Eric did not die today 😓
Happy New Years to all from Siesta Key Florida
Happy to see this customer Happy and not in jail anytime soon.
As a training video this is great. You show us what Not to do as well as explaining what TO do. I also appreciate what you go through to make these videos. Thank you.
Eric fun, sarcasm, unique expressions to avoid a YT ban (He He) and being honest but very entertaining you are the best.
Eric I'm enjoying your video sitting by the wood stove. Gotta love the rust belt. Remember when the tstat housings were up top and literally would take like 10 minutes to replace. Keep em coming
And 50% chance one of the 2 bolts would break......
Why would anyone complain about you having your heating fan on in your own garage? It's all just part of it. I'm here to learn something and you're entertaining.
Eric, you are a better man than I am, my friend. I can't believe how much plastic (junk) there is under the hood now. I wouldn't know where to begin - I grew up working on my 6 cyl. 230 and everything was nice and simple !! That was probably way before your time, but I miss those days. I always enjoy your videos, because you dont stop until you find the problem ( There's your problem, Lady !! ), and you just do things right. You are a man of honor, my friend !!
Mr. O’’ you have done it again . Congratulations. I’m thinking that you are god like in your quest for perfection in repair and prevention. Thanks for another adventure. Your admirer.
Awesome procedure. I made one of those blaster hose thingies out of a 3-way hose connector from Lowes, as Amazon didn't have one of those last summer when I needed it. Worked perfectly. Just ran the water hose into one of the threaded connections, air into another one, and the 3rd hooked to a hose going to the heater core. I ALSO used your trick to get a small water pump, and some CLR in a bucket, and forward flush plus back flush the heater core with that stuff, for an hour each way.. My 98 S10 had not had heat in 3 years. That process did the trick! A WHOLE lots easier than ripping the entire dash out to replace that core. Thank you for that inspiration. Happy New Year Eric and Mrs O!
@Simr Khera an hour each way is what was recommended based on the dilution of the liquid I used. It worked perfectly. So that is what I will continue to use.
Mr. O gives the customer more “F”’s. What a nice guy he is :)
Showing what would have been an unseen issue and fixing it after peeling the onion a bit more isn't a mistake...it's honesty. I am glad you posted this video...nobody is perfect that's alive today. Thanks for all of the great videos this year Eric..between you and Rainman Ray I have learned a ton...firstly that there are some top notch honest mechanics out there. Happy New Year to you and Mrs. O :-)
Always love the way the manufacturers make sure to place a prominent badge under the hood so you know just who built the POS you’re working on…..
Great to see a video from SMA during the festive period Happy New Year to you and the family looking forward to more of the same in 2023.
Happy Festivous
I've learned more about diagnosis using wave form and all the updated equipment needed now a days, and as a retired mechanic, the only thing I had to work with was the snap on red brick, and I rebuilt automatic transmissions for thirty years,
Finding that lower rad hose broken was a good find. But, it looks to me like that thermostat was working as the temp gauge was about the same as when you started. The heater core flush was a good move and well worth doing while you were there. The air filter would not have been an "up sell" as it needed to be done. But, telling the customer about it was OK too. Tell him to get it with the next oil change.
"Scosche" (adjective) ... highly technical term describing anything that is a (smidge, hair, touch, tad, bit) different than something else. 😎👍
Remember in the old days when you could do that job in the driveway and just let the coolant go down the drain and replace everything you needed too without much effort? Now you have to take precautions to catch all the old coolant and take off half the top parts in an engine compartment. I like the old days better, never torked anything either. . Happy New Year Eric.
My favorite part was drinking poisoned water.
Sweet water...😜
@@tomtheplummer7322 The original Mt Dew.
Did that a lot on Cat graders doing water pumps, cut bottom rad rad hose and done. If I was on a city street park by a catch basin to keep the Karens from seeing coolant running down the gutter.
I have enjoyed another year of SMA. Have a wonderful new year.
I've always been impressed by how good your audio is, and the fan is only a minor inconvenience. A lav mic might improve audio at the cost of lots more effort to splice audio in later, probably not worth it. What I really like is the opportunity to pause the video and think about what I'd look for and do. This time I was in line with what you decided. I don't know why you are beating yourself up about a hose that was deep inside and not visible. Even the weep hole would have been hard to see without getting into the repair. It's actually good to find a reason for the coolant leak.
If the Lav mic can connect to his camera wirelessly, no editing required.
I said a few “Come on Baby”’s today while working on my hot rod. Keep it up Eric! Stay warm.
Checked on you guys a couple times , 17 degrees , feels like 1 degree …..nope not me ! Glad you guys are safe . Just a little nasty for sure.
My truck is doing the same thing. Thanks for not taking this video down! Not looking forward to this repair this time of year. Probably wait for better weather.
Problem is low coolant, not the thermostat. Thermostat is issue if engine is not to temp...heater not hot when engine is means you have to "burp" the heater core. Just overfill the reservoir a bit, parking nose up helps too.
Hi, Mr. O. A beautiful Holiday season. I hope your family enjoyed this week. Good on you for finding the corrosion. "Did" always beats, "coulda shoulda" Lookin' forward to a happy new year. Anyway, thanks for sharing! Stay healthy!
When I was in the Army we would use Manila File Folders to make gaskets if we couldn't get gaskets. Mostly for the differential housing cover, axle shafts and transmission shift housing cover.
You would have found that clamp sooner or later, I have faith. I hope you and the family have a healthy and happy New Year.
I love that you use so many salvage yard parts to replace everything from subframes to vehicle computers (ok not in this video so much) but I was horrified when you reused that nasty mushy old heater hose and left the dirty filter in. 😱
Everyone is a critic. But I love your videos Eric! 😬
Concrete mix tubs work great for catching all fluids
As my Dad use to say when he was alive, "IF YOU DON"T MAKE MISTAKES YOUR NOT TRYING" and that is true.......
Your dad was a wise man. Also, you can learn how do do a job, and everything is great as long as things go normally. But one day, everything goes belly up, either due to something happening you've never seen before, or better yet, something that YOU screwed up yourself. THAT is where the REAL learning process commences! 😮😮😮
Eric: I watched your clip end to end, & if I had the job done at any shop around southern Alberta I would be presented with a $500 to $600 bill. I do most of my own work, not because I want to (I'm 84) but because of the cost. Whatever you pay retail in the USA you can double the price here, & you are charged an hour's labor for any portion of an hour. Last Spring I had my 2003 Buick Park Ave. put on the hoist & had the pan dropped, a new filter installed & the pan re installed & filled with fluid. $366.00. Ten years ago I would have used my ramps & crawled under the car & would have done the job myself.
BTW, my Buick has 280,000 miles on it & runs fine, & there is NO rust on it anywhere. The only nuts or bolts that are hard to break loose are on the exhaust system, & I expect the exhaust manifold is the same. I replaced a master cylinder & could not figure out WHY I could not thread one of the brake lines into the master cylinder. I removed the master cylinder & examined it in the light & discovered the port
in the cylinder had no threads! Napa replaced the unit & I bench bled the new one & installed it & bled the system & three months later the device developed an internal leak (pedal would sink slowly to the floor with light application of pressure on the pedal). I asked a local mechanic WHERE I could buy & proper cylinder & he directed me to an old boy my age who rebuilt Master cylinders (wheel cylinders are so cheap he doesn't do them, but he rebuilds hydraulic rams & spool valves and the like as well) His rebuild was about half again as much as a new Chinese piece of owl shit from NAPA but that was 5 years ago & the cylinder still works as well as new. I am told that new parts are so bad that shops have to buy used ones from a junk yard. BTW, I smile at the prices you pay for pull outs at your local junk yard.
I ask local yards what they want for parts , & sometimes new parts from auto parts stores are cheaper !
I usually buy my used parts from a Washington state yard. I can generally buy the part in Washington state, figure in the 35 % loss on the dollar, & the ridiculous shipping charges, & still come out well ahead of buying from a local yard. Eric I love your videos , & I enjoy the inclusion of your family. You are the MAN ! Thanks for all your videos & for sharing your knowledge. Cheers! Brian
Appreciate these short identify and fix vids. Gives confidence to check out things for the dyi-er but also when to say: Hey ya can but doesn't always mean ya should!!!!
"Stink pot" Ha...my mother used to say that, usually referring to me. I don't know if I ever heard anyone else use that phrase. Thanks for the memory!
Hope you and your family had a great Christmas! Thanks as always, Eric!
Seasons greetings to you and your clan. Looking forward to your antics in 2023.
Good job. And you have another warm and cozy customer :-)
Forty years ago I was an undergraduate getting college credit for working in a research lab. The full professor, a 50 year old lady, said, "I am going home. Everything I do today I make a mistake. The _only_ way to stop making mistakes is to go home." It was 10 a.m. and she usually stayed until late afternoon. This was the most valuable lesson I learned in college. Eric does not have that luxury, but that is what fixes it.
The thermostat box makes good gasket material (yes, I have done that)
Having worked at a Gas service station. We didn't have cereal boxes to make gaskets, but we had a boat load of air filter & oil filter boxes. Glad to see you weren't snowed in like them poor suckers in buffalo. Keep up the good work.
Its good to keep in mind that by adding the worm hear drive clamp on any used plastic fitting, do not over tighten or it may very well crack. The factory style's clamping force is greater than 360 degrees.
''Where do we begin? Always start at the beggining''
Thank you Eric for all your informative videos of the automotive world. Happy New Year to you and Mrs. O and the rest of your fine family, cats, and dogs included. I will keep supporting your channel, thanks again!
I'm amazed you stayed so dry after flushing the heater core. Merry Christmas!
Cool, I was driving the 03 Dakota around this weekend with a circular thermometer in the dash vent and it still has the original heater core as well and it was producing 170° heat 😉
I like the theories. I’m constantly questioning everything. What is this? What is that? The path to discovery and understanding. Endless….
Another great video from SMA .hope you had a great Christmas Eric and family.truly looking forward to the new year with SMA
It's a good thing you repaired the heating system, Christmas is over now!
Exactly; up here in the frozen north Christmas is when the temps really drop. Here in MN we start dipping to the 0F/-17C and lower and hover around there for a few weeks.
Awesome job sir appreciate you taking time to film
I'll continue to trust any mechanic who receives divine interventions.
Since you asked for comments, which I rarely do, I feel divinely inspired today.
You probably already know... different microphones can have very different frequency responses; in other words, trying an external mic might pickup less of your furnace noise (equally, it might do the opposite!) - providing your camera has a mic socket. A "directional" mic might provide additional attenuation of background noises; perhaps less so in a highly reverberant environment like a workshop...
I was thinking the heater room thermostat was connected to the speedo (modern microprocessor electronics, ho-hum). As for a solution to your shorter left arm, just give me another moment...
Very impressive shoulder-mounted reverse flushing aparatus! (I was waiting for the discovery of big water in cabin - it's how it would've gone it were me).
My two bits' worth.
Hippy New Year.
Good to see you Eric hope you all had a happy Christmas and that you've not been hampered too badly by the atrocities that the weather is dishing up
Stay well safe and warm.
"Nobody's gonna trust me anymore" Mate I would trust you with my car any day of the week. Hope your Christmas was great and you have a happy and successful New Year......from you hordes of fans in Australia.
As always TY Eric totally enjoyed the video, May 2023 bring you more strength more love and constant work and a safer fresher New Year. Sending love and hugs from Australia.
Keep Safe Keep Strong 🦘🦘🦘🦘🎄🎄🎅🤶🎄🎄
Local newspaper headline: ERIC O. IS NOT PERFECT!
Great job, Eric. Here's wishing a Happy New Year to you and yours and continued prosperity!
Hello Eric Merry Christmas and a happy new year, love the clear explanation, What an awesome video !! Take care thanks 😊
Mr. O Keeping it real we appreciate that !
Yes, on the 50/50 anti-freeze. If concentrate is only available, you need to use distilled water to make the 50/50 mix.
No way! What a tip? What ratio of concentrate to distilled water do you need?
On the other hand, if you only have distilled water available, I'd add some blue food colouring and an odd number of eggs. Works every time.
Is the first 50 the water or the antifreeze?
@@stevensutcliffe533 Depends if you want it on the "too thick" or "too thin" side of things.
@@stevensutcliffe533 I reckon the ONLY sensible way of doing this is add distilled water at the same rate as 100% blue concentrate like what was done! Or the ONLY two other ways is do something completely different, or not bother. That's the ONLY way I can think of.
Is 50:50 the same as half and half? And uh, does it depend on density or volume of said liquids? Astro-physics and engineering were wasted on me.
I think we have both learnt something from justlooking2222 though.
Important, don't forget, it's a ODD number of eggs - never use an even number as that will block your MAF big time on a Datsun.
@@stevekelly5166 I like to use Duck eggs in my cooling system mixture. The antifreeze beads up and keeps it’s strength. Not a quack theory.