Yet he never explains why Honda motors accumulate carbon, only says that they do, when looking around other channels you see is caused due to the eco and valves shut down
I am going to agree with that. Most of us just want to have a good honest mechanic just like this one that is not too far from home. We would not mind paying for this kind of expertise and customer service, but it is so elusive.😢
Toyota recommends that I change my oil every 10K miles, but I change it every 6 months or 5K miles (I only drive 8-10K miles per year). Toyota recommends that I change the front and rear differentials, transfer case and transmission fluid every 60K miles, but we use our (my) TRD Off Road for work around our property and I take it on dusty forest and service roads, so I change those fluids / grease every 30K miles. We keep our vehicles for 15-20 years or 250 - 300K miles. Yes I May overkill on maintenance but I want to keep our vehicles for as long as possible because they’re so expensive to replace. I’m almost 60 years old and my current 23 Tacoma TRD Off Road is my 4th daily driver since I was 18. I plan on driving my TRD until I die. I’m quite sure that my wife will still be using my Tacoma to plow the 5-7 feet of snow off our private road until she too passes away.
I live in the rust belt, I have a 1994 toyota. Every year I undercoat it and wash it regularly during winter months. It has no rust at all. It's all about how well we take care of them..
How expensive can that get? I live in flordia so rust is uncommon. I'm not aware if undercoating and washing is expensive. And as well if you don't have a lift and tools to efficiently wash and undercoating the car, i would think it would be quite costly
Sounds like a lot of work/expense. I also have a 1994 car, but it's double galvanized and doesn't rust. I really wish Toyota would figure out the process that other manufacturers have known for decades.
If you have your own driveway, they make hose attachments that roll under the frame and spray it pretty well. Just hook it up to the hose you already have. If not, some car washes have undercarriage sprayers. Maybe do it once a month or so.
I'm someone who's loved driving for 55 years now. One of the best things I've done to save money and not get ripped off in life is to educate myself about the operation and basic maintenance of my vehicles. That's why I'm an ardent DIY'er and subscriber to this channel. We are but Grasshoppers to AMD the Master.
He doesn’t charge his customers a premium for his services he goes by the market rate that all mechanics follow for jobs. In my opinion he SHOULD charge a premium because you know when you go to him you’re guaranteed to have the job done right. Though I think he is too prideful for that.
I’m guessing you must live in Tennessee. Never have I seen such drastic total loss accidents like I have here. The combination of excessive speed, lack of observation and overall lack of care is a recipe for disaster, and I see it daily…
@@tundrajt Just about anywhere in the USA. In car to car collisions the potential for "total loss" to every vehicle involved is increased by current design features such as air bags, unibody construction, and computers.
Agreed! Also if buying direct from owner, watch out for apartment complex cars as they are rarely protected from elements, often have minimal or no service history and are commonly underinsured w/ incomplete or hack job repairs.
NOT changing your fluids in a timely manner will not help you. Probably the #1 thing you can do to keep your car running for as long as possible, is change the fluids.
100%!!! Oil, coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. Change those fluids on a well designed/engineered engine at regular intervals and you'll avoid the majority of most drive-train issues!!
@@msmoniz my dealer changed their tune lately. when i first bought my truck they said transmission was lifetime. now the service guy is singing the 30k mile song. I do mine every 30k.
@@666dynomax Yeah when then mean lifetime they mean the transmission’s lifetime not yours! 🤣. Is that 5? 10? 15 years?? 🤨 I own my cars minimum 10 years and have never had to replace a transmission and never want to!!!
Toyota tech here, the tech that works next to me had a 2023 tacoma with nearly 40k miles come in with a check engine light concern with DTC related to cam timing/oil control (dont remember the specific DTC). Long story short he removed the sensor and found sludge build-up. Customer's last oil change was when the truck had 12k miles. Take care of your cars folks.
The world is full of people who do not do even basic service on thier cars. It devalues them tremendously as people like me who buy second hand will not touch a car without a good service history
Every profession has its bad apples.You are a gem amongst your own. Great Channel! One way to help people find mechanics like yourself is to encourage your subscribers to write where they from and whether or not they have a great mechanic shop.
Fortunately, so far, I've never had a bad experience with taking my vehicle to the dealer, however, I have had several horrible experiences taking my vehicle to (3) independent shops........that have been in business for decades. There are A LOT of incompetent auto mechanics out here.
Number One Problem for a car owner is finding a shop or mechanic that follows the principles you recommend. 1. Fix what needs fixing. 2. Use original parts and not up up charge for it. 3.Uses realistic maintenance and fluid scheduling. 4. Tries to educate the car owner not take advantage of ignorance. 5. Charge accordingly and transparently. It would be so helpful if you could get other shops across the country and world to take the Car Nut Pledge to do these things. M
I've been a car enthusiast for over 40 years, and I take a meticulous, by-the-book approach to DIY projects. That said, I've made my share of mistakes and broken things along the way-no one is perfect-but at least I recognize when something goes wrong and learn from it. In my experience, when a mechanic makes a mistake on my car, they rarely admit it, and things can quickly go downhill. That's why I choose to do almost all the repairs myself, except for bodywork.
From Canada here. Your best bet for rust proofing is an annual oil type spray designed for vehicle rust proofing. Corrosion Free is the best. Rust Check and Krown also good. Avoid rubberized undercoating as it traps moisture and can accelerate rust
As additional advice and this is from practical experience - only use the rubberised sprayon/ stone chip coating on fully cleaned, then fully dried underside chassis and metal components. Most of these products will require a compressor and underbody spray gun. Please make sure there are vapour/ moisture traps and filters in the lines and follow instructions re times between coats. If there is moisture in the compressor tank or in the lines, then it will just get sorayed directly into the chassis and can cause corrosion to start under the coating. If done correctly they last well and really do protect for many years. You can always go over this as a yearly maintainence with a spray on oil based product like lanoshield / lanoguard. Most important is to clean the underside before using anything, you end up using less products for maximum effectiveness.
Hi, I’m in Quebec and this will be my first winter with my 2024 prime. I wanted to get it rust proofed with Corrosion Free (only done at Canadian Tire here) but Toyota Canada says they will void the warranty if they deem that the rust proofing was the cause. That scares me because it can be very expensive to repair. I would love have it done because I want to keep the prime a very long time. Did you have yours done? TIA
@@braaapattack2937 I didn't know they had Krown down there. That is a good move on your part especially with all the snow you get there. Whenever the topic of corrosion comes up from an American perspective, I rarely hear about Krown or Rust Check.
I respect you so much brother. You hurt my feelings when you told me I had to let my 3rd gen 4runner go but I respect your honesty and You’re truly a blessing to us all. Looking for a 100 series now 🙏🏽 thank you sir 🙏🏽
@@ExpertUA-camCommentator Probably like mine.....frame rot. I had two 4Runners in n a row that I kept as pristine as possible. Even with underbody washes every spring, both of them developed bad rust on the frame. Both ended up rotting away. Both had to be junked. I was upset after the first one. I was angry after the second one. I decided to never buy another one again. I switched brands and had no more frame rot issues.
I bought an aftermarket water pump for my GX460. Took it home and the pulled the OEM off the GX and the comparison was 🤯. The OEM quality was shockingly so much better. So I contacted our local Toyota parts department and bought OEM and returned the POS aftermarket part. The craziest thing was the price difference was $5.
@ Autoparts store was closer and I assumed it would be cheaper. Did not know the dealer price at the time. But when I saw how chintzy the part was compared to what I took off the vehicle I called my closest Toyota (as Lexus was even farther) parts department. Lesson learned.
Great example of proper research was when I decided to do my valve cover gaskets for my 2UZ in my Tundra. I went through days of videos and only found one that did it correctly including using OEM parts. When I questioned a couple of guys who put the tube seals in backwards they got upset and told me this was the way it was done and it didn’t matter. I’m just a shade tree but I educated myself, used OEM parts and thanks to this wonderful UA-camr the job went perfectly.
My long term car-keeping method: Use only Top Tier Fuel. Never let oil level get low. Keep tires inflated. Drive gently until things warm up, then drive normally, and don't be afraid of full throttle acceleration (when safe). Run AC at least once a week, even in winter. Drive the vehicle at least once a week, and avoid short trips where the engine does not fully heat up (I do 10 miles as absolute minimum, but 20 or more is best). And starting with your next purchase, do RESEARCH and buy cars rated as MORE RELIABLE.
Top tier fuel makes a big difference. Would not believe it. When my then girlfriend (it was her car) insisted on a special fuel I tried to prove to her (difference in milage) that it's a scam. Unfortunately for me I did prove her right. Have used that brand for 35 years now. Injectors in my second car did last double as long as expected. My wife's car runs smoother with that fuel, milage is better. Diesel and petrol both are superior.
@@GlennC789 Actually, it does make a difference. The additive/detergent package is better than required. There's zero downside to this and many Top Tier stations are the same price or lower than non-Top Tier stations.
I follow all those same rules. And I drive an Audi and a Jeep. Both are now seven years old. Both have been 100% free of issues. Never a single problem with either one.
@@Japplesnap Do some research into gasoline refining and distribution. The only difference with top tier fuels is they put tiny amounts of additives in, similar to off-the-shelf additives (look up PEA) that you can buy and add yourself in much greater quantities at a fraction the cost. There's no advantage in energy content (that's not even allowed, gasoline is regulated) or fuel economy, the only claim is that they can contribute to fuel economy by keeping your engine (top-end, pistons/rings, valves etc) clean, but again, the quantities of additives are so tiny you can do much better on your own. Anybody claiming a fuel economy benefit can do the same by putting magnets on their fuel lines, equal proven results guaranteed ;-)
As much I hate to spend my hard earned money to service my family Toyotas with genuine parts and service , you make a lot sense with your explanations ! Thank you for your honesty and integrity ! God Bless !
As a DIYer and original 2015 Prius owner, this UA-cam channel has been my #1 maintenance go-to. My general approach is to follow the owners' manual, although I'm adopting the CCN's more stringent standards because I want to see how long I can make my car last. Being a DIYer lets me avoid scams, save money, make sure things are done right, and find the exact same repair on my exact same car on UA-cam. I can usually find at least a half-dozen clips that way, note their similarities and differences, take what seems like the best path, and if anything goes wrong it's not likely to be major. So far, that's been working. Thanks again! 😃
I learned a valuable lesson on car maintenance when I was a young lad over 50 years ago. If you do not pay for proper maintenance now you will surely pay for it down the road...and it will be significantly more expensive.
It blows my mind how few people out there do maintenance to their cars. People will spend tens of thousands on their cars and neglect them, I don't get it. I drive a 2001 170k miles Jeep everyday, my dad drives a 351k mile Camry. My mom drives a 230k Sienna and people act like it's some mystery how we do it.
@@MathewPollard-vj4uqif you do your own oil, transmission fluid, filters, other simple maintenance yourself then it’s almost never cheaper to just get a new car. If you neglect your car or buy an unreliable vehicle that starts needing multi-thousand dollar services every year, then yes getting a new car is cheaper…
@@firingallcylinders2949 yes, it does cover up severe rust quite nicely, and an unsuspecting buyer will not know any better. (For people that don't know, it doesn't stop the rusting and makes it worse because it traps moisture and salt.)
Way back, in the UK, there was a company called Ziebart. This was in the 70s when British cars were rust-buckets in waiting. You could have your new car 'Ziebarted'. They took your new car and sprayed it thoroughly with their compound, including in the door panels, everywhere water would get. It was a good resale move to show it had been 'Ziebarted'. Maybe the manufacturers stepped up and galvanised the shells. It disappeared from the UK, but it's still around.
Bought a brand new 2024 Camry LE about 6 months ago. On the very first oil change (5000 miles) at the dealership, they overfilled the crankcase by 2 quarts. I pulled out of the service concourse, turned onto the highway and a giant cloud of blue smoke rolled out of the rear of the car. I immediately returned to the service concourse and started blowing clouds of smoke into the waiting lounge and waiting customers. They had to keep the car overnight and run diagnostics overnight while I drove a new loaner home. They were very, very nice to me on the 10K mile oil change. Unbelievable.
My 2017 new car when for its first oil change at 5k miles. it was over filled a little, as I check the oil level before I drive off. I ask the mechanic why overfilled and the answer was, just a little bit is ok. I replied by querying him back, why does the dip stick mark MAX (Maximum). I even ask him to call his superior for a talk on it. They ensure my followings services oil changes were done right. 😀
I’ve always taken exceptional care of my vehicles. Everyone around my area knew this. When I sold one, I was always able to capture top dollar because of this.
Hi Ahmed, Another great video. 👏👏👏 I know your channel is so popular because of the expertise and clear explanations you bring to every episode. But I have a suspicious that a lot of folks also watch your videos because it is clear you are an honest and honorable man and in these times we live you are essentially a therapy session for those seeking hope for the future. Yep, you are a good man and I think that is actually your REAL secret weapon. 😊
That is why, I buy my family cars after thorough research, fix them myself - as much as possible considering the conditions of a regular garage with a bunch of tools, bring them to the dealer only to do recalls, listen them when they start acting strange and only after that investigate and repair, use only synthetic oils and follow the schedules, at least once a year spray bottoms with diluted with WD40 any available rustproof formula, except rubber parts and electronics, including inner cavities, and always wash them from top to bottom. And they last, though look dirty on the lift, but they DO NOT RUST AT ALL!!!! Minimum spending, long living cars, happy owner, not a maniac in my driving habits😁You are the best, Ahmed! 👍
@@dimab8753 dilute any antirust like Corrosionfree Rust Cure Formula 3000 (the best), or RustCheck Coat and Protect, or similar... Just to use in a hand spray... Otherwise it's too lumpy and heavy, and not easy cover
As a RustCheck dealer up here in Ontario Canada I can tell you with 100% certainty that if your vehicle is oil sprayed properly every year you will not have rust issues. I’ve got customers with 20 to 30 year old vehicles that have no rust on them because they’ve gotten them sprayed religiously every year. Also people don’t be scared about possible drilling into body panels, if done properly just like the spraying there will not be any issues.
I 100% agree with you but unfortunately, some manufacturers will straight up void the body panel and paint warranty as soon as they see hole drilled (Honda\Acura comes to mind). I get creative and find ways to spray the inner unibody and pillar\fenders without drilling holes but you gotta remember what trim and\or grommet to remove for every vehicle and it gets tedious. Also, EV\Hybrid cars warranties get straight up denied at the stealership because of rustproofing even if you don't spray the orange high voltage loom or parts. I've had a client go to court for that exact reason with his 2021 Highlander hybrid for a leaky panoramic sunroof, I kid you not! Good thing is, the dealer settled as we proved without a doubt the product we used is specifically made for such cars (Sinto EcoVolt) and didn't cause the issue in the first place. One major factor was that Sinto representative had our back and the judge had common sense. The stuff smells weird as it is beeswax based; it doesn't attack rubber and plastics but works damn well!
The top destroy is the driver! I live in New Mexico, even here we have undercarriage wash on the auto car wash. My 2015 Highlander looks like new underneath. Thanks for the great videos!
I worked at an independent garage from summer of 6th grade until I began teaching career in 1971. Nothing has changed basically in what we said then and this video! Our shop was considered expensive by some as only quality parts , wouldn’t cut corners so to speak , honest with customers ,and knowledgeable mechanics. Just as a side note, shop is still in business today in of course a new building and all the technology required for today’s vechile. Still have the same way of operating and yes I am a customer. Sounds like CCN shop and long term goals!
Amd, I recommend your channel to my young co-worker that just became a 1st time car owner. BTW I'm sure you're a thorough DAD!👏🏾👏🏾 Keep up the good work. NYC HERE
I have seen several videos on this channel and just recently subscribed. It is very hard to find honest people like this gentleman. Thank you so much. Your channel is a huge blessing. I have had my 2004 Toyota matrix for 11 years and bought it from the original owner. I have all of my maintenance records and I keep track of when I have things done on it because I want it to last a long time. I also take it to one mechanic the same person for the past several years. Recently, I have started being more involved in regular maintenance such as fluids, wipers, checking break/ tire wear and taking care of this all myself. I also just learned how to replace my own headlights bulbs. ❤🎉
AMD, It is so reassuring to see you put rust on the top of the list. A rusty car is a neglected car. With the numerous and highly effective rustproofing options on the market today, nobody in the Salt Belt has an excuse to sit by and watch their car rust to pieces. I also believe in making a clear distinction between old fashioned undercoating and modern rustproofing. The product applied to my car on an annual basis is a light, oily water repellent not a gooey tar. 🤩
@@theresedillon6717 My 2005 car had Krown applied for the 20th time in preparation for its 20th salty Ontario winter. Yesterday I hand washed it and applied paste wax as I do at this time every year. I will not wash it again until spring and I fully expect it to be as solid and rust free then as it is now. 😁
Thank you. I couldn't agree more. I have friends and family who would spend hundreds of dollars (sometimes thousands) on detailing services and pretty much everything that makes a car look great visually. But they do not want to spend a dime on oil changes, brake changes, and other maintenance that actually has an impact on a car's mechanical performance.
Great video as always! "MICE" should be added to the list. Don't leave food in you car. Regardless of whether you have food in your car It is a warm environment and they can reek havoc. If you park in a garage be sure not to store dog food, ect. in garage. Take preventative measures whether it be traps ( to some unethical ). We've recently started to offer a service at my work to block off the HVAC inlet at the firewall with chicken wire to prevent entry to cabin but they will still find homes in the engine bay and chew wires and what not. Most cars I see with mouse damage have child seats in the back completely covered in cracker crumbs, half open bags of sunflower seeds, granola bars in the glove box that have literally been opened up and eaten by mice, cabin filter filled with the dog food stored in the garage , the list goes on.
I recently captured a large rat in our Lexus. It loves the chewing gum that was in there. I heard it chewing on the cabin air filter, so I pulled the filter and there was the rat, wedged in the slot. I do now keep traps in and near the garage.
They'll get into you engine compartment even without people food as an attractant. Modern wiring has a soy-based covering that rodents will eat. I leave food out for the neighborhood cats, having even gone so far as to install kitty doors in my garage, so they can go in and out at will. Cats hanging around will definitely keep rodents away, although I do have to check under the hood for kittens before starting up. 😊
I rely on internet a lot for my DIY repairs, for both parts advice and tutorials. I have to say that in the Toyota community almost everyone always suggest to use OEM parts. Toyota quality is hard to beat.
Do we count parts made by OE suppliers as original? Recently had to replace the gas spring for my hood. The Toyota parts were 100€ each because of the metal brace, the spring from the original manufacturer was only 20€. Even had the same brand on it (Stabilus). Similar for Denso.
I love your videos and so thankful I found your channel. I have a 2003 Tundra 4x4 Access Cab Limited with 432,000 miles on it. I wish I lived closer to you because I would definitely bring my baby to you. Very much trustworthy. I do as much as I can myself with a set of shop manuals and learning all I can. Please keep these great videos going. I appreciate you taking the time to make these to keep our vehicles on the road. Great Job!!
I’m a car person myself and I actually have my own detailing business so i’m a big time fan of car care and 90% of the people with cars in my life are not. Anytime I try and tell someone to take care of their car they always respond with “I do” or “My car is fine” or “It drives, it’s fine.” No matter how much you tell a non car person to take care of their car, they won’t. People are stubborn and until they learn the hard way (rust, expensive repairs, etc.) they won’t change.
1. I am so very happy that I was able to move out of the rust belt in the mid 80's. 2. I keep up with maintenance and perform preventative maintenance using OEM parts. 3. I typically keep the interior of my trucks cleaner than the exterior. 4. I am blessed to have found a Toyota master diagnostic mechanic like you, he takes care of 4 Toyota's in my stable but he advised me that it's not worth putting money into the 5th one. 5. I will share my opinions & personal experiences on the internet, and when available I will post UA-cam videos by you and Grandpa Kilmer to back up my opinion and/or experience. Life is good that way.
Hello, from Medellín Colombia 🇨🇴🖖. The dealerships may not be the problem, the truth is that practically all the weight of attention in the service areas falls on Service Advisors, their salaries depend on the sales commissions they generate, therefore on countless occasions they sell to customers services and parts that are totally unnecessary and on other occasions they work in series with some mechanics carrying out bad practices that expose brands to a very bad image. In life we must always trust someone who, with their honesty shows us that there is always a right way to do work well, Ahmed is an example of this for everyone, all my respects because if you express something it is honesty. 🖖🇨🇴LLAP
I live in Illinois too. I remember cars pre mid 1990s rust seemed to be an even bigger issue on those. Lots of Toyotas with around 300,000 miles rusting apart but motors and transmissions still running like new.
My 2014 RAV4 began to get torque converter shudder, and a local independent told me I needed an entirely new engine. Ignore the fact that the transmission fluid was very old... Didn't try anything else, went straight for the most invasive and most expensive option. I did a fluid change and used some lubricant and my engine is running beautifully now
It is true because the Car is the Main means of earning money to support life. If you do not take care of it life WILL BE DISRUPTED when it breaks down, the first casualty is the JOB. Great Video…Thanks for sharing.
Kinda sad that we live in a society so dependent on cars in north america 😅 your car breaks down and your life is completely disrupted... would be nice to have the alternative to take the train or bike
Owner of a 95 I picked up with 73k a few years back. Just under 100 k now. Anyone have an opinion on transmission fluid , differential,motorounts? Drives great and want to keep it forever.
2 years ago I had my 2002 ES300 undercoated with WOOLWAX. sprayed on. He covered everything possible. Best protection I could’ve done. 22 years old w 184k miles. Definitely keeping it as long as I can.
Excellent video and very important topic to discuss! Another great video IMO would be on common bad habits that are damaging such as pushing a cold engine hard, shifting between reverse and drive while still moving, not using the parking brake on hills, holding the steering at full lock, topping off the gas tank, etc.
In Canada particularly in Quebec my province, we have companies specialized in antirust treatment. In my opinion the best one is Krown. Canadian army treat their vehicules wit this one. They spray the underside, drill little holes to spray the inside door, rear panel, in the engine bay. This stuff is made with a mineral base oil and some others produts. It is dielectric and it help protect all the components from squaeking and cracking. We have to do that once a year for 129.00 bucks for a pick-up. I garantee you that your car will last forever.
@@marysinclair1214 The best time is in summer. Because the oil stay more liquid. But if you do it in automn it's good too. The company explain that when they spray oil with pressure it repells the water and humidity and give a layer of protection . You can't be wrong.
I wish you / CCN had a location on the west coast, you’d have a mile long line daily for people to utilize your shop for services….. an honest, phd level of knowledge at reasonable cost related to vehicle repair / skills like you have are a unicorn in the industry, greatly appreciate your channel & the car review channel you have Cheers from the west coast - a mechanical engineer
Like some of the replies have said, regular maintenance helps to prolong the life of the vehicle. Keeping it clean both inside (vacuuming, window cleaning) and outside (washing, waxing, spraying water under the vehicle, and having Krown or fluid film added as needed for rust belt areas) helps the interior and exterior thereby extending the life of the vehicle. Listening and following what AMD tells you about extending the life of the vehicles. The formula works! Thank you for this video.
That's right Ahmad. Knowledge. Thats why I watch yt tech videos and did my rear brakes. I used toyota rotors and akebono pads. No more rear brake squeak.
My current car is one I bought from someone that did just that, owner neglect, I did get it in a subsequent good price, between all the repairs I am still in it for lower than market price. It feels good knowing I am driving a car that's fully sorted, and I can sell two years down the road with a little loss. It's also worth noting, it was a crap ton of time I put into it, so there's that. I have been using OEM parts whenever I can, and thank you! I went down the aftermarket path with my last car, and I hated doing the same job twice, never again.
A good mechanic is just like a physician. It needs to be wise, studied, ethical, and honest-those last two are very hard to find. Thanks for the essential job you are doing with this channel, which is helping people worldwide. A big hug from a 4th-gen 4Runner owner living in Chile, South America, who greatly benefited from your wise advice.
Gotta love living down south. I have a 1949 Ford truck that has the original frame and it’s not rusted through anywhere. Frame was never undercoated. Same with my 1985 S10 and my later model Toyotas still look new underneath.
Thanks a lot for another great video! I'm in an appliance repair business in the Seattle area and I never overcharge, never replace parts that don't need to be replaced, etc and I see so many customers are really surprised of me doing that, because many of them learned the hard way you can almost trust no one in anything. I think I make much less money than some other folks, but at least I'm honest with myself and my customers. In the beginning of your video, you mentioned a very important observation that a Car is not your asset or your investment. Unless you rent it out via Turo or something similar. But because car manufacturers are also businesses like those dealerships you mentioned, they need to push the idea that you have to replace your car every few years. And for many people it feels like a good idea . Yes, it drives their sales, but it can be a really bad decision financially. Well, you have a blessed and wonderful rest of the week!
God bless you brother! I can't explain how much you motivated me to become DIY-er on my Lexus RX450h (in the UK) and saved myself thousands...and not just that, learn so much, Toyota brand, servicing, think about designs (cause>effect). Of course, I made mistakes in the DIY process (e.g. bleeding the brakes/changing the brake fluid) but as you said in one of your videos: It's about the learning and it happens to everyone. You have a good heart man - so hard to find these days. I'll be here long time.
Hey I’m 60 and guilty guilty of so many!! But thankful for good mechanics who are honest and trustworthy. Too many have no problem about spending $200 for a car detail yet neglect an $80 oil change then complain the car doesn’t sound the same. For most of us, a vehicle is our second largest expenditure but we treat them as something disposable instead of our pride and joy!!
I am fortunate to live close to TCCN shop. I can attest that there are shady dealerships. I brought my 2018 Highlander to TCCN and they were very helpful in giving me the best advice for my vehicle service. I am very grateful to the TCCN team.
For rust i started using liquid film, i love it. Every year i get 1 gallon and do a full undercoat, I spray it in every hole i see in the body and frame, around the wheel wells, you name it. It gradually seeps everywhere and lasts all winter.
You just reminded me of someone spray washing tap water directly on a running engine, including one of the youtubers (mechanic), as a complimentary "gift" after repair. Wonder how soon the "lucky" customer will need go to a repair shop or a dealer for a new engine.
Does the phrase thermal stress mean anything? The engine, especially around the exhaust is very hot, and water is cold. It can lead to warpage and quenching of the metal, making it brittle.
@@ericharrison619 Thermal shock may also result ICE chamber warp/gap causing efficiency/power loss or leak etc., modern car engines use more aluminum/alloys and can be more sensitive to the shock, make engine off and wait for cool down will be wise. Besides other risks of "hot" (means powered on) connector/wires especially something related to ignition coils (10k-50k Vdc!).
I strive to maintain our vehicles properly but a problem for many folks is the cost. Car loans are north of 600 dollars a month, insurance goes up every six months and then the dealers labor cost is north of 100 dollars an hour. Talk to a single mom or a retired person on a fixed income or a couple raising children. It's not that they don't want to get a repair done, it is because they need food and a place to sleep and clothes for their children, etc.,etc.
I understand what you are saying but it's necessary preventative maintenance, also for yours and others' safety. No single mom wants to find themselves with failing brakes, or car breaking down completely making life even more difficult.
I don't know if it's still a 'thing', but, back in the day, high schools and Vo-Tech schools would perform maintenance on people's vehicles at a substantial discount (the students worked under the guidance of an instructor). I want to say, they'd tell you what parts to buy and they'd perform the labor at a discount. The work ethic nowadays is so poor, that if I had to, I'd be more inclined to roll the dice with a rookie (working under the guidance of an instructor) than I would to take a vehicle to any of the national chain repair centers. Same quality work for less money.
@@AldermanFredCDavis I remember that and in fact they even painted cars. I don't think they do it anymore due to legal liabilities for the students and the customers. Like everything in this world, lawyers destroy everything.
First thing I did to the new car was to get it to a local reputable shop and get it sprayed with a wax like anti rust product. It included some disassembly to make sure everything was protected. Every year will be an undercoating check and top up if needed. Monthly undercarriage washes are on the list.
I always explain to people that it is actually MORE important to keep the bottom of your car clean than the top. The top has paint and a finish several layers thick to protect it. The belly of your car has all kinds of exposed mechanical parts that you have to keep clean if you want them to last.
@@VroodenTheGreat It case you were not aware, only body on frame trucks and SUVs have a full frame. Cars, minivans and CUVs have a unibody construction. Every metal surface exposed to road salt needs to be protected. Floors, fenders, doors etc need to be rustproofed. Even a steel oil pan can rust from the outside in. 😁
I live in Iowa…my current car is under 99k 2008 Saturn Vue. It has been a very good car for me single gal…it’s totally rusted out. I’m terrified of getting a new crappy car for an ungodly amount of money. There seems no great choices for under $30 k it’s has to be my forever car. Rust sucks. I’m afraid my chase will fall out while driving. Lesson learned and I found honest guys that said don’t put any more money in to it! Thank you for being so honest.
We just had flooding from Hurricane Milton and the saltwater in flooded cars destroys all the electronics. Worse than the salt on the streets in the north.
A very well put together presentation Sir. As a retired ASE Master Tech (among other things) I have seen many of the same issues as you have discussed here. I personally own a 2002 RAV4L 4WD that still looks like almost new, just about to hit the 100K mark, and runs better than a lot of new cars I have driven. Spent all of it's years In the Rust Belt as well. Under body and complete wash off just as you mentioned. The maintenance maybe a little over board, but you could eat off the inside of the engine (after sanitizing of course!). Love your channel, as always professional in your work ethics and standards. We need more people like you in this world today. Keep up the great work!
As usual, another excellent and interesting presentation. Here though we also see more of the fine character of this man, AMD. All of us treasure his advice on cars, but return because we enjoy and admire and trust the man he is.
I want to cry every time I watch your maintenance videos lol i live in MN and i only buy older Japanese built vehicles, and they are RUST BUCKETS but i get sentimental and they are the ones in my budget. My previous pathfinder was so rusty on the quarter panels that there were large gaps you could see right through, and steps coming apart from the rocker areas. Put some ko2s on it and sent it for 4 years without ever getting stuck in the snow, until someone rear ended me at a light and totaled it. Paid 2800 for it and got 4.7k from insurance. Went and upgraded to a rusty old gx470 lol i love it but yet, shes a rusty gal. Going to get it sandblasted and undercoated. $$$ but i want it to last as long as i can. I hate rust, but its inevitable here. Im moves from TX and found at real quick, and am still learning lol. My partner has a 08' audi with zero rust....its witchcraft!!
When it comes to the snow belt and cars being eaten away, before the snow hits the ground and the temp is around 28 degrees, the roads are pre-treated with Calcium Chloride, (salt compound). This chemical stops the freezing process for some time and can make the snow turn to slush. I live in Central SC. Very little of that here. I worked for the SCDOT for many years. In our area we do get some sleet or frozen water over the roads and this is how we pre-treated the roads. We had 5 tanks each holding 5000 gallons of calcium Chloride and it got used a lot.
I just take mine to the dealer to get work done. People call it a stealership, but they've always given me fair quotes and have been more than reasonable, BUT... I know what my car needs.
In Pennsylvania, I watched my beautiful 1976 Trans Am develop rust on door bottoms & rocker panels in just 3 years. I SOLVED MY RUST PROBLEM by joining the military and (luckily) getting assigned to California, where I reside today. One of my vehicles is 26 years old and, although the paint has weathered, mostly still looks & runs like it did when it was new.
I live in Pennsylvania. I bought a new Accord in 1998 and have been taking good care of it, doing maintenance myself. I wash it after each drive in snow, in a car wash facility that also washes the underside. I wax the car 3or 4 times a year. It still drives like when it was first bought. It burns no oil. The engine, transmission, suspension, radiator, etc. all are the original components. There is no rust in the exterior, only a little underneath. I had clear coat coming off in some areas, the rear bumper mainly. I used a can of spray clear coat and that worked well. I treat the car as a good friend, and I am rewarded.
I've always done my own maintenance and keep my vehicles clean. I spray the frame and underbody before winter every year. I keep my foot out of it. I change my fluids on time, not just oil, all of them. I'm 42 years old, and I still drive the same truck from high school. It was 4 years old when I bought it. 520,000 miles on it now, drive it to work everyday.
I stand behind every word you say,l have never driven a Toyota which are one of the best if not the best,I drive a Ford that was built in 1987, it has been looked after since day one,I have been involved with cars since 1955,and like you have an understanding of a motor car. The old iron block gave me 500,000 km then was modified to a larger bore and has added a feather 300,000 km to the vehicle, I service my own car( being a mechanic) and have done since new,she lives in a garage and when outside she's covered,I'm now in my mid 80s, keep being who you are,God bless you.
My mechanic worked at a former Toyota dealership and they are very good maintaining my hybrid Toyota. But most important is that you start with reading the manual ( RTFM ) from begin to end. And then learn how the car really works, and what it needs. With that, my Petrol Toyota got to 23 years of age, and my hybrid Toyota is now 14 years young. It's so easy to drive a Toyota for decades !
It's very hard to find an honest mechanic like you
Ain't that the truth...👍
It really is.
Yet he never explains why Honda motors accumulate carbon, only says that they do, when looking around other channels you see is caused due to the eco and valves shut down
I am going to agree with that. Most of us just want to have a good honest mechanic just like this one that is not too far from home. We would not mind paying for this kind of expertise and customer service, but it is so elusive.😢
It's even hard to find competent mechanics, there's quite a few dishonest and incompetent ones though.
Toyota recommends that I change my oil every 10K miles, but I change it every 6 months or 5K miles (I only drive 8-10K miles per year).
Toyota recommends that I change the front and rear differentials, transfer case and transmission fluid every 60K miles, but we use our (my) TRD Off Road for work around our property and I take it on dusty forest and service roads, so I change those fluids / grease every 30K miles.
We keep our vehicles for 15-20 years or 250 - 300K miles.
Yes I May overkill on maintenance but I want to keep our vehicles for as long as possible because they’re so expensive to replace.
I’m almost 60 years old and my current 23 Tacoma TRD Off Road is my 4th daily driver since I was 18.
I plan on driving my TRD until I die. I’m quite sure that my wife will still be using my Tacoma to plow the 5-7 feet of snow off our private road until she too passes away.
I put gatorade instead of engine oil (every other Tuesday) and it works just fine. Electrolytes are magic!
I do the same. I don’t trust 10k mile oil changes
Its what ya need!!@noob.168
Also remember when you buy new, change oil after 1,000 miles. Don’t wait for even 5000 that first time.
I also would never go 10,000 miles between oil changes! That is just crazy!
I live in the rust belt, I have a 1994 toyota. Every year I undercoat it and wash it regularly during winter months. It has no rust at all. It's all about how well we take care of them..
How expensive can that get? I live in flordia so rust is uncommon. I'm not aware if undercoating and washing is expensive. And as well if you don't have a lift and tools to efficiently wash and undercoating the car, i would think it would be quite costly
Sounds like a lot of work/expense. I also have a 1994 car, but it's double galvanized and doesn't rust. I really wish Toyota would figure out the process that other manufacturers have known for decades.
If you have your own driveway, they make hose attachments that roll under the frame and spray it pretty well. Just hook it up to the hose you already have. If not, some car washes have undercarriage sprayers. Maybe do it once a month or so.
Same here, detailed wash once a week during January, February and March
Do U have Rear Wheel Well Liners installed ? I just got a set/installed Em from RoughCountry its a must have.
I'm someone who's loved driving for 55 years now. One of the best things I've done to save money and not get ripped off in life is to educate myself about the operation and basic maintenance of my vehicles. That's why I'm an ardent DIY'er and subscriber to this channel.
We are but Grasshoppers to AMD the Master.
Yes master
You love driving? This tells me one thing about you already, you don't live in southern california - this place will make you hate driving in no time.
@@robertmaybeth3434 I've lived in S. Cal (Orange County) for the last 44 years. Still love driving.
@@robertmaybeth3434 SE Florida will make you hate driving also
@@robertmaybeth3434 depend where in So Cal ... but sure LA traffic can suck.
I hope your shop makes you a multimillionaire my friend, you deserve the profit you make as you do what is right for your customer’s cars
i think his YT posts will do that for him faster than running an auto shop, after all the cost vs. profit ratio is insanely favorable
It's not the amount of money in the bank that makes people happy.
Maybe a franchise in his name could make him some money. Then monitor how the shops are doing using customer feedback.
He doesn’t charge his customers a premium for his services he goes by the market rate that all mechanics follow for jobs. In my opinion he SHOULD charge a premium because you know when you go to him you’re guaranteed to have the job done right. Though I think he is too prideful for that.
Bad drivers in my area is the #1 destroyer of cars !
Yeah, a car can go a million miles but a distracted idiot in a malibu could take out all that glory.
Two, or more, at a time!😯
I’m guessing you must live in Tennessee. Never have I seen such drastic total loss accidents like I have here. The combination of excessive speed, lack of observation and overall lack of care is a recipe for disaster, and I see it daily…
@@tundrajt Just about anywhere in the USA. In car to car collisions the potential for "total loss" to every vehicle involved is increased by current design features such as air bags, unibody construction, and computers.
Agreed! Also if buying direct from owner, watch out for apartment complex cars as they are rarely protected from elements, often have minimal or no service history and are commonly underinsured w/ incomplete or hack job repairs.
NOT changing your fluids in a timely manner will not help you. Probably the #1 thing you can do to keep your car running for as long as possible, is change the fluids.
100%!!! Oil, coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. Change those fluids on a well designed/engineered engine at regular intervals and you'll avoid the majority of most drive-train issues!!
@@msmoniz my dealer changed their tune lately. when i first bought my truck they said transmission was lifetime. now the service guy is singing the 30k mile song. I do mine every 30k.
@@666dynomax Yeah when then mean lifetime they mean the transmission’s lifetime not yours! 🤣. Is that 5? 10? 15 years?? 🤨 I own my cars minimum 10 years and have never had to replace a transmission and never want to!!!
I just use one fluid for everything and it works for me. Not sure why auto industry lies to us.
@@noob.168 Yeah, right.
AMD you're not only a mechanic, most of all a great human being and great asset to the world. God bless 🙏🙏🙏
Ahmed is the kind of man I'd trust my life with anyway. He has impeccable character and is a wonderful representative of Jesus Christ ✝️🙏
Toyota tech here, the tech that works next to me had a 2023 tacoma with nearly 40k miles come in with a check engine light concern with DTC related to cam timing/oil control (dont remember the specific DTC). Long story short he removed the sensor and found sludge build-up. Customer's last oil change was when the truck had 12k miles. Take care of your cars folks.
That is Outrageous ! Any permanent damage to Engine ,?
The world is full of people who do not do even basic service on thier cars. It devalues them tremendously as people like me who buy second hand will not touch a car without a good service history
Been there... way back I had customer did 1st. Oil change w/43k miles. He was laughing- it's lease. Getting new one in next 6 months.
Every profession has its bad apples.You are a gem amongst your own. Great Channel! One way to help people find mechanics like yourself is to encourage your subscribers to write where they from and whether or not they have a great mechanic shop.
Fortunately, so far, I've never had a bad experience with taking my vehicle to the dealer, however, I have had several horrible experiences taking my vehicle to (3) independent shops........that have been in business for decades. There are A LOT of incompetent auto mechanics out here.
Number One Problem for a car owner is finding a shop or mechanic that follows the principles you recommend.
1. Fix what needs fixing.
2. Use original parts and not up up charge for it.
3.Uses realistic maintenance and fluid scheduling.
4. Tries to educate the car owner not take advantage of ignorance.
5. Charge accordingly and transparently.
It would be so helpful if you could get other shops across the country and world to take the Car Nut Pledge to do these things.
M
Definitely, need to be Certified CCN
Best automotive show on UA-cam bar none. Always insightful and on point in your explanations.
I've been a car enthusiast for over 40 years, and I take a meticulous, by-the-book approach to DIY projects. That said, I've made my share of mistakes and broken things along the way-no one is perfect-but at least I recognize when something goes wrong and learn from it. In my experience, when a mechanic makes a mistake on my car, they rarely admit it, and things can quickly go downhill. That's why I choose to do almost all the repairs myself, except for bodywork.
Why don’t you do body work
From Canada here. Your best bet for rust proofing is an annual oil type spray designed for vehicle rust proofing. Corrosion Free is the best. Rust Check and Krown also good. Avoid rubberized undercoating as it traps moisture and can accelerate rust
As additional advice and this is from practical experience - only use the rubberised sprayon/ stone chip coating on fully cleaned, then fully dried underside chassis and metal components. Most of these products will require a compressor and underbody spray gun. Please make sure there are vapour/ moisture traps and filters in the lines and follow instructions re times between coats. If there is moisture in the compressor tank or in the lines, then it will just get sorayed directly into the chassis and can cause corrosion to start under the coating.
If done correctly they last well and really do protect for many years.
You can always go over this as a yearly maintainence with a spray on oil based product like lanoshield / lanoguard.
Most important is to clean the underside before using anything, you end up using less products for maximum effectiveness.
Hi, I’m in Quebec and this will be my first winter with my 2024 prime. I wanted to get it rust proofed with Corrosion Free (only done at Canadian Tire here) but Toyota Canada says they will void the warranty if they deem that the rust proofing was the cause. That scares me because it can be very expensive to repair. I would love have it done because I want to keep the prime a very long time. Did you have yours done? TIA
100% Agree, not sure why this was never a thing in the USA.
@@jaysnsteelersit is to a point. I’m from New York (Buffalo region) and we have some krown places here. Which one is where I take my truck yearly
@@braaapattack2937 I didn't know they had Krown down there. That is a good move on your part especially with all the snow you get there. Whenever the topic of corrosion comes up from an American perspective, I rarely hear about Krown or Rust Check.
He talks from the heart to help us ignorant masses get educated. God Bless him.
I respect you so much brother. You hurt my feelings when you told me I had to let my 3rd gen 4runner go but I respect your honesty and You’re truly a blessing to us all. Looking for a 100 series now 🙏🏽 thank you sir 🙏🏽
why did he tell you to let it go, if you don't mind sharing?
Undercarriage rust. @@ExpertUA-camCommentator
Love my 100 series
Please find an 80 Series in good condition
@@ExpertUA-camCommentator Probably like mine.....frame rot. I had two 4Runners in n a row that I kept as pristine as possible. Even with underbody washes every spring, both of them developed bad rust on the frame. Both ended up rotting away. Both had to be junked. I was upset after the first one. I was angry after the second one. I decided to never buy another one again. I switched brands and had no more frame rot issues.
I bought an aftermarket water pump for my GX460. Took it home and the pulled the OEM off the GX and the comparison was 🤯. The OEM quality was shockingly so much better. So I contacted our local Toyota parts department and bought OEM and returned the POS aftermarket part. The craziest thing was the price difference was $5.
OEM is almost always better for just replacement parts. And aftermarket performance parts will always cost more.
@@randallpetersen9164aftermarket do not cost more…
Why did you buy a aftermarket part if the price difference is only 5$?
@ Autoparts store was closer and I assumed it would be cheaper. Did not know the dealer price at the time. But when I saw how chintzy the part was compared to what I took off the vehicle I called my closest Toyota (as Lexus was even farther) parts department. Lesson learned.
@@commoncents5191 that makes sense
Great example of proper research was when I decided to do my valve cover gaskets for my 2UZ in my Tundra. I went through days of videos and only found one that did it correctly including using OEM parts. When I questioned a couple of guys who put the tube seals in backwards they got upset and told me this was the way it was done and it didn’t matter. I’m just a shade tree but I educated myself, used OEM parts and thanks to this wonderful UA-camr the job went perfectly.
My long term car-keeping method: Use only Top Tier Fuel. Never let oil level get low. Keep tires inflated. Drive gently until things warm up, then drive normally, and don't be afraid of full throttle acceleration (when safe). Run AC at least once a week, even in winter. Drive the vehicle at least once a week, and avoid short trips where the engine does not fully heat up (I do 10 miles as absolute minimum, but 20 or more is best). And starting with your next purchase, do RESEARCH and buy cars rated as MORE RELIABLE.
Top tier fuel will make absolutely no difference at all, it's not exactly a scam but it's wildly exaggerated marketing.
Top tier fuel makes a big difference. Would not believe it. When my then girlfriend (it was her car) insisted on a special fuel I tried to prove to her (difference in milage) that it's a scam. Unfortunately for me I did prove her right. Have used that brand for 35 years now. Injectors in my second car did last double as long as expected. My wife's car runs smoother with that fuel, milage is better. Diesel and petrol both are superior.
@@GlennC789 Actually, it does make a difference. The additive/detergent package is better than required. There's zero downside to this and many Top Tier stations are the same price or lower than non-Top Tier stations.
I follow all those same rules. And I drive an Audi and a Jeep. Both are now seven years old. Both have been 100% free of issues. Never a single problem with either one.
@@Japplesnap Do some research into gasoline refining and distribution. The only difference with top tier fuels is they put tiny amounts of additives in, similar to off-the-shelf additives (look up PEA) that you can buy and add yourself in much greater quantities at a fraction the cost. There's no advantage in energy content (that's not even allowed, gasoline is regulated) or fuel economy, the only claim is that they can contribute to fuel economy by keeping your engine (top-end, pistons/rings, valves etc) clean, but again, the quantities of additives are so tiny you can do much better on your own. Anybody claiming a fuel economy benefit can do the same by putting magnets on their fuel lines, equal proven results guaranteed ;-)
As much I hate to spend my hard earned money to service my family Toyotas with genuine parts and service , you make a lot sense with your explanations ! Thank you for your honesty and integrity ! God Bless !
As a DIYer and original 2015 Prius owner, this UA-cam channel has been my #1 maintenance go-to. My general approach is to follow the owners' manual, although I'm adopting the CCN's more stringent standards because I want to see how long I can make my car last. Being a DIYer lets me avoid scams, save money, make sure things are done right, and find the exact same repair on my exact same car on UA-cam. I can usually find at least a half-dozen clips that way, note their similarities and differences, take what seems like the best path, and if anything goes wrong it's not likely to be major. So far, that's been working. Thanks again! 😃
I learned a valuable lesson on car maintenance when I was a young lad over 50 years ago. If you do not pay for proper maintenance now you will surely pay for it down the road...and it will be significantly more expensive.
Such a refreshingly simple list of reasons. Rust, the owner, the "mechanic" and the internet.
It blows my mind how few people out there do maintenance to their cars. People will spend tens of thousands on their cars and neglect them, I don't get it. I drive a 2001 170k miles Jeep everyday, my dad drives a 351k mile Camry. My mom drives a 230k Sienna and people act like it's some mystery how we do it.
When paying shop charges of $125 / hour and book rates then a new car is a better deal much sooner.
@@MathewPollard-vj4uqif you do your own oil, transmission fluid, filters, other simple maintenance yourself then it’s almost never cheaper to just get a new car. If you neglect your car or buy an unreliable vehicle that starts needing multi-thousand dollar services every year, then yes getting a new car is cheaper…
@@MrDude667 Totally agree, my newest car is 12 years old. Many of my tools are a lot newer.
@@MathewPollard-vj4uqfind a shop that charges not a retarded price like that and do regular fluid changes.
your honesty really shows how passionate you are towards cars in general.
Finding a good mechanic is just as important as finding a good car
Add finding a good doctor to the list :-)
@@kevinstarski1598omg telling the truth on that
agree… a good and honest mechanic 👍🏻
If you are going to undercoat a car, I'd highly recommend a lanoline-based product like Fluid Film, Surface Shield, or Wool Wax.
+1 for fluid film. It works super well.
Yep, do not use that rubberized junk.
I just fluid filmed my truck a few weeks ago.
@@volvo09 Rubberized undercoating is for used car dealerships trying to hide rust it's bad, oil works much better.
@@firingallcylinders2949 yes, it does cover up severe rust quite nicely, and an unsuspecting buyer will not know any better.
(For people that don't know, it doesn't stop the rusting and makes it worse because it traps moisture and salt.)
Way back, in the UK, there was a company called Ziebart. This was in the 70s when British cars were rust-buckets in waiting. You could have your new car 'Ziebarted'. They took your new car and sprayed it thoroughly with their compound, including in the door panels, everywhere water would get. It was a good resale move to show it had been 'Ziebarted'. Maybe the manufacturers stepped up and galvanised the shells. It disappeared from the UK, but it's still around.
I like how you said you are a professional. THATS where most mechanic shops lack nowadays.
Bought a brand new 2024 Camry LE about 6 months ago. On the very first oil change (5000 miles) at the dealership, they overfilled the crankcase by 2 quarts. I pulled out of the service concourse, turned onto the highway and a giant cloud of blue smoke rolled out of the rear of the car. I immediately returned to the service concourse and started blowing clouds of smoke into the waiting lounge and waiting customers. They had to keep the car overnight and run diagnostics overnight while I drove a new loaner home. They were very, very nice to me on the 10K mile oil change. Unbelievable.
I was an apprentice mechanic aged 16 at a Toyota dealer and I did services on new cars..
My 2017 new car when for its first oil change at 5k miles. it was over filled a little, as I check the oil level before I drive off.
I ask the mechanic why overfilled and the answer was, just a little bit is ok. I replied by querying him back, why does the dip stick mark MAX (Maximum). I even ask him to call his superior for a talk on it.
They ensure my followings services oil changes were done right. 😀
I’ve always taken exceptional care of my vehicles. Everyone around my area knew this. When I sold one, I was always able to capture top dollar because of this.
Your channel has been paramount maintaining my fleet of old Toyotas. A 2002, x2 2008, and A 2018. All of them I would drive across country tomorrow.
Hi Ahmed, Another great video. 👏👏👏 I know your channel is so popular because of the expertise and clear explanations you bring to every episode. But I have a suspicious that a lot of folks also watch your videos because it is clear you are an honest and honorable man and in these times we live you are essentially a therapy session for those seeking hope for the future. Yep, you are a good man and I think that is actually your REAL secret weapon. 😊
Yes, the knowledge, integrity, honesty, respect , CARE, Gratitude for this fellow human. Thank you Ahmed ❣️
That is why, I buy my family cars after thorough research, fix them myself - as much as possible considering the conditions of a regular garage with a bunch of tools, bring them to the dealer only to do recalls, listen them when they start acting strange and only after that investigate and repair, use only synthetic oils and follow the schedules, at least once a year spray bottoms with diluted with WD40 any available rustproof formula, except rubber parts and electronics, including inner cavities, and always wash them from top to bottom. And they last, though look dirty on the lift, but they DO NOT RUST AT ALL!!!! Minimum spending, long living cars, happy owner, not a maniac in my driving habits😁You are the best, Ahmed! 👍
You just spray it with WD40 and it works?😊
@@dimab8753 dilute any antirust like Corrosionfree Rust Cure Formula 3000 (the best), or RustCheck Coat and Protect, or similar... Just to use in a hand spray... Otherwise it's too lumpy and heavy, and not easy cover
As a RustCheck dealer up here in Ontario Canada I can tell you with 100% certainty that if your vehicle is oil sprayed properly every year you will not have rust issues. I’ve got customers with 20 to 30 year old vehicles that have no rust on them because they’ve gotten them sprayed religiously every year.
Also people don’t be scared about possible drilling into body panels, if done properly just like the spraying there will not be any issues.
I 100% agree with you but unfortunately, some manufacturers will straight up void the body panel and paint warranty as soon as they see hole drilled (Honda\Acura comes to mind). I get creative and find ways to spray the inner unibody and pillar\fenders without drilling holes but you gotta remember what trim and\or grommet to remove for every vehicle and it gets tedious. Also, EV\Hybrid cars warranties get straight up denied at the stealership because of rustproofing even if you don't spray the orange high voltage loom or parts. I've had a client go to court for that exact reason with his 2021 Highlander hybrid for a leaky panoramic sunroof, I kid you not! Good thing is, the dealer settled as we proved without a doubt the product we used is specifically made for such cars (Sinto EcoVolt) and didn't cause the issue in the first place. One major factor was that Sinto representative had our back and the judge had common sense. The stuff smells weird as it is beeswax based; it doesn't attack rubber and plastics but works damn well!
what oil you mean?
As a 60 year old mechanic with 42 years experience, it is a compliment to you that i am watching a channel on car maintenance of my favorite brand
I live in the rust belt. The frame of my '13 Tacoma is flawless because I've sprayed it with Fluid Film several times over the past 12 years.
that's amazing actually - the only good car problems are the ones you figured out how to avoid!
Yes, I’m with you on that here in New England.
Fluid Film every fall.
Amazing enough I know if no one else here that gets it done!
In some cases, people can barely afford the car payment and insurance. So maintenance takes a huge hit. Living beyond their means.
The top destroy is the driver! I live in New Mexico, even here we have undercarriage wash on the auto car wash. My 2015 Highlander looks like new underneath. Thanks for the great videos!
Great advice. A good mechanic is a beautiful thing!
I worked at an independent garage from summer of 6th grade until I began teaching career in 1971. Nothing has changed basically in what we said then and this video! Our shop was considered expensive by some as only quality parts , wouldn’t cut corners so to speak , honest with customers ,and knowledgeable mechanics. Just as a side note, shop is still in business today in of course a new building and all the technology required for today’s vechile. Still have the same way of operating and yes I am a customer. Sounds like CCN shop and long term goals!
Being yourself takes you a long way , well done the most genuine person out there
Amd, I recommend your channel to my young co-worker that just became a 1st time car owner.
BTW I'm sure you're a thorough DAD!👏🏾👏🏾
Keep up the good work.
NYC HERE
I have seen several videos on this channel and just recently subscribed. It is very hard to find honest people like this gentleman. Thank you so much. Your channel is a huge blessing. I have had my 2004 Toyota matrix for 11 years and bought it from the original owner. I have all of my maintenance records and I keep track of when I have things done on it because I want it to last a long time. I also take it to one mechanic the same person for the past several years. Recently, I have started being more involved in regular maintenance such as fluids, wipers, checking break/ tire wear and taking care of this all myself. I also just learned how to replace my own headlights bulbs. ❤🎉
AMD, It is so reassuring to see you put rust on the top of the list. A rusty car is a neglected car. With the numerous and highly effective rustproofing options on the market today, nobody in the Salt Belt has an excuse to sit by and watch their car rust to pieces. I also believe in making a clear distinction between old fashioned undercoating and modern rustproofing. The product applied to my car on an annual basis is a light, oily water repellent not a gooey tar. 🤩
Yep, I fluid film my vehicles and it doesn't rust. People that just let their vehicles rot its honestly just pure apathy or laziness.
Is it called waxoil, by any chance?
@@theresedillon6717 My 2005 car had Krown applied for the 20th time in preparation for its 20th salty Ontario winter. Yesterday I hand washed it and applied paste wax as I do at this time every year. I will not wash it again until spring and I fully expect it to be as solid and rust free then as it is now. 😁
Thank you. I couldn't agree more. I have friends and family who would spend hundreds of dollars (sometimes thousands) on detailing services and pretty much everything that makes a car look great visually. But they do not want to spend a dime on oil changes, brake changes, and other maintenance that actually has an impact on a car's mechanical performance.
Great video as always! "MICE" should be added to the list. Don't leave food in you car. Regardless of whether you have food in your car It is a warm environment and they can reek havoc. If you park in a garage be sure not to store dog food, ect. in garage. Take preventative measures whether it be traps ( to some unethical ). We've recently started to offer a service at my work to block off the HVAC inlet at the firewall with chicken wire to prevent entry to cabin but they will still find homes in the engine bay and chew wires and what not. Most cars I see with mouse damage have child seats in the back completely covered in cracker crumbs, half open bags of sunflower seeds, granola bars in the glove box that have literally been opened up and eaten by mice, cabin filter filled with the dog food stored in the garage , the list goes on.
I keep 9 outdoor cats around who really love mice on their menu.
I recently captured a large rat in our Lexus. It loves the chewing gum that was in there. I heard it chewing on the cabin air filter, so I pulled the filter and there was the rat, wedged in the slot. I do now keep traps in and near the garage.
They'll get into you engine compartment even without people food as an attractant. Modern wiring has a soy-based covering that rodents will eat. I leave food out for the neighborhood cats, having even gone so far as to install kitty doors in my garage, so they can go in and out at will. Cats hanging around will definitely keep rodents away, although I do have to check under the hood for kittens before starting up. 😊
@georgegravette1132 I currently feeding 10 outside cats on a schedule. Three outside buildings are accessible to them.
I rely on internet a lot for my DIY repairs, for both parts advice and tutorials. I have to say that in the Toyota community almost everyone always suggest to use OEM parts. Toyota quality is hard to beat.
Do we count parts made by OE suppliers as original? Recently had to replace the gas spring for my hood. The Toyota parts were 100€ each because of the metal brace, the spring from the original manufacturer was only 20€. Even had the same brand on it (Stabilus). Similar for Denso.
I love your videos and so thankful I found your channel. I have a 2003 Tundra 4x4 Access Cab Limited with 432,000 miles on it. I wish I lived closer to you because I would definitely bring my baby to you. Very much trustworthy. I do as much as I can myself with a set of shop manuals and learning all I can. Please keep these great videos going. I appreciate you taking the time to make these to keep our vehicles on the road. Great Job!!
I’m a car person myself and I actually have my own detailing business so i’m a big time fan of car care and 90% of the people with cars in my life are not. Anytime I try and tell someone to take care of their car they always respond with “I do” or “My car is fine” or “It drives, it’s fine.” No matter how much you tell a non car person to take care of their car, they won’t. People are stubborn and until they learn the hard way (rust, expensive repairs, etc.) they won’t change.
1. I am so very happy that I was able to move out of the rust belt in the mid 80's.
2. I keep up with maintenance and perform preventative maintenance using OEM parts.
3. I typically keep the interior of my trucks cleaner than the exterior.
4. I am blessed to have found a Toyota master diagnostic mechanic like you, he takes care of 4 Toyota's in my stable but he advised me that it's not worth putting money into the 5th one.
5. I will share my opinions & personal experiences on the internet, and when available I will post UA-cam videos by you and Grandpa Kilmer to back up my opinion and/or experience.
Life is good that way.
Hello, from Medellín Colombia 🇨🇴🖖. The dealerships may not be the problem, the truth is that practically all the weight of attention in the service areas falls on Service Advisors, their salaries depend on the sales commissions they generate, therefore on countless occasions they sell to customers services and parts that are totally unnecessary and on other occasions they work in series with some mechanics carrying out bad practices that expose brands to a very bad image. In life we must always trust someone who, with their honesty shows us that there is always a right way to do work well, Ahmed is an example of this for everyone, all my respects because if you express something it is honesty. 🖖🇨🇴LLAP
Colombianos escalándolos!
I live in Illinois too. I remember cars pre mid 1990s rust seemed to be an even bigger issue on those. Lots of Toyotas with around 300,000 miles rusting apart but motors and transmissions still running like new.
My 2014 RAV4 began to get torque converter shudder, and a local independent told me I needed an entirely new engine. Ignore the fact that the transmission fluid was very old... Didn't try anything else, went straight for the most invasive and most expensive option. I did a fluid change and used some lubricant and my engine is running beautifully now
Dealerships get a bad rap however, MY worst experiences were always with independent shops.
An honest mechanic is worth his weight in gold
It is true because the Car is the Main means of earning money to support life. If you do not take care of it life WILL BE DISRUPTED when it breaks down, the first casualty is the JOB. Great Video…Thanks for sharing.
Kinda sad that we live in a society so dependent on cars in north america 😅 your car breaks down and your life is completely disrupted... would be nice to have the alternative to take the train or bike
That’s where honesty and caring comes in. Thank you Sir !!
Same thing goes with your house regarding maintenance. Replace the air filter(s) every 6 months. Paint when needed.
This man is the most complete mechanic that exists on UA-cam...as a technician and as a person too👏👏👏!!!!!
Love that 94-95 Camry in background
Super reliable car
Thousands of them in California, rust free too!
Owner of a 95 I picked up with 73k a few years back. Just under 100 k now. Anyone have an opinion on transmission fluid , differential,motorounts?
Drives great and want to keep it forever.
2 years ago I had my 2002 ES300 undercoated with WOOLWAX. sprayed on. He covered everything possible. Best protection I could’ve done. 22 years old w 184k miles. Definitely keeping it as long as I can.
Excellent video and very important topic to discuss! Another great video IMO would be on common bad habits that are damaging such as pushing a cold engine hard, shifting between reverse and drive while still moving, not using the parking brake on hills, holding the steering at full lock, topping off the gas tank, etc.
In Canada particularly in Quebec my province, we have companies specialized in antirust treatment. In my opinion the best one is Krown. Canadian army treat their vehicules wit this one. They spray the underside, drill little holes to spray the inside door, rear panel, in the engine bay. This stuff is made with a mineral base oil and some others produts. It is dielectric and it help protect all the components from squaeking and cracking. We have to do that once a year for 129.00 bucks for a pick-up. I garantee you that your car will last forever.
When’s the best time to do Krown? I bought a used 2020 Honda SUV in July right away made an appointment for Krown spray.
@@marysinclair1214
The best time is in summer. Because the oil stay more liquid. But if you do it in automn it's good too. The company explain that when they spray oil with pressure it repells the water and humidity and give a layer of protection . You can't be wrong.
Wish we had that is Missouri
I love you man! I'm glad you're here for all of us who get to have your service!*
I wish mechanics cared about their work and their customer's vehicles like you.
I wish you / CCN had a location on the west coast, you’d have a mile long line daily for people to utilize your shop for services….. an honest, phd level of knowledge at reasonable cost related to vehicle repair / skills like you have are a unicorn in the industry, greatly appreciate your channel & the car review channel you have
Cheers from the west coast
- a mechanical engineer
Yes, very true Mechanical Engineer, I'd be on that Wait-list !
Like some of the replies have said, regular maintenance helps to prolong the life of the vehicle. Keeping it clean both inside (vacuuming, window cleaning) and outside (washing, waxing, spraying water under the vehicle, and having Krown or fluid film added as needed for rust belt areas) helps the interior and exterior thereby extending the life of the vehicle. Listening and following what AMD tells you about extending the life of the vehicles. The formula works!
Thank you for this video.
That's right Ahmad. Knowledge. Thats why I watch yt tech videos and did my rear brakes. I used toyota rotors and akebono pads. No more rear brake squeak.
My current car is one I bought from someone that did just that, owner neglect, I did get it in a subsequent good price, between all the repairs I am still in it for lower than market price. It feels good knowing I am driving a car that's fully sorted, and I can sell two years down the road with a little loss.
It's also worth noting, it was a crap ton of time I put into it, so there's that. I have been using OEM parts whenever I can, and thank you!
I went down the aftermarket path with my last car, and I hated doing the same job twice, never again.
You sir do a service to mankind! Thank you!
A good mechanic is just like a physician. It needs to be wise, studied, ethical, and honest-those last two are very hard to find. Thanks for the essential job you are doing with this channel, which is helping people worldwide. A big hug from a 4th-gen 4Runner owner living in Chile, South America, who greatly benefited from your wise advice.
Gotta love living down south. I have a 1949 Ford truck that has the original frame and it’s not rusted through anywhere. Frame was never undercoated. Same with my 1985 S10 and my later model Toyotas still look new underneath.
Where is that paradise place!! 🎉
@@rolandomota7474 right in the dead center of Mississippi.
@@brandonstclair6530downside is summers are hot AF
Thanks a lot for another great video! I'm in an appliance repair business in the Seattle area and I never overcharge, never replace parts that don't need to be replaced, etc and I see so many customers are really surprised of me doing that, because many of them learned the hard way you can almost trust no one in anything. I think I make much less money than some other folks, but at least I'm honest with myself and my customers.
In the beginning of your video, you mentioned a very important observation that a Car is not your asset or your investment. Unless you rent it out via Turo or something similar. But because car manufacturers are also businesses like those dealerships you mentioned, they need to push the idea that you have to replace your car every few years. And for many people it feels like a good idea . Yes, it drives their sales, but it can be a really bad decision financially.
Well, you have a blessed and wonderful rest of the week!
God bless you brother! I can't explain how much you motivated me to become DIY-er on my Lexus RX450h (in the UK) and saved myself thousands...and not just that, learn so much, Toyota brand, servicing, think about designs (cause>effect). Of course, I made mistakes in the DIY process (e.g. bleeding the brakes/changing the brake fluid) but as you said in one of your videos: It's about the learning and it happens to everyone. You have a good heart man - so hard to find these days. I'll be here long time.
Hey I’m 60 and guilty guilty of so many!! But thankful for good mechanics who are honest and trustworthy. Too many have no problem about spending $200 for a car detail yet neglect an $80 oil change then complain the car doesn’t sound the same. For most of us, a vehicle is our second largest expenditure but we treat them as something disposable instead of our pride and joy!!
I went to school for land surveying & the philosophy is exactly the same...Your job is to tell people the truth, not what they want to hear...
Good guy! 😊
I am fortunate to live close to TCCN shop. I can attest that there are shady dealerships. I brought my 2018 Highlander to TCCN and they were very helpful in giving me the best advice for my vehicle service. I am very grateful to the TCCN team.
Number 1 that destroys cars is people on their phone not paying attention to traffic
🎯 then cry trauma victim
Your 💯 correct
For rust i started using liquid film, i love it. Every year i get 1 gallon and do a full undercoat, I spray it in every hole i see in the body and frame, around the wheel wells, you name it. It gradually seeps everywhere and lasts all winter.
Fluid Film ?
You just reminded me of someone spray washing tap water directly on a running engine, including one of the youtubers (mechanic), as a complimentary "gift" after repair. Wonder how soon the "lucky" customer will need go to a repair shop or a dealer for a new engine.
Why would the customer need a new engine? Unless the mechanic jammed the hose down the intake, no harm was done.
Does the phrase thermal stress mean anything? The engine, especially around the exhaust is very hot, and water is cold. It can lead to warpage and quenching of the metal, making it brittle.
@@ericharrison619 Thermal shock may also result ICE chamber warp/gap causing efficiency/power loss or leak etc., modern car engines use more aluminum/alloys and can be more sensitive to the shock, make engine off and wait for cool down will be wise. Besides other risks of "hot" (means powered on) connector/wires especially something related to ignition coils (10k-50k Vdc!).
Your honesty and advice is golden! Thankyou!
I strive to maintain our vehicles properly but a problem for many folks is the cost. Car loans are north of 600 dollars a month, insurance goes up every six months and then the dealers labor cost is north of 100 dollars an hour. Talk to a single mom or a retired person on a fixed income or a couple raising children. It's not that they don't want to get a repair done, it is because they need food and a place to sleep and clothes for their children, etc.,etc.
I understand what you are saying but it's necessary preventative maintenance, also for yours and others' safety. No single mom wants to find themselves with failing brakes, or car breaking down completely making life even more difficult.
I don't know if it's still a 'thing', but, back in the day, high schools and Vo-Tech schools would perform maintenance on people's vehicles at a substantial discount (the students worked under the guidance of an instructor). I want to say, they'd tell you what parts to buy and they'd perform the labor at a discount. The work ethic nowadays is so poor, that if I had to, I'd be more inclined to roll the dice with a rookie (working under the guidance of an instructor) than I would to take a vehicle to any of the national chain repair centers. Same quality work for less money.
@@AldermanFredCDavis I remember that and in fact they even painted cars. I don't think they do it anymore due to legal liabilities for the students and the customers. Like everything in this world, lawyers destroy everything.
First thing I did to the new car was to get it to a local reputable shop and get it sprayed with a wax like anti rust product. It included some disassembly to make sure everything was protected. Every year will be an undercoating check and top up if needed.
Monthly undercarriage washes are on the list.
DO NOT get a rubberized undercoating. It’s worse than doing nothing.
This absolutely true.
Some mechanics will refuse to work on a rubberized undercoated vehicle, since the componets are covered over by that rubber.
Great honest video by a master mechanic. I wish he was in my area to take care of my car.
I always explain to people that it is actually MORE important to keep the bottom of your car clean than the top. The top has paint and a finish several layers thick to protect it. The belly of your car has all kinds of exposed mechanical parts that you have to keep clean if you want them to last.
No, it is more important to rustproof it before it gets dirty.
@@rightlanehog3151 They rustproof the frame, they don't rustproof the mechanicals.
@@VroodenTheGreat It case you were not aware, only body on frame trucks and SUVs have a full frame. Cars, minivans and CUVs have a unibody construction. Every metal surface exposed to road salt needs to be protected. Floors, fenders, doors etc need to be rustproofed. Even a steel oil pan can rust from the outside in. 😁
I wish I knew this earlier!
@@rightlanehog3151 Talking about moving parts here, people. Not rustproofed, need to keep them clean. Has youtube gotten stupider?
I live in Iowa…my current car is under 99k 2008 Saturn Vue. It has been a very good car for me single gal…it’s totally rusted out. I’m terrified of getting a new crappy car for an ungodly amount of money. There seems no great choices for under $30 k it’s has to be my forever car. Rust sucks. I’m afraid my chase will fall out while driving. Lesson learned and I found honest guys that said don’t put any more money in to it! Thank you for being so honest.
We just had flooding from Hurricane Milton and the saltwater in flooded cars destroys all the electronics. Worse than the salt on the streets in the north.
A very well put together presentation Sir. As a retired ASE Master Tech (among other things) I have seen many of the same issues as you have discussed here. I personally own a 2002 RAV4L 4WD that still looks like almost new, just about to hit the 100K mark, and runs better than a lot of new cars I have driven. Spent all of it's years In the Rust Belt as well. Under body and complete wash off just as you mentioned. The maintenance maybe a little over board, but you could eat off the inside of the engine (after sanitizing of course!). Love your channel, as always professional in your work ethics and standards. We need more people like you in this world today. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for the tip on the coolant exchange for the v 8
As usual, another excellent and interesting presentation. Here though we also see more of the fine character of this man, AMD. All of us treasure his advice on cars, but return because we enjoy and admire and trust the man he is.
I want to cry every time I watch your maintenance videos lol i live in MN and i only buy older Japanese built vehicles, and they are RUST BUCKETS but i get sentimental and they are the ones in my budget. My previous pathfinder was so rusty on the quarter panels that there were large gaps you could see right through, and steps coming apart from the rocker areas. Put some ko2s on it and sent it for 4 years without ever getting stuck in the snow, until someone rear ended me at a light and totaled it. Paid 2800 for it and got 4.7k from insurance. Went and upgraded to a rusty old gx470 lol i love it but yet, shes a rusty gal. Going to get it sandblasted and undercoated. $$$ but i want it to last as long as i can. I hate rust, but its inevitable here. Im moves from TX and found at real quick, and am still learning lol. My partner has a 08' audi with zero rust....its witchcraft!!
When it comes to the snow belt and cars being eaten away, before the snow hits the ground and the temp is around 28 degrees, the roads are pre-treated with Calcium Chloride, (salt compound). This chemical stops the freezing process for some time and can make the snow turn to slush. I live in Central SC. Very little of that here. I worked for the SCDOT for many years. In our area we do get some sleet or frozen water over the roads and this is how we pre-treated the roads. We had 5 tanks each holding 5000 gallons of calcium Chloride and it got used a lot.
I just take mine to the dealer to get work done. People call it a stealership, but they've always given me fair quotes and have been more than reasonable, BUT... I know what my car needs.
You cant find a honest, good mechanic these days. Thanks for for your honesty habibi.
In Pennsylvania, I watched my beautiful 1976 Trans Am develop rust on door bottoms & rocker panels in just 3 years. I SOLVED MY RUST PROBLEM by joining the military and (luckily) getting assigned to California, where I reside today. One of my vehicles is 26 years old and, although the paint has weathered, mostly still looks & runs like it did when it was new.
I live in Pennsylvania. I bought a new Accord in 1998 and have been taking good care of it, doing maintenance myself. I wash it after each drive in snow, in a car wash facility that also washes the underside. I wax the car 3or 4 times a year. It still drives like when it was first bought. It burns no oil. The engine, transmission, suspension, radiator, etc. all are the original components. There is no rust in the exterior, only a little underneath. I had clear coat coming off in some areas, the rear bumper mainly. I used a can of spray clear coat and that worked well. I treat the car as a good friend, and I am rewarded.
I've always done my own maintenance and keep my vehicles clean. I spray the frame and underbody before winter every year. I keep my foot out of it. I change my fluids on time, not just oil, all of them. I'm 42 years old, and I still drive the same truck from high school. It was 4 years old when I bought it. 520,000 miles on it now, drive it to work everyday.
Take a shot for every “folks” 😂 that’s all folks! Love you Ahmed!
Or "cool" works well, too, lol.
I stand behind every word you say,l have never driven a Toyota which are one of the best if not the best,I drive a Ford that was built in 1987, it has been looked after since day one,I have been involved with cars since 1955,and like you have an understanding of a motor car. The old iron block gave me 500,000 km then was modified to a larger bore and has added a feather 300,000 km to the vehicle, I service my own car( being a mechanic) and have done since new,she lives in a garage and when outside she's covered,I'm now in my mid 80s, keep being who you are,God bless you.
My mechanic worked at a former Toyota dealership and they are very good maintaining my hybrid Toyota. But most important is that you start with reading the manual ( RTFM ) from begin to end. And then learn how the car really works, and what it needs. With that, my Petrol Toyota got to 23 years of age, and my hybrid Toyota is now 14 years young. It's so easy to drive a Toyota for decades !
This is the best advice from you and you are doing Toyota owners a favor for your honesty.
Best car care channel on YT.
That you know of. Look further.