When I was first learning to wrench in the mid-60's, the circuits and systems we needed to fix were relatively simple compared to today's. What I learn from these videos is how to use modern techniques to diagnose and repair modern vehicles. I appreciate the extent of Eric's understanding of the principles.
Reminds me back in the 80s I worked in a garage next to a parts store also owned by the same man. I diagnosed a Chrysler with a bad voltage regulator and picked one up from the parts counter. It was bad, I took it back and got another. It was bad. Now they were starting to doubt me so I told the counterman You have a regulator tester, check it. Of the 5 regulators they had in stock only one was good. I installed that one and the car was fixed.
Reminds me of the time that I worked at an RV dealership and went to hook up the shop truck to a 5th wheel. I locked the pin, pulled out and the 5th wheel pin pulled out of the hitch. When I told the shop manager about it, it was immediately my fault and all the mechanics in hearing distance laughed. I told them that it was the pin coming loose and it needed to be repaired. Yeah, yeah...until another mechanic hooked up a different 5th wheel with the same truck. It pulled out causing body damage to the truck bed and 5th wheel trailer. They finally fixed it. I'm just glad it didn't happen on the road. But they still looked at me like it was my fault to begin with. I told them that there was a problem, what they decided to do about it was on them.
".... don't talk back". 😂 I just had a Ranger in today - guy said it was making a noise out back. Well, that was because the rear shock perch rotted right off, and the shock was slamming the underside of the bed! Right near where I welded a plate to mount the spring perch too a couple years ago. "Just one more year", he says. :D
When I was a tech at the Local Ford dealer I had a crown vic that had a bad wiper motor. Used my test light in place of the motor, operated the multi function switch, test light went on, Bright & Brighter! Bad wiper motor. Next day installed the "New" one from the parts desk, put the cowl panel back on and was pulling the car around and upon testing it, they did not come on!! I was so confident in my diag. Pulled it back in, test light again, found the NEW wiper motor was bad right out of the Box!! NEW = NEVER EVER WORKED YET! Tough lesson to learn, but truth!
@Sizzlin' Samm Yup, I said the same thing myself. To @Marty's 4x4: Ford used a P/S pump from around 1980 until about 2005 (I could be wrong about the years) that was notorious for sounding like they were low on fluid, even when they weren't. Many replacement pumps whined when new. The newer style is very quiet.
Years ago an old beer drinking buddy who was a dealer mechanic and I had a conversation. He asked what oil filters I used. I said Fram which was highly rated at time. He said yes highly rated but I can keep pollution out of your lungs with a plastic bag. It stuck and I’ve been an OEM guy ever since. Upfront cost may be higher but cheaper in the long run. Aftermarket seems cheaper but the headaches outweigh the cost. They spend millions on design and then we cheep out on replacements.
Built right here in St. Paul Minnesota my guy! The plant however this came from is long gone. Henry Ford himself assisted the planning and liked the location because it was right on the Mississippi river. They mined sand from under this location and made their own glass there and had a hydro power plant as well. beautiful plant in its heyday
Your patience and good humouredness with these things never cease to amaze me. I was cussing earlier because I had to plug an HDMI lead in by feel even without it and its surroundings being covered in Fluid Film, engine oil and general road grime.
My grandpa had one of thos ah-ooga horns in his car. I loved those little Rangers. I had two, a 90 and a 98. That is a very familiar sounding truck. I really miss them. Glad to see this one lived to fight another day.
Complexity kills quality everytime. Ford's complexity problems is crushing. F-Series trucks have literally hundreds of buildable combinations...just the build...ignore the paint color. The Transit has 100's of buildable combinations...take rates
Thanks for more enjoyable time spent with you in the garage. Your videos make it seem like we are standing right there next to you. All that is missing is a few ice-cold beverages.
Years ago I was a salesman on the road for a auto parts company 12 corner auto parts here in Rochester and we had a fleet of rangers and those things got road hard and all of them ended up with at least 300,000 miles on them and they were the four cylinder standard shift no options whatsoever however the rust got them and that was all she wrote Great video Eric
They really are tough trucks. They were relatively simple and cheap to own. The Mazda sourced all alloy DOHC 4 cylinder that replaced the cast iron Pinto motor in 2001 was a huge improvement. It would leave the 3 liter V6 for dead and just about keep up with the pushrod 4 liter V6. It also got around 30 mpg. But yeah, if you live in the rust belt, that will kill any vehicle. Even Toyota pickups had major frame rust problems.
My son had an older Accord in his younger days. The alternator gave out so he went to Checker and got one that was lifetime warranted! Changing the fine thing in that model/year was a beast, but he got it in. It lasted a month, and he took it back. The second one lasted a month. So did the third. Go back, Jack, do it again.
After a 20+ yrs of going to the nearest store and getting the first lifetime warranty part, I finally gave up. Got tired of taking the part back for a refund because it was packaged incorrectly, didn't fit right, didn't work out the box, etc. Lifetime warranties will give you another substandard part, but it don't turn the wrench for you. Anyway, that's the conversation I had with myself. I only buy OEM these days. If a vehicle is too old for OEM parts, I search for who the oem supplier is and buy that. Far less aggravating
I certainly learned that a few times! Had a Buick towed in with everything electrical replaced. No start. Shiny module all clean and bright and worthless.
Years ago I replaced the power steering gearbox on a GMC 3500. The parts store said it might take two or three boxes to get a good one. 😳 Only took two! Lucky?
Do you ever tell your customers - " Check out the video on your repair! " Another great video, proving the good / bad / new parts theory, was the filler neck Dorman perhaps?
Oh man I had a 98 ranger stick, bought it brand new after college. Sold it after 12 years, still going strong, one of best trucks I’ve ever had in terms of reliability and cost to own.
Being from south Florida I know all about the Splash edition Ford Ranger , usually Yellow or Red in color😆 aahh the good ol' days. You brought back memories.
Lol me either and the last one was a splash that couldnt seem to stay on the road.and yes pamula Anderson did run a ford splash on bay watch .ah what memories .
Man that’s ridiculous, both of these parts would take less than a minute to check full functionality at the factory. I’ve built a lot of electronics and I would never ship any product that I hadn’t seen tested. A quick test with get rid of 95%+ of defects.
I own a 97 Ranger and the evap system works like the 98 but the charcoal canister and vent valve are under the hood and i find that Ford was proud of that travesty. With the Dpfe sensor and preformed muilti size hoses the parts are hard to find. But i have 357 thousand on it and i cant cross any more fingers. The problem with your show is you give me hope i can make it to 400 k.😊
Yup got that right! $129 a/c system compressor dryer orings and oil lasted 2 year and the clutch flew apart, new clutch 6 months old already rattling. sometimes you win, a lot of times you'll lose though..
We put in a “new” inexpensive compressor assembly for a inexpensive customer. Well just out of warranty it gets towed in. Compressor clutch self districted and tossed the belt.
Oh, I never go cheap on ac compressors. Go OEM or worst case used. When that cheap aftermarket compressor goes, it contaminates the entire system. Black Death
Had a shop replace the radiator and cap on my wife's car. Noticed the cap seemed unusually tight but the shop said it was the right one. Well, a while later I noticed the radiator was looking definitely bulged out. Shop found out the cap was not relieving pressure. Fortunately, they stepped up and replaced the whole shebang with a cap that worked for no cost to us. Guess that anymore you always have to check that the new parts are actually working the way they should.
Long, long, long time ago I did a tuneup on my girlfriend's 72 Olds Cutlass. New Accel plugs, cap, rotor, condensor and plug wires. Cranked and cranked but no start and she started giving me a dirty look. So began putting back on old parts and it finally started when the used condensor went back in. Talk about embarrassing!
EXCELLENT video. Perfect example of the trap so many of us fall in to. SEE a problem, FIX the problem, BUT it's NOT the WHOLE problem...there is more. And you didn't stop until you checked the system to ensure ALL was fixed. We all have to discipline ourselves to not stop short of that overall check thing. Thanks for this video!
Bought “new” struts for my car, 2 days later, threw in the old struts because the new kyb strut bearing broke on the driver side, and the passenger side was seizing up already, best $300 I ever threw in the garbage
That’s crazy put a rough country lift kit on didn’t measure them cause they should be same length. Right wrong one was 1/2 shorter company sent me new one gotta take it apart again.. China
@@sheerwillsurvival2064 Don't blame China. They can build good quality. The companies don't want to pay. How many filler necks they selling a year? Not a lot. How many are kind of sort of good enough? Most, most likely. So, somebody gets the runt of the litter concerning parts. F'em is the attitude. The companies could QA the parts but that costs money. China doesn't sell retail. They are selling wholesale. Their buyers are the Dormans of the world. Blame them.
I have a friend who won a Ranger in a golf tournament in the 90s. He came up with a few thousand to upgrade from the stripped-down model they were giving away. It broke down on several fishing trips to Utah. He ended up missing the 92 Toyota truck he sold after the big win. Finally traded it in and bought another Toyota.
Wise words on the evap. I buy 2 days when dealing with evap in general. 3 drive cycles at least if a repair is made. Its almost always the purge solenoid but Ive seen it being the canister. It's a headache like a/c diag in a busy shop.
Eric i am so glad that i found your page i try and watch everyone of your videos. When you put them out i have learned a lot of thing from you and i appreciate the time that you spend to make your video because they are very in depth. Thank you for everything that you do your are a true person that cares about taking care of your customers.
Sometimes there are moments of fun in the repair process. The Aooooga horn is one of those. Genuine satisfaction comes with the fix of the problem. Thanks, Eric.
I have a 01 Ranger coming in tomorrow for a rear spring, brake fluid leak and mirror replacement. I wish I could make videos like you. Great job, I watch your videos and learn a lot!
This is actually quite helpful. I just replaced the driver's window regulator on my 2013 Subaru Legacy. The window still did not work. I had to test the regulator installed (due to this video making me consider this) and I discovered the new window regulator did not work (from the Subaru dealership where I bought it). Replaced it again and it worked! Thanks Eric for this common sense - it helped me out!
You are right to CYA with people. I had a custom design building HVAC systems business for 5-years. To many times people would give me the shaft. PS: I worked 12 to 15 hour days everyday of the year besides wedding anniversary, Sundays and holidays and every last one job, was all from word to mouth. I never had to advertise, not even on my 2000 ford 350 super duty cargo van name Horse-Fly; he was one big badass. I take deep proud in my workmanship. Just like you do Eric. I do like seeing doing your thing. You take deep proud in your workmanship. Crazy Retired engineer having fun
most evap codes are not the gas cap but that is a good starting point ! 95% of my evap codes are overfilling the tank ! this takes out the purge valve and charcoal cannistor ! people when filling your tank go one click and thats it !!
Loved the video. Although you have taught us several times how an Evap system works, this reinforces all of the information you have previously show us. Nice work and appreciate the videos.
Eric O, Thank you for another great video!! I'm a classic car guy and have been wrenching all my life. THANK YOU for showing how aftermarket parts can be suspect....even when new.
My new $3500 refrigerator was dead out of the box and all the food from the old but still working machine went into the trash. We had to wait three days for the second unit and then go spend hundreds to refill it with all new food in the freezer and refrigerator. Excellent video Eric, your diagnostic skills are superb.
I had a new alternator installed in my van. It lasted less than 24 hours. Basically it made it home, and was dead the next morning. So far so good on the second replacement.
Eric, I had an auction vehicle w/a P0455, "Large Evap Leak". Found the purge solenoid was cracked so manually bypassed it to check the rest of the system before ordering parts. Seconds after commanding the vent closed, you could hear what sounded like a shuddering moan from a blue whale. I was so confused, I popped my head under the car horrified to see the tank collapsing. Had it been a steel tank, I would have been screwed. Wound up finding the fuel cap, had been filled w/epoxy, defeating the safety valve inside.
I hate EVAP. There are so many failure points, valves, caps, canisters, steel lines, connections, wires, etc and so on. Here in the PRNY, this can drive you crazy as your car gets old and rusts and plastic gets brittle and you can’t pass inspection if the Money Light is on. A lot of effort for a small return. Strong letter to follow!
Eric have you ever thought of doing night classes for other so called techs because in my opinion you have forgotten more about fixing cars than they will ever know. You are in a league of your own. Master tech.
Ahh that makes me nostalgic. I have a 97 Ford Ranger Splash with a manual just sort of hanging out at my parents house out in the desert. Seeing that interior brought me back. It also had never ending EVAP leaks and power steering pump whine too.
Proof positive that undercoating your car with Fluid Film will keep the rust goblins at bay. It's also a small irony that the dude has to get all of these evap issues fixed...come next year his Ranger will be 25 years old and annual emissions testing will no longer be required
Which is fine only if you know 100% what the codes mean and what potential issues you could have. I might not fix it, but I would want to know the ramifications of not fixing it.
@@dlewis9760 There are none only green people and our government wanted to prevent harmful emissions or so they say out of atmosphere, back in old days gas tanks were gravity feed like your lawn mower.
1998! in Europe it’s pretty hard to keep cars 10 years let alone 20+. I tried to keep my 2004 Passat going but parts were more than the value of the vehicle. I did get a neutral safety switch for 20$ off the internet instead of dealer and it fixed my problem. On the other hand sometimes I ordered lh part and got rh….
Hey there maker, welcome back to the South Main Auto comments section. You should do a video just on how to choose parts, what brands are notorious, which brands are more reliable, when to go to a dealer, when to go to a Junk Yard for different types of parts, etc. THAT would be an excellent video. I haven't seen anyone in this particular space do a video like that.
Having just worked on a Mazda b3000 of the same year. Those filler necks all do the same thing. Becoming compost. Btw , theres a crank rod you stick in though the tail gate and bumper - makes the spare drop. Our "spare" was likely original...first time I've seen the inside of a tire though a rim. Dot of the tire was 00'. But that crank system worked like a charm!
Aftermarket parts have burned me too many times. I now buy OEM parts whenever I have the option. But a lot of parts are becoming discontinued from the age of the vehicle.
Throttle bodies for 2.2 L ecotec. Reman is all I can get now. Huge range in price. Is there a difference in quality with price or is it just hit or miss?
Junkyard is underrated. And a great place to pick up spare bolts, bulbs, trim, etc. Good practice too. Grab 2 or 3 used parts for half the price of one new one, one is bound to work.
A Honda enthusiast who ran a Honda FAQ site had pictures from his own experience and that of a couple of members. They were all of broken ball joints - aftermarket ones that lasted just a few months. Seeing that I swore off aftermarket parts for almost everything.
thought of you last night. Im down here in PA getting Factory Isuzu Training i was driving around to find a decent place to eat and found Avoca PA and instantly thought of South Main Auto
Man, I had me a 97 Ranger with the big 2.3l 4cyl in it. That thing wouldn't quit. Got across the country and back 3 or 4 times and it had 220k on it when I got it. Best little truck ever.
I bought my Ahooogah horn in about 1974 when I bought my first car. It has lived in many cars since then. My wife used it to get the kids when it was her turn to carpool to school. It is big and all metal, unlike the new plastic ones that Harbor Freight sells.
I almost got killed by a bad part. When I was about 17 I had a 1956 Chevy with the V8 and had replaced the fuel pump. I was out on a two-lane road and went to pass a slow truck. I gunned it and started going and then the car started to die. Backed off on the gas and it kicked in but by that time I had to pull back behind the truck. Got home and sure enough the mechanical pump was intermittently not working. Found the diaphragm inside had a crack in it. Apparently, it had been sitting on the shelf at Grand Auto and was dried out. Got a new one from another parts store and all was good again. In those days we all relied on after-market parts. No one paid for Dealer part prices. This was back in the early 60s.
I had a evac /pressure relief problem ,My auto tech said no way I go there.I went to my proctologist he had me fixed up in no time ,so there you go make what you will .thanks for the vid,Keep smiling!
When I was first learning to wrench in the mid-60's, the circuits and systems we needed to fix were relatively simple compared to today's. What I learn from these videos is how to use modern techniques to diagnose and repair modern vehicles. I appreciate the extent of Eric's understanding of the principles.
I'm 60 year old apprentice .. learning loads, thank you.
It’s amazing with all the technology and bullshit how unbelievably important the simple but irreplaceable test light is!
Dorman's marketing slogan: Yes, it's new but that doesn't mean it's good!
Dorman products. Stranding motorists and frustrating technicians since 1918!
South end has been very vocal in past about dorman lack of quality
DORMAN Products - We make new-looking stuff !!
Dorman. Might work.
Dorman should be called Dormant
Reminds me back in the 80s I worked in a garage next to a parts store also owned by the same man. I diagnosed a Chrysler with a bad voltage regulator and picked one up from the parts counter. It was bad, I took it back and got another. It was bad.
Now they were starting to doubt me so I told the counterman You have a regulator tester, check it. Of the 5 regulators they had in stock only one was good. I installed that one and the car was fixed.
I have seen that on allegedly remanufactured starters for International DT466 . And those are not little or lite weight.
Reminds me of the time that I worked at an RV dealership and went to hook up the shop truck to a 5th wheel. I locked the pin, pulled out and the 5th wheel pin pulled out of the hitch.
When I told the shop manager about it, it was immediately my fault and all the mechanics in hearing distance laughed.
I told them that it was the pin coming loose and it needed to be repaired.
Yeah, yeah...until another mechanic hooked up a different 5th wheel with the same truck. It pulled out causing body damage to the truck bed and 5th wheel trailer.
They finally fixed it. I'm just glad it didn't happen on the road.
But they still looked at me like it was my fault to begin with. I told them that there was a problem, what they decided to do about it was on them.
@@freetolook3727 W2
Oof… the parts cannon operator is a hard position to man…
Gotta love doorman parts
".... don't talk back". 😂
I just had a Ranger in today - guy said it was making a noise out back. Well, that was because the rear shock perch rotted right off, and the shock was slamming the underside of the bed! Right near where I welded a plate to mount the spring perch too a couple years ago. "Just one more year", he says. :D
My 1952 Ford 239 Flathead Thank God For This None Of That Crap
When I was a tech at the Local Ford dealer I had a crown vic that had a bad wiper motor. Used my test light in place of the motor, operated the multi function switch, test light went on, Bright & Brighter! Bad wiper motor. Next day installed the "New" one from the parts desk, put the cowl panel back on and was pulling the car around and upon testing it, they did not come on!! I was so confident in my diag. Pulled it back in, test light again, found the NEW wiper motor was bad right out of the Box!! NEW = NEVER EVER WORKED YET! Tough lesson to learn, but truth!
How many people when he said be quiet actually went quiet.
Guilty as charged....
Thanks for coming in today Fella 👌🍻
21:37 That was really fun, and it seems that you genuinely have enjoyed it. Kudos to the child inside us.
As you pulled it in Eric, all I could think was: "Ahhhh, the good ol' Ford P/S whine!" Haha, cheers brother!
@Sizzlin' Samm Yup, I said the same thing myself. To @Marty's 4x4: Ford used a P/S pump from around 1980 until about 2005 (I could be wrong about the years) that was notorious for sounding like they were low on fluid, even when they weren't. Many replacement pumps whined when new. The newer style is very quiet.
That whine…I think H Ford designed that into ever vehicle
Years ago an old beer drinking buddy who was a dealer mechanic and I had a conversation. He asked what oil filters I used. I said Fram which was highly rated at time. He said yes highly rated but I can keep pollution out of your lungs with a plastic bag. It stuck and I’ve been an OEM guy ever since. Upfront cost may be higher but cheaper in the long run. Aftermarket seems cheaper but the headaches outweigh the cost. They spend millions on design and then we cheep out on replacements.
Some of the best content on UA-cam. Invaluable to watch over the shoulder of a professional. Thanks Eric!!
As an old car guy, I really enjoy your videos.
Built right here in St. Paul Minnesota my guy! The plant however this came from is long gone. Henry Ford himself assisted the planning and liked the location because it was right on the Mississippi river. They mined sand from under this location and made their own glass there and had a hydro power plant as well. beautiful plant in its heyday
I had an 88 Ranger stx build at the twin cities plant....it was the best truck I ever had....wish I would have kept it.
Lived 2 blocks away
I had a 01 model. Kinda miss it.
I miss the old ranger plant. That area just doesn’t seem the same these days.
I miss that guy
Your patience and good humouredness with these things never cease to amaze me. I was cussing earlier because I had to plug an HDMI lead in by feel even without it and its surroundings being covered in Fluid Film, engine oil and general road grime.
I am more impressed with your knowledge and ability to use and understand complex (by my standards) diagnostic tools.
Amazing, a Truck almost 25 years old, 1/4 million miles in NYS salty weather, How clean the underside. Great Video. Thanks Mr. O
My grandpa had one of thos ah-ooga horns in his car. I loved those little Rangers. I had two, a 90 and a 98. That is a very familiar sounding truck. I really miss them. Glad to see this one lived to fight another day.
The upside down oil filler container on the wall behind Mr. O (17:22) looks like an Easter Island Moai monolith. Freaky.
It always seems like the fewer options those rangers had the longer they lived. Nice work, Mr. O!
que paso Chapo?
Absolutely. I own a 95 Ranger with a 2.3 and 5 speed. It has good heat and air, and no other bells or whistles. Best truck Ford ever built.
Complexity kills quality everytime. Ford's complexity problems is crushing. F-Series trucks have literally hundreds of buildable combinations...just the build...ignore the paint color. The Transit has 100's of buildable combinations...take rates
“What’s this do”? Ahhhhoooga! 😁 Glad I’m not the only one who will just push random buttons and flip random switches just to “see what happens”😂👍🏻.
Pamela Anderson's truck was an experimental model made with a natural type air bag system.🤪
i totally enjoy these videos Eric...you are truly a great teacher in your repairs and a very knowledgeable technician....keep up the awesomeness
Thanks for more enjoyable time spent with you in the garage. Your videos make it seem like we are standing right there next to you. All that is missing is a few ice-cold beverages.
Not only do you SHOW what is needed but you give your THINKING. Us viewers then develop similar thought processes... Thx✔️✔️✔️
Glad I'm not the only one working on old crap today 😅 I had a 93 honda and a 97 mazda today what a day
I notice they are Asian
You could also put another o-ring on the gas cap to make a tighter seal. They probably don't even make oem parts for them anymore.
Ahh a bedtime story from SMA, yet more aftermarket 💩, great diag as always 😁 looking forward to the next one keep the great work up
Bedtime story? Early morning coffee time story for me lol
@@B0xlife1 I watched it last night uk time
Mr Eric, Now I know why you’re so good at wiring issues… “The rust belt!”
Years ago I was a salesman on the road for a auto parts company 12 corner auto parts here in Rochester and we had a fleet of rangers and those things got road hard and all of them ended up with at least 300,000 miles on them and they were the four cylinder standard shift no options whatsoever however the rust got them and that was all she wrote Great video Eric
Those stealthy tin worms are at work 24/7/365.
They really are tough trucks. They were relatively simple and cheap to own. The Mazda sourced all alloy DOHC 4 cylinder that replaced the cast iron Pinto motor in 2001 was a huge improvement. It would leave the 3 liter V6 for dead and just about keep up with the pushrod 4 liter V6. It also got around 30 mpg. But yeah, if you live in the rust belt, that will kill any vehicle. Even Toyota pickups had major frame rust problems.
It’s one of the few fords I would’ve owned.
@@sharedknowledge6640 I live in Georgia and drive 2007 Toyota. Not a spot of rust on the frame, I
wonder what causes all the rust
@@GreenAppelPie You're right, my Texas 2004 and 2008 GM's don't have a spec of rust anywhere. Hhhwut could it be?
I swear you use a teleprompter lol. You are the man with the gift of gab. Lovin' all of it bro.
When the video starts with Eric hand cranking down the window you know it's going to be a good one.
Thanks!
You are the Best car mechanic I am impressed with Your troubleshooting very superior and meticulous maintenance. Thank you for shearing your skill.
My son had an older Accord in his younger days. The alternator gave out so he went to Checker and got one that was lifetime warranted! Changing the fine thing in that model/year was a beast, but he got it in. It lasted a month, and he took it back. The second one lasted a month. So did the third. Go back, Jack, do it again.
After a 20+ yrs of going to the nearest store and getting the first lifetime warranty part, I finally gave up. Got tired of taking the part back for a refund because it was packaged incorrectly, didn't fit right, didn't work out the box, etc.
Lifetime warranties will give you another substandard part, but it don't turn the wrench for you. Anyway, that's the conversation I had with myself. I only buy OEM these days. If a vehicle is too old for OEM parts, I search for who the oem supplier is and buy that. Far less aggravating
I certainly learned that a few times! Had a Buick towed in with everything electrical replaced. No start. Shiny module all clean and bright and worthless.
WOW. I Had a 94 splash, 3.0 liter, good little truck. Had 198000 before the tree crushed it and never burned any oil
Years ago I replaced the power steering gearbox on a GMC 3500. The parts store said it might take two or three boxes to get a good one. 😳 Only took two! Lucky?
I did 4 until i got a decent one on a ram, crazy what they'll let out the door...
Lol
I've gotten too bad alternators in a row before parts are garbage nowadays
I worked for a quality rebuilder. Very few problems. But there's a lot of junk out there.
Napa told me the same thing when I ordered a reman ps box for an old Ford pickup. They said 1/2 the time the remans have more play than the cores.
Do you ever tell your customers - " Check out the video on your repair! " Another great video, proving the good / bad / new parts theory, was the filler neck Dorman perhaps?
If the part was dorman there's your problem lady.
The two camera positions opening shot, with the epic transition from outside to inside the car *Chef's Kiss*
Oh man I had a 98 ranger stick, bought it brand new after college. Sold it after 12 years, still going strong, one of best trucks I’ve ever had in terms of reliability and cost to own.
Being from south Florida I know all about the Splash edition Ford Ranger , usually Yellow or Red in color😆 aahh the good ol' days. You brought back memories.
Lol me either and the last one was a splash that couldnt seem to stay on the road.and yes pamula Anderson did run a ford splash on bay watch .ah what memories .
Man that’s ridiculous, both of these parts would take less than a minute to check full functionality at the factory. I’ve built a lot of electronics and I would never ship any product that I hadn’t seen tested. A quick test with get rid of 95%+ of defects.
Ha ! Replaced a seized ac compressor on my father in laws s10 in November and the case o ring leaked by March with a 90 day warranty...
I own a 97 Ranger and the evap system works like the 98 but the charcoal canister and vent valve are under the hood and i find that Ford was proud of that travesty. With the Dpfe sensor and preformed muilti size hoses the parts are hard to find. But i have 357 thousand on it and i cant cross any more fingers.
The problem with your show is you give me hope i can make it to 400 k.😊
Yup got that right! $129 a/c system compressor dryer orings and oil lasted 2 year and the clutch flew apart, new clutch 6 months old already rattling. sometimes you win, a lot of times you'll lose though..
We put in a “new” inexpensive compressor assembly for a inexpensive customer. Well just out of warranty it gets towed in. Compressor clutch self districted and tossed the belt.
Oh, I never go cheap on ac compressors. Go OEM or worst case used. When that cheap aftermarket compressor goes, it contaminates the entire system. Black Death
Sweet.... I like the old truck videos... I really like the new black and gray color scheme on the shop, my guy....
Had a shop replace the radiator and cap on my wife's car. Noticed the cap seemed unusually tight but the shop said it was the right one. Well, a while later I noticed the radiator was looking definitely bulged out. Shop found out the cap was not relieving pressure. Fortunately, they stepped up and replaced the whole shebang with a cap that worked for no cost to us. Guess that anymore you always have to check that the new parts are actually working the way they should.
I had at least 6 Rangers, Loved them all.
It's the only small truck I'll ever buy. I drive a 98 extra cab everyday had it since 2007 my uncle bought it new.
The lanolin helps keep your hands supple and soft. The rust helps with exfoliation. Your vehicles are your beauty treatment.
Long, long, long time ago I did a tuneup on my girlfriend's 72 Olds Cutlass. New Accel plugs, cap, rotor, condensor and plug wires. Cranked and cranked but no start and she started giving me a dirty look. So began putting back on old parts and it finally started when the used condensor went back in. Talk about embarrassing!
EXCELLENT video. Perfect example of the trap so many of us fall in to. SEE a problem, FIX the problem, BUT it's NOT the WHOLE problem...there is more. And you didn't stop until you checked the system to ensure ALL was fixed. We all have to discipline ourselves to not stop short of that overall check thing. Thanks for this video!
Bought “new” struts for my car, 2 days later, threw in the old struts because the new kyb strut bearing broke on the driver side, and the passenger side was seizing up already, best $300 I ever threw in the garbage
Installation error obviously..lol🤪
That’s crazy put a rough country lift kit on didn’t measure them cause they should be same length. Right wrong one was 1/2 shorter company sent me new one gotta take it apart again.. China
Yeah, installation error, more like “made in China”. So far 40k later on good “used” oem struts and no more issues.
KYB = Keep Your Bilsteins
@@sheerwillsurvival2064 Don't blame China. They can build good quality. The companies don't want to pay. How many filler necks they selling a year? Not a lot. How many are kind of sort of good enough? Most, most likely. So, somebody gets the runt of the litter concerning parts. F'em is the attitude. The companies could QA the parts but that costs money. China doesn't sell retail. They are selling wholesale. Their buyers are the Dormans of the world. Blame them.
We can only do it when we know how that’s why your videos are so important. Thanks.
I have a friend who won a Ranger in a golf tournament in the 90s. He came up with a few thousand to upgrade from the stripped-down model they were giving away. It broke down on several fishing trips to Utah. He ended up missing the 92 Toyota truck he sold after the big win. Finally traded it in and bought another Toyota.
The fill/drain bucket next to the caution sign at 17:22 looks like a face watching you Mr O.
Wise words on the evap. I buy 2 days when dealing with evap in general. 3 drive cycles at least if a repair is made. Its almost always the purge solenoid but Ive seen it being the canister. It's a headache like a/c diag in a busy shop.
Eric i am so glad that i found your page i try and watch everyone of your videos. When you put them out i have learned a lot of thing from you and i appreciate the time that you spend to make your video because they are very in depth. Thank you for everything that you do your are a true person that cares about taking care of your customers.
Sometimes there are moments of fun in the repair process. The Aooooga horn is one of those. Genuine satisfaction comes with the fix of the problem. Thanks, Eric.
A plethora of knowledge with comic overtones, great job !
I have a 01 Ranger coming in tomorrow for a rear spring, brake fluid leak and mirror replacement. I wish I could make videos like you. Great job, I watch your videos and learn a lot!
Go for it and do it, You have nothing to lose.
This is actually quite helpful. I just replaced the driver's window regulator on my 2013 Subaru Legacy. The window still did not work. I had to test the regulator installed (due to this video making me consider this) and I discovered the new window regulator did not work (from the Subaru dealership where I bought it). Replaced it again and it worked! Thanks Eric for this common sense - it helped me out!
You are right to CYA with people. I had a custom design building HVAC systems business for 5-years. To many times people would give me the shaft. PS: I worked 12 to 15 hour days everyday of the year besides wedding anniversary, Sundays and holidays and every last one job, was all from word to mouth. I never had to advertise, not even on my 2000 ford 350 super duty cargo van name Horse-Fly; he was one big badass. I take deep proud in my workmanship. Just like you do Eric. I do like seeing doing your thing. You take deep proud in your workmanship.
Crazy Retired engineer having fun
most evap codes are not the gas cap but that is a good starting point ! 95% of my evap codes are overfilling the tank ! this takes out the purge valve and charcoal cannistor ! people when filling your tank go one click and thats it !!
Everyone in NY State should be on "the film" Eric!😎🇨🇦✔
Loved the video. Although you have taught us several times how an Evap system works, this reinforces all of the information you have previously show us. Nice work and appreciate the videos.
As an owner of 2 Ranger's, I thank you for posting the vid.
Eric O, Thank you for another great video!! I'm a classic car guy and have been wrenching all my life. THANK YOU for showing how aftermarket parts can be suspect....even when new.
A very nice overview and explanation of how an evap system works. Good to see the "avokah smokah" again.
NEW-- Never-Ever-Works! Eric knows how to make that old Ranger smile!
For about 10 years now, my motto with any item (vehicle, appliances, computers, etc): “Newer is not always better.”
Wow you're so cool
i would rather have old made in usa than new made in china junk
Tools
@@ranger178 old is the keyword. The new made in the USA is also junk...
My new $3500 refrigerator was dead out of the box and all the food from the old but still working machine went into the trash. We had to wait three days for the second unit and then go spend hundreds to refill it with all new food in the freezer and refrigerator.
Excellent video Eric, your diagnostic skills are superb.
I had a new alternator installed in my van. It lasted less than 24 hours. Basically it made it home, and was dead the next morning. So far so good on the second replacement.
Pay attention to the charging wire from the alternator. It may have a failing wire or a bad connection.
Lots of new alternators fail due to heat load from being used as a battery charger, which may be why the second one worked.
many times I've heard "it's brand new, it can't be bad"
now that's top level diag there..
Eric, I had an auction vehicle w/a P0455, "Large Evap Leak". Found the purge solenoid was cracked so manually bypassed it to check the rest of the system before ordering parts. Seconds after commanding the vent closed, you could hear what sounded like a shuddering moan from a blue whale. I was so confused, I popped my head under the car horrified to see the tank collapsing. Had it been a steel tank, I would have been screwed. Wound up finding the fuel cap, had been filled w/epoxy, defeating the safety valve inside.
I hate EVAP. There are so many failure points, valves, caps, canisters, steel lines, connections, wires, etc and so on. Here in the PRNY, this can drive you crazy as your car gets old and rusts and plastic gets brittle and you can’t pass inspection if the Money Light is on. A lot of effort for a small return. Strong letter to follow!
A F***ING FORD RANGER!! Shop looks really nice with the gray and black paint!
Eric have you ever thought of doing night classes for other so called techs because in my opinion you have forgotten more about fixing cars than they will ever know. You are in a league of your own. Master tech.
21:40 that was worth the price of admission.
Ahh that makes me nostalgic. I have a 97 Ford Ranger Splash with a manual just sort of hanging out at my parents house out in the desert. Seeing that interior brought me back.
It also had never ending EVAP leaks and power steering pump whine too.
I need to drive around the desert with a car trailer and buy some cars off people 😆 a spare or yard truck in the desert is a worthwhile fix up north!
You are one of the most respectfuls list mechanic I’ve ever seen I so appreciate watching your videos
Yep you got the right i changed the steering control arm 3 times in a week o it was on a 98 chevy half ton truck and the parts came from O'Reilly
Proof positive that undercoating your car with Fluid Film will keep the rust goblins at bay. It's also a small irony that the dude has to get all of these evap issues fixed...come next year his Ranger will be 25 years old and annual emissions testing will no longer be required
Which is fine only if you know 100% what the codes mean and what potential issues you could have. I might not fix it, but I would want to know the ramifications of not fixing it.
My state is 35 years.
@@dlewis9760 There are none only green people and our government wanted to prevent harmful emissions or so they say out of atmosphere, back in old days gas tanks were gravity feed like your lawn mower.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Reminds me of the opening scene in Super Troopers - "Canada huh... almost made it."
@@jimlovesgina my state is before 77
He said let's get it in right after he mentioned Pam Anderson.
1998! in Europe it’s pretty hard to keep cars 10 years let alone 20+. I tried to keep my 2004 Passat going but parts were more than the value of the vehicle. I did get a neutral safety switch for 20$ off the internet instead of dealer and it fixed my problem. On the other hand sometimes I ordered lh part and got rh….
Hey there maker, welcome back to the South Main Auto comments section. You should do a video just on how to choose parts, what brands are notorious, which brands are more reliable, when to go to a dealer, when to go to a Junk Yard for different types of parts, etc. THAT would be an excellent video. I haven't seen anyone in this particular space do a video like that.
I always learn some thing from you
Having just worked on a Mazda b3000 of the same year. Those filler necks all do the same thing. Becoming compost. Btw , theres a crank rod you stick in though the tail gate and bumper - makes the spare drop. Our "spare" was likely original...first time I've seen the inside of a tire though a rim. Dot of the tire was 00'. But that crank system worked like a charm!
Thanks Eric I'll save this for when my 98 ranger xlt has a similar problem . 👍
Aftermarket parts have burned me too many times. I now buy OEM parts whenever I have the option. But a lot of parts are becoming discontinued from the age of the vehicle.
That's the problem I have. Can't get anything from Ford for a nearly 30 year old car.
Throttle bodies for 2.2 L ecotec. Reman is all I can get now. Huge range in price. Is there a difference in quality with price or is it just hit or miss?
Junkyard is underrated. And a great place to pick up spare bolts, bulbs, trim, etc. Good practice too. Grab 2 or 3 used parts for half the price of one new one, one is bound to work.
A Honda enthusiast who ran a Honda FAQ site had pictures from his own experience and that of a couple of members. They were all of broken ball joints - aftermarket ones that lasted just a few months. Seeing that I swore off aftermarket parts for almost everything.
@@andrewcz8871 Thats nice until you cant even find parts cars at junkyards
WoW! Congratulations on nearing 700,000!
thought of you last night. Im down here in PA getting Factory Isuzu Training i was driving around to find a decent place to eat and found Avoca PA and instantly thought of South Main Auto
Man, I had me a 97 Ranger with the big 2.3l 4cyl in it. That thing wouldn't quit. Got across the country and back 3 or 4 times and it had 220k on it when I got it. Best little truck ever.
I bought my Ahooogah horn in about 1974 when I bought my first car. It has lived in many cars since then. My wife used it to get the kids when it was her turn to carpool to school. It is big and all metal, unlike the new plastic ones that Harbor Freight sells.
I almost got killed by a bad part. When I was about 17 I had a 1956 Chevy with the V8 and had replaced the fuel pump. I was out on a two-lane road and went to pass a slow truck. I gunned it and started going and then the car started to die. Backed off on the gas and it kicked in but by that time I had to pull back behind the truck. Got home and sure enough the mechanical pump was intermittently not working. Found the diaphragm inside had a crack in it. Apparently, it had been sitting on the shelf at Grand Auto and was dried out. Got a new one from another parts store and all was good again. In those days we all relied on after-market parts. No one paid for Dealer part prices. This was back in the early 60s.
I had a evac /pressure relief problem ,My auto tech said no way I go there.I went to my proctologist he had me fixed up in no time ,so there you go make what you will .thanks for the vid,Keep smiling!
I definitely need one of those horn buttons, just to bug my wife! 🙃 Great video as always Mr. O!