Chevy Truck - No Start, Flickering Lights & Gauges - Voltage Drop Testing
Вставка
- Опубліковано 17 січ 2018
- In this video we show a classic example of ground side voltage drop causing a no start on this 99 Chevy Tahoe. When you have more than one accessory that quits working all at the same time and a no start there is usually a common cause. A common power or a ground for example. Let's see what we find here. - Enjoy!
Follow up to this video, the repair: • Chevy Tahoe - Voltage ...
Mastering Voltage Drop Testing with Pete Meier and "G" Jerry Truglia: • Mastering Voltage Drop...
The Trainer #47: What measuring voltage on the ground side means: • The Trainer #47: What ...
If an SMA Video has helped you out please consider giving using "Patreon" to help support us. The videos take real time to create and pull us away from real work that pays our bills. CLICK HERE: / southmainauto
THANKS A MILLION!!
--Eric O.
If you don't like Patreon feel free to use the "PayPal Me" link: www.paypal.me/SouthMainAuto
The South Main Auto Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/southmain...
AES Wave Automotive Diagnostic Tools: www.aeswave.com/cart.php?m=af...
WANT AN "SMA" STICKER OF YOUR OWN!?!
Simply send and E-mail to SMAstickers@outlook.com including: your shipping address and e-mail address in the text, I in turn will send you a Paypal invoice for $5 each USA or $6 each international. Let me know how many you want and as soon as the Paypal invoice is paid I will ship them out ASAP! Thanks for your support of our channel!!
--Eric & Vanessa O.
Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?
Just ship it here:
South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair - Авто та транспорт
In like 6 years Gavin will appreciate all of this way more. How much his father helps people.
Eric, don't sell yourself short. Not only are you a good mechanic, you're quite good as an instructor.
Paul Anderson...Amen to what he said!! Ivan has a lot of book smarts, and can say things a little better!! But you know your stuff!! You show us regularly that you know, you explain it very well, even tho you think it was a crappy description, it was as good or better than most!!
I'm not able to, anymore, but I have been a wrench twister all of my life! It started when I was 8, and taking apart my new ten speed bike ( to the dismay of my parents)! I have a very good knowledge of mechanics, and have learned more from you, Ivan, Paul, and the Wells team, in the last little bit, than I already knew!! ETCG is not a favorite of mine!! (I won't even talk about that CAT BOX guy) While Paul is likely a better teacher, you are just as capable of DOING!! I've been through this exact thing, although not as bad, on a Jeep Cherokee. While I did fix it, and knew (because of you, Paul, Ivan, and let's not forget Will Robinson) what and how to look for, this video just helped me understand more of what I already knew, and fixed!! THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO, DOCTOR O!!
Gotta get me a scope on a rope like yours.
Thanks for showing auto repair to your son. My dad had a Sinclair station when I was his age, back in the 1940's, I spent a lot of time at "work". I used to help pump customer's gas and when the driveway bell would "ding", I would go out and help putting gas in the cars, check the tires, wash windshields and check oil and "water" (radiator), when I got a little bigger, I would wait on our regular customers all by myself. Saturdays were car wash days where we washed them by hand, scrubbed the white wall tires with a wire brush and some or the "good stuff", chenicals, that Osha long ago banned. For fun, I would take an old (6 volt) battery, put it into a cardboard box and connect old headlights, horns, and switches to make them work and push them around on a "crawler". Later, I got my engineering degree and now I still put batteries in a cardboard box and hook up lights and switches. I learned so much by being around cars that rebuilding an engine and even an automatic transmission didn't seem like a big deal and other maintenance and troubleshooting is just routine. Now I am going on four score years and I still enjoy the IATN forums, Scanner Danner, and of course South Main Auto and not to be left out, Scotty Kilmer for laughs! Last summer it was time for a brake booster on my Chevy S-10 and whenthe job was done, the check engine light popped on, I got out my Innova scanner and checked fuel trims and it said vacuum leak and sure enough there was an old crusty vacuum line hanging out there in the breeze. Thanks for the memories. Bob L
Robert Leifeld Very nice comment Robert. Many of our younger ones wouldn't b familiar with a score. To them it probably relates to a success. Twenty of course for me. At three score and eight. I converted my 53 Chevy truck to twelve volts. Changed the bulbs and that starter never worked better. Good memories with the battery stuff. Thank u!
Like the child said, Junk Chevy.
The voltage drop using the scope on a rope was mind blowing. Negative to negative and it lights up. That really helped to explain it for me.
The scope on a rope are cheap enough to buy and are a fantastic tool.
Love your video. Its terrifying the number of young factory trained techs who would have just swapped modules related to every light flickering rather than following an old school troubleshooting method. 125$ for an hour vs 5k for parts and you still got a broke truck. I love being gen x!
Has nothing to do with any generation. Plenty of old techs are clueless parts hangers as well. Hacks are found in all age groups.
Being someone who doesn't have all the words doesn't make you any less of an astounding teacher. You can't imagine how many off days I've had where I've just watched what you're doing or listened while working to pass the time and learn something new. Keep it up Eric and Vanessa!! You two are doing this whole life thing right!!
These are the kind of instructional videos I like. They help me in my own troubleshooting scenarios greatly and people like Eric are helping Automotive Technicians do a better job. Thank You Eric for another great video.
Not only is this a great video directly relating to issues that I am having...but ya always know a good dude when he is patient, instructive, and humorous with his son...
I don't comment on a lot of videos, but I wanted to let you know that you're one of my favorite diagnostics/repair channels on UA-cam. You not only show specific step by steps, but also the basic foundations of how to get to those steps and why. Keep up the great work, and thank you!
I have a 98 K1500 so with it's age and new york rust it is waiting to show me this one too. Great to see your interaction with your son. Takes me back about 35 yrs with mine following me around. always treated his questions the same way as if he was an adult, like you did with his grasp of voltage drop. Good mechanic and Dad Eric!
Thanks Eric for the refresher , I run a small automotive repair shop myself and I really enjoy your videos ,my point to this is I like the attention to detail and I find myself sometimes rushing when working and then lately the jobs I take on have been a lot more fun (for myself) lol ,because of going through the steps ,taking the time to do the work ,I find it to be more enjoyable ,and that's thanks to watching your videos.
Being an electrical engineer these are easy concepts and I do well troubleshooting electrical issues. I still think you do a great job trying to explain this to people that may not have much experience using a multimeter or any electrical experience in general. Keep the great videos coming.
This is nice, father and son spending time together, listening, learning, story time, memory lane.
Gavin seems to quite enjoy time spent with Dad.
It's really refreshing to see someone including their family or children in their work. My father did the same thing and gave me a love for mechanics that continues to this day. I did the same with my children. Even my daughter has basic knowledge of what is wrong and how to fix it and she has. Always good to have knowledge. Keep up the good work you explain it in terms that are perfect to understand. God bless and good luck
That's the beauty of teaching a kid on camera, everyone learns from it. Awesome video brother . And tell the boys that Roc misses them.
New Level Aut
Your voltage drop explanation was accurate & easy to understand. Most people do not benefit from an engineers's explanation.
I have a 95 Chevy Tahoe with this same exact issue. I’ve been to 5 different mechanics and none of them could figure what the issue was. Thanks for posting this. It’s a shame that I’ll have to go back to mechanic and make them watch your video.
Another lesson learned about the lack of a good ground. Those kids grow up so fast, it seems every video they get taller. You're a lucky man with a beautiful family. I like the way you take time with them even though you're busy.
Quick, simple and easy to understand a basic voltage drop. Great work Eric O!
Thanks for the applied perspective. Many videos exist in a classroom setting. Your video is more useful to me because you illustrate how to apply the knowledge. Thanks! The "comb-over" comment was hilarious!
I know this video is a few years old but this is a fantastic video on chasing elecctrical issues. Thank you for this detailed instruction.
Have seen this before in high mileage cars. The vibration in the motor wears on the wire, rust and crusty's , and even a vehicle with broken motor mounts will hasten the inevitable. Good vid
"Sometimes when I think I get confused" - Eric. O. So do I, that's the truth! lol Good to see Gavin was there to make sure you knew what you were doing!! 👍
that was cool,usually we see mrs o,or their little daughter trinity,she's funny,lol,love SMA and the Os,best auto repair show on YT.
Great stuff man, I always like seeing concepts demonstrated in the real world
VERY NICE AS A RETIRED MECHANIC OF OVER 40 YEARS THIS PROBLEM ALWAYS IS A head banger and nickel buster for most you did very well DR 0
MUCH. RESPECT (FLORIDA)😎
Thank you for the video! My issue wasn't the exact same. I had a faulty main ground wire, but your troubleshooting with the Voltage Drop Testing let me figure that out. Thanks again!! And you did a great job with the video and explaining what was going on. Loved the non-formal feel of it.
Start em young! What a gift you are giving to G-Man
5 years with no comments! Still valid info! thanks again Fella.
A day with my son in the shop is always a great day.
Great video brother!
Don't sell yourself short. No pun intended, great video you have inspired me, just bought a test light yesterday and taking it to my 06 GMC Denali with similar issues . I'm fully inspired, thanks
Thanks for making such an excellent video. You explained clearly and showed use of several tools and pieces of test equipment. Don't be so hard on yourself and critical. This is a great UA-cam video. You're showing and teaching other folks out there. I've wrenched on and tinkered with old cars myself for many years, and sometimes I had poor Earth/ground connections causing problem. Your explanation was clear. I recall one car I had, had a leaking clutch slave cylinder. I knew about it and was carrying a spare. Suddenly it stopped working one day, so at the side of a river campground I quickly swapped over the brand new cylinder and bled the hydraulics and went on about my way. My car was fine, for awhile, until the season moved more towards Winter, colder etc, and this was an old DC generator car with only 22 amps available for charging (common among British cars up until the early 1970's). .Then I noticed my accelerator ("gas pedal") kept jamming on, I'd have to kill the ignition switch, raise the bonnet ("hood") and free up the accelerator cable. Turns out, that in my hurry to change the clutch slave cylinder at the roadside, I had failed to connect the main Earthing cable linking the engine block to the body. Electricity was getting through, enough to start it and run the lights etc, but the Earth return path was through the throttle cable and the carburettor, I re-installed the freely hanging grounding cable where it attached sharing a clutch slave cylinder mounting bolt, and lubricated the accelerator cable and all was ok again !
Video was very informative but the interaction with your son was beautiful. Keep that up and your world will be a wonderful success.
Amazing how much electronics knowledge and equipment a tech needs these days to repair a car! You do a great job explaining in your vids too! One alternative explaining the voltage drop thing is from a "resistance" point of view using Ohms Law where Voltage = Current times Resistance. Simply put, for a given voltage and current, a larger voltage will be "induced" across a larger resistance. If the chassis and body were at the same "resistance" as the neg battery terminal (ground) there would be very little voltage drop. Take care
Thank you Sir. I was able to fix my s10 after watching this. It was as easy as cleaning and tightening my ground to engine block lead. Saved me time, $ and headaches!
Thanks for this video, I'm suffering similar symptoms but I'll have check after work. You earned my subscription.
This is by far thee coolest Diag video to see it and how he presents it is perfect!!
I thought about a bad alternator but your fix makes more sense. (full disclosure, I don't bend a wrench for a living any more) Nice video!
Excellent Video Eric good to see your boy hanging in the shop. Keep up the great work we surely appreciate it
Another good one! Great explanation...
I like the fact your son, Gavin, was hanging out, hopefully absorbing it all too. Lesson learned, no plugging DC bulbs in AC receptacle... lol
Important life lesson right there. Car battery: Can't bite you unless you direct short it. Wall outlet: Can bite you any time.
toysareforboys and in US you have 120 V imagine in europe...we have 240 V 😂😂😂😂😂
Yeah, 240v scares me lots :(
João Nobre lol.. the 120v is already a good wake up jolt! 😂😂☇☇☡☡
toysareforboys and in some places we also have 380v/400v
I have two 98 chevy trucks one of which I bought new. I've replaced the ground straps on both of the trucks because they seem to corrode pretty fast. On the truck I bought new, it had two skinny ground straps from the factory. The replacements were the big thick ones like that Tahoe has. Before I even finished the video I knew the problem would be one of those straps. Nice job.
Thanks as always Eric! I know this is an older video but it helped my son in law and I find out why his lights (inside and out) flicker while the truck is running. Alternator tested good so we were wondering where to look next. Thanks for the point in the right direction. Now to clean up some grounds.
G'day, Mr. O! You did a fine job explaining, (a classic example of ground side voltage drop, causing a no start.) Great video! That was pretty neat, you were letting you're son (Gavin) get involved, and even quizzing him about, the term or meaning of "Voltage Drop!" Thank you kindly!
Cheers! :-)🚙😊💕
Best voltage drop video i have ever seen, great job
you explained it great..had a old ford taurus that had loose main ground and it would act like it was possesedd...this was years ago before youtube and before i even knew how to use scope in a rope the right way..keep up the great videos we are all learning.
eric o has his own "rocco"! i got excited when i saw this title...love some good old bad grounds and connection troubleshooting. i think it was a great explanation of voltage drop.
Another one of your great demonstrations. I finally comprehended it. Now what should I do do about the stuff I had to forget, to make room for this new knowledge.
Great explanation, easy to understand, to the point and no blah, blah, blah...perfect in my books :)
Understand you better than anyone I ever heard. All the way to Alabama.
I've learned more about electrical from a handful of Eric's videos than I ever learned in tech school, on the job, or at the Chrysler Training center.
Your son looks just like Mrs. O. I would hang out with my dad while running 2 shops in Chicago. Nice to see your son wanting to spend time with you while on the job!!!
I know I have watched this one before but always refreshing and fun to watch and see you! Being just you! Ah! 2018 video the good old days when we had so much more freedom of expression for free thought and thinking and now if you say something that disparages a brand watch out - worse if you say the wrong anything... Gee whatever happened to us? But as I said So glad to see you again! I am stunned anyone could give you a thumbs down you are one of the greatest problem-solvers who shares real live information for others to learn....
Crazy problem called to help someone last night with a 2011 Chevy Equinox when they turned the key the dashboard went dark (instrument cluster) cant take out of park. Release the key lights come back on. Battery has 12.4V. It was dark and late and I did not really have my stuff with me...This was just a test and go thing...called a friend who happened to be in the area and he jumped in - I suspect a wiring issue? Ground? He is leaning toward a Ignition key failure? Why? We did remove bezel by shifter and pushed on interlock switch to move into Neutral and tried to start - same indications. I really think we lost a Ground... It was running so says customer who claims he parked it for a while came back out and then no crank no start... fairly new battery... Interesting they tried to jump the battery... The guy was telling me his cable end from his car running was HOT to the touch but the cable connected to the non-starting car were Cool... Hmmm! Sure sounds like if there was no ground end of course that end would be cool because energy was not being passed through it therefore...because it would require a proper ground would it not to enable the flow of electrons which would then cause heat ...
Eric, it amazes me how many of your auto fixes start with a n electric diag. Simple testing with a $5 probe finds the problem. Love the vids and have learn a TON from you. And a shout to the kids and wife.
Loving your videos, great production quality and easy to follow and learn from. And your son is awesome!
You are good and I just learned a very simple process of voltage drop with a testlight. great video.
I love the way that it's cold enough that the snow does not melt off the truck and Gavin is walking around the shop in a v neck tee shirt as though it's a summers day.
Eric and Gavin. Wow that was a cool new team. Fun video guys.
Eric that was a good explanation another happy customer!
Loved it and I do volt drops all the time. Great explanation
This is the best show on TV.
Hi! I very much enjoy your videos. Over the years I have found that while it is often possible to fine voltage drops with a test light or a digital meter. However the very best tool for something like this is an old school Analog Meter, like the Simpson 260. With this type of meter, it is easy to read voltage drops.I keep one of these around just for doing this sort of thing. Thanks again for the great videos!
B Dagle That problem is teaching the younger people how to use an analog meter. Even though to some of us old timers, it was second nature they have a problem with them because of the different scales. Then there is the auto-ranging ones and ghost voltages where they can't deal with that either. They have a problem trying to figure out the decimal point, lol.
good explanation easy enough to remember thanks Eric
Thumbs Up for sure. Saved me a lot of trouble if this happens out on the road. Now I know what tools, cables, connectors, etc to have with me.
For sure a thumbs up, I'm not a mechanic. My brother, and late father always stated, start with the grounds.
Every mechanic has an aura that makes every machine around him work a little bit better than it would otherwise
opl500 You won the internet for the day with that one.
I am almost positive many struggle with this exact situation that I am dealing with now like two weeks . Duhh I know ground to block to frame from many years ago . But you nailed It . Heading to garage
It helped, it helped! Thanks Dr. O!
love watching this guy work
Good job troubleshooting and explaining!
Holy cow, this just blew my mind. I have a Tundra doing the same thing and I had the same tools and did the same test and POW. Hunted down the bad body ground. Haha, thanks man.
So how do I fix the problem? Make a new hole on the frame for a new ground
Hey Gavin don't let your dad bust you on the short joke just tell him you have a little voltage drop and when you get well grounded he will be very surprised. Great video and very good demonstration with the test light to show active voltage. keep up the good work Eric.
Nice diagnosis and you explained it perfectly. I did some short videos on my FB page and when I listened to what I said I started laughing and said whaaaaat when the right words didn't come to me. Then I decided to just watch videos and leave it up to you & others to produce them.
Oh man I do that allll the time. Usually when I am editing them I decide not to post it because I sound like a mad man haha
Awesome video. I use my test light so differentially after your videos. I figured it was the main breaded ground. Been there before with my 99 Hoe.
Always a thumbs up! That truck was hilarious. Good to see Gavin too :)
I had my 1997 Toyota Camry in storage for about six months, the battery was old and drain down to a slow crank no start. Then it started flickering like that truck , so I disconnected the battery ground waited 5 seconds and connected it. When I cranked the car it started flickering again. Disconnected the ground again and this time I drained the system by turning the ignition to start for a couple of seconds. After that I connected a new battery to it and it started right up without any problems and still no problems. I have 3 Camrys and the 1999 and 2001 haven't done this but my 93 Landcruiser does, I bought it like that and it looks like it's got something to do with the oem alarm system or something.
Good video 👍
Thanks for the vid I really enjoyed your content and gained a lot about voltage drop today so thank you just what I needed 💯
This video helps point me in a direction. Thank you. Mine is an 05. Sat in the heat of the summer. Got the battery jumped. Drove it around for 20 minutes. Pulled in front of the house. Won't start again. The gauge was not stable while driving nor while I let it idle for ten minutes. I was hoping to drive this because my other car needs the wheel hub assembly replaced which is the plan for this weekend. So. I guess I am borrowing my son's car.
Thanks for sharing.
Bad ground story: I was able to start one of our stations fire trucks by turning on fan switch in pump cabin. (wtf moment)
I have been looking for an intermittent ground issue with an 02 silverado. Gave me a few more ideas. I also need to get a test light like that.
Thank you I appreciate your patience Demeanor
Funny as hell, I could watch this guy all day.
Always learning from you great videos keep them coming
Well you taught me how to check voltage drop. Thank you.
Great vid and cool co star.......I have to say those year chevy's are NOTORIOUS for starting after a ride on a tow truck.When I'd tow one it was almost guaranteed that it'd start after I got it to a shop.Between the starters and fuel pumps getting jostled around they'd usually start ;-)
Root cause of corrosion may be SMA Air which for unknown reasons has a very high concentration of brake clean in it LOL, good video Doc O always look forward to seeing you post a new one
You nailed that one Eric. I remember the 1980s UK Ford cars (a couple of models were sold Stateside under the ill-fated Merkur brand) doing a similar thing when the indicators (flashers) were illuminated the brake lights would go dim and we knew that was due to a bad earth (ground). I've just had to replace the ground wires on my Triumph which will be featured in an upcoming video of mine.
As the proud owner of a "Chevy junk" I give a big thumbs up to a refresher course in basic voltage drop testing. Maybe some day I can redeem myself in the eyes of you and your son and own a Toyota? LOL much respect brother...
I've replaced numerous starters on Silverado's where the braided "wire" between the solenoid and starter motor has rotted and broken in half causing the starter to fail. Seeing this video and the ground strap all messed up reminded me of that.
I see you have a new helper in the shop. Gavin looks like a real pro.
It really is unbelievable to see Eric present to us all these vehicles with bizarre problems that makes you think what the heck is wrong, that must be an expensive repair. Only to find it's a loose wire or missing fuse!
That is just how the cookie crumbles sometimes
Outstanding SMA Video production. The key was at 2:42 when you narrowed the problem down from potentially anything to a bad ground within 18 seconds like a boss! Also, watch out you have a triple threat on your production set...movie star haircut, movie star good looks, and he plays the piano.
I know right! The kids are gonna steal the show from me haha!
Eric another great video showing the problem and a bonus to tell you where you can watcher other people channels for voltage drop
links in the description
The lights on my ‘03 Silverado flicker but not as bad as that one. Will check out those grounds and maybe I’ll fix it. Thanks for the tips, great video, keep me coming.
Great video man. Give yourself more credit for your skill its hard to find a good mechanic these days. I have 95 k1500 thats giving me fits but this video has help me tremendously. I will subscribe. Thanks for your help
I really like your videos man you're a really good mechanic
Great video as usual Eric! It's great that you involve your boy in your work. I do the same with my little guys. Not so much to push them into being auto tech's but more so they will be handy in life and save themselves money.
Well if women don't find them handsome, I hope they find them handy ;)
A Red Green reference! Now make a video showing how to use a hand held blender to convert manual windows to power windows!
Very useful video you explained it well enough for me to understand 👍
Snow inside of any vehicle, especially in a Chevrolet may cause electrical inconsistency. Please continue. That's a good kid . Fortunate Dad !
This was a lesson learned on all the early Japanese vehicles coming into the country 30+ years ago. Anytime one came in with ANY kind of wiring issue, I added fat braided grounds between the engine and body. Half the time the grounds from the factory were a wire with a pinch clip that was to scratch through the paint... Absolute garbage, but I was always the hero.. I like to ADD a ground to aluminum radiators as well. GM diesel trucks like to eat aluminum rads when the crap grounds failed. Back then they were upwards of $400. A $3.00 ground cable was all that was needed.
Good visual evidence for better understanding.
You explained it very clearly! I guess you're a professional then 😉
Thanks ! You explained the problem perfectly