Understanding the check engine light is crucial for every driver, as it often signals potential issues with your vehicle. Niall Motormouth Jenkins emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis rather than ignoring the light or relying on quick fixes. He shares anecdotes about common misconceptions and the need for skilled technicians to interpret diagnostic codes accurately. The episode also highlights the significance of checking your spare tire and being prepared for roadside emergencies. With a mix of humor and practical advice, this episode aims to empower listeners to take control of their vehicle maintenance.
The check engine light comes on...and panic sets in. Most drivers know it as the "money light"
-because they're convinced it's about to cost an arm, a leg, and maybe the steering wheel too. But that fear usually comes from bad experiences with bad diagnostics. In this episode, we unpack the phobias surrounding the check engine light and explain how proper diagnosis actually works. Real diagnostics isn't guessing. It's not firing the parts cannon. And it definitely isn't changing everything until the light goes out. A skilled service tech with the right tools and diagnostic mindset can often identify the problem within about an hour. When that doesn't happen, and parts start flying, it's the consumer who pays the price. This episode is about separating truth from fear, and diagnostics from "try-nostics." Because understanding the process protects your wallet. Ever have this happen to you "try-nostics" tell us about it! email me or put a comment in one of our YouTube Videos, ( [email protected]) comment is better it helps us grow our Youtube channel. CALL TO ACTION - ONE LINK, EVERYTHING Join the Motormouth Crew Like, subscribe, and comment - your engagement keeps this content rolling Ring the bell so you don't miss future episodes
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"...the service light comes on, doesn't mean the car is going to blow up, wheels are going to blow off..."
The service light is a warning light on your car's dashboard that tells you when your car needs maintenance or has a problem. If it lights up, it's a good idea to check what it means and see if your car needs to be serviced.
The service light is an indicator on the dashboard that alerts the driver to maintenance issues or service requirements for the vehicle. It can signify anything from routine maintenance needs to more serious mechanical problems that require immediate attention.
"...we don't want to cause catastrophic damage to the motor, transmission, or something that's worth buca bucks..."
The motor is another word for the engine in a car. It's what makes the car go by turning fuel into power.
In automotive terms, the 'motor' typically refers to the engine of the vehicle, which is the component that converts fuel into mechanical energy to power the car. It is a crucial part of any vehicle's operation.
"...we don't want to cause catastrophic damage to the motor, transmission, or something that's worth buca bucks..."
The transmission is a part of the car that helps it change gears and move. It connects the engine to the wheels so the car can drive properly.
The transmission is a key component of a vehicle that transfers power from the engine to the wheels, allowing the car to move. It controls the gear ratios and is essential for the vehicle's performance and efficiency.
"...because that means there's something serious going on, we don't want to cause catastrophic damage to the motor..."
Catastrophic damage means serious damage that can ruin important parts of your car, like the engine or transmission. If this happens, it might cost a lot to fix or even mean your car is beyond repair.
Catastrophic damage refers to severe and often irreparable harm to a vehicle's critical components, such as the engine or transmission. This type of damage typically results in the need for extensive repairs or even total loss of the vehicle.
"...the fault codes are still stored in memory on the ECM, the electronic control module, the computer, so it will wait and then it will put it back on..."
The ECM is like the car's brain, controlling how the engine works and keeping track of any problems. If something goes wrong, it remembers the issue so mechanics can fix it later.
The ECM, or Electronic Control Module, is a crucial component in modern vehicles that manages various engine functions and monitors performance. It stores fault codes that help diagnose issues when the service light is triggered.
"...my neighbor came over and he did a little something something and then he said yeah, it's just the gas cap or an oxygen sensor,..."
The gas cap is the cover for your car's fuel tank. If it's loose or broken, it can cause problems and might turn on the check engine light. Making sure it's tight can help avoid some issues.
The gas cap is a component that seals the fuel tank of a vehicle. A loose or damaged gas cap can cause fuel vapors to escape and trigger the check engine light. Ensuring the gas cap is properly secured can often resolve minor issues related to emissions.
"...it's just the gas cap or an oxygen sensor, I went through the same thing,..."
An oxygen sensor is a part of your car that checks how much oxygen is in the exhaust. It helps the engine run efficiently and cleanly. If it’s broken, your car might use more gas and pollute more.
An oxygen sensor measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases of a vehicle. This information is used by the engine control unit to optimize fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. A faulty oxygen sensor can lead to poor fuel economy and increased emissions.
"...the money light comes back on, check engine lights on, crap, crappy crap, divided by crap equals crap,..."
The check engine light is a warning light on your car's dashboard. It means there might be something wrong with the engine or the emissions system, and you should get it checked out.
The check engine light is a warning indicator on a vehicle's dashboard that signals a potential issue with the engine or emissions system. It can indicate a range of problems, from minor issues like a loose gas cap to more serious engine malfunctions.
"...that's where an hour of diagnostic time with technicians and a shop that are up to date with engine analyzers and scan tools and laptops, that's where this..."
Engine analyzers are special tools that mechanics use to check how well an engine is working. They can find problems that you can't see just by looking at the engine.
Engine analyzers are diagnostic tools used by technicians to assess the performance and health of an engine. They can read error codes, monitor engine parameters, and help identify issues that may not be visible through a visual inspection.
"...that's where an hour of diagnostic time with technicians and a shop that are up to date with engine analyzers and scan tools and laptops, that's where this..."
Scan tools are gadgets that mechanics use to connect to a car's computer. They help find out what's wrong by reading codes that tell you about any issues.
Scan tools are devices that connect to a vehicle's onboard computer to retrieve diagnostic information. They help technicians identify problems by reading trouble codes and monitoring various systems in the vehicle.
"...it doesn't take a laptop or an engine analyzer, scan tool and this and that and all kinds of other high tech equipment to come up with the answer on a worn out ball joint..."
A ball joint is a part of a car's suspension that helps the wheels move up and down. It connects different parts of the car and allows for smooth driving.
A ball joint is a crucial component of a vehicle's suspension system that connects the control arms to the steering knuckles. It allows for smooth movement and flexibility while supporting the weight of the vehicle.
"...your brake pads are down to nothingness and you're you know you're grading your rotor like you would grate cheese for a pizza..."
Brake pads are the parts of a car's brakes that press against the wheels to help slow down or stop the car. They wear out over time and need to be changed regularly.
Brake pads are components of a disc braking system that create friction against the brake rotors to slow down or stop the vehicle. They are essential for safe braking performance and need to be replaced periodically.
"...your brake pads are down to nothingness and you're you know you're grading your rotor like you would grate cheese for a pizza..."
A rotor is a flat, round piece of metal in a car's brake system. When you press the brakes, the pads squeeze against the rotor to help stop the car.
A rotor is a round metal disc that is part of a disc brake system. When the brake pads press against the rotor, it creates friction that slows down the vehicle. Rotors can wear out and may need to be resurfaced or replaced.
"...that's when you're going to get into Trinostics, that's where the money light thing comes in,..."
Trinostics is a way for mechanics to figure out what's wrong with a car using both old-school methods and new technology. It helps them find problems that aren't easy to see right away.
Trinostics refers to a diagnostic approach that combines traditional diagnostic methods with advanced technology to accurately assess vehicle issues. It helps technicians determine the root cause of problems that may not be immediately obvious.
"...that's where the money light thing comes in, the money light, when you're taking your vehicle to a shop that doesn't keep up with cutting edge,..."
The 'money light' is a warning light on your car's dashboard that tells you something might be wrong. If you ignore it, it could lead to expensive repairs later on.
The 'money light' is a colloquial term for warning lights on a vehicle's dashboard that indicate a problem, often leading to costly repairs if not addressed. It serves as a signal for drivers to seek diagnostics and repairs.
"...just like an alignment rack for aligning your car can have the best alignment rack that they build on the face of this rock we spin on but if the guy doesn't know how to use it the alignment's going to suck with a capital k simple as that..."
An alignment rack helps make sure your car's wheels are straight and working together properly. If they're not aligned, your car might pull to one side or wear out tires faster.
An alignment rack is a specialized piece of equipment used in automotive shops to align the wheels of a vehicle. Proper alignment is crucial for ensuring that a car handles correctly and that tire wear is minimized.
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Good morning Niagara. You're tuned to car connection where the coffee's hot, the
tools are ready, and the talk is always tuned up. I'm your host, Niall Motormouth
Jenkins, coming to you straight from the car connection workshop where we mix a
little humor, a little know-how, and a whole lot of horsepower. Here it's not
just about fixing cars, it's about keeping you rolling, saving you money, and
giving the confidence to understand what's under that hood, from the classics
to the commuters, the weird noises to the what the heck moments, we've got you
covered. So grab your coffee, if you're zipping through the drive-thru, double
check your order, just saying, sit back, lock that beverage into your cup holder,
keep an eye on the road, watch out for the other guy, and join the crew this
morning, because this is car connection, your Monday through Saturday morning pit
stop for stories, smarts, and a few good laughs, and I'm Niall Motormouth Jenkins,
we're shifting in to drive this morning, and thanks for bringing us along. Happy
Thursday, yes, happy Thursday morning.
Shall we have a beverage first? Yeah, that's what we do here in the car
connection workshop is, we like to have a swiggy along with our listeners that
take us on the road with them on the way to work, so let's count it down, we count
it down three, two, one, don't forget to have your 16-pack crayola crayons, and we've
come up with a new idea, just take a yard bag, it's already pre-folded, take it
with you in the car, give the crayons to your co-pilot, you say, did you get that,
did you write that down? No excuse, because you can just keep unfolding that
yard bag, you got yourself one monstrous memo pad, so whatever your favorite
morning beverage, raise it up, we count down three, two, one, and we have a swiggy
together, you ready? Here we go, three, two, one,
hmm, gotta get you some of that, absolutely scrumptious, well let's take a
moment and give thanks to those program partners and recommended businesses
that you can find on our website at carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com and the
short form is ccbusnet.com, I always include that in the description of the
podcast, wherever you pull your podcasts from, just type in the search box car
connection workshop and you will find us there, okay? Also on the homepage of our
website, little housekeeping tips, we now have every link that you possibly could
need to connect with us and be part of the car connection motor mouth crew on the
top right hand corner of the homepage at ccbusnet.com, short for car
connection businessnetwork.com, so we got our YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram,
Stevensville on the web, why Stevensville? My pops has lived there 40
some odd years and I know all the business owners around there, my favorite
eateries, it's just a great quaint little town where the mom and pop shops are
working hard, cranking it out every single day and giving you nothing but
their best, so at Stevensvilleontheweb.ca they built us a profile page there,
click on the businesses tab and you'll find our profile, you can email us from
there. We also have our iHeart radio tab there as well, just click on the icon,
boom, you come right to our channel. Here on iHeart, we're on Apple Music, we're on
Spotify, we're on Amazon and all the platforms, so shred us out there, just
keep shredding us and putting us out there to your family, your friends, your
coworkers, help us build this channel, we just come off of 31 years on radio with
our program called Car Connection, live call-in automotive program, yes I do miss
some of the listeners that we gained all those years but you know what, they found
us over here and we're now putting a show out six days a week, Monday through
Saturday, 30 plus minutes, sometimes it's 30, sometimes it's 42, who's counting?
But you know, you got to kind of finish what you're saying, right? So our website
is there, the link is also there for our merch so that you can purchase some
merch and help someone to get to Total Freedom Darien Center in New York USA
and that's also for Canadians as well, that's the men and women campus,
Total Freedom Sydney, Manitoba, Canada is for men only, facilitated with Rick and
Robin and do they know what they're doing? They've walked the walk and talked
the talk, they've been there, addictions, people with addictions, you know what,
they'll blame everyone and take it out on everyone they love but this is a place
where we can help them and that's what Car Connection and Muldermouth has been
about for 31 years, let's help each other, you can either try and go through
this thing called life on your own and struggle but when it comes to addictions
we need all the tools in the toolbox we can muster and thank goodness we have
the teams at Total Freedom Darien Center in New York and Total Freedom Sydney,
Manitoba so when you buy some merchandise from our safe store you can
order what you like in your size and your color, proceeds from the merchandise,
go to Total Freedom so we can help those who can't can't spare the funds to get
there, let's get them there, right? Let's get them there, you buy some gear, you get
something for your money and we're helping and that's what's important so
thank you for them being there, it's important, it's very important that we
do that, Crystal Ridge Dream Center is our nonprofit faith-based organization
that we aligned ourselves with in 2025 and we're going to carry on with them
into 2026, here's what they do, they serve men, women, children, meals, love and
hope, changing lives one at a time in the Niagara region, I can't even begin to
tell you everything they do there but I'll tell you what, you give them a
dollar, they'll hammer it into five, give them a nickel, they'll turn it into a
dollar, they don't waste anything, they feed out the door well over 200 people
every Tuesday and Friday and I'll tell you the Christmas celebration begins this
Friday where these great big moving boxes from U-Haul are filled with enough
food to put on a turkey dinner and gifts and toys for the family and they have
to apply for that ahead of time and they'll be an amazing staff there, well
they're not actually staffed, they're all volunteers 61 plus handing those boxes
out and they're huge, they're absolutely huge so I hope to be able, well you'll be
able to, they'll post it up on their Facebook page so that you can see that
happen, it is, if you don't shed a tear when you see that happening then you
need to breathe on a mirror because you know what, I don't think you're quite
alive, it's amazing so if you can see it clear to get involved any way shape or
form, do so and you know what, you'll be changing lives as well, doing what we
all don't have the talent, the time and the gifts to do right but we can throw a
few bucks in there maybe some grocery store gift cards to help with the
feedings on Tuesday and Friday, I leave that with you and for all of you who do
that, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart and thanks to Earl and
Louise Grant, these two are amazing, amazing couple, they're car guys, they love
the car business, they love meeting the people, they look forward to meeting you
and you will not want to go home, you won't, after you purchase a vehicle from
when you meet Earl and Louise, you'll know that you found your car buying family
for life, auto sales, leasing, financing, they do it all, they sell no junk and
they don't pass along any junk, low mileage, quality vehicles at fair prices,
that's how they've earned the title, Greater Toronto Area's Premier Pre-Owned
Auto Store, they do carry a pretty decent inventory of vehicles, if you don't see
the particular vehicle that would suit you best, let Earl and Louise do all the
legwork for you because they have over 25 years of resources and I'll tell you
they know how to pick them, let them do it for you, buy with confidence, be
treated with nothing less than honesty, integrity, that's City Auto Sales and
Rainbow Motors and Garage, that's Rita and Ramiz, the brothers up in Scarborough,
been a part of car connection for a long time, sales and service you can trust,
again they sell no junk, you can buy it there, service it there, they look after all years,
make some models of vehicles up and including light commercial vehicles, yeah, light trucks and
commercial vehicles as well, that's what they do, Rainbow Motors and Garage, sales and service
that you can trust, let them know that car connection sent you great people, great people,
there's still a lot of people that they've met through radio programs that are their customers
and Rita said to me, now I just want to let you know we're taking good care of them after all
these years, to our certified financial planning professionals that are there to answer your
questions, give you straight up answers when it comes to investments, working to get rid of debt,
get the debt dragging off your back, estate planning, powers of attorney wills and powers of
attorney, the whole package, mortgages, life insurance, critical illness insurance, an hour
and a coffee is what you get because you listen to our podcast and you're connected with yours
truly, MotorMouth, let them know that we sent you, connect with either one, you've got two of the
best of the best in all of Canada and they've been recognized for that many, many, many times,
they're very humble fellows, I call them my brothers from other mothers, I've worked with them,
they are my personal financial planners and I run everything past them and if I get the stink eye,
I know I'm not on the right track, they're just going to give me a tap and put, nudge me back
into position, Tony Miele, Larry Tietro, you'll find them on our website, connect and get that
discovery meeting we call an hour and a coffee, nobody's selling you anything, nothing, there will
be nothing to buy, nothing to be sold to you, no finger pointing, nothing, we all make mistakes,
we all don't have the answers, they'll tell you what, they'll get you on track, if you grab their
coattails, watch life change and to Niagara Block, amazing Grimo family, building Canada since 1931
in Niagara Falls, building products and hardscape landscaping materials, if you're looking to create
that special oasis in your backyard or fix up around your home and you want some hardscape
landscaping, they have everything that you can imagine to create that special space just for you,
connect with them, you'll love their customer service, well let's jump in this morning,
I do have another motormouth tech tip, not a winter tech tip, just a tech tip,
so listen up, get your co-pilot there with the crayons and the leaf bag,
what we'll just call them yard bags, I'm going to start calling them memo pads,
they're an excellent idea, I think it should be a main staple, well my motormouth tech tip
today is entitled, don't skip the spare, not the one around your waist, all right, let's just,
now we don't talk about that stuff, that's a private thing, it's personal, it's personal,
well a classic rookie mistake is neglecting the spare tire, even this time of year, you know what,
I think this is the worst time of year to get a flat tire, it's just on the bottom I know,
but just the same, in the snow, in the slush, ice cold, it's not a pleasantry, do you know what I'm
saying, it's not, it's absolutely not a pleasantry at any time, but if it had to happen, I would
prefer it be warm blue sky and lots of sunshine, right, but this time of year, how many people think
about that spare tire, when was the last time you checked it, is it flat, it's useless then,
it's just as bad as the one that's being taken off, it's absolutely useless, give it a pressure
check and make sure your jack and tools are where they should be, because roadside flats,
they don't wait for triple A, they test your prep game, exactly, and we were doing for many years
with a radio broadcast and our recommended businesses, we had businesses going both sides
of the border, we had automotive shops in the U.S., we were on ESPN for 12 and a half years,
and we developed some great relationship with some automotive shops, over in the Cheek DeWog,
a Buffalo area, West Seneca, all over, and we held some women's service clinics, we put the ladies
in coveralls, we had three or four service bays based on the shop and instructors in each, and
the ladies got an opportunity to perform four different services in each one of those service
bays, we had a blast, and we had other businesses coming alongside sponsoring, so we could have
finger foods and stuff after the program, and we had a great big group shot with the ladies,
and they loved it, and one of the setups was with licensed mechanics,
changing a flat tire, only using the tools that came with your vehicle from the factory,
so no quick pump floor jacks, nothing, and no electric tools, just what the vehicle was born
with from the factory, to remove the flat tire, jack the vehicle up, and put on the spare and tighten
it down the whole nine yards, and the ladies absolutely went crazy because they could see
that they could do it, and they did it, and we did that for quite some time, and we could only
take 12 ladies in at a time, and it would sell out, with the ticket sales went to a local charity
of choice from the shop host, so the owner of the shop got to pick the charity, and it was a blast,
so could you do that, that's my question for you, and put a comment on our YouTube channel,
I don't know, whatever video you pick, put a comment, could you, that's my question ladies,
could you, would you, should you, if you got a flat in the snow, or in this, you know, this
wintry weather, or summer weather, either or, would you know what to do, where the tools are
in your vehicle, what they are, what they look like, and how to get that flat tire off, and get
the spare on there, and number two, is your spare any good, is it pumped up, or is it flat as well,
something to think about, put a comment down for me, I want to hear from you, maybe ask hubby,
hey, how's our spare doing on the car, it's okay if it's his car, it's your car, the one that you're
driving ladies, it's your car, how's my spare, and do I have all the components, if I had a flat
that I would be able to change it, and here's a challenge, you know, you got a dry area in the
garage, you get your car in, practice, see if you can do it, if you can take the wheel nuts off,
get all the components out, get it jacked up safely, and again, using only the tools
the car was born with from the factory, there's a challenge, I want to hear from some of you,
could you do it, and have you done it, and would you do it, you know, if AAA was going to be four
or five hours to get to you, are you going to sit there and wait, I don't know, I know I wouldn't,
I'd be out there getting it done, so be safe, keep it under 100, and stay tuned for another
motormouth tech tip, well today's topic is a hot one, it really is, no it's not summertime,
unfortunately, here along the south shores of Lake Erie, where the car next workshop,
the studio is located, single digits last night, I could actually hear the knots on the trees screaming,
not like that, probably, I don't know, anyways, here's the deal, the service light comes on
in the dash, I already hear some panic, and you don't need to, this is the thing,
fear, false evidence appearing real, that's what that stands for, false evidence appearing real,
service light comes on, doesn't mean the car is going to blow up, wheels are going to blow off,
windows are going to blow out, all the airbags are going to go off,
yeah, the car is going to start on fire, it doesn't mean that, now if the service light comes on and
it's flashing, that means get the thing, pull it over and shut it off, because that means
there's something serious going on, we don't want to cause catastrophic damage to the motor,
transmission, or something that's worth buca bucks, got it, so just keep that in mind, the other
service light is still on, and it's been on forever in a day, a thousand Sundays,
and we got a piece of hockey tape, or an old business card, or a former mother-in-law,
or a pet that's been dead for years, over the service light, that's not a good idea,
no, it's not a good idea, one of these days when I do write a book and talk about, the title's
going to be fix it but don't spend any money, and I just recently did a podcast on that,
so if you haven't heard it, you got to go back, you got to find that one, you got to listen to that
one, I would want to put something in a chapter of that book entitled fix it but don't spend any
money, the things that I would see covering up the service light, because the service light has
been on and annoying the driver for so long that they decided to put something in front of it and
just completely ignore it, yeah, I would like to comment on that in the book, fix it but don't
spend any money, check engine light is on for a reason is to let you know that something has been
flagged by one of the onboard computers and it's saying, hey, yo, yeah, you, that's right, you,
behind the steering wheel, I see something, possibly smell something but I'm letting you know,
something is going on that needs to be checked and I've kind of nicknamed it the money light,
not myself, watching all of you when the service light comes on because you immediately think,
oh, geez, this is going to bust the budget in the house this month, we really don't need the service
light right now, this is bad timing, you automatically turn a shrub into a tree, that's what I want to
kind of clear up today, if the service light is on and it's been on for quite some time and once
in a while, if it's been on for quite some time, it'll go off and then you'll get all excited
and maybe buy an extra latte that day and celebrate, yes, freaking money light went off
and tell everybody at work, yeah, the light went off, it's self healed, spoiler alert, nope,
it did not self heal, I just want you to know that, I don't want to be that bearer of bad news but
the service light and the computer, they're buddies, they work together and it will cycle that
light off but the fault codes are still stored in memory on the ECM, the electronic control module,
the computer, so it will wait and then it will put it back on and then you'll go, oh, crap,
with a big K, yeah, it was out for two days, it's back on, dang, this can't be happening to me,
maybe I'm not living right, maybe that's it, maybe I had too much extra cheese, pepperoni,
and bacon bits on my pizza yesterday, nope, doesn't know any of that but here's the thing,
if that service light has been on for some time, if something truly goes wrong, catastrophic,
the light can't come on again because it's already on, so it can't warn you, so if there are other
things going on behind the scenes that it needs to warn you about, it can't and you haven't been
paying attention anyway because a lot of times I can't count the number of times we'd pull a
vehicle in and go call the customer, you know the service lights on, oh yeah, it's been on for a
little while, what's a little while, about a year, pardon, can you speak up, I didn't quite get that,
about a year, holy smokes Batman, I think I ripped my leotards, over a year are you kidding me,
we need to get a look at that, well that's going to cost a million bucks, we don't have the money to
fix that, well do you know what it is, why the light came on, no, well my neighbor came over and
he did a little something something and then he said yeah, it's just the gas cap or an oxygen
sensor, I went through the same thing, so then you go and you buy those parts and you put them on
and then he comes over with this little dude ad, plugs it in and he goes there you go, oh you're
such a good neighbor and then the very next day you drive it to work, bam, the money light comes
back on, check engine lights on, crap, crappy crap, plus crap, divided by crap equals crap,
how do you tell your neighbor, lights back on, oh I don't know what that is, I'll come over and
I'll check it with my little dude ad, my little thingy, plugs in his little thingy, well I don't
really know what's going on, oh well you told me to change the oxygen sensor in the uh the
fuel cap, well don't listen to me, I don't know nothing, I'm just repeating stories that I heard
for 11 years when I had my own shop on the Hamilton Mount, this is this I'm not making this stuff up
because you can't, you can't make it up, it's a book, it's a storybook all on its own, but here's
what I want to help you with, the check engine light is on, don't panic, get it scanned by a
professional and what do I mean by that, most problems can be diagnosed from a service light
in about an hour, about an hour's labor, if you're working with technicians that you know what,
they don't sit and get fat in front of the TV, they're in the classrooms, they're going to seminars,
they have what I called, I put myself on standing order tickets, if there was a seminar I didn't
care where it was and I could learn more diagnostic skills or learn about machinery, equipment that
could help us be more of an asset than a liability to our customers, that's where I was, I'm not much
of a sitter anyway when it comes to TV, I'll watch 10 minutes of a movie and or watch it almost to
the end just get up and go off and go do something else, but I spent a lot of time in the classroom
learning and getting around instructors that have many more years experience and diagnostic work,
don't be afraid when that service light comes on, approach it this way, my car is trying to tell me
something is not quite right in Denmark and I need someone who can read it and translate it and
diagnose it and determine the causal component, do you remember, four things right, the four things
to a work order, service repair order, the concern, the cause or yeah, the concern, the cause,
the correction and confirmation, so what we're going to do is we're going to get in there,
we're going to scan the computer and here's where people get lost into really bad information,
when we scan the computer for information it doesn't give us the answer 100% as to what's
why the service light is on, there's a lot more to it than that, so when we delve into it this is why
I always tell you give them one hour diagnostic time, concern, cause, correction and confirmation,
what's the cause, that's dyag time, like I said if you're working with technicians that spend time
training, retraining and getting further training and the shop owner is into that,
sending their guys off to get training and further training, you're in the right place,
because in most cases an hour worth of dyag time is more than enough to get down to why is the light
on, why is the service light on, the cause, what is the cause, what is the causal component,
that's why I tell you only authorize one hour of dyag time at a time, at a time,
the time, yeah, one hour of dyag time, make sure that's written clearly on the repair order
so that everyone is on the same page and we don't get miscommunication or no communication
or lack thereof, because that happens a lot and that's what creates the five o'clock surprise,
so when that light comes on there is no machine device we can plug in as service text and dyag,
diagnosticians, that's the word, because that's what we are, we can train monkeys to change oil,
brakes, tires, all that stuff, but when it comes to diagnostics that's where the rubber meets the
road, you're either a service tech that is an asset to your customer or your liability and I
don't mean that disrespectfully, but if the tech doesn't know how to dyag it's going to cost you
a fortune for him to perform trinostics, try a part that was 300 bucks, try another part, well
sorry that one's like 800, I guess the computer wasn't the problem, because anything electronic
that we plug in we can't send back, there's no return on that stuff, no return, no refund,
no exchange, once we take it out of the package, the box, the packaging and plug it into your car
you own it, so I say all that to say this, you need to make sure that you control the amount
of diagnostic time, if they don't have it and have a pretty decent idea where the problem is,
they're like I said already, there is no device that you plug it in and it starts playing the
national anthem for whatever country you live in and then you know ticker tape parade begins and
confetti pops out of the machine and then it gives you a print out and says change this,
that doesn't exist, we don't have no crystal ball, no magic wand, I've ordered them for many years
but they haven't come in, that all comes with spending class time learning new equipment,
new technology, how to use it, how to diagnose and how to get down to the problem
in an hour, an hour and there are the ones, the vehicles that are just a real stubborn
stain, you know like mustard, hey anybody know how to get mustard out of anything,
put me a comment in one of our youtube videos, hey motor mother heard talking about mustard,
try this, now if it's a try, that's Trinostics, what I want is do this mustard stains gone,
so how do I relate that to diagnostics, exactly the same way, we have to take the fault codes
then look them up to see what components are involved in that particular fault code,
now we have to break out and locate those components and individually test each component
to verify is it good or is it faulty, is it defective, so that's where dyag comes in,
we can teach a monkey to download, plug in a device and pull the fault codes, in fact I have one
and it's actually a pretty decent little handheld OTC scan tool that allows me to quickly do a quick
scan so I can grab fault codes and then if the vehicle is still running decent I can just do a
quick summary, capture it, store it and then I can take a look at it after the shop's closed
and I can begin to scribble it out and come up with my game plan to test your vehicle to determine
the causal component that has flagged the ECM to put the light on, so there are a lot of moving
components to a service light, hey a blind hog once in a while can find an acorn if you know
what I'm saying, so if your neighbor has a little code reader and he scans it and he knows enough
to guide you and he hits a home run, God bless him, you know what I'm saying, well done you,
well done you, but I'll tell you now that is few and far between, few and far between, normally
what I would hear is my neighbor told me you know I tested this and that, we've changed, we've put
$800 into it and the service light's still on, that's not what I want to hear and that's not
money you need to spend, so that's where an hour of diagnostic time with technicians and a shop
that are up to date with engine analyzers and scan tools and laptops, that's where this
trade has gone, you know doing brakes and tires and front end suspension components and steering
components, that's a brain dead job, I mean not to not to say it's not a hard job but you know what
it doesn't take a laptop or an engine analyzer, scan tool and this and that and all kinds of other
high tech equipment to come up with the answer on a worn out ball joint, your brake pads are down to
nothingness and you're you know you're grading your rotor like you would grate cheese for a pizza,
I think I'm hungry, anyhow that's how it works, we pull down the information, pull it off the
computers, we look at, we do some run time if it starts and runs, we take a look at all the
sensors that are looking for input, we're getting input and output signals from them
and verifying are the signals, the input signals correct or the output signals incorrect, so we
can give it what I call a yes no, not a maybe, not a try, a yes no, yes it's good or no it's not
and that's where skills and highly skilled technicians come in to play, it's not a plug
and play thing, put in a little cutesy woodsy little cold reader and go change this, it doesn't do
that, that's when you're going to get into Trinostics, that's where the money light thing comes in,
the money light, when you're taking your vehicle to a shop that doesn't keep up with cutting edge,
leading edge technology for diagnosing, when a service light is flagged and drivability issues,
maybe the car's running well, maybe it's not, maybe it's intermittent, that's what we have to
determine, sometimes we have to let the issue develop a little bit more so we can nail it,
otherwise it can turn into Trinostics and that's where I would never let a customer pressure me
into changing something just to satisfy their their fear and anxiety of the money light,
the check engine light, so that's the short story, that's how we have to approach it, one step at a
time it's like eating an elephant I like to say, one how to eat an elephant one bite at a time,
how do we diagnose the car one bite at a time and do not jump ahead when we're diagnosing,
do not skip steps, we need to take all the steps and verify the information we've collected,
verify what is accurate, what is not, what needs more testing to determine the causal component
that puts the light on, there is no device anywhere on the planet, you plug it in it gives
you the answer, it's all in the hands of the technician and his skill level with cutting edge
and leading edge technology, testing equipment, diagnosing equipment and how to use it properly
because you can have all the, you can have all the equipment in the world but if you're a lousy
driver you're still going to put it in the rhubarb, plain and simple, if you have any questions get
in touch with me you can do that through our website ccbusnet.com there is a website form
that you can fill out send me an email come straight to me personally you can also do put a
comment in the comment box on any one of our youtube videos we put three fresh ones out every
single week they're all teaching videos so you get to learn the fundamentals the stuff that will
help you and prevent you from being ripped off out there in the repair and service industry in
the automotive that's my job my job's not to step on anybody's toes but you know what there's good
and bad in all trades right good and bad in all trades you know if i'm going in for heart surgery
first thing i'm going to say is uh where did you graduate in your class yeah do you want the guy
that just barely made it through huh heck no when he says i graduated with honors ding i pick you
yes absolutely the same goes for automotive service techs do i want the guy that watches sports drinks
beers and farts and burps all the time in front of the tv and practically kills you but doesn't
further his skills on the shop floor no that fella is just you know he's good for other stuff but
not for dyag and not every tech automotive technician out there is full hardcore dyag you
got to be working with a high tech shop that has the high tech equipment but the guys know how to
use it it's just like an alignment rack for aligning your car can have the best alignment rack
that they build on the face of this rock we spin on but if the guy doesn't know how to use it the
alignment's going to suck with a capital k simple as that well that's it for me i got to get out of
here and thank you for taking us along this morning let your family friends co-workers names
all know about carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com our website all our links available to you
in the top right hand corner of our homepage all the great amazing businesses that make car
connection possible for all these 31 years and now it's car connection next gen 2.0 podcast youtube
instagram facebook stevensville on the web the whole nine yards we can reach more people be
more effective be able to help the widows the orphans single moms the seniors and just those who
are going through some very dark challenging financial times and we can fix their car for free
as we're looking forward to getting monetized when we do that means we can ask the uh the
relationships that we've created with parts automotive parts stores over 31 years hey will
you jump on board and help us get the parts that we need to help others at the same time for free
so that's our vision come and be part of that we thank you for listening for watching for connecting
and for becoming part of the motormouth crew and our car connection vision to serve life is about
people and serving thanks for coming along happy motoring keep it under 100 put that coffee on
and get some snacks because we're going to come to your house
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