Diving deeper into the causes of the 'Service Engine Soon' light, this episode emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis over guesswork in automotive repair. Host Nile Motormouth Jenkins discusses the various systems monitored by your vehicle's onboard computer, highlighting common misconceptions and the need for skilled technicians. The conversation blends humor with practical advice, ensuring listeners understand the significance of addressing warning lights promptly to avoid costly repairs. The episode also touches on the importance of community support and the role of trusted service shops.
Hs you check engine light ever come on before? Comments on our YouTube Channel or email me.
In Part 2 - the wrap - up of our dashboard warning light series, Motormouth breaks down why the service engine soon light comes on and the many possible causes modern vehicles monitor every time you turn the key. Today's vehicles are constantly watched by the engine control module (ECM) - the main brain tracking vital signs like fuel delivery, ignition, emissions, airflow, sensor performance, and system communication. And that's just the beginning.
This episode explains:
1) What the ECM actually monitors ( and why it matters)
2) Why a cheap code reader only scratches the surface
3) The difference between possible causes vs. probable causes
4) How multiple systems can trigger the same warning light
5) Why "parts cannon" repairs leave wallets empty and lights still on
6) When emotions rise, intelligence drops- and mistakes get expensive
If diagnosis was as simple as plugging into the ALDL port, this would be easy. But real-world automotive repair requires testing, data interpretation, and experience-not guesswork.
This episode closes the loop on " What Does That Dashboard Light Really Mean?" and arms drivers with the knowledge to make better repair decisions before money, time, and patience run out.
More episodes and ... project details & links are available at Car Connection Business Network .com (ccbusnet.com) you'll find everything you'd like to follow the build/repair work we do & connect with our program partners, just click their logo to connect Thank You! Grab some Motormouth Merch and know you are helping those struggling with addictions get the help they need at Total Freedom Campuses Canada & USA. Tnx for watching & Listening Friends,
"...service engine soon light, check engine light, the money light. The fear always seems to kick into absolute 100% high gear when that light..."
The check engine light is a warning light in your car that tells you something might be wrong with the engine. If it lights up, it's a good idea to have it checked out by a mechanic.
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 anything from a loose gas cap to more serious engine problems, prompting the driver to seek diagnostics.
"...that you trust that has the technicians and the equipment to diagnose that check engine light because there's text that can and then there's auto service text that get out the parts cannon..."
Diagnosing a car means figuring out what’s wrong with it. Mechanics use tools and tests to find out the problem so they can fix it correctly.
To diagnose a vehicle means to identify the cause of a problem using various tools and techniques. Proper diagnosis is crucial for effective repairs and can save time and money.
"I mean, it's an asset, same as the tire machine. It can be five, six years old, 10 years old, if it's in good shape, a turntable version that will easily fit into the shop here."
A tire machine helps mechanics put tires on and take them off wheels easily. It's an important tool in any tire shop.
A tire machine is a specialized piece of equipment used in automotive shops to mount and dismount tires from wheels. It streamlines the process of changing tires, making it faster and more efficient.
"I need to toggle the ECM and some relays and things that are control units these days."
The ECM is like the car's brain for the engine. It helps control how the engine runs by using information from different sensors in the car.
The ECM, or Engine Control Module, is a crucial component in modern vehicles that manages engine performance and efficiency by controlling various engine functions based on data from sensors.
"I need to toggle some, I need to toggle the ECM and some relays and things that are control units these days. There's relays and then there's control units, lots of them."
Control units are like little computers in your car that help manage different parts, like the engine and brakes, to make sure everything works well.
Control units are electronic devices in vehicles that manage various functions, such as engine performance, transmission, and safety systems. They receive input from sensors and execute commands to optimize vehicle operation.
"On most cars, they're not all equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems. So I can safely say 50-50, depends on how old your vehicle is."
TPMS helps keep track of how much air is in your tires. If the air pressure gets too low, it warns you so you can fill them up, which is important for safe driving.
A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a safety feature in vehicles that monitors the air pressure in the tires and alerts the driver when the pressure is too low, which can affect handling and fuel efficiency.
"no muffler, no exhaust pipe, no catalytic converters, yes."
The catalytic converter helps clean up the exhaust gases from your car so that they are less harmful to the environment.
A catalytic converter is an emissions control device that converts harmful gases from the engine into less harmful emissions before they exit the vehicle's exhaust system.
"Ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks, struts, brakes,"
Shocks help make your ride smoother by absorbing bumps in the road, so you don't feel every little jolt while driving.
Shocks, or shock absorbers, are components of a vehicle's suspension system that dampen the impact of bumps and vibrations, providing a smoother ride and better handling.
"Ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks, struts, brakes,"
Ball joints are parts that help your car's wheels move up and down smoothly. They are important for keeping your car stable while driving.
Ball joints are crucial components in a vehicle's suspension system that connect the control arms to the wheel hubs, allowing for smooth movement and stability while driving.
"Ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks, struts, brakes,"
Struts help support your car's weight and also absorb bumps, making your ride more comfortable and stable.
Struts are a type of suspension component that combines the functions of a shock absorber and a structural support, playing a key role in vehicle stability and handling.
"master cylinder. Well, yeah, there's an idiot light on that master cylinder. If the pressure drops, that's when the warning light, brake warning lamp is going to come on and probably flash,"
The master cylinder helps you stop your car. When you press the brake pedal, it pushes fluid through pipes to the brakes, making them work.
The master cylinder is a crucial component of a vehicle's braking system. It converts the force applied to the brake pedal into hydraulic pressure, which then activates the brakes at each wheel.
"ABS, it's monitored. So yeah, so master cylinder, yes. Anything else? Battery?"
ABS is a safety feature that helps your car stop without skidding. It lets you steer while you brake hard, which is important in emergencies.
ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking System. It prevents the wheels from locking up during braking, allowing the driver to maintain steering control while braking hard.
"...those are what we call NOx emissions. That's the big daddy. Yeah. It's not carbon..."
NOx emissions are gases that come from car engines when they burn fuel. They can cause air pollution and health issues, so it's important to keep them low.
NOx emissions refer to nitrogen oxides, which are harmful pollutants produced during combustion processes, particularly in vehicles. They contribute to smog and respiratory problems, making their reduction a key focus in automotive emissions regulations.
"...the fuel evaporated system is monitored from the back of the tank all the way to the engine. There cannot be any fuel vapors escaping anywhere."
The fuel evaporated system is a part of a car that makes sure no fuel vapors leak into the air. It checks the fuel from the tank to the engine to keep the environment clean.
A fuel evaporated system is designed to prevent fuel vapors from escaping into the atmosphere. It monitors the fuel system from the tank to the engine, ensuring that any vapors are contained and not released, which helps reduce emissions.
"So when an evap system code is triggered, yes, the service light comes on. And that's usually an area where a lot of parts, cannons get burned out, throwing the parts on the car, firing them onto the car."
The evaporative system helps keep harmful fuel fumes from leaking into the air. It includes parts like the fuel tank and fuel cap that work together to trap these fumes.
The evaporative system is a part of a vehicle's fuel system that prevents fuel vapors from escaping into the atmosphere. It includes components like the fuel tank, fuel cap, and various valves and hoses that help capture and store these vapors.
"What do we hit first? Transmission. Yep. Transmission is monitored. So anything goes wrong, basically with the shift points on the automatic transmission, not so much on the manual."
The transmission helps your car change gears so it can move. If something goes wrong with it, your car might not shift properly, which can trigger warning lights.
The transmission is a crucial component of a vehicle that transfers power from the engine to the wheels. It can be automatic or manual, and issues with it can affect how smoothly the vehicle shifts gears.
"Yeah, there's two types. It's either a HEGO or an O2. Oxygen sensor."
Oxygen sensors check how much oxygen is in the car's exhaust. This helps the engine run better and produce fewer harmful gases.
Oxygen sensors measure the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases and help the engine control unit adjust the air-fuel mixture for optimal combustion and emissions control.
"...ely. And if you're as lucky as I am with our 2007 Toyota FJ cruiser, it has four catalytic converters and a ..."
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a tough-looking SUV that was made for off-roading and adventures. It has a cool, vintage design and is built to handle rough terrains, which makes it a favorite for people who love outdoor activities. Many people talk about it because of its unique style and how well it performs in challenging conditions.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled SUV that was produced from 2006 to 2014, designed to evoke the classic Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser. It is known for its rugged off-road capabilities, distinctive design, and spacious interior, making it a popular choice among adventure enthusiasts. Its unique styling and practicality often lead to discussions about its place in the SUV market and its cult following.
"...it's the sensor, not the sender. That gets messed up all the time. Yeah, I need a coolant temperature sensor. Why? My gauge isn't working..."
The coolant temperature sensor checks how hot the engine's coolant is. This helps the car's computer know if the engine is running too hot and needs attention.
A coolant temperature sensor measures the temperature of the engine's coolant, providing critical data to the engine control unit (ECU) for optimal performance and preventing overheating.
"...that would be the coolant coolant temperature sender. That's what operates the gauge or the cooling system. Idiot light that says we're overheated..."
The coolant temperature sender is what tells your dashboard how hot the engine is. If it fails, you might not know if your engine is overheating.
The coolant temperature sender is a component that sends the coolant temperature reading to the vehicle's gauge or warning light, indicating the engine's temperature status to the driver.
"...we have evaporative system, air intake. Yes, air intake temperature."
Air intake temperature is how hot the air is when it goes into the engine. The car's computer checks this to make sure the engine runs well and efficiently.
Air intake temperature refers to the temperature of the air entering the engine. Monitoring this temperature helps the engine control module adjust fuel delivery and ignition timing for optimal performance and efficiency.
"...all controlled by a BCM, body control module. But here's the thing. It won't set a service"
The body control module is like a control center for the car's electrical features, like locking doors and turning on lights. It helps everything work together smoothly.
The body control module (BCM) is an electronic control unit that manages various electrical systems in a vehicle, such as lighting, door locks, and other accessories. It ensures these systems operate correctly and respond to user inputs.
"So those things are called feature comforts. That's the feature comfort system. TPMS, another control unit is monitoring tire pressure..."
TPMS is a system that checks if your tires have enough air. If a tire is low on air, it will let you know with a warning light.
TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. It is a safety feature that monitors the air pressure in a vehicle's tires and alerts the driver if the pressure is too low.
"We also have vehicles that are fly by wire. There's no steering column per se. You have a steering wheel, but the wheels turn..."
Fly by wire means that instead of using physical parts to control things like steering, the car uses electronic signals. It can feel different because there's no direct connection.
Fly by wire is a technology that replaces traditional mechanical controls with electronic systems. In vehicles, this means that the steering and throttle are controlled electronically rather than through physical linkages.
"...but it sensors between the steering wheel and the steering box or rack and pinion steering unit that if something goes wrong, it will flag the system and put on service light."
The rack and pinion steering unit is a system that helps you turn the steering wheel into movement for the wheels. It makes steering easier and more responsive in cars.
The rack and pinion steering unit is a type of steering mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the steering wheel into the linear motion needed to turn the wheels. It provides precise steering control and is commonly used in modern vehicles.
"Next, I was just thinking of another one. I want to make sure I get them all in here. Alternator. On a lot of vehicles nowadays, if the alternator is not supplying electrical charge to run all the accessories, that's what its job is."
The alternator is like a generator in your car that produces electricity. It helps power things like the radio and lights while the engine is running, but it doesn't charge the battery directly like a battery charger does.
An alternator is a crucial component in a vehicle's electrical system, responsible for generating electricity to power the car's accessories while the engine is running. It converts mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy, ensuring that the battery remains charged and the vehicle's electrical systems function properly.
"If we have an engine misfire, so an injector's not working or a coil over plugs, that's what we're dealing with now."
An engine misfire happens when the engine doesn't run smoothly because something is wrong, like a part not working. This can make the car feel shaky or lose power.
An engine misfire occurs when one or more cylinders fail to fire properly, leading to a rough running engine and reduced performance. It can be caused by issues such as faulty spark plugs, ignition coils, or fuel injectors.
"Instead of plug wires, we have ignition coils sitting on top of the spark plugs."
Ignition coils help create the spark that ignites the fuel in the engine. Without them, the engine won't start or run properly.
Ignition coils are components in an ignition system that convert the battery's low voltage to the high voltage needed to create a spark at the spark plugs. They are crucial for starting the engine and ensuring it runs smoothly.
"Yes, in that conglomeration under the hood is and still has spark plugs."
Spark plugs create the spark that makes the engine run. They need to be changed regularly to keep the engine working well.
Spark plugs are vital components in gasoline engines that ignite the air-fuel mixture, enabling the engine to run. They need to be replaced regularly to maintain engine performance.
"Yeah, airbag light, separate control unit. It's not the ECM. That would be the SRS, safety restraining system, airbag system, and computer that's monitoring all of that."
The SRS is the system in your car that helps keep you safe in an accident, mainly through airbags and seatbelts that tighten up. It has its own computer to monitor everything.
The Safety Restraint System (SRS) refers to the components in a vehicle designed to protect occupants during a crash, including airbags and seatbelt pretensioners. It is monitored by a dedicated control unit.
"...service light and stop calling it the money light. Vehicles are trying to communicate with us..."
The service light is another light on your dashboard that reminds you to take your car in for maintenance, like an oil change. It's important to pay attention to this light to keep your car running well.
The service light is an indicator that prompts the driver to schedule maintenance or service for the vehicle. It may signal routine maintenance needs, such as oil changes or inspections, and is part of the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system.
Select text to request an explanation
Good morning Niagara, you're tuned into Car Connection where the coffee's hot, the tools
are ready and the talk is always tuned up.
I'm your host, Nile 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 you 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, your cup of joe, sit back, well not too far back if you're driving
this morning and join the crew, check your order before you leave the drive-through just saying
lock that cup down in the cup holder because this is Car Connection.
Yes and it's Saturday morning pit stop. We've made it to the weekend together for stories.
We have smarts and a few good laughs. I'm Nile Motormouth Jenkins and we are shifting into drive
right here in the workshop. Thanks for joining us. Thanks for bringing us into your space
wherever that may be. You may be driving, you may just arrive at work and nobody's around,
you can have the radio on tapped into our podcast. This is officially series one episode
number 63. So we have just a few podcasts up there for you to tap into the information where
you know what, everything we talk about lives at our website. We've made it really easy for you
to connect, follow, like, share, do the whole schmiel because it's the biggest drawer in our
toolbox. That's what we call it. CarConnectionBusinessNetwork.com, CCBUS, is in SAM, NET.com.
We'll get you to our homepage. On our homepage, here's what you can expect to see.
All the logos for all the businesses that are program partners and recommended businesses
that have my seal of approval. I've known the people that are with us for a long time. So
when I say they have my seal of approval, yes they do. And we always line ourselves with
non-profit faith-based organizations that are working hard in the community to help others,
giving them a hand up, not a handout. Top right hand corner of our homepage
at CCBusNet.com. You'll find all the links in one corner. That's for our YouTube channel,
Facebook, Instagram, StevensvilleontheWeb.ca, part of the business community there. You click
on the Businesses tab, our profile page that they put together for us will pop open, and there is
an email. I don't know what they call it. You can email me through there, okay? A website form.
Who calls it that? Just shoot me an email through there. There is a website form there. There's
also a website form somewhere on our homepage. I think it's under Connect or whatever. Yeah,
you can find it. It's easy. Just click the tabs. iHeart link is there for our podcast,
like this one right here. And we are on all the major platforms, Spotify, Amazon, Apple,
and also iHeart, and all other platforms that are available to you out there where you can
pull your podcast from. Just type in the search bar, Car Connection Workshop. We also have our
merch store, and there's a couple of reasons behind that. It's not to fill our pockets. It's
to sell the merchandise and come along, be part of the motormouth crew and show it off.
Make sure that you order our first time ever original Car Connection coffee mug. It can be tea,
it can be a lotty, whatever it may be. It could be something, a beverage that you enjoy hot,
get yourself a Car Connection original coffee mug while they're available. Well,
quantities last. I ordered one myself. This is the first time in 31 years on radio. We have
any merchandise really available for a couple of decades now. One time we sold out of t-shirts and
no time. Five, six thousand of them gone. But here's the story behind the store. You go into the
store, pick what you like, pick your size, your color, and put it in your shopping cart, and pay
for it safely online, and it gets sent directly to your door. I want to thank Total Freedom Dairy
and Center New York and their store there called Freedom Expressions. It started off as a t-shirt
store and they do all kinds of stuff now and create an income so that the campus can be completely
self-contained. They take no money from anywhere, no government, no grants, nothing. They produce
stuff, vegetables in the summer. They have a commercial kitchen. You can order a chicken
dinner or some food on the takeout window. Lots of stuff going on there. So take a moment, would you
and look up Total Freedom Dairy and Center New York. That's a campus for those going through
addictions, struggling deeply with addictions, all age groups, and that's what they do there. It's a
campus available to Canadian US residents. There's Total Freedom Sydney Manitoba that's
directed by Rick and Robin, and do they have a story to tell? They both
have had previous addictions and I just thinking about it just kind of chokes me up because I've
heard their testimony. It's so amazing. It's so amazing and now they are facilitators of the
City Manitoba campus. So I'm spending a little bit of time on this because they put together
Freedom Expressions, put together our merch store, and they put together all our merch
and proceeds go to Total Freedom Dairy and Center New York and they disperse them as needed to make
sure that no one is turned away from the campus. No one. So they can get there. When they're ready
to say, I'm ready to take on that addiction, we work together with you. You buy some merchandise,
you can know that you're helping someone with an addiction to get it dealt with once and for all,
and get a new life because there's a new life waiting there. So that's the whole spiel all at
once. A car connection is brought to you by Rainbow Motors and Garage in Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada, sales and service that you can count on and trust 100%. So if you're looking for a vehicle,
they have a small car lot. They don't have what you're looking for. Just let Reader Ramiz
Shinoda, their brothers up there know what you're looking for and let them do the homework for you
because they have the resources to find that vehicle for you. If it's out there and it's
any good, they can find it and you can buy extended warranties on anything. You're pretty much on
anything you purchase there, but most of all, you can buy a car there and they have a fully
equipped service shop there. So you can get your vehicle, buy it and get its service there and
whatever other vehicle you own, they service all years, makes and models, including up to light
commercial vehicles. Rainbow Motors and Garage, sales and service you can trust in Scarborough,
Ontario, Canada. So this morning we're going to be jumping into, I wasn't planning on doing a part
two when it came to what does that dashboard light really mean? Well, I had a number of
queries, could you dive into it a little bit deeper? What causes the light to come on in the
first place? Well, usually right after you put your morning beverage into the cup holder,
that'll put the check engine light on. Or did you close the glove box? Hard?
Yeah? Well, that'll do it. No, I'm just kidding. So we're going to jump into a part two and I'm
going to unveil to you some of the possibilities why the SES is on and the possible causes. Service
engine soon is what it used to be called. Now it's check engine light, some have nicknamed it the
money light. So we're going to go back into it with a part two and let's pull over and part drill
down, pull the handbrake. Yeah, we're going to unpack it big time. Service engine soon,
light is on. What are some of the possible causes? How do we dive into that and find out what's
really going on? So I hadn't planned on doing a part two, but because and by request, might as
all do it, we did part one already and I thought it was just going to be part one. So anyway,
let's have a beverage together this morning. Something different for me is I'm having water.
Yeah, have you ever like woke up in the morning and your mouth is so dry, you feel like your
tongue is stuck to your forehead? Is that just me? Is my forehead too low? I don't know. It's
an IDK moment. But anyways, I'm having water. I feel extra thirsty this morning. I might have
eaten something that was a little on the salty side. I'm not sure. But anyways, not quite feeling
like I know I'm going to say this. This is abnormal. Not quite feeling like I need a cup of Joe
right at the moment. I need something to clench my thirst. So here's how we do it. If you're visiting
us for the very first time, we count it down three, two, one, we raise our cup of Joe or whatever
your morning beverages and have a swing together. You ready? Three, two, one.
I think I just finished half of that one.
Pretty much more. All right, let's jump into it this morning.
Car Connection brought to you by City Auto Sales and Leasing in the Greater Toronto Area. There
are the premier pre-owned auto store in the Greater Toronto for over 25 years. Earl and Louise Grant,
fantastic couple to work with. They are Car Guys. They have over 20 plus years of resources to find
any specific vehicle, make a model you're looking for. They do carry a really good inventory of
vehicles outside the dealership and also inside. You get personalized service and also low mileage
quality vehicles at fair prices. They sell no junk whatsoever. So check in with Earl and Louise
Grant at City Auto Sales and Leasing. Let them know that Car Connection sent you. Be treated
with honesty and integrity and be able to buy a vehicle there with absolute 100% confidence.
You're going to love it there. So even if you've got to drive a ways, it is worth it to purchase a
vehicle off of those you know that are looking out for you, not looking out for your wallet.
So check them out on our website and be sure to let them know that we sent you.
Well, here's where we are. We're into part two, service engine soon light, check engine light,
the money light. The fear always seems to kick into absolute 100% high gear when that light
comes on. Well, I want us to just say this, don't panic babies, friends. The whole purpose of that
light is to let you know something's going on that needs some attention. And no, it doesn't mean
you're only going to be able to keep the steering wheel and we're going to change everything else.
That's called getting out the parts cannon. This is where you really have to have a shop that you
trust, a shop that you trust that has the technicians and the equipment to diagnose that
check engine light because there's text that can and then there's auto service text that get out
the parts cannon. And that's usually where they'll throw a pile of parts at your vehicle until you get
ticked off and lose your cool and push, pull and drag it out of there and get it over another shop.
And that's usually when we open the hood and we look at your service orders to see where they've
been, what they've done to determine what the heck are they doing. They're not diagnosing,
they're guessing and that's expensive. That is going to rob you of a lot of money if that
those service texts are not trained in diagnosing computer related issues. It's that simple.
So they either are an asset to you when it comes to when the service lights on and you need
diagnostic work done. I mean, it's easy to diagnose a flat tire, worn out brakes,
the exhaust is leaking, you've got more fluids leaking under the hood than the whole car has in
itself from the factory, belts, hoses, all the simple stuff, all you got a headlight out,
all that stuff is easy peasy to diagnose, right? But when it comes to the electronics,
that's where the rubber meets the road. There's service texts and then there's
diagnosticians. There is so much involved in that service light coming on. And it's not just
head down to the auto shop auto store or the Prince of the Palace store or, you know,
the jungle website and grabbing a $79, $69 code reader. That is going to get you in deep trouble
because if the person that's operating that only figures out how to dump the fault code,
you haven't solved anything. And number two, if they figured out how to retrieve the fault code
or fault codes, where do they go from there? Because there is no ticker tape parade or confetti
going to come out of that little device and the paper comes out of the side. Change this.
If that's what dude is saying to you, you go, thank you for your time. Here's $20.
You know, buy yourself something real nice, Clark, and get out of there. You want to know
that the service tech that you're talking to that's going to be asking you some questions to get some
background noise on when the light came on. Have you noticed anything different? Did you have
anything serviced anywhere else prior to the light coming on? These are all the things,
all the questions that I would ask you with a notepad, a tablet right in front of me so I can
take some notes. Because things that I'm going to ask may seem insignificant to you, but the more
information, the more intel I can get from you can help reduce the diagnostic time.
In most cases, a tech that's trained to diagnose and knows how to work an engine analyzer
and a proper full-blown scan tool, not something, you know, you go and buy at the hardware store,
can you get them at the hardware store? No, probably not. Somewhere where they sell car stuff,
that's where you're going to get it. Like I said, Prince of the Palace store,
Hobo Freight, you know, the store with the little red triangle on it, and most of your parts jobbers.
That's where you can pretty much get one of those small code readers. Now, I have a pretty decent
small code reader. I made a huge mistake when I closed the shop. I sold my scan tools, but
we will get some back once our YouTube channel grows and we get monetized. Few things are going
to happen there. We need to get an updated tire machine so we can do every wheel on the market,
just to use one as fine, as cheap as we can, that's going to last us a while, and a proper analyzer
and a scan tool. Because that's where we can help a lot more as well. So if we have the tools,
we can do the job. So our YouTube channel is, and also this podcast, is to get monetized as
soon as possible so that we can pay for the parts and provide the labor for men and women, widows,
orphans, single bombs, just a family that may be going through very difficult, challenging
financial situation in the car is like the most important to keep it going. And that's what we've
been called to do. So help us get there, you know, do the package, like follow and share,
watch the videos, all the videos are based on nothing less than five things.
What it is, where it is, how it works, how it breaks, and what could you have gained knowledge on
with basic fundamentals of how to run and operate an automobile and how things work.
Not in technical terms, like I'm keeping it as simple as possible with the service engine life,
because that's a really, it is a touchy feely conversation. I'll tell you that I've had people
ask me that when I, you know, you see me in a restaurant or something, which is not, which
is a rarity these days, because, man, you need to mortgage your meal. I rather, I'm, I love to cook
so and barbecue and all year round. So eating at home is, is what I like to do. I can lounge,
I can put on my loungers, whatever. But the whole idea for us is to be able to afford to buy the parts
so we can get them going as quickly as possible. So those are just a couple of things that we
really, really need. And they don't have to be brand new, but the scan tools and the engine
analyzer tool has to be up to speed so we can use it. I mean, it's an asset, same as the tire
machine. It can be five, six years old, 10 years old, if it's in good shape, a turntable version
that will easily fit into the shop here. We have an old FMC machine. You probably don't know what
that is, but we probably changed two, 3000 tires with it, and it can't be used on everything. So
if I have that gear, then I can diagnose a lot more thoroughly. I'm pretty good with a small,
I've got my small scan tool, I'm pretty decent with that. But I, there's times where I need a lot
more information on the screen. I need to toggle some, I need to toggle the ECM and some relays
and things that are control units these days. There's relays and then there's control units,
lots of them. So what we need to do is to be able to manually toggle those control units
to verify whether they work or not. So what can turn the service light on? Are you ready for it?
You ready? Just about anything. Not everything, but just about anything, but not everything. So
what's not, if I tell you what's not monitored by your onboard computer, then it will give you a
better idea as to what is monitored. All right, you ready? Gasoline, fuel supply.
On most cars, they're not all equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems. So I can safely say
50-50, depends on how old your vehicle is. I don't have anything that has TPMS,
tire pressure monitoring system, nothing. I have nothing that is TPMS. The bumpers,
the wipers, lights. Yeah, that's belts, hoses, that stuff. No filters, no air filter, cabin filter,
fuel filter, no transmission oil filter, screen, no muffler, no exhaust pipe, no
catalytic converters, yes. What else? I'm trying to think all the way to the front of the car.
Ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks, struts, brakes,
master cylinder. Well, yeah, there's an idiot light on that master cylinder. If the pressure
drops, that's when the warning light, brake warning lamp is going to come on and probably flash,
drive you crazy. ABS, it's monitored. So yeah, so master cylinder, yes. Anything else? Battery?
No, not monitored. Charging system? Yes. Battery? No. Anything else I can think of?
Radiator cap and the radiator? No. Cooling system? Yes. Anything else?
Engine air filter, I forgot that one. No. Not monitored. Globbox lid? No. Console? No.
Cup holders? No. Rear cup holders? No. Door pockets? Accessories? Accessory plug-in port? No.
All right. That should give you a pretty good idea. Hood release? No. Well, unless it's on
the patch system, yeah. That is usually monitored by another computer that is either the body control
module or it has, it does have a computer. It's called the patch system. That stands for,
I'll get it in a minute, little brain fart at the moment. Passively armed
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark.
Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.
