Quick question. What if cancelling cylinders brings the idle down, by about the same amount on 3 of 4 cylinders, but much more when cancelling out 1 of the 4 cylinders? does it mean that one of the cylinders is working harder than the rest? could it be a timing issue?
@chamblizi Salvage vehicles are often a problem hence the reason they were totaled in the first place. They can make for good 'toys' sometimes but they can be a pain to purchase and insure.
@EricTheCarGuy I decided to stick with my truck that gets 10-12 mils to the gallon for college if i'm going in debt cause of college might as well go out in a blaze of glory
@chamblizi The oil companies will thank you for it. Enjoy it while you can because it won't be long and you probably won't be able to afford driving something like that again anyway.
@EricTheCarGuy ehh the government will never get me to get rid of my truck they are going to have to do it like they where doing in the 80's BUY IT OFF ME other then that fuck the government I would rather be "Off The Grid with my truck deep down in the woods. If it comes down to me needing fuel efficiency i will swap my engine out.
@chamblizi I didn't say the government was going to take it away from you but rather to say that supply and demand dictates that if something is in short supply it will be expensive and crude oil is one of those things. What I was suggesting is a point where it will cost you more than $200 to put 10 gallons of gas in that thing.
@EricTheCarGuy There is no shortage of oil or gas. It's manipulated price fixing. There are 60 years worth of oil reserves stored in the salt domes of Nevada and Utah. Off the Gulf Coast, where there were over 800 production wells in 1980, there are now less than 100. Those producing wells (1500 to 2000 barrels/ day) were capped and cemented as our government decided it was cheaper to buy foreign oil. Look at the situation now. Our economy and workforce is dead. The country's been duped again!
Hey there, helpfull video. I have one question, I have a four cylinder engine with twin coil packs so there is a lead to the other cylinder. I can unplug the coil simply enough but how do I go about stopping/taking off the lead as I know there to be a fair amount of current passing through (accidently brushed it one day, was abit of a shock lol) Engine is a mitsubishi 4G93 SOHC FYI.
@Phillz91 I plan to make a video on that at some point but the trick I use is with some vacuum line placed between the wire and the coil that I can touch with my test light to short it out when I cancel it. You could also unplug the injectors one at a time as well.
@jamisgood21 For some reason I don't think 'good looking gal's' are in my core demographic, in fact I find the comment mildly disturbing but intriguing all at the same time. :)
Eric what about waste spark ignition systems. Killing spark to one cylinder will also kill the spark to its companion cylinder. Say I have a 4cyl. GM engine and the problem is cyl. #1, If I kill the spark to cyl #1 then cyl #4 dies as well, and we have a engine that is running at 50%, if I kill the spark to cyl. #2 & 4 we are left with the offending pair and an engine that may not run at all! It seems that waste spark ignition cylinders fail in pairs, How we isolate the offending cylinder?
hey eric does spraying those types of coils with water offer any diagnostic benefit? My mom's corolla has the random misfire code.. also the injectors tick when they are faulty?
DON'T READ THIS CAUSE IT ACTUALLY WORKS.YOU WILL GET KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE. TOMORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE HOWEVER IF YOU DO NOT POST THIS COMMENT TO AT LEAST 3 VIDEOS YOU WILL DIE WITHIN 2 DAYS. NO UV STARTED READING THIS SO DUNT STOP.THIS IS SCARY.PUT THIS ON AT LEAST 5 VIDEOS IN 143 MINUTES. WHEN YOUR DONE PRESS F6 AND YOUR LOVERS NAME WILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN IN BIG LETTERS.THIS IS SO SCARY CAUSE IT ACTUALLYWORK
@qotsajr Thanks for that but I guess I've gotten around all that stuff and gone straight to doing it on YT, good enough for me really. Thanks again for your comment.
can you perform the power balance test by removing the sparkplug wires one by one like you did with the coils? cuz i want to see if one of my valves is causing this knocking/rattling when i accelerate or go up hill. oooh and thanking you for your awesome videos they have taught me alot and mostly all i know about how to perform maintenance and work on my car. p.s i own a 1996 Mazda 626 2.5L MFI DOHC 6cyl.
@HappyKingdomHearts If you are going to drive the car or run it for a length of time it would be better to disconnect the connectors at the injectors instead of disabling the ignition system. You might want to watch the video on Finding A Noise to help you with that.
Hi Eric, have a question. I work on bikes, so the only thing I can unplug are the spark plug wires. However, everything I've read said if I leave the plug wires ungrounded it might fry something. I'm not too clear how that works, so what're your thoughts on just unplugging the spark plug caps to check for this? Thanks.
@hlpsg That is very true but the idea is only to do it for a short time and you should be OK, in your case you might consider placing a piece of vacuum line between the spark plug and wire just enough to hold it there and then bring a grounded test light near the vacuum line to short it out to avoid damage to the ignition system. In fact I hope to demonstrate this in a video at some point.
@anteeupz if you dont like Eric maybe you should just not watch his videos.....He doesnt smoke pot and for being a hick.....no. They make the hicks work at Canadian Tire! LOL
You mean the spark plug wires by coil pack right?? Just never heard the reference before. Awesome videos man really a great educational experience.....I just get into maintenance. Fixing cars I cant do much but the simple stuff...
You mean the spark plug wires by coil pack right?? Just never heard the reference before. Awesome videos man really a great educational experience.....I just get into maintenance. Fixing cars I cant do much but the simple stuff...
@anteeupz Seriously? Define 'hick' for me if you could because my vocabulary is lacking here as I don't see how 'smoking pot' and 'hick' go together, let alone how they would apply to me in this video so please enlighten me.
eric, did you ever make the companion video to this one, showing how to cancel out the cylinders using rubber hose and a test light? i just read about that technique in my auto tech textbook. i'm kind of confused on how, exactly, do that method and i'm getting pretty tired of getting shocked using the "old school" approach to power balance testing. lol.
@spazzman2323 In that case you would just pull the wires one at a time, they make a special set of plastic pliers that are made just for this to help keep you from getting shocked on your butt. Thanks for the comment.
@EricTheCarGuy sir help pls... im having problem with my KIA pregio... when the engine gets hot and turned off suddenly it doesnt start anymore... thanx man...
@duhkify That can be a bad thing indeed as if the engine gets severely overheated the pistons swell up in the bores and seize up causing damage to the metal parts and the engine will not turn over as a result.
@jambe1234567 That is an excellent reason to perform this test, in fact if the cause of the misfire is not apparent this is a great way to go about finding it.
@eldaguinio If there is NO change in engine performance when you disable a cylinder that would be the suspected cylinder and would need further investigation. In the case of your VW start with any check engine lights and then look to the tune up items for the source of your issue.
If a coil pack is bad, or not working right, it will turn part of the plug black, won't it? I have a 2000 Toyota Celica GT-S that likes to lose spark in a cylinder and start sounding like a subaru at times. I've replaced all 4 injectors recently, as well as iridium race plugs, but I have a slightly cracked coil pack. The error code on the reader is random misfire, and bank 1 system rich.
@Ghostixe It could just as easily be a vacuum leak causing the system to read lean which would make the computer command rich. Make sure the mechanical health of the engine is good with a compression test.
@EricTheCarGuy Replaced all 4 coil packs, new plugs, and cleaned the injectors, and it has significantly improved the idle, but it still hesitates horribly when I take it up to where the vvti-l is supposed to engage. My car isn't stock, but it feels almost like its not getting enough fuel at higher rpms when that variable valve timing kicks in. Fuel pressure? Maybe, fuel pump or filter?
@Ghostixe If the car is not stock depending on the modifications you may need larger injectors or it could be a characteristic of the modifications (different cam). Not knowing what has been done to the car makes it impossible for me to help and even if I did something that is modified from stock does not have a "typical" path to diagnosis and repair.
I would like to point out that this method does not work for waste spark ignition systems as puling 1 spark wire disables 2 cylinders. While sometimes being more difficult, you can also just unplug the fuel injector for the cylinder you want to test. Second, this method is useful for diagnosing mechanical engine knocks such as those caused by piston slap or a faulty wrist pin. Keep up the good work, thank you for posting.
@fastveedub It can work for waste spark ignition if done correctly, that was what I was referring to in the video that would be shown in a future video.Getting to injectors on some vehicles can be a lot more difficult but if you are unable to disable the ignition unplugging injectors will work just fine for this test, in fact that is what I believe the scan tool does when it performs this test. As you state it can also help with the mechanical problems you mention. Thanks for the great comment.
Also i found it very interesting doing the same thing with the fuel injector cables,
i found why it was running on 3 cylinders on every cold and damp morning... turns out i have to do all their wiring loom again coz wire insulation is looong gone in some spots :) :) :)
Eric, my 96 cavalier. i replaced the spark plugs an wires. cleaned the throttle body an idel control valve with throttle body cleaner. new pcv valve. at times it idles rough an tries to choke it self. what do i do next? Kody
@zztopgearhead1 If that has the 2.4L with the coil cover assembly then I would look to that for the possible cause, they have been known to get cracks and cause an intermittent short. You could spray it with some water to see if it begins to run rough, if it does then I would replace it.
The 99 Odyssey has very slight vibration at idle both in park and in neutral. The frequency is 30 per 45 seconds i.e. about once every 1.5 seconds. I have put my hand on the engine and I can not feel those vibration. I can feel them only by seat of pants. New timing belt, plugs and even new transmission has not changed it. The idle speed is around 750 rpm and is rock steady. The vibration is coming approximately every 10th revolution. What can it be?
@vgs8606 First make sure you are using Nippon Denso or NGK plugs, if not change them. Next try this test to see if you see a change. Lastly those valves are adjustable and they may need adjusting, I've shot video for this but haven't had time to edit it yet.
@EricTheCarGuy They are the NGK Laser platinum plug. I had to replace one coil and I had used similar method to find the failing coil in the past but those were hard failure and the car was running on 5-cylinders. If one of the cylinder is misfiring every 10th revolution, that will be really tough to figure out :-( Cylinder balance will make the car run on 5 cylinder. I don't see how that will pinpoint the cylinder in this case.
@vgs8606 I think that depends on your skill level and experience. For the most part in that situation a power balance test will get you started on the path of diagnosis if nothing else, if that didn't yield any result then you would obviously move on to more testing to find the cause. Thanks for your comments.
Hey Eric, I have a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse and lately my car's been like stuttered if I give it too much gas at a low RMP. It is a manual and before I could have it on 4th for example at 35mph and floor it and all that would happen is accelerate slowly but now, if I have it on 4th at 35mph, I can only give it very little gas or it will start stuttering alot. It doesn't even have to be in gear, it can be in neutral. Some1 said it could be something with the intake. What do u think? Thanks!
@UncleSam330 First thing I thought of when reading this was the clutch was slipping until you mentioned that it happened when it wasn't in gear. You might want to check for air leaks in the tube that goes from the air cleaner to the engine, any leaks here can cause a problem and mess up the MAF sensor reading. Probably not a bad idea to check for vacuum leaks either.
what if i have older car with a distributor !? take every spark plug off each time !? btw you seem you really in love with Hondas :D , i wish if you vary in your explanations in the future to other different makers , like GM, Chrysler or even Nissan. thank u Eric.
@TeDuaMalakie Yep, on older ignitions you can just remove the plug wires one at a time to accomplish the same thing, I recommend the plastic pliers they make for doing this however so you don't get shocked. I have done a few videos using Hondas but I've also got quite a few using other vehicles such as GM, Ford, Jeep, Pontiac's, and more. I hope to cover even more in the future.
You can make a ghetto leak down tester with an air compressor and a Bottom of the Harbor Freight compression tester.
This tester has a compressor quick disconnect on the test hose simply screw the hose from the tester into the spark plug hole connect a standard air hose to the disconnect. Turn your compressors regulator to 100 PSI and connect the hose to the compressor.
Viola a leakdown tester for $30 bucks. Also handy for keeping valves up during spring or seal jobs.
Thanks a million Eric. I feel like such a dunce b/c I never heard of a 1 way clutch before today lol. Ill try that method as son as I get my hands on some ATF.
Great thank you. Is that part that comes out to engage the flywheel called the sylenoid? And what kind of lube would be best suited for this part? Maybe gear oil?
@Michiganborn1969 One way roller clutch, the solenoid is the relay on top that engages the starter. I use just a drop or 2 of transmission fluid as it has some detergent qualities to it.
@Michiganborn1969 The one way clutch may be hanging up on the starter ( that's the part that comes out to engage with the flywheel). I've had some success with removing the starter and lubricating this assembly to correct this problem.
Also I almost forgot to ask probably because its not a real problem yet. On my 04 Ranger 3.0L when I start it, it fires right up but here's the kicker, if I turn the key to start just a 1/2 second after it started the starter makes a grinding noise. Is it your opinion that the starter is on its way out? I prey its not the flywheel. The truck has 97k miles on it for what's worth.
@Michiganborn1969 No, that sounds like you are reengaging the starter, if you do this while the engine is running the starter will make contact with a moving flywheel, not a good thing.
Eric, recently I have changed my 03 Honda Accord starter, it's making a loud clicking noise when I try to start.It start sometimes and sometimes it will just click. This my second starter, that I have change.
@blooz62 Check the connections at the battery and the cables first, especially if you have those crappy aftermarket replacement terminals. Clean the battery terminals and the connection at the wire and see if the problem goes away.
@blooz62 Check to see if you have 12V at the solenoid wire when you turn the key to crank, if you do then replace the starter, if you don't then your problem is between that wiring and the ignition switch.
Eric, is it ok to remove the plug on the injectors in a MFI system (F150 5.0 L) one at a time to find a faulty injector? I've tried the balance test using the OBD1 but it won't execute.
That was a really cool fore effect you used in the video. It didn't seem to me any real danger that you mentioned in the pulling of the coil packs. Is the danger in diagnoising the injectors? (providing the coil packs were good)
@Michiganborn1969 The danger comes in when your working with some very high voltage ignition systems, having to disable them can be tricky, I plan to do a video on working with these systems at some point. You want to avoid getting shocked by these since they have the potential to stop your heart.
@therockkkkher I tried it in my lawnmower earlier in the season, it seemed to run better but not by much. I'm not much of an advocate for 'fixes in a bottle', I think for the most part they have their place but I don't think there is any substitute for good maintenance practices.
That's an old school technique I learned with spark plugs, if you take a plug wire off the plug and no change than you could have a faulty spark plug or injector problem. Great video Eric !!! Thumbs up !!
@AutoTechHector - Wow you could have at least posted something more constructive on why it's wrong. From what I was told you can take off the plug wire and if there is no change in idle then you could have a faulty spark plug ? Sorry if I'm "Wrong!!" I am not an expert in auto tech like you..
@jazzy4me4eva You could do it that way but the preferred way is to disable the ignition, you may disable an injector electrically but it may still be leaking when it's not energized.
i have done this on my 280Z. Didn't know it was called this. On a 32 year old motor in a 32 year old car that was left in a field I had a lot of visual cues before I did this test. Like semi eaten fuel injector lines, old old vacuum lines and plug wires, and much more.
Hey,Eric your video is always helpful ,and stop saying stay dirty while wearing latex gloves, just kidding i know why your wearing them, keep up the great work....
Hey Eric good vid, always helpful and educational. If its not a coil pack but wires like in older cars would you pull the wire out one by one and it would be the same as doing so to a coil pack? Just wanted to know as I have spark plug wires and not individual coils.
@legendfang Yes, you would pull the wires instead of unplugging the coil packs. I recommend using a set of plastic pliers that are made just for this however to avoid getting shocked.
@EricTheCarGuy Thanks for the reply and advise with plastic pliers. Knowing myself I would have shocked myself and thanks again.I hope to see more car vids as your videos are helpful and educational and I learn much from them.
Silly question by the way...I saw in a foreign movie once that a guy had a performance car and it was really loud so his neighboor stuffed the muffler with a few old t-shirts and then the car wouldn't start up. I was cracking up! Would something like that damage the engine too? Wouldn't the t-shirts come flying out if he had pushed it to redline?
@dwreus We used to put bottles on renter cars. The engine would not start because the seal was so tight and exhaust could not escape. But if you put the pedal to the floor (clear flood mode) It would fire and the bottle flew off like a rocket. LOL.
@dwreus That trick has been in more than one move. I've actually tried it with mixed results, one time the car didn't start, the other time it did start and blew the restriction out the back of the exhaust. I've also heard of people blowing up a muffler doing stuff like this. In short, it might work, it might not, just be careful.
Awesome once again Eric! Thank you for sharing your skills and experience with us.
Hoping you can find the time to show us how to do a leakdown test and what to look for when doing that test. I know that is a very time consuming test so even if you don't get around to doing it, you're still the man and you deserve the Master Tech title. Guess we should call you Master Eric, hahaha.
How would someone do this if their car had a single coilpack that fits streight onto the plugs.?
Rhin0Neil 1 day ago
sorry for my bad english i just want to know something. what is the fail when an injector is not working what can be the problem
miguelito602 3 weeks ago in playlist More videos from EricTheCarGuy
Quick question. What if cancelling cylinders brings the idle down, by about the same amount on 3 of 4 cylinders, but much more when cancelling out 1 of the 4 cylinders? does it mean that one of the cylinders is working harder than the rest? could it be a timing issue?
jdmef900 1 month ago
Great & quik way of diagnosing thanks eric!
TheEsevee 1 month ago
@Eric yep its definitely way better than guessing. s'why i was taught to spell diagnosis w dollar signs for the S's
Placer 4 months ago
Dude below,just like to state you spelled diagno$i$ wrong. That's the proper way.
Placer 4 months ago
@Placer $ well spent though, better than throwing good over bad by just throwing parts at something.
EricTheCarGuy 4 months ago
Great Video! Diagnosis is KEY!
Faqurkowch 4 months ago in playlist More videos from EricTheCarGuy
@Faqurkowch Indeed it is. Thanks for the comment.
EricTheCarGuy 4 months ago
hey eric i am debating to get a salvaged 4cyl truck should i do it?
chamblizi 5 months ago
@chamblizi Salvage vehicles are often a problem hence the reason they were totaled in the first place. They can make for good 'toys' sometimes but they can be a pain to purchase and insure.
EricTheCarGuy 4 months ago
@EricTheCarGuy I decided to stick with my truck that gets 10-12 mils to the gallon for college if i'm going in debt cause of college might as well go out in a blaze of glory
chamblizi 4 months ago
@chamblizi The oil companies will thank you for it. Enjoy it while you can because it won't be long and you probably won't be able to afford driving something like that again anyway.
EricTheCarGuy 4 months ago
@EricTheCarGuy ehh the government will never get me to get rid of my truck they are going to have to do it like they where doing in the 80's BUY IT OFF ME other then that fuck the government I would rather be "Off The Grid with my truck deep down in the woods. If it comes down to me needing fuel efficiency i will swap my engine out.
chamblizi 4 months ago
@chamblizi I didn't say the government was going to take it away from you but rather to say that supply and demand dictates that if something is in short supply it will be expensive and crude oil is one of those things. What I was suggesting is a point where it will cost you more than $200 to put 10 gallons of gas in that thing.
EricTheCarGuy 4 months ago
@EricTheCarGuy ether way i am not giving it up
chamblizi 4 months ago
@chamblizi I'm not saying you should. :)
EricTheCarGuy 4 months ago
@EricTheCarGuy There is no shortage of oil or gas. It's manipulated price fixing. There are 60 years worth of oil reserves stored in the salt domes of Nevada and Utah. Off the Gulf Coast, where there were over 800 production wells in 1980, there are now less than 100. Those producing wells (1500 to 2000 barrels/ day) were capped and cemented as our government decided it was cheaper to buy foreign oil. Look at the situation now. Our economy and workforce is dead. The country's been duped again!
ferdiecassel1 1 month ago
Hey there, helpfull video. I have one question, I have a four cylinder engine with twin coil packs so there is a lead to the other cylinder. I can unplug the coil simply enough but how do I go about stopping/taking off the lead as I know there to be a fair amount of current passing through (accidently brushed it one day, was abit of a shock lol) Engine is a mitsubishi 4G93 SOHC FYI.
Phillz91 6 months ago
@Phillz91 I plan to make a video on that at some point but the trick I use is with some vacuum line placed between the wire and the coil that I can touch with my test light to short it out when I cancel it. You could also unplug the injectors one at a time as well.
EricTheCarGuy 6 months ago
Can I give you a bath?
fkoff99 7 months ago
@fkoff99 Let me think about it.
EricTheCarGuy 7 months ago
@EricTheCarGuy LOL
fkoff99 7 months ago
@EricTheCarGuy
hey dude, if that's a good lookin' gal you better say hell yeah brother!! lol
jamisgood21 6 months ago
@jamisgood21 For some reason I don't think 'good looking gal's' are in my core demographic, in fact I find the comment mildly disturbing but intriguing all at the same time. :)
EricTheCarGuy 6 months ago
Eric what about waste spark ignition systems. Killing spark to one cylinder will also kill the spark to its companion cylinder. Say I have a 4cyl. GM engine and the problem is cyl. #1, If I kill the spark to cyl #1 then cyl #4 dies as well, and we have a engine that is running at 50%, if I kill the spark to cyl. #2 & 4 we are left with the offending pair and an engine that may not run at all! It seems that waste spark ignition cylinders fail in pairs, How we isolate the offending cylinder?
shieldcracker 7 months ago
@shieldcracker That is the other video I was referring to that I hope to make the next time I get the opportunity.
EricTheCarGuy 7 months ago
you have to show the vacumm line and test light power balance test! been using that for 20 years! best test on GM DIS systems. Never failed me!
prel91 7 months ago
@prel91 Your right I do, I hope to get that one in the next time I get one in. Thanks for the comment.
EricTheCarGuy 7 months ago
hey eric does spraying those types of coils with water offer any diagnostic benefit? My mom's corolla has the random misfire code.. also the injectors tick when they are faulty?
THanks you still rule
RoberTastic 7 months ago
@RoberTastic Not normally no. Injectors make a ticking noise normally I would not consider them bad just because they make noise.
EricTheCarGuy 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
DON'T READ THIS CAUSE IT ACTUALLY WORKS.YOU WILL GET KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE. TOMORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE HOWEVER IF YOU DO NOT POST THIS COMMENT TO AT LEAST 3 VIDEOS YOU WILL DIE WITHIN 2 DAYS. NO UV STARTED READING THIS SO DUNT STOP.THIS IS SCARY.PUT THIS ON AT LEAST 5 VIDEOS IN 143 MINUTES. WHEN YOUR DONE PRESS F6 AND YOUR LOVERS NAME WILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN IN BIG LETTERS.THIS IS SO SCARY CAUSE IT ACTUALLYWORK
Samthesplintthree 8 months ago
I have a power balance bracelet...
now my wrist hurts :(
Llaveroja27 8 months ago
@Llaveroja27 That sucks.
EricTheCarGuy 8 months ago
good
paula993ify 8 months ago
No bachelors degree? Thats bull man. You would be a fantastic teacher.
qotsajr 9 months ago
@qotsajr Thanks for that but I guess I've gotten around all that stuff and gone straight to doing it on YT, good enough for me really. Thanks again for your comment.
EricTheCarGuy 9 months ago
i pulled the spark plug wire off my coil pack at it shocked me, my arm was numb for an hour
zach9802 9 months ago
@zach9802 I hope to post a different video on how to handle that type of set up, check the comments below as I've posted the method in the past.
EricTheCarGuy 9 months ago
can you perform the power balance test by removing the sparkplug wires one by one like you did with the coils? cuz i want to see if one of my valves is causing this knocking/rattling when i accelerate or go up hill. oooh and thanking you for your awesome videos they have taught me alot and mostly all i know about how to perform maintenance and work on my car. p.s i own a 1996 Mazda 626 2.5L MFI DOHC 6cyl.
HappyKingdomHearts 10 months ago
@HappyKingdomHearts If you are going to drive the car or run it for a length of time it would be better to disconnect the connectors at the injectors instead of disabling the ignition system. You might want to watch the video on Finding A Noise to help you with that.
EricTheCarGuy 10 months ago
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Your videos are amazing, i'm learning a whole bunch about cars. Keep up the great work! Are you working on more vids? I'd love to see them. Thanks
Eric
rice400 10 months ago
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Your videos are amazing, i'm learning a whole bunch about cars. Keep up the great work! Are you working on more vids? I'd love to see them. Thanks
Eric
rice400 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Your videos are amazing, i'm learning a whole bunch about cars. Keep up the great work! Are you working on more vids? I'd love to see them. Thanks
rice400 10 months ago
Your videos are amazing, i'm learning a whole bunch about cars. Keep up the great work! Are you working on more vids? I'd love to see them. Thanks
rice400 10 months ago
@rice400 Thank you very much for the comment. I post every Monday, sometimes Wednesday and on fridays I have Fridays at the Redline.
EricTheCarGuy 10 months ago
Hi Eric, have a question. I work on bikes, so the only thing I can unplug are the spark plug wires. However, everything I've read said if I leave the plug wires ungrounded it might fry something. I'm not too clear how that works, so what're your thoughts on just unplugging the spark plug caps to check for this? Thanks.
hlpsg 10 months ago
@hlpsg That is very true but the idea is only to do it for a short time and you should be OK, in your case you might consider placing a piece of vacuum line between the spark plug and wire just enough to hold it there and then bring a grounded test light near the vacuum line to short it out to avoid damage to the ignition system. In fact I hope to demonstrate this in a video at some point.
EricTheCarGuy 10 months ago
@EricTheCarGuy
Great! Would be looking forward to it!
hlpsg 10 months ago
@anteeupz if you dont like Eric maybe you should just not watch his videos.....He doesnt smoke pot and for being a hick.....no. They make the hicks work at Canadian Tire! LOL
sonicthehedgehogca 11 months ago
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You mean the spark plug wires by coil pack right?? Just never heard the reference before. Awesome videos man really a great educational experience.....I just get into maintenance. Fixing cars I cant do much but the simple stuff...
sonicthehedgehogca 11 months ago
You mean the spark plug wires by coil pack right?? Just never heard the reference before. Awesome videos man really a great educational experience.....I just get into maintenance. Fixing cars I cant do much but the simple stuff...
sonicthehedgehogca 11 months ago
@sonicthehedgehogca Yes if you have coil packs that have wires on them you can do this same test using those. Thanks for your comment.
EricTheCarGuy 11 months ago
ur not a hick man, just because yyou are a car expert doesnt mean anything else.
SergeantCrunch 11 months ago
@SergeantCrunch Wouldn't care if I was as I get by just fine. Thanks for your comment.
EricTheCarGuy 11 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
how much pot do you smoke dude??? you are a hick
anteeupz 1 year ago
@anteeupz Seriously? Define 'hick' for me if you could because my vocabulary is lacking here as I don't see how 'smoking pot' and 'hick' go together, let alone how they would apply to me in this video so please enlighten me.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago 6
eric, did you ever make the companion video to this one, showing how to cancel out the cylinders using rubber hose and a test light? i just read about that technique in my auto tech textbook. i'm kind of confused on how, exactly, do that method and i'm getting pretty tired of getting shocked using the "old school" approach to power balance testing. lol.
duececaboose 1 year ago
@duececaboose Haven't had a vehicle come in that I could use for that test yet but I hope to make that video when one comes in.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
found it
blazingtonight1 1 year ago
@spazzman2323 In that case you would just pull the wires one at a time, they make a special set of plastic pliers that are made just for this to help keep you from getting shocked on your butt. Thanks for the comment.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
@EricTheCarGuy
How do you learn so much about these type of things?
yourtube1234567 1 year ago
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Shocking (yeah, right...) news: The manufacturer admits that "there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims".
powerbalance-dot-com-slash-australia-slash-CA
doGoNsIylbaborPerehT 1 year ago
Why aren't you a teacher? There's got to be a community college somewhere near you who would love to have a guy like you teaching techs.
DriftingFWWA 1 year ago
@DriftingFWWA I looked into it once and they said I needed something called a 'bachelors degree', I didn't have one so I went back to fixing cars.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago 7
@EricTheCarGuy
lol "bachelors degree"
pochoun33137 1 year ago
@EricTheCarGuy sir help pls... im having problem with my KIA pregio... when the engine gets hot and turned off suddenly it doesnt start anymore... thanx man...
duhkify 1 year ago
@duhkify That can be a bad thing indeed as if the engine gets severely overheated the pistons swell up in the bores and seize up causing damage to the metal parts and the engine will not turn over as a result.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
so when would you do this power balance test, for like a misfire ??
jambe1234567 1 year ago
@jambe1234567 That is an excellent reason to perform this test, in fact if the cause of the misfire is not apparent this is a great way to go about finding it.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
tnx for nice video
dosteddaram 1 year ago
Does the engine must shake a bit although every coil is ok? My car's motor shakes a lot, I have a VW POLO 9N
eldaguinio 1 year ago
@eldaguinio If there is NO change in engine performance when you disable a cylinder that would be the suspected cylinder and would need further investigation. In the case of your VW start with any check engine lights and then look to the tune up items for the source of your issue.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@EricTheCarGuy here's a video of how my motor shakes: youtube.com/watch?v=j-KWnx0SkPU
I wish I know if this is normal or isn't
eldaguinio 1 year ago
If a coil pack is bad, or not working right, it will turn part of the plug black, won't it? I have a 2000 Toyota Celica GT-S that likes to lose spark in a cylinder and start sounding like a subaru at times. I've replaced all 4 injectors recently, as well as iridium race plugs, but I have a slightly cracked coil pack. The error code on the reader is random misfire, and bank 1 system rich.
Ghostixe 1 year ago
@Ghostixe It could just as easily be a vacuum leak causing the system to read lean which would make the computer command rich. Make sure the mechanical health of the engine is good with a compression test.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
@EricTheCarGuy Replaced all 4 coil packs, new plugs, and cleaned the injectors, and it has significantly improved the idle, but it still hesitates horribly when I take it up to where the vvti-l is supposed to engage. My car isn't stock, but it feels almost like its not getting enough fuel at higher rpms when that variable valve timing kicks in. Fuel pressure? Maybe, fuel pump or filter?
Ghostixe 1 year ago
@Ghostixe If the car is not stock depending on the modifications you may need larger injectors or it could be a characteristic of the modifications (different cam). Not knowing what has been done to the car makes it impossible for me to help and even if I did something that is modified from stock does not have a "typical" path to diagnosis and repair.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
I would like to point out that this method does not work for waste spark ignition systems as puling 1 spark wire disables 2 cylinders. While sometimes being more difficult, you can also just unplug the fuel injector for the cylinder you want to test. Second, this method is useful for diagnosing mechanical engine knocks such as those caused by piston slap or a faulty wrist pin. Keep up the good work, thank you for posting.
fastveedub 1 year ago
@fastveedub It can work for waste spark ignition if done correctly, that was what I was referring to in the video that would be shown in a future video.Getting to injectors on some vehicles can be a lot more difficult but if you are unable to disable the ignition unplugging injectors will work just fine for this test, in fact that is what I believe the scan tool does when it performs this test. As you state it can also help with the mechanical problems you mention. Thanks for the great comment.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
That was another great one !
Cant wait to see what you have in mind with the vacuum !
Cheersss !
jasmenter 1 year ago
@jasmenter Glad you liked it, thanks for the comment.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@EricTheCarGuy Just tried it out on a ford.
Also i found it very interesting doing the same thing with the fuel injector cables,
i found why it was running on 3 cylinders on every cold and damp morning... turns out i have to do all their wiring loom again coz wire insulation is looong gone in some spots :) :) :)
jasmenter 1 year ago
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jasmenter 1 year ago
Eric, my 96 cavalier. i replaced the spark plugs an wires. cleaned the throttle body an idel control valve with throttle body cleaner. new pcv valve. at times it idles rough an tries to choke it self. what do i do next? Kody
zztopgearhead1 1 year ago
@zztopgearhead1 If that has the 2.4L with the coil cover assembly then I would look to that for the possible cause, they have been known to get cracks and cause an intermittent short. You could spray it with some water to see if it begins to run rough, if it does then I would replace it.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
The 99 Odyssey has very slight vibration at idle both in park and in neutral. The frequency is 30 per 45 seconds i.e. about once every 1.5 seconds. I have put my hand on the engine and I can not feel those vibration. I can feel them only by seat of pants. New timing belt, plugs and even new transmission has not changed it. The idle speed is around 750 rpm and is rock steady. The vibration is coming approximately every 10th revolution. What can it be?
vgs8606 1 year ago
@vgs8606 First make sure you are using Nippon Denso or NGK plugs, if not change them. Next try this test to see if you see a change. Lastly those valves are adjustable and they may need adjusting, I've shot video for this but haven't had time to edit it yet.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
@EricTheCarGuy They are the NGK Laser platinum plug. I had to replace one coil and I had used similar method to find the failing coil in the past but those were hard failure and the car was running on 5-cylinders. If one of the cylinder is misfiring every 10th revolution, that will be really tough to figure out :-( Cylinder balance will make the car run on 5 cylinder. I don't see how that will pinpoint the cylinder in this case.
vgs8606 1 year ago
@vgs8606 I think that depends on your skill level and experience. For the most part in that situation a power balance test will get you started on the path of diagnosis if nothing else, if that didn't yield any result then you would obviously move on to more testing to find the cause. Thanks for your comments.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Very good test and info.
netman88 1 year ago
it's basic but useful
Sengeto 1 year ago
Hey Eric, I have a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse and lately my car's been like stuttered if I give it too much gas at a low RMP. It is a manual and before I could have it on 4th for example at 35mph and floor it and all that would happen is accelerate slowly but now, if I have it on 4th at 35mph, I can only give it very little gas or it will start stuttering alot. It doesn't even have to be in gear, it can be in neutral. Some1 said it could be something with the intake. What do u think? Thanks!
UncleSam330 1 year ago
@UncleSam330 First thing I thought of when reading this was the clutch was slipping until you mentioned that it happened when it wasn't in gear. You might want to check for air leaks in the tube that goes from the air cleaner to the engine, any leaks here can cause a problem and mess up the MAF sensor reading. Probably not a bad idea to check for vacuum leaks either.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Eric, could you do a proper SeaFoam video. These idiots on YouTube are just setting us up for failure, thanks.
toufelhunden1 1 year ago
@toufelhunden1 I'm not much of a SeaFoam user on cars but I've used it on my lawn equipment. Let me look into it and I'll see what I can do.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
what if i have older car with a distributor !? take every spark plug off each time !? btw you seem you really in love with Hondas :D , i wish if you vary in your explanations in the future to other different makers , like GM, Chrysler or even Nissan. thank u Eric.
TeDuaMalakie 1 year ago
@TeDuaMalakie Yep, on older ignitions you can just remove the plug wires one at a time to accomplish the same thing, I recommend the plastic pliers they make for doing this however so you don't get shocked. I have done a few videos using Hondas but I've also got quite a few using other vehicles such as GM, Ford, Jeep, Pontiac's, and more. I hope to cover even more in the future.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Yeah man, you love army text dont ya? Im subing to you you are awesome. And staying dirty, well you can't describe me without it
Piestukas1995 1 year ago
@Piestukas1995 Yea, I'm actually getting tired of that font and looking for new ones. Thanks for your comment and your sub. Dirty people are cool.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
You can make a ghetto leak down tester with an air compressor and a Bottom of the Harbor Freight compression tester.
This tester has a compressor quick disconnect on the test hose simply screw the hose from the tester into the spark plug hole connect a standard air hose to the disconnect. Turn your compressors regulator to 100 PSI and connect the hose to the compressor.
Viola a leakdown tester for $30 bucks. Also handy for keeping valves up during spring or seal jobs.
Bushougoma 1 year ago
@Bushougoma That is exactly what I do with my Craftsman tester, you need to remove the schrader valve first however.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
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Bushougoma 1 year ago
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Bushougoma 1 year ago
Thanks a million Eric. I feel like such a dunce b/c I never heard of a 1 way clutch before today lol. Ill try that method as son as I get my hands on some ATF.
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
Great thank you. Is that part that comes out to engage the flywheel called the sylenoid? And what kind of lube would be best suited for this part? Maybe gear oil?
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
@Michiganborn1969 One way roller clutch, the solenoid is the relay on top that engages the starter. I use just a drop or 2 of transmission fluid as it has some detergent qualities to it.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
It does sound like I restarted the engine but I didn't turn the key to start a 2nd time. Its all 1 motion of turn to start and then grind. Hummm
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
@Michiganborn1969 The one way clutch may be hanging up on the starter ( that's the part that comes out to engage with the flywheel). I've had some success with removing the starter and lubricating this assembly to correct this problem.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Also I almost forgot to ask probably because its not a real problem yet. On my 04 Ranger 3.0L when I start it, it fires right up but here's the kicker, if I turn the key to start just a 1/2 second after it started the starter makes a grinding noise. Is it your opinion that the starter is on its way out? I prey its not the flywheel. The truck has 97k miles on it for what's worth.
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
@Michiganborn1969 No, that sounds like you are reengaging the starter, if you do this while the engine is running the starter will make contact with a moving flywheel, not a good thing.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Eric, recently I have changed my 03 Honda Accord starter, it's making a loud clicking noise when I try to start.It start sometimes and sometimes it will just click. This my second starter, that I have change.
Thanks
blooz62 1 year ago
@blooz62 Check the connections at the battery and the cables first, especially if you have those crappy aftermarket replacement terminals. Clean the battery terminals and the connection at the wire and see if the problem goes away.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
@EricTheCarGuy yes I did clean the battery connection and checked the battery cables. But it still gaving me same problem..
Thanks
blooz62 1 year ago
@blooz62 Check to see if you have 12V at the solenoid wire when you turn the key to crank, if you do then replace the starter, if you don't then your problem is between that wiring and the ignition switch.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
awesome video as always!
rleon1991 1 year ago
Then its an added plus incase someone bags on ya for wearing latext gloves lol. Shock prevention :).
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
Eric, is it ok to remove the plug on the injectors in a MFI system (F150 5.0 L) one at a time to find a faulty injector? I've tried the balance test using the OBD1 but it won't execute.
Thanks bud.
MrWalleye 1 year ago
@MrWalleye Your better of disabling the ignition as if the injector is leaking it will still be dripping fuel even if it's unplugged. Good luck.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
I really enjoy all your videos, they are easy to understand and you always learn something new. Thanks.
Seirei0417 1 year ago
@Seirei0417 I'm glad you like the videos, I work pretty hard on them and to hear that they are well received means a great deal to me, thanks.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
your vids are probably the most helpful I have found on youtube, thank you sir
redhot916spd 1 year ago
@redhot916spd Thank you very much, I try my best.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Oops. FIRE effect, not fore effect lol
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
That was a really cool fore effect you used in the video. It didn't seem to me any real danger that you mentioned in the pulling of the coil packs. Is the danger in diagnoising the injectors? (providing the coil packs were good)
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
@Michiganborn1969 The danger comes in when your working with some very high voltage ignition systems, having to disable them can be tricky, I plan to do a video on working with these systems at some point. You want to avoid getting shocked by these since they have the potential to stop your heart.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
excellent common scense repair wisdom. Great video
SWD2263 1 year ago
best channel on youtube along with realfixes real fast.
foxdmulder 1 year ago
@foxdmulder High praise indeed, I LOVE realfixesrealfast, great channel.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
stay dirty
corght 1 year ago
great video. keep the videos coming.
laughatthisnow 1 year ago
hey eric/cheech, sorry if you answered this before, but do you use seafoam? i havent seen you use it yet !!!
therockkkkher 1 year ago
@therockkkkher
Have you seen any YT videos on people using Seafoam? They're really cool. I wonder though if it damages the emmision systems.. hummmm.
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
@therockkkkher I tried it in my lawnmower earlier in the season, it seemed to run better but not by much. I'm not much of an advocate for 'fixes in a bottle', I think for the most part they have their place but I don't think there is any substitute for good maintenance practices.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
How you do a test like this on a car that has a distributor? Such as an 81 Cadillac deville.
antonio30824 1 year ago
Thanks Eric, excellent information. Carry on the great info!
AlmondCharles 1 year ago 8
eric you rule .
yewwtubee 1 year ago 7
As ever a great vid. I love the fact that you make videos easy enough for idiots like me to understand.
ShiftySquirrel 1 year ago
@ShiftySquirrel Well I'm pretty much an idiot so I can relate, I figure, if I can do it anyone can.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
That's an old school technique I learned with spark plugs, if you take a plug wire off the plug and no change than you could have a faulty spark plug or injector problem. Great video Eric !!! Thumbs up !!
mixwell1983 1 year ago
@mixwell1983 Wrong!!!
AutoTechHector 1 year ago
@AutoTechHector - Wow you could have at least posted something more constructive on why it's wrong. From what I was told you can take off the plug wire and if there is no change in idle then you could have a faulty spark plug ? Sorry if I'm "Wrong!!" I am not an expert in auto tech like you..
mixwell1983 1 year ago
@mixwell1983 Just keep at it you'll get there one day maxwell.
AutoTechHector 1 year ago
@mixwell1983 That's exactly what I meant when I said this test has been around for some time. Thanks for your input and the great comment.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
what about disconnecting the injectors ?
jazzy4me4eva 1 year ago
@jazzy4me4eva You could do it that way but the preferred way is to disable the ignition, you may disable an injector electrically but it may still be leaking when it's not energized.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
This test work to any car. I hace a Honda Civic
Aoviedo666 1 year ago
@Aoviedo666 I've done this test on more than one Civic so yes.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
forgot so say spark plug lol might have fouled it. great work and vids!
POORIGUS 1 year ago
i have done this on my 280Z. Didn't know it was called this. On a 32 year old motor in a 32 year old car that was left in a field I had a lot of visual cues before I did this test. Like semi eaten fuel injector lines, old old vacuum lines and plug wires, and much more.
7thrx 1 year ago
@7thrx
Wasn't the 1978 Datsun 280Z carberated still at that time?
Michiganborn1969 1 year ago
@Michiganborn1969 The earliest Z to be fuel injected was the late 260Z. All 280Zs had fuel injection.
7thrx 1 year ago
@7thrx Sounds like a real project. The first car I ever worked on as a professional was a 72 240Z, cool car, felt a little like a Japanese Corvette.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Hey,Eric your video is always helpful ,and stop saying stay dirty while wearing latex gloves, just kidding i know why your wearing them, keep up the great work....
000030stephen 1 year ago
@000030stephen At least the gloves are dirty. :)
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Yet another excellent segment of footage Eric.
croom9 1 year ago
@croom9 Thank you croom9.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Hey Eric good vid, always helpful and educational. If its not a coil pack but wires like in older cars would you pull the wire out one by one and it would be the same as doing so to a coil pack? Just wanted to know as I have spark plug wires and not individual coils.
legendfang 1 year ago
@legendfang Yes, you would pull the wires instead of unplugging the coil packs. I recommend using a set of plastic pliers that are made just for this however to avoid getting shocked.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
@EricTheCarGuy Thanks for the reply and advise with plastic pliers. Knowing myself I would have shocked myself and thanks again.I hope to see more car vids as your videos are helpful and educational and I learn much from them.
legendfang 1 year ago
@legendfang Anytime, that's why I'm here. I hope to be making video for some time to come. Thanks for your comments.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
How you do a test like this on a car that has a distributor?
imthechandyman 1 year ago
@imthechandyman Good question i was going to ask that also. I want to know how you do this on a 81 Cadillac.
antonio30824 1 year ago
Comment removed
imthechandyman 1 year ago
Silly question by the way...I saw in a foreign movie once that a guy had a performance car and it was really loud so his neighboor stuffed the muffler with a few old t-shirts and then the car wouldn't start up. I was cracking up! Would something like that damage the engine too? Wouldn't the t-shirts come flying out if he had pushed it to redline?
dwreus 1 year ago
@dwreus We used to put bottles on renter cars. The engine would not start because the seal was so tight and exhaust could not escape. But if you put the pedal to the floor (clear flood mode) It would fire and the bottle flew off like a rocket. LOL.
ghtowagon 1 year ago
@dwreus That trick has been in more than one move. I've actually tried it with mixed results, one time the car didn't start, the other time it did start and blew the restriction out the back of the exhaust. I've also heard of people blowing up a muffler doing stuff like this. In short, it might work, it might not, just be careful.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
Awesome once again Eric! Thank you for sharing your skills and experience with us.
Hoping you can find the time to show us how to do a leakdown test and what to look for when doing that test. I know that is a very time consuming test so even if you don't get around to doing it, you're still the man and you deserve the Master Tech title. Guess we should call you Master Eric, hahaha.
dwreus 1 year ago
@dwreus He did one on compression/leakdown. Do a search.
MrWalleye 1 year ago