The 'Other Shop' Told This Lady She Needed A New Instrument Cluster...

In this video I bring you along as I look at a ladies 2012 Toyota Rav 4 that is having issues with the cluster. She had it at another shop and was told she needed a new instrument cluster. It doesn't take long to find out the cluster is fine but there is a big problem with the data network. Let's have a look and find out what the real issue is.
-Enjoy

Thank you so much for the support!
--Eric & Vanessa O.

Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?

Just ship it here:

South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809

Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.

[MikeBrown-iipt]

I was waiting for Luna to snatch up a mouse and say "Here's your problem lady!

[kenklak]

Finding this issue isn't the miracle, the miracle is finding a smart, honest mechanic that doesn't take the parts cannon to every repair.

[electricannulus]

One of the few Youtube videos that actually show a true technician at work. I hope many viewers watch and appreciate why you pay for a "True" technician to diagnose and repair their vehicles. Thanks for taking the time to create this highly educational and interesting video.

[KJParadise]

I've learned that the go-to diagnosis is "broken wire". But you are incredibly fast and efficient in finding exactly what wire is broken.

[Intabih]

7:08 Luna giving it the cat scan. OMG.

[garyboughton]

Cat immediately identified Mouse Damage. Smart Kitty!

[mikemchaney]

A real mechanic doing the actual diagnosing. Love it.

[brucemckelvy]

Sorry Eric, but you are absoluttely correct that other shops would not be able to diagnose it. Thus why it came to you in the first place with the "diagnosis" that the instrument cluster was bad. They are simply parts replacers, not diagnosticians. Love to watch you work. Thanks for all the hard work you do.

[techdude]

I’ve been an electronic tech since 1983 and you are by far one of the best troubleshooters around. You should not sell yourself short, there’s a lot of “mechanics” that would never find those broken wires and would just give up after the cannon was empty. Keep up the good work, it’s so refreshing to to see an honest mechanic that knows what he’s doing!

[gregskibinski]

When you said “Cat Scan” and then I seen your kitty I about peed myself! You are the best! Thank You I needed that!

[saydmarschany]

Very well done, strong in diagnostics. Gave a good example on how a mechanic should trouble shoot irregularities.

[chucklanholm]

I am liking your Albert Einstein quote: "Never memorize something that you can look up". Thank you for sharing your logic of how to tackle this type of issue.

[ChrisVargasrphtchris]

Mr.O, don't sell yourself short as this is a miracle as shown by the shop trying to sell the customer an instrument cluster. No one wants to diagnose anymore, and all they want to do is shoot the parts cannon. You are one of the old-school talents that still does diagnostic troubleshooting. You, Ivan, and Scanner Danner are just a few who look at the problem and take the time to find the root cause as best you can. This is why so many viewers seek you out for your expertise. Please don't be mad at your viewers for wishing we had a talent like you in our area. The alternative is to be overcharged, pay the parts cannon shop, and still have the problem after letting go of hundreds if not thousands of dollars and the shop saying we don't have an answer for you now pay me.

[thomask]

Dear Eric,
I'm retired at age 68. Back in 73, I worked in a machine shop. A year later, I got an electrical apprenticeship in a factory that manufactured mining equipment including locomotives. As a side job, I worked in a local auto garage/body shop. When I became a journeyman, I moved on to working on locomotives in the railroad industry as an electrician and a technician. Years later, I became an instructor to teach people how to fix locomotives. As time went on, I was promoted a few times until I managed a railroad training department until I retired. I trained people for the last 30 years of my career.
If your ears were ringing the other day, a retired co-worker and I were praising you. He was my best railroad apprentice who became a close friend and retired as an electrical technician. We both have nothing but praise for you. I'm inspired, humbled and grateful that I can follow your adventures! You ARE a GREAT TEACHER! By the way, Einstein also once said, "why should I clutter my mind with something I can look up?"
Best Wishes Always,
Tom K

[BucksRuckus]

I loved the way you tracked the issue down, a regular Sherlock Combs!

[seasalt]

I will have to admit that this is one of the best troubleshooting I've seen. If I could find any shop near here that was half a competent or willing to put the effort in I would let a shop do the work on the car. I understand you closing comments about receiving praise. there is nothing preventing other shops from doing things like what you are doing. its technical but not impossible. The difference is character- willing to put in the work to do it right and with integrity. Last time I trusted a local shop I knew there was a leak in the turbo coolant tube- not a fun driveway repair. so I asked them to do it. they wouldn't until they used their pressure tester and magically came up with a coolant tank leak that wasn't there. I figured this was just the price they were punishing me for doing the analysis myself so 375 dollars later they tried giving it back without doing the fix I asked to be done. then having their lead tech look at it again they found the original problem in the exact location I found it, and fixed it - another $1000 and week sitting in the shop, then a few days after getting it back, started having issue with acceleration and found they had lost the connector for the throttle cable and had simply left the end hanging on the knob waiting to fall of in some bump on the highway hours from home. And this is one of the more trustworthy shops in the area. At least I know they are scamming and just have to put up with it to get them to do things I don't have the proper tools to complete well. I feel for the people who don't even know and don't have someone like you who is trustworthy in their area. Thank you for doing the job right and caring to be one of the rare honest ones.

[JagerEinheit]

Eric, WHY on earth do you have to be over 14 hours away from me... I swear everyone needs an "Eric/ SMA" local to them. Great work as usual.

[smitty]

Rare qualities in a mechanic:
Honesty
Integrity
Fairness
Your years of experience
Willingness to go the extra mile.

There is an old saying, easy for the person that knows. These qualities are in YOU not everyone. That’s why you are praised. May be easy to you, but the world needs more people like you.
Oh, and your sense of humor and humility…. On point my guy 😂

[kriswingert]

So... the car got a cat scan and found the broken wires. You are a good tech for actually finding the root of the issue. You are like me, a rare breed who will actually fix it correctly.

[elektro-peter]

About the coment at the end that you are not the best person to teach diagnostics: That's not true! You are very good at explaining this kind of stuff! Through watching videos on your channel I got the confidence to do some car electronics troubleshooting myself. You showed me that it's not that hard and you only have to follow the trail of the clues. And your sentence "if I can do it, you can do it" at the end always motivates me. Thank you very much for all the great content!