I’ve found Discount Tire in Saratoga Springs to be very good. I watch them and they torque every time. They even grind rust off the hub for free. Garrett, the GM is incredible.

You are a good mechanic and i wish there is a shop or tech like you near my house. I use to be a tech but i just don't have the facility and time to do my own work any more. When i was a mechanic i was like you, always trying to save the customer money and be a good guy. The truth is you are being the best mechanic you can be by quoting shop rate. (you can always discount later). By hiring your service the customer is already getting an honest and solid service if they were to go to other shop they would get charge shop rate with no guaranty that their service is better. So please protect your business so your good customers can have a good mechanic to go to. Take care!

I remember seeing a buddy doing 1 of These! Had the airhammer removing the axle Whole steering assembly out of the way for a Alt!

I know that when I worked at Firestone it was policy to torque lug nuts with a torque wrench they have to sign off if that helps

You should carry a compressor and a Jaws Of Life. I bet you could gain access somehow.😂

You can move the vacuumed storage canister away from the fire wall and bring it up through there. I have done several.

I have the same scan tool, absolutely loving the versatility it has

I had a experience doing mobile mechanic work when I was doing it myself. Engine on a 2003 gmc envoy. Customer told me how much he was quoted by the stealership to r and r engine and I scouffed and told him my normal rate for r and r on an engine (one of the few jobs that I had a flat fee for) and I hadn't heard anything about them being special and needing to remove the body from frame to do the work. I did find that I was able to do it without removing the body fortunately it wasn't a 4x4 or I wouldn't have been able to do it without removing the body. I wasn't going to back out on the job nor did I charge the customer much extra for the job and fortunately the customer had a few other issues with that vehicle and a couple other vehicles he had so I was able to find a way to make it work and not lose my a$$ on it. Chalked it up to experience and made sure that I was checking out service data for all future jobs and never just going off the top of my head when quoting.

I hope you are getting better, Ernest! Please take care man.

Those alternators are a pain. I helped my buddy thinking it would be quick. Took the majority of the day and a lot of choice words.

That really sucks. But these cars aren't designed so customers can fix them.

Have you ever talked about how you became a mechanic in any of your videos? Dad teach you? Self-taught? Go to school? How you decided to do mobile mechanic? I wish there were a lot more people like you out there.

Dont let anyone hate. If a company is asking you to review a tool jump on it. I see alot of comments people hating. The only thing I would have to say is if they have you review a tool and its trash then I would state it in a professional way. Other then that REVIEW THEM ALL. I love tools and free tools even more.

This reminds me of telling my nephew that it won't take long to change the starter on his 2004 Tundra and they don't put starters on top of the engine.

A job well avoided 👍

I almost fell into the same situation....guy wanted his power steering pump changed steering got hard luckily I did research to find out it's an electric power steering

Try not to look at it like you ripped yourself off. Maybe think of it like you gained a lot of knowledge and that’s important to your growth! Ya can’t win em all brother! One of my toughest lessons as a 21 year old was to always plan for assistance in advance on any bigger jobs! I laid on hot top on a tablecloth with a turbo 350 trans on my chest and had a couple friends pull the end tied off with a rope sliding me under my Nova to do the bench press of a lifetime placing that up, on and into the engine for bolting. (1983) We still joke about it today but it DID get done! Some knowledge and life lessons just cost a little more, be grateful this one only cost you a little sweat and some time😉

Those are a PITA to change. In 2008 Ford put the alternator toward the front of the vehicle making it easier.

You got some of the different ads. Hey, you want to be an engineer? You want to travel ti Florida? Cool beans.

I have done a bunch of these alternators. Like you when I looked it up I was like no way. Take the axle out and loosen the sub frame and you can do it in about an hour. It's alot easier on a lift

You should consider buying some roadside cones for safety reasons and to delineate where the work area will be ✌🏻

The oil pressure switch is just above the ac compressor and is known to piss oil out of it looking like the pan gasket . As for the alternator, the axle come out ant you unhook the tie rod from the knuckle and the alternator comes out . Job does suck

I always check the torque on my lugnuts. Discount Tire has been good most.od the time, but I have found some big misses. I recently went to a new shop and had an alignment, tire balance and rotation. Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers in Pleasant Grove was spot on on every lug! 💯👐

I did a job like this on a 2006 Ford Escape was able to sneak the alternator up between the firewall and back valve cover it looks tight but a certain angle that puppy came out

I'm with you. At my shop I cringe when something like this happens. You just did the customers sons alternator on his truck for 100$ labor and now you have to explain why its going to be triple to do his. I have no clue why they do things like this.

I may be old school but to scan test a charging system and your battery is 6.39 volts it does not work . A sitting good battery has 12.6 volts , to diagnose you need to charge battery first do a load test to see if battery is any good . Then start and do a charging test for volts and amps to determine if alternative is defective . Before wasting time replacing a new alternator that may be still under warranty too much drama changing parts is not diagnosing issue . May be BCM that is not sending a signal to alternator to charge there is a reason the new alternator is not working like the original one .

Just changed mine a few hours ago you can unplug a few harnesses move a few things and you can get it up and out by the fire wall wasn’t the easiest but also wasn’t to terrible took 2 hours maybe

I ran in the same issue it was a painful learning experience but after a bunch of youtube videos later I got it done.

That was a nice MR2 outside the Autozone.

U gotta remove the cv axles and possibly part of the exhaust u might be able to pull it upwards but that takes time too

That is the exact same alternator that goes with my 2005 Ford Five Hundred I have had to replace 2 of them!!! It isn't an easy thing to replace!!!!! On my Five Hundred you have to unbolt the A frame to drop it about a half inch to get the clearance to remove the alternator. It's about a 4 hour job.

Perhaps I missed it. Did you actually diagnose if it was a battery or alternator issue? Never saw battery voltage w/ the engine running.

Really great case study. It's unfortunate but it's great to see the inside hard life of an auto mechanic. The only thing better than the outcome of this video would have been actually doing the complete job by the hour, and seeing the final outcome. Like what needed to be replaced and what survived after removing all those parts to get the alternator out.

find a small printer u can use in the car so u can print invoices out on the spot

A lot of great KZfaq coming out of Utah

If you have supply voltage on the field winding but not charging or voltage not reaching 13+ volts with engine running, your alternator for sure is bad,. Mostly I encounter bad diode. A good digital multimeter can diagnose it.

I have the x431 v4 and love it even though I'm still learning her. Has mixed features if it will do certain things like some older cars you can rewrite vins other no options even show. Connectors are obd1 ad well as BMW proprietary connectors

Costco torques lug nuts, and they recommend you come back soon after so they can re-torque them to spec

My wife's mercury mariner was same. Was able to get it out and replace just by pulling axle out of transmission. It was not fun

👍. A other job well done.

You can get the alternator off by removing the alternator then lay it back and take alternator bracket off block and it will come out. Its a knuckle buster to do but once you're done one its not that bad.

In my opinion Xtool is far superior to launch. The 3 years or updates alone is worth its weight in gold.

2005 Ford focus wagon flabbergasted! 7 hour book time did it in five had to pull upper motor mount lower transmission mount slide the engine forward then remove the ducted shield off the alternator crazy mess.. !!😜

that's about right...... is become new cars has crap in the engine u have to move and get to...

That Launch scanner are the best.

At least you know wen to put your limit...you know wen to say no...for me that's a job well done

That alternator comes out from the top you just have to remove computer and lay wiring harness to the side and maybe removing exhaust manifold but that a lot easier than struggle with axle and then end up with alignment problems or damage axle from hammer beating when working on a vehicle underneath I always prefer two inflated wheels to set car on rather than taking chances on a flemsy jack stand Nice job dodging Ivan I mean ernest

The alternator isnt too horrible on these drop sub frame on that side support it take out alternator bolts probably about 2 hrs..good video

to save money next time only get adapters for the common cars u work on......

I use all data and I look for KZfaq videos if it says so many hours. But usually we go with the hours listed on all data

I bought one on Amazon, as well, but turns out it’s a global version and not an actual Launch tech USA model. I called Launch tech last yr. about an issue I was having and when asked for my serial #, the operator apologized and told me that it wasn’t registered with Launch tech (USA). “Launch Tech does not sell on Amazon nor on eBay,” she went on to say.. They sell they’re products through vendors such as NAPA, Advance auto and the like. She told me I had a global Launch unit. Does the same thing, however, I just can’t call within the U.S. for any type of support. I would have to email China and hope I get a hold of someone🤦🏼‍♀️😬

Man I remember my first escape alternator when I give the prize this guy was let's do it quick 😒😒😒few hours later I wish I was a bad guy and say let get more tools and never come back 😅🤣🤣🤣😂 but I stay till I finish my job and for the next one I know how much labor it takes and charge more 😉😉😉

Thanks for another great video, Ernest!

use the battery jump bot when u run that on dead battery's...

Those extra connectors are for OBD1 computers I looked up the info on Amazon and it list it in the description of the device.

Do you ever tell people that it’s supposed to take “x” amount of hours, but if it doesn’t take me anywhere near that long I’ll only charge you for what it takes me.

That MR2 in the background though...

With that much labor time I think you should sell him a diagnosis. Especially since you noticed the existing alternator looked new.

I got the blue Daytona jack wish I had grabbed the green one

Hey ernest the ocean is on fire. Can you check it out for me? Think it's just some spark plugs.

"There's no way they would of designed it that hard to get to" exactly how I felt about Toyota putting the starter under the intake manifold, or when Chevy Silverado's had to remove the front grill to replace a bulb in the headlight. Never under estimate engineer's ability to complicate things.

Put it back together and tell the person it's a chart was right. It's a 7 hour job.

The very first thing any smart person would have done is check voltage and if you had looked up in the right corner of the Launch it shows you what the voltage is. I noticed it as I was watching it.

Those studs are for a plastic cover that goes over the Alternator,most people leave them out,,that's why you didn't see it,the alternator comes out from the top,not to bad,I can do one in 2 hours off and on 😎

Can you program keys and reprogram immobilizers in like Hondas ?

I would quote on the service data and let the customer know if you can do it quicker then you will adjust quote

That's not an Expedition 🤣 2006 Escape v6 4wd. You're working too hard Ernest. Take care of yourself

You should carry an easy up for hotter days.

I saw that alternator and thought "OMG! That looks like the alternator I recently put in a Ford Freestyle. What a pain in the a--." It was a "Crank - No Start" from seized alternator. When that upper left bolt doesn't want to move....

Do you wear purple to ease their pain when you tell them that they have to take it to the stealership or bend-u-over shop? 😂

Oh my goodness. I never knew it would take that long to swap any alternator! What a 💩 design!

I love your truck : )

Nice diagnostic video

For those quick to blame the engineers for a lousy design that's hard to work on, just remember that the engineers report to corporate and ultimately it's the car companies themselves that dictate how to build the vehicle based on serviceability and profit margins. That said, I really wish American auto makers would step it up and start making quality, reliable vehicles that aren't crazy insane to work on. Maybe then people will start buying American more over foreign makes that last longer and aren't as difficult to work on. (Usually)

I got the one with the HD pass through, same table. You can take the case apart and upgrade the memory with a micro SD card. I think 128 GB is the limit. 128 gb is what I put in mine.

Win some, lose some.

When the books says 7.5 hr that's what you have to charge , the fastest way I have learn to take does alternator is buy removing the intake and the pcm from the firewall , takes about 2.5 hrs but still charge the 7.5 , been a mechanic for 16 years at shops and self employed too.

That's Crazy location . for Ford 🇨🇦

Ford focus hatch back version is something similar

As soon as I saw a Ford I knew you got pegged.

2:32 person taking lawn mower for a walk 🤷

move ur plate... it reflects to much in the window... also it's a flyi g objects if u get hit

You're correct not to go down that,"Rabbit Hole"

That body style Ford Escape is a bitch to do anything engine related if it has the V6 in it, if it was the 4 cylinder engine it would be easy to change

Man i have a 1999 VW Passat 2.8l V6 5valve B5. Alternator is in the worst spot. You have to pull the front end off to get to it.. brutal..

And that's a job *NOT* done👎🏼😁

Auto liking of course, love The vids man

Automotive engineers should be required to do service and repair work practices on every vehicle they design. I would like to upgrade from my older Launch CRP123 Premium and the new Launch 431 looks nice especially for the features my scan tool doesn’t have. My automotive side repair work has been a mix of having the vehicles at my house (better convenience for my full time job and the ability to step out the side door to my driveway and get right to work) and driving to the vehicle owner’s house. I price the job by .50/mile from my address to the owner’s address using Google Maps and repairpal.com to find the labor rates for the job on the vehicle I’m working on in my area, then go by the middle between the lowest and highest price estimate and I try to persuade the owner to use NAPA for the auto parts, but since it’s their vehicle they can buy the parts they want to, right? If y’all have better suggestions let me know, I’m completely open to them. I’m unable to obtain any ASE certificates since I don’t work in a shop or at a dealership.

Can't believe they would put the alternator, down back there? I bet this truck is a nightmare to change any part on the motor. Or anything anywhere on the vehicle. Yep best avoided.♨

That job is definitely not fun but last one I did I had to pop the axle from the knuckle and remove so the alternator will clear and not cut the boot Job definitely was not fun but took me about 2and half hours

those tote from AutoZone r great... how u get that one

Gotta use a ratchet and extensions near the y pipe is the easiest way other than pulling the whole motor trust me duratec engines are nice they last for ever but some of the stuff was stupid af

Watch out for the Mazda MPV same exact alternator location.

This is nuts

What happened to the big UPS truck? I like the pick up but I would be worried my tools to get stolen. Actually I didn't even know mobile mechanic existed. I live in Europe, my car hardly sees any mechanic, I try to do it myself even though I never had any tech education, just curiosity and bravado, my car, it's broken and can't be broken more. Just pay attention, use common sense and you get far.

It’s usually the European cars that make it a job x10 to replace components. Not American cars🥴 lol ..glad you avoiding that headache!!!!

Well that stinks, but I understand what you were thinking. "Why the heck would it take 7 hours to replace an alternator?"

Only install a new alternator or ford refurb! Don't want to do that again!

Pull the axle it comes right out

If you want to charge less, that’s your choice. I always charge the full labor time. My view is that the flat rate pay system is a double-edged sword; it cuts both ways. Sometimes you take a hit and sometimes the customer takes a hit. A mechanic is only one broken bolt away from a 2 hour job turning potentially up to 8 hours or more. And even if I know of a shortcut that allows me to cut the labor time of a particular job from 7 hours down to 4, they’re going to pay for the full 7 hours because they are paying for the experience and knowledge I’ve accumulated over a decade and a half which allowed me to complete the job faster. I’m not taking a pay cut because I have more knowledge and experience… that’s just silly. For example, I know exactly what to look for on a C5 Corvette with a P0410 because I’ve had this problem at least 10 times now. The first time, it took me well over an hour to diagnose because I checked every single component of the secondary air injection system piece by piece. I found a broken vacuum like on the back of the intake manifold. Of course I started at the check valves on the exhaust and worked my way backwards through the system… so I literally tested every single piece. The second time also took me over an hour because I went through the whole system again and found the same broken vacuum line. The third time, I worked on the assumption that the vacuum line was bad and tested that first and diagnosed it in 10 minutes, but charged an hour. Same with the 4th, 5th, 6th, and so on. I took the hit the first two times. Now they take the hit because they’re paying for that experience and knowledge I have.