Challenging job tomorrow

[S.Hansen]

Customer had a car towed in from 50 miles away, no start. It had a
communication code, and with the help of tech assist, I found a 30 amp slow
blow fuse broken; (not blown, the element had broke) it powered up part of
the computer. New fuse the car started up. Tried to clear the code (at the
initial time the only 2 codes were for communication errors) but the cel
stayed on. Had a code for Mass Air flow sensor now. So I took a peek. No
where in since the car arrived had I looked at it, for the problem was
greater than a maf would give; but the MAF is unplugged. So I tried to pull
up the wire and it wouldn't move. crawled under the car, the plug is melted
to the exhaust manifold. the plug is junk

Now we look to see who was at fault. If it was our shop then we would repair
it at our cost. I specifically did the 15k service on this car (oil change,
rotate and inspect,) but I don't unplug that plug even when changing the air
filter, and if I had left it unplugged it would have set a cel on engine
start

Look at the Jiffy lube decal on the window. Hmmm he has had his oil changed
sense his last trip to our shop, and Jiffy lube likes to sell air filters.
The customer will be having a discussion with jiffy Lube when his car is
repaired.

If it were my car I would soder a new on onto it, but the car only has 17000
miles, the owner opted to replace the bulkhead wiring harness- think about
pulling the dash and replacing the harness that goes through the bulkhead.
This will be a first for me.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Customer had a car towed in from 50 miles away, no start. It had a
communication code, and with the help of tech assist, I found a 30 amp slow
blow fuse broken; (not blown, the element had broke) it powered up part of
the computer. New fuse the car started up. Tried to clear the code (at the
initial time the only 2 codes were for communication errors) but the cel
stayed on. Had a code for Mass Air flow sensor now. So I took a peek. No
where in since the car arrived had I looked at it, for the problem was
greater than a maf would give; but the MAF is unplugged. So I tried to pull
up the wire and it wouldn't move. crawled under the car, the plug is melted
to the exhaust manifold. the plug is junk

Now we look to see who was at fault. If it was our shop then we would repair
it at our cost. I specifically did the 15k service on this car (oil change,
rotate and inspect,) but I don't unplug that plug even when changing the air
filter, and if I had left it unplugged it would have set a cel on engine
start

Look at the Jiffy lube decal on the window. Hmmm he has had his oil changed
sense his last trip to our shop, and Jiffy lube likes to sell air filters.
The customer will be having a discussion with jiffy Lube when his car is
repaired.

If it were my car I would soder a new on onto it, but the car only has 17000
miles, the owner opted to replace the bulkhead wiring harness- think about
pulling the dash and replacing the harness that goes through the bulkhead.
This will be a first for me.

DANG!
Did you try to talk him into splicing the old harness to a new connector?
Um, not that you won't be thorough, but the idea of R&R the dash seems
like a recipe for squeaks and rattles.


Carl

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

If it were my car I would solder a new on onto it

Do this anyway!

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

DANG!
Did you try to talk him into splicing the old harness to a new connector?
Um, not that you won't be thorough, but the idea of R&R the dash seems
like a recipe for squeaks and rattles.


Carl

Being as I know a fair amount about cars and a great deal more about
electronics, if a tech came to me and said, "We can attach a new end to
the MAF harness and have you out in 5 minutes", or, "We need to replace
the entire harness, which will take 2 days for the part, 2 days to remove
1/3 of the car, 1 day to install the new harness, and 2 more days to
reinstall the 1/3 of the car we removed", I'd take the 5 minutes!

Besides, S Hansen didn't say how bad the connector was. If all it takes is
2 contacts and a crimping tool...

 

[nobody >]

Being as I know a fair amount about cars and a great deal more about
electronics, if a tech came to me and said, "We can attach a new end to
the MAF harness and have you out in 5 minutes", or, "We need to replace
the entire harness, which will take 2 days for the part, 2 days to remove
1/3 of the car, 1 day to install the new harness, and 2 more days to
reinstall the 1/3 of the car we removed", I'd take the 5 minutes!

Besides, S Hansen didn't say how bad the connector was. If all it takes is
2 contacts and a crimping tool...

Same here..
If part of the harness is damaged, I'd cut it back to "good" area,
stagger the splice points, solder and heatshrink them, and cover the run
with split loom all the way back to the main harness. I'd also try to
put some kind of wire management clip on it to keep it away from that
manifold.

I've replaced harnesses before, and it's a job I wouldn't wish on my
worst enemy. That was a few years back on old American iron; with easy
dash and engine access. Doing it on a recent Soob would be a nightmare
even for a shop with shop manuals.

 

[S.Hansen]

Being as I know a fair amount about cars and a great deal more about
electronics, if a tech came to me and said, "We can attach a new end to
the MAF harness and have you out in 5 minutes", or, "We need to replace
the entire harness, which will take 2 days for the part, 2 days to remove
1/3 of the car, 1 day to install the new harness, and 2 more days to
reinstall the 1/3 of the car we removed", I'd take the 5 minutes!

Besides, S Hansen didn't say how bad the connector was. If all it takes is
2 contacts and a crimping tool...

Unfortunately, I don't have the say so on certain kinds of repairs- As
Subaru doesn't sell the just the end piece/part long term there could be
warranty issues.
To see this car apart is almost scary, and I'm doing the work. the owner is
going after Jiffy lube.
If this was a warranty issue, the book says 1.4 hours to do. I have 6 hours
in it and am only 1/2 done.
Also, I would never crimp a wire on a car. Soder and heat shrink.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

Unfortunately, I don't have the say so on certain kinds of repairs- As
Subaru doesn't sell the just the end piece/part long term there could be
warranty issues.
To see this car apart is almost scary, and I'm doing the work. the owner is
going after Jiffy lube.
If this was a warranty issue, the book says 1.4 hours to do. I have 6 hours
in it and am only 1/2 done.
Also, I would never crimp a wire on a car. Soder and heat shrink.

The original was probably crimped, wasn't it?
I use crimps and heatshrink. Crimping gives a better mechanical
connections, and then you can solder it for a good electrical connection.

1.4 hours, eh? Phew!