Sometimes the Best Diagnosis Is the Obvious One
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Date: 2026-07-10
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Comments and reviews: 20
bobhudson6659
Retired mechanic in Land Down Under calling. For small, even very small, pressure or vacuum leaks in flanges or the like, grab an old stethoscope, remove listening device and fit a similar diameter steel, copper or aluminium tube. Then poke around the suspected leak. You can absolutely hear even the faintest leak. Also can use a mechanic's stethoscope - just remove the end fitting and insert a metal tube. Why metal tube Plastic tube melts when touching hot exhaust. If you want to hear how sensitive this adaption is, gently, and I mean very, very gently, just whisp a little air from your mouth across the end of the hose with the other ends plugged into your ears. You can detect any sort of air movement. Warning. Anything more than the slightest whisp and you will blow your eardrums - will at least feel like it. I have shown others who did not listen to that advice and their eyes are still bulging.
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Retired mechanic in Land Down Under calling. For small, even very small, pressure or vacuum leaks in flanges or the like, grab an old stethoscope, remove listening device and fit a similar diameter steel, copper or aluminium tube. Then poke around the suspected leak. You can absolutely hear even the faintest leak. Also can use a mechanic's stethoscope - just remove the end fitting and insert a metal tube. Why metal tube Plastic tube melts when touching hot exhaust. If you want to hear how sensitive this adaption is, gently, and I mean very, very gently, just whisp a little air from your mouth across the end of the hose with the other ends plugged into your ears. You can detect any sort of air movement. Warning. Anything more than the slightest whisp and you will blow your eardrums - will at least feel like it. I have shown others who did not listen to that advice and their eyes are still bulging.
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markgill2176
Eric, i have watched a very, very large number of the South Main Auto videos. At first I thought I could learn about all the new technology on cars. Then I started to enjoy and remember the struggle of working on rusty bolts and cars! Then I got to admire the Eric O Family! Really enjoyed Eric’s teaching his children some basic mechanical skills, life lessons, responsibilities, hunting skills, etc.
Eric, Mrs. O, and Family are really super nice people who just happen to live in beautiful up state New York. Many decades ago I had the opportunity to visit that area. If New York State’s government wasn’t so messed up, a lot more folks would want to be neighbors.
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Eric, i have watched a very, very large number of the South Main Auto videos. At first I thought I could learn about all the new technology on cars. Then I started to enjoy and remember the struggle of working on rusty bolts and cars! Then I got to admire the Eric O Family! Really enjoyed Eric’s teaching his children some basic mechanical skills, life lessons, responsibilities, hunting skills, etc.
Eric, Mrs. O, and Family are really super nice people who just happen to live in beautiful up state New York. Many decades ago I had the opportunity to visit that area. If New York State’s government wasn’t so messed up, a lot more folks would want to be neighbors.
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ralphwatten2426
I hate those crunched thead lock nuts. I had some on the stab links on my wifes Cruze. I couldn't see the top one on the right side o' the car. Cranked it up by hand and it stopped so it must be tight. Took the car out and it still clunked. I thought it must be a bent stabilizer bar. Bought the bar and looked at the project really good. Wall by gully the top nut was loose and I could see it had been moving up there. The nut was tightened about half way and stopped. Took the crappy nuts off and put nylocks on there easy as peasy. I can see how that leak could put up a code or two. Thanks Mr. O. I wish you the best of 4th o' Julys!
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I hate those crunched thead lock nuts. I had some on the stab links on my wifes Cruze. I couldn't see the top one on the right side o' the car. Cranked it up by hand and it stopped so it must be tight. Took the car out and it still clunked. I thought it must be a bent stabilizer bar. Bought the bar and looked at the project really good. Wall by gully the top nut was loose and I could see it had been moving up there. The nut was tightened about half way and stopped. Took the crappy nuts off and put nylocks on there easy as peasy. I can see how that leak could put up a code or two. Thanks Mr. O. I wish you the best of 4th o' Julys!
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EngrNme
I had a 2019 Mazda CX-5 that had the same whine coming from under the car. It would whine for about 30-60 seconds after shutting off the engine. I never found where the noise was coming from and now I know. That was the electric motor/gearbox on the exhaust butterfly valve used to maintain a steady back-pressure for optimum engine tuning. I researched that darn noise and never found what iw was. I had it at the Mazda dealer twice and they heard the noise and said it was normal for this Mazda. It was actually embarrassing in a parking lot when someone close by. I had two people tell me the engine was going bad. It never effected anything bu my ears.
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I had a 2019 Mazda CX-5 that had the same whine coming from under the car. It would whine for about 30-60 seconds after shutting off the engine. I never found where the noise was coming from and now I know. That was the electric motor/gearbox on the exhaust butterfly valve used to maintain a steady back-pressure for optimum engine tuning. I researched that darn noise and never found what iw was. I had it at the Mazda dealer twice and they heard the noise and said it was normal for this Mazda. It was actually embarrassing in a parking lot when someone close by. I had two people tell me the engine was going bad. It never effected anything bu my ears.
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ranger178
i had weird exhast rattle on 2007 honda civic we had pipe from converter to the strait pipe replaced, and it seemed to have a loud rattle.
everyone said must be chunk of converter in the pipe but it was actually a pipe inside outer pipe as a heat shield effect. I guess and the inner pipe was snapped into pieces at the bends inside so pieces would rattle terrible at idle. I think it was from driving on farm dirt roads like a washboard vibrated the pipe to failure, while outside looked like new was only about 3 years old
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i had weird exhast rattle on 2007 honda civic we had pipe from converter to the strait pipe replaced, and it seemed to have a loud rattle.
everyone said must be chunk of converter in the pipe but it was actually a pipe inside outer pipe as a heat shield effect. I guess and the inner pipe was snapped into pieces at the bends inside so pieces would rattle terrible at idle. I think it was from driving on farm dirt roads like a washboard vibrated the pipe to failure, while outside looked like new was only about 3 years old
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CycleGeezer-cq9lm
Mr. O! Always the best choice for your auto repairs. And a man of logical thinking. Great idea to fix the obvious and allow locals to check it out. If it's good, it's good. If not, not a big problem to return to do more in depth investigation. Mr. O is always thinking how to best serve his customers. Not a lot of mechanics like him around!
Good on you, Mr. O!
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Mr. O! Always the best choice for your auto repairs. And a man of logical thinking. Great idea to fix the obvious and allow locals to check it out. If it's good, it's good. If not, not a big problem to return to do more in depth investigation. Mr. O is always thinking how to best serve his customers. Not a lot of mechanics like him around!
Good on you, Mr. O!
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larryh8072
I used o think there were so few Mazda videos because they were scarce in the state of New York. My neighbour is a mechanic and rebuilds transmissions. He told me that he considers Mazda’s to be one of the top brands for reliability as it is extremely rare to see them for any failures. Hat was maybe confirmation why we don’t see many Mazda’s in at South Main Auto.
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I used o think there were so few Mazda videos because they were scarce in the state of New York. My neighbour is a mechanic and rebuilds transmissions. He told me that he considers Mazda’s to be one of the top brands for reliability as it is extremely rare to see them for any failures. Hat was maybe confirmation why we don’t see many Mazda’s in at South Main Auto.
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onlywenilaugh6589
you should pause when Mrs O comes out, and then come back with a face shot with lipstick all over your cheeks like Barney and Thelma Lou. lol 6: 20. If the OEM Mazda gasket failed, maybe time to try a 3rd party: ) btw, what is the chance of blowing rust into your cylinders if you use a vac to blow air into the exhaust to find a leak
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you should pause when Mrs O comes out, and then come back with a face shot with lipstick all over your cheeks like Barney and Thelma Lou. lol 6: 20. If the OEM Mazda gasket failed, maybe time to try a 3rd party: ) btw, what is the chance of blowing rust into your cylinders if you use a vac to blow air into the exhaust to find a leak
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ctbale1
That 2. 5 Mazda has an accelerated warm-up strategy you can hear on cold starts. I have had several of these vehicles (great car made in Japan. AI says the computer retards the timing and the noise is the combustion occurring in the exhaust manifold trying to heat up the cat.
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That 2. 5 Mazda has an accelerated warm-up strategy you can hear on cold starts. I have had several of these vehicles (great car made in Japan. AI says the computer retards the timing and the noise is the combustion occurring in the exhaust manifold trying to heat up the cat.
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gregdawson1909
Honda civics in the 90's were famous for cracked manifolds telling you your catalyst efficiency was bad and putting the light on, just look for the soot streak. as for the cat defeating the smoke machine I guess thats proof they do something eh
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Honda civics in the 90's were famous for cracked manifolds telling you your catalyst efficiency was bad and putting the light on, just look for the soot streak. as for the cat defeating the smoke machine I guess thats proof they do something eh
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ehsnils
It's always worth to look for the obvious issues like this one before throwing expensive parts at the problem. An exhaust gasket isn't usually that expensive.
I would have considered to mount the rubber before assembling the exhaust though.
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It's always worth to look for the obvious issues like this one before throwing expensive parts at the problem. An exhaust gasket isn't usually that expensive.
I would have considered to mount the rubber before assembling the exhaust though.
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fulf
I like the oxy torch but you should realy get an induction heater. The type that you touch (without a coil) something like the alesco a80 (i am not form usa so i dont know what you have) its realy good when you dont want to burn up things.
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I like the oxy torch but you should realy get an induction heater. The type that you touch (without a coil) something like the alesco a80 (i am not form usa so i dont know what you have) its realy good when you dont want to burn up things.
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billziegmond4943
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ERIC O AND THE FAMILY. Like Mr. O said on a Chevy with this problem look at fuel injectors. Also if the clients been driving that way for a while plan on replacing cats. Had to do that on a Caddy SRX.
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HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ERIC O AND THE FAMILY. Like Mr. O said on a Chevy with this problem look at fuel injectors. Also if the clients been driving that way for a while plan on replacing cats. Had to do that on a Caddy SRX.
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alexadamson1105
That rubber mount being missing absolutely stressed that joint, no rigidity in the Flexi section. Nice simple repair, makes perfect sense to not go any further at that point initially, everything points to a simple fix.
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That rubber mount being missing absolutely stressed that joint, no rigidity in the Flexi section. Nice simple repair, makes perfect sense to not go any further at that point initially, everything points to a simple fix.
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edwardmissouri2216
watched you from Missouri. Steamy here and possible storms. Has been in the 90's all week. Working in the shop in steamy weather must be a bear. Always enjoy your videos. I have learned a lot as a result.
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watched you from Missouri. Steamy here and possible storms. Has been in the 90's all week. Working in the shop in steamy weather must be a bear. Always enjoy your videos. I have learned a lot as a result.
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alanrodriguez7341
Great video and understanding of how the graphing works while on the gas versus off acceleration and the changes and noticeably it showed with the mA and V potential on the use graphs.
Peaks and Valleys.
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Great video and understanding of how the graphing works while on the gas versus off acceleration and the changes and noticeably it showed with the mA and V potential on the use graphs.
Peaks and Valleys.
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jgreitz
Great diagnosis. Visual inspection for the win. And i concur. Drive it for a cycle and if it comes back next look would be the infamous flex pipe, although that one didn't shoot rust flakes when you were handling it.
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Great diagnosis. Visual inspection for the win. And i concur. Drive it for a cycle and if it comes back next look would be the infamous flex pipe, although that one didn't shoot rust flakes when you were handling it.
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Seth-o5g
I was just scratching my head about an 07 Sorento with a rich bank 1 and lean bank 2. Thought I'd catch up with this one before heading down the ol' rabbit hole and bamm - lost all my lotto luck. Happy 4th!
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I was just scratching my head about an 07 Sorento with a rich bank 1 and lean bank 2. Thought I'd catch up with this one before heading down the ol' rabbit hole and bamm - lost all my lotto luck. Happy 4th!
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autorepair
Unlike the old commercial, Got to make the donuts I already made the donuts
You didn’t make the donut! Install the hanger donut Mr. Eric! We love you guys anyway Happy 4th of July to you and the Mrs.
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Unlike the old commercial, Got to make the donuts I already made the donuts
You didn’t make the donut! Install the hanger donut Mr. Eric! We love you guys anyway Happy 4th of July to you and the Mrs.
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Garth2011
Not having that rubber hanger there is likely what caused/allowed more flex in that flange gasket and crumbled it as well. May not have happened if that flange was a 3 bolt design. I like it. ship it.
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Not having that rubber hanger there is likely what caused/allowed more flex in that flange gasket and crumbled it as well. May not have happened if that flange was a 3 bolt design. I like it. ship it.
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