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Tales Of A Mercenary Mechanic

Nice scan tool Monkey!!

Few months back I purchased the same X431. Love it. Was looking to get newer scan tool since my Tech2 would only go to 2016 and I purchased a newer 2023 GM.

Looked at the OEM GM tool, the MDI2 but, for the same price (actually lower) I could get the Launch scan tool and do more vehicles other than the GM's I own.

With the Launch, I can use the included Launch VCI/J2534 pass through and utilize GM's GDS2 on a lap top. $60 for a couple day subscription ain't bad for OEM diagnostics. I have to use that when looking deeper into the HV battery on my Chevy Bolt. The standard Launch does all the basics on my Bolt except the HV battery.

I've used it several times to help friends with forced re-gens on their diesel trucks and another friend with a pusher on a Freightliner chassis with a big Cummins.

Even diagnosed a POS Audi with an electronic steering problem. I hate German cars!!!!!
 
Sharky said:
Nice scan tool Monkey!!

Few months back I purchased the same X431. Love it. Was looking to get newer scan tool since my Tech2 would only go to 2016 and I purchased a newer 2023 GM.

Looked at the OEM GM tool, the MDI2 but, for the same price (actually lower) I could get the Launch scan tool and do more vehicles other than the GM's I own.

With the Launch, I can use the included Launch VCI/J2534 pass through and utilize GM's GDS2 on a lap top. $60 for a couple day subscription ain't bad for OEM diagnostics. I have to use that when looking deeper into the HV battery on my Chevy Bolt. The standard Launch does all the basics on my Bolt except the HV battery.

I've used it several times to help friends with forced re-gens on their diesel trucks and another friend with a pusher on a Freightliner chassis with a big Cummins.

Even diagnosed a POS Audi with an electronic steering problem. I hate German cars!!!!!
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I think there's an upgrade/program from launch for the hybrid/ev stuff. I never looked into it, because the Prius was the only one I messed with, and it works really well on them.
 
monkeyswrench said:
I think there's an upgrade/program from launch for the hybrid/ev stuff. I never looked into it, because the Prius was the only one I messed with, and it works really well on them.
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Yea, it's $600 for mostly test leads, cables & adapters that I don't need. It does include the software but, for me its more cost effective to use a 2 day subscription to GM-GDS2
 
Long awaited update:
The Monkey Mover went with a Jeep Sahara edition theme, but the tires looked more 80s mini-truck. I figured a slightly larger tire was in order. Well, tires for a 10" wheel don't give a lot of options. Here is the previous combo
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Now, the next pic is of the hub...and the main reason I couldn't just swap out rims. It's a bastard design...
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The center 7.5 inches or so is the centering hub. It's the drum itself with mounting ears studded for the wheel.

So, after a couple of tries, I found some tires that clear everything given the wheel offset I'm tied too, and looks slightly more "beefy". More Jeep, less skateboard.
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monkeyswrench said:
Long awaited update:
The Monkey Mover went with a Jeep Sahara edition theme, but the tires looked more 80s mini-truck. I figured a slightly larger tire was in order. Well, tires for a 10" wheel don't give a lot of options. Here is the previous combo
View attachment 1654564
Now, the next pic is of the hub...and the main reason I couldn't just swap out rims. It's a bastard design...
View attachment 1654565
The center 7.5 inches or so is the centering hub. It's the drum itself with mounting ears studded for the wheel.

So, after a couple of tries, I found some tires that clear everything given the wheel offset I'm tied too, and looks slightly more "beefy". More Jeep, less skateboard.
View attachment 1654566View attachment 1654567
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Nice to see it getting close to crossing the finish line. I take it you are a Blue Bunny Ice cream fan.
 
Rajobigguy said:
Nice to see it getting close to crossing the finish line. I take it you are a Blue Bunny Ice cream fan.
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When the kids were younger, must've gone through a container a week! They stack nice, and the lids stay on pretty decent, so I recycle them for utility stuff. They're big enough to hold a whole semi truck hub bearing set, and also fit in the rim to catch oil when pulling an axle. My other go-to container is a Folgers plastic can with snap on lids. They come in handy too...and I end up with those more than ice cream now 🤣
 
monkeyswrench said:
When the kids were younger, must've gone through a container a week! They stack nice, and the lids stay on pretty decent, so I recycle them for utility stuff. They're big enough to hold a whole semi truck hub bearing set, and also fit in the rim to catch oil when pulling an axle. My other go-to container is a Folgers plastic can with snap on lids. They come in handy too...and I end up with those more than ice cream now 🤣
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I do the same thing, for smaller parts I have a collection of garlic spread containers.👍
 
After 6 or 7 years of using an 83 Chevy 1500, and my wife's old Avalanche as a half ass truck, I have finally made my way into the big leagues! I've been limited to what I could haul, and what tooling I could load as well.

Been pretty particular about what I wanted. Add to that, budget limits. With the cost of diesel, the big truck will have to sit a bit longer. I needed something in between Prius and a class 6 truck. Needed 4x4, needed 4 doors so I could haul kids. Wanted newer, but not all the BS...no GPS, lane departure, touch screen radio, etc. AC and heat were a must, power windows and locks not super important. Gas motor...shocker to some. Logic with this one, cheaper to repair. For the target truck, 6.2 F250. 2000lb lower tow rating than same truck with a 6.7, same mileage without a trailer. 95% of the time, trailers are parked, gas is cheaper than diesel. Also, not hauling two mud trucks on the trailer anymore. This should do what I need it to...
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2017 F250 4x4. Not fancy enough for a LAM thread, but it's mine! It was a former ADOT truck, and was auctioned off. It made it here from Phoenix fine, so I'm off to a good start. It'll get a good cleaning first. Eventually some stock aluminums and limo tint. Maybe a chrome grille and bumpers if I run across some at the wrecking yard.

Still keeping a Prius, kind of have to. At least I have a highway ready truck again!
 
monkeyswrench said:
After 6 or 7 years of using an 83 Chevy 1500, and my wife's old Avalanche as a half ass truck, I have finally made my way into the big leagues! I've been limited to what I could haul, and what tooling I could load as well.

Been pretty particular about what I wanted. Add to that, budget limits. With the cost of diesel, the big truck will have to sit a bit longer. I needed something in between Prius and a class 6 truck. Needed 4x4, needed 4 doors so I could haul kids. Wanted newer, but not all the BS...no GPS, lane departure, touch screen radio, etc. AC and heat were a must, power windows and locks not super important. Gas motor...shocker to some. Logic with this one, cheaper to repair. For the target truck, 6.2 F250. 2000lb lower tow rating than same truck with a 6.7, same mileage without a trailer. 95% of the time, trailers are parked, gas is cheaper than diesel. Also, not hauling two mud trucks on the trailer anymore. This should do what I need it to...
View attachment 1655368
2017 F250 4x4. Not fancy enough for a LAM thread, but it's mine! It was a former ADOT truck, and was auctioned off. It made it here from Phoenix fine, so I'm off to a good start. It'll get a good cleaning first. Eventually some stock aluminums and limo tint. Maybe a chrome grille and bumpers if I run across some at the wrecking yard.

Still keeping a Prius, kind of have to. At least I have a highway ready truck again!
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Cungrats
 
Oooo fun! The Canned Ham is evil. Got it to idle, then downhill from there. Spit and sputter rolling into throttle. Still a code for no boost detrcted and boost leak detected...think about that for a moment.

Checked the basics, like fuel pressure...it has a ton.
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Went through and checked the normal grounds, all good. In running it on the scanner, seeing negative voltages coming via the o2 sensor. No codes though, and nowhere near the MAP circuits. Throw an o2 sensor at it, same deal.
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O2 sensor readings aren't usually that erratic, and not in the negatives. We'll shit. Time to do a deep dive and find some diagrams for an ecu they used for about 18 months...
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I don't have a pin set small enough for the tiny ones. What you see is a small piece of wire with a few strands twisted as a pin, then a tone generator for tracking, and a lead for a dvm.
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This thing will let me know if there is a short to ground, or an open circuit. They should all be open as they are unplugged. They were, but it also let's me know if the wire is broken, as the tone would be weak or gone.
49354.webp

Lastly, check resistance with another modified pin probe. Every thing checks out...then, phone calls were made.
 
Phone calls to the owner. Emails to the tuning shop that originally did the ECU crack and such were interesting. The two codes that were constants, one "has only been seen sometimes" when the MAP sensor is bad. The other? "Never seen that code". Well now, that was exceptionally less than helpful. The calls to the owner caused a call from a shop that had worked on it previously. They are in tight with the tuner people. Apparently they had shown through their network that when I had tried to update and reload the tune, it was not successful. So, they (the previous shop) figured it was just a bad tune, and I needed to run a recovery on it, and reload the tune. Well, I decided WTH, and did what I was asked. Their network doesn't show that I had already tried running the recovery via another PC when I also brought the firmware up to date. The system had the same codes and data both before and after my "Unsuccessful" loading of the tune. I was figuring the ECU has left the chat, as a few other readings are constants and not varied, or just "off the bubble".

Guess what? After spending a couple hours getting everything recovered, and "flashed" with the slowest system known to man, the readings, codes and performance were identical. Well now, hmmm.... The shop owner, previous to work on it, tells me let me know if you need an ECU sent out. This was actually what triggered him calling me in the first place, I had asked the owner to get an ECU. Condemning an ECU is pretty damn rare. Thus, all the probing and checking. This thing had run with bad grounds for a long time. That means resistance and heat...BTW, the ECU itself gets to about 100 degrees in 10 minutes of crappy idle time.

So. this was last Wednesday. Owner says a new ECU is on it's way, Next Day Air. Thursday night comes around, no ECU. Owner texts me "It will be tomorrow then"
The next morning owner sends me a screenshot. Previous shop saying tuners can't send until Monday, ship to him (me) or ship here?
Owner flies in Monday night, to grab his stuff here, and head down there. Well now, isn't that a happy accident🤬

I already told my wife the other shop will install the new ECU, but say something else was really the problem...but they will fix it. I'm sure I'll hear by Tuesday night. For now, everything's buttoned up and hitched up. Even if this sand toy doesn't make it, he's got a blown, 1000hp sandrail and bikes. He'll be fine.
 
callbob said:
I miss the days when you set points, adjust a carburetor and gap plugs. I still change my own oil and did wheel bearings, races and seals on my camper but after that I’m out.
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It's slowed down a bit, but for a while I was getting maybe a call a month from random newbies moving up here. Carbs from Cali 🤣 It seems the normal shops around don't do well with carbs, and the hot rod shops answer to everything is put an LS in it.
 
monkeyswrench said:
It's slowed down a bit, but for a while I was getting maybe a call a month from random newbies moving up here. Carbs from Cali 🤣 It seems the normal shops around don't do well with carbs, and the hot rod shops answer to everything is put an LS in it.
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I feel attacked!!! 🤣
 
Ugh, long night. Canadian came and picked up stuff for the week. All systems go...that I could see.
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He texts in a panic, warning lights and buzzers, engine shut down. He's headed down the hill. Get there, and a massive puddle beneath it...coolant. After laying under it, poking and prodding, a split heater hose. A trip to a truck stop, for a ton of coolant and see what I can patch with.

1st patch lasted 30 miles...I was almost home. Told him I'd head home, scavenge and head out. 3am, on I17...
50452.webp

Patch held fairly good, still had liquid in the line this time. Only lost a few gallons. Cut the piece out, sleeved it with a piece of ¾ stainless and clamped it. Then, wired the clamps together to keep them from slipping. Usually id weld a bead or something, but didn't know which scrap tube would fit.

Warmed it back up, and he headed off. Got home about 5:30, showered and slept a couple hours...then wife had an appointment at 9.
I'm a walking, talking, zombie monkey.
Owner sent a text at 10:30. Made it to Tucson by 7:30, no other stops. It was a lot more "fun" thrashing on my own junk for Glamis...not so much when it's for others.
 
Much fuckery...
Another roadside emergency. It was ugly. A call for help, trailer issue, a big one. Trailer missing pieces, car intact, support gear strewn about. An hour and a half away.

And we've had all kinds of rain and flooding, complicating towing or transport. Initially, I was headed down to load my new to me pickup with the support gear. As time progressed, it was made apparent that a flatbed would not be available for 10-12 hours, due to weather and location. Well, at least the roadside service he pays so dearly for should cover the trailer. We'll load the car in the trailer, and they can haul both. Multiple calls, and the last one was, "with the damage to the trailer, we can't tow it as it is a hazard. You'll probably need to contact highway patrol and get information from them."

That wasn't going to happen. Some very creative tiedown origami, floor jacks, bailing wire and we hitched it to my truck. Logic was for his vehicle to keep the distance between clear, and protect other vehicles. 2 lanes for about 80 miles. I'm sure there will be an insurance adjuster involved soon.

I was asked to not share pics, so I won't. Good news is, nobody got hurt. I also got to test my truck's towing and 4x4 abilities, so that's good too.

Bottom line, check your roadside policies. What you think you have may not be worth much at all. It really sucks to find out in the middle of nowhere, in the dark.
 
monkeyswrench said:
Much fuckery...
Another roadside emergency. It was ugly. A call for help, trailer issue, a big one. Trailer missing pieces, car intact, support gear strewn about. An hour and a half away.

And we've had all kinds of rain and flooding, complicating towing or transport. Initially, I was headed down to load my new to me pickup with the support gear. As time progressed, it was made apparent that a flatbed would not be available for 10-12 hours, due to weather and location. Well, at least the roadside service he pays so dearly for should cover the trailer. We'll load the car in the trailer, and they can haul both. Multiple calls, and the last one was, "with the damage to the trailer, we can't tow it as it is a hazard. You'll probably need to contact highway patrol and get information from them."

That wasn't going to happen. Some very creative tiedown origami, floor jacks, bailing wire and we hitched it to my truck. Logic was for his vehicle to keep the distance between clear, and protect other vehicles. 2 lanes for about 80 miles. I'm sure there will be an insurance adjuster involved soon.

I was asked to not share pics, so I won't. Good news is, nobody got hurt. I also got to test my truck's towing and 4x4 abilities, so that's good too.

Bottom line, check your roadside policies. What you think you have may not be worth much at all. It really sucks to find out in the middle of nowhere, in the dark.
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I went for years assuming AAA would cover me, incredible luck not needing to find out I was wrong.
Have trailer on boat and motorhome policies.
 
poncho said:
I went for years assuming AAA would cover me, incredible luck not needing to find out I was wrong.
Have trailer on boat and motorhome policies.
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The funny thing, when they were calling back, one time was, "well, your trailer and rv policy only pays 500$ towards the recovery, and that starts from when they leave the yard and stops when they return". The guy was like "Fine, I'll pay the difference, just get a truck here!"
 
poncho said:
I went for years assuming AAA would cover me, incredible luck not needing to find out I was wrong.
Have trailer on boat and motorhome policies.
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AAA just make up the rules as they want. They dont want to help you. They just want your money. When I needed a tow they kept calling me referring repair centers. Did same thing to my mom. Towed my service truck no questions and it was loaded. Next day they wouldn't tow it because the truck was modified, service bed. First tow was to home. Next day was the tow to Holtville.
 
Your ad here said:
AAA just make up the rules as they want. They dont want to help you. They just want your money. When I needed a tow they kept calling me referring repair centers. Did same thing to my mom. Towed my service truck no questions and it was loaded. Next day they wouldn't tow it because the truck was modified, service bed. First tow was to home. Next day was the tow to Holtville.
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In 2012 my 95 dually cracked a fuel line. I had the 100 mile tow, I was at Wiley's Well I believe? By the prison. The tow guy was cool, and the AAA suggested a repair facility, open Sunday, in Cathedral City. Sure, if they can get the part, figured it was worth it.

Get to the shop, they have the driver drop it. Within 5 minutes, they have an estimate, part grossly overpriced, and can't do it until tomorrow. Call AAA, on fire, and ask if I could use my wife's card, nope, she has to be there. Driver hadn't left yet, so I grabbed him and gave him the rundown. Sure thing! Loaded the truck and off we went.

That Monday I called AAA customer service. I was pissed. Then I went to Sunrise Ford and picked up a steel return line for the 7.3. Tuesday morning AAA sent a guy out to talk to me. I showed him the estimate, and showed him the receipt for the part I bought. The estimate was for 1600$ or something like that. The part was 65$ and they were trying to sell it for a few hundred. The reason I was so pissed, what about all the old people, or college kids? They have no choice, and probably trust the recommendations. That's not right.
 
I didn't know you got a truck. Must have missed the thread. Did you retire the POS?
 
monkeyswrench said:
The funny thing, when they were calling back, one time was, "well, your trailer and rv policy only pays 500$ towards the recovery, and that starts from when they leave the yard and stops when they return". The guy was like "Fine, I'll pay the difference, just get a truck here!"
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I have never heard of the yard to yard thing, fucking crooks.
 
mash on it said:
That's been around forever.
FOB→FOB.
My Pete was only a buck and a quarter and hour. That's quite a few years ago. You have a choice not to hire a service.

Dan'l
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My reference is to personal experience with AAA and cars, that's a whole different ball game.
 
poncho said:
I have never heard of the yard to yard thing, fucking crooks.
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very standard to run port to port times on RV or Heavy duty calls. When I ran with a AAA towing company, the RV stuff was covered for the milage, 100 miles, but AAA paid us whatever the hours were that it took us to run that milage and back.

I fucked up one night and towed a motorhome towing a trailer loaded with a pre-runner truck on it all the way back to Rancho. My dispatcher wasnt happy with me the next morning. I dont remember the details, but what I think we did was calculated the milage over their coverage and then just charged the customer for the time that I calculated for the over milage. My dispatcher called the customer and explained it and we were fortunate enough to get payment.

Historically, AAA will not tow a loaded boat trailer under the RV policy. In my experience, it was always best to call the towing company directly and then have them run your AAA card. As an operator, I would absolutely tow a loaded boat trailer and never think 2X. Sometimes its just who you know too
 
warpt71 said:
very standard to run port to port times on RV or Heavy duty calls. When I ran with a AAA towing company, the RV stuff was covered for the milage, 100 miles, but AAA paid us whatever the hours were that it took us to run that milage and back.

I fucked up one night and towed a motorhome towing a trailer loaded with a pre-runner truck on it all the way back to Rancho. My dispatcher wasnt happy with me the next morning. I dont remember the details, but what I think we did was calculated the milage over their coverage and then just charged the customer for the time that I calculated for the over milage. My dispatcher called the customer and explained it and we were fortunate enough to get payment.

Historically, AAA will not tow a loaded boat trailer under the RV policy. In my experience, it was always best to call the towing company directly and then have them run your AAA card. As an operator, I would absolutely tow a loaded boat trailer and never think 2X. Sometimes its just who you know too
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I probably commented outside my wheelhouse and I apologize for that, only ever used them "so far" for personal autos.
Just used them (AAA) last week and no charge, my mileage coverage is low.
 
When I had my towing service I had contracts with AAA and National Auto Club.
AAA paid my normal rate up to (50 miles I think). National paid a flat fee with a 25 miles max.
 
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Some high speed passes have been made, near 30mph 🤣 She's tiny, size 12 steel toes aren't the footwear of choice, but will work. "Load tested", and had my youngest ride shotgun. Looked like car pooling Shriners going to a parade. With the 2 of us, that's about 500lbs on the front wheels. Acceleration was pretty much the same...but braking was effected. Not that they don't work, but she noses down pretty good with no other passengers.

She's no show winner, but but looking decent!
 

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