Another drop in the books, another pile of customer cars that tell stories nobody asked for. If you're tuned into the "Customer Complaints" series, you know we don't sugarcoat it: we read the notes, poke around, test drive the chaos, and call it like we see it. Episode 10 keeps the formula strong, clocking in around 26 minutes of straight shop therapy and mechanical roasting.
We kicked off with a car that had been sitting in the shop since before some of our techs even started here. The complaint? A crank-no-start condition. We were out here cutting open wiring harnesses and chasing down a fuel pump issue only to realize we didn’t check the basics. After some troubleshooting, we found a blown PCM (Powertrain Control Module) fuse inside the car. The real kicker? A random screw had fallen deep into the fuse box and was shorting the whole system out under load. Pro tip: If you find a short, throw in some resettable fuses instead of repeatedly blowing out normal ones while you diagnose the chaos.
Then we rolled out with a 2018 Cadillac CTS Luxury that felt more like a commercial vibrator than a luxury ride. The customer complained of a massive jerk and a stability control light popping on, thinking they needed a new transmission or differential. We took it on a test drive and the misfire was so violent the rearview mirror was shaking. With over 158,000 miles, this thing was running on its original spark plugs and a mix-and-match set of cheap coil packs. We also discovered a previous shop had cheaped out, replacing only three fuel injectors and leaving one old, failing injector to cause cylinder misfires.
Next up was a 1995 Acura Integra LS that came in for an overall inspection and left us wondering how it was still on the road. This Facebook Marketplace special was a rolling disaster. The steering wheel was installed completely sideways just for social media clout (though somehow it still drove straight), there was a transmission mount bolt completely missing, and they literally hacked open the body panel just because they couldn't figure out how to fish headlight wires through properly. Throw in some custom brackets holding two-door headlights in a four-door car, a leaking cam seal, and a brake conversion with a leaking bias valve, and you've got a classic "passed-around" build gone wrong.
The highlight of the day was a quick look at a 2023 Mazda 3 Turbo that came in after the owner bottomed out. The customer's notes had a laundry list of complaints about lowering springs and uneven brake wear, but we put it up on the lift to inspect the subframe and engine mounts to make sure he didn't leave his undercarriage on the asphalt.
The closer: A deep dive into the absolute nightmare that is modern CAN bus gateway communication, especially in Dodge/Chrysler vehicles. If you've ever wondered why Hellcats and Challengers are so easy to steal, look no further. These manufacturers decided to run multiple gateway modules. We spent forever chasing a CAN C communication issue, thinking there was only one module in the glove box, only to discover there are actually three—including one hidden behind the rear center console. It's a security nightmare; thieves just plug their computers straight into these gateways to take over the vehicle.
We wrapped up with a reality check on what it actually takes to get things done.
Closing quote for the week: "Success doesn't wait for anybody. Success happens by you getting up and doing what you said you're going to do... Success doesn't remember all the times you messed up. So get your ass up, go do something, and be a successful person."
Full episode is up on the channel. Catch the shenanigans before the next one lands.
Revolutionizing the Way You Drive. One inspection, One roast, One "you need a new car" at a time.
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