Explore every episode of the podcast Automotive Diagnostic Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 327: Strategic Part Replacement | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:37:36 | |
Today on the show I share a thought process that I've been adding into my diagnostic decision making. We weigh the value of any test method we perform- How much time/effort/cost does a test require? How much does it tell me/how many things does it eliminate? When faced with a time consuming, difficult, (and often intermittent) diagnostic challenge, should we consider that a part replacement is the cheapest AND most effective test that we could perform? Is this the best value for the customer while at the same time freeing up our time for more productive work??? Website- https://autodiagpodcast.com/ | |||
| 326: Matthew Elder | 10 Nov 2025 | 01:58:33 | |
Matthew Elder joins Tomi and I on the show this week. Matthew is a technician out of Texas, He is just beginning his path in the automotive diagnostic world. We'll share advice for being successful, Tooling options, & finding a good shop. Website- https://autodiagpodcast.com/ | |||
| 317: Brendan Sorensen | 12 Sep 2025 | 01:51:54 | |
Brendan Sorensen joins Tomi and I on the show this week. Brendan is from Brisbane, Australia. He works for TAT- The Automotive Technician, a network of technicians sharing knowledge, information and experience. We chat about why Tim-Tams are Tomi's new favorite food, AI in automotive, and more. Check out their website below- Website- https://autodiagpodcast.com/ | |||
| 227: Customer Relationships With Zack Mcclain | 28 Oct 2023 | 01:07:15 | |
Today on the show Zack Mcclain joins me to talk about customer relationships. What benefits do strong customer relationships bring your business? How do you build them? Where do you draw the line between customer and friend? | |||
| 226: Module Cloning- Failures and Victories | 22 Oct 2023 | 00:31:19 | |
Today on the show I'll share my experiences with module cloning, both the wins and the losses I've had. The need for USED modules to be programmed in vehicles doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and actually increasing with time, but it's not all rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes you run up against a wall. I'll cover Flex, Autel, IO terminal, ACDP, VVDI, AR32, & more. | |||
| 225: Programming Tips for Multiple Module Replacement on Stellantis Vehicles | 20 Oct 2023 | 00:24:16 | |
Today on the show I share a case study on a 2016 Ram 2500 flood vehicle with tips for programming for multiple module replacement. New keys, RF hub, AND BCM! Where do I start? | |||
| 224: Ford Fiesta No Start Challenge | 15 Oct 2023 | 00:39:34 | |
Today on the show I'll share a case study on a 2014 Ford Fiesta that engages and releases the starter when cranking, but will crank over if the starter relay is jumped. We made a wrong call on this one at first, but eventually get to the root of the problem. | |||
| 223: Honda Civic Crank No Start | 13 Oct 2023 | 00:32:16 | |
Today on the show I share a case study on a 2009 Honda Civic crank no start. I can’t communicate with the immobilizer module or the PCM. Join me as I work trough my process to get to a solution! | |||
| 222: Health Is Wealth With Tomi Oliva | 08 Oct 2023 | 01:33:43 | |
Today on the show Tomi Oliva joins me to candidly share his journey with weight loss, diet, and health. We'll discuss the negative impacts that a poor diet can have on your body and overall well-being. Being healthy is necessary in order to perform your best in and out of your career, and being conscious of what you're eating every day can make a large difference in achieving that. | |||
| 221: Start/Stall Cadillac CTS Diagnosis | 07 Oct 2023 | 00:30:44 | |
Today on the show I share a case study on a 2013 Cadillac CTS. This vehicle starts and stalls, but the shop has done their best to eliminate the anti theft system as the problem. I'll confirm that, but then figure out what else is causing this issue. | |||
| 220: JC Diagnostics | 01 Oct 2023 | 01:43:53 | |
John Curtis of JC Diagnostics joins me on the show this week. JC is a mobile diagnostic and programming technician in Texas. He'll share his journey getting to where he's at and some diagnostic case studies as well. | |||
| 219: Subaru Wheel Speed Sensor Unwanted Voltage | 29 Sep 2023 | 00:30:13 | |
Today on the show I share a case study on a 2014 Subaru Forester that has a LR wheel speed sensor circuit code. The sensor, bearing, and wiring was been replaced. Is this a module or something else strange?? | |||
| 218: Malcolm Trammell | 24 Sep 2023 | 01:11:54 | |
Malcolm Trammell joins me on the show today! Malcolm is a college automotive instructor and mobile technician. We'll chat about his path in the industry to get where he is and share experiences teaching students at the college level. | |||
| 316: Wrong Part, Wrong Keys | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:40:46 | |
This week on the show I share challenges with incorrect control modules and keys when doing mobile programming. I'll share some tips to finding the correct part numbers and if we can determine whether the used module will work or not. I'll also share a brief case study on a 2010 Prius that won't go into park. Website- https://autodiagpodcast.com/ | |||
| 217: Cam And Crank Reluctor Diagnosis | 21 Sep 2023 | 00:30:41 | |
Today on the show I share 2 case studies on vehicles I had back to back with very similar problems. First a 2016 Mazda CX-9 and then a 2014 Infiniti QX80. The Mazda is a no start and the Infiniti starts, but with several issues. | |||
| 216: Ali Hameed | 18 Sep 2023 | 01:21:51 | |
Ali Hameed joins me on the show this week to share his experiences and journey in the automotive world. Ali came to the USA from Iraq after being a translator for the military, and has since built a successful mobile diagnostic, ADAS, and programming business. | |||
| 215: F-550 BCM Trouble | 16 Sep 2023 | 00:36:29 | |
Today on the show I share my programming challenges on several F-550 trucks with new body control modules. The data from Ford's server seems to be incorrect, so how do we make it correct? | |||
| 214: Chris Higgins | 10 Sep 2023 | 01:30:20 | |
Chris Higgins joins me on the show today to share his experience in the automotive industry. Chris has worked in the dealership as a technician & field service engineer. Chris is now in the independent world in Fargo North Dakota. We'll talk diagnostics, shop life, and case studies. | |||
| 213: Don & Kyle 3- Mobile Drift | 07 Sep 2023 | 01:36:28 | |
Today on the show Kyle Buell and Don Smasal join me for the 3rd time. The 3 of us are checking in every 6 months to share our successes and challenges in growing a business. | |||
| 212: Say That Louder For The Module In The Back | 02 Sep 2023 | 00:34:15 | |
Today on the show I share a case study on a 2009 Chevrolet Suburban that has no communication with the fuel pump control module. Simple right? Well it should be, but I spun my tires on this diag and wanted to share with everyone why, so you can avoid the same mistakes! | |||
| 211: Brittany Grande, General Motors Field Service Engineer | 31 Aug 2023 | 01:02:31 | |
Today on the show Brittany Grande joins me. Brittany is a field service engineer for General Motors and is going to share her experience in the automotive world & General motors, some diagnostic case studies, and her passion for Corvettes! | |||
| 210: Service Information | 27 Aug 2023 | 00:41:41 | |
Today on the show I'm sharing my opinion on aftermarket service information. What platform is right for your shop? Should you have more than one? What things should you consider before you subscribe? | |||
| 209: Powerful Free Resource | 24 Aug 2023 | 00:27:54 | |
Today on the show I'm going to share a free resource that I use almost everyday and that is in my top 5 for automotive resources. | |||
| 208: BMW X5 No Start After Engine Swap | 20 Aug 2023 | 00:28:01 | |
Today on the show I'm sharing a case study on a 2012 BMW X5 that cranks but does not start after the engine was swapped. The vehicle was purchased from the auction with a blown motor and sat for year before the shop got around to replacing the engine. | |||
| 315: Clayton Olive & Vasko Serovski | 24 Aug 2025 | 02:14:04 | |
Vasko and Clayton Join Tomi and I this week all the way from Australia! We chat about what's going on in automotive on that side of the planet and discuss Tomi's trip. PS- I'm out of town and didn't bring a mic to record the intro/outro! | |||
| 207: Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor | 18 Aug 2023 | 00:36:41 | |
Today on the show I'm sharing a case study on a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse. This vehicle has a strange amount of damaged electrical components that seemed to have failed all at once. Join me as I walk you through our diagnostic process to solve this one! | |||
| 205: Infiniti Q50 Dual Throttle Lean Condition | 13 Aug 2023 | 00:42:57 | |
On this episode I go through the diagnosis of a 2015 Infiniti Q50, 3.7L V6, with a P0171 and P0174, lean condition. I'll share my thought process through the diagnostic steps tracking down the source of the positive fuel trims. My goal on this show is to share vehicle diagnostics that challenge me to come to a precise conclusion, this vehicle being one. I have a gut feeling I know the solution, but not enough data to condemn a part. | |||
| 206: Scope Rabbit Holes With Andrew Rogue | 13 Aug 2023 | 01:29:14 | |
Andrew reached out to me to discuss a misfire diagnostic on 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. He reached a conclusion, but was left with questions on the scope results. We'll discuss the problem and attempt to clear up what was really going on. This is great example of how powerful a lab-scope can be, but also how easy it can lead us down rabbit holes. | |||
| 204: Is Entrepreneurship Right For You? With Ben Varnadoe | 06 Aug 2023 | 01:39:33 | |
Ben Varnadoe joins me on the show this week. We discuss his journey into entrepreneurship, mobile life, and why this isn't the right move for everyone. | |||
| 203: The Everyday Carry Of A Mobile Diagnostician | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:30:58 | |
Today on the show I'm sharing whats in my "Everyday Carry" bag as suggested by a listener. I'll list off all the tools and testing equipment that I have in a small bag that I take to every electrical diagnostic job. This set of tooling covers the majority of my electrical diag's, and the total value is less than $400. I'll also some tips on how to effectively use them during diagnosis. | |||
| 202: Diet, Exercise, and Health | 30 Jul 2023 | 00:54:34 | |
Today on the show I want to share my perspective on diet, exercise, and overall health. We need to be healthy in order to perform at a high level within our career, but reaching our goals in today's world with sedentary lifestyles and calorie dense processed food can be frustratingly difficult. I'm going to share some simple effective ways to reach and maintain a healthy body & lifestyle. | |||
| 201: 2020 Ford Fusion Intelligent Access Failure | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:28:07 | |
In this episode I share the diagnosis of a 2020 Ford Fusion that doesn't seem to recognize the smart key to turn on the ignition or any key-less entry functions. I'll describe system operation and my thought process through the diagnosis. | |||
| 200: Brin Kline & The Accelerate Training Event | 23 Jul 2023 | 01:00:47 | |
Brin Kline joins me on the show this week to talk about the Accelerate training event in Orlando Florida, October 14th, 2023. See the link below for details. He'll also share his journey to becoming a shop owner, & offer some advise to those navigating the same path. | |||
| Navigating Career And Shop Growth with Chris Lawson | 16 Jul 2023 | 01:08:49 | |
Chris Lawson with Technicianfind.com Joins me again several months after after first talk in episode 169 to share some talks hes had with listeners of the show. We'll chat about shop culture, Flat-rate, mindset, & purpose in our career. Make sure to check out https://www.technicianfind.com/ ! | |||
| Testing Automotive Camera Systems | 13 Jul 2023 | 00:35:23 | |
After several questions from episode 190, today I'm sharing how a close circuit TV tester can be an effective diagnostic tool when it comes to diagnosing camera issues in vehicles. | |||
| 314: Crank-Start-Stall | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:31:22 | |
Expanding on the topic from last week's episode on tips for determining if a vehicle is immobilized or not, this week I touch on the car exhibiting a crank-start-stall symptom. While an immobilizer system CAN cause this in some vehicles, there are several other possibilities as well, and today I'll share my thought process on working through this type of problem. Website- https://autodiagpodcast.com/ | |||
| Jake Barnes | 10 Jul 2023 | 01:12:56 | |
Jake Barnes Joins me on the show this week! Jake is a mobile diagnostician and programmer and runs the Automotive diagnostic & programming YouTube channel. We're going to chat about the challenges of modern vehicle diagnostics and illustrate the importance of a process. | |||
| Prius Smart Key Problems & F-150 Crank No start | 03 Jul 2023 | 00:43:50 | |
This week on the show I have 2 case studies. A 2011 Toyota Prius that doesn't seem to have any smart key functions & 2015 Ford F-150 that is a crank, no spark, no start. | |||
| These Cars Will Still Be Broken Tomorrow | 02 Jul 2023 | 00:14:38 | |
This episode is just a quick reminder about stepping away from the automotive world and honing in on what's truly important. | |||
| Nissan Altima All Keys Lost Conclusion | 25 Jun 2023 | 00:42:13 | |
I'm wrapping up the 2009 Nissan Altima from episode 190 this week. Originally the car arrived at the shop with no keys. A locksmith was unable to add a key, so I diagnosed it as a faulty steering column lock. After the lock was replaced I was still unable to register a new key and ran out of tests to confirm where the fault was. Join me her to hear the conclusion! | |||
| Aftermarket Tunes With Matt Fanslow | 18 Jun 2023 | 01:28:11 | |
No, not those kind of tunes! We're talking about MUSIC! Music in the shop can be a moral booster or a point of contention, but it's a big part of most technicians' work day. We'll talk about different genres, time periods, covers, favorite bands, & more! | |||
| Finding Simple Solutions To Complex Problems With Brian Mann | 11 Jun 2023 | 01:15:15 | |
Brain Mann Joins me on the show this week to discuss how many of the fixes to the complex issues we see on vehicles end up being basic in nature. Voltage drop, broken wires, bad fuses- These end up being the cause of many problems we see. How can we break down the complexity of the systems/components to find the source efficiently and accurately? | |||
| CAN BUS Fault Case Studies | 04 Jun 2023 | 00:47:47 | |
This week on the show I share 3 CAN communication case studies. The first 2, a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan & a 2015 Jeep Wrangler that both have B+ shorted to the CAN C network from the same circuit, but with different causes. The 3rd vehicle is a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado with ECM codes for no communication with the fuel pump control module. | |||
| Finding Your Diagnostic Process With Rich Falco | 28 May 2023 | 01:16:25 | |
Rich Falco joins me on the show this week. Rich is a mobile technician & instructor for CTI. We're going to discuss developing & utilizing a diagnostic process. How can you create a process of your own and use it when solving complex vehicle issues? | |||
| Replace With Known Good Part | 21 May 2023 | 00:44:28 | |
On this weeks episode I share some vehicle issues where I've reached a limit in my current testing abilities, forcing me to decide on making a call with out being 100% confident in the diagnosis. Ideally, testing should be able to prove out exactly where the fault lies, but is there a point where you've exhausted your methods, and making your best guess is the right move? What else can we do when we reach a limit in our testing capabilities? The 2 vehicles covered are a 2015 Jeep Cherokee and a 2009 Nissan Altima. | |||
| Julio Alves | 14 May 2023 | 01:06:04 | |
Julio Alves Joins me on the show this week. Julio is going to share his journey coming to America from Brazil as a child, becoming a pilot, and owning his own automotive repair shop. | |||
| 313: Is This Vehicle Immobilized Or Not? | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:29:44 | |
Quite often we get called into shops for a vehicle that does not start or starts but does not continue to run and it's a perceived immobilizer issue. Sometimes it is immobilized for various reasons, but frequently, there is no actual issue in the immobilizer system, only a lack of understanding how it works normally. Today I share some helpful tips for identifying where you problem is and if the Immo system is active or not. Website- https://autodiagpodcast.com/ | |||
| Equinox Crank No-Start & Prius High Voltage Fault | 08 May 2023 | 00:38:20 | |
This week on the show I have 2 case studies. A 2013 Chevrolet Equinox that cranks but won't start & a 2008 Toyota Prius that won't ready up. | |||
| Volvo S70 Crank No Start | 29 Apr 2023 | 00:31:11 | |
This week on the show I share a case study on a 1999 Volvo S70 that has been sitting since 2017. The engine will start and run one time after a capacitive discharge, but once the ignition is cycled, it becomes a crank-no-start until the battery is disconnected again. There is a YouTube video with PowerPoint to complement this episode. | |||
| Avengers- EEPROM Game With Zack Mcclain | 22 Apr 2023 | 01:11:52 | |
We take on the hero cars, the problems nobody else wants, we make used WCM's work in 2010 Dodge Avengers... but should we? Zack Mcclain joins me on the show this week to discuss working on "hero" cars. Does it make sense from a business standpoint? We do we want to take on these types of challenges? How do you make the call to move on or dive in? | |||