In this video I bring you along for a little shop talk and we poke around this 2001 Caddy Eldorado Northstar to find and fix a coolant leak at the thermostat housing. Always refer to you shop…
Cadillac Eldorado Northstar Coolant Leak – Thermostat
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I’m not surprised by your success. You have the perfect formula. Running a
real, not fake, shop you simply show people what you do on a daily basis
with the cars that come in for repair whatever that may be. Nothing is
staged and nothing is faked and your not working on the same tired Honda’s
all of the time (hint to the other Eric). I would encourage you to start
doing more videos on the more complicated stuff, Like an engine rebuild or
automatic transmission, these would of course have to be divided into
several parts, but more stuff like the Subaru head gasket series would be
great.
What I like about
your YouTube channel is you do a variety of work from very simple stuff to
quite in-depth electronic work, which most of the other channels out there
don’t really do that, plus with you. You can see everything is not staged
and planned if it goes wrong it goes wrong and let’s be honest, that’s how
mechanics are some days simple jobs go wrong. I may not always comment on
your videos, but believe me I’ve seen about 20 now and I’ve gave them a
thumbs up and will continue doing that. Keep up the good work you are doing
a fantastic job on here. I’m sure you will get loads of subscribers, all
the best from shaun in a fairly sunny London uk .
Great video Eric and you’re right about VWs having a lot of plastic which
is everywhere. I’ve broke my share of plastic on those things among other
cars too. Have a good one!
Reminds me of the guy that has a Toyota. All he could talk about was 10
year antifreeze changes. I laughed so hard at him. He doesn’t think the
water pump, raditor or hoses will fail long before that. As that stuff cost
$40.00 a gallon to replace any lost coolant!
I was in the bathroom doing some paperwork, lol.
Don’t get the harbofrieght pressure testers its junk, went through two of
them and they both leaked at the fitting for the adaptors
What up eric, hey if you ever do a Timing Belt and water pump on a V6 Honda
accord or any accord for that matter be sure to post a Vid on it. Thanks!
i heard that back in the day gm had a tsb on northstars to put a sealer
product in the cooling systems to prevent head gasket leaks lol
I noticed yellow coolant (Preston AM/AM?) was dripping out, and you used
amber coolant (Dexcool?). What are your thought on coolants? I like
Prestone AM/AM personally. However I might doe Zerex Asain or G-05 next
time on the 96 Nissan Maxima.
Worst job ever was a toss up between pulling an engine from a Toyota Previa
to clear out EGR passages, or turbo oil feed lines on a V6 BiTurbo Audi.
I worked at a VW dealership as VW tech, and then used car tech when the Wyo
Tech guys pushed me out. I was easily three times better than them, but VW
said so. They didn’t even know how to work on drum brakes, never trained on
them.
Awesome video man, keep it up!
A leak on a Northstar?? NO FUCKING WAY!!!!
i agree that German cars are nothing but black plastic nightmares on
wheels! and to boot, those plastic parts cost a bundle to replace.
i’m also glad that your viewership continues to increase. keep up the
great videos!
My worst job was put in a axle in a nineties model VW Jetta that was rotted
beyond rotted had to heat the allen head bolts red hot and take them out
with a pair of vice grips but it wasn’t going to beat me still cringe when
I see that car drive by
dude keep your hat away from the cooling fans.
Worst in recent memory was a Northstar lower oil pan reseal, sucked big
time oh and it was like 2 weeks ago, same week i also did an engine
replacement on a Cobalt and replaced a subframe on a charger, talk about
sore!! Give me VW/AUDI any day over a Northstar. I work on a ton of euro,
mostly BMW and VW/AUDI they are different, still rather work on a ford or
gm though.
I think mostly the interest is people that just like watching repair
videos. I know I’ll never have to work on an El Dorado Northstar, but if I
ever did for some reason, I know how to replace the thermostat.
I just oddly enjoy watching repair videos o_o
The nightmare that sticks out in my mind is a ’91 Camaro heater core. I
think I had about 20 hours in that job :)
The worst for me, Infiniti G35 engine R&R and dealing with the
cluster(insert any four letter curse word that belongs with F) security
system. Those cars are a blast to drive, but yikes when it comes to cost
of repairs. The bar was my best friend that day, that is pretty damn sad.
I really wish GM would put their thermostats in easier locations. The
t-stat housing on my 3.4 has a slow leak. Been putting off fixing it
because it’s a pain in the ass to get to.
BTW where can you get those little mirrors at?
Oh boy I got some stuff I’ll mail you, lol. I never did get my cookie BTW
My worst job ever was changing the spark plugs in a 2000 Pontiac Montana
for my grand parents. I had to come up from the bottom were the exhaust
comes out. I had to remove the exhaust and stick my arm and tern my
Crapsman wrench which had 30* of play. After that I got a really nice
wrench which has 5* off play in it. And no I didn’t charge my grand parents
:)
I like your videos because you’re pretty local. And its nice to see
another tech battling rust and the shitty weather. I NEVER let anyone
touch my vehicles but me. But Im gonna need new springs on my 2012 ram
mega cab. Can your lift handle 11k lbs?? I need front springs installed.
I broke my back not to long ago and its a job I can’t handle.
My worst job was a engine R & R on a V6 passat. After i1 head was torn off
by the customer, then I got a bad used engine so I had to do it twice.
great times.
I agree that your present hat as got to be retired. It just looks too
Ghetto. We’re not watching “oldschoolfunk” videos here. What’s the deal
with the Utah York thing. Either Utah, which is my neighbor to the North,
or New York would make more sense. Whatever it says it’s better than the
clapped out hat you’ve been wearing. We might need to start an Eric needs a
hat thing.
I can tell you the most enjoyable car I have worked on : a Porsche 911
Turbo/spark plugs and exhaust. I had to remove the bumper/remove heat
shields/remove intercoolers/remove exhaust past turbos/remove another heat
shield/go deep into the engine and remove coils plus spark plugs. Reinstall
everything plus new X-pipe aftermarket exhaust. Start engine and enjoy
500HP and a race car engine that has won LeMans 16 times.
Ha looked like the car was moving when you were putting pressure in the
tank. My pleasure rig has three screw on bladders that fit everything so
far. Since I don’t have 35 year old eyes I use a optical snake with a
magnifying glass and 2 million lumins light 🙂 Alway great camera placement
and lighting. Cat in the bag – nope not a saying up here – just in the bag
kinda means something little different.
Awesome tip with the paper towel in the socket. Sometimes the idea of a
great big V8 appeals to me but then I see how they cram them into cars like
this and think with my big hands I won’t stand a chance fixing it when it
goes wrong.
There’s a good chance you’ll be seeing that caddy again soon with Bad head
gaskets, as I’m sure you know northstars are notorious for head gasket
problems. Probably my two least favorite jobs that I’ve done was changing
the oil on a VW touraeg and brake lines on an s10. If you’ve never changed
the oil on a touraeg it sure is a pain in the ass. I was a lube tech for VW
last year but I decided to get out of the automotive industry and just work
on cars for a hobby and to save myself money. You have a great channel by
the way, my favorite repair channel on YouTube besides scottykilmer. Keep
it up man, great work.
Love the vids Eric. You were hoping it was a water pump? Don;t the
Northstar blocks have porous castings and leak like a siv? That would have
been a cool vid! Northstar engine swap. Keep the vids coming; way better
than the crap on the boob tube.
My worst job was when I worked part time weekends at a student center as a
janitor. Well, it seems like there would be some sort of special event
every weekend, and it seemed like beer was sold at every event (this was
thirty-seven years ago and the drinking age for beer was 18, and colleges
were far less pc than now). The bathrooms of course were filthy, but in
addition there would always be at least one bucket-full of vomit in an
urinal, toilet or on the floor; not to mention urine and feces too often
too. But the worse part by far was emptying those little boxes in the
stalls in the girls’ bathroom. No guy should ever, ever, ever have to know
about those overflowing boxes, and certainly never have to empty them
(lol).
My Worst repair was 2005 Chrysler Pacifica head gasket and new head
My first solo repair project (with out my dad’s help) was a thermostat
replacement on a Mazda. It wasn’t the hardest thing but it stands out
because I was on my own with out my safety net/dad. Thanks for taking the
time to make videos!
My ex girlfriend had a 98 Saturn SL2 with an intermittant stalling problem,
like stalling anytime, anywhere, usually at the most dangerous places in
NYC. I called it a Uranus.
Hey Eric, My mom’s 06 GMC Yukon is leaking from the thermostat housing
also, I was wondering, if the new thermostat gasket didn’t fix the problem,
could you use Permatex high temp gasket maker, a slight bead around the
edge of the housing? Just trying to figure out what i should do first
before I take it off.
Pretty sure your hat is well past the broken in phase when the brim starts
to go. I like how the new hat is camo so it won’t be a big change from
what we’re used to seeing you with. :)
A Northstar? I’ll be right back, I have diarrhea…Are those your gray
hairs poking through the back of your hat? Jingle Pin is the correct
terminology and yeah, plastic petcocks, no thanks. I’d much rather either
disconnect the lower hose or do just what you did.
northstars are a great engine when they are working… but my fuck what a
nightmare to work on, they are well known for the threads coming out of the
block, usally it is caught in warranty 1998 was the worst year for it. any
ways fun stuff! and worst job well seems alot of dodge products make me
swear a lot.
Congrats on your 2000 subscribers. You deserve every one of us. You make
repairing cars appear so simple and enjoyable. You have the right amount of
skill, talent and patients required to do the job successfully. I’m sure
you must edit out all the stressful parts and temper tantrums but it adds
to your personality. I always say “no wonder some mechanics become
alcoholics”. I wish you continued success.
One of the worst jobs I ever did, something like Za Audi clutch was
replacing a front wheel bearing on a 93 Intrepid. It was HOT and humid as
hell that day. I couldn’t get the axle splines out of the hub. Once
I realized there was no turning back I beat on that deal with a sledge
hammer until I couldn’t lift the hammer anymore. Since I’m a very
determined guy, I eventually cut the whole deal apart with the cutting
torch. Once I settled down I realized that something was messed in my right
shoulder. After X-rays etc. they found some of the tendons were torn. It
still bothers me today. I’m sure after 46 years in the trade I have had
worse jobs but I will never forget that one.
The late,great Smokey Yunick used to call German cars. “Wiener Guzzlers”.
Ha, I told you your channel was gonna grow, just wait, this is just the
beginning. Anyway, worst job ever was all of the one’s that involved a
Northstar. (Insert lots of inappropriate language) What’s wrong with me?,
I’m at work watching videos about work, lol. Great video, you’re awesome
man
A friend of mine had a cady with a northstar and I had to convince him to
get rid of it always had overheating problems and the parts are junk but
then he went with a piece of s#&t bmw I guess he didn’t know much about car
cause that car was a money pit . I have hats that are over 6 years old and
are my work on car hats really appreciate the vids I learn something new
every time
Don’t know about you but I’ve noticed over the last fifteen years or so
that coolant leaks and rubber seals or gaskets go hand in hand.I have gone
to the extent of pulling a water pump on a Ford six cylinder apart that was
leaking (replaced only thirteen months earlier) and found that the carbon
ceramic seal has a rubber cap at the top of the seal above the spring and
that is were it was leaking.The manufactures know of this, if you look
where the hole on the bottom of water pumps is that leaks coolant when the
seal fails they are now designed with a little reservoir that will collect
the evidence and normally spill over when the pump is out of warranty.
Had a Nissan Maxima that leaked coolant in the throttle body from the hot
water wax pellet air bypass mechanism into the idle air motor, shorted the
motor and the drivers in the ecu.
i was going to make a crass comment about your pump, but decided to be good
for once ;-)
People complain about BMW, but I would much rather work on an E36 or E46 3
series than any front wheel drive car. The accessories in the front are
easy to get to and the only hard part to get to would be the starter, but
its nothing after you take the intake manifold off. The newer E90’s would
be a pain with that electric water pump mounted low on the right front part
of the block, but it can be done.
Worst job: doing wheel bearings on my wife’s odyssey. Both sides were
rusted in places, liked the tone ring trying to get them out.
Hey thanks for the tip with the socket and paper towel. That saved my butt
today replacing the thermostat on my wife’s odyssey. That trick I will pass
on to my boys in the years to come! Thanks !!
Great content and great guy, that’s why people are interested. Just don’t
start shouting in dark glasses!
Well! U very lucky my friend not all people got that privilege. ..hehe..ok
so whats the average pay to a mecanic there?? Just tell me a number…uuhm
on my case 6 year experience..most asian and domestic…never late on
schedule ..a hard worker…hahah lol..:)
worst job ever? anything on a GM quad four…..Chrysler
products…..feedback carb systems etc…