Long live Youtube!

[iamwhatiseem]

... gotta love the damn thing sometimes.
In my 2006 Explorer, the other morning when I turned the temp dial to allow warm air to defog - it started making this "clunk-clunk-clunk" sound. I know enough to know that sounds like a stripped gear somewhere. So I search YouTube for "clunk sound when changing temperature in a 2006 explorer" - Bingo! "Blend Actuator". To get to it you have to disassemble 3 pcs. of the dash console and a bracket. Not freaking easy for a 6'4" man. But thanks to the video - I did it.
The part cost $21. Average price to change according to Google for this model is between $500-$1200.

 

[bluzman61]

I watch all of my movies on YouTube. We don't have a working television set (we don't have cable) so YouTube comes in mighty handy!

 

[Concerned American]

... gotta love the damn thing sometimes.
In my 2006 Explorer, the other morning when I turned the temp dial to allow warm air to defog - it started making this "clunk-clunk-clunk" sound. I know enough to know that sounds like a stripped gear somewhere. So I search YouTube for "clunk sound when changing temperature in a 2006 explorer" - Bingo! "Blend Actuator". To get to it you have to disassemble 3 pcs. of the dash console and a bracket. Not freaking easy for a 6'4" man. But thanks to the video - I did it.
The part cost $21. Average price to change according to Google for this model is between $500-$1200.

I have an Explorer as well and I am in the same height range. LOL, I cuss everytime I change the cabin air filter.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

I have an Explorer as well and I am in the same height range. LOL, I cuss everytime I change the cabin air filter.

Last summer the starter went out, I really tried. But I just could not get enough torque on back nut to remove it. You really need to be able to stand beneath it on a lift. I had every intention, but couldn't.
Pissed me off too. I think I paid $450 to get it swapped. Standing under it, it probably took them a whole 20 minutes to change it.

 

[1srelluc]

YT is a boon to DiYers...

I guess my dryer was the first thing I ever fixed using a YT video. Then I found a fix for the gas cap door on my F150.

I don't know how many used guns I've worked on with the help of YT.

Just last evening I was wondering on how to improve something on a Beretta CX4 Storm Carbine I have.

I looked it up and BOOM!, there were several YT videos on the subject and it wasn't even a 5-min fix....Easy Peasy.

LOL....The biggest problem these days is finding a DiY video where the guy talking does not sound like he has a mouth full of marbles.

 

[Concerned American]

YT is a boon to DiYers...

I guess my dryer was the first thing I ever fixed using a YT video. Then I found a fix for the gas cap door on my F150.

I don't know how many used guns I've worked on with the help of YT.

Just last evening I was wondering on how to improve something on a Beretta CX4 Storm Carbine I have.

I looked it up and BOOM!, there were several YT videos on the subject and it wasn't even a 5-min fix....Easy Peasy.

LOL....The biggest problem these days is finding a DiY video where the guy talking does not sound like he has a mouth full of marbles.

Yeah, you really have to watch some of them. I've lost patience with the videos a time or two when the presenter spends 1/3 of the video talking about liking and subscribing and a bunch of other superficial garbage instead of getting to the meat. Often those videos' advice is suspect as well. By and large I've had great luck with them though.

 

[1srelluc]

I really like "gun Jesus" videos as far as gun history goes.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Years ago I was installing a laminate floor for the first time. Close to 10 years ago now, I have put in 6-7 now.
Anyway - I was struggling. Getting the freaking things lined up perfectly and together was a damn nightmare. I was super pissed off - how hard can it be??
So I went to YouTube, I was doing it all wrong. A VERY simple-seemingly tiny difference in how you match the pieces up - and they fall together perfectly and so easily. As well as getting a dead blow hammer, and no matter what - spend the money to get the Styrofoam underlayment. It makes installing the floor 10x easier and once finished, the floor feels smoother and quieter.
Also learned from YouTube.

 

[petro]

Changed the plugs today in my Tundra and did the front brakes on my wife's VW Atlas and used YouTube videos to get hints and shortcuts. Nice that videos show what tools needed before hand so I have a good excuse to buy more.
I work on my boat and snowmobiles using YouTube also.

I also have an addiction to watching dash cam videos and mishaps at the boat launch.

 

[petro]

... gotta love the damn thing sometimes.
In my 2006 Explorer, the other morning when I turned the temp dial to allow warm air to defog - it started making this "clunk-clunk-clunk" sound. I know enough to know that sounds like a stripped gear somewhere. So I search YouTube for "clunk sound when changing temperature in a 2006 explorer" - Bingo! "Blend Actuator". To get to it you have to disassemble 3 pcs. of the dash console and a bracket. Not freaking easy for a 6'4" man. But thanks to the video - I did it.
The part cost $21. Average price to change according to Google for this model is between $500-$1200.

Had that same issue 3 times with a Jeep I used to own. YouTube video showed the entire breakdown of dash to replace a cheap plastic gear on the blend door actuator. $1,200 if dealer did it.
Damn right I crawled my ass upside down in the car seat, head against the brake pedal, to access the stupid thing.
I was an expert by the third time.
I saved myself 3,600 bucks.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Once had a washing machine problem where the agitator suddenly started spinning and was not engaged at all. Wife watched a YouTube video and found the repair that took less than 5 minutes. She couldn't do the repair herself, because she couldn't disconnect the agitator, but I give her 100% credit on finding the video and saving us a service call.

 

[petro]

Our oven wouldn't light. Found a video describing it as a bad igniter. Also the video mentioned that the aftermarket igniters would work fine as Samsung wants $290 bucks for a $45 dollar part.
It's the exact same part, but Samsung has an inexcusable and outrageous markup.
Took ten minutes to replace.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Had that same issue 3 times with a Jeep I used to own. YouTube video showed the entire breakdown of dash to replace a cheap plastic gear on the blend door actuator. $1,200 if dealer did it.
Damn right I crawled my ass upside down in the car seat, head against the brake pedal, to access the stupid thing.
I was an expert by the third time.
I saved myself 3,600 bucks.

The bottom-back screw... you can't see it, and can't even touch it with your finger. All I could do was get a 1/4" open end wrench and finally get it off. Needless to say - that screw didn't go back on.
And yeah - the whole mechanism is plastic. Must have saved them a whole $.75 a unit over steel.

 

[Concerned American]

The bottom-back screw... you can't see it, and can't even touch it with your finger. All I could do was get a 1/4" open end wrench and finally get it off. Needless to say - that screw didn't go back on.
And yeah - the whole mechanism is plastic. Must have saved them a whole $.75 a unit over steel.

And the dealership wouldn't have put it back either. I found they didn't put the pin back in the glove box door when they inspected my cabin air filter either. I quit going to that dealership and do it myself now.