gm 3.1 and 3.4 spark plug order and cylinder location

hello during the spark plug service many people get confused on exactly which cylinders are which and i hope this posts alleviates it here is a picture below for reference.

cylinders 1 3 and 5 are near the back fire wall and cylinders 2 4 and 6 are near the radiator cylinders one and 2 start from the belt side or passenger side of vehicle. hope this helps

many of these questions get asked from my repair video on changing the spark plugs from this engine

amazon.com links in my videos

hey guys , if you didnt know i link a lot of the tools and parts i use in my videos in the description. these are helpful to you because they are exactly what i sue most of the time or very similar to it.
and if you buy a item from my link i get an affiliate fee that helps out the channel and i can make more videos

it works out nicely i don't post junk that doesn't work or i wouldn't use myself. so you get my word and it gets you what you need.

now i am posting this to help you and the channel out as well amazon prime is a service that amazon.com has that gives you discounts on shipping and on a lot of items gets you free shipping in two days.
And you can also watch THE GRAND TOUR (a very good car show) car show with amazon prime video

so if your interested you can get 30 day free trial from this link   and it helps the channel.

Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial thanks guys more videos on the way

Pist N broke podcast episode 3

hey guys this time in the podcast we talk about winter and your vehicle and some simple  things we do to make it better for the snow and ice enjoy

rear brake pad and rotor replacement TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

new video up on how to replace the rear brake pad and rotors on a 2008 to 2013 toyota highlander. you will need a
14mm 3/8ths drive socket
3/8ths drive ratchet
hammer
1/2 inch drive 17mm socket
1/2 inch drive ratchet preferably 18 inch long or more to brake free the bolts on the caliper bracket.

need a repair manual on this vehicle check here http://www.repairsurge.com/?hop=jtag4

i have a step by step video here for you

2004-2008 ford F-150 rear power windows inoperative

I have never been more more frustrated than with this repair im about to explain
feels good when it was finished
the culprit was a 2006 Ford F-150 Fx4 Supercrew edition . the vehicle was inspected by me before purchase at the customer request had some issues but one of thing was that all the power windows worked.
came back about a week later and guess what, the rear windows will not roll down.

most common repair is to replace the power window master switch in the driver door and its an easy shot gun repair (just throwing it in and guessing) but i fix things with diagnosis because i cant afford to be wrong haha.
so i test for power and ground distribution to the master switch from the accessory delay relay. this is a 30 amp circuit and on this particular model is the light blue/black wire going into the rear (three wire) connector at the rear section of the master switch with the key on and you should see 12volts or more at this wire w/ key on.

most likely this is good  but its a first step.(also be sure the window lock is not on) In my adventure i removed the rear door panels to confirm i had power . this is where things began to get interesting. the rear door had power flowing both ways up and down at the connector to the window motor itself which would lead mt believe that the window motor is faulty , upon connecting alligator clips safely and applying power and ground to the window regulator i found it moved down and up freely. i reconnected the switch and found that it would operate up but not down. went to the right rear door to perform the test and found that i had power going to the switch through the yellow wire with a blue line. this is the wire that feeds the other switched from the master switch ( comig from the lockout switch that allows the other switches to operate the windows)  but had intermitent ground issues took me about an hour to find that ( tested fine several times )

all switches should have a ground at there coresponding wire colors at the switch connectors at each door while the master switch is at rest ( this test done with switches disconnect from harness all except master switch
FL  TN/LB   WH/BLK   FR   TN/LB   WH/YW        RL   YE/LB GY/OG  RR RD/BK YW/BK
if you have no ground at these wires suspect master switch or open wire issues

i desided to inspect the wiring at the drivers kick panel saw nothing so i disconnected the quick connect plug at the drivers door jam ( this was trick as removing it involved swing the door slightly closed to have enough room to wiggle the connector out)

while pulling the wire protective boot up  i found a broken wire with no access to repair
so the logical step was to remove the front door panel and remove the entire harness

with the door panel off i was able to snake out the harness by disconnecting all the plugs
there is the power mirror , and three near he latch along with numerous hold downs to be removed with a trim tool and remove through the hole in the door jam harness.

with the harness on the benchi was able to remove the main connecotor by popping off the white release handle and then pop the black holding plastic off by seperating the door side and sliding it off the rubber boot. this allows you to slide the rubber boot back a ways to gain access at all the wires.
THIS IS WHERE I FOUND 4 BROKEN WIRES ALL PERTAINING TO THE REAR WINDOWS. this is where my frustration was high because the wires were touching but not able to power under load ,



I reppaired all the wires with butt connectors however one wire needed to be repined and i so happened to have proper terminal pins for this connector randomly and reassembled the door and tested that all power windows now worked the kicker was after it was together i had a intermittent failure of the rear right door power window which resulted in  faulty master switch

confirmed fix although unorthodox but i hope this guides you to your issue if you have something similar 

Bleeding the coolant system on a gm 3.1 or 3.4 revised

alright this is a video i have had up for awhile but i didn't cover the expansion tank version , most of the same principles still apply . im going to explain how to bleed this one using the expansion tank . for now here is the radiator cap video (and yes i didnt have a spill free funnel during this film )
this video if following the instructions i give is a full proof way to bleed the system if there are no other restrictions and or issues with the cooling system.
To reiterate the steps i will list them here

 bleed the system by opening the radiator cap (when its cold) and top off coolant, if you have the expansion tank just remove the cap and set it aside but still have easy access to it .
 run the car at a accelerated idle about 1000-1400 rpm as the car heats up the antifreeze level will rise.
Some may spill and overflow a little bit but this is ok. If using the lisle spill free funnel you just need to leave it hooked up to the cap and or expansion tank . and when it gets to operating temperature or close shut the radiator cap if no bubbles. and only if then open the bleed valve(driver side above thermostat) small turn if it continues to run hot to get the stubborn air out. If you have the expansion tank then this bleeder is open to the tank and there is nothing to turn )

 when it runs in the normal range then wait for it ( engine off) to cool down then open the cap (COLD) and top off coolant , if you touch the other bleeder it could blow off so only and I repeat only open that if its below 100 degrees Fahrenheit

 this bleeder can be opened when the first initial fill is happening after a major service.

After these steps close all bleeders and cap and run car normally and check for proper operation

Repeat the process if the car overheats or runs hot

and i stress if any part of the coolant system was opened thermostat, water pump , intake gaskets and so on any hoses removed, anything besides simply opening up the cap you need ABSOLUTELY  need to perform this process 

new video on monday

so due to issues beyond my control its been a little late but things are going back up and new video will be uploaded around 5 am central time monday. give or take a few minutes. the hiatus is over and the weekend is coming to a lazy sunday as i am posting this.
all though i dont get a whole lot of traffic to blog i feel this is still important so im going to be answering some common questions through some posts in the next common week.
In all of this its hard to come up with a set list but i feel im over explaining some things in the video comments to the novices. So im just going to be doing some very basic how to vids as well in the upcoming year just so the people that dont know how major things work i can simplify it for them. well thats all for this post but hope you are all having a great day. thanks for reading

UP and COMING

Hey guys hows it going. im currently looking into getting a junkyard gm ls 4.8l v8  and making it boosted with a Turbo. single turbo as far as budget goes and currently sourcing a build car to put it in. im also replacing my parts runner truck with a 4 wheel drive one as well its all in whats needed in the future and with whats actually in the budget. so the by next year projects are a ls motor build, new car to build. mr2 complete. Then in the grand scheme of things im updating my shop and this will be hard to do as im limited with funds.
   In all its all i would need is money as many of us do. Im excited for the changes and cant wait for others as well.  New car hauler trailer being restored and constructed for more business and scrapping capabilities.
Thanks for reading . keep your projects running

joetheautoguy thanks you

thanks guys for the support on the channel i love doing this and its very rewarding to help out the internet community for some cheap repair of vehicles. just thanks from the bottom of my heart.
just a side note my friend has a twitch account and plays video games consistently

http://www.twitch.tv/alucard9027 
here is the link , help him get some rank up in there and follow get some veiws . we will be playing some game together soon 

new videos on the way guys thanks again

never be afraid to check out the channel of mine
www.youtube.com/user/joemakinmoney

10 dollar mini bike lives and burnout carnage

hey guys so now i posted a little video on the mini bike today for a little friday randomness , so here is the first site of it since the pic on facebook also for a little more randomness is the carnage of a thirdgen camaro burnout

The MINIBIKE

so a few weeks back i was arriving home to see a crapper pulling a minibike out of a dumpster, after asking him what he would want for it i purchased it from him for an easy ten dollars. unknown condition but the honda gx200 engine was worth that. its needed a little work but its coming along. It had a fuel issue and a jacked up jack shaft but assembly begins soon. These projects are the fun ones.

Stay tuned folks

CHECK IT OUT

So in my other blog a new video is up and its just a little insight to how things are going. The work has started and your views help me keep my motivation up so like comment subscribe if you haven't on the mr2 channel and giveaways could be in the future as fan base grows. in the talks with some tuning companies that want the exposure.. Thanks guys for everything

The Silverado Vids

ok so i have a gmc sierra but the trucks are very similar and i posted awhile ago i believe in December that i would be doing videos around the gmc sierra 1500 platform and they have started and a bit more delayed then id hope but there on the way and first one up is the battery replacement and its very simple and can save you money with one of the most basic of jobs . usually a 25 dollar charge is what you pay on top of the battery already.
so here is the video for that one



To check your charging system with a simple multimeter you can find out how to do that here
 always be safe just know what your doing a well some aftermarket autostarts and remote starters will activate when exposed to a sudden charge

PONTIAC GRAND AM HIGH PRESSURE POWERSTEERING LINE REPLACEMENT

so i put up a video of how to replace the power-steering pump a few weeks ago on 1999-2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM/ OLDSMOBILE ALERO  actually two the pump replacement as well as a video of properly bleeding the system (If you haven't seen them, here they are for ya)
                  With this repair i also did a video on replacing the high pressure line on the 3.4 liter engine family for these FWD cars. so without further ado here is the finished product everyone hope you enjoy

happy fathers day

HAPPY fathers day to all the dads out there. i know i need to thank my dad for giving me the courage to always be strong and to persevere through troubled times and always land on my feet. My dad was a teacher in the ways of engines and cars gave me the passion i have today. I just dont know what i would do without him........ thanks dad and HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DECEMBER UPDATE

Hi everyone,
It has been awhile since my last post. So far its snowing slowing this mechanic season is slowing and time for Christmas and holidays so people usually try to save money for gifts and other things. In writing this i am very thankful for my family and my loving girlfriend who has supported me through everything and keeps me driving on. Along with that i am so thankful your viewing and commenting on my videos and without that what i do would be pointless. i have a lot planned for the upcoming year,
Now as far as the vehicles go i have a sunfire i have recently posted about and have one video for that has some common issues and i cant wait for the videos to be made i think they will be very helpful to those with sunfires and cavaliers  so far just one video
http://youtu.be/pdorKmqDbC0 its a link to a front turn signal bulb replacement video if interested

The mr2 is on the back burner as it is buried in by snow but i have some plans for it as soon as the snow melts. but as for now its under wrap and cozied up for the winter

Then there is the grand am its doing great and only has one more final issue that needs to be dealt with and i have a few videos in the works that relates to all of the 3.1 liter and 3.4 liter v6 gm engines of this type so i hope that's a good dealing. it took awhile to get it up to snuff and for my girlfriend to drive it daily lol but im proud of it the car is a trooper and a great example of every car is reliable if taken care of.

And being uploaded in January is some silverado videos which i feel are extremely versatile throughout the model years as many thing are just the same

so thats all for the update i hope you all have a great holiday.

Check your tire pressures

So what does long weekend coming up lots of people are heading out of town or long distance with their vehicles. To increase gas mileage and promote good tire wear its always always a good idea to check tire pressures to be at the  pressure optimal will make the car handle better elongate gas mileage  Save on tires heating up when you're not supposed tocaysing premature wear.  Just check them and air them up if needed

Weekly randomness

So for this post ithink I will continue on and ever possible for fridays . This is just going to be a random post no real meaning but maybe some entertainment to the blog.
For the first mention I'm posting up a pic that I also posted to my facebook page , its of a car flying through the air with what seems to be a photographer none the wiser.
Secondly I'm workingn on writing some articles on general car repair that I hope people find useful when I away not answering questions. I love to help everyone but I'm only one person.  So that should be in the future
Well like I said weekly randomness , thanks for reading,
JOETHEAUTOGUY

Automotive Jobs and Resumes

          So as many of you may know working on cars is kind of difficult for the newbies. There is many ranges of skills and experiences, but if your reading this you probably want or have been looking into the field somewhat.
           well i started working on cars at a young age. i have always have a passion for cars and making them stay running. More or less tools its a fun sick obsession. Tools are a big part having the right tools and organization makes life a hundred times easier. i struggled with it all deciding if automotive was the right decision i wanted to go into.
         Im currently looking into some other jobs as i have hit a crossroads in my career. thats another long story. so the main part is the resume . what do they look for. well in my experience there are a few things to follow from my personal to word of mouth experience
       Automotive technicians are required to be well versed with automobiles in terms of basic maintenance and service. They are expected to change oil, manage tire rotations and other such necessary work that vehicles of all manufacturers require.
Being an automotive technician requires vast amount of skill and experience in order to be able to do the position true justice. When you are applying for a job at this position, you will need to mention these skills in your resume. If entry level make sure to include any skills that relate to job and computer skills as long as they relate to software you will see on the job such as typing skills and WPM(words per minute)if you can.
A well crafted resume for the job of automotive technician is a pre-requisite for a successful interview call. even if its just a simple position to get foot in the door a resume is professional and looks good even though
Tips
When writing your resume for an automotive technician job:
• use semi colons to separate sentence fragments in descriptions
• Stay away from “I”, “My”, “responsible for” and “duties included” before job description or skills statements
• Mention your present experiences in the present tense, and past experiences in the past tense
• Length of your resume should be one to two pages; if you are a new graduate, one page will work best. If you have more than 5 years of extensive experience, it is acceptable to use two pages
the following sample will assist you i hope in making or guideline your own Resume.

Sample  Technician Resume

John H. Doe
                                                   1234 Atlanta Street West – madeup, AB                                                    (999) 999-7777, Email Address
__________________________________________________________________________________

EDUCATION
Automotive service technician apprenticeship – Mar 2003 – May 2005
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
• Over 6 years of experience in automotive troubleshooting field
• Inter provincial Red Seal Certification
• Excellent knowledge of diagnosing and repairing vehicles to specifications
• Hands on experience of adequately explaining technical diagnosis and needed repairs to non-mechanical individuals
• In depth knowledge of performing quality repair work in accordance to factory standards
• Highly skilled in managing system diagnostics and fully automotive troubleshooting activities
ACHIEVEMENTS
• Complied an e-book of technical information that takes information from a verified online source to update its data
• Performed training sessions for new hires by focusing on diagnosis and troubleshooting
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Fountain Tire – Steinbach, MB
Car Mechanic | Dec 2008 – Present
• Diagnose, repair and complete accepted service on customer vehicles
• Advise clients on work performed, overall vehicle condition, and prospect repair requirements
• Maintain mechanical service tools on a scheduled basis
• Operate customer vehicles in a clean and secure manner
• Support customer relations by quickly responding to customer inquiries
Cole Technicals – Springdale, MB
Auto Technician | May 2005 – Dec 2008
• Diagnosed vehicle malfunction and recommended appropriate repair activities
• Completed system diagnosis
• Road-tested vehicles to ensure quality or repair and maintenance
• Hire and train new personnel to work as technicians and mechanics
• Explained technical diagnosis to clients
• Maintained communication with management to ensure awareness of mechanical repair problems
ABILITIES AND SKILLS
• Ability to maintain a valid driver’s license
• Basic computer skills
• Strong physical demeanor: able to consistently lift up to 50 pounds
.

content

so im working on getting better and better content, your comments help me address many issues. today im uploading a video that relates to broken exhaust studs, its probably one of the worst things that i deal with is rusty exhaust. but the one in the video was a very bad one had to do the worst to grind through the stud and put new bolts in. so thats the new video for monday and ive expanded my harddrive so room for lots more video .