Wrench Tales #14 "Commitment issues" w/Sadel Martinez

March 13, 2025

A slow-to-crank engine could be caused by anything from a loose battery cable, a low charge or even a failed engine! Determining which is key, and without disassembly is priceless! You must see this episode of Wrench Tales!

Brandon Steckler

Wrench Tales is back with episode #14. Your Motor Age Technical Editor, Brandon Steckler spends the evening with long-time friend, YouTube contributor, and owner of DTech Engineering, Sadel Martinez. The subject for this episode is a 2020 BMW X5 with a slow-cranking engine.

As with any diagnosis, the symptoms are simply a clue but the root cause of the fault must always be sought after. Listen and watch as Sadel describes his approach to the slow-cranking engine. This symptom could be caused by:

• Dead or degraded battery

• Voltage-drop on the supply side of the starter circuit

• Voltage-drop on the ground side of the starter circuit

• Faulty Start/Stop switch

• Worn starter motor

• Engine mechanical failure

• Frozen belt-driven accessory

• Faulted Body domain controller drive circuit

Through data gathering, weeding out what is likely not contributing to the fault, and leveraging the power of the digital storage oscilloscope/current probe, Sadel creates an experiment that allows him to draw a conclusive diagnosis about what is exactly at fault!

See what it takes to keep learning in the trenches by introducing test on both good functioning systems and comparing them to faulted ones. This is what it takes to stay on top as a successful diagnostician! Be sure to watch this episode of Motor Age’s “Wrench Tales!”

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About the Author

Brandon Steckler | Technical Editor | Motor Age

Brandon began his career in Northampton County Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was a student of GM’s Automotive Service Educational program. In 2001, he graduated top of his class and earned the GM Leadership award for his efforts. He later began working as a technician at a Saturn dealership in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he quickly attained Master Technician status. He later transitioned to working with Hondas, where he aggressively worked to attain another Master Technician status.

Always having a passion for a full understanding of system/component functionality, he rapidly earned a reputation for deciphering strange failures at an efficient pace and became known as an information specialist among the staff and peers at the dealership. In search of new challenges, he transitioned away from the dealership and to the independent world, where he specialized in diagnostics and driveability.

Today, he is an instructor with both Carquest Technical Institute and Worldpac Training Institute. Along with beta testing for Automotive Test Solutions, he develops curriculum/submits case studies for educational purposes. Through Steckler Automotive Technical Services, LLC., Brandon also provides telephone and live technical support, as well as private training, for technicians all across the world.

Brandon holds ASE certifications A1-A9 as well as C1 (Service Consultant). He is certified as an Advanced Level Specialist in L1 (Advanced Engine Performance), L2 (Advanced Diesel Engine Performance), L3 (Hybrid/EV Specialist), L4 (ADAS) and xEV-Level 2 (Technician electrical safety).

He contributes weekly to Facebook automotive chat groups, has authored several books and classes, and truly enjoys traveling across the globe to help other technicians attain a level of understanding that will serve them well throughout their careers.