Diana from Indiana calls in with a perplexing issue regarding her 1985 Dodge van, which emits a noxious smell reminiscent of sewer gas after prolonged idling or driving. The Tapper brothers dive into a humorous yet insightful diagnosis, suggesting the odor may stem from a leaking transmission cooler line onto the exhaust system. The episode is filled with light-hearted banter, car advice, and a puzzler that keeps the listeners engaged. The mix of automotive wisdom and comedic relief makes for an entertaining hour.
Diana’s dyin’ to ditch her Dodge unless our dummies can decode her dilemma: a smell so bad that it almost defies description. Hold your nose and open your ears for this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
"... we maybe we can have some other little wisdom of automobile mechanics, for example. Wisdom of there are lots ..."
The Simplex Automobile is an old car from the early 1900s that was known for being fancy and well-made. It’s important in car history because it helped shape how cars are built today. People like to talk about it because it's rare and has a unique look.
The Simplex Automobile was an early 20th-century vehicle known for its innovative engineering and luxury features. Produced in the 1910s, it is significant for its role in the development of American automobiles and is often discussed in the context of vintage car collecting and automotive history. Its rarity and unique design make it a topic of interest among enthusiasts.
"...are you? Where's Arcada? Arcada is on the Pacific Ocean way up north about as north as you can. Oh, yeah,..."
The Fisker Ocean is a new electric SUV that runs on batteries instead of gasoline, which is better for the environment. It's designed to be stylish and uses materials that are good for the planet. People talk about it because it's a cool option for those wanting an electric vehicle.
The Fisker Ocean is an all-electric SUV designed with sustainability in mind, featuring eco-friendly materials and a stylish design. It represents a significant step in the electric vehicle market, aiming to combine luxury with environmental consciousness. The Ocean is often discussed for its innovative features and commitment to reducing carbon footprints.
"...bout another block, it starts. And it sounds like crickets at first. And then it gets a little louder. And w..."
The Plymouth Cricket is a small car that was made in the 1970s and was popular because it was cheap and saved on gas. It looks a bit different from modern cars, and people talk about it because it reminds them of a time when small cars were very common. It's a fun piece of car history.
The Plymouth Cricket was a compact car produced in the 1970s, known for its affordability and fuel efficiency. It was a badge-engineered version of the Hillman Avenger and is often discussed for its quirky design and place in automotive history as a representative of its era. The Cricket is a nostalgic model for those who remember the compact car boom.
"It's a 1982 Volvo with a manual transmission and a sunroof."
A manual transmission is a system in a car that lets you change gears yourself, usually using a stick and a pedal, instead of the car doing it automatically.
A manual transmission is a type of vehicle transmission that requires the driver to manually shift gears using a clutch pedal and gear stick, providing more control over the vehicle's performance.
The brake caliper is a part of the car's braking system. It helps squeeze the brake pads against the wheel to stop the car.
A brake caliper is a critical component of a disc brake system that houses the brake pads and applies pressure to them when the brakes are engaged, allowing the vehicle to slow down or stop.
"So you stepped on the brake, the pads moved against the disc and they stuck there. They didn't retreat from that position."
Brake pads are the parts that push against the round metal disc when you press the brake pedal. If they get stuck, they can make noise and not work properly.
Brake pads are components of a disc brake system that press against the brake disc to create friction, slowing down or stopping the vehicle. If they stick to the disc, it can cause noise and uneven wear.
"So you stepped on the brake, the pads moved against the disc and they stuck there. They didn't retreat from that position."
The brake disc is the round metal part that the brake pads press against to stop the car. It's important for making sure the brakes work well.
The brake disc, also known as a rotor, is a flat, circular metal component that the brake pads clamp down on to create friction and slow the vehicle. Proper functioning of the brake disc is crucial for effective braking performance.
"I see there was sticking brake caliper or it's a bad belt."
A bad belt in a car usually means that a rubber belt that helps run parts of the engine is broken or worn out. This can cause problems with how the car runs.
A 'bad belt' typically refers to a worn or damaged serpentine belt or timing belt in a vehicle. These belts are essential for powering various engine components and if they fail, it can lead to serious engine issues.
"...when Ford screws up and all the paint that's peeling off their cars, what's the right thing to do?"
Ford is a well-known car company in the United States that makes many types of vehicles, including trucks and cars. They're famous for models like the Ford F-150 truck and the Ford Mustang sports car.
Ford is a major American automotive manufacturer known for producing a wide range of vehicles, including trucks, SUVs, and cars. They have a long history in the automotive industry and are recognized for models like the F-150 and Mustang.
"So I, you know, first time in my life, I got a new car. 1999 Jeep Wrangler this year with a soft top."
The Jeep Wrangler is a tough vehicle made for driving off-road. The 1999 version is known for being very durable and has a soft top that can be removed for an open-air experience.
The Jeep Wrangler is a compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road vehicle known for its rugged design and off-road capabilities. The 1999 model is part of the TJ generation, which is popular among off-road enthusiasts for its solid axle and removable doors.
"You said a van. It's like a B-150 van or something. This is a full-size van."
The Dodge B-150 is a big van that was made a long time ago and is great for carrying lots of people or stuff. Many families and businesses liked it because it was roomy and useful. People talk about it because it reminds them of the good old days of big vans.
The Dodge B-150 is a full-size van that was produced from the 1970s to the early 1990s, known for its versatility and spacious interior. It was popular among families and businesses for its ability to transport people and cargo. Discussions about the B-150 often focus on its practicality and the nostalgia associated with classic vans.
"This is a full-size van. Three-quarter-ton has 170,000 miles on it."
A three-quarter-ton vehicle can carry about 1,500 pounds of weight. It's a way to describe how much stuff you can load into the vehicle, often used for trucks and vans.
The term 'three-quarter-ton' refers to the payload capacity of a vehicle, indicating it can carry approximately 1,500 pounds. This classification is commonly used for trucks and vans to denote their size and capability.
"And it's got the carburetor standard, Chrysler electronic ignition, no computer."
A carburetor helps engines get the right mix of air and fuel to run properly. It's mostly found in older cars, as newer ones use a different system called fuel injection.
A carburetor is a device in an internal combustion engine that mixes air with a fine spray of liquid fuel. It was commonly used in older vehicles before the widespread adoption of fuel injection systems.
"And it's got the carburetor standard, Chrysler electronic ignition, no computer."
Chrysler electronic ignition is a system that helps start the engine by using electronics instead of just mechanical parts. It makes the engine run better and more reliably.
Chrysler electronic ignition refers to a type of ignition system that uses electronic components to control the spark that ignites the fuel-air mixture in the engine. This system improves reliability and performance compared to traditional mechanical ignition systems.
A V8 engine is an engine with eight cylinders that are arranged in a V shape. It's known for being powerful and is often used in sports cars and trucks.
A V8 engine is a type of internal combustion engine that has eight cylinders arranged in a V configuration. This design is known for providing a good balance of power and smoothness, making it popular in many performance and luxury vehicles.
"How often do you add automatic transmission fluid to it? Never."
Automatic transmission fluid is like oil for your car's automatic transmission. It helps the transmission work smoothly and keeps it from getting damaged.
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) is a specialized lubricant used in automatic transmissions to ensure smooth operation and prevent wear.
"And they did an entire check on it. Check on our exhaust system. There's no leaks."
The exhaust system helps get rid of gases produced by the engine. It includes parts that clean the air and direct it out of the car.
The exhaust system is a series of components that direct exhaust gases away from the engine and reduce harmful emissions. It typically includes parts like the catalytic converter and exhaust pipes.
"if you had driven over a skunk who's guts got on the exhaust system like the catalytic converter and the exhaust pipes..."
The catalytic converter is a part of the car that helps clean the air by changing harmful gases into less harmful ones before they leave the car.
The catalytic converter is a key component of the exhaust system that converts harmful gases from the engine into less harmful emissions before they exit the vehicle. It plays a crucial role in reducing pollution.
"You put the muffler and tailpipe on it. Struggling."
The muffler is what makes your car quieter by reducing the noise from the exhaust gases. It's part of the exhaust system.
A muffler is a component of the exhaust system that reduces noise produced by the engine's exhaust gases. It works by dissipating sound waves and is crucial for keeping the vehicle quiet.
"...one of the transmission cooler lines is actually leaking a small amount of transmission fluid onto the hot exhaust pipes. That's why I thought you were going to ask her, when did you replace the radiator?"
Transmission cooler lines are tubes that help keep the transmission fluid cool. If they leak, it can cause problems with the car's transmission.
Transmission cooler lines are hoses that carry transmission fluid to and from the transmission cooler, helping to regulate the temperature of the fluid. If these lines leak, it can lead to overheating and potential damage to the transmission.
A dipstick is a long, thin tool that you pull out of the engine to check how much oil is inside. It's important for keeping the engine running smoothly.
A dipstick is a tool used to measure the level of oil in an engine. It helps ensure that the engine has the proper amount of oil for lubrication and operation.
"with the engine hot, in other words, the car's been running. Put a drop of this on the hot tailpipe."
A hot tailpipe is the part of the car that lets out exhaust fumes after the engine has been running. It's hot because the engine heats it up while working.
A hot tailpipe refers to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle that has been running and is therefore hot. This is important for certain tests or checks, as temperature can affect readings.
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Hello and welcome to Car Talk from National Public Radio with us, click and collect the tap at brothers. And we're broadcasting this week from the center for deep thinking here at Car Talk Plaza. And my brother has some deep thoughts.
I wish I knew who sent us this, but here it is. It says life's challenges can seem almost insurmountable at times, indeed. And things appear to be getting not only harder but weeter as well.
One might normally seek inspiration and turn to the Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Daudu Jing, but sometimes even they are not enough. That's when you need the wisdom of supermodels.
Three pages of wisdom, for example. Are you going to tell us? I'm going to give you a couple of sample.
From these quotes come. Yeah, I mean, these are evidently. I presume I hope we won't be insulting anybody, but I mean, it's just given to us and we think it's correct.
His his some wisdom from Kathy Ireland, because modeling is lucrative, I'm able to save up and be more particular about the acting roles I take. And Kathy has started such things as the alien from LA and danger island.
Hey, the alien from LA was pretty good, man.
Beverly Johnson whom I wasn't good the first time I shot. But by the third time you start to get the deep meaning exactly to it three times. Yeah.
Beverly Johnson whom I don't know, but evidently another supermodel she has some words on poverty. Every once you have enough money to get plastic surgery.
Whether you need it or not, Carol Mallory whom I also don't know on self knowledge, you know, it's important to know yourself.
Everywhere I went, my cleavage followed, but I learned I am not my cleavage.
She may be wrong about that. Some serious stuff here.
Here's one from Linda Evangelista. I don't know her either, and she discusses economics. I don't even wake up for less than $10,000 a day.
Yeah, me too. That's my end of the way.
But the wisdom of the, we maybe we can have some other little wisdom of automobile mechanics, for example.
Wisdom of there are lots of possibilities, but we have the bug of our game. We just we dispense that from time to time.
Things like that's what it is. It's gonna cost you a hundred bucks if that's what it is.
You know, someone actually put that on a brass plate and mailed it to me.
Just so I would never forget that I said it. It's gonna cost you two hundred dollars no matter what it is, if that's what it is.
If you want to talk to us about what it is, the number is 1-888 card talk that's 888-227-8255. Hello, you're on card talk.
Hi, this is Elizabeth and Arcada, California. Hi, Elizabeth. How are you?
I'm doing well. Thank you. How are you? Where's Arcada?
Arcada is on the Pacific Ocean way up north about as north as you can.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I've never been there. Yes.
Here, Eureka? Yes. Yeah. A little bit north of Eureka actually.
Yeah. Okay. Well, I have a problem.
If you were lost and you were trying to get to Arcada, when you found it, would you say Eureka?
No, you say Arcada.
I know that was something. I'm sorry. What's up, Elizabeth?
Well, my problem is both social and automotive. Arcada is a college town with 15,000 residents.
7,300 of whom attend Humboldt State.
I'm one of these 7,300. I have a 7 o'clock math class.
And when I go out to get in my car, it's usually dark. It's very foggy.
And being a college town, everyone's still asleep until I drive by.
Because you need a muffler. No, it's not my muffler. Well, I don't think so.
But like, okay, I go block and then I turn. And then after about another block, it starts.
And it sounds like crickets at first. And then it gets a little louder.
And when I roll down my windows, it sounds like...
But it stops at a stop sign and then it'll start again.
Oh, really? So it only happens when you're in motion.
Yes. When I turn to go north on G Street, it stops.
But then it starts again. On G Street, the letter G?
Yes.
How many just started curiosity? Is this a big, big, big town?
You know, it's very small.
I mean, they couldn't be more imaginative than to name a street with a letter.
Well, I mean, I just, I'm just curious. I don't know. I mean, you know, they might as well just number them.
Maybe they just didn't want to think about it.
It's California, you know. They laid back.
What do we name the streets? Anything you want, man?
I mean, you're just saying, man, I don't care.
Right.
Yeah, it sounds okay to me.
All right. So you're on G Street.
I'm on G Street.
Yeah.
And it stops and it's quiet.
And then I turn right on 14th Street going north.
And it starts again.
Is this a big town?
Yeah.
I don't know what to do. I'm at a total loss.
Well, is there any chance that you might flunk out of this class?
No, this is pre-calculus.
She's going to flunk out of the calculus class.
Because if you're going to flunk out, you don't think so, huh?
I mean, the time is a big problem.
The time is, does anyone show up?
Yeah.
If you show up, you get an A.
That might be it because I got a 92 on my test.
But you'll take any of those class courses that have a pre-in them because they're probably all at 7 a.m.
Oh, yeah.
But don't I get any credit for waking up at 7 a.m.?
Oh, you should. You should.
All right.
So they get to the noise now.
Does it sound like it's front or rear?
It's front.
Uh, front.
Yeah, it's front.
What kind of a car is it?
It is.
I love my car.
It's a 1982 Volvo with a manual transmission and a sunroof.
Oh, 82 Volvo.
Yes.
And you're pretty sure the noise is coming from the front.
Oh, I think so because I rolled under a window to listen to this sound.
And is it?
No, it's not.
It is like three times as loud.
It's really bad.
But is that the sort of the right pitch?
No.
Or is it higher?
It's higher.
Much higher.
Yeah.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
How's that?
That was it.
That was it.
Well, like this is a small town and if it weren't a small town, I'd be pretty anonymous driving around.
Right, exactly.
What?
I mean, I barely know anyone in this town.
And if I drive around in that car, people are going to recognize me.
Hey, I'll know you.
Oh, it's that girl in the 82 Volvo.
Yeah.
No, you have, Elizabeth.
I believe a sticking brake caliper.
Oh, my goodness.
What?
You say that in a happy mood?
Are you upset about this?
I have to register on sticking brake caliper.
Yes.
Yeah.
Brake?
Brakes, yeah.
There's nothing to do with stopping or starting.
Well, it does.
Because if you're not moving, then the brakes aren't like in motion.
Oh.
Because you're not moving.
And so the stuff that's turning.
The disc that the disc brake pads touch against is turning when you're in motion.
Oh, really?
But as though I like, we're just learning how to drive a clutch and like had the brake and the gas at the same time.
Well, yeah.
If it were sticking, then the brakes are kind of always on.
See, the brakes are kind of always on until you've driven long enough to wear away enough of the brake material and then the noise stopped.
How would it tighten up every single morning?
Because every time you step on the brakes, they get...
The last thing you did before you went in the house last night was to take your foot off the brake.
And the next the last thing you did was to step on the brake.
Unless you drove through the garage door.
So you stepped on the brake, the pads moved against the disc and they stuck there.
They didn't retreat from that position.
And when you drive away in the morning, you're hearing that noise of the pad just barely touching the disc.
And after you've driven some number of blocks, you've worn away enough of it or caused enough movements so that the noise stops.
You may have to have that caliper replaced.
Considering the age of your car, I would say you need a new left front caliper.
Left, but not a guess.
Yeah, that's an absolute guess.
And if that didn't work, try the right.
If that doesn't work, try the right.
Well, what about my original hypothesis of it being something having to do with the belt?
The belt is more likely to make noise when the engine is revved.
So that would be coincident with.
But it usually wouldn't be so predictable that it would stop completely when the vehicle stopped.
But if you're sure it stops absolutely every time the vehicle stops and starts up again,
then I would say that the chances are very small that it's the belt.
On the other hand, if there's ever a time when it seems to make a little bit of noise even when the engine is idling,
then it could be a loose belt.
Okay.
So it's a sticking brake caliper.
I see there was sticking brake caliper or it's a bad belt.
Take it to the local gas station and have them look at the steam.
Yeah, because I mean, this is kind of bad, but I've been letting it sound like that for a month.
We know that because you've been absorbed in pre-calculus.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But now it's time to, you know.
Give up on that nonsense.
Give up on that nonsense.
And stop doing something useful.
And fix your car.
See you, Elizabeth.
Okay, thank you.
Bye, bye.
All right.
Here's a question you haven't heard in some time.
Do you remember last week's Puzzle?
Just a defined Puzzle.
That's what I thought.
We'll be back in a minute.
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Hey, for your T-shirt wear is out there.
All relatives of T-shirt wears.
We just got a veritable shipload, net shipload with a P,
have new card talk T-shirts at the Shameless Commerce Division.
The folks there made a great series of T-shirts out of their favorite card talk quotes.
So in addition to the classics, you know, don't drive like my brother.
Do we achievement how you can now get card talk T-shirts that say, for instance,
if money can fix it, it's not a problem.
Life is too short to drive boring cars.
Do it while you're young.
You may never have a chance to do anything this stupid again.
Reality often astonishes theory or happiness equals reality minus expectation.
How about this one?
Lousy card vice since 1977 and many, many more.
If you'd like one or want one to ship to a friend or relative,
you don't really like just head over to ShamelessCommerce.com.
That's ShamelessCommerce.com.
Ha, we're back.
You're listening to card talk with us, clicking, clack the Tapper Brothers.
And we hit a talk about cars, car repair, and the answer to last week's puzzler.
We had a puzzler last week, really?
It was another...
This was not in for my famous match stick series.
This one came from my friend, Murray Prysler.
Oh, yeah.
He says, take your match sticks out.
Or your pen with which you will draw a match stick, so whatever.
And make the fall away in Arabic numerals.
Oh, I didn't work on this one.
Well, I know that.
I remember this one.
Because if you had, you would have complained.
One plus one plus 11.
You got that?
No equal sign.
Just one plus one plus 11.
So, including the plus signs, you're using eight matches.
Yeah, okay.
Now, here's the puzzler.
Move one match and make that sum equal to 130, 130.
Like this?
Okay, so take that one plus one plus 11.
Yeah.
Okay.
And move one match and make that sum equal to 130.
And we stipulated that you have to stick with Arabic rather than you can't go...
You can't go mix and then match.
And that was Murray's complaint.
He said, you can't go pie as an arominal numeral and you can't turn things upside down.
And even though Tommy's not going to like this when he...
Murray contends it's more legitimate than those bogus ones that I've been giving.
And very simply, you take the vertical piece from the second plus sign, the vertical piece.
And by removing that, you turn that into what?
A minus sign.
We'll agree with that.
I agree with that.
Yeah.
Then you take that piece and placing it so it touches the top of the other plus sign.
And the left most part, you convert that plus sign into a four.
So, you'll make 141 minus 11.
Oh!
You'll like it, Murray.
Well, here's the obvious problem.
I mean, this is a simple geometry problem.
When you put that match there, what is the length of the hypotenuse that you just made?
It's only half the length of a match there.
Oh, I didn't tell you.
So you're gonna...
When you're moving it, you break it in half.
You're breaking it in half.
And Murray thinks that's better than pie.
Oh, Murray, we have to talk.
We have to talk.
Oh, man!
We should, I think, by default.
Just like when Ford screws up and all the paint that's peeling off their cars, what's the right thing to do?
What do we always say is the right thing to do?
They should take back every single car and repaint it.
We should give everyone who sent it an answer right or wrong.
No, no, I like it.
I'm sticking.
Everyone's over there.
We owe 500,000 people 25 bucks.
I'm sticking with Murray.
Murray's bogus.
That's bogus.
I'm sorry.
I don't mean to.
You all right.
Oh, man.
Anyway, who's our winner?
Everyone's a winner.
Everyone's a winner.
Everyone should be a winner.
We're gonna go out.
Oh, this is bogus.
We're gonna give reluctantly here.
And under pressure here, I am gonna say that the winner this week is Terry Horlick from Grass Valley.
California.
And he or she is gonna get a copy of our puzzler book, a haircut in horse town and other great car talk puzzlers.
Great car talk, but this won't be in the next edition.
Other.
Yeah, this will not be it.
It's a very big book, Terry, so you hope we have a table with one leg.
It's a lot shorter than the other, so you can use it to its full advantage.
We will have a new puzzler.
And I don't know if I'm gonna go for historical or a medicinal.
I haven't decided yet.
And that puzzle will be coming up in the third half of today's show, so stay tuned for that in the meantime.
You know, we actually got mail.
We got mail from several people saying, I noticed that you have said that the puzzler will be in the third half of the show.
This is serious.
I would just like to let you guys know that there can't be three halves to anything.
And you should say the third part of the show, or some such thing.
Really?
I like to think of it as people getting 50% more show every week.
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