A lighthearted episode filled with quirky car advice and humorous anecdotes from the Tappet Brothers. Listeners call in with various car troubles, including a hot-start issue with a 1984 Saab and fuel efficiency concerns about a 1997 Suburban. The brothers provide their signature blend of practical advice and comedic banter, while also sharing amusing philosophical musings and a puzzler about words that are their own antonyms. The episode showcases the charm and wit of Click and Clack, making it an entertaining listen for car enthusiasts.
Lori’s man is acquiring old vehicles at an alarming rate. He loves working on them but, since he’s blind, he can’t drive them. Should Lori be putting the brakes on this hobby or practice kickstarting the Harley instead? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
"...I have a 900 series turbo sob and it's a 1984 and when you drive it it you know it starts just fine and then you drive it in the engine gets really hot..."
A turbocharged engine is a type of engine that uses a special device called a turbocharger to make the engine more powerful by pushing in more air and fuel.
A turbocharged engine uses a turbine-driven forced induction system to increase the engine's efficiency and power output by forcing extra air into the combustion chamber.
"...I have a 900 series turbo sob and it's a 1984 and when you drive it it you know it starts just fine and then you drive it in the engine gets really hot..."
The Saab 900 Turbo is a car made by the Swedish company Saab. It's known for having a turbocharged engine, which gives it more power and speed compared to regular engines.
The Saab 900 Turbo is a compact executive car produced by Saab from 1978 to 1998. The Turbo variant features a turbocharged engine that enhances performance and efficiency.
"...change the coil because the coil spring is getting all tired when it's hot or whatever as usual father's advice..."
A coil spring is a metal spring shaped like a coil that helps support the car's weight and smooth out bumps in the road. It's an important part of the car's suspension system.
A coil spring is a type of spring that is used in various automotive applications, primarily in the suspension system. It helps absorb shocks and maintain vehicle stability by supporting the weight of the car and allowing for controlled movement of the suspension components.
"...you have a bad battery or you have a bad alternator in this in the alternate is not charging up..."
The alternator is a part that makes electricity while the engine is running. It keeps the battery charged and powers the car's electrical systems. If it stops working, the battery can run out of power.
The alternator is a generator that produces electricity to recharge the battery and power the vehicle's electrical systems while the engine is running. A malfunctioning alternator can lead to battery drain and starting issues.
"...what's happening is the starter is not engaging either you have a faulty starter motor or you have a bad battery or you have a bad alternator..."
The starter motor is a part of the car that helps start the engine. When you turn the key, it makes the engine begin to run. If it's not working, the engine won't start at all.
The starter motor is an electric motor that initiates the engine's operation by turning the flywheel, which starts the combustion process. If the starter motor is faulty, the engine will not crank or start.
"...you have a faulty starter motor or you have a bad battery or you have a bad alternator..."
The battery is a part of the car that stores electricity. It helps start the engine and powers things like lights and radio when the engine is off. If the battery is dead, the car won't start.
The battery provides the electrical power needed to start the engine and power electrical components when the engine is off. A weak or dead battery can prevent the car from starting.
"...when things heat up the resistance goes up that's simple and that's what's happening to the starter heats up the resistance of the windings goes up and it makes it harder for it to turn..."
Resistance is like a blockage that makes it harder for electricity to flow. When things heat up, it can create more resistance, which can make it difficult for parts like the starter motor to work well.
Resistance in electrical terms refers to the opposition to the flow of electric current. In the context of a starter motor, increased resistance due to heat can hinder its ability to function properly, making it harder to start the engine.
"my wife has a 1997 three-quarter ton suburban with the 7.4 liter v8 oh my well I'm tired of getting thank you notices from the gas"
The Chevrolet Suburban is a large SUV that can carry many passengers and cargo. The 1997 version is known for being roomy and powerful, often used for family trips or work purposes.
The Chevrolet Suburban is a full-size SUV that has been in production since 1935. The 1997 model is part of the 8th generation, known for its spacious interior and towing capabilities, making it popular among families and for commercial use.
"my wife has a 1997 three-quarter ton suburban with the 7.4 liter v8 oh my well I'm tired of getting thank you notices from the gas"
The 7.4 liter V8 is a big engine that helps the vehicle go fast and carry heavy loads, but it uses a lot of gas, which can be expensive.
The 7.4 liter V8 engine is a large displacement engine known for producing significant power and torque, making it suitable for heavy-duty applications like towing. However, it is also less fuel-efficient compared to smaller engines.
"lately I have heard a lot of ads for these aftermarket high-tech electronic ignition systems that you get plug all the wires in and five minutes later you got great gas mileage"
These are special parts you can add to your car to help it start better and use less gas. They replace the original parts and can make your car run smoother.
Aftermarket high-tech electronic ignition systems are upgrades that can improve engine performance and fuel efficiency by providing a more reliable spark for combustion. They are designed to replace factory ignition systems and can be installed relatively easily.
"...why do you have a 7.4 liter engine which is like 500 cubic inches by my calculations just her quest for more power and torque..."
A 7.4 liter engine is a large engine that can produce a lot of power. The size of the engine is measured in liters, and a bigger number usually means more strength and capability.
A 7.4 liter engine refers to the engine's displacement, which is the total volume of all the cylinders in the engine. This measurement is significant because it often correlates with the engine's power output and torque.
"...which is like 500 cubic inches by my calculations just her quest for more power and torque..."
Cubic inches is a measurement for how big an engine is. In the U.S., people sometimes use this instead of liters to talk about engine size.
Cubic inches is another way to measure engine displacement, similar to liters. It indicates the size of the engine and is often used in the United States to describe engine capacity.
"...just her quest for more power and torque when she's out cruising the highway with that big horse trailer behind her..."
Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. The higher the horsepower, the faster and stronger the vehicle can go.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for power, commonly used to describe the power output of engines. It indicates how much work an engine can perform over time, affecting acceleration and overall performance.
"...just her quest for more power and torque when she's out cruising the highway with that big horse trailer behind her..."
Torque is how strong an engine is at moving things, especially when starting from a stop or pulling heavy loads. More torque means better ability to tow or accelerate quickly.
Torque is a measure of rotational force, which is crucial for acceleration and towing capacity in vehicles. It represents how much twisting force the engine generates to turn the wheels.
"...it's a set of of what they call kind of a high-tech spark plug wires they a super coil and then some sort of little computer gizmo that keeps it all hanging together..."
Spark plug wires are like electrical cords that connect the battery to the parts of the engine that make it go. They help the engine start and run properly.
Spark plug wires are electrical cables that deliver voltage from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in an engine. They play a crucial role in ensuring that the engine runs smoothly by providing the necessary spark for combustion.
"...it's a set of of what they call kind of a high-tech spark plug wires they a super coil and then some sort of little computer gizmo that keeps it all hanging together..."
A super coil is a special part that helps make the spark in the engine stronger, which can help the car run better and use fuel more efficiently.
A super coil is an upgraded ignition coil designed to produce a stronger electrical spark for the engine's spark plugs. This can improve engine performance and efficiency.
"...he fires up his most reliable car is 65 Falcon and makes his way cross Massachusetts on to Route 7 in New York..."
The Ford Falcon is a small car made by Ford that was popular in the 1960s. It's known for being affordable and reliable, which is why many people liked it back then.
The Ford Falcon is a compact car that was produced by Ford from 1960 to 1970. It was known for its simplicity and reliability, making it a popular choice among budget-conscious buyers during its production years.
"...if only I had another set of points as luck would have it he opens the glove box and there's a shiny new set of ignition points sitting right there..."
Ignition points help start the engine by creating a spark. They are part of older car engines and are not commonly used in modern cars anymore.
Ignition points are components in older ignition systems that open and close the electrical circuit to the ignition coil, allowing the engine to start. They are crucial for the timing of the spark that ignites the fuel-air mixture in the engine's cylinders.
"...he opens the hood takes off the distributor cap and proceeds to remove that little screw that holds the breaker..."
The distributor cap helps send electricity to the engine to make it run. It's an important part of the ignition system that helps the engine start and keep running.
The distributor cap is a component of the ignition system that houses the ignition points and distributes the high voltage from the ignition coil to the correct cylinder in the engine. It plays a vital role in ensuring the engine runs smoothly.
"...what year is this 9-11 it's 9-19-72 oh vintage no probably we all restored in primo condition in worth hundreds of thousands of dollars..."
The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that has been around for a long time. The 1972 version is considered vintage and is known for its unique look and speed.
The Porsche 911 is a classic sports car that has been in production since 1964. The 1972 model is part of the early generation of 911s, known for its distinctive design and performance capabilities.
"...oh vintage no probably we all restored in primo condition in worth hundreds of thousands of dollars..."
'Vintage' means that a car is quite old, usually over 20 years, and is often considered special or collectible.
In automotive terms, 'vintage' refers to cars that are typically over 20 years old and often have historical significance or classic appeal. They are often sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.
"...current from flowing why should fires start and that's what's going on I mean well you never stop current from flowing to the switch I mean that's the way which works is current coming to it and then when you turn the headlights on you energize a relay..."
A relay is like a switch that uses electricity to turn something on or off. In cars, it helps control things like the headlights or the engine without needing a lot of power from the battery.
A relay is an electrically operated switch that allows a low-power circuit to control a high-power circuit. In automotive applications, relays are often used to control components like headlights and fuel pumps.
"...and then when you turn the headlights on you energize a relay and you send send current to the lights like the lights..."
Headlights are the bright lights at the front of a car that help you see when it's dark. You can turn them on and off with a switch inside the car.
Headlights are the front lights of a vehicle that illuminate the road ahead when driving at night or in low visibility conditions. They are essential for safety and are typically controlled by a switch inside the car.
"...don't forget a diesel engine has to use the the heat of compression to combust the the fuel and one of the reasons that you have to change the oil often in a diesel is that it gets contaminated with the with the fuel..."
A diesel engine is a type of engine that runs on a special fuel called diesel. It works differently from regular gasoline engines by using heat to ignite the fuel instead of a spark. They are usually more efficient but need regular care to keep them running well.
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses diesel fuel, which is ignited by the heat of compression rather than a spark. This type of engine is known for its fuel efficiency and durability, but it requires regular maintenance to prevent issues like fuel contamination.
"...one of the reasons that you have to change the oil often in a diesel is that it gets contaminated with the with the fuel and that contamination takes place primarily when the engine is running inefficiently..."
An oil change is when you replace the old oil in your car's engine with new oil. This helps keep the engine running smoothly and prevents damage. It's especially important for diesel engines because they can get dirty faster.
An oil change is a routine maintenance procedure where old engine oil is replaced with new oil to keep the engine lubricated and functioning properly. It's essential for preventing engine wear and maintaining performance, especially in diesel engines that can become contaminated more quickly.
"...the power steering pump part of it is easy you can attach a pump and there's plenty of places to attach one..."
The power steering pump makes it easier to turn the steering wheel by using fluid pressure. This helps you steer without having to use a lot of strength, especially in big cars or trucks.
A power steering pump is a component that helps to reduce the effort needed to steer a vehicle by providing hydraulic pressure to the steering system. It allows for easier maneuverability, especially in larger or heavier vehicles.
"...it's getting the steering box that's tough okay and so you have to get one you have to find out what steering box fits..."
The steering box helps turn the wheels when you turn the steering wheel. It's an important part of the steering system that makes sure your car goes where you want it to.
The steering box is a crucial component in a vehicle's steering system that converts the rotational motion of the steering wheel into the lateral movement of the wheels. It plays a key role in how responsive and precise the steering feels.
"...the first was a 1965 Chevy one-ton panel truck well that's a nice yeah..."
This is a type of truck made by Chevrolet in 1965. It's known for being sturdy and is often used for carrying heavy loads or as a restoration project.
The 1965 Chevy one-ton panel truck is a classic vehicle known for its utility and vintage charm, often used for commercial purposes or as a restoration project.
"...then there was a 1949 Harley-Davidson Panhead with the sidecar..."
This is a motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson in 1949. It's famous for its unique engine and is popular among collectors.
The 1949 Harley-Davidson Panhead is a classic motorcycle known for its distinctive engine design and is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.
"...and now they're two more 1965 Chevy pickup trucks..."
These are trucks made by Chevrolet in 1965. They're known for being tough and can be used for many purposes, like work or personal use.
The 1965 Chevy pickup trucks are classic vehicles known for their durability and versatility, often used for both work and leisure.
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Hello and welcome to Car Talk from National Public Radio with us, Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, and we're broadcasting this week from the Department of Philosophy here at Car Talk Plaza.
Yes, words to live by.
I can't wait.
These sound very much like Stephen Wright.
Uh-huh. But you might be wrong.
But I might be wrong, but they came to me from various routes from Corinna, Sherman.
Okay, give us the gems.
To me, it's a good idea to always carry two sacks of something when you walk around.
That way, if somebody says, hey, can you give me a hand?
You say, I'm sorry, I got these sacks.
As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life.
Was it nothing more than a bunch of honking and yelling?
Sometimes it seemed that way.
That's me.
I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate, and I can picture us attacking that world because they would never expect it.
Consider the daffodil.
Yes.
And while you're doing that, I'll be over here looking through your stuff.
And my favorite, which we used once actually before, was before criticizing someone, walk a mile in his shoes.
Then when you do criticize him, you'll be a mile away and you'll have his shoes.
Look, Corinna, I want to thank you.
Those have made me stop and think.
I'll tell you that.
Indeed.
And that doesn't happen very often.
Unencumbered by the thought process.
If you'd like to talk to us about your car, the number is 1-888-CAR-TALK that's 888-227-8255.
It is not the one.
I always wanted to be somebody, but I think I should have been more specific.
Hello.
This is Michelle from Fairbanks, Alaska.
Hi, Michelle.
Is it spring yet?
Is it spring?
it's sunny 24 hours a day yeah this is it oh yeah this is when it happens 24
hours a day getting much shut I know we don't sleep in summertime we just stay
awake all and why would you want to I mean better you can hibernate in the
winter you have to concentrate all your fun into a few weeks of the year so
during which time is like everyone on vacation of course no not really everyone
of course is working as normal but when we get off work we play play play well
sure I mean it doesn't really matter when you go to work because daylight all the
time just throw away the clocks that's right cool so what's up well I have a
900 series turbo sob and it's a 1984 and when you drive it it you know it
starts just fine and then you drive it in the engine gets really hot and then
you stop the car and then it won't start again while the engine is hot and you
have to wait two hours for the engine to get totally cold and then it'll start
right up course in the winter you don't have to wait two hours you just wait
two minutes yeah yeah and I should tell you what I already did what it won't
start it cranks and try no it does nothing it does nothing it doesn't
do anything no sound at all so then I call my dad who's sort of a you know
closet mechanic and he said change the coil because the coil spring is getting
all tired when it's hot or whatever as usual father's advice coil springs in
your mattress you said that when you turn the key nothing happened
well it kind of goes but it doesn't go okay well what's happening is the
starter is not engaging either you have a faulty starter motor or you have a bad
battery or you have a bad alternator in this in the alternate is not charging up
the battery up but I'd have to I'd have to go with the starter motor exactly
and you know why why because it starts when it's cold and furthermore after
cooling off for two hours it starts which is how it's again the battery if it were
bad would not get self-rejuvenated in two hours but what would happen in those
two hours is that the starter motor would cool off and as we know from
don't go too far no no this is seventh grade science class you took this
course well I did I took it as a freshman when when things heat up the
resistance goes up that's simple and that's what's happening to the starter
heats up the resistance of the windings goes up and it makes it harder for it
to turn because you need a starter I would bet my reputation on it is this
a stick shift car yeah you could if you may only the hills in Alaska well the
next time you you know it's not going to start seek out a hill of some kind even a
driveway that's inclined and I'm willing to bet if you put the thing in gear and
turn the key on and coasted down the driveway and pop the clutch it would
start right up oh okay so you could you that's one remedy you could just not
do the starter and look for a hill every time or a moose but I think you
need a new starter motor Michelle okay sounds good all right well thank you so
much good luck Michelle happy summering to you okay don't get don't get sunburned
bye bye bye one eight eight eight car talk that's eight double eight double two
seven eighty two double five hello you're in car talk hi guys this is Andy
in alpharetta georgia alpharetta alpharetta I love it it's this side of
paradise no kidding oh yes lovely here great so what's going on Andy well help
me out guys my wife has a 1997 three-quarter ton suburban with the 7.4
liter v8 oh my well I'm tired of getting thank you notices from the gas
stations around the heck did you expect and and this is just kind of a point of
curiosity a little consumer advice I guess on your part is lately I have heard a
lot of ads for these aftermarket high-tech electronic ignition systems that
you get plug all the wires in and five minutes later you got great gas mileage
and increased performance in your car yeah you already have that they tried
that already yeah and what do you get for mileage about six we stopped counting I
don't even think it's double digits oh no double digits you might get double digits
downhill yeah with a tailwind with a tailwind other than that you're in
you're definitely in single digits the question is are you below five or not
you know they put a 42 gallon tank in so so you can never know you can at least get the
grandmother's house yeah 40 really you have a 42 gallon tank oh gosh yeah well
why do you have a 7.4 liter engine which is like 500 cubic inches by my
calculations just her quest for more power and torque when she's out cruising the
highway with that big horse trailer behind her all the horses oh yeah see we
Americans are a little peculiar I mean most people that have a horse use it
as the means of transportation and we feel that we would she take on the
horse like a Sunday drive right that's an interesting idea there you go well I
don't know what this with this miracle devices that you want to install in
the car I mean can you can you elaborate yeah it's a it's a it's a set of of
what they call kind of a high-tech spark plug wires they a super coil and
then some sort of little computer gizmo that keeps it all hanging together what
does it cost optimize the spark and the efficient 99 bucks no no no I'm sorry
139 95 well well normally it was 650 but today they were going to give it to me
for a mere 450 yeah and if you install this I would say it would take close
to 900 years for you to pay off that device yeah that's about what I came
get another gas credit card and you already have pretty high tech and high
energy ignition on this vehicle already I can't imagine that they can really get
the electrons to flow much faster 186,000 miles a second don't forget they
were embarrassed when they road tested this and it got 7.7 miles to the
gallon so they pulled out all the stops already so I'm already fuel efficient
you are already about as fuel efficient as you're going to get and I think you'd
be spending the money foolishly although I'd like to see somebody buy it and see
if it really does anything and that might have to be you Andy well not I mean 450
bucks is the law of the wrong price to charge for a device like this oh I
agree I mean what they should be doing is selling something in a bottle that
costs seven bucks that says miracle on it that says the word miracle on it and
you'd have to put it in like every week why the $450 price tag is genius
because if it were $99 you'd figure what oh it's not work but for 450 you say
geez these guys gonna have a lot of Hootspot I don't charge 450 for this
thing if it doesn't work let's see must it must work but for $8.39 cents a
week you could get the 450 bucks every year yeah but if it and everyone
would convince himself but if it didn't work it only get the $8 once all but
you'd always it would always works you think so because you know what happens
don't you when you put in $8.39 cents with us oh you add volume to the
fuel you all you really put in there you go that's right and you end up
getting better gas mileage this is this is a brilliant marketing save your money
and the on down the highway then get lighter horses more credit card alright
good luck see you later yeah okay now Tommy you remember last week's puzzler
do I remember last week's puzzler you don't remember diddly do you this
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hi we're back listening to car talk with us click and clack the tappard
brothers and we're here to talk about cars car repair and of course the
answer to last week's puzzler this is the heartwarming story of crusty's
fifth wedding or six or something I don't remember exactly crusty of course you
may remember was a former employer of ours at the garage and he was on his way
to meet his bride in a chapel quite a distance from home I think it was in
unidilla New York in fact it's quite a distance from everything and you'd
already warned him if he's late the wedding's off so he fires up his
most reliable car is 65 Falcon and makes his way cross Massachusetts on to
Route 7 in New York yeah I remember it okay anyway all's right with the world
when all of a sudden the car backfires cuts out and coasts to the side of the
road and he immediately figures out that his points have burned out and he's
like I should have changed those before I left if only I had another set of
points as luck would have it he opens the glove box and there's a shiny new
set of ignition points sitting right there and furthermore his entire tool
kit is in the trunk wow I mean what's serendipity huh of course his tool kit
consists of a screwdriver a jackknife and a hammer so he opens the hood takes
off the distributor cap and proceeds to remove that little screw that holds the
breaker I remember it now he definitely removes the screw and he installs the
new points and as he is putting the screw back in he drops it and where
does it go inside the distributor everyone has had this happen to him and of
course he can't get out he can see it he can even touch it with the screwdriver
but he can't get at it and he knows that he's done for so he runs to the trunk
and finds it you normally find that a trunk salami sandwich the bumper jack
and he first thinks of jacking up the car and tipping on its roof but
dismisses that because he thinks it might ruin the paint he also finds a
50 pound bag of I am's dog food not to be confused with you I'm's dog food a
junkie old lamp that he bought at a yard sale that was going to be the wedding
present for his bride and a gallon of filipo burial extra virgin olive oil
using one or a combination of these items plus his tool kit he manages to
extricate the screw in a matter of seconds they may be minutes certainly
and he doesn't tip the car over how did he do it so he had you're
ready salami sandwich bumper jack 50 pound bag of dog food an old lamp and a
gallon of filipo burial extra virgin olive oil and of course his tool kit the
screwdriver the jack knife and a hammer what does he do what does he do what does
he do I have to say I I'm baffled by this I'm baffled but I I know it's
going to be great you do huh yeah I know I remember now when you when you
stated this puzzle last week I said it must have something to do with the
lamp you're right but I couldn't figure you couldn't figure it out no he takes
the lamp cord realizes that this isn't going to be his bride's wedding present
after all he cuts the cord with the knife with the with the with the knife he
then bears with his jack knife he then bears the ends of the court so he has
a wire with the insulation removed yeah he then wraps that lamp cord around
the screwdriver and touching the bare ends to the battery battery turns his
screwdriver into an electro magnet and in the second he pulls out the screw and
before the lamp cord catches fire he he installs the screw sets the points and
he's two hours late for the wedding she was gone when he got there but but he
did make it you know the moral story is that you can make it if you have to
but he was a little wow so that's it electro magnet electro who would have
thought right beats me I do know I know that Adrianne Overman from Concord North
Carolina figured it out and for having her correct answer chosen from among the
two correct answers that we got this week she's gonna get a copy of our
new book of puzzlers a haircut in horse town which is now available in all the
best bookstores make a scene if you don't see it prominently displayed just
yell and scream and call John Duff at Penguin Books in New York he won't mind
he loves to get calls say what kind of a crummy bookstore is this yeah what's the
story here anyway we'll have a new season ending puzzler coming up in the
third half of today's show in the mean to like the world series coming up
in the meantime we'll take your calls at 1-888-CAR-TALK that's 888-227-8255
hello you're on car talk hello yes yes I've been waiting a decade to have a car
problem whether you have your time and expertise well I hope it's a good one
yeah it is a good one but now that I've gotten it you know I wanted to tell
all my friends I want to be on car talk I cannot identify myself with my real
name or my location oh it's nobody else does either oh okay you'll be a fool
to use your real name okay because I'm in a real messy divorce and I don't want
their lawyers to find out what kind of car this is no problem okay so what name
would you like to use and think about that too because I'm sure you have I
thought about when I was a kid why my friends called me be careful now your
ex-wife may know what your friends called you when you were a kid that's
okay as long as they can't prove that who ah okay okay you do whatever you
want right jinx jinx okay where would you like to be from jinx I'm from the
Boston area I'm from a town that is known for the shot heard around the world
oh cool below Mississippi right backfire I like to put two below in there okay
go ahead and this car kind of BMW is it it's close it's at this car is like a
Volkswagen on steroids it's it begins with a P and ends with a knee and the
American pronunciation is one syllable the German is two yes yes yes and the model
number can often be seen on police cars as an emergency yeah okay we're with you
now okay okay yeah you're completely anonymous here yeah no one knows
anything about anything okay and and what year is this 9-11 it's 9-19-72
oh vintage no probably we all restored in primo condition in worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars so anyway jinx what's your what's your problem I am I was
driving along on a very romantic moonlit night in Vermont like the song yeah
moonlight in Vermont along route 89 just north of the capital motte peculiar
panties in a stream falling leaves of sick or more I'm sorry very good and I also
was with a lady friend and and this lady friend that I just thought wow you could
probably see the moon and the stars a whole lot better if I turn the headlights
out yeah it's true yeah and it was a beautiful night so I I turned the
headlights out for a moment I was traveling about 60 miles an hour
and immediately the car filled with this accurate smoke that smelled of wires
melting oh and smoke coming out of the vents and around the gauges so I so much
for a romantic evening we're rolling down windows opening the sunroof and
smokes billowing out and I and when I pulled the light switch back on it
stopped I mean it wasn't burning anymore
cool I had recently sent the speedometer out to get recalibrated and then I route
I marked all the wires with blow piece of tape and I took it out and put it back
in well you've since then turned off the headlights yeah I can't I don't try to
drive it at night it's all the cars also for sale so but anyway the point
is I I it only happens when the car is running and I turn and the headlights
are on I can turn the headlights on but if I turn the headlights off especially if
they're if the brights were on while the car is running yeah smoke starts to come
out oh man well and and this didn't happen before you messed around under
there but the speedometer right well it's clear that you did something some
kind of relay or something you know and I it's clear that God is getting back at
you for being such a lousy husband
she's leaving me I'm not leaving her then it's not God yeah the Porsche God it's
the word this is a very of course a very unusual thing because if you stop
current from flowing why should fires start and that's what's going on I mean
well you never stop current from flowing to the switch I mean that's the
way which works is current coming to it and then when you turn the headlights
on you energize a relay and you send send current to the lights like the lights
but when I pulled the the speedometer out yeah the wires are all melting and I
know to rewire an entire car is gonna be very expensive so it's running just fine
now I just can't you just want to sell it during the day well the the thing is
that I went out and immediately brought a fire extinguisher because good idea the
gas intake is very close to where these wires are right behind the dash sure is
I wouldn't mess with it if I were you because you've already screwed it up
once and and I would take it somewhere and have someone look I mean someone's
gonna have to crawl under there you've done one of two things I think either
you've pinched a wire or you've forgotten to hook up a ground wire some
place yeah you're forcing a circuit to find the ground that in doesn't
want to be ground mm but only when I'm turning off the light well what's
happening is that oh this is good when he turns up when he turns the lights off
there's a relay that's not kicking out and somehow it's feeding but I've seen
very strange things happen when wires that aren't supposed to be grounded get
grounded and when ground wires that are supposed to be hooked up to ground
are not hooked up to ground right well the good thing about this is it
will be easy for the person who works on it to diagnose it because it's
easily reproduced yeah yeah so I that's the way we produce that's where we solve
these problems even though the smoke is like right next to the gas tank they'll
do it outside yeah yeah don't mess with it take it take it to an electrical
specialist somewhere down there in Tupelo where you live yeah and as your
name implies yeah you shouldn't be working on this jinx good luck good
luck jinx thank you very much bye-bye take care don't move because more calls
and the new puzzler are coming right up this message comes from the council for
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Vital Farms who works with small American farms to bring you pastor raised
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click and collect the tappard brothers and we hear to discuss cars car
repair and the new puzzler I can hardly what you said this was like a season
ending thing this is season ending but never ending because you don't know the
answer well I well you'll see that it did there isn't one answer
necessarily oh that's very good well I'm all very good but it's different so
thousands of people could win I've known this I've known this puzzler
for years and I used to know one of the answers to it but I believe there
there's more than one answer there may be maybe many there may be hundreds and
you are listeners will find that out and I was reminded of it recently when I
received an email from a guy named Claude Warren from I don't know where he
comes from cyberspace any place he says as you probably know there are words
that are opposites and they're called antonyms for example hot and cold
up and down click and clack even spelled antonyms out phonetically
farce in case we were complete complete him what would make him think that he
says can you think of two words that are their own antonyms well I mean I've
known these two words for a long time two are easy the tour they ain't that
easy and I don't think the vast majority of people would come up with even
these two but I'm gonna give you these two because I know there are more the
first one is cleave I'll give you a sentence you cleave things a part
with a cleaver meat cleaver yeah or your lug nuts may cleave to your studs
making them impossible to remove without a very hot torch hmm right or cleave means
to the cleavage you are looking at my mind I'll leave that part out
are we in trouble yeah I know it's it's always you the other word is sanction
yeah and is a sentence that war Claude Warren gave to us NASCAR sanctions
stock car races but a driver that runs another into a wall may be sanctioned
by NASCAR yeah it's clear that these two instances cleave has two meetings
which are diametrically opposed right and so does sanction yeah the question
very simply is are there other words like this and if there are what are they yes
sure are there other words like this and if there are what are they will be well
we know that there's at least one other cuz we know what it is we think oh I
think it's you think so oh absolutely I saw it in a dream okay send the
answer to puzzler tower car talk plaza box 3500 Harvard Square Cambridge our
fair city Matt 0 2 2 3 8 or as always you can communicate with us via the
internet by by visiting the car talk section of cars calm and emailing us
your answers using up some of the earth's most precious electrons don't we
use them up are do they just recycle recycle electrons oh yeah we're not
renewable they're renewable renewable resource yeah so use all your one it's
like plastic bags the number is 1 888 car talk that's 888 227 8255 hello you're
on car talk hi my name is Jamie I'm from Fayetteville Arkansas hi Jamie how
you doing man I'm doing all right how are y'all oh not bad we're having too
much fun up there no we're not having any fun at all so it's I'll tell you it's
a chore to do this show every week yeah oh it's awful man just laughing to keep the
pain away that's it man that's it you got it on the head man he's down there in
country-western land and they know a lot of expressions like that I'm just
laughing to keep the pain away if that isn't a country-western title well I
don't know what is we just develop a certain attitude that that makes it
easy to make them up on the spot but nothing's better than Bubba shot the
jukebox so what's what's cooking Jamie well I've got a two-part question for
you and but both parts are motivated by my desire to someday have power steering
before I die I'm in the in the lawn mowing business and I'm pulling a
trailer around with a 69 Ford truck yeah which is an old farm and ranch
specialist about like working an 80 year old man out in the field yeah
right but uh I've been thinking about getting a new truck and I hear so much
about diesel so about how how long they last and how powerful they are and how
much noise they make and you will ever that too and how much they cost and
how much they cost how much and fumes they put out but other than that there
are but everyone that drives the diesel tells me that for my business where
I'm doing a lot of stopping and starting all day you know 15 20 times a
day that that's real hard on a diesel engine and everyone says that except the
people that sell them and they say no nonsense I've never heard of that problem
hmm so what you got how many miles a year do you drive oh 10 to 15,000 but it's
all a little short yeah a little short run yes yeah I'd have to recommend against
the diesel okay and why is that it's bad for all kinds of engines to do that
kind of driving it is bad for all kinds of engines however I think you're
gonna go through starter motors and batteries at an alarming rate and it
is bad for the for the contamination that results from from it don't forget a
diesel engine has to use the the heat of compression to combust the the fuel and
one of the reasons that you have to change the oil often in a diesel is that
it gets contaminated with the with the fuel and that contamination takes
place primarily when the engine is running inefficiently and when you
start it and when the engine is cold and you start it so you drive it for
five or ten minutes you park it you restart it and you park it you
restart it in your park and every time you do that you're getting washed
down of the cylinder walls with uncombusted fuel and you're gonna have
to change the oil like every week or every day so I and the other thing is that
you're not gaining any of the benefits of a diesel because diesels are good
because they will run forever you don't want something that runs forever unless
you decide to take out the key and just start it up once and leave it running
forever you could do that never shut it off and I've noticed I've noticed
people doing that they do do they go into the store and they leave it
running running so when you see one like that steal it
well do you have any good tips on how to go about that
oh yeah we have a private number for that it's 1-888
well then how about cars how about the second part of my question which would
be would it be feasible or recommended to retrofit should try to yeah for my
steering the power steering pump part of it is easy you can attach a pump and
there's plenty of places to attach one the holes are already there in the block
and the cylinder head to attach the bracket they make they make all the
engines capable of having power steering so attaching that part of it's easy
it's getting the steering box that's tough okay and so you have to get one
you have to find out what steering box fits what's vehicles it may be for
example that the steering box that fit a 69 pickup truck went all the way up
to 75 mm-hmm and if you could find that out you can find that out the junk
yard mm-hmm so you'll pop that baby in you put the hoses you run the hoses up to
the power steering pump and you put a pump and a belt on there and you're in
fat city God it just can't be that easy well no you're in Fayetteville I'm
sorry it won't be because you're gonna have to go down to the Fayetteville
recycling center there auto recycling center and you're gonna have to go to
all of them so I'm gonna have to be I'm gonna be doing some searching yeah
and as you know the the the auto recycling centers are junk yards as they
are more correctly called they have a network so if you go to one where you
can find a guy who's willing to spend a little time with you he can send out your
request on the network and I'll let you know the network works the dogs bark
and the next the dog in the next junk yard he is them and he barks again
and then it leaks like smoke signals so to speak right yeah and pretty soon you
find a dog that has this stuff and he barks back and they deliver it okay so
good luck to you Jamie all right thanks a lot
one 888 car talk that's 888 227 8255 hello you're on car talk hi this is Lori and
Elsa Bronte California Elsa Bronson Emily Bronte California
Elsa Bronte it's in the San Francisco Bay area is it actually in the Bay no is it
Elsa is it two words yeah Elsa Bronte yeah it means the leftover right Elsa
Bronte oh it's L yeah like El Segundo not no it's not Elsa Bronte Emily Bronte
sister Elsa no el sabronte when sabronte means what remain leftover the
leftover yeah yeah yeah that is a charming name for a city as long as you
don't know what it means yeah yeah Elsa Bronte yeah I love it so what's up I
have a car relationship question for our slash relationship car slash relationship
go for it well my boyfriend and I have been together for three years and we've
been living together since December and also since December he's been accumulating
old vehicles the first was a 1965 Chevy one-ton panel truck well that's a
nice yeah and then there was a 1949 Harley-Davidson Panhand with the
sidecar yeah and now they're two more 1965 Chevy pickup trucks and he could tell
you the difference all I can tell is one has more rust than the other see yeah
you you don't see you're not a discriminating user yeah no not really
yeah you're gonna have a hard time convincing us that he's doing
anything wrong yeah I mean the question is have you got a problem with that
lorry well here's the catch yeah my boyfriend is blind
he can't drive any of these vehicles interesting so there's kind of this
pressure on me to drive them oh he hasn't always been blind he used to be a
mechanic before he lost his eyesight so he likes to work on them oh he does
and and I don't know why he can't be satisfied just working on
lorry you gotta drive them you're gonna get the guy a ride come on I mean first
of all he's got what three pickup trucks right he's not gonna know the
difference between pickup truck A and pickup truck B so you don't have to
drive one of them neither one of them is gonna run anyway right I don't know how
to drive a motorcycle and this one has a kick start yeah that's gonna be fun
suicide shift yeah yeah you may have to just crash that into a tree the first
off the hook with that one right but the other vehicles you can drive and I
think it will it'll strengthen your relationship it will bond you together
for life you think this is the guy I mean is this this this the guy that you
this three years the one yeah maybe has he popped the question yet no have you
um well you know what the question is right now he's interested in trucks yeah
so you think I should just make my peace with it huh I think so but obviously if
he's gone to all this trouble to collect these things then it means a
lot to him right and if you think that he means a lot to you then I think you
gotta just bite the bullet yeah I guess you're probably right yeah embrace
embrace them you have the right attitude toward it I can tell from the sound of
your voice that you love the guy and I think you should just go with it okay
that's my feeling to and if he doesn't say yes to your question ask him a
different question okay see you later all right well it's happened again you've
squandered another perfectly good hour listening to car talk our steam
producers dug the subway fugitive not a slave to fashion Berman our social
producer is Ken the diaper Slayer Rogers our assistant producer is Catherine make
that three hot dogs ray hmm what was that all about I don't know we'll have to find
out our engineer is Dennis de menace Foley our senior web lackey is dug
sheep boy mayor and our technical spiritual and menu advisor is the
bugster mr. John Bugsy Lawler our public opinion pollster was Paul murky of
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manager is Conrad Addenauer and our staff mortician is Barry L plots the
director of our Latin American Shameless Commerce operation is Chico
many order our swing dancing consultant is Antonio band era the
chairman of our underemployment study group is art majors and our chief
counselor from the law firm of Luigi and how is it was doing known to the
meter maids as you and Louie do we thanks so much for listening we're clicking
clack the tappet brothers don't drive like my brother don't drive like my
brother we'll be back next week bye-bye
and our special guest here in the studio is car talk plaza's chief mechanic
mr. Vinnie Gumbak Vinnie thank you very much now if you want a copy of
the CS show which is number 27 just pick up your phone call 1 888
cut junk and what if I wanted some other car talk stuff to me I mean like books
or CDs or t-shirts how would I get that stuff well you'd probably just steal it
from Dougie's office like you usually do it I wouldn't you but if you was a
member of the general public you'd call the Shameless Commerce Division at
888 cut junk or visited online at the car talk section of cars.com you
know yeah thank you Vinnie that was almost edifying a edifying this
week about. Car talk is a production of do we cheat him and how and W.B.R. in
Boston and even though Mahatma Gandhi would have reconsidered nonviolence if
you ever had heard us say it this is NPR National Public Radio. This message
comes from Vital Farms who works with small American farms to bring you
pasture raised eggs farmer Tanner Pace shares a moment that brings him a
sense of purpose. I think that when the barn doors open and the hens
run to the paddocks you can truly see what a happy hen really is. I love
pasture raised eggs because you can see the work and the pride that the
farmers have and have put into these things. To learn more about how vital
farms farmers care for their hens visit vitalfarms.com. This message comes
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