The conversation centers on a caller's 1986 Honda Accord experiencing fuel-related issues, with detailed troubleshooting advice focusing on the multiple fuel filters and fuel pump. The hosts emphasize the importance of replacing inexpensive parts first and share humorous banter about the caller's university and microbiology studies. The episode also includes lighthearted commentary on listener feedback from eighth graders and features a classic Car Talk puzzler involving a suspicious car sale scenario.
On past shows we’ve discussed repairs using a variety of ‘improvised’ materials such as underwear waistbands, road signs and extra virgin olive oil. Add to that list the humble and perpetual Pop Tart. Gather ‘round the toaster for this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
""Well, I have, at home, I have an 86 Honda cord. And it's been having problems since August.""
The 1986 Honda Accord is a popular car from the 1980s that many people used because it was reliable and didn't use too much gas. It's a good example of a car that helped Honda become well-known.
The 1986 Honda Accord is a mid-size car known for its reliability and fuel efficiency during the 1980s. It represents an important model in Honda's lineup that helped establish its reputation in the American market.
"So the mechanic I went to rebuilt the carburetor and put in new needles and floats. That didn't work."
A carburetor is a part that mixes gas and air so your car's engine can run. Older cars use it instead of newer fuel systems.
A carburetor is a device in older gasoline engines that mixes air and fuel for combustion. It controls the engine's fuel intake before fuel injection systems became common.
"So the mechanic I went to rebuilt the carburetor and put in new needles and floats. That didn't work."
Inside the carburetor, needles and floats help control how much gas goes into the engine so it runs right.
Needles and floats are components inside a carburetor that regulate fuel flow. The float controls fuel level, and the needle valve opens or closes to maintain that level.
"So at Christmas I brought it home and I switched cars with my dad and we tried using a gas additive to put it in it to clean out the gas tank. And that didn't work."
Gas additives are liquids you put in your gas tank to help clean it and make your car run better.
Gas additives are chemical products added to fuel to clean the fuel system, improve combustion, or remove deposits from the gas tank and fuel lines.
"Taking the gas tank out, clean, you know how you clean it and you reseal it. Yeah."
Cleaning and resealing the gas tank means fixing it so gas doesn't leak and stays clean for the engine.
Resealing a gas tank involves cleaning and sealing it to prevent leaks and contamination. This maintenance can help fix fuel delivery issues caused by rust or debris.
"He changed the screens with carb cleaner on the gas filters. Well, the gas filter, the rear one is a plastic filter that you just throw away. Oh. And the front filter is a metal filter."
The gas filter cleans the fuel so the engine doesn't get dirty or clogged. Some filters you throw away after use, others you can clean and use again.
A gas filter is a component in a vehicle's fuel system that removes impurities and debris from the gasoline before it reaches the engine. There can be multiple filters, such as a plastic disposable one and a metal reusable one.
"If you were doing it for money, you would first replace. And in your case, I think my brother would have first put in a new transmission."
The transmission helps your car go faster or slower by changing gears, kind of like a bike with different speeds.
The transmission is a crucial part of a car that transfers power from the engine to the wheels, allowing the vehicle to change speeds and move efficiently.
"And when that didn't work, he'd throw in the six dollar fuel filter. So have Daddy O check the fuel filter because it could easily be that one of these fuel filters and the more likely one, there's actually three of them, right? Well, there's no, they're all, there were five of them. There were five."
The fuel filter catches dirt and bad stuff in the gas so the engine runs smoothly and doesn't get hurt.
A fuel filter cleans impurities from the fuel before it reaches the engine, helping to maintain engine performance and prevent damage.
"My car has a tendency to fog up pretty bad, like the front, the side, the back, and I can't see out of it."
Fogging up means the windows get covered in tiny water drops inside the car, making it hard to see outside. This happens when the air inside is wet and the windows are cold.
Fogging up refers to the condensation of moisture on the inside of car windows, which reduces visibility and can be caused by humidity inside the vehicle or temperature differences between inside and outside.
"there are two little buttons next to each other, which one of which shows a, a U with an arrow on it. And the other one is, is a. Recirculate versus press."
Recirculate means the car uses the air already inside instead of bringing in new air from outside. This helps the car cool or warm up faster and keeps outside smells out.
Recirculate is a setting on a car's climate control system that recycles the air inside the cabin instead of drawing fresh air from outside. This can help cool or heat the interior faster and reduce outside odors or pollutants from entering.
""Even when you are on the recirculate mode, you do mix in some outside air, but not anywhere near as much as you mix in when you're on the outside air mode.""
Outside air mode means the car brings in fresh air from outside instead of using the air inside. This helps keep the windows from fogging up and freshens the air inside.
Outside air mode is a setting in a car's climate control system that draws fresh air from outside the vehicle into the cabin. This helps to ventilate the interior and reduce humidity or fogging on windows.
""Okay. Is turning on the AC, which most cars do automatically when you turn on the defroster.""
The defroster helps clear fog or ice from the windows by blowing warm air on them. Cars often turn on the AC automatically with the defroster to dry the air and clear the windows faster.
The defroster is a car feature that directs warm air onto the windshield and windows to remove condensation or frost, improving visibility. Many cars automatically turn on the air conditioning when the defroster is activated to help dehumidify the air.
""By condensing that moisture instead of on the windshield, on, you ready for this? The condenser.""
The condenser is a part of the car's air conditioner that helps get rid of moisture by turning gas into liquid, making the air inside cooler and less wet.
The condenser in an air conditioning system cools down and condenses refrigerant vapor into liquid, allowing moisture to be removed from the air inside the vehicle.
""The condenser. The evaporator. Yeah. And then dumping it out onto the street.""
The evaporator is a part inside the car's air conditioner that cools the air by soaking up heat and moisture, helping to keep the car's inside cool and dry.
The evaporator is the part of the air conditioning system that absorbs heat from the vehicle's cabin air, causing the refrigerant to evaporate and moisture to condense on it, which is then drained away.
"I got a 97 Saturn station wagon. The SW2 with the power windows and the power door locks and drive at night."
The Saturn SW2 is a type of car called a station wagon made by Saturn. It has features like windows and doors that you can control with buttons.
The Saturn SW2 is a station wagon model produced by Saturn in the 1990s, known for its practical design and features like power windows and door locks.
""I think you, Steve, we're going in. No, most door panels, and Saturn included, actually pop off.""
The door panel is the inside part of the car door you see and touch. It can be taken off if you need to fix something inside the door.
A door panel is the interior covering of a car door, which houses components like switches, armrests, and speakers, and can be removed for repairs or upgrades.
""They're held on by a friction type connector, which is basically a piece of plastic that gets pushed into a hole in the door frame.""
It's a plastic clip that holds parts of the car together by being pushed into a hole and staying there because it fits tightly.
A friction type connector is a plastic fastener that holds parts like door panels in place by being pushed into holes where it stays secured through friction and slight deformation.
""Anyway, I've got an 86 Colt Vista. Oh man! Yeah, with 148,000 miles on it.""
The Mitsubishi Colt Vista is a small car from the 1980s. People like it because it is simple and reliable, making it easy to keep running.
The Mitsubishi Colt Vista is a compact hatchback produced in the 1980s. The 1986 model is known for its simplicity and reliability, often appreciated by enthusiasts of classic Japanese cars.
""Spin-on oil filters are designed to be bypassed if they get clogged up, correct?""
A spin-on oil filter cleans the engine oil by catching dirt. If it gets too dirty, it lets the oil go through anyway so the engine doesn't get hurt.
A spin-on oil filter is a common type of oil filter that screws onto the engine. It filters contaminants from the engine oil to protect the engine. If the filter becomes clogged, many designs include a bypass valve to allow oil to flow unfiltered to prevent engine damage.
""They have a built-in bypass. I've got a situation where my daughter crunched the front of the car and I cannot remove the filter.""
If the oil filter gets too dirty and blocks oil, the bypass lets the oil go around the filter so the engine still gets oil and doesn't get hurt.
A built-in bypass in an oil filter allows oil to bypass the filter element if it becomes clogged, ensuring the engine still receives oil flow to prevent damage.
"I decided to never change the oil again. So, I'll call you about a week. I'll call you the day mind blows up. That'd be perfect. And you'll know how much, you'll know you'll probably have thousands of miles left if you're at least changing the oil. I've decided to change, not only not the oil, but not the filter either."
Changing the oil means putting fresh oil in your car's engine to keep it running smoothly and stop it from getting damaged. It's like giving your car a fresh drink to keep it healthy.
An oil change is the process of replacing the engine oil and often the oil filter to maintain engine health and performance. Regular oil changes help prevent engine wear and overheating.
"Well, we're on the fourth clutch. Well, yeah, well, clutches are disposable."
A clutch helps you switch gears in a car with a manual transmission by connecting and disconnecting the engine from the wheels.
A clutch is a mechanical device in manual transmission vehicles that engages and disengages the engine from the transmission, allowing the driver to change gears smoothly.
"Replacing a couple of calipers on Mazda. Rear calipers."
Calipers are parts that press the brake pads to stop the car when you push the brake pedal.
Calipers are a crucial part of a disc brake system that squeeze the brake pads against the rotor to slow down or stop the vehicle. They are typically located near each wheel.
The Mazda Miata is a small sports car that is fun to drive and easy to handle. It has two seats and is popular among car fans.
The Mazda Miata is a popular lightweight two-seat roadster known for its excellent handling and driving experience. It is often used as a fun daily driver or a track car.
""He opens the bleeders and a combination of air bubbles and fluid comes out. And you do this until there's no more air coming out.""
Bleeders are little screws on your car's brakes that let out air and old fluid so your brakes work well and feel firm when you press the pedal.
Bleeders are small valves on brake calipers or wheel cylinders used to release air and old brake fluid from the brake lines during the bleeding process to ensure proper brake function.
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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 Mouths of Babes Division here
at Car Talk Plaza. Now, this was sent to us by an eighth grade teacher named Mrs. Angstrom
of Northfield, Minnesota.
Angstrom. Is that the size of your brain?
One Angstrom.
That's A-N-G. Those are A-N-G-S-T-R-O-M's. An Angstrom is a million of those.
Anyway, she apparently taught a little lesson on radio and she had her students listen to
various radio programs and analyze them. And here are some of the comments about our show.
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark.
Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.
