Click and Clack tackle common car troubles with their signature humor and practical advice. They discuss a Subaru Impreza's persistent brake noise that’s harmless despite metal-on-metal sounds, and a Dodge van emitting a foul smell likely caused by a rich fuel mixture affecting the catalytic converter. The hosts also joke about a herbal spray to reduce road rage and share amusing banter about automotive quirks. Listeners get a mix of technical insights, troubleshooting tips, and lighthearted stories that make car maintenance approachable and entertaining.
Whitney lives in the New Hampshire mountains with her cheapskate hubby who insists on driving the cars bone dry before refueling them. And while this practice does bring a little extra excitement to a quick drive to town, is it bad for the car? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
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"Well, I have a 97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. My brakes are making sort of a grinding noise."
The Subaru Impreza Outback Sport is a type of car that mixes a small car with some SUV features, like higher ground clearance and all-wheel drive. The 1997 model is an older version that people liked for being good in different driving conditions.
The Subaru Impreza Outback Sport is a variant of the Subaru Impreza, combining features of a compact car with some rugged styling and increased ground clearance similar to an SUV. The 1997 model is part of the first generation of Impreza, known for its all-wheel-drive system and versatility.
"...yway, what's up, Kerry? Well, I have a 97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. My brakes are making sort of a gr..."
The Subaru Impreza is a small car that can drive well in different weather because it has power to all its wheels. If the brakes are making noise, it usually means they need to be checked or fixed to keep the car safe.
The Subaru Impreza, particularly the 1997 Outback Sport variant, is known for its all-wheel-drive system and versatility. Brake noises in these older models can indicate wear or the need for maintenance, which is common given their age and usage conditions.
"It sounds like metal to metal grinding when I first apply the brakes, even on a small incline. Yeah, I mean, it really, it sounds like metal to metal."
Metal to metal grinding is a loud noise you hear when the parts that stop your car rub together without the soft pads in between. It means the brake parts are worn out and need fixing.
Metal to metal grinding in brakes occurs when the brake pads are worn down completely, causing the metal backing plate to contact the brake rotor. This creates a loud grinding noise and can damage the rotor if not addressed.
"and had them change to semi-metallic rather than metallic.
So these pads that you put on were not from Subaru?"
Semi-metallic brake pads are a kind of brake pad that has some metal in them. They help stop your car well but can sometimes make noise when you brake.
Semi-metallic brake pads are made with a mix of metal fibers and other materials, offering good heat resistance and durability but sometimes causing more noise compared to other types.
"I mean, you're hearing the noise, but I think you were crazy to have changed the brake pads. For no reason. And the truth is that some cars just do this. And you can, there are certain chemicals that you can actually immerse the pads in that can cut down this noise, but it's only temporary."
Sometimes brakes make sounds like squeaks or squeals. This can happen because of the brake parts or if the car hasn't been used for some time.
Brake noise refers to sounds like squealing or grinding that can come from the braking system. It can be caused by pad material, moisture, or the car sitting unused for a while.
""They work great. Metal on metal is great. Oh, yeah. Yeah.""
When the brake pads wear out, the metal part of the pad touches the metal disc, making a loud sound. The brakes still work for a little while, but it's a sign they need fixing soon.
Metal on metal refers to the condition where brake pads have worn down completely and the metal backing plate contacts the brake rotor, causing a loud noise but still allowing the brakes to function temporarily.
"Well, I got an 87 Dodge Van, unfortunately. And as I drive it, I go through an area of swamp gas that happens inside the car."
A Dodge Van is a big vehicle used for carrying stuff or people. The 1987 one is an older model that many people used for work or travel.
The Dodge Van is a full-size van produced by Dodge, popular in the 1980s for commercial and personal use. The 1987 model is part of the B-series generation known for its boxy design and utility.
"This is a 1-ton Dodge Van 360 motor. So it's a B350 or something like that, right? Yeah, I think it's a 350 model."
The Dodge B350 Van is a big van made by Dodge that can carry heavy loads or lots of people. It's called B350 because it can handle about one ton of weight.
The Dodge B350 Van is a full-size van model from Dodge, often used for heavy-duty cargo or passenger transport. The 'B350' designation refers to a 1-ton payload capacity variant in the Dodge van lineup.
"And one guy told me it was the air pump because the bearings in the air pump are bad, and it's making a pretty bad sound there that it could be the air pump."
The air pump is a part that helps clean the car's exhaust by pushing air into it. If it gets worn out, it can make bad sounds or stop working.
An air pump in a vehicle is part of the emission control system that helps reduce harmful exhaust gases by injecting air into the exhaust stream to promote further combustion. Bearings in the air pump can wear out and cause noise or failure.
"It could be a bad coolant temp sensor, for example, that's changing the mixture"
This sensor tells the car how hot the engine is so it can add the right amount of fuel and keep the engine running well.
The coolant temperature sensor monitors the engine's temperature and informs the engine control unit to adjust fuel mixture and ignition timing accordingly.
"And they see if in fact that it's putting out the right fuel air mixture. And if it isn't, they reject it and they go ahead and either discard it or rebuild it again."
Fuel air mixture means how much gas and air get mixed together for the engine to burn and make the car go.
The fuel air mixture is the ratio of fuel to air that the engine uses for combustion. Proper mixture is critical for efficient engine performance and emissions control.
"I mean, it could be something like a thermostat that's stuck in the open position."
The thermostat is a part that helps keep the engine at the right temperature. If it gets stuck open, the engine might not warm up properly.
The thermostat in a car regulates the engine's temperature by controlling the flow of coolant to the radiator. If stuck open, it can cause the engine to run too cool, affecting performance.
"...me with a story worth sharing. Like a 1973 Dodge Charger tucked away in an Arizona barn for more than 40 y..."
The Dodge Charger is a classic American car famous for being fast and strong. A 1973 Charger found hidden in a barn is special because it might be in good shape and worth fixing up or keeping.
The Dodge Charger, especially models from the early 1970s like the 1973 version, is an iconic American muscle car known for its powerful V8 engines and aggressive styling. Finding a 1973 Dodge Charger stored away in a barn for decades is significant because these cars are highly collectible and can be restored to valuable condition.
"Like a 1973 Dodge Charger tucked away in an Arizona barn for more than 40 years."
A barn find is an old car that was kept hidden away in a barn or garage for a long time and is found later, often in good shape.
A barn find is a classic or collectible car that has been stored and forgotten, often in a barn or garage, for many years, usually discovered in good original condition.
"One of the officers stands up and says, I have a question about the fan belt, about the longevity of the fan belt. ... This fan belt looks just like the belt around your waist. It's a flat piece of rubber and it's designed to run around the fan and the generator."
The fan belt is like a rubber band that helps the engine's fan and electrical parts work by spinning them. It keeps the engine cool and the car's electricity running.
A fan belt is a flat rubber belt that connects and drives the engine's fan and generator (alternator). It is essential for cooling the engine and powering electrical components.
"And what they did was they manufactured the belt with a twist in it. Imagine if you took your own belt and joined the two ends together. So you'd have an inside of the belt and an outside. But imagine before joining them, if you gave one end a twist"
If you twist a belt before joining its ends, it can last longer because both sides get used evenly. It's a clever way to make the belt last without changing what it's made of.
A belt with a twist refers to a design where the belt is given a half twist before joining the ends, creating a Möbius strip. This design doubles the wear surface and can increase belt life without changing the material.
"we are of the belief, however, that it is not good for the fuel pump,
which in both of these cars resides inside the gas tank to run with the tank close to empty,
because the fuel actually cools the pump."
The fuel pump is a part inside the car that sends gas from the tank to the engine so the car can run. It sits inside the gas tank and stays cool because of the gas around it.
The fuel pump is a component that moves gasoline from the fuel tank to the engine. In many modern cars, it is located inside the fuel tank and is cooled by the fuel around it.
"I'll get in the Jeep and it's got one of those computer consoles, the top, the deal.
Miles to empty, it tells you."
"Miles to empty" tells you how far you can drive before your car runs out of gas. It uses information from the car to guess this number.
"Miles to empty" is a feature in many modern cars that estimates how many miles can be driven before the fuel tank is empty, based on current fuel level and driving conditions.
""He goes, I go by it like a, he likes to, he wants a convertible Mustang with a 56 Mustang.""
The Ford Mustang is a popular fast car that many people like because it looks cool and goes really fast. It’s been around for a long time and is a symbol of American muscle cars.
The Ford Mustang is a classic American muscle car known for its powerful engines and sporty design. It has been in continuous production since 1964 and is iconic for its performance and cultural impact.
"You can't assume that one manufacturer's LS, if that means, for example, if the LS is the top of the line for your car, then you can't assume that if you go to a Toyota, that an LS is going to be the top of the line for their car."
LS is a name car companies use to describe a certain version of a car, but it can mean different things for different brands.
LS is a common trim level designation used by various manufacturers, often indicating a base or mid-level trim, but its meaning varies by brand and model.
"...pening, Dennis? Okay, my wife has a 95-need son, Altima. And occasionally, I like to try to do nice thin..."
The Nissan Altima is a comfortable car that many people use every day because it doesn't use too much gas and usually runs well. A 1995 model is an older car but can still work fine if taken care of.
The Nissan Altima is a popular mid-size sedan known for its reliability and fuel efficiency. A 1995 Altima, while older, can still be a dependable daily driver if properly maintained, though some owners may encounter typical wear-and-tear issues over time.
"They put it on a flat truck and they hauled it off to the Nissan dealership. We went back that evening and the Nissan guy said, nothing wrong with this car."
A dealership is a place where you buy cars and get them fixed if they have problems.
A dealership is an authorized business that sells new and used cars and often provides maintenance and repair services.
"So they replaced the distributor rotor, fuel filter, and the spark plug."
The distributor rotor helps send the spark to the right part of the engine so it can start and run properly.
The distributor rotor is a component inside the distributor that directs high voltage from the ignition coil to the correct cylinder's spark plug in the firing order.
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