{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"#2645: Stink Bug","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/2645-stink-bug","audioUrl":"https://prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510208/npr.simplecastaudio.com/9d92d581-9541-4957-9480-c04a7b77b708/episodes/1141aa82-1b30-4c9e-b3f0-f52ace3d301f/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=9d92d581-9541-4957-9480-c04a7b77b708&awEpisodeId=1141aa82-1b30-4c9e-b3f0-f52ace3d301f&feed=AL0VkDms&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5846953&p=510208&d=2084&size=33344871","description":"Ashley called us to say that when she takes long trips in her ’74 Volkswagen Bug she feels nauseous and has trouble staying awake. Sounds like a drive with Click and Clack after a chili dinner, but could this be more serious? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy"},"annotations":[{"startTime":190.38,"endTime":196.6,"type":"car","title":"Toyota A90","url":"/cars/toyota/supra","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/2019_Toyota_Supra_NASCAR_Xfinity_Series_Race_Car_front%2C_NYIAS_2019.jpg","quote":"First, a gradual phase out of Japanese cars. We mean by gradual, we're going to give it like a 90 days. These cars are way too reliable. Whoever heard of a car that will go for 100,000 miles without anything. I mean, that's ridiculous. So Japanese cars will gradually be phased out.","canonicalId":"car:toyota:supra","priority":0.7,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Toyota Supra is a performance sports coupe known for strong engine options and a long-running reputation among enthusiasts. In a discussion like this, it’s mentioned in the context of Japanese cars being especially dependable and capable of lasting well beyond typical mileage. That “go for 100,000 miles” idea is why the Supra often comes up when people talk about reliability.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Toyota Supra is a sports car made by Toyota. It’s often talked about because it’s known for being dependable and lasting a long time with normal maintenance. That’s why it may come up in a conversation about cars that can reach high mileage.","imageAttribution":"Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0"}},{"startTime":368.9,"endTime":392.6,"type":"term","title":"carbon monoxide","url":"/glossary/carbon-monoxide","quote":"Problem is that winter is coming [368.9s] and I have a little problem with carbon monoxide in my car. Because your heater boxes are rotted through. Yeah, you know what? And I had that checked out.","canonicalId":"term:carbon-monoxide","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion. In cars, it’s dangerous because it can enter the passenger compartment and cause headaches, dizziness, and even unconsciousness.","simplifiedExplanation":"Carbon monoxide is an invisible exhaust gas that can build up inside a car. Breathing it can make you sick and can be deadly, so it’s a serious safety issue."}},{"startTime":372.0,"endTime":375.0,"type":"part","title":"heater boxes","url":"/glossary/heater-boxes","quote":"and I have a little problem with carbon monoxide in my car. Because your heater boxes are rotted [375.0s] through. Yeah, you know what? And I had that checked out. In fact, I had a new one placed in there.","canonicalId":"part:heater-boxes","priority":0.75,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Heater boxes are part of the air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle’s exhaust-to-heat system, routing heat from the engine area into the cabin. If they rust through, exhaust gases can leak into the heater ducting and potentially into the passenger compartment."}},{"startTime":387.9,"endTime":392.6,"type":"term","title":"emissions tester","url":"/glossary/emissions-tester","quote":"And you know you [387.9s] have carbon monoxide in the passenger compartment because someone has tested it with an emissions tester? Oh, yes. No, that it had passed emissions and all that kind of stuff.","canonicalId":"term:emissions-tester","priority":0.7,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"An emissions tester checks what comes out of the tailpipe to verify compliance with pollution limits. Passing an emissions test doesn’t guarantee there’s no carbon monoxide leaking into the cabin, because CO can enter from leaks in the heating/ventilation path rather than from the tailpipe.","simplifiedExplanation":"An emissions test looks at exhaust gases leaving the tailpipe. But you can still have carbon monoxide inside the car if it’s leaking in through the heater or ventilation system."}},{"startTime":445.3,"endTime":451.6,"type":"term","title":"heat exchanger system","url":"/glossary/heat-exchanger-system","quote":"Well, there are only [445.3s] two ways that carbon monoxide can get into your car. Okay. Into this car. One is through the [451.6s] heat exchanger system. Okay. And you can disconnect that where the heater box is attached to the ducts underneath the car.","canonicalId":"term:heat-exchanger-system","priority":0.65,"confidence":0.78,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In this context, the heat exchanger system is the car’s method of transferring heat into the cabin using components connected to the engine/exhaust heat path. The host says one major route for carbon monoxide intrusion is through this system, especially where heater components connect to ducting."}},{"startTime":463.9,"endTime":471.0,"type":"term","title":"duct tape","url":"/glossary/duct-tape","quote":"You can take those [463.9s] right off and you can plug up the duct work with something like duct tape. Okay. At the chassis end, which prevents the intrusion of anything into the engine, into the passenger compartment.","canonicalId":"term:duct-tape","priority":0.6,"confidence":0.7,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Duct tape is being used here as a temporary seal to block duct openings during troubleshooting. The idea is to prevent any exhaust/CO from entering the passenger compartment through the heater ducting while diagnosing the leak path.","simplifiedExplanation":"They’re talking about using duct tape as a quick, temporary plug to stop air (and any leaked exhaust gas) from moving through the heater ducts while figuring out where the problem is."}},{"startTime":917.94,"endTime":923.5,"type":"car","title":"Suzuki Samurai","url":"/cars/suzuki/samurai","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/2018-2024_Suzuki_Jimny_Sierra_JC.jpg","quote":"Actually, I owned a 1988 Suzuki Samurai, the five-speed hard top car.\nYou know the Samurai.","canonicalId":"car:suzuki:samurai","priority":0.75,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Suzuki Samurai is a compact, body-on-frame off-road SUV known for its simple, rugged design and easy mechanical access. In this segment, the host specifically mentions an 1988 Suzuki Samurai with a five-speed manual, which is a common enthusiast setup for trail use.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Suzuki Samurai is a small off-road SUV that’s known for being tough and simple to work on. Here, they’re talking about a 1988 version with a manual transmission.","imageAttribution":"TTTNIS (CC0)"}},{"startTime":928.6,"endTime":939.7,"type":"term","title":"clutch","url":"/glossary/clutch","quote":"About a month and a half ago, I started having this little problem with the clutch.\nNow, I bought it five years ago and put about 60,000 miles on it.","canonicalId":"term:clutch","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.6,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In a manual transmission, the clutch is the pedal-operated mechanism that disconnects the engine from the gearbox so you can change gears smoothly. When the speaker says the problem started “with the clutch,” they’re describing a drivability issue that can come from clutch hydraulics, linkage, or adjustment—not just the pedal feel.","simplifiedExplanation":"On a manual car, the clutch is what you press to let you shift gears. If something feels wrong with the clutch, it can make shifting harder or cause gears to feel sticky."}},{"startTime":942.5,"endTime":953.8,"type":"term","title":"shift gears","url":"/glossary/shift-gears","quote":"But I started having this problem where when I would shift gears,\nthe clutch would start to be a little hard.\nNot the clutch, not the pedal, but shifting the gear shift.","canonicalId":"term:shift-gears","priority":0.6,"confidence":0.55,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Shifting gears” is the act of moving the manual gearbox into a different ratio, which depends on the clutch fully disengaging and the shifter/linkage moving freely. The speaker’s description—hard to get into gear and needing extreme force—points to a mechanical or adjustment problem affecting engagement rather than a simple “clutch pedal” issue.","simplifiedExplanation":"Shifting gears is how a manual transmission changes the gear ratio. If it becomes hard to move the shifter into gear, something in the clutch/shift linkage or adjustment may be sticking or out of spec."}},{"startTime":1088.6,"endTime":1091.0,"type":"term","title":"bleed","url":"/glossary/bleed","quote":"[1086.1s] Well, or it wasn't pumping, but in any event,\n[1088.6s] I bet when your friend put the new clutch in,\n[1091.0s] he had to bleed the thing too to get it to work correctly.","canonicalId":"term:bleed","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Bleeding a hydraulic clutch system removes air from the hydraulic lines and cylinders. Air compresses, which reduces the effective pressure and can cause poor clutch disengagement until the system is properly bled.","simplifiedExplanation":"Bleeding means getting the air out of the clutch fluid lines. Air makes the system feel weak or inconsistent, so the clutch may not release fully."}},{"startTime":1112.0,"endTime":1116.5,"type":"part","title":"slave","url":"/glossary/slave","quote":"[1112.0s] Okay.\n[1112.3s] So I would recommend you change the clutch master and the slave.\n[1115.9s] And the slave.\n[1116.5s] Yeah, they're cheap enough.","canonicalId":"part:slave","priority":0.62,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In a hydraulic clutch, the slave cylinder is the downstream component that uses the master cylinder’s pressure to move the clutch release mechanism. If it leaks or can’t build/hold pressure, the clutch may not fully disengage.","simplifiedExplanation":"The slave cylinder is the part that actually pushes/pulls the clutch release using the fluid pressure from the master cylinder. If it’s weak or leaking, the clutch won’t release properly."}},{"startTime":1380.7,"endTime":1385.9,"type":"car","title":"Nissan Pulsar","url":"/cars/nissan/pulsar","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/1989-1991_Nissan_Pulsar_%28N13_S2%29_Vector_Ti_sedan_%2815559253897%29.jpg","quote":"...n a postcard or float it inside a fully assembled pulsar whirlpool bath with built-in armrests, a point to...","canonicalId":"car:nissan:pulsar","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Nissan Pulsar is a compact car line from Nissan that appeared in many markets and model years. In the podcast context, it’s referenced as part of a humorous or wordplay segment rather than a deep technical discussion. That’s why it’s likely mentioned as a recognizable car name.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Nissan Pulsar is a compact car made by Nissan. In the podcast, it’s mentioned in a playful way, not as a detailed review. The main point is that it’s a real car model name people recognize.","imageAttribution":"Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0"}},{"startTime":1411.46,"endTime":1415.9,"type":"car","title":"97 Volkswagen Golf","url":"/cars/volkswagen/golf","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/2020_Volkswagen_Golf_Style_1.5_Front.jpg","quote":"Hello, you're on Car Talk.\nHello, my name is Camille and I drive a 97 Volkswagen Golf.\nHi Camille.\nA Golf.","canonicalId":"car:volkswagen:golf","priority":0.55,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Volkswagen Golf is a compact, practical hatchback that became a long-running benchmark for everyday drivability. In this call, the speaker specifies a 1997 Volkswagen Golf, which places it in the late-1990s generation known for being simple to live with and widely supported by the aftermarket.","simplifiedExplanation":"A Volkswagen Golf is a small everyday car (usually a hatchback) that’s meant to be practical. Here, the caller says she drives a 1997 Golf, meaning it’s an older model from the late 1990s.","imageAttribution":"Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0"}},{"startTime":1442.0,"endTime":1500.2,"type":"concept","title":"Chick Car","url":"/glossary/chick-car","quote":"we discussed the fact that there are some cars we think which are known to be Chick cars and some cars that are Guy cars... What makes a Golf a Chick Car?","canonicalId":"concept:chick-car","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Chick Car” is a slang stereotype used to label certain cars as being more associated with women drivers. In this segment, the hosts treat it like a category question—what cars qualify, which ones are “Guy cars,” and why—despite the fact that it’s not an objective engineering or performance classification.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Chick Car” is a slang term people use to stereotype certain cars as being for women. The hosts are discussing it as a social label—like who buys what—rather than anything about how the car is built."}},{"startTime":1442.0,"endTime":1493.5,"type":"concept","title":"Guy cars","url":"/glossary/guy-cars","quote":"we discussed the fact that there are some cars we think which are known to be Chick cars and some cars that are Guy cars. And in fact, the very example we used was the Golf...","canonicalId":"concept:guy-cars","priority":0.45,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Guy cars” is the complementary slang stereotype to “Chick Car,” implying certain vehicles are more associated with men. The hosts use both terms to frame a discussion about social perceptions of car ownership, not technical differences between vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Guy cars” is a slang stereotype meaning some cars are seen as “for guys.” In this segment it’s part of a joke/discussion about stereotypes, not about the car’s real capabilities."}},{"startTime":1651.5,"endTime":1682.1,"type":"term","title":"crank position","url":"/glossary/crank-position","quote":"And what happened is your ignition key did not return all the way from the crank position\n[1658.7s] to the run position.\n...\n[1676.3s] that will flip the key from the crank position, which is the all-the-way clockwise position,","canonicalId":"term:crank-position","priority":0.7,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The crank position is the ignition switch setting that commands the starter motor to engage and spin the engine for starting. In this episode, the key is stuck in crank, so the car behaves like it’s still in the “starting” state.","simplifiedExplanation":"The crank position is the key position that makes the starter motor spin the engine to start it. If the key stays there, the car thinks it’s still trying to start."}},{"startTime":1651.5,"endTime":1684.9,"type":"term","title":"run position","url":"/glossary/run-position","quote":"And what happened is your ignition key did not return all the way from the crank position\n[1658.7s] to the run position.\n...\n[1682.1s] to what's called the engine run position.","canonicalId":"term:run-position","priority":0.7,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The run position is the ignition switch setting used after the engine starts, when the car powers its normal electrical systems. The episode explains that when the key doesn’t reach run, many accessories won’t work because the car is still treated as if it’s in the starting state.","simplifiedExplanation":"The run position is the key position after the engine is started, when the car powers things you use while driving. If the key doesn’t fully reach run, some of those features stay off."}},{"startTime":1651.5,"endTime":1658.7,"type":"term","title":"ignition key","url":"/glossary/ignition-key","quote":"And what happened is your ignition key did not return all the way from the crank position\n[1658.7s] to the run position.","canonicalId":"term:ignition-key","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.55,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"An ignition key is the mechanical control that tells the car’s ignition system what state it’s in. In this story, the key is stuck between positions, so the car is effectively not fully in the normal “run” mode.","simplifiedExplanation":"The ignition key is what you turn to start the car and to put it into normal driving mode. Here, it doesn’t fully return, so the car doesn’t switch into the usual state."}},{"startTime":1658.7,"endTime":1664.8,"type":"term","title":"starter motor","url":"/glossary/starter-motor","quote":"You know, when you start the car, you stick the key in the hole, you turn the key,\n[1664.8s] the starter motor engages the flywheel and makes that, and the thing starts.","canonicalId":"term:starter-motor","priority":0.45,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The starter motor is the electric motor that cranks the engine by engaging the flywheel when you turn the key to crank. The transcript ties the starter motor’s engagement to the crank position of the ignition switch.","simplifiedExplanation":"The starter motor is the part that spins the engine when you turn the key to start. It only runs in the crank/start position."}},{"startTime":1664.8,"endTime":1669.4,"type":"term","title":"flywheel","url":"/glossary/flywheel","quote":"the starter motor engages the flywheel and makes that, and the thing starts.\n[1669.4s] And you let go of the key.","canonicalId":"term:flywheel","priority":0.35,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A flywheel is a rotating component connected to the engine that helps smooth out crankshaft motion. In starting, the starter motor engages the flywheel so the engine can spin up and begin running.","simplifiedExplanation":"The flywheel is a heavy rotating part inside the engine system. When you start the car, the starter motor uses it to spin the engine fast enough to catch."}},{"startTime":1688.4,"endTime":1698.6,"type":"term","title":"accessories","url":"/glossary/accessories","quote":"So what's happening in your car?\n[1689.8s] What you may not know, though, is that most of the accessories will not work\n[1695.7s] when the car is in the crank position.","canonicalId":"term:accessories","priority":0.4,"confidence":0.75,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In this context, “accessories” means electrical systems that are powered only in certain ignition states (like headlights, wipers, and some dash lights). The episode’s key point is that many accessories won’t work while the ignition switch is stuck in crank.","simplifiedExplanation":"Here, “accessories” means the car’s electrical features like lights and wipers. The story says they may not work if the key never fully returns to the normal run mode."}},{"startTime":1803.8,"endTime":1815.8,"type":"car","title":"89 Volvo 240","url":"/cars/volvo/240","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/1974_Volvo_145_Automatic_Estate_%288985381610%29.jpg","quote":"So he has an 87 Chevy Nova and I have an 89 Volvo 240.","canonicalId":"car:volvo:240","priority":0.6,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Volvo 240 is a long-running Swedish family sedan known for its durable, straightforward design—especially in the late 1980s. Here, “89 Volvo 240” identifies the 1989 model year, and it’s part of the caller’s lineup of older cars they’re weighing for selling.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a Volvo sedan called the 240, and “89” means it’s from 1989. The caller mentions it because they and their husband each brought older cars into their marriage and are now deciding what to sell.","imageAttribution":"Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand (CC BY 2.0)"}},{"startTime":1803.8,"endTime":1815.8,"type":"car","title":"87 Chevy Nova","url":"/cars/chevrolet/nova","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/1968_Chevrolet_Nova_SS_%2820389767164%29.jpg","quote":"So he has an 87 Chevy Nova and I have an 89 Volvo 240.","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:nova","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet Nova is a classic American compact/midsize model from the late 1970s through the 1980s, and the “87” indicates the 1987 model year. In this episode, it’s mentioned as one of the couple’s well-used cars, giving context for what they’re considering selling.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a Chevrolet model called the Nova, and “87” means it’s from the 1987 model year. The caller is using it as an example of a car they already own while deciding what to sell.","imageAttribution":"Zytonits (CC BY-SA 2.0)"}},{"startTime":1824.8,"endTime":1825.92,"type":"car","title":"Colt Vista","url":"/cars/mitsubishi/colt-vista","quote":"... I got what the car scope told me to get. A Dodge Colt Vista? No, that's not what the car says.","canonicalId":"car:colt:vista","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Colt Vista is a car name that appears in the podcast as part of a correction or clarification about what the car is called. The exchange suggests the speaker is distinguishing between a “Dodge Colt Vista” and what the car’s own labeling indicates. It’s mentioned more for the naming/identification aspect than for performance or technical details.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Colt Vista is a car model name that comes up in the podcast during a discussion about what the car is actually called. The speaker seems to be correcting a misunderstanding about the name on the car. So it’s included mainly for identification rather than how it drives."}},{"startTime":1829.4,"endTime":1832.0,"type":"car","title":"Volkswagen Beetle","url":"/cars/volkswagen/beetle","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/2011_Volkswagen_Beetle_R_Concept_%286158707986%29.jpg","quote":"I got a Volkswagen Beetle.\nPerfect.","canonicalId":"car:volkswagen:beetle","priority":0.35,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Volkswagen Beetle is a classic, air-cooled rear-engine design that became an icon for its simple, durable layout and easy-to-work-on reputation. In this segment, it’s mentioned as a candidate car choice, setting up a comparison with other vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Volkswagen Beetle is a famous older-style VW. It’s known for being straightforward and popular with car fans. Here, they’re talking about it as one of the cars in a decision.","imageAttribution":"David Villarreal Fernández (CC BY-SA 2.0)"}},{"startTime":1940.4,"endTime":1941.5,"type":"term","title":"rear wheel drive","url":"/glossary/rear-wheel-drive","quote":"Oh, yeah, it doesn't drive very well in the snow, right?\nBecause it's a rear wheel drive.\nRight, and it's a Volvo.","canonicalId":"term:rear-wheel-drive","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Rear-wheel drive (RWD) means the engine’s power is sent to the rear axle. In snow, RWD can be trickier because the driven wheels may have less traction than the front wheels would in a front-wheel-drive layout, especially if the car is lightly loaded or the tires aren’t ideal.","simplifiedExplanation":"Rear-wheel drive means the back wheels do the work of moving the car. In snow, that can make traction harder to manage, so the car may feel less stable unless you have good tires and careful driving."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"NPR","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/2645-stink-bug/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}