{"version":"1.1.0","producer":"fm.getcarcurious","layer":"official","episode":{"title":"#2652: Bozo's Garage","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/2652-bozo-s-garage","audioUrl":"https://prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510208/npr.simplecastaudio.com/9d92d581-9541-4957-9480-c04a7b77b708/episodes/db47f934-c2d8-409f-a01d-3ad410bb3fbf/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=9d92d581-9541-4957-9480-c04a7b77b708&awEpisodeId=db47f934-c2d8-409f-a01d-3ad410bb3fbf&feed=AL0VkDms&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5864524&p=510208&d=2175&size=34804385","description":"Rob’s family cross-country vacation has turned into a disaster: Black smoke is pouring out of the back of the car, transmission fluid is pouring out from under the hood, his mother-in-law is giving him dopeslaps from the back seat and the only help within 20 miles is a place called “Bozo’s Garage”. Could things possibly get any worse? 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":[{"id":455883,"startTime":208.3,"endTime":216.1,"type":"car","title":"1991 Nissan Maxima","url":"/cars/nissan/maxima","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/2009_Nissan_Maxima_S%2C_Front_Left%2C_01-02-2021.jpg","quote":"Actually, I have a problem with my 91 Nissan Maximus. It's the best car I've ever owned, actually.","canonicalId":"car:nissan:maxima","priority":0.7,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Nissan Maxima of this era was marketed as the '4-Door Sports Car' (4DSC), featuring a sporty chassis and a V6 engine derived from the 300ZX. It was highly regarded for blending family sedan practicality with genuine enthusiast performance.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a mid-sized family sedan made by Nissan that was designed to be more fun to drive than a standard commuter car, featuring a powerful engine and sporty handling.","imageAttribution":"SsmIntrigue (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009_Nissan_Maxima_S,_Front_Left,_01-02-2021.jpg","sourceStartTime":208.3,"sourceEndTime":216.1}},{"id":455884,"startTime":327.0,"endTime":331.8,"type":"part","title":"brake rotor","url":"/glossary/brake-rotor","quote":"I think you have a warped disc rotor.","canonicalId":"part:brake-rotor","priority":0.6,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"A brake rotor is the metal disc that spins alongside the vehicle's wheel. When you press the brake pedal, the brake calipers squeeze pads against these rotors, creating the friction required to slow or stop the vehicle.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is the shiny metal disc you can see behind your car's wheels. When you step on the brakes, the car squeezes this disc to slow you down.","sourceStartTime":327.0,"sourceEndTime":331.8}},{"id":455885,"startTime":473.02,"endTime":476.06,"type":"car","title":"1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee","url":"/cars/jeep/grand-cherokee","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Jeep_Grand_Cherokee_%28WL%29_4xe_IMG_7801.jpg","quote":"I drive a 95 Jeep Cherokee. This is a regular Cherokee or a Grand Cherokee? It's a Grand.","canonicalId":"car:jeep:grandcherokee","priority":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ generation) revolutionized the SUV market by utilizing a unibody construction instead of a traditional body-on-frame design. This allowed it to offer car-like ride comfort while retaining legendary off-road capability and full-time four-wheel drive.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a popular mid-sized SUV made by Jeep that was designed to be comfortable for daily driving while still being able to handle rough off-road trails.","imageAttribution":"Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeep_Grand_Cherokee_(WL)_4xe_IMG_7801.jpg","sourceStartTime":473.02,"sourceEndTime":476.06}},{"id":455886,"startTime":559.8,"endTime":572.8,"type":"car","title":"1992 Mitsubishi Expo","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/%2792-%2794_Mitsubishi_Expo_4-Door.JPG","quote":"I recently became the proud owner of a 92 Mitsubishi Expo all-wheel drive.","canonicalId":"car:mitsubishi:expo","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Mitsubishi Expo was a unique sport wagon/mini-MPV of the early 1990s, offering high-roof utility and optional all-wheel drive. It was part of a niche segment of tall wagons that preceded the modern compact crossover craze.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a vintage, tall station wagon made by Mitsubishi that offered lots of cargo space and optional four-wheel drive, acting as an early ancestor to modern crossover SUVs.","imageAttribution":"Bull-Doser (Public domain)","sourceStartTime":559.8,"sourceEndTime":572.8}},{"id":455887,"startTime":572.82,"endTime":577.38,"type":"car","title":"Colt Vista","url":"/cars/mitsubishi/colt-vista","quote":"...o don't know, it is the replacement for the Dodge Colt Vista. Not my own Vista, which I still own, but it was ...","canonicalId":"car:colt:vista","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Colt Vista was a compact station wagon and early crossover import built by Mitsubishi and sold under the Dodge and Plymouth brands in North America during the 1980s and early 1990s. It was notable for offering three rows of seating and optional four-wheel drive in a very compact footprint, making it a quirky forerunner to the modern compact SUV.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Colt Vista is a small, boxy station wagon from the 1980s and 1990s that was built by Mitsubishi but sold by Dodge. It was designed to carry up to seven people in a small vehicle, serving as an early alternative to a minivan.","sourceStartTime":572.82,"sourceEndTime":577.38}},{"id":455888,"startTime":619.3,"endTime":624.6,"type":"part","title":"viscous coupling","url":"/glossary/viscous-coupling","quote":"You need something called a viscous coupling. A viscous coupling.","canonicalId":"part:viscous-coupling","priority":0.8,"confidence":0.98,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"A viscous coupling is a mechanical device used in all-wheel-drive systems to distribute power between the front and rear axles. It contains a series of interleaved plates submerged in a specialized silicone fluid that thickens when heated by speed differences, locking the plates together to transfer torque.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a fluid-filled device in four-wheel-drive cars that helps the front and back wheels turn at different speeds when you make a tight turn, preventing the car from shaking or binding up.","sourceStartTime":619.3,"sourceEndTime":624.6}},{"id":455889,"startTime":876.1,"endTime":883.1,"type":"part","title":"carburetor","url":"/glossary/carburetor","quote":"...because the airplane engines seemed to backfire through the carburetor with some kind of regularity.","canonicalId":"part:carburetor","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"A carburetor is a mechanical device that mixes air and fuel in the correct ratio for combustion in an engine. Before electronic fuel injection became standard, carburetors were the primary method of fuel delivery in automotive and aviation engines.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is an older mechanical part that mixes gasoline with air before sending it into the engine to be burned. Most modern cars use computers and fuel injectors instead.","sourceStartTime":876.1,"sourceEndTime":883.1}},{"id":455890,"startTime":1154.8,"endTime":1162.4,"type":"car","title":"1989 Chevrolet Suburban","url":"/cars/chevrolet/suburban","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/2017_Chevrolet_Suburban_LT%2C_Rear_Right%2C_09-11-2021.jpg","quote":"Two years ago, when I was stationed in Germany, I had a 1989 Chevy Suburban, not the same one, but the same model we're making here.","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:suburban","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet Suburban is one of the longest-running nameplates in automotive history, famous for its massive body-on-frame construction and heavy-duty utility. The 1989 model belongs to the highly durable eighth generation, which was favored for towing and large family road trips.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a very large, heavy-duty SUV made by Chevrolet that is built like a truck, designed to carry lots of passengers and tow heavy trailers.","imageAttribution":"Elise240SX (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2017_Chevrolet_Suburban_LT,_Rear_Right,_09-11-2021.jpg","sourceStartTime":1154.8,"sourceEndTime":1162.4}},{"id":455891,"startTime":1574.6,"endTime":1583.0,"type":"car","title":"Lincoln Town Car","url":"/cars/lincoln/town-car","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/1981-1984_Lincoln_Town_Car.jpg","quote":"And next thing you know, they're both locked in the airtight trunk of a late model Lincoln tow car.","canonicalId":"car:lincoln:towncar","priority":0.3,"confidence":0.9,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Lincoln Town Car is a classic American full-size luxury sedan built on Ford's body-on-frame Panther platform. It is legendary for its incredibly soft ride, spacious interior, massive trunk, and bulletproof reliability in livery fleets.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a very large, comfortable luxury sedan made by Lincoln that was often used as a limousine or executive transport because of its smooth ride and giant trunk.","imageAttribution":"MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1981-1984_Lincoln_Town_Car.jpg","sourceStartTime":1574.6,"sourceEndTime":1583.0}},{"id":455892,"startTime":1800.0,"endTime":1805.6,"type":"car","title":"1993 Audi 90S","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/White_1993_Audi_90S.jpg","quote":"I have a 1993 Audi 90S. Oh, already you're in.","canonicalId":"car:audi:90s","priority":0.8,"confidence":0.98,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Audi 90S (B4 generation) was a premium compact sports sedan featuring a 2.8-liter V6 engine and Audi's signature zinc-galvanized steel body panels to prevent rust. It was designed to compete directly with the BMW 3 Series by offering a more refined, tech-forward cabin.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a small, upscale sedan made by Audi in the 1990s that featured luxury touches like heated seats and headlight washers, along with a smooth V6 engine.","imageAttribution":"Original uploader was CoreyDL2008 at en.wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.5)","sourceStartTime":1800.0,"sourceEndTime":1805.6}},{"id":455893,"startTime":2177.9,"endTime":2185.4,"type":"part","title":"transmission computer","url":"/glossary/transmission-computer","quote":"The transmission computer. The car has an engine computer and a transmission computer.","canonicalId":"part:transmission-computer","priority":0.7,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The transmission computer, often called the Transmission Control Module (TCM), is an electronic brain that controls when and how an automatic transmission shifts gears. It processes data from various sensors to optimize fuel economy, performance, and shift quality.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a small computer dedicated entirely to controlling your car's automatic transmission, telling it exactly when to change gears.","sourceStartTime":2177.9,"sourceEndTime":2185.4}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Tom Magliozzi","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"Ray Magliozzi","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/2652-bozo-s-garage/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}],"alignmentMode":"scalar","fallbackOffset":0.0}