A Great Car Repair Podcast From Guys Working In A Repair Shop Every Day
About this episode
Real-world mechanics Russ Evans and Shannon Nordstrom tackle tricky diagnostic questions from listeners. First, they help a GMC truck owner troubleshoot a mysterious 10-speed transmission vibration, discussing torque converter shudder, fluid flushes, and why modern manufacturers eliminated the dipstick. Next, they advise a Ford F-150 driver dealing with temperature spikes after a coolant leak repair, explaining how to bleed stubborn air pockets using vacuum tools and highlighting the clever design of Ford's cylinder head temperature sensors.
Do you have car questions that you need answers to? Car Repair got you down? The guys on Under The Hood are here to help you get that car or truck fixed. Sometimes even a tractor or boat. People of all ages have trusted the Automotive Experts for decades utilizing their wealth of knowledge to get their vehicle fixed as affordably as possible. Russ Chris and Shannon have been Under The Hood since 1990 educating car owners on how to repair their own vehicles and guiding them on when to use preventive maintenance to help keep them lasting longer. You can find the Motor Medics here or on almost any podcast site and YouTube. Join us each week from 9-11am Central time and call us with your questions. The Motor Medics are your Automotive Authority. Thanks for Tuning-In and Tuning-Up! Here are today's Callers... Why does my transmission vibrate on my 19 Silverado? Why does my Engine overheat at exactly the same spot on the road daily? 03 Ford f150 My 84 Fiero just died and won't restart and has no spark How do I fix a broken fuel gauge on my Dakota? What wrong with my Honda Air Conditioning? 11 CR-V How to test for a clicking Blend Door in a dash? 2011 Navigator What can go wrong with a 2016 Ram truck? I removed my seat now my air bag light is on
2019 GMC Sierra
"So I have a 2019 GMC pickup with a 6.2 engine and a 10-speed transmission. When I get it up to 6, it starts vibrating..."
A large, powerful pickup truck made by GMC. The 2019 version features a big V8 engine and a modern 10-speed automatic transmission designed to help with heavy towing and fuel economy.
The 2019 GMC Sierra is a full-size pickup truck that marked the debut of the truck's fifth generation. This model year offered an optional 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering strong towing capabilities and advanced cylinder-deactivation technology.
torque converter shudder
"Yeah. So you were feeling what he thought was some torque converter shutter or back when they had this problem with the six speeds and others, they called it rumble stripping."
A shaking or vibrating feeling that happens in automatic cars when the transmission is trying to lock into its top gear. It feels exactly like you are driving over the bumpy warning strips on the side of the highway.
Torque converter shudder is a mechanical vibration that occurs when the torque converter clutch in an automatic transmission fails to engage smoothly. Often described as feeling like driving over rumble strips, it is typically caused by degraded transmission fluid, friction modification breakdown, or mechanical wear.
Ford F150
"I got a 2003 F-150. I had the crossover on the coolant system crack and I used the coolant conditioner."
An older model of Ford's incredibly popular full-size pickup truck. It is a rugged work truck, but older models often require routine maintenance on plastic engine components.
The 2003 Ford F-150 represents the final year of the tenth-generation F-Series pickup. These trucks are famous for their rounded 'jellybean' styling and were commonly equipped with Ford's modular Triton V8 engines.
K-Seal
"Yeah, that's a case seal and it works wonderful. Wonderful. If it's not too big of a crack, it'll seal it up and it's a permanent repair."
A special liquid you pour into your car's radiator to plug up small leaks or cracks in the engine. It is a cheap, temporary or permanent fix to avoid expensive engine repairs.
K-Seal is a popular brand of pour-and-go liquid coolant leak sealant designed to permanently seal cracks in the engine block, cylinder head, or radiator. It uses ceramic microfibers to fill gaps without clogging the cooling system.
Byd Seal
"Yeah, that's a case seal and it works wonderful. Wonderful. If it's not to..."
The BYD Seal is a modern, battery-powered electric sedan made by a Chinese company called BYD. It is designed to be a stylish and high-tech family car.
The BYD Seal is an all-electric compact executive sedan produced by the Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto. Built on the e-Platform 3.0, it features advanced cell-to-body battery technology and is designed to compete globally in the premium electric sedan market.
Lucid Air
"...re paying. But it might be that it just still has air in that block and it's super hard to get out of t..."
The Lucid Air is a high-end, luxury electric car that runs entirely on battery power. It is built by an American company called Lucid Motors and is known for being able to drive very long distances on a single charge.
The Lucid Air is an all-electric luxury sedan known for its industry-leading driving range, rapid charging capabilities, and high-performance dual-motor setups. Developed by Lucid Motors, it represents a major technological leap in battery efficiency and aerodynamics for premium electric vehicles.
cylinder head temperature sensor
"Well, Ford has done a good job on this engine with changing the cylinder head temperature sensors instead of coolant temp sensors..."
A sensor that measures how hot the actual metal of the engine is, instead of just measuring the liquid coolant. This is a safety feature that prevents the engine from melting itself if it runs out of water.
A cylinder head temperature (CHT) sensor measures the physical temperature of the engine's metal cylinder head rather than the liquid coolant. This allows the engine computer to accurately monitor engine temperature and activate fail-safe cooling modes even if the cooling system loses all of its liquid.
1984 Pontiac Fiero
"You're got a sweet 84 Fierro. It has the 2.5 4-cylinder coming home from work. Interstate speed, so it was high RPM, and it was just like it turned the key off."
A small, sporty two-seater car from the 1980s that had its engine in the middle of the car, behind the seats, rather than under the hood. It looked futuristic but suffered from early reliability issues.
The Pontiac Fiero is a mid-engined sports car built by General Motors from 1984 to 1988. It was notable for being the first mass-produced mid-engined sports car by a US manufacturer, utilizing a spaceframe chassis with plastic body panels.
Chevrolet Spark
"... a cap and rotor on it, I would put a cap, rotor, spark plugs in an ignition module on it just to make su..."
The Chevrolet Spark is a very small, budget-friendly hatchback car made by Chevrolet. It is designed for city driving and is easy to park and cheap on gas.
The Chevrolet Spark is a subcompact city car that was sold as Chevy's entry-level hatchback until its discontinuation in 2022. It is highly regarded for its affordability, ease of parking in tight urban spaces, and excellent fuel economy.
GM Iron Duke engine
"And that motor was used in a million cars. It was the Iron Duke 2.5 liter. They used it in the celebrities and the Pontiac 6000."
A famous, highly durable four-cylinder engine made by General Motors in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It wasn't fast or powerful, but it was incredibly tough and rarely broke down.
The Pontiac-designed 2.5-liter inline-four engine, commonly known as the 'Iron Duke,' was used widely across General Motors vehicles from 1977 to 1993. Known for its extreme durability and cast-iron construction, it prioritized reliability and low-end torque over high-performance horsepower.
1993 Dodge Dakota
"Hi. So I have a 1993 Dodge Dakota and nothing. It's a restoration project that I decided to take on."
An older mid-sized pickup truck made by Dodge. It was popular because it was bigger than compact trucks but smaller and easier to park than giant full-size trucks.
The first-generation Dodge Dakota is a mid-size pickup truck produced from 1987 to 1996. It was unique for being the first mid-size pickup with an optional V8 engine, bridging the gap between compact and full-size trucks.
Honda Crv
"Yeah, my ex, who lives in Austin, Texas, has a 2011 Honda CR-V with about 140,000 miles on it. He's had it for 10 years. He's had a lot of problems with the air conditioning."
A popular, reliable compact SUV made by Honda. It is great for families and daily driving, though some years had issues with the air conditioning system breaking down.
The third-generation Honda CR-V is a highly popular compact crossover SUV known for its practicality and reliability. The 2011 model year was the final year of this generation, powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.
2011 Lincoln Navigator
"Hi, guys. I just bought a 2011, gently used 2011 Lincoln Navigator. And it has what I believe to be a Blendoor clicking sound."
A large, luxurious SUV made by Lincoln (Ford's luxury brand). It is very big, comfortable, and has lots of high-tech features inside, but can be expensive to repair when those features break.
The third-generation Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV based on the Ford Expedition platform. The 2011 model features a 5.4-liter V8 engine and a highly comfortable, spacious three-row interior.
blend door actuator
"And it has what I believe to be a Blendoor clicking sound. When you first turn on the key, it clicks about five or six times. And I found some YouTube videos that mimic the problem exactly saying it's the Blendoor motors."
A tiny electric motor inside your dashboard that turns a plastic door to mix hot and cold air. When it breaks, it often makes a loud clicking sound, and you might only get hot or cold air blowing out.
A blend door actuator is a small electric motor that controls the position of the ventilation doors inside a vehicle's climate control system. It regulates the mixture of hot and cold air, as well as where the air is directed (feet, face, or windshield).
1500 Bighorn
"Hi, I just bought a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 Bighorn edition. I absolutely love it. It's just wonderful but I've been watching some YouTube videos..."
A comfortable, powerful full-size pickup truck. It is famous for having a smoother ride than other trucks because of its unique rear suspension design.
The fourth-generation Ram 1500 is a full-size pickup truck praised for its coil-spring rear suspension, which offers a smoother ride than its competitors. The 2016 model was offered with a variety of engines, including the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel.
Dodge Ram
"... What can we do for you? Hi, I just bought a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 Bighorn edition. I absolutely love it. It's ..."
This is a large pickup truck made by Ram (which used to be part of Dodge). The Bighorn is a specific version of the truck that comes with extra comfort and styling features.
The Dodge Ram (officially spun off as the standalone 'Ram' brand in 2010) is a popular full-size pickup truck celebrated for its comfortable coil-spring rear suspension and upscale interior. The 2016 Bighorn edition represents a mid-tier trim that balances utility with everyday comfort features. It is a frequent subject of discussion regarding its ride quality and Hemi V8 engine options.
Chevrolet Silverado
"not by that ratio. Yeah. I think we've done one Ram transmission this year. And I know we've done at least 20 of the GMC Sierra, the Suburbans, the Tahoe Escalados. Silverado's. Yeah. And those are because the, mainly because the transmission thermostat sticks and burns the thing up. So"
The Chevrolet Silverado is a large pickup truck made by Chevrolet. It is built for carrying heavy loads, towing trailers, and everyday driving.
The Chevrolet Silverado is a highly popular full-size pickup truck known for its robust towing capacity, diverse engine options, and strong fleet presence. It shares its platform and many mechanical components with the GMC Sierra and GM's full-size SUVs, making it a frequent subject of automotive repair discussions. It is a staple of the American truck market, offered in various configurations from basic work trucks to luxury trims.
Gmc Sierra
"...is year. And I know we've done at least 20 of the GMC Sierra, the Suburbans, the Tahoe Escalados. Silverado's...."
The GMC Sierra EV is a large pickup truck that runs entirely on electricity instead of gasoline or diesel. It is made by GMC and features a modern design with high-tech towing and driving features.
The GMC Sierra EV is an all-electric full-size pickup truck built on GM's Ultium platform, offering high towing capacity, advanced tech, and impressive range. It represents GMC's transition toward electrification in its premium truck lineup, sharing its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
Uconnect
"The other thing real quick, e-connect. Do I need to sign up for that or is it, is it mostly unusable?"
The computer screen and software system inside Dodge, Ram, and Jeep vehicles that controls the radio, maps, and phone connections.
Uconnect is the proprietary infotainment and telematics system used in vehicles produced by Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, including Ram, Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler). It handles navigation, audio, phone connectivity, and remote vehicle features.
2004 Pontiac GTO
"Hey, I got a 2004 Pontiac GTO and I took the passenger seat out of it for access to the to the parking brake because I broke the handle."
A fast, rear-wheel-drive sports car from the early 2000s. It was actually built in Australia and brought to the US, featuring a powerful V8 engine also used in the Chevrolet Corvette.
The 2004 Pontiac GTO is a modern revival of the classic muscle car, imported from GM's Australian subsidiary Holden (where it was sold as the Monaro). It features a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout powered by a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine.
3 Three Wheelers
"...aseball or just running around, driving around on three wheelers and starting to sound old. But okay, I'm sorry I ..."
A three-wheeler is a vehicle that has three wheels instead of the usual two (like a motorcycle) or four (like a car). They can be designed for off-road riding or for driving on regular streets.
A three-wheeler (or trike) refers to a class of vehicles with three wheels, which can range from vintage all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) like the Honda ATC to modern road-going autocyles like the Polaris Slingshot. In vintage off-road contexts, they are famous for their unique handling characteristics and eventual phase-out due to safety concerns.
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