Auto Correct | Rental Vehicles
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Car
Chevrolet Nova
The Chevrolet Nova is a small car that was popular in the 1970s. The 1972 version is known for being affordable and easy to maintain, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.
Company
Hertz
Hertz is also a car rental company where you can rent cars. They are popular and have many locations around the world.
Company
Avis
Avis is a company where you can rent cars for a short time, like for a vacation or a business trip. They are known for taking good care of their cars.
Term
depreciation
Depreciation is how much a car loses value as it gets older. For example, a new car might be worth $50,000, but after a few years, it could be worth only $25,000.
Term
VIN number
A VIN number is like a social security number for cars. It helps identify a specific vehicle and can tell you about its history, like accidents or ownership changes.
Term
Carfax
Carfax is a company that gives you a report about a car's past. It tells you if the car has been in accidents or if it has had any major repairs, which is useful when buying a used car.
Car
Toyota Sequoia
The Toyota Sequoia is a big SUV that can carry a lot of people and gear. It's great for families and trips where you need extra space.
Car
Toyota Tundras
The Toyota Tundra is a big truck that can carry heavy loads and is great for off-roading. It's known for being dependable and is often used for work or outdoor activities. The recent models have some new features that make them even better.
Car
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is a popular electric car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It's known for being affordable and good for the environment.
Term
lithium ion battery
A lithium ion battery is a rechargeable battery that powers many electric cars. It can get very hot and sometimes catch fire if there are problems with it.
Part
seat rails
Seat rails are the metal tracks that hold the seats in place and let them move. If they are not made correctly, the seats might not stay safe during an accident.
Term
structural integrity
Structural integrity means how strong and safe the parts of a car are. If something is wrong, like with the seat rails, it could make the car less safe in an accident.
Car
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a type of SUV that offers a lot of space and comfort for passengers. It's a good option for families or anyone who needs a reliable vehicle.
Term
dry brakes
Dry brakes are a feature that helps keep your brakes dry so they work better when it's raining. It means the brakes are dried off automatically to help you stop more effectively.
Brand
BMW
BMW is a well-known car brand from Germany that makes luxury cars. They are famous for their sporty and high-quality vehicles.
Car
Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper is a small, fun car that has a unique look. The 2017 version is known for being stylish and easy to drive, making it popular among city dwellers.
Car
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a tough, boxy car that's built for driving on rough roads and trails. It's very popular among people who love outdoor adventures. The 2007 version is known for being fun to drive but can have some issues that owners need to watch out for.
Term
engine overheating
Engine overheating happens when the engine gets too hot. This can cause serious problems if it isn't fixed quickly.
Part
electric fan
An electric fan is a part of the car that helps keep the engine cool by pulling air through the radiator. If it doesn't work, it can cause the engine to overheat.
Part
fuses
Fuses are small devices in a car that protect electrical parts. If something goes wrong, like too much electricity flowing, the fuse can blow and stop that part from working.
Term
coolant
Coolant is a special liquid in your car that helps keep the engine from getting too hot. It moves heat away from the engine to keep it running smoothly.
Car
Toyota Avalon
The Toyota Avalon is a large car that is comfortable and reliable. The 2008 version has a strong engine and lots of room inside.
Part
pump
A pump helps move liquids in a car. If it gets rusty or damaged, it might not work properly, causing problems like no windshield washer fluid coming out.
Part
hose
Hoses are tubes in a car that carry liquids. If a hose is loose or blocked, it can stop the liquid from getting where it needs to go, like the windshield washer fluid.
Part
nozzles
Nozzles are tiny openings that spray liquid, like windshield washer fluid, onto the windshield. If they get blocked, the fluid won't come out properly.
Car
Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan Crew Cab is a large truck that can carry a lot of stuff and has room for passengers. It's designed for both work and family use. Sometimes, owners of the 2018 model have trouble with the button that starts the engine.
Term
push to start
Push to start means you can start the car by pressing a button instead of turning a key. You usually need to have the key fob with you inside the car for it to work.
Term
battery corrosion
Battery corrosion is a white or greenish powdery substance that forms on the battery terminals. It can cause problems with starting the car because it prevents electricity from flowing properly.
Part
starter relay
The starter relay is a part of the car's electrical system that helps start the engine. When you turn the key, it sends power to the starter motor to get the engine running.
Car
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot is a type of vehicle called an SUV, which stands for Sport Utility Vehicle. It's designed to be spacious and comfortable for families.
Term
adaptive cruise control
Adaptive cruise control is a feature in some cars that helps you maintain a set speed while also keeping a safe distance from the car ahead. It can slow down or speed up automatically.
Term
lane keeping assist
Lane keeping assist is a feature that helps keep your car in the lane while driving. If you start to drift out of your lane, it can gently steer the car back into place.
Term
wheel speed sensors
Wheel speed sensors are parts of a car that check how fast each wheel is turning. This information helps the car manage things like braking and traction.
Company
CarMax
CarMax is a place where you can buy used cars without having to negotiate prices. They also help with car repairs if your car is still under warranty.
Brand
Honda
Honda is a car brand from Japan that makes many different types of vehicles. They are famous for making cars that last a long time and save on gas.
Car
Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV that's great for families and everyday driving. It has a lot of space inside and is known for being safe and efficient. It's also part of conversations about how cars are made in a more environmentally friendly way.
Car
Toyota Corollas
The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people love because it's cheap to run and very reliable. It's been sold in huge numbers around the world, which shows how much people trust it. It's a great choice for anyone looking for a simple and efficient car.
LIVE
You know who else loves our show?
Man, you're seeing what I'm seeing.
Don't tell me it's Craig.
No, it's not Craig.
Who else loves our show?
It's Pam Pibus from Fixit 101.
Well, we're glad to have her on today.
Pam said she listened to the podcast on MiniCoopers.
Well, I hope I didn't blow your bubble on your MiniCoopers.
Good morning, Pam.
Good morning.
Good morning.
I was working the day it was live,
so I listened to the podcast because I was so interested.
And I actually share your opinion of MiniCoopers.
OK.
Well, I didn't want to take in Saturday
if you loved your MiniCoopers that much.
I didn't want to take and make you feel bad.
What's that opinion, Pam?
Well, you know, I loved it for a while.
And then I started having these crazy problems
that the dealer couldn't figure out.
And I had two different mechanics look at it
and couldn't figure it out.
And finally found something online with an owner up
in Seattle, Washington.
This is an MPB Think Radio podcast.
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and learn the history and the people behind the events
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Welcome to AutoCorrect, helping
you correct your auto problems.
Our host is Coach Charlie Melton, ASC-certified master
technician.
I'm Jermaine Flood Coach.
We are back.
We are back.
And I got up this morning.
It was cool outside.
And it was cool.
And the sun was out.
That's right.
For your 4 AM walk or whatever.
It was a 4 30 AM walk.
That's crazy.
He's a mean man, boy.
He's a mean man, boy.
But yeah, it was, I mean, this is an anomaly for us
where we see full sun and we get cool air.
We just hope that it lasts a little while.
Yeah, that would be nice if we could get it all the way
through Thanksgiving.
That would be great.
And then it just goes on into December.
Yeah, we'll take that.
And then everybody wants just a white Christmas.
So just on the 25th, then we get snow.
And then the rest, it's got to go.
We can handle it.
Right.
Right.
Listen, Coach, I want to know
what's been going on in your world.
You were talking about you didn't came back from New Orleans.
Well, I went down there to see the Saints.
But I really didn't go see the Saints.
I went to see the Giants for Jackson Dart.
OK.
You know, because he was at Ole Miss.
OK.
Hotty Toddy.
But they lost.
Oh, man.
That was OK.
We had a great time.
OK.
And we enjoyed the game and enjoyed the trip.
You didn't have on any Saints gear, did you?
You know, I was in black and gold.
Oh, OK.
You went in.
OK.
OK.
OK.
OK.
OK.
My wife was in blue for Jackson Dart.
And I was in black and gold.
I love it.
We had a good time.
It sounds like it.
Have y'all been by the fair yet?
No.
I haven't got there yet.
I go this weekend.
I'm going today for lunch.
Oh, that's the best thing.
This is to treat myself.
I love to eat.
I know.
This is to treat myself.
Yes.
And then it's a beautiful day.
Who would want to go?
It is a beautiful day.
So, yeah.
Fair today for me.
But what's today for the show?
We're talking rental vehicles.
Our email address for questions is auto at mpbonline.org.
The phone number is 1-877-MPB-RING.
That's 1-877-672-7464.
All right.
Everybody probably knows what a rental vehicle is.
But of course.
Give us the definition.
I want to.
I really do.
A rental vehicle is a car, truck, van, or other automobile
that is hired out to a customer for a short period,
such as a day, week, or even month,
without the customer taking ownership of the vehicle.
That's for some.
You better watch that customer.
No, I'm playing.
The renter pays a fee for the temporary use of the vehicle
and is responsible for its condition and adherence
to the rental terms, which may include insurance, mileage
limits, and fuel policies.
Well, when you start talking about rental cars,
the reason I even thought about doing a show on rental cars
is because we had somebody come in the restaurant.
They had a rental car.
And it broke down right there in our parking lot.
Oh, while they were in the rental agreement?
While they were in the rental agreement, it broke down
and they just picked it up.
Oh, wow.
They just picked it up from the airport
and drove it out to Pocahontas.
And it broke down in the driveway.
It was over with.
And they were waiting on a tow truck to come get it.
So was there an end to this story?
Did they get reimbursed?
Did they get a new car?
They brought them a new car.
But yet they were delayed three or four hours getting
where they needed to go because the car broke down.
Well, that's a rental horror story for sure.
When you start talking about rental cars,
I used to rent cars.
And I know I haven't rented a car in a long time,
but I used to rent cars.
But they wanted so much, like you say, they wanted insurance.
And they wanted different things.
But because some insurance policies
will not cover you in a rental car.
And so you need to make sure you have the right insurance
because you will pay a good price for that insurance.
And one of the things is when you're renting a rental car,
you want to make sure you inspect that rental car completely.
Because what happens when they bring it back,
they can say, well, you got it in here,
you got a cracked windshield here,
you need to make sure you inspect it
and make sure you make notes and make notes
with the one that is renting the car.
Right.
Usually they do that walk around with you.
But you know, you're so excited, ready to go.
You ain't looked at everything.
That's right.
Get me out of this airport.
That's what's happening.
You've not looked at everything.
You see that, Nick, but you're like, okay,
we'll just keep going.
Yeah, it's probably fine.
That is not a good thing.
No, you need to make sure they mark it
on the paper that they have,
saying that it has a Nick in that spot.
Because if not, you will pay for it,
one way or the other.
You know, when you start talking about rental cars,
you know, there are some pros about a rental car
and there are some cons about a rental car.
Well, let's do the pros first.
If you think about a rental car,
first of all, they're up-to-date models.
They're gonna be two or three years old.
Every rental car out there is two, three years old.
Okay.
Okay, so you get a newer model car.
Even the one that broke down in Pocahontas.
It was a new car.
Oh, okay, just making sure.
So you get a rental car, they're up-to-date models,
and they have all the bells and whistles
according to which model you get.
Okay.
Okay, you can get some subcompact
all the way up to the luxury cars.
Okay, so, as a matter of fact,
rental cars change every few years.
They change their whole fleet of cars.
So you can get that maintenance records.
Okay, so, reputable rental car companies
are strict about maintenance.
They take care of their cars.
Once again, you understand what I said.
I said, reputable rental car companies.
Okay.
We'd not the unreputable ones.
No, you need to make sure it's Avis or Hertz
or Alamo, somebody that you know that is
out there advertising their rental cars on a daily basis.
Not rental wheel.
No, not rental wheel.
You want to make sure that you can get that rental car
and it's taken care of.
Okay, no haggle pricing.
A lot of times you go in there
and I love to get the ones that have unlimited mileage.
And that's really the ones you try to get
that has unlimited mileage.
Because I have got a rental car in flow with Mississippi
and drove it all the way to Oxford a couple times.
Yeah.
And instead of saying you got a 200 mile limit.
Or all of that, yeah, it's kind of a limit list.
And then you have to start paying per mile
if you do not get unlimited mileage.
And it may cost you a little bit more, but it's worth it.
So unlimited mileage on some cars and added protection.
You can get added protection on some cars.
Okay, when you're in the car.
But you know, renting a car and buying a rental car,
there's two different things, okay?
You can buy a rental car
from several different rental car companies.
Yeah, Enterprise, I know.
Enterprise, Hertz sells them.
Budget.
Budget sells them, okay.
Now the only drawback there is that
where are the rental cars going
and do you know if you're getting to a rental car?
Okay.
Because a lot of times dealerships buy rental cars.
Yeah, you tapped on this a week or so ago.
Yeah, dealerships buy rental cars.
They put them on their lot.
Auctions buy rental cars.
Okay, so all these cars are sold in different places.
And you need to know what you're getting.
Yeah, well, are they supposed to, you know,
put that up front for you?
No, they don't have to put it up front.
Okay.
They just, you know, they say that it's a used car.
Yeah.
And if we were to ask,
I wonder would they disclose that information?
Probably not.
What?
Probably not, you know,
because they don't tell you who brings the car in.
Yeah.
You know, say if you're buying a used car,
they don't tell you who has that car before you.
Yeah.
You know, they don't give you the opportunity
to call them on the phone and say,
oh, well, tell me about this car.
Why don't you trade it in?
Yeah.
You know.
If I was to say an unnamed business,
tell me percentage-wise how many cars on the lot
would be rentals and that would be vehicle mega.
Right.
Well, a lot of...
How many rental cars do you think is on vehicle mega's lot?
Yeah.
Just think about quite a few.
You're saying about 80%?
Yes.
Because, you know, where are they coming from?
You know, they don't have that many customers
here in Jackson, Mississippi.
Returning them?
No, you're right.
Yeah, you're right.
Everybody knows they don't have that many customers
here in Jackson, Mississippi.
You're right.
You're right.
To bring a car in.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So when you think about rental cars, you know,
another thing is most rental cars
are gonna have low mileage on them, okay?
Now, some of them will have higher mileage on them.
Now, we think about rental cars.
We think about buying a rental car.
Is it a good option to buy a rental car?
Well, you gotta think about this here.
First of all, cars lose a lot.
They depreciate a lot in the first three years.
Okay.
I'm talking about they can go from $50,000
down to $25,000 in three or four years.
Yeah, yeah.
You know, so your car is not really worth
as much, it loses probably about a quarter
of the price when it comes off that parking lot.
We need to drive it away, yeah.
Right, so when you think about rental cars,
and I always look at this,
somebody gets in a rental car, they know it's not theirs.
A lot of people are being in it
and they have dogged that car out.
Yeah, because it's not theirs.
A lot of wear and tear.
It's not their car.
They ain't gotta worry about it.
Yeah.
So they're gonna put as many miles on it
and they're gonna do whatever they wanna do.
Yeah, to it, to it.
So when you start thinking about rental cars,
buying a rental car, you need to look into all of that.
I'm sure they have car faxes on all those VIN numbers.
You can just, any car has a car fax or a VIN number
that you can look up the car
to see what kind of shape it's been in.
Okay, okay.
Now I'm seeing one more pro of renting a car.
It's the business benefits.
For businesses, renting can be a way
to expense a vehicle and avoid managing a large fleet.
Well, that's true.
When I was in the trucking business,
we rented trucks all the time.
Okay, instead of purchasing.
Yeah, we would rent a truck,
say maybe one of our trucks was broke down,
we'd go rent another one.
Okay, and we may have it three or four days
or a week or a month.
Yeah.
Okay, well, that was a way
that you didn't have to go buy another vehicle,
but you had a vehicle at your disposal.
So you could deliver things
and they were responsible for the maintenance on it.
Yeah.
And you know, there's so many different rental vehicles.
We're probably in the vein of the ones
that we drive around for traveling A to B
or whatever like that.
But now that we're talking about businesses,
you can rent like, of course a U-Haul,
but then you can also rent a tow truck.
You can rent different things out there.
So there's different rental vehicles available.
Pick up trucks, it doesn't matter.
But when you think about renting
and when you think about buying,
you need to be cognant of what that vehicle has been through.
Okay.
And so let's talk about some drawbacks on buying and renting.
And when we come back from break,
we will definitely get into those.
The phone number is 1-877-MPB-RING.
That's 1-877-672-7464.
If you've got a question,
send your emails to auto at mpbonline.org.
We're talking rental vehicles.
Is your car under recall?
I'll tell you how you can find out next.
You're listening to AutoCorrect with Coach Charlie Melton.
I'm Jermaine Flood.
If you want even more AutoCorrect,
find our podcast on all podcast platforms
for your smart device.
AutoCorrect is heard on MPB Think Radio Thursdays
with Replace Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Before these recent recalls, let me give a shout out
because Coach just reminded me
to our folks down there cruising the coast right now.
That's great.
That's great.
That's right.
I know y'all in those clean cars
listening to us on the radio.
You know, give us a call.
Give us a call, looking sharp.
Tell us what it looks like down there.
How's the weather?
1-877-MPB-RING.
That's 1-877-672-7464.
Hey, cruising craig.
I gotta always just say, hey.
Hey, at least throw my line so you can reel him in.
I know it.
Hey, cruising craig.
That's right.
So yeah, shout out to everybody down there
having a ball.
This is the one year that we are not down there.
We've been two years in a row,
but we'll get back down there again.
But I know y'all having a time cruising that strip.
Well, I'm just so happy that the weather changed.
You know, it was raining when I came through there
a couple of days ago,
and they said that the front had cleared out
and the weather is beautiful down there.
Good.
Y'all better be cruising that coast.
That's right.
I know it.
I wonder if the wooden car is down there.
Oh, I know it's there.
I would like to ride in that wooden car.
You gonna go down, maybe?
I don't know.
I might.
Okay.
It don't take us but a hop skip and a jump to get down there.
Down to the coast I may go.
Yeah, y'all get on down there.
It goes through what?
Saturday?
Saturday?
Yeah.
Saturday at 10 o'clock, they'll know exactly,
or know at 12 o'clock how many cars they had ratch.
There was over right at 10,000 right now.
Okay, okay.
So we've kept up with that.
Good stuff.
All right.
I hope y'all are having fun in recall news.
First, Toyota is recalling approximately
394,000 examples of its Sequoia SUV and Tundra pickup truck
over an issue with a multimedia system display.
This includes model year 22 to 25 Tundras
and 23 to 25 Sequoias.
The software in the 14 inch multimedia system display
may cause the screen to turn half green,
fully green, or fully black.
You just let that thing do what it wants to do.
Just wanna do what it wants to do.
Electronics do whatever they want to do.
Right, right.
But this may limit the driver's visibility
when in reverse and increase the risk of a collision.
As a fixed dealers are updating the multimedia system
software and effective vehicles for free,
Toyota will notify owners by late November.
Up next, Nissan is recalling its leaf electric vehicle
over an issue with the lithium ion battery
that could cause a fire
and more than 19,000 vehicles are affected.
This includes 21 to 22 leaf hatchbacks.
Due to excess lithium deposits in the battery cells,
the lithium ion battery in these vehicles
may overheat during DC fast charging,
increasing the risk of a fire.
Now, as a fixed dealers are updating
the battery software for free,
but owners are advised not to fast charge
until the remedy is complete.
Cause you know what?
You gonna have a whole fire out there.
So it looks like to me is that
they got too much power in the battery
and it's getting hot.
They were trying to get better range.
They make that leaf move fast.
That leaf gonna blow around real fast.
Have you seen when they do that to the power wheels,
the kids power wheels, they juice them up.
I've seen that before.
Yes.
I've seen that.
Abram's gonna do that soon.
Hey, double bound.
I know.
He gonna be juicing up a power rail.
Okay.
Toyota is recalling approximately 55,000 examples
of it seeing a minivan for an issue
with the second row seats.
Toyota's on a roll today.
Effective vehicles include model year 25 CNS.
The second row seats in these vehicles
are mounted on seat rails
that may not have been welded properly.
And could you lose structural integrity
in the event of a crash increasing the risk of injury
to resolve dealers are replacing
the second row seat rails with rails
that have proper welding for free.
Well, just make sure you're buckled in
in case you get thrown out.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Make sure you're in the seat.
Like a full eject.
That's right.
You know what you need?
You need a mama's arm back there to hold you back.
That's right.
Hold you back.
Make sure you don't go forward.
Yeah.
You need a mama's arm to hold you back.
That's right.
All right.
And finally in recall news, Hyundai Santa Fe SUV
is at the center of the automaker's latest recall
which involves the starter motor
more than 135,300 vehicles are effective.
It's 24 to 25 Santa Fe's.
The B plus terminal cover on the starter motor
and I know you know what that is.
That is the battery wire.
Tell me.
Coming off the starter, that's the battery wire.
Talk to me now, talk to me now.
The positive battery.
The B positive battery, thanks coach.
That on the cover on the starter motor assembly
in these vehicles may not have been installed properly
which could cause an electrical short during a crash
increasing the risk of an electrical fire.
That's right.
So that's what that does.
Okay.
So as a fixed dealers are inspecting
and reinstalling the starter motor terminal cover for free.
Well, what they're saying if the battery
that's the positive side of the battery
if it comes in contact with the frame or something
that is grounded, it will short and it could start a fire.
Okay.
Okay.
There's a lot of fires today.
Yes.
I just don't drive those vehicles.
Do not and do not plug that thing in.
All right.
You can find out if your car has a past recall
by going to the national highway traffic
safety administration website
nhtsa.gov forward slash recalls
and inputting your VIN number right there
or find the safer car app.
We're talking rental vehicles.
We're also taking repair questions.
Email us at auto at mpbonline.org
or call us like Andrew did in Edwards, Mississippi.
The phone number is 1-877-MPB ring.
That's 1-877-672-7464.
Andrew, good morning.
You are on with coach Charlie.
Well, I also have your question
about a radiator.
We restore an old car.
What's the best material for radiator
as far as heat, you know, to give it a heat aluminum
or I think they make them out of brass
and copper, I don't know.
Yeah, you're not going to really find a brass one anymore.
That's what they used to make them out of most of the time.
And you could rattle them out
and you could clean them and all.
And you're not going to find any more like that
unless you go to a junkyard
and find one in that particular vehicle.
What year is that vehicle?
It's our 72 Nova.
Yeah, you could probably go to a somewhere
that sells older model cars
and you could probably find one of those radiators.
Now that was the best radiator
because you had either the side,
I don't know if it was a upflow or a side flow
but the tanks were made out of brass as well.
Now the tanks are made out of plastic
and they come loose and you're not going to have it good.
It's going to overheat pretty quick.
Okay, and so they do make it out of aluminum.
What do you think about aluminum?
Well, see most of them are aluminum now
but they have plastic tanks on them.
That means the top and the bottom are plastic
and they're just like riveted on or crushed on
where they're pinched
where they'll hold on to the radiator itself.
But if you can get a double roll,
a lot of times in these cars are single rows
but you can get a double roll aluminum one,
it'll work fine.
Okay, okay, I love y'all too.
Thank you so much for calling.
Oh, thank you, Andrew, thank you so much.
You know who else loves our show?
Man, you're seeing what I'm seeing.
Don't tell me it's Craig.
No, it's not Craig.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Who else loves our show?
It's Pam Pibus from Fixit 101.
Well, we're glad to have her on today.
Pam said she listened to the podcast
on MiniCoopers.
Well, I hope I didn't blow your bubble on your MiniCoopers.
Good morning, Pam.
Good morning.
Good morning.
I had to, I was working the day it was live
so I listened to the podcast
because I was so interested
and I actually share your opinion of MiniCoopers.
Okay, well, I didn't want to take in Saturday
if you loved your MiniCoopers that much.
I didn't want to take and make you feel bad.
What's that opinion, Pam?
Well, you know, I loved it for a while
and then I started having these crazy problems
that the dealer couldn't figure out
and I had two different mechanics look at it
and couldn't figure it out
and finally found something online
with an owner up in Seattle, Washington.
Okay.
And what happens, what happens is
when driving the car in a rain,
if I turn on the windshield wipers,
the car will, driving above 45 miles an hour,
the car will pull to the right in the rain.
That's why it's not good.
Yes, the front right tire slows intermittently
and pulls me to the right
and I thought I was gonna die when it was happening
and it took me over a year and quite a bit of money
and then some online work of my own to figure out
that it is that braking system,
where they drive the brakes, what's that called?
Well, they drive the brakes?
Like DRY drive?
Dry, yes, where they drive the brakes.
It's a BMW thing that they've had
a lot of problems with as well
but it intermittently will dry your brakes for you
so that you brake better in the rain.
And what was happening when my windshield wiper came on
is that it was only doing it on the right tire,
not both tires, and that's why it was pulling me off
to the right.
So it had to go somewhere?
So it had a short in the system
and the power was going where it didn't supposed to go.
Well, you know, I never could get anybody
to tell me what it was but my solution is,
believe it or not, this is crazy.
Don't drive in the rain.
My solution is a, well, at which.
Don't turn on your windshield wipers.
Well, actually, that's actually the solution.
Instead of using the windshield wiper control,
I have to use the manual.
So my solution is a bungee cord.
Yeah.
I have a small bungee cord.
So you can pull it back and forth.
The manual, it just holds the manual down.
That's the only way I can drive in the rain.
Wow.
Wow.
But this great drying thing is a real thing from BMW.
Did you call the manufacturer on that car on that problem?
I called the manufacturer.
Oh, listen, I called the manufacturer.
I reported it to the National Transportation Board.
She went overseas to where they first made it
and talked to them.
Yeah, I almost showed up.
I almost flew to England to get my peace in my mind.
And I couldn't get any help.
No help at all.
What did the manufacturer tell you?
You called the manufacturer their customer relations?
Yeah, their customer relations.
And they told me to send them something
and never heard back from them.
Well, I'd stay on top of that, you know.
And, you know, if they can't fix it, you know,
even though it's a little older car,
it could be a lemon law on that particular car.
That would be so nice.
You might want to check that out and see if that, you know,
because they have the lemon laws in Mississippi.
Yeah.
Well, I bought the car at the dealer in Tennessee.
Right.
It don't really matter where you buy it.
The manufacturers or manufacturer dealers,
if they sell the car, they should be able to fix the car.
But they could replace it.
And they could replace the car.
And they could get another little Mini Cooper PAM.
We could get a new one.
I don't know if I'd get another one.
Yeah.
Well, it's a 2017.
It's only got 52,000 on it.
Yeah.
Because I only drive it for work.
I have another vehicle that is my personal car.
They're so cute.
You do not want to let them go.
It's, they're so adorable.
But they're so expensive.
I know.
But if mine hadn't stayed on the back of that tow truck,
I'd be like, here's what a head more moral is on it.
Yes.
Well, and you know, I can't sell it.
I'm not going to sell this to somebody.
You know, it's paid for.
And I can't in good conscience, you know, sell it to anybody.
Coach, let's take it on as a project.
Let's let's take this on as a project.
As a driver.
There's a short in that system that's making that happen.
Oh, where power is going through the, maybe going
through the computer where it doesn't post to go.
Yeah.
PAM.
They ran all kinds of codes and all this kind of stuff.
So anyway, just wanted to give you an update
and agree with your assessment.
Yeah.
Thank you for calling.
So if you see Pam out there on a rainy day,
make sure you give her some room to drive, baby.
Give me some space.
Give her some.
Like they like to say, give her 50 feet.
Give her 50 feet.
Maybe you can get somebody to get on.
Maybe you get somebody on top of the car
and just be able to operate you when your wife is for you.
There you go.
Listen, you know, anyway, and I'd drive it off
in the reservoir, but you'd be able to see it.
Little yellow things, that little yellow thing.
Pam, thank you so much for calling us.
All right, have a good one.
All right, baby, you too.
Listen, Peyton and Jackson, you're up next after the break.
Mike and Tupelo, I see you out there.
Sandra and Waynesboro, I see you also.
Right when we come back from the break,
we're going to hit them up like.
We got to let them know.
Like, Gangam style.
That's right.
The number.
Like a song.
Like a song.
Hit them up like Gangam style.
I never knew what he was talking about.
The things that come off the top of my life.
That's right.
2012 called you in.
Right, I know.
I'm so old.
The number, 1-877-MPB-RING, that's 1-877-672-7464.
Our email address where you can send questions is auto at MPBOnline.org.
We're talking rental vehicles.
We're talking PAMs, broke down Mini Cooper, between your car repair questions.
And what's in the news?
America's top selling vehicle faces a production hit.
Coach told me this this morning after a fire at a supplier facility and I've got enterprise
that's topping JD Power's 2025 car rental satisfaction survey.
I'll tell you more next.
Thank you for listening to AutoCorrect on MPB Think Radio.
Coach Charlie Melton, retired instructor from Clinton High School Automotive Tech
program is our Sensei and our expert host.
I'm going to roll the date.
You are on a roll of Sensei.
I like that.
I'm going to roll.
I'm going to do a little karate at the time.
Right.
Wax on.
Wax on.
Wax off.
Charlie's son.
Right.
Charlie's son.
Charlie's son.
That's it.
I hope you've downloaded our app for your smartphone.
That's the MPB public media app in addition to listening to the show on there.
Click on the support button and make a contribution.
Let me tell you, those contributions help keep our programs on the air for you and others
to enjoy.
And we thank you so much for your contribution to Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
AutoCorrect is heard on MPB Think Radio Thursdays at 10 a.m. with the replay Saturdays at 11
a.m.
We've got a stack up, Coach.
Let's hit the phones.
Peyton and Jackson, his Jeep is overheating.
Peyton, you're on with Coach Charlie.
Hey, thank you all for taking my call.
I drive a 2007 Jeep Wrangler and I'm having this issue where only when I'm idling, so only
like when I'm stopped at a stoplight or something, my engine will overheat.
It's not like, you know, the light's not going off, but I see the gauge, like the
temperature makes it to, you know, about three quarters up.
And I changed the thermostat about a year and a half ago, about five years ago.
I changed the radiator.
And so I'm trying to figure out what would be causing it to only overheat while, while
stopped.
Okay.
I'm going to tell you, I always say keep it simple stupid when I look at a vehicle.
Not you, Peyton.
Not you.
Yeah, not you.
The first thing I want you to do is check the coolant because a lot of times the coolant
is slow and you don't really know the coolant is slow.
Okay.
Because you look at the container that the coolant goes in and you have some in there,
but it may not be in the radiator itself.
The next thing I'd have you do, is it electric fan or is it a manual fan?
How do I know the difference?
Okay.
Electric fan is that a matter of fact, a lot of times you go out there and look at, does
the, does the, does it have a belt around the fan?
Have you looked at that before?
No.
It's like, it's like in a plastic housing.
So that's, that's electric fan.
Okay.
As you're driving the vehicle, air is going through the vehicle and cooling the radiator.
If the electric fan is not working, I would check the fuses and check the electric
fan relay.
Okay.
And those may be your problem for the electric fan.
And a matter of fact, another way you can check it is cut the air conditioner on.
Usually the fan comes on automatically when you cut the air conditioner on and you can
tell if it's working correctly.
Okay.
Yeah.
When I am, when the AC is on, I mean, I can hear the fan running, but the air does get
warmer while like, while I'm sitting at a stoplight.
Yeah.
But that's because the vehicle is heating up, the engine's heating up.
And as the fan made that there's a, some of these vehicles, a switch will make you air
conditioner go off when the vehicle starts to warm up, gets hot.
So what I would do, check the electric fan, check the coolant.
That'd be the first thing.
That's the easiest thing.
Check the coolant to make sure you got plenty of coolant in it.
And then go from there and check the fans.
Okay.
We'll do.
Thank y'all so much.
You're so welcome.
All right.
Thank you, Peyton.
Let's stay on the phone lines.
Let's head to Tupelo.
We've got Mike there.
I'm the washer wiper system in a Toyota Avalon.
Mike, you're on with coach.
Good morning guys.
How you doing?
I'm an 08, 08 Avalon in the windshield washer quit working.
The fuse is good, I checked it and there's plenty of fluid and then, you know, everything
below the tank, everything is below the tank.
I can't see anything to check or wiggle.
Right.
Okay.
The pump is on the, the pump is on in the tank and you like to remove that fender well, the
little plastic cover to see it, okay, on some vehicles and this one here, you may just pull
it up.
But a lot of times what happens is that they get corroded at the pump and when it gets
corroded at the pump, nothing goes through.
That would be the easiest way to check it.
See if he pulled the hose loose from up there by the window or by the windshield.
Pull the hose loose and see if anything comes out because maybe those nozzles at the very
top are stopped up, but most likely it's going to be corrosion in the pump.
If not, you'll have to just change the pump and it's on the bottom of that plastic
jug.
Okay.
Okay.
Probably have to get it up on the rack where you can see it and work on it.
Maybe not.
Maybe you can just take the whole tank out from the top and it has a couple boats
in it.
You should be able to take it out from the top.
If not, you will just remove that fender well and there will be a boat down there
holding it on and just pull it up and you'll be able to see the hose and the pump
itself.
Okay.
Okay.
All right.
I'll give you a try.
Yes, sir.
All right.
Keep up good work.
Yes, sir.
Thank you for calling.
All right.
Thank you, Mike.
Let's head to Wayne's Borough.
We've got Sandra there with a Nissan Titan 2018 push to start issue.
Sandra, you're on with Coach Charlie.
Yes.
Hi.
Thank you so much.
Just briefly, I have a 2018 Nissan Titan with the push start.
You're supposed to put your foot on the brake and then push to start.
Then it started not wanting to crank.
Then we were on vacation and this thing just died, but anyway, it wouldn't start.
We checked the battery connections, found that they were a little quoted, so we fixed
that.
We made it home on vacation, but every now and then, it still does that.
I just wondered if this particular vehicle has had a problem with its start.
Well, I don't know if it's had a recall on that particular vehicle, but like I
say, you cleaned the battery post and then it started working again.
A lot of times, and I'll give you an example, I had one the other day that would not
crank up and unless I left the jumper cables on it and when I left the jumper cables
on and I'm talking about not connected to another vehicle, just the jumper cable
on that one side of the positive side and I come to find out, I took the battery
terminal loose and there was a corrosion right in the middle of the battery
terminal right.
There was a little washer there and I took that washer, cleaned it and no
more problems with it.
So I would take the battery cables back off, make sure they're real good
and clean, make sure there's no acid on the terminals and the
battery terminals themselves, the cable and the terminal.
And Sandra, I'm seeing there are no specific recalls mentioned for the 2018
Nissan Titan regarding the push-to-start feature, but some users have reported
intermittent starting issues which may indicate a potential electrical problem
or component.
Right.
You want to make sure that it does have a starter relay on that vehicle
and might want to check that starter relay.
You'd have to look in your owner's manual.
I'm not sure exactly where it's located.
It could be under the driver's side or on the passenger side under the dash.
Okay.
The starter relay.
Yes, ma'am.
Okay.
That's not a fuse.
It'd be called a starter relay.
It's in the fuse panel.
Okay.
In the fuse panel.
Yes, ma'am.
Just look in your owner's manual and just look up starter relay and it'll
show you.
All right.
Thank you so much.
You're so welcome.
Thank you, Sandra.
Let's stay on the phone lines.
I don't mind.
Let's go to Jackson.
We've got James there.
He's got a 2022 Honda Pilot issue.
James, you're on with Coach Charlie.
Hey, guys.
Thank you all for taking my call.
My wife, Riza, 19, I'm sorry, 222 Honda Pilot.
Yesterday, I didn't know we're sort of giving a whole host of error messages.
The adaptive cruise control has a problem.
The lane keeping assist has a problem.
I did some searching on the Internet, found that the issue is either a low battery, and
I got a battery tested and it's fine, or there's a problem with either of the front
sensors behind the dashboard.
The wheel speed sensors?
Yeah.
The one behind the rear view and the one behind the front logo.
We bought the car from CarMax and it's still under warranty there.
But we were wondering if this is something that would be better off into a Honda dealership
or if this is something that you think CarMax could handle or if this is something I could
probably do myself.
Well, I always look at this.
If it's under warranty, I will take it back to whoever it's under warranty and
CarMax does have some good technicians.
I know some of them have come out of my program and there are really good technicians over
there.
As a matter of fact, most of them are ASC certified as well.
Take it over there, tell them what's happening because all of those codes that came up
are created by one.
You'll get a lot of codes that come up, but it's only created by one problem.
It's not a whole host of problems.
Like I say, it could be that camera that's in the front for the adaptive cruise.
It could be that sensor or it could be wheel speed sensors because wheel speed sensors will
make you, it'll change the way that the vehicle is running.
It could tell the computer that you're coming up on a vehicle or that something's wrong
with the road, that tires are changing.
So what I would do is take it over there back to CarMax since it's under warranty.
Let them look at it and they can fix it right there.
But I wouldn't try to do it, especially if it was an electronic problem under the
dash.
I would not attempt that.
I really appreciate it, thank you so much.
I appreciate you, James.
Alright, since we've got two in the newses, that's what I'm saying, newses.
Newses now.
Two in the newses.
I'll do the first one, we'll go to break, we'll come back, we'll talk to Homer and
then I'll do the second.
I like Homer.
That's a good name.
I know, me too.
Okay, so in the news is what Coach told me.
This morning, America's top-selling vehicle faces production hit after fire at supplier
facility.
This is affecting Ford Motor Company, I guess the most because that's basically the one
that they're labeling.
And they will have to suspend operations for several months after this fire erupted back
in September.
It's just been burning since like September 18th and it's novelists, a key supplier,
automotive grade, aluminum for Ford and used in vehicles like the F-150 pickup truck.
They won't be back in operation until the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
The spokesperson said the company activated its global network of plants and is partnering
with industry peers to source material to try to mitigate the gap in supply.
So we're going to come up on a supply shortage as it relates to the walls, the roof and
everything.
And the tailgate and so if you're going to get a Ford, you better go out and look
because they may not be none.
Yeah, so industry experts warn that automakers are still likely to face disruptions giving
novelists a significant role as a major aluminum supplier for Ford and other automakers.
Oh, correction, the fire started about 10 a.m. on September 16th and only impacted one
area of the plant.
It will remain offline for several months impacting production of aluminum sheet used
by them.
The plant supplies roughly 40% of the aluminum sheet used by the industry.
Yes.
Wow, that's almost half.
They actually have more cars than that, which are included.
So this also includes Toyota, which relies on the plant for the RAV4.
Volkswagen and Hyundai also use materials from the New York facility.
But the Ford remains the plant's primary aluminum purchaser.
So you know, that's when you went to the aluminum, you know, you got to have
somewhere to get those panels.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thanks for letting me know about that, coach.
The number 1877 MPB ring, that's 1-877-672-7464.
We're discussing rental vehicles and taking repair questions, email us at autoandmpbonline.org.
New car review from Casey Williams coming up and coach's tip of the week.
This is AutoCorrect on MPB Think Radio.
Here's a new car review from Casey Williams.
It's AutoCasey on AutoCorrect.
Toyota has sold over 50 million Corollas, making it the best selling
automotive nameplate of all time.
And it's easy to see why.
They're comfortable, they're roomy, they're efficient, they're affordable, and they're
pretty well made too.
And that's really true of the vehicle of this week, the 2025 Corolla FX.
The FX is a sport version.
It's got a little bit lower suspension, black 18-inch wheels, and black trim all around.
Inside, feels very upscale, but also sporty.
It's got cloth seats, but they do wrap around your whole jean, it's got a leather
wrap steering wheel, and a 10.5-inch touchscreen that's very intuitive to use.
You can also wirelessly connect your phones through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and charge
them too.
Underneath the hood, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 169 horsepower, does 0-60 in
about 8 seconds, but gas mode is pretty good.
31 miles per gallon of city, 39 on the highway.
So let's talk about price, because that is a big selling point for the Corolla.
Corolla starts just over $22,000.
This one, all in, $29,728.
See the full video on his YouTube channel, AutoCasey, and listen to AutoCorrect on the
MPB ThinkRadio YouTube channel.
This is AutoCorrect.
If you missed any of this program today, listen to the whole show from autocorrect.mpbonline.org.
AutoCorrect is heard on MPB ThinkRadio Thursdays at 10 a.m., with a replay Saturdays
at 11 a.m. and at 11 a.m. today at Southern Remedy, Kids and Teens with Dr. Morgan
McLeod.
I'm Jermaine Flood.
I'm an expert as Coach Charlie Melton, ASC-certified master technician.
Coach, we've got Homer on the line, but we're going to get to your tip of the week first,
and then Homer, you're going to take us out of here right after our news.
That sounds good.
You know, when we're talking about rental cars, buying a rental car or renting a car,
try it before you buy it.
Okay.
You know, try it and make sure it's what you want.
If you think about Avis and Hertz, they have what is called a rent-to-own that
you could rent the vehicle.
You can own the vehicle.
You know, Enterprise has a two-day buy-back, so maybe you want to drive it and see if you
want to send it back to them.
But I want you to be very careful about EVs, okay?
We had one this morning talking about an EV supercharge.
When you do a rapid charge on a battery, that messes those batteries up.
It could be a rental vehicle issue, too.
Yes, it could be a quick charge.
It's wise just to check before you buy it.
Okay.
Okay.
Yeah, make sure you check.
Okay.
You know, the actual vehicle story you had, that the EV that you ended up in in Cali.
Do you remember that?
Don't remember that one.
I just remember maybe you going out to California and like, you went to go buy a rental and
you ended up in a rental EV somehow.
And you were not happy.
I was not happy the one I got here, too.
I had one here.
Oh, yeah.
I thought you had one in Cali, too.
You just ended up in them at the rental vehicle.
You know, they give you what they got sometime.
They know what you need.
That's right.
And that's the environmental in California.
Right.
Okay.
So here's in the news, Enterprise Top's JD Power's 25 car rental satisfaction survey.
These scores are based on car rental customer experience across seven categories and order
of importance.
Ease of rental, pick up, drop off, level of trust, vehicle staff, value for price,
paid, and digital tools.
And so they top it.
Enterprises at the number one spot following them is national and following national is
advantage.
The crazy part is the names that we know are not in the top three or at least five.
Hertz does come in at fifth.
But then let's just say Alamo, Avis, Budget, Drifty, all of those come in a little bit
further down.
Wow.
That means that you just seem to be careful where you're in a car from.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Check JD Power or whatever.
Check it out.
Check all of that.
All right.
Let's head to Homer in Clark Stale.
Coach, I gave him a little bit of this Homer so he kind of knows what's happening.
Homer, you're on with Coach Charlie.
Hey, Coach.
How you doing?
How you doing today?
Quickly.
I know you're running short on time.
I have a V engine, the 7.3, you know, Ford F-250.
The truck fit for a while.
I had a certified dealer mechanic that actually, he fixed it at my house, but anyway, runs
perfect.
Everybody's telling me it was an executive, but anyway, he put some filters and lines
on that, corrected the truck, and I drive it, it runs perfect.
It was missing the other day, and I cut the windshield wipers on.
I was driving it.
As long as they all just go, the trucks weren't running perfect.
When I put it on, in the median, where you go on and come out, the truck skips sometimes.
Coach has got to have this problem.
You know, I'm trying to figure out, I'm trying to figure out what this guy did.
We had the same problem.
You cut the windshield wipers on, and it would make the vehicle miss, just like
you're talking about.
It was an electrical problem to do with a short, through the windshield wiper, going through
the windshield wiper module.
So you might want to check that out, put it on the scan tool, check it out, and maybe
I can call my friend this week, and you call me back next week, and I may be able to tell
you, is that what he did?
Homer, please.
That's great.
I will do that.
This truck runs so good, but I need to, you know, I don't drive it really in
the rain.
It just, I'm missing that day.
When I cut it on, it was so often, it would just kind of miss a beat, and I'm going to
flip, and when I cut them off, I'll put them off full blast, and work great.
I'll see what I can come up with for you.
Homer, call us next week, 1-877-MPB-RING, and I know Coach is going to have you
fixed.
That'll wrap us up for today's AutoCorrect, our crew engineer, none other than Abram
Nanny, Call Screener, none other than Marissa Vaughn for Coach Charlie Melton, Master
Technician, I'm Jermaine Flood, next week, Coach.
This is Scarecrow Crews and Car Show.
That's right.
We're going to get it.
Silent Bobs coming in.
Ooh, it's the holidays.
Thanks for listening to AutoCorrect on MPB Think Radio.
This is an MPB Think Radio podcast.
To hear previous shows, visit mpbonline.org, or download the MPB Public
Radio app to listen on your iPhone or Android phone on demand.
About this episode
Pam Pibus from Fixit 101 joins the discussion on rental vehicles, sharing her experience with a problematic Mini Cooper. The hosts, Coach Charlie Melton and Jermaine Flood, delve into the pros and cons of renting cars, including maintenance, insurance, and the importance of inspecting vehicles before renting. They also discuss the implications of buying rental cars, touching on depreciation and potential wear and tear. The episode features listener questions about various automotive issues, including a Jeep overheating and a Toyota Avalon windshield washer malfunction.
Original notes
A flood vehicle, or flood-damaged car, is a vehicle that has been partially or fully submerged in water, leading to significant and potentially hidden damage to its body, engine, and electronics. These vehicles often receive a "salvage" or "flood" title, which should be disclosed by sellers.
A rental vehicle is a car, truck, van, or other automobile that is hired out to a customer for a short period, such as a day, week, or even months, without the customer taking ownership of the vehicle. The renter pays a fee for the temporary use of the vehicle and is responsible for its condition and adherence to the rental terms, which may include insurance, mileage limits, and fuel policies. https://www.google.com/search
Email the show: [email protected]
Recalls: Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment | NHTSA
News: Fire at aluminum plant to hit Ford's bottom line by up to $1 billion, analyst says & Enterprise Tops J.D. Power '25 Car Rental Satisfaction Survey
Auto Casey Car Review: 2025 Toyota Corolla FX | Short Take
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