Listeners are treated to a lively discussion on automotive topics, including the rollback of fuel economy standards and its implications for vehicle pricing. The hosts, Russ Evans and Shannon Nordstrom, tackle listener questions about various car issues, such as a Ford Explorer's starting problems, spark plug recommendations for a Dodge Durango, and troubleshooting an 87 Volvo's stalling issues. The episode highlights the importance of understanding vehicle maintenance and the nuances of modern automotive technology, all while providing practical advice for DIY enthusiasts.
"Because if they could raise the octane rating across the country, they could, the auto manufacturers can match that with more fuel efficient ice engines that run on that higher octane if it's available on standard across the country."
Octane rating is a number that tells you how well a fuel can avoid knocking in an engine. Higher numbers mean the fuel can handle more power without causing problems.
Octane rating measures a fuel's ability to resist knocking during combustion. Higher octane fuels allow for more aggressive engine tuning and can improve performance and efficiency.
"the auto manufacturers can match that with more fuel efficient ice engines that run on that higher octane if it's available on standard across the country."
ICE engines are the regular engines that run on gasoline or diesel. They create power by burning fuel inside the engine.
ICE stands for Internal Combustion Engine, which is the traditional type of engine that burns fuel to create power. This contrasts with electric engines that use batteries.
"That's what those tuners do. When we put a tuner on a car for a gas engine, it says, it's got a setting."
A tuner is a tool that helps change how a car's engine works. It can make the car faster or more efficient depending on what you want.
A tuner is a device or software that modifies the engine's performance parameters, allowing for adjustments in power, efficiency, and responsiveness based on fuel quality and driver preferences.
"Well, to do that, you have to run premium in there all the time."
Premium fuel is a type of gasoline that has a higher number on the octane scale. It's used in some cars to help them run better and avoid engine knocking.
Premium fuel typically has a higher octane rating than regular fuel, allowing for better performance in high-compression engines. It's often recommended for vehicles designed to take advantage of its properties.
"...if you could up the horsepower on your new car and your Honda up to, you know, another 50 horsepower and make it get better economy just because of a fuel change."
Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. More horsepower usually means a car can go faster or accelerate quicker.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for power, commonly used to describe the power output of engines. Increasing horsepower can enhance a vehicle's acceleration and overall performance.
"I've got a 2012 Ford Explorer that I've owned since it was a new. Um, I've had some strange issues over the last six, 12 months."
The Ford Explorer is a popular SUV that is known for being spacious and comfortable. The 2012 version is part of a newer generation that offers better handling and fuel economy than older models.
The Ford Explorer is a mid-size SUV that has been popular for its spacious interior and versatility. The 2012 model is part of the fifth generation, known for its improved handling and fuel efficiency compared to earlier models.
"...lost the fuel pump relay. So I thought, well, I'm going to go look, see once there's a relay, I can swap and sure enough, there was a relay."
The fuel pump relay helps send electricity to the fuel pump, which is needed to get fuel to the engine. If this relay is broken, the engine won't start because it can't get fuel.
A fuel pump relay is an electrical switch that controls the power supply to the fuel pump. If the relay fails, the fuel pump won't receive power, preventing the engine from starting.
"...but, uh, it ran fine with that one too. I let it run for 10 minutes and anyhow, I swapped it back around..."
A solid state relay is a type of switch that controls electrical devices without moving parts. They are faster and more reliable than regular switches that use mechanical parts.
A solid state relay is an electronic switching device that uses semiconductor devices to perform the switching operation, providing faster and more reliable performance compared to traditional electromechanical relays. They are often used in automotive applications for controlling various electrical systems.
"...and we've got a partner of ours, it's Clarios, we talk about him quite a bit..."
Clarios is a company that makes car batteries, especially those that are designed for newer cars with a lot of electronic features. They are known for producing high-quality batteries.
Clarios is a leading manufacturer of advanced battery technologies, including AGM batteries. They focus on producing batteries that meet the demands of modern vehicles with complex electronic systems.
AGM technology refers to a special kind of car battery that lasts longer and works better for cars with lots of electronics. It's different from regular batteries because it can be used more deeply without getting damaged.
AGM stands for Absorbent Glass Mat, a type of lead-acid battery technology that provides better performance and durability compared to traditional flooded batteries. AGM batteries are particularly effective in vehicles with advanced electronic systems, as they can handle deep discharges and recharge more efficiently.
"How you doing? I have a 2020 Dodge Durango with a 5.7 Hemi, and it's about to need"
The Dodge Durango is a large SUV that can carry many passengers and has a powerful engine. The 2020 version is known for being spacious and good for towing things like trailers.
The Dodge Durango is a mid-size SUV known for its spacious interior and powerful engine options. The 2020 model features a range of engines, including the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which provides strong performance and towing capability.
"How you doing? I have a 2020 Dodge Durango with a 5.7 Hemi, and it's about to need"
Hemi is a type of engine design that helps it run better and more efficiently. The 5.7 Hemi engine is powerful and used in some Dodge vehicles.
Hemi refers to a specific type of engine design that features hemispherical combustion chambers, which can improve airflow and efficiency. The 5.7 Hemi is a V8 engine known for its power and performance in various Dodge and Chrysler vehicles.
"spark plugs, about 95,000 miles. And I was just curious, do you guys generally just use OEM plugs..."
Spark plugs help start your car by creating a small spark that ignites the fuel. There are different kinds of spark plugs, and some last longer than others.
Spark plugs are crucial components in gasoline engines that ignite the air-fuel mixture, enabling the engine to run. They come in various types, including copper, platinum, and iridium, each offering different performance and longevity.
"A lot of times in those I'll use an NGK or a champion in there. They both worked really well for us."
Champion is a brand that makes spark plugs, which are parts that help your car start and run smoothly. Many mechanics trust their products.
Champion is another reputable brand that produces spark plugs and other ignition components, known for their durability and performance across various vehicle types.
"A lot of times in those I'll use an NGK or a champion in there. They both worked really well for us."
NGK makes spark plugs that help your car run better. They're a popular choice among mechanics for their reliability.
NGK is a well-known manufacturer of spark plugs and ignition products, recognized for their quality and performance in both automotive and motorcycle applications.
"...d I want it to last. So typically though with the RAM, that's what I'll be using as an NGK or a champio..."
The Dodge Ram is a large truck that many people use for heavy-duty tasks and driving around town. It's known for being reliable and comfortable, and it's important to use good parts when fixing it to keep it running well. This helps the truck last longer and perform better.
The Dodge Ram, now known as the Ram Truck, is a full-size pickup that has gained a reputation for its strong performance, comfort, and advanced features. It is often discussed for its reliability and the importance of using quality parts, such as NGK or Champion spark plugs, to ensure longevity and optimal performance. The Ram is a popular choice among truck enthusiasts and those needing a capable work vehicle.
"...did you have a preference between platinum and iridium? Well, you got to go with it. Iridium is going to be factory. So that's, that's what I would go within that one."
An iridium spark plug is a type of spark plug that lasts longer and works better than regular ones. It uses a special metal called iridium to help start the engine more efficiently.
Iridium spark plugs are designed to provide better performance and longevity compared to traditional copper or platinum spark plugs. They have a fine wire center electrode that improves ignitability and reduces the risk of fouling.
"...When you have an OE spark plug, is that also in your like system that we run the shop with to say what the specs are on that factory plug? Oh yeah."
An OE spark plug is the original spark plug that came with your car from the factory. It's made to fit and work perfectly with your engine.
OE stands for Original Equipment, referring to parts that are made by the vehicle manufacturer or to their specifications. OE spark plugs are designed to meet the exact standards required for optimal engine performance.
"Yeah. Say, I got a 93 Corvette that had ignition system. They don't have a distributor, correct?"
The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast sports car that many people love for its cool looks and speed. The 1993 version is one of the older models, but it still has a lot of fans.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car known for its performance and distinctive design. The 1993 model is part of the fourth generation of Corvettes, which is recognized for its sleek styling and advanced technology for its time.
"It comes. It runs off the harmonic balance. It's an OptiSpark. It's technically it's a distributor, but I just call it a, well, their fancy name for it is a high voltage switch..."
OptiSpark is a special part in some Corvettes that helps send electricity to the engine to make it run. It's a bit different from the usual distributor that many cars have.
OptiSpark is a type of ignition system used in some Chevrolet engines, notably in the Corvette. It functions as a distributor but is designed differently, using a high voltage switch to manage spark distribution to the engine's cylinders.
"...the water pump wasn't leaking in there. No, we replaced the water pump automatically all time..."
The water pump helps keep the engine cool by moving coolant around. If it breaks, the engine can get too hot and might get damaged.
A water pump is a crucial component in a vehicle's cooling system, responsible for circulating coolant throughout the engine to maintain optimal operating temperatures. If it fails, it can lead to engine overheating and significant damage.
"...you get into a group like those people on the LT, LT one engines and the older ones forums, the forums. And if you ask this question..."
The LT1 engine is a type of V8 engine made by Chevrolet. It's known for being powerful and fuel-efficient, and it's used in some sports cars like the Corvette.
The LT1 engine is a small-block V8 engine produced by General Motors, known for its performance and efficiency. It was first introduced in the 1970s and has seen various iterations in different Chevrolet models, particularly in the Corvette and Camaro.
"...you don't need special caps and sensors simply transfer yours over when you replace the wheel with near perfect ratings..."
TPMS sensors are devices that check the air pressure in your car's tires. If the pressure is too low, they let you know so you can fix it, helping keep you safe while driving.
TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. These sensors monitor the air pressure in your tires and alert you if the pressure is too low, which is crucial for safety and fuel efficiency.
"...Road Ready Wheels has both aluminum alloy and new steel wheels to fit many cars on the road today. They stock thousands of wheels ready to ship..."
Road Ready Wheels is a company that sells replacement wheels for cars. They offer wheels that fit perfectly and allow you to use your old parts, making it easier to upgrade your wheels without extra costs.
Road Ready Wheels is a company that specializes in aftermarket wheels, offering both aluminum alloy and steel options that fit a variety of vehicles. They provide direct-fit wheels that allow consumers to transfer their existing center caps and TPMS sensors, making installation easier.
"If you need parts whether it be for a brand new car or going back about 20 years it doesn't matter check out car-part.com. It's fast and it's easy. Over 200 million parts strong all across North America."
Car-part.com is a website where you can find used car parts. It helps you search for parts from different cars and shows you pictures, making it easier to find what you need.
Car-part.com is an online platform that connects users with a vast network of recyclers to find used auto parts. It offers a selection of over 200 million parts from various models and years, making it a valuable resource for car repairs and restorations.
"...we turned to Berkeley One Classics and here's why. Berkeley One Classics has over 50 years experience and they're dedicated to serving their customers."
Berkeley One Classics is a company that provides insurance for classic cars and other special vehicles. They help you decide how much your vehicle is worth and make sure you're covered for that amount if anything happens to it.
Berkeley One Classics is an insurance company specializing in coverage for classic and collectible vehicles. They have over 50 years of experience in the industry and offer agreed-valued coverage, which ensures that the insured value of a vehicle is predetermined, preventing disputes during claims.
"...that coverage is agreed-valued coverage so there is no disagreement on what your vehicle is covered for."
Agreed-valued coverage is a way to insure your car where you and the insurance company agree on how much it's worth. If something happens to your car, you get that amount without any deductions for wear and tear.
Agreed-valued coverage is a type of insurance policy where the insurer and the insured agree on the value of the vehicle at the time the policy is written. This means that in the event of a total loss, the insured receives the agreed amount without depreciation being factored in.
"...about a 2000 Jeep Commander and whether it was worth the cost of the rabbit hole going down fixing it after a radiator had blown..."
The Jeep Commander is a type of SUV made by the Jeep brand. It was built to handle rough terrain and is known for its strong, boxy shape.
The Jeep Commander is a mid-size SUV that was produced by Jeep from 2006 to 2010. It is known for its boxy design and off-road capabilities, making it a popular choice for those who need a rugged vehicle.
"...the reason that that overheated in blue is because my power steering fluid was low..."
Power steering fluid is a special liquid that helps make it easier to turn the steering wheel in a car. If it's low, it can cause steering problems.
Power steering fluid is a hydraulic fluid used in the power steering system of a vehicle. It helps to reduce the effort needed to steer the vehicle by transmitting power from the steering wheel to the wheels.
"...my question is is that fluid at the power steering cooler is that high pressure or can i just..."
The power steering cooler is like a small radiator for the power steering system. It keeps the fluid cool so that the steering works smoothly and doesn't overheat.
The power steering cooler is a component that helps regulate the temperature of the power steering fluid, ensuring optimal performance and preventing overheating. It typically operates at low pressure, allowing fluid to flow through it without significant stress.
"and whatever that's what we do we cut it off we put a cooler in there"
A transmission fluid cooler helps keep the fluid that makes your car's transmission work from getting too hot. If the fluid gets too hot, it can cause the transmission to fail, so this part helps keep it cool.
A transmission fluid cooler is designed to cool the transmission fluid, which is essential for maintaining the transmission's performance and longevity. It helps prevent overheating, especially in high-performance or heavy-duty applications.
"down it would sometimes hesitate a little bit it was that misfires when i found that coil problem but the coil fixed that one i also had a Ford f-150 that did the same thing with an old 300 straight six in it it had a weak coil that was causing that to die and i just couldn't"
The Ford F-150 is a big truck that many people use for work and everyday driving. It's popular because it's tough and can carry a lot of weight. Sometimes, like with any vehicle, it can have problems, such as engine misfires, but these can often be fixed with simple repairs.
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck known for its durability, versatility, and strong performance. It has been one of the best-selling vehicles in the United States for decades, making it a significant player in the automotive market. Discussions often revolve around its reliability, towing capacity, and common issues like misfires, which can be addressed through maintenance such as replacing ignition coils.
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Welcome to the Under the Hood show podcast.
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Thanks for listening to the Under the Hood show podcast, here's the show.
This is Under the Hood.
Welcome to the Under the Hood show, we are glad to have you with us.
Russ Evans is here to answer your automotive questions.
Thanks for joining us Under the Hood.
Shannon Nordstrom is here to do the same.
Welcome hoodies, thanks for tuning in so we can help you tune up.
I'm Chris Carter here to answer your calls at 866-594-4150.
Anything urgent we need to get to on the news front before we start taking some questions?
Yeah, I think so.
I don't know what Russ is saying, yeah, yeah, but...
Same thing, I'm sure.
The announcement about fuel economy standards being adapted a little bit.
Rolled back.
And you know, I had sent note out on the show here a while ago about the rumor
that they were going to get rid of the start-stop button, and I think that's going to be official.
And the automatic start-stop button and some other things.
And some of the def and emissions, not all and everything, because emissions are a good
thing.
We don't want to...
Yeah.
If you're in a cold climate like we are, this morning was well below zero.
Every single car and truck on the road, you can see the emissions coming out the tailpipe.
Normally you can't see them, right?
Unless it's really cold.
But with this cold, you basically see every drop.
And when you picture in your head all that gas going into the air on all these cars
all around the world that you normally can't see, you think it might be a good
thing.
If we can't see it, we tend to forget about it.
But when it's in our face, if it had a big, you know, one of those script
writings like you see the cartoons above people on TV, if it said, this is killing you, okay,
a little bit of emissions is good.
But the bottom line on all that, what do you guys think?
Do you really think it's going to lower the prices of cars, or do you think they're
just going to keep them the same and suck up the profit?
A little of both?
A little of both?
It's so hard to say how this shakes out.
But I think that if you look at the number of dollars that are spent to meet a very, very
further pushed and further pushed and further pushed and a further tighten the box, tighten
the box, tighten the box.
And how do you do it?
It becomes like we've lived it with our over the road diesel medium duty trucks.
Now that was a segment that was very hard on because of the nature of how they're
used and the requirements that were put on them to have this.
This was in the 2010s, the 2011s, they started really ramping this stuff up.
And I had a couple of trucks that I wanted to drive off a bridge because we just couldn't
keep them running.
And they were constantly in the shop and it was, we used them the way we've always
used them.
And all the problems were related to the emission systems that they had to hang
on these things to make them get inside that tight little box.
And so there will be a lot of people with varying opinions on this for sure.
But at the end of the day, I hope they can make the vehicles run better and use less
fuel in the diesel side of things if they can control that to the right place, find
the happy place.
Isn't it funny how to put out a cleaner tailpipe emission with less fuel waste,
you have to put more fuel into the vehicle?
Because with the emissions, it chokes it down.
It makes you use more drops of fuel per mile.
But during that mile you're running, you're also dumping in another chemical to try
to defeat the poisonous part that's coming out that's, that's harmful.
So we're lowering it down.
So what really is the gain if you just had her open with the cleanliness that
we had for so many years before the death?
One thing, I didn't read everything.
Was there anything in there about, I don't know if you guys did, but was there anything
in there about raising the octane level of the fuel around the country availability
or standard?
I read some of that, but not, they didn't go into it.
They just kind of glanced over it like typical politics.
They just said, yeah, and we're going to lower this and it's going to.
Because if they could raise the octane rating across the country, they could, the auto
manufacturers can match that with more fuel efficient ice engines that run on that
higher octane if it's available on standard across the country.
If everything in the pump went to 94 tomorrow with a simple software upgrade,
we could change the fuel economy of everything out there.
That's what those tuners do.
When we put a tuner on a car for a gas engine, it says, it's got a setting.
Do you want the most economy and power?
Well, to do that, you have to run premium in there all the time.
And that's either 91 or 93, depending on your setting and what's available to pump.
But if we went to 94, we've talked about that with our guys in the fuel industry
before and they're like, oh yeah, with 94, if the manufacturer knew they had
that available, it won't, it retrofits.
You could put 94 in a, in any year car, but you can't go down.
If we all of a sudden went to 75 octane, we couldn't do it.
Only the new cars would be able to run out.
But if you went to 94, we could imagine Chris, if you could up the horsepower
on your new car and your Honda up to, you know, another 50 horsepower
and make it get better economy just because of a fuel change.
And the fuel was the same price, right?
Yeah, it's, it's lots of stuff coming.
It's, it's good to hear and good to talk about, but discuss among yourselves
and leave comments on YouTube page.
866-594-4150.
Let's talk to Alan.
You're on the end of the hood show.
Alan, what can we do for you?
I've got a 2012 Ford Explorer that I've owned since it was a new.
Um, I've had some strange issues over the last six, 12 months.
But the thing that happened last week was my wife went out to leave
for work and it started and ran for just a few seconds and quit.
She tried to restart it and it just cranked, but wouldn't fire.
So I just told her, leave, but use the other vehicle.
I went out there later and yeah, it just would crank and just did not fire at all.
So I years ago had a vehicle that did basically the same thing
and lost the fuel pump relay.
So I thought, well, I'm going to go look, see once there's a relay,
I can swap and sure enough, there was a relay.
That was exact same thing.
So I swapped it and cranked for probably 10 seconds and it's fired up and ran.
Um, but well, just for curiosity, I'm going to stick the old relay back in
and, um, there's solid state relays.
So they're a little more difficult else, but, uh, it ran fine with that one too.
I let it run for 10 minutes and anyhow, I swapped it back around
and just to have a, a just fresh one in there and it's run fine since.
Um, but a little bit scared.
Yeah.
Trust it now.
Um, weird things I've had in the past of a lot of times it in the summer,
it, it'll especially this past summer, um, it's like their conditioning
has no free on in it.
It just barely cools.
Um, you power cycles of the air conditioning and heating system and it may start.
Sometimes you have to restart the engine to get it come on.
One time I had it, it was just full heat.
I mean, just full heat.
And sometimes when you restart the engine, it comes up and it says on your
little TV screen up on the dash that it's, um, updating the system.
Sometimes that little screen don't come on.
Yeah.
That's a big problem with all my compass for the last five years that I'm going
north, um, I don't know if I got a computer that's got just a glitch in it
or if it's going bad, you could, but that, that dash screen is a problem
with those.
We've replaced a whole lot of those for glitch issues and things like that.
And that can affect your, your compass and all that stuff.
But the engine part, you got to find out what is not there when it's not
there, it could have been a fuel pump.
Still could be fuel pump relay that.
Well, when you switch the relay from another relay in the bank and you
put the relay in and it worked, and then you took the old relay later
and put back in and it worked again.
It could have been that by cycling that power, that a pump that was starting
to fail, that got enough change in current change in resistance that it
just finally said, okay, I'm going to go now.
It gave it that to get over the hump in the armature.
And then it just has been okay since then that could be.
Yeah, I kind of gave it that thought too.
That that was the possibility, but that, that's something that makes
sense, a little bit of sense.
Is it related to all your other problems you've been having?
I'm going to say probably not because the stuff you mentioned on the other
side are all interior, like body control type functions.
And, you know, they run through a gem module in those forwards.
And that would be probably not going to stop it from starting unless,
of course, when you were trying to start it, you had a security light
on or something like that, which it doesn't sound like you did, you know.
No, I didn't, I didn't see anything.
The only thing that happens once in a while with the switch is once
while you pull the key out, and it, it still keeps dinging like the key is in it.
And you got to put the key back in and pull it back out again.
But that happens very seldom, maybe.
How many miles are on this Explorer?
130.
Okay. And did you say you bought it new?
Right.
So you've just like us, when we grew up, these problems have grown with the vehicle
and you've just learned to deal with most of them.
Right. Some of them seem to kind of show up when I replace the first battery.
I don't know that can have anything to do with it, but...
What's the age of the battery that's in there right now?
Right now, I have a Ford battery in there that is probably a year old
because the previous Ford battery in it went bad and was doing all kinds of weird stuff,
so they replaced the battery.
But I know that Ford's having all kinds of issues with their batteries.
Yeah. I mean, that's something, you got to make sure you've got solid power,
of course. I mean, I don't want to just run right to the battery, but especially when you've
put one in there already, but I wouldn't be against having that checked again by...
And the voltage.
Yeah, for a good analysis to make sure that you're getting the right power out of that
electrical system. Because if you don't have consistent power,
and the battery is basically your storage unit, and the rest of the system isn't working
quite right, you're going to get some funky electrical issues.
And I still would be not ruling that out, even though that battery is only a year
old.
Well, yeah, I know somebody that's on their fourth battery in four years from Ford, so...
Well, and we've got a partner of ours, it's Clarios, we talk about him quite a bit, and
they, of course, with all these newer vehicles with electronic stuff,
they're going to tell you to get a battery with AGM technology, especially if you're in
the upper Midwest where we get the heat cycles that are so huge, they help a ton.
But I think that you got to investigate the power and make sure that's solid for all those
other issues, and then you might just be having a fuel pump that's starting to get
weak enough where you were able to trigger it by switching relays,
and you might want to schedule for a pump, but that's kind of a tough one to do when
it's not broken right now.
Alan, thanks very much for the call. Good luck. Sorry we can't be more definitive.
866-594-4150, that's the number to reach us here at the end of the hood show.
Let's talk to Mike, you're on the end of the hood show. Mike, what can we do for you?
How you doing? I have a 2020 Dodge Durango with a 5.7 Hemi, and it's about to need
spark plugs, about 95,000 miles. And I was just curious, do you guys generally just use
OEM plugs, or is there a specific brand, or I know there's a lot of different types of
radium and platinum and copper, and do you have a preference?
Yeah, we'll stick with the OE type or better. It's kind of like oil. You can go with an OE
recommended or better. A lot of times in those I'll use an NGK or a champion in there. They
both worked really well for us. I haven't had a plug that I've put in one of those that I've
had a problem with where I could say, hey, I've put these in and they keep coming back.
They're issues and we put a lot of spark plugs in and we do a lot of replacement engines and
transmissions in our shop, hundreds and hundreds of them. And we put this stuff in and I want
it to last. So typically though with the RAM, that's what I'll be using as an NGK or a champion
and I haven't had, like I said, I haven't had any issue. Now you got 16 spark plugs in
there. I had a guy yesterday I talked about putting an engine in and I said, well, that and the 16
plugs and they went 16 plugs. I don't have six. I got an eight cylinder. I'm like, well, yeah,
they don't have a 16 cylinder. They're making it an American production car right now that I know of.
So he's like, oh, well, they've never told me that. I wondered why it was so expensive to put
plugs in it and they'd put done it before. But yeah, I think you'd be fine. You just
choose a good quality one. Whatever you do, don't get it. Don't try to go to the cheap route because
you got, I've seen people with 16 plugs like, well, I'll go to the cheap route and I'll get a
non platinum, non iridium, just a plain old steel spark plug for $4, whatever they put in
there that you will have a problem with. They will burn up pretty quick and they don't,
they don't like it. Yeah, I know you pay for what you get. I'm just curious then,
did you have a preference between platinum and iridium?
Well, you got to go with it. Iridium is going to be factory. So that's, that's what I would go
within that one. Okay, okay. Yeah, everything I put in there is by iridium. So I know, you know,
iridium NGK, you definitely be happy with that. And it's, it's fairly affordable compared to the
I have a question that I don't know the answer for. So I'm asking Russ. Okay. When you have an
OE spark plug, is that also in your like system that we run the shop with to say
what the specs are on that factory plug? Oh yeah. And when you buy them, when we go to any one of
our parts sources and click on it, it'll say this is the OE plug. This is an aftermarket plug,
the OE or it'll say OE was iridium, OE was platinum. That's the part I didn't know. I never
thought of that before because it always tells you what fluids are. Right. You got to have
this or better. And it'll let you choose the crappy plug too, if you want, but it'll say
what the OE is first. So that's another thing with the relationship with your shop.
They're going to be looking at that. Right. This, these modern systems that people are
running repair facilities with have a ton of information at their fingertips for how and what
to do. It's not like Amazon where it says, here's the best one for your car. This does not fit your
car. Yes. Yes. Like does that drive you crazy? Drives me crazy. Make sure you're on the right
car. I am on the right car. Yeah. This is the best one for your car, but this one won't
fit your car. And then if you do use the thing and enter in your car and everything,
it'll say may not fit. Right. Fit not guaranteed. Make sure you check to see, well, why, but I put
Mike, thanks very much for the call. Good luck. 866-594-4150. Let's talk to Lonnie. You're on the
end of the hood show. Lonnie, what can we do for you? Yeah. Say, I got a 93 Corvette that
had ignition system. They don't have a distributor, correct? Correct. Well, no. Yeah. It comes. It
runs off the harmonic balance. It's an OptiSpark. It's technically it's a distributor, but I just
call it a, well, their fancy name for it is a high voltage switch because it is taking the
high voltage from the coil and distributing it around, which is that's distributor, right?
But they call it a high voltage switch, but distributor is fine. I call it the thing that
eventually breaks. I call it junk. Yeah. The updated ones are really good. There you go. You
got that right. Well, anyway, I replaced three of them already and within probably less than 2,000
miles. Now. And I just wondering what is going on there. The AC Delco one, we took that was
the first one I put in it and when we took it apart, it was pieces in there. Oh, that's
and then we went to one that Hennepa had and I don't know what brand that is, but anyway,
that lasted maybe 500 miles. And now I put another one in and I don't know how long it's
going to last, but that I mean, I don't even got 2,000 miles on both of those that replaced.
Did the second one have 60,000? Did pieces come apart now? No, it did not. It didn't. We
took it apart. It was all together, but it just, you know, was popping bang in the
island and stuff, you know, yeah. All right. So no moisture in there. The water pump wasn't leaking
in there. No, we replaced the water pump automatically all time. And when you put this in,
it's the upgraded distributor that has a hose coming to it and a hose going out of it to
pull air through it into the air cleaner. Okay. Cause if you've got an old one for
some reason, I don't know why you would, but if you got one that didn't have that,
that will have a problem. They'll overheat. So they put a little air flow in there,
which doesn't do a whole lot of good, but it helps. You may just have got bad distributors.
A lot of that stuff is made in China and you kind of get what you get, but I say you get what you
pay for, but you pay for the best one you can find. And even that a lot of times is made in China
and the quality of those things, they were pretty poor to begin with. And then they got worse
when someone got out there and none of our partners that make really good quality stuff.
And we got standard makes amazing parts for that, but that they don't have that distributor
either does dormant. It's just not one that's,
it's not in such demand that a lot of people are producing them right now. So you can't,
I'd say, Hey, get this one because they've updated it. And it's better, but
it just, you know, I'm sure you probably have, but if you get into, you know,
I talk about this and Chris says, where are these things at that you're getting this
information that you get into a group like those people on the LT, LT one engines and the older ones
forums, the forums. And if you ask this question, I'm sure or search the forum, it's been asked before
and type in LT one forum on Google. And then if you find that, then you could go through and
search that history and you could probably find where there's probably been the question
asked and there's probably been a hundred answers. Look for the most recent ones
because sometimes you'll see that, Hey, here's updated information. Here's a link to a
specialty distributor made by this company. Just beware and ignore the ones that say,
Well, I had a foreign and it did this. Yeah. But I mean, you have to be very
careful, but typically when you get into a closed group like that, you'll, you'll,
you're going to find somebody that's, he's the guy. And Rick, Chris,
because he can't find him. I find him. Okay. You just got to scroll a little bit longer.
Lonnie, thanks very much for the call. Good luck. The under the hood show podcast is brought to you
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or call 800-603-3330 that's 800-603-3330. Welcome back everybody it's time to get back
under the hood with the motor medics. 866-594-4150 don't forget if you miss an episode you can
always find it wherever you get your podcast and if you subscribe to the youtube channel
and join the hoodie fan club at underthehoodshow.com you could win a hoodie like Janet Lewis
congratulations from all of us here at the under the hood show and our friends over at
berkeley one classics they're celebrating 50 years of collector car coverage and of course
universal technical institute you can find them at uti.edu with new campuses opening all over
the place just in time for christmas right and we're going to have some people from berkeley
one classics visiting us here in the studio here in a week we are they're going to come in we
got a couple of the the big shots the higher up yeah so they'll they have not come in we
have had people on the show it's been two and three not one just a step down there you go
we've had we've talked before on the air but it's been it's been a number of years so they're
going to come in and it'll be just Shannon and I because chris will be out for his annual
children's miracle network radio thon where they've raised is it millions now
uh-huh do we still do we still have a link on our website oh yeah for that yeah you can get
involved it would be much less work for me if i were to just come here but it would be much
less rewarding no offense no offense to you guys but i i've got i've got my uh my schedule's
pretty full for the next week getting ready for that the commitment that is made by your team
to pull that together and the love that you show for these families and children is
something you should be very proud of and your group should be very proud of it's
it's cool it's really neat it's the it's the only good thing i do
all year and don't get me wrong you said that before i i always laugh when you say that
because i i generally don't do bad stuff i just don't do that much at all your wife says
you put the seat down so that's the second thing that is i do that too all the all the time all the
time and i and we even have separate bathrooms and i still i'm very just in case just always just
always been my thing do you give a do you give a wipe on the rim when you're done depends
starting out so nice it started out with the sponsors and then it went to niceness and now
the producer is putting his head down and just shaking and he goes shan and they had to take it
further eight six six five nine four four one five oh let's go to west virginia and talk to tim you're
on the end of the hood show tim what can we do for you i feel like i'm in slow motion i usually
listen to you at one and a half or two times i think that i think that russ could probably
talk in that voice if we asked him to the one and a half speed two speeds one available at
this price micromachine i called back a few few months ago about a 2000 jeep commander and
whether it was worth the cost of the rabbit hole going down fixing it after a radiator had blown
i found that it's not worth the cost but i learned something on it the reason that that overheated
in blue is because my power steering fluid was low i wasn't aware that that there were power
steering driven cooling fans on these things and going through the replacement it looked like
the game of throne throne with the rust the way it crystallized around those quick connect fittings
on the cooler i took the horseshoe clip out trying to get the line out heat and juice and
heat and juice but it ended up breaking right at the end of the cooler my question is is that
is that fluid at the power steering cooler is that high pressure or can i just
oh we just lost him and with just some
hold on tim no we'll try and i think we got his question i think all right can you
he's asking are the lines at the cooler high pressure no typically your cooler is
going to be low pressure because it's just a a beer can it's tin can super thin you know
your pressure come leaves the pump and goes through the operating components your steering
gear your fans which is even lower breaks if you got a system that's got a power brake booster too
that's hydraulic it'll go through the steering gear through the brake booster and then through
the fans last because they're going to be lower pressure and with the hydraulic motor it's
like a bobcat hydraulic motor that runs that and then through the cooler and back in
they're cooling it last because you're still generating heat so they cool it as it goes back in
and yeah you're right there's a lot of stuff going on there i had some of those fittings
i used a whole can of crc penetrating lubricant that the free spray they have to try to get a
fitting loose and and it's like well that's not they're probably saying CRCs if they're
listening they're like isn't that overkill i'm like well i used it every day for like
two weeks every time i walk by just for fitting it down for four minutes right exactly how i kill
wasp chris like that video that is like it's so satisfying to empty the brake clean no
but i i put i just every time i'd walk by i'd say okay it's dried up put a little more put a
little more and then finally i got to it and i gave a little tap and came right off crc to the
rescue well this fitting i was trying to take off i couldn't replace it they don't make them
and there's i'm not calling over here because we've done that before and i said
hey jam i call one of our guys out in our that does our yard stuff i need one of these it's like
they don't come off i'm like well i know but you got to get one off it's like well i couldn't get
it off but i bet you can yeah exactly in the yard right frozen it's going to come off easier
for me with no tool so but uh yeah i think you're cooler i don't know what your question is we're
thinking it's probably that no his question is i think is can he bypass it have you could
is that what your question was with can can he loop that cooler and just run it back into
itself yes so the the um the line the line set into that cooler is not available i'm pretty good
with computers and cannot find it anywhere it's discontinued i don't think it is yeah so trying
to take we make him that fitting out of the cooler i messed up the cooler um so my question was
could i just get a universal power steering cooler yep and just with hose clamps and whatever
transmission fluid cooler whatever that's what we do we cut it off we put a cooler in there
and then we clamp them on with hose clamps and we'll we'll use power steering line it's different
you know power steering and transmission line is different than
fuel line don't use that so make sure you use the right line they've got that available at the
parts stores and you'll be fine we usually double clamp it so it's on there nice and solid
and not over tightening because that will also make it leak but yeah that'll that'll work and
with power steering fluid for whatever reason we've talked about this before but i remember
when i had to add mine they there are a lot of warnings about power steering fluid don't drink it
don't touch it don't look at it it'll burst into flame don't overfill don't spill don't shake it
the key takeaway here though don't stay around people to check you know is your is your car
ready for the highway or the junkyard you too uh you you've got to make sure you know
if your fluids are full and you should be at the very you don't have to be a mechanic
but you should know what your car uses do i have power steering fluid to run my fans
is it important to check that where do i fill the radiator is there a cap on the radiator
or is it on a separate bottle can i take it off when the vehicle is warm because it's
an overflow reservoir with no pressure or does it have pressure those are some small things it
can be that any mechanic can teach you about your own car very quickly in 10 minutes they can go over
that with you and show you those things they'll be you know happy to it'll keep you going there's
a lot of people there's people listening to the show right now saying there's what the power
steering pump runs the fans they started that i think with subaru is the oldest i can remember
subaru did it a long time ago um like back in the 70s and then the some other manufacturers it's not
very common not many people do it or have done it but it is enough that it is a problem if they do
it for space the space savings instead of an electric fan because that hydraulic fan will
rip a lot more air than an electric one will tim thanks very much for the call good luck
eight six six five nine four four one eight six six five nine four four one five oh that's the
number to reach us here at the end of the hood show let's talk to mcgill in connecticut you're on
the end of the hood show mcgill what can we do for you yeah how you doing so i just had a quick
question about my 87 Volvo so i used to own the 93 Volvo but as getting familiar with the motor
and car um i bought another 87 so even though it's classified as 240 the engine that she had 244 and
um the only problems i really have with it other than just maintenance upkeep is like when it turns
over it'll stall during the um i guess during the initial of turning the car around it'll stay
on for a few minutes and then it'll stall out if i put it in drive it'll stall out and so far
i've puzzled so what it could be besides the common of the fuel air and spark um i replaced the entire
fuel system from the front and back and um so far the air full sensor and stuff like that and it still
happened now that it got colder it actually lasted longer so still puzzled on what it can
actually be without a obm reader in it it's one of the cars that didn't have it
so i don't have any engine code so when you're dropping it into gear it dies if you give it
a little gas will it not die yeah if you rev it up a little bit i have to do it softly i have to do
it really softly and then um it won't die but if i just let's say if i just pull throttle the um idle
it'll cut out now that it's gotten colder that was happening when it was warmer when it got colder
now the engine's actually just staying on so i want to say that point to a air problem but
i don't want to you know i'm not a mechanic i'm gonna do it yourself first so
i try to replace everything on that Volvo it could be a million things but
what i have experienced on one before is a bad coil i had a bad coil and when you put it in
gear it would die like that um it was it was enough load actually only die in reverse not in drive but
it was harder to engage in reverse than drive and what we did is i got to a point where i
parked on the hill at our old shop it was so long ago like this is before 2000 i parked on the
hill so i could start it up in park and then put it in neutral and start rolling backwards down the hill
so i was going a couple miles an hour and then i put it into gear and it stumbled a little bit
but it kept rolling and once it was in gear and rolling i could hit the brake and stop and it was
fine then i put into drive and i went forward put it in reverse again it died if i wasn't
rolling when i put it into gear it would die and it was that little bit of load but what i
also noticed about it was at about 45 miles an hour in drive going up a hill before it would kick
down it would sometimes hesitate a little bit it was that misfires when i found that coil problem
but the coil fixed that one i also had a Ford f-150 that did the same thing with an old 300
straight six in it it had a weak coil that was causing that to die and i just couldn't
i tried to duplicate it and find it on a on a spark scanner watching the spark and because
the spark was perfect until the engine shut off there was no way to catch the glitch it never did
glitch it just was either on and perfect or off and no spark so you know that if you got some
it's going to be hard you it's not not like you got another one was laying around you can try but
at that age you know it wouldn't go find another 87 Volvo and see if it acts the same way standard
still makes coils for these things you might just try because of age and tune up issues you
might try a coil on it you know a coil in the wire set to see that's the funny part i i replace the
entire coil spark plug spark wires um system will pump fuel lines uh the fuel pump the water one
third that the outline so it's hard because like i said now that it's colder out it stays a little
bit on the high idle and then it looks like it's about to shut off but then it to me that
looks like it goes into a normal idle when it's low how many miles are on this one
how many miles are on it so really low mileage 1987 that could be a candidate for the fact that this
thing's got a bunch of carbon built up on the backside of the valves and when it gets colder
out it starts absorb absorbing some of that fuel atomization instead of let it freely atomize in
the cylinder and it just can't run as efficiently um have you had a bore scope in there and you
need to look to see not something that you could do what it looks like inside the cylinders
up near the valves because if you do have a lot of build up it's going to be hard for that thing to run
smooth at idle yeah and that would be something that you could not you know you can't you can't
buy that at the parts store that's that's the hard one it's like plaque in your heart
you know um so that's something to consider is that just with the low mileage
and the age of the vehicle that it's had a whole life of probably not a lot of hot drive
cycles for it to stay at that low mileage for that age so it's something to consider before
you start buying a bunch of parts is just to think about that yeah i know unfortunately i i didn't
do it the smart way i just like ah three of them let me just start replacing and buying replacing and
buying seven hundred dollars later five hundred dollars later whatever it is at least you're
doing it yourself so you're not having to spend the labor right that's a good thing but uh
Tony plus i love that motor like i love everything about the vole just to reflect that everything's
like fit for your hand everything's handmade so it's not like the Honda motors where everything's
real tight i gotta drop this and drop this i can pretty much really get in there with ease and
just replace where i have to replace artist manlers hated volvals the excuse me sobs
that's what i was getting at i my mind got lost there they can equally be a pain with the the
sobs that had the five three gm engine is them we were like oh five three i'll do it oh i was thinking
of the older sobs that had the differential and the oil pan all like a nine hundred nine hundred
they were just a nightmare miguel thanks very much for the call good luck what was the last
time we saw not when was the last time this recycling facility had a sob 900 in it because
we we don't even have one here i don't think i i think we have like we've had one roll through
the self-service in the last couple of years eight six six maybe five nine four four one five oh that's
going to do it for this hour of the under the hood show until next time you can always find us at
under the hood show dot com don't forget you can find us wherever you get your podcast and you can
watch the show on our youtube channel on our social media channels thanks for listening to the
under the hood show with ross evans this is shannon orts from thanking you for tuning into
the norters under the hood show have a great day and remember ptla the opinions heard on this program
based on the many years of experience of ross and shannon are offered for entertainment value only and
as a guide to your repair needs no claim to repair or cause is given or implied always consult with
your own certified technician and follow all safety procedures before attempting any repair
to be a part of the show call eight six six five nine four forty one fifty find out more by visiting
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