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Car Advice Like How To Fix A Gas Tank That Won't Fill and More Live Calls Under The Hood

Car Advice Like How To Fix A Gas Tank That Won't Fill and More Live Calls Under The Hood

Under The Hood show Feb 25, 2026 49 min
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About this episode

The show dives into automotive troubleshooting and recalls, focusing on a major airbag recall affecting over 200,000 vehicles and the challenges of dealing with Takata airbags. The hosts discuss the legal and safety implications of recalls and parts availability, especially for older vehicles. They also take live calls, including a detailed technical explanation on fixing ABS sensor wiring issues on a Nissan Titan, offering practical DIY advice. The episode blends industry insights with hands-on repair tips, highlighting real-world problems and solutions for car owners.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

vehicle recall

"Stalantis issued a major attention getter for 225,000 vehicles to a do not drive. And their intent was, I think there's a legal side to this too, for sure. But we've been trying to recall these vehicles for 10 years and you haven't responded. And we've tried a lot of measures and your vehicle is still dangerous and you should not drive it."

A vehicle recall is when a car company asks owners to bring their cars back to fix a problem that could be dangerous. It's like a safety check to keep everyone safe.

Concept

airbags

"...they'll get more attention to have people for the airbags. It's got airbags. But having said that, that does make me a little nervous."

Airbags are like big pillows inside cars that pop out when there's a crash to keep people safe. They help stop you from hitting the inside of the car.

Car

Ford Ranger

""...we know of 12, 14 Rangers or 12 to 14 Rangers that had this airbag in it. That could be a big problem...""

The Ford Ranger is a type of pickup truck that people use for work and daily driving. Sometimes, parts like airbags in these trucks can have problems and need to be fixed.

Company

Takata

"And someone said, why do they keep using Takata airbags? Are they the only manufacturer of airbags or what? Ha ha ha. Pretty much."

Takata made airbags that are safety devices in cars. However, some of their airbags were dangerous and had to be recalled to keep people safe.

Term

airbag recall

"And how many times did they issue a new one? How many times? And then recall that how many airbags have you had in your element?"

Sometimes car companies ask people to bring their cars in to fix airbags that might be unsafe. This is called a recall and helps keep drivers safe.

Car

Nissan Titan

"... hood show. What can we do for you? I have an 08 Nissan Titan, you know, with the 5.6 and all that. It's a very..."

The Nissan Titan Crew Cab is a big truck with four doors and a strong engine that can pull heavy things. The 2008 version is popular because it’s good for work and also comfortable for people riding inside. It’s a good choice if you need a tough truck that’s also nice to drive.

Term

ABS

"motor. I love that, but I'm having an issue with not getting my ABS and my slip light off. I'm not being able to turn it off."

ABS helps stop your car safely by making sure the wheels don’t get stuck when you brake hard, so you can still steer.

Term

wheel speed sensor

"Now, I've replaced three of the four sensors just because I've bought, you know, and I've replaced one twice,"

Wheel speed sensors tell the car how fast each wheel is spinning so the ABS can work properly and keep you safe.

Term

four-wheel drive

"Let's try this again. It does not go in the four-wheel drive. It's okay, Sam. We're starting, we're still on the ABS thing here. Oh, its four-wheel drive won't work because the ABS, yeah, because the system's not working yet."

Four-wheel drive means all four wheels of a car get power from the engine, which helps the car drive better on rough or slippery roads.

Term

body harness

"What is that harness called between there? Can I just buy one online? Nope. You could buy a whole body harness, but they don't sell it anymore."

A body harness is like a big bundle of wires that connects all the electrical parts in a car's body, like the lights and sensors, so they work properly.

Company

Dorman Products

"...front ABS harnesses are made from our partner over at Dorman products. And it's, it's like, oh, there it is..."

Dorman Products makes car parts you can buy to fix your vehicle, like wires for brakes. They help you replace broken parts without buying new cars.

Term

rust

"...They don't break. They rust. You get a little rust on the body or something and it rubs a hole in it. So a visual inspection, you might look at the whole thing and say, Hey, here it is. I see some rust..."

Rust happens when metal gets wet and starts to break down, making parts weak or broken. It can cause wires in your car to stop working.

Car

Dodge Ram

"2019 Dodge Ram 1500. And up until about a month ago, I could go to the gas station,"

The 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 is a big truck used for carrying heavy stuff and driving on tough roads. It has different engines and cool features to make driving easier.

Part

purge valve

"I think the purge valve and some other stuff, hoses all look good."

The purge valve helps get rid of fuel smells by sending fuel vapors from a special filter to the engine to burn them off.

Term

service bulletin

"Now they did say there is a service bulletin on it, but not a recall. And I think the"

A service bulletin is a note from the car maker telling mechanics about a problem and how to fix it, but it's not a big enough problem to make them call back all the cars.

Part

fuel tank

""service bulletin, they're requesting a new fuel tank put in it. But do you know anything""

The fuel tank is the part of your car that holds the gas or diesel you put in. It keeps the fuel safe until the engine uses it.

Term

body work

""They just do some body work on the cab. I had hit a, unfortunately, a light pole at a parking lot.""

Body work means fixing the outside parts of a car if they get damaged, like dents or scratches.

Part

rocker

""So they're replacing that bottom rocker or cab corner rocker, but there really wasn't any damage done on the box.""

The rocker is a metal part under the car doors that helps hold the car's shape and keep it strong.

Company

car-part.com

"recyclers to choose from, giving you the largest selection available. Whether it's an engine, transmission, doors, seats, or wheels, you can find them on car-part.com. We even let you know what parts from other models and years fit your car. Many recyclers supply pictures of their parts too. We even have a mobile app."

car-part.com is a website where you can find used car parts like engines and wheels. It helps you find parts that fit your car and shows pictures so you know what you're buying.

Company

Road Ready Wheels

"That's car-part.com, car-part.com. Check it out today. We want to tell you about our partner at Road Ready Wheels. Road Ready Wheels has the very best aftermarket OEM replica wheels available with a direct fit of the factory center caps and TPMS sensors so you don't need special caps and sensors."

Road Ready Wheels makes replacement wheels that look like the original ones and work with your car's existing parts, so you don't have to buy extra pieces.

Part

TPMS sensors

"Road Ready Wheels has the very best aftermarket OEM replica wheels available with a direct fit of the factory center caps and TPMS sensors so you don't need special caps and sensors."

TPMS sensors are little gadgets in your car's wheels that tell you if your tires don't have enough air, so you can fix them before they cause problems.

Part

aluminum alloy wheels

"...Road Ready Wheels has both aluminum alloy and new steel wheels to fit many cars on the road today..."

Aluminum alloy wheels are wheels made from a mix of aluminum and other metals. They are lighter and often look nicer than regular steel wheels.

Part

steel wheels

"...Road Ready Wheels has both aluminum alloy and new steel wheels to fit many cars on the road today..."

Steel wheels are wheels made from steel metal. They are heavier but strong and usually cost less than other types of wheels.

Term

aftermarket wheels

"...Aftermarket wheels can be very expensive and it's so hard to choose what you want. With Road Ready Wheels, you get an OEM looking wheel that fits like it should but costs much less..."

Aftermarket wheels are wheels you can buy that are not made by the car company but still fit your car. They can look different and sometimes cost less or more than the original wheels.

Term

OEM

"...With Road Ready Wheels, you get an OEM looking wheel that fits like it should but costs much less..."

OEM means the parts or wheels that come from the same company that made your car. They fit perfectly because they are made just for your car.

Term

agreed value policy

"Berkeley One Classics ensured me with an agreed value policy. That means if you suffer a loss, there's no haggle over the value of your vehicle."

This is a type of insurance where you and the insurance company agree on how much your car is worth beforehand, so if something happens, you get that amount without arguments.

Concept

homeowners insurance and vehicle coverage

"I did not know that my homeowners policy did not cover my car when it was stored in my garage for the winter."

Your house insurance usually doesn't pay for your car if it's just sitting in your garage, so you need special car insurance for that.

Car

Chevrolet Avalanche

"...ack. I still think of Terry Johnson too with his avalanche. We never... That thing was a..."

The Chevrolet Avalanche is a big truck that can carry a lot of stuff and also has space for people to sit comfortably. It has a special feature that lets you open up the back part to make more room when you need it. People like it because it’s good for work and family trips.

Car

Ford Fusion

"... a 40 foot run. How fast can you get like a Ford fusion going in 40 feet? Can you get going 50 miles an ..."

The Ford Fusion is a popular family car that’s easy to drive and comfortable. People sometimes talk about how fast it can go from a stop, like how quickly it can get moving in a short distance. This helps show how powerful or quick the car feels when you start driving.

Car

Plymouth Fury

"...ad center between the M and the O on his Plymouth Fury. He hit that, you could not, because my other br..."

The Plymouth Fury is an old, big car from many years ago that people liked because it looked cool and had a strong engine. Sometimes people talk about small details on the car, like the letters or badges on it, which help identify the model.

Car

Ford F-250

"So I have a 2011 F-250 with the diesel that I've been working on."

The Ford F-250 is a big truck used for heavy jobs like towing trailers. The 2011 version can have a diesel engine, which uses a different kind of fuel and is good for power and saving gas.

Term

diesel

"So I have a 2011 F-250 with the diesel that I've been working on."

Diesel is a kind of fuel used in some engines that makes trucks and big vehicles run strong and use less gas. It's different from regular gasoline.

Term

oil leak

"and he realized that a bunch of oil under the vehicle. So then he found an oil leak."

An oil leak means oil is dripping from the engine where it shouldn't. This can cause the engine to run low on oil and get damaged.

Term

battery

"I come out and I check his batteries."

The battery is like the car's power source that helps start the engine and run lights and other things. If it's weak, the car might not start.

Term

vacuum operated system

"Is that a vacuum operated system or is that a motor operated system?"

A vacuum operated system uses air pressure from the engine to move parts inside the heater or air conditioner. It helps control where the air goes inside the car.

Term

motor operated system

"Is that a vacuum operated system or is that a motor operated system?"

A motor operated system uses small electric motors to move parts inside the heater or air conditioner. This helps control where the air comes out inside the car.

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