A deep dive into the importance of cooling system maintenance, highlighting a real-life rescue story of a neglected 1997 Jeep TJ Wrangler. The host, Nile Motormouth Jenkins, shares insights on how cooling system failures can lead to catastrophic engine damage, using the Jeep's journey from a wrecking yard to restoration as a cautionary tale. Listeners will learn about the signs of cooling system neglect, the critical maintenance steps to take, and how proper care can extend a vehicle's life significantly. The episode wraps up a four-part series with practical advice and a motivational call to action for car owners.
Episode 49 - Series One Finale Cooling System Maintenance or Catastrophic Damage (Final Wrap - Up)
In this final wrap - up episode of our Cooling System series, we bring everything together - the facts, the failures, the prevention, and the real - world consequences of neglect.
This episode is about mindset.
We revisit why the cooling system must. be priority number one when it comes to preventative maintenance - and why ignoring it quietly destroys engines long before the warning light comes on.
In this episode, we cover:
1) Why cooling system maintenance belongs at the top of every service plan
2) How neglect leads vehicles straight to the wrecking yard
3) A real rescue story from the shop - a 1997 Jeep Wrangler saved after cooling system neglect nearly ended it's life
4) How preventative maintenance saves money, stress, and vehicles
5) The difference between reacting to failures and preventing them
Engines don't usually fail suddenly - they fail slowly, silently, and expensively.
If this series helped you rethink how you care for your vehicle, then it's doing exactly what it was meant to do.
Coming Next:
The 30 - Day Fuel Saving Tips Challenge
Starting in 2026, we're launching a practical, no - nonsense 30-day challenge designed to put money back in your wallet-simple habits, smart maintenance, and real world driving tips that actually reduce fuel costs. If times are tight, this ones for you.
"Preventative maintenance isn't about spending money - it's about keeping the money you already earned. As we head into a new year, our goal is simple: help people keep their vehicles on the road, their engines alive, and more money in their pockets. Thanks for being part of this series - and we'll see you next with the 30 - Day Fuel Saving Tips Challenge."
More episodes and...project details & links are available at Car Connection Business Network.com (ccbusnet.com) You'll find everything on our homepage if you'd like to follow the build & connect with our program partners. Watch, Listen, Follow, & Grab some Merch, Thank You Friends, Happy Motoring, Happy New Year to y'all. Bye for now, NMJ
"...today we're going to wrap up in our series entitled Cooling System Maintenance or Catastrophic Damage and I'm going to share a story about a little red 1997 Jeep TJ Wrangler..."
Cooling system maintenance means taking care of the parts that keep the engine cool so it doesn't overheat. This includes checking things like the radiator and coolant levels.
Cooling system maintenance involves regularly checking and servicing the components that keep an engine from overheating, such as the radiator, coolant, and hoses. Proper maintenance can prevent catastrophic engine damage.
"...I'm going to share a story about a little red 1997 Jeep TJ Wrangler first year for the TJ Wrangler I'm now I don't call myself a Jeep expert..."
The Jeep TJ Wrangler is a type of vehicle designed for off-road driving. It was made in 1997 and is known for being tough and able to handle rough terrains.
The Jeep TJ Wrangler is a model of the Jeep Wrangler produced from 1997 to 2006. It is known for its off-road capabilities and rugged design, making it popular among off-road enthusiasts.
"...city auto sales and leasing helps to make this program possible and all that we have going on..."
City Auto Sales and Leasing is a business that helps people buy cars that have been driven less and are in good condition, making sure they are sold at reasonable prices.
City Auto Sales and Leasing is a company that specializes in sourcing and selling low mileage vehicles, often focusing on providing quality cars at fair prices.
"...doing what they do which is sourcing low mileage quality vehicles and offering them to you at a fair price..."
Low mileage means that a car hasn't been driven very much, which usually means it's in better condition and can last longer.
Low mileage refers to vehicles that have been driven fewer miles than average, often indicating less wear and tear, making them more desirable for buyers.
"i needed to harvest some computer parts and stuff for a 2010 dodge caravan... i'm looking for an ECM and some other modules..."
The Dodge Caravan is a type of family vehicle called a minivan. The 2010 version is known for being roomy and good for transporting kids and their gear.
The Dodge Caravan is a minivan that has been popular for its spacious interior and family-friendly features. The 2010 model is part of a long lineage known for its practicality.
"i said i'm looking for an ECM and some other modules and uh some wiring harness..."
The ECM is like the brain of the car's engine. It helps control how the engine runs by making adjustments based on information from sensors.
The ECM, or Engine Control Module, is a crucial component in modern vehicles that manages engine performance and efficiency. It processes data from various sensors to optimize fuel injection and ignition timing.
"well something catastrophic probably happened and in most cases it'll be an overheat situation..."
A catastrophic failure is when a car breaks down suddenly and badly, often because something important, like the engine, overheats and stops working.
A catastrophic failure refers to a sudden and complete breakdown of a vehicle's major systems, often resulting in significant damage. Common causes include overheating, which can lead to engine or transmission failure.
"...the cooling system slowly degregates... till the engine overheats and then you've done damage if it survives that..."
Cooling system failure happens when the parts that keep the engine cool stop working properly. If this occurs, the engine can get too hot and may break down.
Cooling system failure refers to the breakdown of the components responsible for regulating the engine's temperature. This can lead to overheating, which can cause severe damage to the engine and other related systems.
"...if you have an automatic transmission you've also caused wear and tear excessive heat damage inside the automatic transmission as well because it's..."
An automatic transmission is a system in a car that changes gears by itself, so you don't have to do it manually. This makes driving easier, especially in traffic.
An automatic transmission is a type of vehicle transmission that automatically changes the gear ratios as the vehicle moves, allowing the driver to focus on steering and acceleration without manually shifting gears.
"we can scan it with our engine analyzer and take a look at what the computer sees a signal generated by the the coolant temperature sensor the cts"
The coolant temperature sensor checks how hot the engine coolant is and tells the car's computer. This helps keep the engine running smoothly.
The coolant temperature sensor (CTS) measures the temperature of the engine coolant and sends this information to the engine control unit (ECU). This helps the ECU manage engine performance and efficiency.
"...erated by the the coolant temperature sensor the cts that's not telling you the gauge temperature that..."
The Cadillac CTS is a fancy car that offers a comfortable ride and a lot of cool features. It's known for looking good and driving well, which makes it popular among people who want a luxury vehicle.
The Cadillac CTS is a luxury sedan that was produced from 2003 to 2019, known for its stylish design, performance, and advanced technology features. It has been a significant model for Cadillac, helping to redefine the brand's image in the luxury car market. The CTS is often discussed for its blend of comfort and sportiness, making it a competitive choice in its class.
"...that's the brainiac that's usually under the hood now it used to be in the car but no you know we live in a cold climate..."
The engine control unit, or ECU, is like the brain of the car's engine. It helps control how the engine works by making adjustments based on information from sensors. This keeps the engine running smoothly and efficiently.
The engine control unit (ECU) is the computer that manages engine functions, including fuel injection, ignition timing, and emissions control. It processes data from various sensors, like the coolant temperature sensor, to optimize engine performance and efficiency.
"...to give away a muscle car every year but we got to get to that and the proceeds the basic cost of..."
Muscle cars are fast cars that usually have big engines. They were very popular in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s and are known for their power and speed.
Muscle cars are high-performance vehicles typically featuring powerful V8 engines and designed for straight-line speed. They became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, often associated with American automotive culture.
"...i'm not here to talk to the armchair warriors i'm not here to be abused..."
Armchair warriors are people who talk about things but don't actually do them. In cars, it means people who criticize or discuss cars without working on them themselves.
'Armchair warriors' is a term used to describe individuals who criticize or comment on a subject without having direct experience or involvement. In automotive discussions, it often refers to those who talk about cars without actively engaging in car maintenance or restoration.
"...why sop standard operating procedures it has 169,000 kilometers original..."
These are the set rules or steps that businesses follow to make sure everything is done correctly and safely. In car maintenance, they help mechanics do their jobs right every time.
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are established guidelines or protocols that organizations follow to ensure consistency and quality in their operations. In automotive service, SOPs help technicians perform maintenance and repairs effectively.
"including the thermostat and radiator and flushing etc and the last but not least excessive"
The thermostat helps keep the engine from getting too hot or too cold by controlling the flow of coolant. It's important for keeping your car running smoothly.
A thermostat is a crucial component in a vehicle's cooling system that regulates the engine's temperature. It opens and closes to control the flow of coolant, ensuring the engine operates within an optimal temperature range.
"including the thermostat and radiator and flushing etc and the last but not least excessive"
The radiator helps cool down the engine by allowing hot coolant to release its heat. This keeps the engine from overheating and helps it run efficiently.
The radiator is a key component of the vehicle's cooling system that dissipates heat from the engine coolant. It allows the coolant to cool down before it circulates back to the engine, preventing overheating.
"that is heat and catastrophic damage to the drivetrain that's engine and transmission"
The drivetrain is the system that helps your car move by transferring power from the engine to the wheels. It includes parts like the transmission and driveshafts.
The drivetrain refers to the group of components that deliver power from the engine to the wheels. This includes the transmission, driveshafts, and differentials, playing a critical role in how a vehicle moves.
"and corrosion you keep the body protected from corrosion and and look after the structural"
Corrosion is when metal parts of the car start to break down because of rust or other chemical reactions. It can weaken the car's structure over time.
Corrosion is the gradual destruction of materials, often metals, due to chemical reactions with their environment. In vehicles, it commonly affects the body and undercarriage, leading to structural weaknesses.
"...i'll tell you after that 1984 toyota pickup truck that was said that was when i said to myself i'll never do this again..."
The 1984 Toyota Pickup Truck is a small truck that many people like because it lasts a long time and can handle tough jobs. It's a good option if you need a vehicle for work or everyday use.
The 1984 Toyota Pickup Truck is a compact pickup known for its reliability and durability. It's often favored for both work and personal use, making it a popular choice among truck enthusiasts.
"...so i tore the cylinder head off in a couple of hours and lo and behold i discovered why..."
The cylinder head is the part of the engine that sits on top and helps with the burning of fuel. It contains important pieces like valves and spark plugs that make the engine work.
The cylinder head is a crucial part of an engine that sits on top of the engine block. It houses the combustion chambers, valves, and spark plugs, playing a vital role in the engine's operation.
"...the head gasket was blown through cylinders number one and number two so this thing was gulping down anti-freeze in the engine till it couldn't anymore..."
The head gasket is a part that keeps different fluids in your engine from mixing. If it breaks, it can cause serious problems, like coolant getting into the engine, which can damage it.
The head gasket is a critical component that seals the engine block and cylinder head, preventing coolant and engine oil from mixing. A blown head gasket can lead to severe engine damage, such as coolant leaking into the cylinders, which can cause liquid lock.
"...it's called liquid lock the head gasket left the premises so bad and leaked so bad that it filled two cylinders up with anti-freeze..."
Liquid lock happens when liquid gets into the engine's cylinders, stopping the engine from working properly. This can break the engine because it can't compress liquid like it does air.
Liquid lock, or hydraulic lock, occurs when a liquid fills a cylinder in an engine, preventing the piston from moving. This can cause severe engine damage, as the engine is not designed to compress liquids.
"...pistons so pistons number one and two had a hole in the top of it that you could put a golf ball in..."
Pistons are parts inside the engine that move up and down. They help turn the fuel into power to make the car go.
Pistons are cylindrical components that move up and down within the engine's cylinders. They play a vital role in converting fuel into mechanical energy by compressing the air-fuel mixture and transferring the force from combustion to the crankshaft.
"...it needed brakes it needed tires it needed emergency brake cables it needed wheels cylinders calipers rotors pads u joints everything that is just i..."
Brakes are what help a car slow down or stop. They work by pressing against the wheels to create friction.
Brakes are a critical safety component of a vehicle that allows it to slow down or stop. They work by applying friction to the wheels, which slows the vehicle's motion.
"... it needs to be and it doesn't need to be a 2007 fj cruiser heading for 400k 1999 honda civic dx two-door hat..."
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a tough SUV that looks a bit like older models from the 1960s but is built for modern driving. It's great for off-road adventures and is known for being very reliable, which is why people like to talk about it.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled SUV that was produced from 2006 to 2014, known for its off-road capabilities and distinctive design reminiscent of the classic Toyota FJ40. It has a strong reputation for durability and reliability, making it a popular choice among adventure enthusiasts. The FJ Cruiser often comes up in discussions about rugged vehicles that can handle tough terrains.
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Good morning Niagara, you're tuned to car connection where the coffee's hot, the tools
are ready and the talk is always tuned up and I'm your host dial motormouth Jenkins
coming to you straight from the car connection workshop where we mix a little humor, a little
know-how and a whole lot of horsepower.
Here it's not just about fixing cars, it's about keeping you rolling, saving you money
and giving you the confidence to understand what's under that hood from the classics
to the commuters, the weird noises to the what the heck moments we've got you covered.
So grab your coffee, you're going through the drive-thru, recheck your order and they
get to your coffee, locked into your cup holder and join the crew this morning because this
is car connection, your Monday through Saturday morning pit stop for stories, smarts and a
few good laughs and I'm Nile Motormouth Jenkins and we're shifting into drive this morning
so thank you for inviting us into your ride and welcome aboard if this is your first time
joining the Motormouth Morning Drive in the car connection workshop, we're really glad
to have you, this is a brand new year, wow I hope you rang it in really really well
and let's all stay focused on changing those things from the old year and fix things moving
forward and make the brand new year the best year ever and I know I've heard that saying
a million times, you know what is they talk about at Total Freedom as one of our program
partners is a campus, two campuses, one in Sydney, Manitoba and one in the US which is
open to Canadian residents, what is their success rate at helping those who have addictions
to get a new life, what is their success rate, 100% and I say that because that's exactly
what my professor taught me was 100% of those who choose to change then guess what happens,
they get the change and there's the success rate, 100% of those who choose to change will get to the
desired outcome and I see that at car shows and we'll talk about that later as you know we always
see the finished product, you never see the love, the heart, the battle, the victories,
the disappointments, the discouragement, the setbacks, you never see any of that at car shows
you see the end desired product and as human beings that's what we want, we want the desired
product but are we willing to fight for it, we got a brand new year and today we're going to wrap
up in our series entitled Cooling System Maintenance or Catastrophic Damage and I'm going to share
a story about a little red 1997 Jeep TJ Wrangler first year for the TJ Wrangler I'm now I don't
call myself a Jeep expert this was this has been a great project a fantastic learning curve to learn
some of the basics and fundamentals of Jeep ownership Jeep maintenance Jeep problems and solving
Jeep problems and making things better improving upgrading and getting back out on the road so
we're going to share that story with you because it has a really amazing backstory and from where
we started would have been a year ago this past June June 2025 to where we are today we're we're
moving along very very well now into areas that don't take me a lot of time to get stuff done
and then we got a little bit of floorwork to do inside but I've already got a game plan for that
things prep but anyways I don't want to go dive too deep because today is the wrap up day of that
series part number four and I'm going to pull it all together and cap it off the story to just show
you what happens when neglect takes over and you lose that encouragement to take care of your old
car because that will make you money it's not the opposite well that's costing you money everything
on the planet that's mechanically made by humankind costs money to run it period ATVs motorcycle vehicles
all types tractors lawn garden equipment snowmobiles boats yeah the best day of owning a boat is the
day you sell it it is so true they're money eaters they're money pits so everything you're home
needs root plumbing sucks electrical problem this that and the other thing everything needs the
decision to be made yeah I'm still going through puberty I think uh no that's the cold thing we're
on the tail end I'm hoping it's a new year let's go cooties out yeah let's move on uh you have to
make a decision here in the car connection workshop to listen and do because the do does and the did
is done that's the saying that I adapted from my one of my good friends and um I've got it right on
my talk table right in front of me the do does and the did is done things don't happen just because
you got to making it happener that's what I say you got to making it
happener you got to keep the nut screwed on the right bolt get a brand new year it's a do is it
a do over I think so yeah I think so you know put the put things behind you there is a reason why
the windshield is bigger than a rear view mirror do you know why because it's better to know where
you're going than pay more attention to where you've been we got a do over and you got a do over
heading into a brand new year to take what I've just shared with you over the last three
parts part one part two part three into part four I pondered a little bit as to how
I was going to close this thing up and I got that so before we go any further I just want to say
thank you to our program partners for making this program and 31 years of radio
broadcasting with our car connection live call-in automotive program on a number of radio stations
and here we are podcasting reaching a lot more ears all over the planet than being trapped in a
circle you know circle of listenership skies the limit someone once said to me
motormouth need to get off of there and really start reaching some people they need you out there
and we need lots of people that are willing to teach and we need lots of students that are ready
and then the teacher appeared the car connections brought to you by crystal ridge dream center
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city auto sales and leasing helps to make this program possible and all that we have going on
all platforms we'll talk about that in just a moment without Earl and Louise Grant doing what
they do which is sourcing low mileage quality vehicles and offering them to you at a fair price
that's what's earned them Earl and Louise Grant the title greater Toronto areas premier
pre-owned auto store they carry a large inventory of vehicles but if they don't have what you're
looking for you need to talk to them because they have 25 years of resources that they have
compiled where they can do all the legwork for you and save you a thousand steps or more to find
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sales and service you can trust to all years make some models including and up to light commercial
vehicles rainbow motors and garage sales and service you can trust in Scarborough Ontario
Canada thank you to our certified financial planning professionals for making car connection
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there's so much available to you under one roof Tony and Tony Miele and Larry Teetro are my financial
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deep nasty and things that you may not have a clue what to do Tony Miele and Larry Teetro
are your connection they're two of the most awarded certified financial planning professionals
in all of Canada and you'll never hear them say that because they're the two most humblest guys
you can even ask for they're just like you and me but they know how to navigate what we don't
know how to navigate so they don't need any more clients they're these fellows are busy
but they made a promise to car connection and our listeners in 2007 they wanted to come alongside
the show and they also wanted to be able to help those who really reach out and are ready
as I always keep saying when the student is ready the teacher will appear there's your teacher
not the guy at work not family not the person across the street because if they're not standing
where you want to be then you should not be taking advice from them and I'm passing that on for my
professor do not put yourself in that position do not be disrespectful but at the same time
smile not move on and book that hour in a coffee discovery meeting that is open door
to you no sales no pressure no nothing in fact you're going to do more talking and they're going
to do more listening to try and find out and figure out how they can best help you in your
circumstances but most of all get your questions answered by those who have the fruit on the tree
the rest is just hearsay rumor and popular opinion they're not going to sell you anything
there's not going to be any condemnation for doing stupid silly things because we've all
been there and Tony and Larry included so that hour in a coffee we call it discovery meeting
will help you to navigate you'll give them enough information to help you to navigate
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the wind so let's jump into our topic today but we have one more piece of of housekeeping is is
that is i can't pram you all in here in front of the microphone today but we can have a swiggy
together so if you're heading through the drive through double check your order before you get
on a line and come along with us and keep your eye on the road and watch out for the other guy
so on three two one we have a morning swiggy together whatever your favorite morning beverages
it's just like being together on three two one and that got any better that would be illegal
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that's just short for car connection business network.com we have the podcast archive there
as well they need to jump in and check to see how we're doing on that make sure we're up to date
we have almost 50 programs in uh just a little over five weeks six weeks
because we're here for you Monday through Saturday so a morning drive Monday through Saturday 8am
sometimes if i'm running a few minutes later something happens the program may drop like
8 10 8 0 5 8 15 but not very often if something goes wrong and the program's not up at 8 o'clock
don't worry babies it's already scheduled it's going to launch all right today is the wrap-up
session it's part four of cooling system maintenance and catastrophic damage here's the problem with
cooling system maintenance because there's no lights flashing there's no smoke coming out under the
hood and there's no fluids leaking on the ground doesn't mean that your cooling system is in
chop drawer condition just means it hasn't reared its ugly head yet that's the problem
it slowly creeps up on you things are going on it's going undetected by the time you get a
signal not a burning bush or something but by the time you get a signal it's already been working
behind the scenes getting ready for catastrophic damage and as i mentioned in part three
skipping my videographer and i went harvesting parts in a you pull it
wrecking yard this past summer i think it was one of the hottest freaking days we could have picked
we were just we went through six bottles of water out there in like an hour that's how hot it was
we were just melting i needed to harvest some computer parts and stuff for a 2010 dodge caravan
named van a white and you can watch those videos you can actually watch the video of us in the
wrecking yard i was just we were both taken aback when we said where they asked you you know what
are you looking for yeah i said i'm looking for an ECM and some other modules and uh some
wiring harness and stuff for 2010 dodge caravan oh okay we have some of those hands me this cash
register tape i called it wow that's quite a ticker tape you're giving us because
yeah they're all on here we counted 57 and we looked at them all and there were the caravans
in there were in mint condition i mean literally looking at it you're going why are you here
well something catastrophic probably happened and in most cases it'll be an overheat situation
and something major exploded in the engine or the transmission and that puts it out of the price tag
of the household budget saying we're not putting money into this older vehicle and that kills it
prematurely and that's exactly what happens and it generally tends to be most of the time
cooling system failure now puts you in a position where if you're not working on a
certified financial planner he's going to say you know what you're going to fix that darn thing
and you're going to keep going because that's a cheap ride but because we listen to outside
sources which i call the white noise you know the suits the uh talking heads we listen to
ah it's all it's not worth putting the money into it just go get something else
but if you don't learn what you don't know then you start the pattern all over again so when the
whatever warranties on the next vehicle you buy you're going to treat the cooling system exactly
the same way because if you want something to change there's got to be changes if you're not
making changes then you're not changing right it's an like another saying that my professor
taught me and it took me a long time to even figure it out because you'd always say it you
don't know it you don't know that's why you don't have because if you knew what you knew
you'd have it and to know it not do it means you never knew it in the first place that's
cooling system failure right there you don't know what you don't know the cooling system slowly
degregates there's a big word for an early morning program it starts dropping off so slowly you
don't even notice till the engine overheats and then you've done damage if it survives that
first overheat there's already damaged there we don't know how much the internal bearings
and the tolerances inside the engine but if you have an automatic transmission you've also caused
wear and tear excessive heat damage inside the automatic transmission as well because it's
relying on the cooling system to keep its its oil its transmission oil its life's blood
to at a specific temperature so things don't fall apart inside the transmission seals gaskets
clutches clutch packs clutch material it all starts to fall apart it degregates very quickly
when heat is not removed from it so as i said already there is not a flashing light there's
not a weepy light going to go on on the dash there's not a big flashing money light check engine
light that's going to tell you uh your cooling system start to fail we have to test it that's
what we have to do how do we know the engine's running at the right temperature we can scan it
with our engine analyzer and take a look at what the computer sees a signal generated by the the
coolant temperature sensor the cts that's not telling you the gauge temperature that's the
computer's little friend that says yo we got challenges here but it's not going to put the
money light on we have to look at it through the the engine analyzer and check the input output
signal on that cts coolant temperature sensor and go whoa this thing's running cool yeah the light
the service light's not coming on the money light's not coming on and then going to tell you that
unless that sensor completely fails then the vehicle will go into a rich mixture because the
computer doesn't know the state of the engine whether it's warming up whether the engine's cold
or whether we're overheating so the computer has to read that cts coolant temperature sensor
to set air fuel mixture through the injectors so it controls all things that's the brainiac
that's usually under the hood now it used to be in the car but no you know we live in a cold climate
with salt and debris and corrosion so we put the computers the brains outside under the hood
where road splash gets it that's a that's a a topic for another program right there yeah corrosion
and putting the ECM and feel like it's just like take your laptop or your cell phone
yeah your smartphone and then bungee corded under the hood where they're all the road
splash hits how long do you think it's gonna last until it can't okay i don't want to digress on this
because this is the final wrap-up and uh you have to know what you don't know and that's why our
youtube channel is not designed for you to watch us paint cars do you know make hot rides and
custom rides and car show products and monster truck no it's all about maintenance it's all
about learning the basic fundamentals of owning and operating and maintaining an automobile and
making it to the 600k club anyone who's telling you that's not possible give me the crappiest car
on the road with the longest list of pattern failures i'll study it and i'll get that sucker
to 600k not out of spite just out of running the same SOPs standard operating procedures
and maintaining your vehicle we're going to be talking about this a lot in the first quarter
of 2026 because if you grasp the fundamentals and you watch our videos you're going to learn the
fundamentals whether you know a little about automobiles or absolutely nothing you will pick up
the basic fundamentals that will get a vehicle to 600 thousand kilometers that's right but there's
to be effort sorry to tell you first your bubble there has to be effort you know to get to a victory
there has to be a battle it's that simple that's why i like the car show analogy you wander around
drooling with a chin plate looking at all these vehicles i love to hear the backstory
yeah the labor of love the amount of labor time to get from it was a backyard find literally
in the field and you could just see the windshield again dragging that home to getting it to the
car show and how long that takes i've done it a number of times i'm kind of sort of taking a
break at the moment but we have vehicles that we that i've had packed away i would like to be able
to give away a muscle car every year but we got to get to that and the proceeds the basic cost of
getting the vehicle put together removed so that we can purchase and make another one but the
profit goes to a charity in our area in the Niagara region so anyhow so if you learn what it is
where it is how it works and how it breaks you're already ahead of the person that sits
back and does nothing i that's not what i'm all about i'm not here to talk to the armchair
warriors i'm not here to be abused i'm not here talk to those who care less about taking care
of their car i'm here for you that says you know what if i could make this car last a whole lot
longer i can get out of debt i can change the finances in the household we can get ahead
for a change exactly why is it that a vehicle is the second largest purchase that we're ever
going to make next to getting property owning property it's huge but if we're not willing
to put in the effort and learn some basic fundamentals or even follow a maintenance
chart which i have available they're all laminated they're ready to go our car connection maintenance
schedule kit will walk you through everything that i've learned in maintaining fleet vehicles
for 40 plus years i created that checklist because we where i was working we did a lot
of fleet service we we wouldn't get the tender back if we missed stuff on their fleet and they
those vehicles were getting towed in that lost us the contract so how thorough did we have to be
yeah a game plus plus so i created a checklist that i used at my toolbox when i was working on
any company's fleet vehicle that was in the shop for the day or a week and making sure that i've
checked everything from the top of the page the bottom of the page so i didn't miss anything
period i didn't want to be the guy whose vehicle that was in my service bay for a whole week
to be totally gone over and repaired and maintained to the nines because these fleet
companies do not want a vehicle down situation it costs money if they're not moving products
if they're not moving products the loss of profitability gets transferred to the consumer
we pay that's right we pay for that so it was very important to me to not miss a single thing so
i created that into a maintenance schedule so that you can track vehicle maintenance on anything
and when you get to the bottom because it's a dry erase marker that you get with it and it's
laminated you go back to the top you erase it off go back to the top and go again that's called
standard operating procedure it will get you out of hot water it will put money back in your wallet
it will help you get back on your feet when you're not making humongous payments for the next seven
years and paying ginormous well what you guys think is ginormous interest rates i've paid 17.93%
for a 1983 uh sorry 84 Toyota short box four by four when i was 22 years old 17.93% i still have it
why sop standard operating procedures it has 169,000 kilometers original
kilometers on it i bought it at i think it was 16,000 16,000 k privately oh the reason i have it
was 11,200 i paid that in interest on that loan over five years truck cost 22,000 yeah
so that's the whole idea behind this cooling system maintenance or catastrophic damage
you've got to have a service tech relationship where they're guiding you through not just it
came in with a flat tire so they pumped it up well what was wrong with it oh we didn't check that
we just you know we we set your tire pressures for you well what if it goes down tomorrow morning
this is this is the reality of what's going on out there what you need is a little bit of
that has not only taken the tire off the car and off the rim to have a really good look at it
first find out why it went flat test it we just shot a video uh the three part series on this
and we it's it's loaded up but it's not going to drop until week after next three part series on
tire comes in it's dropped off for me it's flat well why don't i just pump it up and then just
you know call them say hey it's uh hey it's all ready for you no charge right why don't i just do
that no we need to find out the cause right cause why did it go flat and did the tire get damaged
well looks okay on the outside well what about on the inside maybe they drove on it like three miles
three kilometers on a flat tire i don't know for sure but it definitely was on the vehicle and it
was flat so you definitely know they drove on it so is the tire damaged on the inside it's an idk
i don't know i gotta go looking would you like me to just pump it up and then you take it home
see what happens tomorrow oh it's flat again now you'll lose some more time off for it it's all about
sop that's it we make it complicated standard operating procedure to maintaining your vehicle
and preventing a cooling system from slowly degrading coming unglued to a point when it
finally gives you a telltale sign buddy something is not going right here that's generally where
your vehicle could end up with all those other good-looking vehicles sitting on stilts at a you
pull at wrecking yard that's right i was so absolutely disgusted walking through row after row
after row and looking at vehicles that weren't total wrecks destroyed they were in good shape
they pick one and take it home and fix it away you go you got yourself a goodie all right
so here's the wrap up i gave you six points in a series of four four parts we covered electrolysis
contamination and additives inadequate ph level the coolant pressure cap cooling system maintenance
including the thermostat and radiator and flushing etc and the last but not least excessive
external wear where does that come from those are six gold nuggets that will prevent your vehicle
from heading to the crusher for the recycling prematurely follow it and you'll have fantastic
success success because there's two things that instantly kill an automobile two only two
that is heat and catastrophic damage to the drivetrain that's engine and transmission
and corrosion you keep the body protected from corrosion and and look after the structural
integrity of that vehicle everything else is changeable everything is changeable
that's how i was taught by my military instructor many years ago
who's a great teacher who's a hard boss to work for but taught us discipline and not just floating
through life but actually serving people and sharing the craft that he was teaching us
those two things will kill a car over and over and over and over again period and you can do this
it's a mindset it's just like our financial planners my brother's mother mother's always
say tony always says tony mealy dial it's a mindset you've got to get your mind
on getting this done and doing it right so you can move forward how many vehicles do you want
to keep working your butt off for and paying interest because all you need to do is learn
the basic fundamentals and keep that sucker going and it's money in the bank folks don't play the game
anymore don't play the game i'll tell you after that 1984 toyota pickup truck that was said that
was when i said to myself i'll never do this again i was 22 years old at the time and i was an
apprentice mechanic and i was working my butt off working two jobs one in the automotive
burning my apprenticeship and other pumping gas at nighttime working in a variety store pumping
gas running in and out but that's what it took to pay that truck off and i said i'll never do this
again then i did take a car loan back in 2012 and you know what because i was working with my
certified financial planners i was able to pay it off in one year and the bank gave me all kinds
of hassles being self employed blah blah blah blah blah finally my own bank i said to tony i said
they're not getting anywhere they're they're just wasting my time tony says i'll have that
expedited in 24 hours and it was he got he got the loan approved at a bank i've never done any
business with before he said they called me he said mr jenkins everything's ready for you anytime
you want to stop in just scoot out to the wellan branch we got everything for you we look forward
to working with you and i paid that off in one year that's the reason i did it and it was able
to pay it off and blessed to be able to pay it off in one year and that was it and the interest
rate wasn't bad it was like three percent so now i'm going to tell you the story about a 1997
jeep tj wrangler that came to our shop it was given to me i found it doing a doing some uh
volunteer work for um an outdoor ministry group called outdoor adventure men's price
we're building a hauler a car hauler into a mobile kitchen to do events for single moms single dads
is this amazing organization i said yeah i'll help out so we found out where we could go and get
some trailer parts so i i met up i met with the fella through one of my contacts we have to be
dave brumo at niger block see how everything gets weaved together dave says yeah go and see my
friend george so i go down there meet the guy and i'm like oh this is a treasure trove of parts
there were motor coaches and highway trailers and tractor trailers combinations and house trailers
dead ones so we were in there harvesting parts and i was just i thought we got one we needed
and frank frisk was wrapping things up and closing the trailer we got a bunch of skids to put firewood
and stuff on it was really cool the guy was really good with us and trusted trusted us to be in there
and i'm wandering around and i go around this 53 foot tractor trailer and i go oh hello what are you
doing here here's this little red jeep tj wrangler sitting there surrounded by great big behemoth trucks
and trailers so it was early spring and it was kind of mucky and i thought hey i wonder if that
thing's any good i know the frames wrought out in the steering wheels and usually the only thing left
so i got i just laid on the ground and i rolled around underneath and i'm looking at i'm going
okay so i go so then my friend chris finds me goes oh what do you got here i know i think we got
good yeah i'm thinking so i asked george he goes hey what's uh what's up with that jeep tj wrangler
he goes uh he said one of the kids that worked for me that was his and he quit he left he never
came back it's been sitting there 15 years he thought he said i said how long's it been here
probably 15 years i guess said uh did we have that so i don't know what we're going to do what he
goes so i'm just getting ready to head home to my home country for a visit come see me in like six
weeks oh i did went back he goes it's all yours this is my i don't have a title for it or anything
or teas or anything it is it is as it is use it for whatever so i want to get it mixed up
we got shipped up here that was a year ago this past june and been picking away at it
and then uh eventually we have to find out well why doesn't it run
well what put it in in other words yeah it needed tires it needed brakes it needed servicing
you could see the neglect and the lack of maintenance but what put it there in the
wrecking yard and it was facing the crusher that was the next step gorge was just going to deal with
because it really didn't belong so anyways because unless you're working on trucks coaches and
trailers and stuff you really wouldn't think of going in finding a little 1997 first year model
of the tj wranglers i've come to learn a lot about jeeps yeah they're pretty neanderthal but
anyhow they're basic everything on them's basic which is why jeeps or jeep people love them the
older ones they're basic yeah so i get down to okay let's get this thing running you know i had a
list of what needed to be done everything that was worn out broken bent mangled or abused was
wear and tear and that was neglect in regular maintenance but what put it there cooling system
failure i got the engine running and it was running rougher than a stucco toilet seat
and i'm like uh oh we don't have all the hamsters working in this four cylinder engine
yep we got a whack them all game problem here so i do a compression test i got two cylinders that
have basically nothing so now i'm kind of cheesed off because now we're into an engine
so i tore the cylinder head off in a couple of hours and lo and behold i discovered why
the upper radiator hose was blown clean off the radiator and the fitting where the in the plastic
upper tank of the radiator was completely blown right off and split open
i'm going cooling system failure for sure so when i took the cylinder head off i could see
the head gasket was blown through cylinders number one and number two so this thing was
gulping down anti-freeze in the engine till it couldn't anymore and the person was driving it
while this happened it's called liquid lock the head gasket left the premises so bad and leaked so
bad that it filled two cylinders up with anti-freeze the pistons come up squash it you can't compress
a liquid unless you talk to germany they have they have a way of doing that as a rule of thumb
you cannot compress a liquid so what happens in an engine is when it liquid locks that coolant is
going to find its way into the oil pan one way or another so it not only tore the valves out of
the cylinder head because the valve guides dropped the valve seats fell out and also trapped the
pistons so pistons number one and two had a hole in the top of it that you could put a golf ball
in and all this is recorded in videos from day one on our youtube channel you can see all of this
what i'm telling you all the destruction the catastrophic damage caused by the owner not
paying attention to the cooling system would have had hello just a reminder tomorrow is uh new
year's day that's what that is tomorrow the first of january it's a reminder on my laptop here so
that's what put it in the wrecking yard period it needed brakes it needed tires it needed emergency
brake cables it needed wheels cylinders calipers rotors pads u joints everything that is just i
ain't fixing it i don't care i'm gonna drive it into the ground so we thought that would make a
very good video series for you to follow along with and watch this little baby come back to life
it's not a restoration it's a rescue we rescued it from the crusher and you get to watch all the blood
sweat tears and gore and frustration putting this thing back together it runs and it runs really well
we just did a dash update put a 2006 dash in it and we're now wrapping into the aesthetics of the
vehicle and getting stuff put back together it was all ripped apart the heater system cooling system
inside the vehicle to make heat defrost in the whole nine yards was all a mess and destroyed as
well so that's all fixed and uh we did that while i pulled the whole dash out but that poor thing
suffered a horrendous death they the head gasket went first and how did i know that it was continuously
pouring coolant into the system had to be topping it up because it's pouring it out the tailpipe
and to the point where the head gasket went so bad that the water was coming in just as bad as the
titanic and it went down in literally minutes well this engine went down in literally seconds
when the coolant rushed into cylinders number one and two at a very fast pace of volume locked up the
engine while they're driving down the road and blew a hole in both of those pistons filled the oil
pan up with antifreeze but before that happened the engine was running so hot and under extra
pressure from the exhaust gases getting into the cooling system it sent the coolant temperature
way off the charts and the pressure and uh unbelievable that the hose clamp held tight enough
and held the pressure back long enough that it blew the goose neck that that hose was attached to
on the right hand corner upper corner of the radiator clean off that was game over right there
that's what put that little Jeep in amongst the wrecks and i found and we've rescued it's a rescue
not a restoration all that happened from neglect of the cooling system not paying attention not
servicing just driving it like so so i hope you've enjoyed this series i have a lot more coming
your way and i'm going to poke you because this program is designed to help those who care about
not buying vehicles over and over and over again paying interest being in debt all the time you know
there's more life than money waiting for you so we can help you to take care of that older vehicle
and make it to and join us at the 600,000 kilometer club hey that sounds good right
that will save you a lot of money i'm not guaranteeing you in any way shape or form you're not
going to have to spend money on that vehicle to keep it going but it's going to be a whole lot less
than monthly payments with interest and then going through the same cycle all over again
drive it till you can't buy another one drive it till you can't buy another one that's the world
that's not the way it needs to be and it doesn't need to be
a 2007 fj cruiser heading for 400k 1999 honda civic dx two-door hatchback heading for 300
300 and we had vehicles coming into our shop on the hamilton mountain 800,000 kilometers and still
running like a swiss watch so until next time thanks for joining we've gone quite a bit over
today but this is a wrap-up of a huge series that if you grasp and change your mindset you can keep
that vehicle as long as you want and not get stuck in the payment plan which i call the never
never plan never never plan because when you're making payments and by the time you pay it off
you got nothing left you got to go get something else that's why i call it the never never plan
you never own it and you never get out of that cycle because that's what the world wants us to
believe is to use it go get another one use it go get another one use it go get another one buy
and stuff over and over and over again that you own already but you just don't buy into the maintenance
so this program is dedicated to those who want to change that cycle are willing to change that
cycle and willing to do whatever it takes i'm here for you nile motormouth jankins
in the car connection workshop we've got another bang-up series coming your way the 30 day challenge
the 30 day challenge that would also put money in the bank give yourself a raise in 2026 yourself
give yourself a raise so stay tuned for more of car connection help us to keep rolling
like subscribe help us be part of our community at youtube facebook instagram
i heart radio and all the podcast platforms stevensvilleontheweb.ca and our merch store
let's reach out and help more people in 2026 because when you take the eyes off yourself and
help somebody else you know what happens your life changes too it's a really cool feeling
so keep it under 100 happy healthy motoring in 2026 happy new year folks i'm here for you
i'm in your corner and i'm here to help you not hurt you but teach you what i know and take it to
heart and implement plan strategize implement the plan become a winner every single time
we'll see you in the next one bye for now
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