Understanding your car's safety systems is crucial, especially during winter driving. This episode dives deep into the workings of SRS (airbags), ABS (anti-lock braking systems), and stability control. Host Nile Motormouth Jenkins emphasizes the importance of knowing how these systems function and the risks of ignoring warning lights. With personal anecdotes and practical advice, he encourages listeners to familiarize themselves with their vehicle's manual and practice safe driving techniques. The episode blends technical insights with engaging storytelling, making it both informative and entertaining.
Modern vehicles are packed with safety systems-airbags, ABS, stability control, skid control-but most drivers don't truly understand how they work, what they feel like, or when they can't protect you.
In this episode, Motormouth breaks down four critical vehicle safety systems found on most cars today and explains:
1) what ABS actually does when it activates
2) Why the brake pedal pulses-and why that's normal
3) How stability and skid control help regain control
4) Why warning lights mean those systems may not be working at all
We also talk about something drivers aren't taught anymore:
When things go wrong, you don't panic-you take over.
Just like aviation: Aviate. Navigate. Operate.
Your car is no different.
You steer. You look where you want to go.
You let the systems assist-if they're working.
This episode connects the dots between understanding, preparation, and survival, especially during winter driving when brakes and traction must work together in perfect unison. Safety systems can't help you if they're not working-and they can't help you if you don't know how to work with them.
If this episode helped you understand your vehicle better, please share it with someone you care about. Subscribe and follow the podcast Leave a review or comment-it helps more than you know
Watch us on YouTube for hands-on demos, Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @nile motormouth jenkins Find us locally at StevensvilleOnThe web .ca click the Businesses tab,
Support the channel with Car Connection Merch - link in description. Visit us at Car Connection Business Network .com (ccbusnet.com) to connect with our amazing vetted businesses and program partners let the know I sent you ok! top right hand corner of our home page are all of our links in one spot, Merch Store, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Stevensvilleontheweb .ca , IHeartRadio, Thank You for listening < watching and Connecting with our Car Connection Community! Luv y'all very much Tnx again, Together we can achieve more! Happy Motoring Friends, NMJ put that coffee on!
"...or perhaps a mystery leak that's got everyone here in the Car Connection workshop scratching their heads sideways."
The Nissan Rogue is a small SUV that's great for families. It has plenty of space for passengers and cargo, making it a practical choice for everyday use.
The Nissan Rogue is a compact SUV that offers a balance of comfort, space, and fuel efficiency. It's a popular choice for families and urban drivers.
"...thank you to Rita and Ramiz Shaduna at Rainbow Motors and Garage in Scarborough Ontario Canada sales and service that yes you can trust you can purchase a vehicle there and have its service there..."
Rainbow Motors and Garage is a place where you can buy cars and get them serviced. They can help with many different types of vehicles, including trucks and vans.
Rainbow Motors and Garage is an automotive dealership and service center located in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. They offer sales and service for a variety of vehicles, including light commercial vehicles.
"...four things possibly five things that I'm gonna talk to you about this morning SRS ABS skid control stability control..."
Stability control is a system in cars that helps keep them from sliding or tipping over when you turn or drive on slippery roads. It works by using brakes to help you stay on track.
Stability control, also known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), is a safety feature that helps prevent skidding and loss of control by automatically applying brakes to individual wheels when it detects a loss of traction.
"...four things possibly five things that I'm gonna talk to you about this morning SRS ABS skid..."
ABS is a system in cars that helps prevent the wheels from stopping completely when you brake hard, which helps you steer better and avoid skidding. It's important for safety, especially on wet or icy roads.
ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking System. It prevents the wheels from locking up during braking, allowing the driver to maintain steering control while braking hard. This is especially useful in slippery conditions.
"...four things possibly five things that I'm gonna talk to you about this morning SRS ABS skid..."
SRS is a safety feature in cars that helps protect you in a crash by using airbags and tightening seatbelts. It's an important part of how cars keep passengers safe.
SRS stands for Supplemental Restraint System, which includes airbags and seatbelt tensioners designed to enhance passenger safety during a collision. It works in conjunction with the vehicle's primary safety systems to reduce injury risk.
"...if you're pushing on that gas pedal and kind of feels kind of odd then it needs to be checked..."
The gas pedal is what you press to make the car go faster. If it feels sticky or doesn't respond well, it can cause problems with how the car drives.
The gas pedal, also known as the accelerator pedal, is the control in a vehicle that regulates the engine's power output by controlling the amount of fuel and air mixture entering the engine. A sticky or sluggish gas pedal can lead to poor vehicle performance and safety issues.
"...it could be a dirty throttle cable it could be a dirty throttle body issue..."
The throttle cable is a wire that connects your gas pedal to the engine, helping control how much air goes in. If it's dirty, it can make the gas pedal hard to push.
The throttle cable connects the gas pedal to the throttle body, controlling the amount of air entering the engine. If it's dirty or damaged, it can cause the gas pedal to feel sticky or unresponsive.
"...a dirty throttle body issue a quick cleanup with the right spray can bring back smooth response to that gas pedal..."
The throttle body is a part of the engine that helps control how much air gets in. If it gets dirty, it can make the car slow to respond when you press the gas pedal.
The throttle body is a component of the engine that controls airflow into the engine, which in turn affects engine power and performance. A dirty throttle body can lead to poor acceleration and responsiveness.
"...my at that time was a customized F 150 extra cab long box pickup truck and all of a sudden I push the gas pedal..."
The Ford F-150 is a big truck that many people use for work and everyday driving. It's known for being strong and useful for carrying things.
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup truck known for its versatility and capability. It's often used for both work and personal purposes, making it a favorite among truck enthusiasts.
"...I push the gas pedal and it went like wide open throttle so the engines like screaming..."
Wide open throttle means that the gas pedal is pressed all the way down, making the engine work as hard as it can for maximum speed and power.
Wide open throttle refers to the position of the throttle valve in an engine, where it is fully open, allowing maximum air and fuel to enter the engine. This results in the highest possible power output from the engine.
"...the engines like screaming I mean it is having a convulsion under the hood and it took me by surprise..."
An engine convulsion is when the engine suddenly shakes or revs up unexpectedly, which can be a sign that something is wrong with the truck.
An engine convulsion typically refers to a sudden and unexpected surge in engine power or RPMs, often indicating a malfunction or issue with the throttle or fuel delivery system.
"...I pop the hood and my carburetor had completely iced over"
A carburetor helps your car's engine get the right mix of air and fuel to run. If it gets too cold, like icing over, it can cause problems with how the engine works.
A carburetor is a device in an internal combustion engine that mixes air with a fine spray of liquid fuel. It plays a crucial role in the engine's performance, especially in older vehicles that do not use fuel injection.
Car
Chevrolet 305
"...because it was it wasn't fuel injected it was a high-performance 305 and this thing had a lot of power..."
The Chevrolet 305 is a type of engine used in some Chevy cars and trucks. It's a V8 engine, which means it has eight cylinders, and it's known for being powerful while also being somewhat efficient on fuel.
The Chevrolet 305 is a small-block V8 engine that was popular in various Chevrolet vehicles during the 1970s and 1980s. It's known for its balance of performance and fuel efficiency, making it a common choice for muscle cars and trucks.
"...so I just walked down to the shop unlocked turned all the lights on grabbed some carb cleaner and some de-icer came back and by that time the heat from the engine had melted the ice..."
Carb cleaner is a special spray that helps clean parts of the engine, especially where fuel flows. It removes dirt and gunk to keep the engine running smoothly.
Carb cleaner is a solvent used to clean the carburetor and other components of the fuel system. It helps remove deposits and build-up that can affect engine performance.
"...that is your airbag system all right when they first came out people were panicking oh we're gonna this thing's gonna freakin kill us..."
The airbag system is what helps protect you in a car crash by inflating a bag quickly to cushion you. It works together with seat belts to keep you safe.
The airbag system is a crucial component of modern vehicles, designed to inflate rapidly during a collision to cushion and protect occupants from injury. It works in conjunction with seat belts to enhance safety.
"...because it is a simple system for us to diagnose when we scan it it'll tell us which airbag has got the problem..."
Diagnosing is figuring out what's wrong with something. In cars, it often means using a computer to check for problems.
To diagnose means to identify a problem or issue within a system, often using specialized tools or techniques. In automotive contexts, it usually involves scanning the vehicle's onboard computer for error codes to determine what is malfunctioning.
"...my 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser than I can even begin to tell you but how did I learn about them..."
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a tough SUV designed for off-road driving. It has a unique look and is built to handle rough terrain.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is an off-road SUV known for its rugged design and capabilities. It features a retro style reminiscent of the classic Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser.
"...real-time four-wheel drive anti skid control stability control you need to learn what they mean..."
Anti-skid control helps keep your car from sliding around when the roads are slippery. It adjusts how much power goes to the wheels to help them grip better.
Anti-skid control is a safety feature that helps prevent the wheels from losing traction during acceleration or braking. It works by adjusting the power to the wheels to maintain grip on slippery surfaces.
"...no service lights on no anti-skid lights on no SRS lights on all these systems are designed to keep you and your occupants in your vehicle safe..."
Anti-skid lights are warning lights that show up if your car's system is trying to help you avoid slipping or skidding on the road. If this light is on, it means the system is working or there's an issue.
Anti-skid lights indicate that the vehicle's traction control system is active or that there is a problem with the system. This feature helps prevent wheel spin during acceleration, especially on slippery surfaces.
"...no service lights on no anti-skid lights on no SRS lights on all these systems are designed to keep you and your occupants in your vehicle safe..."
Service lights are warning lights on your car's dashboard that tell you when something needs fixing or checking. If one of these lights is on, it's important to find out what's wrong.
Service lights on a vehicle's dashboard indicate that maintenance is needed or that there is a problem with the vehicle. These lights can alert the driver to issues such as low oil, engine problems, or other critical systems that require attention.
"...you want to get the vehicle sliding and then hit that brake..."
Sliding happens when a car's tires lose grip on the road, making it hard to control. This can occur if you brake too hard or turn too sharply.
Sliding refers to a loss of traction where the vehicle's tires lose grip on the road surface, often occurring during hard braking or sharp turns. This can lead to oversteer or understeer, depending on the vehicle's dynamics.
The brake pedal is the part of the car you press with your foot to make it slow down or stop. It's an important control for driving safely.
The brake pedal is the control in a vehicle that the driver presses to slow down or stop the car. Pressing it activates the braking system, which can include various technologies such as ABS.
"...teach your clients your customer about the anti-lock braking system even peeling opening peel open their owner's manual..."
The anti-lock braking system is a safety feature in cars that helps prevent the wheels from stopping completely when you brake hard. This helps you steer better and avoid skidding.
An anti-lock braking system (ABS) prevents the wheels from locking up during braking, allowing the driver to maintain steering control. It uses sensors to monitor wheel speed and modulates brake pressure to prevent skidding.
"...the truck went into a yaw it went totally sideways first thing I did I hammered on the brake pedal..."
Yaw is when a car turns sideways instead of going straight. It can happen when the road is slippery and the car loses grip.
Yaw refers to the rotation of a vehicle around its vertical axis, which can cause the car to slide sideways. This often happens in slippery conditions when the rear wheels lose traction.
"and it's real-time all-wheel drive so if the front wheels spin the back wheels are gonna lock up but you know what the tires are all seasoned their heart is a rock..."
Real-time all-wheel drive means that the car can send power to all four wheels whenever it needs to, which helps it grip the road better, especially when it's slippery.
Real-time all-wheel drive refers to a system that automatically distributes power to all four wheels as needed, enhancing traction and stability. This is particularly useful in slippery conditions, as it can help prevent wheel spin and loss of control.
"including the emergency brake completely all-new everything is a hundred percent and that vehicle completely unstable absolutely unstable..."
The emergency brake is a backup system that helps keep the car from rolling when parked. You pull it up to make sure the car stays still, especially on hills.
The emergency brake, also known as the parking brake, is a secondary braking system that is used to keep a vehicle stationary when parked or in case the main brakes fail. It is typically engaged manually and works independently of the main braking system.
"...if I was in traffic I would hit on icy snowy slush covered surf road surface one wrong move and I caused the wreck..."
Slippery road conditions happen when the road is wet or covered in ice or snow, making it hard for cars to grip the surface. This can lead to losing control of the vehicle if you're not careful.
Slippery road conditions refer to surfaces that reduce tire traction, such as those covered in ice, snow, or slush. These conditions can make it difficult for drivers to maintain control of their vehicles, especially during braking or turning.
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Good morning friends! You're tuned to Car Connection where the coffee strong the
stories are real and the wrenches never stop turning. I'm your host Nile
Motormouth Jenkins coming to you from the Car Connection workshop where the
smell of fresh oil and a little elbow grease is all part of our balanced
breakfast here and around here we don't just talk cars we live them. Whether it's
a 25 year old Jeep Wrangler getting a second chance at life or a Nissan Rogue
getting in its brakes back in order or perhaps a mystery leak that's got
everyone here in the Car Connection workshop scratching their heads sideways.
This is where we roll up our sleeves and we just get it done with a little wit
a little wisdom and a whole lot of fun. Car Connection isn't about nuts bolts
and diagnostics it's about connection. Connection to our vehicles to the people
who drive them into the community that keeps Niagara rolling because when you
fix a car you're not just turning a wrench you're restoring someone's
confidence, freedom and maybe even their sanity. We're here every week Monday
through Saturday join us for the Motormouth Morning Drive at 8 a.m. and
we're helping to keep your ride safe reliable and ready for whatever road
lies ahead so whether you're a weekend wrencher a daily commuter or someone who
just wants to understand what that strange rattle really means welcome aboard
and stick around for shop talk expert advice and a few laughs and maybe even a
story or two that's real. Yes in the Car Connection workshop we are keeping it
real well good morning and happy Tuesday to you if you're just scooting
through the drive-thru as a reminder always check your order I'm just saying
stuff happens if you know what I mean is it just me that you know through the
drive-thru I'm two and a half kilometers down the road I take a sip and I go
what the heck is that that's not what I ordered yeah that's not a good start to
a day it just isn't so before you pull out no matter if buddy is laying on the
horn behind you and flashing the lights it's your order it's your morning drive
take control of it so lock your favorite morning beverage down in your
cup holder and keep an eye on the road and watch out for the other guy this
morning hey why don't we get our morning swiggy out of the way so if you're just
joining us we always have a cup together and enjoy a swiggy whatever your
favorite morning beverage is just raise that cup high we count it down three two
one and here in the car connection workshop we have a swiggy together you
ready three two one oh that's magical right there yeah I need a moment you ever
have that coffee tastes so good or whatever your morning beverages and
just go yeah I just need another moment all right let's get things smoking hot
this morning let's say thank you to our program partners and our recommended
businesses because these are the fellas and fellas that make our YouTube
channel Facebook Instagram I heart radio and wherever you pull your podcast
from we're on every platform around this rock we're spinning on so just type in
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you to those program partners that have been with us you know as we wrapped up
in the latter part of 2025 31 years of our live call-in automotive program car
connection on the air on a number of radio stations Canada and the US yeah I
wanted to reach more people and how do we do that through podcasting and through
you joining our community our car connection community by visiting us
anytime on our website all our links are there for you at carconnection
businessnetwork.com I always make reference to that in the description of
every one of our YouTube videos we shot two three videos yesterday we do three
videos bright and early 7 a.m. Monday mornings and get them up and edited and
ready for publish so you get fresh information every single week and all
the links are easy for you to find so you go to ccbusnet.com that's the short
version on the home page you'll see all the logos for our program partners and
recommended businesses that make car connection possible next generation 2.0
and you'll also see our merch store and when you purchase some merch it helps to
support those who are going through addictions of any kind type and
description and that they have access to getting help the right help that they
need to get past that so we're not looking to make a million dollars off of
our merch yeah yeah we are because that just means more money for total freedom
during center New York which is a campus for addictions open to Canadian
residents as well we have total freedom Sydney man a total Canada that is a men
only campus facilitated by Rick and Robin and they know their stuff because
they've walked that path so when you purchase motormouth merch on our merch
store you just consider this you're helping someone to get there that needs
help because with addictions if you've known someone who's been struggling
with an addiction they can't do it on your own and I have experienced that
they think they can but they can't but when that moment comes where they're
willing to eat to eat lima beans seven days a week 365 days a year they're
ready to get that new life that waits for them so check out total freedom
Darien Center New York that's all a campus open to men and women and Canadians
as well total freedom Sydney man atoma that's a men only campus a new life
awaits you so if you someone you know co-worker get them to our website and
click on the logo for total freedom and let them see the campus the people hear
the testimonies of those who have received a brand new life thank you to
Niagara block at 5,000 Montrose Road Niagara Falls building Canada since
1931 building supplies hardscape landscaping materials so that you can
prepare to build your special getaway I call it the oasis and you know towards
the end of January beginning of February is a great time to connect with
professional landscapers to get on their calendar and start talking about
putting that together get in touch with Niagara block their customer service is
over the moon you will love them there they will help you to figure out
products what you're looking for or the look specific look that you're looking
for they'll help you put all those details together our certified financial
planning professionals Tony Miele and Larry teacher all combined have 50 years
experience they're there for you to get answers to your financial questions if
you have a portfolio with the bank you really need to work to get that out of
there so that you're making money on your money and that money that's parked
there is working hard for you not pulled over in the handbrakes on and you're
just getting pittance and I can say that because I've experienced it friends
have experienced it and I pointed their compass needle over towards Tony and
Larry and things change and they get excited so they work with you to retire
debt estate planning powers of attorney wills in the whole package mortgages
life insurance and critical illness insurance and you because you're
connected to me have access to an hour in a coffee discovery meeting so that's
getting your questions answered and I always share this my professor would
always say don't take advice from anyone that's not standing where you want to be
be respectful but they're giving you advice and they're not where you want to
be so book your hour in a coffee your discovery meeting there's no pressure no
sales no condemnation they're going to be an ear to listen and see what it is you
want to accomplish and they will formulate a game plan for you and get
that going I work with both Tony and Larry they're my brothers from other
mothers they're two of the best of the best CFPs certified financial planning
professionals in all of Canada and they've been recognized for that and I'll
tell you what you'll love working with either one thank you to Rita and Ramiz
Shaduna at Rainbow Motors and Garage in Scarborough Ontario Canada sales and
service that yes you can trust you can purchase a vehicle there and have its
service there they fix whatever year maker model a vehicle you have and up to
it including light commercial vehicles if you're looking for a specific vehicle
they do have inventory but if there's something that you're looking for
specific that will work for your needs let them know they have the resources to
find that specific vehicle just for you Rainbow Motors and Garage sales and
service that you can trust and to Earl Louise Grant they're my they're my other
parents yeah they're fantastic people they're both car guys and have been for
over 25 years they sell no junk at City Auto Sales and Leasing they have in-house
financing available for you so the good if you have good credit bad credit or in
the toilet credit you know what I'm talking about they can work with you at
City Auto Sales and Leasing they provide low mileage high quality vehicles at
fair prices their Greater Toronto area is premier pre-owned Auto Store and they
do have a large inventory and again if you don't see on their website which you
can get to through our car connection business network.com website just click
on their logo for any one of these businesses and it will open so you can
see all the details connect with them let them know what you're looking for
specifically and let Earl and Louise do the legwork 25 years in the car business
they have lots of resources to save you a thousand steps and thank you to
Crystal Ridge Dream Center they are faith-based non-profit organization
serving men women and children meals love and hope and changing lives one at a
time in the Niagara region they feed out the door Tuesdays and Friday and I'll
tell you today the volunteers will be super busy they're getting ready for the
Christmas giveaway which is coming up later part of the week where everything
in the box including gifts and food everything is there for Christmas Day at
no cost to those families that have applied but they will feed over 200
people today and Friday and the the numbers they tell me are climbing so if
you feel pressed to do something to help the kids men women children
widows seniors and single moms and those that are just you know what they've hit
rock bottom that's what Crystal Ridge Dream Center is all about so connect you
know connect with them on our website and find a place where perhaps maybe you
could do something that you can't do yourself all of us they're doing everything
they can to change those lives one at a time in the entire Niagara region right
in our own backyard and I love that and a car connection has always aligned with
a non-profit faith-based organization in the Niagara region for many many
decades now all right I have a tech tip for you this morning yes I do I did not
leave you stranded this morning without a tech tip and I have four things
possibly five things that I'm gonna talk to you about this morning SRS ABS skid
control stability control how many of those five things I'm gonna plant the
seed in your head this morning not too deep no deep some deep maybe deep how
many of those could you explain if I asked you explain me something Lucy could
you do it if I said hey tell me tell me about how the skid control works on your
car could you explain it no I didn't think so well we're gonna try and shed
some light on those things because this time of year I see snowy road covered
surfaces make driving interesting along with those people out there that are
practicing how to drive if you know what I mean man I used to really enjoy
driving and now I prefer to stay off the stinking road am I the only one who's
thinking that way like when go up to my brother-in-law's cottage late late in the
season usually around September by the time we do all kinds of fundraising
events and car shows and stuff through the summer months I'm usually the last
one to keep the door swinging at my brother-in-law's cottage once we get out
of the area no like St. Catharines Niagara Falls St. Catharines Beams old
Grimsby Stony Creek Hamilton Burlington Oakville Guelph and I get on that I
always take the 407 I do I then feel like I can release the steering wheel
a little bit with my white knuckles and breathe and breathe I feel the stress
starting to come down am I the only one that experiences that let me know in
one of our YouTube videos you can put a comment put a put your comment down
below and send that off to me I'm I always check my comments send me an
email through carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com you can also click on
the link on the homepage right hand top corner Stevensville on the web.ca
click on the businesses tab and open our profile you can send me an email through
there if you can hear that the neighbor's dog is it's it's a morning ritual
when they let him out I I know it's about this time in the morning yeah
every day that's right every day so if my watch stops working I know what time
it is when the neighbor's dog goes outside and has a freak out in the
backyard so you know it's crazy on the roads so be careful out there you know
don't get caught in that trap of driving like those people they're just so
radical changing lanes flying down the soft shoulder cutting back into traffic
you know what they don't realize is they're they're counting on no one shifts
their space if you know what I'm saying every car that they're flying in and out
of no one decides to just make a quick lane change that's what I don't know if
that goes through their head at all at high speeds the speed they're traveling
but that's all it takes is for you know a senior that's intimidated by the highway
and the amount of traffic and just kind of staying in the slow lane and these
guys are bobbing in and out all it takes is for one of those elderly people to be
shook a little bit and they make a sharp turn and a wiggle waggle I call it and
ban they clip them and it's a big disaster at that point but I don't
honestly don't think the the people out there driving so erratically have any of
that thought in their mind whatsoever that could there possibly be someone
who's like not really paying attention you know the lights on but you know
nobody's home and they're behind the wheel and they're in their zone they're
thinking about yesterday or you know the argument they had with their wife the
night before or the grandkids aren't doing well and somebody makes a lane
change last minute huge pile up and lives could be lost and that's what
segways into today's discussion SRS ABS skid control stability control is any of
that really going to save your butt well stick around because that's what we're
going to talk about but I have another motor I have a motormouth moment for you
this morning yes I do I didn't forget here's a little tidbit that sticky gas
piddle ain't normal and I could tell you I'll tell you a little story about that
that I experienced myself one day on the helter mountain on the way to our
repair shop and it was like the weather right now down here on the south shores
of Lake Erie we have about a foot of snow how about you guys let me know how
much snow you got in your area got any wimpy places out there well I'll bet you
if I got in the car right now and drove to St. Catharines Niagara Falls it'd be
surprised if you had a half inch to maybe a two inch dusting but we had a
snowfall and like a blizzard type weather yesterday morning late morning into
the afternoon was zero visibility for about an hour and a half and then it
calmed down and stopped having its snow convulsion all right so that sticky gas
paddle is not normal so if you're pushing on that gas pedal and kind of feels
kind of odd then it needs to be checked motor mouth here if your gas pedal feels
sticky or sluggish in the heat it could be a dirty throttle cable it could be a
dirty throttle body issue a quick cleanup with the right spray can bring back
smooth response to that gas pedal so here's my here's my tip for you don't
ignore that it's not just annoying it can affect your fuel economy too but it
is a safety issue and I'll tell you briefly what happened to me one morning
just like today it's we went into single digits last night so it's cold enough
outside to freeze the knots off a tree here on the south shore is a lake here
let me tell you yeah make sure you bundle up when you go out there it is winter
here and we have had winter here for several weeks and it has been extremely
windy and cold the overnight lows have been just teetering on single digits so
I'm on my way to the shop I'm driving my at that time was a customized F 150
extra cab long box pickup truck and all of a sudden I push the gas pedal and it
it went like wide open throttle so the engines like screaming I mean it is
having a convulsion under the hood and it took me by surprise because it happened
so quickly so I pulled off to the soft shoulder and I've got both feet on the
brake and it here's how your brain works and and it's so simple how do you stop
that from happening reach down and shut it off that's all shut the stinking car
off but at that moment do you think my brain put it all together and just said
oh just reach down turn it off and then get out and have a look see what's going
on no no I didn't do that so I've got one set of rear wheels burrowing itself to
Australia and gravel flying we were it that the wheels went right through the
snow and the ice right to the gravel and it's spitting gravel and I feel the
truck going down down down the back axles going down then I finally just
decided oh I'll just turn it off so now the truck is buried on the side of the
road and I get out I pop the hood and my carburetor had completely iced over
because it was it wasn't fuel injected it was a high-performance 305 and this
thing had a lot of power and so I I go wow that's totally like iced over and I
was literally walking distance to the shop at this point so I just walked down
to the shop unlocked turned all the lights on grabbed some carb cleaner and
some de-icer came back and by that time the heat from the engine had melted the
ice the accelerator was released and it was in idle position but it happened so
fast and it took me by surprise but that after that happened I thought you know
this could happen to anyone and the throttle could stick and if that happens
you know try get out of traffic get it over to the side just reach down and
shut it off that's it you don't have to try and fight it because I'll tell you I
had my work boots on and I was pushed back in the seat I had both feet on the
brake pedal and the back wheel is still just spinning and gravel is flying
everywhere and the engine's just screaming but did I think just reach down
turn it off no it took a little bit for my brain to catch up with the scenario
yeah just turn it off all right let's jump into this morning's discussion I
wanted to bring a couple things to your attention that you you really need here
here's where I'm going to give you some really good advice and it's going to be
as boring as all get out okay so you're probably going to need to prop your
eyelids open with a couple of spoons with three eighths holes in but if you do
what I tell you you are going to learn a plethora a treasure trove of knowledge
let's jump into SRS first what is it safety restraining system that is your
airbag system all right when they first came out people were panicking oh we're
gonna this thing's gonna freakin kill us it's gonna put my head in the back seat
on them on the back deck of the rear window and you know we've gotten
comfortable with it now and it does the safety restraining system saves lives no
doubt about it I personally know people if you saw their vehicle and saw what
was left of it and they walked away that wouldn't have happened you know 25 30
years ago that wouldn't have happened they wouldn't be here but you got to have
a little bit of understanding and some respect for the safety restraining
system if you're driving a vehicle in the airbag light is on here's what I got
to tell you you're not protected do you know that yeah if you're putting that
off you're not protected that means your SRS system is not capable of
functioning so when the SRS light is on you need to get that checked find out
which airbag which controllers not working and let me tell you life is short
enough and if your safety restraining system has some some simple I call it
simple because it is a simple system for us to diagnose when we scan it it'll
tell us which airbag has got the problem and replace it yeah you can't buy used
ones you got to buy a new one but here's the thing if you didn't replace it and
you know the lights been on for like a year or two years whatever you've been
driving in an unsafe vehicle something happens in your someone in your family
or someone in your vehicle that was in your hands gets killed or seriously
injured how would you feel about that you know I often talk about our
automobiles we really don't think when it comes to our automobiles we don't and
quite often we'll put money ahead of safety and we shouldn't because you're
out there on the roads people are driving in an excess of a hundred and
thirty five hundred and forty K an hour and getting away with it and it only
takes like I said earlier in the program this morning a senior or somebody
that's intimidated by being on the highway and really doesn't want to be
there and they're hanging in the slow lane and something shocks them scares them
and they make a little turn to the left and you clip one of these clowns that's
driving at 135 140 and excess of and someone gets killed or seriously injured
for the rest of their life so the safety restraining system is there to protect
you and your occupants whoever that may be that's in your care in your
automobiles so if that SRS light is on and flagging a defect in the system it
can't work you're not protected and here's what a lot of people say well you
know whatever airbags affected that's the one that's not going to work well
which one is it and that's the person that's at high risk if something should
ultimately go wrong heaven forbid but it happens you can't change it after it's
done and it can't could you live with you know what we should have got that fix
honey regardless of the cost we should have just figured it out and got it
fixed that's exactly what I'm talking about is the systems are there to assist
us but they can't assist us if there's a defect in the system number two skid
control and stability control I'm going to talk about those first and then we'll
pop up with ABS anti lock breaking systems I have more acronyms on my
2007 Toyota FJ cruiser than I can even begin to tell you but how did I learn
about them I had to read the manual and I'm not ashamed to say that because you
know what you can't know everything I know something I haven't put my finger
on that yet but you can't know everything and you can't go off of hearsay rumor
and popular opinion what does this mean and you know you always have those arm
chair warriors and I allow them to be absolutely 100% correct a percent
correct even when I know they're like way out in the rhubarb patch because you
know what I just say no to drama if they want to be right and they think they're
right I'm gonna let them be right that's it one day they're gonna go you know
everybody always says I'm right I wonder why they're doing that wonder why they
start might start thinking go people always say yeah you're right yeah yeah
you're right well the only way you're really going to understand anti skid
skid control stability control and I've got three others that I really can't
even remember I really need to do a quick refresher in my owner's manual and
look them up and sit there with a big ball big bowl of buttered salted
popcorn and dig in to my owner's manual and learn the aspects of those systems
how they truly work on your year specific make a model because they're all a
little different so if I told you how mine works that's probably not how yours
works so that's why I say the only way you're really gonna learn it it's gonna
be boring then again you know what it might just turn out to be a really good
night is make sure you're not too tired when you open that owner's manual which
are usually in pristine condition I might add because nobody's reading up
about how their car actually works so when it comes to those areas four-wheel
drive rear-wheel drive real-time four-wheel drive anti skid control
stability control you need to learn what they mean and how they work so that
you get a better connection with the automobile that you are driving okay that
last but not least any lock braking systems if I had a room of a hundred a
hundred people and I said tell me how your anti how your ABS braking system
works how do you use it if your ABS light is on in the dash it's non-functional
and it can save you from having a really bad wreck especially this time of the
year I would not want to be in a vehicle that has an ABS light on and it has not
been scanned and repaired again it is a fairly easy system to diagnose because
when we get into the system it will tell us where the culprit is which wheel
which sensor is not working and the computer can't see it it's it's out of
it's out of sync in other words so ABS is if you think of ABS anti lock
braking systems like having four synchronized swimmers on your vehicle so
each wheel is a synchronized professional swimmer and they have to work in unison
with one another for the system to work and keep the vehicle straight and I I'm
gonna tell you this if you don't have winter tires on this time of year or the
rubber you have on the car is not good whatsoever and you know it ABS will not
save your butt period none of these things that I just talked about will save
your butt the vehicle needs to be in top drawer condition all the way around no
service lights on no anti-skid lights on no SRS lights on all these systems are
designed to keep you and your occupants in your vehicle safe while in your care
and if that doesn't bother you that's great you know what if it's just you in
the car and something goes wrong it's you to blame and it's you that's gonna be
affected and that's it but you know what it's always the innocent people that
gets sucked in to that nightmare and I've experienced that for 44 years in the
automotive service of repair business safety related things items that keep
the driver and its occupants safe in any condition whatever should happen should
be a priority not put on the back burner ever ever ever ever so how many of you
know actually what the ABS the any lock braking system does have you ever
experienced it and you know what it feels like because it could be scary and
it can take you by surprise and most people will let off the brake pedal but
that's not how it works and you know here's how I used to help my clients at
their automotive repair shop on the Hamilton mountain I'd say take your
vehicle after the stores are closed go to the supermarket go to the mall go to a
big open parking lot and if there's even one lamp post in there keep an eye on
that lamp post because you might just hit it and that's happened that has
happened more than more times than often is get the vehicle driving and then
hammer that brake and stand on it and keep your foot right on it so what you
want to do is you want to get the vehicle sliding and then hit that brake
pedal and do not let up and it's going to scare you the first time the ABS system
comes on the whole vehicle shutters like an aircraft just one set of wheels
has just hit the runway the plane shutters and then the flaps come down
all the way down to get that plane slowed down the pilot's applying the brake the
plane shutters doesn't it all the seats are kind of yeah and then it comes to a
standstill and it calms down your your ABS is going to do that it's going to be
loud and it's going to come on quick and the vehicle your foot's going to
vibrate hard and the car is going to shake and you're going to think did the
wheels just come off no your ABS is working so that's why the best teacher
that I can send you to is a snow covered icy covered parking lot get the
vehicle driving in a straight line and then hit the brakes and hold that brake
pedal and watch what happens the ABS will light up it will come on and here's
the secret when you feel that ABS unit kick in it's going to scare you as I
said most people will panic what's going on that's normal you do not let up on
the brake pedal so if you're going down the road the vehicle starts to slide you
get on that brake pedal and let the ABS system take over but do not release the
brake pedal concentrate on steering right it's like in the in the air in an
airplane aviate navigate fly the plane something goes wrong with the aircraft
those are the three things you do not stop doing you don't get up out of the
seat and start looking out of the windows hey where are we going what's
down there what's going on you know where am I going to land no it's it's aviate
navigate fly the plane when ABS is on hold that brake pedal down and steer
that's all you need to do and you really need to practice it because it will
scare the bajibis out of you when it happens you will not expect it and this
is an area where when I was working a dealership up in Cambridge area for one
of the major car manufacturers I brought this forward to the sales staff I said
how many of you take the moment to teach your clients your customer about the
anti-lock braking system even peeling opening peel open their owner's manual
out of their vehicle and tag the pages for ABS SRS skid control stability
control and talk about it and teach them dear in the headlights look I go that's
a zero right make the sale be happy with the customer give them the keys
la de da out the door they have no idea what to expect so again best advice I
can give you crack open that book that's pristine in the glove box called the
owner's manual and look up those areas and read it absolutely read it and get
your vehicle into a parking lot for half an hour get yourself a takeout
beverage your favorite beverage lock it down in your cup holder and go and play
with your car on the icy snowy surface and get a feel for how it works how that
ABS system works and I have actually had that happen to me a couple of years ago
heading into Stevensville and there's a section of road there that's wide open
and it blows it drifts it's an ugly section of road and I was in the FJ
cruiser I have my snowy's on and I got into like all of a sudden an area where
the snow was blowing across the road I got into zero visibility literally in
seconds I could not see anything around me whatsoever the truck went into a yaw it
went totally sideways first thing I did I hammered on the brake pedal and I
couldn't see if somebody was coming towards me and I didn't even know what
lane I was in because the road was like really thick with snow but I went totally
sideways I stomped on the brake pedal and I steered it and the thing went from
being totally sideways it swung around to the little bit to the left and then
it straightened itself up and after I finished peeing my pants and everything
else at that point I came out the other side and there was one car coming
towards me in the distance but I didn't hit anything I didn't lose control the
ABS system got the truck back and square and how does it do that it pulses your
brakes for you by itself so it puts the brakes turns the brakes on off on off
really really fast to get your vehicle squared up again so that's why I I've
talked about on other podcasts and even on our YouTube channel teaching you
about these systems and showing you the components that make it work having
equal braking all the way around on your automobile right now in the the nastiest
weather we could ask for icy slippy slushy road surface and again I I don't
know how any of you are able to go out on the icy snowy slushy covered roadways
in all season tires because we're gonna shoot a video and show you what your
vehicle looks like and how unstable it is because I have one here that is not
is not going out on the road until there's winter tires on it has to have
the safety inspection yet but it is unstable to drive on ice and snow
totally like I could feel the vehicle floating it would take nothing whatsoever
and it's real-time all-wheel drive so if the front wheels spin the back wheels
are gonna lock up but you know what the tires are all seasoned their heart is a
rock they're not grabbing anything that vehicle is gonna go out of control in no
time flat and take you wherever it wants to go so having braking system equal
all the way around and on that vehicle just did all the brakes back in our
beginning of October all of it gutted it done everything absolutely everything
including the emergency brake completely all-new everything is a hundred
percent and that vehicle completely unstable absolutely unstable so I took
it for a little drive on purpose to an area where I could feel it and I'm going
this thing is scary right now if I was in traffic and it's behaving like this
slipping around it just kind of finding its way on the road into the nearest
groove and sliding into it I have no control and if I was in traffic I would
hit on icy snowy slush covered surf road surface one wrong move and I caused the
wreck so ABS can only help you get the vehicle straight if a you know how to
use it you understand how it works you're not shocked by it and you know
what your next move is when the ABS kicks in is aviate and steer the vehicle
right that's how you prevent a plane from crashing is focus on the three
things aviate navigate and fly the plane your cars exactly the same aviate
you're watching your surroundings you know where you are you're looking you're
checking for objects things that you might hit and avoid them aviate navigate
get the things steered steer it focus on steering the vehicle ABS is on it's
chattering because your vehicles slip sideways a little bit it's wiggle
waggling steer it control it let the ABS system take it from there but learn it
because all these systems together working in your automobile saves lives
folks that's why I'm here to teach you educate you have some fun be a stooge
and an idiot all at the same time I'm good with that like coffee and I like
helping people so till next time keep it under 100 stay tuned in for another
motormouth tech tip let your friends family neighbors know where we are on
iHeart radio and all podcasting platforms Spotify Amazon Apple and any other
ones that are out there there's lots of them just put in the search bar car
connection workshop come and join us and learn the aspects of your automobile
that could save you or somebody else's life as well those systems are there to
help us and to keep us all safe so happy motoring friends and we'll see you
tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. for another motormouth drive morning drive put that
coffee on we're going to come to your house
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