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Mods That Help vs Mods That Hurt: The Real Liability of Vehicle ModificationsVehilce

Mods That Help vs Mods That Hurt: The Real Liability of Vehicle ModificationsVehilce

Car Connection Workshop Feb 03, 2026 45 min
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About this episode

Exploring the impact of vehicle modifications, this episode dives into which mods enhance reliability and which ones can lead to costly issues. Host Niall Moldermild Jenkins shares insights on nine specific modifications, discussing their potential benefits and drawbacks. With a blend of humor and practical advice, listeners gain a better understanding of how to approach vehicle upgrades without compromising performance or safety. The episode also touches on the importance of maintaining vehicle longevity and offers tips for saving money on repairs.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

Toyota FJ Cruiser

"I've owned my FJ now for 14 years. 14, we're going to be part of the 400,000 kilometer club this year with that vehicle."

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a tough SUV that looks a bit like older models from Toyota. It's built for driving on rough terrain and is popular with people who like to go off-road.

Term

aftermarket warranties

"...we're going to talk about warranties because it's important that you know and understand aftermarket warranties versus factory warranties. Lifetime doesn't mean lifetime."

Aftermarket warranties are like insurance for your car that you buy from a company other than the car manufacturer. They help pay for repairs after the original warranty ends, but the details can be very different from the manufacturer's warranty.

Term

factory warranties

"...aftermarket warranties versus factory warranties. Lifetime doesn't mean lifetime."

Factory warranties are guarantees from the car manufacturer that cover repairs for a certain time or mileage. If something goes wrong with your car, they will fix it for free during this period.

Term

modifications

"So modifications can and possibly void factory warranties. You want to check on that before you do..."

Modifications are changes you make to your car, like adding new parts or changing how it works. Sometimes, these changes can cancel your car's warranty, which is the promise from the manufacturer to fix problems for a certain time.

Term

factory warranty

"So modifications can and possibly void factory warranties. You want to check on that before you do..."

A factory warranty is a promise from the car maker to fix problems with your car for a certain time after you buy it. If you change things on your car, this promise might not count anymore.

Term

engine airflow

"...one of the biggest ones I see adjusting and modifying engine airflow."

Engine airflow is how air moves in and out of your car's engine, which helps it run. Changing this can make your car more powerful, but it might also cause other problems or void your warranty.

Term

mass airflow sensor

"You change the readings on the mass airflow sensor. Yes, airflow that the vehicle is sucking in by volume is monitored by a mass airflow sensor and it's not adjustable."

A mass airflow sensor is a part of the engine that checks how much air is coming in. This helps the engine know how much fuel to use for the best performance.

Term

air-fuel mixture

"You've just changed your air fuel mixture and all the configurations that the computer knows about and it just throws everything off completely."

The air-fuel mixture is how much air and fuel your engine gets to burn. If it's not right, your engine might not run well or could waste fuel.

Brand

Volkswagen

"So that's why I put that one on the top because we used to see this when I was at Volkswagen, put these pretty filters on and then they bypass the air canister..."

Volkswagen is a car company from Germany that makes many popular cars, like the Golf and the Beetle. They are known for their quality and engineering.

Car

Toyota Supra

"...ed, a crash victim of 1982 black on black Toyota Supra and I had the windows tinted and a state trooper ..."

The Toyota Supra is a fast and sporty car that many people love because of how well it drives and looks. It became really popular in the 1980s and 1990s, and people often modify it to make it even faster or more unique.

Term

window tint

"...the state trooper let me know that he could find me and tow my vehicle away because of the window tint. So know your limits before you do it."

Window tint is a dark film put on car windows to block sunlight and keep the inside cooler. Different places have rules about how dark you can make the windows, so it's important to check those before applying it.

Part

exhaust system

"Number two, exhaust system mods. Yeah, we have another couple of things in there on my specific vehicle."

The exhaust system is the part of the car that takes the gases from the engine and sends them out into the air. Changing it can help the car run better and be less polluting.

Part

oxygen sensors

"The old seven FJ has four of these oxygen sensors, two of which are hegos, heated exhaust gas organizers and two are just O2 sensors."

Oxygen sensors check how much oxygen is in the car's exhaust. They help the engine use fuel better and reduce pollution by making sure the fuel mix is right.

Term

ECM

"So a lot of reporting going back to the ECM, the onboard computer is saying, yeah, I'm sniffing the exhaust and I smell a rat."

The ECM is like the brain of the car's engine. It takes information from different parts of the engine and helps it run smoothly and cleanly.

Term

exhaust gas

"So again, if you mess up engine air flow and exhaust, so we got the engine sucking in and pushing out exhaust and if you open the exhaust too much or restrict it too much,"

Exhaust gas is what comes out of the car after the engine burns fuel. It's important to manage this gas to keep the car running well and to reduce pollution.

Part

aftermarket exhaust

"...You have aftermarket exhaust on. You have an aftermarket intake air filter system. Yeah, so don't do it."

An aftermarket exhaust is a new exhaust system you can buy that isn't made by the car's original maker. It can make your car louder or faster, but it might also cause problems with your warranty.

Part

aftermarket intake air filter system

"...You have an aftermarket intake air filter system. Yeah, so don't do it."

An aftermarket intake air filter system is a new part that helps your car's engine get more air. This can make it run better, but it might cause problems with your warranty if your car is still covered.

Term

tire size

"...you have to do your homework and it's buyer be where number three tire size. That is, I've just given you now the big three that we see that's messing up drivability..."

Tire size is how big or small a tire is, which can change how a car drives. If you put on different sized tires, it might not drive as well or could cause other issues.

Term

transmission control unit (TCU)

"...to the transmission shift control module. So it works together the transmission control unit, the TCU..."

The transmission control unit is a computer that helps your car change gears smoothly. It makes sure the car shifts at the right time for better performance.

Term

vehicle speed sensors

"and vehicle speed sensors. Throw the speed sensors off."

Vehicle speed sensors help determine how fast your car is going. This information is important for the car's computer to manage things like shifting gears and fuel efficiency.

Term

transmission control module (TCM)

"...for the transmission control unit or control module, the TCM and vehicle speed sensors. It's going to throw them way out of whack."

The TCM is like the brain for your car's transmission. It helps control how the car shifts gears based on information from sensors, making sure everything works smoothly.

Term

drive line angles

"And all of a sudden now you have steering and drive line angles that are incorrect. And now you have a vibration."

Drive line angles are the angles between parts that help move the car. If these angles are wrong, it can cause shaking and damage to the car.

Part

CV shafts

"this angle is definitely way too much and not only are you going to be blowing out CV shafts and U-joints like chicklets or smarties, Skittles maybe perhaps."

CV shafts are parts that help send power from the engine to the wheels. They need to be flexible so the car can move smoothly, especially when turning.

Part

U-joints

"this angle is definitely way too much and not only are you going to be blowing out CV shafts and U-joints like chicklets or smarties, Skittles maybe perhaps."

U-joints are parts that connect different parts of the car's drivetrain, allowing them to move at angles. They help transfer power smoothly even when the car is moving around.

Concept

lowering and raising a vehicle

"So lowering and raising up of a vehicle, do your due diligence. Yeah, you can do it but you've got to know how much you can do it, where you can change the height"

Lowering and raising a vehicle means changing how high or low the car sits. This can make the car look different and change how it drives.

Term

rack and pinion steering

"may even cause steering box or rack and pinion steering unit angle problems as well, causing binding. We see this stuff."

Rack and pinion steering is a system that helps you turn the steering wheel into movement that turns the car's wheels. It's a common way cars steer today.

Term

remote car starter

"In the winter, a remote car starter is definitely a cool accessory. But however, ordering a vehicle, if you're buying a vehicle brand new and that's something you'd like, make sure you order the vehicle with a factory installed remote starter system."

A remote car starter lets you start your car from far away, so it can warm up before you get in. It's especially nice in winter when you want a warm car.

Term

aftermarket remote starter system

"...there are many years makes and models that really don't care and work well with the aftermarket remote starter system. And it can cause service light problems, drivability issues, and the list goes on and on and on."

An aftermarket remote starter is one that you add to your car after buying it. Sometimes, these can cause problems with the car's systems because they weren't designed for that specific vehicle.

Term

factory stereo

"...you don't have the factory stereo in there anymore or you've added this accessory, that accessory,..."

The factory stereo is the sound system that is originally put in your car when you buy it. If you change it, it might cause problems with your insurance if something happens to your car.

Term

backup cameras

"...including remote starters, stereos, backup cameras, cameras, etc...."

A backup camera is a small camera on the back of your car that shows you what's behind you when you're backing up. It helps you see better and avoid hitting things.

Term

lane changing cameras

"...Lane changing cameras added to your vehicle. You want to make sure it's not done by Joe Schmoll,..."

Lane changing cameras help you see if there's anything in your blind spot when you're changing lanes. They make it safer to switch lanes on the road.

Part

drive shafts

"You're going through drive shafts, U joints, CV joints like smarties."

Drive shafts are the parts that help move the car by sending power from the engine to the wheels. If they get damaged, the car might not drive properly.

Part

CV joints

"You're going through drive shafts, U joints, CV joints like smarties."

CV joints are special parts that help the wheels turn smoothly while the car is moving. They allow for flexibility while still sending power to the wheels.

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