The Jeep Wrangler is a type of SUV made for off-road driving. People like it because it’s designed to handle rough trails, and many owners keep them for a long time. It’s also commonly mentioned in connection with difficult off-road routes.
“Wrangler” here means the Jeep Wrangler, which is an off-road SUV. Saying they crossed the Rubicon means they drove it on a very challenging trail. It highlights that the vehicle is built to handle rough terrain.
They mean the recommendation system that decides what videos get shown to people. The host is saying subscribing helps the platform share the show more.
Term
service base
They mean the repair shop or dealership where your car gets serviced. It’s where you might be charged for things you didn’t need, so they’re encouraging you to learn what to look for.
An invoice is the detailed bill from the mechanic. It lists the work and parts they charged you for, so you can check they didn’t overcharge you or bill for something they didn’t do.
They’re talking about your car’s heating/cooling system. When it’s really hot outside, you’ll notice quickly if the A/C (or climate control) isn’t cooling properly.
“Grinding” is a bad sound your brakes can make when parts are worn out. It often means the brake pads are gone and metal is rubbing, which can damage other brake parts.
“Maintenance” means taking care of your car’s wear items before they cause bigger problems. For brakes, it’s about getting them checked and serviced based on condition, not just the calendar.
Topic
brake nationals
The host mentions “brake nationals” as a recurring event focused on brake work. It’s basically why they’re filming and talking about brakes again.
“Brake gut job” is the host’s nickname for a big, expensive brake repair. It means the brakes got so bad that you can’t just do a small fix—you may need to replace a lot of parts.
This is a Hyundai Accent from 2009. The host is using it as an example of a brake caliper that can get stuck (seize), which can make the brakes lock up. That’s why brake service matters.
A brake caliper is the part that squeezes the brake pads onto the spinning brake disc. If it gets stuck, the brakes can stay applied and even lock up, which is dangerous.
This is a 1983 Toyota pickup (short-bed, four-wheel drive). The host says he got a very long life from the rear brakes—169,000 kilometers—showing that brakes can last if they’re maintained and not ignored.
A brake job is when a mechanic services your brakes. It usually means replacing worn brake pads (and sometimes the brake rotors) so the car can stop safely again.
Drafting means you follow very closely behind another car. It can make you react faster to traffic changes, but it also increases the chance you’ll have to brake hard—wearing out your brakes sooner.
Brake lights are the rear lamps that illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed. The host uses them as a visual cue for how often the driver ahead is braking, which relates to how quickly your own brakes may need servicing if you’re following too closely.
Following too closely means you don’t leave enough space between you and the car ahead. If they slow down suddenly, you have to brake quickly, which can be dangerous and can wear out your brakes faster.
The brake pedal is what you press with your foot to slow the car down. Pumping the pedal means you press and release it to control how hard the brakes are working.
Brake pads are the replaceable parts that press against the brake discs to slow the car down. If they wear unevenly or aren’t seated correctly, braking can feel off.
Term
tender
Here, a tender is like the next scheduled maintenance contract cycle. If the shop misses work, it can cause problems for the next round of maintenance.
The parking brake is the brake you use when the car is parked to keep it from rolling. The host says using it every time helps the brake system stay in good working order.
Hydroplaning is when your tires lose contact with the road because there’s too much water. The car can start to feel like it’s sliding, and it’s harder to steer or stop.
The date stamp (DOT tire code) indicates when the tire was manufactured. Tire rubber ages over time, so checking the date helps avoid buying tires that are technically new but already old.
Term
DOT date code
The DOT date code is the tire’s stamped “birthday.” It tells you the week and year it was made, so you can judge whether it’s too old.
Term
road speed tires
This means using tires that are rated for the speeds you’ll drive. The tire has to be designed to handle heat and stress at those speeds.
Tire pressure specs are the exact air-pressure numbers the car maker wants you to run. Getting it wrong can make the tire wear unevenly and reduce grip.
Tread depth means how much of the tire’s pattern (the grooves) is still left. More tread helps the tire grip the road and handle rain; worn tread is more likely to slip and can fail inspection.
A safety inspection is a required check to make sure key parts are safe to drive. Here, the host is talking about how tires can fail inspection based on tread and age.
Over-inflated means the tire has too much air. That can make the tire ride on the center more than it should, reducing grip and causing faster, uneven wear.
It’s a simple rule the host uses to decide when tires are no longer safe. If the tires fail enough checks (like age or tread depth), they should be taken off.
The penny test is a quick at-home way to see if your tire tread is getting too low. You put a penny into the grooves and use how much of the coin’s head shows to estimate wear.
Concept
if it ain't broke, don't fix it
It’s a saying that means “don’t mess with it if it’s working.” But cars often need small upkeep before something fails, so “doing nothing” can sometimes cost more later.
The Honda Civic DX is a version (trim) of the Honda Civic. The host is saying their 1999 Civic DX has been a good, reliable car for a long time because it was maintained and kept working well.
A pressure washer is a machine that sprays water very strongly to clean things. The host mentions it because he’s finishing shop work before getting out.
This is the idea that hot weather can cause battery trouble. Heat can make the battery’s internal stuff break down faster, so it may die sooner than you’d expect.
Battery terminals are the metal connection points on top of the battery. If they get corroded (gunky/crusty), electricity can’t flow as well, and the car may start poorly or not start at all.
Battery terminals are the metal connection points where the battery cables clamp on. If they get corroded, the connection can get “loose” electrically even if the cable is physically attached.
Battery lifespan is the service life you can expect from a car’s starting battery before it becomes unreliable. The speaker contrasts typical ranges for domestic cars versus imports/European cars, emphasizing that age and condition matter more than brand marketing.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a rugged Toyota SUV that’s popular with people who like off-road style and capability. Here it’s mentioned because the speaker got unusually long life from a replacement battery.
LIVE
Good morning folks! You're tuned to Car Connection where the coffee's strong, the stories are
real and the wrenches never stop turning. I'm your host, Niall Motormouth Jenkins,
coming to you from the Car Connection Workshop where the smell of fresh oil, a
little elbow grease, is all part of our balanced breakfast. 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 Road getting its brakes back in order. Perhaps
even a mystery leak that's got everyone scratching their heads. This is where we
roll up our sleeves and we get it done, with a little wit, a little wisdom, and a
whole lot of fun. The Car Connection isn't just about nuts, bolts, and
diagnostics, it's about connection. Connection to our vehicles and to the
people who drive them and to 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, with Motormouth Morning Drive helping you keep your ride
safe, reliable, and ready for whatever road lies ahead. So whether you're a
weekend wrencher, daily commuter, or someone who just wants to understand what
that strange rattle really means. Welcome aboard, good morning to all of you,
stick around for some shop talk, expert advice, a few good laughs, and maybe even
a flashback story from the service base. They do occur without warning, like
lightningings. How many of you in Niagara Region yesterday saw the amazing
lightning storm? Yeah, I was under the bed. Yeah, after the first lightning strike,
it was pretty close. It was actually very close to the Car Connection Studio
yesterday morning. Well, we made it to the weekend. Everybody, I hope you're all
doing really, really well. It's been a hot, steamy week, hasn't it? I think this
is the first one in the bag for summer 2026, and I'll tell you. Any problems
with the cars? Anybody? Hopefully not. You know, remember, mileage doesn't
matter. Maintenance does. No matter what language, no matter what country you're
in. If you don't want to, if you don't feel good about maintaining it and
fixing it, then you probably shouldn't have it. And at some point, you probably
won't. Hey, thanks for tuning in this morning to Motor Mouse Morning Drive.
Let's get started. We have a lot to get through. It's Saturday morning. It's
weekend, and the coffee's not quite on yet. I have to get through my herbal
magic here, whatever that is. Been messing with it a little bit. Got a
different ingredient in there this morning, kind of trying to tweak it up a
little bit, but it deals with the cortisol things, whatever they are. Make
you fat. That's all I know. Haven't really studied. You know, you ever wondered
there's things that you know you should know, but you don't want to know, because
then you will know, and then it won't be comfortable? Well, that's vehicle
maintenance. So if that's you, and you want to know how to keep a vehicle running
longer, and give it super duper longevity, that's why I'm here, because I can show
you and teach you how to do it. I can show you on our YouTube channel and teach
you right here on the podcast how you can very, very easily perform that on any
automobile, even problematic vehicles. We can get past it, over it, under it, and
round it. Well, we've got our morning swiggy coming up. We do have three amazing
questions, and I have to say this. Fellas, where are you when it comes to your
questions? But I'll tell you this, the ladies are really smoking your back
sides. They have some amazing questions every single week. Once in a while, we
have a fella in there, but I'll tell you this, anytime I go to an event or doing
an event, a fundraising event, wherever I am on location, you fellas don't leave me
alone for the whole time I'm there. Can I just ask a question? Do you mind if I
ask, hey, what do you think this is? That's what I get all day long. Can you
take a question today? Do you have time for a question? See, and the ladies are
out there enjoying the foodie trucks, and the things on display, and the events
going on from the main stage, while the guys are gathering around me to ask their
questions. But the ladies are out having fun, because they send me emails, and they
ask their questions ahead of time. I'm just saying fellas, I'm just saying. I
remember the first seven years on the air, in a network out of Buffalo, the ladies
owned the show. When the phone lines opened to take calls and questions, there
was enough fella in sight for seven years. Those ladies would call in, and
absolutely not embarrassed to make the sound their vehicles making, ask the
question, throw it on the table, and get an answer. For seven years straight from
1996, count seven years forward, the ladies owned the live call-in automotive
program called Car Connection. One of the largest FM stations this side of the
Mississippi River. It was crazy, and even my producer would say, like, where's the
fellas? Where are they? I don't know. I guess this, you know, the ladies really
want their vehicles taken care of, and so they should. And the reason behind that
is, guys, you're not the gals. The gals don't want to be broken down somewhere
in a very compromising area or whatever, you know? That's very intimidating. For
the fellas, you only blow a gasket when your car lets you down after you've been
treating it like a bad, bad donkey, and then you lose it. Exactly. This is just
called as the motor mouth conclusion, after 44 years in the service base and
still going. This is what I notice. The guys, they blow a gasket. The gals, they
want, they don't want to get there. They want their car taken care of and know
that they have a reliable means of transportation, and that's what it's all
about for me, is to help you get there. For those who want to do that, I have the
game plan, if you're willing to listen. The do does, and the did is done. So for
those who just want to drive their cars into the ground and bury it right in
there like a worm, this probably is not the program for you. Probably not. So
let's get through the housekeeping tips. We got a lot of miles to cover this
morning and another summer motor mouth tech tip coming up entitled Battery
Blues in the Heat. That's right. You can lose a battery this time of year just as
fast as you can in the middle of January. Absolutely. So we're going to cover
that off this morning as well. I got three questions in from Kathleen, Margaret,
and Gina. So well done, you. They understood the idea. You got to have your questions in by noon
on Fun Friday. That gives me the afternoon to sift all the questions that have come
in and pull out what I think would be the most interesting. Not to say that your
ladies, hey, don't stop. That your question is not important. Just that I look for
questions that could help a large group of people and I don't throw those
questions out. I will pull them forward and use them on Saturday's Q&A program
with motor mouth. So that's what we're all about here. Saturdays, we made it to
Saturday and Saturday as questions and answers that you send in. So it gives me
an opportunity to do that. We're just looking and when I say we, it's me, myself, and I
bringing guests on with me because there's a lot of people that I think you would find
very interesting in their line of profession and that's from technicians to other tradesmen,
tradespeople, yeah, tradespersons. No, it's tradesmen. We just, we leave it at that.
And so I've got all the plans coming together, including the hookup with the gear. It looks
like we have everything we need to make that happen or now that we've got 200 episodes of this
morning, the morning drive with motormouth in the bag and we're working on season three now.
Today would be episode 208. All the podcasts populate into our YouTube channel. So it's
Nile Motormouth Jenkins or simply land on our homepage. Here's the thing about our website,
carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com. You will find all the project details and links
available to you at carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com. The short form is ccbusnet.com. You'll find
everything on our homepage. If you'd like to follow the build and repair work that we do
and connect with our program partners simply by clicking on
their logo, it will highlight and create a square box. So that's when you know it's ready
to click. So click and meet and greet our program partners because simply without them,
we wouldn't be here. It wouldn't be possible. They're helping us to stay ahead of the costs
to produce the videos and produce the podcasts and to put all the hours in to continue to push
us forward to monetization. And once we get there, we can only get there with your help.
And that's why I'm saying that. So right now, we've been blessed that four of our program
partners stayed with us for the transition from radio into digital. And it's amazing
to have great people and great business owners like I talk about them. And I love talking about
them because they've been with us for a very long time. So anyone who thinks that I yak too much,
you know, you go from talk radio from 31 years to podcast radio, it's talk radio. I'm just saying.
So if that that annoys you and annoys you that I talk about our program partners,
you have to every program you watch, unless you're getting an invoice in your mailbox or email,
someone is behind the scenes making that program available to you for free. So we need to make
sure that we respect that it's very, very important. So thank you to city auto sales,
and total freedom Deere in center in New York for making car connection possible and standing
behind us till we get where we're going. So let's kick it into high gear this morning. So on the
homepage, our program partners there, and that make YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Stevensville
on the web.ca I heart radio, we're on every platform, including pod bean, Apple, Spotify,
Amazon. So wherever you pull, you're pulling your podcast from just type car connection workshop
in the search bar, and you'll find us when the broadcast here is scheduled and loaded and it
launches on I heart through with the RSS feed, they automatically load into our YouTube channel.
So if you missed something, you can pick it up. Same day, right on our YouTube channel on the
homepage. And all those links are for you, placed at the top right hand corner of the homepage at
CC busnet.com car connection, business network.com. And thank you for all those who are giving your
business to our program partners. That means a huge amount. We need them. And we also need
YouTube. And again, if you haven't subscribed yet to our YouTube channel, would you do that,
take a moment to do that and help skippy and I give us a big boost. We've just reached the halfway
mark to our first 1000 subscribers. And that is the Rubicon. We've crossed the Rubicon. Now we need
to get to the 1000 subscriber mark for everything to change for us to be able to do a whole lot more
and reach larger audiences. That's how the algorithms work. So for us, it's so important that you
subscribe. So we're at about 70 still about 71% of you are enjoying our videos and the content
and the podcast, but you're not subscribed. So that doesn't help us. So if you take a moment
sometime this weekend or this week and subscribe, like, share, follow, leave a comment. And, you
know, share us with your buddies that are car enthusiasts or even the gals that, you know,
just they're taking care of their own automobile and they could use some pointers to prevent
from getting ripped off out there in the service base. Because that's what I've heard for 32 years
now. Can you check this invoice for me motor mouth and see if everything is copacetic that
they didn't overcharge me for something or didn't do something that they said they did.
And I can prevent all that from happening by having you join us in the podcast and watch what I do
in the service base for basic vehicle ownership fundamentals. So learning the basics is what
you're going to get out of every single one of our YouTube videos, the five things, what it is,
where it is, how it works, how you broke it, and how we can show you how to prevent that from
happening again. So you pay for it another time. And right now, with the hot first hot steamy week,
many of you are figuring out that your conditioning may not necessarily be working as well as it
should. That's why I put together early in the spring season of four series tutorial on air
conditioning right here on the the morning drive with motor mouth. So those are all posted
up on our YouTube channel. If you want to go to iHeartRadio, you'll find us there. Again,
you'll find us on all podcast platforms. I've been receiving a bunch of emails. Do you have any
merch available? Yes, we do. We have Freedom Expressions is our store. It's online top right
hand corner of our homepage. Go in there, you can shop till you drop and everything
pays safely online and everything you order gets shipped directly to your door. All the proceeds,
we roll back to total freedom, addiction, campuses, Canada and USA, where what they do
is help those who are ready to take on and battle their addiction and change their life.
That's what they do there for 25 years at those campuses. So Skippy and I said we don't want to
take a nickel from that even though we could really, really use it to help us move forward.
We'd much rather feel good about ourselves standing up and saying, hey, we're going to help you get
to one of those campuses. So stand with us by buying our merchandise and showing it off.
That's it. Wear it. Wear it and send us a selfie. All right, let's press on this morning. So again,
all our links top right hand corner. If you missed that, I'll talk about it a little later
on in the program. But we've got Q&A to get through. We've got our morning swiggy. We've got weekend
weather and our motor mouth summer tech tip. Battery blues in the heat. I had a battery fail
mid-summer without warning. It proved itself to be good in October and about this time last year,
the first or second week of July, boom, I go to the dollar store. It always cost me $20 more at the
dollar store. Am I the only one? You go in the dollar store, you go, I need two items. Do you
go? The dollar store is kind of my kryptonite. It really is. I have to be prepared for that one.
For that one. So let's get into it. On 321, we're going to have our swiggy this morning together.
So whatever your morning beverage is, you got it? Are you on your second one yet? Well, that's great.
I'm not even finished my first one. I got to finish my first one before I can have coffee.
So let's say thank you to our friends and next generation at Niagara Block. Kathy, Dave,
and Dan Grimo, fantastic people working to build Canada since 1931. They're located at 5000 Montrose
Road Niagara Falls. Call them today if you're looking at a building project, maybe a man cave
garage, workshop, whatever it may be. They make building blocks right there,
center blocks of all types and descriptions. They have the metal and rebar and all those
things that you need to reinforce the building. But if you're looking to create a beautiful
backyard landscape, you know, that area where you kind of want to hide out and just be, yeah,
I have one of those spaces at home and it's invaluable. It really is prevents me from hurting
people. Absolutely. Excuse me, I'm still suffering with pollens comes, it comes and goes. So for
hard scape landscaping materials, they've got everything you need to create that beautiful
backyard space that you've always wanted that Oasis. So connect with them and they can Kathy
Grimo has a list of contractors she can help you with if you need someone to come out and estimate,
put the project together, get it started, get it finished so you can enjoy that space.
She has that. So check in with Kathy Grimo at the front office and have a look at all the beautiful
materials that they have to create that very special place for you, your family, your neighbors,
your peeps, your circle of friends, and just have a gathering and a barbecue put on the barbecue and
slap some meat on there. So thank you to Kathy, Dave and Dan, Kathy and Dave husband and wife
team. Dan is the brother, wonderful people, wonderful people. So connect with them and
thank you for doing that. Now 321 you ready? It's wiggy time 321
What's floating in there? I better not say it too loud. Maybe everybody want that.
What did I put in there? I don't know.
There's floaties. Oh, I know what I did. I was drying some herbs.
And I thought maybe I should just crush up a peppermint leaf and throw that in there.
That's what's floating in there right now. Well, let's jump into the weekend weather, shall we? See
what's going to happen. Yeah, we've had some weird weather blow through here yesterday. A wicked,
wicked storm yesterday morning. It was bizarro. The rain came in sideways and boy,
did it ever put down some water at a very short period of time and the lightning bolts were crazy.
The sky was very dark and I, yeah, I started saying anti-M. I think I saw a toto pass the
window a couple of times. So here's what we got for today for Saturday, 71 degrees right now in
cloudy. Wind is making it feel cooler about 70 degrees. Rainy conditions expected around 2 p.m.
today's. Today's and today's temperature range is 70 to 81 degrees. Yesterday we tapped out at 85
for the high. Today looking like 81 and on the rainometer, the RAIN has got us at 0.4 of an inch.
And yesterday I got some questions for the weather dudes. We got like two inches of rain
in literally less than 15 minutes yesterday. The south shores of Lake Urion. I'll tell you,
the skies came over so black and scary moving. It was like, yeah, I think I'm going under the bed
for a second time. Let's have a look, see what's happening tomorrow, shall we? It is weekend weather
by health means. Yellow warning heat in the Niagara region. That starts 4.32 a.m. Saturday,
July 4th. Hey, happy July 4th for our friends to the south, our American friends. And I say that
and mean that they are our friends. Absolutely, 100%. I was talking to the Americas yesterday,
0.25 of an inch for tomorrow. So be prepared, Sunday's low is going to be 68. Good sleeping
weather there. Give the air conditioner a break between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. So you're going to have
to sleep fast for sure. And the high will be 80 tomorrow for Sunday between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
So the temperature range will feel like 68 to 79 degrees. Wind will be making it feel cooler
than the actual temperature. So that's your weekend weather brought to you by our certified
financial planning professionals. Tony Miele and Larry Tietro, 50 years plus experience with
IG Wealth Management, one of the major companies in the world managing trillions of dollars for
others. And they can be doing that for you. So if you have financial issues, financial woes at home
or questions, it's time now to get clarity instead of doing what I call the opinion poll.
Opinion polls on anything will get you deeply in trouble every single time. And I'm speaking for
myself. I have certain people that if I have an idea, I purposely arrange to have an hour and a
coffee with them to bounce my idea off of them. What I'm looking for is for them, these specific
people, if they say, motor mouth, that's the stupidest idea I've ever heard of. I go, thank you,
I gotta go. Is that the time? Because they just gave me the answer. And what they don't realize
is I've been doing that for decades with these guys. They say that's the stupidest idea. That's
to the madness. You have to. So with Tony and Larry, you can keep your money at home,
leave your wallet and your purse at home. Here's what I would highly recommend.
If you've got questions regarding, you've got some investment somewhere, if they're with the bank,
you need to get out now so that money's working hard for you. If you're drowning in debt and you
feel like there's no way out or estate planning, you have nothing planned. Should you go to your
great reward, you've got nothing, nothing solid on paper. And that's not something you want to play
with and mess around with. It's like building an engine. You certainly do not want to just throw
it together. You need to be good at math and measurements and follow the plan to build that
engine so that it lasts for years. So estate planning, fellas and fellas, don't go get one of
those packages and it's a do it yourself thing. That will get you deeply in trouble and really tick
off those people you leave behind because it turns into a nightmare. If you need to range a mortgage,
you don't have any life insurance or critical illness insurance. And here's the thing about
insurance folks, even car insurance, but don't get me started on that. Here's the thing, insurance
may seem like an expense till that moment you need it. It's a wise investment. I'll use my friend Jen
who just got burned out of her rental, right down the street from us just a number of weeks back
and all her things got destroyed. Yep. But you know what? She had a tenants package,
an insurance package, tenants package. So they have to pay her out for all her stuff she lost.
Is that a wise investment? Could you instantly put that into a power play? Hey, yeah, my place is
on fire and I, I'll sign that contents insurance package right now. Folks, don't go there.
Insurance is something that we just have to get used to and it, yes, it pays out when you need it
and it pays those to carry on if something should happen to you. If you pass, pass away
suddenly and it happens folks and I hear about it from Tony and Larry in some very sad situations.
So don't be those people. Get that hour and a coffee, get your questions answered, no obligation,
but it will bring clarity to your specific situation. Help to arrange, get you on a proper
budget so you not only can pay for the next vehicle you need to purchase, but to also be able to
maintain it and maintain it properly because you have a financial structure. That's what you need.
In order to keep a car and keep a vehicle healthy, you need a financial structure. You've got to be
prepared for those rainy days. Think I've heard that somewhere before. Rainy day, yes, rainy day
people. I don't know what that means. Anyways, that's out of my league, but I would highly
recommend connect with Tony or Larry and I'll tell you, I've known these guys 20 years. I've seen
what they've been able to do for friends and family and myself. Just get it done. Stop stewing
about it. Don't listen to the outside noise. Oh, they're just going to take your money and those
people, they don't have a plan. Those that speak like that, they don't have a plan and they don't
want you to have a plan either. Why? Because you'll be better than they are. This is the way people
think. There's no cheerleaders anymore. You know, nobody's pushing you up the ladder, edging you
forward. Others don't seem to want to see you do well because it makes them look bad.
My professor taught me that many years ago. He said, you know, motormouth, nobody's going to help
you get to that next rung on the ladder, but you. And don't lose your faith. You can get there and do
it honestly, but you're going to have people pulling on your legs to pull you down the ladder.
That's where the problem comes in. And I go, why would they want to do that? He said it's simple
because if you get one up on them, you make them look bad and they don't want you
to make them look bad. So they'll be hanging off your legs while you're trying to get to the
next rung on the ladder and make your way up. They don't want you to get there. That's why
people are jealous of one another and it causes lots of riffs. I see it with automobiles all for
all these years. Neighbors don't talk to you anymore because you got a new car and they don't.
And that should have been their car, but they didn't have the money to get it. So don't be that
person. Don't be that person. We need to be each other's cheerleader. And if you can help push
somebody forward, stink and do it, would you? Just do it. Watch what happens and how you feel.
That's the whole purpose of our YouTube channel. You know, I got a call yesterday,
a gentleman that helped us get started. I haven't seen him for over a year. He said,
hey, can you help me out? I said, of course I can. Yeah, I said, can you take me on vacation too?
No, they're leaving a car behind that's sick that needs some help. So that's what it's all about,
folks. Be somebody else's cheerleader. And I'll tell you with Tony Miele and Larry Tietro,
you've got two guys that are going to take you right to the top. That's what they do.
They'll show you how teach you how and they will coach you all the way so that the problems when
there's problems with the car, home, problems that need to be that it takes money
to make those problems go away. You've got two fantastic coaches available at your fingertips.
Take advantage of that. That's where I'm going with that. Take advantage of that to get your house
in order. That's what it's all about. You've got to get your house in order. That's everything,
including finances, fixing and maintenance for every single thing that's in that home,
including the people. Take good care of yourself because I've got some people in my circle that
their health is really sucking right now. I mean, it's really not good. And you know, they trade
places with you any day of the week. If you're healthy, they trade places with you any day of
the week because things aren't going good. So let's jump into that. Those are things to think about,
things to ponder. Okay, we got some amazing questions. I think, yeah, let's jump into the
questions right now. I got to unpack those so get your crayons ready and your leaf bag
so you can take some notes. If you can't, you can listen and re-listen on the podcast or you can
just simply subscribe to our YouTube channel. And if you are subscribed and you don't have a
maintenance plan, I have it all put together for you. We've completely revamped the car connection
maintenance system. I called it the fleet maintenance system because whether you have one car or 10
cars, it calls out everything as far as maintenance on the whole gamut so the whole fleet can be in
there. If you have young people at home that have their own vehicles, get them a car connection
maintenance system so that they can actually learn vehicle ownership right from the very
beginning. Am I the only one that ever noticed that they don't teach kids about money in school
anymore? Economics, we had economics classes. You ever wondered why they're not teaching that to
kids but all this other garbage and filth? That's where I'm going to put it. It's rubbish. They're
teaching them rubbish. Why aren't they teaching them about economics? How to be successful? How to
run your finances? How to run a budget? You ever wondered about that? Because I do. I think on
those things that I go, these are things that helped me through my life. The rubbish they're
trying to put down in the schools today. I'll tell you, if I had kids in the schools, I would blow
a freaking o-ring. Let me tell you, I'd be in their face night and day. They'd be sick and tired of
seeing my face because you ain't teaching my kid any of that garbage. That's for sure. Anyways,
don't get me started on that one. Anyways, that's for another day. Just imagine. Yeah, that stuff
really cheeses me off. So questions and answers, all the questions are fabulous. Thanks again,
Kathleen, Margaret, and Gina for taking time to send your questions in. First question out of the
gate. How often should breaks be replaced and how long do they last? Time or mileage? Well,
I'll tell you what. That is one of the biggest areas. I'll tell you, every day, if I'm outside the
front of the shop studio here, I hear vehicles. We have a bit of a busy street and I hear vehicles
going by every day that have break problems. How do I know that? I hear the grinding. I hear scraping.
Just yesterday, I heard a vehicle turn a corner and it was like, scrape,
scrape, scrape. I'm going, you can't hear that. I can hear it and I'm like, I was at least 50 yards
away from that vehicle turning the corner because I met the, you know, we're on a corner. Yeah,
the compound here is on a corner. And so there's vehicles coming and going from all directions
and I hear them and I'm going, man, that thing's got trubs and that, you know, the longer you keep
pushing it, honey, this is just, you know, cha-ching. It's just costing you more bucke bucks. So how do
you determine how long your brakes are going to last? Well, it comes down to one word, maintenance.
And you could put in their service. Either one works. But if you think that, you know, your
vehicle's in for a brake job yesterday that, hey, Joe, I'll see you when I see you, then that's where
the brakes won't give you a break. They need to be serviced. And I'm going to use myself as an example
and I hope it pokes you a little bit right in the chest. How? Here's a question. Put that in the
comment section on the YouTube channel because last year we had the brake nationals going and
it's kicking off again. We're having a repeat of the summer brake nationals and vehicles are
in the queue to come in and we'll shoot some more videos for more brake work and you may go on our
YouTube channel go more brake work. He's always seems to be shooting brake work. Well, the question
in your head should be just that. Why is motor mouth always shooting and videoing brake work?
Wonder why that is? Well, you can always ask me a question because in all the descriptions
of the YouTube videos and the podcast, I put my email in there. You have two choices
and send your email in and ask me the question because that should be the question
that you're really asking me. Why does he talk about brakes often? Because exactly what I told
you. I see I hear vehicles go by here and they're squeaking, crunching. There's all kinds of noises
coming out of their brakes. Yet nobody seems to be paying attention. What are you waiting for?
For it to self heal? Because that ain't going to happen. Because with brakes, it goes from this
is going to cost you to this is getting nasty to there's nothing left to work with. What does that
mean? I call it the brake gut job. Everything's got to go. I just I don't know if I know I did not
shoot that video and it was a 2009 Hyundai Accent decided to for a caliper to start seizing up and
locking the brakes on by itself and that kind of stuff can be avoided by doing brake service.
So to answer that question for Kathleen, it's a wide open one. How did I get 169,000 kilometers
out of a set of rear brakes on my 1983 Toyota short box four wheel drive pickup I bought when
I was 22 years old? How did that happen? It certainly wasn't from the manufacturer doing
something. It certainly wasn't from the brake equipment on it. It certainly wasn't because
I lucked out on the lottery and I got I got the perfect vehicle that you know itself cleans and
you know it never needs maintenance and nothing breaks down. That's a pipe dream. So how did I do
that? Send me an email with your answers. How do you think that happened? It just happened. I got
lucky. You know what the word luck means? Laboring under correct knowledge. So when somebody says,
hey, good luck with that. I was going, thank you. Yeah, laboring under correct knowledge. That's what
luck means. So did I get lucky to make it to 169,000? And the brakes were still working. But that's
when I decided, you know, not not enough. It's time to do a gut job. I didn't salvage anything,
pulled it all off, put all brand new back on. That's on my little friend. I call Moe. Moe is
he's tucked away right now. I was really thinking about him this morning. I miss having a pickup
truck around. How many of you like pickup trucks? Even gals. I see a lot of gals go by the studio here.
Behemoth trucks. And you see them behind that wheel. I think it's just so cool
that the ladies love pickup trucks. Let me know. Ladies, do you do you love trucks? What would you
prefer? Even fellas, let's see if we can get the fellas enticed in on this question. Send me an email,
put a comment in on any one of my videos because it pops up on my phone. And I try and get to all
the comments because I it's important to me is to connect with you. That's why we have car connection.
So you're not going to get to 169,000 kilometers without touching anything in the brakes.
If you have really bad driving habits, that means you are on that brake pedal all the time. Like
it's not it's not a brake pedal. It's another leg that you didn't know you have. When you're doing
the on it off it in city driving. And you're you're you know, you're drafting with
every vehicle on the highway. And then you got to stand on the brakes because somebody way up there
touch their brake pedal. And now all that you see all the brake lights come on like chicklets.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And you're like right up the backside of vehicle in front of you,
which you should be able to see both rear tires completely hitting the road surface. If you're
in a safe zone. I'm just saying because when you ride super close like that one person makes a
mistake and you're not watching your brakes won't serve you. You are eating the backside of that
person's car in a hurry. And the brakes that haven't been serviced since the last time you had a
brake job, which is probably two years ago, maybe more. So how long do your brakes last? It all
depends on your driving habits. It all depends on the products that you have on there. But they're
the products need servicing. Brakes need service all the time in order to have equal braking all
the way around the vehicle on all four corners to prevent you if they're you would if you should
have to create an evasive maneuver because somebody has really pulled a maroon maneuver.
And you've got to get out of there and you need brakes to help you back off to get out of the way.
You need them to perform. You need to do maintenance. Now you're not going to like me,
but I'm giving you the big secret on how I got and I continue to get to 100 over 100,000
kilometers out of a set of brakes. Number one, I don't need to beat the next guy to the traffic
light. I don't. I don't need to beat and win the position on the off ramp. I don't need to be on
and off the brake because I'm practically swapping license plates with the vehicle in front of me.
I give myself lots of time to slow down. I pump my brake pedal to take it. I'm very easy on brakes,
but I service them twice a year every six months in the shop wheels off and a full brake service.
Pull the calipers off, take the pads out, clean and lubricate everything and inspect everything
and put it all back together. I do that twice a year. That's how you get there. But if you're that
person, your vehicle goes in like the three that I saw already this week, when those eventually
go in, there won't be anything to save. It's going to be a gut job, brake job, and then you won't see
them for the next two or three years if you're lucky until it does it again. So how do I know
that will happen? Because they have a pattern. The pattern is they don't believe in service.
So if you want things to last longer and put money back in your pocket, that's the only way
you're going to be able to do it is you've got to service. That's why I created the car connection
maintenance system. It originally came from my checklist that I created when I was doing a lot
of fleet maintenance that I didn't miss anything and forget to service something or check something
because that would get us in trouble with the tender. Next time the tender's up, you know,
the maintenance manager and his sidekick tech finds that we've missed stuff on vehicles that have
been in the shop for a whole week, sometimes a month, and that puts you behind for the next tender.
You don't have a good track record. You're missing stuff. So that's how I created that. So I follow
my own maintenance schedule. I don't just tell you stuff. Skippy will tell you. We were sitting
and having morning coffee and going over the video shoots and we just got out into the shop and got
the microphones and the cameras all going and she was mumbling away and then she said,
you really do this stuff. And I go, what do you mean, Skippy? Like, you know, everything you're
teaching people, you do it for yourself. I go, yeah, well, isn't that, you know, what honesty is
all about? You know, not, not do what I say, not as I do. You know, that's not how I was taught.
It's you have to do it. Teach them by showing them. I said, that's what my professor taught me.
If you want to teach kids to do a job, you got to be willing to do the job yourself.
Like cleaning the gutters out in the shop. Jimbo comes in one morning. I'm up to my armpits
in the sewer because it's plugged because the guys, instead of sweeping up the floor and taking
the crud, they would push it into the gutter. So I'm in there because I came into the shop,
like five in the morning and there's a great big lake in the service bay. Well, it's plugged. I'm
in there up to my armpit and black gooey, whatever. I won't wreck your breakfast. And Jim goes,
well, what are you doing? I said that the main gutters plugged and it's in here. You got to,
you got to get to the screen and unplug it. Oh, I said, well, stick around and watch
because you get to do it next time. What? I go, yeah, if I'm cleaning toilets, you're cleaning
toilets. Everybody gets a turn in the customer waiting area cleaning the bathroom. They were
on schedule. If I'm cleaning toilets, you're cleaning toilets. If I'm sweeping the floor,
you're sweeping the floor. If I'm in the drain to clean the drain because Jimbo smoked and I knew
what he was doing. So I collected all his cigarette butts and I had set them aside that morning. I
said, oh, by the way, these are yours. Oh, those aren't mine. We're not supposed to throw butts in
there. I go, uh, yeah, they're yours. Oh, I said busted. I said, so you're the next man in when
this thing plugs up. So anyways, I don't know how I got on that tangent. It was a flashback.
It was pretty grody, grouty. I'm just going to tell you that it was, that was a miserable job,
but it had to be done. And that's when I said, we had a little meeting, coffee break that morning.
I said, if I see you sweep anything into the gutter, you get to stay and clean the gutter.
If I see any cigarette butts, Jimbo, go into the gutter. You'll be going in the gutter sooner
to clean it out. So service, you got to service the break. So twice a year, every six months,
spring and fall are perfect routine to get into. It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. So you
got to create that. And it also means if you want your breaks to work well, that also means
the parking brake needs to be used every day, every time you park. And I don't care what the
fellow says or anybody else. Oh, well, you know, really don't need to use that really,
really come and come and sell me that one in the service bay. Bring it on brother,
because I'll take your lunch and your milk money. If you have vehicles out there that have parking
brakes, set brake, handbrake, push brake, whatever it is, you better darn well be using it every
single time you park. That's how I get to 169,000 kilometers on a rear set of breaks on a 1983 pickup
truck. That's how it happens. You got to keep everything working. And the park brake is part
of the project. So Kathleen, great question. It all is determined by you how long your brakes last.
That's the common denominator. Everything I talked about your lousy driving habits.
You're up the backside of the vehicle in front of you. You got to speed past me to get to the
traffic light that's turning red. I don't know what you win or if you know there's a coupon for
that, but your brakes are just heating right up. You're just eating them up. So driving habits,
maintenance habits, and using the parking brake will determine how long your vehicles work. I had
customers coming in the shop, eight months needs brakes again. I kid you not, eight months, nothing
left. It wasn't defective product. It wasn't the installation. Eight months. I could almost put
it on the calendar. Oh, so and so I should be back in here for front brakes. They'll be gone.
So number two, Margaret, question number two. That was a big winner, Kathleen. Thanks for asking
that because that's how that goes. I don't have a magic wand or crystal ball to tell you how long
you're going to get out of these things because I just I can't. It's those factors I can't control.
There's things I can control and then there's the uncontrollable. So Margaret says my neighbor tells me
my car needs new tires, but he didn't explain why. So I think what she's asking is how does he know
that? Well, he might have a crystal ball and a magic wand. I'm not sure. I can't really say,
but we need to keep an eye on that because the biggest part of the insurance on your vehicle
and safety is the distance from the edge of the rim to the road surface. That is the thickness of
your tire, the sidewall. That's your safety net. I'm a big stickler on brakes and tires
and steering components. You can't stop it and you can't steer it. Nothing else matters.
It really doesn't. So your tires need to be inspected on a regular basis. We don't want to
get below 330 seconds. 930 seconds is what the tread depth is on your tires. So when you get down
to 330 seconds, you're just about at the thickness of a baloney skin. Then that's not enough. When
you get into heavy rainfall like we had here yesterday, a tire that's 330 seconds or less,
you can very easily hydroplane on that amount of water on the roadway very, very easily because
you've just got the thickness of a baloney skin that's helping to clear the threaded surface out
on the tires. So your tires get to the road surface and get grip, gripology. So dates, we just had a
lot of conversations about that. Dates on the tires. You know, don't go buying tires that are
already three years old. Look at the date stamp. Well, I don't know what that means. Well, that's
why we have the YouTube channel. I did a video on, there's I think two videos on tires and it was
all prompted by Skippy. She goes, what is all that gobbledygook written on the sidewall of a tire?
What does it mean? So what you really need to pay attention to is the manufacturer's tire pressure
specs and make sure that you have the right road speed tires for your car. And you also need to
make sure that they're not old. So if you're paying top dollar for tires that were manufactured
two years ago, tires, the limit for them is six years. So I just checked some tires for Skippy,
actually. She was considering buying some tires and some rims from her boss. And I went to look at
them. And they were, they were born in the 25th day of 2000. Is that the month? No, it can't be
month. Sorry. 25th, I'm getting there. I haven't had coffee yet. Okay, take it easy. Espresso would
16. How old are those tires? They're 10 years old, man. They're done. They're done. So what are the
tires worth? I said, you know, Skippy, you can't give them any money for the tires because they
need to come off their junk. They're finished. They're 10 years old. I said they won't pass the
safety. If I was doing a safety inspection, I looked for the work we are to look for tread depth
and measure every single tire in three locations of the 360 degree circumference.
And we're also to look at the production date. So if the tires are past six years old, they're done.
It's over. She's singing. No doubt about it. So tires are very important. Under inflated,
over inflated, that's nasty either one. If they're over six years old, that's nasty number two.
If you got less than three 30 seconds tread depth, that's three strikes and you're out. That means
those tires are gone gone gone gone. They got to come off. So that's how you know. And how can you
check tread depth yourself? If you if you don't have a tool for it, I do have a tool, a measuring
tool, but you can take a penny if you have one. And with the queen's head facing you, you put that in
the tread. The more of her head that is showing her head, not the crown, the more of her head that is
showing the better. That means you've got you got really decent tread depth left. The more of the
crown you can see, you got that baloney skin happening. So there's your tread gauge. You get
a penny with the queen on it with her crown. And that's how you measure it in three different
locations on the tire. So if you look at a tire as a clock face, pick three different locations
and measure with your penny and measure across all the treads in that location. I might want to add
that in there. All the treads to all the groovies. Make sure you measure all the groovies from what's
facing you to the inside portion of the tire. So get them all all the groovies. Take a measurement
on all and three different locations. So what did I just say tires? The three strikes. When it was
born, how old were the tires beyond six years? Less than three 30 seconds of tread depth.
And what was the last one? Strike three. Put it in the comments. I'm checking to see if you're
listening. All right. Yeah, put it in the comments, send me an email. What are the three strikes on a
tire? Last question, and we'll wrap it up with this. Well, I still have your your motormouth summer
tech tip coming up. So and we'll have another one on Monday morning. So come and join us.
Gina's question. Great question, Margaret. So now you know, and you can watch the videos
on our YouTube channel where I break down all the information on a tire. So Gina's asking,
I have an older vehicle. It's running well. It's been a great car to me. Should I sell it now while
all is good? Or before before things begin to break down? Suggestions, please? Well, here's the deal.
It's kind of like that really comfortable pair of running shoes or blue jeans. When they when
they really feel at their most comfortable, it's almost time to get rid of them because they're
worn out. But a car is different. If it's been good, she's mentioned that and I read the emails as
they're written. So if there's lingity issues, it's not me. And we're it's an English class. So
forget about it. Here's the thing. If all is well, I don't like using the phrase if it ain't broke,
don't fix it because that's not true. Not in my world. That'll get you upside down and sideways and
having to scramble to come up with money to replace a car and you're broke. I'll just put it
just the way it is and you're broke. And you can't fix the one you have because you're broke.
Yeah, it's that's a that's a problem corner that a lot of people get into. And that's what I've been
carving this program out car connection for how many years now 32 32 years is to help you get
past that because that's where the savings are. The savings, the rainbow is there for you. You
just got to be willing to work for it. That's all. You know, there's no victory till there's a battle.
It's just that simple. So if I got a vehicle like that, it's be it's behaving well. It's just
it's tickety boo is performing very, very good. It's not giving me a ton of headaches.
I'm not letting that sucker go until I'm ready to let go of it because that's a moneymaker for you.
I mean, if you're bored of the vehicle and you got money to spend, well, that's a whole I can't
help you there. That's your choice. And it's all you. But if I've got a vehicle
that just needs some a little bit of maintenance here and there, you're going to maintain the next
one anyway, you're going to maintain the one you finished paying for, you're going to maintain the
one you are paying for. So what's the difference? Well, the difference is when I'm not paying interest
in principle, I've got freed up cash. I've got freed up capital that I can put into that vehicle
that's treating me well. So why would I not keep going? I'd keep going. And so that's my answer
to Gina. If you got an anyone else, you got a ride that's really good and you're loving it.
And you're still loving it. Keep going. Who says you got to get rid of it? Who? Who says?
Exactly. Just keep doing what you're doing because it's working and the vehicle's working out for
you. And that's all there is to it. You know, our 99 Honda Civic DX that I bought from the original
owner. That's what she did. I got a file folder that's like three inches thick. Why? She listened
to car connection for and she probably still does. So Jillian, if you're listening, appreciate
your girl. You're doing a great job out there. And she understands and she works with Larry,
Larry Tetral, and she's learned a lot of stuff. So you're going to get to meet these people because
now I'm ready to move to the next level and bring some guests in that are professionals, experts
in their field, and you're going to have an opportunity to hear from a different group of
people in what they do, how they do it, and some of the pitfalls and some of the good things and some
of the not so good things about what they do and how they can help you. So you get a car that's
behaving like Gina's saying, I have an older vehicle that's running well. It's been great,
a great car to me. Should I sell it now? No. No, you shouldn't. Just keep going, girl. Whatever
you're doing, you're on the right track and you're putting money back in your pocket. And you're not
working to make principal payments and interest payments on a piece of sheet metal and rubber.
Because you know what? Life is not about buying things to impress people. We don't even know. We
don't even like. That's the talking heads. That's the media. That's the marketing. That's the trap,
folks. That is the trap. So great questions. Let's get into our motormouth summer tech tip and then
I got to get out of here because I got work to do down on the shop floor. I've got a cleanup job and
I got to finish off that pressure washer that I brought back to life. And I got two things to
finish on that and it's ready to go home. Battery blues in the heat. Most folks think cold kills
batteries, but hot weather, it's sneakier. That heat evaporates the fluid inside and bam, your
battery gives up on life. Pop the hood, check for corrosion on the terminals and corrosion folks is
not the green mobbies anymore. That's what I nicknamed it like 40 years ago. Corrosion is when
a shiny penny turns gray. That's corrosion in today's electronics. That's corrosion. Cannot have that.
So if you've got crusty green mobby terminals on your battery, that's like beyond, above and
beyond. So check for corrosion on the terminals and if your battery is older than your gym membership
might be time to replace it. The average lifespan for battery folks, especially leaving the factory,
if it's a domestic car, I can tell you two to three years and it's junk. On an import or a European
car, they go beyond five. And the original battery, no, that wasn't the original. That was a second,
that was a replacement when I bought the old seven FJ Cruiser. That battery lasted nine years.
The lady replaced it just before I bought it and bought a Toyota battery and I got nine years out
of that battery. That's impressive. And I see that a lot. For some reason, you will never see that kind
of timeframe on a battery out of any domestic vehicle. Not usually. Not usually. When it comes
to buying batteries, that's when I'm super picky because I don't want to be left somewhere. And
I've gotten to know batteries from different companies that just don't cut the mustard.
And in fact, I do have a battery pile that has to get turned in. And I look at the brands
on the skid of dead batteries. And it gives you a good indicator whose product is working
and whose product is failing. So I leave you with that. Have yourself a fantastic, marvelous weekend.
Get out there and do stuff if you're on vacation listening to this podcast. Have a great time.
Remember, no fish if there's no pictures. Just saying, yeah, and no AI because I can tell you
if it's AI. Yeah, just talk to some of these young kids. They'll go, oh, that's AI. How do you know?
Oh, you just have to look for this. Oh, I'm on it. Yeah, excellent. So enjoy your weekend.
Happy healthy motoring. Be safe out there. Peace, patience, and kindness always. And we'll see you
Monday morning for another edition of Motor Mouse Morning Drive. Have yourself a great time.
Be safe out there and whatever you're doing. And we'll see you in the next one. Bye for now.
About this episode
Saturday Q&A on Car Connection Workshop kicks off with shop-floor banter, a lightning-storm story, and a reminder that mileage doesn’t matter—maintenance does. Host Niall “Motormouth” Jenkins sets the tone for longevity-focused DIY and answers listener questions submitted by Friday noon. A “Battery Blues in the Heat” tech tip is teased, alongside a broader pitch for community, program partners, and subscribing to grow the show’s reach. The episode also riffs on why women tend to ask questions ahead of time and how vehicle care protects drivers from breakdowns and costly mistakes.
