A timing belt keeps the engine’s moving parts timed correctly. If it breaks, the engine can get badly damaged, so it’s important to replace it on schedule.
A tune-up is routine maintenance to keep your car running well. It often involves checking or replacing common wear items so the engine performs like it should.
The Nissan Rogue is a common family SUV. If it’s “getting its brakes back in order,” the shop is making sure the brakes are working properly again—often by checking pads/rotors and making sure everything is safe.
A Jeep Wrangler is a tough SUV that’s built for off-road driving. When someone says it’s getting a “second chance,” it usually means the shop is fixing problems and replacing worn-out stuff so it can keep running well.
Brakes are what slow your car down and help you stop safely. If a shop says the brakes are “back in order,” they’ve checked the parts and fixed anything that wasn’t working right.
A “mystery leak” means the car is leaking something, but it’s not obvious what it is or where it’s coming from. Mechanics usually track it down by looking for the wet spots and checking which fluid it is so they can fix the real cause.
A maintenance plan is just a checklist of services your car needs over time. Doing them on schedule helps your car stay reliable and can prevent bigger problems later.
Filters and fluids are the car’s “cleaning and lubrication” supplies. Over time they get dirty or break down, so replacing them helps the engine run smoothly and last longer.
An 18-wheeler is a big freight truck with a trailer. The point is that commercial drivers can’t afford to have their vehicle break down, so they stay on top of maintenance.
A roadside breakdown is when your car or truck stops working and you need help to get it fixed or towed. If you’re hauling cargo, it can also delay delivery and cost money.
The head gasket is like a tight seal inside the engine. If it blows, the engine can start mixing fluids or overheating, and that can become a big, expensive problem. Sometimes it’s not an easy fix.
“Big rig” is a common term for heavy-duty tractor-trailer trucks used for long-distance freight. The segment uses it to discuss the mindset of an independent driver who owns or is responsible for the truck, emphasizing constant readiness and ongoing investment. It also highlights the financial shock of replacing or buying one.
Instead of pulling the whole engine out, the shop rebuilds it while it stays mounted in the truck’s frame. It’s often cheaper and faster than a full engine-out rebuild.
It means rebuilding the engine without taking it completely out of the truck. The goal is to extend the life of a truck that’s otherwise still in good shape.
They mention an acronym (SOS) that’s supposed to be a trucking practice or program. The point they’re making is that instead of giving up on a high-mile truck, you rebuild key parts to keep it working.
They’re saying that a car or truck can have lots of miles and still be a good buy if it was cared for. The key is whether it’s maintained and ready to keep working.
The speaker describes a common heavy-duty approach: run the vehicle for very high mileage, then rebuild the engine when it’s worn out. This strategy is often cheaper than buying a replacement truck, especially when the rest of the truck is still serviceable.
They’re saying you should keep up with regular car maintenance. If you ignore problems and wait too long, they usually get worse and cost more to fix later.
“Paid off” means the car is no longer under a loan payment. When that’s true, many people choose to fix and maintain the car instead of buying a new one.
Concept
change your mindset
They’re saying don’t automatically give up on an older car just because it’s older. If you keep maintaining it, it can keep working and you’ll still need to replace some parts over time.
Earl and Louise Grant are named as the people behind the dealership’s operation. The transcript frames them as experienced “car guys” with long relationships for sourcing quality pre-owned vehicles.
They help arrange leasing or a loan right through the dealership. Even so, you should still check the interest rate and the full price so you know you’re getting a good deal.
A tune-up is routine maintenance to help your car run smoothly and efficiently. It used to mean swapping a bunch of ignition parts, but today it’s usually more about checking what’s wrong and replacing only what needs it.
Some older cars used a distributor to send the spark to the right cylinder. The cap and rotor are parts inside that system, and when they wear out the engine can misfire.
This looks like a part name that may have been misheard in the transcript. If it’s what it sounds like, it’s likely related to emissions or engine airflow, and those parts can affect how smoothly the engine runs.
Crankcase ventilation helps keep the engine’s internal gases under control. Instead of letting fumes build up in the engine, it routes them back to be burned. If it’s not working right, the engine can run worse and may leak oil.
Older cars used a distributor to send spark to each cylinder. The distributor cap is like a routing cover that helps direct the electricity where it needs to go. Newer cars often don’t use this setup anymore.
Coil-on-plug means each spark plug has its own little coil that makes the spark. That helps the engine control ignition more precisely. It can also make spark plug replacement a bit more work because parts may need to be removed to reach them.
A misfire is when the engine doesn’t get the spark (or the right combustion) in a cylinder. That can make the engine shake, feel weak, or run rough. If it keeps happening, it can lead to more expensive damage.
ECM stands for Engine Control Module, the computer that manages fuel, spark timing, and other engine functions. When spark plugs wear and misfires start, the ECM has to compensate, which can stress ignition components and lead to drivability issues. Modern engines monitor misfires and can trigger warning lights if problems persist.
The spark plug gap is the small space inside the spark plug. If that gap is set too wide, the engine may not get a strong enough spark, which can lead to rough running and possible damage.
They’re using the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan to show that if the spark plugs aren’t gapped correctly, the ignition system can get stressed. In some engines, that can lead to damage to an ignition module, which is costly to replace.
The ignition module is part of the system that helps make sure the spark plugs get the right spark at the right time. If something forces it to work too hard, it can burn out.
They’re talking about their 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser as an example of why they change spark plugs regularly. Their point is that doing it on schedule can prevent problems later and keep the engine running efficiently.
The engine air filter keeps dirt from getting into the engine. If it gets clogged, the engine can’t breathe as well, and it may run worse and use more fuel.
A cabin air filter cleans the air entering the passenger compartment through the HVAC system. Replacing it helps maintain airflow and can reduce odors and particulate buildup inside the vehicle.
Catastrophic engine damage is when an engine gets so badly damaged that it may need a major repair or replacement. Overheating is one of the most common ways this happens.
They’re saying that if the car overheats, it can also hurt the automatic transmission. The transmission fluid gets too hot and can stop working properly, causing costly problems.
A “you pull it” yard is where you go to a junkyard and take parts off cars yourself. The hosts are basically saying that if you let a problem get bad enough, you might end up needing salvage parts.
A caliper is the part that squeezes the brake pads against the brake rotor. If it’s sticking or not moving smoothly, braking can feel uneven or not work as well.
Fuel injection service is cleaning the parts that deliver fuel to the engine. The goal is to help the engine burn fuel efficiently instead of just adding a random additive and hoping for the best.
“Snake oil” means a product that’s probably not doing what the marketing claims. The host is saying don’t rely on random additives—get real service if your car needs it.
Decarbonizing means cleaning carbon deposits that build up inside the engine. Those deposits can make the engine run less efficiently, so cleaning them can help performance.
Fuel injectors are the parts that deliver fuel into the engine. If they get dirty, the engine may not get the right fuel mixture, which can hurt power and mileage.
The plenum is part of the intake system that helps distribute air to the engine. If it gets dirty, airflow can be less effective, so cleaning it can help the engine run better.
The “motorback machine” is a shop tool used to clean out carbon and gunk inside the engine system. The point is that it can clean areas that are hard to reach with basic hand cleaning, which can help the car drive better.
Snap-on makes professional tools for mechanics. Here, the host is talking about a Snap-on machine they used to clean carbon and deposits that can cause the car to run poorly.
“Drivability issues” means the car doesn’t run smoothly or doesn’t respond right when you drive. It can feel like hesitation, rough idle, or sluggish power, often caused by buildup inside the engine.
This segment highlights a maintenance scheduling strategy: tracking upcoming services on the work order and booking appointments so customers don’t miss routine intervals. The host argues that consistent scheduling is why tire rotations happen regularly in their shop.
Cross rotation is when you move tires diagonally to even out wear. The host says it used to be more common, but many tires today are directional so you can’t do that pattern.
Directional tires are made to spin the correct way for better grip and water evacuation. Because they’re one-direction only, you can’t freely swap them side-to-side during rotation.
Tread wear is how your tire’s rubber gets used up. If one part of the tire wears faster than the rest, the tire won’t last as long and may not grip as well.
A brake inspection is when a shop checks your brakes for wear and problems. It’s especially helpful when the wheels are off because they can see everything better.
Concept
interference engine vs non-interference engine
Some engines have parts that can collide if the timing belt breaks. If your engine is “interference,” a broken belt can lead to expensive damage; if it’s “non-interference,” the engine may just stop and be less likely to get wrecked.
Cars that use timing belts have a “due date” for replacement. Replacing it on schedule helps you avoid the expensive damage that can happen if it breaks.
Your owner’s manual tells you what maintenance your specific car needs. It’s the best place to confirm things like whether you have a timing belt and the replacement schedule.
If you’re unsure, you can ask the dealer to confirm what your exact car has. They can look it up for your specific vehicle and tell you when the timing belt is due.
Some engines are designed so the valves and pistons don’t collide if timing slips, and some engines are. If yours is an interference engine and the timing goes wrong, the engine can be badly damaged. If it’s non-interference, the damage is usually less severe.
The Honda Pilot is a Honda SUV. When people talk about timing belts and chains, they’re really saying you should check your exact engine, because service needs can differ even within the same model line.
This is saying that the Honda Accord has different engine versions. A V6 version may have different timing-belt/chain details and service timing than other Accord engines, so you should confirm what you actually have.
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan. If you’re planning tune-ups, the important part is figuring out whether your specific engine uses a timing belt or chain and when it should be serviced.
VVT stands for variable valve timing. It helps the engine open and close the valves at different times depending on driving conditions. That matters because the engine’s timing system (and its maintenance) can affect reliability.
Some engines place the timing belt inside the engine and run it in oil, which can reduce exposure to heat and contaminants compared with belts that run dry. The host questions whether that design truly extends belt life, noting that “belt lasts longer” claims should be treated as a hypothesis until you verify the manufacturer guidance and real-world history.
Concept
replacement intervals 100 000 miles vs 100 000 kilometers
The transcript points out a common confusion: manufacturers or markets may quote timing service intervals in different units (miles in the US vs kilometers in Canada). Even if the number looks the same, the real-world distance differs, so listeners should convert units and follow the interval that matches their vehicle’s market and engine.
“Stretch it” means waiting too long to replace the belt. Over time the belt can wear out and timing can go wrong, which can lead to a major repair.
Concept
timing belt vs timing chain (shift around 2010)
Some cars use a timing belt, others use a timing chain. The chain is usually more long-lasting, but you still need to follow the maintenance schedule for your specific engine.
Don’t rely on generic advice—check the maintenance schedule for your exact car. Your manual or dealer can confirm the correct timing-belt interval so you don’t guess.
Cars don’t usually break at a convenient time. This is saying you should fix or service things before they fail, because breakdowns often happen when it’s most inconvenient.
LIVE
Good morning folks, you're tuned in to Car Connection, where the coffee is strong, the
stories are real and the wrenches never stop turning.
I'm your host, Niall Montermouth 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.
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 its brakes back in order,
or 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,
to the people who drive them, 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, helping you keep
your ride safe, reliable, and ready for whatever road lies ahead. So whether you're a weekend
understand what that strange rattle really means. Welcome aboard, stick around for shop
talk, expert advice, few good laughs, and maybe even a flashback story. Good morning everyone,
welcome aboard. If you're joining us for the very first time, it's Saturday, 8am,
motormouth morning drive, so if you are in the drive through this morning and you are scheduled
to work, that sucks. We feel bad for you. Buy a coffee for someone behind you, it'll make you
feel better. Yeah, it might. Give it a try. Well, grab your morning beverage, whatever that is,
and the snack that goes alongside of it, because it's a combo, and lock that down in your cup holder,
we're going to unlock three questions today, another Q and A Saturday, and in order for you
to get your questions into the heap of questions that come in, here's what you need to know.
By Friday's noon hour, high noon,
yeah, that's right, it's the best I can do for you, a bit of Clint Eastwood there, yeah.
Friday by noon, tumbleweed or not, we got to have your questions in, so that's motormouth.jankins
at gmail.com or Nile at ccbusnet.com, that information is readily available for you,
because everything we talk about lives at our website, it's the biggest drawer we have in our
toolbox, so on the homepage, you'll find our program partners that make this podcast possible,
and our YouTube channel, they're giving us just enough support to keep the lights on, so we need
to get monetized ASAP, we're almost at the halfway mark of our subscribers, give us a push,
if you haven't, if you're watching the videos, which I know you are, we get to see that, I watch
the analytics every day, so that I know that everything that Skippy and I are doing isn't
just slinging mud on the wall, we're doing things with specific intent, because we need to get the
results to be able to buy parts, do the labor, film the video, and get that up so that you can see
and learn some of the basic fundamentals, so thank you to our program sponsors that came along with
us as we made the jump to all digital now with more ways for you to watch, listen, and engage,
remember cars don't break when it's convenient, folks, they break when it hurts, absolutely,
it's been a crazy month here in the car connection workshop, so to finish off the story on our
homepage of our website, I don't like to bounce around all over and give you like 20 different
opportunities to connect, everything's there for you on our homepage, go to our website,
carconnectionbusinessnowwork.com, and top right hand corner, you'll see all the links for all the
platforms we are involved with, and that's YouTube, we have well over 300 items for you to
entertain yourself and learn stuff on our YouTube channel, all our podcasts are piling in there
daily, so when we put up a new one, it lands in our YouTube channel, and I'm working on doing
thumbnails for all of those, that takes time, I'm a wrencher, you know, and I'm learning all this
digital stuff, so for anyone out there that says you're too old, too short, too fat, too skinny,
any excuse will do, I gotta make soup, if I can do this, and I've been, I grew up a wrencher,
a wrench head, you can do it too, you can learn stuff, you know, what it is, where it is, how it
works, how it breaks, and how you could have saved money just by simply knowing some stuff
about your car, you don't have to get out there and trade time for money to make a stupid car
payment, paying interest, and principal for the next five to seven years, you don't have to do that,
that's just media information, sucking your brain out with a turkey baster from the dollar store,
and they suck, I just gotta tell you that, we use them a lot in the shop,
but most of the time they're one time and then the thing falls apart and it's like
miserable, it's miserable, so everything's there on our homepage, YouTube's, Facebook,
Instagram's, Skippy puts up Reels and Bloopers on those two platforms, she takes care of that,
and thank goodness, because I'd probably just hammer Facebook and Instagram with a big eight
pounder, eight pound hammer, she got the patience for that, you can only take so much, you know what
I'm saying, we're also on Stevensvilleontheweb.ca, that's a website that Skippy is our videographer,
so just in case you don't know that, that's who takes care of all the weird stuff that goes on
behind the scenes, the Reels, the Bloopers, and specific shots with the video when I'm not looking,
like last week's goes, you weren't, what are you doing, so you weren't supposed to look at me,
oh, is that the, whose camera is that, so it's mine, I'm just getting some
material to use for a new reel, oh, okay, I'll turn the other way, see that's the
stuff you don't get to see on the YouTubes, but you will get to see that on Facebook and Instagram,
have a good laugh, make sure you put your hot beverage down before you do that, we are professionals
on Stevensvilleontheweb.ca, so we do articles there as well as if you click on the business tab,
you'll find us there, our profile open, you can email me from there as well, if you really really
really really want to, our iHeart radio link is there, we're on all platforms now including
Podbean, still waiting for someone to say, you know, I got this 19 something blah blah blah,
and that's the name I gave, it was Podbean, I'm waiting for somebody to send me an email and tell
me that, or if you were to have a vehicle, what kind of vehicle would yours be if it was going to
have the moniker Podbean attached to it, yeah, I got one in mind, I'm just waiting to see if somebody
matches what I'm thinking about, so you can click there, you can find us on any podcast
platform, we are there, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and all the other platforms that are out there,
just type in the search box, car connection workshop, next we have our grab some motormouth
merch online store, when you do that, and thank you to all of you who have been doing that,
you guys rock, we love you very much, thank you, because the proceeds go to total freedom
addiction campuses, Canada and USA, to provide the help needed for those who have made the decision,
today's the day to break free from their addiction, and there's a brand new life waiting for them at
total freedom addiction campuses, Canada and the US, so thank you for doing that, we don't,
we don't get a dime from that, it goes straight to total freedom addiction campuses, so shop till
you drop, it's a safe place to do that, order what you like, if you haven't got your car connection
official coffee mug, I don't know why, we're still waiting, Skippy and I are still waiting for ours
to show up, we don't know what happened, I think we got stuck in the backorder file or something,
so we best get on that, well let's jump into the morning and have our morning swiggy together,
and that is brought to us by the team at Niagara Block, 5000 Montrose Road, Niagara Falls,
building Canada since 1931, so when you look around you see block buildings and stuff like that,
they could have built that, they could have made the blocks for that building, you don't know for
sure, we'd have to ask, so they also have metal, so if you need sill plates, I think that's what
they call them, they have angle ironses, all different sizes and rebar to make all those
major building concepts that you have, bring them to life, yeah don't talk about it, build it,
that's right, if you're looking to create that beautiful outdoor living space like a lot of
people have been doing, that's where they hang out, well they can help you do that, and we thank
Kathy, Dave and Dan Grimo for making that available, Kathy Grimo has a list of contractors,
so if you need a referral, she can give you a very good contractor referral that will help you
design the outdoor yard space, your outdoor living space, that oasis you've always wanted to have,
they can get it designed, estimate it, you can pick out all the goodies that you want to include
in that outdoor space, and I'll tell you, it will look absolutely stunning, they have everything
including slate available to you, designer blocks and pavers, you name it, and stone
is crazy good, so you can put together your special space and enjoy it, so thank you
to Niagara Block for bringing us our morning swiggy, we count it down and we have it together,
you ready, let's have it together together, three, two, one, refreshing, that's the key word today,
refreshing, it's Saturday, we made it to the weekend, what's a weekend, I don't know,
I don't get weekends until you know when I head up to my brother in law's cottage,
then I get weekends, I'm not complaining, you take a little time here and there wherever you
can sneak out some white space on your calendar and just use it for what it's worth, absolutely,
well there are two ways, only two ways to own a car, living in the unknown or living in the
know, and I like to remind you of this and as for all those who are new listeners,
you're one or the other, so there's only two ways to own a car, you're living in the unknown or
living in the know, one creates stress, yeah, and emotional damage, and the other gives you freedom,
can you figure out which one, which category, first of all, which category do you fall into
and which one gives you stress and emotional damage and which one gives you peace of mind
and freedom, being in the know or being in the unknown, put that in an email, fire that over to
me, so how long would your car last if you actually followed a proper maintenance plan,
well we've revamped what we used to call our car connection maintenance schedule kit
and we've designed it so that it specifically works for any vehicle out there, you could possibly
even use it on equipment but probably not, unless it has wheels and brakes and hydraulics and filters
and fluids, you could use some of it, yeah, you could use some of the car connection fleet
maintenance system to organize that maintenance for you, well we've done all that for you
and very shortly we should have the profile page for that up on our website so you can read all
about it, all the details, know how you get one and see what you're getting and when you have
special pricing for those who are subscribed to our YouTube channel and I'll tell you whatever age
group or whoever you are, single mom, single dad, single gal, you're just, you're running the whole
show on your own or a fella, single fella, get yourself into our YouTube channel and watch till
you drop because you are going to learn so much about the basics of automobile ownership and the
basic fundamentals of maintenance that you will be a walking secret weapon when you go into the
service center, that's right, you won't have to send me an email saying do you think they
rip me off, you'll actually be able to play ball and they'll know you know something,
yeah and that I can't put in your head but I can teach you through the YouTube channel and that's
what it's all about, the channel is not about you know building four-wheel off-road stuff and
monster trucks and we did that before and you know it's now spending you know I'm 44 years into the
automotive repair and service business like truck and passenger vehicles, highway trucks and coaches,
I'm sharing that knowledge with you because I'll tell you what if every single one of you
treated your automobile like it was an 18-wheeler, you would get it, you would really, really,
really get it and what do I mean by that? Before we jump into our three questions,
if you owned and operated a big rig hauling stuff north, south, east and west, you would
understand something that's called downtime, downtime many years ago was about $900 a day,
that was back in the mid to late 80s, what do you think that number would look like per day now?
Big money, so imagine you own an operator rig and you're hauling for a company,
if you can't haul, you make no money, got it? You make no money, if your rig is down and you can't
take the load, it gets passed to someone else who can hook onto it and go because they have customers
that are expecting product on time and especially if it's perishable stuff, it can't wait, it's
gotta go, it's on a timer, it's gotta get where it needs to go so it can be sold on the store shelves.
Imagine if that were your vehicle instead of just your automobile, how important would it be
that your rig is ready at a moment's notice to hook onto a load and go because then you get paid?
You wouldn't want to miss a service, you wouldn't want it to be not running and healthy and not well,
you would probably be really good at making sure your rig is 100% ready to perform and having
a roadside breakdown with a load on is not going to get you paid either because somebody's going to
have to come get it and you're there until you can get hauled in and get your truck fixed but
you're not getting paid, you may get paid some mileage for the amount of the run that you actually
accomplished but as for the rest, that's somebody else's money. So what would your mindset be?
And here's, I'm gonna twist this right in in just a minute, get ready, I'm gonna twist this,
no I'm not one of those woke people, they'd never survive around me, they blow a head gasket that's
not replaceable because I'll mess with them big time. So anyhow, yeah because you can't fix stupid
and you just can't, I can show you stuff, you can't fix it, it's over, over, here's the thing.
Yeah, how important would it be that you're making things right on that truck constantly,
making sure that it's ready to go on a moment's notice and you don't care how many miles around it?
If your neighbor says how many miles you got on your rig, half a million,
well you're still putting money into that thing, well why don't you go and check and see how much
a new one is, surprise of a house, did you know that? Do that, do a good, here's something I'm
gonna give you for homework, it shouldn't take you long, Google how much to buy a rig, brand new
oh crankcase ventilation, filter or canister, pretty much that would be about it
and every vehicle would be pretty much the same, but then times have changed, we don't have
distributor caps, we don't have plug wires, what you sort of do but not really, coil over plug
and then the spark plugs are hidden way underneath it with all kinds of stuff on top that you got
to take off to get to them, so we still change spark plugs and here's where I say don't listen to
the talking heads, the sales team, that your spark plugs can stay in there for 250,000 kilometers,
that isn't going to work out for you because they generally don't want to come out
and if we snap them off then we got to tear half the engine apart
and send the cylinder heads out where the spark plugs snapped off in them to get it fixed
and is that costing you, absolutely, so well how would you feel about the fellow that said you
can leave those plugs in there for 225,250,000 kilometers, are you going to keep them on your
Christmas gift giving list, that's what I want to know because the cost of seeing how far those
plugs will go before they start misfiring and then they have to come out no matter what,
watch the video from last summer on the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan where I was trying to get
the spark plugs out and they had been in there for almost 200,000 K, I managed to get three out
with three remaining and they did not want to come out and I used my super duper mini mix
and soaked those plugs down for about a week, two weeks and kept working them every day I would
work those plugs till we got them out, saved the single mom a ton of money but it was car down,
you know it's misfiring and this is the thing that vehicles today run too good for too long
and so when things like spark plugs wear out it's overworking the ECM and the coils that
we have coil over plugs so every plug has its own coil pack not like in the day like Mr. Green
Jeans and Restoration they have cap rotor and wires and it's one coil feeds all eight or all
yeah all eight spark plugs it has that they have distributors that just distribute the ignition
spark sparkles so the spark plugs fire but today vehicles when that spark plug gaps get
the gap gets too wide and that's what we showed you on that 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan the plug gap
you got to see that it's unbelievable and it's a wonder it didn't blow the ignition module because
on that 2010 it has an ignition module doesn't have coil over plug and it generally would fry
that ignition module at the time those ignition modules were very expensive killer expensive
so spark plugs I'm going to suggest this for the simple reason then we know we can get them out
and replace them change them out every hundred thousand preferably 80,000 k I don't care who
says what get them out of there I am in the same boat with the 07 Toyota FJ Cruiser they tell you
you know 225,000 k I pull them out every two years whatever mileage I've done I pull them out because
number one I know I can get them out number two I don't want to overheat the coil over plug
modules because they're expensive I'd rather put dump a set of plugs in there fresh
know that I can't get them out and that I'm getting optimum fuel economy I'm not gonna I'm not a guy
that runs things until it's broken I would much rather change it before it's broken and I got the
inconvenience of a vehicle down that's just bugs me when especially when I know I could have been
avoided so spark plugs yes we change those airfield engine air filters yes we check and change those
accordingly cabin air filter yes we check and change those accordingly we check belts hoses
all the fluids clamps on the hoses we find any rusted clamps spring clamps we got to get those
off there because that means a week you're going to end up with a coolant leak and possibly an over
heat and cause engine damage catastrophic engine damage and automatic transmission
damage as well all at the same time it's like a combo so why waste time if you're going to wreck
the engine might as well destroy the transmission and then the car can go to the you pull it yard
and the buzzards can pick it over because that's what happens go you know what you want to get
entertained go to a you pull it yard pay pay the entrance fee and find how many vehicles in there
take a notepad how many vehicles you find totally rotted out in the you pull it yard it'll blow your
mind it really will it might be like a little pop for me but it might be a bigger explosion for you
my parents never had to worry about me doing mind expanding drugs if you know what I'm saying
I'm okay with that it's good it's good it's good so tune up that's how we do a tune up for you
and I would also throw in when I'm doing a tune up for a customer at my own shop where if I was
doing it for video I'm going to check the brakes too because they may need to tune up they may be
ready to take the calipers off take the pads out and the pins out re lube everything slam it all
back together and get you down the road having equal braking on all four wheels so tune ups today
are similar to the past except we do them a little different we do them differently so
every time it's in we're not going to be changed the spark plugs but we're going to monitor the
mileage for you to let you know hey next time you're in the spark plugs need to come out it's
time for them to come out so you don't get yourself into trouble upside down and sideways
having to tear the motor apart to get spark plugs out is just dumb it really is that's wasted
cash the cost to do that versus buying a set of plugs and paying a tech to put them in
apples to oranges just does not make any sense whatsoever we're also going to make sure we
check all the fluids wiper blades washer fluid all of it we're going to go through everything
that's a tune up today and we may make a recommendation for a full blown fuel injection service not
putting some goo in the tank and take it for a drive full blown fuel injection service will
pay you back in performance and fuel economy big time we'll talk about that another day
but it does it pays back huge not just going to you know the triangle store and grabbing yourself
a bottle of snake oil throwing it in going there you go honey i did just did a fuel injection
service for you no you didn't you just put some snake oil in the tank and that's about it a full
blown hardcore fuel injection service is we're cleaning all we're decarbonizing the pistons
and valves of all cauliflower carbon that robs your vehicle fuel economy and performance
we're cleaning up the cylinders the valves the fuel injectors we're flushing them out getting any
varnish and paraffins paraffins being wax that's in the fuel that helps to complete combustion
and on and on and on we clean manually clean out the plenum area where it just gets gummy
and gooey in there like driveway sealer we clean that all out and i'll tell you this
nine out of ten customers that i used my uh my snap-on motorback machine i had one of i was one
of two only in the hamilton area that had that machine and we fixed a lot of drivability issues
that you could tune cars up you could change everything all day but that motorback would
fix the problem because it was it was carbon cauliflower carbon and deposits that we just
could not get to by hand that machine did it and it was awesome absolutely awesome so kim great
question yes we should still be doing tune-ups on our vehicles jerry number two question number two
this is an easy one tire rotations not seeing a whole lot of that going on and i'm not sure why
is it a tech side issue or is it people you're not being notified here's what i did for my clients
at our shop on the hamilton mountain i would make a notation um on the work order next oil
change service tire rotation but we would be we would manage that for them at our end because
we always booked an appointment from an appointment just like the ladies do when they do their hair
they know if they don't get a chair time and they're ready for it in like five six weeks
they may not get in for five or six weeks after that i just need a little bit of h2o there did
you mind topping up the overflow yeah oil change set every other service tire rotation why do i say
that because you will get the maximum tire wear entire life out of the tires that you have on
your vehicle when they rotate because we take them from the front put them to the back bring the
backs the front same side we can't rotate them over unless the tire shows cross rotation which
shows you two arrows crossing each other on the sidewall of the tire but we don't i don't see those
anymore they were huge at one time now it's directional tires you can only go fronts to back
backs to front and they stay on the same side because there's an arrow showing you the direction
of the tread direction does that make sense the direction of the tread never mind you see the arrow
they go clockwise you'll see the arrow pointing clockwise not counterclockwise those tires go
to australia that's what i've been told um anyhow every second oil change tire rotation no matter
what the text says it goes well you know they really don't yes they do they need to be rotated
because by taking the tires from the front to the back the back of the car will always even
the tread out for you so you get better wear so we bring the backs have you'll notice the front
tires generally have a little bit of roundness to them and so they they will tend to wear off on
the edges so if you get those to the back before it's too late the back of the vehicle tracks
differently because the back doesn't steer the front doesn't that's why if you're one of these
people like some of my neighbors when they pull in the driveway holy smokes it's like they're still
on the 401 at the highway speed and they just rip right in the driveway take it easy on the turning
folks that's where you burn tires off prematurely there's a tech tip for you right there don't don't
running it tight and hard into the cornering thing that burns your tires off on the front quickly
you scrub a lot of rubber off just so you know you're wasting rubber when you go tight into
corners or tight into driveways you know slow down slow right down save your tires tires aren't
cheap nowadays there's no three for four or four for one anymore even on pizzas I always said you
know best pizza parlor would be the one that makes the pies and you get you know buy one get get three
for free yeah a four for one that kind of thing so tire rotation every second oil change so every
other one don't listen to the tech you just tell the service advisor I would like tire rotation
today please thank you and while the wheels are off you say and a full brake inspection
perfect time wheels are off they can see everything brake inspections are not a peek
a boo through the rim we'll talk about that another time so great question Jerry way to go Jerry
tire rotations what every second oil change get on rotation with that every second oil change you
will get maximum tire life out of your tires okay next question Casca saying we're running out of
time here yeah I got I got to have my hair done no not really not today we got to fix stuff today
the workshop uh bill's question question number three timing belts timing belts engine timing belts
do we still have vehicles with these things well I got a long answer for you but I I put it into
point form so I stay on track and don't dive in too deep okay how many vehicles we have around here
one the J Bean has a timing belt uh what else has a timing belt oh the rocket has two timing
belts a primary and a secondary and they're tough to do they're a little bit of a miserable thing
but anyways if you're not sure gals and fellas that your vehicle is equipped with a timing belt
then you listen up because you got to find out because here's here's the deal timing belts if you
have a non interference engine that's good that means if the timing belt breaks and you're flying
down the QEW at 135 140 and the timing belt breaks and it's a non interference engine that just means
the engine quits the cylinders are still humping and then they'll stop but the pistons didn't hit
hammer the valves in the cylinder head and smash the engine to pieces because that's that'll put
your vehicle into the you pull it buzzard yard in great shape mind you but the engine's destroyed
and that's big money it can't be fixed when that happens the engine is catastrophically destroyed
that's what we call an interference engine so if you're same scenario you're scooting down the
highway you're late for work you're putting the hammer down a little more you're doing 145 and a
100 because it is only a suggestion right you'll wait for the the car with the flashing lights on
to remind you that that's probably not true but if your engine is an interference engine and that
timing belt breaks at highway speed or even just pulling away from a traffic light that's
generally when they do break the pistons smash the cylinder head and it's game over you're probably
sending that vehicle into the as is column in the newspaper or on facebook marketplace because
you're not going to want to replace that motor it's done it is destroyed so this is the serious
conversation great question we've had timing belts and then we've gone back to chains and
then we went back to timing belts and then now we've gone back to chains listen up if you're
not sure if your vehicle is equipped with a timing belt you need to make inquiry two ways
look in your owner's manual number one you know the book that's pristine the pages aren't even
partly wrinkled yeah that would be your owner's manual number two make an inquiry to a selling
dealer of your particular vehicle and ask is my vehicle equipped with a timing belt
and the next question and when should it be replaced and if you want to get technical
is my vehicle an interference or non-interference engine
yeah and i'll put that in the you know what i'll do you favor i'll put that in the details
the description of this podcast i'll do that for you non-interference versus interference
i'll just keep it simple which one wrecks the engine completely and which one doesn't
so i'll identify that for you so stay with me several vehicle brands still have them
there so now you know which ones you're saying which ones uh some Hondas some Toyotas
a lot of European models that are turbocharged engines okay so again you're gonna have to
make an inquiry i'm not sure what you're driving a little more information Honda Pilot
Honda Odyssey the Honda Accord v6 models and Subaru some Toyotas the uh i can tell you the FJ
Toyota FJ that's uh that's um VVT variable valve timing and it's chain that engine that four
liters uh chain and that was one of the other things i wanted was to get away from the rubber
belt thing uh some fours out there have a timing belt inside the engine that's submerged in oil
uh no one asked us texts about that we would have said what are you nuts anyways you need to find
that out i'm not sure which fours but there's some fours where the timing belt is submerged
in your motor oil because they say the belt lasts longer i don't know that's not anything
i would buy and that would be a question those are questions i asked when i'm looking at something
but i usually do my homework ahead of time that's how i bought the o7 fj cruiser it's simple inside
to clean out it's basic electronics nothing super fancy it's easy to die ag when something
goes wrong and there's lots of room under the hood to work on it bing got it um
Honda Accord v6 models and Subaru some Toyotas and performance engines so if you have a model from
you know like say Akira um i can't remember all the the high-end stuff yeah but you know what i mean
Akira and Lexus i can't remember the one for net for Nissan but it doesn't matter
they're high-end stuff with performance engines check into that because a lot of those performance
engines are timing belt driven here's where the i have a problem with the replacement intervals
and it was a problem back in the early 90s the american side they're saying 100 000 miles
on the canadian side they'd be saying 100 000 kilometers well us techs would be going well
what the heck is it is it 100 000 miles or 162 000 kilometers well the manufacturers on our side
are saying oh we're sticking by 100k and on the us side they say you know it's good for 100 000
miles which in canada is about 162 000 kilometers do i want to take the chance if the engine is
interference the timing belt breaks and smashes the engine to smithereenies no so what a lot of us
techs that hung around together we we said you know we're telling our customers 86 000
kilometers you need to get it booked in and get it changed because if these guys are wrong
it's going to cost you a motor so if you want to listen to them and take a chance
it's it may not work out for you far better to change it sooner than when it's too late
so we we would book our and remind our customers that have timing belts 86 000 k we need to get
this thing booked in and get it out so you're better with a timing belt to change it sooner
than stretch it and that's no pun intended i mean that stretch it and if it's an interference
engine you're looking for another car it's over because you're going to need a full engine
okay next so we got that so check with your manufacturer if they tell you it's 100 000 k
subtract 20 that's when you want to get it booked in change it sooner don't take it right to the
limit that's what i'm saying do not take it to the limit i think there's a song in that somewhere
did i write that i'm not sure i have to check so automakers from what i could find i couldn't
remember so i looked it up automakers changed over to time back to timing chains approximately
2010 so if that helps you out and a timing belt replacement again they're some are saying 60 000
to 105 000 miles again there's the controversy they're not giving you the replacements in kilometers
hello you know we got south of the borders in miles uh north of borders and kilometers
what is it going to be car manufacturers what's it going to be so again stick with the 85 000
kilometer mark and get it booked in sooner than later don't stretch and press your luck
because it may not work out for you so my my uh suggestion my finishing comment here on that is
check your manual or your selling dealer and get verification on that and again if they say
well we're recommending 100 000 go trust me go with the 85 000 k and make sure you've got a date
to get it in and get it changed don't push it over because it might just be that hundred and one
kilometer and it's all that she wrote and yes she's singing and it's over at that point so
remember cars don't break when it's convenient they break when it hurts so till monday morning
have yourself an amazing weekend again if you want if you were listening to
fridays morning morning drive with yours truly chrysalidge dream center serving men and women
children meals love and hope changing lives one at a time in the niger region feeding about 300
out out the door hot meals tuesdays and fridays are having a fundraising event a beef dinner
and i know it's going to be really good i know that you will not be disappointed and the pies
if you like lemon meringue pie they're so tall when you cut into them it caves over that's a
lemon ring pie you bet um dessert beverages the full meal deal freshly made it's being put on by
the lions club and proceeds going to chrysalidge dream center so check that out by going to their
logo on the homepage or website carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com click on the logo for chrysalidge
dream center open up their profile and get into their website and get your meal booked because
it will sell out it's coming up quickly and then in may they're having another fundraiser it's barbecue
silent auction some giveaways raffles 50 50 they're doing a vintage record album sale again this
year they did an inaugural one last year and they're doing it again this year so if you're into
the vinyl like i am you're going to want to get to that vintage record sale uh that again proceeds
are going to chrysalidge dream center so a couple of fundraisers kicking off uh early spring and you
can get involved in those and all the details are on the chrysalidge dream center website and just
click on their logo on our homepage and get yourself there you'll have a good time barbecue
giveaways 50 50 and silent auction and the i can tell you the silent auction stuff that's donated
is killer oh yeah it's great stuff great stuff yeah like you don't get it you know like a a really
good used uh 10 year old hamster or something like that no you know you don't get that kind of stuff
so consider doing that or being a one-time donor or a monthly donor they don't get any
outside funding so they got to raise the monies to run the show at chrysalidge dream center they pay
for all of it so whatever you can do to help them out do something and know that you're you're
giving to a very good cause faith-based non-profit organization that's making it happener so we'll
see you monday morning bright and early for another motormouth 8 a.m from morning drive have yourself
a wonderful weekend enjoy the weather regardless of enjoy the time off with family and friends and
just relax cool your jets and get ready for the beginning of the week and we'll see you then so
we'll see you in the next one happy healthy morning peace patience kindness always and
we'll see you monday morning bye for now
About this episode
The host opens with Saturday Q&A housekeeping, then leans into a bigger theme: knowing your vehicle and staying ahead of maintenance saves money and stress. He answers questions about modern tune-ups, warning against leaving spark plugs in too long, and recommends tire rotations every second oil change. The final stretch focuses on timing belts, especially on interference engines, where a missed replacement can destroy the motor. He also briefly promotes upcoming charity fundraisers and donation opportunities.
It's Saturday Q&A we're tackling three questions every vehicle owner needs answers to.
Kim asks: Do modern vehicles still need tune-ups?
We break down what a "tune-up" looks like today - and why it still matters.
Gerry wants to know: Are tire rotations really necessary? Short answer: YES- and we explain why every other oil change is the sweet spot to protect your investment and maximize tire life.
Bill brings in the Question of the Day: Do vehicles still have timing belts?
Absolutely-and this is a must - know, not a guess. We cover the shift to timing chains, why timing belts still exist, and why replacing them around 85,000 km could save your engine from catastrophic failure-especially on interference engines.
If you're unsure what your vehicle has, check your service manual or contact your dealer-this is one area you don't want to gamble on.
#CarMaintenance. #AutomotiveQandA #SaturdayQnA
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