Niall Motormull Jenkins shares insights on winter vehicle maintenance and the challenges of driving in harsh weather. He emphasizes the importance of pre-winter inspections to avoid costly repairs and discusses common issues like frozen doors and exhaust problems. With humor and relatable anecdotes, he highlights the need for vigilance on the road, especially during the winter months. Niall also offers practical tips for keeping vehicles in top shape and encourages listeners to be proactive about their car care.
It's Motormouth , coming in hot - more like cold - with a winter reality check. When you slide into. ditch, get buried i na snow drift, or find yourself sideways o na rural road, there always that cowboy who says: "Don't worry, I'll get you out! " Next thing you know , he's hammering your automatic transmission from Drive to Reverse like he's trying to win a rodeo buckle... until your transaxle explodes into ! million pieces. This episode is dedicated to all drivers who need to hear the truth:
No ) All - wheel drive , 4x4 , and traction control do not. make you invincible
No ) Spinning tires is not a recovery strategy
No ) A broken axle, didd, or trans costs thousands - a tow is a couple of hundred
Yes ) If you're stuck and can't safely dig or push your self out, call a tow truck!
Winter driving isn't about ego - it's about physics. Once you lose control , your vehicle will go wherever it wants to, not where you want to. Stay safe, Stay safe, stay smart, and don't let a driveway cowboy turn your winter inconvenience into a five - figure repair bill. CALL TO ACTION JOIN THE MOTORMOUTH CREW: Like, subscribe, comment your thoughts below on our youtube videos, and ring the bell so you never miss a new Motormouth episode. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube @ nile motormouth jenkins for bonus content, reels, and behind - the - scenes shop action. Visit StevensvilleOnTheWeb.ca - click the businesses tab and open our profile page for exclusive extras. Grab your Motormouth & Car Connection merch - link in the description - and show it off! Find all of our program partners at CarConnectionBusinessNetwork.com ( ccbusnet.com ) all of our links are at the top right corner of our home page, Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, iHeartRadio, our podcast can be found on all major platforms, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and many more! Visit our merch store on the home page also! Thanks for listening, watching and visiting us! Happy Motoring ! Your Friend, NMJ
"...it's a 25 year old Jeep Wrangler getting a second chance at life, or a Nissan Rogue getting its brakes back in order..."
The Jeep Wrangler is a tough vehicle designed for driving on rough terrain. Many people love it for its ability to go off-road and handle challenging conditions.
The Jeep Wrangler is a compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road vehicle known for its rugged design and off-road capabilities. It has a loyal following and is often used for both daily driving and off-road adventures.
"...or a Nissan Rogue getting its brakes back in order, or perhaps a Mystery Leak..."
The Nissan Rogue is a small SUV that many families choose because it's comfortable and good on gas. It's designed for everyday driving and running errands.
The Nissan Rogue is a compact crossover SUV that offers a balance of comfort, efficiency, and practicality. It's popular for family use and has a reputation for being reliable.
"...blew something open on my exhaust system somewhere, there's a little puffing going on underneath, and we were just talking about exhaust..."
The exhaust system helps get rid of the gases that come from the engine. It also helps make the car quieter and cleaner by reducing pollution.
The exhaust system is responsible for directing exhaust gases away from the engine and reducing harmful emissions. It includes components like the exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, and muffler.
"...sounds a bit like the 07 FJ Cruiser right now sounds a bit like a pizza delivery vehicle. Yep, I'm disappointed..."
The FJ Cruiser is a tough SUV made by Toyota that looks a bit different from other cars. It's built for driving on rough roads and is liked by people who enjoy adventures.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled SUV known for its off-road capabilities and distinctive design. It was produced from 2006 to 2014 and is popular among off-road enthusiasts.
"...you know what cars are? Money pits. And we just got to get over it, because it's either that..."
A money pit is something, like a car, that costs a lot of money to keep fixing. It feels like you keep spending more than it's worth.
A 'money pit' refers to a vehicle or property that requires continuous and often unexpected expenses for maintenance and repairs, making it financially burdensome.
"...if you haven't already sprayed all your door seals, don't forget the hatch..."
Door seals are the rubber parts around your car doors that help keep water and air from getting inside. They also help keep the car quiet and comfortable.
Door seals are rubber components that line the edges of car doors to create a weather-tight seal. They help keep out moisture, dirt, and noise while also providing insulation.
"...you want to make sure you spray those door seals with a really good silicone-based spray. You can also use the product in the blue and yellow can because it does have silicone in it..."
Silicone-based spray is a type of lubricant that you can use on rubber parts of your car, like door seals. It helps keep them from freezing or getting damaged, especially in cold weather.
Silicone-based spray is a lubricant that helps protect and maintain rubber seals on car doors and windows. It prevents freezing and tearing, ensuring that the seals remain flexible and functional in cold weather.
"I put hot water on the windshield and all I heard was ping and watch the windshield completely separate right in the middle of the glass."
The windshield is the big front window of a car that keeps you safe from wind and rain. It's made of special glass that doesn't break easily.
The windshield is the front window of a vehicle, designed to protect passengers from wind, debris, and weather. It is made of laminated safety glass, which can shatter upon impact but is designed to stay intact to prevent injury.
"Because we have stone chips all over our glass, peppered with little tiny stone chips. And all it takes is one of those to react to the quick temperature change."
Stone chips are tiny dents in the glass of your car that happen when small rocks hit it. They can make the glass weaker and easier to break.
Stone chips are small dents or cracks in the windshield caused by flying debris, typically small stones or gravel. These can weaken the glass and make it more susceptible to cracking under stress, such as temperature changes.
"All it takes is one of those to react to the quick temperature change. Ping, now you need a windshield."
Temperature change is when something gets really hot or really cold quickly. This can make things like glass break if there are already small cracks in it.
Temperature change refers to the rapid shift in temperature that can cause materials, like glass, to expand or contract. This can lead to stress fractures, especially if the material has existing weaknesses like chips or cracks.
"What I do now is I buy de-icer spray in bulk. And I just put it in a trigger sprayer and it's marked de-icer."
De-icer is a special liquid that helps melt ice on your car windows when it's cold outside. It makes it easier to see when you drive.
De-icer is a chemical solution used to melt ice and frost on windshields and other surfaces. It typically contains ingredients that lower the freezing point of water, making it easier to clear ice from vehicles in cold weather.
"...if you haven't had your vehicle indoors at the shop yet to have a full pre winter service, you need to get that done because I really think we're running out of time before things weather changes over..."
A pre winter service is when you take your car to a mechanic to make sure everything is working well before winter starts. They check things like the heater, tires, and battery to help keep you safe in cold weather.
A pre winter service is a comprehensive inspection and maintenance procedure performed on a vehicle to prepare it for cold weather conditions. This service typically includes checking the heating system, battery, tires, and fluids to ensure the vehicle operates safely and efficiently during winter months.
"...the oxygen sensors tell on you, they tell the computer, hey, you know what's happened. I can't get a proper reading..."
Oxygen sensors help your car's computer understand how much fuel to use for the engine. If they detect a problem, they can trigger warning lights on the dashboard.
Oxygen sensors are devices in a vehicle's exhaust system that measure the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases. They provide feedback to the engine control unit (ECU) to optimize fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
"...So a pre-winter inspection, you know, I always look my vehicle over on a regular basis and everything looks good..."
A pre-winter inspection is when you check your car to make sure everything is working well before winter starts. This helps prevent problems when it's cold outside.
A pre-winter inspection is a thorough check of a vehicle's systems and components before the winter season. This can include checking the battery, tires, brakes, and heating system to ensure the vehicle is ready for cold weather conditions.
"...it's no wonder you're having to spend so much money on brakes, tires, front ended suspension..."
Brakes are the parts of a car that help it slow down or stop when you press the pedal. They create friction against the wheels to reduce speed.
Brakes are crucial components of a vehicle that allow it to slow down or stop. They work by applying friction to the wheels, converting kinetic energy into heat.
"...spend so much money on brakes, tires, front ended suspension..."
Tires are the round rubber parts on a car that touch the ground. They help the car grip the road and are important for safe driving.
Tires are the rubber components that make contact with the road, providing traction and support for the vehicle. They are essential for safe driving and handling.
"...front ended suspension, engines blowing up, winding them up so much 140k..."
The engine is the part of the car that makes it go. It turns fuel into energy to move the car forward.
The engine is the heart of a vehicle, converting fuel into mechanical energy to power the car. It is a complex machine that requires regular maintenance.
"But the more times you have the vehicle in the shop, they have it pre checked. I always called it for my own customers when we had Jenkins Automotive and repairs... A multi point vehicle inspection will save you a ton of stress."
A multi point vehicle inspection is a thorough check-up for your car. It looks at many parts to see if everything is working well and to find any problems before they become serious.
A multi point vehicle inspection is a comprehensive check of various components of a vehicle to assess its condition and identify any potential issues. This inspection typically covers areas such as brakes, tires, fluids, lights, and more, helping to ensure the vehicle is safe and reliable.
Select text to request an explanation
Well good morning friends, you're tuned into Car Connection where the coffee's strong,
the stories are real and the wrenches never stop turning.
I'm your host, Niall Motormull Jenkins, coming to you from the Car Connection Workshop where
the smell of fresh oil, a little elbow grease, is all part of a 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
Rogue getting its brakes back in order, or perhaps a Mystery Leak, that's right,
the one that's got all of us scratching our heads, and this is where we roll up our sleeves
and get it done, with a little wit, a little wisdom, some hot coffee, and a whole lot of fun.
The Car Connection isn't just about nuts and bolts and diagnostics, it's about connection.
Connection to our vehicles, 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, their freedom, and maybe even their sanity. We're here every week for you,
Monday through Saturday, during the eight o'clock drive, helping you keep your ride safe,
reliable, and ready for whatever road lies ahead. So whether you're a weekend wrencher,
a daily commuter, or someone who just wants to understand what that strange rattle means.
Well welcome aboard, stick around for shop talk, expert advice, and a few good laughs,
and maybe, maybe a story or two. Yep, if something pops into my head, there's a lot of stories in
there. There may not be a lot of gray matter, but yes, there's a lot of stories. And if I sound a
little gargly, or you know, like I'm in a tunnel somewhere, it's because I am. I got one of those
things called a winter call. Well my heart goes out to those of you who've already struggled
through a winter cold that somebody shared with you, shareware. I'm just kind of right in the
interim, but you know what? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That's what I say. So let's
jump right in this morning and give a big thank you to our program partners because we don't want
to forget about them. They are the business owners that have been through thick and thin with car
connection over the last 31 years. We just came off a 31-year ride with car connection on radio,
and now we're reaching more and more people through podcasting to all four corners of the earth.
That's right. So if you hear a little gap, it's because I got to clear my throat or something.
You know what I'm saying? So again, my heart goes out to you who've, if you're going through some
kind of flu bug or a winter cold right now, I'm with you. Absolutely. All the way. Kleenex,
those are your best friends, especially right now. Thank you to Crystal Ridge Dream Center
for serving men and women and children, meals, love, and hope in the entire Niagara region,
changing lives one at a time in Niagara. You can come alongside, be part of their community as we
have. Each and every year, car connection saddles up with a local faith-based organization that is
making a big, big dent in helping those who are struggling, giving them a hand up, not a handout.
So thank you to Crystal Ridge Dream Center, all the volunteers, and all those who make that possible.
To City Auto Sales and Leasing, Earl and Louise Grant, fantastic people you've got to meet.
That's your next family when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. They don't sell any junk.
Low mileage, top quality vehicles at fair prices, and that's what matters, knowing that you can
buy with confidence and be treated with nothing but honesty and integrity. City Auto Sales and
Leasing, they have in-house financing, so good credit, bad credit, no credit. Check in with
Earl and Louise. They do carry a fairly large inventory, but if they don't have that specific
vehicle that you're looking for, let Earl and Louise Grant do all the legwork for you. They have
over 25 years of resources that they can tap into to find that top quality vehicle that
suits your budget and what you need to accomplish with it. Because I view vehicles as tools,
and I have purchased vehicles in the past that I go, well, that's not working the way I thought it
would with my scheduling and what I need to accomplish with the vehicle. So make sure you're
making a wise choice, and Earl and Louise Grant will help you to do that. GTA's premier pre-owned
auto store. Let them know that car connection sent you, and if you're up in the Scarborough area,
we've got Rainbow Motors and Garage. Sales and service that you can trust,
Rita and Ramiz Shenouda, they're brothers. They're there to help you if you're looking for a vehicle
up in that area. They have a small car lot, but again, they have resources to help you find that
specific vehicle that you're looking for. So let them help you with that. You can purchase and have
it serviced at Rainbow Motors. They service all years, makes and models up to light commercial
vehicles. Rainbow Motors and Garage, sales and service you can trust. To our certified financial
planning professionals, Tony Miele and Larry Tietro combined have 50 years experience as fiduciaries.
That means they understand money like we do not. You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying.
So for portfolio help, debt, retirement, estate planning, arranging a mortgage,
and a whole lot more. They have life insurance, critical illness insurance, so get you all set up
so that you have a strong six pillar financial plan. So whether you have a dollar or a million
dollars, a hundred thousand dollars, Tony and Larry have been my brothers from other mothers for over
20 years. They have helped me through thick and thin. I know what it's like to be on the good side,
and I also know too many times what it's like to be on the not so good side, if you know what I'm
saying. They promised to give an hour and a coffee discovery meeting to any one of our car
connection listeners and viewers, whether it's through YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Stevensville
on the web.ca, through our website, carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com, or here, through iHeart
radio and all the major platforms, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music. Just put our name,
Car Connection Workshop in the search box, and you'll find us, and you'll find us. So Tony Miele
and Larry T-Troll offer you're up an hour and a coffee. That's what we've called it for many,
many years now. No pressure sales. They're not selling you anything. They'll do more listening
than talking to see where you're at, what your needs are, and formulate a game plan. So take
advantage of that, but don't take advantage of them. Their kindness, their knowledge, they're there
to help you, and again, give you a hand up, not a handout. They're with you all the way. So grab
their coattails and run. Run like the wind. Niagara Block at 5000 Montrose Road, Niagara Falls,
building Canada since 1931, with building materials and hardscape landscaping materials.
Absolutely gorgeous stuff to put together that backyard or front yard,
side yard oasis that you're looking for, that escape place where you can only you can quietly
read a book, have a nice hot beverage or a cold beverage, whatever it may be, and just relax.
Isn't that nice? Doesn't that sound good? I know my little oasis is my back porch,
side porch. Sometimes I hide away in the backyard behind the minibar, and there's a nice sunspot
there, but you got to have that place you can go to where you can simply relax. Niagara Block
since 1931. It's a Total Freedom Darien Center New York campus and Total Freedom Sydney Manitoba
Canada campus. That's for men only. For all of you who have friends, neighbors, co-workers,
family members, or even yourself struggling with an addiction, connect. Connect with Total Freedom
either in Canada or the US. If you're a Canadian citizen, you can also get to the Total Freedom
Darien Center New York campus. Thank you to all our program partners because they are a huge part
of what we're building with Car Connection Next Generation 2.0 on podcast. When you go to our
website, carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com, it's shorter. If you like CC, BUS is in Sam,
N-E-T dot com. Click on the logos for any of our program partners, and you'll open a profile page
from there you can connect. And do us a favor, let them know that MotorMouth and Car Connection
sent you there. Well, let's jump into this morning's topic. Yes, I do have another winter tech tip
for you. I knew you'd ask, so I came prepared. That's right, I came prepared this morning,
believe it or not. Yes, it was on the road yesterday, seven hours of driving,
and I feel like my mind has gone into a meltdown. Oh my gosh, some of the things we've been talking
about the last couple of weeks here in the Car Connection workshop. Yep, happened to me yesterday,
blew something open on my exhaust system somewhere, there's a little puffing going on
underneath, and we were just talking about exhaust. I think I brought that on to myself.
Yep, it happens just like that when you're running hard, and it was a long drive yesterday
from the south shores of Fort Erie all the way to London, Ontario, and back in the same day.
Folks, that commute, man, my heart goes out to you. If you're doing that commute every single day,
driving the roadways, people drive like crazy hooligans. And the near misses I saw yesterday
in the rain, if that was snow, I probably would not have made it home last night.
The way people were driving so erratically, and then standing on the brakes,
and then everybody's checking up, like there's been a wreck up ahead of you on turn four,
man, that is hard to deal with. So if you're a commuter, man, you deserve a Nobel Peace Prize
for doing that each and every day. Wow, that is, it was something else. And then I blew open my exhaust.
Yeah, so it sounds a bit like the 07 FJ Cruiser right now sounds a bit like a pizza delivery vehicle.
Yep, I'm disappointed. Seems like I always am spending money on the exhaust on that truck,
and it has stainless exhaust on it. I had put on a couple of years ago to the tune of like $1,500,
but you know what cars are? Money pits. And we just got to get over it, because it's either that
or we get a scooter. And then trust me, hitting some of the potholes out there, your scooter is
going to get busted too. So what are we going to be talking about? Well, I thought I'd first start
out with another car connection, motor health tech tip, a winter tech tip at that. So let's see what
we got here. Yeah, I'm trying to get through this without making a mess on myself, if you know what
I mean. Winter tech tip number 21. Are you ready for it? If you're driving, keep an eye on the road,
and especially the other guys's. Yeah. Wow. No wonder people have dash cams. I was thinking
about that last night. The amount of time it took to get home, if everyone would just drive normally,
we would have got home in a lot quicker time. But they don't. And that's, that's something else.
I'm surprised there's 100 car pileups every day. So winter tech tip number 21. Get your crayons,
get your brown paper bag, we're going to take some notes, right? So keep an eye on the road,
make sure your, your beverage is secure. Why don't we take a second, have a little
swiggy together, all right, and say good morning. Good morning. And we can't count it down on three
to one, three, two, one. I'm having some tea this morning. Don't tell my buddies, because I'll never
hear the end of it. They'll say, that's a girly drink. Dude, what's up with you? Well, you know,
I had to get a voice back this morning so I could talk to you guys. Yeah, a little bit of lemon,
I got all kinds of stuff in there. Some cinnamon. All I know at this point is it ain't coffee.
But if it helps me, well, you know what? You got to take it.
All right, let's jump in. Motor mouth winter tech tip number 21. If your doors freeze shut,
which they could, we've got some cold temperatures coming in, it's been raining cats and dogs and
hamsters and budgies for the last several hours and the weather report doesn't look all that
brilliant. But we are heading into December, right? That's right. So, you know, I'll tell you this,
in London, there are snow piles. I kid you not, that snows, those snows that we had come through
a couple of weeks ago, they have snow piles in parking lots in all areas in London, Ontario.
So I'm going, can't wait to get back home. We don't have any of those. Not yet. Yeah, and it was
raining harder in London than it was in the Hamilton, Stony Creek area coming through Grimsby,
Beamsville, you know it, Jordan. Anyhow, we could, the temperature, this is perfect storm.
We have rain. We think it's going to continue to rain, but you look at the thermometer, that's
what I do and I go, yeah, we're going to, we could possibly freeze down over the next day or two.
Make sure you're lifting your wipers off your windshield. Even though it's raining outside,
you go, well, you know what's raining. I think we're okay. No, you're not, because that's when
it happens. That's exactly when it happens. Just get into the habit. When you're finished with the
car or you're going to be at work all day, lift the wipers. That way, if we go into a flash freeze,
two things won't happen. Your wipers won't get stuck to the glass, but you may experience
your door's freezing shut. So if you haven't already sprayed all your door seals, don't forget
the hatch. And if it's a minivan, you've got some work to do. There's several openings,
side doors, rear door. Yeah. You want to make sure you spray those door seals with a really good
silicone-based spray. You can also use the product in the blue and yellow can because it does have
silicone in it. The only problem with that is it also has alcohol, so it does tend to evaporate.
The silicone spray, which you can obtain at pretty much all your automotive parts stores,
give them a good coat, and that will prevent the door seals from getting stuck and tearing because
some of these door seals go 400 bucks, especially if you've got a minivan or a big SUV. Those door
seals look innocent until you price it out and you go, what? For about 20 minutes. Yeah, running
around the house, holding your hair and screaming. How can that be? It's true. And same with these
plastic door handles. So if your door's freeze shut, don't you be yanking the handle like you're
starting a lawn mower. You want to go out there with some just some room temperature water. Some
people say hot water, warm water. Well, if it's cold outside, how many of you have seen the hot
water trick? You know, like at minus 20, I've done it myself and we videotaped it, throw
that hot water up into the air and it instantly turns into snow crystals, just like that. Hot
water freezes faster than cold water. Did you know that? And it's not a good idea to put hot water
anywhere around auto glass. I busted a windshield one time, my own car. Yeah, it sucked with a
capital K and a T. It absolutely did. I did the unthinkable. I put hot water on the windshield
and all I heard was ping and watch the windshield completely separate right in the middle of the
glass. Why? Because we have stone chips all over our glass, peppered with little tiny stone chips.
And all it takes is one of those to react to the quick temperature change. Ping, now you need a
windshield. Yeah, that was a $700 a day. So I'm going to tell you, use just cold tap water.
Pour it over that door handle to get yourself in there. But don't you be yanking on that door
handle like you're starting a lawn mower. Use just room temperature water is perfect or some,
what I do now is I buy deisers spray in bulk. And I just put it in a trigger sprayer and it's
marked deisers. So that way, you know what, we have ice rain, spray it on there, go all the way
around the vehicle. And by the time you've done all the glass, spray it on there and come back to
the first one with your ice scraper, it comes off ever so nice. And your neighbors out there
chiseling into their car, you're like, you know, they're breaking into a vault. And you're just
standing there just knocking it off. Get yourself some bulk deisers and put it in a
trigger, nice trigger sprayer bottle, have it ready. So those mornings where everything is
all the glass is iced over, the door handles seem a little frozen, just spray it on there.
Give it a few minutes and guess what? Bazinga, you're in there. You're in like Flynn. So use
room temperature water, deisers spray, or just a little patience is going to save you here,
friends, from buying a new handle. And let me tell you on some of these vehicles,
that plastic handle is a booger to get at. You got to, you might as well take the door off,
throw it away and just get another one. Because on a lot of these vehicles, getting that door
handle out of there can be quite a chore. And you know, the door handle may be less than 100 bucks,
but the labor is going to be 300. You know what I'm saying? So don't be yanking on these plastic
door handles, because they can't take it. They really can't. And then you know what, you're
going to be that person. When you go, honey, I found this on the car. That's the door handle,
sweetheart. Oh, is that what that is? Oh, it fell off. Yeah, after you're pulling on it,
your feet are on the car door. Yeah, that's gone. Now you're going to be that person climbing over
the console from the passenger side for months. I know people have done that. And then you know,
I got to hand it to them. They did have it down to a science. Yep, they could get in, get over that
shifter and get into the driver's seat and no time flat. Crazy. That is just to watch it. It's like,
you know, I swear my mouth goes open. It's like, wow, like that should be an Olympic sport.
Don't you think? How fast can you get to the driver's seat from the passenger side in your car?
Yeah, we might have to put that forward. So what are we going to, what's our main topic today? Cars.
Yep. They're a headache. Am I the only one? Hey, I'm a service tech. I can take big stuff apart
and put it back together and it works. But you know what? I don't always like it. Like yesterday,
I got it, I got an exhaust. Now I got a fix. I don't know what it is yet, but we'll find out.
It just means, you know what it means? More money. Yeah. Cars of all makes and models.
It's a love hate relationship. Don't you think? Some days, I just really want to just set the
keys down, put a note on the door saying it's all yours. Have a go and quietly walk away.
You know, you ever have one of those moments where you're just looking at the car and going,
again, really, really, am I going to be able to eat this week or this month? You think?
It's a love hate relationship. So we talked a couple of days ago, if you haven't listened to
the podcast or you just, you're just signing in, it gets better. We do learn stuff and that's
important. Owning and operating an automobile is an absolute, it can be an absolute nightmare
sometimes because a vehicle could just go through a whole string of problems. It's this thing. It's
that thing. It's that thing. It's this thing. Oh, the service light, the money lights on again.
Dear God in heaven, save me from blowing this thing up in my driveway. I don't know what happened.
Yeah. It's like the neighbor cooking a chicken on the barbecue. Yeah, she was doing that. What was
it? Beer chicken. Yeah, you stuff the bird onto a can of beer, but she forgot to open it. I don't
know. I don't know the recipe, but all I know is the stinking thing blew up. They never did find the
chicken blew the lid right off the barbecue. It was over all over, but the crying. Yeah. So you
got to know these things before you just jump in. Don't just do something and create a problem. So
do it yourselfers. A little tech tip this morning for you. Know your limits. Don't get in over your
head because what I've seen in, well, I've been licensed since 1988 for light truck and passenger
and also highway trucks, coaches and equipment and diesels. Yeah. Do it yourselfers. Know when to
say stop that you're heading into uncharted waters and ladies, you know this well.
Hubby says, I'll take care of your car, sweetie. Get, I remember this one lady in the service
department. She told her husband said, I told my husband, you touch my car, you'll never come back
in the house again. You'll be in the garden shed for the rest of your life eating craft dinner if you
can. I'm like, wow, I like the craft dinner part, but the garden shed is not going to be
homey feeling homely at all. So ladies, even you love your hubby, but you know he has limitations
when it comes to mechanicals. Keep your car away from okay. Yeah. Do yourself a favor to say,
well, you play with your own car, sweetheart. I'm sure you know what you're doing. I'll take
mine to the shop. That's the best piece of advice I can tell you because I have seen
some vehicles seriously messed up and I've seen the wives seriously wanting to
do some bodily harm if you know what I mean. Yeah. So this time of year, we're heading into some of
the roughest weather we don't know. Like I said, in London, Ontario, they have snow banks five,
six feet tall. Here in the Niagara region, say a big amen, hallelujah. Yeah, we don't have that yet.
So it means we've got some time to prepare. So if you haven't had your vehicle indoors at the
shop yet to have a full pre winter service, you need to get that done because I really think
we're running out of time before things weather changes over is going to catch a lot of us off
guard if we're not careful. So get on the phone. The shops are busy. I talked to a couple of shop
owners three weeks out. What does that mean for you call today? They may not be able to get you
in for three weeks. You know where that takes us on the back door just barely of pre Christmas.
And if you haven't started your Christmas shopping,
hello. We need that extra time, right? Friends. Exactly. So don't forget about the vehicle.
It happens every single year. Many of you realize, oh, we got to go to Auntie one ever is an uncle
whoever and the grandparents is grandparents. They're grandparents and somebody's grandparents.
We don't even know. And people we don't even know, like and care about your traveling.
You're going to be traveling. So get the vehicle checked over. So if there's anything
whatsoever, just like my own seven hours of driving yesterday, I got an open exhaust port
somewhere. And yes, all the money lights came on in the dash because when you have an exhaust system
leak, the oxygen sensors tell on you, they tell the computer, hey, you know what's happened.
I can't get a proper reading. I'm sniffing like crazy, but I just can't tell
where the exhaust is at. Dang, on goes the money light. Yeah. So I have four of them
lit up in the dash. Yeah, it's like, it looks like I've done my Christmas decorating. So it
happens to me as well as it can happen to you. So a pre winter inspection, you know, I always
look my vehicle over on a regular basis and everything looks good. But you know what,
sometimes there's something just waiting for you. What I call that little boogity thing.
It's waiting for you. And then bam, there it is. It shows up and rears its ugly head. So
don't hesitate. Get that vehicle into the shop. Get a complete evaluation before you're heading out
on the roadways so you can avoid having to wait for roadside assistance, especially last night on
the way back from London. Man, the traffic. Holy smokes. I can't believe people do that every day,
but that's insane. It is. And it didn't stop on the 401 East coming home all the way through
Hamilton, all the way to Grimsby, all the way to Beamsville, heading for Niagara. So you've
got to make sure that vehicle of yours is in top drawer condition. You know, these people drive
these cars like they stole them, like they're all rentals. Yeah, it's crazy. It's no wonder.
It's no wonder you're having to spend so much money on brakes, tires, front ended suspension,
engines blowing up, winding them up so much 140k. People were driving in that rain in the dark
where there's a glare. You can't even tell where their lines are on the road. Am I the only one
that thinks I'm going road blind at night? Yeah, didn't we used to have road paint that you could
actually see when the headlights used to shine on them? They kind of glowed. It's like, what are
you using? You know, primer? Come on, man. Can't even see the lane. I had one guy honk at me. I'm
going, dude, I'm trying to find which lane I'm actually in. There's multiple dots and lines
in a construction area. It's like, I don't even know where the stinking road is. Come on. So take
it easy out there. Get your vehicle ready. So you can put a check mark that the vehicle's ready
for hitting the road during the holidays. We're like, you know, our American friends are going to
be celebrating their humongous Thanksgiving. I think ours is better. I'm just saying, okay,
just between you and me, Canadian Thanksgiving, getting it out of the way
miles ahead of the Christmas holiday season. Doesn't that make sense? Anyhow,
just between you, me, fellow Canadians that are listening. Yeah. Having it on the back door
Christmas. Who does that? Really? Mind you, you know, a very Canadian or married American,
you get to celebrate Thanksgiving twice. That's two turkey dinners, man. I'm in for that. I'm up
for that 100%. There's cranberry sauce and good gravy. I'm there. So talking about gravy, no matter
what, vehicles are a piece of equipment man made man is not perfect. We know that especially me.
Yep, I can't walk on water. I've tried it only unless it's frozen on the lake. Then yes, I can.
But other than that, no, vehicles are man made and they break and they break without any warning.
But the more times you have the vehicle in the shop, they have it pre checked. I always called it
for my own customers when we had Jenkins Automotive and repairs on the Hamilton Mountain for
little over a decade. A multi point vehicle inspection will save you a ton of stress. Trust me.
So drive safe out there, get your vehicle prepared. If you have no idea what condition it's in other
than it starts and goes every day, that's not enough. There are bookety things waiting to catch
you off guard and take your Christmas shopping money away from you. Yeah. Yeah, you don't want
that to happen. So to next time, have fun, drive safe, keep an eye on the other guy and happy
motoring and put that coffee on because I think I'm going to come to your house for a hot cup of
coffee this morning. We'll see you in the next one. Thanks for tuning in. Bye for now.
Request an explanation for:
3 cars
3 cars featured
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark.
Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.
