Dane Donovan shares insights on vehicle maintenance, particularly the importance of washing off salt and brine to prevent rust, especially during winter months. He emphasizes the need for regular underbody cleaning and proper vehicle storage to prolong the life of cars. Listeners are encouraged to be cautious when purchasing used vehicles, particularly those from northern states, due to potential rust issues. The episode also features a listener call about a GMC Sierra with a misfire, where Dane provides diagnostic advice.
In this episode of the Car Show, Dane Donovan tackles the importance of protecting your vehicle from the harsh winter elements. He shares a personal story about his own experience with rust on his 2007 Ford F-150, which highlights the dangers of neglecting to remove salt and brine from your vehicle's underbody. Dane emphasizes the need to prioritize underbody washing, especially during the winter months, to prevent rust from forming and prolong the life of your vehicle. He also discusses the importance of checking for recalls on used vehicles and offers advice on how to diagnose and fix issues with your car's power steering system.
"I currently have a 2007 Ford F-150 which I've talked about and it's the frame literally rusted in half"
The Ford F-150 is a well-known truck that many people use for work and everyday driving. It's built to handle heavy loads and tough conditions.
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup truck known for its versatility and capability. It's often used for both work and personal transportation, making it a common choice among truck enthusiasts.
"Do your best to go get your car washed get an underbody wash get the frame get the salt get all that salt off there because it's very detrimental to your vehicle and will absolutely shorten the life of your vehicle"
An underbody wash cleans the bottom part of your car, which can get dirty and rusty from things like road salt. Keeping it clean helps your car last longer.
An underbody wash is a cleaning process that targets the underside of a vehicle, removing dirt, grime, and corrosive substances like salt that can accumulate there. This is particularly important in regions where roads are salted during winter, as salt can lead to rust and damage over time.
"Now what I will tell you is if you have the ability if you have a garage I would highly highly recommend that you keep your vehicle in the garage it really"
A garage is a place where you can park your car to keep it safe from bad weather. Parking in a garage helps protect your car from things like rain and snow.
A garage is a covered structure used to store vehicles, protecting them from the elements such as rain, snow, and sun. Keeping a vehicle in a garage can significantly extend its lifespan by preventing rust and other weather-related damage.
"...let me see the frame and I'm like now this car was only like three or four years old right and I can tell I I I knew instantly after he sent me that picture..."
The frame is the main structure of a car that holds everything together. If it's damaged or rusty, it can be dangerous and make the car less reliable.
The frame of a vehicle is its structural backbone, providing support for the body and components. A damaged or rusted frame can significantly affect a vehicle's safety and performance.
"...that's important when you're purchasing a vehicle to know where it came from if it came down from Florida, Georgia, Atlanta..."
A vehicle's history tells you where it has been and what might have happened to it. This is important to know before buying a car.
Knowing a vehicle's history, including where it has been registered, can provide insights into potential issues like rust or flood damage. This information is crucial for making informed purchasing decisions.
"You want to make sure that when you're purchasing a used vehicle you know where it came from and you want to make sure that you have it inspected by a specialist..."
A pre-purchase inspection is when a mechanic checks a used car before you buy it. They look for problems to help you decide if the car is worth the money.
A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is a thorough examination of a used vehicle by a qualified mechanic before buying it. This process helps identify any potential issues, ensuring the buyer knows the vehicle's condition and can make an informed decision.
"Well, I have a 2017 GMC Sierra SLT and it's got the 5.3 liter. Okay, and I have a I have a miss..."
The GMC Sierra SLT is a type of pickup truck that is designed for both work and comfort. The 2017 version has a strong engine and comes with many nice features, making it a popular choice for drivers.
The GMC Sierra SLT is a trim level of the Sierra pickup truck, known for its combination of luxury features and utility. The 2017 model offers a range of powerful engines, including a 5.3-liter V8, which provides a balance of performance and efficiency.
"...it's got the 5.3 liter. Okay, and I have a I have a miss..."
The 5.3-liter is a way to describe how big the engine is. A larger number usually means more power, and this engine is known for being strong while also not using too much gas.
The 5.3-liter engine refers to the engine's displacement, indicating the total volume of all the cylinders in the engine. This size is common in V8 engines and is known for providing a good balance of power and fuel efficiency.
"It's got 82,000. Okay, and fuel injectors replace at 50,000"
Fuel injectors help send fuel into the engine so it can run. If they fail, the engine may not work properly.
Fuel injectors are components in an engine that deliver fuel to the combustion chamber. They play a crucial role in the engine's performance and efficiency.
"I had the number seven coil ignition coil replaced around the same time. Okay"
The ignition coil helps create the spark that makes the engine run. If it's not working, the engine might not start or run smoothly.
An ignition coil is a part of the ignition system that transforms the battery's low voltage into the high voltage needed to create a spark in the spark plugs, igniting the fuel-air mixture in the engine.
"What about the spark plugs in the ignition wires have those been replaced? No, okay"
Spark plugs create the spark that starts the engine. If they are worn out, the engine may not run well.
Spark plugs are devices that ignite the air-fuel mixture in an engine's combustion chamber. They are essential for engine performance and fuel efficiency.
"So I had all eight replaced but only one was supposed to be bad which happened to be the same cylinder number seven..."
Cylinders are the parts of an engine where fuel and air mix and burn. Cylinder number seven is just one of those parts, and sometimes it can have problems that affect how the engine runs.
Cylinder number seven refers to one of the specific cylinders in an engine, typically identified by its position. In V8 engines, for example, cylinders are numbered from front to back on each bank, and issues can often be traced to specific cylinders.
"...were they aftermarket or were they Factory no they were factory..."
Aftermarket means parts made by other companies, not the original car maker. Sometimes these parts can be cheaper or different from what the car was built with.
Aftermarket refers to parts or accessories made by companies other than the original manufacturer. These parts can vary in quality and performance compared to factory parts.
"...each one of those issues did give me a check engine light..."
The check engine light is a warning light on your dashboard that tells you something is wrong with the engine or another part of the car.
The check engine light is a warning indicator on a vehicle's dashboard that signals the engine management system has detected an issue. This can range from minor problems to serious engine malfunctions.
"Here's the problem with a misfire either Spark plugs calls in it either the ignition wires calls in it or the ignition coils calls in it or the injectors calls in it"
A misfire happens when the engine doesn't work properly because the fuel isn't igniting as it should. This can make the car run rough or lose power.
A misfire occurs when one or more cylinders in an engine fail to ignite the air-fuel mixture at the correct time, leading to a loss of power, rough running, and increased emissions. Misfires can be caused by various issues, including faulty spark plugs, ignition coils, or fuel injectors.
"You want AC Delco? That's the factory plug AC Delco plugs and wires..."
AC Delco is a company that makes car parts, especially for General Motors cars. They make reliable spark plugs and wires that are often recommended for repairs.
AC Delco is a brand that manufactures automotive parts, including spark plugs and ignition wires. They are known for providing factory-recommended components for General Motors vehicles.
"You want AC Delco plugs and wires start there? Okay?"
Ignition wires are the cables that connect the spark plugs to the part of the car that creates electricity. They help the spark plugs do their job of starting the engine.
Ignition wires, also known as spark plug wires, carry electrical current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. They are crucial for the spark plugs to function properly and ignite the fuel-air mixture in the engine.
"It is a platinum plug, but you really... At a hundred thousand miles, which would be done anyways, it's a little premature, but they do they do break down"
A platinum plug is a special kind of spark plug that lasts longer than regular ones. It's made with platinum, which helps it work better and last more miles before needing to be replaced.
A platinum plug is a type of spark plug that uses platinum as a material for the electrode. This allows for better conductivity and longevity compared to standard copper plugs, making them suitable for high-performance engines or vehicles requiring longer service intervals.
"It's gonna probably need to go to a shop that has a scan a proper scan tool to figure out exactly which cylinder is dropping out."
A scan tool is a device that mechanics use to check what's wrong with a car. It connects to the car's computer and shows any problems or error messages.
A scan tool is a diagnostic device used to communicate with a vehicle's onboard computer systems. It helps mechanics identify issues by reading error codes and live data from various sensors and systems.
"...I was looking at a twenty twenty two Ford Bronco Sport and I looked at the car facts and it's had like four recalls on it..."
The Ford Bronco Sport is a smaller SUV that can handle off-road driving. It's designed for people who want a rugged vehicle but also need it for daily use.
The Ford Bronco Sport is a compact SUV that was introduced in 2021 as a more accessible version of the classic Bronco. It features off-road capabilities and modern technology, appealing to both adventure seekers and everyday drivers.
"...I would stick with the four-cylinder opposed to the three-cylinder the 1.3..."
A three-cylinder engine has three chambers where fuel burns to create power. These engines are generally smaller and can save more fuel compared to larger engines.
A three-cylinder engine is an internal combustion engine with three cylinders. It is often smaller and lighter than four-cylinder engines, providing better fuel efficiency but may have less power.
"...I would stick with the four-cylinder opposed to the three-cylinder the 1.3..."
A four-cylinder engine is a type of engine that has four chambers where fuel and air mix and burn to create power. These engines are usually more fuel-efficient than larger engines.
A four-cylinder engine is a type of internal combustion engine that has four cylinders, which typically provides a balance between performance and fuel efficiency. It is commonly found in many compact cars and SUVs.
"...93 rangers it's four-wheel drive. It's got the four-wheel in it. Mm-hmm..."
The Ford Ranger is a small truck that can be used for carrying things or going off-road. It's known for being tough and reliable.
The Ford Ranger is a compact pickup truck known for its versatility and off-road capabilities. It's popular for both work and recreational use, especially in four-wheel drive configurations.
"...I just bought this thing back in December up when I bought it. I put a new battery in it..."
A battery is what gives power to start the car and run things like lights and radio when the engine is off. If the battery is old or weak, the car might not start, especially in cold weather.
A battery in a vehicle provides the electrical power needed to start the engine and run electrical systems when the engine is not running. A new battery is essential for reliable vehicle operation, especially in cold weather.
"...my uncle told me it might have a weak fuel pump. That's why I was thinking fuel pressure fuel pressure is good..."
The fuel pump helps get fuel from the gas tank to the engine. If it's not working well, the car might have trouble starting or running properly.
A fuel pump is a critical component in a vehicle's fuel system that moves gasoline or diesel from the tank to the engine. If the fuel pump is weak or failing, it can lead to poor engine performance or starting issues.
"...they hooked it up and they checked the the alternator the..."
An alternator is a part of the car that helps keep the battery charged and powers things like the lights and radio when the engine is on. Without it, the battery would run out of power quickly.
The alternator is a crucial component in a vehicle's electrical system, responsible for charging the battery and powering the electrical system while the engine is running. It converts mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy.
"..., obviously you need air. You need fuel. You need spark So here's what I want. Can you access one of the..."
The Chevrolet Spark is a small, budget-friendly car that is great for driving around the city. It's easy to park and saves you money on gas, making it a popular choice for people who want a simple and affordable vehicle. Many people talk about it because it's a good option for new drivers or anyone looking for a cheap car.
The Chevrolet Spark is a subcompact car that is known for its affordability, compact size, and fuel efficiency. It is often favored by city drivers and first-time car buyers due to its easy maneuverability and low cost of ownership. The Spark is frequently discussed in the context of budget-friendly vehicles and urban commuting.
"...ll right. So right. So I mean, obviously you need air. You need fuel. You need spark So here's what I ..."
The Lucid Air is a fancy electric car that can go really far on a single charge. It's made by a company called Lucid Motors and is known for being very high-tech and comfortable. People talk about it because it's a new player in the electric car world and has some really cool features.
The Lucid Air is a luxury electric sedan produced by Lucid Motors, known for its impressive range, high performance, and advanced technology features. It represents a significant step in the electric vehicle market, competing with established brands like Tesla. The Lucid Air is often discussed for its innovative design and capabilities, showcasing the future of electric mobility.
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My puppy said son you're gonna drive me to drinking if you don't stop driving that hot rod lincoln
Good afternoon and welcome to the car show 55 k r c the talk station. I'm dane donovan
Alive in in studio. I do apologize. I
Had some
You know a couple of things going on at the beginning of the year
So I've been a bit busy
But I am here and here to take your car questions number to call 513 749 5500 that number again 513 749
5500 want to wish everybody a happy valentine's day, right?
for all of you out there if
you weren't aware
Hurry up rush outside or you know rush to the store and get your wife some flowers and cards
I know I did this morning and I also want to wish my oldest son Aiden
Happy birthday
He was he is 14 today
So we are after here. We're gonna we're gonna go to dinner and
You know so again Aiden happy birthday
He was
He'll probably be embarrassed, but I'm just gonna tell the story anyways, but he was when he was born. He was born
I think it like
My wife's gonna probably correct me, but I want to say he's born at like 1201 or 1205, right?
So he was the first baby born in the hospital on
February 14th, so he got a little carrot. We got a little care package and and
so
man, it seems like
Seems like just yesterday we brought him home and now he's 14 going to
Going to Mueller High School and so I'm gonna have a high schooler and and yeah
So Aiden happy birthday and again happy valentine's day for all of you out there as well
So again in studio taking your phone calls the number to call 513-749-5500 that number again 513-749-5500
You know I tried to
man, I
All my way here. I left early. In fact, I got here early. In fact Danny my producer
What had to look at all three clocks in his room just to verify that I did show up early
And I did and I probably would have been a little bit earlier, but I tried to go to the car wash and
Man, I tell you what if you own a car wash right now, man, you are raking in the the money right now
Oh, you couldn't even get near a car wash right now
and
You know now that all the snow's gone and we're kind of falling out actually heard birds chirping this morning and
And I'm like all right. Hopefully springs around the corner, right?
Get rid of all this but you know again going back to car washers, you know, it's important
To get that salt off of your vehicle, right?
I'm I'm a little aggressive or kind of like a bit over the top with it
In fact, yeah, and now I have the ability to but you know
typically when it's snowing like it has not not everybody has this ability but
You know if it's snowing like that
I typically don't like to drive it in the salt in the in the snow and the brine
Because it does take years off the life of your vehicle and it's something that's so simple
but you know going to go get a car wash and
And it's not so much the paint that I'm concerned about it's the underbody, right?
So don't just do the cheap little
Run it through real quick and just just to make it look good
You want to do the underbody you want to try to keep that the underbody the frame
You want to get that salt and that brine if you have the ability to not drive it in it great if you don't I understand most people don't
It's important that you try to keep it as clean as possible and get that salt off
It the salt and the brine really really it's one of the number one
I think the number one reason why we condemn cars has blown up engines because they don't have any oil in them
Which we've talked about on the show all the time and number two is probably rust
I currently have a
2007 Ford F-150 which I've talked about and
And it's the frame literally rusted in half
The the the bed and the in the cab are we're touching each other because the frame rusted in half
Now it's an 07. You're like, dang that shouldn't happen. I agree. I mean it is it is old
I mean 07's old and only has a hundred and forty thousand miles on it, right? But
it's the two reasons why we we condemn cars rust and
And
You know not putting oil on our cars
We're making sure that we check the oil in our cars because that's that's a huge huge problem, but
So if you're out today
Whether, you know, you're here in the tri-state area or you're listening and you know
Massachusetts or Florida or whatnot go if you have the ability
Do your best to go get your car washed get an underbody wash get the frame get the salt get all that salt off there because it's
It is very detrimental to your vehicle and will absolutely shorten the life of your vehicle
I mean it's again
I see it all the time and I'm a victim of it as myself
I'm a victim of it as well
Now what I will tell you is if you have the ability if you have a garage I
Would highly highly recommend that you keep your vehicle in the garage it really
It's it's so good for the vehicle now
I don't necessarily recommend if it's covered in salt and water and everything parking in the garage, but
You do want to make sure if you can keep it if you've got two cars
Or you have the ability to have two cars and keep one nice and keep it in the garage
It's important, you know a lot of people a lot of times too people
Think that if they keep it outside, but they don't drive it that it'll be fine
But the problem is you know obviously when it rains and whatnot that moisture comes up
And then there's no air that you're not getting the proper airflow, right? So
It'll rust cars. I had a gentleman years ago, you know, he had
Unfortunately his father passed away and it was like a 98 Cadillac, right? Had like 25,000 miles on it
Right, but I'm like hey you need to get rid of the thing this thing is a bucket
You it's full of rust and you get rid of it. He's like only has 25,000 miles
I'm like I understand, but it's been sitting outside its entire life for 20 years. It's been sitting outside
It's not safe to drive the vehicle. So if you have the ability
To keep a car in the garage when it's snow and when it's raining it really will save you
Time and prolong the life of your vehicle now again, I'm excessive about it
But and not everybody has that ability, but if you can
certainly during these times
Do what you can to limit your driving
Make sure that you keep the salt and the brine and getting everything off that and you know again
It will I promise you it will prolong life your vehicle and it's something that people really don't talk about
And I have a again a couple of weeks ago
I talked there's a friend of mine that was looking to buy a new vehicle or I'm sorry used vehicle, right and
he is looking at buying a truck and
He drove and I think it was in like an hour and a half to go look at this truck and he sends me
I'm like he goes everything outside looks great. You know inside looks great. I'm like get down on the ground if you can
Which he had the ability to do take a picture of the frame
Let me see the frame and I'm like now this car was only like
three or four years old right and
I can tell I I I knew instantly after he sent me that picture
I'm like don't buy that truck that thing has way too much trust for four years
it's just not consistent with what we see here in Cincinnati and
lo and behold it was from Canada and
Again, that's important when you're purchasing a vehicle to know where it came from if it came down from Florida, Georgia, Atlanta
You know your southern states great if it comes from New York, Pennsylvania, Canada, Maine
Michigan do not buy it because
You know they're exposed those vehicles are exposed way more than we are here now
Yes, we are considered in the rust belt
but we don't
experience as much of the rust on these vehicles that the northern states do right because they see a lot more makes sense
Right, so make sure that you know again
If you can keep your car clean and and out of the elements
You're gonna prolong the life of the vehicle if you're purchasing a used vehicle
Do your best to make sure and do your homework and find out where it came from the farther north it came from
The worst it's gonna be so make sure that again when we're purchasing these vehicles and again
As you know if you go out look at used vehicles, they're not cheap. I mean you
You know they're 40 50 60 70 thousand dollars
You want to make sure you protect your investment? You don't want to have a vehicle that's and again
I see it every single day
You want to make sure that when you're purchasing a used vehicle
You know where it came from and you want to make sure that you have it inspected by a specialist somebody who?
Can look at it and and make sure that it's not a rusted bucket of and just a mess
I'd see it all the time and again if you're here in the tri-state area
Do your best to make sure that you keep that that underbody clean and get that rust off
It's in our I'm sorry get that salt off so you don't have a tremendous amount of rust
So all right again. I'm taking your phone calls a number to call 513 749
5500 coming up. We have Jeffrey
Greg and Opie you're listening to car show and 55 KRC the talk station. This is 55 KRC and I heart radio station
Do you have a truck camper RV or a trailer that needs body repair? If so call Frank's heavy truck collision repair located just all 575 at Route 63
It's convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton with over 30 years of experience including insurance work and fleet work
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Don't miss clay and buck Monday at 1206 on 55 KRC the talk station
Taking your car questions then but again the number to call 513 749
5500 let's go to the phones as promised. We have Jeffrey. Hey Jeffrey. Welcome to the car show. How can I help?
Well, I have a
2017 GMC Sierra
SLT and it's got the 5.3 liter. Okay, and I have a I have a miss
Now it's when I'm just cruising along kind of easy you feel a little bit
You get a little more pressure on the pedal you can feel it
But if I go into you know like a passing gear it goes away
And I don't have a check engine light and I'm just curious where where would you start looking for a problem like that?
Okay, so if you're on kind of like a light
Acceleration you feel it but once you kind of power through it it it it goes away. Correct. It goes away. Correct
How many miles are on the vehicle?
It's got 82,000. Okay, and fuel injectors replace at 50,000
And I had the number seven coil ignition coil replaced around the same time. Okay
Um
What about the spark plugs in the ignition wires have those been replaced?
No, okay
So on them, so you said I hate to throw parts at it, you know, absolutely
Absolutely, you said all of the injectors were replaced
Well, well what happened was one injector was bad. They found one bat
Uh-huh, and so they the warranty covered the left bank
But I told them, you know, once you go in there just replace them all. Okay. All right
So I had all eight replaced but only one was supposed to be bad which happened to be the same
cylinder number seven
Okay, yeah cylinder number seven on GM's is a
There's usually usually
Those those engines burn oil and then they the plugs usually get fouled by oil or whatnot
So here's what I want you to do. Obviously the the injectors are were they aftermarket or were they
Factory no they were factory. Okay. Good. Good. Good. I'm back on there
Okay, I believe that's what they did now and you said cylinder number seven coil was replaced
Yep, okay, you know always I was curious, you know, maybe the coil was always the problem begin with but I didn't argue because it was maybe
Two three hundred miles between the time they replaced the injectors and the time the mission coil went out
But each one of those issues did give me a check engine light
Okay. Yeah, you know
Typically what I'd like to see here's here's what I want you to typically what I
Especially on that particular engine they burn oil. Okay, even if you're like Dana, I'm not using oil or whatnot
So here's what I want you to do mine's been pretty good with the oil. So okay. Yeah, I got for that
So here's what I want you to do
So a lot of times like the porcelain on the spark plugs can crack you can crack in it and whatnot
What you're describing to me is it you power through it and it's fine. So I
Willing to believe that it's probably a coil that's break another coil that's breaking down. I do not believe it as an injector. I
Think throwing parts at it. You're right. Here. Here's the problem with a misfire either
Spark plugs calls in it either the ignition wires calls in it or the ignition coils calls in it or the injectors calls in it
You've already had the injectors replaced, right?
All right
Spark plugs what I would do to start with is I would do all the spark plugs and the wires
Okay, you can get now what I would tell you is
And I talk about this all the time. I would not get in my opinion
Is this something that you're gonna do or you're gonna have somebody else do it? I?
Used to do that kind of thing, but I
Probably try to get some somebody else to do it if it's not a arm and a leg
Yeah, no, I don't think so. I'm if you're gonna pay a little bit more, but what I would recommend is
You want AC Delco?
That's the factory plug AC Delco plugs and wires
I don't want I don't want to see him put auto lights or you know anything like that
You know or champion or or anything like that
You want AC Delco spark plugs and wires start there? Okay? Okay now now they
Again, they could be fouled out by oil consumption
Which again it might not you might not notice it using but it you know over 80,000 miles
There might be some buildup on that plug, so
Let's let's go ahead and replace the plugs and the wires do that first because I mean it really should be done
It is a platinum plug, but you really
At a hundred thousand miles, which would be done anyways, it's a little premature, but they do they do break down
So we want to do that, but we want to do AC Delco plugs and wires and listen you can get them. They're pretty inexpensive
We want to start there if
Okay, you continue to experience that same problem
Then we're gonna have to narrow down to what coil is causing the issue now
You're not gonna be able to do it
But anybody that has a reputable shot with a scan tool you can hook it up to a scan tool and you can find out
Which cylinder is dropping out you can literally look at it on a scope and you can see which cylinders dropping out now
The problem with coils is you've got eight of them just like injectors, right?
Yeah, so
You know you put one in it and you go Dean it was great for six months
Now it's back again and and that's because a lot of times they go down like dominoes
You take you start replacing one and it's like boom boom boom, so I'm not necessary
I'm not necessarily saying that you need to replace all eight
But understand that hey, let's do plugs and wires and if it still continues
It's gonna probably need to go to a shop that has a scan a proper scan tool to figure out exactly which cylinder is dropping out
And then that's the coil that we're gonna replace but understand
If if you continue to experience it or it's great and then six months later it's happening again
Then another one's you know fail so you can do all eight if you want
I mean cylinder number seven has already been replaced
But and you can do them all if you want, but it's just really expensive, but great engine
They're great engine, but let's do plugs and wires. That's let's start there and again
That's usually nine out of ten times. That's what it is, but we could be dealing with a coil issue
But that's what I want. That's what I want to see you do first
Okay, all right. Thank you
Take your day
All right, go on back to the phones. We have Greg. Hey, Greg welcome to the car show. How can I help?
Yeah, thanks for taking my car
I was looking at a twenty twenty two
Ford Bronco Sport and I looked at the car facts and it's had like four recalls on it
How do you know that the recalls have actually been done with your body to use a used vehicle
Can you turn your radio down for me, sir, I'm getting a lot of feedback
Yeah
Sorry, yeah, it's getting a lot of feedback. Um, yeah, I mean
Yeah, I was looking at twenty twenty two Ford Broncos. Yeah, no, I got it. I got it. Um, I
Mean it it shows that it had for it. Does it show that those recalls were performed?
Well, just the car fact shows that you know this, you know recall, you know, like the gizia data, whatever
And it says fine
Contact your nearest dealership or whatever. Mm-hmm. So I was just wondering
How do you check to make sure that they did you know fix the problems, right?
So what you can do well, obviously, I think that the
If you have the VIN number
Okay, you call your nearest
Ford dealer, you can call any Ford dealer, but your nearest or whatever
Give them the VIN number and ask if those four recalls have been performed. That's I mean, you know
Unfortunately, like if the dealership says they did um and they didn't you know, that's that's something that I don't
Think anybody's going to be able to determine
But if you want to find out and know if those recalls were performed
You call a dealer and just say hey listen, I'm looking at purchasing purchasing this vehicle
And it has four recalls and I would like to know if these recalls have been performed now
What I can tell you is is even if you purchase the vehicle if it's a it's a
2022 so right so it's under the three-year 36,000 mile warranty, correct?
Well, it's got more so it's out of warranty. It's out of warranty. Yeah, it's kind of like 52,000 52
Okay, I'm sorry. I should have asked you that I apologize
so I
Mean usually most dealerships will have the VIN number like you know
Online as far as like if they're selling a vehicle a lot of dealerships will you know put the VIN number on there
But call if you've got a car fact, you'll have the VIN call a dealership with that VIN and just ask of those
If it has any open recalls
And maybe what recalls have been performed because they they keep track of that Ford keeps track of that
So you should be able to determine that but just call a dealership. Just say hey listen, I'm looking to buy in this vehicle
I want to know if there's any recalls that are any open recalls currently
And if there are any recalls that have been performed
Okay, now this one has the 2.0 not the 1.3 the little three-cylinder. This has the regular four-cylinder
Do you think that's a better motor than the little three-cylinder for that particularly vehicle?
To be honest with those two engines haven't been out too long. I don't have a ton of
of
History with them because they're fairly new they put those engines in the in the Broncos and I haven't seen any of those Broncos in our shop yet
What I can tell you is yeah, I would I would stick with the four-cylinder opposed to the three-cylinder the 1.3
I really like Ford's product
So as long as you're buying a Ford, I don't you know, they're they're not all great, but
We haven't had any problems with the Broncos so but I would stick with the four-cylinder if I was gonna buy one
Okay, all right. Thank you. Thank you. Have a great day. Uh-huh. Bye. Bye
All right, taking your phone calls a number to call 513 749 5500 coming up. We have Opie
Joe and Danny you're listening car show on 55 KRC the talk station way back in
1958 my grandfather opened Donovan's auto entire center right here in Cincinnati a lot has changed since then but our commitment to honest auto repair
Hasn't we believe in making sure your vehicle gets everything it needs and nothing it doesn't because it's a family owned business with our name on
The wall integrity matters from
1958 to today Donovan's auto entire center is still
Cincinnati's honest choice for auto repair and we're proud to keep this city moving three area locations find yours at Donovan tire
calm all the news and the views of Brian Thomas Monday morning at five on
55 KRC the talk station
Taking your car questions the number to call 513 749
950 500 Dane Donovan from Donovan's auto and tire center here
Every Saturday well most Saturdays. I have been absent a couple of Saturdays. I do apologize
you know my boss here is in studio to make sure that I was here on time and doing what I'm supposed to be doing and
I am and
He's shaking his head
but
You know, sometimes life gets in in the way, you know kids and everything else, you know, so I sometimes it just doesn't
But I am here. I am taking your car questions
See Danny understands my producer understands, you know, my you know my my problems
Well, at least problems are I can't get here not all not the rest the ones that are in my head, but
Anyways, what I'd yeah, might I digress all right, so taking your car questions again the number call 513 749
5500 let's go back to the phones as promised. We have Opie Opie. Welcome to the car show. How can I help?
Well, happy Valentine's Day to you you too, man. Do you get did you go?
I'm watching I'm watching all these guys walking out with flowers and candy and
Well, did crap and junk and stuff. Well, did you go and get your wife flowers and in car and chocolates or?
No
I'm not a girl. I'm a girl some hamburgers here a little bit. All right. Well, you know, it's funny. You say that real quick
You know as I stated earlier in the show, I went to Kroger this morning to get my wife flowers in a car
And there was I was like I was laughing. There was a guy
Gentleman in front of me. He was probably he appeared to be in his
maybe 60s and
He had a 18 pack of Michelin ball truck and a balloon that said I love you
Like man that that that is that that's a Valentine's Day gift right there
Yeah, man. Well, I've been I've been married 32 years, so we don't celebrate these Hallmark holidays. Yeah
Yeah, well like
We don't worry about it. Yeah, my wife and I I mean we
After the birth of our son, we you know, we've always kind of focused today on his birthday
And but we always try to do something a little, you know, she got me a nice
golf jacket and got her flowers in the car, but
So it's important so but yeah, how can I help you?
93 rangers it's four-wheel drive. It's got the four-wheel in it. Mm-hmm
I just bought this thing back in December up when I bought it. I put a new battery in it
so 590 battery and
I've had a problem with it when it gets below 25 degrees won't start
It'll crank it. I mean it'll spin like there's no tomorrow, but it won't fire
I've dragged my battery charger out put on 200 amp boost hook it up
You can't get your finger off the key fast enough and it starts right up once it gets warmed up
And then you shut it off. It's fine. And you know as long as you don't sit for more about six or eight hours
You know where it gets really cold again. Mm-hmm. Yeah, but if it's above 25 degrees starts right up
Well, I took I thought the battery was problem. So I took the battery back. It's no Riley's battery
Mm-hmm. And so I took the battery back and they gave me another battery and I put it at same problem
If it's above 25 degrees start right up below 25 degrees, it'll just sit and spin all day long
So it's it's so you're it's cranking
It's cranking it's cranking fast. I mean, it's not I mean it, you know, you know, usually you get this
You know what it's told you that rock rock rock rock. No, this thing spins over like there's no tomorrow
I looked at putting them like a 750 amp battery in it, but it won't fit
Yeah
Well, I mean if it's I check the fuel pressure my uncle told me it might have a weak fuel pump
That's why I was thinking fuel pressure fuel pressure is good
Okay, what about any type of ignition parts coils? I
Haven't checked any of that
Okay
But like I said, it's really weird at 25 degrees it'll start up
But if it's below 25 degrees it won't start
right
You know, I'll be honest with you. I don't know that I've ever heard anything like that. I mean, I believe you but
Yeah, because I filled with it one day the first day of that first real bad cold snap we had
It was on a Saturday. I went out there start this thing up
And it just cranked and cranked and cranked it wouldn't start not start. I got mad at it
Well, I'll grab battery charger. I took charger up to and I let it I put it on on on the the
40 amp charge and let it sit for a few minutes
I hooked the charge, you know, it's good said it was charged up on hook charger and all it did just crank and crank and crank
And I'm like, well, all right, we'll crank it up to 200 amps to it
And I hit the key. I couldn't get my finger off the key fast enough and it lit right up
And it really sucks when you're at four o'clock in the morning, you got to go to work
I got to drag the battery charger over there and hook it up to get the damn thing to start to go to work
My goodness, uh
Then I had the battery, uh
I had advanced they got one in high the advanced got with them high tech
laptop
iPad looking things they hooked it up and they checked the the alternator the
Alternator a battery, you know, it's putting out 13 5 13 a
battery he had battery had 13
13 some bolts in it
And uh, you know, and I checked I checked the battery. I checked the I checked the battery bolt is when it was cold
It's still 13 5
when it was cold
I still just didn't have enough it didn't have enough guts to get it started. Yeah
Have you well, okay. I don't think it's a battery issue. I can tell you that much
I don't think we're dealing with a battery issue because it's cranking. So if your fuel pressure is good
Two things you can try one try to just cycle the key just just
Two or three times just cycle it leave it, you know, turn the key on cycle it don't start it
Turn the key on cycle it
For, you know, five seconds and then shut it off do it three times
I've tried that. Okay, and that doesn't fix it. Okay. So
Have you tried to just spray a little bit of ether in there just just
To eliminate that I I know that fuel pressure is good
But just to see if you hit it with you know, all you gotta do is take the air box off and just hit it with a little bit of ether
Just to see if I was gonna I was gonna try that but it was it was it was so cold the other morning and then
The way the air the way the air snorkels made on this thing. It's a giant pain in the rump
All right, okay. Well, I couldn't do that
And the other thing is I didn't want to spray starting either through the mass airflow sensor. No, yeah, don't do that
Yeah, we don't we don't want that
Um
well, unfortunately, I mean with with the cold, I mean it again, it could be
I mean, it could be in a computer issue where that the temperature
you know, the the computer itself is
Not working because of the cold. I mean we could be dealing with the coil issue. Man. I mean that
That's one of those things where you need to get it to a shop below 25 degree or you know
When it's below 25 degrees and try to have them look to make sure that you have spark
You have fuel
You know, that's the other thing. Do you know if you have spark or not?
Can you I mean once I get as soon as I hook my as soon as I hook jump box up to my battery charger and put it on on boost
Starts right up
And then once it starts up
You shut it off and then it starts right back up. It's just that initial
It's that initial cold that it don't want to start like it's it'll sit all day at work
And you know, well, I'll I go out at break time and you know, it'll sit for four hours or something
I just go out and sit in my truck and listen to the radio and I'll start it up just because it's cold and
Starts right up. So all right. So right. So I mean, obviously you need air. You need fuel. You need spark
So here's what I want. Can you access one of the spark plug the one of the ignition wires?
Mm-hmm. So what so here's what I want you to take one of those pop one of them bad boys off when it won't start
And get it pull it off enough now. You're going to need somebody to help
I've got one of them in my spark tester. Okay. So if it's below 25 degrees, let's find out if we've got spark
You know
Try try that because it sounds like you've kind of covered all your bases. I don't think it's a battery issue
It doesn't appear to be a fuel issue. Let's make sure we have spark now again
You know
Again, we're dealing with potentially a coil issue or a computer issue where the computer is just so cold. It's just
You know, it has to be at a
I mean that that's something that is
Can be as simple as again just a coil issue or or a crank sensor
And it's just because of that temperature. It's just not working
Or a computer issue. So it's one of those things where
I'm I I'm sorry
There's a lot of bases to cover there, but the problem is is right now
I mean, it's not going to be below 25 probably for the next week or two. So it's going to be kind of difficult
Yeah, thank you
Global warming bring it on
Yes
Yes
This is coldest winter I've seen in a while. So
But uh, well, I tell you what keep keep uh, keep investigating. I find out if you've got spark and then call me back. All right
All right. Yeah. Well, hopefully hopefully we won't have another another one in
11 below zero days. You're correct. Yeah, we'll get into that Kroger and get your wife some flowers in a car
She'll thank you. I'm gonna go get hamburgers. I'm gonna get another light and a balloon
All right, we'll do all right. Thank you, sir. Have a great day. Uh-huh. Bye. Bye
Oh, man, that was I I could not stop laughing about that this morning. It was pretty funny
So all right taking your phone calls the number to call 513749 5500 coming up. We have joe and danny
You're listening to the car show on 55 krc the talk station
Do you have a truck camper RV or a trailer that needs body repair?
If so, call Frank's heavy truck collision repair located just all 575 around 63
It's convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton with over 30 years of experience including insurance work and fleet work
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Hey
Taking your car questions the number to call 513749 5500
We are
Rapidly running out of time. I do apologize. I'm going to get to these callers. I who are patiently waiting. I really do appreciate it
Uh, let's go back to the phones. We have joe. Hey joe, welcome to the car show. Thank you so much for your patience
How can I help?
Hey, I have a
A duty like fleet work for my company. I do the maintenance of that. So I have a 2011
450 uh, I'm sorry e 450
box van and
I had not long ago. I noticed that the power steering reservoir and power series making noise and then the reservoir was
Empty and I had filled it back up and it quieted it back down and everything
and I don't drive it all the time one of the
Workers drive it. So I really don't hear about anything wrong until it fails. So right but uh, so
Yesterday or the other day it was making that noise but constantly
You know the noise it would make if I was turning the wheel, but it was to the constant noise
So I just thought well, maybe I'll just fill it fluid again and I go in there and the reservoir was full
okay, so um
I kind of listened and I kind of got in the weeds with it and
I was starting to think maybe the alternator was
Alternator bearing but there is no problem with any voltage dropping or anything surging or anything like that
um, and I do hear a little bit of difference in the noise when I do turn the wheel
And I'm kind of wondering if it's just not as bad as it would sound if it was low because it has
A lot of fluid in there that could possibly
Make it not sound as bad as if it were like a bad pump that was empty
Yeah, so I don't know what kind of what you was thinking that would be. Um, all right. So the noise changes
When you turn the steering wheel, correct?
Yeah, a little bit
I don't hear it as obvious as if it was like low fluid, but it does seem to coincide with turning the wheel
Okay, and then when you take while the while the vehicle's running when you take the cap off
Does the fluid seem to have any type of aeration and any type of bubbles in it?
I
Haven't seen any I haven't really looked for that. I know when I took the cap off to check it looked pretty solid
It didn't look, you know bubbly or cloudy or anything. Okay, so a lot of times especially
Um
Because you had indicated that it ran low at one point there could be air trapped in the system
There could be air still trapped in it which could cause the pump to to make that wine type noise
So we'll uncheck for aeration make sure there aren't any bubbles in it too
What I uh, what I want you to do is if you can a lot of times the is the reservoir attached to the pump or is it
um
Separate does it have a you know two lines an inlet and an outlet or is it right above the pump?
It is uh, I believe
So it the reservoir is kind of like towards the front of the uh, my open hood
It's right there on the front near the radiator. Okay, so it's not attached to the pump
No, it's not like part of the pump
Yeah, so a lot of what can happen to so one make sure there isn't there is an aeration again
You could have some air built up inside the lines, which could be causing it the other thing that you can do too is
um, now you would need to get I mean it basically what I call you know
Some type of evacuation tool like a sucker to to remove the fluid
A lot of times debris will build up inside the screen at the bottom of the the reservoir, right?
So even though the fluid is full
It's depriving the pump
Of the proper fluid it needs because the screen's just not filtering it fast enough
so, um
You can try that because again, you know
The fact that it ran low that it could again the air could be trapped so
You know remove the fluid that's in there
You don't it doesn't have to be running remove the fluid if you can get some type of device that can remove the fluid
If you can take the reservoir off clean it out do the best you can to clean it all out
Make sure that screen at the bottom of it is cleaned out now
If it still continues it a lot of the times too you have to use some type of vacuum system where it
You know, it's basically forcing the fluid out and and you know because there's probably it sounds like there's probably
Some potential aeration
Now again, it could be a a tensioner or something like that. I would physically need to hear it
You know, you're you're more than welcome to swing it by one day and I'll come out there and listen to it
but um
And we could use a stethoscope would take five minutes of your time
But the fact that it was low and you added it and you're still kind of experiencing and the noise
Changes when you turn the steering wheel leads me to believe that it is still in the power steering and again
It just could be air trapped in the system itself
So make sure the screen's cleaned you can do that yourself
And if it still does it then um, you probably will need to take it to a repair shop
I mean you can buy a vacuum system for the power steering where it you know
Fords are kind of notorious for that the toruses were the worst
Trying to get air out of that system. So I think it's just air trapped in the system and you just got to get it out
You just got to you know, the other thing that you can do, um
Well, it wouldn't work on this particular situation, but try that first make sure the reservoir is cleaned up
and then if it's still, you know, fill it back up and then
If it's still doing it, we need to get the air out at least, you know
Try to and like I said if you've got time you're more than welcome to swing by I can take a listen for you
But it sounds like it's just air just stuck in the system. You just got to get it out. That's all
Okay, all right simple enough that they are replacing the pump. Absolutely. Yeah, it's not a pump. It's not a pump issue
It's I promise you it I all right
It's almost I almost never replace pumps because of that that particular situation. So thanks for holding on. I appreciate you
Have a great weekend. Take care. Bye. Bye. All right real quick. We've got Danny. Hey, Danny. Welcome to the car show
I uh, I've got about
About a minute and a half. I do apologize, but I'd like to get to you
I'll make it quick. Thank you. First of all for taking my call. Absolutely. I've got a I've got a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado
I recently bought four
Uh brand new rims, but four brand new tires on it. It had like 70 something miles when I did that
I noticed when I drive it
between like
38
And maybe 43 44 miles per hour
I get a shimmy in the steering wheel after it gets past that if it gets up to like 45 46 it goes away
I've had the tires balance two different times thinking that they weren't balanced, right? But it still does it. Okay
All right, so here so let me ask you something. It's only
It doesn't do it when you brake. It's only between 35 and 40
Under acceleration that you notice the vibration, correct?
Yeah, if I'm on I-75 or whatever and driving when I get up to that 30 38 mile per hour
You can feel it start it'll go up until about 44 45 miles per hour and then it's fine. Okay. Here's what I want you to do
You said wheels and tires, correct?
Yes, sir. Okay
the wheels you want to make sure that they came with a
A cone for the center of the wheel, right? So a lot of times aftermarket wheels will just be they're they're universal, right?
So you put them on there and even though you bolt bolt them up properly
They're still not centered properly. So you could be dealing with that
So you want to make sure that it has what's called a hub hub hub?
Hub ring you want to make sure those wheels that they put on has a hub ring
Okay, because again, even though you bolt them up in theory. You're like, hey if I bolt them up
It should it should center that wheel. Well, that's not always the case. So make sure that the wheels that you purchased
Align with the hub if they don't make sure that it
Most of them don't but you want to make sure that they have a hub ring
Now the other thing is is the wheel the tires themselves could be out around and you know and and causing your issue
So what I would recommend when you had them balanced
Going forward what I want to see you do is you want to have them road force balanced
You want to find somebody who has a road force balancer and what basically what it does is it applies road force
Because it could just be a tire issue. So again the wheels make sure they have hub rings
If they do get them road force balanced and then I want I get those get those two things done and checked
And then you call me back. All right. I'm sorry to cut you short. That's what I'll do. Thank you, sir
Everybody have a great valentine's day. I really do appreciate it
Uh, I will be back next Saturday to answer all of your car questions. Thank you so much
Again, everybody happy valentine's day. Aiden
Happy birthday brother
Thank you so much. Have a great day. You're listening to the car show on 55 k rc the talk station
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