Dane Donovan hosts a call-in car show focused on getting vehicles ready for spring break and summer travel. He urges listeners to check fluids, tire pressure, and especially air conditioning now—Cincinnati weather swings fast, and last-minute repairs can derail trips. The show also covers maintenance timing (quarterly checks vs. waiting for breakdowns) and the real-world cost of neglect. Callers get advice on intermittent brake booster/brake pedal issues (likely vacuum line/valve or fluid/air) and on AC compressor cycling (often normal, but check refrigerant pressure). A heated discussion also challenges aftermarket warranty companies.
Dane Donovan shares tips on how to prepare your vehicle for spring break and summer trips. He emphasizes the importance of checking your air conditioning, tire pressure, and brake fluid levels. Dane also discusses the benefits of regular maintenance, citing a personal experience where a friend's car had multiple issues due to neglected maintenance. The episode also features a caller, Wayne, who asks for advice on a brake issue with his 2014 Chevrolet Camaro.
"[191.0s] It's a beautiful day, a little chilly, but you can still get outside,
[199.2s] go for a nice brisk walk or maybe pop that hood and see whether or not your car has oil in it,
[207.0s] or all your fluids are topped off, or maybe you've got the proper air pressure."
It just means open the hood and look around under the engine. People do quick checks like fluid levels before they drive.
“Pop that hood” is a casual way of saying to open the engine bay and do a quick visual check. In a car context, it usually means checking fluids and basic under-hood items before driving.
"[199.2s] go for a nice brisk walk or maybe pop that hood and see whether or not your car has oil in it,
[207.0s] or all your fluids are topped off, or maybe you've got the proper air pressure.
[213.0s] As many Americans are dealing with the headache of the airline lines,"
Engine oil keeps the moving parts lubricated. If it’s low, the engine can wear out faster or get damaged.
Oil level and oil condition are critical for engine lubrication and cooling. Running low on oil can lead to accelerated wear or even engine damage.
"[207.0s] or all your fluids are topped off, or maybe you've got the proper air pressure.
[213.0s] As many Americans are dealing with the headache of the airline lines,
[221.4s] and so some people might be traveling on their spring break trip."
Tire air pressure affects grip, braking, ride comfort, and fuel economy. Using the manufacturer’s recommended pressure helps tires wear evenly and reduces the risk of overheating.
"[243.9s] We need to get my car in, and she does.
[247.5s] She needs tires.
[249.7s] Not quite an oil change just yet, but I'm going to do it because we're going to drive down."
Tires are what actually grip the road. If they’re worn out, the car can stop and handle less safely.
Tires are the car’s only contact with the road, so their condition directly impacts traction and braking. Replacing tires before a trip can improve safety, especially if tread is worn or tires are aging.
"and you need to really, really start thinking about your air conditioning. [268.3s] I know that this week we had opening day, and it was 80 degrees."
Your car’s air conditioning is what cools the cabin. Before hot weather hits, it’s worth turning it on and checking that it actually blows cold air, especially if you’re about to take a trip.
The car’s air conditioning (AC) is a key comfort system for summer driving. If it’s not cooling properly, it can make long trips miserable and can also hint at an underlying issue like low refrigerant or a failing compressor.
"But something that you need to start thinking about now is making sure that that car is ready for spring break. [345.0s] If you're traveling, if you're driving, or maybe you're not going anywhere for spring break,"
They’re basically saying: check your car before you leave for a big trip. Doing it early gives you time to fix problems before you’re driving long distances.
The speaker is recommending a proactive “pre-trip” inspection before seasonal travel. This kind of planning helps catch issues early—like AC problems—so you’re not stuck troubleshooting on the road during peak travel times.
"And then there's something happens, right? [390.0s] A gasket or a part doesn't work, or I had a gentleman that was a friend of mine"
A gasket is like a seal that stops fluids from leaking between parts. If it fails, you might start losing oil or coolant, and the car can run poorly or even overheat.
A gasket is a thin sealing material used between engine or cooling system parts to prevent leaks. If a gasket fails, you can get coolant or oil leaks and sometimes overheating or loss of compression, depending on where it is.
"which are overinflated, should have 35 reason being the last time he got an oil change... So every, for every 10 degrees of ambient air temperature drops, you lose a pound of air... So on Thursday, it was 80 degrees... So your air pressure is going to rise. So an overinflated tire is not as bad as a underinflated tire..."
Overinflated means the tire has too much air. It can make the tire wear unevenly, even if it doesn’t feel immediately dangerous.
Overinflated tires run with more air pressure than recommended. The speaker notes that while it’s not as bad as being underinflated, it still increases tire wear and can affect how the tire grips.
"So an overinflated tire is not as bad as a underinflated tire, certainly going to get better gas mileage, but you really, it really puts a lot of wear on the tires."
Underinflated means the tire has too little air. That usually leads to faster wear and can hurt gas mileage.
Underinflated tires have less air pressure than recommended. The speaker emphasizes that this can be worse than overinflation because it increases tire wear and can reduce fuel economy.
"if you drive here from Cincinnati to Nashville, tires are going to get hot and that pressure will rise, but, you know, once they cool down, so it's going to fluctuate a little bit..."
When you drive, tires heat up and the pressure increases. After you park and they cool down, the pressure drops again.
They note that driving heats the tires, which increases pressure, and then pressure drops as the tires cool. This is why you should check tire pressure when tires are cool for the most accurate reading.
"So, and if you haven't properly inflated per your making model, that's where you get the longevity out of your tires."
They stress that tire pressure should be set according to the vehicle’s specifications, which vary by make/model and sometimes by tire size. Following the door-jamb or owner’s manual guidance helps maximize tire life and performance.
"you know, it was, now it's an A8, so it's a nicer vehicle, right? But it was almost $3,000 just to put four tires on this vehicle."
An Audi A8 is a luxury car. The point here is that even basic maintenance like tires can cost a lot on nicer cars.
The Audi A8 is Audi’s full-size luxury sedan. In this segment, it’s used to illustrate how tire replacement on a newer, higher-end car can be expensive, even when the work seems “routine.”
"nine out of 10 times, I get a car when it's broken... by the time it's broken, there's already five... So we're going to put the tires on it today. And then maybe three months from now, we'll tackle the brakes..."
Deferred maintenance means you put off repairs. Waiting usually makes the problem worse and can lead to more parts needing work at the same time.
Deferred maintenance is when repairs are postponed until parts fail or multiple issues appear at once. The segment describes how waiting turns a manageable job (like tires) into a bigger, more expensive visit with several systems needing attention.
"is $50,000, okay? So I understand that it's a depreciating asset, and you're not going to get
$50,000 for it when you sell it, but you want to make sure you protect your car, that investment,"
It means the car usually becomes worth less as time goes on. So when you sell it later, you probably won’t get back what you paid.
A depreciating asset is something that tends to lose value over time. Cars usually depreciate the moment you buy them, so the resale price is often much lower than what you paid.
"Hi, I'm Dane Donovan, third generation owner at Donovan's Auto and Tire Center. That's why at Donovan's, we give you everything you need and nothing you don't. Honest expert service to keep your car running longer."
This is the name of the auto shop being advertised. They’re saying they do trustworthy repairs and have been in business for a long time.
Donovan's Auto and Tire Center is the local service shop being promoted in this segment. The host emphasizes “honest expert service” and positioning the business as a long-running Cincinnati auto repair provider.
"...iving his best life. Yeah, I have a 2014 Chrysler 300 s. Okay. Okay. It's got V six, 300 horsepower ga..."
The Chrysler 300 is a large sedan made for comfortable driving, especially on longer trips. The example mentioned is a 2014 model with a V6 engine, which means it has six cylinders working together to provide power. It’s the kind of car people choose when they want a big, smooth car without needing a sports car feel.
The Chrysler 300 is a full-size sedan known for its bold styling and comfortable, highway-focused ride. In the context mentioned, a 2014 Chrysler 300 S with a V6 is being discussed, highlighting its power output and everyday usability. It’s a common choice for people who want a large sedan with a strong engine and a straightforward ownership experience.
"First, you know, yes, you brake fluid should be replaced every 30,000 miles. Brake fluid absorbs moisture and yes, you can, with that moisture, yes, you will get air in the system."
Brake fluid can soak up water from the air. When it does, it can cause problems like less effective braking or a spongy pedal, so replacing it on a schedule helps prevent that.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture over time. That moisture can lower boiling point and contribute to air-related or spongy brake feel, so periodic replacement helps keep the hydraulic system stable.
"Are you experiencing any other idle issues or, and you said you ran the check engine light and no other lights came on?"
The check engine light means the car’s computer noticed a problem. If it’s the only warning light, it can help point you toward a more specific issue rather than something major across the whole car.
The check engine light (CEL) indicates the engine control unit has detected a fault and stored diagnostic trouble codes. If only the CEL is on (and no other warning lights), it can narrow the diagnosis to specific sensor/emissions-related issues versus broader systems.
"[1605.3s] And I can see the vacuum line where it comes off. It looks like the intake manifold
[1614.9s] and goes over to the brake booster. Okay. And it plugs in to the side of the booster"
The brake booster helps your brakes work with less pedal effort. It often uses engine vacuum, so if that vacuum isn’t right, the brakes can feel stiff or not work as well.
The brake booster is the vacuum-assisted (or pressure-assisted) unit that helps multiply the force you apply to the brake pedal. If vacuum supply to the booster is weak or disrupted, brake pedal feel can change and braking can feel harder than normal.
"[1655.2s] the other thing that I looked up a hose, I looked up the vacuum hose for that. It's like,
[1660.9s] and it's not terrible. It's about 50 bucks, I think."
A vacuum hose is the hose that carries suction from the engine. If it leaks, the car may not get enough vacuum for certain systems to work right.
A vacuum hose is the rubber/plastic line that carries vacuum to components. Vacuum hoses can harden or crack with age, and replacing a leaking hose can restore proper vacuum to systems like the brake booster.
"If I brought it up and had you do the
brake flush, and typically, about what was that run? Usually, it's about $129.95 in that area,"
A brake flush replaces old brake fluid with new fluid. Old fluid can pick up moisture, which can hurt braking and cause problems over time.
A brake flush is a service where old brake fluid is replaced with fresh fluid. It helps remove moisture and contaminants that can reduce braking performance and contribute to corrosion inside the brake system.
"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 off I-75 at Route 63,"
This is a business that does collision and body repair for heavy trucks. It’s mentioned as a place to call if you have a truck or trailer that needs work.
This company is advertised during the segment as a heavy-truck collision and body repair shop. It’s relevant because it indicates the show also covers commercial vehicle repair needs, not just passenger cars.
"I'm Dane Donovan from
Donovan's Auto & Tire Center. Located here in the wonderful Cincinnati."
This is the auto shop the host works with. It helps listeners understand the advice is coming from a real repair business.
This is the shop the host represents, and it frames the segment as a local service/repair discussion. For listeners, it signals the advice is coming from an active tire and automotive service business.
"I've been a Verizon customer for 15 years. Okay, I lied, all three are true. Verizon isn't as expensive as you think, in fact, if you bring in your AT&T or T-Mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal."
Verizon is a phone and mobile data company. The ad is saying their service and deals can be better than other carriers.
Verizon is a major U.S. wireless carrier. The segment uses it as an example of mobile-network performance and plan pricing comparisons.
"Verizon isn't as expensive as you think, in fact, if you bring in your AT&T or T-Mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal."
T-Mobile is a phone service provider. The ad mentions it because they’re comparing plans and saying you might get a better deal by switching.
T-Mobile is a major U.S. wireless carrier mentioned alongside AT&T in a pricing/deal comparison. The ad claims you can bring another carrier’s bill to a Verizon store for a better offer.
"Verizon isn't as expensive as you think, in fact, if you bring in your AT&T or T-Mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal."
AT&T is another big phone service provider. In this segment, it’s mentioned because the ad compares AT&T bills to Verizon deals.
AT&T is a major U.S. wireless carrier mentioned for bill comparison against Verizon. It’s part of the ad’s pitch about getting a better deal by switching or negotiating.
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In racing, a pace car is a car that leads the race at a slower, controlled speed. It’s used when the race needs to slow down for safety, like during an incident.
A pace car is a vehicle used in racing to control the speed of the field, usually during cautions or when the track needs to be cleared. It helps maintain safety while conditions are managed.
"A lot of times they'd kick back paperwork because the mileage that I gave them when I called them was different than what was stated when I called them."
Mileage matters because many warranties and coverage plans depend on how many miles the car has. If the numbers don’t match what the company has recorded, they may refuse to cover it.
Mileage is a key eligibility factor for many automotive programs, including warranties, service contracts, and coverage determinations. If the mileage you report doesn’t match the mileage on file, the claim or authorization can be denied.
"Way back in 1958, my grandfather opened Donovan's Auto Entire Center right here in Cincinnati... our commitment to honest auto repair hasn't."
This is the name of the shop being advertised in the segment. The host ties the business’s long history to a promise of “honest auto repair,” emphasizing doing only what the vehicle needs. For listeners, it’s a reminder that shop reputation and repair philosophy matter when dealing with maintenance and claims.
"...some of these compressors will cycle, and they'll kick on, kick off, kick on, kick off, and then others will just run all the time. Some of your newer cars today..."
AC compressor cycling is when the compressor (via the clutch) turns on and off instead of running continuously. This can be normal on many newer vehicles because the system manages efficiency and refrigerant pressure based on temperature and load.
"...there's three quarters of a pound in there... That could be reason why it's maybe cycling... so then they put your three quarters pound back in... now you're full and then... you're good to go."
A/C cycling means the air conditioner keeps turning on and off. That can happen when the refrigerant level is low or when the system is trying to run efficiently.
A/C cycling is when the compressor repeatedly turns on and off rather than running continuously. Causes can include low refrigerant charge, sensor/pressure switch behavior, or system control strategies aimed at efficiency.
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Good afternoon and welcome to The Car Show.
On 55KRC, I'm Dane Donovan.
Taking all of your car questions, 513-749-5500.
That number again, 513-749-5500.
It's a beautiful day, a little chilly, but you can still get outside,
go for a nice brisk walk or maybe pop that hood and see whether or not your car has oil in it,
or all your fluids are topped off, or maybe you've got the proper air pressure.
As many Americans are dealing with the headache of the airline lines,
and so some people might be traveling on their spring break trip.
Following next week, the day after Easter,
it's when our boys are on spring break.
So we're going down to Nashville for a couple of days.
We need to get my car in, and she does.
She needs tires.
Not quite an oil change just yet, but I'm going to do it because we're going to drive down.
It's something that you really need to think about.
We're going to go into summer, summer trips,
and you need to really, really start thinking about your air conditioning.
I know that this week we had opening day, and it was 80 degrees.
And I'm sure many of you turned that AC on, and if it was working great,
if it wasn't, you need to start playing in the head and getting in now.
Or if you're in your car now, it's warm enough that it's about 45 degrees.
So you could turn it on and just see if it's working.
Because again, a lot of times when we get those,
it's literally, you know how it is in Cincinnati.
If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it'll change.
It was 80 on Thursday, and then 35 degrees yesterday morning.
So it can change very quickly.
But you know how it is, in my opinion.
I mean, I know that we have four seasons, but it always goes from like winter,
like spring for about a week or two, and then boom, we're in 90 degrees and we're hot,
and we're getting these cars in, and we're thinking about trips,
and we're waiting the last minute, and it happens all the time.
But something that you need to start thinking about now
is making sure that that car is ready for spring break.
If you're traveling, if you're driving, or maybe you're not going anywhere for spring break,
but you know that in July or June, you're going on a family vacation,
you're going to be driving to Florida, New York, or wherever you're heading.
And it's just something that you want to make sure
that you get your car in at the right time.
You know, a lot of times too, you really don't want to wait the last minute,
because there are times where it doesn't necessarily, you know, we get your car in,
let's say you're leaving Saturday morning, and you bring your car to me on Friday,
and we do some work, or any repair shop for that matter.
And then there's something happens, right?
A gasket or a part doesn't work, or I had a gentleman that was a friend of mine
who was going to be traveling to, supposed to leave the day, and was involved in a car accident.
Now that's unfortunate that, you know, there wasn't anything that he could have done differently,
but we always have to have a backup plan.
You always have to make sure that your vehicle is ready for the road.
And as you know, gas prices are through the roof, car prices are through the roof,
and you want to make sure that you protect your investment and make sure that your family
is safe and should be on the road and ready to go.
Now I understand that fixing your car isn't always glamorous and fun, right?
Kind of like going to the dentist.
I had to go to the dentist myself this week.
Luckily, a wonderful brother-in-law who takes care of my teeth, and, you know,
it's something that we just have to do, and you want to make sure that you don't cut corners,
right? I had a gentleman that works for me two weeks ago, says I can't come into work.
I have a really bad tooth, and I have to have it removed.
I have to go to urgent care, right? We don't want that.
It's just not, nobody, it just ruins the whole
vacation and the time and just adds stress that we don't really need in today's world, right?
So we want to make sure that we're getting these vehicles in, getting them checked out,
and getting them ready for either spring break or summer.
Now, a lot of you go, ah, you know, I've got time. I've got time.
You know, we always say that. I'm a victim of it myself. I do it all the time.
I wait till the last minute. You don't want to do that, right?
So start thinking about the future. Start thinking about the air conditioning.
Again, if you're in the car and you're listening to me right now,
turn the AC on, just make sure it's working, right? If it's not, let's make an appointment,
let's get it in. Whether you're, you know, whether you bring it to me or your local mechanic,
turn that on, get it going, get it ready. You know, my father-in-law was in my shop the other day,
and I checked his air pressure and, you know, he had, you know, 38, 39, 40 pounds of pressure in
his tires, you know, which are overinflated, should have 35 reason being the last time he
got an oil change, it was, you know, in the zeros, right? 10, 20. So every, for every 10 degrees of
ambient air temperature drops, you lose a pound of air, right? So on Thursday, it was 80 degrees,
right? So your air pressure is going to rise. So an overinflated tire is not as bad as a
underinflated tire, certainly going to get better gas mileage, but you really, it really
puts a lot of wear on the tires. So you want to make sure that your tires are properly inflated.
Now, what I will tell you is it's certainly important going on a road trip to make sure
your tires are properly checked and inflated properly. Now, again, if you drive here from
Cincinnati to Nashville, tires are going to get hot and that pressure will rise, but, you know,
once they cool down, so it's going to fluctuate a little bit, but that does put a lot of wear on
the tires if they're overinflated or underinflated. So, and if you haven't properly inflated per
your making model, that's where you get the longevity out of your tires. And tires, again,
are very expensive. You know, when I started into this, when I started in this business 26 years ago,
you know, we could buy it, there was like, I don't know, 10 different sizes of tires and, you know,
there, our cost was, you know, $35 and, you know, obviously we mark them up, but you pay them,
you know, maybe $100 a tire by the time you install it. It's not like that now. I just put
four tires on an Audi Friday, not physical, I didn't put them on myself, my tech did, but,
you know, it was, now it's an A8, so it's a nicer vehicle, right? But it was almost $3,000
just to put four tires on this vehicle. And so you want to make sure that you get the most life out
of your car, out of your tires, and how do you do that? You make sure they're properly inflated,
and you make sure that you, the car is properly aligned, right, which we did. And,
you know, it's just, it's the smaller things. It doesn't have to always be, get it in and spend
hundreds and hundreds of dollars. It's just get it in quarterly. I'd like to see a car at least
quarterly. I know that's not always perfect for everybody, right? But you're able to stay on top
of it, right? And you're able to get ahead of it in the sense of, a lot of times I usually get a car,
nine out of 10 times, I get a car when it's broken, right? Yes, that's what I do. But by the time it's
broken, there's already five, there's already five other things wrong with that car. So we get it in,
right? And it's like, hey, yes, your car won't start because it needs a starter, but the battery
tests bad, you've got an oil leak, you need four tires, four brakes, and it's going to be
$3,000. And then everybody's like wanting to pull their hair out, because it's like, man, I really
can't afford that, right? But Hadday brought it to me maybe three months prior, right? I could have
been like, hey, you're going to need brakes soon, but you do need tires. So we're going to put the
tires on it today. And then maybe three months from now, we'll take care, we'll tackle the brakes,
so we'll tackle the oil change, right? So it really, and again, I'm going to use the analogy,
and I use it all the time. If you don't go to the dentist for three, four, five years, I mean,
my mechanic said that had the tooth problem. He's like, I was going to go back and during COVID,
and I just never went back, right? So we're dealing with six years. So you can imagine that
six years of not going to the dentist, you're going to have quite a bit of dental repair,
same with your car, right? Same with your house. If you don't have anybody come in your house
and inspect it, and you live in your house every day, so if there's a leak in your roof or something
like that, we typically tend to handle that, right? Because we want to protect that investment. You
should do that for your car because these cars, again, the average price of a vehicle today
is $50,000, okay? So I understand that it's a depreciating asset, and you're not going to get
$50,000 for it when you sell it, but you want to make sure you protect your car, that investment,
and making sure that it's safe. You can be out on the road, and you're family safe, right? And I
understand that cars are expensive, and we really don't want to spend the money on it, but you have
to do it. It's just one of those things that we have to do. Maintenance and maintaining these cars
is more important today than it's ever been, in my opinion, because the cars are so expensive.
So you want to start thinking about that, especially with spring break going on, and then
making sure that you get in at an ample time, so you're not up against the end in a corner with...
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So, you know, with problems. So all right, again, the number to call 513-749-5500.
Coming up, we have Wayne and Mike. You're listening to the Car Show on 55KRC, the Talk Station.
If your car isn't just a machine, it's your daily partner. And with new cars becoming more
expensive than ever, smart maintenance for your current vehicle just makes sense.
Hi, I'm Dane Donovan, third generation owner at Donovan's Auto and Tire Center.
That's why at Donovan's, we give you everything you need and nothing you don't.
Honest expert service to keep your car running longer.
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All the news and the views of Brian Thomas, Monday morning at five on 55KRC, the Talk Station.
Welcome back, taking your car questions and again, the number to call 513-749-5500.
That number again, 513-749-5500 in studio here to take your car questions.
Again, it's a beautiful Saturday. My wife and I are going to a fundraiser tonight for Mueller High
School. Looking forward to that. But yeah, here again, every Saturday to answer your car questions.
I hope everybody had a great week. I hope, unfortunately, our reds didn't that win on
opening day, but that's okay. It was still, it was a good time. My son was in the parade
for the Dragonfly Foundation and I want to give a shout out to them, along with cancer-free kids.
My son at two and a half was diagnosed with cancer and he's doing great in remission and
should, he has one more set of scans and then we can, you know, he's in remission, but again,
doing great. So cancer-free kids and Dragonfly Foundation, great foundations. If you're looking
to donate their great foundation and again, Dragonfly Foundation invites him every year to
the opening day parade. He gets to participate in that and they have a tractor and he's, you know,
he's just happy and waving and has a great time. So I want to give, again, a shout out to those
foundations. They're great. If you want to give to great research and great cancer
charities, those two are locally just phenomenal. And again, he's doing well
and he's out. He's going to make his first communion. So my wife and him are out at the
mall right now looking for a nice pair of slacks and a jacket for first communion coming up here
shortly. So he'll be, he'll be nine in August. So he's doing well. So he got to, he got to go to
his first, now he's, this is, I think the fourth opening day parade he's participated in, but he's
never really been able to go to the game. And this year, unfortunately, I was not able to make the
game. But so they, my wife and three boys got to go and they enjoyed it. And my wife needed to
had, it was like, I'm, she was overwhelmed. She's like, I just want to take a shower, go to bed.
So it can be a lot going on with down there. So, but unfortunately, I already lost, but today's
kids opening day. So hope you're down there. If you've got kids and get them down there and
enjoy the festivities. So all right, again, let's go to the phones. We have Wayne. Hey, Wayne,
welcome to the car show. How can I help? Oh, thank you. I'm glad to hear your son's doing well.
Thank you. Yeah, he's living his best life. Yeah, I have a 2014 Chrysler 300 s. Okay.
Okay. It's got V six, 300 horsepower gas engine. That's a real old drive vehicle.
About a year ago, I was driving on Colorado Avenue. I went to stop at a stoplight.
And the, the brake booster seemed to give out the brakes did work. And they got me stopped. I
immediately pulled into a parking lot and looked at the fluid and everything and it was all full.
There was a car repair place right up the street. I even stopped there and had them check it out.
They couldn't find anything wrong. Well, it's been fine for quite a while. Then recently,
now it's done it to me basically two more times. It will, it will stop, but you can tell the loss
of the brake booster and the pedal goes down way much more. Okay. So, all right. So,
so it's intermittent, correct? And the brake fluid's full and the brakes look great.
Yeah. The pads and rotors and everything have only been ordered for about four months.
Okay. Okay. All right. So when it is at any point is the pedal itself hard, like really,
really stuff really hard or, or does it just go straight to the floor?
No, it's, I, I, I look up a test on YouTube where you get in a car with a knob running,
pump it up and your pedal gets good and hard. Then you start to car and that it should go down some,
not a lot and then stop. It does that. Okay. I actually ran a code scan on it and it shows no
electrical codes on like anything like the sensors that see the air going through them or something.
So, I'm just kind of thinking maybe the booster itself or to be honest,
the cars never had a fluid flush that maybe, maybe there's some air in the line or something.
I think you can try that. Typically though, I mean, how many times does this act,
how many times does this happen to you? Two, three times or?
I said, well, it's, I think now it's been three or four altogether.
Okay. All right. And again, to re, so when, when it, when it acts up, are you at a traffic light
and you just have your foot on the pedal and it goes down to the floor or is it like if you're
getting off the highway, it goes to the floor? Well, I'm, you know, I'm just driving along. It
stops at a light. It happens. And then if I let off of it and pump it once or twice,
it comes right back up. Okay. So, here's what I want you to, here's, here's what I would do. First,
you know, yes, you brake fluid should be replaced every 30,000 miles. Brake fluid absorbs moisture
and yes, you can, with that moisture, yes, you will get air in the system.
It would be beneficial to do that regardless. Okay. Now, I don't think that that's your problem.
Either, like you said, the brake booster is bad, but before I, before you do that,
change the fluid, flush the fluid. Okay. But there is most of these newer vehicles have a
vacuum hose, okay, because your brake booster runs off a vacuum and that vacuum hose runs to
the engine. The, you know, most people won't realize that that hose, that vacuum hose that runs from
the booster to the engine has a valve in it. Okay. And those valves can go bad. So before,
you know, brake fluid, sure, let's do it. I don't know that that's your necessarily
your problem. Either your booster is bad or that valve's bad. The valve, that, that vacuum line,
again, that runs from the booster to the valve cover has a valve in it. I would recommend
replacing that hose that has the valve in it first. Okay. If you still have the problems,
then yes, it's going to need the, it's going to need the booster. Now, a lot of these vehicles, too,
have a, you know, the valve, there's a, the valve cover, you know, vacuum runs through the valve
cover. So you could be dealing with a vacuum issue that's built into the, you know, there's
typically a diaphragm that sits on top or built into the valve cover that will, that could cause
that too. But the hose would be very inexpensive, right? Brake fluid, again, every 30,000. Try that
vacuum line first, because again, you got it, you've got that valve. Are you experiencing any
other idle issues or, and you said you ran the check engine light and no other lights came on?
Or no, there was no other codes in the system. No, there were no codes that showed up. Okay.
Obviously, I opened the hood and took the little cover off the top of the engine. Okay.
And I can see the vacuum line where it comes off. It looks like the intake manifold
and goes over to the brake booster. Okay. And it plugs in to the side of the booster up near
the top. There is also some kind of electronic airflow sensor built into that right there.
Okay. I was just wondering if maybe I unplugged that air sensor to see if that put any kind of
immediate effect on the booster. Yeah, you could. Yeah. Okay. All right. Also,
the other thing that I looked up a hose, I looked up the vacuum hose for that. It's like,
and it's not terrible. It's about 50 bucks, I think. So I don't mind, you know, replacing that.
It's just kind of a monster to get to because you get, as far back as the booster sits, I have to
get a bunch of stuff out of the way. Yeah. Well, the other thing that you could do too is you start
the car, let it run, get it, or, you know, it doesn't have to run in the driveway. If you're
out and about driving around town or whatever, get it up to normal operating temperature.
What you could do is while the car is running, pop the hood, obviously, you know, in a parking
lot or in your garage or whatever, pop the hood. And as the car is running, I want you to take
the oil cap off. Okay. Now, if you unscrew the oil cap and it comes off freely and there's no
resistance, then we don't have a vacuum issue in the engine bay, which would eliminate the valve
cover or the intake issue. So, but if you go to take it off and you hear a whole bunch of air
and pressure kind of build up, and it's kind of, then we got a vacuum issue in the valve cover,
because a lot of these newer vehicles have that built-in vacuum system right there in the
PCV, what we call the positive crank ventilation system, the PCV system. So,
try to, while it's running, while the car is warm, just take the oil cap off. If it comes off freely,
no issue, then we don't have a vacuum issue at the engine, right? But if you take it off and you hear
a whole bunch of hissing, like a whole bunch of pressure build up, then we've got a valve cover,
that PCV system issue as well, which will be causing your brake issue. So, try those. Those
are simple things that you can do at home before you go spending a whole bunch of money on a brake
booster, you know, because I'm willing to bet probably that thing installed is anywhere between
$5 to $800, could be even a lot more than that. So, try those things first, and then call me back
with an update. Okay, I could add one quick question. If I brought it up and had you do the
brake flush, and typically, about what was that run? Usually, it's about $129.95 in that area,
it depends on what the fluid is or whatnot. So, it's very inexpensive, but again, it should be
done every $30,000. It's very important. I'm telling you, it makes a huge difference, and again,
it protects your hoses, because a lot of times, with moisture in there, the brake hoses can collapse,
it's a good thing to do. So, like I said, it's about $129 based upon how much fluid it needs,
and so on and so forth. So, all right. Okay. Yeah, that's not unreasonable at all.
All right. Thanks, Wayne. Take care. Bye-bye. Okay. All right. Again, taking your phone calls,
number call 513-749-5500. Coming up, Mike, I appreciate it. Mike, I want to get to you. So,
stay on the line. This is a great topic that I love talking about. So, we've got Mike and John.
You're listening to the Car Show on 55KRC, 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 off I-75 at Route 63, it's convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton. With over 30 years
of experience, including insurance work and fleet work, Frank's knows the most important things are
quality work and customer satisfaction. Frank's Heavy Truck Collision Repair prides themselves
in doing the job right and getting your vehicle back on the road. Call 513-829-9030, 829-9030.
The best way to wake up in the morning? A hot cup of coffee and Brian Thomas,
Monday morning at 5 on 55KRC, the Talk Station.
Welcome back. Taking your car questions, the number to call 513-749-5500. I'm Dane Donovan from
Donovan's Auto & Tire Center. Located here in the wonderful Cincinnati. Well, most of the time,
wonderful. Again, I talked about the opening day. We got to get it together. There were 17
arrests down there during the opening day. We got to get it together, people. Come on.
This is a great city. I don't like the weather, the weather sucks, but we're better than this.
When you go out, enjoy yourself, but mind yourself. I don't know if it was like COVID
when we were trapped in our houses for two years that everybody just started acting like a fool,
but be mindful, be respectful, and it doesn't always have to be a confrontation.
Everyone has a right to their opinion, but let's just keep our opinions to ourselves.
Let's act accordingly, go out and have a good time, and none of this
lawlessness. It's just crazy. Anyways, let's get back to talking about cars.
So on the phone, we have Mike. Hey, Mike, welcome to the car show. How can I help?
Hey, Dane, I listened to your, I guess you called a rant about the car warranty.
I never kind of shop. I've been doing this probably for close to 40 years,
and I've learned from dealing with those warranty service companies.
I know they don't like to pay internal motor stuff, but as far as my brakes go, front end work,
anything like that, I had no problems with them whatsoever. What I had a lot of things I do is
I go with dealer loose price and dealer part numbers is a big thing that they like,
and labor rate that we charge is for the natural cost is 130, and for those warranty claims
companies, I do 160, and I've had really good luck with them recently. The last one that I had
trouble with, they only wanted to pay that amount of dollars on a motor repair. Wow, that's having
to have the motor replaced on it, but the reason for that is through some other stuff that was
done to the motor, and I think they have a cap on what they'll pay out. Yeah, so I mean, so you'll,
so at your shop, you'll deal with them, you'll take them. Do you take all of them or certain ones or?
There's a few that I don't take off the top of my head. I can't really remember the names of them,
but there's a few of them that I won't take, and there's a few of them that I really love dealing
with because they're easy, you know, but the biggest thing is when they, instead of using
natural market parts for pricing and stuff like that, go with dealer loose because they have an
algorithm they go by, and if things don't match that algorithm, that's when they start taking things back.
Hmm, it's interesting. Yeah, I just, I stopped dealing with them for, it was just,
here's my, you know, I understand that it can be beneficial potentially to the consumer itself,
to the consumer themselves, and I understand, but I mean, you know, it's just, I have just seen so
many times that these customers, in my opinion, this is my opinion, I've seen so many times where
they can, the individual that has this insurance policy, in my opinion, is not being taken care of
and screwed, and I just, morally and ethically, I just don't like them because I just, I've seen
time and time again that I don't feel that they really, really take care of, and I feel like
they're sold a deal of goods, and by the time you get to the bottom of it, yeah, sure, you might have
a $1,500 repair and the company's going to cover 500 bucks, right, but you know, you paid, you know,
$3,000 for the, you know, over time, it might work out, but you know, I just had a gentleman not too
long ago call me, he's like, hey, you know, hey, I've got this repair, and yada, yada, yada, I've
got this aftermarket warranty company, I'm like, hey, I don't, I don't work with him, he's like,
you're the third person that I've called that won't take these warranties, and I'm like, I, you know,
to some people like yourself, you're okay, we're, you know, you're okay working with them and, and
dealing with them, but for me, I don't like chasing my money in the sense of like, you know, these
people, like, hey, we don't pay shop supply fees, we don't pay diagnostic, we don't play, you know,
disposal fees, we don't pay this, we don't pay that, we're only going to pay $75 an hour for,
for labor and yada, yada, yada, and then you go through all these steps,
and it's like a $1,500 repair, the customer is responsible for, you know, whatever,
a thousand of it, and you know, they cover 500, but then you got to submit, you know,
so many times you've, you submit all the paperwork and it's like, well, the mileage
is an accurate from what you called us about, you know, it's different and this and that, and it's,
to me, it's just a, I mean, you have to, yeah, you have to be meticulous when you do that stuff, but
you know, I just, you know, and I was, I had a young boy,
young kid, I mean, he's probably college, young kid, look, he brought me a used vehicle,
there's a Volkswagen TDI, and I said, look, you know, car checked out great, I said,
needed a couple little things, not a big deal, I said, look, don't buy any aftermarket warranty,
and I said, whatever they offer you, if it's, if they say, hey, buy this aftermarket warranty,
it's three grand, so just take that three grand that they told you it was going to cost you,
and I said, put it in a money market fund or put it in the invested, and then if you have
a car repair, you can pull it back out, but I, you know, I just, I don't feel that they're
a great product to the consumer, I just, I've just seen so many people ripped off.
Yeah, that's good if I chair, I wouldn't recommend anybody buying one,
but if they already have it, you got to do it, you got to do.
Yeah, I agree, I agree.
I have one on a Dodge Durango, a broken cannon head, and they wouldn't cover the engine because
the guy couldn't come up with every single oil can.
Right.
Because he did two of them himself, and they had a choppy one, so they do look for every little
single reason, stop to do something, you know.
Yeah, no, I agree, and you're right, if you do have them, if you do have one, if you've purchased
one, you know, you do your due diligence, you do your best to find somebody that will work with
them, and hopefully you get your money back.
But yeah, I just feel like to the consumer, they just, I don't think it's a fair product
that they sell, because a lot of times, you know, a lot of times people come to me and like, hey,
you know, they bring a car to me, and they don't tell me they have one, and I'm like, oh,
you need front brakes, and they're like, oh, I got an aftermarket warranty, I'm like, well,
that's a wearing part, I mean, no aftermarket warranty is gonna, oh yeah, it covers everything,
everything's, I'm like, no, it covers hydraulics, which is calipers, and hoses, and things like that,
but never any, never any hard parts, like the friction material, or the rotors, which is the
wear items, and you know, but I think, I think for the consumer to buy it, it's a waste of money,
but if they got it, they got it, and they might as well use it if they can find somebody that does it.
Yes, sir, I agree with you, I agree with you on that, and I appreciate the phone call.
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