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Time To Check The Tires, Tips to Clearing the Windshield, Battery Changing Basics

Time To Check The Tires, Tips to Clearing the Windshield, Battery Changing Basics

WCCO's Car Care Dec 06, 2025 28 min
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About this episode

A deep dive into essential winter car care tips, focusing on tire maintenance, windshield care, and battery replacement. Nick Stoffel from Lloyd's Automotive shares insights on tire installation processes, the importance of cleaning wheel rims to prevent leaks, and the right windshield washer fluid for cold weather. Listeners ask questions about common issues like tire pressure warnings, wiper fluid problems, and the significance of keeping a full gas tank in winter. The episode is packed with practical advice for keeping vehicles running smoothly during the colder months.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Part

tire

"...as far as replacing tires, you need to be careful. You know, as we remove the whole assembly from the vehicle..."

A tire is the round rubber part of a car that makes contact with the road. It helps the car move and stay safe while driving.

Part

wheel

"...separate the tire from the wheel, then we're going to expect, inspect that bead surface on the wheel where the tire mounts to."

A wheel is the round metal part of a car that the tire goes on. It helps the car move and is essential for driving.

Term

bead leak

"...prevent from having a bead leak, which will cause the tires to go low."

A bead leak happens when air escapes from the spot where the tire meets the wheel. This can make your tires go flat, which is dangerous while driving.

Car

Buick LaCrosse

"...2011 Buick LaCrosse, the warning light, quote, service tire pressure system. What's the deal with that? And is this an expensive repair?"

The Buick LaCrosse is a large car made by Buick, a brand of General Motors. The 2011 version is known for being comfortable and having a lot of space inside.

Term

windshield wipers

"...I've heard you guys talk about, don't use the windshield wipers to clean off the frost. Is there another method to get rid of that stuff before the car warms up?"

Windshield wipers are the rubber blades that move back and forth across your car's windshield to wipe away rain, snow, or frost so you can see clearly while driving.

Term

fuel tank

"But I know, honestly, if you can keep the tank full, I think it's better for all of us."

The fuel tank is where the car's gasoline is stored. It's important to keep it filled to avoid running out of gas and to help the car run smoothly.

Term

fuel pump

"But what about the fuel pumps now? Aren't most of them, correct me if I'm wrong, in the tank itself?"

The fuel pump helps get gasoline from the tank to the engine so the car can run. Many newer cars have this pump inside the gas tank to work better and last longer.

Car

Ford F150

"Hi, Danny and Nick. My 2014 F-150 rear passenger door is closed. But the dash warning says it's open."

The Ford F-150 is a large truck that people often use for carrying heavy loads or towing. It's well-liked for its strength and ability to handle tough jobs.

Part

rear strut

"What is a rear strut and what would cause one to break? My SUV texture says has 46,000 miles on it."

A rear strut is a part of a car's suspension that helps keep the ride smooth by absorbing bumps from the road. If it breaks, it can make the ride uncomfortable and affect how the car handles.

Part

shock strut

"A shock strut, it's a hydraulic dampener that goes up and down with the vehicle, absorbs the bounces in the road to give us a smooth ride."

A shock strut is a part that helps your car handle bumps in the road. It works like a cushion, making the ride smoother by absorbing shocks as the car moves up and down.

Term

CV joints

"...I think we talked about CV joints and leaking. What is that talking about suspension? Do all cars have CV joints? They do."

CV joints help the wheels move smoothly even when the car goes over bumps. They connect the driveshaft to the wheels and allow for movement while still delivering power to the wheels.

Term

independent suspension

"But most vehicles have an independent suspension, meaning the wheels can move on their own up and down."

Independent suspension means that each wheel on a car can move up and down separately from the others. This helps the car handle bumps and turns better, making for a smoother ride.

Part

CV axle

"...that's what that CV axle does. So it's a solid shaft with a CV axle or a constant velocity joint at each end filled with grease."

A CV axle is a part of a car that helps transfer power from the engine to the wheels while allowing the wheels to move up and down. It has special joints that keep the power flow smooth, even when the car goes over bumps.

Part

axles

"But typically we replace the axles a whole. They're very competitively priced."

Axles are the parts that help your car's wheels turn. If they get damaged or worn out, they need to be replaced so your car can drive properly.

Part

rubber accordion boot

"And you look down in there, you'll see a little rubber accordion boot."

A rubber accordion boot is a protective cover that keeps dirt out of important parts of your car's axle. If it gets torn, it can cause problems with the axle.

Car

Chevy Silverado

"Texture has a 2020 Chevy Silverado. They would like to change the battery."

The Chevy Silverado is a large truck made by Chevrolet, often used for hauling and towing. The 2020 model has various features that make it suitable for different tasks.

Term

12-volt system

"Can I do this myself without hooking it up to another 12-volt system and not cause any damage to the computers, et cetera?"

A 12-volt system is the electrical system in cars that powers things like the lights and radio. It's important to handle it carefully when working on your car.

Part

battery hold down

"If you have the right wrenches and such, you know, got to remove the battery hold down, remove the cables, make sure the cables are clean."

The battery hold down is a part that keeps the car battery securely in place. It's important to make sure it’s tight so the battery doesn’t move around.

Term

clean cables

"Make sure the cables are clean. If not, get an old toothbrush or something to kind of, some baking soda and water and just kind of brush it clear, rinse it off."

Cleaning the battery cables means removing dirt and corrosion from the wires that connect the battery to the car. This helps the car start better and work properly.

Term

poor contact

"Make sure they're tightly mounted and squarely mounted. We don't want any poor contact or connection there."

Poor contact means that the electrical connections in your car aren’t good, which can cause problems like the car not starting. It’s important to make sure everything is tight and secure.

Term

turbo

"...but it's got a turbo. And the question is, do I need to let it cool off before I turn off the car?"

A turbo is a part that helps the engine get more air, which makes it more powerful. It allows the car to go faster without needing a bigger engine.

Term

supercharger

"Turbo, a car with a turbo function is different than a supercharged car, right? What is the difference?"

A supercharger is a part that helps an engine get more air, which helps it produce more power. It works by using a belt connected to the engine to push air into it.

Car

Mitsubishi Outlander

"The texture says we have a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander, which has 93,000 miles on it."

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a type of SUV that is designed to be practical and useful for everyday driving. The 2014 version has a lot of space inside and can be a good choice for families.

Part

spark plugs

"Cannot find anything about spark plug replacement. You guys have any idea if I should replace them or let them run till there's a problem?"

Spark plugs are small parts in a car's engine that help start the engine by creating a spark. They need to be changed from time to time to keep the engine running well.

Part

catalytic converter

"So it works its way into the exhaust, which is hard on the catalytic converter. So there's a cause and effect to all these things."

The catalytic converter helps clean up the exhaust gases from the engine so they are less harmful to the environment. If the engine isn't working right, it can hurt this part.

Car

Chevrolet Impala

"...question for Nick? Thank you. I got a 2012 Chevy Impala. It was a highway patrol car, but it's been runn..."

The Chevrolet Impala is a big car that can fit a lot of people and stuff inside, making it great for families. The 2012 version is often used by police because it's reliable and comfortable to drive. People talk about it because it's a good choice if you're looking for a used car that won't break the bank.

Term

starter

"But I wonder if there's not something going on with the starter, not getting or the starter's not taking that power and cranking the engine over."

The starter is a part of the car that helps the engine start running when you turn the key.

Term

voltmeter

"What we would do is take a voltmeter, find that starter, have somebody crank it, see if that power is making it to the starter..."

A voltmeter is a tool that checks how much electricity is flowing in a circuit. It helps mechanics figure out if parts of the car are getting the power they need to work.

Term

ignition switch

"If the power is not making it to the starter, now we need to look back. There's relays, ignition switches, there's other items in that circuit that could cause a problem."

The ignition switch is the part of the car where you put the key to start it. It helps send power to the starter and other parts needed to get the engine running.

Car

Dodge Ram

"...g. Thank you for taking my call. I've got a 2015 Dodge Ram where I just recently had the cold red, and it s..."

The Dodge Ram is a big truck that's great for carrying heavy loads and towing trailers. The 2015 model is known for being comfortable to drive, even though it's a work truck. People often talk about it because it's strong and can do a lot of different jobs.

Term

P0456

"So I believe it's a P0456, and what it's telling us is that it's not significant,..."

It's a specific code that mechanics use to find problems with the system that keeps gas fumes from escaping. A P0456 code means there's a tiny leak somewhere.

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