Twas The Week of Car Repair Before Christmas
About this episode
The Under The Hood Show dives into various automotive questions from listeners, covering topics like aftermarket parts, troubleshooting issues with specific vehicles, and the nuances of car repairs. Notable discussions include a listener's experience with a 2003 AMG and the challenges of diagnosing a 2001 Dodge Ram that stalls in reverse when cold. The hosts also touch on the impact of recent automotive industry shifts, including Ford's adjustments in response to EV market challenges. The episode is filled with humor, technical insights, and community engagement.
What coils are good for my 03 Mercedes AMG? How do I change my 2006 Caravan blower motor? My 2020 Mustang GT runs bad with aftermarket speed parts Why does my 01 Ram stall only when put into reverse? The Kia Theft Settlement Are the EVS gone.
aftermarket parts
"That's a lot of aftermarket parts. For whatever reason there, whatever you're doing, Eric, you're."
Aftermarket parts are pieces you can buy from other companies to replace or improve the original parts that came with your car. They’re usually cheaper and can make your car run better or look cooler.
Aftermarket parts are components manufactured by companies other than the original vehicle manufacturer. They can replace or upgrade stock parts, often offering improved performance, durability, or cost savings.
intake
"So instead of a focus, it's the 232 AMG 2003. And I was going to do the just do like coil packs and intake."
The intake is the part of your car that brings air into the engine. A good intake lets the engine breathe better, which can help it run smoother.
The intake system draws air into the engine, often through an intake manifold and filter. A well-designed intake can improve airflow and engine performance.
coil packs
"So instead of a focus, it's the 232 AMG 2003. And I was going to do the just do like coil packs and intake."
Coil packs are the parts that spark the fuel in your car’s engine. If they’re bad, the engine can misfire or run poorly.
Coil packs are the electrical components that generate high voltage to ignite fuel in an engine’s cylinders. They replace older coil packs or individual ignition coils.
AMG
"They're special. Chris, you know the song, right? The AMG kit keeps us closer to the ground."
AMG is a special line from Mercedes‑Benz that makes cars faster and more powerful.
AMG is Mercedes‑Benz’s high‑performance division that produces upgraded engines, suspensions, and styling packages for certain models.
BTQ coils
"The AMG kit keeps us closer to the ground. We're getting good grip from the 50 series tires that BTQ coils."
BTQ coils are aftermarket parts that let you lower a car and make it handle better.
BTQ is a brand of coilover suspension systems that replace stock springs and dampers to lower the car’s ride height and improve handling.
heater case
"There was a couple different ones. They have one that's enclosed in the heater case."
The heater case is a metal box inside your car that keeps the heating parts safe and lets warm air go into the seats. Think of it like a small room for the heater’s motor and resistor.
The heater case is the enclosure that houses the vehicle’s heating system components, including the blower motor and its resistor. It protects these parts from heat and debris while allowing airflow into the cabin.
blower motor
"But if you can get to the bolts, the most likely failure on that thing is going to be the heater motor and the resistor."
The blower motor is the part that pushes air into your car’s vents. It uses electricity from the battery to move warm or cool air around.
The blower motor is an electric motor that pushes air through the heating and ventilation system. It draws power from the battery and is critical for cabin temperature control.
resistor
"The motor gets old and dirty and starts dragging, pulling a lot of amps, and that burns up that resistor."
The resistor is a small component that controls how much electricity the blower motor uses. If it gets too hot, it can fail and stop your heater from working.
In the heating system, a resistor limits current to the blower motor when it’s not running. Overheating can cause the resistor to burn out, leading to a loss of heating power.
Dormant Products
"Our partner over at dormant products has the blower resistor kit for those when the wires melt."
Dormant Products makes replacement parts for car heaters, like the resistor and motor kits that help fix heating problems.
Dormant Products is an aftermarket parts manufacturer that supplies replacement kits for automotive heating components, including blower resistor sets.
Pontiac Firebird
"Right. We had to we had to cut a hole in the passenger side fender well and then put a cover back on to get it out of any Pontiac firebird in 1972. Yes. 71 and up or Camaro."
The Firebird is a classic American muscle car that people often work on for its powerful engine and cool look.
The Pontiac Firebird is a muscle car produced by General Motors from 1967 to 2005, known for its performance and distinctive styling.
Chevrolet Camaro
"Yes. 71 and up or Camaro. But then after that, they made this box on the Cadillac..."
The Camaro is a well‑known muscle car that many people enjoy driving and fixing because of its powerful engine.
The Chevrolet Camaro is a long‑running American muscle car introduced in 1966, famous for its performance and iconic design.
2020 Mustang GT
"Yeah, I got a 2020 Mustang GT and I'm having problems with P0192 and P0195."
The 2020 Mustang GT is a fast, sporty car from Ford with a big V8 engine and cool looks.
The 2020 Ford Mustang GT is a high-performance version of the classic American muscle car, featuring a powerful V8 engine and aggressive styling.
DI pump
"manufactured DI pump, put a high pressure fuel pressure sensor on it"
A DI pump is a part of the engine that pushes gasoline straight into each cylinder, helping it burn better.
The Direct Injection (DI) pump is a component in modern gasoline engines that delivers fuel directly into the combustion chamber at high pressure.
high pressure fuel pressure sensor
"manufactured DI pump, put a high pressure fuel pressure sensor on it"
It checks how hard the fuel pump is pushing gasoline into the engine, so the car can run safely.
This sensor measures the pressure of fuel being delivered by the DI pump, ensuring it stays within safe operating limits.
E85
"run E85 and that means they've tuned it and no matter what you do, if they've tuned this thing to run on E85"
E85 is a special kind of gas that has a lot of alcohol in it; cars that can use it run faster and are cleaner.
E85 is a gasoline blend containing up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, used in flex‑fuel vehicles for higher performance and lower emissions.
rich condition
"you know, that high pressure on that on that side is that leaking and causing a rich condition."
Rich means the car is getting too much fuel compared to air, which can make it run poorly and waste gas.
A rich condition occurs when the air‑fuel mixture has too much fuel relative to air, leading to incomplete combustion and potential engine issues.
running rich
"it's running rich, obviously. Check your temp sensor."
If your car’s fuel mixture is too heavy, it means there’s more gasoline than air in the engine. That can waste gas and hurt performance.
When an engine receives more fuel than the air it needs for combustion, it is said to be running rich. This can cause poor fuel economy and potential engine damage if left unchecked.
high pressure sensor
"looked up said that that, you know, that it could be the wiring going to that high pressure sensor and so I was like, thinking"
It’s a small device that tells the car’s computer how much air pressure is inside the engine, which helps keep performance smooth.
A sensor that measures the pressure of the engine’s intake or exhaust gases, often used in performance tuning to monitor boost levels.
wiring harnesses
"looked up said that that, you know, that it could be the wiring going to that high pressure sensor and so I was like, thinking"
It’s the group of cables that connect all the car’s electronics, like lights and sensors, to their proper places.
A bundle of electrical wires that carry power and signals to various components in a vehicle.
Ford Performance
"but they did put, you know, it's got a high rise Ford performance intake manifold and that's all been done"
It’s a brand that makes upgraded parts for Ford cars to make them faster or more powerful.
A division of Ford Motor Company that produces aftermarket performance parts and accessories.
Berkeley One Classics
"...the end of the hood show podcast is brought to you by exclusive sponsors, like Berkeley One Classics, celebrating 50 years, your key to collector car insurance."
Berkeley One Classics sells insurance that is specifically designed for old or rare cars, so owners can make sure their prized vehicles are protected.
Berkeley One Classics is a specialty insurance provider that offers coverage tailored for classic and collector cars, helping owners protect valuable vehicles.
car-part.com
"...and by car-part.com with over 200 million parts, find them online at car-part.com."
car-part.com is a website where you can buy parts for your car, like brakes or spark plugs, from many different sellers.
car-part.com is an online marketplace that sells a vast inventory of automotive parts, allowing owners to find replacements for their vehicles.
road-ready-wheels.com
"...and by road-ready wheels, OEM replica wheels at a huge savings, road-ready-wheels.com."
road-ready-wheels.com sells wheel replicas that look like the original wheels from a car maker, but are cheaper and can be used on many cars.
road-ready-wheels.com offers OEM replica wheels, which are aftermarket wheels designed to look like original equipment manufacturer (OEM) wheels at a lower cost.
OEM replica wheels
"...and by road-ready wheels, OEM replica wheels at a huge savings, road-ready-wheels.com."
OEM replica wheels are fake versions of the original wheels that came with a car. They look similar but cost less.
OEM replica wheels are aftermarket wheel designs that mimic the appearance of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) wheels, offering a cost-effective alternative while maintaining visual authenticity.
2001 Dodge Ram
"the hood show. Alan, what can we do for you? Well I've got a 2001 Dodge Ram that a couple"
A big truck from Dodge that people use for work or hauling. It’s a popular model in the early 2000s.
The 2001 Dodge Ram is a full‑size pickup truck produced by Dodge, known for its ruggedness and towing capability.
crank shaft sensor
"I'm lost. The only thing I can think of is maybe the crank shaft sensor. They damage it maybe."
The crankshaft sensor tells the car’s computer where the engine’s main shaft is and how fast it’s turning, so the car can run smoothly.
A crankshaft sensor monitors the position and speed of the engine’s crankshaft, providing critical data to the engine control unit for timing and fuel delivery.
map sensor
"they should be but I'm like I thought I had it what I did the map sensor and you know I've done so many things on it"
The MAP sensor tells the car’s computer how much air is going into the engine so it can add the right amount of fuel. Think of it as a pressure gauge for the engine’s breathing.
A MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor measures the pressure inside the intake manifold to help the engine control unit determine air mass flow and adjust fuel delivery.
5.9 360 fuel injector
"Is it a 5.9 360 or a 5.238? It's a 5.9 360. It's what's in it."
This number tells how much fuel the injector can push out. A 5.9 360 injector is a big, fast one used in cars that need more power.
Fuel injectors are rated by flow rate; a "5.9 360" injector can deliver 5.9 gallons per hour at 360 PSI, indicating a high‑flow unit suitable for performance engines.
crank sensor mounts
"you need to do that so you can see what it's losing when it dies with that crank sensor mounts in the bell housing"
These are small parts that keep a sensor, which tells the computer how fast the engine is turning, in the right spot on the engine.
Crank sensor mounts are brackets that hold the crankshaft position sensor in place on the engine block. They ensure the sensor stays aligned with the crankshaft for accurate speed readings.
bell housing
"crank sensor mounts in the bell housing in the back right in the front of the transmission"
Think of it as a metal cup that holds the engine and transmission together, and also keeps some parts in place.
The bell housing is the metal shell that sits between the engine and the transmission, housing components like the clutch or torque converter. It also provides a mounting point for various sensors and accessories.
hybrids
"special adjustment of 19 billion dollars they're going to make they're going to commit to more hybrids and they have discontinued the production"
Hybrids are cars that use both gasoline and electric power, so they can run on either or both to save fuel.
Hybrids are vehicles that combine an internal combustion engine with one or more electric motors to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
Redwood Technologies
"I talked to a gentleman last night that is works for redwood technologies he's one of the higher ups there"
Redwood Technologies makes and recycles batteries, which are the cells that store electricity for electric cars and other devices.
Redwood Technologies is a company that specializes in battery manufacturing and recycling, focusing on advanced lithium‑ion chemistries.
government subsidies
"there's this adjustment period now that they've taken the subsidies away"
Money or tax breaks that the government gives to help people buy electric cars.
Government subsidies are financial incentives, such as tax credits or rebates, provided by governments to encourage the adoption of certain technologies like electric vehicles.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.