1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: Not sure what the best type of tires are for 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: your car. I want to make sure your mechanic is 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: giving you an honest diagnosis. 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 2: Then this is where to turn for help. Welcome to 5 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 2: the car Doctor, Rock from that one tell. 6 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:16,479 Speaker 3: You Rock. 7 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: Ron Ananian is here to answer your questions about cars 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: and get in the call. 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 3: You know we're allowed to go fifty five on some occasions, 10 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 3: even faster. 11 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 4: I'm well aware of the federally landed is the limustry back? 12 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: Now here's the car Doctor, ron Anadian. 13 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 2: Talking about the repair of the week nineteen ninety nine 14 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: Toyota Avalon check engine light and the note Hello and welcome, 15 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 2: I'm on any in the car doc. It was a 16 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 2: note unlike anything I had ever been given before by 17 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 2: a customer regarding a broken car. As a matter of fact, 18 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 2: in the annals of notes that customers give us, it 19 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 2: probably is ranked right up there in the top three, 20 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 2: if not the top one. It was simple, it was clear, 21 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: and it was funny. It read runs bad, smells bad, 22 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 2: feels bad. This can't be good a prophecy. Perhaps the 23 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: Avalon had a trouble code P zero one to seven 24 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 2: to one, which meant system lean. This means the onboard computer, 25 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 2: the engine management computer, had reached the end of its 26 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: electronic limits for fuel control. In carburetor terms, the mixture 27 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 2: screw was turned all the way in, it couldn't go 28 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: any further, and it wasn't affecting fuel trim anymore. Perhaps 29 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: turned out all the way and it still wasn't affecting 30 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 2: fuel trim anymore. Fuel trim at a scan tool, as 31 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 2: we look at it electronically, is measured in percentages. On 32 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 2: most modern cars, if a zero percent reading means balanced mixture, 33 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: then the range it's allowed to operate on typically varies 34 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 2: plus or minus ten percent. So the normal car going 35 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 2: down the road, you're gonna look at short and long 36 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: term fuel trim, and in English, long term is something 37 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: that accumulates over time. Short term is now this moment, 38 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 2: short and long term fuel trim is going to have 39 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 2: a combined number of approximately plus or minus ten percent. 40 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 2: For the purposes of our conversation here today, this Toyotas 41 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 2: fuel trimmed numbers were seventy percent, give or take one 42 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 2: or two percent. So was it adding fuel? Yeah, for sure, 43 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 2: it started off. I'll tell you what, how much guess 44 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: this little car consumed. It came in and had a 45 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 2: quarter tank of fuel in it by the time we 46 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 2: drove let's see, back and forth to the house once 47 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 2: twice a couple of road tests. I think we've put 48 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 2: about forty miles on the car. I'm telling you right now. 49 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 2: It dropped by a third of a tank. It had 50 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 2: almost it had almost an eighth of a tank and 51 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: it so we consumed, you know, quite a bit of 52 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: fuel just doing some testing. Since the fuel trim numbers 53 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: were displayed for both banks, they were both high, I 54 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 2: knew we were looking for something common to both banks. 55 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 2: Vacuum leaks, fuel pressure issues and sensors that were common 56 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 2: to both. Was where I was going to start the diagnosis. Now. 57 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: As part of the diagnosis, I came upon testing the 58 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 2: mass airflow sensor. A mass airflow sensor on this Toyota, 59 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: like all cars today or most cars today, is the 60 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: sensor that measures the amount of gulp. As I like 61 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 2: to refer to it as, it's how much air the 62 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: engine is swallowing at that moment, so the computer can 63 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: look at it and say, hey, it's taking in that 64 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: much air. I need to give it this much fuel 65 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 2: based on the lookup table in my computer and my programming. Well, 66 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: the mass airflow didn't look right. It had some schmitz 67 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: on the end. That's a technical term, all right. I 68 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 2: had some schmitz on the end of it that told 69 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: me that, you know, a little bit of schmitz here 70 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: and there, Let's see what happens if we clean it. 71 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: So I got out the queue tip and a little 72 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: bit of alcohol on it, a little bit of cleaning solution, 73 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: and gently cleaned off the tip, put it back in 74 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 2: and I saw the fuel trim numbers start to improve, 75 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 2: but not enough. So I knew that, well, the fuel 76 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: trim was being skewed by the mass airflow. I needed 77 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 2: to put a mass airflow in this car. And that's 78 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: what I did. Put a mass airflow in the car, 79 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: and sure enough, fuel trim started counting to normally. After 80 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 2: I did a relearn and it went through some steps 81 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 2: and it was good. And then within about ten minutes 82 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 2: of driving, I started to watch fuel trim count up again, 83 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 2: but it didn't get as quite as high as seventy percent. 84 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: I had one bank first forwards three cylinders was running 85 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,239 Speaker 2: somewheres in the area of fifty percent, and the back 86 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 2: bank was fifty five percent. And then I watched the 87 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: back bank sort of start to skew down a little bit, 88 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 2: and I put my tension on the front bank. There 89 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 2: was something in that fuel trim number that caught my eye, 90 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 2: and I said, you know, there's not much else here either. 91 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 2: I've got three bed injectors, a bad PCM driver computer 92 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 2: driver for those injectors on that bank. I started thinking 93 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 2: about all the possibilities, and I said, you know, one 94 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty thousand mile car, this has to be 95 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 2: a bad air fuel sensor. I don't know why. I 96 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,840 Speaker 2: don't know why changing a mass airflow. I've got this 97 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 2: particular problem, but I've got to start here. This is 98 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: my next step. Put an air fuel ratio sensor in 99 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: the car, and sure enough I saw a fuel trim 100 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 2: after a relearn stay normal plus or minus ten percent. 101 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 2: So now I was down to the back bank. The 102 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 2: back bank was running at this point around fifty to 103 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 2: fifty five percent on a constant basis, and I said, 104 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 2: let's take this car for a ride. Let's not change 105 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 2: any other numbers. Let's see what happens. And as I 106 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: drove this car, and the longer I drove this car, 107 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 2: and I kept in my mind that the forward oh two, 108 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 2: the forward air fuel ratio sensor was really black and 109 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: carbon up, and I knew that it was because of 110 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 2: that mass airflow sensor how dirty it was, And I said, 111 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: you know what, let's take it for a ride. I 112 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: took it for a ride and ultimately ended up putting 113 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: another mass putting another air fuel ratio sensor in it 114 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 2: because the back one was bad as well. The bottom 115 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: line is that really cars are like the human body. 116 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 2: They've both got parts that work together and they kind 117 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: of affect each other's operation, and just like the human body, 118 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 2: not treating the problem with cars really costs more in 119 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 2: the long run. So the question I leave you with 120 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 2: as we open up this hour of the Car Doctor 121 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 2: is have you had your check engine light scan today? Hello, 122 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: and welcome on an any of the Card Doctor here 123 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 2: at eight hundred five four to four seven seven. Oh 124 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: true story. You know, you're sitting there, you think it's fixed, 125 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: and it goes on, and it goes on, and it 126 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 2: goes on, and you say to yourself, but how can 127 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 2: that be? And you start to look at the scenario, 128 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:51,919 Speaker 2: and this led to this, led to this led to 129 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 2: this it's like, you know, it's like nowon means never 130 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 2: ever worked. It's like one part led to the next, 131 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 2: led to the next, lead to the next. It's like 132 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 2: Yogi Berra said, it ain't over till it's over. Let's 133 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 2: kick open the garage doors this hour, this is an 134 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 2: interview free hour. Let's get over and talk to Roseanne Allendale, 135 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: New Jersey. Roseanne, how can I help you? Darling? 136 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 5: Hi, Ron and I have miles to six two thousand 137 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 5: and four. I have one hundred and forty four thousand 138 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 5: miles on it. 139 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 2: Okay, the car has been. 140 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 5: Hesitating when accelerating and even when flowing down, mostly in 141 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 5: city driving. When I floor it on the highway, it's fine. 142 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 5: When I, you know, keep on going like fifty sixty, 143 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 5: it's fine. So I had a tune up done. 144 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 2: Okay, stop slugs, go ahead? What else right? 145 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 5: Well, tune up whatever. Then I brought it back because 146 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 5: it still was doing it, and the mechanic said nothing 147 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 5: came up on the computer reading. So I tried a 148 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 5: gas additive. Then I tried a special type I think 149 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 5: it was called like Lucas is supposed to dissolve the 150 00:07:58,280 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 5: blounts like blocking. 151 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: Let me ask you this question, Roseanne, before the tune 152 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: up or anything was done besides just scanning it for codes, 153 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: any sort of diagnosis done to the vehicle, uh. 154 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 5: Or just diagnosis would no? Not really, the only diagnosis was, 155 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 5: you know, the scanning done on a computer. 156 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 2: But understand this. It's it's kind of like you go 157 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 2: to the doctor for a headache if he takes your 158 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: heart rate and blood pressure and does an echo cardiogram 159 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 2: and says, gee, nothing's coming up. So the question there 160 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 2: becomes does he test further or does he start throwing 161 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 2: prescriptions at you? He tests further. A scan of a 162 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 2: computer for codes will only give you information if there 163 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 2: are codes there. There are things that can go on 164 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 2: inside of a modern automobile that takes certain situations for 165 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: codes to set. There are certain conditions that have to 166 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 2: be met. There are certain characteristics and situations that have 167 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 2: to be in existence for a code to occur. You 168 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: may you may not have a code today, but you 169 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 2: may have the code tomorrow. And it's not that instantaneous. 170 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 5: A while ago, the engine light went on and I 171 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 5: brought it in and he did something, and he said 172 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 5: it was probably misfiring a spark plug whatever, and he 173 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 5: shut off. You know, well the light you know, stopped 174 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 5: going on and it never came the engine light never 175 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 5: came back on again. So I reminded him about that. 176 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 2: Right, And what did he say? 177 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 5: He said, oh, well, you know, maybe maybe it could 178 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 5: have been a spark plug or whatever. And he put all, 179 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 5: you know, no new spark plugs in or whatever. Now 180 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 5: the latest thing he said to me, because I made 181 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 5: him come drive with me, and he said it could 182 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 5: be a coil pack. He didn't do that. 183 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 2: Well, this particular mousa should have two coil packs and 184 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 2: two spark plug wires. Okay, all right, if I'm familiar 185 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 2: with what engine this is in my head, and it's 186 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 2: not uncommon for the wires to go bad. Now, if 187 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 2: it does have a bad coil pack, if he has 188 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 2: the ability to go a little deeper than just scanning, 189 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 2: and he has the ability to go in and look 190 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 2: at some of Mode six Mode six Mode six testing capability. 191 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 2: Mode six testing capability is the onboard computer's definition. It's 192 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 2: where it gets its information to decide whether or not 193 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 2: based on logic that it's been programmed for, to turn 194 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 2: on a check engine light, to set a code for 195 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 2: a misfire condition. It sounds like you're describing a misfire 196 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 2: but before we just start throwing spark plug wires and 197 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 2: coils and so on and so forth. Number One, keep 198 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 2: in mind an engine can miss for more than just 199 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 2: an ignition problem, anything that makes that engine run rough, 200 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 2: if it's a mechanical condition, a fuel condition, or an 201 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 2: ignition condition, So remind him of that. If he's not 202 00:10:58,320 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 2: aware of it. It's kind of said that you have 203 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 2: to be the consumer and tell the mechanic how a 204 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: misfire condition occurs. I'd be nervous, all right. That's that's 205 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: number one. Number two. Can he go in and look 206 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 2: at mode six? Number three, you may want to mention 207 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,719 Speaker 2: to him brands being brand sensitive, what brand of components 208 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 2: is he using? You know, just because it's new doesn't 209 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 2: mean it's good. Does because it's new doesn't mean it 210 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 2: was installed properly. Perhaps there's more here than meets the eye. 211 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:26,719 Speaker 2: It sounds like somebody needs to get into doing some 212 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 2: diagnosis rather than throwing some parts at this car because 213 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 2: and you have to be careful here, because you know, 214 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 2: the hardest car in the world to fix is the 215 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 2: one that somebody else worked on. And when it gets 216 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 2: to the next garage after this guy can't fix it, 217 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 2: they're gonna have to go backwards up the diagnostic tree, 218 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,559 Speaker 2: correct everything that's been done wrong, to bring it back 219 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 2: down the right leg to make the car run right. 220 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 2: So be careful how much further you want to go. 221 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 2: Question what this guy is doing, and if you have 222 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 2: to start over, get a diagnosis. Run an inny in 223 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 2: the car doctor. We're back right after this. 224 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:24,959 Speaker 3: Hey, well back. 225 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 2: The card doctor. Let's cruise on over and talk to 226 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 2: Frank new Rochelle, New York. Frank, you're out with the 227 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 2: card doctor. How can I help you? 228 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 3: Sir hi Ron, thanks for taking my call. 229 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 2: Welcome. 230 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 3: I have a ninety four geo prism with about one 231 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 3: hundred forty thousand miles on it, and I was asking 232 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 3: the guy in the gas station, you know, whether or 233 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:46,079 Speaker 3: not to drop the transmission fluid. He says, he flushes 234 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 3: it out because I noticed that it was brown. When 235 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 3: he heard that there was one hundred forty thousand miles 236 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 3: on it, he got a little leary. He said, it 237 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 3: might be that the contaminants inn there were the holding 238 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 3: the transmission together. 239 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 2: What's actually what's actually going on there? Frank is trans 240 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:04,199 Speaker 2: mission fluid over time will varnish it will it will 241 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 2: leave sentiment and deposits in the trans He is correct, 242 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 2: And the concern becomes because transmission fluid is such a 243 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 2: highly detergent, it is such a highly or it has 244 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 2: such a high cleaning characteristic that it can actually scrub 245 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 2: and wipe that varnish off the inside of the case. 246 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,719 Speaker 2: That what will happen is two things. Number One, if 247 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 2: the fluids really brown and contaminated, you stand the risk 248 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 2: of the fresh fluid reacting with the clutch material in 249 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: the transmission, causing it to disintegrate and actually cause the 250 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 2: trans to fail. Number one. Number Two, the fresh trans 251 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 2: fluid will wash the varnish off the walls of the 252 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 2: components and put sentiment in the trends, which can affect 253 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 2: valve body operation and all the little tiny orphi is 254 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 2: that fluid goes through and ultimately cause the trans to 255 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 2: be an issue. And I bet that's what he's telling you. 256 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 2: He's concerned with doing the service correct. 257 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 3: That's exactly correct. 258 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 2: Now the problem becomes not to cut you short, babe. 259 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 2: The problem becomes that when do you want to deal 260 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: with the trands that has the potential to fail. 261 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 3: Well, I've had I've dropped. I was in the four 262 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 3: courts in the sump twice before. Okay, it's still remained brown. 263 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 3: But I was wondering should I go that way? Or 264 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 3: you know, if it's too dangerous to change to plush 265 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 3: the whole thing out, would it be safe to just 266 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 3: drop the four courts? 267 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 2: How long ago did you do the four courts? 268 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 3: D probably about three years ago. 269 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 2: How many miles I would say rather than twenty so 270 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: twenty thousand miles ago if I was going to do anything, 271 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 2: if I was going to try it, and again, think 272 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 2: of what we're trying to do. We're trying to get 273 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 2: the sixteen year old trands to go another two or 274 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 2: three years. Because I'm sure that's what you're thinking, right, Yes, okay, 275 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: you know what dropping the four courts is. Let's do 276 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 2: this mildly. It's like going for a blood transfusion, and 277 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 2: you know it's going to shock and hurt the person 278 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 2: if you do it all at once. We do this 279 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 2: at the shop all the time. Drop the four courts, 280 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 2: look around inside the pan. It's a good opportunity to 281 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 2: see if there's any heavy sledge build up in the 282 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 2: pan itself. Sometimes, I hate to say it, sometimes you 283 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 2: find some pieces of the ende of the transmission, you know, 284 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 2: metal components, things that the trends is starting to lose. 285 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 2: It's not a good sign, obviously. If the transpan is 286 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 2: clean enough, no contaminants, no parts, fresh fluid, fresh screen, 287 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 2: fresh filter, put it back together and then depending upon 288 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 2: how fast you put on miles, it doesn't sound like 289 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 2: you're doing a whole lot of miles with the car. 290 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 2: Normally I would say in ten thousand miles, but you're 291 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: driving less. I would say in five thousand miles. Tell 292 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 2: the guy you want to do a flush. You'll sign 293 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 2: whatever release he wants you to sign in the event 294 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 2: that the trans fails, and cross your fingers. The problem 295 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 2: becomes the fluid's brown. If you don't do anything, the 296 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 2: trans is going to fail. If you do do something, 297 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 2: the trans may fail. So you've got to try and 298 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 2: skew the benefit of what's going to happen in your favor. 299 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 2: And the only way you're going to do that is 300 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 2: by servicing the trends and be prepared for the worst. 301 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 3: All right, Ron, thank you very much. 302 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 2: You're welcome, sir. Good luck to you. Let's cruise on over. 303 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 2: Let's talk to Let's talk to Dean Brooklyn, New York. Yeah, Dean, 304 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 2: how can I help you? Sir? 305 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 4: Okay, how's it going? Guys? The first time I'm listening 306 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 4: to your show and very. 307 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 2: Interesting than you do. 308 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 4: Okay, I got it. I need some advice on something. 309 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 4: I have a two thousand and five Knissan Parafine enough 310 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 4: for an edition. I bought it from a rented Copsace 311 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 4: about two years ago, and I bought it with like 312 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 4: forty two thousand miles. Now I'm coming up to like 313 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 4: eighty five thousand. I took out an extended warranty and 314 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 4: I got like six thousand miles nothing to warranty. I 315 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 4: haven't had nothing major with the car, just minored stuff 316 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 4: that from wearing tear. My question is how long did 317 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 4: these cars last until you actually start having problems with them? 318 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 4: Being that I'm coming off the extended warrant now I'm 319 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 4: looking to either invest into maybe another warranty in the car, 320 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 4: another company. What company do I use because I want 321 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 4: to stay with the dealer. I had Nissans service to 322 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 4: car only meets and nobody else's serviced it. We'll fix 323 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 4: it and I really want to stay with the dealer. 324 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 2: Okay, then why not talk to the dealer that's servicing 325 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 2: it and ask them what warranty company do they recommend? 326 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 2: Only because they're going to be the ones that have 327 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 2: to deal with the warranty company and they'll know who's 328 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 2: good and who's bad. My concern with warranty companies are 329 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 2: that unless you know what you're buying, a lot of 330 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 2: them are here today and gone tomorrow tomorrow. And that's 331 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 2: a problem, babe. Now, the other thing you want to 332 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 2: look at is it's an O five pathfinder with eighty 333 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 2: five thousand miles on it. Let's call it what it is. 334 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 2: It's an OH five path finder approaching one hundred grand. 335 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 2: They're good cars. They last, but they're not but they're 336 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 2: not supercars. They're like everything else on the road. After 337 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 2: it's three years old, it falls into the one hundred 338 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 2: and twenty dollars a month maintenance policy that I always 339 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 2: like to point out that it's about one hundred and 340 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 2: twenty bucks a month. It's twelve to fifteen hundred dollars 341 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 2: a year on average to maintain and operate a vehicle. 342 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 2: You know, cars are like marriages, Okay, there's good years, 343 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 2: there's bad years. There's years you think, hey, the honeymoon's 344 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 2: still on, and there's years you're like, I'm out of here. 345 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 2: This is nuts. So the thing you've got to look 346 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,719 Speaker 2: at is the buy an extended policy. What's that going 347 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 2: to cost? What's that car worth? What is the Nissan 348 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 2: dealer you've built a relationship with, having stock in the 349 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 2: way of a used vehicle. What would it cost you 350 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 2: to get into a newer vehicle with less mileage with 351 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 2: another policy already attached to it. This is a case 352 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 2: of numbers crunching before you just go out and buy something. 353 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 2: I'm running Indy in the car doctor. Thanks for tuning in.