1 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: Who's going to. 2 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 2: Welcome back? Why don't any in the car doctor here 3 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 2: at eight five five five six o nine nine zero zero. 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 2: We've got Doug from Holbrook, New York on the phone. Doug, 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 2: we were talking about we were up to the Jeep 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 2: selection in the conversation when we had to pull away 7 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 2: and take the pause. You're still there, sir, Yes, I'm 8 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 2: still with you. You know, I guess my concern with 9 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 2: Jeep is and you know what, if you happen to 10 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 2: like the way the shifter is and you like the 11 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 2: vehicle and you're willing to put up with possible parts 12 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 2: issues down the road, you know, I'm not one hundred 13 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: percent convinced the companies in a viable financial position. You 14 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 2: know what, drive something you like, when it breaks, you 15 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 2: don't mind fixing it. My job is to just kind 16 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: of open your eyes a little bit to the possibilities. 17 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 2: Because if this conversation we're about what do I think 18 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 2: is a good SUV mid range sized vehicle, I wouldn't 19 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,279 Speaker 2: pick Subaru, I wouldn't pick Jeep, and I forget what 20 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 2: was your third choice? 21 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 3: The third one was the Mansa X five. They came 22 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 3: out with the touring edition because customers did not like 23 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 3: the Sport from thirteen and fourteen due to the acceleration right, 24 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 3: I have not tested them it yet. The customers seem 25 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 3: to love the Touring Edition because it has more horse power, 26 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 3: it's getting the gas milege, and it got a really 27 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 3: good safety. But other than that one, is there one 28 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 3: in particular that you recommend that I'm looking that I'd 29 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 3: be happy with, either in a compact or the midsize suv. 30 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 2: Well, here, let me and I do, but let me 31 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: let me comment on the Mazda. I like Mazda's all right. 32 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 2: I think Mazda makes a good product. I think everything 33 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: we're talking about here is a reasonable product. I think 34 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 2: they all have their glitches and issues, and neither are 35 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: just observations I've made in particular with some of these 36 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 2: is recently in the last month or so. My issue 37 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: with Mazda, and you know this pains me to say 38 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 2: this because I'm a Mazda guy years ago, Mazda pickups 39 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: and little GLCs and RX evans and lots of Mases 40 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: in the family. Why is it MAS does always rust, 41 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 2: and I mean all cars rust. MAS does taken to 42 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: an art form. If we make rusting a car an 43 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: Olympic event. The guys from MAZA that engineer them are 44 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 2: going to be the coaches because they're just that good 45 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 2: at it. We had a customer in the last seven months. 46 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 2: He had an five Mazda cx what is it, the 47 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 2: c X nine, the SUV version, and it needed a 48 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: pile of work and it had some rust issues, and 49 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 2: he brought it in. We showed it to him. I said, look, 50 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: it's nine years old. It's look at the undercarriage. Look 51 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 2: at the way this thing is rusting and falling apart. 52 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: And it's not like we're in the we're in the 53 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: salt belt, but we're not in the salt belt. This 54 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 2: is North Jersey, and it's reasonable. Everything is comparable from 55 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 2: what I see. He went out and he purchased. He said, yeah, 56 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 2: you're right. He went out and got rid of it. 57 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 2: He traded it in and he bought a used twenty 58 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 2: eleven c X nine, which I just saw this week. 59 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 2: This vehicle's three years old. It needed breaks. I had 60 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 2: to bang the rotors to get them off. They were 61 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 2: actually frozen to the front hub because all ready they 62 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: were rusted in such a way that it almost required 63 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 2: heating for removal the undercarriage. 64 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: You can see it. 65 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 2: The rust is starting to creep in and the fine points, 66 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: it's like a moss kind of creeping up the trellis 67 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: that it's just kind of starting to reach in. Within 68 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 2: three years, this car is going to be right back 69 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 2: where the two thousand and five was. And I just 70 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: look at it and I say, can't Mazda make a 71 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 2: vehicle that doesn't rust? Why is it something that's so 72 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: unique to Mars? Again my experience what I see in 73 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: the shop. If we're talking about a vehicle that I 74 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: like at the moment, mark the clock and check the calendar, Doug, 75 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: because right now I think Ford's got it going on. 76 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: All right, have you looked at the Ford Escape? 77 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 4: I have? 78 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 3: I sat here. I went to a dealer this week, 79 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: actually sat in it. That was very comfortable and I 80 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 3: definitely liked it. And I was going to go for 81 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 3: a test drive as well. 82 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: All right, Have you sat in a Ford Explorer? No, 83 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 2: totally different vehicles than what they were years ago. The 84 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: fourteen and now the fifteen version of both are very 85 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: strong vehicles. And I can't say it any other way. 86 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: When the youngest of the Inanian clan left for grad 87 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 2: school this past summer, and she had to go out 88 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 2: and buy herself a car because she's now six and 89 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 2: a half seven hours away and outside the reach of 90 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: daddy's mechanical arm. I gave her a choice of three vehicles. 91 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 2: It was the Escape, the Chevy Excursion, and the Toyota 92 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: Raft four. The excur the Chevy Excursion. We both agreed, 93 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: not the vehicle or Equinox. I'm sorry, not Excursion, the 94 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 2: Chevy Equinox, I said, uh not the vehicle. GM's got 95 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: to do some things to kick it up a notch 96 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 2: to make. 97 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: It a better product. 98 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 2: But it came down to the Raft four in the Ford, 99 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: and the Ford was clearly in her eyes not mine. 100 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 2: You know, I thought the Ford was a better vehicle. 101 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 2: But she came back to me and made the decision 102 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 2: and said, you know, the Ford feels better, It's got 103 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 2: better navigation, the screen is bigger. She liked the Ford better, 104 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 2: and I agreed with her. Right now, I'm going to 105 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 2: tell you, if you ask my opinion on a vehicle 106 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 2: in that size, I'd go with a Ford, either the 107 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 2: Escape or the Explorer. 108 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 3: Okay, because I'm taking into account too that we have 109 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 3: we have a young son who just turned three, so 110 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 3: he's gonna be growing. Want to make shure now it's safe, 111 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 3: but then it has enough room when we take trips 112 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 3: and stuff. 113 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 2: Right, and that's and that's important, and you've got to 114 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: look at that, you know. It's it's really kind of 115 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:31,479 Speaker 2: interesting to watch in that the companies that went through 116 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: the bankruptcies are still suffering GM and Chrysler in particular, 117 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 2: and you know, the engineering hasn't caught up. Ford survived 118 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: at all. And you know every company has their cycle. 119 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 2: They all go through their ups and downs. Right now, 120 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 2: I think Ford's on the up and if they can 121 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: maintain it, more. 122 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: Power to them. 123 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: But purchasing a Ford is probably that's one of the 124 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 2: first vehicles I would go look at right now if I. 125 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: Was interested in a new car. 126 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 3: Okay, yes, I checked them Escape, and I do want 127 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 3: to check Explore. I may lean more towards the Escape 128 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 3: just because it's a little bit smaller. I don't need 129 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 3: something as largely as the Explorer is going to be. 130 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: And just make sure you get the two leader eco 131 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 2: tech motor and you'll be fun, okay. 132 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 3: So that you don't have to worry about like a 133 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 3: six cylinder just the two Leader EOS. 134 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 2: Now I think I think the two Leader Eco Tech 135 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 2: and it's more than enough vehicle. 136 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 3: For you, okay, because especially when it comes again. Thanks 137 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 3: so much for taking my call. You've been a great help. 138 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,559 Speaker 2: You're welcome, Doug. Listen, we're here for you. You got anything 139 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: else going on, give us a call back and let 140 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: us know what you end up buying. I think the 141 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 2: listeners would be curious. All right, definitely, Well, thanks so much, 142 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 2: You're very welcome. It's some it's it's purchasing a new 143 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 2: car is a tough call, and I feel for everybody 144 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 2: that goes through it. And it's just important. You know, 145 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 2: you can't fall in love with the first girl you date, 146 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 2: all right, if you're, if you're or guy, whatever, you know, 147 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: this is this is the new generation. And uh, you 148 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 2: know you're you're coming out of a vehicle that's five, six, seven, ten, 149 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: twelve years old, and naturally everything feels good. But you've 150 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,719 Speaker 2: really got to sit in that car and it's got 151 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: to feel like your easy chair at home. It's got 152 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 2: to be comfortable to you and to some people, maybe 153 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: that Jeep shifter is gonna be. Okay, I sat in 154 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 2: the car for five minutes, and I said, I don't 155 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: understand how anybody could drive this. I sat in a 156 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: Chevy Equinox and one of the things I didn't like 157 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 2: about it was how hard the seat was. And that's 158 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 2: been a problem in my eyes, GM's had for a 159 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: couple of years. And yeah, I know the seat eventually 160 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: breaks in somewhere around the five six thousand mile mark. 161 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,239 Speaker 2: But maybe I'm getting a little crotchety in my old age, 162 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: but it just it's it's You would think that the 163 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: engineers would make it a better product right off they 164 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 2: get go. There were some other deficiencies in the Equinox. 165 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 2: The navigation screen was only seven inch where everything else 166 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 2: is eight inch and bigger, and all those little things 167 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 2: add up. But most important, it's serviceability of the vehicle. 168 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: And I think, out of everything we talked about here, 169 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: the two easiest vehicles to service, one's the Ford, one's 170 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 2: the Toyota. And I think that's got to be taken 171 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: into consideration, because everything's gonna break sooner or later you're 172 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 2: gonna have to repair it. Eight five five five six 173 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 2: nine nine zero zero. I'm ronning Anie in the car, 174 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 2: doctor hey Eddie in Mountain home marking. So I stay 175 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 2: on the line. The card Doctor's coming back to talk 176 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: to you. 177 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: Don't go away. 178 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 2: Hey, Hey, welcome back Ronning Annie in the car doctor, 179 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 2: rocking and rolling along this hour. Let's get over to 180 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 2: Eddie Mountain home Marking. So Eddie, welcome to the car doctor, sir. 181 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 2: How can I help you? 182 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 4: How are you ron good? 183 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 1: Rolling along? 184 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: You know? It's it's it's nice to be here on 185 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 2: the weekend and talk to everybody, including yourself. 186 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: What can I do for you? 187 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 4: Well, I have a Mazda MPV two thousand and two 188 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 4: van that had voltage fluctuation problems. The voltage. I have 189 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 4: this little device that we bought at O'Reilly's that you 190 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 4: can plug in the cigarette lighter, okay, and it had 191 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 4: an LED display on it. It would pretty much tell you 192 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 4: the output of I guess the alternator slash battery. When 193 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 4: the car was my wife was driving down the street, 194 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 4: the thing would go from like eleven point nine to 195 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 4: almost fourteen volts. Anything electrical running meaning air conditioned headlights, 196 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 4: winch of wipers. You can see a. 197 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 2: Marked probably speed up and slowed down. 198 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 4: Yes right, yes, very noticeably. Took it to one shop 199 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 4: alternator okay. I wanted to get a second opinion to it. 200 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 4: Took it to a second shop alternator. We let the 201 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 4: second guy do it. Seemed like the problem didn't go away, 202 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 4: so he did a little more research into it. He 203 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 4: thought it was the fan relay he changed that didn't 204 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 4: fix it. Then eventually it got to the cooling fan 205 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 4: control module and he replaced that and we picked a 206 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 4: car up a couple of days ago. It seems to 207 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 4: be okay. I'm just cautiously optimistic about it. You know, 208 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 4: I have this little little device still plug into the 209 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 4: cigarette light and I've been watching. 210 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: It and it's normal. 211 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 4: Well, that was my question for you. What is the 212 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 4: what's normal? 213 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 2: Well? Normal standing there at idle all right, or you 214 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 2: know down the road fifteen hundred and two grand Typical 215 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 2: charging system outputs should never go below thirteen volts. Oh, 216 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: some cars, I guess as they get older, depending upon 217 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 2: the amount of electrical loaded idle, you'll see twelve eight, 218 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 2: twelve six, But it should never go below twelve five 219 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 2: twelve five. You're stealing from the battery at that point. 220 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 2: But a modern day vehicle, and I consider an O 221 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: two Mazda in this category, will typically maintain thirteen thirteen 222 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: point two to fourteen volts and you won't see a 223 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: wild fluctuation. Now interesting to note, Eddie, this is a 224 00:10:55,120 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 2: PCM or powertrain control module. The main engine computer control 225 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: the field state of that alternator. What I mean by 226 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 2: that is the PCM, the main engine computer is the 227 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 2: brains of the operation, and it's looking at voltage demand 228 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 2: on the electrical system. Does Edi want the headlights on? 229 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,559 Speaker 2: Does missus Eddy want the air conditioning on? And it's 230 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,319 Speaker 2: looking at the voltage, displacement and demands of the battery, 231 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 2: what kind of shape and state of charges the battery in, 232 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 2: and it will run the alternator charging control up or 233 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 2: down to maintain the demand of the system. So you know, 234 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 2: if you're seeing eleven eight to fourteen and a half 235 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 2: or fifteen vault and it's all over the it's all 236 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 2: over the place, you know it's it's typically one of 237 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: two things. It's typically one of three things. Alternator very 238 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 2: common ground issue. And I don't know if you were 239 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 2: on hold before when you heard my conversation about Mazda. 240 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 2: Here you are driving a twelve year old Mazda, and 241 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 2: you know how I feel about RUSS. Now you're in Arkansas. 242 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: It's a little bit of a different world. 243 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 2: I don't think you guys get the snow and use 244 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 2: you know, salt like it's in calcium chloride, like it's 245 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 2: going out of style like they do up here in 246 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 2: the north. And you know, but still still prone to rust. 247 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: If you're anywhere in your salt water, still prone to rust, 248 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 2: you still want to go through some voltage drop tests 249 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,959 Speaker 2: and make sure good clean grounds between engine and battery 250 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 2: and frame and so on. And then number three PCM. 251 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 2: But let me explain one thing that's very important to 252 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 2: understand this system. You know, there are four wires at 253 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 2: the back of this alternator and one of them is 254 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 2: a PCM control. Two of them are standard ones a 255 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 2: heavy gauge battery. One is ignition on. But very important 256 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 2: to note, you could unplug the voltage regulator on this alternator, 257 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 2: which is the four or the two wire connector, and 258 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 2: bring the idle speed up, bring the engine speed up 259 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 2: over twenty five hundred dor pm. This alternator will then 260 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 2: go from battery voltage to a fixed charging rate and 261 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 2: start to charge on its own and maintain that self charge. 262 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 2: It will go into a fixed state. So my point 263 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 2: is if this vehicle alternator. If this charging system is healthy, 264 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 2: it should be able to self regulate itself once it 265 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 2: gets over twenty five hundred do PM. Having said that, before, 266 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 2: I trusted a little chotski that I bought from any 267 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 2: auto parts store, right, you know, before I'm going to 268 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 2: make a determination and let this thing, you know, run 269 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 2: my life for the weekend. I'd get a vault meter 270 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 2: ound and I would check voltage at the battery and 271 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 2: I do, and you know, real simple, start it up, 272 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 2: tap the gas just once, just just burp it, just 273 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 2: to get everybody awake and say, okay, slap them around 274 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 2: a little bit, and let's get everybody moving. Let's get 275 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,839 Speaker 2: the electrons flown, and let's see where charging rate is 276 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 2: sitting there at idle. If this vehicle has a healthy 277 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 2: charging system, you're going to see thirteen vaulted better. My 278 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 2: guess is thirteen eight or fourteen volts is what you're 279 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 2: going to really want to say. Then, you know, let's 280 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 2: turn on headlights. Let's go headlights, high beam, let's go defriciate. Well, 281 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 2: we could do air conditioner, sure, you know, quite frankly, 282 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 2: if we really want to, you know, stress it. And 283 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 2: I like to do it in stages. But yeah, then 284 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: go air conditioner, then go rear to froster, with everything 285 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 2: on the froster on high AC headlights, high beam, rear defroster. 286 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 2: We better be over twelve five. We're typically probably going 287 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 2: to be twelve eight to thirteen. And if you've got 288 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 2: a clamp on ammeter, you're going to see probably in 289 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 2: the magnitude of sixty five to seventy amps coming out 290 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 2: of this alternator trying to run everything. And that's normal, 291 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 2: all right, sir. 292 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 4: I did listen to your show September thirteenth when you 293 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 4: talked about alternators and PCMs. I listen to it online. Right, 294 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 4: that was that was very helpful just before you called Yeah. 295 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: Very very close to this particular system. 296 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: An, I'll tell you what. 297 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 2: Let me let me tell you what state. 298 00:14:59,240 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: Sit tight. 299 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 2: I don't want to cut you short. Sit tight. I've 300 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 2: got to pull over. You stay right there and we'll 301 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 2: say goodbye afterwards. If that's the case. But I'm running 302 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 2: Ending of the Car Doctor will be back right after this. Hey, Hey, hey, 303 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 2: welcome back Running of the Car Doctor. 304 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 4: Eddie. 305 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 2: You're still there, sir, Yeah, sorry about that. If I don't, 306 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 2: If I don't hit that. If I don't hit that 307 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 2: mark on time, Tom comes in here and he beats 308 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 2: me with a wet noodle. 309 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: So it's, uh, you. 310 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 2: Know, it becomes an issue. So it's it's in his contract. 311 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 2: He's allowed to do that if I don't hit marks. 312 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 2: Because in it, I don't know, it does this thing 313 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 2: where you have all these affiliates and then everybody goes 314 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 2: off kilter and before you know it, you have a 315 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 2: couple of one hundred people screaming at you. I can't 316 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 2: understand that. It's such a simple thing to me. So 317 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 2: but what I wanted to say was, you know, just 318 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 2: keep in mind the basics, and yes, you're right, going 319 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 2: back to you know, the the other show regarding alternators 320 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 2: and PCMs, same system, pretty much the same basic system. 321 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 2: The most important piece to walk away from the conversation 322 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 2: with is here's an example of it's only as strong 323 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 2: as it's only as good a system as the as 324 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 2: the weakest link. And you've got to make sure you've 325 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 2: got a good alternator in it, whatever, whatever they used, 326 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 2: whatever they purchased, and you should be fine. So but 327 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 2: check voltage and if you have any other questions, any 328 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 2: other issues. Ron At cardoctorshow dot com or shoot us 329 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 2: a line or you know, give us a call. During 330 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 2: the week we'll get your back up on the air. 331 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 2: We can talk about it again, all right, sir, thank 332 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 2: you for talking. You're very welcome. Good luck to you 333 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 2: and have a good rest of the weekend. I'm running 334 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 2: any in the Car Doctor. Just to let you know. 335 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 2: This show continues after the news at the top of 336 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 2: the hour, so there's more card octorant to come. Thanks 337 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,440 Speaker 2: to Tom, Harry and Big Tony. I'm on any of 338 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 2: the carduct Remind you the mechanics aren't expensive, they're placeless.