1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Ronan, there's gotta be a reason why it does what 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: it does. You can't give up, you can't stop, and 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: it sometimes it defies logic. And when it defies logic, look, 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: when you eliminate the ridiculous, all it's left is the 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: obvious thread. You know, the car Doctor, you have to 6 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: know it's specific temperature. See, you've got your you've got 7 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: your scancel hooked up, looking at transtamp, you've got the 8 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: vehicle running. You're counting drops, you know, is that let 9 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: me see it? Is that three drops per second? Was 10 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: that five drop's got three drop per se? That's ridiculous. 11 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to the radio home of Ronanian the car Doctor. 12 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: Since this is where car own there is the world 13 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: overturn to for their definitive opinion on automotive repair. If 14 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: your mechanics giving you a busy signal, pick up the 15 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 1: phone and call in the garage to orders are open. 16 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: But I am here to take your call at eight 17 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: five five five six nine and now running. Hey, it's 18 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: trying to start your engines. Alow and welcome Ronan car 19 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: Doctor here at a five five five six zero nine 20 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: nine zero zero The Car Doctor seven phone number eight 21 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: five five five six zero nine nine zero zero. Give 22 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 1: us a call. Let's talk about your car and it's problem. 23 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: Keep in mind that there is an answering service provided 24 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: to that eight five five number. If you call and 25 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: we're not on the air. We're live Saturday afternoons to 26 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: four pm. You can call eight five five five six 27 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: zero nine zero zero, leave a message and executive producer 28 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: Tom Ray will call you back and get you in 29 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: queue for the next live broadcast. Hey, quick, shout out. 30 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: We are now on the Treasure Coast of Sunny Florida 31 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,559 Speaker 1: at fifteen ninety w p s L in Port St. 32 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: Lucy w PSL, Port St. Lucy, Florida, our newest affiliate 33 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: to the growing cardr family, and we want to thank 34 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: them for carrying the show. And uh we hope to 35 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: help to solve all the Floridians that we haven't talked 36 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: to already. We have other affiliates in Florida, but we 37 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: want to be able to fix everybody's car, so we 38 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: continue to grow and by all means, give us a 39 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: call and uh, let us know how the weather is. 40 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: So we're all jealous. Um, nothing like Sunny Florida who 41 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: oranges and grapefruits. Let's get over and talk to Woody 42 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: and Ogdensburg, New York and see what's going on here. Woody, 43 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: how can I help? What kind of car you driving? Yeah? 44 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: Talk with you ding a two thousand nine cruiser. Wait 45 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: a minute, you have a two thousand nine PT Cruiser. Yeah, 46 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: you gotta call me back when you get a better car, buddy, 47 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, we ket we can't. We can't do Christis. 48 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: We can't do PT cruisers today. But go ahead, all right, 49 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: we'll try. Let's see what we can do here. So 50 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 1: go ahead. I'm only kidding. I'm glad to talk to 51 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: anybody about any car, um even Volkswagens. So which you're 52 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 1: you're you're one step ahead, So go ahead. What do 53 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: you What can I do for you? Well, I've only 54 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: had the car about a month. In a couple of that, 55 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: I got driving down the road and all the uh 56 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 1: lights in the dash started flicking real fast in a pometer. 57 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: Needle would jumping up, needle jump in the gasket, needle 58 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: jumping back and forth like it was going out of style. 59 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: And the bells are going off, and all a sudden 60 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: the car stall went full overside the road, and then 61 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: what's wrong? And I hate I can't took it off 62 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: run perfect, It's happened. This has happened like probably ten 63 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: twelve times since I've had it now and in a month. 64 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 1: So it's it's a it's an intermittent operational error on 65 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: a twelve year old Chrysler. How many miles are on it? 66 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: H and how much did you pay for it? Uh? 67 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: Two grand? Too much? Right, I was gonna say. I 68 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: knew it was too grand, I said. I. I said 69 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: to myself, this is a two g car. Do you 70 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: really want to fix this? Do you want me to 71 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: just tell you to get another car? Tell me what 72 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: you want, I'll do it for you. Well, I like 73 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: to fix it. If it I'm gonna break the bank. Okay, 74 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: So let's do the easy stuff first. So where we're 75 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: probably headed based on experience, and you know I've got 76 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: I've got too much experience with PT cruisers. I'm telling 77 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: you it's it's ten pounds of bologna in a five 78 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: pound sack. Have you looked under the hood of that car, 79 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: the way that's the way they stuff the engine in? 80 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: You know, the the real thrill of working on that 81 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: cars when you get to do a timing belt. Oh boy, 82 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: It's it's like a religious experience because you're talking to 83 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,559 Speaker 1: God a whole lot. It's just you know, you're talking 84 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: to him about the engineer that designed it. You're talking 85 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 1: to him about the way they got the engine sitting 86 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: in there. You're talking about the parts you have to change. 87 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: It's it's it's like going to church because you're talking 88 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: to God all day long. So pop the hood, all right? 89 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: Because I'd ask you, you know, if we were in 90 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: the shop, I'd say, can you have somebody scan it 91 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: for codes? But I don't want O, B D two codes. 92 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: I want to look at everything. I want to look 93 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: for communication faults. I want to look to see are 94 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: there any modules reporting conversational errors, communication errors that type 95 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: of thing, what's and if you could catch it in 96 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: the act, which I realized that's like you know, trying 97 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 1: to get a politician to tell the truth today. Um, 98 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: it's it's different. It's difficult at best, right, So you know, 99 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 1: can we can we sort of jump the gun if 100 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: we if we can pull codes, do we have any 101 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: communication faults that might give us some information. I've got 102 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: a feeling because the gauges are acting up. The bells 103 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: are going off that we're probably gonna see communication faults 104 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:32,559 Speaker 1: between the tip them, totally integrated power module, tip them 105 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: and the instrument cluster. All right, now, that can point 106 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: to one of two things. We could have a cluster 107 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: issue which will break the bank, or we could have 108 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: a tipum issue which will break the bank. So either 109 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,359 Speaker 1: one of them is gonna be too expensive. However, the 110 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not 111 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: a freight train, is open the hood. Go to the 112 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: driver's side front strut tower, you know where the shot 113 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 1: comes up at bolts at the top of strut. There's 114 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 1: there's a ground strap there. G one oh two is 115 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: the ground. G one oh two is the main ground 116 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: for the totally integrated power module. And what happens again 117 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: here's that religious experience asking yourself, why did the engineer, 118 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 1: Oh God, why did the engineer put this here? Is 119 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: that's the main ground for the tip of them. If 120 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 1: you're living in a in a high salt you know, 121 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: winter snow corrosion area part of the country, that's you 122 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: bingo Ogdensburg, New York. Been there, been there, done that. 123 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 1: Over time, that ground gets corroded over time, that ground 124 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 1: loosens up over time. That ground needs to be cleaned 125 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: and tighten and make sure it's a good, secure, clean ground. 126 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: Try that. But before you do that, before you disconnect 127 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: that ground, if you can get it scanned first, And 128 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: I really I realized that's gonna, you know, involve spending 129 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: some money, but just understand, you know, getting it scanned first, 130 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: getting some knowledge before we start taking things offline might 131 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: be to your benefit. But if there's no way, it's 132 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: not in the budget, you want to call the shot. 133 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: Clean that ground, make sure it's good, clean and tight voltage, 134 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 1: drop it, put a meter across and make sure it's 135 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: it's it's it's less than spec and um, let's see 136 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: if the car acts up again, alright, that that would 137 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: not be that would not be an uncommon failure. That 138 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: would not be an uncommon fault. G one oh two cruiser. 139 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: If if it doesn't work, and I try to find 140 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: somebody downloaded off, well, if it doesn't work, then if 141 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: it doesn't work, then you've got to go to uh, 142 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: then you've got to go to you know, the the 143 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: scan tool routine and and and look to see which module. 144 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: But beyond that. Yeah, and then you're into expensive stuff 145 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: and you know it's it's now. You know, you could 146 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: always put an ad in the paper and talk about, 147 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: you know, a Craiglist thing or or or a car 148 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: sale thing and on nine PT cruiser and you know, 149 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: here's the problem it's got. Trust me, there's a Chrysler 150 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: mechanic out there with a checkbook and an ego that 151 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: that for some reason wants a PT Cruiser. I can 152 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: fix that car, Yes you can, and uh uh, you 153 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: know he'll buy it from you. You're not gonna get 154 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: your two grand. You'll take a beating, but sometimes the 155 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: first beating you take is better than the loss you're 156 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: gonna encounter. So just remember what Christler stands for, woody, 157 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: and then I'm gonna go for company highly recommends you 158 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: start learning engine repair, and I think you're about to, 159 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: so alright, sir, you take good care. Yeah, that's you know, 160 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: PT cruisers. My gosh, that the early ones, the early 161 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: ones up through oh five, Oh my god. If you 162 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: did a timing belt, it was a timing belt, sprocket kit, tensioner, kit, 163 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: water pump, and then you had to change the plastic 164 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: covers because the cheesy plast that covers the clam shells. 165 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: They weren't constructed right and they would warp. So you know, 166 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: I mean you had a strip fall whole motor apart. 167 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: You had to take the air conditioning lines out of 168 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: the way, and you look at it and you say, 169 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 1: you know, why couldn't we just make this fender so 170 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,319 Speaker 1: I could actually remove it? It It would have been easier. 171 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: I I don't know. Like I said, it's a religious 172 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: experience because you're you're talking to God and um, you're 173 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: trying to always do the right thing. But it's it's 174 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:07,679 Speaker 1: really it's a It's ten pounds of bologning a five 175 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: pound stack five five zero zero runing a name of 176 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: the car doctor. Cruising back right after this for the 177 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: best in car advice, Give Ron a call eight five 178 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: five five zero nine nine zero zero. Now back to Ron. 179 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: Jim in Central Illinois. Eureup next with the car doctor. 180 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: How can I help? Hey? Ron, This is Jim, My 181 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 1: h wife is driving a BMW X five diesel. It's 182 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: it just came out of the warranty in maintenance agreement 183 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 1: a couple of months back. It's uh got low fifties mileage, 184 00:09:54,720 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: runs great she's averaging thirty seven miles per gallon. You've 185 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: had no trouble with the car other than um, we're 186 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: coming up on brakes and tires and I'm not sure 187 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: what else down the road. So it's do we keep it, 188 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: invest some money in it, and keep rolling on this thing, 189 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: or do we think about trading out? Well, you know, 190 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: the girl question is, first of all, is Mama happy 191 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: with the car? Okay? Because if mom is not happy, 192 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: nobody's happy. So let's get that. Let's get that out 193 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: of the way right up front. So yeah, by all means. 194 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: So the next question becomes who takes care of the car? 195 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: BMW or do you have a separate do you have 196 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: an independent shop or you know? Are you happy the best? 197 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: The best BMW dealership in Illinois is about ten miles 198 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: down the road. Then then you've already got the answer 199 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: to the question. Listen, it's not gonna get any cheaper 200 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: here from this point on. To maintain the car. It's 201 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: it's gonna cost you something, right, but so so so 202 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: is replacing the car. You know, what will what will 203 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: it cost to replace that car? Jim forty grand? Fifty 204 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 1: grand more than that? Yeah, North North at sixty so 205 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: is it is it sixty and one lump and then 206 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: the depreciation makes it worth forty after it comes off 207 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: a lot. And then what do you have or is 208 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: it a budget that it's you know, it's between tires 209 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: and breaks, you'll probably spend three grand and you know 210 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: it's gonna be an expensive year. And then maybe there's 211 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: some service packages you've got to do a service on 212 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: the next year, and that'll be probably eight hundred thousand bucks. Heck, 213 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: you can spend eight hundred allars of service at BMW 214 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: without breathing hard, right, but absolutely, you know, but it's 215 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: it's it's cheaper than sixty and and and and that 216 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: becomes the point. Uh, you know, they say, and it's 217 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: still true today that the average car is between a 218 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty and a hundred and thirty dollars a 219 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,839 Speaker 1: month maintenance and repair air after it's three and a 220 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: half to four years old. BMW is not an average car, BMW, 221 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's one of the highline German cars. Obviously, 222 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: you know they say that there they can reach in 223 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: excess of two hundred a month to drive and operate 224 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: once they're out a warranty. But the thing you have 225 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: to keep in mind is what are you putting it 226 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 1: up against. All right, you're putting it up against if 227 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: because if you tell me, Ron, if we got rid 228 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 1: of this, we're gonna go buy another BMW Is that 229 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: a yes or no? That would be a yes. Okay, 230 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: So you know, look at all the money you're gonna 231 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: save by fixing this one. All right. The insurance is 232 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:41,679 Speaker 1: going to be cheaper because it's not new. The the 233 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: you know, the the worry about it in a parking 234 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: lot and getting dinged and dented, not that we wish 235 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: that upon you. That the stress is going to be lower. 236 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:50,839 Speaker 1: And it sounds like you've got a good one, right, 237 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: it's all it's all kind of broken in because going 238 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: out to buy a new car doesn't mean you get 239 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: a new one. It's all so heavily electronic today that 240 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: you look at it and say, you know, new doesn't 241 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: mean guaranteed good. And you've got you've actually got the 242 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: best thing going for you. You've already said it. Your 243 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: wife is happy with it, and you've got an excellent 244 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: repair person. You know, hang on to it, drive it. 245 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 1: It's it's a lifestyle and you know, no matter what 246 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: you drive. It's a lifestyle, it's a choice. I had 247 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: a customer this week who was telling me he really 248 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: can't afford to replace the car, that's why he fixed it, 249 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: but he insisted. I said, well, if you had to 250 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 1: go out and buy another car, what would your buy? 251 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: And he said something like this O wheel drive, small 252 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: in a station wagon and a stick And I couldn't 253 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: help but think he can't afford it, but he's still 254 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,719 Speaker 1: insisted on what he wants to drive because that's his lifestyle. 255 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: If this diesel fits your lifestyle, drive it, enjoy it, 256 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: and just you know, bond with the dealer and say, hey, listen, 257 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: it's your responsibility to take care of it for the 258 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: next I don't know. Let's give it a time frame 259 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: four years. In four more years, the car will be 260 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: nine going on ten years old, and then maybe we'll 261 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 1: get rid of it then. I mean, we'll get you know, 262 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 1: you'll get tired of it then. But it's still cheaper 263 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: than sixty as long as you got the right guy 264 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 1: fixing it, you know. And that's that's that's the way 265 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 1: I see it. And that's not to say, is there 266 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 1: an extended warranty policy you can add to the car 267 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: now at this age, or that doesn't exist. I don't 268 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: think that exists if it the last time I did 269 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: look at that option though for one year we were 270 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: talking about hundred so uh and it ramps up from there. 271 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: You know. The way the other way to look at 272 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: this is let's say you keep the car four years, 273 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: all right, And maybe I'm wrong, but this is just 274 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: my way of thinking. In four years, that's twelve thousand 275 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: a year. Right, No, that's more than twelve thousand here, 276 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: What am I saying? That's? Um, that's fifteen a year. 277 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: Do you really think you're gonna spend fifteen grand a 278 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: year on maintenance for the next four years? I would 279 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: hope not. I would think I would think that's almost well. 280 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: I don't say it's impossible, but I would think after 281 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: one year fifteen the car is gone, right probably so 282 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: I you know, they've got a good track record, they 283 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: run well, you've got a good guy servicing it. And 284 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: I can't I can't express that enough in the hands 285 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: of a of a good train technician. Um, whether it's 286 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: a dealer or an independent that speaks BMW per se uh, yeah, 287 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: by all means it's it's it makes sense. Um, it 288 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: really does. I I I don't see any other way 289 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: out of this unless you just happen to want to 290 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: drive a new car, which I understand too. It's a lifestyle. Yeah, 291 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: I think we're good with this one. It's got all 292 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: the uh, the uh, the bells and whistles. Even the 293 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: safety gear was was exceptional when we got this thing 294 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: four years ago. It's got the adapted cruise, got the 295 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: heads up display, got the lane departure. So that car, 296 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: that the way they engineer those. Clearly, that's at least 297 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: a hundred and twenty a hundred and forty thousand miles vehicle. 298 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: And you've got you've got what mid fifties on it. 299 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: You gotta ways to go, so I hope save, save 300 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: your money, maintain the car, take your wife on vacation, 301 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: go to the islands, have a good time. All right, 302 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: we're on our way to the island. You're very welcome, sir. 303 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: You take good care. Oh that's Mikey's looking at me. Mikey. 304 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: What's wrong with that idea? Right? Just you know, go 305 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: out and hang out and uh, you know, stay nice 306 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: and warm. Um to a quick piece of email. No, 307 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: I don't want to do email. I want to talk 308 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: about this. I've gotten a couple of these were more 309 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: than a couple. Did anybody see the article in The Times? 310 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: Your car knows when you gain weight. Cars produced today 311 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: or especially are essentially smartphones with wheels for drivers. This 312 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: meant many new features, breaking turn by turn directions, entertainment, 313 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: et cetera. Today's cars real quick with telematics. Gee, where 314 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: have you guys heard that term before? I remember I 315 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: was telling you about telematics and the form of it 316 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: was always on wireless transmitter that constantly sends vehicle performance 317 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: and maintenance that of the men facts were. Modern cars 318 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: collect as much as twenty five gigabytes of data per 319 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: hour gigabytes of data per hour according to the consulting 320 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: firm Mackenzie. As an estimate. It's much more than about 321 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: performance and maintenance. Cars not only how know how much 322 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: we weigh, but also track how much weight we gain. 323 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: Remember about a year ago or a year and a 324 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: half ago, I was talking about how they've got the 325 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,360 Speaker 1: ability to now to know where you adjust, to see 326 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: where the headrest is. With with cameras and cars, they 327 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: were talking about you know what color clothing are we wear. 328 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 1: They're collecting all this information and all of a sudden, 329 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: I'll tell you a quick story. Seventy six Pontiac trans 330 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: ams in the shop this week, right, And I had 331 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: to find the story. I want to talk about this 332 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: repair over the next couple of weeks. And I had 333 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: a smoking in the bandit kind of car and I 334 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: had to find a power windows switch. Right, So I 335 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,439 Speaker 1: call up, I go online, I find the switch. I 336 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: call up the up any Classic Industries. Right, I order 337 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: a switch that was three days ago. The switch is 338 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: already here in the shower in the car. Right. I 339 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 1: went on Facebook this morning to do something. There's a 340 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: Facebook ad from Classic Industries in my Facebook feed, all right, 341 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: talking about buying power window switches for Pontiac trans amps. 342 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: How weird is that your car knows when you gain weight? 343 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 1: I'm run on any of the Car Doctor. I'll be 344 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 1: back right after this. Hey, welcome back. Run any of 345 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: the Car Doctor five zero zero. By the way, if 346 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 1: you're looking for information about this radio show, car Doctor 347 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: show dot com, as well as keeping my work on Facebook, 348 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: run any in the Car Doctor and uh you can 349 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:02,959 Speaker 1: join it and participate there and see what's going on. 350 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 1: But by all means if you need me during the week, 351 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: um ron at Car Doctor Show dot com. And keep 352 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: in mind there's podcasting visa the Car Doctor Show dot com. 353 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: You can podcast. There's a tab podcast tab um. If 354 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: you can't get the live show or you're not into 355 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: the live stream, which is also a Car Doctor Show 356 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: dot com, you can get out to the podcast page 357 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: over its spreaker. So lots of ways to listen to 358 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: the Car Doctor and take the Car Doctor with you. 359 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 1: Let's get over and talk to Let's go to Indiana 360 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,479 Speaker 1: and talk to Patel. Oh three, Alexis Patel. How are 361 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 1: you this week? My friend? Hey, how are you doing that? 362 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: I'm doing good? What's going on? I have an all 363 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 1: three lexus e S three hundred with two hundred and 364 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: wait wait for wait for it, just broke in and 365 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 1: go ahead. Yes, and I appreciate you're teaching me how 366 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: to do all this in pieces. So the only thing 367 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: I got to fix is this noise. So you know 368 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: what I am. I'm starting from my driveway. It's having 369 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: that popping noises doesn't come all the time, so it 370 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: only happens when I'm going off the driveway or getting 371 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: a little bit inclined and stopped and putting the car 372 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: under the load and taking a left or light. Then 373 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,639 Speaker 1: you know, body noises or noises in general at this 374 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 1: miles and age can be tough. But let's just cover it. 375 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: And you know, if we were standing at the counter 376 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: at the shop, I would tell you, let's cover the 377 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: basics from a safety concern, because I'm always worried about 378 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: something broken, hanging, falling off and somebody getting hurt. The 379 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: noises don't bother me as much as the safety factor, 380 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: so I always approached something like this as a safety issue. Obviously. 381 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: The first thing, just to eliminate the obvious, let's go 382 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: through motor mounts. Put the car, Put the car and 383 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,880 Speaker 1: drive power break at one foot on the brake, one 384 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 1: ft on the gas, gently, try to accelerate, bring it 385 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: up a little bit, and does the engine rock and 386 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:53,679 Speaker 1: pull hard against the mount? Could the mount be broken? 387 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 1: The front motor mount between the engine and the radiator 388 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 1: are notorious for breakage on that on that but the 389 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: kular car. So that's that's one thing. Obviously, do it 390 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: and drive. Do it in reverse. If you want to 391 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 1: have somebody do it and you stand in front, make 392 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: sure they set the power break or I'm sorry, the 393 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 1: parking break, and you explain to them that they're about 394 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: to run you over if they take their foot off 395 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 1: the brake. So there's a danger involved here. Um, but 396 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: you know, you you you you want to power break 397 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: it in here forward in reverse. That's number one. Number two. Um, 398 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,239 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a little hard for you because do 399 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: you have a lift. You don't have a lift, right, 400 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 1: but tell right? And and the problem is if you 401 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: put this car up in the air on a lift 402 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: where you're you know, and the front suspension is hanging. 403 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: Now everything is is at a non um actual driving angle, 404 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: if you know what I'm saying. It's hanging. It's not 405 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: like it is going down the road. So what you 406 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:53,719 Speaker 1: could do is do you own a pair of jack stands? 407 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: I do have four, So if if we could put 408 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: all wheels up, but I would put that you have 409 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: to be able to put the jack stand in the front, 410 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: particularly the back. I'm not saying although you want to 411 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:07,639 Speaker 1: look at the back, but we think the noises from 412 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: the front. I want to put the jack stand up 413 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 1: front under the front control arms as far out to 414 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: the end as possible. All right, So that I'm duplicating, 415 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 1: you know, the tire. I'm duplicating the load that the 416 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: tire puts on the car, all right, And and and 417 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: just for giggles, I would I would probably borrow an 418 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: extra jack stand and stick it in the middle of 419 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 1: the car somewhere as a safety because what I'm gonna 420 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: tell you to do. You know, we've got to be careful, 421 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: all right, when we've got the car level height, road load, 422 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: so to speak. All right, tires off so we can 423 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: see things. What do we see, all right? If we 424 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: if we take the sway bar. Sway bar is the 425 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: long wishbone looking bar that runs the width of the 426 00:22:56,119 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 1: car all thets okay, and what about what about the 427 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: rubber bushings that the bar is held in by? No, 428 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,959 Speaker 1: I didn't change those. Well before you change them, if 429 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 1: you load everything, does the bar have any lateral movement? Okay? 430 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 1: One of the one of the one of the noisiest 431 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: things on a car is a worn out stabilizer bar 432 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: bushing the rubber bushing that ensconces the bar itself, because 433 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 1: that bar is that bar becomes a giant tuning fork, 434 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 1: all right, if it's if it's got the least little 435 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: bit of slop in it. It's like you know, it's 436 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: it's like the coyote hitting the stop sign, chasing the 437 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: road runner. Twang. Okay, it just reverberates. I'm dating myself 438 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: now to diagnos that should I take the links off 439 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: on both sides and then play with the bars that 440 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: I know you could. You know, if you think, if 441 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: you think the bar, if you think the links are 442 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: holding it, it would actually make life a little easier 443 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: because you then in that case, if you just disconnected 444 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 1: the links and you know, grab the bar without any 445 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: load on it, you could do this at full height. Now, 446 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: because now it doesn't matter can you lift the sway 447 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: bar doesn't have any up and down lateral movement to it. 448 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: That thing it can't move. It's gotta be tight, all right, 449 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: It's gotta be tight. Now. You said you put quick 450 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 1: struts in this, correct, Monroe quick struts good, good product. 451 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 1: Using myself. One of the things I've noticed, though, one 452 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: of the downers is I've I've found from time to 453 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: time that I get one where the top nut isn't tight. 454 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: The center nut, all right, not the three that holds 455 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 1: it to the body, but the center nut that holds 456 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: the top amount of the strut to the to the 457 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: shaft of the strut itself. Do you have an do 458 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 1: you have an air air gun? Patel or so with 459 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,639 Speaker 1: the car sitting on the ground, give it a kiss. 460 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: Now to get that, to get that, to get to 461 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: that upper struct you're gonna have to take the wiper 462 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,639 Speaker 1: cowl out, correct, right, Yeah, So it's a it's a 463 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: little bit of work. So they may want to save 464 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:14,639 Speaker 1: that for last. But don't be afraid to think. Could 465 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: that nut take a little bit of a kiss and 466 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 1: snug up? You know? Does it sound like a strutt noise? No, 467 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: the sus that I think solid. But after talking to 468 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:28,479 Speaker 1: a few of my friends who know a little bit 469 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: more than me, and they're saying either could be two things, 470 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 1: the ball joined or the exhil Now the cv XL, 471 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 1: there's no leaks, look solid. And my ball joints are 472 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: pretty long because they're like like Factory two. But ball 473 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:47,880 Speaker 1: joints are easy to tell if they're loose or not. 474 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: Load this load the suspension. Grab the wheel at at 475 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: twelve and six o'clock and then nine and three o'clock 476 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 1: and rocket in both directions, and there shouldn't be any movement, 477 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:04,880 Speaker 1: and that's what I'm gonna do for us at that right, 478 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:06,680 Speaker 1: you can do that. You can check the top of 479 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: the strut if you want to go in that direction. 480 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:13,439 Speaker 1: And then last last, the cradle bolts, the four bolts 481 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: that hold the cradle to the body itself. The cradles. 482 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: The cradles that big steel piece up front that hold 483 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: the engine and the transmission as an assembly that has 484 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 1: four each each corner has a rubber mount. That mount 485 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: could be worn out, that bolt could be loose again, 486 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: either air gun or if you've got a breaker bar, 487 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: a decent size half inch breaker bar, let's give it 488 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,239 Speaker 1: a snug. Let's just see does does one tighten up 489 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: more than the other. And I wouldn't be surprised eight 490 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: nineteen years old, two one or something thousand miles that 491 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: we're gonna find one. That's yeah, if the pulse of 492 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: stretched things have backed out by now, I'm sure there's 493 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: a bunch of potholes out in the Indiana that you 494 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 1: know have have have blessed the car. And you know, 495 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 1: so mount to nic and the mounts are in each 496 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: corner of the cradle, that steel cradle is held in 497 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 1: by that you know, that rubber mounts the ice the insulator. 498 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: And then last, the last thing I want you to 499 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: look at is look at the lower control arm. The 500 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 1: front bushing is important to look at. It's it's it's 501 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 1: it's a it's an oblong shaped long bushing mount horizontally. 502 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: But the rear cross maw, I'm sorry, the rear lower 503 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: control arm bushing, it's a circular bushing with the bolt 504 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 1: coming in from the bottom. That bushing generally gets stretched 505 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: and pulled apart, and that's been known to allow the 506 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: control arm to bang. You you you lift a bang 507 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: as it as it comes out on a sharp turn, 508 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 1: it flexes. So look at that rear bushing on the 509 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 1: lower control arm. They should both be in the same position. 510 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:52,439 Speaker 1: And if one has a little bit more give than 511 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 1: the other, don't be afraid to put a pride bar 512 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: underneath the control arm, wedging the tip of the pride 513 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: bar between the cradle and the arm. How much driving 514 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 1: force dos it take to to fleck it up? If 515 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: one feels like it moves more than the other, Possibly 516 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 1: that rear control arm bushing is soft, and that requires 517 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,360 Speaker 1: replacing the lower control arm, which at that point you'll 518 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,959 Speaker 1: end up replacing your pall joints too, because you're usually 519 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 1: as an assembly, they're they're sold together. So take a 520 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 1: look at those things. But telling by all means, give 521 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:21,680 Speaker 1: us a call if you need more. I'm always glad 522 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: to help you. Buddy zero, the car doctor is coming 523 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: back right after this flcome back running of the Car 524 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: docul Let's get over to Lennon, Wisconsin. When you're out 525 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: with the car Doctor. What's going on? Well, I'm thinking 526 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 1: about buying a late model of Mini Cooper convertible and 527 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: I'm wondering if you had any dealings with those models. 528 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: I'm not sure exactly what the youro we're having fun 529 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 1: one yet, but I wanted to have a late model 530 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 1: one that's only maybe two or three years old and 531 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: probably not no more than Newers. That I wonder if 532 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 1: you had no opinion of these vehicles. Newers always better, 533 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: Less miles is always better obviously. So that being said, 534 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: who did you plan on having work on it? Um? 535 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 1: Probably a local mechanic maybe if there isn't a dealer 536 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: here and where I'm at in Wisconsin. So if I 537 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: did go to any place the trols, this one would 538 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: probably be a hundred miles away, So the local mechanics 539 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: in this area, I'd probably take it to one of them. Okay, 540 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 1: so your your first your first thought has to be 541 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: you've got to go talk to them and and ask 542 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: them even before you ask me, because what I tell 543 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: you, it it doesn't matter. If they tell you they can't 544 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: fix it because they don't have the technology, then you 545 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: know you're either gonna have to move or you know, 546 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 1: drive a hundred miles to get service. So that's that's 547 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: the first question. Because now, no matter how much you 548 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 1: like it, it's sooner or later it's gonna need service 549 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 1: and repair and and and I'm of the mindset that 550 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: either the shop works on the whole car or nothing 551 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 1: at all. So you know, when I say they've got 552 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 1: to be able to service it, they've got to have 553 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 1: the technology to do you know, the breaks, the tires, 554 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: the oil changes and so on. But they've also got 555 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 1: to have the ability to do water pumps, thermostats, timing 556 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: belts if so, equipped, clutches, et cetera. Uh, you know, 557 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: it's got to be one stop shopping or within reason, 558 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:41,480 Speaker 1: they've got to work on at least eight of the 559 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: car because over the course of its life. That's you know, 560 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: those are the things that they're gonna work on. Now, 561 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 1: what do I think of the car in general? I 562 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 1: think they're fun. I think they're you know, they they've 563 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 1: improved a lot over the early ones. The early ones 564 00:30:56,440 --> 00:31:00,480 Speaker 1: were not great in my opinion, but something in the 565 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 1: last four to five years it's it's gotten to be 566 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 1: a lot better. They've adapted or adopted, so to speak 567 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 1: to the US, They've they've improved the product and the 568 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 1: quality is evident. But understand that what you're really doing is, 569 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: in the second time I'm saying this this weekend, this show, 570 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: is you're buying a lifestyle, right Lenn. I mean it 571 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 1: just it floats your boat. It makes you happy. It's 572 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 1: it's so you know, you know it's gonna cost a 573 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 1: little bit more to maintain. You're aware of that. You 574 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 1: know it's gonna cost a little bit more to do 575 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,480 Speaker 1: everything in that car, and you're aware of that. But evidently, 576 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 1: at this point in your life, you need a convertible 577 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 1: two seat Mini Cooper to go tooling around town and 578 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: make you feel good. Right right, I'm a car guy. 579 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: I like cars, and to me, a car isn't just 580 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 1: transportation it's almost an extension of myself. It's a lifestyle, yep, 581 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 1: I'd like I'd like cars, and what else did I've 582 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 1: had some old cars and I've had some newer cars. 583 00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 1: But I just like cars, and if I have one, 584 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 1: that's gonna be H. I want something my wife can drive, 585 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: so I'll probably get an automatic. Otherwise I would probably 586 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: get a stick. Well, once you don't like to drive 587 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 1: a stick, if you can afford it, get to get 588 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 1: a his and hers? Well, I don't think I can 589 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: afford that. You know, um, get rid of the wife 590 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 1: and get yourself a stick. No, you can't do that either. 591 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 1: You can't afford to do that either. So we'll stay 592 00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 1: with H. We'll stay with just one car then, yeah, 593 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 1: even an automatic. But you get the point. They're good cars. 594 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: It's who's gonna work on it? How are they gonna 595 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 1: work on it? And it's gotta be you know, you 596 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 1: can't just walk in there and say, hey, can you 597 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: change the oil? To what level? Are you go? Here's 598 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 1: what you want to say, to what level are you 599 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 1: guys comfortable servicing Aenen Mini Cooper? And see what kind 600 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 1: of response you get? Wouldn't you like a local Ford 601 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: dealer or the local Chevy dealer. Wouldn't they be able 602 00:32:55,880 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 1: to handle just about anything? Not necessarily. Car dealers us 603 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: in general are geared towards specific makes and models. Now 604 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 1: if they have a superb used car department, But I'm 605 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 1: finding more and more dealers are farming out that used car, 606 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,239 Speaker 1: or they're not doing extensive work to it like they 607 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: once did because of the involvement of special tooling. So 608 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:17,760 Speaker 1: just just keep that in mind. Do it that way, 609 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:19,680 Speaker 1: call me back and have any other questions. Lend good 610 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: luck in the hunt. I'm run on any in the 611 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:29,680 Speaker 1: Car Doctor. We're back right after this. Welcome back, run 612 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: a na of the Car Doctor. Wait wait till the 613 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 1: wife that leaves the studio so we'll be talking about wants. No, 614 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 1: we can't do that, honest, we really can't. Um boy, 615 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: what a quick, What a quick? What a quick? Two hours? 616 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: This was today? It's like why the show just flies by? 617 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 1: I want to close with this thought. All right, I 618 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:47,680 Speaker 1: want to talk about the snowball effect. And the snowball effect. 619 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 1: The best way I can tell you this is it 620 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 1: relates to a car. Is is this customer came in 621 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: this week jeep Wrangler with no brake pedal. First time 622 00:33:56,560 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 1: in um we we know him from through business dealings. 623 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:03,040 Speaker 1: Regular guy and no brake pedal break pedals right on 624 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: the floor. And this Wrangler it's nine years old now right, 625 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 1: it's got sixty five sixty six thousand miles on it. 626 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: And we looked at it real quick, and there's no 627 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,480 Speaker 1: external leaks. There's no leaks anywhere all right, no loss 628 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:18,279 Speaker 1: of fluid, nothing. Everything is good, everything is drawing. But 629 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 1: it's got no pedal. The pedals right down on the floor. 630 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 1: One day it was good, one day it was bad. 631 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 1: We looked the truck over. It needs four wheel breaks. 632 00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:30,320 Speaker 1: The brake pads are really ultra thin there there there 633 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: to three millimeters, which is next to nothing. And it 634 00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:35,080 Speaker 1: wouldn't really matter if that's the cause of the low 635 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 1: pedal or not, which it's not. But the car needs breaks. 636 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:40,560 Speaker 1: So the car needs breaks. Now you gotta fix the 637 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:42,960 Speaker 1: hydraulic problem. We're gonna try bleeding it and going through 638 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 1: a couple of things. We want to check it to 639 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: being manster sooner and so on. Not uncommon for a 640 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:50,640 Speaker 1: bad Manster on that model car. Not uncommon to be 641 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 1: a bad hydraulic control unit here's the snowball effect. Here's 642 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:58,439 Speaker 1: a nine year old car sixty six thousand miles legitimately 643 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: needs four wheel brakes, pads, and rotors. Maybe it needs 644 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:04,480 Speaker 1: a master, Maybe it needs a hydraulic control unit. If 645 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 1: it needs a hydraulic control unit, you're doing a master anyway, 646 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:09,359 Speaker 1: because you're not pumping dirty fluid back into that clean 647 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:11,239 Speaker 1: age c U. I'm not any in the car doctor. 648 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 1: The mechanics aren't expensive. They're placeless.