1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: Lay those days of soda and pet selves and Ronanian. 2 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: It's been a case at the shop the last three weeks. 3 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: I'm noticing in the heat as summer is here that 4 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: we're seeing much higher battery failures. Just failing you a 5 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: basket full of sanditches and the car Doctor then the 6 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: house up. Now, Yes, sat, if you're riding around on 7 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: a battery it's three or four years old and it 8 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: looks like you're growing cauliflower on the battery terminals, you 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: probably need to have the terminals clean, battery tested, and 10 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: may be replaced. Welcome to the radio home of Ron Andanian, 11 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: the Car Doctor, since this is where car owners the 12 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: world overturned to for their definitive opinion on automotive repair. 13 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: If your mechanics giving you a busy signal, pick up 14 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: the phone and call in the garage orders are open. 15 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: I am here to take their calls at eight five 16 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: five five six summer and now he running. I think 17 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: far As Gump was wrong. I don't think life is 18 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: like a box of chocolates. I think drive ability cars 19 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: are because you're never quite sure what you're really gonna get. 20 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,759 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome Broughton any in the guard Doctor here 21 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: to carry on for the next two hours talking about 22 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: you and your automobile at eight five five five zero 23 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: nine nine zero zero, All things automotive or otherwise. If 24 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: you've got a question or comment or a concern, give 25 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: us a call eight five five five zero nine nine 26 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: zero zero. The website for this radio show is always 27 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: Car Doctor Show dot com. You can find more information there. 28 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: Tune in dot com, iHeart dot com, iTunes dot com 29 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: for podcasting another show information as well. If you need 30 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: me during the week you've got a car problem, we 31 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: can't get up here on air and talk about it. 32 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: Send it to me an email Ron at Car Doctor 33 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: show dot com. I think drive ability cars are getting tougher, 34 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: and I almost don't know if it's the car or 35 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: the person that owns them. Two situations this week at 36 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: the shop two thousand four Volkswagen Turregg Turreg Turregg well 37 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: v W virtually worthless six and one half a dozen 38 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: or the other. And the check engine light had been 39 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 1: on for admittedly of the owner seven months, and the 40 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: reason we knew that was because this is July. The 41 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: inspection was December. The check engine light has been on 42 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: since then, and heat the about a month, maybe a 43 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: little longer. So I'm guessing the check engine light has 44 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: been on seven to nine months and he's been driving 45 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: it around. It has a lean fuel system code. The 46 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: reason I know it has a lean fuel system code 47 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: is because he walked into the shop with his scan 48 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: tool telling me here's the code. I think it's intake gask, 49 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: it's what can you do to fix it? Let me 50 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,519 Speaker 1: tell you about the right and the wrong way. Two 51 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 1: walk into somebody's house and I kind of take it personal, 52 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: and yeah, you know, I was asking. I was talking 53 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: to Sue last night. We were having dinner at this 54 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: little Italian restaurant again, and I said, you know, maybe 55 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: my ego is a little too fragile. I don't know. 56 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 1: But when somebody walks in and says to me, here's 57 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: what's wrong with the car, how are you going to 58 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: fix it? And I haven't even walked outside, gotten a 59 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: signed repair. I haven't even gotten to the point where 60 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: I've lifted the hood, and I'm being put on the spot. 61 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: You know, give me a break. Walked outside, looked at 62 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: the car. It's is used up, worn out, eighty thousand 63 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: mile oh four Volkswagen that's been read hard, put away wet, 64 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: and it really, I won't say should have been shot, 65 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: but it's getting close. The driver's door doesn't open from 66 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: the inside anymore. The owner admitted that it needed breaks. 67 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: It's had this check engine light issue ongoing for quite 68 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: some time now, and I explained to him that that 69 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: check engine light is the mystery because once you saw 70 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: that lean fuel condition bank one fault that his his 71 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: scan tool said was the issue that you've then got 72 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: the problem of is there anything else there? It's layered, 73 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: you don't know. We ended up sending that car to 74 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: the dealer because he wanted to know me or the dealer, 75 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: and I said the dealer, because walk into the dealer 76 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: and show them the scan tool and see what they 77 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 1: do to you. Second drive ability car this week was 78 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: an O eight Ford Fusion weight Ford Fusion that had 79 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: a rolling IDOL between six and eight rpm and went 80 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: through every test and diagnosed it the way it should 81 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: have been. After Ford diagnosed it and two other shops 82 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: diagnosed it and came to the conclusion that it's a 83 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: bad throttle body of five apart is that the only 84 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: thing wrong with it. G I don't know. I've got 85 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: to get through this, I've got to go one step 86 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: at a time. I can prove the throttle body bad. 87 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: I don't know how the rest of the car is 88 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,679 Speaker 1: because I can't test beyond that point. Like a box 89 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. The 90 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: owner intends to take it to a fourth or fifth, 91 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: or sixth or seventh shop, I'm not sure what answer 92 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 1: he's looking for, but obviously here's what's wrong with the car. 93 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: I can prove it isn't something to satisfy him. The 94 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 1: bottom line becomes that you as the owner, you as 95 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: the vehicle decision maker. It's a lot like caretaking for 96 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: somebody older or for yourself. You've got to have a 97 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: clear mind what it is you're looking for before you 98 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: go out looking. And you've got to understand that when 99 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: you're talking to a mechanic sometimes the worst thing in 100 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: the world to say is here's what's wrong with it, 101 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: how are you going to fix it? Or gee, what 102 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: if that doesn't fix it? And instill some doubt into 103 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: the conversation. You've got to get used to the idea 104 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: that auto repair going forward, there is gonna be that 105 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: eighty percentile guests that hopefully he's a good guesser and 106 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: a good diagnostician. That's gonna get you down to that 107 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: point of here's what's wrong with the car. Hello, and 108 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: welcome Ron and any in the car. Doctor Here, we're 109 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: going to roll along this hour. Coming up next hour, 110 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: we're gonna be talking to Mark Eaton. Mark is from Dens, 111 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: so we're gonna be talking to him about a ridium 112 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: and they're a ridium T T spark plugs. But right 113 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: now we have a very full phone bank and fast. 114 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: Harry is looking at me through the glass with a 115 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 1: pained expression on his face, saying open the doors. So 116 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: let's fire them up and let's go over to Rick 117 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: and New Haven, Connecticut two thousand one buic century and 118 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 1: some brake caliper questions. Rick, Welcome to the car, doctor sir, 119 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: all right, what's going on? Good? I gotta sticking brake caliper? 120 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: And I was wonder say anything I could do about 121 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: that until I replace it? Um, not really? Uh, you 122 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: know when you say you've got a sticking caliper, one 123 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 1: of the brakes pull left or right? Rick? Okay, Well, 124 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: generally a squeal is a is a compound issue and 125 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: not necessarily a stuck caliper issue. If a brake caliper 126 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: is sticking, the vehicle by all rights should pull. Even 127 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: the slightest little bit of a brake caliper that's hanging 128 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 1: is going to cause unequal pressure in the system of 129 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: the vehicle, will have a bit of a drift to 130 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: the left or the right. Now, you know, we should 131 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: also see brakes wearing more to one side than the other. 132 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: Who who's saying that the caliper is sticking, Um A 133 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: friend with more experience than me? Okay, Um, any reason 134 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: why you're waiting to repair it? Um? Okay, Well, and 135 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: that's a fair statement. Just keep in mind, um, if 136 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: the brakes do become a problem, and there is an 137 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: issue and they don't work, the repair bills are only 138 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: gonna go up from here. So um. You know, keep 139 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: in mind too that breaks stick or break caliper issues 140 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: aren't necessarily going to be a squeal all by themselves. Generally, 141 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: it's it's compound. It could also be that the brake pads, 142 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: you know, whatever lubricant was supposed to be there. Now 143 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: the brake pad could be stuck on the caliper, not 144 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: allowing it to float all right, Because the caliper. The 145 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: pad has to float against the rotor to a degree. 146 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: A little bit of silicon grease in the right spots 147 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: goes a long way to preventing squeal. But if if 148 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: the way the pad is mounted is correct, if that 149 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: break caliper itself is mechanically stuck, then you should have 150 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: other issues going on here. My suggestion is, before you 151 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: wait too much longer, take it apart. See what kind 152 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: of shape that breaks are really in, and if it's 153 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: something you can't do, have a professional do it. Because 154 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: bad breaks has nothing to fool around with, and it 155 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: keeps you safe and it keeps me safe as I'm 156 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: driving along in the car next to you. Let's go 157 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: over to Paul in Norway, Maine. I guess I couldn't 158 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: be Norway, Norway. No, we don't have that kind of reach. 159 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: And see what's going on here with this two thousand 160 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: one camera, Paul, Welcome to the car, doctor sir, How 161 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: are you pretty good? How are you doing good? What's 162 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: going on? Well? I get a two thousand one camera 163 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: and it's a five speed with a two point two 164 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: and it I brought it for fun, and it's like 165 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: a second or a third vehicle. Actually, what's kind of 166 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: need a five speed camera? You don't see many of those. Yeah, 167 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: that's why I bought it five speed. Yeah, So what's 168 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: going on? Well, Uh, I had it out of service 169 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: for a while, and uh, when I went to put 170 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: it back into service, it would start up and it'll 171 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: run for a few seconds and then it will quit. Ok, 172 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,959 Speaker 1: And uh, it got worse and worse, and now it 173 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: just starts. It fires. You see the ticommaa needle go up, 174 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: and then it quits and then you can hear the 175 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: fuel pump um working to repressurize I guess or something. 176 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 1: And then I try it again it does the same 177 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: exact thing. All right. Let me let me ask you this. 178 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: Once it goes into this dead it won't start mode. 179 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: Have you checked to see do you have spark? Um? 180 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: I'm imagining that I do, because it seems to fire. 181 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: It fires, right, But but but I'm imagining that maybe 182 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: you don't, simply because it fires and dies, so it 183 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 1: has spark when you go to start it, it doesn't 184 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 1: have spark. Otherwise it we keep runing, we wouldn't be 185 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 1: having this phone call right right? Well, no, how about 186 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: we take how about we take a coil wire out 187 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 1: of office spark plug. Do you have a do you 188 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: have a spark plug, Tester Paul, A larger gap plug. Well, 189 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: let's look it up. Let's see if we've got spark, 190 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: and we should have. We should have an angry orange 191 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,839 Speaker 1: ish hot blue white spark color kind of thing going 192 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: on there, and it should be an extended gap plug. 193 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: And if you can fire the coil, then we know 194 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: it's not spark and that eliminates about half the possible 195 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: problems this could be if it If it has spark, 196 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: then my next question is gonna be doesn't have injector pulse? 197 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: And probably the easiest way for you to tell me 198 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: that is if you don't have one, go buy a 199 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: mechanic stethoscope. Listen, listen to the injectors. Do they click? 200 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: They'll click when it runs? Do they continue to click 201 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: when it goes into that crank no start condition? Do 202 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: those two tests? Call me back next week? All right, 203 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 1: I'll do that, All right, kid, I'll thank you and 204 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: you keep us posted. Eight zero nine zero zero the 205 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: Car Doctor seven phone number. Give us a call anytime, 206 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: day or night and leave a message fast Harry. We'll 207 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: call you back I'm run any in the Car Doctor. 208 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: I'll be back right after this. Love Bad Night. Welcome back. 209 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: We're any in the Car Doc. You're here. If you're 210 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: new to us, we want to thank you for stopping by. 211 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:33,839 Speaker 1: If you've been here a while, we want to thank 212 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: you for sticking around. This radio show for you newbies 213 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: is all about your car and it's problems. So if 214 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: you've got a question, if your mechanics beating you up, 215 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 1: if the car doesn't seem to make sense, if g 216 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: the last built seemed too expensive to me, then give 217 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: us a call. Zero zero zero will help break it 218 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: down and I'll put it into a language in a 219 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,839 Speaker 1: way that you can understand it and listen. Maybe your 220 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: mechanics wrong and that we can kind of talk about 221 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: that too. But this radio shows here for you, and 222 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 1: it's the taked by the calls and the questions that 223 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: you ask, and that's how we run this show and 224 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: have for the past twenty four plus years. Let's get 225 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: over and talk to John Shadyside, Ohio Honda Civic and 226 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: some problems with a fuel level sender. John. Welcome to 227 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 1: the Car Doctor, Sir. How can I help? Hey? Ro 228 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: I rant out our options because nobody can get the part. Uh. 229 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: And I was wondering it for as any way that 230 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: I can get a fuel cens or, any fuel censor 231 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: would work in that car. Yeah. Well, let's let's see 232 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: to nine eight three. What am I saying? Yeah, it's 233 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: my dad's car. He passed away, and I'm trying to 234 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: restore it a little bit, you know. I mean the 235 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: car is only thirty two years old. It's still got 236 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: some life lift in it. I think. Um, you know, 237 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 1: my one question would be before I talk about getting 238 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: a replacement part, John, is is it that the gas 239 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: gage doesn't work? Have you pulled the fuel level sender out? 240 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: Do you know that it? Yeah? Yeah, because the guests 241 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: in the tank okay for years. Okay, so that I 242 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: just decided, you know, it a shot. Well, and then 243 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: the next question I've got is at the fuel level 244 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: sender went bed and you know, because the gas turned 245 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: to gelatin and whatever else, it vanners down into what's 246 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: the inside of the tank. Looked like, no, no, there's uh. 247 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: The dealers they they they can can get a new tank. 248 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: They can't. Okay, So you know, all that sensor is, 249 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: all that sending unit is is a potentialometer. It's a 250 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: variable resistor. So I've got to think, with a little 251 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: bit of creativity and ingenuity that it can't be the 252 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: most impossible thing to transfer another sending unit that has 253 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: the same range value and resistance value to make that 254 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: gauge work. What I would tell you to do is 255 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: if we were at the shop, I have this device, 256 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: it's called a variable potentiometer, and all it is is 257 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: just a big restat. It lets me very resistance in 258 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: a circuit so I can get things to do what 259 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: I want them to do. Um, it's basically a fuel 260 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: level sender. Now, most fuel level senders are zero to 261 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: ninety homes. Sometimes they're there, they're ten to twenty homes. 262 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: They vary by car manufacturer. If you put a if 263 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: you put a potentiometer, a variable potentiometer to that signal 264 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: line back to the gauge and measure wear's e wear's full. 265 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: Then you just got to find a potentiometer that matches 266 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: that range and then attach it to the sender. Yeah, 267 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: but where do you get well, what the actual part, 268 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: the replacement part? No, any of them that would work. 269 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: I'm not pick a card. Once you want you the 270 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: most important thing, and my point is the most important 271 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: thing is to know what range cender you're looking for. Okay, Well, 272 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: I don't know that. I'm not a mechanic, right Well, 273 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,040 Speaker 1: the mechanic would have to know that, John, That's what 274 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: I'm trying to tell you, all right. So in other words, 275 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: the mechanic would have to have the smarts to understand 276 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: that a gas gauge is a variable resistor circuit. All right. 277 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: Let me let me explain it like this. If the 278 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: if the gas gauge didn't work in the days of 279 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: and so on, we would get out of variable potentialometer 280 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: and we would do a sweep test of the gauge. 281 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: We'd put it at zero, bring it up towards the 282 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: top end. We watched the gauge go from E to F. 283 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: All right, So he's got to do the same thing 284 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: to that car. In doing that, he's going to determine 285 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 1: what the range of that sender is. Once he knows that, 286 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: then it's a simple matter of referencing a later model 287 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: vehicle and saying, and i would probably start to look 288 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: somewhere in the mid nineties, because I'm sure sending units 289 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: are available for those and say Okay, a sending unit, 290 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: for example, for a ninety five Civics available, I'd find 291 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: one and transfer over that sending unit it to the 292 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: existing one that's in the car. And it can't be 293 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: that hard to do. Fabrication of parts isn't the most 294 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: impossible thing in the world. Where there's a will, there's 295 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: a way. So there's a way to do it if 296 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: you find the right If you can find somebody that 297 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: understands variable resistance and how and how to really understand 298 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: how a fuel gage circuit works, then you can find 299 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: somebody to repair this. If all your mechanic can do 300 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: right now is swap parts, then all all you've got 301 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: is a part swapper. And that's why you're confused about it, 302 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: all right, This is this is a fairly simple circuit 303 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: and a fairly simple problem. I wouldn't let something like 304 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: this stand in your way and keep you from getting 305 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: this car repaired. So good luck to you, John. If 306 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: you need more information, send me an email Ron at 307 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: Car Doctor show dot com. Uh and we can kind 308 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: of pick it up and go from there. Hey, listeners, 309 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: just real quick before we pull over and take the pause. 310 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: My spies tell me and I've got some updated info. 311 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: Buick is just has just unveiled with the Cascadia. Wow, 312 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: you've got to google this Cascadia C A S C 313 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,199 Speaker 1: A D A. Um, what a good looking convertible this is. 314 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: And you can see where General Motors is going with 315 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: this car. If the mechanicals are correct and the mechanicals work, 316 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: they're taking square aim at BMW and Audie for this 317 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 1: and everything's going to that European look. But the Cascadia, 318 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: I saw pictures of it, and uh, I was quite 319 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: impressed and pleased to see how they're how they're changing 320 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 1: their design. It comes out as a convertible. Um, it's 321 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: got a very sleek windshield. Um, the top goes up 322 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: and down in in in only seventeen seconds. They can 323 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: lower the top up, speeds up the thirty one of 324 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: the specs ay, and it's got a very wind swept 325 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: exterior design. So um, you know you can see Tony, 326 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: what do you think? Let me turn this around, tone 327 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: look at it? Is that a sharp looking car? And 328 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: I got thumbs up from Tony. Tony knows so the uh, Um, 329 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:56,959 Speaker 1: Tony and all his boys are gonna like that and 330 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: uh take that out for a road. Um, so a 331 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: lot of tech achnology out there, and I'm a lot 332 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: of good looking car that the General Motors is coming 333 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: up with. And uh part and parcel real quick. One 334 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: last thought on John's problem. One of the things I 335 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: see people make mistakes with is the parts not available. 336 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: That means I can't fix the car. That's not the case. 337 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: What you've always got to do when you're faced with 338 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: a no part available scenario is how does the circuit work? 339 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: And then make Apart from there, it's not the car 340 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: companies make parts anymore. They subcontract them out and a 341 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: lot of things are very very similar, So I always 342 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 1: understand what you're working on before you try going to 343 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: solve the impossible. I'm ronning any in the Car Doctor. 344 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: We'll be back right after this. Welcome back, ring any 345 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: in the Car Doctor here eight five zero nine nine 346 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: zero zero The Car Doctor seven number. That's eight five 347 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 1: five five zero nine zero zero. Give us a call anytime, 348 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: day or night. This radio show is live Saturday afternoons 349 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: two to four pm Eastern Time. But eight five five 350 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 1: zero nine nine zero zero has a messaging service on 351 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: it and you can call leave a message when we're 352 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: not on the air. And fast. Harry, our executive producer, 353 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: will call you back and hook you up and put 354 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: you in queue for the next live show, and we 355 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 1: can talk about your problem right up here and on 356 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: the national stage. And let um everybody benefit from the 357 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,719 Speaker 1: problem in the answer and keep on solving and repairing 358 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 1: all of America's broken cars, because that's the goal of 359 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: this radio show. I've decided, once I fixed all the cars, 360 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:43,360 Speaker 1: I'm going to Hawaii and we're gonna retire. So um, 361 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: that's the deal. I got a little bit of ways 362 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: to go yet. Let's get over to the phone. Let's 363 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 1: go over and talk to Scott Omaha, Nebraska, some questions 364 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: about a head gasket problem on the two thousand two 365 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 1: four towards Scott. Welcome to the car doctor, sir, how 366 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: can I help? Hey, Ron, thanks for taking the call. Well, 367 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: initially I thought my my issue was a head caascus 368 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,440 Speaker 1: the other it still maybe, but I'm also leaning towards 369 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: the potential of an issue with being an aftermarket any 370 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: freeze reservoir installed last year, I was on the road 371 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 1: for about four hours it break for gas. When I 372 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 1: came out of the stage and I noticed that food 373 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: was dripping from the front of the car on the 374 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 1: passenger side. When I topped the hood, I couldn't see 375 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 1: where it was leaking, but the reservoir was full and 376 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: the cool it was churning and it looked brown. So 377 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: I was initially thinking back pressure, brown coolant, maybe a 378 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: head yes, get issue, but I don't think so anymore 379 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: because I don't have any white smoke. It's not overheating. 380 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 1: I pulled the spark plugs last night. They're dry and 381 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: the oil is clean. All right, how about this with 382 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: the plugs out. As long as the plugs are out, Scott, 383 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: do you have a cooling system pressure tester? No? I 384 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:51,120 Speaker 1: don't um if you did. If you pressurized the cooling 385 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: system and walked away for a couple of hours and 386 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: then came back and then had the ability to look 387 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: at each spark plug hole for any signs of coolant, 388 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 1: that's another way to do it. You know, white smoke 389 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: out of the tail pipe will work if it's a 390 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: cataclysmic failure, if if it's a seeper, if it's something 391 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: that's you know, not really a huge leak, but it's 392 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: in the early stages, then you may never see any 393 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: smoke because the catalytic converter is going to change it 394 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: and do its job and and clean everything up until 395 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: it gets to be a real problem. So don't judge 396 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: it by white smoke. Now, you know, let's go back 397 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: a minute. It was overheating. It was boiling over. Okay, 398 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 1: it wasn't overheating. It was just boiling over out of 399 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: the radiator into the bottle. Yeah. When I don't and 400 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: I don't know if when you say boiled, I don't 401 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: know if it's pressure or whatever. But when I stopped 402 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: for gas, not when I was on the road. When 403 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: I was on the road, it was dutiful. It was 404 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 1: when I stopped for gas, about a pint came out, okay, 405 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 1: And that was you had shut the car off, putting 406 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: gas in the car, and you you heard this sound 407 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 1: and went to the front of the car, lift of 408 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,159 Speaker 1: the hood and it was happening. Well, I basically I 409 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: was walking out from the station. I hit the restroom, 410 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: came back out, and then I saw the dripping out 411 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 1: of the front of the car. Gotcha, Did you give 412 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 1: any thought to the possibility that could be a radiator cap? Well, 413 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: that's what I was talking about. The aptermarket. Any freeze 414 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: reservoir I installed it last year, and I have to 415 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 1: let anything go very high high end. Well, but the 416 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 1: a I was gonna say, the reservoir is just a 417 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: plastic container. The reservoir has no bearing on what pressure 418 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: the system has or holds or uh you know, it's 419 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 1: it's just a place to put coolant. Should the cap 420 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: release it or should it boil over out of the 421 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: cooling system if the if the pressure cap isn't working properly, 422 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: then there's a good chance that it will cause boil over. 423 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: Remember all right, and it maybe it might be a 424 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: review for you, Scott, but just for everyone else. You know, 425 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 1: a pressure cap maintains and pushes the boiling point of 426 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: the coolant. Actually, it raises the boiling point up. It 427 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: keeps the system down. So for every three pounds I'm sorry, 428 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: if everyone one pound of pressure, you raise the boiling 429 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: point three degrees. So instead of water boiling at sea 430 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: level at degrees, if you put a fifteen pound cap on, 431 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 1: you can do the math and raise it up and 432 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: it's going to boil somewhere in that to thirty range. 433 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: So it raises the boiling point and keeps the system 434 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: from doing just what you're experiencing if it's a fifteen 435 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: pound cap. If the system calls for a fifteen pound cap, 436 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: but the spring itself is weakened and it now only 437 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 1: has the rating of an eight or a ten pound cap, 438 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: the boiling point is compromised and the system will boil over. Yeah, 439 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 1: because I was wondering if I crossed threaded because I 440 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 1: cat I topped off the fluids before I left from 441 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 1: my trip, and I was wondering if I crossed threaded 442 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: that that cap is that if I stopped with with 443 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: that have allowed the liquids to to to to get 444 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: out well, if if the cap wasn't sealing the system. Yes, 445 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: because now the boiling point is effectively whatever you were 446 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: wherever you were, whether your words sea level above or below. 447 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: But the pressure cap can't do its job anymore. Yeah, 448 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: because what I was wondering because when when I finally 449 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: got a chance to open it up and look inside, 450 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: the liquid looked brown from the outside. When I flashed 451 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 1: a light in there, it was just a darker green. 452 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 1: I wonder if that got churned up from inside the 453 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 1: and it very well could be. Let me ask you this, 454 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: how old is the radiator? Scott oh it's original, Okay, 455 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: an original radiator twelve year fourth that thirteen years old, 456 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: hundred and how many miles it's it's probably outlived its lifespan, 457 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: it really has. I'm surprised, but I guess in you're 458 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: part of the country if it's not getting beat up, 459 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: um with well, I guess it would be Nebraska. Is no, 460 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 1: you know it's not in California. Okay, Well then so 461 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: in easy ten years, um, I would be very mindful 462 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: to look at where the radiators on the tourist is 463 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 1: typically failed. Was on the seam of the side tank, 464 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: particularly on the passenger side. And it's not something you'll 465 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: see at the top. It'll be down below and you'll 466 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 1: start to see dains of green and little droplets and 467 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: and driplets. So you know and understand this is about preventative, okay. 468 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: And it's hard for me to tell somebody that's gotten 469 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: a radiator that's gone from a two thousand two up 470 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: to year thirteen, fourteen years old to say, hey, i'd 471 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,120 Speaker 1: probably change it. But I probably change it. I probably 472 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,120 Speaker 1: gotten to the point now that with the coolant that's 473 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: in the system, regardless of how often you flushed it, 474 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: the capacity for that system to pass coolant properly has 475 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 1: to have been compromised. And I've gotten to the point 476 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: now on newer vehicles, personal family vehicles, maybe not something 477 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: commercially for a customer unless they request it. Five six 478 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: years putting radiators in cars because I don't want the 479 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 1: system to be stressed out. I don't want to get 480 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: to the point where the engine starts to run marginally hotter, 481 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: because typically what happens is is the radiator starts to 482 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 1: get restricted. Think about it. Does it boil over? Is 483 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 1: it a gradual increase in temperature. It's usually a gradual 484 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:00,960 Speaker 1: increase in temperature, and it's usually something that happens over time, 485 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 1: So you may not notice it by the temperature gauge, 486 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: and by the time you do, usually we all sit 487 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: there and say, well, I guess the temperature gauge is 488 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: awful little. The car is not new anymore, or is 489 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 1: it that the radiator is making it run hotter? So 490 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 1: fourteen years on a forty thousand mile vehicle that maybe 491 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 1: you want to keep a little bit longer, it's time 492 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: to look at the cooling system and possibly replace the radiator. 493 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: Take a look at the radiator cap you can find 494 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 1: more information about caps and boiling point and what they're 495 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 1: supposed to do. Get out the stamp dot com and 496 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: they make an excellent radiator cap. They're all we use 497 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: in the shop and they are oequality caps, and they'll 498 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 1: talk about boiling point and all there on the website 499 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 1: at stant dot com. But um, I would start to 500 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: think that you've got some basic cooling system issues going 501 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: on here, more so than jumping right into it's a 502 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: head gasket. Three leaders generally don't go through head gaskets. 503 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: Intake manifold gaskets are not uncommon, but you won't see 504 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,879 Speaker 1: boil over like that. You will tend to see coolant loss. 505 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: So you could prey should test the cooling system. Since 506 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: you got the plugs out anyway, it can't hurt to 507 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 1: look and make the effort that way. But if this 508 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: is a three leader you motor, I'd be looking at radiator, 509 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 1: how how effective is it, what's the cooling fan doing, 510 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: how's the thermostat and it's something else. You can also 511 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: find its stand dot com and take a look at 512 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 1: that pressure cap as well. And I think somewhere in 513 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: that mix on this older vehicle, you're gonna find your 514 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 1: solution to your problem. Eight zero zero zero Scott, by 515 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 1: the way, thanks for the call. I'm Ron any in 516 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: the Car Doctor. Back right after this. Welcome back the 517 00:27:57,880 --> 00:27:59,719 Speaker 1: Car Doctor. By the way, a quick reminder, we are 518 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 1: give WILLI and LMC truck prize this hour. It's a 519 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: gift card coupled with either a hat or a T shirt. 520 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: It's a grab bag from the folks over at LMC truck. 521 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: You can find more about them at LMC truck dot 522 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 1: com and uh by all means take a look and 523 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: drop my line. They want to hear about your truck. 524 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 1: They love talking cars, and they love or I'm sorry, 525 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:20,400 Speaker 1: they love talking trucks. But they want to hear about 526 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 1: your vehicle and whatever it is that you drive and 527 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:25,919 Speaker 1: used to thrive and survive. So anyway, that's the deal. 528 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,959 Speaker 1: Get out the LMC truck dot com. Let's get over 529 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: and talk to Dennis in Claremont, Florida. Some issues with 530 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:36,919 Speaker 1: a ninety seven Dodge Van. Dennis, Welcome to the Car Doctor, sir. 531 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 1: How can I help? Thank you? Dr Ron. You're welcome. 532 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: You're welcome to what's going on? Yes, sir, I purchased 533 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,560 Speaker 1: a used vehicle several months ago, and it rode like 534 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: a top for a couple of months. And on my 535 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 1: way to work on on the turnpike, the engine felt 536 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: like somebody was kicking me in the butt, okay, And 537 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: I said, wow, that's that sounds strange and it doesn't 538 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 1: feel right either. So I got the work and got 539 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 1: back home. And the next day it happened again. I said, 540 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 1: oh boy, I gotta give you another truck because I 541 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: can't depend on this vehicle which I just which I 542 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: just purchased. So a few more months went by, no problems, 543 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: but it acted up again. I said, I gotta get 544 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: it checked out. I went to the mechanics. They couldn't 545 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 1: figure out what it was. Can they duplicate the problem? 546 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 1: They doesn't duplicate the problem exactly. They could or they couldn't. 547 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 1: They could not duplicate the problem. Did they take it 548 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: out for a rod? They said, they took it out 549 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: for a ride? All right? Next time? Next next time, 550 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 1: check your O dominan see if it really changed. But 551 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:52,719 Speaker 1: go ahead, yeah, you know, okay. So anyway, so we're 552 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: at the point now where the car's got an occasional 553 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: buck and nobody can replicate it, and you can't find 554 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 1: the problem with it, right. Took it to the mechanic 555 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 1: again and he said he thinks it's the crank case censor. Okay, Um, 556 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 1: any theory or any reason why he thinks that. Did 557 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: he test anything? Or is this the best guest of 558 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 1: the week. We think it might be the best guess 559 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: because you know he's overstocked on he's overstocked on crank 560 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 1: sensors this week and has to sell a few. I 561 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: don't know about that, sir, But um, the engine couldn't start, 562 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,479 Speaker 1: and you know, because I just don't know what happened. 563 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 1: Has it ever gone? Has it ever gone into a crank? 564 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: No start, Dennis? Um, not that I know of. I'm 565 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: not a mechanic. I don't know what that type of 566 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: symptom is. But it doesn't start. It doesn't start right now. 567 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: Any any fault codes in this vehicle? No, alright? Not 568 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 1: he didn't mention any fault codes. All right. Let me 569 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 1: ask you this, and you see no dash warning lights 570 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: when the problem happens, right, No, all right. There's two 571 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 1: ways to approach this. There's a couple of different ways. 572 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: If we were standing at the counter at the shop 573 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: and talking about it, One of the things I would 574 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 1: be telling you is first thing I need to know 575 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: is is this enough of a problem that the onboard 576 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 1: computer is not happy? That is it? Is it setting 577 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 1: a fault code now because you bought this vehicle used? 578 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 1: And I see this all the time because people don't, 579 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: you know, they don't know what he used vehicle is 580 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: supposed to have because they don't it's used. It's it's 581 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: not new to them. It's new to them, but it's 582 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: not it's not a new vehicle. If you turn the 583 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 1: if you turn the ignition on, does the check engine 584 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: light light up? In bulb check? That's my first question, 585 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: you know, bulb check. In other words, any car, any 586 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 1: car in the last forty or fifty years, you turn 587 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 1: the key on but don't start the engine momentarily or 588 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 1: for long term, all the lights on the dashboard will 589 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:56,480 Speaker 1: light up. They call that bulb check. That's the moment 590 00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: when the driver is supposed to identify. So in the 591 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: old days, when you didn't have an oil pressure gauge 592 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: or a cooling temperature gauge, you had idiot lights, and 593 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: that was the moment of bulb check. It was does 594 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 1: the oil pressure light work? Does the coolant light work, 595 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 1: and you know, because if it doesn't light, then you're 596 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,240 Speaker 1: you're responsible to tell the mechanic he my, my coolant 597 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: lights burnt out. Put a bulb in it. But the 598 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:22,240 Speaker 1: fact that you bought this used I'm wondering. I just 599 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: want to cover the base. Is the check engine light working. 600 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 1: I've seen bulbs. I've seen bulbs mysteriously disappear and fall 601 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 1: out in somebody's pocket. I've seying bulbs burn out, And 602 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: the first step would be if the bulb is working 603 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 1: or not. And I just wanted to mention that is, 604 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: scan it for codes. If there are no codes, then 605 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:44,400 Speaker 1: this becomes a no code running driveability diagnosis. If there 606 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: are codes, then we've got to attack those codes. So 607 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 1: first things first, can I ask you to do that 608 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 1: for me this week and call me back next When 609 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: I when I got the vehicle, the check engine light 610 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: was on, Okay, is it on now? But but then 611 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 1: I had that replace that that problem was gone away, 612 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 1: But it did it come back? It came back going again, right, 613 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: So so then then the question becomes, Dennis, what fault 614 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 1: codes are there? All right? So here's what I want 615 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:17,400 Speaker 1: you to do. I want you to go back because 616 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: the clock is gonna take me. I want you to 617 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: go back to the mechanic. I want you to get 618 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 1: a print out of what fault codes are in this 619 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: vehicle right here, and now call me back next week 620 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: and we'll talk about it and I'll solve it for you. 621 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:30,480 Speaker 1: But the first things first, we've got to go with 622 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: basic diagnostics. Zero zero. I'm running any in the car doctor. 623 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:55,720 Speaker 1: We're back right after this sitting real land, yellow land. 624 00:33:56,720 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 1: Time to stand that on it. Welcome back, we're on 625 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 1: nating of the car doctor, rolling along this hour. Let's 626 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 1: get over and oh, by the way, before I do that, 627 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,280 Speaker 1: I want to just mention, uh tell Dennis in Claremont, 628 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 1: Florida is still listening, and I believe he is. Dennis, 629 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 1: we're gonna be sending you the LMC truck giveaway you 630 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 1: you were the gift card winner this week, twenty five 631 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:22,839 Speaker 1: dollar gift card with either a hat or t shirt. 632 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 1: It's on its way towards you, and make sure you 633 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 1: get at the LMC truck dot com and check out 634 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 1: their website with regard to products and catalogs and all 635 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 1: sorts of things truck related. So they're your guys. You're 636 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 1: there guy, you're there kind of guy, and um, we're 637 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:38,960 Speaker 1: gonna be sitting that gift card out your way and 638 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:41,200 Speaker 1: close back. Next week, let's talk about the trouble codes 639 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 1: you get out of your mechanic. This week, let's get 640 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:47,000 Speaker 1: over and talk to Don Shelton, Connecticut two thousand to Concorde. Don, 641 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:48,799 Speaker 1: I'm I got about a minute and a half. What's 642 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 1: going on? It will be a week tomorrow. I've been 643 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:56,839 Speaker 1: getting an older gas older coming from my from the back. 644 00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:03,920 Speaker 1: I believe, Um, it's not It's just just just a smell. Okay, 645 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:05,839 Speaker 1: have you have you put it up in the ear 646 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 1: as anybody put it on a life to look. I 647 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:10,880 Speaker 1: took the left while wheel often I noticed it's like 648 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 1: damp under the uh, like in the middle. I think, 649 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:24,720 Speaker 1: is that where the odor is the heaviest? Don basically, Okay, 650 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 1: so you know, maybe it's not a drip yet. But 651 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 1: seeing as how this is an O two and it's 652 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 1: a concord, and they have a tendency to rock fuel 653 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:36,120 Speaker 1: system components, I would be cautious. I would get it 654 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:38,880 Speaker 1: up in the air and I would be looking for 655 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 1: signs of stains or drips or seeps. If somebody has 656 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:45,800 Speaker 1: a five gas emissions analyzer. They could use that to 657 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:48,759 Speaker 1: smell for raw hydrocarbons in and around the area where 658 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:51,880 Speaker 1: the possible fuel leaks are. But I would caution you 659 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,560 Speaker 1: against driving this simply because if this is a fuel 660 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 1: system leak, if the tank is starting to seep and 661 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:02,799 Speaker 1: this does become a firm liquid leak, and somebody drops 662 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 1: a cigarette outside a window at a traffic light, that's 663 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:07,920 Speaker 1: a whole another conversation, something dangerous. I'm running any in 664 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:09,640 Speaker 1: the car, doctor until the next time, give me kind 665 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 1: of turing expensive their places. See you