Car Talk #1649: Sock in the Engine, Mooing Cars, and Anti-Rust Scams

Foggy Windows and Antifreeze Leaks

• 💡 Elizabeth from Denver is experiencing her Volvo's windows fogging up persistently, even after trying defrost and rolling down the windows.
• ⚠️ The diagnosis points to a leak in the heater core, causing a mixture of antifreeze and water to fog the windows, which is not a basic fog and requires a repair.
• 💰 Replacing a heater core is a significant repair, often referred to as a "boat payment" due to its cost and labor intensity.

Clutch Issues and Heavy-Duty Options

• 🚗 Mike from Oakland, California, needs a new clutch for his Toyota pickup after 36,000 miles, questioning if an aftermarket "heavy-duty" clutch is worth the extra cost.
• ⚠️ The hosts advise against a heavy-duty clutch, citing a story of a customer who needed platform shoes to operate the extremely stiff pedal, and the potential strain on engine thrust bearings.
• 🛠️ They recommend using a genuine Toyota factory clutch with new release bearing, pressure plate, and disc for better longevity.

Bogus Anti-Rust Devices

• 🧐 Marlene from Chicago purchased an electric anti-rust system for her new Honda Accord, which claims to prevent rust via electrical impulses.
• 🚫 The hosts explain that these devices are largely scams, proven ineffective for cars, despite being used for stationary structures like ships and bridges.
• ✅ The best defense against rust in Chicago is regular underbody car washes to remove road salt.

Cold Weather Battery Myths

• 🔋 Lol from Evanston, Illinois, is confused about whether to turn off electrical accessories before starting a car in cold weather or to "wake up" the battery by turning them on.
• ❌ The hosts debunk the theory of waking up a battery, stating that cars are designed to turn off accessories automatically during cranking to maximize energy for the starter motor.
• 🧠 They suggest this is an old wives' tale and advise against following the advice of the daughter's mechanic friends.

The Sock in the Intake Manifold

• 🧦 Bob from Gig Harbor, Washington, accidentally sucked a size 13 athletic sock into the intake manifold of his 88 Sable while replacing an injector.
• 💥 After starting the car, it died violently, and upon inspection, burnt bits of the sock were found distributed among the cylinders.
• 🤔 The advice is to reassemble the engine and run it, hoping the remaining sock fragments burn away or, alternatively, the engine seizes, necessitating an overhaul.

The Mooing Honda Accord

• 🐄 Patty from Cary, North Carolina, reports her 1998 Honda Accord intermittently "moos" when the engine is off.
• 💨 This is attributed to pressure buildup in the evaporative emissions system (charcoal canister) and is likely caused by a faulty valve.
• 🔧 A visit to the Honda dealer is recommended, as they may have a technical service bulletin for this specific "mooing" issue.

The Puzzler: What's with the Third Parachute?

• ✈️ A hijacker demands a million dollars and three parachutes, releasing half the hostages after receiving the items.
• 💰 He escapes with the money and one parachute, leaving the question: what was the purpose of the third parachute?