Car Talk #2201: Husband's Ruse with New Mazda Miata

Car Phone Collision

• 🚗 A news clipping describes a head-on collision between twin BMWs at 45 mph while the drivers were on car phones, resulting in minor injuries.
• 💡 The incident is humorously compared to a realistic crash test, highlighting the danger of distracted driving.

1987 Ford Ranger Issues

• 💨 A caller reports a loss of power at low RPMs and rattling valve lifters in his '87 Ford Ranger V6, with 71,000 miles.
• ⛽ The suggested causes include a dirty fuel filter or poor injector spray pattern, despite recent maintenance like new plugs and cleaned injectors.
• ⚡ An intermittent electrical issue causes the gas and temperature gauge needles to jump erratically, possibly due to a voltage surge or faulty regulator.

1982 Mazda RX7 Noise

• ⚙️ A caller with an '82 Mazda RX7 experiences a 'clink' noise when starting from a stop or accelerating slowly.
• 🔧 The suspected cause is a worn universal joint in the driveshaft, which can lead to chirping and vibration at higher speeds.

1988 Jeep Cherokee Misfire

• ⚡ A 1988 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0L engine occasionally misfires under partial throttle, a problem the dealer couldn't diagnose.
• 💡 The hosts suggest replacing spark plugs and spark plug wires as a likely fix for the intermittent electrical issue.

1984 Jeep Wagoner Parking Issue

• 🅿️ A caller's 1984 Jeep Wagoner occasionally rolls slightly in park when in two-wheel drive, but not in four-wheel drive.
• ⚠️ The dealership couldn't find a problem, but the hosts suspect an issue with the parking pawl engagement in the automatic transmission, deeming it potentially dangerous.

Henry Ford and Charcoal Briquettes

• 🔥 A historical anecdote reveals Henry Ford developed charcoal briquettes from Model T car scrap wood, leading to the Kingsford charcoal brand.
• 👨‍🏭 This connection leads to Henry Ford being called the father of modern outdoor cooking.

New Mazda Miata 'Break-In' Ruse

• 🏎️ A caller bought a new Mazda Miata but her husband insisted he must drive it to properly 'break in' the engine, a classic ploy.
• 💔 The hosts confirm this is a common tactic men use to drive a new sports car, often driven by insecurity or a desire to be seen with the car.
• ❤️ They advise the caller to embrace her husband's actions as a sign of his love and desire to keep her, suggesting she thank him for it.