Car Talk #2527: Driving Safety, Car Repairs, and Puzzlers

Driving Safety and Age

• ⚠️ A discussion on the incompetence of driving at a certain age, suggesting that drivers over 75 should be required to re-test their skills.
• 📊 Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicate that the fatality rate for drivers over 75 is nearly as high as for 16-year-olds.
• 🗳️ The lack of state-level re-testing requirements is attributed to the voting power of older citizens, influencing politicians to avoid alienating this demographic.

Mercedes Steering Issue

• 🚗 A caller describes a 1982 Mercedes 380 SL that pulls to the left after making a left turn onto a road, requiring a right turn to correct.
• 🛠️ Repairs have included replacing tie rods and several bushings, but the issue persists.
• ⚙️ The suspected problem lies within the steering gear, either a worn-out rack and pinion or a steering box with stuck recirculating balls, with an estimated repair cost around $1000.

New Car Break-In Period

• 🚗 For new cars, owner's manuals typically recommend varying speeds below 55 mph for the first 500-1500 miles to properly break in the engine and components.
• 🤥 The hosts advise following these recommendations to avoid potential issues with warranty claims if problems arise.
• 🚚 The decision of where to buy a new Toyota Sienna is discussed, considering the upcoming move to El Paso, Texas.

Car Maintenance and Leaks

• 💧 A caller with an '87 Jeep Cherokee is experiencing a persistent leak and losing its radiator cap (a screw cap with a gasket).
• ⛵ The owner is busy preparing his sailboat for a race to Hawaii, leading to neglected car maintenance.
• 🔧 The mechanic theorized a restricted radiator might cause back pressure, but the hosts suggest the cap may simply not be tightened sufficiently, or there could be a loose hose clamp or a bad water pump.

Electrical System Quirks

• 💡 A 1980 Chevy Impala's turn signals do not flash when the high beams are on, but work fine on low beams.
• ⚡ This is theorized to be an insufficient voltage output from the alternator, causing the flasher unit to not operate correctly under the increased load of the high beams.
• 💰 A simple fix might be replacing the inexpensive flasher unit, but if the problem persists, it could indicate an issue with the alternator or voltage regulator.

The Puzzler: Water Vapor Condensation

• ✈️ In the late 1930s, aeronautical engineers explored a device that condensed water vapor from gasoline engine combustion.
• ⚖️ This device saved an amount of water equivalent in weight to the fuel burned, theoretically keeping the aircraft's weight constant.
• 🤔 The puzzler asks why engineers would pursue such a system, with the answer to be revealed later.