Car Talk #2536: Diagnosing Car Noises and Automotive Puzzlers

Diagnosing Car Noises and Issues

• 💡 A listener describes a whiny, nasal noise in their Ford, reminiscent of 'The Odd Couple'.
• 🚗 A Toyota 4x4 pickup that only roll starts might have a faulty clutch pedal switch, which can be bypassed with a paper clip to test the starter.
• 💨 A 1991 Ford Probe exhibits heavy blue/gray/white smoke for about 5 minutes on startup in cold weather, suggesting potential issues with valve stem seals, head gasket, or rings, likely requiring an engine replacement.
• 🔊 A 1988 Bronco II produces a whistling noise at specific RPMs (2000, 2500, 3000) that sounds like perfect thirds and is only audible inside the car, potentially related to the heater control mechanism or fuel pump.

Automotive Puzzlers and Solutions

• 🇯🇵 A discussion touches on Japanese prisons for traffic offenders, highlighting a philosophy of not causing trouble to others.
• 📞 The show features calls about car problems, including a listener who received a letter with complex mathematical representations of the Car Talk phone number.
• 🚗 The solution to a previous puzzler involved a seized universal joint on the drive shaft of a Volvo, causing rumbling during hard braking due to the car's nose-diving and the joint's inability to flex.
• 💡 The solution to another puzzler about an overheating 88 Dodge Omni when the heat was turned on was a leaking head gasket, which was confirmed by pressure testing when the heat was on.

Puzzler: The Tow Rope Situation

• ❓ A new puzzler is introduced: a brother calls for a tow rope because his car broke down, but then states he can tow the caller home, implying a unique car problem.
• 💡 The mystery is what's wrong with the brother's car that prevents him from being towed but allows him to tow another vehicle.

Show Staff and Credits

• 🎤 The episode mentions various staff members including producers, engineers, advisors, and legal counsel.
• 📻 Car Talk is a production of Dewey Cheetan How and WBUR in Boston, airing on NPR.