Car Talk #2545: The Cruller Curse & Seizing Brakes

Microsoft's 'Bad Car Advice' Monopoly

• 📰 The show opens with a humorous news release about the Justice Department ordering Microsoft to divest itself of Car Talk due to a perceived monopoly on lousy car advice.
• 💡 The hosts jokingly lament this, seeing it as punishment for their market excellence in being lousy.

Isuzu Amigo Brake and Engine Woes

• 🚗 A caller, Judy, describes issues with a used Isuzu Amigo purchased with a limited warranty.
• 🛠️ After significant engine repairs costing $2,500 (with the dealer covering $1,100), the oil pressure light came on, potentially due to a loose oil pan gasket or a detached oil pump pickup tube.
• ❓ The advice given is to have the oil pressure tested after repairs and, if not within factory specs, to attempt to return the vehicle to the dealer.

Mercury Grand Marquis Heating Issues

• 🔥 Jim calls about his 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis, which has heat on all the time, even with everything shut off.
• 💡 The problem is diagnosed as a broken or disconnected heater control, specifically the doors that redirect airflow, causing heat to come from all vents.
• 🔧 A temporary fix suggested is to shunt the heater hoses together to bypass the heater core and stop hot water flow, to be reversed in cooler weather.

Honda Civic Hail Damage and Insurance

• ⛈️ Aaron reports his 1991 Honda Civic was severely damaged by hail, making it a "total loss" according to the insurance company.
• 💰 The insurance company offered $5,500 or $3,300 if he kept the car, but planned to drop collision coverage.
• 📈 Advice is to negotiate a higher payout, get a repair estimate from a body shop, and switch insurance companies after receiving the settlement.

Subaru Loyale Brake Seizures & The Donut Curse

• 🍩 Tamatha shares a story about her 1992 Subaru Loyale experiencing seizing brake calipers on multiple occasions, leading to costly repairs.
• 🔮 She attributes the recurring problem to "bad car karma" after a friend's comment, and has placed a nasty donut on her dashboard as an offering to appease "evil spirits."
• 💡 The hosts suspect the issue might be a bad vacuum booster or brake lines, suggesting a test drive to replicate the problem for a mechanic to diagnose and fix permanently, and to discard the donut.