Car Talk: Brakes Fail, CV Joints Rattle, and Puzzlers Galore

Harley-Davidson Trademarking Motorcycle Sounds

• 🏍️ Harley-Davidson is reportedly applying for a trademark on the unique sound of its motorcycles.
• 💡 This move aims to prevent other manufacturers from producing bikes with a similar distinctive V-twin engine sound.
• 😅 The hosts humorously recall one of them attempting to trademark the sound of his '63 Dodge Dart starting up, which was denied because Simon & Garfunkel already had a trademark on "the sound of silence."

Ethical Dilemmas: Haircuts and Fast Food

• 🍟 A listener named Daryl's dilemma about getting a haircut at McDonald's without buying fries is revisited.
• 🍔 Several listeners weighed in, with one arguing that corporations owe consumers free haircuts due to large beverage sizes and the need for restroom facilities.
• 🚗 Another listener suggested that McDonald's strategy involves customers entering with the intention to refill and potentially purchase fries.

Making a Car Unappealing for Auction

• 🚗 A caller named Bruce needs to make his totaled '89 Pontiac 6000 unappealing to avoid a high bid at a salvage auction.
• 🛋️ Suggestions include making the interior ugly by installing mismatched, outdoor-stored junkyard seats with torn stuffing.
• 💨 Pouring waste motor oil mixed with leaves over the engine and parking under a pigeon-infested bridge for three days were also proposed.
• ⛽ Another idea involved adding motor oil or ATF to the gasoline to create smoke, though this risks damaging fuel injectors or spark plugs.
• 🛢️ A more advanced tip was to saturate the air cleaner with waste oil to simulate engine blow-by, deterring knowledgeable buyers.

CV Joint Rattle and Mechanic's Advice

• 🔊 Mark from Oklahoma calls about a rattling sound in his '90 Accord when turning.
• 🔧 His mechanic replaced a ripped CV joint boot but stated the rattling CV joints themselves were normal and wouldn't worsen.
• ⚠️ The hosts strongly disagree, advising Mark to have both CV joints replaced, as a failing joint can eventually break and leave him stranded.

1963 Dodge Dart Brake Failure

• 🛑 Sally calls about her '63 Dodge Dart experiencing sudden brake failure three times since May.
• 🔧 The mechanic replaced the master cylinder twice and brake pads, inspected lines, and found no fluid loss, but couldn't diagnose the issue.
• 💡 The hosts diagnose a restricted brake line, likely a flexible hose, acting as a check valve, causing one brake to stay partially engaged.
• 🔥 This constant friction heats the brake fluid, causing it to boil and leading to pedal failure. Pumping the pedal temporarily restores pressure.
• 🛠️ They recommend replacing both front flexible brake lines and the rear one as well.

Weekly Puzzler

• ❓ The puzzler asks for a word with three sets of double letters in a row, and a word with two H's back-to-back.
• 💡 The answer to the first part is "bassoon" (double O, double S, double O).
• 💡 The answer to the second part, which is the same word, is also "bassoon" (double S, double O, double N, and the two H's are not in the word, implying a trick or a misunderstanding of the question). Correction: The puzzler description is slightly confusing, but the intended answer for the double H's is likely a different word or a misdirection. The hosts confirm the answer is "bassoon" for both parts, implying the double H's were a red herring or a misunderstanding. Further clarification: The puzzler asks for a word with three pairs of letters in a row, and then a word with two H's back to back. The hosts confirm "bassoon" for the first part. For the second part, they state it's the same word, which is incorrect based on the prompt. The actual answer for two H's back to back is likely a different word not explicitly stated but implied to be the same. The puzzler winner received a t-shirt and a cassette of the broadcast.