Car Talk show

Car Talk

Summary: America's funniest auto mechanics take calls from weary car owners all over the country, and crack wise while they diagnose Dodges and dismiss Diahatsus. You don't have to know anything about cars to love this one hour weekly laugh fest.

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Podcasts:

 #1320: A Sticky Situation | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:43

This week on Car Talk, a day of maple sugaring came to a bad end for John, when he spilled a 5-gallon container of syrup in his car. How can he get the sticky stuff out of the seatbelt holders, short of slipping a stack of pancakes in there to sop it up?  Also, a classic Car Talk driveway moment, literally, as Jason pours gas down his truck's carburetor, and tries to start it on the air. Will the 20th time be the charm? And on Stump the Chumps, we find out whether Tom and Ray correctly diagnosed Paula's whistling Bronco. All this, plus Tommy celebrates the arrival of a brand new jalopy, this week on Car Talk.

 #1319: Click and Clack and Dear Old Ma | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:46

This week, get ready for some of our all-time favorite moments as Car Talk celebrates Mother's Day with a special appearance from Tom and Ray's long-suffering mom, Elizabeth. She'll spill the beans on what life was like in the Magliozzi household, and do her best to evade the question of which of her kids she liked best. She's also ready to give out advice to new Moms ("you've got a long way to go, sweetheart!"); get to the real reason one caller really wants to teach his Mom to drive ("is she going to leave you a lot of money?"); and, offer a final thought on Motherhood that will have Tommy blowing coffee out his nose. Lizzy may even be able to top her sons in figuring out why Sandy's Mitsubishi [I had to stop and think--Montero didn't register as a model to me] is groaning, and how Linda can stop the air leaks that are turning her Accord into a wind tunnel. It's an hour that's a staff favorite that's not to be missed, in our humble opinion. Join us for a visit to the Maternal Combustion Department, this week on Car Talk.

 #1318: The Great Lion Escape | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:47

This week on Car Talk, would your mechanic ride 60 miles sitting on the engine of a Land Rover with his hand over the carburetor? What if the alternative was being stranded in an area of Tanzania where the lion population far exceeds the number of tow truck drivers? Happily for Newton, his Tanzanian guide was willing to ride the hot seat, and lead him to safety. All Tom and Ray need to do is explain why this worked--which may be more challenging. Closer to home, there's a new noise somewhere in Anne's Caravan, which started after she rushed her husband home from surgery. Is it the car, or is it his moans of pain? Also, Leslie in pondering whether her car decided to commit "autocide" by rolling itself down a hill; and budding shade-tree mechanic Andy thinks he might be getting repair advice that violates the Laws of Physics. All this and lots more, this week on, Car Talk.

 #1317: The Neon of Dorian Gray | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:44

This week on Car Talk, Ian's Neon has discovered the Fountain of Youth. When the car goes over 50 MPH, the odometer begins running backwards. Can Tom and Ray figure out what's going on before the car drives itself all the way back to the assembly plant? Elsewhere, automotive history is made in Oregon, as Jim becomes the first person ever to feel guilty about selling a used car that's performing too well for its new owner; on Stump the Chumps, we find out Dana's jerking Jetta was really due to the dreaded, "Shmutz on the Clutch"; and Tom and Ray finally get judged by their peers, as an 8th grade class reviews our show. Could Roger Ebert have topped, "I think the show is a good idea because people like listening to idiots"? All this and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1316: Rambler Separation Anxiety | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:55

This week on Car Talk, Linda needs counseling after her Dad sold the family's beloved Rambler station wagon to a 17-year old neighbor, rather than hand it down. Will Tom and Ray offer closure, or tips on how to trick the kid into selling the car back? Meanwhile, Tim in Florida may be wishing his Mom had sold her Buick, rather than gift it to him.  It's missing the most essential accessory for Orlando--a working air conditioner. Elsewhere, Sukey is trying to convince her insurance company that a fender-bender broke her fuel pump; Greg needs absolution after a DIY brake job gone bad; and how could a loose tailpipe cause a Cadillac to stop losing oil? Mike's mystery is our leading candidate for Bogus Answer of the Week! All this and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1315: The 1962 Corvette Urn | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:37

This week on Car Talk, Marni is in possession of her late Dad's ashes, and his beloved 1962 Corvette. You see where this is going, right? How bad an idea is it for her to pour Dad's ashes into the gas tank, and is there a less combustible way she can make Dad one with his car? Elsewhere, Paul can't hear his Suburban's directional signal, and is convinced it's at fault, despite the fact that it manages to wake up his wife and daughters sleeping in the back seat; Gamin drove through a deep puddle, and her Civic is now making a noise that could be rust, a warp, or a dead fish; and Clive is wondering how his 18-year-old son managed to fry his new Camry's clutch in one afternoon. Also, on Stump the Chumps, did Tom's wacko diagnosis actually solve Kim's peculiar overheating problem? All this, and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1314: Stump the Salesman | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:37

This week on Car Talk, LaDell's new career as a car salesman was off to a good start, until  he opened his mouth. He bragged to a customer about a car's torque and horsepower, the customer asked LaDell to explain the difference… and he's still waiting for an answer. Elsewhere, Liberty's Nissan is sending a clear message: Give me new ball joints, or I may give you death; Tony's 17-year-old son says the fumes from Dad's Saab are responsible for him dropping AP history and not cleaning his room anymore; and, Liz is wondering whether her trusty old Toyota truck can serve as a two-story home for her sled dogs. And, from our Expository Writing Department, we have a few choice metaphors and similes, including, "He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River." All this and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 !313: Aspen Rehabilitation | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:49

This week on Car Talk, Donna's husband refuses to part with his 1977 Dodge Aspen. It runs like a champ, but looks like the 1962 New York Mets. It's so beat up that, during a recent storm, more hailstones made it through holes in the car than actually hit the body. Is this a job for Uncle Nunzio's sabotage team, or Mr. Gigi's beautification squad? Elsewhere, David's Nissan is jerking while accelerating, making it look like he doesn't know how to drive stick, and worse, tossing his dog all over the truck; Pam is so concerned about her T-Bird's creaking noise that she waited five years to call us abut it; and  could Tom's diagnosis of an overheating Subaru really cause MIT to revoke his diploma? Oh, and by the way, if your name is Homer Handelburg, have we got an offer for you! All this, and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1312: When Martha Met Click & Clack | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:50

This week, the one and only Martha Stewart comes to Car Talk Plaza, to help bail out Tom and Ray on auto-domestic matters. How do you get crusted dog drool off a car? What's the best way to craft a shaving cream rosette on a wedding get-away car? And, how long does it take to cook a whole chicken on the engine manifold? Find out if Martha has any better automotive advice than our dynamic duo!  Elsewhere, Patrick is baffled by his Camry's 50 percent drop in gas mileage; Dana's Jetta is making an alarming noise she'd like to blame on a friend; and Mark's mechanic insists that things always need to be replaced in pairs. Guess what? His mechanic is also the proud owner of a large Cabin Cruiser! Tune in for all this and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1311: To Mud Flap or Not to Mud Flap | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:21

This week on Car Talk, John is wondering whether 'tis nobler not to spray water on his fellow drivers at the risk of increasing his new car's risk of rust--which is a poetic way of asking, should he get mud flaps installed on his new car? Elsewhere, Manny's Chevy S-10 in having trouble adjusting to its new home. Ever since he moved, it won't start after an overnight rain; and Piali's steering wheel is making noises that she thinks are scary, but her husband thinks are hilarious. Also, former Ferrari driver Steve wonders how he can adjust to a post-divorce life of driving a car with cloth seats; Connie's looking for the perfect car for a road trip from Bellingham, WA to Rio de Janiero; and when Lin's mechanic told her, "your rear end's gonna fall off"--we're pretty sure he was referring to her Explorer. At least, we hope he was referring to her Explorer. All this, and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1310: Ben and the Junkonauts | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:31

This week on Car Talk, Ben's band is about to embark on a cross-country tour. They can't get a van, so the vehicle of choice is Ben's ancient Volvo 145. Will they make it to any gigs on time, or will they be performing solely for Volvo mechanics across the U.S.? Elsewhere, Rush's Land Rover is now infused with the aroma of rancid butter, after a stick of it melted on his dashboard, and coursed its way through his entire ventilation system. Will he ever be able to get rid of the stink, without the use of a flame thrower? Also, Anwen's fuel pump is making noise, despite her mechanic's insistence that it's fine; physics teacher Mike needs a better answer than "magic" to explain rear view mirrors; and on Stump the Chumps, we find out if Prashanth introduced his new wife to his old Corolla, and if honesty earned him a trip to Divorce Court. All this, and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1309: The Pit of Despair | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:39

This week on Car Talk, Kerry's Boston condo came with one unfortunate feature--a large crater in the parking lot that fills with water every time it rains. She's worried that driving through this "pit of despair" every day is killing her Honda. Are those fears warranted, and does Kerry need the number for Vinny's Late Night Concrete Services, Inc.? Elsewhere, Vincent "inherited" his daughter's Jeep, along with its tendency to shake, rattle and die above 2,000 RPM; Ben needs help convincing his girlfriend that cars are impervious to wind chill factors--especially German cars; and on Stump the Chumps, we find out if Tom and Ray helped lead Kathy's son to victory in the Pinewood Derby--and, why they didn't. All this, and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1308: Geographically Undesirable | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:34

This week on Car Talk, Kate and Aaron's long-distance relationship has come to a road block. Aaron is afraid to drive, so Kate's doing all the traveling, and it's become a bit of a pain in the butt--figuratively, and literally. Can Tom and Ray help her get Aaron behind the wheel, or is this relationship headed for the crusher? Elsewhere, Erin inherited her Grandpa's Impala, and among its dozen or so problems, the most amusing is that when she turns on her high-beams, the directional signals don't work; Tony's sleeping on the sofa after two unsuccessful repairs to his wife's Subaru, and Strike Three might send him and his sleeping bag to the garage; and, Steve is wondering why his trusty Ford Ranger is suddenly causing boat payments, three at a time. Also, on Stump the Chumps, did Tom and Ray help Sam quiet his Accord long enough to sell it? All this and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1307: The Giving Trunk | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 0:00

This week on Car Talk, James thought he got a good deal when he bought his neighbor's Cadillac--and that's before the cash rebate, in the form of $3,200 hidden in the trunk. Should he hand the money over, or tear the rest of the car apart in search of more? Later, Tom and Ray are vexed by two noises: Scott thinks someone's playing a French Horn under the hood of his Explorer, and Jane keeps checking her Civic's trunk for the passenger who's banging on the sides. Also, Barry's lived a car-free life into his 30's, but his relocation to L.A. has him wondering if it's time to give in. But will a car lead him directly to Botox injections? And our deep question of the week: do we really need a Click AND a Clack? And if not, which Magliozzi's moot? All this, and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

 #1306: The Little Morris Minor That Couldn't | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 0:00

This week on Car Talk, Jim loves his 1957 Morris Minor, except for one minor inconvenience--its 36 horsepower isn't enough to get it up hills, so his passengers have to get out and push. Does Jim need to keep a few Clydesdales on hand for an occasional tow? Elsewhere, Mo had to drive her boss's Saab, and the next day it needed a few hundred dollars' worth of clutch repairs. Should she be dreading her next employee review? Also, on Stump the Chumps, we find out if Dr. Paul's life no longer resembles a Country-Western song; sisters Kathy and Jackie debate the merits of using mothballs to improve gas mileage; and could the secret to a happy marriage be two simple words: "Yes, dear"?  All this, and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

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