clickandclack
How did crazy"Car Talk" brothers Tom and Ray Magliozzi get their start as the mavens of the motor world? Tom Magliozzi claims to have successfully avoided doing anything that looks like work for some time now, but it was a lot of work to get …Read More
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Click & Clack: Grandson’s lead foot contributed to engine failure
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2003 Mazda Protege with 103,000 miles. The problem started while my 20-year-old grandson had my car one time. My engine started getting hot and I think he ignored it, and the next time I drove it, the temperature …Read More
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Click & Clack: Case of the manifold-constricting boa
Dear Tom and Ray: My mechanic found a 4-foot-long boa constrictor in my manifold, in Boonton, N.J. It cost me $310 to get it out. It was barbecued, of course. How the heck did it get in there? — Al RAY: Wow. I’m guessing you …Read More
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Click & Clack: There is a preferred method for applying parking brake
Dear Tom and Ray: On a recent visit to my home, my “wonderful” mother expanded her range of “helpful” advice giving to the manner in which I park my car on my steeply sloped driveway. She was deeply concerned about the order in which I …Read More
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Click & Clack: Reader’s mechanic has fleas
Dear Tom and Ray: Help! My mechanic has fleas. My mechanic has a “garage dog” who is very old and droopy. I think he has fleas because after I got my car back, I’m getting bitten in my car. Now I need to get my …
Click & Clack: It’s possible to replace computers in old cars
Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter has a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse four-cylinder RS model. Everything electrical died and she was told that the computer is no good. Since the car is not worth all that much, we wanted to get another computer from the junk …
Click & Clack: Where to hide items in a car
Dear Tom and Ray: After some locker break-ins at the gym, I started leaving my wallet and phone in the glove box of my Volvo S60. The other day there was a discussion about this in the sauna. Several people claimed that glove boxes are …
Click & Clack: It’s OK to go shiftless
Dear Tom and Ray: When I first learned to drive, a million years ago, my father (who knew nothing about cars) advised me to always drive a manual transmission because they handle better, are easier to repair, are cheaper, get better mileage, etc. Being an …
Click & Clack: Shop’s charge for battery installation is legit
Dear Tom and Ray: Our 1986 Honda Accord needed a battery. My wife took the car to a local auto shop. She bought a five-year battery that cost $91.95. They also charged $42.96 to check and install the battery. My questions: (1) Do shops usually …
Click & Clack: Challenge of classic cars - finding a mechanic to work on them
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1966 Ford Mustang 2+2 (289 cubic inch) V-8 engine with four-barrel carburetor. It has more than 170,000 miles on it. It starts right away, but when I shift the automatic transmission to drive or reverse it dies out …
Click & Clack: It’s best to replenish oil as soon as it’s low
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife has an 1989 Toyota Camry with a four-cylinder engine. Her dad says that you should add engine oil as soon as the oil drops below the full mark. I say you can wait until it is down a quart …
Click & Clack: Here’s the deal with self-adjusting clutches
Dear Tom and Ray: What’s the deal with nonadjustable clutches? I have driven manual transmissions my whole driving life. I own a 2007 Toyota Matrix and when I started stalling it more often due to the clutch, I asked the dealer if he would adjust …
Click & Clack: Bypass the Saab in favor of marital harmony
Dear Tom and Ray: A few years ago I purchased a 1992 Saab 900 turbo from a friend of mine. This car was in beautiful condition, with 230,000 miles on the original motor. It was the third Saab I have owned, and I have what …
Click & Clack: Don’t replace shocks based on mileage
Dear Tom and Ray: While watching a baseball game, an ad on the backstop said to change your shocks at 50,000 miles. I realize this national shock-replacement company is trying to sell shocks. What I want to know: Is 50,000 miles a hard and fast …
Click & Clack: Tires can’t self-inflate, so what’s going on?
Dear Tom and Ray: The tires on my wife’s 2005 Infiniti FX35 are about six months old. We had no problems with them until three weeks ago. When driving down the highway, the tire-pressure warning light came on. I pulled over to see which one …
Click & Clack: Wife’s AC theory is full of hot air
Dear Tom and Ray: As I write this, I am still fuming. This past week, the temperature has been in the high 80s to low 90s. I hate the heat and get super grumpy. So I get into my wife’s VW, which, of course, has …
Click & Clack: Keep cool at any speed
Dear Tom and Ray: Nearly 40 years ago I was told that it was a bad idea to turn on the air conditioning when driving at highway speeds. I was advised that the AC should be turned on only when the car was idling or …
Click & Clack: When possible, shield cars from sun
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband and I recently purchased a hacienda in Tucson, Ariz., where we will now spend our summers. At present, my beloved 1986 Buick Skylark, painted in John Deere green, is sitting in a fully exposed driveway with only the shade …
Click & Clack: Auxiliary fan could aid radiator
DEAR TOM AND RAY: I am a rural mail carrier and have a question about engine coolants. As a mail carrier, I spend a tremendous amount of time on hot asphalt at very slow speeds and often sitting still. Are there any engine coolants that …
Click & Clack: Mechanics’ secret - Chick cars are chick magnets
Dear Tom and Ray: I just learned that I might be driving a chick car. I own a red Honda del Sol, and I really enjoy driving it. Do other guys think I’m less than manly? How can I add some testosterone to this ladylike …
Click & Clack: Brake pads and rotors wear out at same rate
Dear Tom and Ray: This morning at the gym an acquaintance (Fred) told me that he took his car to a mechanic for some brake work, and the mechanic replaced the pads and rotors. Fred said that he wanted the mechanic to replace the pads …
Click & Clack: Using fog lights all the time does no harm
Dear Tom and Ray: I need your help to settle an argument I have with my no-good brother-in-law from Illinois. He always drives at night with his fog lights on in addition to his headlights. He says he can see better with them on. I …
Click & Clack: Damaged part doesn’t serve functional purpose
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife, while driving her 2011 Cadillac CTS coupe, ran onto a tree limb that fell off a truck in front of her. She stopped, backed up and eventually pulled the tree limb back out from under the car. Hitting the …
Click & Clack: Fiancee not crazy about running on empty
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a 76-year-old woman, recently engaged to an 80-year-old man. We are truly best friends and agree on everything except one thing. He drives a 2004 Lincoln Town Car that we affectionately call the “Pimp Mobile.” He won’t fill up …