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Car Talk Episode Guide

Episode #1223

title: “Emboldened Electrons”

airdate: 2012-06-09

file sha512sum: fd013f94a852...

Note: This is their first episode after announcing an upcoming retirement. They don’t mention it on the show.

The Groaner Department

time: 3:30

Carly from Oakland, California

1984 Honda Civic

Car shakes when braking at high speeds

Warped discs

Ray mentions “over 25 years” so probably really a new episode

Transposing digits of phone number - like the other call

time: 8:10

David from Portland, Oregon

1998 Dodge Intrepid

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Intrepid#Second_generation_(1998%E2%80%932004)

Turn key, nothing happens for about 10 seconds

Story of Magliozzi sister at party, car won’t start

time: 16:35

Puzzler answer upcoming

Music

time: 17:45

Answer to last week’s puzzler (#1222?)

Word puzzle, fill in blank

Winner: John Fauerback, Chester Montana

time: 20:40

Rachel in Minneapolis

#car[Honda,Accord]

Windshield wiper stopped working, then started out of sync, then crashed into each other. Blade flew off onto the highway

time: 23:55

Jeff from Cleveland, Ohio

1994 Pontiac Grand Am

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Grand_Am#Fourth_generation_(1992%E2%80%931998)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%2792-%2795_Pontiac_Grand_Am_Sedan_V-6.JPG

Car became a musical instrument. Whistling.

Motor mount? Torque strut?

Car lost all power

Belt coming apart?

Alternator?

Smell like burning rubber

time: 27:55

Kara from Monroe, Michigan / Columbia, South Carolina / Clinton, South Carolina

Math teacher at Presbyterian College

Filled empty gas tank with pure water

Honest mechanics

Is there corrosion in the cylinder, or grit?

time: 34:10

Break

Music

time: 23:35

New #puzzler

Jeff Iacobeli?

Cop sees inspection sticker expired 6 months ago

First time driving car in 7 months

Fell down flight of stairs

Convalescent

Cop says he has proof it was a lie

time: 39:30

Jerry from Wilton, Connecticut

#car[1997,Saab] convertible

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Automobile#Historical_models
• maybe:
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_900#Saab_900_NG_(1994-1998)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_9-5#First_generation_(YS3E,_1997%E2%80%932010)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_9000 - not this - convertible was only a prototype

Need new head gasket if using 1/2 pint of coolant per week, and large clouds of white smoke?

And can he do it himself? And with what tools?

Mentioned: 1978 Chevrolet Nova

time: 45:10

Barbara from Yosemite, California

Looking for a van to travel in for a road trip, for 3-6 months

#car[VW,Van] / #car[VW,Microbus], #car[Chevrolet], etc.

Currently has a #car[Subaru,Impreza]

Air-cooled vs. water cooled?

time: 51:15

Closing credits

time: 52:55 says it’s episode #1223

Episodes which mention this one:

2012-06-16: #1224: “You Sap”