#1049: Your Car Fell Off the Lift. LOL!

Dec 04, 2010
This week on Car Talk, it's time to 'fess up. A listener tale of an ill-fated jump-start prompts Tom and Ray to 'fess up to a few of their own doozies. Then it's off to Illinois, where Sarah's preparing to Go West, Young Woman, and wants to haul all her belongings in a trailer behind her Saturn. Meanwhile, New Yorker, Gabriel, needs a car to haul his drums around, and is wondering if it's true that radio presets are a good way to judge a used car's condition. Also, Jeep owner Dave struggles with rusted rotors while reluctant Bricklin owner Rich is struggling with his conscience. And, on Stump the Chumps, we find out if Tom and Ray did better than the local drunks at diagnosing a starting problem. All this and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

Show Open Topic

Tom and Ray share an auto confession from a listener--and a few of their own, too.

This Week's Puzzler

A woman and her husband walked side by side. They walked for an hour. At the end of the hour, the woman had walked four miles. The husband walked five or six. How could that be?

Last Week's Puzzler

The Prisoners, the Warden and the Hats. How does the prisoner in the front of the line know what color hat he's wearing?


6 Comments

advice to Sarah

You goofed! I 40 goes through all the high mountains of northern AZ. Her poor little Saturn & trlr will be buried in 10' of snow til May! If she goes down into Texas and comes West on I-10 she'll just have to go through the foothills at the southern tip of the Rockies and it'll take her right to Tucson through less mountainous terrain - and probably NO SNOW!!
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When you told about the customer's car falling off the lift - again....
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Towing to Tucson

Would she be better off getting a U-Haul that her Saturn would fit into (devoid of flammable fluids) along with some of her posessions and let that engine take the wear & tear going the southern route through Texas? Another option would be a small U-Haul truck towing a car trailer. And definately watch that weather; so many things to see along the way that a delay here or there could be a bonus.
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Bricklin

From one old Jersey girl to a Jersey guy. Here are some fun options for the gift you received from your father-in-law that he may think are winners. Donate the vehicle to a locate high school that has an automotive program. They can do the repairs and either sell it to help fund their program, make it concours ready and show off their work, or find out if it qualifies for any of the SCCA amateur racing groups (the kids get it race ready & are the pit crew while an adult is the designated driver). Of course, if you car to race it or show it, that could be a family hobby including the father-in-law. Go here to find out more about your treasure & check the classified section: http://www.bricklin.org.
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Great show

Great callers. Would love to hear more calls from DIY's.
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You Guys Are The Toolbox In Every Garage

I look forward to your show and download it to listen on my long road trips back and forth from VA to TN and KY. I absolutely love you guys! I don't know if that makes me tasteless or you the cream of the crop, but either way I think that makes us a great team!
Favorite Moment: 
There really are too many to count, but I really loved the hissing cock roaches story! I laughed so hard I had to pull over. I almost peed myself.
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call making sound

today is 12-11, heard lady talking about car making nose. have her check speedometer cable, may need grease
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