**The Perils of Modernizing an Old Car**

When it comes to modifying an old car, one must consider the potential risks and challenges involved. For instance, trying to install a modern touchscreen with Apple CarPlay on a classic vehicle like my wife's ES 300 Lexus can be a daunting task. Despite numerous attempts, I have been unable to find a suitable Android device that will work seamlessly with the existing speaker system. The problem lies in the need for hand-wiring and soldering wires to make all the speakers function correctly, which is a painstaking process that requires expertise.

In contrast, leaving the original components intact may be the best approach, especially if you're not familiar with computer modules, wiring, or speaker systems. Modern cars have become increasingly complex, with numerous components and technological advancements, making it difficult for non-experts to make changes without risking damage to the vehicle. If you do decide to make modifications, it's essential to research thoroughly and consider seeking the help of a professional mechanic who is willing to take on the challenge.

**Death Wobble: A Legacy Design**

The death wobble, also known as "wobbly" or "loose axle," is an old design issue that affects vehicles with solid front axles. The problem arises when the front wheels are steered, causing the solid axle joints to become dry and sticky due to a lack of lubrication. This can lead to wobbling, uneven tire wear, and even catastrophic failure of the axle. To prevent this issue, it's crucial to regularly lubricate the joints, typically every couple hundred miles or whenever traveling through wet or salty conditions.

In military vehicles, which often featured solid axles, soldiers were instructed to re-lubricate the joints after each use or during regular maintenance checks. This practice has been passed down through generations, and today, it's essential for car owners to follow this simple yet effective procedure to ensure the longevity of their vehicle. Neglecting to do so can result in costly repairs or even render the vehicle unusable.

**Car Washing: A Cautionary Tale**

When it comes to washing your car, many people rely on retail car washes for convenience. However, these facilities can be a source of harm rather than help. The water used at these establishments is often contaminated with salt and other chemicals from previous customers' cars, which can damage the vehicle's paint and undercarriage. Furthermore, the brushes and equipment used at car washes can scratch or strip the paint, leading to costly repairs.

Using a self-serve car wash with a spray wand can be a safer alternative, as it allows you to control the amount of water and cleaning solution applied to your vehicle. However, even this option carries risks, particularly if you're using a high-pressure washer or forgetting to rinse off debris. To avoid damage, it's essential to use fresh, clean water and gentle cleaning products specifically designed for cars.

**Electric Lawn Mowers: A Mixed Bag**

When it comes to electric lawn mowers, opinions are divided. My experience with the GreenWorks lawnmower was largely positive, as it performed well on my small yard despite its relatively short cord length. However, I had to abandon it in Houston due to the long extension cords required for larger yards. Similarly, the Ego Electric Lawnmower has received praise from some users, but others have reported issues with reliability and performance.

Ultimately, the choice between electric and traditional gas-powered lawn mowers depends on your specific needs and circumstances. While these electric devices may offer a quieter and more environmentally friendly alternative, they can be less practical for larger yards or those requiring longer mowing sessions. As with any major purchase, it's essential to research thoroughly and consider your options carefully before making a decision.

**Conclusion**

As we navigate the complexities of modernizing old cars, maintaining them, and caring for our vehicles, it's essential to prioritize caution and expertise. Whether you're dealing with death wobbles, car washing concerns, or electric lawn mowers, there are often simple yet effective solutions that can save time, money, and hassle. By taking the time to research thoroughly and seek professional advice when needed, we can ensure our vehicles remain reliable, safe, and enjoyable for years to come.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enrev up your engines vic james says any pros cons for the new chevy full-size four-cylinder trucks all righty if you want to drive like a turtle you don't haul much and you don't tow you can get away with a four-cylinder engine but if you're gonna put a lot of weight in the bed you're gonna pull heavy things it's gonna burn that engine out and you're still gonna get horrible gas mileage i've seen trucks that got 17 miles a gallon empty and then they got a big trailer and they're pulling say another truck maybe they bought a truck out in the country in the field they didn't get 17 miles a gallon they got five six miles a gallon then so you're going to get craft gas mileage no matter what they aren't made for pulling and towing if you just want to tootle around they got 300 something horsepower theoretically they'll run but don't expect to pull and tow a lot and get decent gas mileage and have the engine last that long it will wear out faster being turbocharged than only having four cylinders jacob sandoval says what do you think of volkswagen cars not much these days now if you live in europe you get the ones that are made in deutsche land and germany right and they are better made the ones here are made in mexico made all over the place cheaply made the parts are really expensive here in the united states now the rest of the world people buy a lot of volkswagens they've got mechanics and all to work on them the junkyards are full of wrecked ones where you can get cheap used parts for it not in the united states in the last three decades that's 30 years i have never had a single customer ever buy a volkswagen and then buy another volkswagen here in the united states and that pretty much sums the whole thing up cody says scotty what does it mean when oil is coming out of the air filter compartment okay if you're talking about the air filter inside the car and you got oil coming out there it means that your evaporator ac evaporator is leaking the ac evaporator blows cold air in your face right well there's ac refrigerant inside and also ac oil so when it leaks some of that ac oil leaks and it'll come out now if you're talking about your air filter under the hood where your engine air filter is and you get oil in there that means your engine's wearing out that means that there's blow by and it's blowing oil through the pcv system and then it's throwing it into the air filter your engine is just flat and wearing out you could also try just changing your pc valve if you're lucky the pcv valve is stuck open then it can get some oil in it's you know eight dollar power try that but most of the time it means your pistons are warning your engines just flat wearing out chris stance says what's up scotty i got a 20 21 nissan titan for 48k what do you think of the titans they are decent pickup trucks they make decent big pickup trucks i mean their v8 engines are strong they're gas hogs but all big pickup trucks are gas hawks so what difference does it make you know those trucks can last a long time the only downside is they're gas hogs i had a customer who's dumb enough though he had one uses his business and he didn't like it so he thought i'll get better gas mileage i'll buy a used chevy diesel pickup truck oh that thing fell apart in less than a year what a piece of junk that was he should have just lived with the crappy gas mileage instead of wasted all's money on a chevy diesel truck that fell apart in 30 40 000 miles you can buy chevy d as a truck new but don't buy one used because when they're high mileage they fall apart and cost a fortune of a repair hardly anybody knows how to work on them either cheese ball says 85 pickup truck the alternator light stays on and start up until i rev up the engine why first check the fan belt if it's loose that'll do it put a new fan belt on if that's not it test the alternator generally means your alternator is going out if it's only red when you're idling and when you take off and you're driving all the time it's not you could still drive it that way i had a customer i told him he had an old toyota pickup i said well he says what's wrong so the alternator's weak but the light stays off on the highway and it still starts so go ahead drive it two years later he was still driving and it still ran so what the heck if it stays on all the time yeah then you gotta fix it sooner it'll stop running but if it goes off when you're driving it's charging while you're driving i mean i've had people live years that way they were still running down the road cameron denso they got no one honda accorded hydrolock please help me okay well let's hope it really wasn't hydrolock because here's what happened with hydrolock your pistons go up and down right they go up to expel the exhaust gas then they come down and they suck a mixture of air and fuel and then they move up in the air to compress the air and fuel then the spark ignites it and they go down again if you actually hydrolock what happens is when they're going down they suck water in then when they go up water doesn't compress well actually water compresses a tiny bit i don't know two percent out of a hundred percent doesn't mean squat so when the pistons going up and the water's there and it only goes two percent compression and the rest it can't piston still got to go up because the engine's moving so what happens is the piston rod the solid steel but the piston rods on bends because it bends down because there's nowhere to go the pressure bends it then your engine's shot and you'll have to rebuild the entire engine most people would just go with another engine they'll just give up if it actually did bend it any mechanic can find out just by getting the bore scope cranking the engine over and i can say yep that piston doesn't go up high anymore the piston rods are bent so you know that's the end of it let's hope it was something else and it really wasn't hydraulic because if it was you could say goodbye engine arthur says good afternoon scotty what's your opinion on mitsubishi cars mostly crossovers all right i'm not a mitsubishi fan that's not a big business for mitsubishi it's mitsubishi heavy industries they make all kinds of stuff billion billion dollar company cars is kind of a sideline for them and if you buy a new one they're okay but they don't hold up like toyotas and hondas i'll get somebody with a crossover mitsubishi and i have 140 will be start burning the oil the transmission will go out and the toyotas and hondas they're just starting to get their breath then they might go another two three hundred thousand miles now if you're the type of person that you like the way they ride and you're going to buy a brand new one and you're happy with getting 120 130 k out of a car it's your money do whatever you want but they won't last as long as toyota's not just and the way that it's gone they aren't that much cheaper anymore either it used to be you could get the mitsubishi's you could get the kia's five six eight ten thousand dollars less than the toyota's anonymous but they raised their prices too and now you don't save that much money so it's really not worth doing kanan scott says i got an o3 tacoma the rear main steel leaks is it worth changing all right you got to pull either the engine or the transmission out to get to the rear main engine seal the transmission is the easier one but it's still a giant job transmission shops pull them all the time so what you might do is find a transmission shop and say will you charge me to pull the put on a rear main seal and while you're there might as well put a front main seal on the as long as they got it apart and see what they charge but before you do that get some at205 reseal you get it at amazon they got it back in stock again take a pint out of the engine oil and put a pint of that in and drive it sometimes that will rejuvenate that rear seal and it won't leak at all i've fixed many cars that way and the bottle is going to cost you 15 16 bucks try that first it often works and then what you would do is every time you change your engine oil you'd put a bottle of that stuff in to keep it from leaking in the future because when you change your oil out goes the fluid too abm says scotty is it possible to change out the navigation touch screen from my 2010 alexa cs350 for more modern touch screen with apple carplay not unless you know some computer genius let me tell you i've been trying to get an android that'll work on my wife's es 300 lexus i can't find any i've gone through eight of them and i gave up none of them will hook up to the speaker system you have to hand wire the whole thing now if you find some computer guy they can generally do anything if they're willing to go in there hand solder wires to make all the speakers work right but i mean it's going to be a real pain in the butt if i were you i'd just leave what's in it if you got a touch screen now don't rock the boat try to put a modern one in there's so many different things computer modules wiring what kind of speakers they have how many speakers they have i don't advise even trying met b says scotty what can i do to prevent death wobble in my solid front axle jeep well see that's an old design where you got a solid axle in the front now for a long time until just a few years ago the mustangs had solid axles in the rear but not in the front that you're steering the problem you got a solid axle in the front and you're steering the front those wheels got to turn you got to make sure you keep lubricating those joints at the end of the solid axle i mean you got to lubricate the crap out of those things because if you don't they'll get rusty then they'll stick and then get mad wobbling and stuff on them it's a world war one design really when they started to do all-wheel drive vehicles world war one that is an old design you gotta lubricate the heck out of those things in the army they told them something like every couple hundred miles you were supposed to lubricate them or they say every time you go through a creek or small river you gotta re-lubricate those joints right you know wartime most people would bother people were shooting and they were just abandoning the jeep and run away but that's the main thing to be lubricating them bugatti 1718 says can you wash your car too much some online said you shouldn't wash your car at a retail location during the winter because the water is likely contaminated with salt from the previous drivers and the wash doesn't filter it i don't advise using car washes anyways because yes people go in there they're wiping the dirt off your car off the cars in front of you now a lot of that dirt stays on the brushes then they wipe your car with dirt watch my video why never to use a car wash scotty watch that you'll probably never use the car wash again you can wash your car all you want but you got to use fresh water and clean things that's why if you go to one of those self car washes where all you get is a spray wand and stuff yeah spray it to your heart's content spraying it hurts nothing let's say there's a volcanic eruption near you we used to get them in houston pumice would come in the air and land on houston from mexico don't ever wipe that stuff it'll scratch your paint but you can rinse it off pressure washers and you'd rinse off all the pumice then later you'd wash it rinse it and away you go but you never want to touch it and wipe it and you never want your car touched by dirty rags dirty washing machines that spin that have dirt on them they will scratch your paint they're called micro scratches but cleaner by hand no you just want to make sure that what you're cleaning with is clean then you rinse it off put it back in the soap you want to use two buckets you want to use one bucket that's got your nice soap car wash and the other one is just water so you can rinse it up in the water then put it in the soap and i use those sheepskin ones the wool mitts and the wool mitts are great for cleaning cars because they don't scratch the woo master says greenworks or ego electric lawnmower well you know it's funny in houston i had a greenworks lawnmower worked perfectly fine i also had a very tiny yard it would be kind of useless property we got on the country has 64 acres it would take you forever to mow the lawn and you need an awful long extension cord and if you had one that had a battery charge you wouldn't be able to do the 64 acres on a charge that's for sure but from my experience you got a long extension cord in a small yard the greenworks ones are pretty good i abandoned mine in houston so if you never want to miss another one of my new car repair videos remember to ring that bell\n"