The Best of Car Talk The Best of Car Talk

#2685: A Coke a Smoke and a Joke

Oct 24, 2026 · 33m

Summary

Click and Clack discuss a leaking heater core in a VW Jetta and consult a chemist to verify if soda effectively cleans battery terminals. The brothers also diagnose a grinding noise in a Toyota Camry and advise a listener against buying low-mileage postal service vans. The episode concludes with a new season's first puzzler and a contest to vote for the best road trip horror story.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Charles Schwab Intro: Women's Wisdom quotes Call: 1997 VW Jetta heater core leak Chemistry: Coke vs. Dr. Pepper on battery terminals Sponsors: The Visitors, Pickpocket, Capella Road Trip Horror Stories: Dairy Queen and Dog Call: 1989 Toyota Camry grinding noise Teaser: New Puzzler and CD release Sponsors: The Visitors, Pickpocket, Capella Puzzler: What do you see in old cars? Call: Used Post Office Dodge Caravans Outro: Credits and sign-off Sponsors: NetSuite and Sony Pictures
Listen ad-free on Castria