The Best of Car Talk The Best of Car Talk

#2653: Mechanic with Benefits

Jul 4, 2026 · 38m

Summary

The Tappet Brothers share humorous high school essay analogies before diagnosing a Lincoln’s stuck air suspension and a VW bus squeak. They reveal the answer to a trunk survival puzzler and propose a new grasshopper race riddle. Listeners also seek advice on a Honda rattle, a Ferrari’s grinding reverse gear, and rapid-blinking turn signals.

Topics discussed

Intro, Mattress Firm ad, and high school essay readings Virginia's Lincoln Town Car level ride system failure Garner's VW Microbus squeaking axle diagnosis Puzzler answer: The airtight trunk and spare tire Jason's Honda Civic rattling noise theory Ads for Rivian, Total Wine, BetterHelp, and Instacart New Puzzler: The grasshopper race John's Ferrari 308 GTB reverse gear grinding Katie's Mercury Marquee fast blinker mystery Credits, staff introductions, and closing ads
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