FROZEN FIEFDOM 

Email To Car Talk

When I don't know the answer to something; especially if it has motors and gears, I ask a man.  In the case of Car Talk, it's a Two Fer.  When you hear this one on their show, you'll remember it!  

Thanks Click and Clack!!  And I'll be sure to tune in more frequently.  

Here's a link to their site in case you have your own Auto "Motive" Puzzler, or your ride isn't running well.   http://www.cartalk.com

> Emailed on Wed. April 16, 2008 to Car Talk
> staff:
>
> My sister, who listens to your show on
> occasion and claims to be somewhat psychic
> herself; has not satisfactorily answered some
> puzzling questions about what is going on
> with my ride.   I thought I'd ask The Pros.
>
> Why would  oil or glue markings suddenly
> appear on the decorative fabric on my door
> panels of my 2000 Toyota Corolla, and what
> could have caused them?  They first appeared
> on the front door panels back in 2006. I
> noticed the same odd pattern has developed in
> the rear panels in the last year or so.  How
> unusual, being as the fabric had been in
> pristine condition for years, and no mold or
> mildew is to be found. And this substance
> appears to be some sort of oil or glue and is
> very similar on each of the 4 panels.
>
> And how can door panels remove And Replace
> themselves? A screw which was damaged
> somehow, is now completely missing and the
> ring that should have been behind the window
> crank I found on the floor between the seat
> and the door a few weeks back.  Which might
> explain what "Somebody" was doing one night
> back in late February when I noticed the next
> morning that my MANual lock  had unlocked
> itself during the night...That has happened
> before, after I doubled checked the locks by
> physically pulling on them to be certain they
> were operating correctly.  Being as I only
> have a passenger perhaps once a year, the
> doors and hardware were in "Like New"
> condition, and the plastic ring was fully
> intact, so it would have been impossible for
> it to have inadvertently "fallen off" all by
> its little self. The handle which operates
> the door lever was also screwed on tightly,
> but in a cockeyed position, with visible
> indentations of where it had been in place
> for years.
>
> Two years ago, my radio buttons were askew,
> and several were inoperable after leaving it
> for a few months at a friend's home in the So
> Cal sun.  At that time, I also noticed a
> couple of little plastic boxes dangling from
> under the steering column, but assumed that
> something had just dropped down, being as it
> was a 6 year old car. When I asked him about
> those items he replied "I dunno, don't worry
> about it." I taped the little boxes up with
> duct tape about 6 months back, and noticed
> several weeks ago that they have
> disappeared!!!   The piece of tape was
> clinging to the plastic dash, but the boxes
> and wires were gone!  Astonishing. I asked a
> man with a degree in Physics about the
> possibility of inanimate objects removing
> themselves from a locked position,
> levitating, and returning to their original
> position; he didn't think it was possible.
>
> Her Reply:
> "Actually heat/and cooling will unscrew many
> screws.  It happened in my Probe right up to
> the time the door panel fell off."
>
> I'm not buying her less than "Psychic"
> answer; do you have a better one? I have
> photos if you need a visual. Thanks!  Paula
> in Los Angeles