Idle Talk Radio with Ashley and Tom
Claim This Podcastby Tom Dietrich
Podcast Overview
<p>Idle Talk Radio is a weekly 50min car talk show that was on 830AM WEEU in Reading Pennsylvania. The show ran live from 2019 until 2023.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/8/2019
1 verified contact email on file for Idle Talk Radio with Ashley and Tom
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Recent Episodes
June 1, 2026
Used Car Red Flags, Catalytic Converter Theft, Seatbelt Fixes & Chasing Oil Leaks
In this episode of Idle Talk, Tom and Ashley from King’s Auto Repair cover real world issues local drivers are dealing with right now: - Why buying a used car with the check engine light on is almost never a “quick sensor fix” - How catalytic converter failures (and theft attempts) are hitting wallets and what you can do to reduce your risk - A listener question about a stuck seatbelt, how the locking mechanism works, and when it’s time for replacement - A practical discussion of oil leaks how shops trace them, when they’re urgent, and how one leak can trigger other drivability/emissions problems - A call-in conversation about loud exhaust, inspection enforcement, headlight alignment, and illegal lighting mods These topics are great reminders that small “annoyances” (lights, smells, leaks, noises) often point to bigger issues—and that a trusted shop inspection can save drivers from expensive surprises. Key Takeaways- Never buy a used car with the check engine light on. If it were truly “just an O₂ sensor,” it likely would’ve been repaired before sale. A check engine light can indicate expensive emissions failures (like catalytic converters) or deeper engine performance problems. - Pre-purchase inspections catch what Carfax can miss. Carfax is helpful, but it depends on reporting. Repairs paid out-of-pocket or not processed through insurance may not show up. A shop inspection can spot clues like panel work, welding, rust bubbles, and underside damage. - Catalytic converters are costly (and theft is real). Converters contain precious metals, which drives both replacement costs and theft attempts. Even a “failed” converter can be valuable to thieves. - Seatbelt retractors can lock up, sometimes it’s a mechanism issue, not a “broken belt.” Seatbelts can get stuck in child seat ratchet mode or jam internally. If it won’t retract/unlock, don’t force it especially if pretensioners are involved. - Oil leaks aren’t just messy, they can trigger check engine lights and damage components. A PCV system fault can pull oil into the intake, contaminate emissions components, and create driveability issues. Oil can also drift and spread underhood, making the true source harder to find. - Diagnosis often starts with cleaning. For heavy oil leaks, the first step is frequently cleaning the area, running the engine, and re-checking sometimes using cardboard/drip tracing to narrow down leak origin. - “They sell it online” doesn’t mean it’s legal. The show touches on illegal lighting colors (blue hue), headlight alignment concerns, exhaust modifications, and wheels protruding beyond fenders issues that affect safety and legality. If you would like to learn more about your car check out our blog over on our website: King's Auto Repair Website King's Auto Repair on Facebook: King's Auto Repair Facebook King’s Auto Repair on YouTube: Kings Auto Repair YouTube King's Auto Repair on Instagram: Kings Auto Repair Instagram King's Auto Repair on TikTok: Kings Auto Repair TikTok King's Auto Repair on LinkedIn: King's Auto Repair LinkedIn King's Auto Repair on Pinterest:King's Auto Repair Pinterest Check your car for Safety Recalls: NHTSA.Gov If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening. This show was originally broadcast live 06-16-2022
May 18, 2026
Brake Pedal Sinking, Brake Fluid Truths, and “Weird Noises” You Shouldn’t Ignore
This episode of Idle Talk from King’s Auto Repair (West Reading) covers a handful of real-world “odd” problems that showed up in the shop—exactly the kind of issues drivers struggle to describe until they become safety concerns. Topics include:- A rare ABS hydraulic control unit (HCU) failure that mimics a bad master cylinder and creates a dangerously low brake pedal.- Why brake fluid service matters (and why many manufacturers now recommend it every 2 years).- Why rear brakes can wear faster on modern cars (hill-hold, stop/start, stability controls, torque vectoring).- A noisy/vibrating driveshaft carrier bearing and how it can create “mystery” vibrations.- How clogged sunroof drains can lead to expensive electrical damage.- A caller question about instrument cluster replacement and mileage programming on an older Silverado. If you would like to learn more about your car check out our blog over on our website: King's Auto Repair Website King's Auto Repair on Facebook: King's Auto Repair Facebook King’s Auto Repair on YouTube: Kings Auto Repair YouTube King's Auto Repair on Instagram: Kings Auto Repair Instagram King's Auto Repair on TikTok: Kings Auto Repair TikTok King's Auto Repair on LinkedIn: King's Auto Repair LinkedIn King's Auto Repair on Pinterest:King's Auto Repair Pinterest Check your car for Safety Recalls: NHTSA.Gov If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening. This show was originally broadcast live 06-09-2022
November 28, 2023
We talk gasoline octane, ethanol content, and weird car myths
In this episode we talk about the effects of ethanol in gasoline and what the octane actually means. Here are some of the bullet points from the show: Ashley talks about like being "that dad" cleaning the windshield of her car along the street while waiting on the kid to get done with practice The topic of discussion was octane levels and ethanol in fuel. Gasoline's resistance to burn is measured by its octane rating. Higher octane allows for more advanced engine timing and more power. Most vehicles require 87 octane regular gasoline. Octane rating is derived from the average of the Motor Octane Rating and Research Octane Rating. It indicates the pressure at which fuel will spontaneously ignite. Unintended spontaneous combustion causes uneven engine pressure, damage, and knocking. Newer direct-injected vehicles had issues with hot oil igniting injected fuel, damaging engines. Using higher octane gasoline than required provides no benefit. Using lower octane can reduce fuel economy and cause engine knocking. Ethanol was added to fuel to make the U.S. more energy independent, though its viability is debated. Fuel contains a maximum of 10% ethanol currently to accommodate older vehicles, though newer vehicles can handle up to 15% ethanol. "Flex fuel" vehicles can handle up to 85% ethanol. Their engines are specially designed to adjust for ethanol's lower energy density. E85 fuel is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Though its octane rating is around 105, it provides less energy so more fuel is needed to travel the same distance. Using fuel with higher ethanol levels than a vehicle was designed for can damage components and trigger the check engine light. Ethanol is added to gasoline in percentages to accommodate older vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles can use higher ethanol blends. We discussed weird automotive myths like: cars should be disposed of after 100,000 miles, Old cars were better, and old cars lasted longer If you would like to learn more about your car check out our blog over on our website: King's Auto Repair Website King's Auto Repair on Facebook: King's Auto Repair Facebook King’s Auto Repair on YouTube: Kings Auto Repair YouTube King's Auto Repair on Instagram: Kings Auto Repair Instagram King's Auto Repair on TikTok: Kings Auto Repair TikTok King's Auto Repair on LinkedIn: King's Auto Repair LinkedIn King's Auto Repair on Pinterest:King's Auto Repair Pinterest Check your car for Safety Recalls: NHTSA.Gov If you have a comment or car question please email us at Idletalkradio830@gmail.com. Thank you for listening. This show was originally broadcast live 10-18-2023
36 total episodes available
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- What is Idle Talk Radio with Ashley and Tom?
<p>Idle Talk Radio is a weekly 50min car talk show that was on 830AM WEEU in Reading Pennsylvania. The show ran live from 2019 until 2023.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates inactive.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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