This episode was recorded live on Friday, August 7, 2026 on WNRI 1380AM & 99.9FM in Woonsocket, RI.

This week on The Nathan Markley Show, Nathan is joined by his dad Glenn for another Ask a Mechanic segment. They dig into whether you can still push a car in neutral with today's transfer cases and all-wheel-drive systems, why flat-towing without a transfer case can cook your transmission, and what that "key fob battery low" warning on your dashboard actually means.
Nathan and Glenn also take a deep dive into the RF technology behind keyless entry — how vehicles are constantly broadcasting a signal to find your key fob, and how you can actually hear it with a simple AM radio. Regular caller Mike from Cranston phones in with extra key fob tips, including hidden center-console antennas and how to jump-start a dead Tesla's 12-volt backup battery.

Plus: two major NHTSA recalls (Dodge Ram 1500 seat belt buckles and Ford Explorer/Lincoln Aviator power seats), a "this day in automotive history" look back at Ford and Navistar's short-lived Blue Diamond Truck Company, a listener email about an intermittent license plate bulb warning, and this week's automotive trivia question: what year did a spare tire first become standard equipment on a vehicle?

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

04:01 – Neutral Gear, Flat-Towing & Transfer Cases

11:05 – Key Fob Battery Low Warning

13:37 – RF & Key Fob Hacking Deep Dive

27:19 – Caller Mike from Cranston: Hidden Antennas & Tesla Tips

35:11 – Trivia: First Standard Spare Tire

36:12 – NHTSA Recalls: Dodge Ram 1500 & Ford Explorer/Lincoln Aviator

47:00 – This Day in Automotive History: Blue Diamond Truck Co.

53:07 – Email Q&A: Intermittent License Plate Bulb Warning

Sponsors and Affiliates:

Hillview Auto Body – Johnston, Rhode Island. Gold Class Certified, over 45 years of quality collision repair. Quality you can see, service you can trust.

Lydia Smith, Realtor – Century 21 Stahirsky Agency – Over 15 years of experience in Northern Rhode Island real estate.

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Have an automotive question for our "Ask a Mechanic" segment? Submit your questions here: https://nathanmarkley.net/askamechanic

Listen to the show every Friday night at 6:05pm EST on WNRI 1380 AM 99.9 FM or online at https://wnri.com and Call in: 401-766-1380 | 1-800-949-WNRI.

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