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.

Advertise with us: https://nathanmarkley.net/advertise

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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This episode was recorded live on Friday, July 31, 2026 on WNRI 1380AM & 99.9FM in Woonsocket, RI.

Nathan and Glenn kick off the show recapping their trip to Monster Jam at Gillette Stadium — from the pit party and meeting drivers to the standing-start drag races, four-wheel steering, and jaw-dropping freestyle tricks like backflips and two-wheel driving. They talk about how the sport has grown, the rise of women drivers, and how fan voting now plays a role in determining freestyle winners.

Nathan also debuts a new project: his YouTube channel, Markley Chats. He plays a clip from the first episode, filmed at Beavertail in Jamestown with photographer Norm, answering a listener's question about the best camera and lens setup for capturing baseball and softball action — covering zoom lenses, aperture, ISO, and the exposure triangle. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/frhx-3CEiLA

In Ask a Mechanic, Glenn answers an email from Manny in Woonsocket about why his shop recommended replacing all four tires on his all-wheel drive CR-V instead of just the two worn ones — a deep dive into tread depth, rolling circumference, and power transfer units. Glenn also covers a new Toyota recall affecting the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX over a rear axle carrier manufacturing defect, plus a fascinating aside on how a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Japan forced Toyota and Honda to briefly halt production. The show wraps with a fun trivia question about the 1990 Indianapolis 500 pace car, answered correctly by a caller: the Chevrolet Beretta.

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.

Advertise with us: https://nathanmarkley.net/advertise

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:20 Monster Jam Recap

11:04 Markley Chats YouTube Channel Announcement

24:12 Ad Break – Lydia Smith, Century 21 Stachurski Agency

25:38 Email: Manny in Woonsocket – AWD Tire Replacement Question

27:04 All-Wheel Drive vs Four-Wheel Drive Explained

29:11 Tread Depth, Rolling Circumference & Power Transfer Units

36:11 Trivia Question – 1990 Indy 500 Pace Car

37:32 Ad Break – Hillview Auto Body

38:49 This Day in Automotive History – Henry Ford & Chevy Beretta

39:27 Caller Bill – Trivia Attempt

41:11 Toyota Recall – Grand Highlander & Lexus TX Rear Axle

44:46 Caller – Trivia Answer: Chevrolet Beretta

45:29 1990 Indy 500 Speed Record & Beretta History

47:58 Ad Break

49:58 Japan Earthquake – Toyota & Honda Plant Shutdowns

52:22 Show Wrap-Up & Sign-Off

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.

Help Spread The Word

Share this episode and podcast with your family and friends.

If you dug this episode, head over to Apple Podcast and kindly leave me a review and follow the show!

Follow The Nathan Markley Show wherever you listen to podcasts!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-markley-show/id1463188003

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eYdLQIaogTPzmYhQxA9vF

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nathanmarkley

Website: https://www.nathanmarkley.net/

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This episode was recorded live on Friday, July 24, 2026 on WNRI 1380AM & 99.9FM in Woonsocket, RI.

On this milestone episode, Nathan and his dad Glenn look back at their favorite moments from the past 20 weeks of the show — engaged callers, the interview with photographer Norm, the Rhode Island Feline Rescue visit, and the very first guest appearance on the show.

Then it's time for Ask a Mechanic: Glenn tracks down why Herbie the Love Bug wears the number 53 (hint: it's a baseball tribute) and explains why Mazda discontinued the RX-7's rotary engine. A new recurring segment debuts too — This Day in Automotive History — kicking off with the Dodge Caravan's fourth-generation launch in July 2000 and a look back at the minivan's 42-year production run.

Callers Bill and Mike from Cranston phone in with their own Dodge Colt and Caravan stories, and Mike shares an important safety tip for anyone driving a Tesla. Glenn also answers a listener's email question about why the Honda Ridgeline is classified as a midsize pickup.

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.

Advertise with us: https://nathanmarkley.net/advertise

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

03:09 – Celebrating 21 Weeks: Favorite Moments & Callers

06:55 – Best Guest Segments: Photographer Norm & RI Feline Rescue

09:44 – First Episode Flashback: Special Education Law

13:54 – Podcast Meets Radio: Reaching Every Audience

18:46 – New Segment Tease: This Day in Automotive History

23:01 – Ask a Mechanic: Herbie's 53 & the Mazda RX-7's Rotary Engine

27:04 – Trivia: Name That Horse-Named Vehicle

29:07 – This Day in Automotive History: Dodge Caravan's 4th Generation

41:42 – Caller Mike from Cranston: Minivan Memories & a Tesla Safety Tip

51:51 – Ask a Mechanic: Honda Ridgeline's Midsize Classification & Sign-Off

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.

Help Spread The Word

Share this episode and podcast with your family and friends.

If you dug this episode, head over to Apple Podcast and kindly leave me a review and follow the show!

Follow The Nathan Markley Show wherever you listen to podcasts!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-markley-show/id1463188003

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eYdLQIaogTPzmYhQxA9vF

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nathanmarkley

Website: https://www.nathanmarkley.net/

Follow Nathan on:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nathanmarkleyshow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanmarkley0