Flip, the Stuffed Squirrel Answers Your Car Questions

Flip was working on cars when he was barely out of the nest, helping in his father's garage. He is now an A.S.E Certified Master Mechanic, with a successful chain of his own garages in five states. He has written two nationally best-selling books on auto repair and maintenance. He hosts My Car is Driving Me Nuts, a radio talk show heard daily in over 30 cities.

Flip knows cars. And now we are truly fortunate to have him here on this site to answer your questions.

Q: Dear Flip,
I have a 1991 Mercedes 190E. It's been a great car up until now. It was running just fine until yesterday, when I went to start it. It turned over once or twice, then spluttered, and then a big cloud of green smoke came out the back. Now it won't start at all. What's wrong with it? Please help!
-Julia

A: What? Are you talking to me? I think you have the wrong guy. My name is Flip, but I'm a squirrel. What would I know about your car?

Q: Dear Flip,
First, I just wanted to say that I love your show and I listen to it every day! My question is: I just bought a 2001 Dodge Ram truck from a local used-car dealership a couple weeks ago. Today they called me up and said I need to bring my truck in for service. They said it needs a muffler yoke replacement. They said that Dodge has sent out notices that all trucks like mine need this and it's critical I bring it in to them as soon as I can. This sounds sort of fishy to me. What do you think?
-Ethan

A: Why are you asking me this? Who are you people? Where did you come from? I'm not a mechanic. I'm a squirrel! A stuffed squirrel, even. That means I'm dead. Dead squirrels don't know anything about cars. Please go away.

Q: Hi Flip!
My question is about my wife's car. This morning when she was driving to work, her car started swerving all over the road for no reason at all. Luckily she wasn't hurt, but it made her mess up her makeup. What would cause this? My wife is afraid to drive it now. Oh yeah, it's a 2007 Lexus GX 470. Thanks!
-James

A: Oh for crying out loud! Look, I don't know what's going on here, but let me try to make this clear: S-Q-U-I-R-R-E-L. S-T-U-F-F-E-D. Why would you ask a stuffed squirrel about your car? Why? Oh, now I see that thing up top there. What is that? Who wrote that? I'm an A.S.E Certified Mechanic? How could that be? How would I hold a wrench? I've written two books? I have a radio show? Are you people insane? I am a dead squirrel forever sitting on a dead tree in a museum. I can't fix cars and I can't write books. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! Now leave me alone to be dead and sit on my branch in peace.

Thanks for stopping by, Flip! We look forward to seeing you next week!

Do you have a question for Flip? Email him at: flip@stomple.com.