Peter has a new car from Generous Motors, but it breaks down (while he's trying to flirt with a woman, no less) and when he brings it back, it blows up. This sends him into a rage and he wants to phone up Generous Motors to complain, but then the CEO, Mr. Abernathy phones them first. It turns out that he wants the Ghostbusters to investigate why his cars keep exploding. Peter is excited, because the factory is in Detroit and thus he might get to meet the "Queen of Soul".
Once the Ghostbusters reach the factory, they inspect an assembly line with Abernathy, and then a worker comes in, revealing something wrong with the breakroom vending machines. When the Ghostbusters enter the breakroom, they find the vending machines spewing food everywhere. After everyone unplugs all the machines, Egon traces a PKE reading to some small creatures, who he identifies as gremlins. He and Ray explain to Abernathy that the gremlins had been around since WWII when they'd break planes, and they got trapped in a closed part of the factory, but were released when it reopened.
As Abernathy decides to write some memos, the Ghostbusters set about planning to catch the gremlins since, seeing as the gremlins aren't ghosts, they can't be trapped. They send Winston down the assembly line, and the gremlins build a robot out of car parts and trap him in it. Ray realises that the robot, being made of car parts, runs on gasoline and thus siphons it. This works, but when Winston is freed, the gremlins sabotage his proton pack to make it shoot confetti.
Then, Egon and Ray make a car, lure the gremlins in by claiming it's indestructible, and when they try to wreck it, it changes shape, which will keep them occupied so they don't destroy the other cars. Peter then makes double sure they don't escape by sealing them in a big jar. He then asks Mr. Abernathy if he knows the "Queen of Soul", and he apparently does.
This episode provides examples of
- Always Chaotic Evil: All gremlins are destructive.
- Angrish: When Peter is angry about his car exploding, he rambles nonsense.
- Aside Glance: The episode ends with Peter looking at the camera.
- Blatant Lies: Peter says that his trapping the gremlins in a jar was a "piece of cake" despite being out of breath.
- Brick Joke: Peter mentions meeting the "Queen of Soul" towards the beginning of the episode, then later asks Abernathy if he knows her.
- Conforming OOC Moment: Egon, despite not usually being very lively, joins in when the Ghostbusters sing and dance at the end.
- Cool Shades: When Peter is trying to be cool in his new car, he wears sunglasses.
- Eat the Camera: When Winston screams on the assembly line, the camera zooms into his throat.
- Every Car Is a Pinto: Invoked when the gremlins deliberately set cars up to explode.
- Everyone Has Standards: The Ghostbusters give disapproving looks to the Generous Motors president after he suggests they chase the gremlins out of his facility and onto someone else's. Peter even joins in on this. He might be a Con Man crossed with a Sleazy Salesman, but even Dr. Venkman doesn't do corporate sabotage.
- Flashy Teleportation: When the gremlins teleport, they make a noise.
- Flat Joy: Egon says he's excited by the car in a deadpan voice (though he is sincere; he's just Egon).
- For the Evulz: The gremlins break engines for no reason.
- Green-Eyed Monster: When ranting about his broken car, Peter complains that so many other people are happy with their unbroken cars.
- Iris Out: The scene from the assembly line to the robot is shown with an iris.
- Must Have Caffeine: When the breakroom vending machines go crazy, Mr. Abernathy rants dramatically about how now he can't have a coffee break.
- Scatting: Peter beatboxes when showing off his new car.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: The gremlins were initially locked in an area of the factory, and then later Peter locks them in a jar.
- Shout-Out: At the end, the Ghostbusters all sing "R-E-S-P-E-C-T", which is a real song.
- Slapstick:
- When Peter runs out of the firehouse in a rage, he falls over.
- The Ghostbusters get knocked around in the breakroom and have food flung in their faces.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Winston comments that he won't enjoy it when he goes on the assembly line.
- Titled After the Song: Played with. The episode is titled after a line from the song "The Heart of Rock and Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News.
- Vanity License Plate: Peter's license plate reads "DR V".
