Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

Επεισόδια

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  When Auto Repair Isn’t Picture Perfect 12.09.2026 35λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - September 12, 2026 Auto repair doesn’t always go according to plan—and sometimes just getting to the problem is half the battle. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, takes you inside the service bay with a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid suffering from a communication fault with its active grille shutter system. Multiple scan tools, OE-level diagnostics, circuit testing and a lot of disassembly eventually reveal the real culprit: a corroded power wire buried deep in the harness. It’s a perfect example of why good diagnostics have to be slow, methodical and proven—not guessed. Then the phones light up. A listener with a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a “Service Shift Selector” warning and suddenly no reverse. Ron explains why the transmission itself may not be the problem and uses an old-fashioned landline telephone system to make today’s vehicle computer networks easy to understand. Next, what do you do with a 2002 Honda with an incredible 323,000 miles and a slight transmission engagement delay? Repair it, replace the transmission—or leave well enough alone? Ron weighs the economics of keeping an older vehicle alive. Plus: Ford 3.5L internal water-pump failures, Nissan ABS/VDC problems, wheel-speed diagnostics, and preparing a diesel for winter. Real cars. Real problems. Real-world diagnosis. Car Advice, Done Right  🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Can You Create a Great Mechanic? 12.09.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 1 - September 12, 2026 Where do great mechanics come from? Are they born with “the touch,” or can it be taught? Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, looks at the technician shortage from a different angle: maybe the automotive industry hasn’t done enough to nurture the next generation. Ron remembers a young trade-school graduate named Gus who knew the procedures—but one flat tire at the far end of the shop parking lot revealed something his education hadn’t taught him: how to improvise when the procedure no longer fits the situation. It leads Ron back to one of his father’s lessons: follow steps one through ten—but also know when the repair demands that you think outside the box. Then there’s Danny. Years ago, Danny walked into Ron’s shop carrying an F-150 steering knuckle and needing help pressing ball joints. Ron handed him the tools and instructions and watched. Within half an hour, Danny had figured it out himself. Ron knew immediately: “Kid, you’ve got it.” Nature or nurture? Maybe great mechanics require some of both. Ron also gets back to the nuts and bolts with a 1996 Ford 7.3L Power Stroke water-pump repair—a job that reminds him how much fun working on an older truck can be after spending days diagnosing and disassembling a technology-packed Ford Escape Hybrid. Plus: hunting down an obsolete Fiat 500 trunk latch, diagnosing P0420/P0430 catalytic-converter faults, aftermarket versus OE catalytic converters, and why a trouble code should begin a diagnosis—not automatically dictate the repair. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor — Car Advice, Done Right. Car Advice, Done Right  🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM       See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Five Shops, Multiple Starters, One GMC Denali 05.09.2026 35λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 1 - September 5, 2026 A 2020 GMC Denali arrives at R\A Automotive on a tow truck with an intermittent no-crank—and a history that would make any mechanic stop and think. Nearly three years, five different shops, multiple starters, and the same problem keeps coming back. Ron starts where every diagnosis should start: at the beginning. Working with GM expert Ernesto through the OPUS IVS diagnostic platform, Ron separates clues from conclusions, uses factory service information and pattern-failure knowledge, and begins proving what the problem ISN’T. The trail eventually leads to a loaded voltage-drop test, a questionable negative battery cable, and a starter-solenoid connection that has seen its share of previous repairs. It’s a real-world lesson in why replacing parts isn’t the same as diagnosing a car—and why sometimes the most valuable question a technician can ask is: What have I proved right, and what have I proved wrong? Also this hour: when should you get a wheel alignment, why a car can be out of alignment without pulling, an A/C system that cools until the Florida heat arrives, and why guessing at refrigerant charge can create more problems than it solves. Real calls. Real cars. Real diagnostics. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor. Car Advice, Done Right  🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The $3,200 Wire Harness That Didn’t Need To Be 05.09.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - September 5, 2026 - Hour 1 A 2015 Dodge Durango arrives on a flatbed over the weekend with a crank-no-start. The tow-truck diagnosis? Fuel pump. Maybe?! By Monday morning, the Durango starts perfectly—and that’s where the real diagnosis begins. Rather than throw a fuel pump at it, Ron goes back to basics: codes, fuel pressure, fuel volume, current draw and finally a thermal imager. That’s when one electrical connector starts telling the story, climbing past 160 degrees. The fuel pump wasn’t the problem. A failing connection in the fuel-pump circuit was. Then comes problem number two: Chrysler’s apparent solution involves a wiring harness costing roughly $3,200. Ron keeps digging through service information, part numbers and cross-references until he finds the connector needed to make the repair for under $200. Same vehicle. Same failure. Completely different repair. Also this hour: a listener with a 2020 Honda Odyssey that intermittently loses electrical power, why a battery can test “good” and still deserve a closer look, the importance of loaded voltage-drop testing, and a 2004 Cadillac SRX presenting a different challenge—what do you do when the parts you need simply aren't available? The lesson? A symptom is a clue, not a conclusion. Test the basics, prove what's good, find what's bad—and sometimes, think outside the box. Car Advice, Done Right  🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  When Four Scan Tools Aren’t Enough 29.08.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 29, 2026 How many scan tools does it take to fix one car? Sometimes more than you think. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, takes you into the service bay with a 2022 Honda HR-V that came in for routine maintenance and turned into a lesson about just how complicated modern auto repair has become. After service and resets, the TPMS and traction-control warnings wouldn’t cooperate. Multiple aftermarket scan tools couldn’t complete the necessary calibration—but access to the Honda factory-level tool finally got the job done. Ron explains why today’s independent repair shop needs more than one scan tool, why factory-level access is becoming increasingly important, and why scan-tool manufacturers need to do a better job of telling technicians the exact conditions required before a calibration or reset can succeed. Also this hour: Tom tries Ford’s new mobile oil-change service and asks whether convenience can really replace putting a vehicle on a lift in a properly equipped shop. A caller battles a terrible interior odor after an ozone-machine treatment, Ron explains permanent diagnostic trouble codes, and there’s an update on the 1972 Monte Carlo. Finally, Ron looks at a 95,000-mile used Hyundai for a customer and raises an increasingly important question: With the price and complexity of today’s used cars, is an extended warranty becoming part of the cost of buying one? Modern cars are complicated. Having the right tool—and knowing how to use it—can make all the difference. Car Advice, Done Right  🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Best Repair Is Sometimes The One You Don’t Take 29.08.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor -  August 29, 2026 Sometimes fixing cars starts with knowing which cars—and which customers—not to take on. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens this hour with the story of a first-time customer looking for the cheapest possible brake job on her Lincoln. She already had another shop’s diagnosis, didn’t want to pay for an initial vehicle inspection, and questioned why Ron needed to look at anything beyond the front brakes. Ron explains why policies, procedures and managing expectations aren’t obstacles to good auto repair—they’re part of doing the job right. Then it’s into the phones and mailbag: an intermittent ABS light on a 2010 Toyota Corolla, the high cost of modern vehicle repairs, a 2009 RAV4 with 202,000 miles and a failing transmission, CVT judder questions, a missing Lexus wheel-lock key, and one of the most difficult brake jobs around—the Ford Transit. Plus, Ron shares a lesson from his first boss that has stayed with him for 50 years: cars will always need good brakes, good tires, a reliable battery and good wiper blades. Safety first. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Does Safety Equipment Make Repairing Your Car Too Expensive? 24.08.2026 35λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 22, 2026 Tune into this hour of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor as he welcomes Matt Moore of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, iihs.org  .  The conversation is all about the cost of repairing vehicles today. Does the safety equipment on the vehicle raise the price? Or is it something else? The answers will surprise you! Visit our website www.cardoctorshow.com Car Advice, Done Right  🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What Will Your Next Oil Change Cost? 22.08.2026 35λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 22, 2026 Ron opens the show today warning us of the problems he is experiencing with the availability and rising price of engine oil and all oil based products. He brings his perspective honed in the shop to air so we can all understand why our next oil change will cost more AND why we should be concerned if it doesn't.  Later in the hour he sits down with Jerry Reeves of Dayco products discussing serpentine & timing belts and timing chains. The how, the why and the when' of replacement.  And the importance of paying attention to all of the systems. Car Advice, Done Right  🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Getting Your Money's Worth Out Of The Repair! 15.08.2026 35λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 15, 2026  A new battery. A new starter. And the Jeep still doesn't start correctly. Ron begins this hour with a reminder that replacing parts isn't diagnosing a problem. Modern vehicles can be incredibly sensitive to voltage, and sometimes the difference between starting and not starting comes down to a few tenths of a volt. Tell me what's good, and I'll tell you what's bad. Test first. Replace second. Then the conversation turns to a 2009 Toyota Tacoma approaching 200,000 miles with a possible head-gasket problem, and Ron discusses how to confirm the diagnosis—and whether repairing an older truck can still make more financial sense than replacing it. A particularly important call involves an 80-year-old Mustang owner experiencing frightening engine surges while stopping. Is it an intermittent vehicle problem—or could the driver unknowingly be pressing the brake and accelerator at the same time? Ron talks about troubleshooting the car while also preserving the dignity and independence of an aging driver. Finally, an owner wonders whether it's time to retire his 159,000-mile Hyundai after several recent repairs. Ron puts the repair bills against the cost of a $24,000 replacement and asks the question every longtime car owner eventually faces: When have you gotten your money's worth—and when is it finally time to move on?    Car Advice, Done Right  🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Does Automotive Technology Define Vehicle Life? 15.08.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 15, 2026 When did owning a car become so complicated—and so expensive? Ron looks at the real cost of modern vehicle ownership, from a 2017 Ford Explorer facing thousands of dollars in water pump and timing-chain repairs to today's technology-packed vehicles where cameras, radar, modules, software, and networks all have to keep working long after the new-car smell is gone. The question becomes: Is it cheaper to repair the car in your driveway, or start over with another one? Ron also explains why maintenance remains one of the few automotive expenses you can actually control—and why the cheapest repair can ultimately become the most expensive one.Plus, listener calls tackle Toyota fuel-trim diagnostics, a nearly new Chevy Silverado with a surprisingly complicated transmission-fluid service, and a 1980s Chevy Celebrity from Mexico City with an idle problem. Along the way, Ron asks another increasingly important question: Have modern cars become so complicated that we've taken basic serviceability out of the owner's hands? Car Advice, Done Right 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  When Is an Old Car Worth Fixing? 08.08.2026 35λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 8, 2026 - Hour 2 When does a big repair bill make sense on an older, high-mileage vehicle? Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, talks with a listener facing that exact decision on a 2017 Ford Explorer with 225,000 miles and a failed internal water pump. Instead of simply asking, “Is the car worth the repair?” Ron looks at the bigger question: What would it cost to replace the vehicle—and how many more years can you realistically get out of the one you already own? Then it’s back to diagnostics with a 1991 Ford Bronco suffering from cold-start and stalling problems, followed by a Cadillac with a dangerously hot negative battery cable that points toward a ground or connection problem. Ron also revisits his Five-Minute Rule for the repair shop: if a technician has been struggling with something for more than five minutes, it’s time to ask for help. Good mechanics get the job done; great mechanics learn better ways to get it done. Plus, why replacement bulbs for older vehicles are becoming harder to find, carbon-cleaning possibilities that could turn a $6,000 repair into a $500 repair, and Ron follows up on the debate over whether premium gasoline really contains more detergent than regular. Car Advice, Done Right — with Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Good Mechanics Get It Done. Great Mechanics Find a Better Way. 08.08.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 8, 2026 - Hour 1 What separates a good mechanic from a great one? Sometimes it’s not what you know—it’s being willing to learn a better way and then pass it along. Ron opens this episode with a story from another repair shop, where a frustrated technician was fighting a set of parking brake shoes on a Dodge Ram. A few minutes, a different approach, and a little shared experience turned frustration into a lesson: good mechanics get it done; great mechanics figure out better ways to do it. It’s also a reminder that the next generation of technicians needs experienced mechanics willing to teach, not simply stand back and watch them struggle. Then the phones take over. Bill from Iowa shares the remarkable story of the 1938 Chevrolet he bought in 1962—and still owns today—including a Route 66 trip to California. John calls back about the mysterious 2020 Silverado engine that was mechanically locked but later freed up, leading Ron through the question every diagnostician eventually faces: Do you keep taking it apart, or are you closer to putting it together and seeing what it tells you? Plus, a Honda Pilot suffers catastrophic engine damage after a timing belt fails only about 30,000 miles after replacement, raising questions about parts, workmanship and what was actually replaced. And Ron closes with another issue facing repair shops today: When does the condition of a customer's vehicle become a health or safety hazard for the technician expected to work on it? Experience, diagnostics, responsibility and a little wisdom from the service bay on this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Don't Bring Your Car to the Shop on Empty 01.08.2026 34λ

  August 1, 2026  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor Ever wonder why your mechanic asks that you bring your vehicle in with fuel in the tank? Ron explains why arriving with only a few miles to empty can delay repairs, prevent proper road testing, increase diagnostic time, and even create unnecessary liability for both the customer and the repair shop. Then Ron answers listener questions about choosing the right brake lubricant, waking up a PT Cruiser after months of sitting idle, and whether "lifetime" transmission fluid really lasts a lifetime on a high-mileage Ram pickup. It's another hour of practical automotive advice, real repair stories, and the honest perspective that only comes from someone working in the service bay every day. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Your Cheapest Car Is the One You Already Own 01.08.2026 35λ

  August 1, 2026  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor With new vehicle prices climbing toward record highs and replacement costs continuing to rise, Ron explains why the smartest financial decision may be taking better care of the vehicle already sitting in your driveway. He discusses the true cost of replacing a car versus repairing one, why deferred maintenance often turns into expensive repairs, and why a trusted repair shop is protecting far more than your transportation—it's protecting your investment. Later, Ron answers listener questions about 88-octane gasoline, diagnosing electrical problems without guessing, cruise control repairs on a Chrysler, and tracking down an interior lighting issue on a Buick. It's another hour of practical automotive advice, real-world diagnostics, and common-sense financial thinking from the repair bay. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  There's No Shortcut to Doing It Right 25.07.2026 35λ

  July 25, 2026  This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron explains why the best repairs begin with the basics—not assumptions. A 2010 Ford Explorer with transmission trouble leads to a deeper discussion about water-damaged electronics, obsolete parts, and why replacing the obvious problem first often saves time and money. Then it's a conversation about Subaru's automatic stop/start system, warranty concerns, and whether aftermarket modifications really put you at risk. Ron also welcomes Tony Ingram of Advance Auto Parts to discuss the right way to wash, wax, and protect your vehicle, including the growing popularity of ceramic coatings and why proper maintenance protects far more than just your paint. The hour wraps up with practical advice on restoring an older GM door latch when replacement parts no longer exist, plus a quick Mailbag answer on Nissan Titan steering repairs. Whether you're chasing an electrical gremlin, wondering if a modification is worth the risk, or just trying to make your vehicle last another 100,000 miles, this episode reminds us that good diagnostics—and good maintenance—never go out of style. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Repairs You Shouldn't Make 25.07.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor -July 25, 2026 - Hour 1  Sometimes the hardest repair is the one you refuse to make. This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron shares the story of a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with inoperative air conditioning that raises a much bigger question than a failed relay. When the factory repair requires replacing a $1,000 power distribution center, why not simply wire in a new relay? The answer comes down to professional responsibility, liability, and understanding the difference between repairing a vehicle and redesigning it. Ron also helps parents navigate the pros and cons of leasing a first vehicle for a brand-new driver, offers advice on tracking down a mysterious drivetrain vibration in a Dodge Charger, revisits dealership parts pricing and customer loyalty, and explains how to restore an obsolete GM door latch when replacement parts no longer exist. Whether you're a professional technician or someone who simply wants repairs done the right way, this episode is a reminder that every decision under the hood carries consequences—and the best repair is always the one you can confidently explain to your customer... or to a judge. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Classic Car Doctor: Factory Programming Changed Auto Repair 22.07.2026 36λ

  Ron starts the hour interviewing Hugh Atkins of Drew Technologies about computer flashing : takes a call on a 2010 GMC Savannah 3500 with questions on changing to synthetic transmission fluid : interviews Harlan Siegel of Launch Tech USA regarding...
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  Classic Car Doctor : The Mechanic Makes the Scan Tool 22.07.2026 36λ

  Ron starts the hour talking about not one but two repairs of the week that had him shaking his head : takes a call on a 2004 Pontiac Vibe with several general questions : interviews Jerry Ostalecki of getgibbs.com : takes a call on a 2007 Matrix where...
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  Ford's 10-Speed Transmission Problems & The Truth About Top Tier Gas 18.07.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 18, 2026 Is your Ford or GM 10-speed transmission shifting hard, flaring between gears, or acting unpredictably? Ron explains why these transmissions commonly develop problems, what should be checked before replacing a transmission, and why software updates, fluid condition, and valve body issues can all play a role. Ron also answers questions about a high-mileage Acura RDX transmission, discusses whether it's smarter to repair or replace an older vehicle, explains what "Top Tier" gasoline really means and whether it's worth the extra money, and shares why preventative maintenance is still the least expensive repair you'll ever buy. Plus, listener calls on diesel trucks, transmission diagnostics, and keeping high-mileage vehicles on the road—because good mechanics aren't expensive... they're priceless. Car Advice, Done Right. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  When One Glow Plug Can Cost You an Engine 18.07.2026 34λ

  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 18, 2026  A simple check engine light on a high-mileage 2016 Chevy Silverado Duramax turns into a lesson in why experience matters. Ron shares the tense, hour-long battle to safely remove a seized glow plug without turning an $800 repair into an $18,000 engine replacement—and explains why the best technicians know when to slow down. Also this week, Ron talks with a Honda owner wondering if a dealership's $3,300 repair recommendation is really necessary, helps diagnose a no-crank Cadillac CTS, discusses Harley-Davidson starting issues, and explains why sometimes the most valuable tool in the shop isn't a scan tool or a socket set—it's decades of experience. It's another hour of Car Advice, Done Right. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.