Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

In this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron steps away from the wrench for a moment and talks from the heart about a growing crisis in the auto repair world: there aren’t enough mechanics to fix tomorrow’s cars. Sparked by Ford CEO Jim Farley’s recent comment that he can’t fill 5,000 technician jobs paying $120,000 a year, Ron digs into why the trade gets so little respect, why consumers don’t see what really goes on in the service bay, and how that disconnect is hurting everyone. Ron shares real stories from his New Jersey shop, including a 2016 Chevy Equinox owner who “pre-diagnosed” his own timing chain problem, and explains how modern cars, complicated electronics, and a lack of machine shops have pushed repair work into all-or-nothing territory. He calls out YouTube University, the graying technician workforce, and the urgent need to bring auto shop and the trades back into schools before the backlog of broken cars gets even worse. If you care about auto

In this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron opens with a visit to the local liquor store and a simple question—“How’s business?”—that quickly turns into a bigger conversation about the crazy state of the world, the economy, and yes, auto repair. From there, he dives into a head-scratcher in the shop: a 2020 GMC Denali with an intermittent no-crank that’s already on its fifth starter in five years. The owner’s “hammer tap” trick has always worked—until it doesn’t. Ron walks through modern battery testing, why today’s algorithm-based testers can miss an intermittent failure, how his old-school carbon pile load tester finally cracked the case, and why he ended up replacing both the battery and starter with parts he trusts. The phones light up and Ron tackles a grab bag of real-world problems: A Toyota Tacoma with a long-standing rear “thump” that feels like someone hit you from behind – is it axle wrap, pinion ang

This week, Ron talks with automotive journalist Matt DeLorenzo, author of Mercedes AMG, about how two German engineers turned a luxury car brand into a racing powerhouse. From the birth of AMG in a small town workshop to the legendary “Flying Pig” that stunned the racing world, Matt shares how Mercedes’ high-performance division grew into one of motorsport’s most dominant forces. Hear the story behind the initials A-M-G, why each engine is hand-built by a single craftsman, and how today’s AMG hypercars still carry that racing DNA. Whether you’re a Benz fan or just love great car stories, this deep dive into performance history is one you won’t want to miss. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560

This week on Ron Ananian The Car Doctor, Ron opens with a story about the “Price of Bagels” — and what a $126 breakfast says about the cost of living, value, and perspective. Then he takes calls from listeners coast-to-coast: Lee from Maine wonders if her rusted 2006 Toyota Camry is worth saving or if it’s time for a newer ride, and Carl from Wisconsin learns how to manage a weak battery and missing voltmeter on his 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. In the second half of the show, Ron sits down with automotive journalist Matt DeLorenzo, author of Mercedes-AMG, to explore the hidden hot-rod heritage behind Mercedes-Benz — from the birth of AMG to the legendary “Flying Pig” race car and today’s hand-built performance machines. It’s part car talk, part life lesson — all with that trademark Car Doctor mix of humor, heart, and horsepower. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for

This week on Ron Ananian The Car Doctor, Ron opens with a real Tuesday-morning phone call: a Honda owner chasing the cheapest tie rod and wheel alignment in town after a “great cheap oil change” at the dealer. From there, Ron breaks down the wrong way to talk to a repair shop, why price-shopping without a relationship always backfires, and how skipped 30k/45k/60k services eventually come due—with interest. Ron also takes listener calls from around the country: Billy in Colorado needs to flush a 2010 VW Jetta 2.5 cooling system loaded with oil. Ron walks him through an efficient DIY-style coolant exchange using the expansion bottle instead of a machine. Andrea in Delaware hears a whining noise on her 2017 Ram 6.4 Hemi. After a transmission update and conflicting opinions, Ron explains how to separate real diagnosis from guesswork and why she needs a shop that actually listens to the truck. Nate in Oregon, a BMW tech and former Acura lube tech, shares a pro tip for removing stubborn Hond

Sunroof Drains, Honest Oil Changes & a Flash-Fixed Buick Quick hits this week: why sunroof drains are “house gutters” for your car, the oil-change must-dos most shops skip (clean work, proper torque, new crush washers), and a Chevy 2500 6.6L gas with rising oil consumption—what to ask the dealer and why it can cook cats/O2 sensors. Plus, a 2013 Buick’s harsh “slam into Drive” solved by the second factory software update (Opus IVS). Next week: Mercedes-AMG with Matt DeLorenzo. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The $49 Bagel Test — Why a Real Oil Change Costs What It Costs Bagels don’t get price complaints—but oil changes do. Ron compares a $49 North Jersey bagel run to the true value of a proper oil change: factory drain-plug gaskets, under-car inspection, torque specs, shields off/on, and a road test that keeps you safe at highway speeds. Plus: a Buick saved by an “it-won’t-work” ECU re-flash, diagnosing a P0300 random misfire and lean trims (cat damage risk), Quadra-jet hot-start basics, and chasing brake shake after a subframe swap with dial indicators and mount checks. Call in your oil-change price and what you actually got. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE &

In this hour, Ron tackles real-world fixes: a 2017 Jeep Wrangler with sticky steering (steering shaft u-joints + PB Blaster), a P0128 thermostat rate-of-rise code and murky coolant, a 2012 Honda CR-V catalytic converter myth (why cats do wear out), and a 2013 Chevy Silverado low-compression mystery (leak-down tests, borescopes, and a $20 vacuum gauge). Practical diagnostics, parts advice (MotoRad, CRC), and smart ownership tips—all in plain English. If you’re chasing misfires, no-starts, or slow warm-ups, this one’s your roadmap. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode demystifies Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and why they’re not recalls. Ron breaks down GM’s 23-NA-072 low-speed TCC shudder—what “ATF degradation” really means and why a full transmission fluid exchange matters. Then: the Toyota RAV4 P0755 shift-solenoid fault and why many were cured with an updated OE ECM, not a transmission. Plus a quick diagnostic for a 1994 Chevy Blazer speedometer that dies on bumps (VSS → DRAC → cluster, use the cruise test). Practical, no-nonsense diagnostics that save parts—and wallets. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern      See omnystudio.com/listener for

Ron walks a caller through the right way to measure parasitic draw (use a real meter with min/max and leave it connected), then tackles GL-4 vs GL-5 confusion on a ’99 Sentra—plus where to find stubborn drain plugs when OEMs say “obsolete.” We hit hybrid maintenance realities with a ’22 Prius CVT service, a cold-start 7.3 Power Stroke that likely needs cleaning for stiction and better cranking strategy, and a 2017 Colorado Duramax with a first-gear slip that may respond to additive—before facing the cost of a rebuild. Ron also flags industry ripples from parts-maker bankruptcies and why cheap, mystery-brand components are costing drivers more in the long run. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 56

Code P0203, winter-readiness, and two electrical gremlins. Ron opens with a 2015 Jeep Wrangler 3.6L that set P0303 (misfire) and P0203 (injector circuit). He walks through smart diagnostics: verify injector resistance against known-good cylinders, check the circuit from PCM to injector, then confirm with a scope or a swap test—because a component can ohm “good” cold and fail hot. From there, he pivots to fall-and-winter driving prep in response to an RV-fire traffic shutdown: fuel up, pack essentials, and plan for long, no-exit stretches. Classic-iron detour: documenting a ’67 Chevy II Nova (VIN/cowl tag and build sheet beat a window sticker). Then it’s a ’96 Olds Aurora with a fickle charge (don’t trust the dash—test the alternator feed and wiring) and an ’09 Escape no-crank likely flirting with anti-theft/steering-lock issues. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor - Hour Recap ’72 Dodge Dart (Kevin): Skip octane boosters/race gas; a true ~10:1 flat-top can run on quality 93. Focus on plug heat range, timing, and jetting. “Mild goes wild.” ’75 Chevy Van (Greg): Hot-soak flooding. If no boil-over or needle/seat drip, likely needs a pro Quadrajet rebuild/flow test after decades of service. ’08 Kia Rondo (Beth): After repeated A/C failures, weigh repair costs vs. replacement. Consider a well-kept Toyota Solara; one trusted shop > bouncing around. ’03 Buick LeSabre (Sam): With exhaust off at 250k, replace both O₂ sensors with OEM-grade parts. Changing courtesy-light delay likely requires GM Tech-2 (if BCM supports). Listener Email (Miles): Trickle-charging a 2025 Camry Hybrid is generally fine; “deprogramming” refers to adaptives, not OS. Confirm specifics with a savvy Toyota dealer. Ron’s button: We’re “the last Jedi” of hot rodding—keep the torch lit. G

Remote from “somewhere in Pennsylvania,” Ron turns a repair-shop counter chat into a bigger question: don’t shop for the cheapest or the flashiest—shop for the capable. Then the phones fly: a 2021 Nissan Kicks with a stubborn P0101 (use calculated load & fuel trims, don’t parts-swap), a 2024 Highlander maintenance roadmap (fluids early and often), a 1970 Impala idle-stop solenoid lesson, a 2002 Sequoia stuck in 4WD low (likely front-diff actuator/binding—stop driving, inspect), and a 2002 Cummins with dead batteries (charge correctly, then parasitic-draw test <50 mA). Closer: “Good mechanics aren’t expensive—they’re priceless.” Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 56

Ron takes his hot rod out for a spin for the first time in a while, then it’s straight into a marathon of listener calls. From every corner of America and on every kind of vehicle, it’s another fast-paced hour with The Car Doctor. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Car Doctor, Ron explains why the show isn’t on remote as planned and turns the change into a lesson from a recent shop repair. Then the phones light up, and it’s a full hour of fast-paced problem solving as Ron races to get everyone an answer before time runs out. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ron sits down with IIHS’s Dr. Jessica Jermakian. Together they break down Child Passenger Safety Week: rear-facing timelines, why kids belong in the back seat to age 12, proper restraint selection/installation, modeling safe driving, and what to do if your airbag light is on—along with trusted resources at www.IIHS.org Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, the first half tackles real-world issues—from new-car tech overwhelm to a GMC Denali folding-mirror diagnosis, plus maintenance advice for a 2016 F-250 and a Chevy Trax fuel-fill vent problem. In the second half, IIHS’s Dr. Jessica Jermakian breaks down Child Passenger Safety Week: rear-facing timelines, why kids belong in the back seat to age 12, proper restraint selection/installation, modeling safe driving, and what to do if your airbag light is on—along with trusted resources at www.IIHS.org Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

The Car Doctor – Checks, Banks & Real-World Car Fixes  On this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron exposes the hidden headaches of running a small auto repair business—from a QuickBooks/FedEx check security scare to a TD Bank account freeze—and how a proactive Chase Bank solved it. Callers get practical fixes: a Chevy Tahoe brake-pedal height solution, a Duramax diesel fuel/vacuum diagnostic tip, and a Ford Explorer cold-start game plan. Plus, a sneak peek at a 2015 Toyota Highlander spark plug video that proves why “simple” jobs aren’t so simple. Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900 Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern