Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, starts the hour talking about rising fuel prices and why the real problem for most drivers may actually be fuel waste caused by overlooked maintenance issues. Ron explains how low tire pressure, dragging brakes, dirty air filters, weak batteries, and lazy oxygen sensors slowly rob vehicles of fuel economy long before a warning light ever appears on the dashboard. He al...

Cheap Gas, Sensor Failures & The Truth About Modern Motor Oil From the archives — September 19, 2015 (Hour 2). Ron opens the hour with a timely discussion on falling gas prices—and what “cheap gas” really means for your vehicle. Is lower cost fuel always a good thing, or is there more to the story? Listener calls bring real-world problems to the table, including a 2007...

Talking to Myself, Tuning Chips & Oil Consumption Truths From the archives — September 19, 2015. Ron kicks off the hour in an unusual way—talking to himself (literally) while working through a real-world issue with an anti-theft system on one of his own vehicles. It’s a candid look at how even seasoned techs think through modern car problems. The calls cover a wide range of i...

In today’s vehicles, fixing the car isn’t just about turning wrenches—it’s about having the right information at the right time. In this hour of  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , Ron sits down with Ross Whiteley of Mitchell 1 to explore how modern repair information systems are shaping the future of automotive diagnostics and service. From factory procedures and wiring di...

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems—better known as ADAS—are changing the way we drive, repair, and think about our vehicles. This hour of  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor takes a deep dive into what ADAS really is, how it works, and why it matters more than ever. Joined by Steve Dawson of Hunter Engineering, Ron breaks down everything from lane departure warning and adaptive cruise co...

The Cost of Not Knowing Your Car This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , Ron talks about the hidden cost of vehicle ownership: not knowing what your car is trying to tell you. From a Volkswagen A/C diagnosis to a Toyota ignition coil problem with no warning light, Ron explains why small symptoms matter and why good diagnosis beats guesswork. Plus, calls on a Toyota Tercel, GMC Envoy brakes, OBD...

Why You Don’t Trust the Repair Shop — and Maybe You Should This week on  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , Ron talks about why so many drivers fear the repair shop — and how to find one you can actually trust. From diagnostic charges and scan tools to choosing consistency over convenience, Ron explains why today’s cars require training, time, and communication. Plus, calls...

Service Writer Commissions, Trust Issues & Tire Vibration Troubles Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , opens the hour with a candid look at how dealer service writer commissions can influence what you’re being sold—and how to tell the difference between necessary maintenance and upsell pressure. From there, the calls roll in. A listener with a 2008 Audi A3 looks for the right scan tool t...

Winter Prep, Rustproofing & Cold Weather Fuel Concerns | Classic Car Doctor Wisdom As winter approaches, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens the hour with a conversation inspired by a recent call from his mom—who reminds him that now is the time to talk about getting your car ready for cold weather. It sets the tone for an hour full of practical advice that still holds up today. Ron takes...

In Hour 2 of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , Ron talks Hyundai engine problems and oil consumption with a caller from Canada dealing with a possible scored-cylinder issue on a 2020 Hyundai Veloster , and explains why calling Hyundai corporate may be the next step. He also helps a listener weigh the hard decision of repairing or replacing a 2011 Chevy Cruze that has been sitting for years with what m...

Ron Ananian opens Hour 1 of  The Car Doctor with the now-famous shop swear jar story and what it says about repair shop culture, professionalism, and doing things the right way. Plus: converting the factory A/C on a 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle, a listener story about a 1967 Rambler overheating from sand left in the engine block, scan tool advice for a Mercedes diesel Sprinter, and a real-world re...

Dead Man's Curve Car Show – September 5, 2015 | Classic Car Show Interviews & Automotive Insights We’re back with the second hour from one of our favorite on-location broadcasts—and if you love classic cars, car shows, and automotive culture , this hour delivers. Kicking things off is Candy Clark from American Graffiti, sharing stories from one of the most iconic car movies o...

We dug a little deeper into the archives and found the first hour of a live broadcast from the April 2006 New York Auto Show . In this episode, we’re right on the show floor at the New York International Auto Show, talking with the show chairman and key organizers about what it takes to bring an event like this to life—how it started, how it grew, and what it meant to the auto industry...

This is a rare find. We recently uncovered a live broadcast of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor from the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, recorded back in April of 2006. This is the second hour of the show that day. It’s a true time capsule—a look at what the automotive industry was, what we thought was cutting-edge, and how far we’ve come sin...

When a Simple Repair Isn’t Simple: Chevy Cruze Breakdown, Subaru No-Start & Modern Car Diagnostics Today on  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , a routine oil change on a Chevy Cruze turns into a full-scale repair story—serpentine belt failure leads to a bad tensioner, worn alternator, water pump issues, and eventually a radiator and A/C repair. It’s a real-world look at how s...

DIY Brake Repair Meets Modern Cars: Electronic Parking Brakes, Scan Tools, Ford Ranger Lights & Dodge 600 Questions Today on  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , Ron opens the hour with a real-world shop story that says everything about where auto repair is headed: what should have been a simple late-model Chevy brake job turned into a scan tool, software update, and electronic parking brake ba...

Deadman's Curve Carve Show - Hour 1 Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , takes the show on the road to the iconic Deadman’s Curve Car Show in Mahwah, New Jersey—where the cars are loud, the stories are louder, and the passion for automotive culture runs deep. Broadcasting live from the heart of the event, Ron connects with a wide range of guests—from builders and enthusiasts to true ico...

From August 29, 2015 – Hour 2 Ron opens the show with a reflection on the quiet moments in repair shops—and the meaningful conversations that happen between shop owners when the noise fades and experience takes over. The calls cover a wide range of real-world situations. A listener considers buying a classic Honda CRX , sparking a discussion about what to look for in older vehicles. An...

Hour 2 of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor is for the Weekend Wrenchers —the driveway DIYers, toolbox in hand, trying to save money and keep their vehicles going in a world where cars are getting more complicated by the minute. Ron opens with a look at how today’s technology is changing the do-it-yourself repair game. Oil changes, filters, fluids, and some brake work may still be within rea...

On this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , Ron starts the show reflecting on the wonder of space travel, the technology behind the return to the moon, and how innovation from the space program still shapes our everyday lives—including the cars we drive. From there, the conversation comes back down to earth with a question many drivers are facing right now: when is it worth fixing the c...

Classic Car Doctor - August 29, 2015 (Hour 1) Take a ride back to  August 29, 2015 , and hear what was happening in the bays—and on the phones—11 years ago on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor Radio Show . Ron opens the hour with a simple but loaded question: how long should it really take to repair an Acura? It’s a conversation that still rings true today—about labor time,...

Classic Car Doctor – August 22, 2015 (Hour 2) Take a step back 11 years and see what drivers were dealing with in the repair shop—and how much (or how little) has changed. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens the hour asking a critical question: how well do you know your vehicle in an emergency? From there, it’s real calls and real advice—extended warranty decisions on a 2013...

Ron opens the phones and takes on a wide mix of car questions, including a Chevy Spark with radio static after a car wash , the real cost of diagnosis, and the growing frustration of modern vehicle ownership. He also talks about oil catch cans , auto stop-start systems , and why some newer features may create more annoyance than value. Along the way, listeners share memories of old-school gas stat...

What used to be a simple repair isn’t so simple anymore. This week, Ron takes you inside the shop for two real-world stories that highlight how fast the automotive repair industry is changing. It starts with a basic freeze-out plug—once a common, inexpensive fix—that has now become nearly impossible to source through traditional channels. What used to be a three-dollar repair can...

Classic Car Doctor – August 22, 2015 Take a ride back with us and see how car problems—and the way we solve them—have evolved over time. Ron kicks off the hour talking about the great American road trip and what it meant then versus now. From there, the phones light up with a wide range of issues that still feel familiar today. We tackle an electrical problem on a 1982 Chevelle,...