Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

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 diagno...

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...

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....

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...

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 i...

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-sc...

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 – Inst...

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 CarDoct...

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 b...

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,...

Flashing a School Bus (Legally): ABS Programming, Honda Axles, Hemi Misfires & EVAP Fixes In this episode of  Ron Ananian The Car Doctor , Ron opens with a shop story you won’t forget—flashing a 2008 Chevy short school bus after its new ABS module came in blank. Using the OPUS IVS 360 and remote tech support, he gets the “empty” controller fully configured and back...

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: Thermostats, Cold Misfires, Dual-Tank Gremlins & Shop Truths Ron opens with “the good, the bad, and the ugly,” then dives into rapid-fire diagnostics: a 2019 Chevy Blazer that loses A/C and power assist when a bad thermostat skews engine temp strategy; a 2017 Ford Explorer with P0300/P0316 cold-start misfires and how to prove cause using Mode 6, fr...

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Interview Summary – Optima Batteries with Daryl Brockman Ron talks with Daryl Brockman from Optima Batteries about how today’s vehicles demand more from their batteries. With start/stop systems and heavy electronics, AGM batteries are the go-to for reliability and long life. Optima offers RedTop for standard loads, YellowTop for high-demand systems, and ne...

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor Fast phones this hour: real overheat triage, clutch/flywheel choices, steering play sanity check, BG carbon service for DI, modern sludge cures, and value axles. Chapter Markers 00:00 – Open / Tease 00:58 – Mark (Bronx) – Sudden Overheat, 4-cyl Honda Steam + gauge pinned = real overheat. Don’t drive; tow. Check thermostat/coolant/pump; rule out h...

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor Three-day shop sprint, ATG misfire class takeaways, and a through-line: maintenance beats repairs. Then calls on when to keep/swap cars, run-flats vs spares, and streetable performance cooling—plus a quick washer-fluid myth-buster. Chapter Markers 00:00 – Open / Monologue 3-day week grind; ATG class (Edison). Recognition from listeners. Big takeaway: factory...

Diagnostics Isn’t a Guess: Go the Distance Ron opens with the truth about diagnostics: commitment, not guessing, gets cars fixed. A stubborn ’06 Acura misfire sets the stage, then real calls highlight trust, process, and the dangers of shortcuts—from a Subaru owner who celebrates his shop, to a Jeep with a rear main leak, a Silverado with a dragging brake, and a Buick Enclave tha...

Brakes, Transmissions, Driveline Clunks & the Future of Batteries Description: From spongy brakes on a 4Runner to a Malibu that won’t stay put in park, Ron takes listener calls on tricky driveline and transmission issues. Then Optima Batteries’ Daryl Brockman joins the show to break down the latest in AGM and lithium technology, Hypercore cold-start performance, and why battery tec...

Why Cars Cost More Than Just Repairs | The Car Doctor Podcast From BMW leases to Toyota hybrids, wiring harness nightmares to blown diesel dreams, Ron Ananian takes calls that prove cars are more than machines — they’re a lifestyle choice. In this episode: Should you buy out that BMW X5 lease or go Toyota RAV4? Why a Ford E-150’s hidden wiring fault proves experience matters. The...

EV Mandates, Appliance Bans & the Hidden Costs of Going Green | The Car Doctor Podcast Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor , sits down with energy expert Mark Mills for a wide-ranging discussion on EVs, government mandates, and the future of car ownership. Together, they break down: Why Washington’s appliance bans mirror EV mandates. What Germany’s sudden end to EV subsidies really means....

From Florida heat to Maine winters to a single mom’s daily grind—this week’s Car Doctor covers it all. Tom from Lakeland asks if tire pressure should follow the placard or the sidewall in the Florida heat. Paul in Maine is burning through Prius rear brakes, and Ron explains the factory fix every Prius owner should know. Then Alicia from Illinois, with 227k miles on her Ford Escap...

From Louisiana highways to Texas garages to Florida driveways—this hour of The Car Doctor covers it all. John from Louisiana reports a blown head gasket on his 2018 Honda Accord 2.0 turbo, part of a growing issue among Honda owners. Ron explains why turbo engines are failing and how to push Honda for support when repairs run into the thousands. An email from Daniel reveals a shop mistake tha...

Tiffany’s $16,000 Jeep Corrosion Battle |  Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor Podcast Description: Jeep door hinge corrosion, costly repairs, and a year-long fight—Tiffany shares how she finally got Jeep to pay a $16,000 bill. Ron Ananian explains galvanic corrosion, hidden recall risks, and why some Chrysler and Crossfire repairs are so expensive. Tune in on your local radio affiliate o...

Ford F-350 Stall Mystery, Jeep Door Hinge Fail & VW Beetle Memories | The Car Doctor Podcast In this episode of Ron Ananian The Car Doctor , Ron digs into a puzzling Ford F-350 stall problem that mimics a fuel delivery issue despite holding steady fuel pressure. Learn his diesel truck troubleshooting approach, from checking PCM relay pins to comparing injector pulse width with MAP sensor readi...

When Bad Car Repair Days Come in Bunches | The Car Doctor Podcast Some days in the auto repair shop feel like “grape days” — problems arrive in bunches, and every job fights you. In this episode of Ron Ananian The Car Doctor , Ron shares real mechanic shop stories from one such day. It starts with a Ford Escape turbo repair —a pricey vacuum line assembly tied to a rare faul...

Car Repair Costs & Cadillac Power Loss | The Car Doctor Podcast Description In this hour of The Car Doctor , Ron Ananian tackles rising car repair costs and answers listener calls with real‑world shop advice:   2003 Cadillac DeVille – new window regulator but still inoperative 2016 Cadillac SRX – ABS, StabiliTrak & power steering failures 2010 Ford F‑150 5.4L – inter...