Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - November 7, 2026
When did affordable transportation become a luxury? With the average advertised used-car price hovering around $27,000, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, asks a question millions of drivers are facing: Is it smarter to spend $5,000 repairing the car you already own or take on years of payments for another used vehicle?
Drawing on nearly five decades in the repair business, Ron explains why a vehicle's book value doesn't always tell the whole story. From a $5,000 transmission repair to a possible $10,000 engine replacement, the real question isn't simply what your car is worth. It's what reliable transportation will cost you next.
Also on this episode:
1996 Dodge Ram 1500: Don in Iowa buys a $1,000 auction truck with a slipping transmission, deteriorating brake lines, and signs of rust. Is the transmission fluid responsible for the shifting problems, or did he inherit somebody else's expensive repair?

2019 GMC Denali: Blaine in Louisiana struggles with an intermittent slow-cranking condition despite a new battery and clean diagnostic scans. Ron explains why voltage-drop testing, battery cables, and overlooked factory service bulletins may hold the answer.

1979 Pontiac Trans Am: Perry in Minnesota owns an exceptionally original Trans Am with just 33,000 miles. After years in climate-controlled storage, what should be inspected, serviced, or replaced before putting this classic back on the road without sacrificing its originality?

Whether you're trying to keep a 15-year-old daily driver alive, diagnosing an electrical problem that refuses to set a trouble code, or preserving a nearly 50-year-old classic, this hour is about making informed decisions instead of expensive guesses.
Sometimes the smartest repair is the one you make. And sometimes the best advice a mechanic can give you is not to fix the car at all.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor — America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
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.

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 1 - November 7, 2026
What happens when the factory repair manual is wrong, but your experience tells you something different? Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, takes listeners inside R\A Automotive for a week that began with no heat in the shop and turned into a diagnostic battle with a 2016 Chevy Cruze.
A stubborn P0171 lean condition, unusual crankcase vacuum readings, and conflicting factory specifications send Ron searching for answers. When he finally uncovers a GM bulletin acknowledging incorrect service information, the pieces fall into place. It's a lesson in trusting your experience, questioning the information, and proving your diagnosis before replacing parts.
Also on this episode:
2023 Ram Hemi: Kevin calls with a camshaft failure at just 30,000 miles, questionable dealership repairs, and a fight over warranty coverage. When should the manufacturer replace an engine instead of continuing to repair it?

2013 Lincoln Navigator: A mysterious rattling noise under load remains after the dealership replaces the water pump. Ron explains why timing chains, cam phasers, and variable valve timing deserve a closer look.

2006 Buick Rendezvous: A recently purchased Buick develops engine noise after its first oil change. Did switching to synthetic oil cause the problem, or did the fresh oil reveal an engine that was already worn? Plus, an ABS problem raises the question of how much money to invest in a $2,000 vehicle.

From incorrect factory information to expensive engine repairs and the realities of owning older vehicles, Ron reminds us that successful auto repair isn't about guessing. It's about asking the right questions, testing, and knowing when the evidence tells a different story.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor — America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
Good mechanics aren't expensive. They're priceless.
🌐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.

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 1 - October 31, 2026
After nearly five decades in the repair business, Ron Ananian has a confession: There are still things he can't fix. Or at least, things he hasn't figured out how to fix yet.
Take a 2009 Ford Mustang with a rear-window defroster tab that simply refuses to stay attached. After years of frustration, repeated failures, and one determined effort, Ron discovers that four tiny bumps on a metal tab may hold the answer. It's a lesson in patience, observation, and why even experienced mechanics never stop learning.
Then the phones light up. Carl in Wisconsin wonders why his 2024 Nissan Pathfinder shows unusually low battery voltage after a 200-mile trip. Ron explains modern computer-controlled charging systems and how to tell normal operation from a problem.
Joe in Florida faces a potentially $5,000 ABS repair on his 2017 Honda Accord. Could repairing the electronic module instead of replacing the entire assembly save thousands? Ron discusses the diagnostics, risks, and economics of that decision.
And Dodge in Delaware wants to exchange the transmission fluid in his 2023 Toyota 4Runner. Ron walks through the cooler-line method and explains why preventive maintenance matters.
Finally, Ron remembers a conversation with his father, an aircraft mechanic, who taught him something as a young boy that has stayed with him throughout his career: When you encounter something you can't fix, stop, think, be logical, and remember that there's always a solution.
Sometimes the greatest tool in a mechanic's toolbox isn't a wrench. It's the willingness to keep learning.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor — America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
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.

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - October 31, 2026
Five Shops Missed It. One Honda Nearly Lost Control.
A 2017 Honda Accord arrives at R/A Automotive with a popping and clunking noise that two dealerships and three repair shops couldn't resolve. What Ron and technician Danny discover is frightening: a dangerously loose ball joint allowing nearly three-quarters of an inch of movement. And that's only the beginning. A stripped brake caliper mounting bolt reveals another potentially catastrophic failure waiting to happen. How did so many shops miss it?
Then, Greg in Florida calls about his 1980 AMC Eagle that stalls after 20 minutes of running. Is it the DuraSpark ignition module, or is everyone overlooking the obvious? Ron explains why testing beats guessing every time.
Walt calls from Hawaii with a 1993 Toyota Camry that suddenly stalled and wouldn't restart until it cooled down. Ron explores ignition components, temperature sensors, and the challenges of diagnosing intermittent failures.
Plus, a spirited conversation about Ferrari, Bugatti, and the Right to Repair, and a listener responds to Ron question from last week: Have Americans fallen out of love with their cars?
Real calls. Real problems. REAL ANSWERS!
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor — America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
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.

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - October 24, 2026
Have we fallen out of love with our cars, or has owning one just become too expensive?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens Hour 2 with a question worth thinking about. A customer spends nearly $6,000 repairing a nine-year-old Chevy with just 70,000 miles. Why? Because spending $6,000 to keep a dependable car on the road beats spending $30,000 or $50,000 to replace it.
But that gets Ron thinking. Have we lost the emotional connection we once had with our automobiles?
From Sunday drives with Dad in an old Lincoln to colorful muscle cars, car washes, and weekend Cars & Coffee gatherings, Ron wonders whether today's drivers still love their cars or simply view them as expensive transportation.
Plus, in this hour:
2009 Ford Escape washer pump mystery: A Delaware caller discovers why a failed front windshield washer might actually be connected to the rear wiper motor.

Old-school gasket repairs: Tips for sealing a cork valve cover gasket on a 1986 Dodge 600.

Coolant isn't just for winter: Michael Marcangelo, Senior Product Manager at PEAK, joins Ron to explain why antifreeze protects your engine year-round.

Coolant colors, chemistry, and compatibility: Why choosing the correct coolant matters more than simply matching colors.

Concentrate or premixed? Which makes more sense for your vehicle and your maintenance routine?

Cooling system safety: How to recognize leaks, avoid dangerous burns, protect pets, and know when it's time to service your antifreeze.

Cars have changed. Prices have changed. And maybe our relationship with the automobile has changed, too.
But one thing hasn't: Good mechanics aren't expensive. They're priceless.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™ — America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
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.