Show Notes
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 1 - October 24, 2026 Sometimes the best thing a mechanic can do for a customer is send them somewhere else. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens this hour with a real story from his repair shop. A customer brings in a 2010 Honda for what seems like a simple tire repair. But four aging tires, worn steering components, and an unexpected $1,800 repair estimate turn a small problem into a much bigger decision. Why would Ron recommend a national tire and repair chain instead of keeping the work in his own shop? The answer says a lot about customer trust, the changing automotive repair business, and what it really means to put the customer first. Plus, your calls and questions: Used or new Cadillac? A New Jersey caller whose Lincoln was totaled in a nor'easter needs help choosing her next vehicle, with comfort, warranties, and possible flood damage all part of the equation.
Fuel additives and engine protection: Micah from Maine asks about Hot Shot's Secret, Stiction Eliminator, and maintaining his high-mileage-minded Subaru.
Whatever happened to wiper blade refills? Ron explains how vehicle aerodynamics have changed wiper blade and air filter designs.
A Jeep that nearly burned: A Nevada listener shares a frightening story about leaves and debris igniting inside the heater box of his 1997 Jeep Wrangler.
It's an hour of real-world automotive advice, unexpected lessons, and a reminder that good mechanics aren't always the ones who sell you the repair. Sometimes they're the ones who help you find the best way to get it done. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™ — Real Experience. Real Questions. Real Answers. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
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.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - October 17, 2026 Winter is coming. Are you and your car ready? Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™, tackles one of the most overlooked safety items on your vehicle: windshield wiper blades. Joining Ron is James Croston, Senior Product Manager at PEAK, for a conversation about why good wiper blades matter, how often they should be replaced, and what makes one blade better than another. From streaking and chattering to snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, Ron and James explain why being able to see clearly isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. Plus, real calls and real repairs: 2021 Chrysler Pacifica: A mysterious dashboard rattle at highway speeds. Is it inside the dashboard, or is the wind revealing something else?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - October 17, 2026 - Hour 1 What happens when a simple brake job turns into a repair shop nightmare? Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™, takes listeners behind the scenes of a week that went sideways. With his only technician unexpectedly hospitalized, Ron finds himself working alone, juggling repairs, and battling a 2011 Ford E250 van whose grinding brakes reveal rusted components, seized parking brake hardware, and a growing list of hard-to-find parts. It's a story about experience, persistence, and the quicksand that even seasoned mechanics can find themselves sinking into. Plus, real calls from across America: 2024 Ram 2500 Cummins: Is Hot Shot's Secret Stiction Eliminator worth using in an expensive diesel engine?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - October 10, 2026 - Hour 2 Have modern cars become too complicated—and too expensive for the average driver to own and repair? Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™, tackles that question after a listener from Iowa raises concerns about the growing cost of automotive technology. Ron shares real-world examples from the repair bay, including a 2019 Ford Edge requiring $1,000 in liftgate parts and a two-year-old Genesis facing an astonishing $18,000 headlight-related repair estimate. And what happens when the technology becomes so expensive that a relatively minor accident could total a vehicle? Also in this episode: A listener asks whether six months is too long between oil changes, even when driving just 3,000 miles.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - October 10, 2026 - Hour 1 Sometimes the simplest tests lead to the biggest answers. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™, takes listeners inside the shop with a remarkably clean 2001 Chevy Suburban showing just 31,000 miles—but suffering from a mysterious multiple-cylinder misfire. Using scan data, an old-fashioned mechanic's stethoscope, and a multimeter, Ron tracks the problem to a failed spark plug and ignition coil. Then the phones go international! A listener from Saudi Arabia calls about a 2013 Ford Expedition with an air-conditioning problem that became worse after an evaporator cleaning. Ron walks through blower motor diagnostics, resistor testing, and why replacing parts isn't the same as diagnosing a problem. Plus, a New York caller asks whether Ford should help replace the severely rusted engine cradle on his 2011 Fiesta—and what to do when a potential safety recall doesn't appear under his VIN. Three vehicles. Three different problems. One lesson: Start with the basics, test before replacing parts, and never assume new means good.