Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor starts this weeks show with a repair from the shop. A new customer reached out for help with a 2018 Volvo experiencing a persistent shake at speeds above 52 mph. The car belongs to a couple from New Jersey and has been to a dealership multiple times without a resolution.

Diagnosis Process:
Ron test-drove the car and noted a hula hoop-like vibration at certain speeds.
Placing the car in neutral at 62 mph made the shake disappear, ruling out tires, wheels, and balancing issues.
The shake returned under acceleration, indicating a loaded drivetrain issue.
Unplugging the rear differential’s control unit didn’t resolve the shake, eliminating the rear axle as the cause.
Inspection of the front suspension and axles led to the discovery of a damaged right front axle boot, which had lost 90% of its grease.

Conclusion:
The right front axle was the likely culprit, also causing excessive wear on the right front tire.
Despite expensive previous repairs (turbocharger replacements), the issue had been overlooked.
The owners are now considering selling the car due to additional pending repairs.

Additional Callers & Topics:


Water Leak in a 2014 Honda Civic – A caller from Pennsylvania reported wet carpets and a possible leak from the trunk. Ron suggested checking:
Sunroof drains (already ruled out).
Tail light seals (common leak point).
Trunk drainage channels for debris.
Evaporator drain clog if the issue persists.


Chatter on Acceleration in a 2018 Hyundai – A caller from Long Island described a clutch-like chatter from a stop:
It’s worse when cold.
Hyundai performed a fuel injector service, but it didn’t help.
Ron advised checking fuel trim data and potential pending fault codes, even if no warning lights were present.

Show Highlights:
Ron emphasized the importance of detailed inspections and not assuming diagnoses.
The Car Doctor T-shirts and coffee cups are popular merchandise items.
The show wrapped up with more calls about shutters, shakes, and general car problems.

Visit us at https://www.cardoctorshow.com
Follow Us On Instagram  -   @ronananian   
Visit our You Tube Channel for auto repair tips and videos 
Call Into The Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 (855)560-9900   
Live Call In Show Saturdays 2-4PM Eastern Time 

 

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor starts this weeks show with a repair from the shop. A new customer reached out for help with a 2018 Volvo experiencing a persistent shake at speeds above 52 mph. The car belongs to a couple from New Jersey and has been to a dealership multiple times without a resolution.
Diagnosis Process:
<ul data-start="367" data-end="917">
<li data-start="367" data-end="451">Ron test-drove the car and noted a hula hoop-like vibration at certain speeds.</li>
<li data-start="452" data-end="568">Placing the car in neutral at 62 mph made the shake disappear, ruling out tires, wheels, and balancing issues.</li>
<li data-start="569" data-end="655">The shake returned under acceleration, indicating a loaded drivetrain issue.</li>
<li data-start="656" data-end="775">Unplugging the rear differential&rsquo;s control unit didn&rsquo;t resolve the shake, eliminating the rear axle as the cause.</li>
<li data-start="776" data-end="917">Inspection of the front suspension and axles led to the discovery of a damaged right front axle boot, which had lost 90% of its grease.</li>
</ul>
Conclusion:
<ul data-start="935" data-end="1224">
<li data-start="935" data-end="1026">The right front axle was the likely culprit, also causing excessive wear on the right front tire.</li>
<li data-start="1027" data-end="1140">Despite expensive previous repairs (turbocharger replacements), the issue had been overlooked.</li>
<li data-start="1141" data-end="1224">The owners are now considering selling the car due to additional pending repairs.</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="1226" data-end="1229">
Additional Callers &amp; Topics:
<ol data-start="1268" data-end="1958">
<li data-start="1268" data-end="1608">
Water Leak in a 2014 Honda Civic &ndash; A caller from Pennsylvania reported wet carpets and a possible leak from the trunk. Ron suggested checking:
<ul data-start="1421" data-end="1608">
<li data-start="1421" data-end="1462">Sunroof drains (already ruled out).</li>
<li data-start="1466" data-end="1509">Tail light seals (common leak point).</li>
<li data-start="1513" data-end="1554">Trunk drainage channels for debris.</li>
<li data-start="1558" data-end="1608">Evaporator drain clog if the issue persists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="1610" data-end="1958">
Chatter on Acceleration in a 2018 Hyundai &ndash; A caller from Long Island described a clutch-like chatter from a stop:
<ul data-start="1739" data-end="1958">
<li data-start="1739" data-end="1762">It&rsquo;s worse when cold.</li>
<li data-start="1766" data-end="1834">Hyundai performed a fuel injector service, but it didn&rsquo;t help.</li>
<li data-start="1838" data-end="1958">Ron advised checking fuel trim data and potential pending fault codes, even if no warning lights were present.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<hr data-start="1960" data-end="1963">
Show Highlights:
<ul data-start="1990" data-end="2250" data-is-only-node="">
<li data-start="1990" data-end="2081">Ron emphasized the importance of detailed inspections and not assuming diagnoses.</li>
<li data-start="2082" data-end="2158">The Car Doctor T-shirts and coffee cups are popular merchandise items.</li>
<li data-start="2159" data-end="2250">The show wrapped up with more calls about shutters, shakes, and general car problems.</li>
</ul>
Visit us at <a href="https://www.cardoctorshow.com">https://www.cardoctorshow.com</a>
<ul>
<li>Follow Us On Instagram&nbsp; -&nbsp; &nbsp;@ronananian&nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Visit our You Tube Channel for auto repair tips and videos&nbsp;</li>
<li>Call Into The Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 (855)560-9900&nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Live Call In Show Saturdays 2-4PM Eastern Time&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

With over 40 years of repairing cars and 27 on the radio helping you repair them, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, is an expert at everything automotive. Call us at 855-560-9900.

With over 40 years of repairing cars and 27 on the radio helping you repair them, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, is an expert at everything automotive.  Call us at 855-560-9900.

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, master technician, and trusted voice in car repair and consumer advice. For more than 30 years, Ron has blended real-world shop experience with straight-talk radio, helping drivers understand their vehicles and the industry with clarity, humor, and honesty. As host of the long-running Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor radio show—heard nationwide across major networks—he brings diagnostics, storytelling, and practical wisdom together in a way only a seasoned mechanic can. Whether it’s a tough trouble code, a buying decision, or a behind-the-scenes look at shop life, Ron delivers the insight listeners rely on.

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, master technician, and trusted voice in car repair and consumer advice. For more than 30 years, Ron has blended real-world shop experience with straight-talk radio, helping drivers understand their vehicles and the industry with clarity, humor, and honesty. As host of the long-running Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor radio show&mdash;heard nationwide across major networks&mdash;he brings diagnostics, storytelling, and practical wisdom together in a way only a seasoned mechanic can. Whether it&rsquo;s a tough trouble code, a buying decision, or a behind-the-scenes look at shop life, Ron delivers the insight listeners rely on.

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor™

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - March 8, 2025 - Hour 1 - 14 Civic Water Leak - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ed0a6f1a-8236-4ae5-a13b-b29a01631219/transcript

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