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 

 

 

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 &mdash; America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
Car Advice, Done Right&nbsp;
🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube
📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2&ndash;4 PM&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&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™ — America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.

Real cars. Real problems. REAL ANSWERS!

For more than 30 years, nationally recognized automotive expert and master technician Ron Ananian has helped drivers understand their vehicles with straight talk, practical advice, and a little humor.

But Ron isn't just talking about fixing cars. He's still doing it.

Since 1978, Ron has owned and operated R/A Automotive in New Jersey, where he continues to diagnose problems, turn wrenches, and tackle the same challenges drivers face every day. That real-world experience is what makes Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™ different.

From mysterious check engine lights and expensive repairs to routine maintenance, car buying, and knowing when it's time to walk away from an aging vehicle, Ron brings decades of hands-on experience to every conversation.

Join America's Live Call-In Auto Repair Show every Saturday from 2–4 PM Eastern. Call Ron at 855-560-9900 with your automotive questions, hear what other drivers are experiencing, and get answers from someone who's spent a lifetime under the hood.

Can't listen live? Catch the podcast anytime, wherever you listen.

Visit CARDOCTORSHOW.COM.

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™ — Real Calls. Real Problems. REAL ANSWERS!

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor&trade; &mdash; America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
Real cars. Real problems. REAL ANSWERS!
For more than 30 years, nationally recognized automotive expert and master technician Ron Ananian has helped drivers understand their vehicles with straight talk, practical advice, and a little humor.
But Ron isn't just talking about fixing cars. He's still doing it.
Since 1978, Ron has owned and operated R/A Automotive in New Jersey, where he continues to diagnose problems, turn wrenches, and tackle the same challenges drivers face every day. That real-world experience is what makes Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor&trade; different.
From mysterious check engine lights and expensive repairs to routine maintenance, car buying, and knowing when it's time to walk away from an aging vehicle, Ron brings decades of hands-on experience to every conversation.
Join America's Live Call-In Auto Repair Show every Saturday from 2&ndash;4 PM Eastern. Call Ron at 855-560-9900 with your automotive questions, hear what other drivers are experiencing, and get answers from someone who's spent a lifetime under the hood.
Can't listen live? Catch the podcast anytime, wherever you listen.
Visit CARDOCTORSHOW.COM.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor&trade; &mdash; Real Calls. Real Problems. REAL ANSWERS!

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor™

The Clunk In The Dark Of The Night

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5802043e-9c9d-47be-9947-b4f401567dd6/transcript

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 

 

 

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 &mdash; America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
Car Advice, Done Right&nbsp;
🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube
📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2&ndash;4 PM&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The Things I Can't Fix… Until I Figure Out Why

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/969cc7b0-8e9e-43d6-9bdf-b4f4015726c8/transcript

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 

 

 

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 &amp; Coffee gatherings, Ron wonders whether today's drivers still love their cars or simply view them as expensive transportation.
Plus, in this hour:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
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.
</li>
<li>
Old-school gasket repairs: Tips for sealing a cork valve cover gasket on a 1986 Dodge 600.
</li>
<li>
Coolant isn't just for winter: Michael Marcangelo, Senior Product Manager at PEAK, joins Ron to explain why antifreeze protects your engine year-round.
</li>
<li>
Coolant colors, chemistry, and compatibility: Why choosing the correct coolant matters more than simply matching colors.
</li>
<li>
Concentrate or premixed? Which makes more sense for your vehicle and your maintenance routine?
</li>
<li>
Cooling system safety: How to recognize leaks, avoid dangerous burns, protect pets, and know when it's time to service your antifreeze.
</li>
</ul>
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&trade; &mdash; America's Favorite Working Radio Mechanic.
Car Advice, Done Right&nbsp;
🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube
📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2&ndash;4 PM&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Have We Fallen Out of Love With Our Cars?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/954bac0a-05cc-4a6a-8fd1-b4ed0157aaff/transcript

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 

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:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
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.
</li>
<li>
Fuel additives and engine protection: Micah from Maine asks about Hot Shot's Secret, Stiction Eliminator, and maintaining his high-mileage-minded Subaru.
</li>
<li>
Whatever happened to wiper blade refills? Ron explains how vehicle aerodynamics have changed wiper blade and air filter designs.
</li>
<li>
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.
</li>
</ul>
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&trade; &mdash; Real Experience. Real Questions. Real Answers.
Good mechanics aren't expensive. They're priceless.
Car Advice, Done Right&nbsp;
🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube
📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2&ndash;4 PM&nbsp;

Why Your Mechanic Might Send You to the Competition

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7294d6a5-a5a8-4392-898c-b4ed01586416/transcript

The Clunk In The Dark Of The Night

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