Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
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.
An $18,000 Headlight Repair? Have New Cars Gone Too Far?
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?
Al...
A 25-Year-Old Suburban, a $20 Test & a Call From Saudi Arabia
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 blow...
Have Cars Become Too Complicated? Hybrids, High Gas Prices & the Search for Simplicity
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - October 3, 2026
This hour, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™, looks at an automotive world caught between technology, fuel economy, affordability and reliability. Hybrids are gaining ground as drivers look for better mileage without completely changing the way they drive—but even conventional gasoline cars have become increasingly complex.
Ron also tackles a strange 2020 Subaru Forester with a rear hatch that seemingly opens by itself and leaves the battery dead, including the possibility of key-fob interference, electronics problems and even unexpected triggers around the vehicle.
Then a call...
The Accident That Never Happened — Until the Mouse Gave It Away
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 1 - October 3, 2026
Sometimes a trouble code is like waking up with a pain in your neck. Your body knows something isn't right — and so does your car.
This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™, Ron follows the clues on a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid that keeps revealing problems one at a time. First it was a failed grille shutter actuator. Then an EGR high-flow code. Then an airbag sensor fault.
And then Ron pulled up the interior trim.
There was a nest. Chewed wiring. And...
When Modern Cars Fight Back: The Weekend Wrencher
BEST OF THE CAR DOCTOR - Hour 1 - September 26, 2026
This Hour of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™ is for the Weekend Wrenchers—the driveway DIYers, toolbox in hand, trying to save money and keep their vehicles going as cars get more complicated by the minute.
Ron looks at how modern technology is changing the DIY repair game. Oil changes, filters, fluids and some brake work may still be within reach, but more repairs now require scan tools, service-mode procedures and information that can stop even an experienced DIYer in his tracks. A late-model GM brake job sh...
The Most Expensive Number in Car Ownership
BEST OF THE CAR DOCTOR - Hour 2 - September 26, 2026
What’s the most expensive number in car ownership?
It’s not the sticker price.
It’s not the monthly payment.
It’s not even the repair bill.
It’s cost per mile—the number almost nobody calculates until it’s too late.
This hour, Ron explains why modern vehicles demand a different approach to ownership and how looking ahead can save you from making an expensive decision later.
A real shop conversation asks the tough question: If your vehicle has...
Right To Repair Updates, Who Owns The Car
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The Problem With Oil Changes
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When Auto Repair Isn’t Picture Perfect
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - September 12, 2026
Auto repair doesn’t always go according to plan—and sometimes just getting to the problem is half the battle.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, takes you inside the service bay with a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid suffering from a communication fault with its active grille shutter system. Multiple scan tools, OE-level diagnostics, circuit testing and a lot of disassembly eventually reveal the real culprit: a corroded power wire buried deep in the harness. It’s a perfect example of why good diagnostics have to be slow, method...
Can You Create a Great Mechanic?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 1 - September 12, 2026
Where do great mechanics come from? Are they born with “the touch,” or can it be taught?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, looks at the technician shortage from a different angle: maybe the automotive industry hasn’t done enough to nurture the next generation.
Ron remembers a young trade-school graduate named Gus who knew the procedures—but one flat tire at the far end of the shop parking lot revealed something his education hadn’t taught him: how to improvise when the procedure no longer fit...
Five Shops, Multiple Starters, One GMC Denali
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 1 - September 5, 2026
A 2020 GMC Denali arrives at R\A Automotive on a tow truck with an intermittent no-crank—and a history that would make any mechanic stop and think. Nearly three years, five different shops, multiple starters, and the same problem keeps coming back.
Ron starts where every diagnosis should start: at the beginning. Working with GM expert Ernesto through the OPUS IVS diagnostic platform, Ron separates clues from conclusions, uses factory service information and pattern-failure knowledge, and begins proving what the problem ISN’T. The trail eventually lead...
The $3,200 Wire Harness That Didn’t Need To Be
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - September 5, 2026 - Hour 1
A 2015 Dodge Durango arrives on a flatbed over the weekend with a crank-no-start. The tow-truck diagnosis? Fuel pump.
Maybe?!
By Monday morning, the Durango starts perfectly—and that’s where the real diagnosis begins. Rather than throw a fuel pump at it, Ron goes back to basics: codes, fuel pressure, fuel volume, current draw and finally a thermal imager. That’s when one electrical connector starts telling the story, climbing past 160 degrees.
The fuel pump wasn’t the problem. A failing connection in the f...
When Four Scan Tools Aren’t Enough
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 29, 2026
How many scan tools does it take to fix one car? Sometimes more than you think.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, takes you into the service bay with a 2022 Honda HR-V that came in for routine maintenance and turned into a lesson about just how complicated modern auto repair has become. After service and resets, the TPMS and traction-control warnings wouldn’t cooperate. Multiple aftermarket scan tools couldn’t complete the necessary calibration—but access to the Honda factory-level tool finally got the job done.
Ron explai...
The Best Repair Is Sometimes The One You Don’t Take
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 29, 2026
Sometimes fixing cars starts with knowing which cars—and which customers—not to take on.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens this hour with the story of a first-time customer looking for the cheapest possible brake job on her Lincoln. She already had another shop’s diagnosis, didn’t want to pay for an initial vehicle inspection, and questioned why Ron needed to look at anything beyond the front brakes. Ron explains why policies, procedures and managing expectations aren’t obstacles to good auto repair—they’re part of doing the jo...
Does Safety Equipment Make Repairing Your Car Too Expensive?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 22, 2026
Tune into this hour of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor as he welcomes Matt Moore of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, iihs.org . The conversation is all about the cost of repairing vehicles today. Does the safety equipment on the vehicle raise the price? Or is it something else? The answers will surprise you!
Visit our website www.cardoctorshow.com
Car Advice, Done Right
🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube
...What Will Your Next Oil Change Cost?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 22, 2026
Ron opens the show today warning us of the problems he is experiencing with the availability and rising price of engine oil and all oil based products. He brings his perspective honed in the shop to air so we can all understand why our next oil change will cost more AND why we should be concerned if it doesn't.
Later in the hour he sits down with Jerry Reeves of Dayco products discussing serpentine & timing belts and timing chains. The how, the why and the when' of replacement. An...
Does Safety Equipment Make Repairing Your Car Too Expensive?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 22, 2026
Tune into this hour of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor as he welcomes Matt Moore of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, iihs.org . The conversation is all about the cost of repairing vehicles today. Does the safety equipment on the vehicle raise the price? Or is it something else? The answers will surprise you!
Visit our website www.cardoctorshow.com
Car Advice, Done Right
🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube
...Getting Your Money's Worth Out Of The Repair!
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 15, 2026
A new battery. A new starter. And the Jeep still doesn't start correctly. Ron begins this hour with a reminder that replacing parts isn't diagnosing a problem. Modern vehicles can be incredibly sensitive to voltage, and sometimes the difference between starting and not starting comes down to a few tenths of a volt. Tell me what's good, and I'll tell you what's bad. Test first. Replace second.
Then the conversation turns to a 2009 Toyota Tacoma approaching 200,000 miles with a possible head-gasket problem, and Ron discusses how to confirm t...
Does Automotive Technology Define Vehicle Life?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 15, 2026
When did owning a car become so complicated—and so expensive?
Ron looks at the real cost of modern vehicle ownership, from a 2017 Ford Explorer facing thousands of dollars in water pump and timing-chain repairs to today's technology-packed vehicles where cameras, radar, modules, software, and networks all have to keep working long after the new-car smell is gone.
The question becomes: Is it cheaper to repair the car in your driveway, or start over with another one?
Ron also explains why maintenance remains one of...
When Is an Old Car Worth Fixing?
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 8, 2026 - Hour 2
When does a big repair bill make sense on an older, high-mileage vehicle? Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, talks with a listener facing that exact decision on a 2017 Ford Explorer with 225,000 miles and a failed internal water pump. Instead of simply asking, “Is the car worth the repair?” Ron looks at the bigger question: What would it cost to replace the vehicle—and how many more years can you realistically get out of the one you already own?
Then it’s back to diagnostics with a 1991 Ford Bro...
Good Mechanics Get It Done. Great Mechanics Find a Better Way.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 8, 2026 - Hour 1
What separates a good mechanic from a great one? Sometimes it’s not what you know—it’s being willing to learn a better way and then pass it along.
Ron opens this episode with a story from another repair shop, where a frustrated technician was fighting a set of parking brake shoes on a Dodge Ram. A few minutes, a different approach, and a little shared experience turned frustration into a lesson: good mechanics get it done; great mechanics figure out better ways to do it. It...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 1, 2026 - Hour 1- Don't Bring Your Car to the Shop on Empty
Ever wonder why your mechanic asks that you bring your vehicle in with fuel in the tank? Ron explains why arriving with only a few miles to empty can delay repairs, prevent proper road testing, increase diagnostic time, and even create unnecessary liability for both the customer and the repair shop.
Then Ron answers listener questions about choosing the right brake lubricant, waking up a PT Cruiser after months of sitting idle, and whether "lifetime" transmission fluid really lasts a lifetime on a high-mileage Ram pickup.
It's another hour of practical automotive advice, real repair...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - August 1, 2026 - Hour 2 - Your Cheapest Car Is the One You Already Own
With new vehicle prices climbing toward record highs and replacement costs continuing to rise, Ron explains why the smartest financial decision may be taking better care of the vehicle already sitting in your driveway.
He discusses the true cost of replacing a car versus repairing one, why deferred maintenance often turns into expensive repairs, and why a trusted repair shop is protecting far more than your transportation—it's protecting your investment.
Later, Ron answers listener questions about 88-octane gasoline, diagnosing electrical problems without guessing, cruise control repairs on a Chrysler, and tracking down an interior li...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 25, 2026 - Hour 2 - There's No Shortcut to Doing It Right
This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron explains why the best repairs begin with the basics—not assumptions. A 2010 Ford Explorer with transmission trouble leads to a deeper discussion about water-damaged electronics, obsolete parts, and why replacing the obvious problem first often saves time and money. Then it's a conversation about Subaru's automatic stop/start system, warranty concerns, and whether aftermarket modifications really put you at risk.
Ron also welcomes Tony Ingram of Advance Auto Parts to discuss the right way to wash, wax, and protect your vehicle, including the growing popularity of ceramic coatings an...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor -July 25, 2026 - Hour 1 - The Repairs You Shouldn't Make
Sometimes the hardest repair is the one you refuse to make.
This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron shares the story of a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with inoperative air conditioning that raises a much bigger question than a failed relay. When the factory repair requires replacing a $1,000 power distribution center, why not simply wire in a new relay? The answer comes down to professional responsibility, liability, and understanding the difference between repairing a vehicle and redesigning it.
Ron also helps parents navigate the pros and cons of leasing a first vehicle for a...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - October 17, 2015 - Classic Car Doctor: Factory Programming Changed Auto Repair
From the Car Doctor archives (October 2015).
Long before software updates and vehicle programming became everyday repair procedures, Ron Ananian was explaining why the future of automotive service would depend as much on computers as wrenches.
In this classic episode, Ron sits down with Hugh Atkins of Drew Technologies to discuss J2534 programming, factory software flashing, and why independent repair shops need access to the same programming capabilities as dealerships. It's a fascinating look back at a conversation that helped predict where the automotive repair industry was headed.
Ron also welcomes Harlan Siegel of...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Classic Car Doctor , October 17, 2015 - Hour 1 - The Mechanic Makes the Scan Tool
Originally broadcast on October 17, 2015, this classic episode showcases the diagnostic philosophy that has defined Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor for more than three decades.
Ron shares two unforgettable repair stories from the R\A Automotive service bay. A 2008 Hyundai Tucson that spent three years bouncing between repair shops—and collecting unnecessary repairs—is finally fixed after one simple diagnostic test. Then a seemingly complicated no-start on a 2010 Toyota Yaris, already diagnosed elsewhere as needing an immobilizer or computer repair, turns out to be solved through careful testing, proper battery voltage, and a misplaced fuse.
Ron also...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 18, 2026 - Hour 2 - Acura Transmission Failure
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 Eastern
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 18, 2026 - Hour 1 - The Risk Is In The Repair
When One Glow Plug Can Cost You an Engine
A simple check engine light on a high-mileage 2016 Chevy Silverado Duramax turns into a lesson in why experience matters. Ron shares the tense, hour-long battle to safely remove a seized glow plug without turning an $800 repair into an $18,000 engine replacement—and explains why the best technicians know when to slow down.
Also this week, Ron talks with a Honda owner wondering if a dealership's $3,300 repair recommendation is really necessary, helps diagnose a no-crank Cadillac CTS, discusses Harley-Davidson starting issues, and explains why sometimes the most valuable to...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 11, 2026 Hour 2 - The Little Things That Make Cars Last
Ron answers a wide range of listener questions that all come back to one idea: smart maintenance pays off. From choosing the right spark plugs for a classic '69 Chevy Nova to synthetic oil change intervals, reviving a stored Honda CR-V, and whether to disable auto stop/start on a late-model Acura, the focus is on making vehicles last longer.
Plus, Ron explains why diesel fuel additives can be a worthwhile investment for owners of today's modern diesel trucks.
Car Advice, Done Right.
🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 11, 2026 Hour 1 - The Double Whammy Jeep Air Conditioning
The Perfect Storm of Auto Repair
A simple A/C complaint on a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee quickly turns into a lesson on why repair estimates are only educated guesses. Ron explains how one failed component can uncover several more—and why proper diagnostics always come before replacing parts.
Also this week, Ron helps a listener solve a persistent EVAP system fault on a Kia Soul, explains why testing beats guessing every time, and answers questions about suspension noises and airbag warning lights.
Real diagnostics. Real repairs. Car Advice, Done Right.
🌐Visit: CarDo...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 4, 2026 - Hour 2 - To Rebuild or Not To Rebuild? The PowerStroke Question.
Don't Let the Little Things Ruin Your Trip
Before you head out for your next road trip, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, has one simple question: Do you know where your wheel lock key is? It sounds like a small detail—until a flat tire leaves you stranded hundreds of miles from home. Ron shares a real-world story that proves the little things can quickly become big problems when you're on the road.
Also this week, Ron helps a listener choose between Ford's 2.7L EcoBoost and the legendary 5.0L V8, works through no-start problems on bo...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 4, 2026 - Hour 1 - Automotive Couples Counseling
Automotive Couples Counseling
Can a husband and wife experience the exact same car problem and remember it completely differently? This week on The Car Doctor, Ron Ananian explains why the most valuable diagnostic tool in his shop isn't a scan tool, lab scope, or smoke machine—it's the chair in front of the service counter. After listening to a couple describe an intermittent stalling problem from two very different perspectives, Ron discovers that the missing clue wasn't under the hood at all. It was hidden in their story.
Also this week, Ron helps a listener de...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor -June 27, 2026 - Hour 1 - No Codes. No Clues. Just Good Diagnostics.
A late-model Ford Edge had everyone stumped. Multiple repair shops, multiple replacement parts, no check engine light, and no diagnostic trouble codes—yet it still refused to start.
Ron explains why the best diagnostics begin before the engine is ever cranked, using live scan tool data like coolant temperature, ambient air temperature, battery voltage, fuel pressure, and barometric pressure to verify what the PCM believes is happening. It's a lesson in real-world troubleshooting that every technician—and every vehicle owner—can appreciate.
Also this hour:
A discussion on complete automatic transmission fluid exchange procedures. A Hyun...Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - June 27, 2026 - Hour 2 - How Many Parts Can You NOT Replace?
This week Ron explains why great technicians don't start by replacing parts—they start by proving what's actually wrong.
A stubborn Honda Accord air conditioning problem, a Ford Edge with two unrelated faults, and a discussion of real-world diagnostic strategy all reinforce one lesson: understanding how a system works will always beat guessing.
Also this hour:
Why testing beats replacing. Ford Edge A/C diagnosis after collision repairs. Battery failures that don't behave like battery failures. Maintenance advice for a high-mileage Ford F-150. Chrysler cruise control problems. Why today's technicians must understand how modern ve...Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Classic Car Doctor - October 17. 2015 - Hour 2 - When Your Car Needs a Software Update
This week, Ron dives into the ever-growing role of technology in automotive repair. First, he welcomes Hugh Atkins of Drew Technologies for a discussion on computer flashing, module programming, and why software updates have become a routine part of modern vehicle service.
Ron then takes a call on a 2010 GMC Savana 3500 and discusses the pros and cons of switching to synthetic transmission fluid in a higher-mileage vehicle. Later, Harlan Siegel of Launch Tech USA joins the program to talk scan tool technology, diagnostics, and how today's technicians depend on advanced equipment to solve increasingly complex vehicle problems.<...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Classic Car Doctor, October 17, 2015 Hour 1 - Two Repairs That Made Me Shake My HeadRon starts the hour with not one, but two Repair of the Week stories that left even him shaking his head. Sometimes the hardest part of fixing cars isn't the diagnosis—it's understanding how they got into that condition in the first place. Ron then takes a call on a 2004 Pontiac Vibe and answers a variety of maintenance and repair questions before welcoming special guest Jerry Ostalecki from GetGibbs.com to discuss lubricants, corrosion protection, and keeping equipment running longer. Later, a listener with a 2007 Toyota Matrix calls after removing and reinstalling a factory CD player only to find it no longer works, leading to a discussion about electronics, wiring, and the surprises that can occur when taking modern vehicles apart. Ron also answers an email regarding a software issue on a Ford F-150 and explains why today's vehicles often require as much computer knowledge as mechanical skill
Ron starts the hour with not one, but two Repair of the Week stories that left even him shaking his head. Sometimes the hardest part of fixing cars isn't the diagnosis—it's understanding how they got into that condition in the first place.
Ron then takes a call on a 2004 Pontiac Vibe and answers a variety of maintenance and repair questions before welcoming special guest Jerry Ostalecki from GetGibbs.com to discuss lubricants, corrosion protection, and keeping equipment running longer.
Later, a listener with a 2007 Toyota Matrix calls after removing and reinstalling a factory CD pl...
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - June 20, 2026 - Hour 1 - Classic Car Doctor
A Car Dr. Classic repeat from February of 2026. Ron and the crew
are off this weekend to celebrate Father's Day and get a little family
maintenance time. Enjoy!
Call the 24/7 Listener Hotline: (855) 560-9900
🌐 Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube
📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - June 20, 2026 - Hour 2 - Classic Car Doctor
A second hour Car Dr. Classic repeat from February of 2026. Ron and the crew
are off this weekend to celebrate Father's Day and get a little family
maintenance time. Enjoy!
Call the 24/7 Listener Hotline: (855) 560-9900
🌐 Visit: CarDoctorShow.com
📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian
🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube
📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - 6/13/26 Hour 2 - Getting Your Kicks on Route 66—and Keeping Today's Cars Alive
This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, a listener preparing to fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling historic Route 66 sparks a conversation about America's automotive past, the roads that built the country, and the memories that still live along the Mother Road.
Ron shares stories about the history of Route 66, the rise of the Interstate Highway System, classic television, small-town America, and why some of the best automotive adventures happen when you slow down and take the long way there. From Burma Shave signs to roadside garages and forgotten towns, it's a reminder that cars have a...
