Ron Ananian, “The Car Doctor,” tackles recurring classic-car and modern-car problems through listener calls and a cautionary roadside story. A mechanic recounts helping a Mercedes driver who didn’t know where hazard lights were or even read the manual—highlighting why preparation matters. The show then shifts to practical buying/repair decisions: when extended warranties are worth it (favoring manufacturer coverage, especially for electronics), troubleshooting a hydraulic clutch leak, whether to replace a Prius hybrid battery, and questioning dealer upsells like caliper cleaning. Wheel alignment gets a reality check too—aim for the middle of spec, read invoices, and beware “lifetime” promises.
Take a step back 11 years and see what drivers were dealing with in the repair shop—and how much (or how little) has changed.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens the hour asking a critical question: how well do you know your vehicle in an emergency? From there, it’s real calls and real advice—extended warranty decisions on a 2013 Ford F-150, clutch repair on a 2004 Toyota RAV4, and a smart discussion on Toyota Prius battery life.
Plus, is brake caliper cleaning on a 2014 Ford Flex necessary—or just oversold? And what’s really behind alignment issues on a 2008 Toyota Highlander?
It’s a snapshot of the cars, concerns, and conversations from 11 years ago—and a reminder that good car advice never goes out of style.
Good mechanics aren’t expensive — they’re priceless.
"The car doctor, I think run flats are an interesting concept, right? You can run the air out of the tire and the tire won't go flat so you can continue to drive the car."
Run-flat tires are tires that can still hold you up even if they go flat. They’re meant to let you drive a little farther so you’re not stranded immediately.
Run-flat tires are designed to keep supporting the vehicle even after you lose air pressure. That lets you keep driving for a limited distance/speed so you can reach a safer location or a tire shop.
"The problem is though, when the vehicle owner continues to drive the car and the tire starts to shred."
“Shredding” refers to severe tire damage where the tread and sidewall break apart. With run-flats, this can happen if the tire is driven too long or at too high a speed after losing pressure, turning a manageable situation into a full tire replacement.
"she needed a jump start and you couldn't, you couldn't get her to get the car going, right?"
A jump start is when you use another car (or a battery pack) to give your car enough power to start. If it still won’t start after a jump, the battery or charging system may be the real issue.
A jump start is a temporary way to start a car with a weak or dead battery by using another vehicle’s battery (or a jump pack) through jumper cables. It’s often the first step when a car won’t crank, and it can reveal whether the battery is the real problem or if there’s a deeper charging issue.
"And maybe I can jump and I have one of the micro start battery packs in my car.
So I get in the car, I turn the key to motor spins over beautifully, but it's popping."
That’s a small portable battery you can use to start a car when the main battery is dead. You don’t need a second vehicle—just the pack.
A portable jump starter (often called a “micro start” pack) is a compact battery device used to start a vehicle without needing another car. It can provide high current for a short time to crank the engine.
"Okay, where's your manual? ... She goes, well, I've never read the manual. ... So I get out the manual, right? I'm looking through it."
The owner’s manual is the manufacturer’s guide for how to operate and maintain the vehicle. It typically shows where key controls are (like hazard lights) and explains warning lights and basic troubleshooting.
"So let's look through the glove compartment. She goes, well, I've never read the manual."
The glove compartment is the storage box on the passenger side of the dashboard. People often keep the owner’s manual or paperwork in there. So it makes sense to look there when you can’t find the manual.
The glove compartment is a common storage location for documents like the owner’s manual, registration, and insurance papers. Checking it is a typical first step when someone can’t find the manual.
"Here's a car that's tattered for safety. There's no safety flasher, you know, in American cars, right on top of the steering column. I looked all over for emergency flasher icon."
Hazard warning lights are the ones that blink on both sides of the car. They help other drivers notice you quickly if something’s wrong. Most cars have a clearly marked button for them.
Hazard warning lights are a dedicated lighting mode that flashes both left and right turn signals at the same time. In most cars, the hazard switch is clearly labeled and uses a standardized triangle icon, so it’s usually easy to find once you know what to look for.
"You may not have time to find the four way flashers, may have to flick them on right away. It may become a matter of life and death and it's a huge safety risk if you're not familiar with the vehicle."
Four-way flashers are the emergency blinkers that make your car’s lights flash to warn other drivers. If you’re stuck on the side of the road, using them helps people see you sooner.
Four-way flashers (hazard lights) are the emergency lights that blink all turn signals at once. If your car breaks down, they help other drivers notice you and reduce the chance of a crash while you’re stopped on the roadside.
"You know, I took the suburban, the 2004 suburban, which now has 50,000 miles on it. I've been talking about this for years to North Carolina last week, put my tools in it, went over all the fluids, put a fresh battery in it."
The Chevrolet Suburban is a big SUV. Here it’s used as an example of a vehicle the owner keeps maintained—like checking fluids and replacing the battery when needed.
The Chevrolet Suburban is a full-size SUV known for family hauling and long-distance use. In this segment, the speaker uses a 2004 Suburban as an example of staying on top of maintenance like fluids and the battery.
"put my tools in it, went over all the fluids, put a fresh battery in it. The battery was three going on four years old, looked around on the, I mean, I'm underneath this vehicle every three, four months anyway."
The battery is what powers your car to start. Putting in a fresh battery helps prevent the car from dying when you least expect it.
A car battery provides the electrical power needed to start the engine and run electronics. Replacing a battery before it fails reduces the odds of getting stranded, especially on long trips or in harsh weather.
"The simplest things, where's the owner's manual, where are the four ways, not having the phone number for the roadside service, AAA or whoever you're using, programmed into the phone, that's just downright silly."
AAA is a membership service that can help you if your car breaks down. If you save their number, you don’t have to scramble for it when you need help.
AAA (American Automobile Association) is a membership organization that provides roadside assistance and towing for members. In car breakdown situations, having AAA’s number saved can speed up getting help.
"I don't care for any extended warranties that I've had exposure to that I'll consider aftermarket. Ford, I want a Ford, GM, I want a GM, Chrysler, I want a Chrysler and so on."
A manufacturer warranty is provided by the car company itself. The host prefers this because it’s generally more reliable and easier to deal with if you need repairs.
A manufacturer warranty is backed by the automaker (e.g., Ford for a Ford vehicle) rather than an independent third party. The host argues that, when buying extended coverage, it’s safer to stick with the manufacturer because it’s more likely to honor claims and remain operational.
"that engine should go 100,000 with no problems just as the transmission."
The transmission is what helps the car shift gears and send power to the wheels. In this segment, it’s part of the “powertrain” that the warranty is meant to protect.
The transmission is the drivetrain component that manages gear ratios to transfer engine power to the wheels. The speaker mentions it alongside the engine when discussing powertrain reliability and warranty coverage.
"I follow all the things in the manual. I rotate the tires, I do the oil changes on time."
Oil changes are periodic engine oil replacements that help maintain lubrication and reduce wear. The speaker cites timely oil changes as part of why the engine should last, and as evidence that maintenance reduces the risk of powertrain failures.
"That's the thing with trucks nowadays. You got that backup camera. There's a lot of electronics on there."
A backup camera is an integrated rear-view system that displays an image on the infotainment screen when reversing. It’s an example of the electronics the speaker says can fail and lead to expensive repairs, especially outside the factory warranty window.
"for the instrument cluster for everything electronic on that vehicle."
The instrument cluster is the part behind the steering wheel that shows your speed, fuel, and warning lights. If the electronics controlling it fail, repairs can get pricey.
The instrument cluster is the driver-facing display area (gauges and warning indicators), often controlled by electronic modules. The speaker groups it with other electronics that can be costly to repair if they fail.
"Electronics are fast becoming the most expensive thing to repair on any vehicle. And if you're in that gentleman's case..."
They’re saying newer cars rely more on electronics. When something breaks, it can cost more to fix because the parts and diagnostics are more complex.
The segment highlights that electronics are increasingly expensive to repair as vehicles get newer. More electronic modules and sensors mean more diagnostic time and higher parts costs when something fails.
"Electronics are fast becoming the most expensive thing to repair on any vehicle... going into a newer vehicle into a 2015, it's light years."
This is the underlying concept that modern vehicles shift repair cost toward electronic systems. It’s why a newer car (like the 2015 mentioned) can be “light years” different from a mid-1990s car in terms of what can go wrong and what it costs to fix.
"We have to add hydraulic leaks to the system now from the, from a fitting such as that. So good thing to know."
A hydraulic leak means fluid is leaking out of a pressure-based system. When that happens, the system can’t work as strongly, and air can get in too.
Hydraulic leaks are fluid losses in a brake/clutch-type system that rely on pressure to work. Even small leaks at fittings or valves can cause low fluid level, air ingestion, and poor pedal feel or failure to build pressure.
"We have to add hydraulic leaks to the system now from the, from a fitting such as that."
A fitting is the connection piece (like a hose-to-line adapter or threaded joint) that seals hydraulic components together. Leaks at fittings are common culprits because seals can harden, loosen, or be damaged during service.
"And I'm wondering if there's no rust on it yet. Looks great. Two scratches is all. I'm wondering what would you do?"
They’re checking whether the car has rust. Rust can be expensive to fix and can hurt the car’s long-term value, so “no rust yet” is a good sign.
Rust is a major factor in classic and older-car value because it can affect structural integrity and drive up repair costs. The speaker is using “no rust yet” as a positive ownership/condition indicator alongside mileage and battery health.
"...Toyota really does have a good handle on the Prius batteries in terms of their failure rate..."
“Failure rate” is the likelihood that a component (here, Prius hybrid batteries) will fail over time or usage. When a speaker cites Toyota’s “good handle” on failure rate, they’re implying the company has data and experience that helps predict risk and guide decisions.
"he said to me that because I live in the Midwest, you know, the salt and sand from the roads and things like that, that the caliper cleaning was a good idea."
Road salt and sand are major contributors to corrosion on underbody and brake components. In cold climates, they can accelerate rust on calipers, slide pins, and other hardware, which is why some dealers suggest extra cleaning or inspection.
"[2161.8s] life of my brake pads. And so I okayed the work. And then later I thought, why did I do that?"
Brake pads are the parts that squeeze against the brake rotors to make the car slow down. Over time they wear out, and if something else in the brake system is sticking, they can wear faster.
Brake pads are the friction material that clamps against the brake rotors to slow the car. Their wear rate can be affected by driving style, brake hardware condition, and whether related components (like calipers) are sticking.
"[2226.0s] they're using so much calcium chloride to melt the snow that it's creating rust and corrosion issues"
Calcium chloride is a chemical spread on roads to melt ice. It can also make it easier for rust to form on car parts, especially underneath.
Calcium chloride is a de-icing chemical used on roads to melt snow and ice. It can increase the corrosive environment for vehicles by promoting rust on exposed metal, including brake hardware.
"All right. And I always bring this up when I talk about wheel alignment. Wheel alignment and tire work are two of the most underrated, underappreciated services that happen to a vehicle."
Wheel alignment means setting the wheels so they point and sit correctly. If it’s off, the car can pull and your tires wear out faster.
Wheel alignment is the adjustment of a car’s suspension angles so the tires contact the road correctly. It affects steering feel, tire wear, and how straight the car tracks after bumps or uneven roads.
"...get the vehicle up in the air, set the tire pressure and go through the vehicle and, you know, 15, 20 minutes to make your adjustments."
Tire pressure is how much air is in your tires. If the pressures are off, the car sits differently and the alignment measurements won’t be as accurate.
Tire pressure is the air pressure in each tire, and it strongly affects ride height and suspension geometry. For alignment accuracy, shops typically set tire pressures to the vehicle’s specification before measuring and adjusting alignment angles.
"manufacturer's spec all day long, but if the tire is going to wear better at mid range or to the
[2893.8s] other side of the spec, then what service is he really doing for you other than just taking your"
“Tire wear” is how quickly and in what pattern tires degrade, which alignment strongly influences. The speaker argues that targeting the middle of the spec (or the “other side”) can sometimes improve wear compared with chasing a single exact number.
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The car doctor, I think run flats are an interesting concept, right?
You can run the air out of the tire and the tire won't go flat so you can continue to
drive the car.
The problem is though, when the vehicle owner continues to drive the car and the tire starts
to shred.
Welcome to the radio home of Ron and Anian, the car doctor.
Since 1991, this is where car owners the world overturned to for their definitive opinion
on automotive repair.
If your mechanic's giving you a busy signal, pick up the phone and call in.
The garage doors are open, but I am here to take your calls at 8555609900.
And now, here's Ronny.
How well do you know your vehicle?
Hello and welcome.
Ron and Anian, the car doctor here at 8555609900.
Here to take your calls and answer your questions, whatever they might be.
This radio show is all about you and your vehicle and I thought this would be a timely
topic to kick off this hour of the car doctor with, by the way, more information at cardoctorshow.com.
How well do you know your vehicle?
An emergency.
How well prepared are you?
I was away on vacation last week.
No surprise, we've been talking about that previous hour and I've put it out there on
Facebook.
By the way, let me just jump in real quick before I forget.
If you get out to Facebook this week for us, if you get out to Ron and Anian, the car doctor
page on Facebook, there is a picture of a Chevy Nova out there, a former race car from
the late 70s, early 80s that belonged to a friend of mine and it's, we're in the search
for it again.
We're trying to help someone find it as he's trying to, you know, go back and go home again
and bring that car back to the family.
So if anybody can get a look at that car and tell us where that might be, last bit of information
we think it was in the Westchester, New York, Newburgh, New York, Brewster, New York area.
It is a 66 Chevy Nova, I believe is what it said.
And just, just you can go to Facebook and see it, but we're looking for that car and
know we'd like to purchase it from my friend, we'd like to purchase it from the original
owner.
Anyway, how well do you know your car?
And in an emergency, how well will you be prepared?
Fast Harry told me a story as I called him during the course of the week to see how the
kingdom was doing.
And he told me the story of one day he left the shop and as he was approaching the highway,
there was a woman broken down in a Mercedes Benz, Harry, Tony, can Harry jump on the mic
real quick?
Maybe he'll, he'll fill everybody in here real quick.
Let's talk about this real quick, bro.
So you were driving along and you know, there's this Mercedes that's stuck and you've got
an issue and what are you, what are you going to do about it?
How are you going to, how are you going to, she needed a jump start and you couldn't,
you couldn't get her to get the car going, right?
Right.
Well, what happened was I was coming under the bridge ready to jump on Route 17 North.
Right.
And I see a lady pulled over right underneath the bridge and not elderly, but you know,
middle-aged like us, we're not old.
So I see her, I said, well, let me pull over and help her.
She's on the phone.
So I pull in front of her.
I put on my four-way flashers.
I get it.
And as I'm walking up to her, I see she's driving a late model Mercedes coupe, but she's
on a flip phone.
I said, already, this is not going to end well.
This is not going to end well.
Right.
Yeah.
And so I, she got off the phone.
I said, ma'am, can I help you?
You know, I showed him my aura, I had my RAT shirt on and she goes, oh, yes, my battery
is bad.
I said, okay, let's see what it does.
And maybe I can jump and I have one of the micro start battery packs in my car.
So I get in the car, I turn the key to motor spins over beautifully, but it's popping.
So I said, ma'am, the battery is good.
I said, you know, it's obviously another, it's like a no start issue or anything else
like that.
I said, why don't we put on our four, why don't you put on your four way fleshers?
And this is where the problem became, right?
Why don't you put on your four way flashes?
And she says, I don't know where they are.
And I said, okay, where's your manual?
I don't know where that is.
Okay.
So let's look through the glove compartment.
She goes, well, I've never read the manual.
How long is she on the car?
Since it's new.
It was like a 2006, 2007.
So she's driving a six, seven year old vehicle.
She's never read the owner's manual.
She doesn't know where, where the four way fleshers are.
Doesn't know where the four way fleshers are.
Thinks it's the battery when the car is turning over.
So I get out the manual, right?
I'm looking through it.
And that's another issue that's made my day.
Here's a car that's tattered for safety.
There's no safety flasher, you know, in American cars, right on top of the steering column.
I looked all over for emergency flasher icon.
I couldn't find it.
I look in the owner's manual on their emergency where it would be.
Nothing there.
I said, this is beautiful.
So I, I, I get out of the car.
I said, why don't we call triple A?
Do you have triple A?
Okay.
Can you call triple A?
Uh, I don't know how I said, Oh brother, I said, so by that time, uh, uh, a saddle river
police car showed up.
I explained everything to him.
He puts his hand on his head and he goes, all right, I'll deal with it.
He goes, ma'am, can I just see your driver's license?
Yeah.
I'll have to look for it.
Yeah.
I'm sure, I'm sure sticking around for that was probably a sad ending too.
So here's someone, you know, and okay, she doesn't understand battery, no battery, whatever,
but didn't know anything about the car.
Never read the owner's manual.
Didn't even know where the four way flashes are in case of an emergency or anything else
like that.
Right.
And soon to be coming to a side of the highway somewhere, you know, with Labor Day bearing
down upon us.
Thanks, Harry.
With Labor Day bearing down upon us.
And, uh, this is the point I want to bring up as well as what Harry is, is discussing
here in that, you know, we've got to be prepared.
You know, when the emergency happens, when that car gets stuck on the side of the road,
you may not have time to find the four way flashers, may have to flick them on right
away.
It may become a matter of life and death and it's a huge safety risk if you're not familiar
with the vehicle.
So one of the things you've really got to do is before you take the trip, before you
go out in the car for the next time, even around town, take five minutes, 10 minutes,
you're going to have a cup of coffee tonight at the kitchen table, grab the owner's manual
and get familiar with the car.
How well do you know where the safety equipment is?
You know, I took the suburban, the 2004 suburban, which now has 50,000 miles on it.
I've been talking about this for years to North Carolina last week, put my tools in
it, went over all the fluids, put a fresh battery in it.
The battery was three going on four years old, looked around on the, I mean, I'm underneath
this vehicle every three, four months anyway.
But the road is a very unforgiving place and just as Harry was describing, and as he pointed
out that he learned, if you're not familiar with the vehicle, you're stuck on the side
of the road.
The simplest things, where's the owner's manual, where are the four ways, not having
the phone number for the roadside service, AAA or whoever you're using, programmed into
the phone, that's just downright silly.
You're just expecting a problem and inviting it to happen.
Always got to be prepared, all right?
I'll, I'll open the show with this and pay a little tribute, where tribute is due, for
the service people, for the American service people that were on that train yesterday in
France.
They didn't stop, they didn't think, they reacted, they were prepared, they were ready
for the consequences and they dealt with it with the lunatic with the AK-47 and I'm not
saying your car is anywhere near that big a problem, but it can be, you've got to be
prepared and that's my point.
You don't have time to think, you've got to be able to react when you're stuck on the
side of the road with your automobile.
855-560-9900 is the phone number I'm Ron Anany and the car doctor, I'm here to talk to you
about your car problem, whatever that might be, I also want to just point out real quick
before we take the pause, before we open the garage doors.
Coming up in two weeks, Labor Day weekend, I believe that is Saturday the 5th, that we
are going to be live from the Sheridan Crossroads in Mawa, New Jersey, is it the 4th?
Maybe it's Saturday the, oh Saturday the 6th, Saturday the 6th, we'll look that up and figure
that out when we get back to them, but we're going to be there on that Saturday, Labor
Day Saturday at the Sheridan Crossroads in Mawa, New Jersey, 2 to 4 p.m., doing this
radio show on Live Remote and we're going to be there with the crew of our local New
York affiliate, WRCR, we're going to be talking to them, we're going to be talking to you,
looking at the thousands of hot rods and all the things that the Dead Man's Curve, Dead
Man's Curve USA.com car group has got going on for them and we're kind of looking forward
to that if you're in the area, we want you to stop by and say hello.
Let's pull over and take the pause, 855-560-9900, I'm Ron Anany and the car doctor, we'll be
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