A wiring diagram is like a map for the car’s electrical system. It shows what parts connect to each other and which wires go where, so you can fix problems without guessing.
They’re basically saying it’s cool to use a hot rod as a real car, not just something you park for shows. That means it has to be dependable enough to handle everyday driving.
A “fluid flush” is when a shop uses a chemical process to clean out a car’s fluid system. In this episode, the worry is that some dealerships push these services much sooner than needed just to make extra money.
The episode criticizes the practice of paying service writers on commission, arguing it can incentivize upselling. In this case, the commission structure is tied to selling flushes, which the host says can lead to unnecessary services being recommended.
Electric power steering helps you steer using a motor and electronics instead of hydraulic fluid. So if a shop tries to sell a “flush” like it’s a fluid system, that’s a red flag.
A power steering flush is supposed to clean the fluid in a traditional power steering system. The host’s example says the dealership tried to sell that service even though the car had electric power steering, meaning it likely wasn’t the right service.
“Wallet flushing” is a term for dealerships pushing services that may not be needed, just to charge customers. The episode says California even discussed rules or laws to curb how these flushes are marketed and sold.
Building a long-term relationship with a mechanic can improve communication, diagnostic accuracy, and trust. When the shop knows your car’s history and your preferences, they’re more likely to recommend the right repairs instead of unnecessary work.
A scan tool is a gadget that connects to your car to pull up error codes. Those codes tell you what system is acting up, which can save time and money.
Ross-Tech makes scan tools and software that can talk to certain Audi/VW computers. It can sometimes tell you an update exists, but installing it may require the right dealer-style tools and access.
Reflashing means updating the car’s computer software by rewriting it. It can fix problems, but you don’t want to do it randomly—you need the right update and the right steps.
AllData is a reference database technicians use to find repair info and technical bulletins. In this context, it can help you see whether there are known updates for your specific car.
J2534 is a standard way for aftermarket tools to communicate with a car for programming and software updates. If an update requires this method, you’ll need the right compatible tool and access.
The speaker is saying car software updates often cost money. So even if you know an update exists, you may still have to pay to get it installed.
Concept
manufacturer support vs parts availability
The speaker draws a distinction between software support and hardware availability over time. Even if software can still be obtained, the physical hardware (modules/parts) may become unavailable, which can limit what you can repair or replace later.
They’re talking about brake repairs—work done to fix the brakes. The caller wanted to see the old parts, and that’s part of why the situation became a controversy.
The customer asked the dealership to keep the old parts after the repair. That way, the customer can see what was actually replaced, which helps prevent misunderstandings about the work.
They’re saying the customer also reached out to the state agency that handles vehicle-related issues. It’s basically the place you complain when you think a dealership didn’t treat you fairly.
An upsell is when a shop tries to sell you extra repairs you didn’t ask for. Here, the dealership recommended brake work while the customer was there for something else.
An emissions problem means the car was flagged for something related to pollution controls. The important point here is that the dealership later suggested brake work even though the original issue was emissions.
They’re talking about the car’s braking system. Sometimes a shop checks the brakes or replaces brake parts, and the paperwork matters for what happens to the old parts.
A recall is when a manufacturer requires repairs to address a safety or compliance issue. The episode uses recall/mandatory service as an example of work that may be done at a dealer, which then raises the question of what happens to removed parts and the required documentation.
The hosts discuss legal/procedural requirements in New York around what shops must do with removed parts. The core idea is that if you want to keep parts, the shop may be required to document it in writing on the repair order/work order, and there are different handling rules depending on how the sale/work was initiated (e.g., parts sold over the phone).
Term
BMV
BMV is referenced as the authority with specific laws/guidelines governing the parts-return procedure. In context, it’s being used to explain the legal framework for what repair shops must do when customers request removed parts.
If a repair shop puts in new parts, you may be allowed to get the old, replaced parts back. There are a few exceptions, but the main point is that you should ask for them properly so the shop has to follow the process.
Some replacement parts come from warranty or an exchange program. Those parts may not be treated the same as regular “replaced parts,” so you might not get them back.
A “core” is the old part you turn in when you buy a rebuilt/replacement part. If you don’t return the core, the replacement can cost more because the exchange deal can’t be completed.
The segment emphasizes that to guarantee return of replaced parts, the customer must request them in writing before the shop starts work. If authorization is given by phone, the shop’s obligations can change—specifically, the shop may keep replaced parts but still make them available when the vehicle is picked up.
Concept
administrative law judge penalties
If a shop won’t follow the rules about returning replaced parts, there can be consequences. The punishment may be decided through an administrative process involving a judge.
The host describes sorting inventory into “salvageable parts” versus scrap, meaning usable components are kept separately from parts that can’t be reused. This affects what a shop can offer customers when they ask for a specific part that “came off of his car.”
A brake inspection is when a shop checks how worn or damaged your brakes are. They’re looking for problems before they become unsafe or expensive to fix.
In winter, salt used on roads can get under the car and speed up rust. Because of that, some shops worry about damage to the car’s protective coating and want to check parts more often.
Sometimes car companies contact owners to fix or check something they’ve noticed. It may not be a recall, but it’s still a chance to get work done before problems get worse.
Corrosion is basically rust and metal breakdown over time. Salt on the roads makes it happen faster, especially in winter climates.
Term
spindler calipers
This sounds like they’re talking about the brake calipers. Calipers squeeze the brake pads against the rotors to slow the car down, and rust can make them work poorly.
Term
rust coding
They’re talking about rust—how winter salt can cause corrosion. The dealer is using that as the reason for the inspection or service.
In winter, roads get treated with salt to help melt ice. The downside is that the salt can cause metal parts on your car to rust faster, especially underneath.
Term
tail exhaust systems
They’re talking about the back part of the exhaust. Salt can rust exhaust parts, which can cause leaks or loud noises over time.
Undercoating is a protective coating applied to the underbody to reduce corrosion from road salt and moisture. If a campaign specifies “certain areas,” it usually targets the spots most prone to rust or exhaust-related damage.
Fluid Film is a rust-prevention spray you put on metal parts. It helps stop corrosion from getting started or spreading, and people use it on vehicles that see harsh weather like snowplows.
Plow trucks work in salty, wet winter weather, which makes them rust faster than many other vehicles. That’s why rust-protection products are especially common on them.
Concept
prevention vs. expensive rust repair
Ron is basically saying it’s cheaper to prevent rust early than to fix it later. A quick protective spray can help avoid the bigger, more expensive repairs.
“Rear ends” here refers to the rear axle assembly and, more specifically, the differential and its gear ratio. In trucks, the rear-end gear ratio strongly affects acceleration, towing ability, and highway cruising RPM. When building or restoring, people often specify the rear-end ratio so the truck performs as intended.
They’re asking about the tires—how big they are and what kind they are. Tire size affects how the truck rides and how it performs, especially if it’s built for fun or rough roads. Knowing the tire setup helps you understand the whole build.
Term
down super swampers
“Super Swampers” likely refers to Swampers-style off-road tires, which are known for aggressive tread patterns and large sidewalls. The transcript sounds like a mis-hearing (“down super swampers”), but the intent is to identify the tire brand/type. Tire choice like this is common on classic truck builds aimed at off-road capability and visual impact.
Term
three fifty five years
They’re likely talking about the rear gears being “3.55.” Those gears control how hard the truck feels when you accelerate and what RPM it turns at highway speeds. It’s an important spec to know when restoring or replacing parts.
Restoration means bringing an older vehicle back to good shape. It’s not just fixing what’s broken—you also need the right replacement parts. The hosts point out that rust and parts availability can make restoration harder.
LMC Truck is a company that sells parts for older trucks. They sponsor the show and offer catalogs and gift certificates. If you’re restoring a vintage truck, places like this can help you find the right replacement parts.
This is a 2006 Ford Explorer that started acting up after new tires were installed. The car’s safety system (ABS) starts activating, and the truck also seems to switch into four-wheel drive on its own, making it feel like it can’t move normally.
The ABS light means the car’s anti-lock braking system isn’t working correctly. ABS is designed to keep the wheels from locking up, and when it detects a problem, it warns you with that light.
This means the truck is switching into four-wheel drive by itself. That can happen if the car thinks the wheels are slipping or if sensors are confused—especially after tire changes.
A wheel bearing is what lets the wheel spin smoothly. If it’s worn out, the wheel can wobble or vibrate. That vibration can feel like a shake in the car, and it’s one of the things mechanics check when diagnosing vibrations.
This is a simple test: swap the tires around and see if the shaking moves with them. If the vibration follows a specific tire, that tire is probably the problem. If the shaking doesn’t move, the cause is likely not the tire itself.
Wheel balancing is how a shop makes sure your tire-and-wheel spins smoothly. If it’s not balanced, the car can shake at certain speeds. Balancing is usually done with a machine that tells the shop where to add small weights.
Deflating the tire and rotating it on the rim is a way to test whether the tire itself is the problem. Tires can have slight irregularities that line up differently depending on how they’re mounted. If the vibration improves after remounting, the tire is likely the culprit.
Lateral runout means the tire doesn’t track perfectly straight as it spins. Even if the tire looks fine, it can wobble slightly side-to-side. If you rotate the tire on the rim, you can sometimes line up the wobble differently and reduce vibration.
Concentricity is whether the tire spins around the same center point as the wheel. If it’s off, the tire can “wobble” as it rotates and make the car vibrate. Changing the tire’s position on the rim can sometimes make it spin more smoothly.
Term
host clamp
This sounds like a tool used to hold or mark something in place while you inspect it. The goal is to make it easier to see what’s happening with the drivetrain.
The drive shaft is like a spinning “power transfer” bar under the truck. If it gets rusty or its balance is off, it can shake the vehicle and feel worse when you’re driving.
ABS is the system that helps prevent the wheels from locking during hard braking. If the problem started right after ABS kicked in, it can point to what changed or got stressed.
On many 4WD trucks, the transfer case is the box that sends power to the front and rear wheels. If something feels off, it’s one of the places mechanics check.
Sometimes the shaking isn’t from the drivetrain at all—it can be the tires. Tires can be out of balance or worn unevenly, and that can make the whole truck vibrate.
The Lexus NX is a small luxury SUV. The caller is asking if it’s a good choice to buy and keep up with, especially since it’s a newer, more tech-heavy vehicle.
The host’s main point is that modern cars are increasingly controlled by electronics, which can limit what an owner can do at home. Without diagnostic tools, even basic jobs can become harder when systems require electronic commands or fault-code clearing.
An oil change is when you replace the engine oil so the engine stays clean and protected. It’s usually one of the easier maintenance jobs compared to more complex electronic repairs.
Tire rotation is the practice of moving tires from one position to another to promote even tread wear. The host includes it as a type of maintenance that’s generally doable without specialized diagnostic tools.
Instead of the brakes being controlled only by fluid and cables, some cars use electric motors to move the brake parts. To work on them, you may need special tools to tell the brake system to release.
The parking brake is usually a lever or cable, but on some cars it’s controlled by an electric motor. When you’re working on the brakes, the car may need a scan tool to put the system in the right state.
A Ford Escape is a common compact SUV. The point here is that if you can find a mechanic or shop that’s good with a car like this, you’ll usually have a better experience with repairs.
Instead of guessing which shop is good, the host suggests finding a repair place you can trust. That way, repairs are done the right way and you’re less likely to get overcharged or messed around.
The host’s tip is to use the parts store like a shortcut for finding good mechanics. Since they deal with shops all the time, they may know who does things right the first time.
Parts stores hear a lot from mechanics and customers. Asking them who’s good can help you find a trustworthy shop without having to learn the hard way.
LIVE
I've still got a speeding bullet.
Or powerful gonna walkomotive.
Hey, don't believe Paul buildings at a single bound.
Look, I'm in the sky.
It's a bird, ron Ananian, What is it with people that it really bothers them that you drive and build your car your way and not to what they want?
The Car Doctor wiring diagrams are so darn critical to this business, whether you're doing it as a professional or whether you're doing it as a weekend warrior.
And welcome to the radio home of Ron Anian the Car Doctor. Since nineteen ninety one, this is where car
owners the world overturned to for their definitive opinion on automotive repair. If your mechanics giving you a busy signal,
pick up.
The phone and call in. The garage doors.
Are opening, but I am here to take your calls at eight five five five six nine hundred and now he.
Running.
Hey, welcome Ron and Ady and the Car Doctor. Kind
of nice to be back in the studio this week.
I'm here at eight five five five six zero nine nine zero zero. Boy, was that a crazy show last week.
I hope you had as much fun at listening to it as we did. Doing it is that proper English.
We'll make it proper English today. I can get away
with anything, and just great to get out there and see everybody. I don't know the final car count, from
what I understand it was upwards of fifteen hundred cars for the weekend out there at the dead Man's Curve, Wild hot Rod Weekend last weekend Bash number four Mahwan, New Jersey. But I have to tell you a lot
of firsts, a lot of great things on many fronts.
For me, the most which I think was that was the most fun I ever had driving to the radio show because I got to drive the hot rod and it's been I don't think I've ever ever gotten to drive black two to a radio show and go to work.
Imagine driving your hot rot to work every day. How
cool would that be? Well, this radio show is about cars.
If you're new and you're just tuning in, we're here to solve your problem. Talk to you about it. Maybe
you're bashful going into your mechanic, or maybe you just plain don't know and you're afraid to admit it. Well,
I'm here to help. That's really what this radio show
is here for. We're here to take you the listener
here to take you the car owner and talk to you about that problem and make you not so bashful and put you in a position of strength so that when you're talking to your mechanic, you have some parody and you can achieve what you want to achieve and keep that car going for many miles and keeping you safe and reliable out on the road. I had dinner
this week with a friend I tend to I go out a lot to eat with guys from the industry, and I like getting out and talking to guys from the industry. I think it's important and it gives me perspective,
just like doing this radio show gives me perspective. It
tells me what's going on out there that maybe I'm not seeing. And he had just started a new job.
He was with this one dealership group for about twelve years and he started with a new dealership group, and it was interesting. He said to me that we were
talking about differences, and I asked him, what differences have you seen in a couple of months that you've been with the new guys, And he said, I've got to tell you, Ronnie Goes, this is one of the reasons I'm starting to move around because I'm concerned about my career.
He said, you can see that the repair and maintenance of automobiles is changing an awful lot and awful quick And I said, how so? And he said, for the
longest time, with the dealership where he was at, they were always selling fluid flushes. And he said they typically
start selling fluid flushes at the fifteen thousand mile mark, and then at thirty, then at forty five, then at sixty, then at seventy five, and so on. And he said,
the thing I didn't like about it with the old dealership group was that everybody, the service writers were all on commission. And I said, wow, that's no newsflesh. Everybody
kind of knows that that. You know, most places put
service writers on commission. It kind of keeps them on
their toes. I don't agree with it, and I think
it's wrong because it creates the kind of problem he was just about to tell me and he said, yeah, but you know, he said, the problem is he goes every time they sell a flush, they make five bucks.
And he said, there's a brand and I'm not going to mention the brand here on air, but there's a brand of chemical that a lot of the dealers use as their source of flushing. And every time they sell
one of those flushes in various systems on the car, they put a little sticker on the order, and every time they get to the end of the day they add up those stickers. For every sticker they get five bucks.
And he said, the problem I've got is they're starting to do those flushes as early as fifteen thousand miles.
And he said, I've got to tell you the particular line of cars I was at, and I won't say where because I don't want to put anybody in a bad light. This could be any dealership in the repair shop. Really,
he said, fifteen thousand miles. They don't really need anything.
They're twenty fourteen model year vehicles. And he said, as
a matter of fact, he goes, once US writer was selling power steering flushes on a car with electric power steering, and the people that owned the car didn't realize it, and they were approved. And actually the head service manager,
he says, the guy above me, the service director, caught it and reprimanded him and finally got him to stop doing it, because that's just theft. Out and out deception.
And he said, I think this is a problem in the industry, and I said, you think, I said, I'll go back two years when California had that article they called it wallet flushing, where there was a rampant problem in California, where they've actually talked about making it legislation limiting how many flushes can be sold, or how flushes are sold, or what sort of services are required by the dealerships. And it's a very hot topic out in California.
I said, you know, the bottom line came back to, and I've said this for years, it's you've got to have that relationship with your mechanic. You've got to have
that relationship with the writer. You've got to know who
and what you're dealing with.
You know.
The other day to get a haircut, and my barber was closed this week and someone said to me, Hey, go to my guy. He's right up here, and you know,
we can get your haircut in and out and zip zip.
And I said, you know, I've had a relationship with Tony for twenty three years. I don't think I'm ready
to change barbers yet. For that reason, it's kind of
a tough thing to do. And like your haircut. You know,
the car is kind of personal. It's about the relationship,
that is, if you really want one. On the plus side, though,
I said to him, I said, you got to look at the positive. I said, if they continue to sell
those flushes, that means those service writers can buy an awful lot of lawn furniture and at least the lawn industry, that the lawn furniture industry is going to be doing well. Hello,
and welcome Ron and any and the car doctor here at eight five five five six zero nine nine zero zero to take your calls and answer your questions. We
have a full slate this hour and the hour after that.
We've got a lot of things going on. Let's kick
open the garage doors right away and welcome Bob Philisburg, New Jersey, two thousand and eight. Audie and some questions
about a scan tool, Robert, How can I help you today?
Yes?
Good after dinner. By the way, of that event last
weekend was awesome.
Yeah good, I'm glad you had a good time. It
was nice seeing you and it was a pleasure you're meeting your wife.
Yeah, I mean the people and the cars and and uh, it was it was awesome that words can't describe it.
Yeah, it's you had to be there. But anyway, what
do you got?
All right? Audie eighth the eighth rad that I just
purchased h Ross Tech, I borrowed and I put on it, and I wanted to see if I get any updates from Audi and you know the software. Is this something
that I need to take it to the dealer or like, do you have any scan tools it can give me updates for this thing? Or what?
What are you looking to you want to do reflashing on the computer?
Well, no, just to see if if Audi has offered any updates that are available, you know, in.
General updates you mean in terms of updates for the operating system of the vehicle bomb or you're talking about Yeah, yeah, okay, Yeah.
The way you're going to do that is, yeah, you're gonna go out to You're gonna I'm sure there's an Audi website where you can plug in a vent and it'll tell you updates available. But for you know, you
just blindly start to flash, and I don't recommend that.
I'd like to know what kind of problem I'm trying to solve. If any you know, you can go to
like all data. For example, put in your make model
a car and start reading bulletins and look to see are there any updates? That way, ross Tech might provide that,
but the problem's going to be that ross Tech may tell you there's a flash, or even all Data might tell you there's a flash, but to get it you would have to download the software and use J twenty five thirty four or dealer compatible scan tool through the manufacturer's website, and that would require a subscription of some type.
Software updates for cars are not free. The manufacturers do
not provide them as a courtesy. To tell you the truth,
They're very hesitant to provide them at all from what I see, and if you choose to do it, you're gonna pay for it.
I see. Now do they stop supporting things? You know?
After so many years on.
That you have not seen software updates be limited in terms of you know, no longer supported. But you will
find that parts for the car will make it to the point where you may not be able to keep it because they won't be around. In other words, the
hardware won't be available, but you'll be able to get the software. Software is cheap and easy to keep it's
on the server somewhere. It's the hardware that if you
ever need it, that's gonna be the problem.
It's a learning curve.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, it's all a learning great.
I went from ninety six to two thousand and eight, and my god, yeah.
It's it's like it's like driving. It's like going from
you know, a game of checkers to now you're driving a giant pinball machine. But yep, you got it. Hey, Bob,
let me run. The clock's gonna grab me. I'm running
Ny in the Car docktor eight five five five six zero nine nine zero zero. We've got a lot coming up.
Stick around. I'll be back right after this.
Welcome back.
Why don't the Ny in the Car doctor here at a five five five six zero nine nine zero zero to take your calls and answer your questions. A couple
of weeks ago, I think the week or the two weeks before the remote last week, we received a call from a gentleman in Long Island who had taken his Honda into the dealership, and if you recall, he was talking about how he had some break repair work done that he wasn't expecting, and he had asked the dealership to hold on to the parts. He wanted to see
the stuff that he was paying to have replaced, and they didn't, and it created quite a controversy for him.
And last I understand he's talking to the folks up at Albany, New York, at the Motor Vehicle division there.
But that wasn't enough for us. We wanted to reach
out to and our cells and find out what exactly is procedure for all our New York listeners. And we
went out to one of the best, Sandy from the tire warehouse in Spring Valley, New York, and we've got him on the line with us right now. Sandy, Are
you there, sir.
I'm here listening to you.
You know, I don't know if you had heard that call a couple of weeks back, if the fella had gone into the repair shop and he was out on Long Island and he asked for the parts to be held and they said sure, and when he got there he paid for the car no parts.
You know I heard that. You said something very interesting
because it makes a huge difference. You said, when he
got there, did he ask for the parts on the phone?
Yes?
Or did he ask the parts when he was originally in the repair shop the.
Way I understand that he asked for the parts on the phone when they called him to upsell him the break job that they said he needed. He originally went
in for an emissions problem and while the car was there, because he was surprised that they said he needed breaks because and I forget what his reason was. Either the
car was stopping well, which to me isn't legit because there are a lot of cars that could be stopping well that still need breaks.
But here calipers stuff.
Sure, you know, he kind of gave an indication, if I remember right, that he had looked at the brakes and there weren't anything wrong with them, or his mechanic had looked at the brakes. He had taken into the
Honda dealer for something because it was something they had to do, either a recall or just some sort of mandatory service dealer only for whatever reason. But the conversation
was about he had asked for the break parts to be returned to him and they didn't. So what's the
procedure in New York? What are the requirements?
Well, the law, if that's what you're asking me for, BMV has specific laws they have guidelines, and the law is that if you go and you have a repair shop to work on your car while you're there, if you want to keep the parts, you're actually required to give it to them in writing. Believe it or not,
I can't imagine any shop matress returning them to you if they ask for them, but the law says that they have to give it to you if it's given writing. However,
and the reason I asked you about this particular guy was he there was on the phone. If you're upsall,
if a service writer or dispatcher, whoever it is, it's calling you and then sells you something over the phone, you have to keep the parts until they come and pick up the car. That's required, and a customer is
entitled to see it, sure, especially if you're solding something over the phone. Procedurally, that's a different question that's not
legally procedurally. My shop, for example, we like to bring
the customer if they're in the shop, we like to bring them in to see the car. We like to
show them exactly what we're talking about. Ninety nine percent
of the time they want to ask for the park because they're already seeing it on the car right, And to.
Me, that builds the trust factor, and that builds the relationship, and that's what it's all about.
You never had a customer that says, do I really need it after you've shown it tour right? Right, So
it takes all that away, and I agree with you.
It's that same barber that's Tony all over again. Right,
you deal with Tony cutting your hair for twenty three years.
You're not going to tell them what you need because he already knows what you need.
You know what you got. So the question becomes then
the dealership when he walked into the dealership or the repair shop was a dealership in this case, but just any repair facility in any state, but will talk New York Specifically, they require him to sign a document, right, I mean they required repair order Somewhere on that repair order.
Isn't he given the option also? Or is he not
to check off the box?
Everybody can have that Differently, there's no requirement that you put that on your work order, but if they want the parts, they are required to put it in writing. Again,
I can't imagine. I would never say write it up,
but I'm not giving your parts back. But the law
says that you have to put it in writing if you're in the shop.
Now, what's his recourse because now he had asked reports to be returned to him. And what would be the
recourse for somebody that's in this situation.
Where do they've got a couple of options. You can
go directly to court, the judge will make a decision, according to DMV. Now this is really interesting. I called
DMV and I asked them about it, and they wouldn't answer my question. They got nervous and they transferred me
to a communications department which I never knew existed, and it took a couple of phone calls before they got back to me with the right people because I heard it that I might be speaking about this on the radio station, and they were sort of afraid to make a decision. But their exact definition, Can I read.
This to you.
You're entitled to the return of all replaced parts except warranty and exchange parts. Some parts of cores, by the way,
so you have to return them in order to get the new part at a reasonable set, you know, affordable price.
Without the core, you're paying more money for it. So
under those conditions, you don't have to return those parts, but you must ask for them in writing before any work is done. If you authorize work by phone, the
shop must keep any replaced parts and make them available when you pick up the vehicle. I want to step further,
and I said, well, what about punishment. And here's a
guy a shop. He refuses the return parts. He likes
to sell parts, doesn't like to return them to show the customer. And they said, and this is interesting too,
because they can give you demerits and they can close you up, but to actually punish you under a particular case, there may be penalties, but that would be up to the respective administrative law judge. So they're leading it up
to the judge decide what the punishment might be. But
in fact there will be punishment.
So it sounds like a continuing saga. Bottom line, Sandy,
let's close it up. Let's say it's about the relationship
with the shop and the customer back and relationship.
A legitimate shop isn't going to hide anything from you.
A legitimate shop wants to show you what you need, so you understand and therefore trust him, right, And then if you don't, then somebody wants the parts. Why in
the world when you give him back. We have a tendency,
We have a routine. We keep barrels. We keep metal
parts in one barrel, we keep other salvageable parts. When
I say salvage is a scrap in other barrels. And
this way a customer says, you know what I didn't see?
Can I still got that part? I can take the guy,
I can take the tech and I can show him exactly what came off of his car.
Right right, I'll tell you what.
I'm here and listening for you.
That's why he's our guy in New York. Sandy the
Tire Warehouse, Spring Valley, New York. Thanks Sandy, go back
and enjoy the rest of your day off.
My pleasure you too.
I'm listening in you take good care. You know. That's
and and that's really the fact. It's it's about the relationship,
it really is. Let's real quick. Let's go over to
Don and see the rapids. Iowa twenty eleven Kia. Some
questions about breaks?
Don.
You're on with the car doctor. How can I help?
Yes, I have a twenty eleven Kia that I bought two years ago used it's got about twenty thousand miles and lately when I've been taking it in for just routine maintenance, oil change, that type of thing, they've been trying to upsell me to an inspection process on the brakes that they say is a potential problem because of in the winter time in Iowa, course with all the ice, sludge and snow, they have to put a salt solution out and they say the salt solutions as has the ability to cause problems with the undercoating on the car.
Now that I said, fine, if that's the case, go ahead and do it, and they say, well, unfortunately, you're going have to pay us for it. And it's a
substantial cost on this thing on the front end to have these inspected. This is not necessarily saying there's a problem,
and if they have to be replaced the course, that's additional cost. And I guess I've been putting them off
on the thing because I didn't feel I had a break problem. If I did get from Kia something called
a voluntary service campaign. I'm not sure if you're familiar
with it or not good, but it has to do with with a voluntary taking the car in and getting the undercoating added to or or or increased uh in in areas where we have this salt issue, this solt problem, because they're concerned about the corrosion. Now they talked about
maybe the corrosion being on them. I think they use
the term spindler calipers. I'm not sure what I don't understand.
I'll tell you what. Don don let me pull over
and take this pause. I've got an answer for you.
Let me deal with it when I come back. I
don't want to rush this, and we'll get to the bottom of it before you and help you out. I'm
running any of the Car Doctor. We'll be back right
after this. Welcome back running any of the Car Doctor.
Taking the ride this hour with you at eight five five five six zero nine nine zero zero. I should
point out also cardoctorshow dot com has more information about this radio show, as well as podcasts and some of the weekly and monthly happenings here at the Car Doctor.
Let's go back to Don and Cedar rapids. Eyowa. Don
you're still there, sir, I am sir. Twenty eleven. Key
of the conversations about the dealer trying to sell you.
It sounds like a rust coding after the vehicle purchase because of your bad winters in Iowa. Fair statement.
Well, not for what he wants to sell me as an inspection and to see if there's a problem because of the potential undercoding issue. But then then I've got
to take the car in next tuesday. They get some
undercoding added to it. But this had just to do
with the with the brakes, and he wants to sell me and charge before it charities inspect each of the four wheels for this for this problem, okay, spend alert caliper whatever.
How much does he want to charge your for this?
Don eighty dollars a tire, So he.
Wants to charge you almost four hundred dollars to inspect the break.
You get three hundred twenty dollars.
Twenty dollars okay. And and is this a fault in
the vehicle as per Kia or is this something the dealer has.
No this this has to do with the with the salt that's put on the roads in winter time. It's
such a corrosive thing. I guess that they are running
into problems a running the problems with tail exhaust systems.
Okay, they have they have they have anything in writing that explains this or.
Is this they do?
They have this what they call a voluntary service campaign?
Can you email it to me?
It's it's got. What they're going to do is they're
going to actually bring it in. They're going to add
undercoding to certain areas. They don't say exactly where can
you They're gonna.
Well, can you can you email me a copy of that notice? Is that possible?
I can? I can get your email? Why can I
get your email? Adds pretty easily easy.
Ron at cardoctorshow dot com.
That's easy.
Yeah, all right, you know because I want to sell you, Okay, you know, because here's here's my perspective. All right, you know,
if the problem is in Iowa, I got news for you, the problem better being Maine, because I think Main's got a bigger salt proin issue than than any state. Yeah,
it's And I'm not hearing about this from anybody else about either.
I talked to the mechanic here locally and he never heard of this. Right, So worrying, legitimate, you know, and
I need to do it for safety purposes.
I will do it right.
Or are we buying one?
Are we buying a on furniture for the writer. And
then last thing I'm gonna leave you with and then I'm gonna run is take a look online. Go look
at a product called fluid film. Fluid Film. They use
it on all the they use it on all the plow trucks. I've been using it for the past two years.
I know professional commercial snowplowers that use this product. It's
a spray on corrosion inhibitor that prevents the particular problems that you're describing to me. That's why I want to
read what the dealer has to say to see if we're talking about the same thing. Fluid films about eleven
twelve dollars a can up in the air. It's a
little caustic. You've got to wear some active mask and
so forth. Spray it on and we're done. Conversation's over.
It's not hundreds of dollars and this big, long, involved process.
So let's take this one step at a time. Don
We can always spend the money in two weeks and send you back to the dealer, But email me that copy and I'll comment on it. We can talk further.
So uh, just keep me posted, let me know what happens.
Thank you, and you have a good rest of the day.
Let's go over to another Don. Don. This is Don.
This gentleman is from last week. Actually he appeared with
me in the first hour. He was a nice enough
guy to pull his para wagon up in front of the hotel where we were at the wild hot Rod party for the folks at dead Man's Curve, and we decided to bring him back this week. I had a
couple of questions in a bit of a surprise for him. Don,
Welcome back to the car doctor, sir.
How you doing?
Ron?
All right, you're you're traveling this week too, by the way, aren't you are? Where are you today?
Yes, sir, me and my wife?
Yeah, oh wow, you're yeah, hardcore hot rutterers out there having fun. You've got the forty one Dodgs with you today,
of course, I'm.
Sure, Yes, yes, we do.
Yes.
You know one thing we never talked about last week, and I'll just be brief. I know you guys are
having a good time. The tires on that truck. How
big were those tires? And then what rear ends are
in that truck?
I don't want to call those down super swampers. And
there's nineteen sixty international wrears with three fifty five years in it.
Now, when you built, when you build a truck like that, don do you have it all written down somewhere. So
two years from now, if you need a part or a widget, you know where to chase and how to go about it.
Yeah, yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, I know that. Like I said,
clip from Senator. Customers built the truck, and we have
a pretty detailed list of everything that've gone in it and what we have, you know, going on with it.
You see and you see parts is you know, the biggest is parts one of the big problems today in restoration.
You know what rush? Yeah, rust is the biggest issue.
Yeah yeah, rust never sleeps. Right.
Fortunately, this is a good a good truck to begin with.
And uh you know yeah, it's yeah, we got we got along with it and it's we've.
Been I gotta tell you it was a fan favorite last weekend, that's for sure. And listen on that note.
And I meant to do this last weekend, but it was just so plumb crazy and unless you were there, you don't understand what crazy is. From last weekend, one
of our sponsors, LMC Truck, There are a great bunch of guys there are truck people, and we're gonna give you and send you out the twenty five dollars gift certificate this week along with an LMC truck or hat T shirt or hat or T shirt, and I want you to stay on the line fast. Harry's gonna get
your info and you can also get a catalog from them.
And you know what, I want you to know that I like that truck and the car doctor wants to do what he can to help make your life easier with it. Should you ever need parts for it, you
can over to LMC truck and they'll help you out.
All right, sir, you're very welcome.
Done, all right, you take good care and we look forward to seeing you at the next hot rod event. Yeah,
super big truck folks. And if you didn't see it,
we're gonna to get some pictures up. Our photographer took
over three hundred pictures of last week's event. We started
to post them out at the Facebook page and we're gonna get more up in the coming weeks as we continue to move forward with this radio show. Eight five
five five six zero nine nine zero zero. I'm running
Indie in the card Doctor, and I'm back right after this stop. Welcome back on an Indian the Card Doctor
rolling along this hour. Get out the Card Doctors Show
dot com for more information and podcasts of this radio show.
And let me point out if you want to do the podcast thing, you can get out to either tune in dot com or subscribe via iHeart dot com or iTunes dot com and you can take this radio show with you and get it to appear in your inbox any which way you'd like. Let's get over to the
phones once again and go back to Ray or go over to Ray Long Island, two thousand and six, Ford Explorer. Ray,
you're on with the Car Doctor. Sure, how can I help?
Hey?
Ron?
How you doing?
Great show? I listened all the time, Thank you sir.
What's going on?
Question? I had four new tires put on the Explorer
all right, okay, and same original size. And a couple
of days afterwards from driving down the road and the ABS light comes on, the four wheel drive engages automatically by itself. The cost slows down to a crawl. I
could hardly move it. I just touched the gas and
the brake pedal is bouncing up and down, you know, as the ABS.
Is activating, I'm on the dry road.
Now, I take it into my mechanic. Guy tells me
right front hub bearing.
Okay, that the sensor.
And the hot bearing is an integral part and he has to replace the whole bearing in the sensor at once.
Sounds reasonable.
Okay, Yes it did. And I looked into it and
it did. He replaced it.
No problem.
The only problem isn't when I'm out on a highway, I'm getting a vibration on the floor, a slight vibration at about sixty five miles an hour, I had to tie.
I thought it was a balancing and a tire I had.
The tie is rebalanced in two different tires, two different places, and it still didn't help. I brought it back to
the guy.
He looked at everything.
He says, he couldn't say anything wrong, And I'm just wondering, you know, maybe if the road isn't walk because the ABS was activating so bad, we'll drive went into it.
Let me transfer case.
Let me ask you Ray, when you you know, drive along sixty miles an hour and just step on the brake a normal brake application. Does the steering wheel dance
at all? Is a normal stop.
No. No, Now that I tried that, I dabble a
little bit and automatatic. I know a little bit about it.
But now I tried that, and the roads don't seem to be walked.
No, and I don't. I don't from from your description,
it doesn't sound like a break issue. The only way
you're gonna know for sure is to really is to pull the four wheels off, set up a dial indicator on a magnetic base, and dial indicate the rotors for runout.
But it doesn't. It doesn't sound like a a a
break rotor scenario to me. Is it possible, and I'm
talking off the top of my head, is it possible one of the new tires has an issue. New doesn't
mean good, new means never ever worked. You may find
and I don't know that I would go here first, but you may find that moving the tires around changes or modifies the vibration if you can accurately and consistently reproduce it at sixty five miles an hour through the floor, like you feel it in the seat of your pants.
Is that what you're saying?
Yuh?
I feel it more on the floor.
Right, Okay, but.
Right I feel it more on the floor, but I didn't have it before.
You know before, which before the tires, before the wheel bearing, No, before the tires. Okay, then you may want to move
the tires front to back, put the tires in a different place position. I'd mark them before I'd move them,
just to see does moving the tires change the frequency or the oscillation or the vibration level at all. Do
you all of a sudden start to pick it up in the steering wheel. If that's the case, then one
of the tires that went from back to front has an issue, and it would need to be looked at on the on the balancer again. Now it's possible also
should you find that you suspect this is a balance issue, it might be interesting to see if they took the tire, deflated it, move the tire one hundred and eighty or ninety degrees on the wheel, put it back together and balanced it again. What we're doing is we're playing with
the concentricity or the lateral runout of the tire to the rim. In other words, everything has a different center line,
and we're changing it because I do findens it might it will compensate it to a degree. But if you
want to take a harder look at that, go out and google road force wheel balancing and understand what that is.
That takes wheel balancing down to the umpteenth level. It
compensates for the out of roundness of a tire and how it affects itself when it sits on the rim and the load of it on the road. So there
is there is a higher level of wheel balancing available.
Spinning tires on the rim is a is a cheaper way.
It's the poor man's way of doing it. It's the
way I was taught way too many years ago. You
can't find that make a difference. If we if we
get past the tires where where it's not the tires ray, and we decide, okay, there isn't a tire issue here.
Then the last thing I would tell you to look at before we go any further is ask your mechanic to put a host clamp on the drive shift and put a put a quarter rounds a wheelweight on it.
Yeah, the main drive shift.
No, the main drive shift. This is this is from
the center of the vehicle, which center of the vehicle to me sounds more and again this is a touchy feely thing. But this sounds like, do we have a
drive shift? Did the drive shaft? You know, this truck's
ten years old, how rust does the drive shift? Did
the drive shaft lose a weight? And for that matter,
if you inspect the drive shift, is there a spot weld somewhere on the drive shaft where there once was a weight? Did it, by chance happened to fall off
when the truck went into this abs event and you just started noticing it. You know, repairing cars is a
dangerous task for both parties because after you pay somebody money, you tend to be more sensitive and pay more attention to what's going on, and not just everybody. You're more
in tune. You know. It's like after you get the
house painted, all of a sudden, you notice, every once in a while a bird flies over and does his business, and you go, you know what, that happens one more time, there's gonna be one less blackbird in the world.
So I always thought that maybe it was the transfer case or the talk converter into transmission doing this well that you.
Know, there's a lot of things that could be. Yeah,
but if if you take what I told you and and go it and steps. At least you've got a
diagnostic approach on how to uh on how to you know, approach this before we start randomly pulling at things again.
It could be tire related. You noticed it after the tires,
but there's a lot of things would have, could have, should have and following things in a logical sequence will help eliminate cost. Not necessarily time. Let me know what happens,
raand I'll be glad to talk about it again with you if the problem continues. Eight five five five six
zero nine nine zero zero. The Car Doctor's coming back.
Don't go away?
Shut you know? Contrance us, welcome back.
Why aren't any in the Car Doctor? Eight five five
five six zero nine nine zero zero. The Car Doctor's
twenty four to seven phone number. If or not here,
call leave a message fast, Harry. I'll call you back.
Let's get over and talk to Chris and Nebraska. Some
car advice for an older sister and the lexus. Chris,
welcome to the Car Doctor. How can I help hey?
First of all, I wanted to say thank you for what you do. If I'm the show three years ago.
And have been hooked since, thank you, sir, Glad to be here for you. What can I do for you today?
Well, first, my sister been looking for a newer call.
She was looking at the new Lexus NX and going and looking at it the price point and how they want Budge, We've kind of determined that maybe we want to look for a three year old, used somewhat luxury car in the same same realm as the Lexus NX, And I was wondering if you had any recommendations in that field and whether or not I'd be able to maintain it.
What do you do for a.
Living, Chris, I'm a diesel electrician. I work on locomotives
and tear port cars on the side.
Okay, so yeah, you're you're working with your hands. I
get it. You can. You'll probably be able to maintain
it up to a point. The problem is going to be,
you know, when you need something electronic done and without a scan tool, you're you're you're up the creek. So
you know, could you do the oil changes and the tire rotations and some of the basic brakes. Yeah, where
you can't do breaks for example, I'll tell you the story real quick. A friend of mine who went to
high school with called me the other week he somehow got roped into putting rear brakes on a late model Mercedes and he said, you know, I can't get the brake calipers to release, And I said, yeah, they're electric brake calipers. The cars got an electric parking brake, and
a lot of people don't realize until they get into it that you need a scan tool just to work on the brakes. So that being said, my point is
electronics are just permeated everywhere in the vehicles. So can
you do the oil change? Yeah? The question is why
would you have to and why do you want to?
What you want to do is you want to find a shop, whether it be a dealer or an independent, that that makes sense to you and and and con miticate the car accordingly. So that being said, all right, uh,
you know Lexus, great car, the NX, nice car, something along those lines. Uh. You know, if she's got her
heart set on that, she's got to start looking at some of the other luxury SUVs. But none of those
cars can you work on. If you can't work on
that level, you can't work on any of the others at that level. How would you feel, how do you
think she'd feel about a Ford escape as she looked at them.
She has and I've heard you recommended that. You said
your daughter has one. Yeah, and that's right, and.
You know what, you don't want to push her into the car. So I think instead of focusing on something else,
because anything else at that level, and you know, I get it, people want what they want. You know, life's
too short. Let's have a party. I think what you
want to do is, you know, find a repair place that she can trust. So where I would start that
search is the best kept secret in order to is go talk to a parts house. Auto parts houses know
who returns parts, they know who the idiots are, and they know who the good guys are. In plain English,
they know what's going on behind the scenes because they talk to the repair shops every day. And I would
march into your local autoparts store and say, hey, who do you trust. Here's what I'm thinking of buying. Do
you think they can help me? And they can work
on this in a safe, professional, reliable manner. Best tip
I got for you today, Chris, I appreciate the call.
I'm running any in the car doctor until the next time.
Good mechanics aren't expensive, Their priceless, see yeah,
About this episode
Ron Ananian kicks off with hot-rod weekend highlights and then digs into how to protect yourself in the service-bay. A discussion about “wallet flushing” and commission-driven upsells leads to a big theme: build a relationship with your mechanic and ask for wiring/diagnostic clarity. Calls cover scan-tool reflashing and why software updates usually cost money, New York rules for requesting replaced parts, and a Kia brake/corrosion upsell versus a cheaper corrosion-inhibitor approach. Later, a Ford Explorer ABS/4WD issue turns into a methodical tire/runout diagnostic. The show ends with advice on buying a used luxury SUV and finding a trustworthy shop.
Service Writer Commissions, Trust Issues & Tire Vibration Troubles
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens the hour with a candid look at how dealer service writer commissions can influence what you’re being sold—and how to tell the difference between necessary maintenance and upsell pressure.
From there, the calls roll in. A listener with a 2008 Audi A3 looks for the right scan tool to keep up with modern diagnostics, while Ron checks in with Sandy from Tire Warehouse in Spring Valley to clarify New York laws about returning replaced parts to customers upon request—an important consumer protection many don’t know they have.
Brake maintenance comes into focus with a caller asking about salt-related wear on a 2011 Kia, and another listener shares their experience attending the Deadman's Curve Car Show—a reminder of the passion that keeps car culture alive.
The hour wraps with real-world problem solving: a 2006 Ford Explorer develops a vibration after new tires, and a Lexus owner struggles with trust issues at the dealership—raising the bigger question: how do you know who to believe when it comes to your car?
Insightful, practical, and always real-world—this is car advice, done right.
