Ron Ananian shares a heartwarming holiday story about an unexpected encounter with a listener while plowing snow in New Jersey. He reflects on the impact of his radio show and discusses a troubling case involving a customer's Mazda that racked up $1,800 in repairs without resolving the issue. The episode dives into the challenges of diagnosing older vehicles, the importance of proper communication in repairs, and the realities of automotive maintenance. Ron also takes listener calls, providing practical advice on various car issues.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor opens with a Christmas-season story that stops him cold at a red light in Ramsey, NJ—when he realizes a young couple in the car next to him is listening to this show on the podcast. From there, Ron dives into the real-world chaos of modern repairs: a 2012 Mazda 3 owner spends $1,800 at a dealership with no clear diagnostic paperwork… only to be told the next step is an “obsolete” engine computer. Ron explains why probability, parts availability, and honest research matter before taking a customer down an expensive road. Plus, calls on a Chrysler 300C oil pressure sensor code, Honda CVT fluid service intervals (and the confusion around filters and fluid types), and a hard-start condition that may point to fuel delivery or pressure-regulator issues.
The Mazda3 is a small, affordable car that many people use for daily driving. The 2012 version was popular because it felt fun to drive and had good fuel economy.
The Mazda3 is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Mazda, known for its sporty handling and efficient engines. The 2012 model is part of the second generation, featuring a front‑engine, front‑wheel‑drive layout.
"replaced mass airflow sensor, map sensor, air intake boot and spark plugs"
The air intake boot is a cover that keeps dust out of the engine. If it’s torn, dirty air can get in and make the car run poorly.
The air intake boot is a rubber or plastic cover that seals the connection between the air filter box and the throttle body, preventing dirt from entering the engine. A cracked boot can cause a loss of vacuum and rough idle.
"replaced mass airflow sensor, map sensor, air intake boot and spark plugs"
The MAF sensor tells the car how much air is coming in. If it’s not working right, the car might run poorly or use too much gas.
A mass airflow (MAF) sensor measures the amount of air entering the engine so the computer can mix it with the right amount of fuel. A faulty MAF can cause rough idling, poor acceleration, or high fuel consumption.
"replaced mass airflow sensor, map sensor, air intake boot and spark plugs"
The MAP sensor checks how much air pressure is inside the engine’s intake. If it fails, the car may not run smoothly.
A manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor measures the pressure inside the intake manifold, helping the engine control unit determine air density for proper fuel delivery. A bad MAP can lead to misfires or stalling.
"I could literally spend all day just talking to people at the counter without turning a wrench without hooking up a scan tool without just about their cars and their problems."
A scan tool is a gadget you use to talk to a car’s computer. It shows what’s wrong by reading error codes and live data from the car’s sensors.
A scan tool is a diagnostic device that plugs into a vehicle’s OBD-II port to read error codes, live data, and perform various tests on the car’s electronic systems.
"Look at this car. It's got a P0101 mass air flow sensor port performance circuit issue."
P0101 is a code that shows up on the car’s computer when something is wrong with the air sensor circuit. It means the engine isn’t getting the right air signal.
P0101 is an OBD-II diagnostic trouble code indicating a problem with the mass air flow sensor’s performance circuit.
"That computer, that engine controller is obsolete. There isn't one in the country."
It's a small computer inside the car that tells the engine when to fire spark plugs and how much fuel to use, keeping everything running smoothly.
The engine controller, also known as the Engine Control Unit (ECU), is a computer that manages engine functions such as fuel injection, ignition timing, and emissions control.
"[1066.0s] Did you see the story in the news this week about Ford? [1069.0s] Ford is dropping to no longer gonna make the electric F-150 the lightning, right?"
It’s a pickup truck made by Ford that runs entirely on electricity instead of gasoline. It has big batteries and electric motors to move the truck.
The Ford F‑150 Lightning is an all‑electric version of the popular F‑150 pickup truck, featuring a dual‑motor setup and a large battery pack that powers the vehicle’s drivetrain.
"But just before I left it through a P0520, which is the oil center. Right. Oil pressure circuit."
When a car’s computer shows the code P0520, it means the sensor that checks how much oil is flowing in the engine isn’t getting a normal reading. This can happen if the oil is too thin, low, or the sensor itself is bad.
P0520 is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that indicates the engine control module has detected an abnormal reading from the oil pressure sensor, often meaning low or fluctuating oil pressure.
"But just before I left it through a P0520, which is the oil center. Right. Oil pressure circuit."
This small device sits in the engine and watches how much oil is moving around. If it sees too little oil, it tells the car’s computer to warn you so you can fix it before something breaks.
The oil pressure sensor monitors the amount of oil flowing through the engine and sends that data to the vehicle’s computer. It helps prevent engine damage by alerting the driver if oil pressure drops too low.
"I have yet to change filters on the CVTs. I have not seen them readily accessible, easy to get to, need for replacement."
A CVT is a type of car gearbox that changes speed smoothly without the usual gear shifts you see in manual or automatic cars. It can be harder to fix because its parts are more delicate.
A CVT, or continuously variable transmission, uses a belt and pulleys to provide an infinite range of gear ratios instead of fixed gears. This allows smoother acceleration and better fuel efficiency but can be more complex to service.
"[1824.9s] it's a traditional CVT fluid.
[1826.8s] And then there is a, then there's a,
[1828.4s] and I don't understand why Honda does this,
[1830.1s] but Toyota does it too."
CVT fluid is a special oil that keeps the automatic transmission in your car running smoothly. It’s made to work with the unique gears of a CVT, which can change speed continuously.
CVT fluid is a special type of transmission oil designed for continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). It has different viscosity and additive properties to handle the unique torque characteristics of CVT gear ratios.
"if you use anything other than the Honda fluid, you will ruin the transmission. They probably are the manufacturers of Honda Transfluid and Toyota Transfluid and so on."
If you pour the wrong kind of oil into a car’s gearbox, it can damage the gears and seals, causing the transmission to break down. Always use the fluid type your car’s maker recommends.
Transmission fluid lubricates gears, cools the system, and maintains seal integrity. Using a fluid with incorrect viscosity or additive package can lead to premature wear, leaks, and failure.
For Porsche cars, the A13 service is a routine check-up that happens every 13,000 miles. It makes sure the engine and other parts are clean and working well.
An A13 service is a scheduled maintenance interval for certain Porsche models, typically performed every 13,000 miles or 12 months. It includes checks and replacements of key components such as engine oil, filters, and fluid levels.
The B1 service is a deeper check for Porsche cars that happens every 10,000 miles. It looks at things like brakes and the car’s suspension to keep it running safely.
A B1 service is another scheduled maintenance interval for Porsche vehicles, usually performed every 10,000 miles or 12 months. It involves more extensive checks than an A service, such as inspecting brakes, suspension, and transmission components.
"don't forget the other fluids in the drive train either, you know, the vehicle's coming up on"
The drive train is everything that takes the engine’s power and gets it to the wheels so the car can move.
The drive train is the collection of components that transmit power from the engine to the wheels, including the transmission, driveshafts, differentials, and axles.
"Yeah, group 51 batteries, the most common failures. So, all right, hey, kiddo, you're good."
Group 51 batteries are a common type of car battery that fits many cars. They have a standard size and shape so you can usually find one that works for your vehicle.
Group 51 batteries are a standard battery size used in many passenger cars and light trucks. They have specific dimensions, terminal placement, and capacity that match a wide range of vehicle models.
"Well, it could prime the rail, but it won't do it on a repetitive basis. So many turns of the key, the car is going to be smart enough to go."
Think of the fuel rail as a tiny highway that carries gasoline from the tank to each part of the engine that needs it. It keeps the fuel at the right pressure so the car can run smoothly.
The fuel rail is a component of the vehicle’s fuel injection system that delivers pressurized gasoline to each injector. It acts like a small pipe or tube that holds the fuel before it’s sprayed into the engine cylinders.
"You know, we're things with fuel filters. That's the metal canister filter mounted on the frame rail."
It’s a sturdy, metal box that holds the fuel filter. It’s designed to last longer than plastic filters and is common in some older cars.
A metal canister filter is a specific type of fuel filter housed in a metal container, often used in older or high-performance vehicles for durability.
"[2631.7s] for giggles, make sure there's no fuel in the vacuum line.
[2635.0s] So, basically, with the vacuum line going to the regulator..."
A vacuum line is a hose that pulls air pressure from the engine to help control parts like the fuel regulator. It’s important for keeping the car’s fuel system working right.
The vacuum line is a flexible tube that carries negative pressure from the engine’s intake manifold to components like the fuel pressure regulator. It allows those parts to operate correctly by providing a vacuum signal.
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I thought I would start off today with a little bit of a Christmas story because it's appropriate, right? It's that time of year.
And you and I together are going to give somebody a great gift. I guarantee you, for whatever gift you purchased this year for your loved ones, you're going to really like this one. Probably a whole lot more because it's kind of a funny story.
You know, the best gifts are the surprises, right? And surprises are probably one of God's gifts to us as human beings that we're always taken from left field.
You know, we always look for that sign from the great beyond to say, hey, are you there? Am I doing good? Am I doing well? Am I making an impact?
Well, I've got to start over a little bit of a somber note because you know, this year I've sort of wondered, have I am I making an impact? Am I doing well? Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing here?
You know, you start to question yourself after a while.
Last Sunday, it snowed like the Dickens here in New Jersey. And we had quite a bit of snow on the ground and I went out in the plow truck and I started, you know, I plowed the house out. I plowed the shop out.
I ran past research Kathy's house. I ran, ran past Dr. Linda's house. Got everybody squared away.
And I'm out driving around that I'm pushing snow and I start thinking about some of the things and I think about the radio show.
You know, and I think how grand it is here, I am in this nice big truck. And I like driving the plow truck, right? The plow truck is a great vehicle to be out in.
Not because it's a plow truck, but you sit up high and you can see everything when you're in that plow truck. You just, you can see out over the roofs of the cars and you know, it's just, it's just a great ride.
You know, for the kid that didn't have a car as a kid until he turned 19 or 19 for me to be out in this vehicle is just, you know, it just makes you love cars that much more.
And I didn't think anything about it. I was sitting at a traffic light in Ramsey, New Jersey right by the police station if you're local.
And this black Honda pulled up next to me. Now, you got to understand the Honda was low and short and he pulled up just a little bit of front of me to my left.
So he's like ahead of me to the left and I could look into the car and I could see it's, it's, it's what I guess is the boyfriend and the girlfriend.
They could have been married, whatever they were together.
And you're looking right down in the truck into the Honda from the truck and I couldn't.
Yeah, I could see the whole dashboard and I could see, I could see the radio, I could see what he was listening to and I'm looking at it and I'm going.
God, that looks familiar. It's orange and white and black. Oh my God, he's got, he's got, and I look again, he's listening to the podcast of this radio show.
So and I was actually, I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to say.
What would I have rolled down the window and said at that point, Danny, my mechanic had the best idea. He said to me, you didn't have a t-shirt.
You can roll down the window and throw the t-shirt at the kid and you know, that would have been great.
But you know, it's, it's when you least expect that there are the answers in life, right?
I guess I'm having an impact. I've got younger people. He had to be in his early 20s sitting there listening to the radio show.
You know, what do you do? Roll down the window. Hey, what are you doing? You know, the one and only no baloney,
often imitating never duplicated, running any in the car doctor. I, so I just, now I know he's going to listen to the next podcast.
I just didn't know where he was in the podcast. I couldn't see the details. So he may listen to this tomorrow.
He may listen to this in two weeks, but just rest assured that you and I have just given somebody a gift, whether it be before Christmas or after Christmas.
I just hope he's not driving when he hears this because he might run off the road. That might be really bad.
But for the young man at the traffic light in Ramsey, New Jersey with his girlfriend last week after the snow storm,
I just want to let you know, I was the guy in the white pickup truck that was staring at you dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.
And trust me, brother, for me to be speechless, that takes a lot. That really does. That's not me at any situation.
I just, what do you say? The human interaction is the best part of this radio show.
And in the conversations I get to have with each and every one of you, by the way, the phone number here is always a 555, 560, 9900.
If you're looking to get in the phones are open right now, a 555, 560, 9900.
You know, it's the interaction I have with each and every one of you.
And I guess it's, you know, the holidays make life in the shop crazy busy, crazier than other times somewhat.
I had a situation yesterday that really made me think Donald came up. I haven't seen Donald since 2011.
I almost kind of don't remember him coming to the shop. I haven't seen him. What is it? Almost 15 years.
And he came in and he's driving a 2012 Mazda three. And he started to, you know, we're looking at this and he's got, well, he doesn't have fault code.
He's got a fault code. He doesn't know what it is because, well, long story short, I'm backing into this.
He spent $1,800 to fix this car. And I'm appalled. No diagnostic reports, no fault code printouts, no explanations of what was done.
Customer stage vehicle runs poorly replaced mass airflow sensor, map sensor, air intake boot and spark plugs, $1,800 dealership.
I'm not picking on dealers. I just thought the way they did this was kind of, you know, skeevy.
It didn't, it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
So he said, and I said, you're here now because he said, well, I spent all this money and it didn't fix the car.
And when he made it didn't fix the car, well, I spent $1,800. The car still does the exact same thing. And now they're telling me I need a computer, which they're telling me is obsolete.
Wow, there's a lot wrong with that statement, right? We're going to spend $1,800 on a 12, 13 year old vehicle. And it's, it's, it's obsolete.
No, come on. Now, you know, in a repair shop, you're, you're trying not to diagnose cars at the counter. I always say that, right?
You can't diagnose it the counter because you'll, you'll come up short. You can't, I couldn't possibly, you can't.
You would, I could spend, I could literally spend all day just talking to people at the counter without turning a wrench without hooking up a scan tool without just about their cars and their problems.
It's, it's just, it's just that kind of a, a life for me. Come on. Let's go outside. Look at this car. So I got outside. Look at this car. It's got a P0101 mass air flow sensor port performance circuit issue.
And I look at it and I, yeah, okay, it's, it's definitely got a fault in it. And he said, well, they're telling me it's a computer. Now it's tempted as I am to start looking at things because the first thing that comes to my mind on that car is, does it have a broken or bad or high resistance ground wire?
Because they, they did that. That was not an uncommon fault. But I want to verify what he's talking about. Because I'm also, it's about a quarter to three.
I mean, it was three o'clock. I've got a car. I've got a car. I'm trying to get out of four o'clock because it's the end of the week.
So I go back in and I do some checking and I actually talked to my guys at Mazda. I have, I have a very good relationship with my Mazda parts guys and they look it up and they say, yeah, you know what, Ron?
That computer, that engine controller is obsolete. There isn't one in the country. Wow. That's kind of staggering. I mean, we didn't have the conversation about finding something used. I guess we can always go the used route or the remand, which, you know, I don't, I don't think any aftermarket remanufacture actually remains a computer.
I think they shock test it, vibrate test it, make sure it's not, you know, there's no cracks in the solder joints and as best they can and then ship it out the door because I don't think anybody has the technology or the ability to really reman a computer at aftermarket level. I think the cost would be too high.
And I said to Donald, I said, here's the issue. You've got a 12 going on 13 year old car that let's assume it needs a computer.
Let's because you're down to, they've changed every part related to the circuit. The only thing left is we've either got a wiring issue, a ground issue or a bad PCM.
You know, if it's a PCM, you have to find something used and hope that that doesn't have the same fault and failure because that's the other problem with electronics, right?
They all seem to age appropriately and do they all seem to fail around that same pattern at same time period. And that's not just cars.
Here at the radio show, here in the studio, Tom, I've seen Tom change boards and devices and modules.
You know, they're five, six years old, seven years old, Tom, what are you doing? Well, these typically fail at year seven and we're on year six.
So he says, let's change it now before we're in the middle of a broadcast and what you guys get to hear is.
So let's, you know, let's not do that, right? And it makes you wonder, you know, I sit to my wife at dinner the other night.
She said, you know, how's it going in the shop? She says, I know you're really busy. I said, yeah, we're really, really busy. I said, I, I, you know, I'm making the majority of the people happy.
But some people, you just can't make happy. And she said, what are you going to do about it? I said, there's not much I can do.
I think it kind of comes down to, you know, I have confidence in what we're doing and how we're doing it. And I'm looking at how other shops are treating their customers.
And I proceeded to tell you the story about, you know, the $1800 Mazda. Now you can't get parts for it. Now you just spent $1800 to not fix a vehicle.
And you're going to go car shopping. And what was the point in all of it?
You know, no mechanic has a crystal ball. Nobody can see the future.
But I think when you're dealing with an older vehicle with higher mileage and you've got to look at potential and probability.
And I think you're obligated to do a little research before you take a customer down a path. I think that's part of the process.
Because otherwise you can end up with $1800 worth of nothing. And then you start to ask the next question of what if, you know, what if this goes bad or what's next as in what's the next car?
8555609900. I'm running the Indian the car doctor. I'll be back right after this.
Okay, right. Leg. Are you with me? Hey, hand, we doing this.
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Now, far be it for me to be the guy that I'm gonna tell you so.
Okay, I am kind of the guy that would be I told you so.
Did you see the story in the news this week about Ford?
Ford is dropping to no longer gonna make the electric F-150 the lightning, right?
Because they're losing $125,000 of vehicle.
Absorb that for a minute.
They're losing $125,000 on every F-150 lightning that they sell.
I'm not saying it's a bad vehicle.
I'm just saying the whole concept is impractical and unrealistic.
And then they took a $20 billion hit in their overall for the manufacturing.
They've got to switch the battery plants around.
They've got to make all these changes.
Now, wasn't there a radio show?
No, that'll sound too pompous and self-righteous that if I sat here and said,
wasn't there a radio show that interviewed a guy about two years ago that predicted that this was gonna happen?
Let me think about who that was.
In the meantime, let me go to Kevin and Massachusetts.
Kevin.
Hey, Ron, how you doing today?
Good, sir, what's going on?
Good, hey, Ron, I got a 2005 Chrysler 300C.
Right.
It's got a 122,000 miles on it.
I've talked to you before about the tone rings in it.
Sure.
I was down to Florida.
I'm down to Florida now, actually.
But just before I left it through a P0520, which is the oil center.
Right.
Oil pressure circuit.
Yep.
Now, the oil in it was a little dirty, maybe down a quart.
I changed it, hoping that that would solve the problem.
But my oil started flashing at an idle.
Okay.
So I don't know if it's the sensor or have you heard common problems at the center?
I do replace it.
Should I go with a stock one or should I go an aftermarket?
Sensors are very common.
It's a 2005.
So you may not have the luxury of a decision of what you're going to use.
It may be aftermarket only.
Okay.
Don't think that much of the vehicle that don't be so impressed with your vehicle, Kevin,
that it may not happen that way.
Do you want to scan tool by chance?
No.
Okay.
But I have access to one.
All right.
I mean, you can go, you know, the ground wire at that sensor, it's three wires at the
sensor.
Yep.
The dark blue dark green wire is ground.
Okay.
Okay.
One of the other wires, and I believe it's the pink or the pink yellow is going to have five
volts.
So what you could do is put your meter on the pink yellow and the dark blue dark green.
Yep.
You should see five volts key on.
That means you've got a good ground on the dark blue dark green, and you've got five
volts on the on the other one, right?
Okay.
And then move your, move your positive lead, your red lead to the other wire, which I believe
is purple, right?
But if the only one left, and you should see five volts there as well.
Okay.
All right.
If it does that, then your circuit check is good.
If you want to hook a scan tool up, leave the, leave the lead for the sensor unplugged.
Okay.
And jump from the violet, right, to the ground, to the dark blue dark green.
Okay.
Okay.
And you should read zero volts on a scan tool.
Okay.
All right.
And if that's the case, then you've, you've, you've circuit tested it.
And then at that point, I would, you know, put a sensor in it.
Okay.
Sounds good.
You know, very common, very common back in the day.
All right, sir.
Yep.
And this is a, this is also Kevin with the 72 data I talked to you about.
Oh, sure.
Did you finish that car?
Oh, yeah.
Jesus.
He's running good.
He's in the garage up on his blocks right now.
So wait for spring.
Is it, is it, is it called in Massachusetts?
Why is, why is Kevin in Florida, right?
Yeah.
Well, I bring mom down for the winter.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You're good.
Did you, did you get the car out at all before the cold weather came?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Cool.
Running running really good, actually.
Let's see if you get home from Florida though this time.
So are you, are you driving all the way home?
Yeah, I've been my 23 RAM though.
Okay.
Got it.
That's a pretty good running track.
So where's the O5 Chrysler at home?
That's back in Massachusetts, yeah.
Right.
Just before, just before I left it through the code.
So.
So, look it into it.
So, so you're a mo-par guy.
Yes.
Right.
Okay.
I just, you know, it's, it's funny, right?
You can tell.
Well, growing up, growing up my dad said you can only park mo-par is in the driveway.
If you drive anything else, it goes out on the street.
Isn't, you know, and, you know, that's something, let's look at that for a quick second, right?
That's something the American car companies, I think have forgotten.
All right.
When dad drove a Chevrolet, the kids drove a Chevrolet.
When dad drove a Plymouth, the kids drove a Plymouth.
And then they became customers for life.
So, it's sort of passed over this generation.
I'm seeing a lot of this current generation of young drivers.
I know driving Toyota's in Hondas.
Well, because dad didn't drive in Atari.
Right.
Video game.
Right.
Right.
And, you know, and listen, the, the, the Japanese car companies are kind of losing their way too.
Article out yesterday.
And I said this to my wife.
I said, I can't believe I just discovered that you cannot buy a four-cylinder gas engine Toyota
Camry.
It doesn't exist.
It's, it's, it's a four-cylinder hybrid.
And they just came out yesterday with notice that there's problems with the four-cylinder Toyota
hybrid Camry engines.
And now they're going to find out they can't make those right.
I don't know.
What's the world coming to?
Oh, for the days of a 283 and a two-barrel and an Impala.
Just bone stock reliability.
I'm running any in the car doctor.
I'll be back.
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Hey, I'm Freddie Prince Jr.
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It helps to have backup, like real life backup.
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Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor.
Effects of Botox may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms.
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Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions,
including ALS Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia-gravis, or Lambert Eaton syndrome, and medications,
including botch-alignum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects.
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I have yet, let me say it like this,
I have yet to change filters on the CVTs.
Okay.
I have not seen them readily accessible,
easy to get to, need for replacement.
And my rationale is, everything I've read about CVTs
is when they start to disintegrate internally,
when the internal rubber pieces come apart,
they come apart, once they start to flake,
brother, it's like driving down a,
it's like driving downhill on a road paved with ice.
It's a quick test, it's just right to the bottom.
So it's, it's, it's changed the fluid
in the hope that you don't have that experience.
And, you know, hope for the best.
Now, that's a 50 to 60,000 mile fluid interval.
I will, I will say this, there are some Honda's
that, and that fluid is generally green.
I believe that's 300 this 309 for Enios,
which we have at the shop,
it's a traditional CVT fluid.
And then there is a, then there's a,
and I don't understand why Honda does this,
but Toyota does it too.
There is a CVT version of that transmission
that takes red fluid.
Now, it's, so it gets kind of confusing.
I don't know if you ever worked on cars,
but, you know, traditional automatic transmissions
take what?
Red fluid.
So, so you take red fluid out of the CVT
if you haven't researched it and verified part number,
you're gonna, you're gonna feel awful foolish
because you're gonna put the,
you're gonna put the wrong fluid
and it's always verified fluid, always.
Right, 26, the bonus manual in boldface says,
if you use anything other than the Honda fluid,
you will ruin the transmission.
Right, because they're, they're concerned.
Now, company by the name of Enios,
which I believe is the same thing as Edimitsu, all right?
They, they probably are the manufacturers
of Honda Transfluid and Toyota Transfluid and so on.
So, as long as it is a specifically rated
for that application, for that vehicle,
I don't think there's a problem.
I don't see a problem.
I haven't had a problem.
All right, it's just verifying which fluid you have.
That seems to be the issue.
And there was actually a Toyota,
I'm trying to think of what car it was.
I think it was a Corolla with a CVT
where we took green fluid out
and there was a bulletin update to put red fluid in.
So, yeah, we read that one three times.
Are we sure this is right?
And we went round and round with our Toyota dealer
and they were a little confused too.
And I actually got the parts guy to admit to me.
I don't think I've ever seen this.
Well, you know, I think about the Honda's I don't like
is they've got that maintenance minor
and they don't tell you when, you know,
you have to change fluid.
It just, it pops up a code in the dash
and you have to wait back to happen.
Well, that's because, that's because Honda's never break.
There's a little bit of Christmas magic there
that just comes along and takes it away.
It's just the unreality of what they expect.
I think everything takes maintenance
and they don't understand that.
But yeah, you're right.
I love it customer comes in.
I need an A13 or a B1 service or a, you know,
they don't want to speak.
I don't think manufacturers want to speak clear-cut English
because the more complicated they make it look,
the less likely people are to go anywhere but the dealer.
I'm not saying anything against dealers.
I think there's some very good repair shop dealers out there
and I think there's some very bad independent shops.
I think repair shops are only as good as the people in them.
But I think a lot of what you as the consumer see
for taking care of your vehicle is a lot of marketing.
And I think that's their perspective.
You know, and how they approach it.
So, but yeah, by all means, now's the time.
All right, and keep in mind it's 60,000 miles.
If this is an oil wheel drive fit,
is this an oil wheel drive fit?
I think not the front wheel drive fit.
Yeah, did they make an oil wheel drive fit?
I thought they did.
I don't believe so.
Not time to wear.
All right, well, what I was going to say was,
don't forget the other fluids in the drive train either,
whatever's there and, you know, the vehicle's coming up
on, well, four or five years old,
if you haven't, brake fluid flush, right?
Yeah, I've done it.
Okay.
And, you know, I know Honda.
I think Honda's going to say five years on coolant
or maybe a little longer.
Yeah, I've done that.
Yeah, that's a good time.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I guess they use a BG system that they do an exchange on it.
Yep.
Yeah, good, good, good, good.
So, yeah, just, just, I just don't want to highlight
only trans fluid as the only fluid to do
at this particular point.
We kind of focus on that.
But, and I'm sure you've put a battery in it, right?
By now.
Gary.
Yes, I have put a battery.
Yeah, okay.
Yeah, group 51 batteries, the most common failures.
So, all right, hey, kiddo, you're good.
I appreciate the call.
You're very welcome.
You take good care.
I'm Ron and Amy in the car, doctor, 855, 560, 9900.
We'll be back right after this.
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Hola, it's Honey German here.
Let's be honest, in our community,
especially us women, we do it all.
We work, we take care of the family,
we hustle so that we don't miss anything.
But even the strongest need a break.
Own chinchin de ajuda.
That's why I love talking about real stuff
on my podcast, Gracias come again.
Because we're all out here doing our best
and sometimes having alien into a skina,
es suase toda la diferencia, like a state farm agent.
They're the kind of hint that shows up, listens,
and helps you get the coverage you need.
It's not about needing help.
It's about knowing you deserve to feel supported.
Como un buen besino, state farm está ahí.
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and provide proactive portfolio insights that
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Fidelity brokerage services LLC, member NYSE SIPC.
Can Botox on a botch a line of toxin A help
if I have chronic migraine?
15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours
or more?
Botox prevents headaches and adults with chronic migraine.
It's not a proof for adults with migraine
who have 14 or fewer headache days a month.
It's the number one prescribed branded chronic migraine
treatment.
Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor.
Effects of Botox may spread hours to weeks after injection
causing serious symptoms.
Alerture doctor right away is difficulty swallowing,
speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness
can be signs of a life-threatening condition.
Patients with these conditions before injection
are at highest risk.
Side effects may include allergic reactions, neck
and injection site pain, fatigue, and headache.
Alerture reactions can include rash,
welts, asthma symptoms, and dizziness.
Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection.
Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle
or nerve conditions, including ALS Lugeric's disease,
myosthenia, gravis, or Lambert Eaton syndrome,
and medications, including botulinum toxins
as these may increase the risk of serious side effects.
Ask your doctor and visit Botox ChronicMigraine.com
or call 1-800-44 Botox to learn more.
Being a small business owner isn't just a career.
It's a calling.
Chase for business knows how much heart and effort
go into building something of your own.
That's why we make your business growth our priority.
Our team takes the time to understand your mission,
where you are now, and where you want to go.
Our broad range of solutions is designed with you in mind,
so you can bring your ideas to life.
From banking to payment acceptance to credit cards,
you can conveniently manage all your business finances
all in one place with our digital tools.
Looking for tips and advice?
Our online resources are always available
to give you the solutions you need
to help your business thrive.
See how your business can go farther with Chase for Business.
Learn more at Chase.com slash business.
Chase for Business.
Make more of what's yours.
The Chase mobile app is available for select mobile devices.
Message and data rates may apply.
JP Morgan Chase Bank NA.
Member FGIC copyright 2025.
JP Morgan Chase & Company.
Oh boy.
We don't really get time in that slay.
I'll show them what barrel rolls are all about.
Remember, wear your sheepbelt when you're in a Santa's slay.
Trust me, I know.
Let's go to Tom and Arizona.
Let's review it with the saber.
Tom, what's going on?
Hi, take my call.
You're welcome to see me starting issues.
I had a couple questions regarding that.
Good.
So one, the orders manual says, hey,
just turn the key to start, and it should start.
Sometimes I have to step on the accelerator at pedal.
So besides letting air in, does that actually increase fuel delivery?
No, doesn't do a thing.
As a matter of fact, if you push that pedal all the way to the floor,
you will put that vehicle in what we traditionally called clear flood mode.
You will shut off the injectors.
So if you ever think you've flooded the vehicle,
you would push your foot to the floor.
Traditionally, the way you would do it if it was a carbureted vehicle to clear it out.
But I'm actually turning off the fuel when I step on the.
Well, depending on how far down you're pushing it,
yeah, if you go all the way to the floor,
you're actually shutting the injectors off.
Are you going all the way to the floor?
No, I think halfway the most.
So I'm putting more air in here.
Yeah, you're doing nothing, but it works.
So let's talk about this a second.
When it does start, is there a little bit of a rough idle on a chuggle?
And do you see any smoke out the tailpipe?
No smoke.
Rough idle?
Yeah, but it runs rougher.
No, no, it starts.
Sometimes I don't need to do that.
Like, first thing in the morning, I don't think I need to do that.
Maybe that's because the gas has got drained back.
Or it's well, maybe because we're at a different temperature, right?
Yeah.
It's not a hot start.
So is this a hot restart issue on a consistent basis?
Intermittent.
OK, so it's a 50% at this time.
Right.
So my other question is, this seems to help.
If I turn the key on, but not start for, leave it there for five seconds,
and then it'll start up.
Doesn't that actually, that creates more fuel volume, right?
Well, it could prime the rail, but it won't do it on a repetitive basis.
So many turns of the key, the car is going to be smart enough to go.
Hey, he's, you know, what if he's overloading the,
what if he's overloading the system?
We don't want to do that.
So it will not cycle and that's computer programming.
It will not cycle a pump.
Let's, let's, let's do this.
OK.
So you go to start and it doesn't start.
You do whatever you're doing with the gas pedal.
You've got some around with it.
Isn't, is this the car we talked about a couple of years ago, Tom,
because I know we've talked about this.
Is this the car you put the fuel pressure regulator in?
Yes, I went, I finally put an AC Delco.
Right.
And because I mean, I mean, I finally got to the problem where it went
start at all, right, it turned out to be a fuel pump.
And I've been going through a lot of fuel pumps.
So I'm wondering if I have a voltage issue with the fuel pump,
a fuel filter or a leaky fuel injectors?
I'm going to say that, and I've seen cars with 98% clogged fuel
filters.
I can't, I can barely blow through them.
And the car starts, the car starts and runs fine.
Yeah, that's what I think, because I've changed it before a lot.
So I don't, I don't think you're there.
You know, we're things with fuel filters.
That's the metal canister filter mounted on the frame rail.
Yeah.
Yeah, you know, if it's a cheapy filter, I've seen the glue break down
and the filter rolls around and it clogs, it turns itself and clogs the hole
and it takes a moment of jarring for it to come back, you know, weird
things like that.
But other than that, filters either a go-no go, and it's got to be so clogged.
So, and in fact, the worst thing a clogged filter does is it puts so much
pressure on the pump, you cause early pump failure.
So, you know, do we have a fuel pressure issue here?
We could, new doesn't mean good.
You know, a new, a new replacement pump on a 23rd theme, a 24 year old vehicle.
How long was that pump sitting on the shelf?
I would want to, I would want to run, I would want to run a pump test and then does
it hold residual pressure for 20 minutes?
It should, you know, 15 to 20 minutes, it should hold some kind of residual.
When I put it in, I did that and worked and then I did heavy issues.
Right.
They're delphied pumps, so I go to AC Delco.
Yeah, they're probably, at this point, that vehicle is old enough, they're probably
all being made in the same plant, whatever's left, right?
Because they're not tooled up, they're not tooling up to work on that vehicle anymore.
Why don't we go back to, remember, did we talk about when we were
zeroing in on the fuel pressure regulator about putting the clear piece of plastic
hose in the, in the vacuum one?
No.
Okay.
This has a vacuum line going to the pressure regulator, doesn't it?
Yeah.
Okay.
Put a clear piece.
Now you're going to have to get something rated for gasoline, all right?
But go, go find a clear plastic hose, put, put that on the fuel pressure regulator and
then tee the other end into the vacuum line, all right?
Now, when it goes into this hard start, no start, long crank, whatever it's doing, just
for giggles, make sure there's no fuel in the vacuum line.
So, basically, with the vacuum line going to the regulator, you want me to make it clear.
Right.
I want you to make it clear so I can see if there's any fuel present because if the,
tee off clear and a dead end on the end of the clear tube, well, in other words, I just
want you to extend the vacuum line with a piece of clear, clear line in it.
So the vacuum is still going to apply to the regulator, but if the, if the diaphragm,
if the fuel pressure regulator is seeping fuel, it's going to, it's going to fill that clear
hose.
And where's that, where's that extra fuel going to go, Tom?
It's going to get pulled into the vehicle and do what, flood it out.
And what are you going to do to clear out a flood?
You're going to open up the throttle plate and put more air in it.
Yeah.
Okay.
I'll do that.
All right.
The vacuum line and I don't see any fuel there and you may not, and it could be intermittent.
And it may not listen, it may not be the problem, but what are we doing?
Tell me what's good.
I'll tell you what's bad.
Right.
We're eliminating something.
So if there's fuel in that line, does that mean it's a pressure regulator?
Yep.
If there's fuel in that vacuum line, that fuel pressure regulator is bad.
So it's leaking fuel.
Right.
It's, it's seeping fuel through a porous diaphragm.
Yeah.
I doubt that.
Well, I doubt too, but you know what?
If I keep looking, if I only keep looking for what's bad, it's going to take longer.
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