Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - December 6, 2025 - Hour 1 - (855)560-9900 - Full Moon Auto Mechanics & The Repairs It Creates
Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - December 6, 2025 - Hour 1 - (855)560-9900 - Full Moon Auto Mechanics & The Repairs It Creates
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Car
Lexus ES 350
The Lexus ES 350 is a comfortable and reliable luxury car. The 2011 version is known for its smooth driving and nice interior.
Part
parking brake cable
The parking brake cable helps keep the car from rolling when parked. If it breaks, the parking brake might not work.
Term
rear brake overhaul
A rear brake overhaul means fixing or replacing parts of the back brakes when they are worn out or broken.
Car
Jeep Compass
The Jeep Compass is a small SUV that is good for driving around town and can handle some rough roads. It's designed for people who want a vehicle that can do a bit of everything.
Term
60,000 mile service
A 60,000 mile service is a routine check-up for cars that helps keep them running smoothly. It usually involves looking at important parts and changing fluids to prevent problems.
Term
dry rotted tires
Dry rotted tires are old tires that have cracked and become weak. They can be dangerous because they might not grip the road well or could burst while driving.
Part
control arm
A control arm is a part of the car's suspension that helps keep the wheels in the right position while driving. If it's damaged, it can affect how the car handles and rides.
Part
ball joint
A ball joint is a part that helps the car's wheels move up and down and turn. If it's worn out, it can cause problems with steering and suspension.
Part
bushings
Bushings are small rubber parts that help reduce noise and vibrations in the car's suspension. If they are cracked or worn out, it can lead to a rougher ride.
Part
tire pressure sensors
Tire pressure sensors are devices that check how much air is in your tires. If the pressure is too low, they let you know so you can fix it before it becomes a problem.
Part
wheel bearing
A wheel bearing helps the wheels turn smoothly. If it's damaged or worn out, it can make noise and cause problems with how the car drives.
Car
GMC Yukon
The GMC Yukon XL is a big SUV that can carry a lot of people and cargo. It's great for families or anyone who needs extra space.
Car
GMC Yukon XL
The GMC Yukon XL is a large SUV that can fit a lot of people and their stuff. It's similar to the Chevrolet Tahoe but offers more space, making it perfect for big families or trips where you need to carry a lot of gear.
Term
misfire
A misfire happens when an engine's cylinder doesn't work right, which can make the car run poorly. It can be caused by problems with the spark plugs or fuel.
Part
engine cover
The engine cover is a part that sits on top of the engine to protect it and make the car look nicer. It helps keep dirt out and can make the engine quieter.
Part
coil wire
The coil wire is a wire that connects a part called the ignition coil to the spark plug. It sends electricity to help start the engine. If it comes loose, the engine might not run properly.
Term
TCM
The TCM is like the brain for the car's transmission, helping it decide when to shift gears. It needs to talk to other parts of the car to work properly.
Term
ECM
The ECM is like the engine's computer, making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. It helps control how much fuel goes into the engine and when to ignite it.
Term
ALDL connector
An ALDL connector is a plug used in some cars to connect a computer that helps check for problems in the vehicle. It helps mechanics understand what's wrong by reading error codes.
Term
OBD2 connector
The OBD2 connector is a standard plug found in most modern cars that allows mechanics to connect a device to check for issues. It helps read important information about how the car is running.
Term
CANBUS communication
CANBUS communication is a system in cars that lets different parts talk to each other. It helps the car's computer manage everything from the engine to the dashboard lights.
Term
4L60E transmission
This is an automatic transmission that helps the truck change gears smoothly. It's commonly used in many GM vehicles and is known for being reliable.
Term
4.3 V6
This is a type of engine with six cylinders that helps the truck run. It's made by General Motors and is known for being powerful yet efficient.
Term
battery load test
This is a test to check if the truck's battery can provide enough power when needed. It's important to see if the battery is still good.
Part
ground cable
The ground cable helps complete the electrical circuit in your car. If it's not working well, your car might have trouble starting or its electronics might act strangely.
Term
top dead center
Top dead center is when the engine's piston is at its highest point. It's important for setting up the engine's timing correctly.
Part
ignition wires
Ignition wires connect the spark plugs to the part that creates the spark. They help send electricity to the spark plugs to make the engine work.
Part
rotor
The rotor is a part inside the distributor that helps send electricity to the right spark plug. It makes sure the engine gets the spark at the right time.
Part
spark plugs
Spark plugs are parts in the engine that create a spark to ignite the fuel. They help the engine run by making sure the fuel burns properly.
Part
distributor cap
The distributor cap helps send electricity to the spark plugs in the engine. It makes sure the engine gets the spark it needs to run properly.
Part
distributor module
The distributor module helps manage when the engine gets its spark to run properly. It's important for making sure the engine runs smoothly and efficiently.
Part
AC Delco branded starter
An AC Delco branded starter is a part that helps start your car's engine. It's like the battery's helper that gets the engine running when you turn the key.
Part
ignition coil
The ignition coil is a part that helps create the spark needed to start the engine. If it's not working well, it can cause problems with how the engine runs.
Term
starter voltage
Starter voltage is the power needed to get the engine going. If it's low, the engine might turn over slowly or not at all.
Car
Toyota Sprinter
The Toyota Sprinter is a small car that is known for being dependable and good on gas. It's a practical choice for people who want a reliable vehicle without spending too much money.
Car
Cupra Born
The Cupra Born is a new electric car that is designed to be fun to drive while being good for the environment. It's part of a trend where more cars are being made to run on electricity instead of gas.
Car
Tesla Semi
The Tesla Semi is a big electric truck made for transporting goods. It's important because it uses electricity instead of fuel, which can save money and help the environment.
Car
Nissan 2010 Nissan
The Nissan 200 SX is a small sports car that many people like because it's fun to drive and can be modified to go faster. It's a good choice for those who want a sporty car without spending a lot of money.
Car
Ford 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular pickup truck that many people use for work and everyday driving. It's known for being tough and reliable, with plenty of space in the back for tools or gear, making it a great choice for both jobs and family outings.
Car
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a big family-friendly SUV that has lots of room inside for passengers and cargo. It's great for road trips and can also tow heavy things like trailers, which makes it a favorite for people who need a reliable vehicle for both everyday use and outdoor activities.
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You're listening to Ron Ananian, the car doctor,
nationally recognized auto expert
trusted by mechanics, weekend renters
and vehicle owners alike.
Ron brings over 40 years of hands-on experience
and deep industry insight
to help you understand your vehicle.
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That's 855-560-9900.
Your direct line to honest answers
and practical advice.
Looking for more?
Visit cardoctorshow.com for past episodes,
repair tips and Ron's latest insights.
And be sure to subscribe to the Car Doctor YouTube channel
for exclusive videos, real repair footage and more.
Now, start your engines.
The car doctor is in the garage
and ready to take your call.
You know, I think one of the hardest things
about doing this radio show,
and I'm not sure if it even comes across
is the frustration of repairing cars certain weeks.
And I know you like to hear it.
I know you love the stories from the shop
and I try to keep them as factual as I can
and as, you know, I want you to have the pain of frustration
and the sweat and the agony.
And, you know, this story just comes to mind
because it was another full week of auto repair.
And you know, I always tell you full moons
at the shop and full weeks of auto repair
somehow combined to be some of the strangest weeks ever.
Sometimes you don't know what you're walking into.
You know, you're kind of playing ambush
and you don't even know it's around the corner.
And you just never see it coming
and it started like that on Monday.
On Monday, I walked into the shop at a quarter to eight
and there were two people already there,
three, Count and Carpenter Bob
because Carpenter Bob opens for us.
And the first one was Steven.
Now, I haven't seen Steven in two and a half years.
I haven't seen the car.
I only saw the car once.
And Steven had no appointment.
And I was, I listened to what his concern was
and I kind of knew it
because I had read the email
that he had sent me over the weekend.
And I told him, I said, Steven, I don't have time today.
I'm sorry.
I, there's nothing I can really do.
You know, there's nothing I can really do
to, you know, create this, you know,
to help you this week.
I said, it's, I understand you've got an oil leak.
You've got to get it looked at.
You know, it's an oil leak.
It's important and get it solved.
And he went on his way.
He wasn't happy, but you know, listen,
you've got people that are scheduled.
You've got people that are, you know, lined up
and they've taken their time
and your time when you come into a repair shop
is very valuable.
It should be retreated with respect
by the repair shop.
It shouldn't be taken for granted.
Part of the problem too
was Steven is driving a 10 year old Cadillac
with 150,000 miles on it.
And I, in my opinion, he's not taking proper care of it.
He's getting his oil changes done at Quick Loops.
Maybe in an attempt to save money, boggles my mind.
You can't drive a 10 year old car.
You can't drive a five year old car
and not take it to a mechanic on a regular basis.
I think there's just things that a good qualified,
you know, not a hack, not somebody dishonest,
but somebody reliable,
somebody you've built a relationship with
will do a lot to take good care of that car.
And now Steven's faced with having to deal with an oil leak
that he says, I'm guessing I'm gonna have to go back
to the dealer who I've been going to,
but I'm not happy with,
which I never understand that statement either.
If you're not happy, why do you go back?
Because of the conversation is,
well, Ron, you're the only mechanic I trust.
My first thought is, where have you been
for two and a half years?
I just, it leaves me dumbfounded.
I can never understand that thought process.
Jeff was there.
Jeff had dropped off.
He was in the process of dropping off his 2011 ES 350 Lexus
with more than a few miles on it.
And the right rear parking brake cable had failed.
It corroded into the aluminum bracket
that holds it to the backing plate.
The backing plates are rotting away
and it's becoming slowly a rear brake overhaul
and parking brake cables and backing plates
and a bunch of things that were in the process of,
we've gotten all the parts,
but now we're in the process of replacing.
Next week in the shop,
we're going to have to gut the interior
because to replace the two parking brake cables,
the center console has to come up
to get the center console up.
The seats have to come out.
The carpet has to come out.
We're going to be looking at bare floor
so it'll be exciting.
And that's on the list.
And that's the car that had an appointment
and that's one of the reasons we said
to Steven, Steven, we can't accommodate you this week.
We've got to look at Jeff.
But I think the car that sort of was the surprise
was Michael's Jeep.
Michael brought us his 2015 Jeep Compass.
Now, we haven't seen Michael's Jeep in two years.
And the last time we saw it,
it was about the 58,000 mile mark
and we said it's coming due for a 60,000 mile service
and that was the last we saw of it.
Well, it now got 74,000 miles on
and it's two years later and Michael wants it looked over.
Now, I haven't seen Michael either.
We did our conversations by phone.
So, yeah, very happy to take care of it.
He scheduled an appointment.
We had put the time aside.
We took the vehicle and did a checklist to it,
our infamous checklist where we looked the car over,
stick out your tongue and say, ah, as I like to say.
And we've found a pile of work that the vehicle
was due for.
It was due for the 60,000 mile service.
It was overdue for the 60,000 mile service
that wasn't done at 60,000 miles
because it now has 74,000 miles on it.
But it also had dry rotted tires,
tires that were so badly dry rotted into the tread
that you wonder is it gonna make it down to the corner?
And I'm probably over exaggerating
but I'm very, I'm like death on dry rotted tires.
I don't like dry rotted tires, old batteries,
wiper blades that are torn, common sense, right?
There's too many split second decisions
you have to make driving on any road
at 40 miles an hour, 60 miles an hour and so on.
So you wanna make sure the equipment's
in good working order.
It's just that important.
And Michael asked for a, you know, give me a,
give me a, what do you think it's gonna take
from the hip?
And I went, you know, from the hip?
This is gonna be three grand all day long.
Tires, alignment, it needed some front end work.
The right front control arm, the ball joint was bad
and the bushings were cracked in the back of it.
So that needed to be replaced.
It needed some, you know, drive line fluids.
It needed fuel system cleaning.
It needed an oil change.
It needed a pile of work.
And he said, okay, do whatever you gotta do, Ron.
I get it.
It's, you know, it's gotta be done.
And I said, yeah, I said, you know,
I need a couple of days and we'll go through it.
So I got approval.
I had a verbal approval and I ordered parts
and I went about my business and climbed into the pile
of the rest of the cars that were there for a Monday.
Tuesday morning, the phone rang and it was Michael.
He was a little confused and concerned
at the same time about, you know,
how did the bill get to $3,000
because it started as a checklist.
And I went, well, we had this conversation, you know,
it's, and I laid it all out for him again
and I walked him through it and yeah, you're right.
Yeah, you're right.
Yeah, I forgot about that.
Yep, you're right.
Go ahead, do what you have to do.
Okay.
So I said, you know, I'm probably shooting for,
you know, tomorrow being finished on Wednesday
because it's already in progress.
I'm waiting for a couple of more parts
to show up on this particular Tuesday
and we'll get back into it.
And, you know, between Tuesday and Wednesday
it'll be done.
So the rest of it was pretty uneventful,
pretty straightforward.
We made a couple of executive decisions.
We changed a few of the tire pressure sensors
because two had gone bad
and we had done one way back when I told Danny,
I said, let's just change the remaining three.
Let's get the tire pressure sensors.
This way we're four brand new,
or four newer sensors that equals 10 years old
because part of what we're supposed to do
is manage expectations.
Part of what we're supposed to do
is listen to what the customer wants
and try and deliver that and then more
because that's what a repair shop is there for.
And, you know, it's about building the relationship.
It's about, you know, maintaining that level of trust
and responsibility and doing the right thing.
You know, a very wise man once taught me
in my younger years,
you can't make a wrong turn down right street.
So we finished the car
and the bill that I told Michael
was gonna be between three and four grand
turned out to be $3,600.
And all was well, Michael showed up.
He paid the bill.
I was a little taken aback.
I don't know why it kind of surprised me
because the last time I hadn't seen Michael,
he was walking on his own
and this time he came in the door on a walker.
And, you know, I like Michael.
Michael's a good guy.
He's got good spirit and he's just,
he's a good guy and I felt bad for him
when we, you know, had conversational exchange
and we paid the bill at the counter
and we helped him get out the door and off he goes.
Now, it's 10 minutes to five on Wednesday.
And Michael comes back in the door five minutes later
and I'm in the midst of trying to finish one other car
and get two other people out the door.
And he says, you know, Ron,
because I had mentioned to Michael
that I noticed that there is a very faint noise
from what I believe is the right rear wheel bearing
coming up.
I said, it's very hard to detect.
It only happens over 45 miles an hour,
but it's there.
And I said, if you listen for it, you'll hear it.
And Michael came back five minutes later
and he said, I'm not sure if I'm just sensitive to noise now
or it's because you said it, but you're right.
I hear this noise and I don't think it's the wheel bearing.
It's this strange clunking sound.
And I, you know, I'm concerned
that did something, you know, go wrong during the repair?
Did, and it's not, you know, it's never since, right?
And he didn't say it, but you could tell
it was the underlying tone.
So I gotta stop what I'm doing.
We gotta go for a ride.
And the frustration grows
because you're trying to finish the day.
And that full moon is peering down at me eerily
up in the night sky in Waldo, New Jersey.
And I'm going, hmm, so we go out for a ride.
Danny, I'm going out.
I'll be back, Kathy, I'm going out, answer the phone.
And well, it's a little bit of a longer tail
to make a long story short.
We went out for our eight minute ride
and we're coming back to the shop.
We didn't hear the noise
and I'm about to turn in the driveway.
And he says, no, no, go straight.
I just want to do one more thing.
We go down to the end of the block,
we make a left turn and we heard the noise.
And he says, that's it.
That's the noise.
That's the noise I was trying to get you to hear.
He goes, I didn't hear that before I dropped it off.
Huh, I go down to the end of the next block.
I make a left turn.
There's that noise again.
And I'm thinking, you know,
is there something wrong with the new control arm?
You know, are the wheels loose?
But, you know, we're very methodical.
We torque stick and hand torque everything.
And, you know, we went over the carb
with a fine tooth comb like we usually do.
Went down to the next block.
We made a series of lefts and we come back to the shop.
On the next to last left turn,
Michael turns around when he hears the noise.
Oh, look, the Walker's hitting the door.
When he put his Walker in the car,
he didn't put it in where he normally puts it
and it's smack in the door.
There's a lot of frustration that goes into auto repair.
I think patience is part of the remedy of the process
for everybody concerned.
The funny things that go wrong in a repair shop,
especially on full moon weeks of auto repair.
I'm Ron Ananey in the car doctor.
The phone number is 855-560-9900.
I'll be back right after this.
Don't go away.
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So you're telling me that the AI that's meant
to make everyone's job easier to manage.
Just adds more to manage on top of the thousands of apps
the IT department already manages.
Funny how that works.
Any business can add AI.
IBM helps you scale and manage AI
to change how you do business.
Let's create smarter business.
IBM.
I've got Dan Morgan here on the pod.
Say hi, Dan.
Hey, how's it going today?
It's going good, man.
Tell us who you are and what you do.
I'm Dan Morgan.
I'm an attorney and a managing partner
at Morgan & Morgan,
which is America's largest injury law firm.
That's pretty awesome.
I think I saw Billboard of yours recently
that said 20 billion won.
20 billion is an insane number.
Yeah, 20 billion recovered.
It's actually, I think, somewhere north,
probably closer to 22, 23 after this year.
And each year we get bigger and better
and our army grows.
So the number will hopefully keep getting bigger
and bigger as time goes on.
Awesome.
So how does someone get in contact with
Morgan & Morgan?
What would I do if I got into an accident?
Probably the easiest way is dialing pound law.
That's pound 529 from your cell phone.
We are always open.
Our call center is always waiting to take your call.
247-365.
Wow, Dan Morgan.
From Morgan & Morgan,
America's largest injury law firm.
Thanks for coming by the show.
Thanks for having me.
Visit ForThePeople.com for an office near you.
And Doug.
Oh, what a horrible call.
Hey, Ref, open your eyes.
Ref, you're really not gonna call that?
Come on.
Hey, Ref, why didn't you customize your car insurance
with Liberty Mutual and save money?
I don't think you get what we're doing.
Sure I do.
We're all just giving him advice.
You guys on sports?
Me on saving money?
Nope, that's not it.
Only pay for what you need at LibertyMutual.com.
Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.
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Hey, let's get over and talk to Bill in Colorado,
O8 GMC Yukon.
Billy, welcome to the Cardoca once again.
How can I help you today?
Hey, Ron, good to talk to you.
Well, I'm having a full moon weekend too.
So this O8 GMC Yukon XL comes in yesterday.
It's got a misfire on cylinder four.
So I wrestled the engine cover out
from between the engine and the firewall.
And I'm about to swap coils
when I discover that the number four coil wire
has fallen off the plug.
Well, there you go.
So plug it back in, fire it up.
Something easy.
Misfire is gone and boom,
I get the communication codes.
It's got a U73, U101.
Tranny and engine aren't talking to each other.
So I go through the entire car.
I mean, grounds, I try to follow the wiring as best as I can.
I check all of the transmission connectors,
look for water intrusion.
There's no corrosion.
Everything's clean and tight.
Follow all the wiring that I might have disturbed
when I was getting that engine cover out.
And 10 minutes before I get on the call here,
I disconnect and reseat the TCM and ECM connectors.
And it fires up without codes.
So basically at this point, what I'm looking for
is if Murphy comes back right after this call
and the codes pop up,
what are the most common culprits for these guys?
You know, something between the headlights and the tail lights.
What I typically do, Billy, is the first thing I want to know
is when you had the no communication code,
were you able to communicate with your scan tool plugged in?
Could you see the TCM?
Yes.
So it was there.
So it's an intermittent.
Well, at the same time, to the TCM,
the TCM wasn't talking to the engine, to the ECM.
How do you know that?
How do you know that?
Just from the codes.
So intermittent is fair, but that's what the codes are saying.
Well, you know, my point is do this.
If you unplug the TCM, right, if you look at a wiring diagram,
you get a wiring diagram in front of you?
I don't.
Serial data.
Look at serial data.
The serial data, if I'm not mistaken,
is pin 6 and 7 out of the TCM.
OK.
Right.
And ground is the last pin.
I don't remember the pin number for whatever reason.
But you know, you can go through.
Do you have one of those ALDL connectors
where you can sit there, plug it in at the OBD2 connector,
and look at data communication and CANBUS communication?
Not yet.
OK, I guess I know where you're going next.
You know, you're dealing with a communication fault.
Is it intermittent?
Or is it still active, right?
What's causing the fault?
Is it something you disturbed in wiring?
If the problem comes back and you disconnect TCM first
and the problem goes away, that
means it's obviously something there.
How reproducible is the intermittent, is my point.
OK.
Or if you disconnect the TCM and reconnect it.
Any time I get a communication error,
you've got telephones in the house,
or you had everybody had hard-wired telephones
at one point, right?
I'm old enough to remember them.
OK.
And what was the, you call up the phone company and go,
hey, my phones don't work.
What did they use to tell you to do?
Start on point with phones.
Yeah, I mean, I knew what to do.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
Right.
And why did you do that?
Because it was the simplest thing to do.
You know, I was eight-year-old wrong, so.
Well, it was the simplest thing to do.
Well, well, I'm old dude.
You know, it's the idea that one of the modules
is pulling down the rest of the network.
And my point is, all right, for me
to understand this circuit, what I'm going to do
is I'm going to get a wiring diagram
and trace out, first of all, I
believe this is on the high-speed data network,
the TransControl module, because it
has to talk to the PCM.
And I'm going to match that up to the OBD2 connector,
because if you look at a wiring diagram,
you're going to see that the TCM ties directly
into the OBD2 connector.
That's where high-speed CAN comes in.
I think it's pins 6 and 14, if I remember right.
But we've got to look at it, right?
And we want to see, we want to understand
how a network goes down.
And that's why I'm asking, when
you have that failure, when it doesn't start,
does the check engine light come on and key on engine off
position?
Can I communicate with the PCM and at least look at data?
Can I look at the TCM and at least look at data?
Does that make sense?
Yeah.
Basically, I can talk to everything.
They don't talk to each other when it's on, so.
Right.
Then let's go with it.
If you can talk through everything.
Yeah, but I want to know, does that PCM,
is that PCM the pass-through to talk to the TCM?
I'd be paying attention to how you're unplugging,
what connectors you're unplugging, Billy,
because it sounds like it's a connection issue,
and it's just sort of a fluke that doing it made it work.
Do that, call me back.
You know where to find me next week,
and I'll be glad to talk to you about it some more.
I'm running any in the car, Doctor.
We're back right after this.
So you're telling me that the AI that's meant to make everyone's job easier to manage,
just adds more to manage on top of the thousands of apps
the IT department already manages.
Finding how that works?
Any business can add AI.
IBM helps you scale and manage AI to change how you do business.
Let's create smarter business.
IBM.
I've got Dan Morgan here on the pod.
Say hi, Dan.
Hey, how's it going today?
It's going good, man.
Tell us who you are and what you do.
I'm Dan Morgan.
I'm an attorney and a managing partner at Morgan & Morgan,
which is America's largest injury law firm.
That's pretty awesome.
I think I saw Billboard a year recently that said 20 billion one.
20 billion is an insane number.
Yeah, 20 billion recovered.
It's actually, I think, somewhere north,
probably closer to 22 or 23 after this year.
And each year we get bigger and better, and our army grows.
So the number will hopefully keep getting bigger and bigger as time goes on.
Awesome.
So how does someone get in contact with Morgan & Morgan?
What would I do if I got into an accident?
Probably the easiest way is dialing Pound Law.
That's Pound 529 from your cell phone.
We are always open.
Our call center is always waiting to take your call.
247-365.
Wow.
Dan Morgan from Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury law firm.
Thanks for coming by the show.
Thanks for having me.
Visit ForThePeople.com for an office near you.
Rainbow Game, and Doug.
There's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize
and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual,
even if it means playing in a football game.
Boom, 42!
You're going down, Doug.
Oh, yeah?
You're priced on car insurance when you customize and save
is going down.
Hey!
Limu, what are you doing on their team?
Only pay for what you need at LibertyMutual.com.
Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.
Hey, I'm Lindsay.
Hydrogenitis suprativa, HS, caused bumps and abscesses
that made me feel embarrassed.
I talked to my dermatologist and started a treatment that
works for me, Cosentix.
I found relief.
Cosentix Secukinumab is prescribed for adults
with moderate to severe hydrogenitis suprativa, HS.
Don't use if allergic to Cosentix.
Get checked for TB before starting.
Increased risk of infections and lowered ability
to fight them may occur, like TB or other serious
bacterial, fungal, or viral infections.
Some are fatal.
Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms,
like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches, or cough,
had a vaccine or plan to, or if IBD symptoms develop or worsen.
Serious allergic reactions and severe eczema-like skin
reactions may occur.
Learn more at 1-844-COSENTIX or cosentix.com.
You're stronger than HS.
Ask your dermatologist about Cosentix.
Please.
To the open roadline.
If your right leads him wrong, we'll keep you rolling right.
There is a cold doctor.
Cold doctor.
Carried by a stout line.
Cold doctor.
We're in our remote studios out here in Pittsburgh, PA.
We're on the road this weekend and we're happy to be here for you.
I should point out too that I appreciate you guys being here.
I don't say that often enough and Tom and I are grateful
that you guys have stuck with us all these years
as we continue to try and help you fix your cars
and get the word out and put out some positive information.
I'm amazed every day as to how much good solid auto repair
information is needed.
I see all the goofy things on social media.
I read a post this morning on Facebook.
I tell you, Facebook is such a misnomer of information
and a mismanagement of truths.
I often wonder if I would have it.
We're not for a radio show where you're supposed to be present.
The argument was talking about nails and tires
and it was a picture of a tire with a nail in the center
and two other nails to the immediate right
and about 10 minutes down on a clock face on the edge,
that you're not supposed to repair.
And people are arguing, oh, that tire's fine.
You could repair that tire.
There's nothing wrong with that tire.
Stick a plug in it.
Firestone doesn't know what they're talking about.
And I'm thinking to myself, I hope none of these idiots
are next to me on the road when I'm traveling
along at 75 miles an hour.
Because when that tire comes apart
because the steel belt is compromised
and that's what people don't realize
that there are limitations to how you can plug a tire,
do a tire plug safely.
Technically a lot of shops don't even like the plug.
I don't like the plug.
It's very limited.
We want to do a plug patch from the inside.
But the more I read on social media
about how people think cars should be repaired,
the more I think auto repair should be licensed
in all the states across our country.
And just because you can pick up a wrench
doesn't mean you're allowed to.
So absolutely amazing.
Bill in Michigan, let's get over to the phones
855-560-9900.
Bill in Michigan, how can I help you today, sir?
What's going on?
Thanks to you and Tom for having me on, Ron.
1994 Chevrolet pickup.
This is a work truck standard cab eight-foot bed
with a 4.3 V6 4L60E transmission.
Got 165,000 miles on it.
I have an intermittent slow crank or dead spot
when the engine's warm.
Do you want me to take you through my diagnostic procedure?
Yeah, please.
Yeah, let me know what you did.
Okay, we started with a battery load test.
We got an 850-core cranking battery
in there, it's two years old, it checked good.
Voltage drop test on the positive and negative cables.
Both came out good and either cables were visibly corroded.
However, Ron, the ground cable for this truck
and several others in this vintage I've checked,
they ground to an aluminum intake manifold.
Yup.
I'm not really impressed with that,
but that's what it is.
Yeah, you might want to consider relocating that
or adding a secondary ground.
As part of your diagnosis.
I also just to relay it to you Bill,
and I know you've got more, but I recently had
and we're gonna put up a YouTube video.
I had a Honda in the last two weeks
that had an intermittent no crank condition
and Hondas, they're notorious that the last,
I don't know, six, eight inches of cable
going down to the lug that attaches to the transmission
in this case are exposed and it was so corroded
I'd go and I'd wiggle the cable and bang,
it would start right up.
So, you know, always, always look at that connection
and I get it, I would, you know,
when it goes into that slow crank,
if you were to stop cranking it
and bolted, drop tested at that point,
what sort of results would you see
or can you even do that?
Is it a matter of letting go of the key
and then all of a sudden it starts normal?
I did that, Ron.
We got it warm and I tried that
and in this particular instant,
it checked thoroughly correct.
It didn't have a problem.
Can you reproduce the slow crank bill
if it cranks slow,
you know, you take, you know, back off and okay,
okay, good, so at least we can test it.
Go ahead, finish your diagnosis.
We did a timing check and you have to,
this is really old school, Ron.
You have to disconnect the wire in the cab
to check the advance.
Yeah, over the right side by the glove box,
the brown wire with the brown wire,
the tan wire with the black tracer.
If I remember right, is that the color?
No, you got to write the first line, it was brown.
Brown wire, brown wire, okay.
For a zero degree at the top dead center.
Now, I did a tune-up, Ron.
This truck, the last tune-up I did was 2013.
I've only driven at 7,000 miles in there.
So I went with everything, AC Delco branded,
except the module and that was standard products.
So we did plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor
and the distributor module.
This helped an awful lot.
It improved it dramatically.
I did have a local parts store
check my brand new two-year-old AC Delco branded starter
and that checked okay.
Where I'm at, I'm looking at additionally adding a ground,
as you suggested, to the starter to see if that helps.
But I got the original ignition coil in there
and that's causing me some concern.
I'm not sure how to check that.
Well, let's get a spark tester.
I don't know why it would be an ignition coil bill,
but I get it, let's go through the whole ignition system.
Usually if this is a slow crank,
that it turns over as if the engine were binding,
let's say for conversation's sake.
You know, I would think this would be more along the lines
of I've got a flow problem to the starter voltage,
current, something along those lines
or do I have carbon deposits inside the motor
that when the engine is hot,
because this only happens hot, you say?
Correct.
You know, do I have carbon deposits
that are causing a slow crank,
creating the issue themselves?
So, I mean, listen, to check the coil,
it's gonna be the standard,
go get a spark tester rated for the capacity output
of the coil, 40 to 60,000 volts,
stick it against one spark plug wire,
so you'll start a six cylinder on five cylinders
and one'll be the test.
Does it jump that gap?
If it jumps that gap, theoretically, that coil is good.
You wanna change it because it's 94, 2004, 2014,
where are we, 30, 40 years old?
Yeah, I get it.
I get it.
All right.
You wanna, you wanna buy?
Well, maybe when it starts,
does it, do we have a puff of black smoke?
No, I have no smoke out of the tailpipe.
You know, I mean, we could put a fuel pressure gauge on it
and watch for residual drop.
Do we have any residual?
We should have residual drop, for 15 to 20,
up to 30 minutes, I would be a concern, but yeah.
How about this?
Okay, they're checking the starter when,
you know, you take it out and they bench test it,
right?
It's at room temperature.
Right.
What if we put the starter in an oven
and brought it up to heat,
brought up some heat a little bit,
or maybe to make it easier,
can we set the truck up
so it goes into this hard crank,
and then can we hit the starter with a garden hose?
I've not done that, but I think it's very possible.
Yeah, very possible.
You know, I'm just trying to think of ways,
how can I cool the starter down?
Do I have a case of the starter motor is getting hot
and it's creating a resistance problem in the starter?
Have you done a cranking amperage test, Bill?
You know, just put a clamp on and an amp clamp clamp on.
What sort of current does it draw when it starts good
and then what sort of current does it draw
when it cranks hard?
Okay, I will have to do that.
See what that does.
The last thing, you know,
because I know you're into the tune-up,
you're doing this.
Why don't we do a carbon cleaning?
It's got such low mileage.
Yeah, it's easy enough to do,
run down to your local advanced auto parts
or somebody pick up a CRC fuel system cleaning kit.
They've got a bunch of good stuff on the market.
CRC makes a great kit.
And you know, follow the instructions, do a cleaning,
decarbonize the engine.
Does that make a difference?
Okay, we'll do that.
You know, it's gonna be somewhere in this,
but just one step at a time.
All right, kiddo?
I appreciate it.
Ron, you got a Power Master starter on the 55.
Is that still a good brand if I want to change?
Still a good brand.
Still a good brand.
I still like that starter.
Knock wood, Bill, we shouldn't say this.
Knock wood, wait, I'm not gonna desk here.
You know, but yeah, it's funny.
We were talking about the 55 at lunch today.
I gotta take it out for one last ride
before the end of the year.
I didn't get enough time to drive it this year.
I just found too many other projects going on,
but I guess that's the life of a busy mechanic.
Bill, always a pleasure, sir.
You take good care and be well.
Give us a call back when you need more.
I'm Ron Ananey in the car, doctor.
We're back right after this.
Para los grandes, para los chicos,
para los bajos y los altos, los pacifistas,
los valientes, para los optimistas y los pesimistas,
los que valoran lo de adentro, para los que están lejos,
los que no vende lejos y los que no vende cerca,
para los introvertidos y los extrovertidos,
para los que piensan y los que hacen,
para los que nos mostraron el camino.
Coca-Cola, para todos.
Pumbra una Coca-Cola en una tienda cerca de usted.
So you're telling me that the AI that's meant
to make everyone's job easier to manage,
just adds more to manage on top of the thousands
of apps the IT department already manages.
Funny how that works.
Any business can add AI.
IBM helps you scale and manage AI
to change how you do business.
Let's create smarter business, IBM.
I've got Dan Morgan here on the pod.
Say hi, Dan.
Hey, how's it going today?
It's going good, man.
Tell us who you are and what you do.
I'm Dan Morgan.
I'm an attorney and a managing partner at Morgan & Morgan,
which is America's largest injury law firm.
That's pretty awesome.
Why do you guys think you win so many cases?
The insurance companies and other companies
that we go against know that we're gonna take it
to the end that we believe in the case.
So we fight for every dollar
and we're not afraid to go that extra mile for our clients.
Are insurance companies actually afraid of you guys?
We don't bluff.
We take it to trial
and we are not strangers of getting
very, very, very large verdicts.
Awesome.
So how does someone get in contact with Morgan & Morgan?
What would I do if I got into an accident?
Probably the easiest way is dialing pound law.
That's pound 529 from your cell phone.
And our call center is always waiting to take your call.
247-365.
Wow, Dan Morgan from Morgan & Morgan,
America's largest injury law firm.
Thanks for coming by the show.
Thanks for having me.
Visit ForThePeople.com for an office near you.
We go, we go, we go, we go.
And Doug.
Oh, what a horrible call.
Hey, ref, open your eyes.
Ref, you're really not gonna call that?
Come on.
Hey, ref, why didn't you customize your car insurance
with Liberty Mutual and save money?
I don't think you get what we're doing.
Sure I do.
We're all just giving him advice.
You guys on sports, me, on saving money.
Nope, that's not it.
Only pay for what you need at LibertyMutual.com.
Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.
Hey, I'm Lindsay.
Hydrogenitis superitiva, H.S.,
caused bumps and abscesses that made me feel embarrassed.
I talked to my dermatologist
and started a treatment that works for me,
Cosentix, I found relief.
Cosentix Secukinumab is prescribed for adults
with moderate to severe hydrogenitis superitiva, H.S.
Don't use if allergic to Cosentix.
Get checked for TB before starting.
Increased risk of infections
and lowered ability to fight them may occur.
Like TB or other serious bacterial,
fungal or viral infections, some are fatal.
Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms
like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough,
had a vaccine or plan to,
or if IBD symptoms develop or worsen.
Serious allergic reactions
and severe eczema like skin reactions may occur.
Learn more at 1-844-COSENTIX or cosentix.com.
You're stronger than H.S.
Ask your dermatologist about Cosentix.
You know, I really love the new spots for the Cardoctor store.
I didn't know that Santa was so involved.
I have to talk to him to see if we can, you know,
maybe help everybody and get the livery by Christmas.
So, but yeah, the Cardoctor store is open and we are,
you know what, we're selling coffee cups again.
All of a sudden coffee cups have picked up,
so we're glad to see it.
I was just talking to the production team
the other day, we're gonna try and come up
with some Ronisms for the new year.
So along the lines of good mechanics
aren't expensive, maybe my truck runs
or that's not the way I would have done it.
Something like that, but well, of course.
It's great.
Exactly, so let's go back to the phones, Tom.
Let's go to Brian in Wisconsin.
Brian, are you there, sir?
Hey, Ron, thanks for taking our call.
My wife and I are longtime listeners.
Thank you, sir.
Maybe you can help me with a general question.
You've helped me in the past with a 75 old,
a 79 old cut list and an old five-fork focus.
And you talked me last year,
you talked to me out of replacing the frame
on a Chevy Walduck conversion van that my mom left me
and talked me into buying a Sprinter van.
Gotcha, I remember that call, sure.
Cool, I got a two-part question.
I was born when I bought the Sprinter van
because it's a diesel, not to let it idle for a long time.
And you see semi trucks all the time
idling over the night.
Is that a truism or is that something
that I've been told awfully?
Any time somebody tells me something like that,
my first question is why?
I always call them on the spot
because I can't think of a reason why.
Frankly, if we're, yeah, go ahead.
So what was something about the carbon,
the buildup of carbon or have to regenerate it
because it's a diesel?
Well, yeah, but if we're doing our diesel maintenance,
if we're doing our filters,
if we're using correct good quality fluid and filters,
if we're visiting, watch this segue, hotshotssecret.com
and looking for some of the diesel additives and products.
Listen, it's the truth though, right?
For all my diesel customers,
we use product from Hotshot Secret
and there's a laundry list there
of what are we trying to achieve
and some of the things they have,
their stickion eliminator is phenomenal for a diesel.
Everything you wanna know to take care of a diesel
is there at hotshotssecret.com.
So it's, you know, that's where you wanna be.
I think the general fallacy, don't idle a diesel is nonsense
because you're right, look at all the 18-wheelers.
How about the 18-wheelers you see on the side of the road,
right, that are pulled over, sleeping for the night
and the truck stops or in the rest areas?
What you think, you know, it's, yeah.
So I think somebody is, it's wives tales
unless they've got a specific reason
if you're not doing something right.
That's like saying, don't drive the vehicle
because you're gonna have to go through a cat regen
every once in a while.
Doesn't make any sense.
Second question.
Okay, second question.
My wife and I have never really owned a brand new vehicle.
We've always bought them two or three years old.
Right now she's got a 2010 Nissan Ultima.
I've got a 2010 Ford 150.
We both bought with 45 and 75,000 miles respectively.
They're almost at 200.
We're looking to get a,
we're looking to get a kind of a,
what is your idea of a great vehicle right now
from a mechanics point of view?
I'm talking about cost of maintenance,
ease of ownership, reliability.
We're retired and we're looking at buying
either a new or used one,
which is gonna be our last vehicle,
you know, that we're gonna have to.
How big?
Well, everybody says it's the last vehicle.
God willing, you live another 30 years.
All of a sudden you need another vehicle.
So let's not go there.
Well, we got a Honda Pilot Black Chevy Tahoe GMC Yukon,
BMW X or an Audi Q.
Now, listen, the German cars
are a completely different conversation.
They really are.
You know, it's the German car experience.
And we could talk about the German car experience,
but there's not enough time,
even if we started at the top of the hour,
because that's just a whole nother conversation.
And I'll tell you what, Brian,
stay put, let me pull over, take a pause.
When I come back, we'll finish up.
I don't wanna rush this
and we'll get all your questions answered.
I'm Ronanini in the car doctor.
I'll be back right after this.
Para los grandes, para los chicos,
para los bajos y los altos, los pacifistas,
los valientes, para los optimistas y los pesimistas,
los que valoran lo de adentro,
para los que están lejos,
los que no ven de lejos y los que no ven de cerca,
para los introvertidos y los extrovertidos,
para los que piensan y los que hacen,
para los que nos mostraron el camino.
Coca-Cola, para todos.
Combra una Coca-Cola en una tienda cerca de usted.
So you're telling me that the AI
that's meant to make everyone's job easier to manage,
just adds more to manage on top of the thousands of apps
the IT department already manages.
Funny how that works.
Any business can add AI.
IBM helps you scale and manage AI
to change how you do business.
Let's create smarter business, IBM.
I've got Dan Morgan here on the pod.
Say hi, Dan.
Hey, how's it going today?
It's going good, man.
Tell us who you are and what you do.
I'm Dan Morgan.
I'm an attorney and a managing partner
at Morgan & Morgan,
which is America's largest injury law firm.
That's pretty awesome.
I think I saw a billboard of yours recently
that said $20 billion won.
$20 billion is an insane number.
Yeah, $20 billion recovered.
It's actually, I think,
somewhere north of the US.
Probably closer to 22 or 23 after this year.
And each year we get bigger and battered
and our army grows,
so the number will hopefully keep getting bigger
and bigger as time goes on.
Awesome.
So how does someone get in contact with Morgan & Morgan?
What would I do if I got into an accident?
Probably the easiest way is dialing Pound Law.
That's Pound 529 from your cell phone.
We are always open
and our call center is always waiting to take your call.
24-7-365.
Wow.
Dan Morgan from Morgan & Morgan,
America's largest injury law firm
thanks for coming by the show.
Thanks for having me.
Visit ForThePeople.com
for an office near you.
And Doug.
Here we have the Limu Imu
in its natural habitat,
helping people customize their car insurance
and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual.
Fascinating.
It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.
Uh, Limu,
is that guy with the binoculars watching us?
Cut the camera.
They see us.
Only pay for what you need
at LibertyMutual.com.
Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.
Saving is very underwritten
by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
and Affiliates Excludes Massachusetts.
Hey, I'm Lindsay.
Hydrogenitis suprativa, H.S.,
caused bumps and abscesses
that made me feel embarrassed.
I talked to my dermatologist
and started a treatment that works for me,
Cosentix.
I found relief.
Cosentix Secu Kenyumab
is prescribed for adults
with moderate to severe hydrogenitis
suprativa, H.S.
Don't use if allergic to Cosentix.
Get checked for TB before starting.
Increased risk of infections
and lowered ability to fight them may occur,
like TB or other serious
bacterial, fungal, or viral infections.
Some are fatal.
Tell your doctor if you have an infection
or symptoms,
like fevers,
sweats, chills,
muscle aches, or cough,
had a vaccine or planned to,
or if IBD symptoms develop or worsen.
Serious allergic reactions
and severe eczema-like skin reactions
may occur.
Learn more at
1-844-COSENTIX
or cosentix.com
You're stronger than H.S.
Ask your dermatologist about Cosentix.
And we are back.
Brian with Wisconsin.
You're still there, sir.
Yeah.
The questions are
buying a replacement vehicle.
We're just buying one vehicle
to replace two, Brian.
Yep.
That's it.
And I can't get a pickup
because my wife won't allow me to get a pickup.
So we've chosen,
we've chose two different vehicles
and she's standing right next to me
and she's smiling.
She's hoping you're going to see her,
your way,
her way,
or my way.
So what do you got?
Jesus.
I got to turn my collar around.
What are my choice of vehicles again?
Well,
we've got it narrowed down
to a Honda Pilot,
Black, Chevy Tahoe,
or GMC Yukon.
But you know,
all we're looking for
is a mechanic to tell us,
hey,
these are the ones we're having
really good luck with.
You know,
these are the ones that are bomb proof.
You want to buy a brick.
Yeah.
You know, a brick.
It never breaks.
It's reliable.
It's just,
it just goes, right?
Yep.
Yep.
And we're looking for
an unopinionated answer.
Those are all good vehicles.
They're decent.
Okay.
But if you want to really go drive something
just for the heck of it,
and you're still in the window
where they're two years old
and you could get them
cheaper than what they originally were.
I really love that LX460
that my wife drives,
that Lexus I bought her.
That thing,
it's like a glorified Highlander.
All right.
It's a freight train on wheels.
I defy anybody.
Take that thing out on the interstate.
Do 75, 80 miles an hour with it,
which unfortunately you have to do
and break the speed limit
in some parts
to avoid getting run over
by the diesel trucks
that are flying down the road.
But that LX460,
V8, no turbocharger,
low on maintenance.
They just run, brother.
That truck will go a quarter million miles
with reasonable care.
Go drive one of those.
Call me back next week.
We can talk more about it.
But put your wife in it.
Let her drive it.
Let her turn on the seat heater.
Let her listen to the radio.
I think she's going to fall in love
all over again.
But I'm sure you'll still be
her number one guy.
Till the next time.
I'm Ronan 80 in the car doctor.
It's been a pleasure to be here
for all of you.
Good mechanics aren't expensive.
They're priceless.
See ya.
Yeah, he's a car doctor.
Car advice done right.
Everybody knows Shaq,
but off camera,
he's just a regular guy.
People never believe me
when I say I'm just like them.
I take out the trash,
do dishes,
and I struggle with
modern obstructive sleep apnea
or OSA.
And a lot of adults
with obesity also struggle with
moderate to severe OSA.
You know those scary breathing
interruptions during sleep?
The loud snoring,
choking,
and daytime fatigue?
I knew I had to talk to my doctor.
Don't sleep on the symptoms.
Learn more at
Don'tSleepOnOsa.com.
This information is provided
by Lily, a medicine company.
At CVS,
it matters that we're not
just in your community,
but that we're part of it.
It matters that we're here
for you when you need us,
day or night.
And we want everyone to feel
welcomed
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Okay.
Only ten more presents to wrap.
You're almost at the finish line.
But first...
There.
The last one.
Enjoy a Coca-Cola
for a pause that...
refreshes.
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She'd throw things.
Wander.
And started hoarding.
Mom's Alzheimer's was already so hard.
But then we found out she had something called
agitation that may happen with dementia
due to Alzheimer's disease.
And that was a different kind of difficult.
So we asked her doctor for more help.
Seeing symptoms like these in a loved one,
it could be time to ask their doctor about
Rexulti, Rex Pippers old two milligrams.
The only FDA approved treatment
proven to reduce the symptoms of this condition.
Rexulti should not be used as an as-needed treatment.
Elderly people with dementia-related psychosis
have increased risk of death or stroke.
Report fever, stiff muscles, and confusion
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or uncontrolled muscle movements
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High blood sugar can lead to coma or death.
Weight gain, increased cholesterol,
unusual urges, dizziness on standing,
falls, seizures, trouble swallowing,
or sleepiness may occur.
Learn more about these and other side effects
at ricksulti.com.
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I'm glad her doctor recommended Rexulti.
Talk to your loved one's doctor.
Moments matter.
About this episode
Ron Ananian shares stories from a particularly chaotic week at his auto repair shop, highlighting the challenges and surprises that come with car repairs during a full moon. He recounts encounters with customers like Steven, who neglected his aging Cadillac, and Michael, whose Jeep required extensive work after years of neglect. The episode emphasizes the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and building trust between mechanics and customers, while also showcasing the humorous and frustrating moments that arise in the world of auto repair.
Original notes
Full Moon Mechanics: Walk-Ins, Walkers & Why That “Noise” Wasn’t the Car
This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron takes you inside one of those “full-moon” stretches in the shop—when walk-ins, overdue maintenance, and stacked schedules all hit at once. A routine checklist on Michael’s Jeep Compass turns into a full safety catch-up: dry-rotted tires, a worn control arm, driveline fluids, alignment, and more. And the mysterious “clunk” Michael swears wasn’t there before? It turns out to be his walker tapping the door—proof that not every noise comes from the vehicle.
Ron also tackles listener calls, including a Yukon with intermittent TCM/PCM communication faults, a ’94 Chevy with a hot-soak slow crank, and the truth about idling a diesel. He closes with advice for retirees choosing their next long-term vehicle—Pilots, Tahoes, Yukons, Lexus “brick” SUVs, and what really matters when you’re buying the car you plan to live with for years.
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Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel
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Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
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