Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - February 28, 2026 - Hour 2
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Car
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a two-door car that many people liked because it looked cool and was nice to drive. It’s often talked about when people work on older cars to fix or improve them.
Part
air distribution manifold
This part helps send warm or cool air to different places inside the car so you feel comfortable.
Part
heater box
It's the part inside the car that makes the air warm and sends it to the vents so you don't get cold.
Term
vacuum controls
Vacuum controls use air pressure from the engine to move parts like heater switches. Older cars used these instead of electric buttons.
Term
fan override switch
A fan override switch is a button or lever that makes the fan blow air really fast, even if you didn't set it that way.
Car
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is a big car that looks fast and powerful. The 2015 version is a newer model that many people like because it’s both roomy and fun to drive.
Term
oil leak
An oil leak means the car is losing its engine oil, which helps keep the engine parts moving smoothly. If too much oil leaks out, the car can get damaged.
Part
oil filter adapter housing
This part holds the oil filter in place and helps oil flow through it. Sometimes it can leak oil, which means it needs fixing so the engine stays healthy.
Part
coils
Coils help make the spark that starts the engine. If they break, the engine might not work right.
Concept
vehicle replacement cycle
This means people often get a new car every five years because fixing the old one can be too expensive or hard. So instead of fixing, they buy a new car.
Concept
leasing
Leasing means you pay to use a car for a while but don't actually own it. After some time, you give the car back or can buy it if you want.
Car
Ford Expedition
The 2007 Ford Expedition XLT is a big SUV that can carry lots of people and stuff. The XLT means it has nicer features than the basic version.
Term
check engine light
The check engine light is a warning light on your car's dashboard that comes on when something might be wrong with the car. It can mean many things, so it's important to get it checked out.
Concept
Clean Air Act of 1991
The Clean Air Act of 1991 is a law that made car makers make their cars cleaner so they don't pollute the air as much. It started affecting new cars made from 1996 onward.
Concept
vehicle emissions legal limit
The vehicle emissions legal limit is the maximum amount of pollution a car is allowed to put into the air by law. If a car pollutes more than this, it needs to be fixed.
Concept
vehicle inspection
A vehicle inspection is a check-up for your car to make sure it is safe and doesn't pollute too much. You usually need to pass this check to keep driving your car legally.
Term
higher mileage vehicle
A higher mileage vehicle is a car that has been driven a lot, so it might have more wear and need more repairs.
Part
spark plugs
Spark plugs are small parts in your car's engine that help start it by making a tiny spark. They wear out over time and need to be changed so your car runs well.
Term
transmission fluid change
Transmission fluid is the special oil inside your car that helps the gears work smoothly. Changing it every so often keeps your car running well and stops problems.
Term
corrosive material
Road salt and other chemicals used in winter can cause the metal parts under your car to rust and get damaged faster.
Term
scan tool
A scan tool is a gadget that plugs into your car to read messages from its computer. It helps find out why the car's warning light is on or if something is wrong.
Term
monitors
Monitors are checks your car's computer does to make sure parts that control pollution are working right. If a monitor finds a problem, it can turn on the warning light.
Term
OBD2
OBD2 is a system in cars that checks if everything is working right, especially for pollution and engine problems. It can turn on a warning light if something is wrong.
Term
fault code
A fault code is a special message your car's computer saves when it finds something wrong. Mechanics use these codes to figure out what needs to be fixed.
Term
emissions inspection
An emissions inspection checks how much pollution your car puts out to make sure it isn't too dirty for the environment.
Term
onboard computer system
Your car has a computer inside that keeps track of how everything is working and can tell a mechanic if something is wrong.
Term
CRC fuel system cleaners
CRC fuel system cleaners are special liquids you add to your car's gas tank to help clean parts inside the engine that use fuel. This helps your car run better and last longer.
Term
rust
Rust is when metal parts of a car get damaged and start to break down because of water or salt. It can make the car unsafe if it gets bad.
Term
Auto Start Stop
Auto Start Stop is a feature in cars that turns off the engine when you stop, like at a red light, and turns it back on when you start driving again. This helps save gas and reduce pollution.
Part
camshaft
The camshaft is a part inside the engine that helps open and close the valves so air and fuel can go in and out. It spins around and makes the valves move at the right time.
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On June 11th, 1998, a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department went missing.
Hey, if they'll kill a cop and bury them, what are you gonna do to me?
What really happened to the missing deputy?
Valley of Shadows, a new series from Pushkin Industries
about crime and corruption in California's high desert.
Listen to Valley of Shadows on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Everyone needs to take care of their mental health, even running back Bijan Robinson.
When I'm on the field, I'm feeling the pressure. I usually just take a deep breath.
When I'm just breathing and seeing what's in front of me, everything just slows down.
It just makes me feel great before I run the play.
Just like Bijan, we all need a strong mental game on and off the field.
Make a game plan for your mental health at loveyourmindplaybook.org.
Love Your Mind.
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the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and the Ad Council.
This is the biggest night in podcasting.
The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards, live from South by Southwest.
March 16th will honor the very best in podcasting from the past year
and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry.
It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world.
Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display.
And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is...
See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards.
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You're listening to Ron Ananian, the car doctor,
nationally recognized auto expert, trusted by mechanics,
weekend wrenches, and vehicle owners alike.
Ron brings over 40 years of hands-on experience and deep industry insight
to help you understand your vehicle.
Join the conversation live every Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern
by calling 855-560-9900.
That's 855-560-9900.
You're a 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.
Sometimes, being a mechanic, you have to be a fortune teller.
I just feel that.
It's just very important.
And I've talked about this before, but I can't say it enough.
I think because of the complexity of the car,
because of the difficulty in repairing and maintaining it.
And it's funny.
You talk to guys that have been in the business long enough,
and they'll tell you cars today versus five short years ago,
and truthfully, 10 short years ago, are so different.
And the course of repair and the degree of difficulty
has just gone up exponentially more.
And the approach, you can see it.
You sit in certain cars, and you look at that dashboard screen,
and it's kind of like a wrap-around TV screen in front of you.
And I'm just curious.
I wonder what's behind that dashboard.
There's nothing.
There's just printed circuit boards and computer chips.
It's been quiet at the shop the month of February.
And we've got enough.
We're picking and dealing with the day-to-day,
but there's no mad rush right now.
And that's typical.
This time of year, as soon as the snow hits the ground,
and the Northeast has seen enough snow
that it's definitely affecting business,
and people just don't want to come out and understand that.
But I decided, you know what?
Let me finish the Monte Carlo.
I've got to get this car done, right?
You guys have heard me talk about this for a while.
So I've got the dashboard out.
You look at the way that vehicle was put together in 1972.
They were pretty smart.
There's a lot of mechanical nuts and bolts and stuff.
A lot of the stuff is just simple nuts and bolts.
I mean, if something isn't right, like, for example,
I was putting what they call the air distribution manifold
on it yesterday.
We had taken the dashboard and the heater case out,
and I'm cleaning things up.
And, you know, it's funny as a side note,
a side note to the side note.
You know, the car came from Texas.
It came out of Menard, Texas, nine years ago now.
And it takes me a while.
And the little Texas dust that's in this air distribution
manifold, like, it just gets everywhere.
And you say to yourself, you know, how clean
is the inside of this car?
And I've been blowing Texas dust out of the car
for nine years.
It just gets into all the crevices and crannies.
And it's just kind of funny.
But I had a bolt, the air distribution manifold,
back to the heater box.
And it was steel bolts going through the mounting hole
and then screwing into the Bakelite fiberglass.
It's this composite material they used to make
the heater cases in 1972.
And it just, it's just, when it came apart,
it just, it's so brittle, it just pulled out.
And it's like dust.
And there's nothing left for the bolt to hold onto.
So, you know, don't tell the judges at the car show,
not that I care, because I'm not going to take
it the one anyway.
But I put a non-GM bolt in it.
I found, you know, the right size, the right thing.
It's actually a six millimeter in a standard thread car.
And that's probably going to bother me for the next 10 years.
But, you know, I got it to fit.
It looks right.
It's the right oxided black.
It's the right color and all that.
But the simplicity of it, right?
You couldn't do that with a modern car.
You'd have to source, you know, you have to buy a bag of 50
to get one bolt and then throw the rest of them out
because you would never need them again,
because everything would be so odd and obscure.
And you just look at it.
But back to the dashboard.
The vacuum controls, the heater controls are all vacuum.
They're the most, the most complex thing under that dashboard
is the fan override switch, which is when the lever moves,
it kicks another lever and it wedges up a contact point,
which lifts it and it closes the circuit to make the high blower run,
whether you want it to or not.
That's like really high tech for 1972.
I would venture to guess, and I was looking at a Hyundai,
something that had come into the shop for an oil change,
and I was looking at the dashboard thinking to myself,
I bet you there's enough technology there
that if we wanted to rewire it with the help of AI,
we could probably track manned spaceflight.
Because the amount of computer chips and computer memory
and computer power in that car is astounding.
And I, you know, you look at that and you go, huh?
Why did I tell you this story?
Darren dropped off his 2015 Dodge Charger this week.
And Darren's a really great guy.
He's kind of new to the shop.
They've been coming in about a year.
Him and his wife, we like talking to them, they get it.
And we spent part of our time during pickup.
I was explaining to her, Nina, I believe it is,
you know, why this car isn't worth fixing.
It's 11 years old.
It's got 90,000 miles on it.
It's developing a bit of an oil leak,
or it will develop a bit of an oil leak at some point,
which will become the oil filter adapter housing,
which will become spark plugs, which will become coils,
which will become $2,500 to $3,000.
It needs rear brakes.
Rear brakes are really the one caliper
is starting to bind and seize.
You know, rear brakes are going to be $12,000 to $1,500.
Let's round off.
Let's call it needs four grand worth of work.
They haven't done a 90,000 mile service to it.
It needs all kinds of fluids.
We sat down and wrote up and looked and talked
about legitimate repairs this vehicle needs,
probably close to five grand.
Coming up in the next four to six months.
I think that's what a shop is supposed to do.
I just do.
I think we're supposed to explain to people.
You know, it's supposed to, we're supposed to guide you guys.
I think that's part of this relationship.
And I think that's what both the consumer
and the technicians out there fail to see.
You know, I got to tell you, I've never seen,
the auto industry is, it's one of two things.
Everybody's really happy.
Everybody's really miserable.
I've never seen, you know, when they get together,
I've never seen a group of people
that really hate their job as much as auto mechanics.
And then I've never seen a bunch that really love
their job as much as auto mechanics.
And I think it's the attitude.
I think it's how you approach it.
I think it's how you come in every day
and what you try to see.
And I think it's how the shop deals with,
you know, the complexity of the car
because the car is very complex.
It's not simple.
It's, it's, it's even the simplest things become complicated.
Someone at the gym the other day,
Lori, I believe it was, was telling me the story
of her Tesla with the foam filled tires
and she had to go somewhere special
to get the tires replaced because
it's a special tire and adapter.
And yeah, and that's what cars have become.
There is nothing simple anymore.
It's, it's the complexity of the vehicle
who ultimately pays for that, you the consumer.
And it, it, it makes it that much more important
for you to try and understand what's going on.
And, you know, be of the mind,
are you going to replace this every four or five years?
Because that was the other thing I saw the other day in the news
that most technicians recommend
replacing the car every five years regardless
because they don't think they can be repaired
and made to last like they once were,
which I kind of agree with at times.
It depends on what car company we're talking about.
And I, I disagree with at other times
because I think there are some vehicles out there
that will clearly go 15 years and 250,000 miles.
I, I think the big factor that everybody misses
is cost per mile.
And, and there's my point to close this out.
It's, it's all about cost per mile.
It's all about, you know,
what is it going to cost me to drive this?
And I don't think anybody thinks of that
prior to purchasing.
Everybody thinks about it afterwards.
Auto repair can't be emotional.
Auto, automotive purchasing can't be emotional.
Yeah, I get it.
You know, it's such a cool car.
I love the color.
It makes me feel good.
But can the pocket book afford what the heart wants?
And therein lies the problem, right?
Because sooner or later, whatever you're driving,
no matter how much you love it,
it's going to break or it's going to need something.
Can you afford to maintain that?
Yeah, I know.
Nobody wants to hear this because it's, it's, it's negative,
but it's not negative.
It's the reality of ownership and it's the reality of driving.
And if you're leasing and laughing at this, feel free.
You're also spending a lot of money every year
to just drive a vehicle that you never really own
and you're doing that each and every year.
So we could have this conversation
of a go on in perpetuity, I think.
But here's the point.
Know what you're trying to achieve.
Know your mechanic.
Look to them for advice.
Does their advice make sense?
And if it doesn't, and if they don't offer advice,
if it's just you need this, you need that,
take it or leave it.
You know what?
Start the change.
Maybe, maybe they're doing it wrong.
I think we're all responsible for the changes
that we create in the world around us
that we create within our contact.
I've been doing this thing at the shop this month.
Don't ask me why I got into this.
It just sort of happened, but I ended up
with a lot of Girl Scout cookies.
And what happened was my, my nieces,
I'll tell you the story real quick.
My nieces were selling Girl Scout cookies
and I didn't realize it, but my daughter sent me a link
and we need to buy these Girl Scout cookies.
We've got to help sew and sew and sew.
Yeah, okay.
So I looked at the link
and they needed X number of boxes of cookies
so to make their quota.
So I bought all the boxes, plus some.
You know, I figured I'd put them over the top.
I got a phone call 10 minutes later.
Hey, that's really great, but what about the other kid?
Oh, the other kid?
It turns out there were two links there
when I only saw the one.
Well, you know, you can't,
you can't buy 40 boxes of cookies for the one
and not buy 40 boxes of boxes of cookies for the other.
So now I've got 80 boxes of Girl Scout cookies,
mostly mints by the way.
So, you know, I can't bring them home
because I'll get shot.
You know, what are you doing with all these cookies?
And so I've been giving away to customers.
You come in for an oil change, you get a box of cookies.
And what I tell everybody is, you know what, they look at me.
Some people actually offered to pay me for cookies.
I said, no, no, that's not what this is about.
And I mean this with all sincerity that, you know,
I'd hand you a box of cookies and say, hey, take the cookies,
go home. Tonight, I want you to sit down with your,
with your significant other.
And I want you to have a cup of coffee or cup of tea,
you know, seven o'clock, sitting around the kitchen table thing.
And you know, talk about the day, talk about the week,
reconnect, talk about the world.
It's important right now.
We need each other.
We need to talk and communicate with each other.
Of course, then my buddy Scott,
his daughter was selling Girl Scout cookies.
And I had to buy a bunch from her.
So needless to say, my wife thinks I single-handedly saved
the Girl Scout cookie program this year.
She's calling me the Girl Scout cookie monster.
I just can't help it, but I'll tell you what,
it does make people giggle and laugh.
Especially the woman I gave a box to last,
last customer on Friday got the last box.
She said, but what if I don't drink coffee?
Is it okay to have a glass of wine with my cookies?
Yeah, do whatever you want.
You know, it's just, she didn't want to lie to me.
She said, I'm going to go home and do this,
but I'm drinking wine, whatever, whatever works for you.
But enjoy the cookies.
That's what a repair shop is.
It's not just always about fixing cars.
855-5600-9900, I've rambled long enough.
I'm Ron Ananey in The Car Doctor.
I'll be back right after this.
Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you?
I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused.
Can you get someone to join your cult?
NLP was used on me to access my subconscious.
NLP, aka Neurolinguistic Programming,
is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology.
Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain.
It's about engineering consciousness.
Mind games is the story of NLP.
It's crazy cast of disciples and the fake doctor
who invented it at a New Age commune
and sold it to guys in suits.
He stood trial for murder and got acquitted.
The biggest mind game of all, NLP might actually work.
This is wild.
Listen to Mind Games on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
On June 11th, 1998,
a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
went missing.
It's an all-out manhunt for John Auje.
Every search and rescue team in LA County
has been called in to help.
Within days, tips started flooding into the Sheriff's Department.
They ruler around the drug scene
was that a deputy was taken care of.
Is this the story of a man who just got lost in the desert?
Or of a cover-up inside the nation's largest Sheriff's Department?
A homicide captain saying,
Detective, do not find out if this guy's guilty or innocent.
Who does that?
Valley of Shadows,
a new series from Pushkin Industries
about crime and corruption in California's high desert.
Do you have any advice for us while looking into this experience?
I wouldn't do it alone.
Listen to Valley of Shadows on the iHeart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
The more you listen to your kids,
the closer you'll be.
So we asked kids,
what do you want your parents to hear?
I feel sometimes that I'm not listened to.
I would just want you to listen to me more often
and evaluate situations with me
and lead me towards success.
Listening is a form of love.
Find resources to help you support your kids
and their emotional well-being
at SoundItOutTogether.org.
That's SoundItOutTogether.org.
Brought to you by the Ad Council and Pivotal.
This is the biggest night in podcasting.
The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards.
Live from South by Southwest,
March 16th, we'll honor the very best in podcasting
from the past year
and celebrate the most innovative talent
and creators in the industry.
It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world.
Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display.
And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is...
See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards.
Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award.
Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts,
and originals all in one easy app.
Audible, there's more to imagine when you listen.
Sign up for a free trial at Audible.com.
Hey, let's get over and talk to Jackie, I believe, in Maryland.
Jackie, how can I help?
Hi, Ron.
First of all, I want to tell you that it's a privilege to speak with you.
I listen to you every Saturday that I have a chance.
Thank you.
And you are an amazing teacher.
You really are.
You're not only informative.
You're funny and you're kind and you're patient.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who really loves your stories.
I didn't know family members were calling in today, Tom.
I didn't know you were writing checks.
You don't know how much you help us.
And I got to tell you, Jackie, that means a lot.
You know, we always have this ongoing debate
because you guys don't see behind the scenes
and there are moments of doubt.
There are moments of, gee, are we doing a good job?
There are moments of, are we being effective?
And I've had this conversation in my head laying a bed at night
looking at the ceiling at three o'clock and going,
am I relevant?
Am I, is it time to go?
Do you keep going?
And your words mean a lot.
I've been hearing this a lot of late.
And I take it to heart and I appreciate it more than you know.
Thank you.
Well, stop lying awake worrying about it
because I worry that you're going to leave at some point
and we're not going to have you to help us and we need you.
I get it.
Yeah, no, I, listen, for the record, I've,
the answer I came back to was I'm going to be here
as long as I'm relevant, as long as, you know,
God gives me the strength and the intelligence
and my wits are about me and I'm not babbling and drooling.
You know, I'll be here.
I've got, you know, I've got nowhere to go.
People look at me in the shop and they say,
so when you're going to close the shop, I can't close the shop.
I've got a radio show to do.
There's nothing to talk about.
I don't want to be a talking head.
And I, you know, I think that's one of the things
that's lost on a lot of people personally between you and me
that, you know, they don't realize that what you hear here
is a microcosm of what I go through every day at the shop.
It's, it's, it's what makes the show.
You know, I can't imagine.
I cannot, because I know how stupid I am
with vehicles.
And the only thing that I've learned truthfully
is by listening to you and I appreciate that
because you're a blessing to us.
Well, thank you so much.
You know what?
Thank you.
How can I help you today?
Well, thank you first of all.
Okay.
I have a used 2007 Ford Expedition XLT.
Okay.
And I've had a lot of stuff done on it.
Please don't ask me what because I, I am truly uninformed
and I don't understand a word that they're telling me.
But the last time I took it in,
it was because the emissions light came on
and it was dropping miles per gallon.
They did about 13 or $1,400 worth of work.
And that was about nine months ago.
I have to take it through inspection
by the end of this month.
Thank goodness the signal has not come back on,
but I have dropped one mile per gallon
the last two months.
So I want to, you advertised a great product once
called CRC Something.
And I thought if I added it that perhaps,
I'm not worried about getting the mile per gallon back.
I just want to get two more years on this vehicle.
So is the check engine light on the dashboard on right now?
No, it wasn't the engine.
It was the emissions light.
What is an emissions light?
What color is it?
Orange?
Is it a symbol?
Does it look like a little engine?
Yes, it does.
Okay.
So that's the check engine light.
All right.
So let's start here because there's a lot to this question
and I'm going to hold you over during the break,
just so you know.
A check engine light, you know,
1991 in the Clean Air Act of 1991,
so this is going back a little bit,
Congress mandated that all vehicles sold
beginning model year 1996,
if vehicle emissions exceed one and a half times
the legal limit,
would turn on a check engine light
and set some sort of a code to give a technician
a chance to trace down the problem.
You with me?
I am.
So, you know, if it was a human being
and your blood pressure went out of whack,
you know, I wear a Fitbit every day I go to the gym
and I watch my heart rate.
If my heart rate, I could set it up with an alarm
that if my heart rate exceeded a certain number,
the watch would start to vibrate
and my check engine light would come on, right?
I've exceeded my limit.
Got it.
Cars are doing the same thing, all right,
and that's why the check engine light comes on.
So, you know, that's part of this
and that's what you have to understand.
That's why that light's on
and that's the only reason why that light's on,
having to do with emissions.
Hold the thought there.
Jackie, I will come back to you.
Lonnie, I will get to you out in Iowa,
but let's pull over and take this pause.
I'm Ron Anani and the car doctor.
We're back right after this.
What if mind control is real?
If you could control the behavior of anybody around you,
what kind of life would you have?
Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car?
When you look at your car,
you're going to become overwhelmed with such good feelings.
Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you?
I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused.
Can you get someone to join your cult?
NLP was used on me to access my subconscious.
NLP, a.k.a. neurolinguistic programming,
is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology.
Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain.
It's about engineering consciousness.
Mind games is the story of NLP.
It's crazy cast of disciples and the fake doctor
who invented it at a New Age commune
and sold it to guys in suits.
He stood trial for murder and got acquitted.
The biggest mind game of all, NLP might actually work.
This is wild.
Listen to Mind Games on the iHeart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
On June 11th, 1998,
a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
went missing.
It's an all-out manhunt for John Auge.
Every search and rescue team in LA County has been called in to help.
Within days, tips started flooding into the Sheriff's Department.
They ruler around the drug scene
was that a deputy was taken care of.
Is this the story of a man who just got lost in the desert
or of a cover-up inside the nation's largest Sheriff's Department?
A homicide captain saying,
Detective, do not find out if this guy's guilty or innocent.
Who does that?
Valley of Shadows, a new series from Pushkin Industries
about crime and corruption in California's high desert.
Do you have any advice for us while looking into this experience?
I wouldn't do it alone.
Listen to Valley of Shadows on the iHeart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Everyone needs to take care of their mental health,
even running back Bijan Robinson.
When I'm on the field and feeling the pressure,
I usually just take a deep breath.
When I'm just breathing and seeing what's in front of me,
everything just slows down.
It just makes me feel great before I run the play.
Just like Bijan, we all need a strong mental game on and off the field.
Make a game plan for your mental health at loveyourmindplaybook.org.
Love your mind.
Brought to you by the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation,
the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and the Ad Console.
The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards,
live from South by Southwest.
March 16th will honor the very best in podcasting from the past year
and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry.
It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world.
Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display.
And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is...
See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards.
Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award.
Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts,
and originals all in one easy app.
Audible, there's more to imagine when you listen.
Sign up for a free trial at Audible.com.
City streets to the open road tonight.
If your eye needs help run, we'll keep you rolling right.
We'll keep you rolling right.
He's the car that drives.
Car that drives.
He's the car that drives.
Car that drives.
We should make a t-shirt that says that.
I think we do. I have to look and see.
But t-shirt season's coming.
So I'm going to get a look at the cardoctorstore, cardoctorshow.com.
See if we have t-shirts that say just something simple.
Car advice done right.
Back to Jackie, Maryland. I'm sorry, I got sidetracked.
So the check engine light comes on Jackie because emissions are high.
They're out of whack, right?
Right. And it's not on anymore.
It hasn't been on for about nine months.
Have you driven a couple hundred miles in the nine months?
I'm sure you have.
Oh, thousands.
As long as they did their job, you should pass inspection regardless.
However, higher mileage vehicle?
Yes, 200,000.
Right. So tell me maybe and maybe that's what they did as part of the $1,300 spark plugs.
Maybe yes. Maybe no.
Ever put spark plugs in this car?
I have no idea what they did.
Got to look back through your repair records.
Okay.
All right. You know, I'd be curious.
200,000 miles.
You had to have done a couple of spark plugs.
Probably a couple of ignition coils.
You know, and that's for longevity.
All right. And, you know, listen, take power, right, kiddo?
You're driving this vehicle.
Are you alone in this vehicle most of the time?
You're out on the road a lot?
Yes.
You know, it's when was the battery replaced last?
Oh, recently.
Okay. And then?
And I get the oil because of you.
Changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
Right. Ever serviced the transmission?
Any of the other driveline fluids rear end, front end?
I did have the transmission fluid change.
Okay. Cool.
They didn't flush it. I've had it added.
I guess I should get that done, right?
Well, and then why is it added?
Is it added because of normal attrition, normal loss over time?
Or is there a leak somewhere?
No, they didn't tell me there was a leak.
Okay. Well, they may not.
But, you know, the question becomes how much coolant are they adding?
Are they adding a quart every oil change or is it a quart every two years?
So it's a quart every, it's a quart every, it's a quart over a longer period of time.
Correct.
So probably the biggest question I've got with this vehicle is it's an 07 and you're in Maryland.
Pretty harsh winters?
Yes.
Yeah. I've been in Maryland.
We just went through that blizzard.
Yep. Lots of salt and corrosive material on the road.
Yes.
How rusty is this car underneath?
I don't know. I never saw it underneath, but I do take it through the car wash and have it washed.
You have a regular mechanic?
No.
Where do you get the oil change and stuff done?
Um, through a place that I can drive through and they check everything and tell me what I need.
But the mechanic that I, I've had two different ones because the car died in one place and then
I had to have it fixed and stay overnight.
And then in my own area, I had some, you know, them do something else on it because I was worried
and I took it in, but I just wanted to make sure that I could, I mean, I can take it through
inspection and if they tell me that it needs something, then I have to go back and I'm just
trying to avoid that.
Right. Well, as far as the check engine light and the emissions, the only thing somebody could do
preemptive would be to plug in a scan tool, plug in a diagnostic and check what we call monitors,
M-O-N-I-T-O-R-S.
Okay.
Monitors are the self tests that every car made since 1996.
There's that clean air act thing kicking up its head again, right?
Monitors are the self tests that every OBD2 computer goes through every time you start the car.
Jackie has a routine, right?
Jackie gets up in the morning, right?
She showers, she coffees, she brushes her teeth.
Okay. She has breakfast. She goes about her routine. That is your routine.
If you complete all your routines and you're successful, you have a good day.
If you complete all your routines, but you spill your cup of coffee down the sink by accident,
you completed the routine by pouring it, but you put on a check engine light because you
weren't successful, right?
Got it.
And they're being tested every moment of every second of every day of operation.
So in order for that vehicle to pass inspection, what they're really looking at is when they plug
into the car, they're looking to see are the monitors or the self tests complete?
Did it pour a cup of coffee?
Did it enjoy the cup of coffee?
Is there any fault code pending?
And is the check engine light on?
And if they're all complete and there's nothing pending and the light's not on,
in New Jersey, that vehicle would pass inspection.
Maryland, I'm not sure. Maryland may still do safety, which I would encourage.
I hope they do. I think New Jersey should go back to it.
But the point becomes, as far as, you know, emissions related,
that's what it takes to pass an emissions inspection now.
So go ahead.
Sorry.
If I take it to a mechanic prior to going through inspection and ask him to run,
pay him to run a...
Diagnostic checking monitors and status of the onboard computer system.
He should come back to you with a printed report
and be able to give you a blow by blow and tell you what's pending.
You know, my...
Already you've seen the status of onboard...
Onboard computer.
What's the status of the onboard monitors?
Okay.
All right.
You know, probably, probably a hundred dollar test.
And they should, they should give you a printout.
I think every mechanic, if you're paying for a diagnostic of some kind,
every mechanic should give you a printed report.
It's like going to the doctor and getting an x-ray.
That's your x-ray. You're paying for it.
Okay.
Well, this is very helpful.
And it may save me a huge amount of time.
Right.
Because it's...
When you sit in line for a long time,
then something else happens.
It overheats or, you know...
Right.
I just...
Now, the only...
I can't think of you...
Go ahead.
I'm sorry.
To directly answer your question,
I like any of the CRC fuel system cleaners and at 200,000 miles.
There, it's something you should consider using on a regular basis.
You know, you'll find just traditional CRC fuel system cleaner at your local advanced auto parts.
If your vehicle develops a catalytic converter problem,
one of the greatest products anybody's come out with CRC guaranteed to pass,
which is a very high dosage of fuel system cleaner,
cleans the entire fuel system, injectors, intake valves, etc.
But, you know, do you need that right now?
I don't know that.
You know, you don't seem to have that issue.
But as far as regular maintenance,
CRC fuel system cleaner on a regular basis, yeah.
All right.
Would it hurt to put the high dosage one in?
It wouldn't hurt.
I don't know that it's necessary.
Okay.
All right.
But the last two thoughts I have and then I got to go is,
you know, I think you're a single woman driving this or you're in this vehicle as a woman alone.
It's older.
It's almost 20 years old now.
I'd really love to have a mechanic you can trust that's kind of watching over your shoulder.
That's got as much of you and your safety interests at heart as the vehicles.
I'd like to know what the rust is under this vehicle,
because if it looks like the SS Rustoleum,
my concern is where does something break and fall off and become an issue?
I'm going to call you this summer and ask about what car I should go to next.
I heard you talk to people about that and it's very helpful.
Thank you.
You're very welcome.
You be well, Jackie.
I got to run, sweetheart.
You take good care, enjoy the rest of the weekend.
I'm not on any of the car doctor.
We are back right after this.
What if mind control is real?
If you could control the behavior of anybody around you,
what kind of life would you have?
Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car?
When you look at your car,
you're going to become overwhelmed with such good feelings.
Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you?
I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused.
Can you get someone to join your cult?
NLP was used on me to access my subconscious.
NLP, aka neuro-linguistic programming,
is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology.
Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain.
It's about engineering consciousness.
Mind games is the story of NLP.
It's crazy cast of disciples and the fake doctor
who invented it at a New Age commune
and sold it to guys in suits.
He stood trial for murder and got acquitted.
The biggest mind game of all?
NLP might actually work.
This is wild.
Listen to Mind Games on the iHeart radio app Apple Podcasts
or wherever you get your podcasts.
On June 11, 1998,
a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
went missing.
It's an all-out manhunt for John Auje.
Every search and rescue team in LA County
has been called in to help.
Within days,
tips started flooding into the Sheriff's Department.
The ruler around the drug scene
was that a deputy was taken care of.
Is this the story of a man who just got lost in the desert
or of a cover-up inside the nation's largest Sheriff's Department?
A homicide captain saying,
Detective, do not find out if this guy's guilty or innocent.
Who does that?
Valley of Shadows,
a new series from Pushkin Industries
about crime and corruption in California's high desert.
Do you have any advice for us while looking into this disappearance?
I wouldn't do it alone.
Listen to Valley of Shadows on the iHeart radio app,
Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
And their emotional well-being at SoundItOutTogether.org.
That's SoundItOutTogether.org.
Brought to you by the Ad Council and Pivotal.
Be on full display.
My, my, my, where did this hour go?
Lonnie and I, I appreciate you waiting there for so long.
Yeah, how can I help you today, sir?
It's a pleasure to talk to you.
Thank you.
I don't have a problem, Ron.
I've got a question though.
I have a 2024 Buick on Core GX,
and it has, well, I think you've referred to as Auto Start Stop.
I'm just curious.
I tried to get in the habit of using it.
It's not working out too well.
And I was just curious about fuel savings and problems with the engine if there's any.
I don't think Start Stop has been the light the industry on fire success
that they thought it was going to be.
All right.
And I think we can point to the fact that within the last two weeks,
the government decided, hey, we're going to do away with the mandate for Start Stop and,
you know, let manufacturers do it out of their own choice.
I think they've got, they've got it backwards because it's always on when you get in.
Right.
And they should have it to where you can turn it on if you want it.
And, and here's why.
All right.
I don't think it has the cost savings that they expected.
And to me, you know, I start a car and let's talk about it like this.
I start a car on a nice day in June and I'm going 10, 15 minutes away.
Great.
I start a car on a cold day in December and I'm taking a three hour ride somewhere
on all kinds of weather.
I'd like to know that once the car started, it stays running because I don't have to go
through the challenge of it shutting off and on, you know, at every moment, every stop sign,
every slow down, sitting in traffic on an interstate in the middle of a blizzard somewhere.
I think that's a lot of wear and tear.
And, you know, that's what a lot of the studies are saying.
Now, having said that, one of the things that the industry talks about in the last year that
they've decided to talk about and they've discovered is the wear and tear that starts,
stops puts on something called variable valve timing.
Big word, right?
Variable valve timing is where the engine will alter camshaft timing.
Think about a bicycle, right?
Big sprocket, little sprocket.
If the ratio is the little sprocket turns around twice to the big sprocket turning
around once, all right, that's basically what an engine does.
The crank turns twice, the cam turns once.
Well, if they can alter the position of the sprockets as they approach each other
for different events to happen in the engine, they can gain power.
They can help emissions.
They can get better fuel economy.
That's what variable valve timing means.
They're changing the relationship of when the valves open and close in relation
to the crankshaft, right, which is controlling piston movement inside the engine.
So what I always explain to people is think of when you get up to walk to the front door.
If you sometimes skip instead of walk, it's going to alter how fast you get there.
If you stumble instead of walk smoothly, it's going to alter how well you get there.
And so on, you're varying your pace.
They're varying the rotation of the camshaft in the engine.
What Start-Stop does is think of if we took that big sprocket on the back of the bicycle
and affixed a spring to it such that the spring would have to collapse
before the sprocket actually was driven by the chain,
right, as you're stepping on the pedals in the front.
You with me?
Well, every time Start-Stop engages, it's basically doing that
because we've got to have oil pressure.
The sprocket has to be up against hydro, and it all happens in the blink of an eye.
But sounds like a lot of problems in the future.
Well, yeah, because we're working a system, a combination of that cam sprocket with its,
and it's not mechanical springs in a camshaft sprocket.
That was for demonstration purposes.
It's oil filled in a passageway, right?
But we're beating the oil up harder.
We're making the sprocket move and work harder.
We're stretching and putting stress on the timing chains.
And what they're finding is that a lot of the Stop-Start functionality
is creating issues within a lot of engines with VVT.
You look at some of these engines that have variable valve timing problems
at 60,000, 70,000 miles, and all of a sudden it's a $4,000 repair.
Boy, we sure saved a lot of money there.
That was worth doing.
And that's why I'm not a fan.
I don't own a Start-Stop vehicle.
And I think if I did, I would find a way to defeat it.
And that's just the way I am.
Call me old school, call me hardheaded, call me living in the past, whatever you want.
But I just don't buy it.
Is it computer controlled?
Oh, yeah.
Are you kidding, brother?
There's so many wires attached to that system.
It would make your head spin.
I was just wondering, because that's the only thing I could take out
would be a fuse or...
There are companies out there that are making chips that plug into the OBD2 port
that will allow you to defeat it.
And I take each one on a case-by-case basis.
But I will tell you that it's just something you could look for.
And if it shuts it off cleanly and doesn't affect other engine systems, I think you're good.
I appreciate the conversation, Lonnie.
And I appreciate you being part of the car doctor family.
I'm Ron Anani and the car doctor.
I'll be back right after this.
NLP, aka Neurolinguistic Programming, is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology.
Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain.
Mind games is the story of NLP.
It's crazy cast of disciples and the fake doctor who invented it at a new age commune
and sold it to guys in suits.
He stood trial for murder and got acquitted.
The biggest mind game of all, NLP might actually work.
This is wild.
Listen to Mind Games on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
On June 11th, 1998, a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department went missing.
It's an all-out manhunt for John Auje.
Every search and rescue team in LA County has been called in to help.
Within days, tips started flooding into the Sheriff's Department.
The ruler around the drug scene was that a deputy was taken care of.
Is this the story of a man who just got lost in the desert?
Or of a cover-up inside the nation's largest Sheriff's Department?
A homicide captain saying,
Detective, do not find out if this guy's guilty or innocent.
Who does that?
Valley of Shadows, a new series from Pushkin Industries
about crime and corruption in California's high desert.
Do you have any advice for us while looking into this disappearance?
I wouldn't do it alone.
Listen to Valley of Shadows on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
The more you listen to your kids, the closer you'll be.
So we asked kids, what do you want your parents to hear?
I feel sometimes that I'm not listened to.
I would just want you to listen to me more often
and evaluate situations with me and lead me towards success.
Listening is a form of love.
Find resources to help you support your kids
and their emotional well-being at soundedouttogether.org.
That's soundedouttogether.org.
Brought to you by the Ad Council and Pivotal.
This is the biggest night in podcasting.
The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards.
Live from South by Southwest, March 16th,
we'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year
and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry.
It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world.
Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display.
And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is...
See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards.
Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award.
Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts,
and originals all in one easy app.
Audible, there's more to imagine when you listen.
Sign up for a free trial at audible.com.
So it comes down to this, right?
The last couple of minutes.
Just put a shameless plug in.
T-shirt and coffee cups, right?
T-shirt season's coming.
Get out thecarddoctorshow.com.
Get into the merchandise store.
T-shirts are out there.
Black, white, all different things.
And get yourself a t-shirt for the summer.
We appreciate it.
It helps support us.
And by all means, coffee cups seem to be the most popular thing,
or one of the more popular things.
So coffee cups are out there as well.
I want to talk to you about the...
And by the way, before I do that, don't forget to like the podcast,
get out to YouTube.
More things come in there as well.
Social media accounts.
I want to talk to you about this Subaru story
that I keep looking at all weekend today.
And Subaru, if you're aware,
is recalling 17,000 plus model year 2026 cross treks
and some model year 2025s as well for a potential fire risk.
Holy cow.
You know what they do?
Learn lessons from Tesla.
The issue is they've got faulty fuel filler cap gaskets.
What happens is when the tank is near full,
heat causes the fuel tank to expand.
And because of the defective gasket,
fuel can seep past the cap seal.
And voila, you got a fire hazard.
So let me repeat this.
The 2026 cross treks and some of the 25s
are having problems with fuel leakage
when the tank is full and temperatures rise.
So Subaru has to get repairs ready,
which are expected to begin late March.
So in the meantime, just in case you missed the notice,
Subaru is encouraging owners park the vehicle outside,
which, jeez, I just bought a brand new car
and I've got to leave it outside in the weather.
But not in the garage.
Don't fill the tank more than 50%
and wait for the official notice from Subaru
because you're going to get a free deal of repair.
You know, we talk about this often.
Modern fuel systems are sealed and pressurized.
Simple things can be a problem.
Something as simple as a cap gasket fails.
Real safety issue.
So be aware, 2026 Subaru's.
You'll read more about this in the news, I'm sure.
Till the next time, I'm Ron Ananey in the car.
Doctor reminding you, good mechanics aren't expensive.
They're priceless.
See ya.
Doctor, car advice done right.
On June 11th, 1998,
a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
went missing.
Hey, don't kill a cop in Barriam.
What are you going to do to me?
What really happened to the missing deputy?
Valley of Shadows, a new series from Pushkin Industries
about crime and corruption in California's high desert.
Listen to Valley of Shadows on the I Heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
All right, son, time to put out this campfire.
Dad, we learned about this in school.
Oh, did you now?
Okay, what's first?
Smokey Bear said two.
First, drown it with a bucket of water,
then stir it with a shovel.
Wow, you sound just like him.
Then he said,
If it's still warm, then do it again.
Where can I learn all this?
It's all on smokybear.com,
with other wildfire prevention tips,
because only you can prevent wildfires.
Brought to you by the USDA Forest Service,
your state forester, and the ad council.
This is the biggest night in podcasting.
The countdown is on to our 2026 I Heart Podcast Awards,
live from South by Southwest.
March 16th, we'll honor the very best in podcasting
from the past year and celebrate the most innovative
talent and creators in the industry.
It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world.
Creativity, knowledge, and passion
will all be on full display.
And the winner of the I Heart Podcast Award is…
See all the nominees now at iheart.com
slash podcast awards.
This is an I Heart Podcast, guaranteed human.
About this episode
Ron Ananian dives into the evolving complexity of modern vehicles compared to classic cars, sharing insights from his hands-on experience repairing a 1972 Monte Carlo. He discusses the challenges mechanics face today with advanced electronics and costly repairs, using a 2015 Dodge Charger as an example of escalating maintenance expenses. Ron emphasizes the importance of understanding cost per mile and making informed decisions about vehicle ownership versus leasing. He also touches on the value of trusting your mechanic and being proactive about repairs to avoid surprises down the road.
Original notes
- Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com
-
Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes
-
Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel
-
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