Ron Ananian The Car Doctor Jan 4, 2026

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - January 3, 2026 - Hour 1 - When Do You Sell The Plow Truck?

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35:53

Part

oil filter adapter housing

The oil filter adapter housing is a part that helps connect the oil filter to the engine. If it leaks, it can cause oil to escape, which is bad for the engine.

Part

battery cable

The battery cable is the wire that connects the car's battery to the rest of the car. It helps send power from the battery to start the engine and run electrical parts.

Term

clean contact

Clean contact means that the parts where wires connect need to be clean and free of dirt or rust. If they're dirty, the electricity can't flow properly, which can cause problems.

Part

battery terminal

A battery terminal is where the wires connect to the battery. It's important for making sure the battery can send power to the car's electrical systems.

Term

state of charge

State of charge tells you how full a battery is. If it's low, the battery might not work well or start the car.

Brand

Kia

Kia is a car company from South Korea that makes many different types of cars. They are known for being affordable and reliable.

Term

battery charge rate sensor

A battery charge rate sensor checks how much charge the battery is getting. It helps the car's system know how to keep the battery charged properly.

Part

wiring harness

A wiring harness is a group of wires that connect different electrical parts of a car. It helps keep everything organized and makes it easier to fix or replace parts.

Term

oil changes

An oil change is when you replace the old oil in your car with new oil. This helps keep the engine running smoothly and prevents damage.

Car

Buick LaCrosse

The Buick LaCrosse is a large car made by Buick, which is part of General Motors. It's designed to be comfortable and has a lot of space inside.

Term

throttle position sensor

The throttle position sensor is a part of the car that helps the engine know how much gas to use. It tells the engine how open the throttle is, which affects how fast the car goes.

Term

drive-by-wire

Drive-by-wire means that instead of using physical cables to connect the gas pedal to the engine, the car uses electronic signals. This makes it easier for the car to control how much power it gives.

Part

throttle body

The throttle body is a part of the engine that helps control how much air goes in when you press the gas pedal. It helps the car go faster or slower.

Term

limp mode

Limp mode is when your car limits its power to keep you safe if something is wrong. It helps you drive home slowly instead of breaking down completely.

Brand

Ford

Ford is another big car company in America that makes popular vehicles like trucks and sports cars.

Brand

GM

GM stands for General Motors, a big car company that makes many different brands of cars, like Chevrolet and Cadillac.

Part

accelerator pedal sensor

The accelerator pedal sensor tells the car how much you're pressing the gas pedal so it knows how fast to go.

Part

strut tower

The strut tower is a part of the car's structure that holds the suspension system in place. It helps keep the car stable while driving.

Car

Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a small SUV that is great for families and outdoor activities. The 2017 version has a lot of safety features and is good for driving in different weather conditions.

Term

drivetrain

The drivetrain is the part of the car that helps move it forward. It includes things like the transmission and driveshafts that connect the engine to the wheels.

Term

mechanic's stethoscope

A mechanic's stethoscope is a special tool that helps mechanics hear sounds inside a car better. It helps them find problems by listening closely.

Part

wheel bearings

Wheel bearings help your car's wheels turn easily. They are important for making sure your car drives smoothly.

Part

rear differential

The rear differential helps the back wheels of your car turn at different speeds, especially when you go around corners. It's important for smooth driving.

Brand

Subaru

Subaru is a car brand from Japan that makes vehicles known for their all-wheel drive, which helps with traction and handling.

Company

Dorman

Dorman is a company that makes replacement parts for cars, helping people fix their vehicles with new components.

Part

air hammer

An air hammer is a tool that uses air pressure to make a hammering motion. It's helpful for loosening parts that are stuck or rusted together, making car repairs easier.

Term

salt belt state

A salt belt state is a place where they use a lot of salt on the roads in winter to help with ice. This salt can cause cars to rust more quickly, especially if they are not well maintained.

Car

The Honda Civic is a small car that many people use to get around. It's known for being reliable and saving gas, which makes it a good choice for those who want an affordable and practical vehicle. Many people like it because it's easy to drive and has been around for a long time.

Term

head gasket

The head gasket is a part of the engine that keeps oil and coolant separate. If it fails, it can cause serious problems and be very expensive to fix.

Term

transmission failure

Transmission failure means the part of the car that helps it change gears stops working. This can be very costly to fix, often requiring a complete replacement.

Term

extended Honda Care

Extended Honda Care is like extra insurance for your Honda that helps pay for repairs after the regular warranty ends.

Part

struts

Struts are parts of a car's suspension that help keep the ride smooth and stable by absorbing bumps in the road.

Brand

Lexus

Lexus is a luxury car brand from Toyota that makes high-end vehicles known for their comfort and reliability.

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The car doctor is in the garage and ready to take your call.

I could see the radio, I could see what he was listening to,

and I'm looking at it and I'm going, God, that looks familiar.

It's orange and white and black. Oh my God, he's got, and I look again.

He's listening to the podcast of this radio show.

The car doctor.

I started flashing at an idol, so I don't know if it's the center,

or have you heard common problems at the center, and if I do replace it,

should I go with a stock one or should I go with an aftermarket?

It's a 2005, so you may not have the luxury of a decision of what you're going to use.

Welcome to the radio home of Ron and Anian, the car doctor.

Since 1991, this is where car owners the world overturned to,

for their definitive opinion on automotive repair.

If your mechanic's giving you a busy signal, pick up the phone and call in.

The garage doors are open, but I am here to take your calls at 855-560-9900.

And now, where is my super suit?

Here's Ronny.

Boy, we've seen the price of new cars, and my gosh, everything's expensive.

It seems that way. It really does.

The other side of that is, I think you're all broke, judging by what's going on lately,

the conversations I'm having with people, you guys are all in a tough spot.

Everybody's kind of counting nickels, and I don't know if that's a sign of the times,

the economy, or the time of year, or just what exactly it is.

But just a bunch of stories from the shop this week that just told me that dollars are tight,

tighter than normal, I think. Teresa came in with her 2021 Kia minivan.

And Teresa's a regular. We see her on a pretty regular basis.

It's a little hard for her to get into us because she comes from a distance.

So we may not see her for one or two oil changes, but she gets in there for the big stuff.

You know, her backup is she goes to her local Kia dealer over where she lives on that side of the

state. And as she puts it, she says, you know, Ron, I don't trust them, but I just don't know

where else to go and I can't always get to you. And I understand that. I do. I really do. I take

no offense. And I kind of think it helps because I, you know, to me, auto repair is like dating.

You know, I think the other guy is cuter. Go ahead. Have a good time.

And then when they come back, the grass isn't always greener and it just sort of,

you know, strengthens that position in a quiet solidarity kind of way.

So she went in for an oil change because, and it was more than that. Actually, it was the oil

filter adapter. Housing was leaking and they said it was a major oil leak and that it needed to be

fixed. And by the way, you also need a battery. She's got this random. It won't start. It's completely

stoned dead. And they told her, well, the battery is no good. And you need battery cables and 1500

later, you know, she could be fixed. And I, well, that's kind of weird.

Four year old vehicle. Why do we need battery cables? I didn't understand that. So she brought it in.

Bring it in, leave it with me. And let me take a look. So, you know, she makes arrangements.

She brings it in and I look, are you supposed to be able to take the negative battery cable off by

hand without, you know, just, you just go over your wiggling and the battery cable falls off.

And, you know, and the positive, it must be because the positive cable did the same thing. So

both battery cables, even though the nuts were tightened, it's a, what they've, a lot of the

car companies have gone to now, it's a, it's what I think of as a swedged nut. It, as you tighten it,

it pulls itself together tight and locks it in, but it wasn't installed properly.

So, I don't know how you're judging. I don't know how you're judging any of it. If the battery

cables aren't tight, if the battery cables aren't clean, you can't just condemn anything. You can't

run any tests. It's, it's, what do we need? We need good clean contact. I told Teresa the story

at the end, Billy, my boss, my first boss in the gas station and Billy's gone 15 years now.

You know, 1978, Ron, as you get older in this business, you're going to come to some

basic things that are always going to have to be there. They need good tires. They need good breaks.

They, they need a good battery and a good basic electrical system. And he, and Billy had some

foresight. He said, I don't care how complicated things get. I don't know if he could see how

complicated they would get, but you know, the point being that, you know, the basics still

hold true. You've got to have a foundation upon which to build the house. You just can't

randomly plop it out into the middle of a field and you can't do that with an automobile. You

can't run tests on anything until you fix the obvious. It was really difficult fixing the

battery cables. It really was. I loosened up the nuts and I found a socket that fit over

the outer circumference of the terminal because I could see that the battery cable wasn't pushed

down all the way onto the battery post. It was up a little bit. So I found an older socket,

a scrap socket, and I put a slice in it. So now it would, in essence, I made a tool. I made it so

that it would fit over the top of the terminal with the cable inside and it would just be a guide.

And I just took out my little, you know, I don't know, six ounce ball peen and gave it a tap and

it pushed it down on top of the terminal. It spread everything. It reshaped everything.

And I was able to tighten the terminal. No problem. Nothing, nothing extreme. And tightened right up

and everything was great. And I did the same thing to the positive side. Of course, then when I was

done, now this is a five year old battery going on six, I did charge the battery using one of the

computerized battery testers, charging system testers that we have in the shop.

And yeah, the battery came up as a failure. So it did need a battery. Now I felt very confident,

which you guys know me, right? Confidence is the name of the game. Hey, your car's fixed.

What'd you do? Well, we fixed the two terminals. We, you know, put a battery in it after we charged

it up to level because you can't tell anything on a dead battery. And the battery was marginal.

The battery only had a 35% state of charge when we went to do testing. And, you know, is that because

of the age? Is that because the terminals were loose? Because the alternator couldn't read it

right? How critical is that connection? Well, it's critical enough that Kia puts a battery

charge rate sensor on the negative post. So it's looking at charge rate to make a determination

as part of the determination on how to run the alternator on how to charge the vehicle based

on load and condition of the battery and so forth. So it's, it's got to be pretty critical, right?

You know, my point is I just, can mechanics look beyond their noses? And you know what? I blame

the mechanics in this case because why couldn't somebody say to her, Hey, and I get why it's a

lot of money. I get why it would have been $1,500 because battery cables kind of wiggle waggle and

disappear into the car and they're part of the wiring harness and very expensive. But why can't

they say, Hey, we can take a shot at this or we can go the long way around the barn and do cables.

Why don't they offer that as an option? And I, I hate to talk badly about my industry, but I just

know there's some knuckleheads in there. There's just some guys out there that just, I don't know.

You know what? Maybe, maybe because I was that kid that had nothing. And I think, I think the

better mechanics are the guys that come from nothing, the guys that, you know, the farmers

that fixed their tractors out in the middle of the field. I think they're some of the smartest

mechanics I've ever met because those guys look at things and they figure things out and they say,

Oh, let's do this. We don't have to, you know, spend $1,500. We can do this a much better way

and make all of this work. And I think that's just so important, especially in this day and age when

everybody's broke. And, and I, I see this, I see a lot of this. I see that we're all

questioning what things cost. I talked to coach Dave the other day and I apologize. I have a cold

today. I'm, I'm, so I'm not a hundred percent. I'm cranky though. So this ought to be good.

I was talking to coach Dave the other day at the gym, Dave, where I go CrossFit Bison

and a big shout out to everybody over there, my five AM family. And he's thinking about, you know,

does he get rid of the plow truck? His, his plow truck is now four years old and it's got 35,000

miles on it and he uses it to plow the park and a lot of the gym, you know, when it snows. And we

started talking and, you know, he was asking me questions, you know, does he get rid of it? Does

he hang onto it? We kind of had the chat and I said, well, I said, you know, you've got to realize

that the four years you've owned it, it's everything's been under warranty. So if you keep it, plan to

keep it another four years, that vehicle is now going to cost you something in the way of maintenance

and repairs. I mean, it has to, it's, it's, it's going to be eight years old when you're done with

it. So at the end of the eight year cycle, what does this look like? And my suggestion for him

is what you've always heard me say here, go find out what that plow truck is worth. Go find out

what they'll give you on trade and then realize that you can sell it for more because right now,

middle of early January, right? Somebody's out there looking for an inexpensive plow truck or a

cheaper than new plow truck and then does it pay for you to sell it, set up a new one and it now

becomes a business right off. So what does it actually cost? And I guess the point is, as broke

as we think we are, and I'm trying to segue into this, if you allow me the courtesy, you know,

as broke as we think we are, what does it actually cost in terms of real dollars against a tax

right off on a business? And that's a different conversation. And it's something you have to

look at and it's just very important. Vehicles as they age, I don't care what it is, are going to

cost you money. The only way I know to save money is to not own one. And obviously that's not

possible. You need a plow vehicle. You need a vehicle to get around town. You need a vehicle to

do what you got to do. Dave's first words to me were, well, they, you know, to lease another vehicle

because I think he leased it or he owned it. But it came out to where the payment on the new truck

was almost $1,000 a month. That's a lot of dough, buddy. You know, and then you've got a down payment

and yeah, everything is getting expensive. But you have to look at it in terms of overall cost.

What does it really cost and what's your time worth to go and deal with an older vehicle?

And I'm not saying to get rid of it. For all of you, if you're thinking of getting rid of a vehicle,

you've got to, first you've got to know what's this vehicle worth. You know, what is the payment

going to be? Are you, are you expecting, and here's, here's the reason I brought all this up,

are you expecting to have to put money into that four-year-old vehicle somewhere around year five,

six and seven? Because you have to. It's going to need more than oil changes. It's going to need

more than basic filters. Year four and five is typically where cars today need tires and brakes.

And that's not a cheap proposition. All of a sudden, you're going to spend three grand

between four tires and four-wheel brakes. It gets expensive. And are you ready for that? And I'm

not saying you shouldn't be. Look, I've said this for years. The trends don't deny it, right?

After a vehicle is three years old, okay? It's 100, well, it used to be 150 a month maintenance

to work on it, right? But now it's so much more. Now it's probably 175, 200 a month.

But that's cheaper than, is that cheaper than the $1,000 a month payment? You don't know.

I'll leave it here. My, and I consider him a friend of my customer, Jeff, said to me recently,

and I think he's absolutely right. He said, Ron, the purchase price of the car is only admission.

That's not what the car really costs. And that's where the maintenance factor comes in.

Food to think about. I'm Ron Ananey in the car doctor. I'll be back right after this.

The social media trend that's landing some Gen Zers in jail.

The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired. I'm going to take

Francesco off the network entirely. The massive TikTok boycott against Target that makes no

actual sense. I will continue getting stuff from Target and I will continue to not pay for it.

And the MAGA influencers whose trip to the White House ended in embarrassment. So refreshing to

have the press secretary after the last few years who's both intelligent and articulate.

You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep up with them

and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online in media and in politics

with the Brad versus everyone podcast hosted by me, Brad Palumba. Every day of the week,

I bring you on a wild ride who the most delulu takes on the internet,

criticizing the extremes of both sides from an independent perspective.

Join in on the insanity and listen to the Brad versus everyone podcast on the iHeart radio app,

Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Like if we're on the air here and I literally have my contract here and I'm looking at,

you know, as soon as I sign this, I'm going to get a seven figure check. I've told them I won't

be working here in two weeks from the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors

and creatives who built the cultural empire. The Atlanta is podcast uncovers the stories behind

one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's a

city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise featuring

conversations with ludicrous Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ drama and more. The full series

is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything like what was going

on in the city as far as like, you know, seeing so many young black affluent creatives in all walks

of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said, this is your assignment.

And that's like how you know, like, okay, are you from Atlanta for real? I ain't got to say too

much. I'm a great baby. Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the iHeart radio Apple podcasts or wherever

you get your podcasts. Greatness doesn't just show up. It's built one shot, one choice, one moment

at a time. From NBA champions, Steph Curry comes shot ready, a powerful never before seen look at

the mindset that changed the game. I fell in love with the grind. You have to find joy in the work

you do when no one else is around. Success is not an accident. I'm passing the ball to you.

Let's go. Steph Curry redefined basketball. Now he's rewriting what it means to succeed.

Shot Ready isn't just a memoir. It's a playbook for anyone chasing their potential,

discover stories, strategies, and over 100 never before seen photos. Order Shot Ready now at

stephencurrybook.com. Don't miss Steph Curry's New York Times bestseller Shot Ready available now.

9900 for when you really need advice on your car. Here's Ron. Hey, let's go to Wisconsin. Talk to

Jan Jan. You're on with the car doctor. How can I help? Hi, Ron. Hey, how are you? You're very welcome.

Yes, I have 2008 Buick La Crosse. I have the VIN number here if you want it. Okay. No, go ahead.

Tell me the story. Okay. Okay. The story is in December 24, some codes came up. P 11 25,

P 21 38 and P 21 20. Okay. I took it to my mechanic and he said it's a throttle position

sensor. He ordered one. He said it was defective. So he just cleaned up the old one, I guess.

That worked for a while until November 25. Then it started again. Okay. Reduced engine power light

comes on service traction system along with the engine light comes out. Okay. So this last

December, last month on the 13th, it was a very cold day and I tried to go and it did it again.

So I had another mechanic tow it to his garage and he replaced the throttle position sensor.

When I picked up the car, it was fine for a half a day. Then lights came on again.

So I was waiting till after the first of the year to contact him because he said if I have

any problems, let him know, but I wanted to wait till after the holidays. Okay. So this is a drive

by wire vehicle like so many vehicles are today, meaning that there's no actual mechanical connection

between what we call that you and I used to call the gas pedal. It's now called an accelerator

pedal. All right. And the throttle body, it's all done by wires. Right? Yeah. So and there's

redundancy built in and they learn this from the airline industry. There's two wires per

circuit or two readings because as basically what they're doing is at the accelerator pedal,

there's two sensors. One reads zero volts with the throttle closed. One reads five volts with

the throttle closed. And as you step on the accelerator pedal, the voltage one comes down,

one goes up and it has to be a corresponding one for one give is this one comes up so much,

this one comes down so much. And there's two sensors identical to that at the throttle body at

the other end. So they've got, you know, multiple redundancy in this. If they see somebody move

a quarter of a volt and the other guy only moves an eighth of a volt, uh-oh, right? And they don't

want you to lose control of the throttle. So they put it into limp mode, meaning it will be reduced

power, it'll get you home, it won't leave you stranded, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Yeah. You know, this particular problem is common on GM vehicles. GMs and Fords seem to do this a

lot, but we're talking GM here today. So it can be, it can be a throttle body, it can be an

accelerator pedal sensor, which is actually the accelerator pedal assembly, it can be the connectors,

it can be the wiring harness, all right? Uh-huh. What's really common with this particular car,

because there's actually a bulletin out for it, you got a pencil handy? Yeah.

So what did you say? Get your mechanic to look at bulletin 080604041 Baker.

Okay, 0806041 Baker? Right, 04041 Baker, all right? And it talks about those particular codes

and things to look for. And one of the things that bulletin is going to cite is over on the

driver's side strut tower, all right? So driver's side of the car under the hood,

there's a gray connector, connector 110, I believe it is. Okay. And that's part of the

wiring harness. That connector gets moisture in it. And it's kind of, it's kind of interesting

that you seem to have this problem as the weather changes. First you had it, first time it was

October or December, you said, then. December, yeah. Yep. And then it was November, so it's as

the weather changes. But you know, he can look at that connector, it's a gray connector, it's,

it sits right behind the, the trans cable. And you know, you pull it apart, you might find corrosion

in there, the bulletin talks about it. So it's not an abnormal, uncommon issue. Sometimes a

sensor, sometimes an accelerator pedal fixes it, sometimes the throttle body fixes it,

it's going to take some lab scope time and some dedicated diagnosis. Of course, here's the vehicle

that's 17 years old. I've got no problem, I've got no problem putting a throttle body on it.

You know, it's just a matter of he's got it, he's got it, you got to have stick to it of this.

If you know what I'm saying, he's got to follow this through. Worst case scenario, he might end

up running some new wires from point A to B to solve it. If he thinks it's a wiring harness,

but in any case, get a look at that bulletin and that connector, and I think you'll find a better

path for a diagnosis to repair. I appreciate the call. Call me if you need more, Jen. I'm Ron

Anani in the car doctor. I'll be back right after this. The social media trend that's landing

some Gen Zers in jail. The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired.

I'm going to take Francesco off the network entirely. The massive TikTok boycott against

Target that makes no actual sense. I will continue getting stuff from Target and I will continue to

not pay for it. And the MAGA influencers whose trip to the White House ended in embarrassment.

So refreshing to have the press secretary after the last few years who's both intelligent and

articulate. You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media,

but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things

happening online, in media and in politics with the Brad vs. Everyone podcast,

hosted by me, Brad Palumbo. Every day of the week, I bring you on a wild ride who the most

delulu takes on the internet, criticizing the extremes of both sides from an independent

perspective. Join in on the insanity and listen to the Brad vs. Everyone podcast on the iHeart

radio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The thing I love about Atlanta is

that it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's Rise,

featuring conversations with Ludacris, Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ Drama and more.

The full series is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything like

what was going on in the city as far as like, you know, seeing so many young black affluent

creatives in all walks of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said,

this is your assignment. And that's like how you know, like, okay, are you from Atlanta for real?

I ain't got to say too much. I'm a great baby. Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the iHeart

radio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Greatness doesn't just show up.

It's built one shot, one choice, one moment at a time. From NBA champions, Stefan Curry comes shot

ready, a powerful never before seen look at the mindset that changed the game. I fell in love

with the grind. You have to find joy in the work you do when no one else is around. Success is not

an accident. I'm passing the ball to you. Let's go. Steph Curry redefined basketball. Now he's

rewriting what it means to succeed. Shot ready isn't just a memoir. It's a playbook for anyone

chasing their potential. Discover stories, strategies and over 100 never before seen

photos. Order shot ready now at stephencurrybook.com. Don't miss Stephen Curry's New York Times

bestseller shot ready available now.

I see the boys in the band have recovered from New Year's. They're up and

they're very lively today, Tom. Thank you. Tell them good. So let's go to Tom in Wisconsin. Yeah,

no what? No? Okay. Let's go to Tom in Wisconsin. 17 Subaru. Tom, welcome to the car, Dr. 855560

9900. How can I help? Okay. Before we get started with my question, Ron, I want to tell you that

you've done an incredible service to all of humanity by running your recorded conversations

with Uncle Steve. Those are some of the most incredible things I've ever listened to. I listen

every year. I encourage my friends to listen. So I just want to throw that in and then I'll

ask you my question. Thank you, sir. Yeah, Uncle Steve was, you know, every time somebody brings

it up, I just have to go back to him for a moment. I just so many times, you know, you'd have a

question, you know, he was the father I never had because my father passed so early. And so,

of course, I would go to my father's brother and, you know, there wasn't a moment you couldn't,

and he'd just be sitting there and he'd listen to the whole story and he'd look at you and he'd

say, what do you mean you can't do that? You're an anion. Of course you can do that. Just do it.

Just put your mind to it. And it personified that whole generation, that whole can-do generation

of what it was, you know, that time period that he grew up in. And thank you. I appreciate those

words. It means a lot. So how can I help you today? Yes, sir. How can I help you today?

Okay, so I have a 2017 Subaru Forester with a rear noise that varies with speed. So I assumed

it was a rear wheel bearing. Okay. But as I, as I get the rear wheels off the ground and spin them

and check, they don't, there's no wobble, no nothing. And I can't really hear a noise. So

I'm wondering, is there anything else that could be in my drivetrain that's causing that?

I mean, it could be, Tom, it could be tires if the tires are feathered. But, you know, the only

way we find that is we will physically put that car up in the air. Somebody drives it and, you

know, I'll typically, you know, they'll sit there stopped. And then I'll tell Danny, you know, give

me 20 or give me 25, meaning accelerate to 20 or 25 miles an hour. And I'll listen from underneath

with them, underneath with a mechanic's death of scope. Obviously being careful of the rotating

driveshaft and the rotating wheels above my head and so forth. And I will typically hear a loud

growl in one of the wheel bearings. You know, if it truly is from the rear of the vehicle,

and it's not tires and it's not wheel bearings, the only thing else that's back there is the rear

differential itself. And again, listening to it with a mechanic's death of scope will tell you

a lot and, you know, help you to, help you to pinpoint it. You know, have I seen bad Subaru

rear diffs? Yeah, you know, 2% out of the 100% that are bad wheel bearings. So it's such a low

ratio spinning it by hand, spinning it or feeling for a wobble. I've never felt, I've never had one

wobble. I've never felt it spinning it by hand. It always has to be done under load because it

has to be, it has to get up to speed. If you get what I'm saying there, there has to be a certain

amount of speed associated with, with that noise because it won't always happen. It doesn't occur

at five, six miles an hour. And if it doesn't occur at five, six miles an hour, you're not

spinning it at five, six miles an hour in the driveway, right? It's, you got to get it going

faster. So is it, is it a part right now? Well, so far, I haven't taken the wheel bearings out,

but I'm to the point where I was going to start. But I thought I kind of hate to do this because

I, I can't see any evidence at this point. So that's what I'm talking to you.

You know, it's, if, if, can you get it securely up all four wheels off the ground,

just because is it an all wheel drive Subaru where the fronts are going to spin,

should you go to engage it? Yeah. So, you know, this is a case where it needs to be secure on a lift

and, you know, drive at its speed and listen to the rear. Now point of contention, you're in

Wisconsin, you guys get that stuff called snow. I'm sure, I'm sure they put that stuff, you know,

salt, uh, the lininator or the things that, you know, melts the snow and corrosive material.

You can almost, you know, you're, I can almost tell you, you're going to probably end up putting

backing plates on it, which are not uncommon because to get, to get those bearings out

are a chore. You're either using the special six, $700 aftermarket tool to pull it apart

or you're going to use a torch and two bolts from the inside. We get, Dorman actually makes

longer bolt kits and I, I forget the thread size, but we will find those, those longer

bolts from the Dorman supply catalog on their website and we will use an air hammer. We will

heat the bearing and then push the bolts, which pushes against the hub to get it to come out.

And, you know, not, not doing it that way, you'll be there forever. I've never seen a slide hammer

able to, able to move those. They are, those bearings get so corroded in there

that it's just, it's just beyond comprehension. And if you're in a salt belt state, it's going

to be worse. And I tell everybody, you know, lately as these cars get older and it becomes

a more prevalent problem, you know, be prepared, backing plates are probably going to be needed

because the ones you're going to take off are so badly rotted, they're not worth saving. So,

and Subaru usually has them in stock, which tells you something.

Yes. Okay. And so then my last question is, so if I put the, put it back together and drive it,

is there a danger with that other than, I mean, what, what can happen?

We've got people out there that come to us and it's, the conversation is usually my car has

been making this noise, my Subaru has been making this noise for the past two years, the three

mechanics, I took it to couldn't figure it out. I finally found you, can you tell me what it is?

And we tell them it's a wheel bearing and we put it in there. I don't encourage you to drive it

with a noisy wheel bearing. The bearing is brinnelling, B-R-I-N-N-E-L-I-N-G, I believe is the

way it gets spelled is the word. Just the ball bearings have got a little bit of acne, so to

speak, and that's what's making them noisy. And have I ever seen one come apart? No. Would I be

comfortable driving one with a noisy wheel bearing? No. It's bad as bad. You're asking me,

when's it gonna fail? It has failed. If it is a wheel bearing, Tom, right? If it is a wheel bearing,

bad is bad. And listen, I'll segue back to Uncle Steve. Uncle Steve would always say whenever he

took off, whenever he flew, he knew the plane was in the best possible condition because

big or small, he knew the problems were solved so he could face any condition that he put it in.

And I think you probably want that with your vehicle. If you're in Wisconsin, if you're traveling

distance, if you're out in any kind of weather, there's nothing like being in a warm, safe,

reliable vehicle in bad weather knowing you're gonna, you know, the odds of you getting there

have increased because you've done your maintenance and you've taken good care and due diligence

of the vehicle. Yeah. All right, sir. Okay. Thank you very much. I love your program and I

appreciate your help, Ron. Thank you, sir. Anytime. Happy to be here for you. 855-560-9900.

I'm Ron Anani in the car doctor. I'll be back right after this.

The social media trend that's landing some Gen Zers in jail.

The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired. I'm going to take

Francesco off the network entirely. The massive TikTok boycott against Target that makes no actual

sense. I will continue getting stuff from Target and I will continue to not pay for it.

And the MAGA influencers whose trip to the White House ended in embarrassment.

So refreshing to have the press secretary after the last few years who's both intelligent and

articulate. You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can

keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online, in media,

and in politics with the Brad versus everyone podcast hosted by me, Brad Palumbo. Every day

of the week, I bring you on a wild ride who the most delulu takes on the internet criticizing

the extremes of both sides from an independent perspective. Join in on the insanity and listen

to the Brad versus everyone podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get

your podcasts. Like if we're on the air here and I literally have my contract here and I'm looking

at, you know, as soon as I sign this, I'm going to get a seven figure check. I'll told them I won't

be working here in two weeks from the underground clubs that shape global music to the pastors

and creatives who built the cultural empire. The Atlanta ears podcast uncovers the stories behind

one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's a

city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise featuring

conversations with Ludacris, Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ drama, and more. The full series

is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything like what was going on

in the city as far as like, you know, seeing so many young black affluent creatives in all walks

of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said, this is your assignment.

And that's like how you know, like, okay, are you from Atlanta for real? I ain't got to say too

much. I'm a great baby. Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the I heart radio Apple podcast or wherever

you get your podcasts. Greatness doesn't just show up. It's built one shot, one choice, one moment

at a time from NBA champion, Stephen Curry comes shot ready, a powerful never before seen look at

the mindset that changed the game. I fell in love with the grind. You have to find joy in the work

you do when no one else is around. Success is not an accident. I'm passing the ball to you.

Let's go. Steph Curry redefined basketball. Now he's rewriting what it means to succeed. Shot Ready

isn't just a memoir. It's a playbook for anyone chasing their potential, discover stories, strategies,

and over 100 never before seen photos. Order shot ready now at stephencurrybook.com.

Don't miss Stephen Curry's New York Times bestseller shot ready available now.

Hey there, Ron and Amy in the car doctor 855-560-9900. Let's go to Stephen in Las Vegas.

And see what's going on here. Stephen, welcome to the car doctor, sir. How can I help?

Yeah, the question I have is it's kind of general question. When do you decide to keep a car that's

like 10 years old, 75,000 miles, Honda Core DXL B6. More warranty claims. I went for the HondaCare

extended warranty on the advice of my service advisor. He said, this isn't the Honda you had

before. This is you got computer screens, you got backup cameras, get the HondaCare.

Every year I've had a claim. I had a tool converter here, rear struts, starter motor.

And now I got like this. The warranty's passed. I'm impeccably maintaining the car. It's expensive

doing the maintenance at the dealership. They want you to break fluid change every 15,000,

draining filled with transmission every 30, coolant. I do the oil every six months,

filters, everything. But they told me I had a whining humming sound in drive. When I'm stopped

at a light, I put the stereo on to go over it. And I brought it into the dealer. They wanted

to charge me 250 a diagnosed. So they said, no, no, no. I did my timing belt. I went to check

the belts, the bullies, whatever breaks. Okay. So they looked at it and said, most likely it's

the motor mounts. Although I'm not getting any vibration, the motor mounts are 2,000. So it's

just so expensive to keep cars today. It's not like the old days is the time, you know.

So have you priced out a replacement vehicle? Yeah, it's substantially more. But yeah,

but you know, you're starting with a new, why would buy new and you know, my comparison,

my wife has a Lexus and we've had no problems with it at all. Nothing, just the oil changes.

Right. Yeah. Well, I think the Lexus is a better vehicle to be fair. But to get into a Lexus today,

something new, something comparable to an Accord, it's every bit of 45 to 50 grand.

Correct. Right. So, you know, it's, so think of it like this, Steven. Can you afford to buy

another vehicle? Sure. All right. Is there something out there that floats your boat that's

going to make you giggle when you drive it? Yeah, I like the ES350. Yeah, they're a nice car, right?

Yeah, it's a nice car. We're sure the gas model. It's just that, you know, the Hondas, I don't

know what's, what's gone on with the four cylinders seem bulletproof, but the six cylinders seem

troublesome. I'll tell you, I'll tell you what, and the four cylinders aren't what they once were

either. Listen, I don't think any car out there is what it once was, right? Honda Civics, the

little Honda Civics, the four cylinders, 15, 16s, the 18s, head gasket issues, five grand to do head

gaskets on Hondas. It's crazy numbers. And the things you're talking about as far as brake fluid

and some of the other fluids, that's just normal maintenance now. That's what vehicles require.

That's what they want you to do. Correct. You know, when do you get rid of, when do you get rid

of a vehicle? I think you're there. I think you got your money's, I think you got your money's worth

out of it. You got 10 going on 11 years out of it. It sounds like it sounds like you put minimal

out of pocket, right? I think you did okay. It's just... Well, you know, it's funny. It needs,

they told me, you're looking at, they gave me like the good debate, the ugly, the dealership. They

told me that, you know, you're looking at doing your plugs now, it's 10 years old. You don't want

the plugs to seal up on you. We have to break them to get them out. 950 labor and parts to do,

plugs, because they got to take the motor apart to get at the plugs. And then once I told another

mechanic, not associated with the dealer about the problem with the torque converter seal,

went a couple of years ago and the drive axle had a leak. He said that could be the beginning of your

years, the sound you're hearing could be the torque converter and that's a three to five

thousand dollars. Right. It could be the beginning of a trans failure. And my point is, here we are

again, right? It's, we're 10 years old. Listen, the numbers don't lie, right? After a vehicle is

three years old. It's funny. I started this hour talking about this and I'm going to end the hour

here. You know, after the vehicle is three years old, it's $150 to $175 a month maintenance.

You know, the price of the car is the cost of admission. The maintenance you do after that,

it's just, it depends on the vehicle and it depends on the conditions. It sounds like your

particular Honda had a higher than average need, right? Like it needed more. Now, I'm not going

to sit here and overlook the fact also it had extended Honda care. There might be things there

that a garage might go, hey, you know what, your struts are a little noisy. It's got a little bit

of an oil seep. It's a lot of money to fix. Don't worry about it. It's not going to stop the car.

And you might have, you might have been okay with that. But, you know, this is, listen,

this is like medical insurance, right? All of a sudden we've got medical insurance. Let's run

all the tests. What the heck? Why not? You know, but if it was me at this point, you got 11 years

out of it, you've had minimal expense. I'd be out looking at another Lexus and, you know, enjoy it

and get used to the idea. Yeah, cars are expensive. So is maintenance. So you got to balance it and

decide which way you want to go. I appreciate the call, Steven, and enjoy your new car. Just

you're down to what color? I'm Ron Ananey in the car doctor. I'll be back right after this.

And the MAGA influencers whose trip to the White House ended in embarrassment.

So refreshing to have the press secretary after the last few years who's both intelligent and

articulate. You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep

up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online, in media,

and in politics with the Brad versus everyone podcast hosted by me, Brad Palumbo. Every day

of the week, I bring you on a wild ride who the most delulu takes on the internet criticizing the

extremes of both sides from an independent perspective. Join in on the insanity and listen

to the Brad versus everyone podcast on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get

your podcasts. Like if we're on the air here and I literally have my contract here and I'm looking

at, you know, as soon as I sign this, I'm going to get a seven figure check. I'll told them I

won't be working here in two weeks from the underground clubs that shaped global music to

the pastors and creatives who built the cultural empire. The Atlanta ears podcast uncovers the

stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is

that it's a city of hustlers man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise

featuring conversations with Ludacris, Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ Drama, and more.

The full series is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything

like what was going on in the city as far as like, you know, seeing so many young black

affluent creatives in all walks of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing.

And God said, this is your assignment. And that's like how you know, like, okay, are you from Atlanta

for real? I ain't got to say too much. I'm a great baby. Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the iHeart

radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Greatness doesn't just show up.

It's built one shot, one choice, one moment at a time. From NBA champion Stephen Curry comes shot

ready, a powerful never before seen look at the mindset that changed the game.

I fell in love with the grind. You have to find joy in the work you do when no one else is around.

Success is not an accident. I'm passing the ball to you. Let's go.

Steph Curry redefined basketball. Now he's rewriting what it means to succeed. Shot ready

isn't just a memoir. It's a playbook for anyone chasing their potential, discover stories, strategies,

and over 100 never before seen photos. Order shot ready now at stephencurrybook.com.

Don't miss Stephen Curry's New York Times bestseller shot ready available now.

I think the decision about when you get rid of a vehicle, I think there's a lot of factors that

have to go into it and obviously cost financial, right? What sort of maintenance have you done

to that vehicle has to come into it because I think you have to be realistic. You really do.

I was listening to Stephen from Vegas there and hearing him talk about the cost of things,

but all those fluids he was talking about are just normal maintenance and brake fluid. Boy,

we haven't talked about this in a while, but brake fluid is so critical now. There are

different levels of brake fluid. There's dot four. There's dot four with a different viscosity.

They're talking about different thicknesses of brake fluid. There's all sorts of specific

brake fluids that have very rigorous demands placed on them and flushing of brake fluid,

maintenance of brake fluid is such a critical task today that is taken for granted. I get it.

A lot of you come from a time when we didn't do any of this,

but the vehicle is so different today. The needs of the vehicle are so different today.

I think you get rid of the vehicle when your mechanic says, hey, it's got rust, it's got rot,

it can't be fixed, but if you really like the vehicle, whether you can afford to replace it or

not, drive it. If you have confidence in your mechanic, if you're sure they can fix it, if you're

sure they can keep you on the road, if not, life's too short, ask yourself what color,

move on, find something else. Till the next time, I'm Ron Anani and the car doctor. Good

mechanics aren't expensive. They're priceless. See ya.

From NBA champions, Steph Curry comes Shot Ready, a powerful, never-before-seen look at the mindset

that changed the game. I fell in love with the grind. You have to find joy in the work you do

when no one else is around. Success is not an accident. I'm passing the ball to you. Let's go.

Steph Curry redefined basketball. Now he's rewriting what it means to succeed. Shot Ready

isn't just a memoir. It's a playbook for anyone chasing their potential, discover stories,

strategies, and over 100 never-before-seen photos. Order Shot Ready now at stepincurrybook.com.

Don't miss Steph Curry's New York Times bestseller, Shot Ready, available now.

Social media trend is landing some Gen Zers in jail. The progressive media darling whose

public meltdown got her fired and the massive TikTok boycott against Target that actually

makes no sense. You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media,

but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things

happening online, in media, and in politics with the Brad vs. Everyone podcast. Listen

to the Brad vs. Everyone podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcasts. Whenever I got through the window, I tried to pick them up and his body was stiff.

I'm Ben Westoff, and this is The Peacemaker, a true crime podcast about a string of mysterious

suicides at a Missouri University and the fraternity brother tied to them all, Brandon Grossheim.

The lawsuit says Grossheim was one of the last people to see each victim before their death.

Was he profoundly unlucky or was something much darker at play? Listen to The Peacemaker podcast

on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I didn't really have an interest in being on air. I kind of was up there to just try and

infiltrate the building from the underground clubs that shape global music to the pastors

and creatives who built the cultural empire. The Atlanta Ears podcast uncovers the stories

behind one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's

a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise, featuring

conversations with Ludacris, Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ Drama, and more.

The full series is available to listen to now. Listen to Atlanta Ears on the iHeart Radio app,

Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.

0:00

35:53

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - January 3, 2026 - Hour 1 - When Do You Sell The Plow Truck?

oil filter adapter housing

battery cable

clean contact

battery terminal

state of charge

Kia

battery charge rate sensor

wiring harness

oil changes

Buick LaCrosse

throttle position sensor

drive-by-wire

throttle body

limp mode

Ford

GM

accelerator pedal sensor

strut tower

Subaru Forester

drivetrain

mechanic's stethoscope

wheel bearings

rear differential

Subaru

Dorman

air hammer

salt belt state

Honda Civics

head gasket

transmission failure

extended Honda Care

struts

Lexus

About this episode

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