Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - March 28, 2026 - Hour 1 - A $3 Part, a $5,000 Fix & The Moving Target of Auto Repair
Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - March 28, 2026 - Hour 1 - A $3 Part, a $5,000 Fix & The Moving Target of Auto Repair
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Company
eBay
eBay is a website where people sell things to each other. Here, it’s being used as a place to find car parts for repairs and rebuilds.
Term
freeze out plug
A freeze-out plug is a small metal piece pressed into the side of an engine block. It helps seal a hole in the engine so coolant/oil doesn’t leak out. If it starts leaking, it may be replaced.
Concept
casting sand
When an engine block is made, manufacturers use sand molds to create the inside passages. After the metal is poured and the block is formed, that sand has to be removed, and the holes left behind are sealed with plugs.
Term
screw in
Instead of being pressed in, some plugs are screwed into the engine block. That can make them easier to service and help them seal properly.
Brand
GM dealer
A GM dealer is an official General Motors service and parts shop. The point here is that the speaker tried to get a specific engine plug through the dealer.
Term
swing an engine
“Swing an engine” means the shop plans to replace the whole engine instead of fixing one small part. It’s usually done when the exact repair parts are missing or too hard to source.
Company
Pioneer Automotive
They’re saying Pioneer Automotive sells the part they need. Instead of relying on a dealership, you can often find the right engine part from specialty aftermarket companies.
Part
oil pan
The oil pan is the part at the bottom of the engine that holds the engine oil. If it leaks or gets damaged, the engine can lose oil, so it may need replacing.
Term
micrometer
A micrometer is a tool for measuring very small distances very precisely. Here, it’s used to check the plug size so it will fit and seal correctly.
Concept
damaged in shipping
Sometimes parts get bent or damaged while they’re being shipped. If that happens, the part might not fit correctly on the car, which can cause leaks or other problems. Checking the part before installing it can save a lot of trouble.
Company
snap-on Triton
Snap-on Triton is a professional computer tool a mechanic plugs into the car. It helps read trouble codes and run tests to see what’s wrong.
Company
Opus
Opus is a diagnostic tool the mechanic uses to talk to the car’s computer. In this case, it’s described as being able to access manufacturer software and run official-style tests.
Term
scan tool
A scan tool is a device that plugs into the car and reads what the computer is seeing. It helps the mechanic confirm what’s wrong and whether the fix actually worked.
Term
key fob
A key fob is the remote you use to lock and unlock your car. If its battery is weak or it’s not working right, the car can think something is wrong and trigger the alarm.
Term
door latch
The door latch is what actually holds the door shut. If it’s worn out or not reporting correctly, the car may think the door isn’t closed, and that can trigger the alarm.
Term
immobilizer module
The immobilizer is the car’s anti-theft system. If it doesn’t recognize the key, the car may refuse to start.
Term
fault code
A fault code is like an error message stored in the car. It helps point to what part or system is causing the problem.
Concept
record codes before I disconnect anything
Before unplugging anything, the mechanic writes down the error codes. That way, if unplugging clears the errors, you still have a record of what the car reported first.
Term
alarm will no longer set
“Will no longer set” means the alarm won’t turn on. During troubleshooting, that helps confirm which part is connected to the alarm problem.
Term
parasitic draw test
This test checks if your car is secretly using power even when it’s off. If it’s pulling too much current, it can drain the battery.
Term
alarm should no longer go off
“Go off” means the alarm actually starts screaming or alerting. They’re saying the goal is to stop false alarms, not just to change whether it arms.
Term
hood latch
The hood latch is the mechanical latch that secures the hood, and many cars also have an electrical switch that tells the alarm/anti-theft system whether the hood is properly closed. If the latch switch or wiring fails, the alarm can behave incorrectly or trigger unexpectedly.
Term
remote start
Remote start lets you start the car without getting in. The speaker is saying that even with the hood latch disconnected, the car should still be able to remote start.
Term
wiring harness
Think of it like the car’s electrical “cable bundle.” If it’s damaged, parts of the car may act up or stop working until the wiring issue is fixed.
Term
antifreeze
Antifreeze is part of the car’s cooling system. It keeps the engine from freezing in cold weather and helps protect against corrosion.
Concept
ready availability of parts
“Ready availability of parts” means how quickly replacement components can be sourced. When parts are hard to find, repairs take longer and may cost more due to delays, special ordering, or higher pricing.
Company
Poshmark
Poshmark is a website/app where people sell clothes to each other. They also check certain expensive items to help you feel more confident you’re getting what’s advertised.
Company
KNIX
KNIX is the company making the bra they’re recommending. They’re saying it’s wireless and comfortable.
Term
wireless bra
A wireless bra doesn’t have the stiff wire under the cups. The pitch is that it’s more comfortable while still giving support.
Part
checked the oil
Checking the oil means making sure your engine has the right amount of clean oil. If it’s low, the engine can wear out faster.
Term
gas shortage
A gas shortage means there wasn’t enough fuel for everyone. People had to wait longer or find fuel at certain times, and that affected how cars were used and serviced.
Concept
driving instructor
A driving instructor is someone trained to teach people how to drive. The idea here is that parents’ advice doesn’t always get through, but a professional can teach safer habits in a way that actually sticks.
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Now, start your engines.
The car doctor is in the garage
and ready to take your call.
Boy, where do we start, right?
What a week at the shop.
Just all good stuff, all interesting stuff,
all entertaining stuff.
I could tell you the story.
I'm gonna start here with this story.
You know, we talked last week.
Remember I told you about Danny broke down in his van
on Route 208 North in New Jersey.
The freeze out plug fell out.
Well, I did get replacement freeze out plugs.
Well, actually what happened was,
a friend of this show and a friend of the shop,
Ron Ross, our preeminent engine builder,
former owner of Simon Eck Performance,
now sort of semi-retired,
stopped by the shop for lunch on Monday,
and we were talking about this.
And I said, shouldn't the freeze out plug
have 10 to 15,000 crush?
Remember I said it felt like the freeze out plug
went in too easy.
The freeze out plug, in case you don't know,
is that metal disc or puck on the side of the engine block
that they push in.
Now, I learned a little bit of trivia,
and I kinda remembered this from way back when,
but Ron sort of tickled the memory
and brought it to surface.
They're really not freeze out plugs.
Those little metal pucks on the side of the block
are also originally there as core plugs.
And I remember that early on,
and when I first started this business,
we referred to them as core plugs,
and then they became freeze out plugs.
I'm not sure where the transition or why,
but it was the idea that they had a core plug,
that hole in the side of the block,
is to remove the casting sand
when they manufacture the block.
When it's first put together molten, poured, right,
cast iron and so forth,
it, you know, they would put those plugs,
press them in and good to go.
Interesting trivia, Ron explained to me,
he said now on aluminum blocks,
like all the rare exotic race motors and GML-88s
and or the ZL-1, the aluminum block motors,
the core plugs were screw in.
I never knew that, that's kinda fascinating, right?
He said he's more likely to see a screw in,
you know, in the race department that he's in,
than a push in.
But a freeze out plug, core plug,
whatever you wanna call it,
should have 10,000s of crush.
So I said, well, let's find out where we can get them.
Now here's the funny part,
I don't know if this is funny,
maybe this is tragic,
maybe this is more indicative of what we've come to.
I called up my local GM dealer,
I've got a great relationship with Dennis.
I've been talking to Dennis,
my parts guy for the better part of 40 years.
I said, Dennis, you know, just for giggles,
if I wanna order a freeze out plug,
cause I tried the aftermarket,
the aftermarket doesn't have anything made in USA,
available at the auto parts level.
I said, if I wanted to order a freeze out plug
for a small block General Motors Chevrolet motor,
can you get me one?
And he went through the listings,
da-da-da-da-da, nope, obsolete,
we don't sell them anymore.
I said, well, what would happen if a customer came in
and they wanted a freeze out plug?
He said, first of all,
if a customer came in with a car that old, fair point.
He said, we probably wouldn't work on it.
I don't know if we have anybody here
that's got the ability to work on something from,
cause you gotta consider the small block Chevy
was last put into GM cars going back into the 90s.
That's a while ago, right?
But he said, would it be worth it?
He said, we would be more inclined to swing an engine
than put a freeze out plug in something.
And that sort of blew my mind
because instead of putting in the $3 freeze out plug,
we're gonna put in a $5,000 engine.
But of course, then Dennis made the comment.
He goes, I don't even know if we have guys here
that have the skill set to put a freeze out plug
in something, which bothered me also,
but I've gotta think there are guys talented enough
in dealerships to do freeze out plugs.
They're not that difficult,
but maybe they don't do them as much as they did anymore.
And it made me realize the changing face of the industry.
It's just this industry marches on.
Technology pushes us forward further and further,
faster and faster each and every week.
The things that you did yesterday,
you may not do tomorrow.
And it just goes on and on and on.
So I said to Ron, I hung up the phone,
I turned to Mr. Ross and I said,
so where would I get a freeze out plug made in USA
that could work on a small block Chevy?
If you were still building engines
at Simon Egg Performance, what would you do?
He says, I would order it from Pioneer Automotive, aha.
So now we're getting to the,
we look up Pioneer Automotive, we go out online.
What a neat company.
I ordered an oil pan.
I don't need one, but I just wanted to have one.
I ordered a brand new oil pan for a small block Chevy.
They're still stamping them.
I ordered a set of freeze out plugs.
I ordered a couple of motor mounts,
because back in the day, those 70s and 80s GM cars,
the motor mounts were all the same,
the oil pans were all the same,
the freeze out plugs were all the same.
So I have, I'm just buying inventory for all my cars now
that I can just put it on the shelf.
I'll use it sooner or later eventually.
Freeze out plug came, took it out of the wrapper
and measured it.
Now, an inch and five eighths freeze out plug,
if you measure it with a micrometer,
should measure 1.625,
but you need about 10,000s, 10 to 15,000s
of crush on top of that.
So 1.640 would be a good number.
And sure enough, they measured 1.640,
gave one to Danny, he took it home that night.
He said, boy, it was really hard getting that in.
I said, right, that's how a freeze out plug is supposed to,
it's supposed to be tight going in.
It's supposed to be hard that you kind of swing
and pop it a couple of times with a two pound sledge.
And I knew that, I know now and I knew then
that that van is fixed.
But what an eye-opening experience.
And it was a pleasure, right?
Pioneer automotive parts, they say, right, made in USA.
Well, except for the oil pan.
The oil pan was made in Taiwan,
which was a little disappointing,
but it was very heavy.
It wasn't a cheap, tinny oil pan.
And except for the fact that one of the rails
had a slight bend to it, it got damaged in shipping,
which I can straighten on a block on the vise,
on the bench, that'll be no problem.
But just kind of refreshing to see
that some stuff is still out there.
Then we can go and talk about,
well, we should talk about this real quick.
So then one of the other things I wanted to tell you
from this week is that we had a 20 Honda, an Odyssey,
that had purge valve fall.
And it was sort of straightforward.
It came up as a purge valve inaccurate flow problem,
diagnosed it, found the bulletin from Honda
that talked about they had a series of purge valves
that were made improperly, at least they owned up to it.
And it was do this test, do this test,
and then replace the purge valve.
So I did this, this, yeah, the valve is bad,
put a valve in it.
The last part of that test is,
they want you to run a system test.
They want you to check the part that you put in
and verify that the system is repaired.
Okay, I can do that.
I fire up my snap-on Triton, my snap-on scan tool,
and I run the test.
And it comes up with possible restriction in line
between canister and tank.
And I'm thinking, what does possible mean?
And how did I go from having a bad purge valve,
the problem at the other end of the system
to a problem back at the other,
at the vent valve, at the canister?
I said, I wonder if the snap-on scan tool,
because I've had this issue with snap-on in the last year
that it seems like their software is buggy,
for lack of a way to say it.
So I broke out my Opus.
Opus scan tool, all right, Opus IVS, as we call it,
has the ability to download factory software,
and I called up Opus.
I had them install the Honda HDS tool on my scan tool
and run the test.
Car passed with flying colors.
Cars out there four days, cars fixed.
There's a problem in this industry
that when you get through with the repair
and you're trying to verify, is there anything else?
Are you done with this vehicle?
Is it completely fixed?
Because customers generally want to know, hey, is it fixed?
And you want to hand them back the keys and go,
yes, it is.
Not, well, my snap-on scan tool said this,
and my hotel scan tool said that,
although in old fairness,
I didn't try my hotel on this car.
I didn't have the time.
I was running out of day.
You know, you want to know why repair shops have a hard time.
You want to know why repair shops have more than one scan tool
because there isn't a tool out there that does everything.
Well, except for an Opus, an Opus IVS,
because I have the ability to download factory software
and put the same tool that the dealer has on,
onto that tool and do the same test
with the same degree of accuracy.
You know, the moral to the story is this week
between freeze-out plugs that don't exist anymore
and are made undersized and incorrectly
to scan tools that don't have proper software on them
that require factory-level diagnostics.
The moral to the story is it's always a moving target.
It's a bullseye that seems to swirl around
and swirl around that you're always trying to hit.
And that's what keeps you on your toes and keeps you on edge.
855-560-9900.
I'm Ronan Aeney in the car doctor.
Come on back, let's open up the phone lines and talk cars.
I'll be here.
We're lost.
It feels like we're going round in circles.
I'm going to ask that man for directions.
Hi there, we're trying to get to the state fairgrounds.
Well, you're going to take a left
at the old oak tree at this here road.
Nah, I'm just kidding.
Let me get my phone out.
How is there signal out here?
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Exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
See T-Mobile.com for details.
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Hey, let's open up the phone lines right away at 855-560-990-0.
Let's go over and talk to Barbara in Pennsylvania.
Barbara, welcome to the car doctor.
How can I help?
Hi, thank you.
You're welcome.
I'll tell you what the problem is
and what I know and what I've done so far.
Okay.
And then maybe you can respond to that.
Sure.
Last November, I bought a car.
I bought from a relative 2009 Toyota Venza.
It had always been well-maintained.
Anything that needed to be done to it was done.
Prior to her, it was always in a garage when she owned it.
It is no longer in a garage.
Now that I own it, that's a key factor perhaps.
But she also, before I bought it, put new batteries.
She bought the batteries and had her mechanics put them in the key fob.
So what's happening is the alarm system,
when I electronically lock the car,
is going off intermittently.
I can find no pattern in weather,
temperature, moisture level, et cetera.
One time at 3 a.m.
and then again, you know, an hour later,
one time I was not even at home and my neighbor texted me.
I was at a theater.
The key fobs were at home.
No one was near them.
And the alarm was going off.
So I did look online and saw that others are having this problem
with even newer cars and that there may be several causes.
Perhaps an old key fob, a weak battery, a hood latch,
defective hood latch was one of them or dirty.
There were several things.
I also called the dealership where she bought it
and talked to the service manager.
He didn't seem to be familiar with this type of problem at all.
I also asked the, she had taken up for several years
to some people who worked at a dealership
and have an independent shop where they service a lot of Toyota's.
When I asked one of the partners there if he was familiar with it,
he said it was a foreign thing to him.
He had not heard this prior.
So what I've been doing is just manually locking the three doors
except the driver's side and not just,
when I go to a bank or a store or something,
I lock it with the key fob or the door lock.
Anyway, where can I start?
I can relate to this Barbara.
My 97 Ranger, not the hijacked the conversation completely,
but my 97 Ranger was doing the same thing to me
where if I power lock it, it sets the alarm.
And if I open the truck, it goes off.
I'm having a problem where I can't find parts.
I need a door latch, but that's a different story.
So I can relate to this problem 100%.
So, and it's frustrating, right?
It either goes off.
In my case, it goes off as I'm getting into the car.
People look at me, he's stealing that truck
and I'm like, who would steal this truck, right?
Like, you know, it's a 97.
It's 30 years old. Cut it out.
Where I would go, you have a regular,
you have a local mechanic you can talk to,
a regular guy you've been dealing with.
Yes.
Well, not with this car,
but with my almost previous car.
Yes, I have one.
So let's go do a code scan.
All right.
But I want to scan every module on the car.
All right.
I want to look at, I want to look in particular
at the immobilizer module, which is the anti-theft.
All right.
I want to look to see if there's perhaps
a B as in Baker 2795,
a B as in Baker 2799 fault code stored.
I'm looking to see is there's something indicative
of which circuit is at fault.
All right.
You know, it's not uncommon for these cars
to have bad hood latches.
And I want to record codes before I disconnect anything.
And then as a test,
I want to disconnect the hood latch,
the electrical portion.
The alarm will no longer set.
And then I just want them to do a draw test.
So it's asking them to do a parasitic draw test
where he's just going to, you know,
and this is probably an hour's worth of shop time,
but it's well, it's well, it's time well spent
because it's going to get us some information.
Right.
And we're going to look to see,
make sure we don't have an excessive draw test.
For example, you know, we disconnect the hood latch,
even with the hood latch connected,
but disconnect the hood latch.
Nothing stays awake beyond that hour.
We don't have more than a 50 milliamp draw.
We should see it fall below that.
And if that's the case, drive the car.
Does the alarm still arm?
Well, I'm sorry.
The alarm will no longer arm,
but the alarm should no longer go off.
Okay.
If the alarm no longer goes off,
depending upon what fault codes you have,
you probably have a bad hood latch.
All right.
But now, but now keep this in mind.
We're disabling the hood latch because it's the easiest thing to get to.
Right.
The fact that it no longer goes off is just because it doesn't see the hood latch anymore.
So once we can prove that the system is operating as intended,
no hood latch, it won't arm, et cetera, et cetera.
You know, then we can go and maybe run some tests on that hood latch
or find out what current pricing is and perhaps replace it.
You know, if you don't want an alarm system on a 16 year old vehicle,
leave the hood latch disconnected.
If there's no parasitic draw,
I know of any, I know of nothing outside any fault that'll occur
as long as remote start still functions, which it should,
then, you know, leave it as is.
I don't have a remote start on this part.
Even better.
Even better.
All right.
And then, you know, you'll be fine.
And it's just, it's just the quickest, easiest course of action.
This is a very common fault.
The fact that people are saying they don't, they don't have it
or they haven't seen it as a commonality.
I don't get that, but I always say auto repairs are regional phenomena
that occurs in this country that, you know, what's important to me
in New Jersey is different than Pennsylvania, Florida, California,
and so on.
So, but, you know, if you can have it done in those steps
and ultimately end up disconnecting the hood latch
and the problem goes away, you're good.
Okay.
All right.
Yes.
And it, as I said, I, I don't know, I would have to wait
because for two, two weeks, it wouldn't go off
and then it would go off.
And then for another week, it wouldn't go off.
And then, yeah.
So, right.
So, so, but if, if we prove there's no parasitic draw,
so the battery won't die and we, we have the fault codes recorded
because when he, when he takes this, you know, when he takes this,
you know, test and he runs diagnostics and he records codes,
he's going to store it somewhere either on paper or up in the cloud
because he's a great mechanic, right?
He's going to have that for future reference.
And, you know, it won't matter.
Listen, you can leave that hood latch disconnected
for the next six years.
And if you never hear the alarm again, are you going to be happy?
Yes.
Problem solved.
Right.
Thank you.
You're very welcome.
You're very welcome.
You're very welcome.
Thank you.
Yeah, listen, the ultimate is, is my car fixed?
Yeah, it's fixed.
Here's the keys.
You know, it's, it's, if we solve the problem, we solve the problem,
but there's nothing wrong with just disconnecting the alarm on the older vehicle.
Not in my opinion.
855-560-9900, Ronan A. Neyney, the car doctor coming back right after this.
We're lost.
It feels like we're going round in circles.
I'm going to ask that man for directions.
Hi there.
We're trying to get to the state fairgrounds.
Well, you're going to take a left at the old oak tree at this here road.
No, I'm just kidding.
Let me get my phone out.
How is there signal out here?
T-Mobile and U.S. cellular are coming together, so the network out here is huge.
We get the same great signal as the city, saving a boatload with benefits.
And there's a five-year price guarantee too.
Okay, here's the turn.
Actually, can you pull up the way to a T-Mobile store?
America's best network just got bigger.
Switch to T-Mobile today and get built-in benefits the other guys leave out,
plus our five-year price guarantee.
And now, T-Mobile is available in a U.S. cellular store near you.
Best mobile network based on analysis by Oklo of Speedtest Intelligence Data,
second half of 2025.
Bigger network.
The combination of T-Mobile's and U.S. cellular's network footprints
will enhance the T-Mobile network's coverage.
Price guarantee on talk text and data.
Exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
See T-Mobile.com for details.
Let's talk personal style.
Are you a classic jeans and T-minimalist?
A Louis Vuitton lover?
Or do you like a little bit of both depending on the vibe?
Whatever your fashion mood, you can find what feels like you on Poshmark.
With millions of new and pre-loved pieces,
Poshmark is your one-stop style destination.
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Hey, it's Shelley Rome.
So working late nights on the radio
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From the city street
to the open road tonight
if your right needs help
wrong will keep you rolling right
Yeah, he's a car doctor
Car advisor
Hey, let's get on over and talk to Pat.
Welcome back everybody, 855-5600-9900.
Pat Illinois, what's going on?
Hey, Ron, thank you for taking my call.
You're welcome.
My call is not really about car maintenance.
It's really about the expense of buying cars.
Used or new.
I tell you what, I'm going to be 74.
I have never borrowed money for a car.
I've always paid cash.
My first car was, we had to graduate from high school.
That was my mom and dad's rule.
We had to buy our own car, buy our own shorts, buy our own gas.
But I currently drive a 2009 Pontiac Torn.
And I got up to the Obama's Cash for Conquers program.
I'm sure you remember that.
Oh, sure.
And I had a, at the time when I traded a 1994 Plymouth Voyager
standard size, I take care of my cars.
I drive them until the wheels fall off.
And I paid $6,000 for it, had it for 10 years.
And I got $8,300 for it when I bought the new Pontiac Torn.
Otherwise, I would never have bought a new car.
But I take care of them.
And yeah, maintenance is a routine.
But I've never had a serious problem with it.
I just had my mechanic that I've had for years do a little undercarriage
inspection for me.
He said, I've never seen such a plan to encourage a 7-year-old car.
But it just kind of amazes me how people's priorities are on spinning
when it comes to buying automobiles.
I know I've heard stories of people that are just car poor.
They're spending a fortune on transportation.
And I worked with a guy that had a 2006, 14 or 16 GMC 4x4.
And I thought it was a good looking truck.
And it needed $4,000 with the various work, not just one thing.
And rather than spending poor grand and getting that car maintained by a
good mechanic and driving it for, you know, who knows how many more years.
He went out and spent 80 grand on a new GMC truck.
And then put another $6,000 in high performance stuff on it.
It tells me he works two jobs.
He doesn't have any money.
And he'll never be able to retire.
And he sets money aside every month for maintenance purposes.
And I said, why didn't you do that for your older truck and just keep it?
But it just gets me how people will spend money on automobiles.
And you are news.
And rather than just buying a good used car, having it certified by a
good mechanic and just taking care of it, it's always, in my opinion, a better
way of spending money for good transportation.
You know what?
You know what slows it down, no, Pat?
You know what slows down the process?
And you're not wrong.
There's a lot of truth in what you're saying.
What I think slows it down is the more technology the newer cars have,
the more focused the car companies become on the newer cars.
Maintenance of parts, inventory of parts, manufacturer of replacement parts,
dealing with problems under warranty that they didn't expect.
And now they've got to, you know, they've got to support that financially.
They don't support maintaining parts in the pipeline for the older vehicles
as much anymore.
I'm finding a huge dissolution of parts.
They're just disappearing every day.
We lose more and more and more.
And you're right.
OK, 80,000 for a pickup truck isn't a lot of money anymore.
Well, and they differentiate 20% as soon as you drive them up a lot.
60% in five years.
That's $48,000 down the drain.
Well, because, you know, we're having a hard time doing math, I think, Pat.
I think that's part of the problem.
All right.
You know, it's, but is it worth it?
Listen, I'll tell you a quick story.
We had a customer this week.
He'd been to three other places.
Three other shops had put a combined $7,300 into this 11 Jeep.
Still not fixed.
Three years later, still not fixed.
Had a fault code 2245.
It started out with a P0430.
They fixed the cat.
They did some other things.
That was still there.
They did this.
They did this.
Finally, they got that solved.
Then it developed a 2245, which is an oxygen sensor circuit fault on the left bank, on the bank one circuit.
And they tried this and they tried that and so on and so forth.
And it came into my door.
Super nice guy.
But it's first words to me where I've got this problem and I don't want to spend any money.
And, you know, what do I do with that?
You know, it's, it's, we've already spent seven grand to resolve some problems, maybe not the problem.
And we're coming in, you know, you're coming into a doctor and you're saying, Hey, I'm having a heart attack, but I don't want to spend any money, but you got to fix it.
It's, it's, it's, it's the impracticality of it.
We ended up not really fixing that vehicle.
I looked it over.
We serviced it.
I told them, you know, I did, I did some research.
I charged them part of a diagnostic hour.
I felt bad for the guy and I told them, I said, you know, your fault is likely in the wiring harness and I proved why.
Okay.
And my concern with that vehicle, because see, there's always a, there's always a different side of the coin.
My concern with that vehicle is it's a Jeep.
When I called my Jeep dealer three weeks ago and I ordered antifreeze for the shop because we stocked Chrysler coolant.
We stock a lot of a week fluids and coolants at the shop from various manufacturers.
When the dealer tells me, I've got two gallons of Chrysler coolant on the shelf.
I'll sell you one gallon.
I'm keeping one.
You can have one.
And I said, why do you only have two gallons?
Because we can't get any from Chrysler because they don't have any.
You know, so sometimes you got to look at the repair and say, is, you know, am I making the person or letting the person spend money on a vehicle that they're not going to get their dollar value out of because we're chasing parts.
You're driving a Pontiac.
God bless you.
I think there are great cars, but finding finding parts has got to be a problem at some point.
And the fact that it's older makes it a little easier because it's less electronic centric.
It's less electronic dependent, but a newer vehicle, a seven year old vehicle.
If you need a computer module and you can't get it, what do you do?
I don't know.
You know, you're stuck.
I have an old friend that works on cars and he used to drag race cars in the area.
If it's 1978 or newer, no, newer than 1978, he won't work on it.
Well, you know, and listen, there's a lot of guys like that.
And God bless him because we need the old school guys to do the mechanical stuff.
But I, you know what, you're not wrong.
I'll end the conversation here for today and you're always welcome to come back.
We can continue this when I first started out in the gas station as a kid at 16.
And I've told this story before Billy taught me, you know, I started a pumped gas and, you know, Ron, you're going to do a water pump.
And I did a water pump on a small block Chevy and an impala, a small block Chevy water pump in 1974.
No, 73.
All right.
1973 water pump thermostat coolant and oil change was under 250 bucks.
Yeah.
But the price of the car was three grand.
Yeah.
Right.
You know, it was like $2,800.
So, you know, what's the point of perspective?
Listen, I, you know, we had that 92 Buick Roadmaster cars, 30 something years old now.
You know, this month we put $6,800 in it.
Front end engine work, water pump, alternators, just out of control.
And she said, I can't buy this car for six or seven grand.
I'm going to get to a trade-off at some point.
There is a balance.
If I got to spend a couple thousand dollars to keep my old car running rather than spending 20,000 on somebody else's use problem,
I'd rather spend a couple and just keep mine going.
I think, I think your perspective is correct.
I really do.
I think the consideration of the vehicle has to come in.
You know, what is the vehicle?
Can we, you know, what's the ready availability of parts that they produce enough of them that you stuff is going to be out there?
Is there decent aftermarket replacement for it?
There's a lot of factors that go into it, but you are right.
You are spot on in the comment that we are a car poor society.
We spend an awful lot of money buying new cars when maybe repairing or upkeeping that old car would have done just as well.
And we can put some money away in the bank.
And that's how we start to save.
Pat, I enjoyed the conversation, sir.
You're welcome back anytime.
As all my listeners are, you bring up some excellent points.
855-5600-9900 running and aiding the car doctor.
We are back right after this.
We're lost.
It feels like we're going round in circles.
I'm going to ask that man for directions.
Hi there.
We're trying to get to the state fairgrounds.
Well, you're going to take a left at the old oak tree at this here road.
Nah, I'm just kidding.
Let me get my phone out.
How is there signal out here?
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Hey, let's wander over to Arizona and go to the truck and curmudgeon.
That's the name on the screen.
We'll leave it there.
How are you, young there?
How can I help?
Good afternoon.
I love your show.
I remember pumping gas in the 70s as well.
And you know that we checked the oil, we did the windshields,
and the girls had short skirts, so we rubbed a hole in many windshields.
And we weren't allowed to...
Now, where you were pumping gas, I just have to ask,
because one of the first things Billy told me was,
I couldn't wear the reg in my front pocket.
It had to be in my back pocket, but it can only be stick out about three inches,
and I could never let the reg hit the ground.
Did your boss give you that speech about cleanliness and appearance?
No, we never needed it.
I worked at a Sonoco station in Wilmington, Delaware,
and we catered to an upper clientele who committed through our area,
so we were always pretty spiffy.
So you had Sonoco 260 gas?
Yes, we did.
The good stuff.
We loved working during that shortage because after we closed and the lights went out,
we got to fill up our cars.
I remember it well.
Oh yeah, I was a very popular person.
A lot went on after hours.
We'll just say it like that.
Yes, sir.
How can I help you today?
Well, I called about your interview with Frank, the deputy in Pinal County,
which is where I am.
He's quite the celebrity here.
I'm an old state cop from Nevada, and we really didn't have the technology
to reach out to as many people and do this online education like he does.
I have not personally been Frank, but there's many people around here
to talk about him on social media like crazy.
I think it's great.
I have to tell you, because we reach out to a lot of people.
It's funny.
I just had a breakfast meeting this morning with the media team when we were talking about it.
If we reached out to eight different individuals for interview requests,
Frank was one of the eight or nine that actually got back to us and said,
yeah, I'll do it.
Yeah, he is a genuine person.
You got to understand, and you'll understand it, but everybody else has to understand
for what he did, he's operating within the confines of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.
He had to get approval.
He had to ask for permission.
Listen, I understand.
I have law enforcement in the family.
I understand and respect it.
But even if I didn't have law enforcement in the family,
I still understand and respect the cops.
I mean, in plain English, you know what?
The cops, when I was wrong, I was wrong.
And when I was right, they defended me, and they helped, right?
People, they do that.
That's the way it is.
They have a hard job.
And Frank made it easy.
He really did.
He answered every question.
He was very candid.
I thought he was very forthcoming.
It was just a great interview.
I really enjoyed connecting with Frank.
I really did.
I do hope to meet him someday.
And we've discussed my 78 Mercury Marquis.
And I'm kind of hoping he pulls me over because I have those classic plates on.
And we can have a little chat.
I think you'll lose the argument, though.
I really do.
Well, he's going to pull me over for being too slow.
He's probably going to think I'm stoned.
Right.
Oh, my gosh.
All right, listen, I'm out of time.
But as always, it's fun talking about Frank.
I appreciate the call, sir.
You be safe out there.
And we're happy to count you among the Cardoctor family.
855-560-9900.
We are back right after this.
We're lost.
It feels like we're going round in circles.
I'm going to ask that man for directions.
Hi there.
We're trying to get to the state fairgrounds.
Well, you're going to take a left at the old oak tree at this here road.
Nah, I'm just kidding.
Let me get my phone out.
How is there signal out here?
T-Mobile and US Cellular are coming together, so the network out here is huge.
We get the same great signal as the city, saving a boatload with benefits.
And there's a five-year price guarantee, too.
OK, here's the turn.
Actually, can you pull up the way to a T-Mobile store?
Let's talk personal style.
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A Louis Vuitton lover?
Or do you like a little bit of both, depending on the vibe?
Whatever your fashion mood, you can find what feels like you on Poshmark.
With millions of new and pre-loved pieces, Poshmark is your one-stop style destination.
From everyday wardrobe staples to vintage gems and luxury labels.
Into Reformation, got it.
Carhartt, got that, too.
From designer bags to streetwear, it's all there.
Men's?
Yes.
Women's?
Absolutely.
Kids?
You bet.
And the best part?
You're shopping real closets from real people with real style.
It's like rating your most fashionable friend's wardrobe.
If you had thousands of fashionable friends.
Plus, every item over $500 goes through Poshmark's authentication process.
So you can shop high-end with total confidence.
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Download the Poshmark app and sign up with code podcast10 and get $10 off your first purchase.
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Yeah, I tell you.
Where'd this hour go?
Holy cow, you're blinking.
It's over.
It'll be over in another hour.
We've got another hour to do yet, but just it flies by.
If anybody's interested, by the way, I wanted to point out that, yes, the Deputy Frank Slope interview,
which we did last week, is now up on iHeart or any of the podcast platforms.
Just go Google search Ron and Amy in the car doctor, and you'll look.
You'll see.
We have, I think it was hour two of last week, and you'll see that we've got it listed.
Deputy Frank Slope interview, and it's all there in its completeness.
And just enjoy it.
And we're getting a lot of requests for that.
And as Truckin said, he's a celebrity out there.
He's a celebrity here, too, because he was great.
He just provided good timely information.
I really enjoyed his comment about teaching young people to drive.
And I thought it was so spot on.
A lot of what Frank said is so spot on.
But this one really struck home when he said, if you're teaching young people to drive, hire a driving instructor.
Because what mom and dad say is not sometimes listened to.
And you put somebody in a position of authority that can, you know, used to explaining things and the professional and doing their job.
And you'll turn out a safer driver.
And I think that is 100% the way to think because it's a concern, right?
You know, one of the things I got out of the interview with Frank was the speed of the cars today.
It's so easy to speed.
You look down, you don't realize that it's effortless to drive the newer cars that just cruise along.
They'll cruise at 80, 90 miles an hour all day long.
And they're so well insulated, some of them.
And they're so suspension and the way you're sort of ensconced in a cocoon there, you don't realize how fast you're going.
And you really have to pay attention.
And I'm going to tell you something.
That interview with Frank has made me a better driver.
It's made me more conscious, more aware.
I look at these left hand turns now and I think about it.
I think about that young lady that got clocked 92 in the school zone and somebody made a left hand turn and put her in the hospital and maybe worse.
You know, it's just, it was a good interview.
It really was.
But you'll find that up on iHeart at the podcast platform, just look for Ronan Ani and the car doctor and look for Deputy Slope.
I'm Ronan Ani and the car doctor till the next time.
Good mechanics aren't expensive.
They're priceless.
See ya.
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About this episode
Ron Ananian kicks off with a shop story about a “freeze-out plug” (really a core plug) on a customer’s van—highlighting how correct crush fit matters and how parts availability has changed. He then contrasts a straightforward Honda EVAP purge-valve repair with the real challenge: verifying the fix using factory-level scan tools/software, since generic scan results can be misleading. Calls follow: one about a Toyota Venza alarm triggering intermittently (likely hood-latch/immobilizer-related, testable via parasitic draw), and another about whether it’s smarter to repair older cars versus buying new amid parts scarcity and rising tech complexity.
Original notes
What used to be a simple repair isn’t so simple anymore.
This week, Ron takes you inside the shop for two real-world stories that highlight how fast the automotive repair industry is changing. It starts with a basic freeze-out plug—once a common, inexpensive fix—that has now become nearly impossible to source through traditional channels. What used to be a three-dollar repair can quickly turn into a five-thousand-dollar engine replacement simply because parts—and sometimes the skill sets—are disappearing.
Then, Ron walks through a late-model diagnostic challenge where multiple scan tools give conflicting answers, raising a bigger question: how do you know when a vehicle is truly fixed?
From obsolete parts to evolving technology, this episode explains why today’s repair shops rely on multiple tools, deeper knowledge, and factory-level diagnostics just to keep up.
It’s a revealing look at an industry that never stands still—and why, now more than ever, car repair is a moving target.
Good mechanics aren’t expensive — they’re priceless.
- 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
-
Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900
-
Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
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