This is the car’s automatic gear system with 10 different gear steps. If it breaks, it can be a very costly repair because it’s a complex drivetrain component.
When you get very different repair prices, it’s important to make sure you understand what the problem really is. The episode is basically about not trusting one estimate blindly.
An extended warranty is extra coverage you buy so the car is still protected after the original warranty ends. In this case, that extra coverage had also run out.
A “transmission assembly” is the complete transmission unit (not just one failing part). Replacing the whole assembly is often the most expensive option, but it can be chosen when diagnosis suggests multiple internal failures or when parts are hard to source.
This is a GM automatic transmission with 10 forward gears. In this story, the host is saying it’s gotten a reputation for problems, which is why repair costs can get very high.
This means GM makes related automatic transmissions with different numbers of gears. The host is saying the problems show up across the related versions, not just one specific model.
This is the labor cost for servicing the transmission fluid—draining it and refilling it correctly. It matters because the transmission relies on that fluid to shift properly.
Programming is when the car’s computer settings are updated so the transmission shifts the way it’s supposed to. Some repairs require this step so the new parts work correctly.
This means the mechanic identifies the exact broken parts inside the transmission. Then they replace those parts instead of replacing the whole transmission, which can lower the bill.
The valve body is like the transmission’s control system that routes fluid to make the gears change. If it fails, the transmission can shift badly or not work correctly at all.
The torque converter is what lets an automatic transmission connect to the engine smoothly. If it has problems, the car may feel jerky, slip, or not engage properly.
A class action lawsuit is when lots of affected people combine their complaints into one case. Here, it’s about many owners being upset about the same kind of transmission problem.
Technical bulletins are instructions from the car maker about known problems and how to fix them. If there are lots of them for a transmission, it often means the issue keeps showing up.
A warranty extension means the car maker covers repairs for longer than the normal warranty. The host says right now there isn’t extra coverage for this transmission issue.
Concept
targeted repair vs replacing the whole assembly
The host is comparing two ways shops fix a problem: replacing a big whole part, or fixing only the specific failing pieces and using newer parts. Different approaches can change how often the same issue comes back.
The host is saying car repairs aren’t always a perfect fix with a guaranteed result. Instead, the goal is to lower the odds that the problem will return.
Modern transmissions are run by computers, not just gears. When they’re repaired, the shop may need to update settings so the car learns how to shift smoothly again.
Software calibration is like adjusting the car’s computer settings for how the transmission should behave. If it’s not set right, the car may shift awkwardly.
Learning strategies are the transmission’s “self-adjusting” behavior. After work is done, the car may need time or a reset so it relearns how you drive.
The valve body is like the transmission’s fluid control center. It has very precise internal clearances, and if they’re off, the transmission can’t control shifting as well.
Transmission fluid is what keeps the transmission working and shifting correctly. If it gets old or overheats, the transmission can wear out faster or shift poorly.
Service intervals are the recommended schedule for maintenance. For a transmission, doing it on time helps keep the fluid in good shape so it shifts correctly.
The lower intermediate steering shaft is part of the steering column that transmits motion from the steering wheel toward the steering rack. If its splines strip, the shaft can spin without turning the wheels, leading to loss of steering control.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is an SUV that many people use as a practical daily driver. Here it’s mentioned because a steering-shaft problem caused the steering wheel to spin freely.
The clock spring is a cable inside the steering column that lets wiring stay connected even as you turn the wheel. If it’s damaged or replaced, the car may need re-checking so sensors read correctly.
Recalibration is the process of teaching a sensor its correct reference values after installation or replacement. Here, the host is describing that production tolerances and spline/indexing alignment may not be accurate enough, so the steering angle sensor must be reset to the correct “straight ahead” reading.
A scan tool is a diagnostic computer that plugs into the car. It can read what the car’s sensors are reporting so you can confirm whether settings are correct.
They’re checking that the steering sensor reads basically “straight ahead,” within a tiny margin. If it’s off by too much, the car may think you’re steering when you aren’t.
A hybrid uses both gas and electricity to help move the car. That can be efficient, but it also means there are more systems that can need attention over time.
Transmission fluid is the fluid that helps the transmission work smoothly. If it’s checked and looks bad, it can be an early sign the transmission may need service.
Concept
resta
They’re saying it’s not a full restoration. It’s more like a careful refresh to make the car look good and work well, without completely rebuilding everything.
Term
O fund
They’re talking about keeping some extra money saved for surprises. Even if you’re careful with your budget, cars can need unexpected repairs.
They’re implying the fix may be about swapping or checking a specific electronic “box” that controls the screen/audio. Instead of guessing, they’ll identify which module is bad.
In this context, “diagnosed” means using the car’s diagnostic process to identify the cause of a failure—here, the touch screen and audio issue. Modern vehicles often require scanning for fault codes and testing modules to pinpoint what actually failed.
The Nissan Rogue is a popular SUV that many people own. Here it’s brought up because the speaker had an oil-related problem at a dealer and didn’t get it resolved.
This is the part of the air conditioning system that squeezes and moves refrigerant. “Variable displacement” means it can adjust how hard it works depending on how much cooling the car needs.
Your car’s AC compressor is the part that “moves” the cooling system along. If it can’t adjust or gets stuck, the AC may not cool properly—or may act like it’s working too hard.
Pressure gauges let a mechanic check what’s happening inside the AC system instead of guessing. That way you can tell whether the problem is refrigerant-related or something else.
Refrigerant is the chemical inside the AC system that actually does the cooling. If the system isn’t cooling, people often think “add refrigerant,” but sometimes the real issue is something else in the system.
The temperature blend door is what mixes hot and cold air to make the cabin feel right. If it gets stuck, the car may not deliver the temperature you set—like it won’t get cold even on “cold.”
Term
AC and heat fighting each other
If the AC and heat seem to be working against each other, it’s often a control problem in the HVAC system. The car may be letting in both hot and cold air at the same time, so the temperature never settles.
Blend doors are little HVAC flaps that control how much hot vs. cold air your car sends inside. If they don’t move correctly, the heat/AC won’t work right.
A minimum output test checks whether the compressor can achieve a baseline refrigerant pressure/output under a controlled condition. If pressure doesn’t drop as expected or the compressor can’t reach minimum output, it points to a compressor-side fault.
A thermal expansion valve controls how much refrigerant flows into the part of the AC that makes the air cold. If it’s not metering correctly, the AC won’t cool well.
This means the car’s heater/AC mixing flap isn’t setting the temperature correctly. The cold-start test helps tell whether it’s a temperature-mixing issue or an AC cooling issue.
System pressures are the AC refrigerant pressures measured on the high and low sides. If they’re wrong, it can point to problems like too much refrigerant, too little, or a blockage.
A ten-speed transmission is an automatic gearbox with more gear steps than older cars. That can make driving smoother and more efficient, but it can also be more expensive to fix if it breaks.
A Tahoe is a big Chevrolet SUV. The host is talking about a Tahoe repair that ended up being very expensive, mainly because modern systems can be complicated to fix.
Cylinder deactivation is when the engine turns off some cylinders to save gas during easy driving. It can help mileage, but it adds extra systems that can be tricky if there’s a problem.
Turbo charging uses a device that forces extra air into the engine. That helps the engine make more power, but it also adds parts that can be more expensive to repair.
Start-stop systems turn the engine off at stops like red lights and turn it back on when you go. It saves fuel, but it can put extra stress on the car’s starting components.
Adaptive suspension systems automatically adjust damping (shock/strut behavior) based on driving conditions. This can improve ride comfort and handling, but it typically relies on sensors and electronically controlled shocks that can be costly to repair.
Lane assist helps the car stay in its lane by watching the lane lines. It can warn you or gently steer you back, but it depends on sensors and software.
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Sixteen thousand dollars you know that's the estimate sitting on my desk this week for a twenty twenty one Shiitvy Tahoe with just the aout one hundred five thousand miles on it. Ten speed automatic transmission had failed, and it
was a nice truck, family owned, clean, well maintained and Now the owner is my customer standing at the counter with two repair estimates, and one of them was sixteen thousand dollars. And I said to him, I said, this
sounds more like home remodeling than it does auto repair.
I just had to say it three times, sixteen thousand dollars.
I think that's what I paid for one of my kids to go to college for a semester. Now, you know,
before you start thinking, hey, this is just another story about expensive orto repair, you know, let me add the twist, all right, because this is what really got my attention.
The customer had come to us after visiting two different Chevrolet dealers looking for answers, not one dealer too, And by the time they got to my shop, it really wasn't about the transmission anymore. It was really about trust.
It was about it was about fear, and it was about trying to make the least or best wrong financial decison impossible. You know, which way do you go? Because
one transmission repair was quote was sixteen thousand dollars and the other one was eight. You know, I really understand
what it's like to be a consumer today. I'm a consumer.
I don't buy auder repair, but I buy everything else.
You know, you buy a vehicle that, in this case, this twenty one Tahoe new was about eighty three thousand dollars, just eighty three thousand dollars. You say, I'm just you know,
you feel like Jack Benny. Spending money leaves a bad
taste in your mouth. You know, you do all the
right things. You maintain it, you do the oil changes,
you take care of it, You try to take care of it. You follow all the manufacturers recommended services, and
then some and then just past one hundred and five thousand mile marks. So it's out of warranty, it's out
of the extended warranty. It's out of warranty altogether. The transpukes,
and you're hearing these numbers like eight, ten, twelve, sixteen thousand dollars. You know, at some point, I think the
average person stops hearing reasons why and technical information and they just begin to panic. And I get it, and
I mean, that's what happened here. The first dealer recommended
complete replacement of the transmission assembly, just a brand new assembly, and rightfully so. GMS had more than their fair share
of problems the GM ten speed transmission, just as a point of context. And note the GM ten speed and
the four to ten speed all seem to have come from the same place. They're once patterned after the other.
And the four to ten speed problems they're having in the pickup trucks and their trucks is no secret. Well,
the GM ten speed is right behind it. The first
dealer sixteen thousand dollars change everything, and by the time he added up labor, programming fluid labor, I said labor twice.
Maybe it's because it seems like it's a lot of labor.
It was sixteen grand. The second dealer took a slightly
different angle. Repair portions of the transmission, replace fail components,
put a couple of updated GM parts, and it things that you know, reliability improvements that have come out over time.
The problem areas quote unquote and that estimates eight thousand.
Still painful, right, but it's half the price. And now
the customer is completely confused, and they're standing in front of me asking the million dollar question, wwrd ron, what would you do?
You know?
It's interesting and I say this because you and I get together and we talk about this stuff all the time, and I can share it with you. The older I
get in this business, the less people come in asking for repairs, more of them come in asking for guidance.
And I've realized they're not just buying parts anymore. They're
not buying repairs. What you guys are doing when you
get your vehicle serviced or repaired or maintained, however you want to talk about it, you're not buying parts. You're
buying you're buying interpretation. To a large degree, you're buying experience,
all right, Because this particular trans, the GM tense Speed Automatic, is all over the internet. My gosh, you could swing
a dead cat, and I don't mean to offend my cat owners with complaints and concerns and harp shifting and valve body failures and torque converter issues and all sorts of things that make you go, oh my god, this thing's a piece of junk. There are forums, there are videos,
there's lawsuits. I just saw a lawsuit conversation out in
California that's being discussed about suing GM class action lawsuit over the ten speed trans The list of technical bulletins for the GM tense Speed it's like reading war and peace.
There's that many of them. It just goes on forever.
There's updates, there's revis you name it, brother, it's garbage.
But you know, let me be fair, all right, the Internet tends to make every problem look like apocalypse. All right.
There's millions of these transmissions out there, and a lot of them operate perfectly fine. But the failures when they occur,
and repair shops know the pattern. Transmission shops know the pattern,
and by now you the consumer, you guys definitely know the pattern. When the transmissions fail, it's expensive. It's like,
holy shmoley, when did this become the price of this sound like my father, but when this become the price of my first house? Not really, but close. Some people
think there's going to be a recall, which there will be probably ten years after the last ones off the road, so the GM has to pay less or there'll be some kind of legal action tied to these units. But
right now, there's no blanket coverage, there's no warranty extension, there's no magic, there's no free pass. And this particular case,
this Tahoe transmission failure, this belongs to the owner. Hey,
it's your truck. You bought it, you drove it, you
broke it. You fix it. And this is where today's
show really starts, because the biggest change in the automotive world right now isn't technology. It isn't the price of
vehicles keeps climbing at a stratospheric rate. The rate of
climb is huge, And I think the biggest change in the automotive world is the psychology of ownership. You know,
you think about it. Thirty years ago, if your transmission failed,
you fixed it all right. You know, relatively speaking, it
was three thousand dollars. It was a lot of money.
It was in the discussion. The repair sort of hurt financially,
but it wasn't emotionally paralyzing. It wasn't overwhelming. Today, unfortunately,
you guys are overwhelmed.
Here.
You are paying five six seven California eight dollars a gallon gasoline. You're paying more for groceries, You're paying more
for everything. You're trying to put your kids through college.
You're paying the mortgage, the roof, the rent. Oh, by
the way, your transmission needs to be replaced. Sixteen thousand dollars.
That clunk you heard was the person hitting the floor.
Consumers are overwhelmed. You just are and it's bad. Today's
vehicles are so technologically advanced and so expensive. Every repair
feels like a life decision, and that's part of what it's about. Do you fix it? Do you trade it?
Who'd buy it? Who trade it? Who would take it?
Will it fail again if I get it fixed? And
is this the beginning of endless problems? Do I trust
the repair? Do I trust the diagnosis? Do I trust
the dealer? Do I trust the independent shop? Do I
trust the Internet? And I understand why you guys struggle,
I really do.
Now.
This Tahoe owner did exactly what I think consumers should do with major repairs. They got multiple opinions, not because
someone's dishonest necessarily, and not because this is to be expected, but because different shops approach repairs differently. One facility just
believed in completing and replacing the whole assembly, it minimizes the comeback risk. Another said, hey, let's do a targeted
repair and updated components and we'll be a little more conservative.
And in the end, because I called that particular dealership, because I know people, for lack of a better way to put it, the answer was they didn't want to scare the consumer off and they've had reasonably successful luck, not perfect luck or perfect results doing it that way, but they're more likely to get the job and more likely to get the consumer to that transmission to go another two years till it's out of warranty. And that's
a whole conversation onto itself. The warranty doesn't mean anything.
Is what's projected life. You know what this does. It
highlights how complicated modern cars and the modern car repair business has become. And here's something else nobody really talks
about enough. The customer isn't paying for a part. You
guys aren't paying for a repair. It's managed risk. And
I've said this a lot at the counter over the last couple of years. I noticed I'm explaining to people.
I'm not here to try and sell you a repair.
I'm here to explain to you managed expectations. I'm trying
to give you a reasonable facsimile of what I think is going to happen. And there's that experience thing again.
When you repair a modern transmission, you're just not changing gears and clutches in hard parts. You're dealing with software calibration,
you're dealing with learning strategies, valve body tolerances that are measured in microscopic clearances. Think it's he bitsy tiny parts.
You make one wrong move, the trans shifts poorly, the trans has to come out again, and it's time loss for the repair shop and the consumer. One thing wrong
when a little bit of dirt causes breakdown of a component and all of a sudden that parts on the verge of failing. Does maintenance matter? Yeah, it absolutely does.
Trans Fluid matters, heat matters, service intervals, how you drive it, what you do with it? Are you towing? But even
well maintained vehicles fail. And that's really that's really the
tip of the sword, and that's what you have to remember.
Let me pull over, take this pause. We're going to
continue this conversation throughout the hour. I'm Ron Anany and
the car doctor. I'll be back right after this. Hey,
we'll continue with the sixteen thousand dollars Tahoe right after.
We talked to Billy in Colorado. Billy, welcome back, sir.
What's going on today?
Hey?
Ron?
How are you doing all right?
Sir?
A friend of mine has a two thousand and eight Suzuki Grand Vitara and the lower intermediate steering shaft stripped the splines and was spinning freely on the rack. He
sent me a video of him spinning the steering wheel to the right like one hundred times. I'm like, oive,
all right, you're gonna eat a clock spring.
Yep.
And so what I'm wondering is, while I'm in there, well, that also mess with the steering angle sensor.
Well, the steering angle sensor is physically attached to the clock spring. At one point, you could buy them separately.
Are you are you replacing the clock spring? Have you
bought a new clock spring yet? Have you found a
new clock spring?
Amazingly, he actually found one in a pick and pull and got it for fifteen bucks.
Okay, And I imagine, I imagine the angle sensor is attached to it because it should. It should have the
angle sensor on it if we were buying it new, well back in the day, because we're talking about an almost eighteen year old part. Now, back in the day
you purchased it, you purchased an angle sensor separate and a clock spring separate. And then as time went on
a lot of vehicles they tended to only sell it together as one assembly. But if the question is if
you take the angle sensor off of the old one and put it on the new used one, or if the used one comes with an angle sensor, then I would still do a calibration and you'll need a scan tool to do that. Question is the question is will
the scan tool do it?
You know?
One of the one of the hard things about working on Suzuki's is there's sort of an oddity, right, they're not They're not common or mainstream. You know, it's funny
you find them. It's it's like a regional vehicle. It's
certain states, certain areas of the country, certain areas of the world. If you asked me to go get Suzuki
parts here in New Jersey, I wouldn't. I wouldn't know
where the heck to go. It's been right, it's it's
been so long since I've seen one, and I guess the internet would you know, come to the rescue. And
that's what we would use to fix that. But you know,
it's not that they're bad vehicles, they just don't exist, you know, And it's it's I guess that's one of the reasons why you know, you don't see a lot of them. We don't see a lot of them on
the roads here in New Jersey. Every once in a
while you bump into one because people want something that you know is going to go for me to be and they can get service and repair on. So but
if you're doing this, listen, if you're doing this, it's already cock eyed, it's already broke. Put it together and
see if you have a fault, you'll know right away.
Do you the dashboards lit up?
Right?
Oh?
It is okay?
Well?
Is it?
Is it lit up because of what he did? Or
you've done the repair, You've put the clock spring in already.
I know I'm still waiting for a shaft that's going to come from Inland China. I'm afraid.
Right, there's the and and there's what I was saying, there's the problem. So you know what, get the shaft,
put it together. I can almost guarantee the angle sensor
is going to be off because the fact that you're putting a shaft on it. You know, did they index
it and make it exactly correct Where the spline's going to go. I can't remember if the shaft is splind
to the coupling to the to the steering ring. But
while splind and indexed is what I should have said.
You know it is it one of thirty six possibilities or it only go on one way?
You know.
But even so, even if it's only on one way, I guarantee you the production tolerance isn't going to hold true enough that that sensor doesn't need to be recalibrated.
I'd be shocked, Billy, you stand the chance.
But you know, you just hope that it doesn't break on the guy.
Yeah, well right, I could do with the rest, right, So, and then you have a scan tool that i'll actually read the car, go into the car.
Yeah.
Then you know, when you put it together, you're just looking for a zero plus or minus one degree when the wheels are straight ahead.
Yep.
Right, and see where you go from there. All right, kiddo,
All right, thanks, You're very welcome, sir, anytime. Good luck. Yeah,
cars are dashboard warning lights just just make it a challenge.
And we had a you know, you talk about dashboard warning lights and the things we see on dashboards. I'm
at the counter. It's like midweek and true story woman
comes in. Never saw it before. Can you come outside
and take a look in my car? I've got I've
got a dashboard light on that nobody can tell me what it's about. And I go out to look at it,
and yeah, okay, you know, I'll play. I go out
to look at it, and she says, there and she's pointing to the dashboard and the letter N is lit up, and I'm looking and I'm kind of wrapping my brain around it. And she says, sometimes it says S and
sometimes it says W. And I'm thinking to myself, well, yeah,
but you're looking at the compass. True story. She said, well,
hawkman never says E. Well I didn't have an answer
for that, but it was the compass, she said. And
she's trying to get at the spell a word. She says,
you know, I never see I never see anything other than nsw it always. I said, you never see any
She goes, no, I've never noticed a knee. I've owned
the car for three years. Dashboards are complicated places. True story. God,
God's on a story. And I felt bad for at
one point because I think she was driving a car that was technologically beyond her. And you know, Billy's talking
about dashboard warning lights on the Suzuki being lit up.
Modern cars light up more lights on a dashboard. Then
I think any of us can reasonably expect or understand.
It's difficult. It really is, so, you know what, more
power to her. But I got to point it in
the right direction. I sent her east. Then she'll finally
she should get her E and then she'll understand that it's the compass eight five five five six out nine nine zero zero. I'm running ay in the car doctor,
I'll be back right after this. Don't go anywhere.
From the city street.
To the Oven Rule tonight. If you run his head,
Ron will keep your right. Yeah, he's a car doctor,
car advist. Hey, let's get over and talk to Louis
and Iowa fourteen hybrid Cemax. Louis, Welcome to the car doctor, sir.
How can I help?
Thank you? Ron? Twenty fourteen Cemax Energy had a just
shy of a month. How can I keep that main
battery to last as long as a car? According to
the manuals, the battery pack is supposed to last as long as a vehicle. Is that true?
Or fall? Well, it lasts until it doesn't, right, you know,
we're talking about a twelve year old vehicle here, Louis, and you know any twelve year old vehicle probably needs some form of transmission or engine repair. And while your
batteries may look okay and they you know, they'll be as they'll be as good as they can be for as long as they can be, and there's not a lot you can do to maintain it to make a difference.
There really isn't. I will say that. I will say
that the majority of hybrids out there are well, always say it. They're over engineered, all right, They they they
are over engineered. And then they do that because they
want the hybrids to you know, have a good rep, a good rep. They want hybrids to last a long time,
because that is the future, all right. The ev future
is not really real. I think hybrids are the future
that we're going to see, you you know, developed even more strongly over the next twenty years.
I thought it was time for me to get a hybrid, but aout one hundred and fifty six thousand miles on it.
I just had to transmission fluid checked by the dealer yesterday.
Thought the fluid to look good. But I don't have
much history on this car, right, I'm out of Kansas City.
All right, what'd you pay for it.
Thirty five hundred.
Right, so you bought a thirty five hundred dollars used car in a market and a time period. Now wait,
now watch this. You bought a thirty five hundred dollars
used car in a market and a time period where the price of the average, reliable, well maintained used car is thirty grand. Think about that. So you did pretty good, right,
you did. You bought it. You bought it for ten
percent of what the going market rate is.
So the list, the sticker price is thirty three thousand.
On this the sticker came with the car, right, original sticker.
That's also that's also thirty three thousand dollars twelve years ago. Right,
things have gone up a little bit. Yeah, things have
gone up a little bit. So if we were at
the shop and you came to me and said, hey, Ron, what's wrong with the car? And I said, hey, louis
the battery filled? You need a battery? It's it's nine grand.
All right, and about that much to put it in.
And I guess there's a you need a special jacket's cost ten thousand dollars.
Right, So let's let's well, yeah, yeah, it's all true. Hey, listen,
we're you guys are driving and we're working on them.
They're rocket ships. So let's say it's fifteen grand to
make that thirty five hundred dollars car. We're roadworthy again, right?
Is it worth it? It depends did the battery? Does
the battery? I mean, you just got this car? What
you just got this car this week late April?
Okay, bought the twenty ninth of April. I bought it
from a youth car dealer.
So let's see, thirty five hundred, that's seven So if this car makes it to December and you do zero or limited maintenance and it has no major failures, you broke even. I hate to say it, you broke even.
That's five hundred a month. Right. What are you going
to drive today for five hundred a month?
Not very much? Boy? Right?
See, how'd you like to be that person that I opened the show with today with the sixteen thousand dollars transmission in the Chevy Tahoe.
Ooh, I missed that. I guess the good thing I
missed it?
Yeah, it would have. I would have. I would have.
I would have given you a heart attack. You know,
it's it's but you know what's it's miles. It's miles
to get smiles. We see this all the time, all right.
I have this number that I seem to It just seems to work. You buy what you like, all right,
put a smile on your face, enjoy the ride after whatever.
You buy new vehicle, regardless of price, something you know, seventy thousand dollars or less. After it's three years old.
It seems like the number is you will average one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty dollars a month to maintain it, all right, and get there safely and reliably. And then when you're done with that car,
you got to add it up. What did it cost?
We just had an oh nine f one fifty, been working on it since day one. The owner unfortunately passed.
The son wanted to sell the vehicle. He sold both vehicles,
the father and son. They both bought the same two
trucks coming off the assembly line. They had a serial
number three eighty and three eighty one. They were twins
one truck. One truck had one hundred and fifty six
thousand miles on it. The was the dad's truck. He
had put thirty three thousand dollars in it since nine.
The truck is mechanically perfect body wise, it's a perfect vehicle.
It's a resta it's not a restoration. It's it's it's
sort of like a time machine. You look, you look
at it, and it's like an oh nine f one and fifty. That's perfect. Drive anywhere you want, go anywhere
you want. We added it up, We did the math.
He put like one hundred and seventy bucks into the month.
Where are you going to get that in a vehicle today?
You can so long story short, you're hybrid, all right, drive it, don't worry about it, enjoy it. Start putting
money away, all right. If you're on a limited budget,
you still need to put money away. You need an
O fund. Okay, uh oh that broke right, And yep,
everybody needs an O fund. So other than that, Either
that or you're just gonna drive this car until it stops stops working. And like I said, if you get
to December, you broke even you did good.
That's not too bad. Sounds pretty urging. The December is
not just too far off.
Right, right, Sandy Cluse will bring you a nice surprise.
He'll bring you in he'll bring you a car that's still working. And you know what, I bet you were
having this conversation a year from now.
Okay, and but one more thing that this touch screen has failed and the audio is zero. It failed a
week ago, Sundy.
Okay, Well, okay, here's here's the curve. Here's the curve
into the budget. Go ahead. Yes, so we've got to
get it diagnosed, right, which means modular.
That screen is bad.
Well, the module. The screen is part of a module.
There's three components usually here all right, there's the screen itself, which is which is the main control head. Think of
that as like your computer monitor. Then behind that computer
monitor or that screen, there's a module, and then there's a cable that connects the two. Ok So it's got
to be diagnosed. First thing, we're gonna go and pull code.
We're going to go look and see what failed. I've
seen the control head fail, I've seen the module fail.
I've seen the cable connection become tattered and frazzled over time.
Isn't that's something so gable? I guess we'll find out
next week.
Right, it could be anything from the it could be any.
Forwenty radios in the vehicle that makes any.
Different factory This is a factory radio correct, right right? Yeah,
it could be anything from a two hundred dollars cable to one thousand dollars module. Start start, start adding your
dollars up one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty a month, remember that number.
I better go to the bank tomorrow, all right, won't be open tomorrow. All right? Well, what I used to
arrive Nissan rogues? I called you about five W thirty
oil that they put in a Nissan Rogue I think at twenty sixteen at the dealer, and the book said, ow twenty I called you on that, but they wouldn't do anything about it, and I traded that rogue off.
Yeah. Oh well, listen every every Bahanda CRV, which is
a very nice car.
But I sold that and bought this Ford Cmax. It's
a very nice running car, wonderful car to drive.
What'd you do for a living, Louis, Louis.
To raise a two cattle farming?
Yeah?
I could. I could tell you sound like a farmer,
my friend. Yeah, you're you're, you're, you're practical and down
to earth. Oh I get it, all right, kid, listen.
I'm happy to I'm happy, happy to have you as part of the Car Doctor crew. You call us back
if you need more, and uh enjoy your hybrid. Just
take it and get it diagnosed and ask all the right questions when they tell you what it is. Your
only question is will that fix my vehicle? That's all
you want to hear? Yes or no? Calls back, let
us know what happens. I'm r on an Indy in
the Car Doctor. We'll return right after this. Hey, let's
go over and talk at Greg and Florida. Greg. Welcome
to the Car Doctor, sir. What's going on?
Yeah? Thank you?
Welcome.
Yeah.
I have a twenty fourteen and Pala Limited. Okay, I
bought it almost three years ago. When ever since I
got it there, I didn't think the air conditioned cooled as well as it should, all right, but it got me by up until this week. I decided to put
a can of refriger in in it, and I did, and after that it doesn't hardly get It got worse after I put the refriger in in it.
All right, So where do we begin?
Right?
Yeah?
Well, yeah, so and you know this generation compressor has it's a variable displacement compressor, meaning that this is like the guy carrying the piano upstairs. The heavier the piano
gets it gets or the piano gets heavier, the closer to the top of the stairs. So it can work stronger,
it can work harder. It's a strong enough little guy. Well,
the compressor is sort of the same way. It can
vary its output based on load. All right, they do
that by Actually, if we were to measure the AC compressor's output, let's think of it like this, cubic feet per minuted. How much air can a compressor draw in
and push out. The hotter it gets, it can increase
the cubic feet per minute air flow based on demand. Now,
what would happen with these is they get stuck, depending upon where they get stuck. You know, ge whiz, it's
always too colder. It seems like it's working too hard,
or it's not working hard enough. And you see some
funny results to compound your problem. Do you you own
a set of regular pressure gauges or are you just adding refrigerant?
Yeah, I don't have a gauge.
Okay, So you're racing horses and you just gave the horse a vitamin B twelve shot to make it run faster, and you don't know if that's what it needs, right right?
Fair point?
Well yeah, since I you know, I had an eleven and it had the best air conditioner I ever saw.
In it right, well, because the compressor was working correctly or the system was working correctly. Listen, this can be
repaired now by the same token. You know, we don't
know do we have a blend door that's stuck? Okay?
You know, anytime anybody has a problem with air conditioning, we always assume, which is a dangerous word, Oh, I must need refrigerant. But what if you ever ever well, no, no,
you're in Floridas. This may not be a correct question.
But I've come home a few times where they've had the air conditioning on and the heat on because they forget and the two systems fight each other. So in Florida,
I don't know if you'll get that. But sometimes you'll
have a car where the temperature blend or even though it's set to cold, doesn't quite make it all the way over. You know what I'm talking about When I
say temperature blend door, Greg, yeah, it.
Thumps sometimes. It didn't do that when I first got.
It, but it okay, so you know, are we getting correct swing? We can look at all this. We really
sort of need a scan tool, all right. We a
good scan tool would be able to put the sweet put put the blend doors through a sweep test. Do
we see them go from zero to two twenty four whatever the max ranges on a twenty fourteen? Do we
have a compressor issue? And one of the tests we
would do is to put a set of pressure gauges high and low side and look at pressure and then disconnect down on the compressor. There's going to be a
two wire connector with a blue and a blue light green.
That is the that is the variable displacement solenoid. If
we disconnect that, we could look at pressure. Does the
pressure drop? Does the compressor go to minimum output? If
it does well, then the compressor is good. We can
look elsewhere, you know, if if you want, you know what's what's common. Compressors are common, and thermal expansion valves
are common. But you're gonna need to set u pressure
gauges to really look for it and see what it does for you. Let me ask you this question and
we can eliminate the temperature of the blend door. If
you start the car up cold, does the AC still stink?
It never has stump.
Not smell wise, just poor performance. If you start this
car up stone cold, turn the air on, is it cold?
Uh no?
Ever since I got it it didn't get all right.
Then you know, if if within the first minute you don't get cold there before the engine warms up, I'm going to tell you probably don't have a blend door temp problem issue because engine heat isn't there right. If so,
you can, you can likely eliminate that. I would be
looking hard at I want to want to know what system pressures are. For all we know right now it's overcharged,
and i'd want to know what system pressures are. And
I'd want to be doing some testing of the AC compressor, like I said, the variable displacement solenoid and taking a look if it passes that minimum output test again, you need a scan tool, you know, then take a look at the thermal expansion valve. What are we missing there? You
got some testing to do, Greg, You got to find somebody else that can do it if you can't, but definitely repairable and it could be expensive. It could be
you know, inexpensive. Got to do some tests first, Kiddle,
I'm running dy in the car. Doctor. We're back right
after this. Hey, you know, we started this hour talking
about ten speed, GM transmissions and tahoes for sixteen thousand dollars, and I told you i'd finish this story.
You know.
I think what frustrates you guys the most today is you feel like you're beta testers for the cars you're buying that you're paying a lot of money for, and you do right. Think about it. Ten speed transmissions, cylinder deactivation,
turbo charging, start stop systems, adaptive suspensions, radar crews, control lane assist, these massive entertainment infotainment systems. Modern vehicles are incredible.
They really are. They're truly incredible. You put somebody in
a car from the sixties with a big engine, loud exhaust on a four speed. Never mind, they can't drive
the four speed. They can't steer it, they can't control it,
they can't use the brakes. They're completely baffled. Complexity costs money.
What did I tell this customer with the tahoe. I
told them the truth. The vehicle overall was clean and
it was valuable enough. They still needed the vehicle. They
still needed a tahoe. I told him to fix it.
I told him spend the sixteen grand, best warranty, best longevity.
Because here's the perspective. You either make car payments or
you make repair payments. Pick your poison. I'm running any
in the car doctor. Good mechanics aren't expensive, They're priceless.
See you, baby, He he's a car doctor. Car advice
to write
About this episode
A 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe lands on Ron Ananian’s desk with a failed 10-speed automatic transmission—and an estimate of “Sixteen thousand dollars.” With the vehicle “out of warranty,” the owner faces the full bill. Ron compares two dealer approaches: complete replacement versus “Repair portions of the transmission” with updated parts, noting the GM 10-speed’s well-known issues. He also explains why modern transmission and HVAC work relies on software, scan tools, and precise diagnostics—because “Complexity costs money.”
This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron opens the hour with a story that perfectly captures the reality of modern car ownership — a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe with just 105,000 miles facing a shocking $16,000 transmission replacement estimate. After visits to two dealerships and completely different repair recommendations, the customer turns to Ron with the question every driver eventually asks: What would you do?
Ron dives into the growing fear and confusion surrounding today’s vehicles, where advanced technology, expensive repairs, and overwhelming repair estimates are changing the psychology of car ownership. Are consumers paying for repairs — or paying for risk management? And in a world of 10-speed transmissions, software-controlled drivetrains, and increasingly complex systems, who can drivers really trust?
Plus, listener calls on:
A Suzuki Grand Vitara with steering angle sensor concerns
A used Ford C-Max Hybrid and the realities of hybrid battery ownership
A Chevrolet Impala Limited with difficult A/C diagnosis issues
It’s a conversation about repair costs, trust, modern technology, and the difficult financial decisions drivers face every day.
