Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - November 15, 2025 - Hour 1 - How's Business? (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline
Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - November 15, 2025 - Hour 1 - How's Business? (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline
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Car
GMC Denali
The GMC Denali is a fancy version of GMC's trucks and SUVs, offering more luxury and comfort. The 2020 model includes high-tech features and a smooth driving experience.
Term
no crank
'No crank' means that when you try to start the car, the engine doesn't turn over or make any noise. This can happen for different reasons, like a dead battery or a problem with the starter.
Part
starter
A starter is a part of the car that helps the engine start. If it's broken, the car won't turn on.
Term
anti-theft process
An anti-theft process is a way to keep cars safe from being stolen. It includes things like alarms and special keys that make it harder for thieves to take the car.
Car
Chevy
A '1962 Chevy' is a car made by Chevrolet in the year 1962. Chevrolet is a popular car brand, and cars from this time are often considered classic.
Term
park neutral switch
The park neutral switch is a part that makes sure your car won't start unless it's in the right gear, like park or neutral. This helps prevent accidents when starting the car.
Term
multi sensor switch
A multi sensor switch is a part in the car's transmission that checks different things, like what gear the car is in. It helps the car's computer know how to work properly.
Term
duty cycle
Duty cycle is a way to measure how often something is working compared to how long it's being checked. In cars, it helps understand if parts are working correctly.
Term
carbon pile tester
A carbon pile tester checks how well a battery works by putting a load on it and seeing how much the voltage drops. It's an older method that some people say isn't as reliable for today's batteries.
Term
standing voltage
Standing voltage is the amount of electricity a battery has when it's not being used. It helps you understand if the battery is charged and working well.
Term
Amps
Amps are a way to measure how much electricity is flowing. In cars, they show how much power is being used by things like the starter when you try to start the engine.
Term
battery voltage
Battery voltage is how much electrical power a battery has. It's important because if the voltage is too low, the car won't start or run properly.
Company
Carquest
Carquest is a store where you can buy car parts. They sell things like batteries and starters that help your car run properly.
Car
Nissan Quest
Part
alternator
An alternator is a part that makes electricity for your car. It helps keep the battery charged and powers things like the lights and radio when the engine is on.
Car
Chevrolet Impala
Car
Ford Transit
Car
Volkswagen Jetta
Car
Ford F-250
The Ford F-250 is a strong truck that can carry heavy loads and is often used for jobs like construction or towing trailers.
Car
Ford F150
The Ford F-150 is a well-known truck that many people use for both work and everyday driving because it's strong and comfortable.
Term
engine system fail
This message means there's a problem with the engine that needs to be checked. It could be something simple or more serious, so it's best to have a mechanic look at it.
Term
starting system failed
This message means there's a problem with the part of the car that helps it start. It could be the battery or the starter, and it should be checked by a professional.
Term
remote start
Remote start lets you start your car from far away, usually with a button on your key. It's handy for warming up the car before you get in.
LIVE
This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human.
This is Carissa Thompson from Calm Down with Aaron and Carissa.
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You're listening to Ron and Annie and the car doctor, nationally recognized auto expert
trusted by mechanics, weekend renters and vehicle owners alike.
Ron brings over 40 years of hands on experience and deep industry insight to help you understand your vehicle.
Join the conversation live every Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Eastern by calling 855-560-9900.
That's a 555-560-9900, your direct line to honest answers and practical advice.
Looking for more?
Visit cardoctorshow.com for past episodes, repair tips and Ron's latest insights.
And be sure to subscribe to the car doctor YouTube channel for exclusive videos, real
repair footage and more.
Now start your engines.
The car doctor is in the garage and ready to take your call.
I went and saw Matt at the liquor store this morning.
I'm going to a big celebration tonight and I want to give the honoree a nice bottle of
scotch and I got him a nice bottle of scotch when we were talking.
And I said, how's business, Matt?
Because to be in a liquor store on the weekend and there's nobody in sight, he goes,
ah, you know, Ron, business is way off.
You know, he goes, it's really, I haven't had a great weekend since Fourth of July, which
and I looked at him and I said, is that normal?
And he goes, well, I don't know.
And the classic line right from Matt over there at my wall liquors.
He said, you know, he said, you would think in the state of the world and the state of
the economy and the state of everything else.
He goes, you're either one of two things.
You're either depressed or you're celebrating and either way you're drinking.
And I said, you know, that's, that's a fair point.
I never kind of thought of it that way.
And he said, you know, there's just insanity around in all of everything that we see going
on. I, you know, and I said, let me tell you this story and the story as I related
to Matt is this one.
I had a 2020 GMC Denali, good segue, huh?
I had a 2020 GMC Denali in the shop this week and it was an intermittent no crank.
Now, something about this truck raised my eyebrows right away when I first had it
brought in and this is the second time it's back in.
I actually, I sort of had a comeback.
It came in two weeks ago.
The customer dropped it off and he said, I need a starter.
And I said, how do you know you need a starter?
And he said, because watch, and he crawled under the truck, he had a hammer in his pocket.
It was the funniest thing.
He had a hammer right in it.
You know, he says, run, get in the truck and push on the button.
I push on the button and he hits the starter with a hammer and the truck starts.
And I shut it off and it won't start.
And I say, okay, I'm holding the button down and he hits the button with his hammer with
a button. I'm sorry.
He hits the starter with the hammer and it starts.
He says, I want you to put a starter in the truck.
Well, but we should, no, he says, I want you to put a starter in the truck.
He goes, that has worked on every vehicle I've ever run since the 70s.
He's an older fella.
And he said, my dad taught me that trick.
And yeah, you know, you kind of can't argue that, right?
You say, you know, you tap it, it starts.
It's a bad starter.
He said, I know it's a starter because this will be the fourth starter my truck has had.
And I'm adding it up.
I'm going, it's a five year old vehicle.
It's a 2020 GMC Denali, right?
He's put, this will be the fifth starter.
And I'm thinking, how is that possible?
Every 20, 25,000 miles, we put a starter in the truck.
Like it doesn't make any sense to me.
But listen, you know, it was reasonable to ask.
It was a reasonable thing to do.
I put a starter in the truck, went out and got the best brand new.
And you know what new means in my world, starter I could find.
All right.
Just like all the other brand new GM starters I could find.
So, so we put a starter in the truck, started right up.
Did it need the hammer?
I said, Chris, you're good to go, baby.
All right.
I said, it starts.
You can leave the hammer at home.
He goes, I'll keep it in the backseat.
You never know.
Just in case he goes, I'm getting used to it.
This is the hammer I bought for the truck.
All right.
So, you know, a couple of days goes by, three, four days goes by.
And somewhere around the fourth or fifth day I said, Oh, I'm feeling brave.
Let me just text Chris and say, Hey, by the way, how's the truck?
And he writes me back and he says, I think you jinxed me.
He goes, it just didn't start.
I'm in my driveway at my house.
It didn't start.
He said, I tried the hammer trick and it didn't work.
Oh, wait, it started.
He said, I'll be right over.
He comes over, he gets under the truck, we shut it off.
It won't start.
He taps it with a hammer.
It won't start.
I looked at him.
I said, you realize we're into something different.
He goes, yeah, I get that.
So, you know, it's a crazy business.
How do we go from one extreme to the next to the next?
You know, we're going to be on starter number six in five years.
And I'm looking for what did everybody else miss?
Remember, as Matt at the liquor store said, it's an insane world.
Well, auto repair kind of epitomizes this, right?
It really is crazy.
So I go through the truck.
I can't reproduce it because that's the other problem, right?
As soon as it was the next day, when I came in the next day, now I can't
duplicate the problem as far as I'm concerned, the truck's acting normal.
So I, you know, do diligence, tell me what's absolutely, what can I verify?
Absolutely positively is good.
I tested the battery.
I, I voltage drop tested the cables.
Now, when I, when I tested the battery, I used the industry standard
algorithm style, mathematical calculator, battery load tester.
And I say battery load tester, sort of tongue in cheek, because it doesn't
really apply a load.
It's, it's taking a surface charge reading with a minor, a very small, I
believe they apply two amps of a load or some ridiculous amount of amperage to it.
And they make a mathematical calculation, whether the battery is good or bad.
And this battery came back, one time it came back, a good low charge needs
recharge and the other time it came back is good.
By the way, low testing batteries and GMC trucks is absolutely ridiculous
because you can't get the clamps on the cables, but that's a different
conversation.
We're going to have that at some point in the future.
I don't know where.
And I went through everything I could go through as far as looking at inputs.
I'm looking through, you know, all the controls.
There's, there's transmission switches involved, the CM involved, body computer.
There's an engine control computer involved.
There's an anti theft process because the vehicles are so worried about
people stealing it, which I'll tell you the story about the guys that were
just indicted in, in New York City this week for stealing Hondas by cloning
the keys and re, rewriting the vins and then selling them as legitimate cars.
So those anti theft precautions we're taking are really worth it.
You know, um, 1962 Chevy, a key, a purple wire, a battery, a starter, turn
it, boom, we're done.
You know, if they want the car folks, they're just going to jack it up and
tow the whole thing away.
So it came down to where I couldn't reproduce any of this.
I got out my opus scan tool because this was the second dilemma I had.
I hooked up my snap on my hotel, my launch and a couple of other scan tools
I can't even think of.
And they all kind of told me gibberish.
Nothing made any sense because they, they were either inaccurate.
They were missing the piece of information I was looking for.
And I went to the standard because opus is the standard.
All right.
And sure enough inside opus, if you go look at park neutral switch, it's listed.
However, we later found out in talking with tech support after some research
that the park neutral switch position is an invalid parameter inside the scan
tool and you don't use that.
The way GM decided to do it, because technology, the more technology is
better technology when the vehicle is in park, there is a multi sensor switch
inside the transmission, trans one, trans two, and it shows duty cycle or percentage.
So if in park, trans one reads 25%, trans two has to read 75% in reverse.
If reverse reads 60% on pin one, it has to read 40% on pin two.
It always has to total to 100%.
They're using percentages played against the whole effect style.
Two sensor switch inside the transmission.
1962 Chevy purple wire ignition key starter solenoid battery.
We're good, but we're trying to keep the car from being stolen.
We're trying to make this as complicated as we possibly can.
In the end, and Brian and opus was just great.
I got to give them kudos here.
Man, we had a couple of laughs.
We were looking at how ridiculous this whole thing is.
And in the end, opus gave me the information that I wanted to say this
truck is operating as designed.
It's normal.
But we had an instance where during cranking, we went into a cranking
clear flood mode.
I saw the battery voltage drop under nine and a half volts.
It really went to nine too.
And then then it stopped cranking.
And I said, but the battery is good in my mind.
How can that be?
Well, long story short, I ended up pulling the battery out, put it on the bench.
And I got out my old carbon pile tester, which is the old school from 40 years ago.
They tell you not to use it.
They say it's not accurate.
They say it shouldn't be used on a modern day vehicle.
Nobody really gives me a good reason why.
And sure enough, standing voltage 12.1 bringing up to 180 Amps, which
replicates the amount of load a starter would put on it on average.
And battery voltage held at 10 too.
Well, gee, that battery is okay.
I sat there and I waited a minute and I went back.
Did the same test.
Battery voltage went to eight, eight, eight, six, eight, two, seven and a half.
And the machine shut off.
Well, I guess that's a bad battery.
So I had an intermittent battery as an issue.
Wow.
Now, how does that relate to when it came in?
Tap the starter, the starter would engage and crank the engine over.
Remember Matt at the liquor store today, right?
Ron, it's an insane world.
More people should be drinking.
You know, maybe, I know a few mechanics that probably are capable of it because I'm ready.
I, you know, I may have picked the wrong, you know, maybe this is the time to start.
I, in the end, I put a battery in it because I knew that was bad.
And I also changed the starter and I'll tell you why.
Because the starter did some funny things while I was going through testing.
It made a couple of noises I didn't like and it just reacted differently than I expected.
And I went down and I said, I've got to try a different brand.
Now I'm going to tell you a secret, all right.
GM starters are good.
I'm not 100% sold because why did we go through five and five years?
I went out and got a rebuilt.
I put a car quest advanced, right?
I put an advanced auto parts starter in this truck, which some people might say,
hey, that's a step down.
I disagree.
Car quest has a very, very good rotating electrical category there.
They make some of the really good alternators.
They make some really good starters.
We've had very, very few problems with them.
Put that car quest, that advanced, I'm sorry, that advanced auto parts
starter in that truck with a fresh battery.
It's gone five days.
As long as it's not on my doorstep on Monday, I'm good.
And all I can say is yes.
What's that line?
It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world.
Maybe we should bring it back.
That was 1962.
Another year.
Same as the Impala.
8555609900.
I'm Ron Ananey in the car doctor.
Come on back.
Let's talk.
This is Carissa Thompson from Calm Down with Aaron and Carissa.
Remember when buying a car was like a whole day affair and if we're being honest,
a whole weekend or a month or a ridiculous.
And that's not even counting all those hundreds of hours spent researching models,
comparing prices, asking your sister's coworkers for recommendations on family-friendly EVs.
Enough.
Now Amazon's making it easy.
At Amazon Autos, you can shop for a new used or certified pre-owned car whenever, wherever.
You can browse hundreds of real listings from top vetted local dealers all in one place during
whatever it is you're already doing.
You can also apply for personalized financing,
add optional protection products and services,
and even determine your trade and value all with transparent pricing.
That's right.
No negotiating necessary.
Who doesn't love that?
Then once you've picked out the right car for you,
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Go to amazon.com slash autos to start car shopping today and get back to your busy life.
That's amazon.com slash autos.
Amazon Autos car shopping that clicks.
This is Eva Longoria from Hungry for History with Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejon.
Hi everyone.
Happy holidays.
Let's talk about those two words, about keeping the holidays happy.
Because let's be honest, even the happiest season could use a boost.
You've got to take a minute for yourself, a little me time,
and refill those joy reserves so there's still plenty left to share.
Maybe that means taking a break from wrapping,
planning, cooking, hosting, to recharge with a refreshing Coca-Cola.
One sip and you're ready to hang more lights.
Sip and recharge your jolly now.
Because self-care isn't selfish.
It's necessary.
Whether you're a holiday multitasker extraordinaire,
or the host with the most, or I don't know, the actual Santa Claus,
you deserve a moment to reset.
So if things are getting a little too jingly-jingly,
take a breath, center yourself, have a Coke, and get back out there.
Refreshed, radiant, and ready to slay.
Yes, I did see how I did Santa slay.
You're welcome.
Enjoy your Coca-Cola.
Refresh your holidays.
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Let's go to Thomas in Arizona.
What's going on?
Hey, Thomas, how are you?
Pretty good, sir.
What's going on?
What can I do for you?
Oh, I've had this issue with this axle wrap thing
since 2012 when I bought it.
Okay.
You know, you come to a stop sign
and you let your foot off the brake and thump.
It was really bad.
It felt like somebody hit me in the rear end.
Okay.
Well, went on for a long time.
So then I went on Tacoma World.
They said, this will take care of that thumping.
You get overload springs.
They had our 1500 pounds and you don't put them
where they're supposed to go behind the axle.
You put them in front of the axle.
Well, lo and behold, it worked for about two years.
Then the straps on them, they're real tinny.
They're tin.
They're just to align it.
Well, they started to twist and bend
because there's a lot of, I guess, pressure on there.
So I took it to Toyota.
They said, Tuck, you got to live with it.
But no damage will happen.
There was a bulletin or something on it.
Well, I've gone through leaf springs, several of them.
And the theme started to sag.
So this Toyota won't do anything aftermarket.
So I went to this other guy that did aftermarket stuff.
He put traction bars on.
He said it was, they'll take care of it.
It did not.
We even did the drive shaft.
New springs, new leaf springs.
They even put Bilstein shocks around it.
And then I even, to stop the sad, I put on airbags.
So are you saying, hold on a second, Thomas,
are you saying that as you apply the brake,
when you let off the brake, the rear axle is physically moving?
Or as the brake releases, it causes the axle to wind,
to like load front then back?
Yes, it's like if you're done.
You're twisting the axle in a sense.
When it's a thump, not as bad as it was,
but it's still there and now it's coming back.
So there's times I'll raise the airbags up and down.
It goes away for a few days.
When I pull a trailer, I don't really feel it.
Four-wheel drive, nothing I've ever had.
Is this a standard height Tacoma?
You haven't modified anything?
Well, other than just the airbags.
And how much higher is it with the airbags?
But the airbag solves it, right?
Well, it kind of plays with it.
It's good for a couple of days, then it'll come back.
I raised it because they say,
when you have an empty bag, go to five pounds.
Then when I put my trailer on, I have to raise it to 30.
And it's level.
But I tried putting 11 in and it's like it's still there,
but not as much because you don't want to put too much air.
You'll be tearing stuff up.
That's what I was told.
I'm going to tell you, I'm going to go with my gut on this one, Thomas.
I haven't seen this particular problem, all right?
But I'm going to tell you the fact that I haven't heard about it.
Doesn't mean it doesn't exist because it does.
Obviously, you're here talking to me about it.
I'm going to tell you that you're in an area where it doesn't seem like
anybody's got a solution.
If you followed what they said out on a forum and it didn't work for you,
then you're into something unique.
What the reason I asked about is it's standard height or not,
is do we have an issue where the suspension height is altered and pinion angle
is incorrect in the rear?
The point where the drive shaft and the rear end physically meet.
Now, you purchased the truck used, correct?
Yes.
Right. If on the ground level height or whatever level height is for this vehicle,
if you were to look at the front of the rear axle, the front of the differential,
is it level?
Is it pointed down?
Is it pointed up?
Where is it?
That I don't know.
Right. Did somebody change the rear?
Because how do we know this is a stock 2003 rear?
You bought the truck 10 years later, 9 years later.
A lot can happen.
You probably bought it with higher mileage on it too, I'm guessing.
I bought it from a dealer and yeah, it's high mileage.
Right.
Right. Well, it probably was then.
You know, and then the other question I've got is if you put it in neutral
and coast to a stop and apply the brake and let off the brake, does it make the noise?
Does it give you that same sensation?
Very funny you would say that because I was going to do that today.
Because I'm looking to see, does it change when the diff is not under load or as much load?
Because it almost sounds like the rear is wound up and then bang, it releases when you
change its position, so to speak, by stepping on the brake and then letting off the brake.
Yeah, that's what happened.
Right. I want you to check two things.
I also want to make sure, is the frame intact?
There's nothing cracked, rusted, broken, mounts are in place.
All the body mounts are where they're supposed to be.
All the body mounts are tight.
I want to cover the basics.
But I also want to know opinion angle.
I want you to do some research on that and I want you to try the neutral
step on the brake release thing.
Call me back, we'll talk some more about it and we'll keep going with it.
855-560-9900, Ronan Aine and the car doctor coming back right after this.
Don't go away.
This is Carissa Thompson from Calm Down with Aaron and Carissa.
Remember when buying a car was like a whole day affair and if we're being honest,
a whole weekend or a month or ridiculous.
And that's not even counting all those hundreds of hours spent researching models,
comparing prices, asking your sister's co-workers for recommendations on family-friendly EVs.
Enough.
Now Amazon's making it easy.
At Amazon Autos, you can shop for a new used or certified pre-owned car whenever, wherever.
You can browse hundreds of real listings from top vetted local dealers all in one place during
whatever it is you're already doing.
You can also apply for personalized financing, add optional protection products and services,
and even determine your trade and value all with transparent pricing.
That's right, no negotiating necessary.
Who doesn't love that?
Then, once you've picked out the right car for you, head to your chosen dealership
to test drive, wrap up final paperwork, and drive home happy.
Go to amazon.com slash autos to start car shopping today and get back to your busy life.
That's amazon.com slash autos. Amazon Autos, car shopping, that clicks.
This is Eva Longoria from Hungry for History with Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejon.
Hi everyone.
Happy holidays.
Let's talk about those two words, about keeping the holidays happy.
Because let's be honest, even the happiest season could use a boost.
You've got to take a minute for yourself, a little me time, and refill those joy reserves,
so there's still plenty left to share.
Maybe that means taking a break from wrapping, planning, cooking, hosting,
to recharge with a refreshing Coca-Cola.
Ah, one sip and you're ready to hang more lights.
Sip and recharge your jolly now.
Because self-care isn't selfish.
It's necessary.
Whether you're a holiday multi-tasker extraordinaire, or the host with the most,
or I don't know, the actual Santa Claus, you deserve a moment to reset.
So if things are getting a little too jingly-jingly, take a breath.
Center yourself, have a Coke, and get back out there.
Refreshed, radiant, and ready to slay.
Yes, I did see how I did Santa Slay.
You're welcome.
Enjoy a Coca-Cola.
Refresh your holidays.
Head home for the holidays with Abercrombie and Finch.
We all know our calendars are about to get chaotic.
For non-stop plans, Abercrombie has the pieces to curate your perfect seasonal wardrobe.
Sweaters and denim for casual plans, party dresses for nights out,
and comfy matching sets for everything in between.
Keep the chaos cute this season in Abercrombie.
Shop their new holiday outfits in the app, online, and in stores.
This is Tanya Rad from Scrubbing In with Beckatillian Tanya Rad.
AirTasker is the platform that helps people get anything done.
Furniture assembly, cleaning, errands, repairs, organizing.
Even the odd, can someone please deal with this job?
And during the holidays, AirTasker is a lifesaver.
Think holiday lights, skiff wrapping, last-minute toy builds,
or someone to wait in line for those viral cookie drops.
You can book a Tasker for anything you can think of.
Gingerbread mansions, elf drop-ins for kids, full holiday photo setups,
or a backyard turned into a winter wonderland.
But it's just as useful year-round.
Moving help, yard work, decluttering, pet care, tutoring, event help, anything.
Here's how it works.
Just go on AirTasker, describe what you need, set a budget,
and choose the best Tasker for the job.
Holiday season or everyday life.
AirTasker, get anything done.
Download the AirTasker app or go to airtasker.com.
We know no one's journey is the same.
That's why Delta SkyMiles lets you do it your way.
From earning miles on reloads for coffee runs, shopping,
and things you do every day,
to connecting you to new places and experiences,
a SkyMiles membership fits into your lifestyle,
letting you do more of what makes you, you.
It's more than travel.
It's the membership that flies, dines, streams, rides, and arrives with you.
Every great journey deserves a great story.
And when you have a membership, that's as unique as you are.
There's no telling how your story will unfold
or where that journey will take you next.
SkyMiles is the membership that will be here
for all your big and small moments.
The membership that's there for every solo adventure or family trip.
The membership that comes with the power of partnership from brands you love.
The membership that moves with you.
Learn more at delta.com slash skymiles.
Car advice done right.
Thank you, Ben.
The band is... Does the band have a name, Tom?
Is that the Ken Martin band? I think so.
I think it's the Ken Martin band.
It's the Ken Martin band.
You never told me the name of the band,
so the Ken Martin band. Ken, would you sit down, please?
I want to tell you real quick, before we go anywhere,
we had occasion this week in the shop.
We were doing rear brakes on a 2019...
Well, it turned out to be a 2020.
That's a whole other story.
Ford Transit 250.
And it is the stupidest design in the world
because you have to take the axle out, take the bolts out,
push the rotor forward, turn it, and pull it back off the hub.
And it makes a bloody mess.
It's... You've got rust everywhere,
and dirt everywhere, and contaminant everywhere.
So we just got...
You know, you don't think you can reinvent the mousetrap, right?
CRC, they're brake clean.
They have a... They call it the CRC Pro Series Brake Clean.
Holy cow.
Harder spray, better spray.
Not splashy, but just more force.
And it's all-encompassing.
I'll tell you what, we use less brake clean
than we normally would have just using a singular can.
And if you're doing this kind of work
and you need a solvent cleaner,
something to clean away the rust and the crud,
and everything else,
that CRC Pro Series Brake Clean, it's really good stuff.
Go take a look at it.
You'll find it on their website.
Just... I just wanted to mention it.
A little tip from the base.
Let's go to John in Connecticut, O3 Jetta.
And, oh boy, I love these kind of cars and problems, John.
What's going on?
Hey, Ron, I did an engine swap on a O3 TDI.
First engine didn't get to do the timing belt, and it went, so...
Got a donor car with 129,000 on it, swapped engines.
So, my snap-on Triton, I adjusted the ignition,
or ignition injection timing on it.
Right.
And it shows from 85 degrees to, I think, 110.
And by the time I got it within spec, I checked my coolant temp,
and I was up at 145.
But I also looked at my intake gear temp, which showed 77.
And yesterday was probably in the 50s, I think, right?
Yeah, sounds like one of the sensors.
Let me ask you this.
When you did the swap, what year vehicle did it come from?
O3.
O3 to O3.
And what sensors did you use, the ones that came in the second engine,
or did you take them out of the first?
The only sensors I used were whatever that were on that engine.
So, the MAP and the mass air flow that was in the car,
I still used the original to that car.
Glow plugs to the donor engine.
That's the other thing I got to check.
I got to see if...
I got a bad glow plug.
Because on initial startup on cold, it'll run rough.
Right.
So, this morning, I threw the scanner on,
I was checking the intake temp, and it showed 42 degrees.
Coolant temp showed 42.
Fuel temp showed 42.
Was it 42 degrees in Connecticut this morning?
Well, my garage said 47.
So, 5 degrees.
Yeah, it's 5 degrees, but I would say that's pretty close.
Yeah.
That's pretty close.
And I went to the injection timing thing again,
and it showed me being at 38 degrees,
and the scanner said the ideal target is 60.
So, I guess...
Well, and then my second question is...
Because what you're really saying...
Let me talk to your brother here, John.
What you're really saying is your questioning is the Triton Accurate.
I guess, because everything I've seen online,
everybody's using the Volkswagen bag thing,
and it shows a graph.
The Vagcom tool is phenomenal.
When you see how it takes a little bit of getting used to,
because it's geared more towards a Volkswagen tech,
if you can get the language and using blocks and everything to find your data.
I haven't used mine in a while,
and boy, you can really sing with that tool on Volkswagen's.
I question my Triton on Volkswagen, too, for the record.
All right. It's not my favorite tool for that car line.
Certain things, but not something like this.
It's one of the reasons why I have a Vagcom, right?
The Vagcom scan tool, because I just question its accuracy.
And the problem you will find,
and scan tool manufacturers argue this with me,
is how many 03 Volkswagen's are left?
Right.
Right?
How many 23 Volkswagen's are on the road?
A lot more.
So do you think they gear their tools towards the newer vehicles,
and the older stuff?
Well, they're going away.
What difference does it make?
So you find yourself buying more than a few.
Yes, sir.
Yeah.
I still have the old brick.
Is the old brick capable of doing the injection timing on that?
Would that be a better tool to use?
You know what? You won't know until you try.
Listen, and it's not a question of is it better.
Don't, what's the analysis paralysis?
If you can plug it in legitimately and look up the vehicle,
try it. What's the worst that happens?
Yeah.
Right?
As long as the tool seems like it's responding to the vehicle.
The other question I've got is,
which injectors did you use?
The ones that came in the donor engine?
Yes.
Could we have a spray issue?
Well, let me tell you this.
With the donor vehicle, that thing would start up within like two seconds.
Idle, perf, everything.
Oh, you ran the donor engine.
Yeah, I bought a whole nother donor car.
Okay.
Got it.
Got it.
So it's something in the connection to or the process of what you're doing.
So then let's make sure setup is right.
How I would handle this?
Oh, listen, I'll tell you the story this way.
All right.
I had a, I'm only going to tell you that to you quick.
I had a 19 transit customer.
A customer has two vehicles.
He's got a 19 Ford transit and a 24 transit.
You know, he had to buy one three months apart just to drive me nuts.
Okay.
Like just buy two.
You need to get it over with.
He tells me he's bringing the 19.
Ron made the mental error of not verifying that.
Right?
So I looked up parts for a 19.
I brought the 19 parts in.
He brought me the 19.
I'm doing rear brakes, wrong brake pads.
Long story short, after three turns around, I went dummy, I said to myself,
is this the 19?
It wasn't.
It was the 20.
Ford changed the brake pads from 19 to 20.
My point is there's always a logical reason when you sit down and think about it.
So let's get pump timing to the point where we're content that it's accurate.
All right.
You know, it's a diesel.
You know, how long did the vehicle sit while you were waiting to do the engine?
Any length of time?
Probably about a year.
But I got to also tell you, with the original engine at startup, it would run.
It would almost like you would turn the key off.
It was so quick, it would run like that for a minute, two minutes, and then it would smooth out.
So if it's a year, could we have some kind of growth or algae in the fuel system in the tank?
Right.
Diesel's are prone to that.
Go out to Hot Shot Secret.
I got to run them up against the clock, but go out to Hot Shot Secret.
Go out to their website, HotShotSecret.com.
Take a look at Stixion Eliminator and take a look at some of the other things they have
as fuel system cleanup, depending upon your condition, where you're exactly at.
You know, to try that, one of those, and to use that stuff, to use Stixion Eliminator on a regular
basis, I can't tell you enough good things about it.
But to do the pump timing, get that square away in your head, and then come back and talk to me.
We'll cover the rest of it.
All right, kiddo?
Okay, Ron.
Thank you very much.
You're very welcome, sir.
You be well.
I'm Ron Anani in the car, doctor.
We're back right after this.
Don't go away.
This is Carissa Thompson from Calm Down with Aaron and Carissa.
Remember when buying a car was like a whole day affair, and if we're being honest,
a whole weekend or a month or a ridiculous.
And that's not even counting all those hundreds of hours spent researching models,
comparing prices, asking your sister's coworkers for recommendations on family-friendly EVs,
enough.
Now Amazon's making it easy.
At Amazon Autos, you can shop for a new, used, or certified pre-owned car, whenever, wherever.
You can browse hundreds of real listings from top-bedded local dealers,
all in one place, during whatever it is you're already doing.
You can also apply for personalized financing, add optional protection products and services,
and even determine your trade and value all with transparent pricing.
That's right.
No negotiating necessary.
Who doesn't love that?
Then, once you've picked out the right car for you, head to your chosen dealership to
test drive, wrap up final paperwork, and drive home happy.
Go to amazon.com slash autos to start car shopping today and get back to your busy life.
That's amazon.com slash autos.
Amazon Autos, car shopping, that clicks.
This is Eva Longoria from Hungry for History with Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejon.
Hi, everyone.
Happy holidays.
Let's talk about those two words, about keeping the holidays happy,
because let's be honest, even the happiest season could use a boost.
You've got to take a minute for yourself, a little me time, and refill those joy reserves,
so there's still plenty left to share.
Maybe that means taking a break from rapping, planning, cooking, hosting,
to recharge with a refreshing Coca-Cola.
Ah, one sip and you're ready to hang more lights.
Sip and recharge your jolly now, because self-care isn't selfish.
It's necessary.
Whether you're a holiday multi-tasker extraordinaire, or the host with the most,
or I don't know, the actual Santa Claus, you deserve a moment to reset.
So if things are getting a little too jingly-jingly, take a breath,
center yourself, have a Coke, and get back out there, refreshed, radiant, and ready to slay.
Yes, I did see how I did Santa slay.
You're welcome.
Enjoy your Coca-Cola.
Refresh your holidays.
Head home for the holidays with Abercrombie and Finch.
We all know our calendars are about to get chaotic.
For non-stop plans, Abercrombie has the pieces to curate your perfect seasonal wardrobe.
Sweaters and denim for casual plans, party dresses for nights out,
and comfy matching sets for everything in between.
Keep the chaos cute this season in Abercrombie.
Shop their new holiday outfits in the app, online, and in stores.
This is Tanya Rad from Scrubbing In with Beckatilli and Tanya Rad.
AirTasker is the platform that helps people get anything done.
Furniture assembly, cleaning, errands, repairs, organizing,
even the odd, can someone please deal with this job?
And during the holidays, AirTasker is a lifesaver.
Think holiday lights, skip wrapping, last minute toy builds,
or someone to wait in line for those viral cookie drops.
You can book a tasker for anything you can think of.
Gingerbread mansions, elf drop-ins for kids,
full holiday photo setups, or a backyard turned into a winter wonderland.
But it's just as useful year-round.
Moving help, yard work, decluttering, pet care, tutoring, event help, anything.
Here's how it works.
Just go on AirTasker, describe what you need, set a budget,
and choose the best tasker for the job.
Holiday season or everyday life.
AirTasker, get anything done.
Download the AirTasker app or go to airtasker.com.
We know no one's journey is the same.
That's why Delta Sky Miles lets you do it your way.
From earning miles on reloads for coffee runs,
shopping, and things you do every day,
to connecting you to new places and experiences.
A Sky Miles membership fits into your lifestyle,
letting you do more of what makes you, you.
It's more than travel.
It's the membership that flies, dines, streams, rides, and arrives with you.
Every great journey deserves a great story.
And when you have a membership that's as unique as you are,
there's no telling how your story will unfold
or where that journey will take you next.
Sky Miles is the membership that will be here
for all your big and small moments.
The membership that's there for every solo adventure
or family trip.
The membership that comes with the power of partnership
from brands you love.
The membership that moves with you.
Learn more at delta.com slash skymiles.
Hey, let's go see Dave in Pennsylvania.
David, welcome to the car doctor.
How can I help?
Oh, I'm having some issues with my F-250.
The F-150.
Got it.
It did.
I tried to start it.
It just comes on the dash and says engine system fail
or starting system failed.
But it cranks over, right?
No, no crank.
Okay.
It goes straight to the little computer on the dash here.
I tried reading up on it a little bit.
Some people thought, yeah, maybe starter or something like that.
But I also read we're all completely remote start.
If it's failed or shorted, it might do that.
I've had a remote start in since 2013.
Well, yeah, because depending upon how, let's talk generically,
because I don't know how yours is wired.
One of the things I dislike about add-on accessories,
and I'm saying that as a person who has add-on accessories and vehicles.
Okay.
I know it's sort of a necessary evil.
All right.
It's kind of like some days you just have to stop at a McDonald's
and get a cheeseburger.
You're not sure why, but you have to.
Your body's screaming for it.
So having said that, how it's wired, the care and consideration,
all right, is it possible that when they tapped into the wiring harness,
in simplest terms, if there's a feed from the main computer that goes to the ignition switch,
that goes to the relay, that goes to the body computer, that goes down to the starter,
how they tapped into that wiring, they usually have to break it at some point
and put the remote start module in series in the circuit, right?
So did they do a poor solder job?
Did they have a, do we have a bad connection?
Do we have, you know, so there's a couple of things we have to see.
Now, if we were standing at the shop and we had a scan tool on it,
one of the things I would go look for, does the vehicle show me it recognizes
park neutral?
In 2012, we were still using a park neutral switch.
Does it show that, yes, the trans is in park, can I put it in reverse?
Yes, it says reverse.
Does it go into neutral?
Yes, it's, oh wait, it doesn't say neutral.
Why doesn't it say, you know, I'm looking for inputs, that type of approach, right?
So, and that's something you will not see with OBD2.
So don't look for it.
You need a year make model scanner, all right?
Or you need a year make model capable scanner so that you can see, you know,
because listen, there could be 450-pids pieces of information for that vehicle.
It's crazy.
Some vehicles today have 800-pids and more.
So, you know, these are the kind of things we look for.
The one thing I want to ask you to do, all right, just on the chance,
you know where the battery junction box is under the hood?
It's probably right on top of the radiator,
that long rectangular box with fuses and relays in it.
Yeah.
Go look at, go find, make sure you find the right one.
Fuse 27.
Okay, flip relay?
It's a 20 amp fuse.
Fuse 27, all right?
When you're sure you've got, when you're sure you got fuse 27, pull it out.
Look at it.
Are the contacts burnt?
Are there, are there, are there two black marks, brown marks on the fuse blade?
Yes, I didn't see that, no.
All right, if, if, oh, you, did you, you looked at 27.
Yes, yes, I even replaced it with another fuse, you know, to double up on.
Okay, because.
Where's the relay?
Yeah, there's, well, and then 27, fuse 27.
There's a bulletin 15-0137 that talks about relocating fuse 27 to a different part of the box
because they're worried about the electrical load on the circuit.
But I don't, I don't think you have that problem.
All right.
But if you break out a wiring diagram, you'll be able to see,
should you have power at 27 at what point and do you or don't you?
And that's, that's fuse 27 is going to be part of this.
Okay.
All right.
So the next step would be a wiring diagram.
Where am I missing power and voltage?
Listen, it's easy enough.
Crawl under the truck.
Do you have power at the solenoid wire feeding the starter?
Starter's a starter.
It's an appliance, right?
Plug in, plug out.
But I think you've got to go through some of the other things we talked about first
in order to get to a bottom, bottom end conclusion.
Do those things, Dave.
Call me back.
I'm happy to talk to you and we can go a little deeper if we have to.
But that'll at least get you started.
855-5600-9900.
We're on an eating the car doctor coming back right after this.
This is Carissa Thompson from Calm Down with Aaron and Carissa.
Think about all the things you love about Amazon.
The ease, the convenience, the giant selection of products,
and the fact that you can shop right from your phone at home or wherever you are.
And right now, Amazon is bringing all of those amazing things to car shopping.
Can you believe it?
It's incredible.
That's right.
Amazon Autos.
Amazon Autos is changing the car shopping game by making it simpler and more convenient
to buy a new used or certified pre-owned car.
You can browse hundreds of real listings from top vetted local dealers all in one place.
Hey, and it gets even better than that.
You can also apply for personalized financing at optional protection products and services
and even determine your trade in value all with transparent pricing.
That's right.
No negotiating necessary.
Then once you've picked out the right car for you,
head to your chosen dealership to take it for a test drive, wrap up final paperwork,
and drive home happy.
Amazon has thought of everything.
So go to amazon.com slash autos to start car shopping today.
I love that I'm even saying this.
This is Eva Longoria from Hungry for History with Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejon.
Hi, everyone.
Happy holidays.
Let's talk about those two words, about keeping the holidays happy,
because let's be honest, even the happiest season could use a boost.
You've got to take a minute for yourself, a little me time, and refill those joy reserves.
So there's still plenty left to share.
Maybe that means taking a break from wrapping, planning, cooking, hosting,
to recharge with a refreshing Coca-Cola.
Ah, one sip and you're ready to hang more lights.
Sip and recharge your jolly now, because self-care isn't selfish.
It's necessary.
Whether you're a holiday multitasker extraordinaire or the host with the most,
I don't know, the actual Santa Claus, you deserve a moment to reset.
So if things are getting a little too jingly-jingly, take a breath,
center yourself, have a Coke, and get back out there.
Refreshed, radiant, and ready to slay.
Yes, I did see how I did Santa slay.
You're welcome.
Enjoy a Coca-Cola.
Refresh your holidays.
Head home for the holidays with Abercrombie and Finch.
We all know our calendars are about to get chaotic.
For non-stop plans, Abercrombie has the pieces to curate your perfect seasonal wardrobe.
Sweaters and denim for casual plans, party dresses for nights out,
and comfy matching sets for everything in between.
Keep the chaos cute this season in Abercrombie.
Shop their new holiday outfits in the app, online, and in stores.
This is Tanya Rad from Scrubbing In with Becca Tilly and Tanya Rad.
Airtasker is the platform that helps people get anything done.
Furniture assembly, cleaning, errands, repairs, organizing.
Even the odd, can someone please deal with this job?
And during the holidays, Airtasker is a lifesaver.
Think holiday lights, skiff wrapping, last-minute toy builds,
or someone to wait in line for those viral cookie drops.
You can book a tasker for anything you can think of.
Gingerbread mansions, elf drop-ins for kids, full holiday photo setups,
or a backyard turned into a winter wonderland.
But it's just as useful year-round.
Moving help, yard work, decluttering, pet care, tutoring, event help, anything.
Here's how it works.
Just go on Airtasker, describe what you need, set a budget,
and choose the best tasker for the job.
Holiday season or everyday life.
Airtasker, get anything done.
Download the Airtasker app or go to Airtasker.com.
We know no one's journey is the same.
That's why Delta SkyMiles lets you do it your way.
From earning miles on reloads for coffee runs, shopping, and things you do every day,
to connecting you to new places and experiences,
a SkyMiles membership fits into your lifestyle,
letting you do more of what makes you, you.
It's more than travel.
It's the membership that flies, dines, streams, rides, and arrives with you.
Every great journey deserves a great story.
And when you have a membership that's as unique as you are,
there's no telling how your story will unfold or where that journey will take you next.
SkyMiles is the membership that will be here for all your big and small moments.
The membership that's there for every solo adventure or family trip.
The membership that comes with the power of partnership from brands you love.
The membership that moves with you.
Learn more at delta.com slash skymiles.
And we're back.
Let's see if was it Dave in Pennsylvania, the gentleman we just spoke with,
if he's still listening regarding the F-250.
The other thing I thought about is while you're at the battery junction box under the hood,
go look at fuse number 13.
It's a 30 ampere and go look at fuse 31.
Is it 31 in my head?
Yeah, it's 31.
Are either of those blown.
Get a wiring diagram and trace it out.
But there are three critical fuses, 27, 13, and 31 in that battery junction box
that could either be burnt or blown.
And that'll give you a direction on which way to diagnose as well.
So that's just, that's just very, very important.
I want to finish here.
Okay.
I want to leave you with this thought.
I was at the gym this week and, and Krista came up to me and she was asking
about tire pressure monitoring system because a TPMS light came on in her car.
And she said, I don't know, I guess the math didn't click.
And what I said to her was her TPMS light was on, but the tire still looked okay.
You can't judge a tire by kicking the sidewall.
If it's a run flat, the sidewall is going to be rock hard.
So don't assume that just because the tire is still looks okay,
that it's not low on pressure.
You have to physically check pressure.
But it's a direct relationship between the placard on the driver's door jam
and the weather as to how that TPMS system is going to work.
Assume that the placard, you open up the driver's door,
there's a little sticker there.
It'll tell you front tires, rear tires, what the pressure should be.
That's a 68 degree day.
That's the rule of thumb we go by.
So at 68 degrees, if it says 35 pounds, when the system loses 15%, okay,
when it gets down to 31 pounds, it's going to turn on the light.
By the same consequence, if you live in Arizona and it's 100 degrees, okay,
you've got to compensate for pressure and adjust accordingly
because it changes with temperature.
For every 10 degrees of change, tire pressure goes up or down.
So keep that in mind as I explained to Krista and hopefully she got it and you did too.
So that's about it.
Till the next time, I'm Ronanini in the car doctor reminding all of you,
as I'm putting Tom Ray to sleep.
Good mechanics aren't expensive, they're priceless.
See ya.
We know no one's journey is the same.
That's why Delta SkyMiles moves with you.
From earning miles on reloads for coffee runs, shopping, and things you do every day
to connecting you to new experiences.
A SkyMiles membership fits into your lifestyle,
letting you do more of what makes you, you.
It's more than travel.
It's the membership that flies, dines, streams, rides, and arrives with you.
Because when you have a membership that's as unique as you are,
there's no telling where your journey will take you next.
Learn more at delta.com slash skymiles.
This is Tanya Rad from scrubbing in with Beckatillian Tanya Rad.
AirTasker is the platform that helps people get anything done.
Furniture assembly, cleaning, repairs, errands, organizing,
even those, can someone please handle this jobs?
And during the holidays, it's a lifesaver.
Holiday lights, gift wrapping, toy builds, waiting in line for viral cookie drops,
even gingerbread houses, elf drop-ins, or full holiday photo setups.
Year-round, it's perfect for moving help, yard work, decluttering, pet care, tutoring,
event help, anything.
Just go on AirTasker, describe what you need, set a budget,
and choose the best Tasker for the job.
AirTasker, get anything done.
Download the app or go to airtasker.com.
This is Sophie Cunningham from Show Me Something.
Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea,
or OSA, in adults with obesity?
They may be happening to you without you knowing.
If anyone has ever said you snored loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive
tiredness, irritability, and concentration issues, it may be due to OSA.
OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep,
which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation.
Learn more at Don't Sleep on OSA.com.
This information is provided by Lily, a medicine company.
This is an I Heart podcast.
Guaranteed human.
About this episode
Ron Ananian dives into the complexities of automotive repairs, sharing a fascinating case about a 2020 GMC Denali with a recurring no-crank issue. After multiple starter replacements, Ron uncovers an intermittent battery problem that had gone unnoticed. He discusses the challenges of modern vehicle diagnostics, including the intricacies of electronic systems and the importance of thorough testing. Listeners will appreciate Ron's practical advice and humorous anecdotes, making this episode both informative and entertaining.
Original notes
In this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron opens with a visit to the local liquor store and a simple question—“How’s business?”—that quickly turns into a bigger conversation about the crazy state of the world, the economy, and yes, auto repair. From there, he dives into a head-scratcher in the shop: a 2020 GMC Denali with an intermittent no-crank that’s already on its fifth starter in five years. The owner’s “hammer tap” trick has always worked—until it doesn’t. Ron walks through modern battery testing, why today’s algorithm-based testers can miss an intermittent failure, how his old-school carbon pile load tester finally cracked the case, and why he ended up replacing both the battery and starter with parts he trusts.
The phones light up and Ron tackles a grab bag of real-world problems:
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A Toyota Tacoma with a long-standing rear “thump” that feels like someone hit you from behind – is it axle wrap, pinion angle, or something in the suspension geometry?
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A nasty rear brake job on a Ford Transit, and a shop tip on using CRC Pro Series Brake Clean to tame the rust and mess.
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An ’03 VW Jetta TDI with swapped engines and questions about injection timing, scan tool accuracy, and when you really need a dedicated VAG-COM tool.
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A Ford F-250 no-crank with a remote start system in the mix, where Ron explains why you have to think in terms of wiring paths, junction boxes, and key fuses like 27, 13, and 31 instead of just “bad starter.”
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And a quick, practical mini-clinic on tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS)—why you can’t judge a tire by kicking it, how temperature affects pressure, and what that little door-jamb placard really assumes.
If you want real-world diagnostic stories, straight talk about the insanity of modern car design, and practical advice you can actually use on your own vehicle, this episode’s for you.
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Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes
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Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel
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Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900
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Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
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