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Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - November 15, 2025 -  Hour 2 - Looking For A Mechanic? - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - November 15, 2025 - Hour 2 - Looking For A Mechanic? - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor Nov 15, 2025 34 min
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About this episode

Ron Ananian dives into the pressing issue of the mechanic shortage in the automotive industry, sparked by comments from Ford CEO Jim Farley. He discusses the misconceptions surrounding auto repair, the challenges mechanics face, and the need for better training and respect for the trade. Listeners hear about the realities of modern vehicle repairs, the importance of skilled technicians, and the impact of societal attitudes on the profession. The episode features engaging listener calls, including a discussion about restoring a classic Jeep and diagnosing catalytic converter issues.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

Chevrolet Equinox

"I need to get my 16, 16 Chevy Equinox. I don't know the phone was ringing off the wall."

The Chevrolet Equinox is a type of SUV that is good for families and has a lot of space inside. The 2016 version is one of the models that people often buy.

Term

variable valve timing

"his 16 Chevy Equinox had two variable valve timing fault codes."

Variable valve timing is a system in car engines that helps them run better and use less fuel by changing when the valves open and close.

Part

actuator

"he believes he fixed by putting an actuator in, but the other one is difficult to get to."

An actuator is a part in a car that helps move things around, like the parts that open and close the engine's valves.

Term

timing chain

"And you know, my whole theory about timing change, it's an interesting conversation to have."

A timing chain helps keep the engine parts moving in sync. It's usually stronger than a timing belt but can still wear out if not maintained.

Car

Willys Jeep

"...my dad rebuilt this 42 wilies Jeep totally and it's been in storage, hasn't been run in a while..."

The Willys Jeep is a tough vehicle that was used by the military in World War II. It's famous for being able to drive on rough terrain.

Term

drain the fuel

"...I know I need to drain the fuel out of it and put some fresh fuel in there."

Draining the fuel means removing the old gas from the tank. This is important because old gas can cause the engine to not run well when you try to start it again.

Term

viscosity

"In terms of what? Viscosity, brand type, all of it?"

Viscosity is how thick or thin a liquid is. For engine oil, it affects how well the oil flows and protects the engine, especially in different temperatures.

Term

high detergent oil

"I think he's been a 30 weight high detergent guy in the past."

High detergent oil has special ingredients that help keep the engine clean by preventing dirt and sludge from building up.

Term

synthetic oil

"I don't think he's put synthetic in it. That would be my preference."

Synthetic oil is a man-made oil that works better than regular oil. It helps engines run smoother and last longer, especially in extreme temperatures.

Term

valve seats

"did they change the valve seats in the head or is it standard valve seats or to what degree level?"

Valve seats are parts in the engine where the valves close. Changing them can help the engine work better and last longer, especially in powerful engines.

Company

Driven Racing Oil

"there's a company out there called Driven Racing Oil. You may or may not like this."

Driven Racing Oil is a brand that makes special oils for racing cars and high-performance engines. They focus on helping engines run better and last longer.

Term

catalytic converter

"...vehicle that does not have a catalytic converter. Because a modern day vehicle that's got a cat on it can't use oil, for example, with I believe sulfur in it because it'll damage the cat..."

A catalytic converter is a part of a car that helps clean the exhaust gases so that they are less harmful to the environment. It changes bad gases into safer ones before they come out of the car's tailpipe.

Term

sulfur in oil

"...a vehicle that does not have a catalytic converter. Because a modern day vehicle that's got a cat on it can't use oil, for example, with I believe sulfur in it because it'll damage the cat..."

Some oils have sulfur in them, which can be bad for cars with special parts that clean the exhaust. If the oil has too much sulfur, it can hurt those parts and make them not work well.

Term

Stiction Eliminator

"...I like Stiction Eliminator from Hot Shot Secret. All right. I think that's one of the better crankcase cleaner type chemicals out there..."

Stiction Eliminator is a special fluid that helps clean the inside of an engine, especially if it hasn't been used for a while. It makes sure the oil can flow properly and keeps the engine running smoothly.

Term

driveline fluids

"...we've got to go through driveline fluids, right? Yeah. Yeah, for sure..."

Driveline fluids are special oils that help the parts that make your car move work better. Changing these fluids regularly helps keep your car running smoothly.

Term

DOT 3

"Do I go with dot three or dot four? I think dot three is probably fine. You know, I don't..."

DOT 3 is a kind of brake fluid used in cars. It helps the brakes work properly and is often used in regular vehicles.

Term

DOT 4

"Do I go with dot three or dot four? I think dot three is probably fine. You know, I don't..."

DOT 4 is another type of brake fluid that works better in high-performance situations. It can handle higher temperatures than DOT 3, which is important for some cars.

Term

brake bleeding

"...the thing I like about bleeding brakes that way is you're working the hydraulics..."

Brake bleeding is when you remove air from the brake system to make sure the brakes work well. It's important for safety when driving.

Term

scan tool

"...the things I've done, as I have a good scan tool, it shows me the incoming and the outcoming temperature based on what the ECM is telling me..."

A scan tool is a device that mechanics use to check what's wrong with a car. It connects to the car's computer to read error messages and see how different parts are working.

Term

ECM

"...it shows me the incoming and the outcoming temperature based on what the ECM is telling me..."

The ECM is like the brain of the car's engine. It tells the engine how to run properly by making adjustments based on information from different sensors.

Car

Ford F150

"Well, it's a 2013 F-150 EcoBoost. All right. So let's talk about catalytic converters..."

The Ford F-150 EcoBoost is a big truck that uses a special engine to give it good power while saving gas.

Term

oxygen storage capacity test

"So we're either going to do an oxygen storage capacity test and look and see how much oxygen can it hold..."

An oxygen storage capacity test checks how well the catalytic converter can hold and use oxygen to help clean the exhaust gases.

Term

oxygen sensor

"...I look at the O2 inlet and outlet of it and I monitor the millivolt signal and they seem to be corresponding accurately."

An oxygen sensor is a device in a car that checks how much oxygen is in the exhaust gases. This helps the car's computer make sure the engine is running efficiently and cleanly.

Part

O2 sensor

"...we will see a difference between the front O2 sensor, the back O2 sensor and the length of time it takes to make that change..."

An O2 sensor checks how much oxygen is in the car's exhaust. This helps the car's computer decide how much fuel to use for the best performance and to reduce pollution.

Term

back pressure

"What I'm trying to avoid is having, you know, back pressure and, you know, blown out seals and things like that in my own vehicle."

Back pressure is the pressure that builds up in the exhaust system when gases can't flow out easily. Too much back pressure can hurt the engine's performance.

Term

fault code

"if you're worried about that first question I asked, or do you have a fault code? Do you have a P0420 or P0430?"

A fault code is a message that your car's computer sends out when it finds a problem. Mechanics use these codes to figure out what's wrong with the car.

Term

OBD

"if you go and look in OB under OBD, if you look at pending, do you have any fault codes?"

OBD is a system in cars that checks how well the engine and other parts are working. It helps find problems by showing error codes.

Term

mode six

"...if you go look at mode six, mode six is the testing done inside of a scan tool, uh, vis-a-vis OBD2 technology. And it is the actual behind the scenes testing that the computer will put the vehicle through to determine is the cat a pass or a fail..."

Mode six is a way for mechanics to check if parts of a car are working properly using a special tool. It helps them find problems before they show up as warning lights on the dashboard.

Car

Chevrolet Spark

"...e quality of the ignition system, how good is the spark, right? How worn are the plugs? I mean, all that..."

The Chevrolet Spark is a small and inexpensive car that’s great for city driving. It's easy to park and saves money on gas, making it a popular choice for people looking for a budget-friendly vehicle.

Car

GMC Denali

"...I talked about the 2020 GMC Denali that has three computers, four switches, five relays, a computer. I mean, it's just, it's an endless list just to make the starter go."

The GMC Denali is a high-end version of GMC's vehicles, offering more luxury and technology than standard models. The 2020 version has many electronic parts that help it run smoothly.

Term

emissions

"...we are on the quest of trying to eliminate emissions. Yeah, I get it. We're trying to cut down on emissions..."

Emissions are the harmful gases that cars release into the air when they burn fuel. Car manufacturers work to reduce these gases to help protect the environment.

Term

cloning keys

"...those eight guys are indicted for stealing Hondas by figuring out the cars they wanted, cloning the keys..."

Cloning keys means making a copy of a car's key, which can be used to unlock and start the car without permission. It's a method some thieves use to steal cars.

4 cars featured

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