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
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - November 15, 2025 - Hour 2 - Looking For A Mechanic? - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline
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Car
Chevrolet Equinox
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
High detergent oil has special ingredients that help keep the engine clean by preventing dirt and sludge from building up.
Term
synthetic oil
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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And here we are, yep, another week of adventures with Ron.
I keep thinking of how to make this show better if it's any good at all.
But I think it's more about what goes on in the shop and the things I see and the experiences I have.
And just trying to talk out to the shop because I don't know.
Auto repair is a very misunderstood industry.
It really is.
And it makes me think that does anybody see what I see?
And I'm sure shop owners do, but does the consumer?
And that's what makes it so difficult.
Recent article, just I think it was this week or today even,
in the New York Post, Ford CEO Jim Farley commented,
he can't fill 5,000 mechanics jobs paying $120,000 a year.
And here's the quote you've all been waiting for.
You know what Jim says?
We're in trouble in our country.
Yeah, no kidding.
Research Cathy is writing.
I had written for one of the local magazines, regional magazines, jeez, 25, 30 years ago.
And I'm writing a book.
I know, I'm trying to get through it, but boy, it's not hard.
It's not easy.
It's hard.
And we're going to include some of the articles that I wrote 25 years ago.
And Cathy's writing these articles and she's, or reading the articles and she says,
you know, I read every one of them.
She said, first of all, you still say the same things today that you said 25,
30 years ago.
And she said, all of them are true.
And in many cases, you predicted the future.
She goes, do you realize that?
And I said, yeah, and one of the things I've been saying for umpteen years
is this is an industry that gets no respect.
It's kind of like being Rodney Dangerfield.
That we're, you know, nobody really looks at mechanics and everybody complains,
mechanics are too expensive, mechanics are this or mechanics are that.
The problem is, and yeah, there's, there's some bums out there,
but the bigger problem is everybody's got a preconceived notion of how to fix something
and how we're going to approach this and why we're going to approach this.
And I don't think anybody realizes what order repair is.
I had a phone call this week at the shop.
Gentleman called up.
I've been listening to you on radio and I need to get my 16, 16 Chevy Equinox.
I don't know the phone was ringing off the wall.
Three people were standing in front of me.
I could barely give the man that his due that he deserved and I felt bad about it.
But you know, his 16 Chevy Equinox had two variable valve timing fault codes.
And one of them, he believes he fixed by putting an actuator in,
but the other one is difficult to get to.
So he did some sort of a diagnosis as he put it and he believes it's the timing chain.
When can he make an appointment and bring it in?
And you know, my whole theory about timing change,
it's an interesting conversation to have.
I think some vehicles wear out timing chains regardless of what you do.
My experience that the Chevy Equinoxes seem to be going through them,
the little two, four EcoBoost and the one fives or the one sixes, I think it is,
are going through chains because it's usually lack of maintenance.
It's usually poor quality oil changes.
But how do you jump into that?
Because in Bergen County, New Jersey, and I've said this a million times on the air,
in Bergen County, New Jersey, show me a machine shop, show me an engine rebuilder.
So when you take that apart to see the timing chain and you find slivers of metal,
you can say, okay, we can get this fixed or that fixed,
or we can get the engine repaired without having to go get a whole crate assembly
or a whole engine assembly from GM.
Where do you go with that?
And yet people will say that mechanics are judgmental.
People will say mechanics are expensive.
People will say that mechanics don't properly diagnose.
I think part of the issue is that even when mechanics are trying,
the deck is stacked against them because of the public conception.
What Ford CEO Jim Farley says, when he says we're in trouble, he's not lying.
There are, you know, there's a pile of mechanics getting ready to retire.
You go look at an ASC certification class and I guarantee you three quarters of the
guys in that room have gray hair.
And that's a problem.
And when I go out to YouTube, I look at the YouTube channel and I see some of the stuff
at YouTube University and I know some of these kids, as I call them,
and they'll talk about how they used the scope and they did this and they did that
and it took them three minutes.
Now, when you talk to them in class, they'll say, yeah, that was a three day car,
but I just made it look good on the video.
So even YouTube lies, right?
You know, as long as we're going to be honest here and talk about this,
there's a bit of fallacy with regards to YouTube University and how accurate it is.
But the bottom line, and this is really the meat and potatoes of it,
is we need more mechanics and we need to start training them.
We need to start, we need to ramp up the trade schools.
We need to put auto shop back in high school.
It needs to be a four year program, at least.
You know, I don't know.
Ford says he can't find people to take a job at $120,000 a year.
That's a lot of dough.
That really is a lot of dough.
And you know, maybe not for every part of the country in Bergen County, New Jersey,
you're probably broke making 120 a year.
You know, but in other parts of the country, that's good bread, Fred.
And yet we can't find people to take these jobs.
And it's not just auto repair, it's all the trades.
Electricians, carpenters, plumbers, it's something that can't be outsourced
and it's something that can't be done by AI.
And it's a problem and it's going to continue to be a problem.
Because you mark my words, we don't figure this out.
In the next three to six years, you're going to see an even bigger backlog
of getting your car fixed.
You know, auto repair is interesting, right?
And again, talking to you from the heart and what I see and what I suspect.
I don't think we realize how far behind the eight ball we are.
And I don't think you realize that as CEO Farley puts it, it takes X number of weeks
to teach somebody how to take an engine in and out of a super duty Ford pickup,
which I thought was kind of interesting that he was referencing that
because that's such a big, big problem they have right now having to do engines in these trucks.
But this is a question of placing people in the right skill set.
Because I think there are mechanics out there, I really do.
I think there's a lot of mechanics out there, potentials, wannabes,
to do it yourself or as the guys that, you know, they go to work, you know,
Monday through Friday, nine to five in that computer job or in the office job or, you know,
wearing the suit and tie and I wish I was a mechanic, but they can't because, you know,
how do you break into this industry? It's, it's, you know, you want to be a mechanic?
So let's see, let's say you go to trade school, trade school, any one of them,
Lincoln Tech or UTI or any of them, it's, it's somewhere in the magnitude of 25 to 30 grand
for, you know, whatever it is, a two year, three year program, and it's probably more.
All right. It's probably more by now. Then you come out of your $25,000 program.
Let's baseline it there and you have to buy tools. Well, you know, you could buy,
you can buy something other than Snap-on or Mac. Most of, most of the techs seem to buy that stuff.
And, you know, there's probably a minimum of a $25,000 investment in the first three years
in tooling. And what do you get back for it? See, that's the problem. Ford's saying $120,000 a year
and that's probably, you know, he doesn't say, but is that entry level? Is that A-Tex, B-Tex,
you know, top of the line, mid-level, right? You're investing so much money to become a mechanic.
It's not like 40 years ago. All right. You had a screwdriver, a straight blade, a Phillips,
a set of wrenches that ran from three-eighths to three-quarters of an inch. Oh, maybe you got
excited. You got to use a seven-eighths inch wrench because it was the big one, right? A hammer,
a hacksaw. Now, today, my God, I have drawers of wrenches and drawers of wrenches. You know,
we have to take an inventory because sometimes you forget where stuff is. That is kind of the
hilarity of it, right? Danny was working on something the other day and he was looking for
something and he goes, where'd we put it? I don't know. I really don't know. We haven't used it in
a while and we tend to move things around trying to become more efficient, more organized, which
confuses us even more. And it's just kind of hilarious what you come across in the shop.
And, you know, these are the tools you need to fix cars, but it doesn't matter because we don't
have enough mechanics anyway. I'm not sure where we're going. I guess I'm just trying to point out
that I agree with Mr. Farley. And if you go Google search CEO Jim Farley in the New York Post,
you can read the article in its entirety and you'll see that what he says is a little unnerving.
You know, as he closes out and he says, we have over a million openings in critical jobs,
emergency services, trucking factory workers, plumbers, electricians, and tradesmen. And
he's not wrong. So we need to rethink our priorities and get squared away.
855-5600-9900. I'm coming back right after this and we're going to open up the phone line. So don't
go away. I'm Ron Ananian. Be right back. 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 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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online, and in stores.
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Hey, let's get over to Bernie in Pennsylvania waiting there patiently with his 42 willies.
Bernie, this is kind of cool. What are we trying to do?
Hi, Ron. You mentioned mechanics before. You forgot the baler twine or something else that was in
the toolbox. And that's all you needed, right? It's so different now. And we're going to really
have to get on our game here because we're going to lose a generation and then we're going to
really not be able to get cars fixed. So anyway, what's going on? Yeah, I'm the son of a mechanic.
Actually, my dad rebuilt this 42 willies Jeep totally and it's been in storage, hasn't been
run in a while. It's got the total of 70 miles on the engine and I want to crank it back up and
do it properly. I know I need to drain the fuel out of it and put some fresh fuel in there.
We're also going to use non ethanol fuel, just not to complicate matters. But the oil change
is something that I had a question about, wondering what the best way to go with that is.
In terms of what? Viscosity, brand type, all of it?
Yeah, pretty much. I think he's been a 30 weight high detergent guy in the past. I don't think he's
put synthetic in it. That would be my preference. You probably can't find what you're looking for
by conventional means. All right. So to me, that's a hot rod. All right. It's a pre 75 engine.
Okay. When was it rebuilt? How long ago? He rebuilt it probably about 12 years ago.
All right. So do you know, did they change the valve seats in the head or is it standard valve
seats or to what degree level? I think it's probably standard. Okay. So rings, you know,
there's a company out there called Driven Racing Oil. You may or may not like this. I'm not sure,
but we'll see. It's the stuff I use in the hot rod. All right. They make a great oil. If you read
their website, and I believe it's drivenracingoil.com, but if you Google it'll come up, they'll talk
about the different oils and what they do and how they apply to different engines. They, I believe,
have a straight 30 weight and they will have the correct oil with the correct ades in it
because they know it's going into 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. But they've got the good stuff. All right.
Not cheap, but what is, but it's the right oil. And I think that's where you're going. I think
you're going to end up with that. The other thing, depending upon, you know, what sort of sludge
do you have in this? Do you have any? How long has it been sitting? How long has it been sitting,
Bernie? Did you say? It's been sitting for a few years. It's been driven a little bit,
but I don't think there's any sludge. It looks like it's really pretty crystal clean. Yeah.
One of the things I like in vehicles that sit a lot and on suspicion, it's, yeah, you know,
I take the oil fill cap off. I pull the valve cover off. What does it look like? But I can't
see in the crevices. I like Stiction Eliminator from Hot Shot Secret. All right. I think that's
one of the better crankcase cleaner type chemicals out there. It's not really a chemical. It's an
additive in the marketplace and you can go out to their website, hotshotssecret.com and read
all about it. So I like it. Plus, it's a really cool green color, which I really like too. It's
just kind of neat to look at. What else are you going to do to this? We've got to go through
driveline fluids, right? Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Six volt, 12 volt, 24 volt, because all three
flavors came in that generation of vehicle, which is a six volt. Okay. So, you know, obviously,
this is a generator. There's probably greaseable fittings in the generator at the end for the
bearings, if I remember right. So we want to make sure those are taken care of. We want to go
through the front suspension. You know, I would get out as much of the old brake fluid as I could
if there's any in it and refill the system and then flush it clean doing it manually. I like
to do just to recap it real quick. I like to do get a big plastic cup, good size plastic cup,
like, you know, go to your favorite fast food, quest, quench, quench your McDonald's
cheeseburger craving, right? And stop by, get a burger and some fries and get a big giant gulp,
whatever the heck it is, in a plastic cup and use that rubber brake hose, pig tail, curly
cue it into the cup, binder clip at the top to hold the rubber hose in place about, I don't know,
14 inches of rubber hose, put the cup on the ground, open the bleeder, pump to your heart's
content when you push all the dirty fluid out, keep filling the master. Now go around,
now go around the vehicle and manually bleed and purge and flush the system in that method.
Do I go with dot three or dot four? I think dot three is probably fine. You know, I don't,
I don't know that you need dot four. I don't know that you need to complicate it ever so much. I
don't, you're probably not going to drive the vehicle all that much anyway. You know, I would
not use silicone. That has some issues too. I'm not a big huge fan, but bottom line, just get out
all the old fluid, fill it with fresh. You know, the thing I like about bleeding brakes that way
is you're working the hydraulics, right? You're pushing the master, you're moving the wheel cylinders,
you're getting everything to open up and spread and you'll get a great pedal if you bleed and
flush it correctly. So, you know, those are the kind of things we're talking about. Obviously,
it didn't sit outside. It was stored inside. Yes. Okay. So, you know, on the chance, you know,
where are we in Pennsylvania? Is there any animal intrusion? We want to look around, make sure
nothing got nibbled on. Obviously, a fresh battery. I mean, that's a no brainer. You know,
if we're going to drive it in the rain, I don't know what the hard top is like, but if you can
find and get a pair of wiper blades on it, you know, it's got a manual wiper. You do it by hand.
That's a little old school. Right. Yeah. Right. I'm not thinking,
you know, but yeah, but just make sure there's a wiper on there that works and obviously go
through the lights and all the rest of the stuff. And then, you know, coolant,
is there still coolant in it? Is the radiator filled? Yeah. If I put some fresh, I think,
Preston in there. Right. You know, you could, you know, do some sort of a chemical flush or
a mild chemical flush and then, you know, open up the petcock, let it run, add coolant, open up
the petcock, let it run and bleed it out unless you are lucky enough to have access to a coolant
exchange machine. Right. You know, that's another way to go at it, but coolant's going to be the
last thing on the list. And I'd probably do coolant again in 5,000 miles or two years,
whichever comes first because of the acidity issue that could come up. So that's the way
we're going to go about it, my friend. You, you let us know if you need more. I'm Ron Ananey
in the car doctor. We're back right after 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.
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, I did Santa slay. You're welcome. Enjoy a Coca-Cola. Refresh your holidays.
Head home for the holidays with Abercrombie and Fitch. 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.
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.
At CVS, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine
matters. So visit us at CVS.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you.
Store hours vary by location.
From the city streets to the open road tonight.
If your ride needs help, Ron, we'll keep you rolling right.
Yeah, he's a car doctor. Car advice done right.
Well, I think that was the Ken Martin bandwagon. That was Mr. Martin himself. I like his tone.
I like these songs that we're getting out there. Are they practicing on some new songs for you?
Yeah, I understand that. And we're going to get those out on here. We're also going to put those
into the podcast so people have that to look forward to as well. But look at that. We have our
own band. By the way, I do have one complaint though. They eat a lot. I went into the green
room after the show last week. There's seven guys in that band. They went through 14 pizzas,
three hero sandwiches, a round of muscles, and a plate of pasta. I mean, a bowl of pasta.
Holy cow. It takes a lot of energy to support the car doctor. Oh my gosh. I'm just saying.
Yeah, but you're missing the point. I want to stop doing the show. I want to be in there with
their meeting. They had a pineapple pizza, which I used to think it was illegal to put pineapple
on pizza until you have a slice. And pineapple pizza is actually one of the best. Yeah, my son
says that. He likes that. And I've never tried it. Yeah, you got to try it. Come on. I'll tell
you what, get into the green room next week and, you know, get yourself a slice before the band
eats it up. So I tried to, but I don't have a musical instrument to bring in. So they won't
allow me through the door. Well, if you have enough pizza, you will. Let's go over to Carl
and Louisiana. Carl, how are you, sir? Oh, well, thank you for taking my call. You're very welcome.
What can I do for you? Are you guys out of the New Jersey area? Yes, sir.
That's what I thought. I apologize for calling so late. I had difficulty with my phone.
No, that's right. I was trying to understand what ways to test the functionality of a
catalytic converter. Okay. I've heard a couple of different stories. 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. Right. I've heard other people talking about, like, well,
let's put it this way. I don't know if it's a good mechanic or not, but somebody's like,
oh, man, it smells like sulfur coming out of your exhaust. Your cat's gone. So I'm looking at the data
and the temperature upstream and downstream are accurate. And I'm trying to understand how can I
determine if a cat is good or bad? Is this a problem vehicle? Do you have a check engine
light and a fault code or this is just general knowledge? General knowledge. What kind of car?
Well, it's a 2013 F-150 EcoBoost. All right. So let's talk about catalytic converters
in general. Catalytic, right? Temperature related. It requires temperature to do what?
To take carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and oxygen, right? We're trying to break down
the molecules. So, you know, and then we get HTO and H2O and some of these we get water,
but it takes heat. So we're either going to do an oxygen storage capacity test
and look and see how much oxygen can it hold or we're going to look at oxygen
sensor cross counts. Let's talk about storage capacity. I think it's a simpler one for everyone
to understand. Well, I do the same thing and I look at the O2 inlet and outlet of it and I monitor
the millivolt signal and they seem to be corresponding accurately. And that's what I was
saying. I shouldn't say I'm asking you if the inlet temperature versus the outlet temperature
is a difference that you should pay attention to with a catalytic converter failing.
I don't. The outlets can only do so much. I don't simply because I find I do the oxygen
storage capacity test. I'll graph it out with a scan tool and I find that to be more accurate.
But now let me say this. That's my part of the country. All right. I believe that test to be
accurate at the national level, but I always tell everybody different areas of the country have
different consequences. The way they blend fuel for you in Louisiana, I guarantee you
is different than the way they blend fuel for me in New Jersey. Certainly. You can ask
me a question and you elaborate on what you mean by oxygen storage. Okay. So think of somebody
sitting at the counter eating a sandwich. You ever go have a, you ever go have a hero sandwich?
Oh, yes. Okay. So a 12, a one foot hero, 12 inches of sandwich, you get down to about
inch number nine and you can't eat no more in your burp, right? An oxygen and a catalytic converter
is sort of the same way. A catalytic converter swallows everything and it stores everything
and then it gets to a point where it's reached its capacity. All right. It's stored as much
oxygen as it possibly can and then it burps and it releases it. And that's the moment when 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. So we'll see, we'll see that downstream O2 change. We'll see all of a
sudden that downstream O2 instead of being high, it will drop lean. Okay. All right. Let me ask
you this. If you, and I can monitor the upstream and downstream O2, how long, how long until it
takes you to eat that hero sandwich? So you can see a, well, what kind of car, what kind of car
are we talking about? See, that's, yeah, but that's, but that's my point, right? So, you know, let me,
let me say it like this. It's usually, it's usually not like that. It's a percentage factor.
A catalytic converter is considered, and we're talking general terms, a catalytic converter
is considered efficient when it meets the criteria of storage capacity 70% of the time.
It's a matter of math. There is, there is a mathematical formula that we could probably
look up somewhere. I have it in my notes where it talks about the difference between the front O2,
the rear O2, the length of time divided all out, and it has to be at 70% efficiency.
Matter of fact, I know where the formula is at the shop. All right. If it, if it falls,
I've done, I've done bad things then because there's people that have had foul catalytic
converters that have helped. Friends of mine, it's like, oh, actually, we're just going to,
you know, break that loose, let your engine breathe. They don't have to worry about
emissions criteria down here. 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. And, you know, yeah, I could just
open it up from the manifold and not worry about it. Well, but if you're, if you're, if you're
worried about, if you're worried about that first question I asked, or do you have a fault
code? Do you have a P0420 or P0430? No. Okay. If you, if you go and look in OB under OBD,
if you look at pending, do you have any fault codes? No. No. Right. Have you, have you, do you
understand mode six testing inside of a scan tool? I don't know what mode six is, but I've done the
OEM testing that delves a little further. Well, my, my point is, 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. You can go look at mode six and determine way before it sets a pending
fault whether or not that cat has a problem replacing a cat. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute Carl. But, but before we condemn
catalytic converters based on smell, it's likely something else is causing that cat to smell,
either the quality of the fuel, the, the maintenance being done to it or not being done to it,
the quality of the ignition system, how good is the spark, right? How worn are the plugs? I mean,
all that stuff comes into effect. So, you know, a, a good running well-balanced system, your truck,
all right? I mean, you're living proof of it. Okay. You've got a good running truck that's
12 years old for all intensive purposes, right? Um, you can, you can graph and record your cat
temperatures. You can look at fuel trims. You can do an oxygen sensor storage capacity. That's
known good. All right. You can look at that every month from now for the next two years. When you
see that start to degrade, you know what known good is, right? You know what works. You haven't
set a code yet because nothing is more critical than the judgment of the computer, right? Agreed.
Well, perhaps. I mean, it depends on the sensor, but you've, you've definitely validated what I'm
trying to look at. And earlier, I was listening to you talking about the future mechanics.
And I do want to say there are future mechanics, except we don't have them in America because
we don't have small enough Chinese child hands to work on. That's all. Carl, you be well. You have
a great rest of the weekend and we'll talk to you again. I'm Ron and Annie in the car doctor.
We're back right after 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.
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At CVS, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it.
It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel
welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill
your craving for a tasty and healthy snack. At CVS, we're proud to serve your community
because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So visit us at CVS.com
or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.
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'tsleeponosa.com. This information is provided by Lily, a medicine company.
Another hour kind of flying by here on the car doctor, and we're almost out of time,
but before we run out of time, I think Mr. Ray wants to contribute to the conversation.
Tom, you want to make a comment about Mr. Farley, their CEO of Ford and the technician shortage?
Yeah, I mean, I had a conversation this morning. A friend of mine posted online,
granted this was a fictional story about a guy who showed up at a school functioned,
kind of like a career day, and he was a mechanic with grease under his fingernails,
and everybody was looking down their nose at the guy. You had a computer programmer,
you had a doctor, you had this, and he got up there and he spoke and he says,
he says, if I don't maintain the trucks, you don't have anything to buy. You don't have any food.
You don't have any clothes to wear. And with my friend, I used my daughter as an example.
Now, she's a doctor, okay? She's highly educated. She's a doctor. She takes care of animals.
Her boyfriend is a school system custodian, and people look at me when I say that and go,
what do you mean he's a custodian? He's a, first of all, he's a great guy and he treats her like
a queen, but he gets up every morning. He goes to work. He works hard. He's smart. He can fix just
about anything. I mean, what's not to like about the guy? Seriously. Why do we look down
our nose at these people? Well, I think, you know, is it because people work with their hands, but
and, you know, or is it, is it that society has made it too easy for people that, oh,
we don't need a car. We can Uber, but the Uber is still a car. I don't need to buy a car. I can
Uber or take a taxi, but that's still a vehicle. It's still a method of transportation. And,
and I think about that, Tom. And, and I think that's, you know, that's all valid comments and
questions. You know, I grew up in a time where I could never afford a car. I literally made one car
out of three. All right. And that was my first car. I just kind of cobbled a car together.
And I kept those cars around as long as I had to her until mom realized that I really had all
those cars. And she said, something's got to go with either you or the cars. And I went, all
right, I need to say I got rid of the cars, but you know, I'm not sure. I think, I think the
mistakes people make is they have preconceived notions now about what it takes to repair a car,
because my father taught me this and no disrespect. But if your father's in the ground more than a
year, chances are what he knew isn't applicable to today's modern automobile. You know, somewhere
in this weekend's show, 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.
In 1962, I also mentioned that there were three components, a key, a purple wire, a battery,
and a starter. And, you know, the technology is just so different. And originally, I used to
really believe that we are on the quest of trying to eliminate emissions. Yeah, I get it. We're
trying to cut down on emissions and we're trying to make vehicles less able to be stolen. But as
they posted in New York City today, those eight guys are indicted for stealing Hondas by figuring
out the cars they wanted, cloning the keys, changing the vent, bringing it in for a service
that validates the vehicle is theirs, and then they would sell it. So if they want it, they're
going to figure out how to get it. They're going to take the car. Bottom line, we've taken technology
to a point. You know, read an OE, Original Equipment Manufacturer Service Manual.
How many times does it say, replace with known good part as part of the diagnostic tree?
You know, I want to know where all these known good parts are coming from, because as far as I'm
concerned, the part's not known to be good until we actually try and put it in a vehicle
that lasts longer than two weeks. And who's got this endless supply of parts? Wake up.
We've taken technology way too far, and we're asking too much of it because we can't even deal
with it. The OEs can't deal with it, and they've designed it. How do you think the rest of the
world is going to do? No wonder nobody wants a car. They're too damn complicated. 8-5-5-5-6-0-9-9-0-0.
That's my commentary for today. I'm running any in the car doctor. I'll be right back.
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, 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
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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. At CVS, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it.
It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night. And we want everyone to feel
welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your
craving for a tasty and healthy snack. At CVS, we're proud to serve your community,
because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So visit us at CVS.com or just come by
our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location. 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. Wrong button. You know, it's, I'm tired. It's been like a long week. The light switch
doesn't turn on the microphone, Tom. You know, this is, this is like, we, I'm sorry, we can't
take you out. I'll tell you what, you can't take me out, but you know, this is like my daughter and
I went when closed shopping about three weeks ago. True story. Okay. And we're, we're tired. We've
been in them all about six hours. We're closed shopping, getting ready for the holidays, and I
find this green shirt. And I guess there's an auto repair analogy here about you have to look first
and be sure of what you're looking at. And she says, you're going to try it on. I said, I'm tired.
I don't want to try it on. And I said, I'm going to hold it. I hold it up to my shoulders and I go,
and I look in the mirror and I go, look, it fits. It fits well. Look how it looks. And
she looks and she goes, you're right. It does fit well. She goes, some doesn't look right though.
We both realized we're looking at a mannequin wearing the same shirt. We were both so tired.
We couldn't tell that, you know, it, it wasn't me. So needless to say, right? Be sure of what
you're looking at because it's, it can be like a dummy. I felt like a dummy. Listen, I felt like
a dummy a lot this week. It was, it was a pretty tough week in the shop. And I know I say that a
lot and mechanics say that a lot, but it, it, it was interesting. The physicality of the shop is
expected. The mental Cali and how much you have to think all the time. You're always training your
brain to do more and more and more. And you're required that, you know, I think that in closing,
it's one of the things I like about doing CrossFit. People say, why do you CrossFit at your age?
I like doing CrossFit because it's the mental challenge as well as the physical challenge,
and it's always making me think. So to my peeps out there at CrossFit,
thanks for putting up with me. I'm Ronanini in the car doctor. Boy, oh boy, till the next time.
I'm reminding you, good mechanics aren't expensive. They're priceless. See ya.
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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.
Thank you for watching this video. If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments.
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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.
Original notes
In this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron steps away from the wrench for a moment and talks from the heart about a growing crisis in the auto repair world: there aren’t enough mechanics to fix tomorrow’s cars. Sparked by Ford CEO Jim Farley’s recent comment that he can’t fill 5,000 technician jobs paying $120,000 a year, Ron digs into why the trade gets so little respect, why consumers don’t see what really goes on in the service bay, and how that disconnect is hurting everyone.
Ron shares real stories from his New Jersey shop, including a 2016 Chevy Equinox owner who “pre-diagnosed” his own timing chain problem, and explains how modern cars, complicated electronics, and a lack of machine shops have pushed repair work into all-or-nothing territory. He calls out YouTube University, the graying technician workforce, and the urgent need to bring auto shop and the trades back into schools before the backlog of broken cars gets even worse.
If you care about auto repair, trade careers, or what it’s going to take to keep America moving, this is one you don’t want to miss.
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