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Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor -October 18, 2025 - Hour 2 - Sticky Steering, Cold Thermostats & “Intermittent” Compression - (855)560-9900  24/7  Hotline

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor -October 18, 2025 - Hour 2 - Sticky Steering, Cold Thermostats & “Intermittent” Compression - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor Oct 18, 2025 33 min
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About this episode

Ron Ananian tackles a variety of automotive issues in this episode, including sticky steering in a 2017 Jeep Wrangler, cold thermostat problems, and intermittent compression in a 2013 Silverado. Listeners call in with their concerns, prompting Ron to provide detailed advice on troubleshooting and potential fixes. He emphasizes the importance of proper lubrication for steering components, diagnosing thermostat issues, and understanding compression problems in engines. The episode is packed with practical tips and insights for DIY enthusiasts and those looking to maintain their vehicles effectively.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

Jeep Wrangler

"Hey, Ron, I got a few issues with my 2017 Jeep Wrangler. It's a four-door."

The Jeep Wrangler is a tough vehicle designed for off-road driving. The 2017 version has different styles and features that make it great for adventures.

Term

white lithium grease

"I'm going to see if they can throw some molly or some Lucas, like white lithium grease or something like that on it."

White lithium grease is a special kind of lubricant that helps keep parts moving smoothly and prevents them from rusting. It's often used in cars to help with metal parts.

Term

electric steering rack

"Is this an electric steering rack? You know, this should be electric assist, as far as steering is concerned."

An electric steering rack helps you steer the car using electric power instead of fluid. It makes steering easier and can save fuel.

Term

electrohydraulic power steering fluid

"Did they talk to you about special power steering fluid, electrohydraulic power steering fluid that they sent in?"

This is a special fluid used in some steering systems that combine electric and hydraulic power to help steer the car more easily.

Term

PB Blaster

"Sometimes just something as simple PB. Let's use PB Blaster, right?"

PB Blaster is a spray that helps loosen rusty parts on cars. It's useful when you need to take something apart that has rusted together.

Part

U joints

"...it's basically two little U joints with trunnion bearings. So, you know, we want to let the PB Blaster get in there and soak and work its way in..."

U joints are parts that help connect different parts of a car's drivetrain. They allow those parts to move freely even when they are not perfectly aligned.

Term

P0128

"...I've got an appointment I made with a mechanic. It's a P0128."

P0128 is a code that a car's computer uses to tell you there might be a problem with the engine's temperature. It usually means the engine isn't warming up properly, which could be due to a broken part.

Part

thermostat

"Something to do with the, I think it's a thermostat. You know, it's sticking open. So, it's, you know, it's not, you know, it's not throwing out good heat."

A thermostat is like a switch that helps keep the engine at the right temperature. If it gets stuck, the engine might not heat up properly, which can cause problems.

Company

Motorrad

"And we've been, we've been using Motorrad. All right. And haven't had any issues. The Motorrad thermostat works really well."

Motorrad makes car parts, like thermostats, that you can use instead of the original parts from the car manufacturer. They are known to work well.

Term

coolant

"I had my coolant replaced about two years ago, two years plus. Right. Would I be able to see like, like beautifully colored coolant, you know, or is it going to be like muddy, like, you know, like."

Coolant is a special liquid that helps keep your car's engine from getting too hot. It moves around the engine and radiator to keep everything at the right temperature.

Part

radiator

"And is it a leaky radiator?"

The radiator helps keep your car's engine cool by allowing hot coolant to release heat into the air. This prevents the engine from overheating and getting damaged.

Term

mileage

"...I'm at that point, like I'm 75,000 miles,..."

Mileage is how far a car has driven, shown in miles. It's important because it helps you know how much wear and tear the car has experienced.

Car

Suburban

"...you know, my 04 Suburban is still, you know, I take great pride in my stash of parts..."

The Chevrolet Suburban is a large SUV that can carry many passengers and cargo. The 2004 version is one of the older models, known for being reliable and spacious.

Term

transmission

"If the trans were to fail in the next 20,000 miles and it's seven to eight grand to put a trans in this, would you do it?"

The transmission is like the car's gear system. It helps the car move faster or slower by changing gears, just like how a bike works with different speeds.

Term

turbo

"But what about the, about getting stuck with a turbo?"

A turbo is a part that helps an engine produce more power by pushing in extra air. This allows the engine to burn more fuel and go faster without needing to be bigger.

Car

3.6 liter Pentastar V6

"I like the 3.6 liter, the Pentastar V6."

The 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 is an engine made by Chrysler that is used in many of their cars. It's known for being powerful and efficient, making it a popular choice.

Car

Kia Rio

"Oh, what's going on? I got a little 2007 Kia Rio."

The Kia Rio is a small and budget-friendly car that is easy to drive and park. The 2007 version is known for being economical on gas and is a good choice for everyday use.

Part

timing belt

"I'd be curious just to see what the time belt looks like. Does it run good right now?"

The timing belt is a part of the engine that helps keep everything working together smoothly. If it breaks, it can cause big problems for the engine.

Part

starter

"Do we have a starter, some sort of mechanical issue starter flywheel, something like that?"

The starter is a part of the car that helps start the engine. If it's not working, the engine won't turn on when you try to start the car.

Car

Chevrolet Express

"...by filling out the paperwork at home and schedule express pickup or home delivery? Done."

The Chevrolet Express is a big van that can carry a lot of stuff or people, making it great for businesses or families. It's built to be tough and can be used for many different purposes, like moving or traveling. People talk about it because it's useful and dependable.

Part

catalytic converter

"I wanted to talk to the lady that had two catalytic converters go out. With my experience with my catalytic converter that they rarely ever go out, let alone twice."

A catalytic converter is a part of your car that helps clean the exhaust gases before they leave the vehicle. If it breaks, it can cause problems with your car's performance and emissions.

Part

O2 sensor

"But one guy did tell me an O2 sensor."

An O2 sensor is a part of your car that checks how much oxygen is in the exhaust. It helps the engine run efficiently and can cause issues if it's not working properly.

Car

Honda Crv

"...2012 Honda CR-V. So, you know, that would be my first step."

The Honda CR-V is a small SUV that is good for families because it has a lot of space and is known to last a long time. The 2012 version has some nice technology features and is easy to drive.

Term

chemical reaction

"When it's in that temperature range, it causes a chemical reaction"

A chemical reaction is when substances change into different substances. In a catalytic converter, it changes harmful gases from the car into cleaner gases.

Part

oxygen sensor

"...We're looking at oxygen sensor activity, all right. But an oxygen sensor measures the issues..."

An oxygen sensor is a part that checks how much oxygen is in the car's exhaust. It helps the engine run better and keeps emissions low by telling the car's computer how to mix air and fuel.

Car

Chevrolet Monte Carlo

"I drove a 72 Monte Carlo in college to 400,000 miles when cars back then were getting 100,000."

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a type of car that was popular in the 1970s. The 1972 version is known for its stylish design and was often seen as a sporty vehicle.

Car

Honda That Honda

"...parate items. If you went out to date to replace that Honda CR-V emotions aside, right? Let's keep emotions ..."

The Honda That's is a small car that looks a bit boxy and is very good at saving gas. It's designed to be easy to drive around in cities and has a lot of space inside for a car its size. People like to talk about it because it's different and really practical.

Term

$40,000

"So from a non-emotional perspective, $40,000 for a new car or $2,000 a year to maintain it."

$40,000 is the price that the car manufacturer suggests you pay for a new car. This doesn't include extra costs like taxes or dealer fees.

Car

Chevrolet Silverado

"So let's go to Bob in Virginia, 13 Silverado. What's going on here, Robert?"

The Chevrolet Silverado is a big truck that people often use for work or hauling things. The 2013 version is one of the models made that year.

Term

low compression

"So I took the mechanic and he told me I had low compression in cylinder number five. Okay."

Low compression means that the engine isn't building enough pressure in one of its cylinders, which can make the car run poorly. It can happen for various reasons, like worn parts inside the engine.

Term

cranking mechanical compression

"...put a gauge in there. Do I have, do I have physically low cranking mechanical compression? Yeah."

Cranking mechanical compression is the pressure inside the engine's cylinders when you try to start it. If this pressure is low, it can mean there are problems with the engine that might prevent it from running properly.

7 cars featured

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