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
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor -October 18, 2025 - Hour 2 - Sticky Steering, Cold Thermostats & “Intermittent” Compression - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline
Annotations will appear as you listen
0:00
33:52
Car
Jeep Wrangler
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
$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
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
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
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.
LIVE
This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human.
So, let me get this straight. Your company has data here, there, and everywhere.
But your AI can't use the data because it's here, there, and everywhere.
Seems like something's missing.
Every business has unique data.
IBM helps your AI access your data wherever it lives to change how you do business.
Let's create small after business. IBM.
That's 855-560-9900. 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 CarDoctor YouTube channel for exclusive videos, real repair footage, and more.
Now, start your engines. The CarDoctor is in the garage and ready to take your call.
Hey, we have another great hour for you here on the CarDoctor. Thanks for coming by today.
Let's get to the phones right away as they're busy and backed up at 855-560-9900, Ralph, New York State.
Yes, sir, how can I help you? Thank you for waiting there so patiently. What's going on?
Yeah, we took a pause. Hey, Ron, I got a few issues with my 2017 Jeep Wrangler. It's a four-door.
I got intermittent, kind of sticky steering. Can you hear me okay?
Yep, sure.
Great. So, yes, the steering gets hard and then it kind of comes and goes.
You know, I had them lubricate the universal joint that comes off the steering shaft.
Right.
And, you know, my main concern is, is it a mode of failure? Will I lose steering? What is it like on two pillow blocks?
Is it, when they lubed it, and before I ask you how they lubed it, did any of what they did have any effect on it?
Did it make it better or just stayed the same? It did make it better.
It seemed like it temporarily got better. I'm going to see if they can throw some molly or some Lucas, like white lithium grease or something like that on it.
Well, actually what I'd like to see them do is, you know, what's going on here then, because there's 100 ways to go with this.
Is this an electric steering rack? You know, this should be electric assist, as far as steering is concerned.
Probably, yeah, probably.
Probably, right? Does it take, did they talk to you about special power steering fluid,
electrohydraulic power steering fluid that they sent in?
It probably has that. So, let's go on that assumption, but let's back up.
I've had all my fluids replaced, like everything from the coolant to the brake fluid to the steering fluid, every fluid.
Yeah, no, that's not where I'm going with this. If spraying the steering shaft with the flex couplings in it made a difference, all right?
If lubing that made a difference, then why don't we just take something in the way of a rust penetrant?
If it's rusty, let's break down the rust. Packing grease in there, grease is grease, rust penetrant breaks rust down.
So, sometimes just something as simple PB. Let's use PB Blaster, right?
The stroll, make it so that we can get it exact, you know, rotate the wheel, get it into this side of the joints, rotate the wheel, get it into that side of the joints,
and let the PB sit there and work and soak in. It's got to get underneath and get to the, because 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 and try and see if it frees things up.
And if it does, and it may fix it, and if it does fix it, then the next thing I'm going to tell you to use, PB Blaster also makes something called Multimax Lubricant, again with a straw.
And I would just start pumping that in there to displace the PB, so now it's got a lubricant in there.
You know, if they're putting like a heavy grease on that, it might seep in it.
No, not yet. He sprayed it with something.
Right. They probably sprayed it with yellow lithium or white grease or whatever we want to call it. I, to me, it's always been yellow grease.
But, you know, that's where I would go with this. Second question.
So, yeah. So, this is like low on the rate. Yeah, I've got an appointment I made with a mechanic. It's a P0128.
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.
And then the check engine light came on and that kind of thing.
So, you know, that's not a huge deal unless you want to interject.
And then the last thing is. Well, no, let's, let's, yeah, back up.
So, P0128 is, I always think of it and explain it like this. It's rate of rise.
You live in a house, right? Yeah.
You turn on the heat. You, or you turn on the air conditioning.
You're looking for a temperature differential in a set period of time.
Otherwise you get, otherwise you get cranky. Or you live with cranky and you have to listen to her.
And this is about, this is about rate of rise. Okay.
If we turn the, if we start the car, does it come up the temperature within whatever the manufacturer or whatever the software engineer wants?
Three minutes, four minutes, five minutes, etc.
If, if they want to see 195 degrees in three minutes and it gets to 195 degrees in three minutes and five seconds,
it's going to set a P0128 thermostat rationality. Rate of rise was incorrect.
So it's, it's not that the thermostat is stuck open.
It's that it doesn't properly control and cycle to help bring the engine up the temperature.
So it could be the sensor. Well, it could be the sensor. It could be a lot of things. All right.
But if this is a 17 Jeep and you've got a, you've got a physical low heat condition,
I'm going to tell you the likely place to start.
I'm going to look at fluid levels and a few other things, but the likely place to start is a thermostat.
And that's going to be, that's going to be the thermostat and housing.
The housing has the bleed on it, right? You're probably, or you may find,
are you dealing with a Chrysler dealer or an independent?
It's a Jeep dealership.
Okay. So you may find, they may come back and tell you, hey, the, the OE thermostat is on back order.
It's, I think it's been on back order 18 months out of my local guy here in New Jersey.
And we've been, we've been using Motorrad. All right.
And haven't had any issues. The Motorrad thermostat works really well.
So, and it's built for, for all I know Motorrad's making it for Chrysler because it looks identical to the Chryslers
were taken off the markings and everything, the machining, the whole nine yards.
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.
It shouldn't be. What, what, what would make you think it would be muddy looking?
Well, you know, rust and whatnot inside the, inside the, you know, the, the coolant system.
Where would the rust?
I took off the cap just to see the level of the coolant, the radiators full.
Right.
But it's kind of like, you know, it's kind of like that, that stuff they're trying to sell that, you know, that, that coffee stuff.
It's, it's murky.
Yeah.
So it needs, it needs an exchange and not just the drain and fill, it needs a physical exchange.
And it sounds like if the coolant is contaminated, breaking down, I'm going to use the word oxygenated.
Not probably not the right word, but that's how my mind sees it.
Yeah.
What makes things rust? You ever think about this, right?
And I, and I, and I learned this on a trip to Bermuda many years ago.
You'd, you'd go, you know, you went snorkeling and you saw some things in the bottom of the ocean that were rusted and some things that were not.
And when I looked at it like I was curious, I thought everything would rust when it hits water.
No, it's the oxygen content of water that makes things rust.
So some things can sit in water and never rust.
There's no oxygen content.
So why do, why do car engines, you know, rot from the inside out because oxygen is getting induced somewhere.
Yeah.
And is it a leaky radiator?
Most common cause is a leaky or failing radiator cap, right?
The cap doesn't seal properly and now it allows oxygen to be induced into the system.
So where we're going to go here is, you know, a barring engine oil contamination,
trans oil contamination through the radiator cooler, you know, barring the, the, the, the wide periphery of possibilities.
I'm going to say let's do an exchange.
Let's put a fresh radiator cap on it.
Let's put a rate.
Let's put a thermostat in it and let's watch and see where it goes.
Right.
Okay.
So, you know, that would be my first step.
By the way, Motorrad makes an excellent radiator cap too.
Third question.
Okay, Motorrad.
Yep.
Third question.
The last question, you know, is, you know, something you've covered on your show quite a bit is, you know,
and I just want to kind of get it straight from you.
It's like the availability of parts for the, you know, the 2017 Jeep Wrangler, you know, whether it's a two door or four door,
you know, mine's a four door, but, you know, it's like, is that stuff still out there?
Like, is it, you know, ubiquitous?
Yes, it's, it's there.
Would it, is the question, let me ask you the question, Ralph, is the question because are you thinking,
is it time to replace it or is it time to keep going?
Is that what's rolling around in your head?
I'm at that point, like I'm 75,000 miles, I don't drive a lot, but, you know, I like to keep my Jeep, you know, like,
you know, pretty, you know, well taken care of, you know, so.
Okay, so let's, let's, let's attack it like this.
If Ralph had to go out and buy another Jeep, could he afford to?
Yeah.
All right.
I just don't want the payment.
Right, has Ralph driven a new vehicle yet?
A new Jeep?
Yeah, I bought this new in 2018.
No, no, no, no.
Have you, have you driven a brand new, have you driven a 25 Wrangler?
Have you driven the new model?
Why don't you go drive the new model of that?
Just take it for a road test.
Yeah.
I'm a fan of keeping things.
Listen, you're talking to the wrong guy about getting rid of a vehicle, you know.
Yeah, I don't want to get rid of it.
You know, my 04 Suburban is still, you know, I take great pride in my stash of parts.
Yeah.
You know, my, my window regulators, my fuel, but I was just looking at the other day.
I think I could build another Suburban.
You know, and I just, I just liked the vehicle.
So, you know, this is about commitment, right?
There's going to be good years and bad years owning this, owning this now eight year old Jeep.
Yeah.
And are you ready for that?
Are you ready mentally for that?
You know, are you going, is it going to start to drag you down?
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?
Yeah, I don't know.
Right.
Well, I looked at the, the trade in value.
They're only offering me about 15,000 for the trade.
So they're going to, they're going to resell it for 22.
Right.
Or whatever.
Listen, selling a Jeep is never really a problem.
They have a, they have a market onto their own.
Right.
Do yourself a favor.
All right.
And I'll say this brotherly love, right?
Do yourself a favor.
Go road test a new one.
Go try and sell yours.
See what it's worth.
See what the market will bear and let that be your deciding barometers.
As far as parts, they're out there.
There's enough of those vehicles there.
There's enough of a market.
There's enough of demand.
But what about the, about getting stuck with a turbo?
Yeah.
I like the 3.6 liter, the penistar v6.
Right.
But you know, I'm a little sketchy on the, on the turbo.
It's like, I think it's like a 2.4 liter turbo and you can get a manual trans with,
with the, with the 3.6 liter v6, you know, all the way up to the Rubicon.
Right.
But it's got to be a manual trans.
Would you want that?
Yeah, that's fine.
Okay.
Why don't you go drive some, why don't you go drive some vehicles, Ralph?
Yeah.
Because you're doing the worst, you're doing the worst thing you could do.
You're negotiating with yourself.
Right.
Yeah.
All right.
And I say that with love.
Do that.
Call me back.
Let me know what you decide to do.
But I wouldn't, I wouldn't get rid of that for fear of, oh my gosh, there's no parts.
It might be a search, but they'll be there.
All right.
Right.
Yeah.
Thanks.
I appreciate your honor.
You're very welcome, sir.
You'd be well 8555609900 running any of the car doctor.
I am back right after this.
The Chase Ink Business Premier Card is made for people who make things happen, like me.
I'm Sam, founder and CEO of Manifest, a product design company that makes everyday products
design smarter.
I get 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, plus unlimited 2% cash back on all
other purchases, which helps us make more smart ideas into a brilliant reality.
The Ink Business Premier Card.
Chase for business.
Make more of what's yours.
Real business owner compensated for their participation.
Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank and a member of GIC, subject to credit approval terms
apply.
Okay, let's wander down Virginia way and talk to Donald.
Donald, what's going on?
Oh, what's going on?
I got a little 2007 Kia Rio.
Okay.
Well, I was driving it back here on the last week.
I lived a half month in 7-Eleven.
I went and got me a cup of coffee, 20 minutes later, come out and get in.
When it started, it started about two seconds cut off.
I said, man, that sounds like easier.
A few of them went out on me or time best, so I tried to weld over and wouldn't do nothing.
So I got it.
I mean, my nephew got it home.
I said, I want you to leave for back in the city to start.
But it didn't hit.
I said, well, let me try cranking and see if it's turning any faster in case of time
about might have broke.
Well, it whirred over.
It hit a tight spot.
Then it tried to start.
Then I tried it again and it fired up.
It had been run since.
Then it actually up again this morning, same thing again.
So it had a moment of, did it change the way it cranked?
Did it sound different than it normally sounds when you crank it over?
Just when I tried to start it, it worked like it wanted to hit.
But I took it ahead and put it on the computer and it couldn't find nothing wrong.
Yeah, I'm not expecting to find the code.
I'd be curious just to see what the time belt looks like.
Right?
Does it run good right now?
Can you take it out on the road and drive it like normal?
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
All right.
I got no problem there.
Yeah, do we have something, I'm spitball and do we have something mechanical going on in
the engine?
I would at least pull the timing cover off and take a look at the belt.
Have you owned the car long?
Well, my cousin had it.
She bought it brand new and I got it off the road.
All right.
And has anybody, any history of a timing belt?
Well, I talked to her.
She said they put one in about a year ago.
Okay.
Well, I'd still look at it.
Who's they?
Was it Kia?
Was it an independent shop?
Is there something failing?
I'd rather take the ounce of prevention now.
Here's a case of tell me what's good.
I'll tell you what's bad.
If you look at the timing belt, there's no wear marks.
There's nothing fraying.
There's nothing worn.
Then I'm going to say, all right, let's move on to the next thing.
But if we've got an issue, how many miles are on this?
Probably a lot.
Yeah, about a heart 97 pounds right now.
Wow.
200,000 miles brother.
You know, you're about 18, you're about 15 years and let's see, you're probably about
100,000 miles past what Kia thought it would go.
So you're doing good.
But you don't use or drop all, you can't knock off all.
Yep.
And just out of curiosity, it cranked okay when it didn't start or could it have been
anything related like a bed, like a bed or a weak battery?
Nope.
It's a brand new battery.
Okay.
Okay.
Because I put a brand new mince to make sure.
Right.
And right now it's running fine.
Yeah.
Right now it's running fine.
I would take a look at the timing belt just to make sure it looks okay as a critical
point.
Do we have the beginnings of a starter that's failing?
Although you say, well, yeah.
I almost have to hear this.
But from the sounds of it, you're saying that the engine had a hard time cranking over,
right?
Well, no, it worked over and you hit like a tight spot like it wanted to par.
Then I don't switch it again far enough.
Okay.
I would be curious.
Do we have a starter, some sort of mechanical issue starter flywheel, something like that?
Or do we have a timing belt issue going on?
And I would check both before I drove this car on a continuous basis.
Yeah.
Because I was kind of pointing towards the brain box.
Well, why?
What makes you think it's a bad computer?
That's a pretty, that's a pretty, that's a pretty random shot in the dark.
Yeah.
Well, yeah.
Well, because most times a lot of these computers have to make it far.
A few will go through it right away and all that.
Because yes, two days ago I was driving.
I stopped by the car.
I stopped by the car for like it was an electric car.
It's funny, it's far back up.
Well, you got to remember, you know, there's an awful lot of inputs to a PCM.
And before I, before I jumped down that hole, I'd want to verify the easy, least expensive
stuff before I started looking at anything else.
Yeah.
All right.
Because here, let's play the game.
Okay.
It's a computer.
How much is that going to cost?
Is it a guess?
Is it diagnosed?
Who's going to put it in?
Where are you going to get one from?
Who's going to do the software update?
Because understand, putting a computer in a vehicle that old is not like walking down
to the nearest computer store, buying one and plugging it in on your desktop at home.
Yeah, I know.
So, all right, kiddo.
Okay.
You be well.
Yes, sir.
Yes, not that easy.
Real quick, Mr. Ray, I notice you're wearing a New York Giants sweatshirt today.
Yes, I am.
Is there a reason for that?
Are you like hopeful?
Well, it just kind of happened to be there, but I don't have to, after last week's game,
I don't have to wear the bag over my head anymore.
And what happens if they win tomorrow?
All right.
Let me ask you this.
I should say, what happens when they win tomorrow?
Well, when they win tomorrow, there will be no talking to me next week.
Oh, good Lord.
And then if they beat Philadelphia the week after next.
Oh my God, that'll be the second time.
Can you imagine?
I think we should end the season then.
Not really.
Yeah, I know.
How much better could it get?
855-560-9900, pray for Tom Ray America.
He needs every chance he can get.
I'm Ron Anani and the car doctor.
I'll be back right after this.
The Chase Ink Business Premier Card is made for people who make things happen, like me.
I'm Sam, founder and CEO of Manifest, a product design company that makes everyday products design smarter.
I get 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, plus unlimited 2% cash back on all other purchases,
which helps us make more smart ideas into a brilliant reality.
The Ink Business Premier Card.
Chase for business.
Make more of what's yours.
Real business owner compensated for their participation.
Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank and a member of GIC, subject to credit approval, terms apply.
Do a real person or chat online?
Either works.
Want to take your time and compare all the makes and models?
No problem.
Then make up some time by filling out the paperwork at home and schedule express pickup or home delivery?
Done.
When it comes to how you buy, CarMax puts you in the driver's seat.
Want to drive?
CarMax.
Delivery restrictions apply.
See carmax.com for details.
Let's go to Shannon in Maryland.
Shannon, welcome to the car doctor.
How can I help you?
Hi.
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.
But I wanted to ask you, what I do to fix mine is I floor it.
When I get my engine light, I always go to advanced autos.
They tell me it's my catalytic converter and I go and I floor it like twice.
And then the next time I turn it on, my light will be off.
But one guy did tell me an O2 sensor.
If I ignore that, that's what the problem is.
Am I damaging it or is it just telling me it's kind of clogged and I can continue?
I did put some of the additive in it and that worked great when I couldn't floor it and clean it out.
Let me ask a couple of questions.
What kind of car are we talking about?
2012 Honda CR-V.
It's the last till I die unless it goes quicker.
What makes you think catalytic converters never go bad?
I'm not arguing. I'm just curious where you got that from.
That's my brother.
What does your brother do for a living?
He has worked on tons and tons of cars, but actually he's retired at the moment.
But I'm managing it.
The light goes out after I floor it.
Actually, I had one mechanic.
I was supposed to get my catalytic converter changed and he said,
well, how do you drive?
I said, well, like a little old lady.
How many miles are on your Honda, Shannon?
It is 192,000.
So, catalytic converters wear out.
It's just a fact of life.
You want to get longer life out of a cat, do regular scheduled oil changes,
do fuel system cleaning,
make sure the crankcase ventilation system is working properly.
And depending on your style of driving,
theoretically you'll get longer life out of a cat, but they do fail.
Believe me, the catalytic converter replacement market is very legitimate
and it's a billion-dollar business in all likelihood
if we sat down and measured it in terms of what gets replaced on an annual basis
or over a 10-year time frame.
That being said, all right, what you're doing is,
well, let me tell you how catalytic converters get measured to see if they're good or bad, all right.
A catalytic converter is up.
Think of it as like a little bitty bonfire in the exhaust system.
It has to burn at a certain temperature, all right.
It has to be efficient, right.
A cold engine is not efficient.
An overheated engine is not efficient.
A cold catalytic converter is not efficient.
An overheated catalytic converter is not efficient.
It has to run at a specific temperature range.
When it's in that temperature range, it causes a chemical reaction
to reduce pollutants that are coming down the exhaust pipe
and convert them into carbon dioxide and other non-lethal pollutants
to the atmosphere, to the environment, right.
How do we know what that is?
We know it's carbon dioxide and oxygen.
We're looking at oxygen sensor activity, all right.
But an oxygen sensor measures the issues.
A catalytic converter actually, you know, does the reduction.
So for the fellow to say, oh, it's an O2 sensor, I don't think so.
The system on a modern vehicle gets tested probably six different ways,
each component over six different time frames, so to speak.
It's very complex.
You ever notice when you go to the doctor, what do they do?
They always do the same thing.
They do the same repetitive testing.
Heart rate, blood pressure, they ask you the questions, they run you through.
Right, it's the same.
Cars do the same thing every time you start them.
They run through the same repetitive testing of every component
during some kind of time frame.
What I think you're doing is I think you're putting off the inevitable
that the car has a failing catalytic converter.
Its efficiency is falling below 70%, which is the average number.
At 71% efficiency, it'll work.
At 69% efficiency, it'll set a fault code.
And yeah, if you're driving the proverbial quote unquote little old lady,
the catalytic converter is loaded up.
It's never getting hot enough.
It's never getting a good enough run and you're putting off the inevitable.
Are you hurting anything?
Well, how old are you?
Can I ask you that question, Shannon?
Are you over 65?
Oh yeah, 68.
Okay.
So when you were 38, could you jog and run and accelerate real quick
and it wasn't that big a strain on you, right?
Right.
If you wanted to do it now, how hard is it?
A little difficult.
Right.
So you're now asking the 68 year little old lady to go and run as fast as she could
and jog as fast as she could like she was 38.
You're overstressing her.
So you're, you know, it's a mechanical thing.
It's a machine, but you know, you're asking more of it than it's necessary.
Whereas if you put a cat in it and you could just drive it like the proverbial little old lady,
wouldn't it last longer?
Well, that is my question.
So, okay.
Now, now, and let me let me ruin your day further though.
All right.
You know, when you do this catalytic converter,
consider getting one out of Honda.
I know the price point will be huge.
It is different.
Yeah.
It's, it's huge, but, but you lay down, you know, you know what makes the aftermarket
cat so much cheaper?
No.
The size.
Well, the size, right.
They don't last.
You know, if the original equipment cat is, is 28 inches long and the aftermarket cat is
20 inches long.
That's eight inches of difference that eight inches is going to come back to you in terms
of longevity, efficiency, and just plain and simple how long that cat lasts.
If you, if you really want to drive this until you don't have to drive anymore.
Well, the first one lasted you 200,000 miles in 13 years.
Yeah.
So let's see.
You think it's going to last longer?
I mean, not necessarily.
I mean, you think how many miles should I expect on my car keeping it up to date on everything,
which I usually do.
I do.
Well, you're asking, you're asking the wrong guy that question.
I drove a 72 Monte Carlo in college to 400,000 miles when cars back then were getting 100,000.
I've got a 97 Ranger that's got 230,000 miles on it.
I've got an 04 Suburban with 97,000 miles on it.
It looks like that they rolled off the assembly line.
I, you know, I always look at replacing parts and replacing the cars as two separate items.
If you went out to date to replace that Honda CR-V emotions aside, right?
Let's keep emotions out of this.
Oh, I want a shiny red car once before I die.
That's the expression.
That's what goes through our minds.
We're human.
We're all human.
We all see that same shiny red car coming down the road.
Oh, I want one of those.
That's an emotional thing.
But the practical side, I want to drive this until I can't drive it anymore.
Well, let's see.
So from a non-emotional perspective, $40,000 for a new car or $2,000 a year to maintain it.
Start doing the math.
Yeah.
Right.
And that 2000 a year isn't every year.
Where the plan runs into a glitch is finding parts, finding somebody that's really dedicated to taking care of it.
And having to put up with the, gee, do I have a big car expense coming up this month?
All those things weigh in.
Good point.
Thank you.
All right.
Appreciate that.
So you're very welcome.
All right, kiddo.
All right.
Tell Bill I'm on my way.
He listens to you.
All right.
And I'm supposed to go buy a bicycle.
All right.
Go buy a bicycle.
You have a great time, Shannon.
So, hey Bill, Shannon's on her way.
You've been warned.
855-560-9900 run on any of the car doctor.
I'll be back maybe right after this.
The Chase Inc. Business Premier Card is made for people who make things happen, like me.
I'm Sam, founder and CEO of Manifest, a product design company that makes everyday products design smarter.
I get 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, plus unlimited 2% cash back on all other purchases,
which helps us make more smart ideas into a brilliant reality.
The Inc. Business Premier Card.
Chase for business.
Make more of what's yours.
Real business owner compensated for their participation.
Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank and a member of GIC, subject to credit approval, terms apply.
This is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes & Dudes with Grant & Jules.
For the second season in a row, I partnered with T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights,
powering up hometown football across America.
This year, T-Mobile invested over $4 million in prizes to help schools take their Friday nights to the next level.
The votes are in.
And now, it's time to crown our $1 million grand prize winner.
Congratulations to Derrick's High School and Derrick's Arkansas, home of the Outlaws and your 2025 T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights Champion.
The Outlaws and their community rallied to help them score a game-changing home field upgrade,
a grand fitness weight room makeover, an epic 2026 tailgate party, and a VIP trip to the SEC Championship game.
To every school that competed, posted, and rallied your communities, thank you.
And to T-Mobile for making it all possible.
This season may be over, but the story isn't. Stay tuned for Season 3 in 2026.
Congratulations again to Derrick's High School Outlaws.
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 Lilly, a medicine company.
And did this go wrong?
Oh, God, here comes that white shit again.
Yeah, I'm telling you, you like that, huh?
Oh, no, I don't.
John Travolta, eat your heart out.
So let's go to Bob in Virginia, 13 Silverado. What's going on here, Robert?
Yeah, hi, Ron. So it's a 2013 Silverado. It's got about 255,000 miles.
And about two months ago, started running rough, check engine light came on.
So it was due for plugs and new wires. So I did that myself.
Right.
And it didn't solve it. It didn't help the problem.
Okay.
So the check engine light was still on, still running rough.
So I took the mechanic and he told me I had low compression in cylinder number five.
Okay.
So I picked the car up, I took it and I'm deciding on what I want to do about that.
And in the meantime, the problem seems to come and go. It's like intermittent.
So the majority of the time it's running rough in the check engines light on,
but there's sometimes where maybe, you know, for so long, it'll go out and it'll start running smoothly again.
And that's not, that's maybe like 10, 20% of the time.
The rest of the 80, 90% of the time it's rough in the check engine lights on.
But there are those periods of time where the check engine light goes out on its own and the engines run smoothly smoothly.
Okay.
I'm sticking to myself. I didn't know, I didn't know you could have a intermittent compression.
A compression problem. Now, now one last thing I'll tell you.
Sometimes it seems like it's affected by when I put gas in it, like a new fresh tank of gas,
or I've even put some gasoline additives in there.
And I, and sometimes that seems to affect it.
Right.
If that's, if that's possible.
So if we work on the theory that the mechanic is correct, all right,
we're going to, we're going to beat this up a couple of different ways.
So get ready.
If we work on, if we work on the theory that this is a compression loss,
that it was really low on compression and it's legit and the guy diagnosed it right.
Let's talk about, how can we have intermittent low compression on a cylinder?
Right.
First one is carbon deposits, right?
Do we have excess carbon deposits on the valves?
And are they creating a problem where the valves aren't sealing?
And that's not uncommon on these as they age.
One of the ways, one of the ways to try and diagnose it.
You know, there's a couple of things when it's running rough, you know,
put a gauge in there.
Do I have, do I have physically low cranking mechanical compression?
Yeah.
All right.
Let's, let's make up a number.
You know, seven, the seven cylinders are 180 pounds and number five is 90.
Right.
So, you know, I've got legitimate low compression.
How do I know where it's coming from?
Let's do a cylinder leak down test.
All right.
Are you familiar with that term?
No, I'm not.
Okay.
So a cylinder leak down test, a cylinder is a cylinder, right?
It's just an engine cylinder is just a sealed container for an explosion to happen in.
If we do a leak down test, we're putting an air hose to the spark plug hole.
We're bringing the cylinder, we're bringing number five around onto compression stroke
where in theory, the valves are both closed, right?
And we're going to put an auxiliary air regulator attachment to it.
And we're going to put a hundred pounds in and see how much air it holds.
If the, if the cylinder was perfectly sealed and I put a hundred pounds in, in theory,
how much should I hold?
On a person.
Hold a hundred.
Right.
In a perfect world.
I've, I've, the only thing I ever saw come close to hold a hundred for the record was
the hot rod when it was fresh.
It held 98 because I'd leaked down.
I leaked all the cylinders myself, but you know, you will see this right away.
If this is a true low compression problem on number five, you're going to put a hundred
in and you're going to see 75, 60, whatever.
Now, what good does that do as well?
It tells us two things.
It verifies the mechanical compression theory of being low as correct.
But number two, where is the air going?
Do I hear it?
Do I hear it coming out the intake?
Which means it's an intake valve that's stuck open.
If I get underneath and listen at the tailpipe and I listen with this deathoscope, do I hear
it out the exhaust, which means an exhaust valve?
So in either case, now I know I've got to confirm mechanical condition in the engine.
Do I need to pull the engine?
Cause I already know where your mind is going.
You know, it's, it's, you know, do you put an engine in it?
Do you do heads?
Do you, you know, you want to keep the truck?
I can hear the whole argument in your head going on.
That's why you're calling me.
You know, if, if, and let me, let me back up.
If, if this has a mechanical fault that it physically needs cylinder heads, you're doing
an engine.
If, if, if this needs a, a, a camshaft for some reason, let's say this is a cam related
problem, a lifter problem, something along those lines, whether or not you need an engine
is going to be predicated on what the engine looks like when you open it up.
You'll, you'll tell me you did all your oil changes and I'm going to tell you it doesn't
matter.
I want to know what the engine looks like on the inside.
Does it, does it look, you know, factory fresh or is it sludgy and gummy?
And I'm just, you know, I'm just putting lipstick on a pig.
Right.
So, you know, that all comes into effect, but I want to know, you know, do I really have
a low cylinder low compression problem on number five?
If I were to take a bore scope, if we were standing at the shop and I was walking through,
what do I do?
I, at some point I'm going to take a bore scope.
If I think this is a real low compression issue and run the bore scope, which is just
like what the plumber uses to look up the walls of the house, I'm going to run a bore
scope down the intake and look at the valves.
Do I see carbon?
If I see carbon, I might try a carbon cleaning, a real true carbon cleaning.
Cause carbon on the valves that comes and goes, maybe I can get away with doing a fuel
system cleaning and, you know.
How's that, how do you, how's that done?
You got an advanced auto parts by you?
Yeah.
Go down there and go down there and see if they have a CRC GDI service pack.
All right.
And I'll tell you what, stay put when I come back, we'll finish up and I'll tell you exactly
how it works.
Bob, I'm Ron Anini in the car doctor.
I'll be back right after this.
11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades.
Visit lgusa.com slash iHeart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11.
PC Mag readers choice used with permission.
All rights reserved.
When you own your own business, you own every decision.
Catch the red eye or take the six a.m.
Make a new hire or promote internally.
Celebrate a win with a toast at the gate or unwind at the lounge.
Big props to this team.
Some decisions are a win-win.
Like earning eight times points on Chase Travel, introducing Chase Sapphire Reserve for business
with $2,500 in annual value.
It's the business card that gives back all you put in.
Visit chase.com slash reserve business to learn more.
Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, any member of DIC subject to credit approval, terms apply.
No problem.
Then make up some time by filling out the paperwork at home and schedule express pickup or home delivery.
Done.
When it comes to how you buy, CarMax puts you in the driver's seat.
Want to drive?
CarMax.
Delivery restrictions apply.
See carmax.com for details.
This is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes and Dudes with Grant and Jules.
For the second season in a row, I partnered with T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights,
powering up hometown football across America.
This year, T-Mobile invested over $4 million in prizes to help schools take their Friday nights to the next level.
The votes are in.
And now, it's time to crown our $1 million grand prize winner.
Congratulations to Derek's High School and Derek's Arkansas, home of the Outlaws and your 2025 T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights champion.
The Outlaws and their community rallied to help them score a game-changing home field upgrade,
a grand fitness weight room makeover, an epic 2026 tailgate party, and a VIP trip to the SEC championship game.
To every school that competed, posted, and rallied your communities, thank you.
And to T-Mobile for making it all possible.
This season may be over, but the story isn't.
Stay tuned for Season 3 in 2026.
Congratulations again to Derek's High School Outlaws.
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 Lilly, a medicine company.
I think that's from Beverly Hills Cop.
Every time I hear that song, I just wonder.
But anyway, Bob, Virginia, you're still there, sir.
Yes, sir.
So let's talk real quick.
Are you a mechanic at all, Bob?
Any mechanical ability?
I mean, I'm not a professional mechanic, but I've done engines and taken them apart and put all that kind of stuff.
Do you own a vacuum gauge?
No, I don't.
Okay, go buy a vacuum gauge.
Spend 20 bucks.
Spend 40 bucks.
Get a good one.
Right?
And let's learn about you.
Do you ever think about what vacuum is?
Vacuum is the absence of pressure.
An engine is a big air pump, all right, in its simplest form.
Squeeze, suck, pop, blow, right, intake, compression, power, exhaust.
And, you know, vacuum is what's produced.
A good, healthy engine produces good vacuum.
So when the engine is running well, you'll see somewhere between 16 and 20 inches of manifold vacuum.
Better yet, if you have another car in the family, look at that car for a vacuum and see what it does.
So you'll understand, yeah, good, a good running engine, disregarding valve overlap and valve timing and all that nonsense.
You know, learn about vacuum.
Vacuum is a cheap thing to learn about and you can do it.
You know, you can do it really, really economically in this day and age.
But the idea of a fuel system cleaning is that if the intake valve is carbon coated, right, doing a fuel system cleaning using a CRC kit,
or advanced auto, or it's available online, what you'll do is you'll hook up to the rail.
You'll actually spray a chemical through, clean out the injectors.
You will clean the throttle body.
If you see any form of improvement, it tells you that you're going in the right direction.
But I'd like you to see you do a vacuum reading before and after because you might see a difference in how the engine operates.
That might help determine which direction to go.
Call me back if you need more, Bob.
I'm Ronanini and the car doctor. Good mechanics aren't expensive. They're priceless. See ya.
If your identity is stolen, your own US-based restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed, or your money back.
And all plans are backed by the Million Dollar Protection Package.
The last thing you want to do this holiday season is face drained accounts, fraudulent loans, or other financial losses from identity theft all alone.
Make this season about joy, not identity theft, with LifeLock.
Save up to 40% your first year.
Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code IHEART.
Or go to lifelock.com slash IHEART for 40% off.
Terms apply.
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.
Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap.
You're almost at the finish line.
But first...
There, the last one.
Enjoy a Coca-Cola for a pause that...
refreshes.
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 snore 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.
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.
Original notes
In this hour, Ron tackles real-world fixes: a 2017 Jeep Wrangler with sticky steering (steering shaft u-joints + PB Blaster), a P0128 thermostat rate-of-rise code and murky coolant, a 2012 Honda CR-V catalytic converter myth (why cats do wear out), and a 2013 Chevy Silverado low-compression mystery (leak-down tests, borescopes, and a $20 vacuum gauge). Practical diagnostics, parts advice (MotoRad, CRC), and smart ownership tips—all in plain English. If you’re chasing misfires, no-starts, or slow warm-ups, this one’s your roadmap.
- Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com
-
Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes
-
Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel
-
Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900
-
Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
iHeartPodcasts and Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
0:00
33:52