Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

This episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor dives into the one thing most drivers overlook: the relationship with your mechanic. Ron explains why trust, honesty, and communication matter more than price-shopping or chasing second opinions—and how being a “consumer” instead of a “customer” can derail even the simplest repair. You’ll hear real-world examples from the shop and the show: the tire-avoiding Toyota owner, the dealer who pushed a loyal buyer away, and callers whose problems were solved only after the right relationship was in place. Ron breaks down how to fix the disconnect: share your service history, respect diagnostic time, be ready for step one before demanding step two, and judge a shop by how it handles problems—not perfection. Auto repair isn’t just about fixing cars. It’s about the people you trust to fix them. Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

This week on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron opens with a Veterans Day salute and a tribute to the last Navajo Code Talker, whose everyday language helped win a world war. From there, it’s a fast lap through the garage: shopping old Cadillacs with the notorious HT 4100 engine, spooky hearse memories from the ’80s, chasing a hard-to-find clock spring for a ’97 Dodge Dakota, and sorting out lousy MPG on a lifted Jeep JK. Ron also walks through a smart, no-parts-cannon diagnosis on a Jeep Gladiator ABS fault and closes with a quick “your car might need repair if…” checklist to get you thinking ahead of the holidays. As always, the takeaway is simple: good mechanics aren’t expensive—they’re priceless. Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

This week, Ron talks with automotive journalist Matt DeLorenzo, author of Mercedes AMG, about how two German engineers turned a luxury car brand into a racing powerhouse. From the birth of AMG in a small town workshop to the legendary “Flying Pig” that stunned the racing world, Matt shares how Mercedes’ high-performance division grew into one of motorsport’s most dominant forces. Hear the story behind the initials A-M-G, why each engine is hand-built by a single craftsman, and how today’s AMG hypercars still carry that racing DNA. Whether you’re a Benz fan or just love great car stories, this deep dive into performance history is one you won’t want to miss. Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

The $49 Bagel Test — Why a Real Oil Change Costs What It Costs Bagels don’t get price complaints—but oil changes do. Ron compares a $49 North Jersey bagel run to the true value of a proper oil change: factory drain-plug gaskets, under-car inspection, torque specs, shields off/on, and a road test that keeps you safe at highway speeds. Plus: a Buick saved by an “it-won’t-work” ECU re-flash, diagnosing a P0300 random misfire and lean trims (cat damage risk), Quadra-jet hot-start basics, and chasing brake shake after a subframe swap with dial indicators and mount checks. Call in your oil-change price and what you actually got. Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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 doesn't miss a step this hour that's filled will calls, tips and advice from an 03 Buick with 250,000 miles on it to a 2008 Kia with repetitive AC compressor failures in Florida no less. And repeat caller Kevin calls in with some questions about his modified 1972 Dodge Dart. To Octane Boost or not? Ron answers them all! From hot rods to the everyday vehicle The Car Doctor has the answers! Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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 is out of home base studio today, working from the road in a remote location in western PA. But its still classic Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, overcoming some technical glitches, and working while sick. A great hour of calls and comments. Enjoy the show! Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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 takes his hot rod out for a spin for the first time in a while, then it’s straight into a marathon of listener calls. From every corner of America and on every kind of vehicle, it’s another fast-paced hour with The Car Doctor. Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.

This week on The Car Doctor, Ron explains why the show isn’t on remote as planned and turns the change into a lesson from a recent shop repair. Then the phones light up, and it’s a full hour of fast-paced problem solving as Ron races to get everyone an answer before time runs out. Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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 sits down with IIHS’s Dr. Jessica Jermakian. Together they break down Child Passenger Safety Week: rear-facing timelines, why kids belong in the back seat to age 12, proper restraint selection/installation, modeling safe driving, and what to do if your airbag light is on—along with trusted resources at www.IIHS.org Grab your Car Doctor gearCarDoctorShow.comFollow 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.