• 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.

This hour, Ron opens with a shop story that starts small and snowballs fast—one chewed vacuum hose on his ’72 Monte Carlo turns into a full dash teardown, heater core drama, brittle plastic parts, and the reality of sourcing quality components for classic cars.

Then it’s on to calls and straight talk: a 2025 Ford Maverick owner worried about oil consumption and a dealer that won’t document concerns, plus a Toyota Corolla owner questioning “universal” synthetic transmission fluid versus manufacturer-spec Type T-IV. Ron explains why documentation matters, how oil consumption can become a long-term emissions/catalyst problem, and why “one fluid fits all” can be a risky gamble.

Also: a listener asks about smartphone alignment tools, and Ron gives a reality check on why phones can’t replace professional alignment equipment—especially on modern vehicles with ADAS.

• 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.

Cold weather exposes weak links in today’s vehicles, and this hour of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor breaks them down. Ron explains why modern car batteries should be replaced every 4–5 years—even if they still test good—and why where you buy a battery matters as much as the warranty.

He also dives into start-stop systems and CVT transmissions, explaining how they work, why oil and fluid maintenance is more critical than ever, and what drivers should realistically expect for longevity.

Plus, real-world winter diagnostics, including a no-heat-at-idle problem, air-bound cooling systems, and how to diagnose issues step-by-step without guessing. Practical advice, shop-floor experience, and straight talk for anyone keeping a car past the warranty.

• 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.

This week, Ron breaks down a story you won’t notice until your car is on the lift: the First Brands Group Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the wind-down of major North American units—impacting familiar names like Autolite and Cardone. Ron explains what this means for parts availability, backorders, rising repair costs, and why “instant gratification” is disappearing from auto repair. Then it’s on to calls: a tire-wear mystery on a Jeep in Maine, plus a Wisconsin listener with a new Chevrolet Silverado asking how to protect a truck that tows hard—DFM, oil choices, fuel quality, and why maintenance beats gadgets. Finally, Ron makes the case for the value of diagnosis with a real-world click-noise story that was misrepaired until the root cause was found.

• 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.

With new-car payments pushing $600–$800 a month, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, tackles a question more drivers are asking: Is it still worth fixing an older car in 2026?

The answer often comes down to diagnosis versus guesswork. Ron explains why spending a little upfront to properly diagnose an intermittent or confusing problem can save thousands in unnecessary repairs—and help you avoid an expensive car payment. From real-world calls involving hesitation, EVAP leaks, and “no-code” mysteries, Ron breaks down when an older vehicle is worth keeping, when it’s time to walk away, and how to talk to a shop so you get answers instead of parts swapping.

Bottom line: A diagnosed problem is almost always cheaper than a monthly payment.

• 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 “flies without a call screen” and it turns into a perfect shop-week story: storm prep, snowblowers, parts backorders, and why last-minute panic shopping doesn’t help if your car isn’t ready. Ron breaks down the winter checklist nobody talks about—spare tire access, jack tools, paperwork, lights, wiper linkage, and real-world preparedness.
Plus, calls on: slow cabin heat in a 2000 Silverado, tow/haul not working on an ’02 GMC, and a 2016 Nissan Altima CVT slipping—what to test, what to expect, and when to go straight to the dealer/manufacturer.

• 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.

From June 15, 2025, Ron packs a fast-moving hour with nonstop calls, sharp questions, and practical answers. The pace is quick, the topics are wide-ranging, and there’s no shortage of real-world advice. Buckle up and settle in—this hour moves fast.

• 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.

A Look Back at the EV Promise—and the Reality

From Thanksgiving 2022, Ron revisits a candid conversation with Mark Mills of the Manhattan Institute, examining the electric-vehicle market at a pivotal moment. What unfolds is a revealing discussion about both the promise that fueled the EV push and the practical challenges that have since reshaped the conversation—costs, infrastructure, resources, and consumer expectations. With the benefit of hindsight, this look back highlights where the optimism was justified, where reality intervened, and why the EV story is far more complicated than the headlines ever suggested.

• 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.