Car advice, done right—then and now.

• 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.

On this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron starts the show reflecting on the wonder of space travel, the technology behind the return to the moon, and how innovation from the space program still shapes our everyday lives—including the cars we drive.

From there, the conversation comes back down to earth with a question many drivers are facing right now: when is it worth fixing the car you have, and when is it time to move on? Ron shares a real-world shop story about a 2014 Chevy Equinox that looked like it might be at the end of the road, only to prove that the right diagnosis can make all the difference between a manageable repair bill and a costly new car payment.

Calls this week include a 2003 Ford Explorer with repeated timing chain failures, advice for getting the longest life out of a newer turbocharged Ford F-150, a look at why Chrysler’s struggles reflect a bigger disconnect in the auto industry, and help for a listener with a high-mileage Ford Escape battling an ongoing coolant leak and tough repair decisions.

It’s a thoughtful, practical hour about repair versus replace, maintenance versus monthly payments, and why the smartest car you may own could be the one already sitting in your driveway.

Car advice, done right—then and now.

• 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.

Classic Car Doctor - August 29, 2015 (Hour 1)

Take a ride back to August 29, 2015, and hear what was happening in the bays—and on the phones—11 years ago on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor Radio Show.

Ron opens the hour with a simple but loaded question: how long should it really take to repair an Acura? It’s a conversation that still rings true today—about labor time, expectations, and the realities of modern auto repair.

From there, it’s a full lineup of real-world problems:

• A classic 1969 Mustang with a clutch pedal that intermittently sticks to the floor
• A 2000 Subaru Forester showing signs of a possible coolant leak
• A 2004 Mercury Monterey with a squealing noise at idle
• And a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche with a lifter tap that only shows up at 2000 RPM

It’s a snapshot of the cars, concerns, and diagnostic thinking from over a decade ago—and a reminder that while vehicles change, the fundamentals of good diagnosis never do.

Car advice, done right—then and now.

• 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.

Classic Car Doctor – August 22, 2015 (Hour 2)

Take a step back 11 years and see what drivers were dealing with in the repair shop—and how much (or how little) has changed.

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens the hour asking a critical question: how well do you know your vehicle in an emergency? From there, it’s real calls and real advice—extended warranty decisions on a 2013 Ford F-150, clutch repair on a 2004 Toyota RAV4, and a smart discussion on Toyota Prius battery life.

Plus, is brake caliper cleaning on a 2014 Ford Flex necessary—or just oversold? And what’s really behind alignment issues on a 2008 Toyota Highlander?

It’s a snapshot of the cars, concerns, and conversations from 11 years ago—and a reminder that good car advice never goes out of style.

Good mechanics aren’t expensive — they’re priceless.

• 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 opens the phones and takes on a wide mix of car questions, including a Chevy Spark with radio static after a car wash, the real cost of diagnosis, and the growing frustration of modern vehicle ownership. He also talks about oil catch cans, auto stop-start systems, and why some newer features may create more annoyance than value. Along the way, listeners share memories of old-school gas stations, a 1938 Chevy, and classic Volkswagens, making this episode a mix of practical advice, perspective, and great car talk.

Good mechanics aren’t expensive — they’re priceless.

• 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.

Good mechanics aren’t expensive — they’re priceless.

• 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.

Classic Car Doctor – August 22, 2015

Take a ride back with us and see how car problems—and the way we solve them—have evolved over time.

Ron kicks off the hour talking about the great American road trip and what it meant then versus now. From there, the phones light up with a wide range of issues that still feel familiar today.

We tackle an electrical problem on a 1982 Chevelle, revisit the Volkswagen airbag recall that had everyone talking, and help a caller decide whether a 2010 Toyota Prius is a smart used car purchase.

There’s also a call on a 1994 Toyota Pickup struggling to get into gear, plus a discussion on a surprising article about remote start systems—vehicles starting themselves while parked in the garage.

It’s a snapshot of the past with lessons that still apply today—because while the cars may change, the questions never really do.

Good mechanics aren’t expensive — they’re priceless.

• 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 welcomes Tim McDonnell from Mitchell 1 to discuss the latest updates and improvements to Mitchell’s repair and shop management software. They talk about how modern repair information systems are evolving to help shops work smarter, document repairs better, and keep up with the increasing complexity of today’s vehicles.

Good mechanics aren’t expensive — they’re priceless.

• 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.