It’s a busy hour on Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor—and the calls cover everything from safety to big-dollar decisions.

First, Frank calls about a 2015 Chevy Suburban with an intermittent hard brake pedal. Ron points to a known GM issue involving the engine-driven vacuum pump and brake booster contamination, and explains the smart first test to confirm it.

Next, Stan’s 2019 Ford Escape 1.5L is losing coolant with no visible external leak, raising concerns about internal engine issues and the frustrations of dealing with extended warranty “script readers.” Ron lays out a logical path: prove what it’s not, document what it is, and push for coverage.

Then, a 2021 Jeep Wrangler owner reports cold hard shifts into 3rd/4th—Ron suggests checking for pending codes, software updates, and relevant service bulletins before damage gets worse.

Finally, James asks what to look for as his son buys his first vehicle: a 2009 Chevy Silverado with 163k miles. Ron gives the real-world checklist—rust, maintenance history, fluids, overall condition, and budgeting for what happens if the drivetrain quits.

As always: don’t assume—test, verify, and make decisions with your eyes open.

• 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.

• 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 kicks things off with a shout-out to Coach Keith at CrossFit Bison — baseball season is coming, pitchers and catchers have reported, and yes… Ron might be running again. Then it’s right into real-world auto repair with a mix of laughs, shop logic, and listener follow-ups that close the loop.

Matt calls in with an ’01 Chevy Venture where the cooling fans will run when jumped — but won’t come on under normal operation. Ron explains why this may not be a bad fan or relay at all, but a control/strategy issue involving the BCM and load-shed management — the kind of problem you solve with testing, not guessing.

Bruce in Utah shares the win of the week: a pristine ’78 Mercury Marquis that hadn’t been started in 40 years… brought back to life and now turning heads everywhere it goes. Ron talks about the satisfaction of keeping older, repairable vehicles alive — and why we’re all just caretakers of the classics.

Plus, Chris reports back on a Chrysler Pacifica cold-start nightmare that ended up being start/stop battery related — proving again that modern vehicles can mean two batteries and big repair bills if you don’t know what you’re dealing with. And Steven closes the loop on a 2023 F-150 catalytic converter issue that didn’t qualify for a recall — but did get handled under warranty.

Ron wraps with updates on parts supply issues, why start/stop may be headed for a rethink, and a reminder that the best repair relationship is built on trust, proper maintenance, and doing things the right way.

The 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.