Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - April 12, 2025 - Hour 1 - 57 Belair with a Transmission Leak - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor Welcome to Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor — the trusted voice in automotive repair, where real-world experience, sharp diagnostics, and straight talk come together to help you keep your ride running right. 🚙 2015 Jeep Wrangler — When “New” Parts Fail A regular customer brings in a well-maintained Jeep for a simple oil change — no complaints. Turns out, the check engine light is on. Codes: P0258 (vacuum pump issue) and P0440 (EVAP system fault). Vacuum pump tests fine. Ron proactively changes the booster check valve (which also contains a sensor). The ESIM (EVAP vent valve) was bad — replaced and verified fixed. Installs a new Chrysler purge valve — it fails. Tries a second new one — also fails. Old part works fine. Even an aftermarket copy failed. Conclusion: There’s a bad production run of purge valves, even from OEM sources. Lesson: “New doesn’t mean good.” Always diagnose, don’t just swap parts. 🧰 Classic '57 Chevy — Mysterious Trans Fluid Leak Ed owns a beautiful 1957 Chevy with only 57,000 miles. Reports a quart of automatic transmission fluid leaks out during storage — but not while driving. Ron suspects converter drain-back, a common issue on long-stored classics. Solutions: A check valve on the trans cooler line Possibly a longer dipstick tube Or just lower fluid level when storing the car Ron offers to personally help Ed connect with a Tri-Five club since Ed doesn’t use the internet. Reminder: Old cars need smart storage habits, even if they’re in great shape. 🛠️ Toyota Tundra — Oil Filter Conversion Question John asks if he should convert his 2021 Toyota Tundra from a cartridge-style oil filter to a spin-on type. Reason: Concern about oil draining back and dry starts. Ron says: Stick with OEM unless there's a real issue. Toyota designed it that way for a reason. No widespread failures reported. Don’t re-engineer something that works reliably. Takeaway: “Don’t fix what’s not broken — and don’t believe every mod you read about online.” 🔧 Ford 3-Valve Engines — Spark Plug Nightmares Chris, a longtime tech, shares frustration over broken spark plugs in Ford’s 3-valve engines. Asks Ron if there’s a better removal technique. Ron uses penetrating oil, works on hot and cold engines, and keeps multiple extractor tools (Lyle, KD, etc.). Bottom line: Even with prep, these plugs often break — it’s poor design. Wisdom: Use the best tools, stay patient, and don’t blame yourself — sometimes the part sets you up to fail. Visit us at https://www.cardoctorshow.com Follow Us On Instagram  -   @ronananian    Visit our You Tube Channel for auto repair tips and videos  Call Into The Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 (855)560-9900    Live Call In Show Saturdays 2-4PM Eastern Time       See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.