The Best Repair Is Sometimes The One You Don’t Take

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor -  August 29, 2026 Sometimes fixing cars starts with knowing which cars—and which customers—not to take on. Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, opens this hour with the story of a first-time customer looking for the cheapest possible brake job on her Lincoln. She already had another shop’s diagnosis, didn’t want to pay for an initial vehicle inspection, and questioned why Ron needed to look at anything beyond the front brakes. Ron explains why policies, procedures and managing expectations aren’t obstacles to good auto repair—they’re part of doing the job right. Then it’s into the phones and mailbag: an intermittent ABS light on a 2010 Toyota Corolla, the high cost of modern vehicle repairs, a 2009 RAV4 with 202,000 miles and a failing transmission, CVT judder questions, a missing Lexus wheel-lock key, and one of the most difficult brake jobs around—the Ford Transit. Plus, Ron shares a lesson from his first boss that has stayed with him for 50 years: cars will always need good brakes, good tires, a reliable battery and good wiper blades. Safety first. 🌐Visit: CarDoctorShow.com 📸 Follow Ron on Instagram: @ronananian 🎥 Watch repair tips and shop videos on YouTube 📻 Join the conversation LIVE Saturdays 2–4 PM See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.