December 20, 2025 • 34 mins
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor opens with a Christmas-season story that stops him cold at a red light in Ramsey, NJ—when he realizes a young couple in the car next to him is listening to his show on the podcast. From there, Ron dives into the real-world chaos of modern repairs: a 2012 Mazda 3 owner spends $1,800 at a dealership with no clear diagnostic paperwork… only to be told the next step is an “obsolete” engine computer. Ron explains why probability, parts availability, and honest research matter before taking a customer down an expensive road. Plus, calls on a Chrysler 300C oil pressure sensor code, Honda CVT fluid service intervals (and the confusion around filters and fluid types), and a hard-start condition that may point to fuel delivery or pressure-regulator issues.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to Ron and Nanian The Car Doctor, nationally
recognized auto expert trusted by Mechanics, Weekend wrenchers and vehicle
owners alike. Ron brings over forty years of hands on
experience and deep industry insight to help you understand your vehicle.
Join The Conversation Live every Saturday from two to four
pm Eastern by calling eight five to five five six
zero nine nine zero zero. That's eight five to five
(00:25):
five six zero ninety nine hundred, your direct line to
honest answers and practical advice. Looking for more, visit cardoctorshow
dot com for past episodes, repair tips, and Ron's latest insights,
and be sure to subscribe to The Car Doctor YouTube
channel for exclusive videos, real repair footage and more. Now
start your engines. The Car Doctor is in the garage
(00:47):
and ready to take your call.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I thought I would start off today with a little
bit of a Christmas story because it's appropriate. Rights It's
that time of year, and you and I to get
other are going to give somebody a great gift. I
guarantee you, for whatever gift you purchased this year for
your loved ones, you're gonna really like this one. Probably
(01:10):
a whole lot more, because it's kind of a funny story.
You know, the best gifts are the surprises, right, and
surprises are probably one of God's gifts to us as
human beings that we're always taken from left field, you know,
we always look for that sign from the great beyond
to say, hey, are you there? And am I doing good?
(01:31):
Am I doing well? Am I making an impact? Well?
I've got to start off with a little bit of
a somber note, because you know, this year, I've sort
of wondered, am I making an impact? Am I doing well?
Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing here?
You know, you start to question yourself after a while.
Last Sunday it snowed like the Dickens here in New Jersey,
(01:51):
and we had quite a bit of snow on the ground.
And I went out in the plow truck and I started,
you know, I plowed the house out, I plowed the
shop out. I ran past Research Kathy's house, I ran
past doctor Linda's house. Got everybody squared away, and I'm
out driving around and I'm pushing snow, and I start
thinking about some of the things, and I think about
(02:11):
the radio show and you know, and I think how
grand it is here I am in this nice big truck,
and I like driving the plow truck. Right, The plow
truck is a great vehicle to be out, and not
because it's a plow truck, but you sit up high
and you can see everything when you're in that plow truck.
You just you can see out over the roofs of
the cars, and you know, it's just it's just a
great ride. And you know, for the kid that didn't
(02:33):
have a car as a kid until he turned nineteen
eighteen or nineteen, for me to be out in this vehicle,
it's just, you know, it just makes you love cars
that much more. And I didn't think anything about it.
I was sitting at a traffic light in Ramsey, New Jersey,
right by the police station if you're local, and this
black Honda pulled up next to me. Now you've got
(02:56):
to understand, the Honda was low and short, and he
pulled up just a little bit of front of me,
to my left, so he's like ahead of me to
the left, and I could look into the car and
I could see it's it's it's what I guess is
the boyfriend and the girlfriend that they could have been married.
Whatever they were, they were together. And you're looking right
down in the truck into the Honda from the truck
(03:17):
and I couldn't you know, I could see the whole dashboard,
and I could see I could see the radio. I
could see what he was listening to. And I'm looking
at it and I'm going, God, that looks familiar. It's
orange and white and black. Oh my god, he's got
And I look again, he's listening to the podcast of
(03:37):
this radio show. So and I was actually I was
dumbfound that I didn't know what to say. What would
I have rolled down the window and set At that point, Danny,
my mechanic, had the best idea, said, too bad. You
didn't have a T shirt. You could have rolled down
the window and thrown the T shirt at the kid.
And you know, that would have been great. But you know,
it's it's when you least expect it. They're the ants
(04:00):
in life, right. I guess I'm having an impact. I've
got younger people. He had to be in his early
twenties sitting there listening to the radio show. You know,
what do you do? Roll down the window, Hey, what
are you doing? You know, the one and only no
boloniof and imitator never duplicated ronn Andy and the car Doctor.
So I just now I know he's going to listen
to the next podcast. I just didn't know where he
(04:20):
was in the podcast. I couldn't see the details. So
he may listen to this tomorrow, he may listen to
this in two weeks. But just rest assured that you
and I have just given somebody a gift, whether it
be before Christmas or after Christmas. I just hope he's
not driving when he hears this, because he might run
off the road. That might be really bad. But for
(04:42):
the young man at the traffic light in Ramsey, New
Jersey with his girlfriend last week after the snowstorm, I
just want to let you know I was the guy
in the white pickup truck that was staring at you,
dumbfound and not knowing what to say. And trust me, brother,
for me to be speechless, that takes a lot, that
really does. That's not me at any situation. I just
(05:02):
what do you say? The human interaction is the best
part of this radio show, in the conversations I get
to have with each and every one of you. By
the way, The phone number here is always eight five
five five six zero nine nine zero zero. If you're
looking to get in, the phones are open right now
eight five five five six zero nine nine zero zero.
(05:23):
You know, it's the interaction I have with each and
every one of you, And I guess it's you know,
the holidays make life in the shop crazy, busy, crazier
than other times somewhat. I had a situation yesterday that
really made me think. Donald came up. I haven't seen
Donald since twenty eleven. I almost kind of don't remember
(05:46):
him coming to the shop. I haven't seen him, what
is it almost fifteen years? And he came in. He's
driving a twenty twelve miles to three and he started
to you know, we're looking at this and he's got well,
he doesn't have fault codes. He's got a fault COVID.
He doesn't know what it is because well, long story short,
(06:08):
I'm backing into this. He spent eighteen hundred dollars to
fix this car, and I'm appalled. No diagnostic reports, no
fault code printouts, no explanations of what was done. Customer
stage vehicle runs poorly replaced mass airflow sensor map sensor
air and take boot and sparkplugs. Eighteen hundred dollars dealership.
And I'm not picking on dealers. I just bought. The
(06:29):
way they did this was kind of you know skiviee.
I didn't didn't. It didn't make a whole lot of
sense to me, So he said, And I said, you're
here now because he said, well, I spent all this
money and it didn't fix the car. And what you
mean it didn't fix the car? Well, I spent eighteen
hundred dollars. The car still does the exact same thing.
(06:51):
And now they're telling me I need a computer, which
they're telling me is obsolete. Wow, there's a lot wrong
with that statement. Right, We're gonna spend eighteen hundred dollars
on a twelve thirteen year old vehicle and it's it's
it's obsolete. Like no, come on now, you know in
(07:13):
a repair shop you're you're trying not to diagnose cars
at the counter. I always say that, right, you can't
diagnose at the counter because you'll you'll come up short.
You can't, I couldn't, possibly you can't. You would. I
could spend I could literally spend all day just talking
to people at the counter, without turning a wrench, without
hooking up a scan tool, without just about their cars
(07:35):
and their problems. It's it's just it's just that kind
of a life for me. Come on, let's go outside.
Look at this car. So I go outside, look at
this car. It's got a P zero one oh one
mass airflow sensor port performance circuit issue. And I look
at it and iyeh okay, it's it's definitely got a
fault in it. And he said, well, they're telling me
it's a computer. Now, as tempted as I am to
(07:56):
start looking at things, because the first thing that comes
to my mind on that car is does it have
a broken or bad or high resistance ground wire? Because
they did that that was not an uncommon fault. But
I want to verify what he's talking about because I'm
also it's about quarter to three, maybe it was three o'clock.
I've got I got a car. I've got a car.
I'm trying to get out at four o'clock because it's
(08:18):
the end of the week. So I go back in
and I do some checking, and I actually talk to
my guys at Mazda. I have a very good relationship
with my mas de parts guys and they look it
up and they say, yeah, you know what, Ron that computer,
that engine controller is obsolete. There isn't one in the country. Wow,
(08:40):
that's kind of staggering. I mean, we didn't have the
conversation about finding something used. I guess we can always
go the used route or the remaner route, which you know,
I don't think any aftermarket remanufacturer actually remands a computer.
I think they shock tested, vibrate test it, make sure
it's you know, there's no cracks in the solder joints,
and as best they can, and then ship it out
the door. Because I don't think anybody has the technology
(09:02):
or the ability to really reman a computer at aftermarket level.
I think the cost would be too high. And I
said to Donald, I said, here's the issue. You've got
a twelve going on thirteen year old car that let's
assume it needs a computers because you're down to they've
changed every part related to the circuit. The only thing
(09:22):
left is we've either got a wiring issue, a ground issue,
or a bad PCM. You know, if it's a PCM,
you'd have to find something used and hope that that
doesn't have the same fault and failure. Because that's the
other problem with electronics, right they all seem to age
appropriately and do they all seem to fail around that
same pattern, that same time period. And that's not just cars.
Here at the radio show. Here in the studio, Tom,
(09:45):
I've seen Tom change boards and devices and modules. You know,
they're five, six years old, seven years old, Tom, what
are you doing?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Well?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
These typically fail at year seven and we're on year six.
So he says, let's change it now before we're in
the middle of a broadcast and while you guys get
to here is so let's you know, let's not do
that right. And it makes you wonder, you know. I
sit to my wife at dinner the other night. She said,
you know, how's it going in the shop. She says,
I know, you're really busy. I said, yeah, we're really
(10:14):
really busy. I said, I you know, I'm making the
majority of the people happy, but some people you just
can't make happy. And she said, what are you going
to do about it? I said, there's not much I
can do. I think it kind of comes down to,
you know, I have confidence in what we're doing and
how we're doing it, and I'm looking at how other
shops are treating their customers. And I proceeded to tell
(10:35):
the story about you know, the eighteen hundred dollars miles
of that. Now you can't get parts for it, and
now you just spent eighteen hundred dollars to not fix
a vehicle, and you're going to go car shopping, and
what was the point in all of it? You know,
no mechanic has a crystal ball. Nobody can see the future.
But I think when you're dealing with an older vehicle
(10:56):
with higher mileage, and you've got to look at potential
and probability, and I think you're obligated to do a
little research before you take a customer down a path.
I think that's part of the process because otherwise you
can end up with eighteen hundred dollars worth of nothing.
And then you start to ask the next question of
what if you know, what if this goes bad? Or
what's next? As in what's the next car? Eight five, five,
(11:19):
five six nine nine zero zero. I'm running the inde
in the car doctor. I'll be back right after this. Now,
far be it from me to be the guy that's
I'm gonna told you so, Okay, I am kind of
(11:40):
the guy that would be I told you so. Did
you see the story in the news this week about Ford.
Ford is dropping They're no longer going to make the
electric f one fifty the lightning right because they're losing
one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars a vehicle. Absorb
that for a minute. They're losing one hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars on every f one to fifty lightning
(12:01):
that they sell. I'm not saying it's a bad vehicle.
I'm just saying the whole concept is impractical and unrealistic.
And then they took a twenty billion dollar hit in
there in overall for the manufacturing. They've got to switch
the battery plants around, They've got to make all these changes. Now,
wasn't there a radio show now that'll sound too pompous
(12:22):
and self righteous that if I sat here and said,
wasn't there a radio show that interviewed a guy about
two years ago that predicted that this was going to happen?
Let me think about who that was. In the meantime,
let me go to Kevin in Massachusetts.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Kevin, Hey, Ron, how you do it today?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Good sir, what's going on?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Good, ay Ron, I got a two thousand and five
Chrysler three hundred C right, it's got one hundred and
twenty two thousand miles on it, and I've talked to
you before about the tone rings in it. Sure, I
was down to Florida, and I'm down to Florida now actually,
but just before I left, it through ay P zero
five twenty, which is the oil.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Center right, oil pressure circuit fall yep, yep.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Now the oil in it, it was a little dirty,
maybe down a court. I changed it, hoping that that
would solve the problem. But my oil light started flashing
at an idol. Okay, So I don't know if it's
the sensor or have you heard common problems with the censer?
And if I do replace it, should I go with
a stock one or should I go in an aftermarket.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Sensors are very common. It's a two thousand and five,
so you may not have the luxury of a decision
of what you're going to use it. Maybe after market
only don't think that much of the vehicle that. Don't
be so impressed with your vehicle, Kevin, that it may
not happen that way. Do you own a scan tool
by chance, No, but I have access to one, all right,
(13:41):
I mean you can go. You know the ground wire
at that sensor. It's three wires at the sensor. The
dark blue dark green wire is ground okay, okay. One
of the other wires, and I believe it's the pink
or the pink yellow, is going to have five vaults.
So what you could do is put your meat on
the pink yellow and the and the dark blue dark green,
(14:04):
and you should see five vaults key on. That means
you've got a good ground on the dark blue dark green,
and you've got five vaults on the on the other
one right, and then and then move your move your
positive lead, your red lead to the other wire, which
I believe is purple, right, but it's the only one left,
and you should see five vaults there as well.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
If it does that, then your circuit check is good.
If you want to hook a scan tool up, leave
the leave the lead for the sensor unplugged, okay, and
and jump from the violet right to the ground to
the dark blue dark green okay. And you should read
zero vaults on a scan tool, okay, all right. And
(14:50):
if that's the case, then you've you've circuit tested it,
and then at that point I would you know, put
a sensor in it.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Okay, sounds good, you.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Know, very common, very common back in the day. All right, sir, And.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
This is this is also Kevin went the seventy two
dart that I talked to you about.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Oh sure, did you ever finished that car?
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Oh yeah, she's she's running good. She's in the garage
up on the box right now.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
So why is it is it? Is it coldon Massachusetts?
Why is Kevin in Florida? Right?
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yeah, well I bring momb down for the winter.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Yeah, you're a good egg. Did you did you get
the car out at all before the cold weather came? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Cool and running really good.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Actually, let's see if you get home from Florida though
this time? So are you are you driving all the
way home?
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:35):
I've been my twenty three ram though, Okay, got it.
That's as stupid running.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
So where's the five Chrysler at home?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
That's back in Massachusetts yet? Right just before, just before
I left it through the code, So looking into it.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
So so you're a mopar guy, yes, right, okay, I
just you know it's funny, right you can tell well.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Growing up, growing up, my dad said, you can only
park mo bars in the driveway if you drive anything
else that goes out on.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
The street, isn't you know? And you know that's something
let's look at that for a quick second, right, that's
something the American car companies I think have forgotten all right.
When dad drove a Chevrolet, the kids drove a Chevrolet.
When dad drove a Plymouth, the kids drove a Plymouth,
and then they became customers for life, so it sort
(16:26):
of passed over this generation. I'm seeing a lot of
this current generation of young drivers. They're all driving Toyotas
and Hondas.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Because dad didn't drive Antari right video game.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Right, right, and and you know, and listen, the the
Japanese car companies are kind of losing their way. To
article out yesterday and I said this to my wife,
I said, I can't believe I just discovered that you
cannot buy a four cylinder gas engine Toyota Camra. It
(16:58):
doesn't exists. It's a four cylinder hybrid. And they just
came out yesterday with notice that there's problems with the
four cylinder Toyota hybrid camera engines and now they're gonna
find out they can't make those right. I don't know
what's the world coming to. Oh for the days of
a two eighty three and a two barrel and an impalla. Uh,
just bone stock reliability. I'm running any in the car, Doctor,
(17:21):
I'll be back. Don't go anywhere, hel run, We'll keep
you right by the way. I guess this is our
(17:59):
should point this out. This is our last show of
the year, because next week is the Christmas Show, which
will be a best of only because Tom and I
are counting on we won't get back from the North
Pole in time. Tom doesn't know it yet, but I'm
taking him with me because I've got so much electronics
in Santa's sleigh this year that I need. I need
a second electrical eye to look at it. Tom, by
(18:20):
the way, don't don't making me an inventory the fuses
I need, and I'll make sure I don't know Tom,
no fuses everything is. I'll explain it to you how
the sligh works. The slave doesn't run on fuses. Tom,
that's so old school. So oh boy, but oh boy,
just don't make any plans for Wednesday night this week coming.
But we are going to get lots of hot cocoa
and car doctor cups available at cardoctorshow dot com. But anyway,
(18:42):
let's go go over to Gary and make sure get
this get these in so next week. But next week
is going to be a best of So don't be disappointed.
We're picking out some great shows for you from this
past year and beyond Gary. Trying to get some housekeeping
out of the way. Yes, sir, how can I help
you up there in New Hampshire?
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Yes, sir, thank you for taking my call.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
You're welcome. What's going on?
Speaker 4 (19:00):
I have a twenty nineteen fifty three thousand miles and
I'm trying to figure out what is the what intervals
to change the CVT fluid.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
At You're right in the sweet spot, kiddo.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
And I took it to a transmission shop and they
said no sort of thing. They said it takes two
filters plus the fluid four to five hundred dollars. He said,
one of the filters is so expensive because they have
to go to Honda for it. They can't get it
anywhere else. Then I took it to the dealer who
said they don't change any filters, and took it to
(19:37):
an independent shop Toben the same thing. So I don't
know what to believe.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I don't change the filters I have yet. Let me
say it like this, I have yet to change filters
on the CVTs. Okay, I have not seen them readily accessible,
easy to get to need for replacement. And my rationale
is everything I've read about cvets is when they start
to disintegrate internally. When when when the internal rubber pieces
(20:01):
come apart, They come apart once once they start the
flake brother, it's it's like driving down a It's like
driving downhill on a road paved with ice. It's a
quick descent, it's just right to the bottom. So it's
it's changed the fluid and the hope that you don't
have that experience and you know, hope for the best.
Now that's a fifty to sixty thousand mile fluid interval,
(20:24):
I will I will say this. There are some Hondas
that and that fluid is generally green. I believe that's
three hundred this three or nine four ineos which we
have at the shop. It's traditional CVT fluid. And then
there is a then there's a and I don't understand
why Honda does this but Toyota does it too. There
is a CVET version of that transmission that takes red fluid.
(20:49):
Now it's so it gets kind of confusing. I you know,
I don't know if you've ever worked on cars, but
you know traditional automatic transmissions take what red fluid? Oh,
you take red fluid out of the CVT. If you
haven't researched it and verified part number, you're gonna you're
gonna feel awful foolish because you're gonna put the You're
(21:10):
gonna put the wrong fluid. And it's always verified fluid
always right.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Funny stick is the bonus manual, and bull Face says,
if you use anything other than the Honda fluid, you
will ruin the transmission.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Right, because they're they're concerned now, uh company by the
name of Ineos, which I believe is the same thing
as I Demetsu. All right, they they probably are the
manufacturers of Honda Transfluid and Toyota Transfluid and so on.
So as long as it is a specifically rated for
(21:41):
that application for that vehicle, I don't think there's a problem.
I don't see a problem. I haven't had a problem,
all right, it's just verifying which fluid you have that
seems to be the issue. And there was actually a Toyota.
I'm trying to think of what cart was. I think
it was a Corolla with a CVT where we took
(22:01):
green fluid out and there was a bulletin update to
put red fluid in. So, yeah, we read that one
three times. Are we sure this is right? And we
went round and round with our Toyota dealer and they
were a little confused too, and I actually got the parts.
Got to admit to me, I don't think I've ever
seen this.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Well, think about the Hondas. I don't like is they've
got that maintenance minder and they don't tell you when
you know you have to change fluid. It just it
pops up a code in the dash and you have
to waite back to happen.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Well, that's because that's because Hondas never break. There's there's
a little bit of Christmas magic there that just comes
along and takes it away. It's it's it's it's just
the unreality of what they expect. I think everything takes
maintenance and they don't understand that. But yeah, you're right,
I love it. Customer comes in, I need an A
thirteen or a B one service or a you know,
(22:52):
they don't want to speak I don't think manufacturers want
to speak clear cut English because the more complicated they
may get, look, the less likely people are to go anywhere.
But the dealer. I'm not saying anything against dealers. I
think there's some very good repair shop dealers out there,
and I think there's some very bad independent shops. I
think repair shops are only as good as the people
(23:12):
in them. But I think a lot of what you,
as the consumers see for taking care of your vehicle
is a lot of marketing, and I think that's that's
their perspective, you know, and how they approach it. So
but yeah, by all means, now's the time, all right?
And keep in mind at sixty thousand miles, if this
is an all wheel drive fit, is this an all
(23:34):
wheel drive fit? I think now the front wheel drive fit? Yeah,
they did they make an all wheel drive fit. I
thought they did.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
I don't believe so not t I'm.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Aware of all right. Well, what I was going to
say was, don't forget the other fluids in the drive
train either or whatever's there. And you know the vehicle's
coming up on well, four or five years old if
you haven't break fluid flush right, Yeah, I've done it, okay,
and you know, I know Honda. I think Honda's going
to say five years on coolant or maybe a little longer.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Yeah, I've done that. Yeah, I'm sorry. It gets to
use a BG system that they do in exchange on it.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Yeah, good, good, good good good. So yeah, just just
I just don't want to highlight only trans fluids as
the only fluid to do at this particular point. We
kind of focus on that. But and I'm sure you
put a battery in it right by now, Gary, Yes,
I yeah, okay, yeah, Group fifty one batteries the most
(24:30):
common failures. So all right, hey kiddo, you're good. I
appreciate the call. You're very welcome. You take good care.
I'm running ding in the car doctor eight five five
five six out nine nine zero zero. We'll be back
right after this. Oh boy, wait on, I get Tom
(24:58):
in that sleigh. I'll show them what barrel rolls are
all about. Remember, wear your seatbelt when you're in a
Santa Sleigh. Trust me, I know. Let's go to Tom
and Arizona three view with the saber Tom, what's going on?
Speaker 5 (25:08):
Hi, thanks for taking my call.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Starting issues.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
Had a couple of questions regarding that. So one the
owner's manuel says, Hey, just turn the key to start
and it should start. Sometimes I have to step on
the accelerator at pedal, so besides letting the air and
does that actually increase fuel delivery?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
No, doesn't do a thing. As a matter of fact,
if you if you push that pedal all the way
to the floor, you will put that vehicle in what
we traditionally called clear flood mode. You will shut off
the injectors. So if you ever think you've flooded the vehicle,
you would push your foot to the floor traditionally the
(25:50):
way you would do it if it was a carbureted
vehicle to clear it out.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
But I'm actually I'm actually turning off the field when
I step on the well.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Depending depending on how far down you're you're you're pushing it. Yeah,
if you go all the way to the floor, you're
actually shutting the injectors off. Are you going? Are you
going all the way to the floor?
Speaker 5 (26:09):
No, I say halfway. All right, I'm putting more. It's
pretty more error.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Yeah, you're you're you're you're doing nothing, but it works.
So let's talk about this a second. When it does start,
is there a little bit of a rough vidle and
a chuggle? And do you see any smoke out the tailpipe?
Speaker 5 (26:25):
No? Smoke, rough idle?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Yeah, but but it runs rougher No.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
No, it starts sometimes I don't need Sometimes I don't
need to do that, like first in the morning, I
don't think I need to do that. Maybe that's because
the gas has got drained back.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Or it's well, maybe because we're at a different temperature. Right, Yeah,
it's not a hot start, so you know, is this
a hot restart issue on a consistent basis?
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Intermittent?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Okay, so it's right.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
So my other question is this seems to help if
I turn the key on but not start for leave
it there for five seconds and then it'll start up.
Doesn't that that actually that creates more fuel volume?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Right, Well, it could prime the rail, but it won't
do it on a repetitive basis. So many turns of
the key, the car is going to be smart enough
to go, hey, he's you know, what if he's overloading
the what if he's overloading the system? We don't want
to do that. So it will not cycle, and that's
computer programming. It will not cycle with pump. Let's let's
let's do this. Okay. So you go to start and
(27:28):
it doesn't start. You do whatever you're doing with the
gas pedal, your futs around with it. Isn't Is this
the car we talked about a couple of years ago, Tom,
because I know we've talked about this. Is this the
car you put the fuel pressure regulator in?
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Yes, I went, I finally put an AC delco right
and count, I mean, I mean finally got to the
problem where it went started all right. It turned out
to be a fuel pump. And I've been going through
a lot of fuel pumps, so I'm wondering if I
have a voltage issue at the fuel pump, a fuel
filter or leaky fuel injectors.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
I'm gonna say that A and I. I've seen cars
with ninety eight percent clogged fuel filters. I can't. I
can barely blow through them and the car starts. The
car starts and runs fine.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
Yeah, that's why I think because I've changed it before,
so I don't.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
I don't think you're there. You know, weird things with
fuel filters that that's the metal canister filter mounted on
the frame rail. Yeah, you know, the if it's if
it's a cheapy filter, I've seen the glue breakdown and
the filter rolls around and it clogs. It turns itself
and clogs the hole and it takes a moment of
jarring for it to come back. You know, weird things
(28:35):
like that. But other than that, filters either a go
no go, and it's got to be so clogged so
and in fact, the worst thing a clog filter does
is it puts so much pressure on the pump you
cause early pump failure. So, you know, do we have
a fuel pressure issue here? We could Nwe doesn't mean good.
You know, a new replacement pump on a twenty thirty
(28:59):
team twenty four year old vehicle. How how long was
that pump sitting on the shelf. I would want to
I would run or run. I would want to run
a pump test. And then does it hold residual pressure
for twenty minutes? It should, you know, fifteen to twenty minutes.
It should hold some kind of residual.
Speaker 5 (29:17):
When I put it in. I did that and work,
and then I didn't have any issues. Right, they're Delphi
pump so I go to ac Delco.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah, they're probably at this point that vehicle is old enough.
They're probably all being made in the same plant. Whatever's left, right,
because they're not tooled up. They're not tooling up to
work on that vehicle anymore. Why don't we go back
to remember did we talk about when we were zeroing
in on the fuel pressure regulator about putting the clear
(29:44):
piece of plastic hods in the vacuum line. Wow, okay,
this has a vacuum line going to the pressure regulator,
doesn't it. Yeah, okay, put a clear piece. Now you're
gonna have to get something rated for gasoline, all right, right,
but go find a clear plastic hose, put that on
the fuel pressure regulator, and then t the other end
(30:07):
into the vacuum line. All right, Now, when it goes
into this hard start, no start, long crank, whatever it's doing,
just just for giggles, make sure there's no fuel in
the vacuum line.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
So basically, with the vacuum line going to the regulator,
you want me to make it clear, right, I want.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
You to make it clear so I can see if
there's any fuel present.
Speaker 5 (30:29):
Because if you mean te off clearer and a dead
end on the in the clear tube.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Well, in other words, I just want you to extend
the vacuum line with a piece of clear clear line
in it, so the vacuum is still going to apply
to the regulator. But if, but if, if the diaphragm,
if the fuel pressure regulator is seeping fuel, it's gonna
it's gonna fill that clear hose And where's that where's
that extra fuel gonna go? Tom, it's gonna get pulled
(30:55):
into the vehicle and do what? Flood it out? And
what do you what are you gonna do to clear
out of flood? You're gonna open up the throttle plate
and put more air in it?
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Yeah, okay, I'll do that.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Right.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
You know, I disconnect to the vacuum line and I
don't see any fuel.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
There, and you may not. And it could be intermittent
and it may not listen. It may not be the problem.
But what are we doing? Tell me what's good. I'll
tell you what's bad. Right, We're eliminating something.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
So if there's suel in that line, does that mean
it's a pressure regulator?
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
If there's fuel in that vacuum line, that fuel pressure
regulator's bad.
Speaker 5 (31:27):
So it's leaking fuel, right.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
It's it's seeping fuel through a porous diaphragm. Yeah, I
doubt that I do too. But you know what, if
I keep looking, If I only keep looking for what's bad,
it's gonna take longer. I gotta run, kiddo, I'm up
against the clock. Do that call me back. You know
where to find me A five five five six o
nine nine zero zero running aiding of the car doctor
coming back right after this. By the way, Tom, I
(32:02):
didn't want to tell you, but when we get to
the north pole, you're going to get the seat on
the outside right, your closest to the exit door. So
make sure you bring plenty of warm clothing too, because
you're going to be cold besides wearing a seatbelt lovely.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
You know how much I love cold weather.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Oh yeah, it's great. So and don't sit directly behind
the rein deer. Let's do this letter from Steven twenty sixteen,
Ford Edge just putting new tires on it A new
tire pressure valve stems with the correct procedure for sinking
the tire pressures sensors with the on board computer. I
found three different ones on the web and frankly, don't
want to waste my time in the cold. Try and
each one until I hit the right one. Great show
(32:36):
listen every Saturday. Thanks Steven Delaware. Well Steve is out
there listening now. The best way to do it is
with a tire pressure scan tool, which makes life so easy, right,
but I'm assuming you don't have that, So there is
a way to do training mode on that particular car
without a scan tool. You're going to know it if
you're in correct procedure because the horn is going to
(32:56):
sound once and the tire pressure light's going to flash
to show you that training mode is been entered. You
would go ignition off. You're going to press and release
the brake pedal using the start stop switch. You're going
to turn it off to run, off, to run, off
to run three times, ending in the run position. It'll
say train left front. Then you're going to do it again,
train right front and so on and work your way
around the car and then you're gonna, you know, get
(33:19):
out of programming at the last one. Off off on, off, on, off, on,
ending in the run position and that should close out training.
So just it's it's, it's, it's it's a pain in
the butt. I've had to do it. I actually had
to do it once on a Ford product because the
tire pressure tool didn't have correct software in it and
they hadn't updated it. It was and every once in
a while that's another problem being an audit repair, that
(33:41):
you just don't have the most advanced software technology that
you might need. And I think we've got four different
tire pressure tools in the shop at last count, so
we're we're talking about it the other day that they're
fast becoming a commodity and something you throw away after
a couple of years. But anyway, do that, Steven, that
should work for you. If not, give me a call,
I'm running eny in the car doctor, reminding you til
(34:02):
the next time. Good mechanics aren't expensive, they're priceless.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
See y hey the car doctor.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Carr advice to Ray
You're listening to Ron and Nanian The Car Doctor, nationally
recognized auto expert trusted by Mechanics, Weekend wrenchers and vehicle
owners alike. Ron brings over forty years of hands on
experience and deep industry insight to help you understand your vehicle.
Join The Conversation Live every Saturday from two to four
pm Eastern by calling eight five to five five six
zero nine nine zero zero. That's eight five to five
(00:25):
five six zero ninety nine hundred, your direct line to
honest answers and practical advice. Looking for more, visit cardoctorshow
dot com for past episodes, repair tips, and Ron's latest insights,
and be sure to subscribe to The Car Doctor YouTube
channel for exclusive videos, real repair footage and more. Now
start your engines. The Car Doctor is in the garage
(00:47):
and ready to take your call.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I thought I would start off today with a little
bit of a Christmas story because it's appropriate. Rights It's
that time of year, and you and I to get
other are going to give somebody a great gift. I
guarantee you, for whatever gift you purchased this year for
your loved ones, you're gonna really like this one. Probably
(01:10):
a whole lot more, because it's kind of a funny story.
You know, the best gifts are the surprises, right, and
surprises are probably one of God's gifts to us as
human beings that we're always taken from left field, you know,
we always look for that sign from the great beyond
to say, hey, are you there? And am I doing good?
(01:31):
Am I doing well? Am I making an impact? Well?
I've got to start off with a little bit of
a somber note, because you know, this year, I've sort
of wondered, am I making an impact? Am I doing well?
Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing here?
You know, you start to question yourself after a while.
Last Sunday it snowed like the Dickens here in New Jersey,
(01:51):
and we had quite a bit of snow on the ground.
And I went out in the plow truck and I started,
you know, I plowed the house out, I plowed the
shop out. I ran past Research Kathy's house, I ran
past doctor Linda's house. Got everybody squared away, and I'm
out driving around and I'm pushing snow, and I start
thinking about some of the things, and I think about
(02:11):
the radio show and you know, and I think how
grand it is here I am in this nice big truck,
and I like driving the plow truck. Right, The plow
truck is a great vehicle to be out, and not
because it's a plow truck, but you sit up high
and you can see everything when you're in that plow truck.
You just you can see out over the roofs of
the cars, and you know, it's just it's just a
great ride. And you know, for the kid that didn't
(02:33):
have a car as a kid until he turned nineteen
eighteen or nineteen, for me to be out in this vehicle,
it's just, you know, it just makes you love cars
that much more. And I didn't think anything about it.
I was sitting at a traffic light in Ramsey, New Jersey,
right by the police station if you're local, and this
black Honda pulled up next to me. Now you've got
(02:56):
to understand, the Honda was low and short, and he
pulled up just a little bit of front of me,
to my left, so he's like ahead of me to
the left, and I could look into the car and
I could see it's it's it's what I guess is
the boyfriend and the girlfriend that they could have been married.
Whatever they were, they were together. And you're looking right
down in the truck into the Honda from the truck
(03:17):
and I couldn't you know, I could see the whole dashboard,
and I could see I could see the radio. I
could see what he was listening to. And I'm looking
at it and I'm going, God, that looks familiar. It's
orange and white and black. Oh my god, he's got
And I look again, he's listening to the podcast of
(03:37):
this radio show. So and I was actually I was
dumbfound that I didn't know what to say. What would
I have rolled down the window and set At that point, Danny,
my mechanic, had the best idea, said, too bad. You
didn't have a T shirt. You could have rolled down
the window and thrown the T shirt at the kid.
And you know, that would have been great. But you know,
it's it's when you least expect it. They're the ants
(04:00):
in life, right. I guess I'm having an impact. I've
got younger people. He had to be in his early
twenties sitting there listening to the radio show. You know,
what do you do? Roll down the window, Hey, what
are you doing? You know, the one and only no
boloniof and imitator never duplicated ronn Andy and the car Doctor.
So I just now I know he's going to listen
to the next podcast. I just didn't know where he
(04:20):
was in the podcast. I couldn't see the details. So
he may listen to this tomorrow, he may listen to
this in two weeks. But just rest assured that you
and I have just given somebody a gift, whether it
be before Christmas or after Christmas. I just hope he's
not driving when he hears this, because he might run
off the road. That might be really bad. But for
(04:42):
the young man at the traffic light in Ramsey, New
Jersey with his girlfriend last week after the snowstorm, I
just want to let you know I was the guy
in the white pickup truck that was staring at you,
dumbfound and not knowing what to say. And trust me, brother,
for me to be speechless, that takes a lot, that
really does. That's not me at any situation. I just
(05:02):
what do you say? The human interaction is the best
part of this radio show, in the conversations I get
to have with each and every one of you. By
the way, The phone number here is always eight five
five five six zero nine nine zero zero. If you're
looking to get in, the phones are open right now
eight five five five six zero nine nine zero zero.
(05:23):
You know, it's the interaction I have with each and
every one of you, And I guess it's you know,
the holidays make life in the shop crazy, busy, crazier
than other times somewhat. I had a situation yesterday that
really made me think. Donald came up. I haven't seen
Donald since twenty eleven. I almost kind of don't remember
(05:46):
him coming to the shop. I haven't seen him, what
is it almost fifteen years? And he came in. He's
driving a twenty twelve miles to three and he started
to you know, we're looking at this and he's got well,
he doesn't have fault codes. He's got a fault COVID.
He doesn't know what it is because well, long story short,
(06:08):
I'm backing into this. He spent eighteen hundred dollars to
fix this car, and I'm appalled. No diagnostic reports, no
fault code printouts, no explanations of what was done. Customer
stage vehicle runs poorly replaced mass airflow sensor map sensor
air and take boot and sparkplugs. Eighteen hundred dollars dealership.
And I'm not picking on dealers. I just bought. The
(06:29):
way they did this was kind of you know skiviee.
I didn't didn't. It didn't make a whole lot of
sense to me, So he said, And I said, you're
here now because he said, well, I spent all this
money and it didn't fix the car. And what you
mean it didn't fix the car? Well, I spent eighteen
hundred dollars. The car still does the exact same thing.
(06:51):
And now they're telling me I need a computer, which
they're telling me is obsolete. Wow, there's a lot wrong
with that statement. Right, We're gonna spend eighteen hundred dollars
on a twelve thirteen year old vehicle and it's it's
it's obsolete. Like no, come on now, you know in
(07:13):
a repair shop you're you're trying not to diagnose cars
at the counter. I always say that, right, you can't
diagnose at the counter because you'll you'll come up short.
You can't, I couldn't, possibly you can't. You would. I
could spend I could literally spend all day just talking
to people at the counter, without turning a wrench, without
hooking up a scan tool, without just about their cars
(07:35):
and their problems. It's it's just it's just that kind
of a life for me. Come on, let's go outside.
Look at this car. So I go outside, look at
this car. It's got a P zero one oh one
mass airflow sensor port performance circuit issue. And I look
at it and iyeh okay, it's it's definitely got a
fault in it. And he said, well, they're telling me
it's a computer. Now, as tempted as I am to
(07:56):
start looking at things, because the first thing that comes
to my mind on that car is does it have
a broken or bad or high resistance ground wire? Because
they did that that was not an uncommon fault. But
I want to verify what he's talking about because I'm
also it's about quarter to three, maybe it was three o'clock.
I've got I got a car. I've got a car.
I'm trying to get out at four o'clock because it's
(08:18):
the end of the week. So I go back in
and I do some checking, and I actually talk to
my guys at Mazda. I have a very good relationship
with my mas de parts guys and they look it
up and they say, yeah, you know what, Ron that computer,
that engine controller is obsolete. There isn't one in the country. Wow,
(08:40):
that's kind of staggering. I mean, we didn't have the
conversation about finding something used. I guess we can always
go the used route or the remaner route, which you know,
I don't think any aftermarket remanufacturer actually remands a computer.
I think they shock tested, vibrate test it, make sure
it's you know, there's no cracks in the solder joints,
and as best they can, and then ship it out
the door. Because I don't think anybody has the technology
(09:02):
or the ability to really reman a computer at aftermarket level.
I think the cost would be too high. And I
said to Donald, I said, here's the issue. You've got
a twelve going on thirteen year old car that let's
assume it needs a computers because you're down to they've
changed every part related to the circuit. The only thing
(09:22):
left is we've either got a wiring issue, a ground issue,
or a bad PCM. You know, if it's a PCM,
you'd have to find something used and hope that that
doesn't have the same fault and failure. Because that's the
other problem with electronics, right they all seem to age
appropriately and do they all seem to fail around that
same pattern, that same time period. And that's not just cars.
Here at the radio show. Here in the studio, Tom,
(09:45):
I've seen Tom change boards and devices and modules. You know,
they're five, six years old, seven years old, Tom, what
are you doing?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Well?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
These typically fail at year seven and we're on year six.
So he says, let's change it now before we're in
the middle of a broadcast and while you guys get
to here is so let's you know, let's not do
that right. And it makes you wonder, you know. I
sit to my wife at dinner the other night. She said,
you know, how's it going in the shop. She says,
I know, you're really busy. I said, yeah, we're really
(10:14):
really busy. I said, I you know, I'm making the
majority of the people happy, but some people you just
can't make happy. And she said, what are you going
to do about it? I said, there's not much I
can do. I think it kind of comes down to,
you know, I have confidence in what we're doing and
how we're doing it, and I'm looking at how other
shops are treating their customers. And I proceeded to tell
(10:35):
the story about you know, the eighteen hundred dollars miles
of that. Now you can't get parts for it, and
now you just spent eighteen hundred dollars to not fix
a vehicle, and you're going to go car shopping, and
what was the point in all of it? You know,
no mechanic has a crystal ball. Nobody can see the future.
But I think when you're dealing with an older vehicle
(10:56):
with higher mileage, and you've got to look at potential
and probability, and I think you're obligated to do a
little research before you take a customer down a path.
I think that's part of the process because otherwise you
can end up with eighteen hundred dollars worth of nothing.
And then you start to ask the next question of
what if you know, what if this goes bad? Or
what's next? As in what's the next car? Eight five, five,
(11:19):
five six nine nine zero zero. I'm running the inde
in the car doctor. I'll be back right after this. Now,
far be it from me to be the guy that's
I'm gonna told you so, Okay, I am kind of
(11:40):
the guy that would be I told you so. Did
you see the story in the news this week about Ford.
Ford is dropping They're no longer going to make the
electric f one fifty the lightning right because they're losing
one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars a vehicle. Absorb
that for a minute. They're losing one hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars on every f one to fifty lightning
(12:01):
that they sell. I'm not saying it's a bad vehicle.
I'm just saying the whole concept is impractical and unrealistic.
And then they took a twenty billion dollar hit in
there in overall for the manufacturing. They've got to switch
the battery plants around, They've got to make all these changes. Now,
wasn't there a radio show now that'll sound too pompous
(12:22):
and self righteous that if I sat here and said,
wasn't there a radio show that interviewed a guy about
two years ago that predicted that this was going to happen?
Let me think about who that was. In the meantime,
let me go to Kevin in Massachusetts.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Kevin, Hey, Ron, how you do it today?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Good sir, what's going on?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Good, ay Ron, I got a two thousand and five
Chrysler three hundred C right, it's got one hundred and
twenty two thousand miles on it, and I've talked to
you before about the tone rings in it. Sure, I
was down to Florida, and I'm down to Florida now actually,
but just before I left, it through ay P zero
five twenty, which is the oil.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Center right, oil pressure circuit fall yep, yep.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Now the oil in it, it was a little dirty,
maybe down a court. I changed it, hoping that that
would solve the problem. But my oil light started flashing
at an idol. Okay, So I don't know if it's
the sensor or have you heard common problems with the censer?
And if I do replace it, should I go with
a stock one or should I go in an aftermarket.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Sensors are very common. It's a two thousand and five,
so you may not have the luxury of a decision
of what you're going to use it. Maybe after market
only don't think that much of the vehicle that. Don't
be so impressed with your vehicle, Kevin, that it may
not happen that way. Do you own a scan tool
by chance, No, but I have access to one, all right,
(13:41):
I mean you can go. You know the ground wire
at that sensor. It's three wires at the sensor. The
dark blue dark green wire is ground okay, okay. One
of the other wires, and I believe it's the pink
or the pink yellow, is going to have five vaults.
So what you could do is put your meat on
the pink yellow and the and the dark blue dark green,
(14:04):
and you should see five vaults key on. That means
you've got a good ground on the dark blue dark green,
and you've got five vaults on the on the other
one right, and then and then move your move your
positive lead, your red lead to the other wire, which
I believe is purple, right, but it's the only one left,
and you should see five vaults there as well.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
If it does that, then your circuit check is good.
If you want to hook a scan tool up, leave
the leave the lead for the sensor unplugged, okay, and
and jump from the violet right to the ground to
the dark blue dark green okay. And you should read
zero vaults on a scan tool, okay, all right. And
(14:50):
if that's the case, then you've you've circuit tested it,
and then at that point I would you know, put
a sensor in it.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Okay, sounds good, you.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Know, very common, very common back in the day. All right, sir, And.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
This is this is also Kevin went the seventy two
dart that I talked to you about.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Oh sure, did you ever finished that car?
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Oh yeah, she's she's running good. She's in the garage
up on the box right now.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
So why is it is it? Is it coldon Massachusetts?
Why is Kevin in Florida? Right?
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yeah, well I bring momb down for the winter.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Yeah, you're a good egg. Did you did you get
the car out at all before the cold weather came? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Cool and running really good.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Actually, let's see if you get home from Florida though
this time? So are you are you driving all the
way home?
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:35):
I've been my twenty three ram though, Okay, got it.
That's as stupid running.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
So where's the five Chrysler at home?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
That's back in Massachusetts yet? Right just before, just before
I left it through the code, So looking into it.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
So so you're a mopar guy, yes, right, okay, I
just you know it's funny, right you can tell well.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Growing up, growing up, my dad said, you can only
park mo bars in the driveway if you drive anything
else that goes out on.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
The street, isn't you know? And you know that's something
let's look at that for a quick second, right, that's
something the American car companies I think have forgotten all right.
When dad drove a Chevrolet, the kids drove a Chevrolet.
When dad drove a Plymouth, the kids drove a Plymouth,
and then they became customers for life, so it sort
(16:26):
of passed over this generation. I'm seeing a lot of
this current generation of young drivers. They're all driving Toyotas
and Hondas.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Because dad didn't drive Antari right video game.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Right, right, and and you know, and listen, the the
Japanese car companies are kind of losing their way. To
article out yesterday and I said this to my wife,
I said, I can't believe I just discovered that you
cannot buy a four cylinder gas engine Toyota Camra. It
(16:58):
doesn't exists. It's a four cylinder hybrid. And they just
came out yesterday with notice that there's problems with the
four cylinder Toyota hybrid camera engines and now they're gonna
find out they can't make those right. I don't know
what's the world coming to. Oh for the days of
a two eighty three and a two barrel and an impalla. Uh,
just bone stock reliability. I'm running any in the car, Doctor,
(17:21):
I'll be back. Don't go anywhere, hel run, We'll keep
you right by the way. I guess this is our
(17:59):
should point this out. This is our last show of
the year, because next week is the Christmas Show, which
will be a best of only because Tom and I
are counting on we won't get back from the North
Pole in time. Tom doesn't know it yet, but I'm
taking him with me because I've got so much electronics
in Santa's sleigh this year that I need. I need
a second electrical eye to look at it. Tom, by
(18:20):
the way, don't don't making me an inventory the fuses
I need, and I'll make sure I don't know Tom,
no fuses everything is. I'll explain it to you how
the sligh works. The slave doesn't run on fuses. Tom,
that's so old school. So oh boy, but oh boy,
just don't make any plans for Wednesday night this week coming.
But we are going to get lots of hot cocoa
and car doctor cups available at cardoctorshow dot com. But anyway,
(18:42):
let's go go over to Gary and make sure get
this get these in so next week. But next week
is going to be a best of So don't be disappointed.
We're picking out some great shows for you from this
past year and beyond Gary. Trying to get some housekeeping
out of the way. Yes, sir, how can I help
you up there in New Hampshire?
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Yes, sir, thank you for taking my call.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
You're welcome. What's going on?
Speaker 4 (19:00):
I have a twenty nineteen fifty three thousand miles and
I'm trying to figure out what is the what intervals
to change the CVT fluid.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
At You're right in the sweet spot, kiddo.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
And I took it to a transmission shop and they
said no sort of thing. They said it takes two
filters plus the fluid four to five hundred dollars. He said,
one of the filters is so expensive because they have
to go to Honda for it. They can't get it
anywhere else. Then I took it to the dealer who
said they don't change any filters, and took it to
(19:37):
an independent shop Toben the same thing. So I don't
know what to believe.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I don't change the filters I have yet. Let me
say it like this, I have yet to change filters
on the CVTs. Okay, I have not seen them readily accessible,
easy to get to need for replacement. And my rationale
is everything I've read about cvets is when they start
to disintegrate internally. When when when the internal rubber pieces
(20:01):
come apart, They come apart once once they start the
flake brother, it's it's like driving down a It's like
driving downhill on a road paved with ice. It's a
quick descent, it's just right to the bottom. So it's
it's changed the fluid and the hope that you don't
have that experience and you know, hope for the best.
Now that's a fifty to sixty thousand mile fluid interval,
(20:24):
I will I will say this. There are some Hondas
that and that fluid is generally green. I believe that's
three hundred this three or nine four ineos which we
have at the shop. It's traditional CVT fluid. And then
there is a then there's a and I don't understand
why Honda does this but Toyota does it too. There
is a CVET version of that transmission that takes red fluid.
(20:49):
Now it's so it gets kind of confusing. I you know,
I don't know if you've ever worked on cars, but
you know traditional automatic transmissions take what red fluid? Oh,
you take red fluid out of the CVT. If you
haven't researched it and verified part number, you're gonna you're
gonna feel awful foolish because you're gonna put the You're
(21:10):
gonna put the wrong fluid. And it's always verified fluid
always right.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Funny stick is the bonus manual, and bull Face says,
if you use anything other than the Honda fluid, you
will ruin the transmission.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Right, because they're they're concerned now, uh company by the
name of Ineos, which I believe is the same thing
as I Demetsu. All right, they they probably are the
manufacturers of Honda Transfluid and Toyota Transfluid and so on.
So as long as it is a specifically rated for
(21:41):
that application for that vehicle, I don't think there's a problem.
I don't see a problem. I haven't had a problem,
all right, it's just verifying which fluid you have that
seems to be the issue. And there was actually a Toyota.
I'm trying to think of what cart was. I think
it was a Corolla with a CVT where we took
(22:01):
green fluid out and there was a bulletin update to
put red fluid in. So, yeah, we read that one
three times. Are we sure this is right? And we
went round and round with our Toyota dealer and they
were a little confused too, and I actually got the parts.
Got to admit to me, I don't think I've ever
seen this.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Well, think about the Hondas. I don't like is they've
got that maintenance minder and they don't tell you when
you know you have to change fluid. It just it
pops up a code in the dash and you have
to waite back to happen.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Well, that's because that's because Hondas never break. There's there's
a little bit of Christmas magic there that just comes
along and takes it away. It's it's it's it's just
the unreality of what they expect. I think everything takes
maintenance and they don't understand that. But yeah, you're right,
I love it. Customer comes in, I need an A
thirteen or a B one service or a you know,
(22:52):
they don't want to speak I don't think manufacturers want
to speak clear cut English because the more complicated they
may get, look, the less likely people are to go anywhere.
But the dealer. I'm not saying anything against dealers. I
think there's some very good repair shop dealers out there,
and I think there's some very bad independent shops. I
think repair shops are only as good as the people
(23:12):
in them. But I think a lot of what you,
as the consumers see for taking care of your vehicle
is a lot of marketing, and I think that's that's
their perspective, you know, and how they approach it. So
but yeah, by all means, now's the time, all right?
And keep in mind at sixty thousand miles, if this
is an all wheel drive fit, is this an all
(23:34):
wheel drive fit? I think now the front wheel drive fit? Yeah,
they did they make an all wheel drive fit. I
thought they did.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
I don't believe so not t I'm.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Aware of all right. Well, what I was going to
say was, don't forget the other fluids in the drive
train either or whatever's there. And you know the vehicle's
coming up on well, four or five years old if
you haven't break fluid flush right, Yeah, I've done it, okay,
and you know, I know Honda. I think Honda's going
to say five years on coolant or maybe a little longer.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Yeah, I've done that. Yeah, I'm sorry. It gets to
use a BG system that they do in exchange on it.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Yeah, good, good, good good good. So yeah, just just
I just don't want to highlight only trans fluids as
the only fluid to do at this particular point. We
kind of focus on that. But and I'm sure you
put a battery in it right by now, Gary, Yes,
I yeah, okay, yeah, Group fifty one batteries the most
(24:30):
common failures. So all right, hey kiddo, you're good. I
appreciate the call. You're very welcome. You take good care.
I'm running ding in the car doctor eight five five
five six out nine nine zero zero. We'll be back
right after this. Oh boy, wait on, I get Tom
(24:58):
in that sleigh. I'll show them what barrel rolls are
all about. Remember, wear your seatbelt when you're in a
Santa Sleigh. Trust me, I know. Let's go to Tom
and Arizona three view with the saber Tom, what's going on?
Speaker 5 (25:08):
Hi, thanks for taking my call.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Starting issues.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
Had a couple of questions regarding that. So one the
owner's manuel says, Hey, just turn the key to start
and it should start. Sometimes I have to step on
the accelerator at pedal, so besides letting the air and
does that actually increase fuel delivery?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
No, doesn't do a thing. As a matter of fact,
if you if you push that pedal all the way
to the floor, you will put that vehicle in what
we traditionally called clear flood mode. You will shut off
the injectors. So if you ever think you've flooded the vehicle,
you would push your foot to the floor traditionally the
(25:50):
way you would do it if it was a carbureted
vehicle to clear it out.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
But I'm actually I'm actually turning off the field when
I step on the well.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Depending depending on how far down you're you're you're pushing it. Yeah,
if you go all the way to the floor, you're
actually shutting the injectors off. Are you going? Are you
going all the way to the floor?
Speaker 5 (26:09):
No, I say halfway. All right, I'm putting more. It's
pretty more error.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Yeah, you're you're you're you're doing nothing, but it works.
So let's talk about this a second. When it does start,
is there a little bit of a rough vidle and
a chuggle? And do you see any smoke out the tailpipe?
Speaker 5 (26:25):
No? Smoke, rough idle?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Yeah, but but it runs rougher No.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
No, it starts sometimes I don't need Sometimes I don't
need to do that, like first in the morning, I
don't think I need to do that. Maybe that's because
the gas has got drained back.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Or it's well, maybe because we're at a different temperature. Right, Yeah,
it's not a hot start, so you know, is this
a hot restart issue on a consistent basis?
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Intermittent?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Okay, so it's right.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
So my other question is this seems to help if
I turn the key on but not start for leave
it there for five seconds and then it'll start up.
Doesn't that that actually that creates more fuel volume?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Right, Well, it could prime the rail, but it won't
do it on a repetitive basis. So many turns of
the key, the car is going to be smart enough
to go, hey, he's you know, what if he's overloading
the what if he's overloading the system? We don't want
to do that. So it will not cycle, and that's
computer programming. It will not cycle with pump. Let's let's
let's do this. Okay. So you go to start and
(27:28):
it doesn't start. You do whatever you're doing with the
gas pedal, your futs around with it. Isn't Is this
the car we talked about a couple of years ago, Tom,
because I know we've talked about this. Is this the
car you put the fuel pressure regulator in?
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Yes, I went, I finally put an AC delco right
and count, I mean, I mean finally got to the
problem where it went started all right. It turned out
to be a fuel pump. And I've been going through
a lot of fuel pumps, so I'm wondering if I
have a voltage issue at the fuel pump, a fuel
filter or leaky fuel injectors.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
I'm gonna say that A and I. I've seen cars
with ninety eight percent clogged fuel filters. I can't. I
can barely blow through them and the car starts. The
car starts and runs fine.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
Yeah, that's why I think because I've changed it before,
so I don't.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
I don't think you're there. You know, weird things with
fuel filters that that's the metal canister filter mounted on
the frame rail. Yeah, you know, the if it's if
it's a cheapy filter, I've seen the glue breakdown and
the filter rolls around and it clogs. It turns itself
and clogs the hole and it takes a moment of
jarring for it to come back. You know, weird things
(28:35):
like that. But other than that, filters either a go
no go, and it's got to be so clogged so
and in fact, the worst thing a clog filter does
is it puts so much pressure on the pump you
cause early pump failure. So, you know, do we have
a fuel pressure issue here? We could Nwe doesn't mean good.
You know, a new replacement pump on a twenty thirty
(28:59):
team twenty four year old vehicle. How how long was
that pump sitting on the shelf. I would want to
I would run or run. I would want to run
a pump test. And then does it hold residual pressure
for twenty minutes? It should, you know, fifteen to twenty minutes.
It should hold some kind of residual.
Speaker 5 (29:17):
When I put it in. I did that and work,
and then I didn't have any issues. Right, they're Delphi
pump so I go to ac Delco.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah, they're probably at this point that vehicle is old enough.
They're probably all being made in the same plant. Whatever's left, right,
because they're not tooled up. They're not tooling up to
work on that vehicle anymore. Why don't we go back
to remember did we talk about when we were zeroing
in on the fuel pressure regulator about putting the clear
(29:44):
piece of plastic hods in the vacuum line. Wow, okay,
this has a vacuum line going to the pressure regulator,
doesn't it. Yeah, okay, put a clear piece. Now you're
gonna have to get something rated for gasoline, all right, right,
but go find a clear plastic hose, put that on
the fuel pressure regulator, and then t the other end
(30:07):
into the vacuum line. All right, Now, when it goes
into this hard start, no start, long crank, whatever it's doing,
just just for giggles, make sure there's no fuel in
the vacuum line.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
So basically, with the vacuum line going to the regulator,
you want me to make it clear, right, I want.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
You to make it clear so I can see if
there's any fuel present.
Speaker 5 (30:29):
Because if you mean te off clearer and a dead
end on the in the clear tube.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Well, in other words, I just want you to extend
the vacuum line with a piece of clear clear line
in it, so the vacuum is still going to apply
to the regulator. But if, but if, if the diaphragm,
if the fuel pressure regulator is seeping fuel, it's gonna
it's gonna fill that clear hose And where's that where's
that extra fuel gonna go? Tom, it's gonna get pulled
(30:55):
into the vehicle and do what? Flood it out? And
what do you what are you gonna do to clear
out of flood? You're gonna open up the throttle plate
and put more air in it?
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Yeah, okay, I'll do that.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Right.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
You know, I disconnect to the vacuum line and I
don't see any fuel.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
There, and you may not. And it could be intermittent
and it may not listen. It may not be the problem.
But what are we doing? Tell me what's good. I'll
tell you what's bad. Right, We're eliminating something.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
So if there's suel in that line, does that mean
it's a pressure regulator?
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
If there's fuel in that vacuum line, that fuel pressure
regulator's bad.
Speaker 5 (31:27):
So it's leaking fuel, right.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
It's it's seeping fuel through a porous diaphragm. Yeah, I
doubt that I do too. But you know what, if
I keep looking, If I only keep looking for what's bad,
it's gonna take longer. I gotta run, kiddo, I'm up
against the clock. Do that call me back. You know
where to find me A five five five six o
nine nine zero zero running aiding of the car doctor
coming back right after this. By the way, Tom, I
(32:02):
didn't want to tell you, but when we get to
the north pole, you're going to get the seat on
the outside right, your closest to the exit door. So
make sure you bring plenty of warm clothing too, because
you're going to be cold besides wearing a seatbelt lovely.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
You know how much I love cold weather.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Oh yeah, it's great. So and don't sit directly behind
the rein deer. Let's do this letter from Steven twenty sixteen,
Ford Edge just putting new tires on it A new
tire pressure valve stems with the correct procedure for sinking
the tire pressures sensors with the on board computer. I
found three different ones on the web and frankly, don't
want to waste my time in the cold. Try and
each one until I hit the right one. Great show
(32:36):
listen every Saturday. Thanks Steven Delaware. Well Steve is out
there listening now. The best way to do it is
with a tire pressure scan tool, which makes life so easy, right,
but I'm assuming you don't have that, So there is
a way to do training mode on that particular car
without a scan tool. You're going to know it if
you're in correct procedure because the horn is going to
(32:56):
sound once and the tire pressure light's going to flash
to show you that training mode is been entered. You
would go ignition off. You're going to press and release
the brake pedal using the start stop switch. You're going
to turn it off to run, off, to run, off
to run three times, ending in the run position. It'll
say train left front. Then you're going to do it again,
train right front and so on and work your way
around the car and then you're gonna, you know, get
(33:19):
out of programming at the last one. Off off on, off, on, off, on,
ending in the run position and that should close out training.
So just it's it's, it's, it's it's a pain in
the butt. I've had to do it. I actually had
to do it once on a Ford product because the
tire pressure tool didn't have correct software in it and
they hadn't updated it. It was and every once in
a while that's another problem being an audit repair, that
(33:41):
you just don't have the most advanced software technology that
you might need. And I think we've got four different
tire pressure tools in the shop at last count, so
we're we're talking about it the other day that they're
fast becoming a commodity and something you throw away after
a couple of years. But anyway, do that, Steven, that
should work for you. If not, give me a call,
I'm running eny in the car doctor, reminding you til
(34:02):
the next time. Good mechanics aren't expensive, they're priceless.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
See y hey the car doctor.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Carr advice to Ray
Host
Ron Ananian
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