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.
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