This episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor radio features host Ron taking live calls from listeners experiencing car troubles.
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Bill from Florida (Toyota Highlander)
- Bill describes a "popping, crackling" noise from under his vehicle when he touches the accelerator.
- Ron asks diagnostic questions, including whether the noise occurs in different gears or at a standstill.
- The issue is likely drivetrain-related, possibly a clicking drive axle or driveshaft issue.
- Ron advises getting it checked ASAP to prevent worsening damage.
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Austin from Hawaii (1992 Mazda Miata MX-5)
- After driving for two hours, the car loses power as if "choking itself," but revs fine in neutral.
- The temperature and oil pressure gauges fluctuate with the RPMs.
- Possible causes: fuel pressure issues, exhaust restriction, or an electrical failure.
- Ron recommends checking fuel pressure first and monitoring the manifold vacuum to rule out an exhaust problem.
- He stresses proper diagnostics over assumptions, suggesting Austin get an older scan tool for more accurate testing.
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John from Boston (03 Lincoln Town Car)
- His serpentine belt snapped while driving, making the steering tight.
- After replacing the belt, the steering feels loose and "lazy."
- Ron begins diagnosing but the summary cuts off before a resolution.
Throughout the episode, Ron emphasizes methodical diagnostics, avoiding assumptions, and prioritizing simple tests before complex repairs. He closes the show this week talking about a recent article he read about electrical testing, circuits and ground connections in the latest edition of ALLDATA News.
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