Show notes
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor starts this weeks show with a repair from the shop. A new customer reached out for help with a 2018 Volvo experiencing a persistent shake at speeds above 52 mph. The car belongs to a couple from New Jersey and has been to a dealership multiple times without a resolution.
Diagnosis Process:
- Ron test-drove the car and noted a hula hoop-like vibration at certain speeds.
- Placing the car in neutral at 62 mph made the shake disappear, ruling out tires, wheels, and balancing issues.
- The shake returned under acceleration, indicating a loaded drivetrain issue.
- Unplugging the rear differential’s control unit didn’t resolve the shake, eliminating the rear axle as the cause.
- Inspection of the front suspension and axles led to the discovery of a damaged right front axle boot, which had lost 90% of its grease.
Conclusion:
- The right front axle was the likely culprit, also causing excessive wear on the right front tire.
- Despite expensive previous repairs (turbocharger replacements), the issue had been overlooked.
- The owners are now considering selling the car due to additional pending repairs.
Additional Callers & Topics:
-
Water Leak in a 2014 Honda Civic – A caller from Pennsylvania reported wet carpets and a possible leak from the trunk. Ron suggested checking:
- Sunroof drains (already ruled out).
- Tail light seals (common leak point).
- Trunk drainage channels for debris.
- Evaporator drain clog if the issue persists.
-
Chatter on Acceleration in a 2018 Hyundai – A caller from Long Island described a clutch-like chatter from a stop:
- It’s worse when cold.
- Hyundai performed a fuel injector service, but it didn’t help.
- Ron advised checking fuel trim data and potential pending fault codes, even if no warning lights were present.
Show Highlights:
- Ron emphasized the importance of detailed inspections and not assuming diagnoses.
- The Car Doctor T-shirts and coffee cups are popular merchandise items.
- The show wrapped up with more calls about shutters, shakes, and general car problems.
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