Mar 27, 2009 09:56 ET
Screeches, Squeals and Scrapes: Car Noises You Shouldn’t Ignore
Tips to save you money from your local Meineke Car Care Center
CHARLOTTE, N.C. --(Business Wire)-- Mar 27, 2009
Clunk, clunk, whine, screeech, clackety clackety, or the mechanic’s
all-time favorite, “It sounds like there’s a squirrel under my hood,”
are all car noises that give us chills. Knowing what sounds you
shouldn’t ignore, and how to best describe them to a mechanic, can save
you lots of grief - and money - down the road. April is National Car
Month, a time when car inspections are emphasized, so paying attention
to any strange sounds may make the difference in getting your sticker or
not.
Don Rauch, director of dealer communications for Meineke Car Care
Centers, suggests following a few key steps before talking to your
mechanic. “First, make a note of when you hear these strange noises,”
says Rauch. “Being able to describe the circumstances that create the
sound helps narrow the possible causes.”
Strange car sounds can be just nuisance noises, or signs of something
more serious. Certain sounds should not be ignored as they can indicate
a serious problem. If you hear:
-
Clunking or thumping, it can mean: A defective universal joint, prop
shaft, or rear differential.
-
Heavy knocking or pounding from the engine/drive train: Worn
crankshaft bearings, bad connecting rods or loose bolts in the
automatic gearbox torque converter.
-
Pinking or pinging: The fuel you are using is too low quality for your
engine. This can be easily remedied by switching to a higher-octane
fuel, or having the ignition timing checked.
-
Metallic screeching or scraping: A sign of worn brake pads.
-
Squealing: A loose fan belt or loose fan/air-conditioning compressor
belt.
-
Thudding or thumping: A loose pulley or loose exhaust pipe.
-
Low-pitched rumble: Wheel-bearing wear.
-
A ticking which increases in speed as the engine is revved:
Non-lubricated tappets due to low or dirty oil.
-
Whining: Differential or transmission wear.
Stop in at your local Meineke for a free inspection, and put any fears
about your car’s safety to rest. For more information about Meineke Car
Care Centers, please visit www.meineke.com.
Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc.
Don Rauch, 800-275-5200
Director
of Dealer Communications
Marketing@meineke.com