Your vehicle makes all kinds of noises when you’re driving, but do you know which ones are serious? The Folsom Auto Mall can help you sort out which noises are cause for concern and when to take your vehicle in for professional help.
Grinding is obviously a bad noise. If you hear something crunching or grating under your hood, it’s definitely time to schedule service. You might even consider calling a tow truck. The sound might be something simple like adjusting the starter motor, or it could signal more complex problems like a worn-out transmission, misaligned joints or bad bearings in your alternator. If you hear grinding when your brakes are applied, get your vehicle towed immediately; faulty brakes could be extremely dangerous.
Speaking of faulty brakes, the next important noise you might hear is squealing or chirping. Usually, when squealing happens during braking, this could be worn brake shoes, pads, drums or rotors and it’s time to get those parts replaced. Squeaking or chirping could be a loose or worn belt. Either way, it’s time to make an appointment for service.
Popping, clicking or snapping can be a serious problem as well. Exhaust leaks, fuel injector leaks or issues with the joints connected to your axle can all cause this type of sound. Sometimes a dirty air filter or corroded spark plugs can cause a popping sound as well. A ticking sound could be due to low engine oil level; it might be time for an oil change.
Knocking or pinging that gets worse as you accelerate is an internal engine problem. It typically occurs when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder doesn’t combust correctly; this could be due to a high compression ratio, overheating, ignition lag or using the wrong fuel. Make sure a certified mechanic takes a look before you need to replace your entire engine.
And, finally, hissing. It’s probably not a snake. Instead, hissing is usually caused by a fluid or vacuum leak. Your vehicle could overheat. Get it in for service right away!
If your vehicle’s talking... listen.
The Folsom Auto Mall has factory trained and certified technicians ready to help. Schedule your service today.
Grinding is obviously a bad noise. If you hear something crunching or grating under your hood, it’s definitely time to schedule service. You might even consider calling a tow truck. The sound might be something simple like adjusting the starter motor, or it could signal more complex problems like a worn-out transmission, misaligned joints or bad bearings in your alternator. If you hear grinding when your brakes are applied, get your vehicle towed immediately; faulty brakes could be extremely dangerous.
Speaking of faulty brakes, the next important noise you might hear is squealing or chirping. Usually, when squealing happens during braking, this could be worn brake shoes, pads, drums or rotors and it’s time to get those parts replaced. Squeaking or chirping could be a loose or worn belt. Either way, it’s time to make an appointment for service.
Popping, clicking or snapping can be a serious problem as well. Exhaust leaks, fuel injector leaks or issues with the joints connected to your axle can all cause this type of sound. Sometimes a dirty air filter or corroded spark plugs can cause a popping sound as well. A ticking sound could be due to low engine oil level; it might be time for an oil change.
Knocking or pinging that gets worse as you accelerate is an internal engine problem. It typically occurs when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder doesn’t combust correctly; this could be due to a high compression ratio, overheating, ignition lag or using the wrong fuel. Make sure a certified mechanic takes a look before you need to replace your entire engine.
And, finally, hissing. It’s probably not a snake. Instead, hissing is usually caused by a fluid or vacuum leak. Your vehicle could overheat. Get it in for service right away!
If your vehicle’s talking... listen.
The Folsom Auto Mall has factory trained and certified technicians ready to help. Schedule your service today.