Has this ever happened to you? You are driving your car and
you notice a noise. You hear a squeak, or a squeal. Perhaps it now rattles or
rumbles. Perhaps you smell a strange odor??? It begins to smell like rotten
eggs or burned toast. Perhaps you notice drips and stains that are red or dark
brown. Perhaps you notice
Yellowish green, pastel blue
or florescent orange stains under your car. We have compiled a list as
to what some of these things just may mean.
Some common noises and what they
mean:
Squeal - A shrill, sharp noise, usually related to
engine speed:
- Loose or worn power steering, fan or air conditioning belt.
Click - A slight sharp noise, related to either
engine speed or vehicle speed:
- Loose wheel cover.
- Loose or bent fan blade.
- Stuck valve lifter or low engine oil.
Screech - A high-pitched, piercing metallic sound;
usually occurs while the vehicle is in motion:
- Caused by brake wear indicators to let you know it's time for maintenance.
Rumble - a low-pitched rhythmic sound.
- Defective exhaust pipe, converter or muffler.
- Worn universal joint or other drive-line component.
Ping - A high-pitched metallic tapping sound, related
to engine speed:
- Usually caused by using gas with a lower octane rating than recommended. Check your owner's manual for the proper octane rating. If the problem persists, engine ignition timing could be at fault.
Heavy Knock - A rhythmic pounding sound:
- Worn crankshaft or connecting rod bearings.
- Loose transmission torque converter.
Clunk - A random thumping sound:
- Loose shock absorber or other suspension component.
- Loose exhaust pipe or muffler.
Some problems are
under your nose. You can detect them by their odor:
