How to hush your noisy car
Published:Sunday | January 30, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Do we listen to our engine's cries? Are we concerned about the first strange knock or clank as we drive along daily?
"Whenever you hear any unusual sound from the engine compartment, the doors, the trunk, the wheels, it is saying: 'Give me a check-up! Something is wrong," said Donald Williams, a financial consultant.
As motorists, we all want to catch car troubles before it becomes worse. So, when you keep your car from becoming noisy, it can save your life, time, money and inconvenience.
James Gibson, an auto mechanic for more than 40 years, said drivers must listen for sounds from their vehicles.
He said if a strange 'squeal' comes from the wheels when the brake pedal is pressed, something is wrong.
"It could be a stone sitting comfortably between the caliper and the rotor," he said.
Gibson also said if one occasionally hears a ticking coming from underneath the car shortly after starting up, it could mean a problem with the gasket located between the exhaust system and the catalytic converter.
He offers some hushing tips with Automotives:
1. With engine running, have someone press the brake pedal. Keep vehicle motionless for 15 to 20 seconds. If the pedal falls easily to the floor, a leak could exist in the brakes hydraulic-fluid system. Next, drive the car on a dry smooth road with very little or no traffic. From a speed of 10 to 15 miles an hour, make a stop by using slight pressure on the brake pedal. Accelerate again and stop, using normal pressure.
If the brake feels spongy, vibrates or seems to resist your pressure, or if you hear any squealing, clicking or scraping as you press the pedal, have brakes checked immediately.
2. Remove the radiator cap while the engine is cold. Slowly move your fingers around the inside of the radiator filler neck. If your finger gets covered with sludge, the cooling system should be drained, cleaned, flushed and refilled. The radiators hoses should be checked; both the one that extends from top of the radiator to the engine and one from the bottom.
- P.M.