Maintenance tips from Neil

Welcome to our car care tips area. Here you will find updates on care and maintenance for your vehicle. Remember, preventative maintenance is critical for worry free driving, not to mention extending the life of your vehicle.

Q&A. Have you heard any of these noises lately?

Q. Squealing from the engine especially when you start the car in the morning.

A. Well this could possibly be a loose or worn belt. The noise if caused by the belt rubbing against the engine pulleys. If the belt is loose it's a reasonably easy procedure to tighten it but if the belt is worn it must be replaced. Your engine belts help charge your battery, assist your power steering, run your air conditioning, and water pump.

Q. While going around corners, does your front wheel drive vehicle make a clicking sound?

A. This is a sign of a worn CV joint. On most front wheel drive vehicles you will have two CV (constant velocity) shafts, one per side. They are covered by an accordion type rubber boot filled with lubricant. If this boot looses the lubricant the joint wears. See your mechanic as soon as possible to get this diagnosed and replaced if necessary.

Q. Have you heard a high pitched squeal coming from your brakes that goes away when you step on the brakes?

A. Most vehicles these days are equipped with brake squealers. On disc brakes there is a small tab built into the brakes that is designed to set up a vibration against the brake rotor. This tab is set to vibrate when the brake pad wears down to a certain thickness, usually 2/32 of an inch. This is a type of warning system to let you know it is time to have your brakes inspected and replaced if necessary.

Q. Do you detect a growling noise coming from the wheel area of your car?

A. If you hear this noise lets see if it changes when you steer you car side to side. If it comes and goes as your steering, there is a possibility of worn out wheel bearings. Worn wheel bearings can affect your tire wear and vehicle handling. This is one of those repairs that shouldn't be ignored for long, further expensive repairs can result from delays.

Any noises you're not sure of see your mechanic, don't ignore them or turn up your radio.
They don't go away.

Watch for future updates and tips from Neil

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DON'T IGNORE THOSE NOISES!!!! Sometimes its not what condition your vehicle is in but its the condition of the vehicles around you.... Heres some examples of the weird and dangerous things we see on a regular basis. click here to see exactly what we mean!

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