Keeping your car running smoothly for a long time is usually not a matter of luck, but just proper maintenance. Indeed, just like their drivers, cars tend to require more attention to various symptoms once they get a bit older. These are some of the noises that may indicate that your vehicle needs a trip to the local shop.
Brake Noises
If you feel a clunk in the brake pedal as you are pressing it or hear any strange noise, you need to slow down and have your brake system checked as soon as possible. Many things may cause it, such as a loose wheel bearing, a seized brake caliper, or a malfunctioning steering component. No matter what the issue is, it needs to be taken care of right away because any fault with the car’s braking or steering system is literally the last thing you want to happen while you’re driving.
Even if the car brakes like it’s supposed to, you still need to have it checked right away. Not only will it ease your mind, but the sooner you have something fixed the bigger the odds of the problem being a minor one and therefore less expensive.
Engine Knocking Noises
Hearing a knocking noise coming from the engine while you’re driving can mean many different things, from bad fuel or low oil pressure to more serious faults such as a problem with the rod connecting the pistons to the crankshaft. The engine has many components operating at a high rate in extreme temperatures, so even the slightest misalignment is likely to cause excess friction and weird noises.
As with most car-related issues, the sooner you fix it the more likely it is that it will be quick and inexpensive. Alternatively, ignoring the issue and continuing to drive the car will probably result in even more damage being done to the engine and its adjacent components, which may be more expensive to repair than the cost of the entire car.
Knocking Noise When Going Over a Bump
Driving over a bump is never a pleasant experience, but if your suspensions make more noise than they used to it’s recommended that you visit your mechanic right away. The knocking noise is usually an early warning sign telling you that there’s an issue with your suspension system. While this can go on for months with no other side effect other than the noise, you are constantly in danger of the suspension failing entirely and you losing control of the vehicle. Also, as with everything, fixing it quickly is likely to be less expensive.
Cars are usually pretty well-made nowadays, with steering, braking, and electronic assist functions that work so well that they give us the illusion of them being infallible. However, it’s well worth remembering that any vehicle is a complex system and, as time passes, some components are likely to fail. Aside from keeping you, your passengers, and everyone else on the road safe, having your car checked right away in case of a strange noise will likely make it easier and cheaper to fix.
Image via pexels.com
Connect with us
