Category: Maintenance

Most any car owner at one time or another experiences car vibrations or shaking. It can come out of the blue or it can be a long-standing problem that gets worse over time. The shaky feeling might be barely noticeable at first, or it could be an intense and teeth-jarring experience. For any driver, vibrations are a hard nuisance to deal with and should be looked into, whether the vibration seems minor or is more significant. You don’t want to wait as any more involved vibrations can indicate an expensive fix. So, don’t procrastinate about seeking a professional’s opinion. There are reasons as to why a car vibrates and here are 6 common ones as to why it happens.

1. Brakes

Your brakes could be the culprit with vibrations and shaking. The clue is that the vibration occurs and escalates as the brakes are applied. The parts that are likely affected are the brake rotors (disks). Rotors are the heavy metal disks that the brake pads are mounted to, which help to slow down a vehicle. These metal disks receive a great deal of pressure along with a lot of hard wear as well as exposure to heat through friction that occurs through everyday use. The heat and wear on a rotor can cause it to warp and become uneven. The wear and unevenness can be minimal but when it gets to the point that a rotor is uneven and distorted in its consistency, and the brake pads can’t grip properly, it’s possible that brake vibration will be felt.

Other brake related vibrations could occur due to a brake caliper that is immovable or stuck. Calipers are fastening devices and the brake pads are attached to them. The calipers exert a push on the pads to take hold of the rotors once the brake pedal is depressed. Sometimes, one or the other calipers can get stuck. Shaking as well as pulling to the side can occur when this happens. This is one problem that requires attention.

2. Engine

Though a rattling or vibrating engine should be of concern, most of the time it is not as worrisome as vibrations in other areas of a vehicle. A sign that an engine may be causing vibrations can be recognized through an unevenness in the vibration. There can be shaking and jerking when accelerating, or while driving at certain speeds for a certain amount of time. It could also happen once an engine has warmed up.

Engine vibration problems could be caused by bad or damaged spark plugs, or the spark plug wires, both of which could need adjustment or replacement. If the vibration isn’t from the spark plugs or wires, it could be the fuel or air filter. When either one of these becomes blocked or dirty, an engine will be short on fuel and oxygen, which can result in vibration and a rough and uneven ride.

3. Tires

Old, worn, uneven, unbalanced, bald and dry tires are often the cause of vehicle vibrations. Tires aren’t the most enduring parts of a vehicle and if tire air pressure, rotation, wheel alignment and suspension concerns are ignored, tires are going to have a shorter lifespan and are capable of causing shaking and vibrations.

Separated tread is another more serious cause of tire vibration and is often the result of overinflated tires. If tire tread separates, immediate attention is necessary, which usually means replacement.

4. Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment is not necessarily the direct cause of shaking or vibration, but if the alignment has not been done according to specifications, it can cause related shaking problems. All vehicle wheels need to be aligned correctly and if the alignment is out of sync because of bad driving and minor and major accidents, the alignment is going to be compromised. Tire wear and a shaky steering column are also strong indicators of wheels that may require alignment.

5. Engine/Motor Mounts

Engine or motor mounts are what hold an engine in position. They secure the engine to the vehicle’s frame. Motor mounts are made of metal and rubber that are connected to the frame. The rubber within the motor mount helps to soften the engine vibration while the metal provides the structure. Motor mounts can wear out and the embedded rubber wears more quickly than the metal and loses its cushioning effect. This can eventually cause shaking and vibration. The motor mounts will likely need to be replaced to alleviate the shaking and any structural damage that may have occurred.

6. Axle/CV Joints

A damaged axle can be serious business. Vibration can be caused by a bad or damaged one that can result in suspension vibration. Axle damage can result from a minor or major impact, from accelerating and hitting speed bumps, potholes, and curbs. The damage won’t make itself known right away. Once the shaking starts, it will likely get worse, especially at increased and higher speeds. Any axle issues should be addressed immediately.

Other vibrations can occur through worn CV joints. They are found at the ends of the drive axles and are encased in a rubber boot. They function to retard dirt, grime, and other debris and keep the axle grease in place. If they are torn or the seal of the rubber boot is broken, the damage will occur from loss of the grease and entrance of dirt and other debris into the area. With CV joint damage, suspension vibration can occur. If a CV joint is causing shaking or vibrations, there may be clicking or thumping noises at turning points.

Vehicle vibrations can be extremely annoying as well as of concern, and the 6 common reasons given here should alert most any driver to what to look for and examine on a vehicle when vibrations are disruptive and unmanageable. If your car is experiencing vibrations and shaking and you’re not sure what to do, complete the online contact form and an expert will get back to you with the information you need to help diagnose the problem.

Your windshield wipers are a critical safety component of your vehicle, yet we rarely ever think about them until we need them. Then, it begins to rain and we click on the wipers only to deal with an incessant squeaking that can drive you crazy. The noise is not the only problem, however. Windshield wipers that squeak could be putting additional strain on the mechanisms that make the wipers work and they could stop working altogether. There are many reasons why your windshield wipers could begin to chatter or squeak. If they do, these five steps may help eliminate the problem.

Low Windshield Washer Fluid

If the surface of the windshield is too dry, the wipers will squeak. If this is the issue, adding moisture to the windshield should eliminate the squeaking. Check your windshield washer fluid to be sure it isn’t low and use the liquid to keep the windshield wet.

Hard Wiper Blades

If your wiper blades grow to hard, they could chatter or squeak when you use them. You can soften wiper blades by spraying them with WD-40. You can also use a cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol. Spray or rub the blades until you feel them soften in your hands. If you choose to use WD-40, be sure to clean the blades or they will leave residue on your windshield.

Windshield Wax

There are products designed to keep water from collecting on your windshield. If you apply one of these products, like Rain-X, and find that your wipers began to squeak, clean the windshield wax from the windshield and try the wipers again. If the squeaking stops, you may want to avoid using those products on your windshield.

Wiper Assembly

Weather affect the tension of a wiper assembly. Snow build-up or extreme heat can either loosen or tighten the assembly. Wiggle the wiper arm and see if it moves too much or if it feels excessively tight. If either of these is true, adjust the assembly and this could resolve the squeaking.

Clean the Wipers

When wipers are dirty, they can malfunction. You can clean your wipers using a paper towel and glass cleaner. While you are cleaning the wipers, check the windshield for damage caused by road sand or salt. If your windshield is damaged, it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

There is the possibility that the squeaking is due to windshield wiper blades that need replacing as well. If you are dealing with squeaking windshield wipers and can’t find the cause, call or fill out the online form today to schedule an appointment.

Who would have thought that monitoring tire pressure would be included in newer vehicle operating systems? Knowing you had low tire pressure usually meant getting out of your vehicle, reaching for your tire pressure gauge, if you had one, and getting to an air hose or compressor, or one of those pressurized air cans and inflating your tires to their recommended pressure.

Federal Guidelines

Though checking tire pressure is still done the same way with older vehicles, federal stipulations, like the 2000 TREAD Act were put into place due to rollover incidents involving certain vehicle models and particular brands of tires. So, any vehicle that is in the 2008 or newer range is now equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system or TPMS.

How it Works

The TPMS system works through sensors that are regularly monitoring tire pressure. There is a symbol on the instrument panel of a vehicle that indicates when tire pressure is seriously low. It is represented by the following symbols. Included with the symbols is associated information and instruction concerning tire pressure.

Symbols

• the cross section of a tire
• an exclamation point symbol
• an upper view of a card with all tires exposed

Information

• A TPMS warning light will come on when a tire goes below 25% of its recommended tire pressure.
• The warning light should not be used as a replacement for checking tire pressure on a regular basis. Any checking should be done for the recommended pressure level for the particular tire.
• Some drivers have difficulty recognizing the low tire-pressure warning light on the instrument panel, or they simply do not check it at all. The device is only effective if drivers know the light and are attentive to their proper tire pressure.

Instructions

•  Tire flexing can occur with under inflated tires, which produces heat. That heat can be damaging to a tire in general and to the chemical makeup within the tires themselves. If you want to avoid tire flexing, don’t allow an under inflated tire to go unchecked.
• Tire pressure must be thoroughly checked during warmer months to avoid the breakdown of tire fibers, plus any high speed driving should be limited, as it can also affect a tire’s condition and performance.
• Low tire pressure is a safety concern but it also diminishes fuel savings and also causes tire wear. Tire pressure should be checked at least once a month and a vehicle owner should not completely rely on their TPMS to do it for them. Investing in a good tire pressure gauge is also important.
• Recommended tire pressure for newer cars is usually found on the driver’s side doorpost or in the owner’s manual for the particular car model. If the vehicle is older, it can be found in the console lid, the glove compartment, the lid of the trunk or the fuel tank cap.

Different Types TPMS

Two different types of TPMS systems are utilized in newer vehicles that include:

Indirect TPMS is a less expensive system that utilizes anti-lock braking with a wheel-speed sensor. It is set up to detect the rotation of one tire and whether it is moving faster than the other three tires. A tire that is under-inflated will be smaller and will move faster to remain in step with the other tires. This means of determining under-inflation is not as effective as a direct measuring system.

Direct TPMS does actually measure tire pressure and it is an accurate system. A gauge is applied to the tire valve or tire wheel. The gauge transmits a signal to the vehicle’s computer system. The data output concerning the pressure is then clarified through a low or high line unit. The high line system’s sensors are in the wheel wells of the vehicle and will display separate pressure for each tire. Low-line systems are built in lower cost vehicles and will only elicit the warning light for low pressure. The vehicle driver will have to determine on their own exactly which tire is low, Obviously, the best systems are those that show pressure for each individual tire, and a high-line system is easier to deal with as well as more accurate.

Understanding tire-pressure monitoring systems doesn’t have to be complicated, but if you are unsure of the different types of monitoring in newer or even used vehicles, complete the online contact form, and an expert in TPMS will get back to you with the information you need to better understand the choices available to you.