Car making noises

My car makes a funny noise, what could it be?

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We have prepared some pointers for you as to the different noises that could be coming from your car, and what they could mean. 

 

Squeaking noise while braking

This is usually the first sign of worn brake pads. Left alone for a long time, the noise will sound like grinding metal, in that case, you’re seriously damaging your brakes. You may need to also change or skim your brake disks as well and this can be costly. Get your brakes replaced by a qualified mechanic at your home or office

Rattling noise from the engine

There are a lot of moving parts in the engine and therefore this noise can be very confusing as it could be a number of different problems – including issues with the oil not circulating, a faulty aircon compressor or stretched or loose timing chain. When you hear any rattles in your engine, get it inspected as soon as possible.

Hissing and boiling sound from the engine

This is a signal that the engine is be overheating and can cause serious problems further down the line. When you hear that sound, stop immediately. This happens when there is perhaps a fluid leak under the bonnet, radiator leak, a leaking turbocharger pipe or a damaged intercooler. get your car inspected by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible.

Squeaking from the engine while driving

High pitched squeaky noise usually point to an issue with the fan belt and/or pulley. In most instances, both the belt and the pulley/tensioner will need to be replaced. When this happens, get a trusted mechanic to replace your fan belt as soon as possible.

Clunking while turning

In 90% of the cases when this happens, it is because of the CV joints. These should be checked as soon as possible to avoid further damages.

Constant clicking sound from the engine while idling

This is usually, a sign that your engine is running low on oil or running on an incorrect grade of engine oil. If the noise persists after an oil top-up, have your engine checked thoroughly by a mechanic.

A loud knocking sound from the engine

This could be caused by lack of lubrication, or something has broken or lose or about to break inside the engine. The engine will need to be opened to check what could be the issue be.

Humming or growling noise from your tyres

The first thing to do when you hear a noise from your tyres is to check the pressure. If the pressure is correct, have your wheel alignment and balance checked and possibly adjusted.

Grinding noise from your gearbox

This noise is indicative of a potential problem with the clutch or transmission. You may need to replace your clutch as soon as you can.

If any of these noises are coming from your car, the next mechanic is only a click away, here.

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Yours in Car Care!

Keep it Cool Under the Hood! Engine Coolant (or Antifreeze) and Why it's Important.

Keep it Cool Under the Hood! Engine Coolant (or Antifreeze) and Why it’s Important.

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Why engine coolant is important in preventing your car from overheating

Ever seen a car on the side of the road with smoke coming out the bonnet? It makes you thankful that its not your car. To make sure that this doesn’t happen to you we are highlighting the importance of taking good car of your engines cooling system. The two most common reasons for engine overheating are low water and coolant levels or a leak in the cooling system. So, it is critical to regularly check your engine coolant level.

Many people only have water in their cooling system and that’s why their engines overheat. Engine coolant (or antifreeze) is a liquid that is added to the water in your engine cooling system. Coolant and antifreeze play an important role by change the boiling and freezing temperatures of your cooling system, ensuring that your car doesn’t overheat in extreme conditions. There are different types of coolant, each one is specifically formulated to keep your engine running in extreme weather conditions. It is also a corrosion inhibitor, protecting the radiator and engine from rusting.

We are more concerned about overheating than freezing in South Africa. Temperatures can be extreme, and we have a hilly terrain so make sure that your car has coolant in it! The coolant reservoir is under your bonnet and should be easy to find. You could have a coolant leak if it’s low or empty and should have it checked out by a mechanic.

Avoid overheating by regularly checking your coolant level, and make sure that you have fresh coolant and not just water.

Click here to get a quote for your next service.

THE UBER/BOLT (Taxify) DRIVER'S CAR MAINTENANCE GUIDE

THE UBER/BOLT (Taxify) DRIVER’S CAR MAINTENANCE GUIDE

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If you drive a Uber/Bolt (Taxify), you rack up a lot of kilometers, which means extra wear and tear. A car in the garage is not making you any money, so keeping up with the maintenance is extremely important. If you’re doing Uber or BOLT (Taxify), driver/owner, here are tips on how to stay on the road and earn the most cash.

First off, if you drive your own vehicle for a living, you likely want to follow the severe service car maintenance schedule. You might be thinking, “Hey, I’m only taking two people to the airport. I never tow, so it’s not severe service.” Actually, it is. The average driver in the South Africa racks up around 30 000 kilometers per year, but driving full time for a UBER/BOLT (Taxify) service can bring that annual total to 90 000 kilometers. A lot of those kilometers are spent carrying passengers through stop-and-go traffic in the summer heat nor winter colds. That’s work more in line with a taxi or police car. Let’s use some tricks of the trade from those services.

ENGINE PROTECTION

Oil: While you probably know how often to change your oil in a regular daily driver, an UBER/BOLT (Taxify) car needs a more frequent oil change schedule. You’re looking at lots of idling, stop and go, long periods with the engine on, and a lot more kilometers in general, so you want to use a high-quality oil. Depending on the kilometers you cover, you may be looking at changing the oil as often as every two weeks. While that may seem excessive, it is excellent preventative maintenance.

Filters Change out the oil filter with your oil change, and take a look at the engine air filter, too. These two are key to preventing engine damage. Also change your cabin air filter more often. The usual schedule is once a year, but aim for twice a year to keep your vehicle smelling fresh.

SUSPENSION & BRAKES, TIRES

Brakes Most drivers only change their brake pads every two to four years. With full-time UBER/BOLT (Taxify) work, however, you’re probably looking at every six months and sometimes every three months. Get the highest-rated pads you can afford, and save money by swapping them out and replacing the brakes yourself.

Suspension Shocks and struts are wear items that need replacing, usually only around three times in the average lifespan of a car. If you are a full-time driver, you are looking at annual replacement. No skipping out on this one, as shocks and struts are critical components of the suspension that determine ride quality. No one wants to ride in a vehicle with an overly harsh or bouncing suspension, so get it replaced on time. In addition to shocks and struts, you will probably have to replace the vehicle’s springs around 170 000 kilometers. In South Africa, there are a lot of potholes, this means that, you’ll probably need to replace the tie rods early and get to know a reliable place for an alignment.

Tires Get a super-affordable tire pressure gauge and check your tire pressure daily before starting your shift. Why daily? Tire pressure affects everything from the ride quality and tire wear to petrol mileage, so it’s an easy and quick way to save more and earn more. Rather than going out of your way to a petrol station with free air, use your own portable pump. Keep tire rotation on your calendar, too, for longest tire life. A good rule of thumb is to do so during every oil change.

LET US, HELP YOU!

We hope this information keeps you on the road so that you can make maximum cash. If you need assistance with nay repairs or juts a service just click here for and instant upfront quote and Michanic will send a trusted and qualifies mechanic to you. We operate every day of the week and after hours to make sure that our customers can get maximum use out of their cars.

If you have any other questions or concerns regarding your car, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email at [email protected], or by phone on 087 803 9000. Or check what our customers say about out service on Hellopeter or Google.

Click here to get a quote for your next service.

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