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Car Troubles
Grundlestiltskin
Behind you!Registered User regular
Behind you!Registered User regular
Two issues that have come up recently, would appreciate any input from those in the know.
1. On Thursday, my car started making this scraping/grinding sound randomly on my way home from work. I hadn't hit anything, and it only seems to happen when the car is moving. The sound is intermittent. My uncle suggested it might have something to do with bad gasoline; I had just filled up my tank earlier that day before the sounds started, so I was wondering if there was any merit to that.
2. This morning, I had to dig my car out of a snowbank it'd been sitting in since Thursday. Once I got going, it felt a little bit bumpy. It kind of felt like I had a flat, but I dismissed it as it was a pretty mild sensation. However, once I got on the highway and above 45 mph the car felt like it was going to shake to pieces. It felt like it was coming from the front right tire, but I checked and it's not flat. It was like that for my entire hour commute.
I'm supposed to drive from Boston to Philadelphia tomorrow, are either of these serious problems that a) can't be resolved quickly, and b) shouldn't be driven on? What's going on with my car?
1. On Thursday, my car started making this scraping/grinding sound randomly on my way home from work. I hadn't hit anything, and it only seems to happen when the car is moving. The sound is intermittent. My uncle suggested it might have something to do with bad gasoline; I had just filled up my tank earlier that day before the sounds started, so I was wondering if there was any merit to that.
2. This morning, I had to dig my car out of a snowbank it'd been sitting in since Thursday. Once I got going, it felt a little bit bumpy. It kind of felt like I had a flat, but I dismissed it as it was a pretty mild sensation. However, once I got on the highway and above 45 mph the car felt like it was going to shake to pieces. It felt like it was coming from the front right tire, but I checked and it's not flat. It was like that for my entire hour commute.
I'm supposed to drive from Boston to Philadelphia tomorrow, are either of these serious problems that a) can't be resolved quickly, and b) shouldn't be driven on? What's going on with my car?
3DS FC: 2079-6424-8577 | PSN: KaeruX65 | Steam: Karulytic | FFXIV: Wonder Boy
Grundlestiltskin on
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My car makes crazy ass sounds in the winter, a car wash always solves the problem. (until the locks freeze from that) ahhh winter.
Bad gas does not scrap and grind. That is something else. Can't diagnose without more detail.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
There's not a whole lot more detail I can give. The sound is random, doesn't happen at any kind of intervals, sometimes happens when I accelerate and sometimes when I'm coasting, but never when I'm idling at a stop. It's almost like a vibration/scraping, I'd imagine it's much what my car would sound like if it were trying to clear its throat (not coughing, just scratching).
However, there is always the possibility, because of the shaking, that your wheel bearings might be going. Can you isolate where that scraping sound is coming from?
The sound only occurs while the car is moving, so it's difficult for me to approach scientifically. it seems to be coming from underneath the car and toward the front; I thought something from the chassis might be dangling but that was not the case.
The problem with the sound is that started before it started snowing. The wobbling/shaking however didn't start happening until I dug my car out of a snowbank.
It seems to be completely random. At first I thought it only happened when I accelerated, but then it happened when I was just coasting (or at the least staying at the same speed, I don't recall if my foot was on the accelerator or not). It doesn't happen at set intervals, doesn't happen every time I accelerate, or to have any direct and constant cause that I can determine.
Ok, first things first, what kind of car do you have. Year, make, and model.
3DS FC: 5343-7720-0490
Does it go away when you brake? I only ask because it sounds exactly like the problem I was having with my wheel bearings. Also my serpentine belt, but they both happened at the same time.
It certainly isn't bad gasoline. Without seeing the car I would call it a wheel bearing or your description isn't all that great.
I would highly go against driving. Take it to where you bought it and have them check it out today. TODAY, if you want any chance at making the trip.
3DS FC: 5343-7720-0490
Yes driving could be an issue if your wheels seize.
Complain dealerships have a way of finding a place for you. Believe me, ask for the GM and let them have it.
You never heard it from me though.
Also buy a plane ticket. Forget the car right now. Or buy an Acura... please?
3DS FC: 5343-7720-0490
My girlfriend's car had the shakes after "snowmageddon" up here in Southern Ontario. Turns out she bent a rim a bit. Her mechanic fixed it, rotated the wheels while he was at it, and the sound has gone away.
shaking is usually due to an unbalanced wheel. This can occur when snow and ice gets packed into one side of the rim, usually from being enbedded in a snowbank. Try parking it in a heated garage overnight. That should let any packed snow/ice melt out. If you don't have a heated garage yourself, see if a local shopping center or grocery store has heated indoor parking where you can leave it for a while (maybe 2-3 hours).