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36 votes
Accepted

Brakes make a "POP" sound and then I can't brake

Yes. One of your brake pads on the caliper side of the brakes had been worn so far down it popped out of place. Now you are stopping using the caliper piston against the brake rotor. You will now have ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
14 votes
Accepted

When buying a new tire at car shop, they pumped the new tire and it popped loudly, is that normal?

This is absolutely normal. What's going on is they are seating the beads of the tire against the rims. In order to get them to do this, they have to over pressurize the tires a bit, which then allows ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
12 votes
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Scraping sound in new small engine

I actually decided to go ahead and just tear into it no matter the answer and can make the following statements: Bore and piston rings were absolutely immaculate and there was no scraping whatsoever ...
Yanick Salzmann's user avatar
11 votes

Brakes make a "POP" sound and then I can't brake

It sounds like the brake pads have either completely worn through or otherwise failed, your car is not safe to drive at all. In this case you will certainly need new pads on both sides and possibly ...
Chris Johns's user avatar
  • 1,596
10 votes

2003 Honda Accord - Intermittent no start/no crank

From personal experience, I'd replaced ALOT of these working at the dealership. It wasn't just the accords either, it was quite a few Honda and Acuras that used the same design and power delivery ...
cloudnyn3's user avatar
  • 3,343
10 votes
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Ticking noise while idling that increases with acceleration

It sounds like a valve adjustment is required There are many items that can make a 'ticking' noise that is tied to the RPM of the vehicle. Having the sound match RPM's certainly gives a clue that it ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
9 votes

Minor boost leak and shrill tone at peak boost: hose clamp, gasket or blow off valve?

It is quite likely the work performed has introduced a subtle air leak that only manifests itself under high boost. Pressurizing the intake tract with the car off will help you identify the source of ...
Zaid's user avatar
  • 39.1k
9 votes

How can I be sure that a rod knock is actually a rod knocking?

When you start the engine and you hear the sound, does it sound better after the vehicle is warmed up? A rod knock will only sound worse (louder) as the engine heats up. It will not go away as the ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
9 votes
Accepted

Why is air buffeting worse for most cars with the rear windows than the front windows?

In the simplest terms possible, the windshield acts as a spoiler or fairing, pushing the air out and up as your vehicle gains speed. The air naturally will push back to be along the side of the ...
CharlieRB's user avatar
  • 9,035
9 votes

Dealership's service dept drove my car 19 km

I see this completely normal and not a cause of concern. The service advisor's explanation is certainly a valid reason, but they could have needed to drive the car for a total of 19kms for many ...
WeakMech's user avatar
  • 944
9 votes
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Brake pads sliding (?) between reverse and forward?

Could be a couple of problems but most likely in my mind is that the calipers are not properly fixed to the caliper brackets or the caliper brackets are not properly fixed to the the wheel hub. I ...
jwh20's user avatar
  • 12.1k
8 votes
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2004 VW Passat B5 Peculiar Engine Noise

Diagnosing noises when you're thousands of miles away isn't going to be easy, but here are a few tips to help you out: remove the serpentine belt and run the engine If the noise stops, you know that ...
Zaid's user avatar
  • 39.1k
7 votes
Accepted

Clutch dragging and making squeaking/grinding noise

If I am not mistaken the 2001 Yamaha Diversion has a clutch cable and does not have a hydraulic self adjusting clutch mechanism. This was my son's first motorcycle and we experienced similar issues ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
7 votes
Accepted

what could cause a scraping noise after tire rotation

After taking it back to the shop, the tech. diagnosed it as "the new back tire inside rim wheel weights are rubbing" (apparently they didn't rub when those tires were in the front). So rebalance the ...
rogerdpack's user avatar
7 votes

Weird "old"-sounding engine noise. What's the problem?

it sounds like valves Your valves are at the top of the motor under the black cover. They are reciprocating devices, they move in and out and are operated by a camshaft that is spinning at half the ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
7 votes

Weird "old"-sounding engine noise. What's the problem?

While @DucatiKiller is most likely correct, there is another possible reason for this noise, that being a leaking exhaust manifold. If the exhaust manifold is leaking at the head, it will make an ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
7 votes

Minor boost leak and shrill tone at peak boost: hose clamp, gasket or blow off valve?

I Believe It's a Hose Connection Point Unmetered air whether it's a negative pressure or positive pressure is bad. That being said, I find it interesting that losing some of the boost isn't ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
7 votes
Accepted

Loud squealing sound, only while driving (2002 Toyota 4Runner)

Sounds exactly like worn brake pads to me. Have you checked those recently? Brake pads actually have a wear tab on them like the one pictured below. This is designed to make noise (that chirping sound)...
Dalton D's user avatar
  • 1,958
6 votes

What is making a noise under my steering wheel when car is not moving?

I would venture to guess that it is a completely random, and in no way threatening plastic trim piece/wiring harness/adjustment lever under the steering column that is rubbing or vibrating against it'...
MooseLucifer's user avatar
  • 6,037
6 votes
Accepted

Citroen C4 Picasso - Whining noise when turning steering wheel

Based upon the information you've provided I can think of two things that may create the "medium frequency whirring" sound. 1. Low Power Steering Fluid When your power steering fluid is low the ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
6 votes

Noise during hard braking

Other than some excessive wear/tear on your brakes? Most likely not. Brakes are made to take some abuse. More than likely the ABS kicked in and was the noise you heard. They can sometimes seem a ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
6 votes

Loud squeaking - stops when braking

From your description, it seems the brake "squealer" has started to rub against the brake rotor. This is a tab which is attached to one of the two disk brake pads. When the friction material ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
6 votes
Accepted

Why does the fuel pump buzzing sound go away after a couple of seconds?

Most fuel systems have a pressure-switch. So when the power is first applied the fuel system is unpressurized. The fuel pump is then turned on to build up pressure so the engine can start. Once the ...
jwh20's user avatar
  • 12.1k
5 votes

'66 Dodge Dart made a loud CRACK, engine almost stalled. The second time it happened, there was a puff of black smoke

The car usually has trouble starting on the first try. It'll start and immediately stall. If it's warm out, I can pump the gas pedal once and it starts up fine. Otherwise, it might take a couple ...
Jim W's user avatar
  • 1,935
5 votes

Rhythmic clunking sound somehow connected to the thermostat I just had replaced

Seeing as how changing your thermostat is a variable in this. This sounds more like an HVAC or blower motor issue. If the thermostat fixed it and you now have issues again during winter along with ...
cloudnyn3's user avatar
  • 3,343
5 votes
Accepted

Multiple issues with AUX input (Mazda 3 2007)

Your problem could be caused by two things. A shitty car charger, they are not all created equal, or a ground loop. As far as the charger goes try several different ones, name brand ones tend to be ...
vini_i's user avatar
  • 16k
5 votes
Accepted

Alternator whines when it's cold, 2000 Toyota Camry (5S-FE engine)

Is the curve a healthy one for an alternator? (Keeping in mind the headlights were on low beam during the test as well as all marker lights) I would consider this about normal and quite healthy for ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
5 votes

Horrific Squealing on Start - 2002 Pathfinder

Check the tension on the serpentine belts at the front of the engine - sounds like they're a tad loose. It may be something else, but start there.
PeteCon's user avatar
  • 8,672
5 votes

Car horn works only sometimes and with very very low sound

Check to see how many volts the horn relay is sending to the horn. if it's less than ignition voltage at the horn either the relay is bad or you have a wiring problem. If you have ignition voltage at ...
Ben's user avatar
  • 10.7k
5 votes

Is this Mazda 3 motor mount broken?

Whoever said that these mounts commonly fail is entirely correct. These mounts are oil filled. The brown stuff on top is likely not hydraulic fluid. When the mounts fail they split along the bottom ...
vini_i's user avatar
  • 16k

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