My car has recently started making a ticking noise which sounds like a fast clock - and it seems that the ticking speeds up and slows down in time with the speed of my car. My passenger and I also noticed today that it stops when I turn my wheels to corner and then starts again as soon as the wheels are fully straightened. Do you know what this could be and how much it will probably be to have repaired? Also would this have been showing in April as I've only had the car since then and I want to know if the dealer would have been able to tell that the part was worn. I am planning to get this checked out at a garage, but would just appreciate some idea of whats going on and how urgent this is. Thanks.
2006-08-03 11:03:36 · 27 answers · asked by M J H 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Pebble in the tyre groove?
2006-08-03 11:06:49 · answer #1 · answered by anonymous_dave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Almost for sure sounds like the speedometer cable. It might not have shown up the last time the car was in the garage, especially if the mechanic did not take it out for much of a test ride. Even then the problem could have been brand new.
Depending on the car, the cost will probably be minimal. If you have an acquaitance with a car, do a mileage comparison. Each of you go a route in your own cars. Make sure you each follow the same route. Go at least five miles and then compare your odometers. They sould both read the same distance traveled, within about a half mile or so. If not, the speedometer is even more surely the culprit.
If you find this is so, you can call various mechanics to get a good estimate for the repair. When you find a mechanic you can trust, be sure to tell him you THINK that it is the cable. You cannot be sure, and I cannot be sure, sitting here in front of our computers. Let him determine the real problem and then get the estimate in writing.
Not much urgancy as the car will run fine without the speedometer. You risk a ticket if you do not monitor your speed.
2006-08-03 11:16:20 · answer #2 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would have been a vast amount of help to be told what car it was but the symptoms you describe are classic. You have bad Constand Velocity Joint(s) known as CV Joints for short. These are standard issue on front wheel drive cars and there are four of them, two on each side.
Front wheel drive vehicles have transaxles the give motion to the front wheels while the back wheels simply follow along for the ride. There are two axle assemblies in a front wheel drive car; one exits the transaxle on the right and the other exits on the left. Since the front wheels must turn left to right, and bounce up and down, the axles must be able to turn the wheel while also being able to move about in almost all directions. They allow this motion through the use of CV Joints, two per axle. One joint sits near the transaxle (inside joint) while the other joint sits just inside the wheel knuckle (outside joint).
The outside joint gets the most wear as it is the one that bears the most movement in all directions... the inner joint rarely fails because it just dampens out any potential movement to ensure the shaft entering the transaxle is allowed to only rotate. If it moved in any other direction it would damage transaxle axle seals and internal gears that have minimal backlash or clearance.
Yes, shops will replace the outer joint for you but this job isn't cheap by any means. Generally, $75 to replace a joint. Here's the rub... auto parts stores sell the whole axle with TWO new joints on it for $50 to $100 depending on the make/model of your car. If it were me and I wasn't the shade tree mechanic that I am, I would call the auto shops and find one that will replace the whole axle assembly with one that you provide them. Or, with your newfound knowledge, have them do the whole thing for you for the price of the axle plus the same amount of labor charge they would have charged you for the one joint.
Doing this will get you TWO new joints and you won't be bothered with an inboard joint failure later. The new axle assembly will probably have lifetime warranty too.
The real clencher of a problem is in your determining which side of the car the clicking is coming from... have a friend help you. Roll down both windows and listen carefully. The reason the clicking stops when turning is because the different forces are applied to the joint when it is not straight and the internal surfaces are moving to a different position... one that's not worn out. When you resume a straight path, the joint returns where it has spent most of it's life and that area is worn out! It can get plenty more worn before you have a serious problem assuming you drive the vehicle in a calm fashion. Quick starts, spinning tires, etc... will expedite the failure of these joints.
There is no real need to replace both axle assemblies though the shop may recommend it. I cannot blame them because the other axle has just as many miles on it and is bound to fail sometime... he just doesn't want an angry customer coming back to him with another clicking problem and then have to convince you that there are two such axles in the car. Doing two would double the cost of your repairs and the second axle might not fail for 50,000 miles! Your call though. If you want trouble free performance and you have the money... strike a deal with the shop for doing both.
Good luck!
2006-08-03 11:32:42 · answer #3 · answered by Les 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does it make the noise when the vehicle is stopped? If not try to tell if its coming from a wheel, if you can find out which wheel, look in the tread(grooves in the tire that touch the pavement) and look for a nail or a rock that might be stuck in the tire, very common. If you see nothing, try to take the wheel off, sometimes a rock can get stuck in the wheel or between the brake pads and rotor.
2006-08-03 11:44:34 · answer #4 · answered by ksjs24 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be the mud flat rubbing the inside of the wheel or a wheel bearing,take it to a mechanic and get it checked out;they shouldn't charge you anything for taking a quick look at it and it would put your mind at ease !
2006-08-03 11:10:57 · answer #5 · answered by any 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agreed, or could be a nail in the tyre. I also had a boss who had something similar, turned out that he swapped his spare at the weekend, and didn't tighten the wheel nuts enough. One had worked loose and was rattling around under the wheel cover.
2006-08-03 11:08:51 · answer #6 · answered by spiegy2000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is some thing to do with your brakes a quick test is to slightly press your brake pedal and see if the noise goes
you can also try pulling up your h/brake slightly if the noise stop the fault is on the wheels the h/brake works
2006-08-07 10:08:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with both the foriegn object in tire or CV joints, Get under it and check the boots if they broke open then a quick fix but not permanent would be get a grease gun and pack it full in the hole of the boot again its not permanent. Check tires and CV boot.
2006-08-11 10:57:08 · answer #8 · answered by wickedredneckclown 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bet you a £1.00 its something stuck in one of your tyres!
The fact it stops when you turn a corner makes it almost certain to be in a front tyre too!
Get someone to jack the car up and check all round the tyre treads for anything stuck in there.
Should cost you less than the pound you owe me for the bet!!!!!
2006-08-03 23:55:50 · answer #9 · answered by holdengrey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check to see if there is anything stuck in the tred of your tryes.
A word of advice....
Go to one garage to get a diagnosis but another to get the work done!
The 2nd garage will say if the 1st garge was speaking shyte etc
2006-08-03 11:10:51 · answer #10 · answered by Jason 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a CV joint, not very expensive to fix. Normally makes a noise on full lock though.
2006-08-03 11:10:22 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋