Written by: Erin Vaughan - President, CEO and Journeyperson Automotive Service Technician
Here’s Why Finding the Cause Matters
A new noise from your vehicle can be frustrating, especially when you don't know whether it's something minor or the beginning of a bigger problem.
A clunk over bumps, a humming sound on the highway, agrinding noise when braking, a knock from the engine - it's tempting to Google the noise and start looking for the part that needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, vehicle noises aren't usually that simple.
At Kinetic Auto Service, when you bring us a vehicle because of a noise, our first job isn't to replace a part,
our job is to determine what's actually causing the noise.
“Can you tell me what it is from the noise?”
Usually, no, and we'd rather tell you that than guess. The same type of noise can be caused by several different components, even where you hear the noise isn't always where it's coming from.
We've seen wheel bearing noises that sounded like they were coming from one wheel when the problem was actually at another wheel. A similar sound could also come from the tires or even a driveshaft steady bearing. The same thing happens with suspension noises. A knock that sounds like it's coming from the right side of the vehicle may actually originate on the left.
That's why Kinetic charges for inspection and diagnostic time when investigating vehicle noises. You're not paying us to guess, you're paying us to find the problem.
What should you tell us when you book?
The more information you can give our service advisors, the better starting point we can give the technician.
Try to notice:
- When does the noise happen?
- At what speed?
- Does it happen while braking?
- Does it change while turning?
- Does it happen when going over bumps?
- Is the vehicle cold or warmed up?
- Does it happen while accelerating?
- Where does the noise seem to be coming from?
Don't worry if you can't answer all of these questions. You don't need to diagnose the vehicle, that's our job! Your observations simply help point us in the right direction.
How does Kinetic diagnose a vehicle noise?
Depending on the concern, our technician may start by road testing the vehicle under several different conditions. That can mean driving on faster and slower roads, going over bumps, making turns and driving through parking lots while trying to duplicate the noise you've described. Sometimes we may request that YOU take a ride with us to point out the noise you're hearing!
Once we've narrowed down the system involved, we'll bring the vehicle into the shop and inspect it. For a brake or suspension noise, that means checking the components in the affected system, not simply replacing the first component that seems likely. For some engine, bearing or drivetrain noises, we may need to operate the vehicle on the hoist and listen to individual components with a stethoscope.
We're looking for the cause of the noise and any related components that are damaged or worn. Once we know the cause, we can explain what we found and recommend the appropriate repair.
Why pay for diagnosis when another shop will “take a quick look”?
Because the cheapest first repair isn't necessarily the cheapest solution. If someone guesses at the source of a noise and replaces a part without getting to the root of the problem, you can end up paying for that repair and then paying AGAIN when the noise comes back.
We would rather spend the appropriate time determining what's wrong before recommending that you spend money fixing it - there's accountability attached to that!
If Kinetic diagnoses the problem and our diagnosis is wrong, we stand behind it and cover that repair. That's one of the reasons proper diagnosis matters to us.
Don't ignore a new noise
Not every vehicle noise means you need to stop driving immediately, but ignoring a noise can allow a relatively manageable problem to develop into a larger and more expensive one. There are also certain symptoms that we consider much more urgent.
Pull over somewhere safe, shut the vehicle off and arrange to have it towed if:
- the engine is knocking;
- your brakes are not functioning properly;
- the vehicle develops violent vibrations;
- the check-engine light is flashing; or
- the oil-pressure warning light comes on.
If you're unsure about a new noise, call us! Our service advisors can ask you some questions and help determine the appropriate next step.
Your vehicle doesn't need a guess. It needs an answer.
At Kinetic Auto Service, our goal isn't to sell you a part based on what a noise might be, it's to properly inspect the vehicle, determine what's causing the concern, explain what we've found and give you the information you need to make an informed decision about the repair.
Hearing something new? Give Kinetic Auto Service a call or book an appointment online and we'll help you get to the bottom of it.
