Exhaust Problems & Noises - Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro Info

Exhaust noises mean exhaust problems.  And when you have exhaust problems, you need to get them taken care of quick.  Some unresolved exhaust issues could become deadly to your passengers or yourself.   

The first step in solving any auto trouble situation is locating the source.  When your auto repair troubles lie with your exhaust system, there are many tell-tale noises you may be able to use to help diagnose your specific exhaust problem.  Once diagnosed, you can then determine if you need an auto repair shop that offers muffler and exhaust repairs.

One sound you may be hearing while your engine is running is a rattling or buzzing sort of noise. This is at times caused by loose heat shields that are located in the region of your catalytic converter or exhaust pipes. Rust weakens spot welds that are holding the heat shields to the exhaust system. When a shield has gotten loose enough to start vibrating it may create a rattling or buzzing noise that can often be heard through the whole car. There are other noises that may only be able to be detected while running at certain RPMs or only when you are decelerating.  This is attributable to harmonic vibrations.  The vibrations are shaking your exhaust system at a resounding frequency.

Finding loose heat shields can get tricky because they are not always easily visible.  a medium-sized screwdriver can aid in inspecting shields, utilizing it to check for looseness. If you do find a loose spot weld, loose heat shields can be re-secured by re-welding, and in some cases, by installing some clamps. Replacement of a heat shield is recommended if badly rusted or showing other more extensive damage. NEVER remove a loose heat shield without replacing it! These are necessary parts to keep the intense heat away from the car’s floor pan and other sensitive mechanisms in the vicinity.

Another buzzing variety of noise you may hear originating from your exhaust is harmonic resonance. This is frequently seen with high revving four-cylinder engines.  This type of noise is typically loudest when operating at certain RPMs or while accelerating hard, especially if you are with a load.

If your exhaust related noises seem to come from the tailpipe, you need to listen carefully.  If the sound being produced is a whistle or high-pitched hiss, you may have a restriction within your exhaust system.  This restriction causes abnormally high backpressure.  Another issue often associated with this backpressure is the engine lacking high-speed power.  Experiencing reduced fuel mileage is also another indication that your engine is having problems exhaling.

Mufflers and exhaust pipes will all start rusting and get rotted sooner or later.  If your vehicle is or has been exposed to large quantities of winter road salt or if it is often driven for short-trips with heavy stop-and-go driving, you may experience this type of damage to appear sooner. Short trips create a high level of condensation in the exhaust system.  This is because your muffler and pipes are not being allowed time to reach a high enough temperature to evaporate this water. When your muffler is found further from the converter in the back of the vehicle, moisture will pool inside your muffler, which creates rust and erosion from within. As this water combines with sulfur in the exhaust it creates highly corrosive acids that will then begin to eat through the exhaust system’s metal parts.

Mufflers and resonators that are behind your rear axle are typically quite vulnerable to this kind of corrosion.  This is because they usually run a lot cooler than a front-mounted muffler, creating a moisture trap.  They often experience trouble or failure due to internal corrosion.

Auto Problem Tips from the Best Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro

Auto repairs are an unfortunate necessity. 

Every auto owner faces unexpected breakdowns sometime.  While there are endless causes, here are some basic, commonly encountered auto repair issues you may experience. 

Battery Problems

A battery suffering from a low charge, no charge at all or one that is not able to hold a charge will leave you stuck.  Usually a set of jumper cables and a willing fellow motorist can remedy the immediate issue.  To be fully prepared, you may choose to purchase a road assistance device that can offer a jump start without another auto present. While the specific capabilities of the devices differ, most include a battery recharger.  It is ALWAYS advised that you keep jumper cables in your auto at all times.  Most issues arising from battery problems do not require a skilled mechanic or professional auto repair shop.

Overheating Engine

As temperatures go up, so do your odds of having your auto’s engine to overheat.  The usual causes of overheating: leaks or extremely low fluid levels, as well as defective cooling systems.  If you’re experiencing an overheating problem you should bring some extra water along in case of an emergency.  When the car overheats, wait for your entire engine to cool enough to safely touch before even raising the hood.  Once relatively cool you should raise the hood allowing excess heat to completely disperse.  Once cool enough to touch, open your water overflow tank or reservoir and check that the water levels are within the suggested markings.  For safety, always allow the engine to adequately cool before checking or adding any water or coolant to the cooling system.  If your auto is overheating, you need to locate a professional auto repair shop or mechanic to determine the reason and fix the issue before causing further damage. 

Engine Hesitation or Engine Surge

There are a multitude of issues that can lead to engine hesitation or surge.  Some of these may include a polluted air filter, or even hotter, more humid weather.  During extremely hot weather, particularly in rather humid conditions, some autos’ engines begin to struggle just to work properly.  Your vehicle must re-circulate exhaust gases coming through the engine in order to effectively reduce the exhaust emissions emitted into the air. Hotter, very humid weather can cause the exhaust flow to gather within the intake manifold affecting the auto’s drivability. It can also cause blockages, leading to the need for more significant auto repairs.

Alternator Failure

Your alternator is an essential part of your car.  Alternator failure will leave you sitting on the side of the road.  If you are having alternator problems, get it checked out and tested right away.  Signs of alternator problems might include a sluggish battery.  If the headlights and/or dashboard lights dim when the auto is idling, it is definitely pointing to alternator troubles. These warning signs should not be ignored. A mechanic or auto repair shop can help in quickly diagnosing and fixing the problem, avoiding the further complications or a breakdown. 

Mechanic’s Brake Repair Diagnosis – Auto Repair Tips from Columbia, SC

Your car’s brake system is of paramount importance to your car, truck or other automobile. If you do not recognize the warning signs of faulty brakes, you may find yourself in a dangerous or even fatal situation.

Brake Problems – What it May Sound Like

Brake repair is a serious issue.  If your brakes start emitting squeaking noises, it is time to have a closer look at your brakes. An even more alarming noise you might hear is a scraping or grinding sound. Grinding, scraping and squeaking noises usually indicate the need to find a mechanic or auto repair professional to inspect and probably perform some form of brake repair or brake component replacement.

Brake Problems – Other Warning Signs

There are many things you may notice happening with your auto that can indicate the presence of brake problems. Misaligned brakes can create vibrations in your steering. Misaligned or brakes that are improperly aligned could be a result of improper installation or it is possible that they have shifted by cause of an auto accident. If you continue driving with brakes that are improperly aligned, you are risking yourself and the other drivers sharing the road. A mechanic or auto repair shop can fix this or other brake problems, getting you back behind the wheel safely.

Changes in the feel of the brakes are also a big indicator of trouble. Brakes that are unresponsive, or have a spongy or soft feel to them when you slow or are stopping, point to problems located within the brake system. Brake problems left without proper repair result in larger, more complicated problems. To make certain your brake repairs are safely and properly completed, you should take your auto to a trusted mechanic or reputable auto repair facility. In the Columbia, SC metro area, Sanford’s Automotive Service is a great choice for all brake repair problems you may have!

What Does It All Mean?

When your car’s brakes start emitting worrisome noises or even worse, cause disruption to the proper function of the brake system, you likely need professional brake repair. Squeaking, scraping and grinding noises are often signs that the brake pads, and in some instances, the rotors, need to be replaced. Other signs of brake trouble can often be caused by worn, cracked or otherwise damaged brake linings. Sometimes these types of trouble can be a result of air in your brake lines. 

Because of the seriousness of brake problems and the importance of safety, all brake repairs should be handled by a well trained mechanic or auto repair shop experienced in brake repair. If you are particularly knowledgeable regarding auto repairs, and have adequate knowledge of the make and model of vehicle, brake repairs could be done yourself. NEVER drive with brake repairs unless you feel completely safe driving with a repair you have had done or completed yourself. 

You should always be confident that capable hands have performed your brake repairs because it could be a matter of life and death.

When the Car Won’t Start – No Spark, No Compression

There are few things as frustrating as getting into a car that won’t start.  Even more irritating is when your engine cranks and STILL will not start!  Before you hit an auto repair shop, let’s examine one issue you may be having. An educated auto owner is better equipped to understand and ask questions about what auto repairs their mechanic or auto repair shop technician advises. 

All engines require satisfactory fuel pressure, a precisely timed spark and regular compression.  If your vehicle’s engine cranks but doesn’t start, you are likely to be experiencing difficulty with one of these.

Engine Cranks – No Spark

Check the spark plug wires.  If they are cracked, wet, or burned it could be causing difficulty with the spark, creating a problem starting the car. Also check that the internal resistance does not exceed specifications, as this will cause the same problem.

You also need to examine the spark plugs.  When you remove the spark plugs, if they are wet they are either not firing or the engine is flooded.  If the plugs’ electrodes have been contaminated with deposits, this can allow the spark to ground before jumping the gap, causing the plugs to misfire.  This will make the vehicle hard to start and cause it to run poorly once started.

If there are cracks or carbon tracks on your rotor or inside the distributor cap, this can be causing problems.  Issues of this nature will allow your spark to short out to ground before ever reaching the spark plugs.

You may be dealing with a bad distributor pickup or faulty crankshaft position sensor. This is what sends the pulse signal to the ignition module or PCM.  Without this, there is no trigger for the ignition coils therefore, the car won’t start.

Another issue that you could have is a defective ignition module.  Since the ignition module is responsible for the firing of the ignition coils, a faulty one can create problems with starting and/or stalling. If you’re having a hard time starting the car, problems with sudden stalling, especially when the engine is hot, you may need to have the ignition module checked. 

Bad ignition coils can affect different autos in different ways.  Its purpose is to create a high voltage that fires your spark plugs.  On vehicles that have a distributor, a bad ignition coil prevents sparking at all of your spark plugs.  If you have a coil-on-plug or distributor-less ignition system, having a bad coil only affects one or two cylinders. While this can create some problems getting the car started, it will be able to run on the remaining cylinders once started.

Engine Cranks – No Compression

Take a look at the timing belt or chain.  A failure or breaking of the belt or chain keeps valves from opening.  Not only will the engine not run, you need to be sure that there are no other damages like bent valves that occurred due to the breakage.

When the engine starts but dies within a couple of minutes, you may have a plugged catalytic convertor.  When the catalytic convertor becomes obstructed, it creates restrictions that then cause your exhaust backpressure to accumulate.

If you have an overhead cam engine, check the camshaft.  If your engine overheats too badly it will warp the head, in turn seizing up the camshaft.  

As a Columbia, SC auto repair shop owner I want to inform drivers (and potential customers) about what their car troubles are and why they happen.  If you have car questions or need to schedule an auto repair or maintenance appointment in the greater Columbia, SC area, Sanford’s is happy to make you their newest loyal customer!

Transmission Repair Tips from a Columbia SC Mechanic

Transmission repair – The phrase itself can induce stress and sometimes panic.  

Transmission repairs can be one of the most expensive repairs an auto owner encounters. Often the car or truck owner’s concern is that they will be presented with repairs to authorize that they do not understand or fear they may be overcharged due to their lack of knowledge on the subject.

We believe customers should be completely comfortable with every repair and have complete trust in our advice and our work. We want to take some of the mystery and concern out of transmission troubles by providing a fundamental look at your transmission.  With some basic information you can better understand what your mechanic is talking about and what your transmission repairs may involve.

Transmission problems can ground a car fast. They may involve the inability to drive in certain gears, or even any gear. Transmission problems that have not grounded you yet likely will soon. Transmission trouble never heals itself.  Many times the decline from the first signs of trouble to out of commission can occur rather quickly.

A transmission has many parts and components, much more than can be explained here. These are the basics you will need to help understand and be able to discuss your transmission problem with a mechanic.

Transmission fluid is critical to every transmission. This red fluid is the transmission’s life blood.  Transmission fluid leaks may occur in many locations and can potentially create bigger problems in the future. If your transmission is leaking, or there have been reddish fluid stains under the vehicle, you should seek a professional auto repair shop or certified mechanic to locate and correct the issue before you have a bigger, even costlier issue.

The transmission filter is also vital.  It must be clear of debris, allowing adequate flow of clean transmission fluid. A blocked filter can create multiple problems with your transmission’s operation.  Replacing a filter is much simpler than having to replace or even rebuild the transmission.  Diagnosing smaller problems early can save you from greater damage that will be sure to come.

The transmission gears are another very complex system. Main gears and planetary gears must all have full function to allow the transmission to function properly.  There are many aspects to properly functioning gears. They should be in good condition, without cracks, dings, or chips which may cause the gears to slip or not engage entirely.  This is when we usually find an auto grounded or unable to operate in one or more gears. Any problem found within the transmission system’s gears will require a professional.

The bell housing is yet another component of the transmission. The bell housing is located differently, depending on if you have a front-wheel or rear-wheel drive vehicle.  This metal cone shaped casing must be in good condition, allowing the mechanisms it protects to work correctly. The bell housing should be free of cracks, damage or other issues that may be detrimental to proper operation of the transmission or its components.

Transmission repairs and rebuilds are very costly but, once completed, should not have repeat trouble for many years.  Never leave your auto with anyone you do not have full confidence in.  Always check out the mechanic or shop you plan to use because transmission repairs require precision, special types of tools and a specialized knowledge and understanding.