‘Pray this doesn’t happen to you’ warns mechanic over worrying noise that you should never ignore – and 2 ways to fix it
A MECHANIC has warned drivers over worrying noise that could indicate an issue with a car and two ways to fix it.
Scotty Kilmer has posted on YouTube three places where the motorists should check first if they hear an unusual sound coming from their vehicle.
The motor expert has told his followers that if they hear a clunking sound when slowing down, it could be one of the three reasons.
Kilmer says drivers should pray it’s one of the first two reasons as those are simple to fix.
If the clunking noise appears when you take your foot off the gas, then it could be a bad joint on the drive shaft.
And on the front wheel drive cars, it’s called CV joint.
At this stage, you might only need to replace the bad parts to get your vehicle up and running smoothly instead of splashing on the entire shaft.
Another place the sound could be coming from is a broken motor mount.
Listen if the sound comes from the front – it could be a sign that the rubber around the motor mount has ripped.
The easy fix for that is to replace the rubber after it has worn out.
But if it’s neither of the two reasons, then you should check inside of the transmission.
Kilmer explains: “Instead of transmission getting force pushed on getting forward, it’s not freewheeling and there’s different pressure inside.
“And worn gears inside will clunk as you decelerating.”
Replacing or rebuilding transmission can cost up to thousands of pounds and will seriously hurt drivers’ pockets.
Ignoring transmission issues can lead not only to expensive repairs, but also to vehicle breakdowns.
But if you drive a small car like a Fiat 500, there’s another hidden issue that could be the source of the clunking noise.
A motor expert has revealed that small cars like the 500 can sometimes see their lower control arm fail.
This component plays a key part in the suspension system, acting as a link between the chassis and the wheel hub.
When it goes wrong, it can often cause a clanging or clunking noise as you drive along, especially on an uneven road surface.
This should ring alarm bells for drivers as a lower control arm issue can see your car deemed unroadworthy and result in an MOT failure.
This could end up costing you hundreds to repair as, according to Elliot, the way to fix it is “infamously annoying” and “long-winded”, involving taking off the front bumper to gain access to the suspension system.
Not only that, but if you wait until your MOT for this to be picked up you’ll have to pay to take the test, make the repairs and then book another test to get back on the road.
As such, if you notice any suspension issues or hear a clunking sound, you should take your vehicle to a trusted local garage immediately.
An experienced mechanic has revealed that most drivers will ignore a knocking noise which indicates a serious problem and can actually put their life at risk.
TikTok user @walsallwood_tyre says that a knocking noise is caused by the bottom ball joint in the wheel and could damage other parts of your car – costing drivers thousands in repairs.
For that reason, the mechanic has urged motorists to bring their cars to their local garage if they hear any weird noises when driving.
The bottom ball joint connects the control arm to the steering knuckles and allows for smooth and solid movement in the suspension of your car.
And car experts at thedrive.com have warned drivers that if the joint fails completely, they could lose control of the vehicle leading to crashes and injuries.