3 Car Sounds that Could Mean Trouble

One of the worst moments is when you start your car in the morning and then suddenly hear a noise that never happened before. So what does this noise mean exactly? We’ve listed three common ones below and explain what you should do in each situation.

High-Pitched Squealing 

This could be an issue with your brakes, meaning they could be worn out. You may begin to hear this squeal noises every time you step on your brakes.

What to do: At minimum, check the brake pad thickness (or have a professional check for you). If they are worn down, change them. The longer you drive with worn brake pads, the more likely it is that there will be damage to the rotors.  

Mechanical Sound with Loose Steering

This one is a combo act. If you feel that the steering wheel has loosened up and at the same time you hear clicks in the front of your vehicle, it probably means you have worn joints. Most commonly, it will be either your tie rod ends or your upper and lower ball joints that have gone bad.
 

What to do: It’s very important that you take your vehicle to the mechanic right away if you notice these warning signs. It can be dangerous to drive with your car in this condition.

Mechanical, Knocking Sound When Turning 

This knocking, metallic noise can be heard coming from the front of your vehicle. If you hear it only when making turns, it often signifies that you have a worn or failing CV joint.
 

What to do: Take your vehicle to your mechanic and get the CV joints checked. Once again, this is another repair that needs to be taken care of sooner rather than later to prevent further damage and potential accidents. 

Content credit: www.driverside.com

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A Complete Guide to Speed Limits

Before you hit the road, here's what you should know about speed limits. You may know your way around your hometown, but when it comes to traveling to other states, you are going to want to keep an eye on your speedometer.  Speed limits are unfortunately not the same everywhere. So how fast you are allowed to drive can vary widely across the country.  

A handful of jurisdictions maintain a respectable 55-mph limit on urban routes, while others keep theirs at 60, 65 or 70.  There are even a total of seven states that allow a head-spinning 75 mph on urban roadways, and on certain stretches of rural highways, it soars to 80 or even 85 mph. Unless otherwise posted, 55 mph is the default limit on two-lane rural roads in many states. 

In case you’re curious, below is a list of the slowest and fastest states for urban speed limit. Take a look! 

SLOWEST (55 mph)

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• New Jersey
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• West Virginia

FASTEST (75 mph)          

• Idaho
• Kansas
• Maine
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Texas

Content Credit to Geico.com

10 Thing You Should Check Before You Buy A Used Car

Choosing to purchase a used vehicle can be tricky. Whether you’re looking to buy from a dealership or a private owner it is important to take caution before you claim the vehicle. Many used cars may look great from the outside, but sometimes may not be a good as they seem. It is always recommended to get a second opinion on the condition of the vehicle you are looking to purchase. We highly recommend getting an inspection.

These are often called a pre-purchase inspection. Here is a list of the most common trouble spots that you should have your mechanic check for you.

1. Brakes – Transmission
2. Exhaust
3. Engine – Knocking & Compression
4. Oil
5. Radiatior - Hose
6. HVAC
7. Instrument Gauges
8. Lights
9. Suspension – Tires
10. Body – Dents - Rust

Along with getting your pre-purchase inspection, make sure that you are getting a clear history of the vehicle you are considering. Knowing whether your vehicle has been in an accident before would be something important to know.

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Content Credit: AutoGuide.com

Quick Guide: How to avoid getting car dents

It usually happens when you least expect it to. As you are walking up to your car you notice something that wasn’t there before when you parked your car. For something that happens in just seconds, car dents and scratches take a lot of time and money to get rid of. Car dents and scratches are an inevitable part of parking in public spaces. So we came up with a few different ways you can help avoid damages.

1.      Keep a look out for slanted parking lots - Most drivers are able to accurately park straight when the parking lines are slanted. This also helps avoid tight squeezes between cars.

2.      Keep your distance – Choose to park at the end of the lot as much as you can. A little bit of walking never hurt anyone.

3.       Keep a safety cushion – This is leaving enough amount of space between you and the car in front of you while driving on the road. Many car dents that occur often happen due to people driving on each other’s tail.

4.      Keep your garage area clear – If you park in a garage at home, make sure that the space is cleared so that nothing can fall over or scratch your vehicle by rubbing against it as you pull in.

5.      Parallel Parking – Believe it or not, parallel parking is the safest way to park!

6.      Parking under hardwood trees – This should be something you should avoid.  Sadly, trees can easily dent and scratch your vehicle.

7.      Parking next to larger vehicles – Trucks and SUV’s equal large doors.

8.      Neglected vehicles – When parking next to a vehicle that doesn’t seem to be well maintained, think of it this way: If the owner doesn’t care about their car, they won’t care about yours.

9.      Used one space, one space only – Never park over two parking spaces- people could vandalize your vehicle due to frustration.

Content credit: www.automagic.co.za