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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-02, Page 60:1 Page 18 When car talks.,. listen! By Robert Raw (Special to The Flee Press) You got your husband off to work- in the usual hectic • rush, but there's no time to relax. There's shopping to be done, Johnny has a morning dentist appoint merit,—Suzy has a 1 o'clock music lesson and the dog isL' -due at the vet's for a shot. You jump into your car, anxious to get the day started and then it hap- pens. As you pull out of your drive onto the street, there's an unfamiliar, omi- nous sound. We've all ex- perienced it at one time or another. Sometimes it's -a - clank, sometimes -a clunk, and sometimes it goes click, click,.click. But whatever, you begin to get . that awful feeling that this is going to be one of those days. You visual- , Ize your car going up in smoke, or:.._g_a.dgets_,. and_... things falling" froin the en- gine, or maybe that deadly silence when a car stops running and just sits there like a stubborn mule, doing nothing. Well, ladies, take heart, automotive engineers call those clanks and clunks "car talk" — and they say that anyone can get to - know what Betsy is saying, at least enough to deter- mine just how serious its illness may be. Under- standing the groans and moans of - a sick , auto, they )advise, will help you to take better care of your car and avoid troublesome breakdowns. To help out, Ford service experts have prepared a glossary of sounds if you're interested in learning the ABC's of . car chatter. Noises worth noting are: Engine Cackles — A car's idle speed may need adjustment if the engine "cackles" or continues to run for a brief time after the ignition is shut off. Dieseling, as mechanics re- fer to the problem, also may occure after several short shopping trips. En- gine cackles after a short drive simply indicate that an engine's emission con- trol devices have not warmed up sufficiently and are not cause for alarm. Ignition Clicks —. If a clicking sound occurs when the ignition key is turned on and the car's engine re- fuses to- start, a corroded battery cable may Have "cut off electrical current to the starting system. Less fre- quently, the "click" is caused by a faulty starter relay switch. The whirring or spinning noise of a small electrical motor from under the hood, on the other hand, could mean trouble in the starter motor itself. Tire Ticks — A rhythmic ticking sound at low speeds often warns that a nail, rock or piece of glass his embedded in a tire. The "tick" usually is blotted out, or muffled by other noises at higher speeds, and may lessen in time as the object works its way into the tread. A quick check to, remove the prob- lem before real damage is done can eliminate the need fora new tire or avert a dangerous blow-out. Speedometer Chatter — A chattering or clicking sound from the instrument panel usually indicates the need for speedometer ser- vice. The noise may or may not igcompanied,:by: a_ flutter of the speedometer ?_ needle. In most cases, a kink has developed in the speedometer cable qr the system may need lubrica- tion. Engine Pings — Pings and knocks from under the hood (especially when you accelerate) often are an engine's way of asking for higher octane fuel. If a dif- ferent grade of gasoline doesn't help, engine timing may be at fault and a tune- up could be the answer. If the pings turn into a loud, metallic bang, something mort4serious is afoot and immediate__ professional at- tention is required. Exhaust P34.•Pop 4A.c , eniWinnieii-by a rough en- gine idle, a soft popping or drumming sound from the exhaust pipe points to fouled spark plugs or faulty ignition wiring. The noise normally is audible only when the car is idling. Louder popping or rat-ta- tat-tat noises that occur during periods of accelera- tion or • deceleration, are signs of muffler wear. Radio Whines — Consis- tent whines or high-pitched buzzes from the car radio most often result from a poor or broken ground con- nection, or a short in the radio's filter circuit. The noise shouldn't be confused with brief periods of inter- ference that may be caused by high tension wires or power stations. A raspy or ragged tone from the radio, on the other hand, may be caused by damage to the speaker surface or water leaks that have dampened the speakers. Belt Screech — Shrill screeches from the engine compartment when you step on the gas pedal indi- cates a loose or faulty fan belt. Intermittent chirps or peeps can point to the same problem. If not- repaired, the belt may break or your engine may overheat, and that could lead to more ex- pensive repairs. Tire Squeal — First check your tires to see if one or more need more air pressure. Worn brake linings also can cause squeals or squeaks when brake pres- sure is applied and should be attended to immedi- ately. Less frequently, new brake linings develop a ra- zor -thin glaze on the lining surface that may cause similar noises. A service technician can eliminate the problem by roughing the lining surface, with a fine sandpaper. In addition to specific squeaks and squeals, varia- tions in normal sounds should alert" a car owner that - service assistance is needed. For example, if a car's engine begins to sound louder or gradually takes on a deeper tone, a potentially ° dangerous leak may have developed In the exhaust system. Who Say's "Getting There is (Half the -Fun"? WINNING BAJA ENTRY OF Ingvar Lindqvist, in the two -wheel drive clans, tackles a rocky section in the recent "Baja 500" off-road race in Mexico. The course is noted for extreme driving- condi- tions of intense heat, gullies, craters, washes, sharp rocks and boulders. 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