Recently, my car started sounding strange and I am not sure what to do.

Detroit, MI

--News Direct--

Modern vehicles are highly computerized and completely different from the mechanically controlled automobiles of 30 years ago. Although computerization has made vehicles much more reliable and fuel-efficient, car symptoms like squealing, squeaking, humming, growling, and other noises still occur. Our tips help car and truck owners take the next steps after their vehicle makes odd sounds.

Can I repair the car myself to eliminate the noise?

Most of the symptoms known to AutoTechIQ, which collects millions of work orders across the country, need a professional inspection. A key element of successful auto repair is the ability to educate the customer about why the repair needs to happen and what safety, cost avoidance, and environmental impact it imposes. Then, with a list of options on the table, the customer can decide the best outcome for their vehicle and their goals. Just go to AutoTechIQ.com and use the shop selector to find the best-suited shop in your area. AutoTechIQ introduced three certification levels for the shops featured on the map, so make sure you select the right one for you.

AutoTechIQ.com has made educational content available to you in an easy-to-digest way and with a minimum of the technical lingo experts often say.

What are commonly occurring car noises?

We'll list common problematic noises cars make below. If you're experiencing any of those, listen to their reference noise in the YouTube link and send it to your trusted auto repair shop for reference.

What other symptoms should I look for?

Noise is often the most dominant symptom your car makes but not the only one. For example, a failed serpentine belt pulley can make a very noticeable noise and create a distinct odor of burnt rubber.

Reoccurring problems are especially concerning, and it is important to describe the context of these issues to your trusted auto repair shop professionals. Knowing the characteristics of the problem helps the professional to eliminate up to 90% of the potential root causes and saves you a lot of money for unnecessary diagnostics or repair.

How do I find a professional auto repair shop I can trust?

There has been a significant change in how former mom-and-pop shops focus on repairing vehicles. Now, they focus on helping you determine your vehicle's best course of action by meeting your goals for longevity and dependability.

What should be my budget when taking my car to an auto repair shop?

Traditionally, most car owners follow the service interval recommendation provided by their trusted auto repair shop or just go to the shop when problems arise and let the shop fix them.

Most of the time, the latter is the most expensive way of taking care of your vehicle if you add up the cost of each visit.

Using a preventive maintenance plan offered by your trusted auto repair shop will open up the opportunity to talk about future expenses or what is called deferred services. You can start budgeting future expenses and still save money since preventive maintenance is significantly more cost-effective than paying the repair cost when problems occur.

Condition-based inspections take the preventive maintenance concept even further. Your auto repair shop conducts a vehicle inspection every time you drop off your vehicle. The results are compared to previous inspection results to determine wear and tear patterns. Based on those patterns, the best course of action is presented to you.

Why is it important to ask for a Digital Auto Checkup?

Many auto repair shops listen to your concern and will provide a solution right away by taking care of the problem you are describing. When you go to any doctor with a symptom, does the doctor immediately go to the concern you are expressing? Typically they don't do that unless you are in the emergency room.

Instead, vital signs will be recorded first. The same can be true for your vehicle. You first establish baseline health before addressing the particular symptom. The bill of health of a vehicle is called the Digital Auto Checkup or Digital Vehicle Health Inspection.

What is AutoTechIQ's advantage to me as a car owner?

The majority of car owners dread the appointment at an auto repair shop. The shops in the AutoTechIQ network are selected based on criteria putting your education and professional service as their main focus. Three criteria not used in other business directories are:

The business has received at least 100 Google reviews with an average score of more than 4.5 out of 5.0.
A digital vehicle health inspection is used consistently to examine the health of your vehicle and covers at least 35 topics.
The documentation of mint and problem conditions uses well-documented images and videos to give you complete transparency.