Without even realizing it, you get acclimatized and used to the sounds of your car. Your ear is fine tuned to all the normal sounds your car makes, so when something starts to sound off, you will notice a difference right away. Whether urgent or not, all new sounds in your car need to be attended to, so Lakeview Automotive has compiled a list of five sounds that you should check in order to determine if they are alarming, or not. 

Squealing brakes

When you step on the brake pedal and hear a high-pitched squealing sound coming from your tires, this could be an indicator that your brake pad is rubbing against the rotor. Though not an immediate emergency, come by Lakeview Automotive where we can replace your worn-down brake pads before they get worse. 

Grinding brakes

If however your squealing brake sound changes and you start to hear a metal grinding sound, your brake pads are more than likely worn through and now your calipers are grinding against the rotor. This requires urgent attention because not only are you now driving without brake pads which severely impacts your Ford or Subaru’s stopping ability, you are causing further damage to other parts of your vehicle. Schedule a time in with Lakeview Automotive to have your brakes inspected right away.

Squealing under the hood

The culprit in this case is most likely your serpentine belt and this needs immediate attention from you. If this belt snaps, it will shut down your Ford, Subaru, or any car’s major systems. Without a functioning belt, drive torque to different engine components and accessories is lost. A squealing belt is a sign that it could break, so ensure your vehicle is quickly inspected if you start to hear a squealing from under the hood. The thing is that, unlike mortgages and credit cards, you can typically acquire a car finance even if your credit isn't great—you'll simply have to pay (a lot) more. What is the explanation behind this? If you don't pay, the banks might easily repossess your vehicle.

Struggling to start

If you hear a whirring noise when starting your car, Lakeview Automotive is your auto mechanic in Calgary to quickly test your battery for its longevity and health. Putting this off for too long isn't a good idea. You don’t want to get stranded with a battery that suddenly goes silent because then you will have to spend money on being towed, plus the extra cost of getting your battery replaced. 

Groaning steering wheel

If your steering wheel is making a groaning sound and it feels harder to turn and move, there is some friction in your power-steering pump. As this could be a safety issue, bring it by Lakeview Automotive to be inspected because you do not want your power-steering to suddenly break. If however, you hear squeak sounds when you turn the steering wheel, that’s a sign to check your power-steering fluid levels. If adding fluid doesn’t get rid of the squeaking sound, it may be a sign that you have a leak somewhere in your power-steering lines. 

Anytime your car is making noises that seem out of tune, give us a call to schedule in a time to check things out so we can correct things before they get worse. Lakeview Automotive is your mechanic shop in Calgary for all your Ford or Subaru needs. Though we specialize in Ford’s and Subaru’s, we are Calgary’s auto repair shop for all makes and models .