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When is it unsafe to drive your vehicle?

In Inspection, Safety by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Safety is top of mind as our shop services vehicles. Whether our technicians are performing maintenance or taking care of needed repairs, we want to make sure customers are driving off in a safe car.

Sometimes, when vehicles are brought in or as we’re inspecting them, we find that they are unsafe to use.

How do I know when my car is unsafe to drive?

A reliable auto repair shop will be able to tell you during a visit if your car is unsafe to drive. But you may be out and about and have some concerns.

Here are some situations that would impact a car’s safety:

  • Defroster not working
  • Flashing check engine light
  • Fluids low or leaking
  • Lights out
  • Low brakes
  • Low tire tread
  • Mirrors missing
  • Seat belt issues
  • Secondary rubber or chords showing
  • Steering and suspension problems
  • Tire belt separating

Defroster not working: To maintain visibility, the defroster needs to be working properly.

Check engine light on Ford F-150.

Check engine light on Ford F-150

Flashing check engine light: You should avoid driving a vehicle if the check engine light is flashing, because it can mean that there’s an engine problem. Ignoring this issue may lead to catalytic converter damage.

Fluids low or leaking: Brake fluid and power steering fluids are your two main safety fluids. It’s important that they aren’t low or beyond their usable life.

Lights out: Are there problems with any of the lights? This includes headlights, brake lights, and turn signals.

Empty brake fluid reservoir.

Empty brake fluid reservoir

Low brakes: When inspecting vehicles, our technicians make sure the brake pads aren’t getting too low and the brake rotors are thick enough.

Low tire tread: The tread depth will determine how much traction the tire has. It needs to have at least 2/32 of an inch to pass the Virginia State Inspection, but some manufacturers might recommend replacing them sooner.

Mirrors missing: Another item we check is the review mirror to confirm that it isn’t missing.

Seat belt issues: Frayed and missing seat belts are also a safety concern.

Secondary rubber or steel chords showing: If a tire isn’t replaced when the secondary rubber or steel cords are showing, the tire could blow out.

Steering and suspension problems: You will want to make sure the steering and suspension components aren’t missing or damaged. Some examples include ball joints, tie rod ends and control arms.

Tire belt separating: Belts are another part of the tire we keep an eye on. We worked on a Ford F-150 that wasn’t safe to drive because the belt was separating on one of the tires. The technician wasn’t able to take it on a test drive because of the tire, which needed to be changed.

Playing it safe

These items are just some safety issues we may run into at the shop.

A lot of them are checked during the Virginia Safety Inspection. They are included in our courtesy inspection, as well.

Problems can also crop up in your daily life.

If you’re driving or about to get behind the wheel and you aren’t sure if your vehicle is safe to drive, reach out to an auto repair shop for an expert’s opinion.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Manassas, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Why do I hear a clanking sound?

In Diagnostics by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

When you hear a sound while driving that seems out of the ordinary, it can be a bit concerning. You may wonder if the noise indicates a major problem.

A clanking sound is one sign that you may notice. It might crop up when items have become worn, loose or broken.

The symptom could mean that a part needs to be tightened or replaced. Sometimes, we catch these problems during our courtesy inspections. But they could also emerge between maintenance services.

Clanking sound causes

What can create a clanking noise? It might stem from different areas on your car, including the suspension system and braking components. 

Here are some potential causes:

  • Spring isolators
  • Brake caliper brackets
  • U-joints
  • Sway bar end links
  • Coil springs
  • Brake hardware
  • Strut mounts
Coil spring with spring isolators.

Coil spring with spring isolators

You may hear a clanking sound if the spring isolators are missing. The isolators, which are between the strut and strut mount, keep the coil spring from moving.

This noise can also be a sign of loose brake parts, such as brake hardware or caliper brackets. Other possible culprits behind clanking include broken sway bar links and broken springs.

The vehicle could have bad u-joints or worn strut mounts, as well.

These components may also make other sounds.

For example, a rattling noise was heard on a Ford Escape. It was caused by a broken sway bar end link.

Brake problems can result in a variety of sounds, including groaning, grinding, squealing and rattling.

Meanwhile, coil springs could rust and break, creating a clunking noise.

Figuring out the problem

Ford Escape sway bar end link broken.

Ford Escape sway bar end link broken

When it comes to car noises, making a few observations can go a long way. If you hear a clanking sound, consider when it occurs. 

Are you noticing it as you’re moving forward? Is the noise more prevalent when you back up? Will it pop up while turning or hitting bumps in the road? Does the sound appear as you touch the brake pedal?

The information you gather can speed up the diagnostic testing by helping automotive technicians narrow down their search.

Our noise diagnostics process involves visual inspections, test drives, and attempting to recreate the sound.

Your auto repair shop might also recommend that you go on a ride with an automotive professional so you can point out the sound as it occurs.

Getting help from an expert

There are a number of possible reasons why a clanking sound can be heard on a vehicle.

Determining the exact cause will require help from an automotive expert.

If you notice a clanking noise (or any other sound), schedule an appointment with an autoshop you trust. 

Because the sound could be telling you that something is wrong with a part, you will want to have it checked out early on.

Addressing the problem as soon as you notice it may prevent it from getting worse.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Lake Ridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Where do coolant leaks occur?

In Cooling System by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

If you’ve had your car for a while, it’s possible that various systems will eventually start to leak.

An important one to maintain and keep an eye on is your cooling system. The cooling system helps control the engine’s temperature, preventing it from overheating.

How does it do this?

This system has a thermostat, which opens and closes based on how hot the engine block is.

There’s also a water pump that sends coolant to the radiator when the thermostat opens. Then, the coolant moves on to the heater core and engine block.

Signs of a coolant leak

BMW coolant reservoir leaking from the side.

BMW coolant reservoir leaking from the side

Coolant leaks can crop up from time to time. Because coolant helps the engine run at a safe temperature, it’s important to address leaks sooner rather than later.

How can you tell when your car has a coolant leak?

The engine could start overheating, which can be indicated by the engine temperature light turning on.

If you or a mechanic who’s working on your car check the fluid levels, it may be low on coolant.

You might also notice coolant leaking. Coolant comes in several colors – yellow, orange, red, pink, and green. Typically, you would see coolant coming from the front center of your car. However, leaks could be found in other areas or can be hidden behind components.

Coolant leak sources

Corrosion buildup, impacts and rust are some causes of coolant leaks.

Leaks can spring up when various parts fail, too.

Some common areas include:

  • Bypass hoses
  • Heater core inlets and outlets
  • Heater hoses
  • Radiator
  • Radiator hoses
  • Thermostat
  • Thermostat housing
  • Water pump
Coolant leaking on Ford F-150.

Coolant leaking on Ford F-150

Leaks could occur at the heater hose connectors if they break.

The end caps, transmission coolers and oil coolers can be leak spots on radiators.

Sometimes, clamps weaken and radiator hoses start to crack due to age and heat.

Inlets and outlets have gaskets and seals that might leak. Plastic pieces can crack, as well.

For water pumps, cracks may form, or a seal or gasket can go bad.

Finding the source of coolant leaks

With the way a lot of these cars are designed, you will have smaller coolant hoses going to different parts of the engine, intake manifold, turbos and super chargers.

Some newer vehicles have lots of coolant hoses instead of just one inlet and one outlet like older ones. As a result, there are many places for coolant to leak. 

It can be tough trying to find leaks because the hoses can run underneath the intake manifolds and aren’t easy to see. 

The process for locating a coolant leak will depend on whether we see a leak on the outside or if it’s an internal issue.

Our automotive technicians start by inspecting the vehicle. Then, they perform a coolant pressure test. We can encourage outside leaks to appear by using twice or three times as much pressure than is typical for the cooling system.

For internal leaks, we will want to conduct a test to determine if coolant is going into other places. Some of these tests are the hydrocarbon test and block test.

Taking care of this system and resolving any problems can protect components and prevent potential breakdowns.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Dale City, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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ABS light and possible problems behind it

In Diagnostics by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Is there a light on your car’s dashboard that says “ABS” with a circle around it? This is your ABS light and if it turns on, there could be a problem with your anti-lock braking system (ABS).

The ABS runs as drivers step on the gas, press the brake pedal, and turn. There are wheel sensors that determine how quickly it’s moving by monitoring the high points of tone rings.

Information is collected by a computer and goes to the power control module (PCM) or engine control module (ECM).

If a tire is traveling slower than the rest, brake fluid is sent to it by a modulator valve. This ensures that the wheel won’t lock up and drivers are able to maintain control.

Reasons why the ABS light comes on

Computer problems: Any computer problems are usually going to be associated with the ABS control module.

Malfunctions with another system: Issues connected with different systems can trigger the light, too. This includes the traction control system.

Bad battery: An ABS light may link back to battery problems.

Tone ring: The tone ring is another potential cause. This component might break off or become damaged. 

Braking: If your brakes lock up or you press the brakes really hard, sometimes the warning light comes on as the ABS is going through its function.

ABS wheel speed sensor.

ABS wheel speed sensor

Bad ABS wheel speed sensor: The ABS wheel speed sensor might malfunction or not read correctly. A GMC Terrain and BMW 3-Series had wheel sensors that needed to be replaced. In both cases, the ABS light was turning on intermittently.

Other sensor issues: Other culprits include a chafed or broken wire, or corroded sensor. The end of an ABS sensor is basically magnetic and reads like a gear that’s at the end of an axle shaft, per se. It might have trouble seeing it or too much rust could have built up.

Body control module: It’s possible that something is going on with the body control module (BCM).

ABS diagnostics

How do our technicians perform diagnostic testing for the ABS light? This process involves a number of steps.

We will want to make sure there aren’t any battery problems, such as a weak battery or issues with the terminals.

A scan tool is used to check for codes. There can be codes related to the ABS, wheel speed sensors or ABS control module. The specific code number may vary among manufacturers.

What we do next will depend on the codes that appear and any other issues we find.

The ABS setup could look differently for each vehicle. 

Typically, the wheel speed sensor is going to have a harness connected to it and a connector that’s already there. On the other side of that harness, if there’s damage that goes into the engine compartment, that connector may need to be replaced.

You have 2-wheel and 4-wheel ABS. Pickup trucks might have an ABS sensor in the center of the differential versus one on each side of the wheel.

With the many problems that can lead to an ABS light and the different parts that make up this system, it’s best to rely on a trustworthy automotive expert if this warning light turns on.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Lake Ridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Windshield wiper problems and what can cause them

In Windshield Wipers by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

During pollen season, when thunderstorms hit, or if we hit a lot of bugs on road trips, having a clear windshield and functional windshield wipers is necessary.

There may come a time, however, when you notice your wipers aren’t working correctly. 

They might leave streaks or not swipe across your windshield at all. Maybe the sprayers don’t release any washer fluid.

As we perform a Virginia State Inspection, we keep an eye out for cracks in the windshield. Inspectors look at any tinting and letters, as well.

Other issues our technicians are watchful of include torn windshield wiper blades and malfunctioning defrosters.

Windshield wiper problems

Windshield wipers

Windshield wipers that are due for replacement can create smudges. Dirt, oil and other substances that spray up from the road may also impact their effectiveness.

You might also notice that the wiper blades aren’t going back and forth, which could occur for quite a few reasons.

It may be that the motor is bad or a fuse has blown. Other possibilities include problems with the switch control on the steering wheel and a broken linkage, which is under the cowling at the bottom of the windshield. On newer cars, a control module can be the culprit.

Windshield sprayers

The sprayers might stop working or not spray correctly. 

If the windshield washer fluid isn’t hitting the windshield at all, there could be something wrong with a control switch inside the car, a bad electric motor or pump, or a broken hose.

T-connection to windshield washer nozzle.

T-connection to windshield washer nozzle

One of the windshield washer nozzles wouldn’t spray on a Dodge Caliber. We learned that the t-connection to the nozzle was broken and recommended replacing the nozzle and connection.

If the fluid isn’t coming out well, the nozzles may be clogged. You can try taking a sewing pin and poking it through the nozzle to help clear up the blockage. Sometimes, you just need to replace the nozzles.

Windshield washer fluid

During courtesy checks, we make sure the fluids are at the right level. This includes the windshield washer fluid. Low washer fluid might indicate that the windshield washer fluid reservoir is leaking. 

You’ll want the fluid to have good temperature protection, which helps keep it from freezing.

Noises associated with windshield wipers

In certain cases, it can be obvious when your car has a windshield wiper problem. 

You may schedule an appointment with an auto repair shop if you see that the nozzles aren’t spraying, the wipers won’t move, or you don’t see fluid as you go to clear the windshield.

When bringing your vehicle in for maintenance or another problem, the technician might see the windshield wipers are worn and ready to be changed.

Certain noises could also hint at windshield wiper problems. Wipers can chatter or squeak when the blades are worn out. 

Maybe they are the right size but the way the arm is designed it isn’t applying the correct amount of pressure to the windshield. 

A lot of the wiper arms the wipers connect to are spring loaded. Over the years, they lose their tension. 

So, it might look like everything is working correctly but there isn’t enough force to hold the wiper blade on the windshield and clear it without chattering.

If it’s the wiper transmission linkage assembly, you could get a clunking noise as the wipers go back and forth.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located near Dale City, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.