Engine Clunking and Bad Vibrations

Most car owners are not aware of how important preventive maintenance is for their vehicles. When you regularly bring your car to an auto mechanic for tune-ups and inspections, you are taking time and effort to put toward an investment. We typically don’t realize how vital it is to have a working vehicle until we are forced to be without one due to engine issues. Car maintenance is part of the cost of owning a vehicle, and if the time and effort is not taken to maintain, then repairs can become costly when things go wrong. However sometimes, despite diligent ownership, things go wrong anyway. In these instances, it is best that you immediately bring your car to an auto mechanic for diagnosis and repair—things will only get worse if you don’t.

Engine vibration means serious problems

When things go wrong with your car’s engine, sometimes issues can be detected early on by slight changes in the way your car idles, accelerates, or decelerates. Unfortunately, the slighter signs of engine problems are not always easy to detect. You may notice a slight vibration one day, and the next your car is buzzing loudly in the driveway. At the sign of any vibration that is more intense than usual you should bring your car to a mechanic, because engine vibration could mean more serious problems down the line.

Find a trustworthy mechanic

Engine clunking may follow intense vibration after a period of time. Engine clunking, as you may imagine, is never a good sign; something may be loose in your engine and causing serious damage. Clunking, or knocking, is usually associated with cracked or defective engine mounts. Engine mounts are vital to the security of the engine; they hold it in place and keep it from vibrating or moving into other important parts under the hood. It is reasonable to assume that if your engine is vibrating or clunking, the engine mounts may need to be replaced. Unfortunately engine mounts are not cheap, which is why finding a trustworthy mechanic is important in this case.

Try to locate the exact source of clunking

Besides the motor mounts as a possible culprit, a clunking noise may indicate that there is an issue with the wheel bearings, transmission, or exhaust. That is why it is important that you first locate the exact source of the clunking noise. Because many car owners omit preventive maintenance, it is also possible that there is more than one issue happening at the same time with your vehicle. You see, all of the pieces of a car are connected in some fashion; when an issue with one part goes overlooked for a period of time, it can cause a chain reaction of issues that may not only put you in harm’s way while on the road, but it will become a more costly expense the longer the problem goes unaddressed.

Cause of clunking noise varies

Engine noise can be alarming, and the cause of the problem may range in severity that doesn’t necessarily match the sound that you hear when you drive. Finding the right mechanic is crucial in order to extend the life of your vehicle; you should find a mechanic with excellent reviews and a long history of experience in the field. A knowledgeable auto specialist will be able to help guide you as to what ways you can best take care of your vehicle without spending unnecessary funds to do so. Besides finding a good mechanic, it is also important to know what you can do yourself to prevent having to deal with issues like engine failure.

 

Preventive maintenance is imperative

First, it is vital to stay on top of your scheduled maintenance for your vehicle; usually this is designated in the manual for your specific car. Second, remain vigilant of the fluid levels for your car; when fluids like coolant are low, it can cause your engine to overheat leaving you stranded. Third, regularly check your tire pressure—especially before and after long drives; this will help you stay aware of your tire health. Fourth, monitor your gas mileage; if you notice a significant difference, this may indicate something is wrong with the vehicle. The bottom line is, you can only do so much to prevent car trouble; however, if you have a trusted auto specialist on your side, you can increase your chances.