Why Does My Car Shake When I Brake?

Why Does My Car Shake When I Brake?

• The most common reason for a car to shake is because of tires.  If the tires are out of balance, then the steering wheel can shake.

  

• Sometimes brake rotors can be the cause of shaking, caused by brake rotors being "out of round." 

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  Another problem that can cause shaking is when a brake caliper sticks on.  The vibrating will get very bad the faster you go, and you will also smell a burning odor when you stop.
  
  

  

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Why Is My Car Overheating?

It's not fun when your Vehicle Overheats, and you may be wondering, "Why is my Car Overheating?" There are a few common reasons why your Vehicle can Overheat. One important thing to keep in mind is that the best thing to do if your Car Overheats, is to let it cool off! Pull over if needed. Driving "In the Red Zone" can do serious damage to your vehicle. Here are common reasons of Overheating:

• Stuck Thermostat. The Thermostat regulates your engine temperature. Sometimes the Thermostat can get stuck closed, which restricts Coolant flow.
• Low Engine Coolant Level. An Engine Coolant line or seal leak decreases the Coolant level in the system. If the Coolant Level is too low, it prevents proper cooling.
• Water Pump failure.  If the Water Pump fails, then it can't circulate the engine coolant to remove excessive heat.
• Radiator Restriction. If Coolant / Antifreeze can’t flow through your radiator, the heat gets trapped in the engine.
• Restricted Heater Core. If the heater core gets restricted, coolant flow is also restricted.
• Blown Head Gasket. A Blown Head Gasket can be the cause or the result of car overheating issues. 

Keeping up on your Vehicle's Maintenance can prevent Overheating issues. The ASE Certified Mechanics at My Auto Works will do a complimentary ProTech check each time you are in. The ProTech Check will help spot some of these problems, and help avoid costly repairs.

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Why Does My Car Squeal When I Start it up?

You may be wondering, Why Does My Car Squeal When I Start it up? There are several reasons it could be Squealing, but the usual cause is your vehicle's Belts. If the Belts are Worn or Cracked, they can Slip, which makes a Squealing or Screeching Noise. If the car (and Belt) is cold and/or dew covered, slippage is more of a problem until the rubber warms up and the belt fits tighter on the pulleys. It's best to get your car inspected frequently (at each oil change is best!) to prevent belts wearing and possibly breaking. At My Auto Works in Woodland, we do a free Pro Tech Check with every vehicle to make sure your car stays in top shape and make you aware of any safety concerns.

Why Is My Engine Running Rough?

 You may be wondering, "Why is my Engine Running Rough?" One common reason is that the Air Filter is Dirty and Plugged Up. When the Air Filter is Dirty, Air is restricted through the Filter. The decrease in air causes the Engine to run Rich or Rough, meaning there is too much Fuel going through with not enough air mixed in. Checking the Air Filter at regular oil intervals is important to keep your Engine at peak performance. At My Auto Works, we inspect the air filter as part of our free Pro Tech Check on most vehicles.   

The Air Filter on the Left is used, On the Right is a New Filter

Why Do My Brakes Grind?

“Why do my brakes grind” is a common problem that we hear. Grinding Brakes could be caused by several things that are best checked out by a Certified Mechanic in case it’s a serious issue. Grinding Brakes could be from Worn out Brake Pads, when the metal from the Brake Pad is rubbing against the metal Brake Rotor. In that case, the Brake Pads should be replaced, and possibly the Brake Rotors as well. Brakes could Grind due to debris that is trapped in-between the Brake Rotor and the Brake Pad. Brake Grinding Noise could also be due to poor quality Brake Pads. Broken Shims are another causing factor in Brake Grind problems. The ASE Certified Technicians at My Auto Works would be happy to determine whether it’s a minor or major brake problem.

Why is my Battery Light on in my Car?

Why is my Battery Light on in my Car?

Battery Clamps

If you notice the Battery Light is on in your car, you may be wondering why. There are several reasons why the Battery Indicator Light is on. The most common reason could be that the Starting and/or Charging System is not performing correctly. It could also be Electrical Wiring problems, Bad Battery Cables or Connectors, or a Bad Battery. It is important to get a Starting and Charging System Inspection to determine the issue. Many of the newer vehicles have Critical Safety Components that are powered by the Battery and Charging System (such as ABS, Traction Control, Electric Power Steering) that will not work if the Battery System Fails. If you have any questions or need your Battery and Charging System Tested, call us at one of our two My Auto Works’ locations and we’d be happy to help.

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Why is my Car Shaking?

There are a number of reasons why your Car might Shake.

• The most common reason for a car to shake is because of tires.  If the tires are out of balance then the steering wheel can shake. This shaking starts at around 50-55 mph.  It gets worse around 60 mph but starts to get better at high speeds.

• Sometimes brake rotors can be the cause of shaking.  If your steering wheel shakes while you are braking, then the problem could be caused by brake rotors being "out of round."  This vibration can also be felt through your brake pedal.

• Another problem that can cause shaking is when a brake caliper sticks on.  When this happens you will experience a vibration through the steering wheel starting at 45 to 50 miles per hour.  It will get very bad the faster you go, and you will also smell a burning odor when you stop.

The good news is that these problems are fairly easy to fix and/or avoid altogether.

The tire problem can be avoided by purchasing good quality tires and by having all of the tires carefully inspected when your car goes in for preventative maintenance service.

The brake problem can be avoided by including brake caliper service when your brakes are due for maintenance.  This is particularly important for vehicles that have over 75,000 miles on them.  And, like your tires, have all of your brake pads inspected as part of a regularly scheduled preventive maintenance program.

If you stick to your manufacturer’s scheduled maintenance timeline, you can avoid most of these problems.  Normally, the brake and tire inspections are performed when you have an oil change. 

Tires wearing in a strange way or having a wheel that’s out of round can both be signs of what’s causing a vibration issue.  If one of the front or rear brake pads (out of four) is seen wearing more than the other, this is a sign that the brake caliper is sticking.

 At My Auto Works, we perform a Pro-Tech Check on every Vehicle that comes in our doors, helping you detect these problems early.