Welcome back to Part 2 – Using your sense of touch and feel.
Let’s set the scene: You are running late already, and really need to leave. The last thing you’re thinking about is your vehicle giving you issues. Of course, we rely daily on our vehicles to get us where we need to be.
Either there weren’t any warning signs or we didn’t notice them. Maybe there were signs and we weren’t aware of what to look out for or notice.
Most of the time we don’t need to know what is going on underneath the hood, but when something goes wrong we may begin to wish we knew a little bit more about the mechanics of it all.
We know that very few car owners are expert diagnosticians and often we don’t even know which service you need to book for your vehicle besides oil and tire changes until we show up and take a deeper look.
With Toronto Mobile Mechanics you don’t ever have to worry about knowing what issue your vehicle is suffering from but none the less we believe it is important to educate you so you can be empowered to understand more about your vehicle.
There’s a lot you can determine based on what you see, smell, hear, and feel. Once you’ve identified the sense your issue applies to, focus on the qualities of each sensation. For example, if there’s an odd feeling to your car, think about if it’s vibrating or if it’s pulling to one side.
In Part 2 of our guide, here is what your sense of touch and feel can tell you. Keep an eye out for Part 3 (Hear).
| Using Your Sense of Touch to Diagnose Issues With Your Car | |
|---|---|
| Feels Like | What It Could Mean |
| Air is not coming out of vents | Blown fuse Bad relay Damaged blower motor Malfunctioning blower resistor Clogged air intake Broken hose |
| Brake pedal is hard to push | Bad brake booster Vacuum hose is leaking Brake booster check valve malfunction Failing or incorrect brake component Clogged proportioning valve |
| Brake pedal is lower than usual | Air in the hydraulic system Leaking brake lines Leak in master cylinder Rear brakes need adjusting Warped brake rotors |
| Brakes need to be pumped | Air in brake lines Low brake fluid Failing master cylinder Moisture in brake fluid Damaged/missing bleeder valve Warped brake rotors |
| Brake pedal vibrates or shakes | Warped brake rotors Failing wheel bearings Loose lug nuts Wheels out of alignment |
| Car has bouncy and unstable ride | Damaged struts, broken strut assembly, or shock absorbers Poorly lubricated suspension Incorrect tire inflation Bulging or worn tires |
| Car has excessive body roll | Loose or worn suspension Shocks need replacing Worn tires Damaged stabilizer bar or stabilizer bar link Modifications to the vehicle |
| Car is hard to shift | Leaking transmission fluid Failing transmission solenoids Contaminated transmission fluid Failing transmission Bad shifter cable Worn clutch |
| Car is hesitating and bucking | Misfiring cylinder(s) Clogged fuel filter Failing fuel pump Failed oxygen sensor Clogged EGR valve Worn spark plugs and wires |
| Car jerks forward at high speeds | Failing mass airflow sensor Leaking engine vacuum line Malfunctioning fuel pump Misfiring cylinder(s) |
| Car is leaning to one side | Struts or shock absorbers are stuck Broken or bent suspension component Twisted chassis Differently sized tires |
| Car pulls to left or right while braking |
Uneven tire pressure Brake system problems Worn suspension components |
| Car pulls in one direction while driving |
Uneven tire pressure Wheels out of alignment Brake system problems Bad wheel bearing Worn suspension components Worn steering linkage Torque steer (this can be normal on some front-wheel drive cars) |
| Car is shaking or vibrating | Problems with tires Engine misfiring Warped brake rotors Worn engine mounts Suspension problems |
| Car or steering wheel shakes when braking |
Warped or uneven rotors Rotor run-out |
| Car shudders when turning | Low power steering fluid Failing power steering pump Kinked or blocked power steering line Failing wheel bearing Failing differential |
| Car vibrates going uphill | Damaged CV axles or joints Failing U-joint Low/contaminated differential fluid Engine misfiring |
| Clutch pedal inoperative | Broken clutch cable Missing connector rod Low clutch fluid Failed clutch master cylinder Failed slave cylinder |
| Engine is shaking, pulsating, or vibrating |
Worn spark plugs and wires Loose or disconnected engine hoses Loose battery terminal connections Dirty or clogged air filters Loose timing belts |
| Excessive car bounce and sway | Wheels need alignment Excessive/uneven wear on tires Loose steering linkage Damaged or weak struts or shocks Damaged suspension component |
| Seat shakes or vibrates | Seat is not fully secured to vehicle Worn out suspension parts Warped brake discs Failing brake drums Imbalanced wheels |
| Steering wheel feels loose | Worn tie rods Worn pitman or idler arm Worn ball joint Loose suspension component |
| Steering wheel is hard to turn | Low power steering fluid Weak or damaged power steering pump Damaged power steering belt Damaged steering rack Low tire pressure |
| Steering wheel vibrates or shakes | Imbalanced wheels Loose lug nuts Failing wheel bearings Worn tires Warped brake rotors |
Remember, no matter what – we are here to help! Contact us anytime at: 647-299-6077 or at[email protected]
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