Car diagnostic and repair thread

[Moliere]

I think you want that to judge me, not to diagnose my car issues!

Acura TSX

Flame away!!

Leather seats?

[old_gregg]

Tried turning it off, but only for a couple of minutes. When I turned it back on, it was no better. I'll experiment more tomorrow.

how hot has it been? compressor could be overheating and kicking off if not enough air flow from the radiator fan

[Clark Addison]

Leather seats?

You can't get an Aura with cloth seats.

how hot has it been? compressor could be overheating and kicking off if not enough air flow from the radiator fan

95 degrees today (I picked it up at 3:30). We'll see if it works in the cool of the morning.

[old_gregg]

could also be the compressor clutch

[Moliere]

You can't get an Aura with cloth seats

I bet it is the compressor.

[falafel]

My car has two issues that I've recently come to believe may be interconnected. I'm not a mechanic by any means, so be gentle.

The first issue is that the front springs have been very creaky. They are very loud and I hear them on every curb or ditch. I've had the car worked on several times in the last year or two since I've noticed it (not specifically for that issue), but no one has ever mentioned anything like "hey you need to get this fixed." Recently it got very pronounced and loud.

The second is that I have a small but persistent oil leak. I have had this looked at an supposedly fixed twice, but still leaking. I got a warning notification that I was running low on oil and need to add a quart, so I did. I noticed within a few days of doing that, the creaking from the springs has virtually disappeared. I know its not a stretch to say that something creaky could use some oil, but I never considered that these two things might be connected.

So, the question is, are they connected? Or is this some coincidence? I need to get the dumb oil leak fixed one way or another.

[creekster]

My car has two issues that I've recently come to believe may be interconnected. I'm not a mechanic by any means, so be gentle.

The first issue is that the front springs have been very creaky. They are very loud and I hear them on every curb or ditch. I've had the car worked on several times in the last year or two since I've noticed it (not specifically for that issue), but no one has ever mentioned anything like "hey you need to get this fixed." Recently it got very pronounced and loud.

The second is that I have a small but persistent oil leak. I have had this looked at an supposedly fixed twice, but still leaking. I got a warning notification that I was running low on oil and need to add a quart, so I did. I noticed within a few days of doing that, the creaking from the springs has virtually disappeared. I know its not a stretch to say that something creaky could use some oil, but I never considered that these two things might be connected.

So, the question is, are they connected? Or is this some coincidence? I need to get the dumb oil leak fixed one way or another.

I'm not a mechanic but the odds of these being related are about zero.

ALso, your car doesnt likely even have springs, at least not like cars used to. How old is the car? What Make?

[falafel]

I'm not a mechanic but the odds of these being related are about zero.

ALso, your car doesnt likely even have springs, at least not like cars used to. How old is the car? What Make?

Okay, well, whatever replaces springs then. 2010 Audi A4. 75k miles.

I agree that it doesn't make sense that they would be related, but the timing is very strange. Basically the front end has been very creaky for months and then I add 1 quart of oil and BAM! its gone.

[creekster]

Okay, well, whatever replaces springs then. 2010 Audi A4. 75k miles.

I agree that it doesn't make sense that they would be related, but the timing is very strange. Basically the front end has been very creaky for months and then I add 1 quart of oil and BAM! its gone.

WHy did you think it was creaky in your springs? Did you only hear it on bumps> did you feel it in the steering? Did you ntice it when braking?

It just isnt related to oil. Oil lubricates the interior surfaces of the engine. The only possible effect it owuld have on a creaky suspension is from its weight and a quart of oil isnt much more than your lunch, although it is a little farther forward.

[Shaka]

Okay, well, whatever replaces springs then. 2010 Audi A4. 75k miles.

I agree that it doesn't make sense that they would be related, but the timing is very strange. Basically the front end has been very creaky for months and then I add 1 quart of oil and BAM! its gone.

You might have a broken spring or two. Get it checked out.

[creekster]

You might have a broken spring or two. Get it checked out.

or an engine mount; or a brake issue; it could be alot of things, depending on when and how he was hearing it.

[falafel]

WHy did you think it was creaky in your springs? Did you only hear it on bumps> did you feel it in the steering? Did you ntice it when braking?

It just isnt related to oil. Oil lubricates the interior surfaces of the engine. The only possible effect it owuld have on a creaky suspension is from its weight and a quart of oil isnt much more than your lunch, although it is a little farther forward.

I only heard it. I haven't noticed any significant effect on driving. Its not there during braking. Really it only shows up when driving slowly over bumps. Like driving over the curb in my driveway.

[Shaka]

or an engine mount; or a brake issue; it could be alot of things, depending on when and how he was hearing it.

I assumed that it occured when his suspension was engaged. You're right, it could also be either of those with extra weight being given to the motor mount.

[creekster]

I only heard it. I haven't noticed any significant effect on driving. Its not there during braking. Really it only shows up when driving slowly over bumps. Like driving over the curb in my driveway.

probably a suspension issue in your strut. Might be an engine mount, but my guess is it isnt. Again, I am not a mechanic.

[falafel]

probably a suspension issue in your strut. Might be an engine mount, but my guess is it isnt. Again, I am not a mechanic.

Thanks. So does everyone think the oil is purely coincidental?