Those
Funny Car Sounds
As you drive your vehicle, be aware of
its operating characteristics and normal
sounds from the engine, transmission, drive
line, exhaust system and tires. Excessively loud
or abnormal sounds fall into the category
of "noises." These can be very
helpful to service technicians when diagnosing
the cause of a problem.
BOOM - Rhythms sound like a drum roll or
distant thunder. May cause pressure on
ear drum.
BUZZ - Low-pitched sound, something like
a bee. Usually associated with vibrations.
CHATTER - Rapidly-repeating metallic sound.
CHUCKLE - Rapid noise that sounds like
a stick against the spokes of a spinning
bicycle wheel.
CHIRP - High-pitched, rapidly-repeating
sound, like a chirping bird.
CLICK - Light sound, like a ball point
pen being clicked.
CLUNK/THUMP - Heavy metal-to-metal sound,
like a hammer striking steel.
GRIND - Abrasive sound, like a grinding
wheel or sandpaper rubbing against wood.
GROAN/MOAN - Continuous, low-pitched humming
sound.
GROWL/HOWL - Low, guttural sound, like
an angry dog.
HISS - Continuous - sound, like air escaping
from a balloon.
HUM - Continuous sound of varying frequencies,
like a wire humming in the wind.
KNOCK - Heavy, loud, repeating sound like
a knock on a door.
PING - Similar to knock, except at higher
frequency.
RATTLE - A sound suggesting looseness,
such as marbles rolling around in a can.
ROAR - Deep, long, prolonged sound, like
an animal, or winds and ocean waves.
RUMBLE - Low, heavy, continuous sound,
like that made by wagons or thunder.
SQUEAK - High-pitched
sound, like rubbing a clean window.
SQUEAL - Continuous, high-pitched sound,
like running finger nails across a chalkboard.
TAP - Light, hammering sound like tapping
a pencil on the edge of table. May be
rhythmic or intermittent.
WHIR/WHINE - High-pitched buzzing sound,
like an electric motor or drill.
WHISTLE - Sharp, shrill sound, like wind
passing a small opening.
GM attacks Bill Gates
At a recent computer expo, Bill Gates reportedly
compared the computer industry with the auto industry
and stated: "If GM had kept up with technology
like the computer industry has, we would all be driving
$25 cars that got 1000 miles to the gallon."
In response to Gate's comments, General Motors issued
a press release stating:
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we
would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash
twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines on the road, you would have to buy a
new car.
3. Occasionally, your car would die on the freeway for no reason, and you would
just accept this, restart and drive on.
4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your
car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall
the engine.
5. Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you bought "Car95'" or
CarNT." But then, you would have to buy more seats.
6. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, reliable, five times
as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would only run on five percent of
the roads.
7. The oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be replaced
by a single "general car fault" warning light.
8. New seats would force everyone to have the same size butt.
9. The air bag system would say, "Are you sure?" before going off.
10. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out
and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned
the key, and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
11. GM would require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe set of Rand McNally
road maps (now a GM subsidiary), even though they neither need them nor want
them. Attempting to delete this option would immediately cause the car's performance
to diminish by 50 percent, or more. Moreover, GM would become a target for
investigation by the Justice Department.
12. Every time GM introduced a new model, car buyers would have to learn how
to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same
manner as the old car.
13. You'd press the "start" button to shut off the engine.
This
is Not Your Father's Oldsmobile
Remember that slogan from the Oldsmobile commercials
of a few years ago?
What better way to say that the staid and stuffy
Oldsmobile sedan that your father used to drive
around town is now a sporty, elegant and stylish
expression
of our times. In fact, it isn't just your father's
Oldsmobile — it's Toyota, Volvo, VW, Mazda,
Chevy, Ford or Jaguar.
But what could be different? Your car still has
four tires, doesn't it? You still put the ignition
key
in the ignition cylinder and turn it in the same
direction to start the car, don't you? It starts,
stops and runs just about the same way cars and
trucks always have. So how much could have changed?
Ask anyone who repairs and services late-model
cars and trucks that question, then sit back
and relax;
you're going to get more of an answer than you
bargained for. Ask me that question and I'll
tell you just
how much that car or truck has changed over the
past 10 or 12 years and what those changes mean
to you
and your family. I'm a professional automotive
repair technician and I deal with those changes
every day.
Electronics Technology
Primarily, the changes have to do with electronics
technology throughout the entire vehicle. Since
the late 1970s and particularly through the
early 1980s,
we began to see microprocessors popping up
everywhere.
Why? Primarily it's a way for the automotive
manufacturers to meet a spiraling series of
ever more stringent
emission requirements. As the requirements
became more severe, the systems became more
sophisticated,
finally becoming the fully-integrated electronic
engine control and fuel management systems
we see today.
Today, we see electronically-controlled automatic
transmissions, electronically-controlled active
suspension, electronically-controlled climate
centers. Ignition
systems are so sophisticated that points are
no longer required, the distributor itself
is superfluous.
Anti-lock braking systems depend on these microprocessors
to prevent the wheels from locking up during
a panic stop. Similar sensors and electronic
modules
monitor
and control traction. Fuel injection and electronic
ignition operation are monitored and controlled
throughout an infinite range of possible driving
conditions.
Body control, comfort, fuel delivery and ignition
are often fully integrated by yet another computer
with its primary function of communications.
Incredible results
Smaller, lighter, more powerful cars achieve
fuel economy ratings that were inconceivable
just a
few short years ago. Engine control and fuel
management systems are adaptable enough to
compensate even
for
their own failures.
No, this isn't your father's Oldsmobile and
that's where the problems begin. These cars
and trucks
are so much more sophisticated, normal maintenance
requirements
are even more crucial. The use of sophisticated
electronic control modules, sensors and actuators,
and the cost
of replacement parts has become, in some
cases, astronomical. Because of the advent
of all
this space-age technology,
a well-educated and properly-trained technician
has never been more critical. The importance
of the proper
diagnostic tools and equipment never more
vital.
Keeping Up
The flood of technical literature is staggering.
The Society of Automotive Engineers acknowledges
the amount of technical service information
is doubling every ninety days! The 65,000
pages of technical
literature necessary to stay current and
competent fifteen years ago has mushroomed
into millions
of pages of information today. (In 1993-94,
Ford
published
over 1,000,000 pages of technical literature
for its product line alone!)
Who can be expected to keep up? Who will
diagnose, service and repair these computer-controlled
vehicles? The same people who have always
shared
those responsibilities — you
and I, the motorist and the professional
automotive technician. In order to do
that properly and intelligently,
we both have to understand and appreciate
the fact that things have changed.
So, this is not your father's Oldsmobile,
and that isn't such a bad thing. Today's
vehicles
have more
power, better fuel economy and greater
performance as a result of this incredible
technology.
It will also run better longer.
Your Father's Garage?
This isn't your father's mechanic or
garage, despite the fact that we still
care about
you and your
car as deeply as we always have. Autoworks is just
as high-tech as the cars and trucks that
we work on. We have made
the commitment to enter this new age
by dedicating ourselves to the automotive
service education necessary
to remain current. We have made the capital
investment necessary to equip our shop
properly. We are as dedicated,
as ever, to the satisfaction of your
automotive service needs.
Understand and appreciate all these
changes, and you will enjoy owning
and operating
that new car
or truck. Maintain it properly, and
the rewards will be a lower overall
cost
of operation,
less frustration
and an increased service life expectancy. |
