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Pete Candela answers an
automotive question for one of our AAA members.
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>Questions for Pete
Do you have an automotive question? What's that ping? Why is my car shaking when I drive over 50 mph? What should I do if flood waters start flowing into my car?
Just Ask Pete! Pete Candela is AAA's auto expert and he's here to answer any question about your car. As an ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified master technician with over 20 years of experience, Pete's seen it all. No question is too mundane or unusual. Just as this question he recently received demonstrates:
"How do I prepare my car for a nuclear disaster?"
Pete answered this one, along with hundreds of others he's received from this column, formerly known as "Ask the Auto Expert," and online at aaa.com/auto. In addition to answering members' questions, Pete also oversees AAA's Approved Auto Repair facilities that have met and maintained AAA's tough performance standards while providing reliable and courteous service. As a AAA member, using one of these facilities guarantees quality service.
Pete also oversees Tech Central, which works with Emergency Road Service drivers to help members get "On the Go" rather than just providing a tow. These on-staff experts have an enormous supply of repair and automotive information at their fingertips on virtually every make and model of vehicle on the road.
What's Pete's best piece of advice? Don't be intimidated into approving repair services if you're not comfortable with the technicians or the price. You should have a relationship with your service technician, just as you would with your doctor. Don't be afraid to get a second opinion.
Sometimes people are panicky when their cars are torn apart and think, "Well, I guess I have no choice but to go ahead with the repairs."
If you feel uncomfortable or that you may be getting ripped off, call AAA and have your car towed to another facility. Pete's here to help.
Ask Pete
 By Pete Candela
Pete,
I have a "hissing" sound noticeable at the front driver's side tire after shutting the engine off.
It lasts about two minutes and then goes away.
Is this normal, or do I need to have it checked? —James Mauk
What you may be hearing is the pressure in the air conditioning system equalizing after the vehicle is turned off. When you use your A/C, the system is broken down into two "sides": the high side and the low side. When operating, the low side pressure usually runs around 45-60 PSI, and the high side will run around 200-230 PSI. When you turn the system off, both sides equalize in pressure and settle around 100 PSI. The sound is probably the Freon flowing through the system.
Drive your vehicle around the block with the air conditioner off. If you don't hear the noise, you have narrowed it down to a normal occurrence.
Pete,
Why is my car shaking when I go over 50 mph? —D. Musmacher
The most common causes for vibrations are tire balance and/or overall tire condition. Don't rule out worn suspension or driveline components. A general rule of thumb is if you feel the vibration mostly in the steering wheel, then it is coming from the front tires or suspension components. If you mostly feel the vibration in the seat or floor board, the vibration usually comes from the rear tires or driveline. The best way to know for sure is to have a qualified technician formally inspect and diagnose your vehicle.
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