TROUBLESHOOTING WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE
Smartphone can record noises for diagnosis
The top reasons for repeat repairs are check-engine lights and noises. While few can fault customers for bringing their ride back to the shop when the “check engine” light illuminates again, unsuccessful repairs based on noise have a lot to do with how accurately the problem was described, and how well it was understood by technicians in the first place.
When describing any type of vehicle noise, no matter how well you imitate it, is all about context. Whatever is happening to your ride when the noise occurs is as important, if not more so, as the noise itself. You have to provide as much detail as possible, such as speed, road and weather conditions, whether your car is loaded with passengers or cargo, plus whether or not you’re turning, braking or accelerating, etc.
Of course, one of the key points is to pinpoint where the noise seems to be coming from. The largest source of confusion between shops and customers comes from incorrectly communicating whether it’s a noise that can be heard or a vibration that is felt.
Then there’s the challenge of describing the noise. Was it a grind or a groan? A clunk or a thud? Squeal or squawk? Rap or bang? You get the idea.
Even if you get all of it bang on, you still have to rely on your counter consultant passing along this info correctly to technicians. You can always ask for a road test with the tech before any diagnostics or repairs start, but as a rule, most shops won’t offer or consider that until at least one repair attempt has been made.
Fortunately, the answer to all of this may have been in your pocket all along. It’s amazing that with the number of us carrying around a smartphone, more drivers don’t take advantage when dealing with mysterious noises. You can easily record the offensive sound and dictate a few details, such as speed and conditions, then have your tech review it if anyone is stumped as to exactly what the noise could be.
This trick can be especially invaluable if it’s an intermittent noise. You can pop the hood for a close-up recording of any unusual engine sound, or move the phone around inside the vehicle (with a passenger’s help) to pinpoint the source.