Answers to your car questions

QUESTION

Hi Dennis

First off, let me say that I thoroughly enjoy your column. I look forward to reading it every week in the Friday edition of the Hamilton Spectator. I have an issue with my 2012 Ford Fusion 3.0 litre AWD that I admit is probably extremely difficult to diagnose on paper (or email, as is the case) but I wondered if you have had experience with anything similar. In the last couple of weeks, I have noticed a whining noise that rises in pitch as I accelerate and levels off when I keep my speed steady. It is not overwhelmingly loud but it is noticeable. I do not hear anything until I reach 40-50 kilometres. If I accelerate on the highway to 110 kilometres, I cannot hear it anymore. I suspect that the whine doesn’t disappear at that point but only reaches a pitch where I can no longer hear it. I have had zero mechanical issues with this car for nearly 6 years that I have owned it and the odometer reads at just over 167,000 kilometres. At first I thought it was just my new snow tires humming on the pavement but the pitch does not change when I drive over different patches of asphalt, etc, as I would expect it to, if it were just the tire treads. The engine oil is clean as can be expected and is at the correct level. I checked my transmission fluid after normal driving for at least 30 kilometres and it is also at the correct level, is clean, and does not smell burnt. I did have the transmission flushed in May of 2018 (124,500 kilometres) on recommendation from my local garage as part of on-going preventive maintenance. Even though the whine does not change while going around curves/corners, I checked my power steering fluid and it also is at the correct level and clean. I cannot sense any vibration associated with the whine and the car itself operates fine. It does not lean to one side or the other or drag in any way, as I would expect it to if a wheel bearing was starting to seize plus I would think I could hear something at low speeds if it really was a wheel bearing. I’d like to think it’s just a loose guard or something that catches the wind while I’m driving but as I said, the car has treated me very well and I don’t want to wait for something bad to happen to disprove that theory. I expect the whine will drive me crazy enough to eventually take my mechanic for a drive and get his take on it. That being said, any insight you may have in the meantime would be very much appreciated.

Thank you, Glenn from Caledonia

ANSWER

There are generally three things in a vehicle that can cause a whining sound that comes and goes with acceleration and those are the transmission, power steering and/or the alternator. I have also heard of a serpentine belt causing a noise but it generally does not create a whining noise so I would not rule that out but I suspect it is not the serpentine belt. Your technician could also check the belt idler but again that generally has a growling sound and not a whining sound. Since you have checked the power steering and the transmission, I suspect that you will find that it is a bearing in the alternator that is defective and will need to be looked at very soon before it fails. Any garage with a stethoscope can very quickly tell you if you have an alternator problem.

A READERS COMMENT

On Friday morning one of the first things that my wife and I read is your column. The funny thing is that my wife started reading it first and told me that I had to start reading it! Despite being mechanically inclined and liking cars, I just never read it, as I did not really think I would get anything out of it. Well I have! Of course there is also lots of good mechanical information but I have to say that one of the main reasons that I (we) enjoy it is your writing style and use of humour and willingness to tell it like it is. I almost fell out of my chair laughing when you told “an angry Caledonian” that he needed a hug! My wife is still sleeping but I know, when I hear a hearty laugh coming from her, that she will be reading that. Anyhow keep being you and doing what you do. We really enjoy the column and it is my favourite thing in The Record!

Thanks again Don from K-Town

ANSWER

Thanks Don for your comments. It is letters like yours that keep me going. My job is to try and weed out the truth but if that truth does not fit the narrative of some of my readers, they can get very nasty and at times down right rude so your email gives me that extra boost to keep going.

QUESTION

I had the oil changed on my new Dodge van and right after the oil was changed, I smelled an oily odour on the way home from the garage. I thought nothing of it as I put it down to maybe some oil was spilled and had not been cleaned up. This went on for a few days until I opened the hood to look since the smell was getting worse. To my dismay, the engine oil was all over the engine. I took the van back to the garage and they told me that the oil spout was missing and that they would order one for me. I thought that that meant that they would also pay for the oil cap but to my surprise, when I went back later that day to pick up the van, they charged me for an engine clean plus the cost of the oil cap. I told the mechanic that they must have left it off when they did the oil change but he told me that his boss said nothing about them paying for the oil cap or the cleaning of the engine. I do not think that I should pay for the oil cap since I believe that they did leave it off when they changed the oil. What damage has all the oil done to the under hood harness? Need your help with this.

Tom from Dundas

ANSWER

I spoke to the owner of the garage and he was not aware of the fact that the oil cap was missing since his people did not say anything to him about it. He definitely agrees that the oil cap should have been replaced and the engine cleaned without there being a charge to you. He will contact you to get this worked out. Most of the oil spill, according to his technician, was around the top of the engine where there are relatively few under hood wires. After the engine has been cleaned, there should not be any damage to any of the under hood parts.

To my readers: Please indicate the town, city or village that you live in. Be advised that not all emails can be answered. Send your questions (including address) by email to: dennis.osullivan@cogeco.ca