Anyone know a lot about auto mechanics?

[Go Blue]

I'm trying to figure out what is wromng with my car. Yesterday I had the oil changed and tires rotated. After that, I notice the car pulls to the right fairly hard. Also, I can hear what I can only descripe as a thumping that gets faster or slowere depending on the speed. Any ideas on how they screwed up my car?

[Deadset]

If it pulls to the right, you should have your alignment checked. Not sure what the thumping would be... Did you hit a curb or something?

[SDon1969]

Almost sounds like the tires are no longer balanced.

[Go Blue]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

Almost sounds like the tires are no longer balanced.

Thats what I was thinking. Would that account for the alignment and thumping?

[stockstar1138]

sounds like an alignment problem to me.

[Go Blue]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

sounds like an alignment problem to me.

The thing is that I didn't have this problem before the rotated the tires. I am going to take it back in today, but I called them yesterday and they acted like it was not their problem.

[groovyone]

Check tire pressure. It may ba as simple as that.

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by schultz

Thats what I was thinking. Would that account for the alignment and thumping?

I mentioned that because of the thumping, an out-of-balance tire does thump and you can definitely feel it on the road, and it gets worse the faster you go sometimes. As for it causing the car to feel out of alignment, that's tricky, I'm not really sure if it would do that or not.

[dereksworl]

Anybody have any idea what could be wrong if your running lights(not your brake lights, but the rear lights that stay on when its dark) stay on even after the car is turned off. I actually have to take the fuse out for them to turn off. I thought it was the light sensor, so i took it apart and cleaned it but still nothing. I'm thinking its a bad ground somewhere or something. anyone?

[cravnsn]

The other thing that may have happened is that your tires wore unevenly in their old positions, and when they were rotated, any flat spots that had developed were more pronounced then before. I would have the tires checked for uneven wear & balance. If not there, then have the alignment checked.

Craig

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by cravnsn

The other thing that may have happened is that your tires wore unevenly in their old positions, and when they were rotated, any flat spots that had developed were more pronounced then before. I would have the tires checked for uneven wear & balance. If not there, then have the alignment checked.

Craig

you can also check them yourself with the penny test or just a micrometer.

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by cravnsn

I would have the tires checked for uneven wear & balance.

Be sure to check if one edge of the tires is more worn that the other as well. The front tires on my Jeep and toed a little differently that the rear, thanks mostly to a crapply lift spacer setup done by the previous owner. My fronts wear on the inside edge, while the rears wear even. Rotating them created much more road noise from the front.

One of these days I'll get my new lift on it.

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by dereksworl

Anybody have any idea what could be wrong if your running lights(not your brake lights, but the rear lights that stay on why its dark) stay on even after the car is turned off. I actually have to take the fuse out for them to turn off. I thought it was the light sensor, so i took it apart and cleaned it but still nothing. I'm thinking its a bad ground somewhere or something. anyone?

What model car?

[dereksworl]

Originally Posted by groovyone

What model car?

'98 Oldsmobile Intrigue. I've been told they tend to have a lot of electrical problems after a while.

[Go Blue]

Originally Posted by cravnsn

The other thing that may have happened is that your tires wore unevenly in their old positions, and when they were rotated, any flat spots that had developed were more pronounced then before. I would have the tires checked for uneven wear & balance. If not there, then have the alignment checked.

Craig

Yes, I was think of this also. If this is the case, should I leave it and let them wear down , or have them switched back?

[Go Blue]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

you can also check them yourself with the penny test or just a micrometer.

How do you do the penny test?

[cravnsn]

The penny test (actually now the recommendation is a quarter) is only to check tread depth. You put a quarter in the tread (inside, middle & outside edge) upside down. If the tread covers the top part of George’s head, you’re good. It’s a general indicator to see if you have enough usable tread. To check for flat spots, you would have to use a depth gage, and go over the entire surface. Something best left to a tire shop.

If they are wearing unevenly, you need to find the underlying cause and fix that. Leaving them as is or switching them back is only a temporary fix, and will still result in uneven wear.

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by schultz

How do you do the penny test?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=51

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=51

thanks beat me to it

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by dereksworl

'98 Oldsmobile Intrigue. I've been told they tend to have a lot of electrical problems after a while.

Yeah. I am more a mechanical than electric guy. I'd try checking the lighting relays, but beyond that I'd be calling a friend for help.