Something very scary just happened to the gf in the car

[_Kenny_]

My girlfriend has just phoned to say she was going around a roundabout when the car started making strange noises and she said it was like she was going over speed bumps even tho there were none on the road.
She also said that the steering wheel seemed 'loose' but when she tried turning it, the car wasn't changing direction. She had to keep going round the roundabout and after a minute or two the car went back to normal.

She is ok thankfully just a bit shaken up.

Does anyone know what could be the problem? I just spent £250 on a service and MOT and have had the wheels all balanced as well. I've told her to take the car back to the garage who carried out the work as I am at work.

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[Clang]

Could be something as simple as loose wheelnuts? Ball joint maybe? Hope it's nothing expensive mate!

And if it doesn't change direction when she turns the wheel then get her to stop!!!

 

[Dan@SJM]

check the wheel nuts asap.

 

[Gareth]

ball joint wouldn't do that, would make the steering feel loose or wobbly but not shake that car like speed bumps. Would say wheels bolts most likely.

 

[White16valver]

as above, wheel nuts! Jack it up and do them as you can't do them properly on the ground.

If they are loose, be aware that the garage will just quote the "All wheelnuts must be checked after 50 miles" blurb that all the garages say!

 

[_Kenny_]

cheers guys, car is at garage now and they are checking it out. They are gonna phone me to give me an update so I will make sure they have checked all wheel nuts.

Thanks again

 

[Jonaldinho]

My steering is pretty loose just now, thats because the steering rack is fecked.

My buckled wheels were the cause of that though. Hope it is something simple mate.

 

[GarethM]

better get it checked out asap, could have been dangerous.

good job she's ok though.

 

[_Kenny_]

Yeh mate main thing is she is alright. I was driving the car last night and it was driving really well. Very strange.

 

[sh33n]

I wouldn't imagine it being wheelnuts, most garages usually gun them on!

I guess it's possible they didn't do a good job :S

 

[Weeman]

Flat tyre!!! I wouldn't put it past her being female, LOL

 

[Timmay]

thats sounds a bit dangerous IMO - hopw you get it all sorted

 

[_Kenny_]

lol @ weeman

Cheers Timmay

Garage phoned my girlfriend instead of me and said they have checked everything and driven the car and all seems fine. Have told her to get them to confirm that all wheel nuts have been checked when she picks it up. Going to check the wheels and go a drive tonight to see if anything feels wrong.

 

[DaveLiquid182]

CV joint locking up? Maybe!

 

[_Kenny_]

Thought something similar but the CV joints were replaced only 6-8 months ago. Still could be I suppose, just hope the garage have carried out a thorough check

 

[Ali]

Bloody Edinburgh drivers.

 

[_Kenny_]

Girlfriend has just been on phone again and she's not happy! The guy at the garage says an explanation could be that she entered the roundabout in 5th gear instead of 3rd which she thought she was in and the car temporarily stalled, losing the power steering in the process. She says this definitely wasn't the case and that the engine never cut out once. :S

 

[Leeshez]

Sounds bad, but it does sound like a wheel nut or two loose

 

[NOT! gary l]

as above, wheel nuts! Jack it up and do them as you can't do them properly on the ground.

If they are loose, be aware that the garage will just quote the "All wheelnuts must be checked after 50 miles" blurb that all the garages say!

hmmm, never seen anyone tighten a wheelnut to the proper torque while the wheel is off the ground

 

[White16valver]

oh, you know what I meant! :rasp:

I was meaning that if they are loose, you won't be able to pull the wheel flat to the surface while it is on the ground so you'll have to jack it up to get the wheel flat to the mounting surface, then bolt them in fully. Torque wrench them when it is back on the ground again!

 

[NOT! gary l]

ah, i see, my mistake m8

 

[White16valver]

sorry, just didn't explain myself very well LoL :clown:

 

[_Kenny_]

well tested the car last night, went around corners and roundabouts slow and then pretty quickly and also went to a deserted car park where I went round in circles lol. No sounds I could hear and the car seemed to drive fine.

Wheel bolts all seem fine too. Girlfriend is adament it was nothing she did. Very very puzzling. Going to have a good look over it at the weekend