June 2022 - Turning Wrenches

What Does a Poor Alignment in Audi Sound Like?

by turningwpuser | Jun 29, 2022 | Audi Repair

The wheels in your Audi may have alignment problems if the car begins to pull to one side or make odd noises. If you hit a pothole or a curb at a relatively high impact, you may misalign that wheel, and your tire may squeal. If it is not such a violent misalignment, the tires can make an unusual humming sound as they are not gliding down the road properly and instead, gripping the road at an uneven angle. You know your Audi better than anyone. If you notice unusual sounds, bring it into our shop right away for an inspection. Let’s look closer into this issue.

Signs of a Poor Wheel Alignment

Vehicle Pulling to a Particular Side: A vehicle having alignment issues will pull to one side, and it may squeal when cornering, even at low speeds. It is the most common and easiest sign to notice. When your Audi’s steering wheel is straight but you notice that your Audi pulls to one side, then it is certainly because of poor alignment.
Off-Center Steering: Another common sign of improper alignment is when the steering wheel of your Audi is not aligned with the direction your car is moving. Your steering wheel may be tilted slightly to the left but your car is moving down the middle of the lane.
Excessive tire wear in certain spots: If the tire of your Audi has worn excessively around the edge, then that is certainly a sign of poor alignment. The tires may have an odd humming sound as well. This occurs when the positive camber exerts pressure on the edge of the tower. It is commonly called camber or toe wear.
The steering does not feel tight: Loose steering is caused by several problems such as a damaged or worn-out pitman’s arm, tie rod or ball joint, and bad wheel alignment. It is very unsafe to use your Audi with loose steering because it affects your ability to handle the car and maneuver it safely.

You may be tempted to ignore any of the signs above, and they may seem minimal; however, it is important you fix your Audi’s alignment issue immediately to avoid more damage to the tires and your Audi.

Misalignment in your Audi has a negative effect on your fuel economy, as your car needs to work harder, and thereby use up more fuel. Whenever you notice any of the signs of a poor alignment in your Audi, it is important to bring your car to our professional mechanics for proper alignment.

Types of Alignment

There are three types of alignment that can be done on your Audi car, and they include:

Camber: This checks the wheel’s angle when looking at the car from the front. A positive camber occurs when the wheel tilts away from your Audi and vice versa.
Toe: It occurs when the front wheel is aligned to the back wheel. When the front wheel points to the center it is a positive toe and vice versa.
Caster: This is done by measuring the wheel’s pivot angle when looking straight from the car’s side. When the upper point of the wheel is tilted to the back, then it is a positive caster and vice versa. When there is a misaligned caster, your Audi’s steering would feel light and heavy.

Turning Wrenches Will Properly Align your Audi

If you notice any of the above symptoms in your Audi, it is important to bring your car to Turning Wrenches for realignment. We are known for our superior workmanship on European vehicles, and we provide the best servicing and maintenance to European car drivers in the Louisville, KY area and surrounding cities.

At Turning Wrenches, our mission is to optimally provide our customers with satisfaction. Our ASE-certified professional mechanics use the latest OEM tools and equipment to provide quality repair and maintenance service. Our service includes a full initial inspection so that we get to the root of the problem.

Stop by our shop or contact us today for diagnosis, repair, replacement, and maintenance of any system of your vehicle, as we specialize in European makes and models. We are excited to serve you and make you a regular customer. Book an appointment with us now!

Where to Bring Your Audi in Louisville to Replace the Catalytic Converter

by turningwpuser | Jun 13, 2022 | Audi Repair

Audi is popular among car lovers because it combines comfort, beauty, reliability, and good service with the latest car technology. Every component in the Audi brand is designed to endure. However, some external factors may cause some of these parts to become worse over time. If you desire your Audi to last for years, you need to pay attention to your vehicle and make routine maintenance a priority.

The catalytic converters help to reduce air pollution caused by the emission of harmful gases from the vehicle. It is usually found in the exhaust system. You will find it between the muffler and the engine.

The catalytic converter contains ceramic-coated beads and catalysts made from different precious metals. It works to convert harmful pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide and unburned gas, into harmless gases which can be released through the exhaust pipe into the environment.

Although the catalytic converter was designed to last for the full life cycle of a vehicle, it may become damaged and eventually fail.

Causes of Catalytic Converters Failure

Bad spark plugs or spark plug wires: Bad spark plugs cause unburned fuel to enter into the exhaust system. The unburned fuel ignites in the hot catalytic converter and melts the catalysts inside the converter.
Improper maintenance: When the engine of your Audi needs servicing but it is delayed, the by-product produced may spoil the catalytic converter. The wear and tear of the catalytic converter and the engine, as a result of the engine working outside its capacity, may cause the catalytic converter to fail.
Malfunctioning Oxygen Sensor: Sometimes the oxygen sensor of your Audi may send inaccurate readings of the exhaust gases. This could cause the fuel mixture in your car to become either too lean or too rich. When it is too rich, the catalyst may melt because fuel is burning inside the converter. If it is too lean, the converter may be unable to convert hydrocarbons into harmless gases.
Road / Structural Damage: Bad roads, road debris, and driving over speed bumps may have bad impacts underneath your car. This can affect the catalytic converter, causing the unit to crack. This would lead to restricted flow in the exhaust, causing an increase in backpressure in the exhaust system. Subsequently, heat is built up in the exhaust system which can also harm its parts.
Driving short distances: When driving only short distances, the catalytic converter of your Audi might not get hot enough to burn the entire hydrocarbons inside it. This may lead to build-up, which eventually would clog the catalytic converter.

Catalytic Converter Failure Symptoms

There are several symptoms in a bad catalytic converter, and some of them are:

Reduced performance of the engine
Poor acceleration of the vehicle
Emission of dark smoke from the exhaust, which smells like sulfur or bad eggs
Excessive heating of the engine
Engine’s warning illuminates
Bad fuel efficiency

It is important that you don’t wait until you notice these problems before taking your Audi for routine maintenance. Regular maintenance can make the catalytic converter of your Audi last as long as it should, usually more than 10 years. It is also important that the exhaust and combustion systems of your Audi are working properly so that the catalytic converter would not fail before the normal time.

Where to get Help for a Bad Catalytic Converter in Your Audi

If the catalytic converter of your Audi is malfunctioning, then you will have to replace it. Bring your Audi to Turning Wrenches. We are experts in fixing European vehicles, like your Audi. We also help preserve the performance of European vehicles through regular maintenance.

We have customers from all over the Louisville, KY area. At Turning wrenches, we are known for using the latest and best equipment to provide the best service. One of the services we provide is a full initial inspection. This includes preventative measures to ensure your car is the best it can be.

We also provide our customers with a 3-year/36,000-miles warranty on our repairs. Please call or visit our shop today to schedule your next appointment. We look forward to earning your respect and taking care of all your Audi’s future needs.