If you suspect that the wheel-covers (figure A) on one of your car's wheels is the cause of the racket you're hearing as you drive down the road, DIY automotive expert Trisha Hessinger has a few suggestions.
- To verify your theory that it's your wheel-covers, try an experiment. Take all the wheel-covers off and take your car for a drive. If the sound disappears, your hypothesis is correct and it's time for a little wheel maintenance.
- It may simply be that the emblems on the wheel covers are loose and rattling, and in need of tightening. If that's not the case, then it may be that the saw-tooth clips that secure the covers are bent.
- If the clips are riveted on, place the cover on a flat surface and hammer them back so that they are flat. If the clips are actually part of the cover, you can bend them back into place using needle-nosed pliers (figure B).
- After adjusting the clips, tap the covers back into place with a rubber mallet. The next time you drive your vehicle, the irritating rattle should be gone.
RESOURCES :
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Trouble-Free Car Care
Author: Dan Ramsey
ISBN: 0028635833
Alpha Books
Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896
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