Man’s car ‘clunks’ every time he hits gas pedal – then mechanic makes disturbing find under his vehicle
A DRIVER has defied disaster on the road after his mechanic spotted a scary reason for a weird clunking noise.
The mechanic hoisted the otherwise solid-looking Ford Focus up in his workshop and quickly discovered a hidden rust problem.
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Chris – dubbed “the car guy” – shared a surprising video of his encounter with the vehicle on Instagram.
The mechanic (@chrisbuilt92) asked fellow car enthusiasts: “Have you ever seen a car this rusty?!”
The camera showed a silver Ford Focus hoisted up in his workshop to check its condition beneath the vehicle.
Chris then said: “Alright, customer states car clunks under acceleration.”
He is filmed surveying the car’s base for the source of the clunking sound.
Chris discovered that the Ford was so rusted out, that the bottom of the car was practically split in two.
He showed how bad the rust was by pulling on one half of the metal panel, which made the front wheels jolt and bounce around uncontrollably.
The video of the huge rust problem has already racked up more than 2.2 million views.
It also attracted plenty of comments, including from one wit who joked: “Time to make a tin can.”
Another wrote: “Wow… incredibly dangerous.”
I use a $3 Walmart buy to clean everything from my oven to glass shower doors – it even gets rust gone
And one viewer mocked: “Needs some zip ties I see.”
But some weren’t surprised at Chris’s discovery.
A fellow mechanic shared: “Haha I had a ford focus come into out shop like that.
“I refused to work on it as the boss wanted to sell it to a first time driver.
“He did and we had to tow it back after the wheel and suspension came off the frame. I put my week notice in that afternoon.”
One driver reckoned that it was the, “average NY used car right there” while another recalled: “I lifted a car and the whole front stayed on the ground.”
And one person joked that the Ford was “definitely not inspected in California or Massachusetts.”
Winter car advice from AAA
The American Automobile Association shared advice on preparing your car for the winter months.
AAA gave the following tips for drivers getting ready for cold weather:
- Get your brakes checked
- Check tire pressure
- Test your car’s battery
- Apply water repellent to your windshield
- Check antifreeze levels
- Clean your headlights
- Have emergency tools available like jumper cables, salt, and an ice scraper
The whole issue of car rust problems has popped up, too, on Reddit.
Several years ago, Reddit users mulled over the expensive problem.
One asked whether “there is any specific reason for rust to just pop up out of nowhere like it seems to on all cars… specifically underneath the vehicle.”
Another replied: “In any place that gets snow that they use salt to melt the ice this will cause corrosion a lot quicker than usual. Also if you’re near an ocean it also will cause similar.”
But one person explained: “It happens when salt and moisture get trapped in areas that don’t drain well. It can be prevented by not letting snow sit on your car.”
This prompted another to write: “In NY the dirtier and more oily the underside of a car is, the less rust I’ve seen.”
HARSH CONDITIONS
According to vehicle removal specialists Carmula, states within the Salt Belt — mainly in the Northeast and Midwest — plus coastal areas with salty sea air top the list for rusty cars.
It warned that regularly driving in these areas can “expose vehicles to harsh conditions that significantly accelerate rust, impacting vehicle safety and integrity.”
Carmula recommended: “Vigilance in maintenance with regular inspections, thorough washing, rust-proofing treatments, and the use of protective coatings can prevent or minimize rust damage in vehicles, particularly in high-risk states.
“States outside the Salt Belt, such as Kentucky and Nebraska, also encounter conditions that foster high car rust risk.
“Environmental conditions conducive to vehicle corrosion, ranging from high humidity to frequent rainfall, can lead to accelerated rusting even in states not traditionally associated with heavy road salt usage.”
COSTLY REPAIRS
Interestingly, the cost of fixing rusty vehicles doesn’t top the list when it comes to auto repairs in the United States.
Consumer Affairs reported: “The most common categories of auto repairs include issues with the electrical system, cooling system, engine and transmission, as well as fuel-related issues.”
The advice comes as drivers have been shown how to use a simple DIY trick to keep their headlights clean this winter – and save up to $150 on mechanic costs.
And an expert has recommended drivers check on four advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) features before driving during the winter or risk spending thousands on repairs.
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