I hit a curb going about 20-30 mph while turning and got a flat tire. While getting ready to change the flat and put a doughnut on
I hit a curb going about 20-30 mph while turning and got a flat tire. While getting ready to change the flat and put a doughnut on I engaged the emergency brake. When I finished changing the tire, I disengaged the brake and tried to drive off but the engine would rev but it wouldnt move. So i gave it more gas and it moved but with loud noise came from the rear tires when i did so. I believe the Emegency brake got stuck. As i pulled into a parking space where i could leave the car I noticed Light colored fluid on the ground where my rear right tire was (also the tire that was flat). My question
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi There,
It may be difficult to tell what the light colored fluid could be as there are a number of fluids in the vehicle that serve various purposes. It may be likely that the light colored fluid may be brake fluid if one of the brake lines was damaged. It may also be possible that trying to move the vehicle with the emergency brake set could have damaged the emergency brake by the force of the vehicle moving. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the vehicle.
It may be difficult to tell what the light colored fluid could be as there are a number of fluids in the vehicle that serve various purposes. It may be likely that the light colored fluid may be brake fluid if one of the brake lines was damaged. It may also be possible that trying to move the vehicle with the emergency brake set could have damaged the emergency brake by the force of the vehicle moving. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the vehicle.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Hitting a curb can damage the tie rods and leave you with less-than-stellar steering capabilities, which can be especially dangerous if you`re driving on wet or slippery roads.
There may also be tire damage from hitting a curb. Your tire may have suffered damage to the sidewall that could lead to a possibly dangerous blowout.
Road Damage
You can blow out a tire when you hit a pothole or run over a large object. You can also blow out a tire if you run over glass, a nail, or hit a curb. Your tires are particularly susceptible if they are already worn.
Bumping a curb or driving over a small hole might seem like no big deal, but they can actually damage the structural integrity of your tires, not to mention, contribute to the loss of pressure of the tires.
While the curb may only alter the alignment slightly, this can result in crooked pulling in the steering wheel over time. You should get one after hitting a curb—other than the routine once or twice a year wheel alignment. You may also have to replace your rim and tires if these got bent or punctured during impact.
Hitting a curb can do some nasty damage to your tires, let alone other vehicle components including the suspension. Even striking one at turtle-like speed can wreck your day!
An automobile accident can cause damage to any part of a vehicle, including wheel bearings. An impact that even slightly dents them can cause malfunction. Potholes, speed bumps, and even hitting curbs can cause damage to wheel bearings that can be diagnosed by an auto mechanic.
It can cause damage to the tires, wheel rims, suspension, and steering components. It can also cause damage to the underside of the vehicle, including the exhaust system and/or oil pan. In extreme cases, hitting a curb can cause structural damage to the vehicle`s frame.
Bubbles or Blisters
A tire with a bubble or blister is a tire that requires prompt replacement. Bubbles are a sign that the interior of the tire has suffered damage. Such bubbling commonly occurs after striking curbs and other objects.
Valve Stem Leak
Flat tires aren`t always caused by a hole in the rubber. Instead, a malfunction or leak in the valve stem can be the culprit. The valve stem is the part of the tire that you unscrew when adding air. Any damage or even dirt on this small piece could cause your tire to lose air until it`s completely flat.
The process to repair a curbed wheel also can vary but typically involves removing all dirt, paint and protective finishes. The damaged area has to be sanded down, patched with filler if needed, and sanded or buffed to a smooth finish to remove scratches.
How Serious is a Bent Rim? Even a minor bend in your rim can spell serious trouble for your vehicle when left unrepaired. The change in road vibrations and driving patterns can cause issues with your vehicle`s axles, damage your healthy tires, disrupt your driveshaft, and so much more.
Hitting a curb at speeds of just 5–10 mph is enough to cause significant damage. Even if the impact feels insignificant, you should still pull over to assess the damage. Check the tire, especially the sidewall, for damage.
To check for a bent strut shaft, loosen the large shaft nut at the top of each strut and rotate the shaft 360 degrees while keeping an eye on the camber reading. If the shaft is bent, the top of the wheel will wobble in and out, and the camber reading will change as the shaft turns.
Your tires are the first barrier against impacts like hitting a curb or a pothole. Hence, they will take most of the damage and potentially protect other vehicle parts. But this shouldn`t make you happier, as tires are expensive, and damage from hitting a curb will almost certainly mean you need a new one.
Sidewall damage can have serious implications for the safety and performance of the tire. Chipped or cut sidewall rubber can weaken the tire`s structure, leading to a potential blowout or a sudden loss of air pressure.
To check the toe, park the vehicle on level ground with the tires straight ahead and the steering wheel centered. Jack up one of the front tires, secure the vehicle on jack stands, then spray-paint a stripe on the tread while spinning the tire.
If you feel a slow shake, it`s likely that your wheel was bent to the point it can`t drive straight. If you feel a fast, vibrating shimmy, hitting the bump may have knocked your vehicle`s weight off, and now a tire is out of balance. Either way, now your vehicle`s parts are out of sync.
Some of the most common problems include the misalignment of the wheels and damage to the steering rack mounts. Hitting speed bumps can also cause the power steering to leak its fluid. If you continue driving, you may harm every other system in the car, including the infotainment and air conditioning.
Control Arm Damage- Vehicles have both upper and lower control arms. These aid in the vehicle suspension which is why rolling up a curb can damage it. If after hitting a curb your vehicle`s steering wheel shakes while driving, especially at high speeds, your control arms may be damaged.
Traveling too quickly over a speed bump is much the same as hitting a pothole at high speeds. The jolt it gives your vehicle can cause issues with your alignment, springs, shocks, struts, or joints. It can also affect your tire pressure, or even cause old or worn tires to blow out.
Look at the tread and sidewalls for any cuts, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps or cracks. If you see anything suspicious, have a tire service professional take a closer look. You also want to keep an eye on your tire`s age.
If not caught in time, a bent rim can cause the tire to leak air, which leads to decreased fuel economy and poor handling. It may even result in a flat tire or blowout, which can be pretty dangerous, especially at highway speeds.
When a rim is bent, it also can get out of alignment with the other wheels of your car and can cause steering issues, which can result in difficulty handling and controlling your vehicle.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I hit a curb going about 20-30 mph while turning and got a flat tire. While getting ready to change the flat and put a doughnut on
ANSWER : Hi There,
It may be difficult to tell what the light colored fluid could be as there are a number of fluids in the vehicle that serve various purposes. It may be likely that the light colored fluid may be brake fluid if one of the brake lines was damaged. It may also be possible that trying to move the vehicle with the emergency brake set could have damaged the emergency brake by the force of the vehicle moving. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the vehicle.
It may be difficult to tell what the light colored fluid could be as there are a number of fluids in the vehicle that serve various purposes. It may be likely that the light colored fluid may be brake fluid if one of the brake lines was damaged. It may also be possible that trying to move the vehicle with the emergency brake set could have damaged the emergency brake by the force of the vehicle moving. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the vehicle.
Tires easily go flat when hit curbs at slow speed
ANSWER : The angle at which the impact occurs is more important than the speed at which the impact occurs. The tire will lose air if the angle of the impact shifts the tire off of the rim bead.
Another possible cause is damage to the tire. All tires are different. Different manufacturers and different tire models all react differently to impacts and undulations. Resulting damage can vary, and if you just happen to have tires that react poorly to the curb conditions, it can cause blowout where similar impact to your friend’s tires do not cause blow out.
Knocking from front right tire after getting a flat and putting a new tire and rim on. 2003 Olds Alero
ANSWER : Hi there. Chances are the noise heard from the right front wheel is the result of the replacement rim and tire. This may not be safe to drive and should be corrected, before continued driving. If the rim is correct by application, double checking the lug nuts for proper tightness would be a good place to start. Something may have bent with the impact to the curb. Proper diagnoses should be performed to avoid unnecessary repairs. I recommend having your vehicle’s knocking as the wheel turns be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
My car won’t go past 35mph
ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you provided, your vehicle has problems with the transmission again. You stated it will not shift into 3rd gear again, like before the transmission was rebuilt. If the transmission is again the problem, it should be covered under warranty. It could be a faulty shift solenoid. The shift indicator not reading properly could be a faulty transmission position sensor. If this is an overall lack of performance issue, according to your last statement, then possibly you have a restriction in the exhaust system. I recommend having your vehicle’s problems inspected and diagnosed by a certified technician from YourMechanic.
Cruise control turns on at idle, but when the car reaches 10 mph the cruise turns off and won’t turn back until idle again.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check all of the grounds to the vehicle and see if there is any wires that are damaged from the taillight short. A loose ground will cause multiple problems with the electrical system and some or multiple components will not work. If you need further assistance with your electrical issues, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Hello I recently hit a pothole and damgaged a rim I had. I had to replace with all new tires and rims. I first got stock rims then
ANSWER : A road force balancer is meant to check tires for pull in one direction or another and balance a tire up to about 60 mph. Some tire balancers will check tires for higher speeds. You may have an imbalance that most machines cannot measure if it comes in after 65 mph. You can see if there is a shop near you that can do high speed balancing? You may have a front axle that is causing the vibration also. I suggest installing the original rims and tires on the front only to see if problem is still there and if so have the front axles checked for damage and replaced if any damage or looseness is noted.
My car stops when engine gets warm and while I am driving I stop on red light and car suddenly turn off and I have to hit starter
ANSWER : Hello, from what you’ve described it sounds like you are having several different issues. The starter should have nothing to do with it stalling, but it will have something to do with the car restarting if it doesn’t turn the engine well. The stalling can be from the distributor or possibly a computer sensor.
The scenario where you hit a car from behind may be from another problem, alongside with the idling of the engine. Without knowing the model and engine size of your car I can only say so much. I would suggest having a mechanic do a thorough check of the entire car to check the engine, brakes, and computer systems to see if the problems can be identified and repaired, or at the very least quoted.
After a recent tire change and feeling a "floating" feeling, would a tire balance or tire alignment be more appropriate?
ANSWER : When you mention a "floating" feeling, the first thing that pops into my mind is that the tire pressure may be low. A low tire makes the car wander as though it doesn’t really know where you’re pointing it. As for the shaking, it may be something you can solve by having the tires balanced, or it may be that the tires are not round and true. Buying used tires is always a roll of the dice. Sometimes you save some money, but other times you have to deal with problems that you did not expect. If you are not sure what to look for when inspecting your tires, YourMechanic can send a technician to your home to inspect your tires.
