Urgency

This page is about sorting urgency, not taking action.

When a new noise appears after service, urgency depends on how the noise behaves and what it is paired with, not on the noise alone. The goal here is to distinguish situations that can be observed calmly from those that deserve quicker attention.

Monitor

• The noise is noticeable but steady
• It does not rapidly worsen
• The car continues to operate normally
• There are no additional warning signs alongside the sound

In these cases, the situation may be uncomfortable or concerning, but the noise by itself does not suggest immediate danger.

Address soon

• The noise persists and remains clearly different from before
• The sound is intermittent or unpredictable in a way that creates uncertainty
• The change continues to raise concern over time

This category reflects concern without urgency. The situation is not clearly unsafe, but it also is not settling.

Act now

• Sudden loss of control or power
• Strong shaking, vibration, or jolting
• Any signal that affects safe operation

These indicators suggest the situation may be time-sensitive and should not be delayed.

What this page does not do

• It does not explain causes
• It does not tell you what steps to take
• It does not label the situation as safe or unsafe

If you are unsure which category applies, that uncertainty itself matters. When a sound change affects confidence in safe operation, slowing down long enough to sort urgency—without assuming failure—helps prevent both panic and delay.