Arlington Motor Company, Inc.

Diagnosis, Repair & Scheduled Maintenance — All Makes Jacksonville, Florida Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–7:00 PM · Sat 7:00 AM–5:00 PM

C 3.0

What that noise probably is

Thirty-odd symptoms in plain language, each turned into what it usually means, the operation that usually corrects it, and a price range. So you can arrive knowing roughly what you are in for.

You do not need the right word for it. “It grinds when I stop” is a perfectly good description and it narrows things down a long way.

This page exists because the vocabulary gap is real and it costs people money. Somebody who cannot name a symptom tends either to put off the visit or to arrive and accept whatever they are told, and neither is a good outcome.

So: find the line that sounds like your car, read across, and you will have a rough idea of the conversation before you have it.

One honest warning. Every one of these has more than one possible cause. Grinding brakes are usually worn pads and occasionally something else entirely. That gap is exactly what diagnosis exists to close, and it is why the ranges start at the diagnostic fee rather than at a repair price. Treat this page as a way to ask a better question, not as an answer.

Urgency key 3 levels
Now
Stop driving, or come straight in. Continuing risks a much larger repair.
Soon
Days rather than weeks. It will not strand you today.
Plan
Book it when convenient. Nothing is getting worse quickly.

If you are unsure whether a car is safe to drive, do not drive it. Telephone (904) 721-3000 and describe it; that call is free and a tow is cheaper than an engine.

Before you telephone

  1. When does it happen? Cold start, at speed, braking, turning, idling.
  2. How long has it been doing it, and is it getting worse?
  3. Any warning lights, and are they steady or flashing?
  4. Year, make, model and rough mileage.

C 3.1 Braking and steering

Braking and steering

Braking and steering · symptom, likely cause, likely operation
Symptom Usually means Likely operation Range Urgency
Grinding when I brake Pads worn through to the backing plate, metal on metal Front or rear pads and rotors, one axle $448–$720 Now
Squealing that stops when I brake The wear indicator doing exactly its job Pads, and rotors if they measure below minimum $289–$720 Soon
Pedal pulses under braking Rotor thickness variation or uneven pad deposits Rotor resurfacing or replacement, one axle $289–$720 Soon
Pedal goes soft or sinks Air, moisture or a leak in the hydraulic system Diagnosis, then fluid flush, hose or master cylinder from $149 Now
Car pulls to one side when braking A seized caliper slide, common on coastal cars Caliper service or replacement, then alignment check $320–$700 Soon
Car wanders or pulls when not braking Alignment, tire pressure or a worn suspension component Diagnosis, then four-wheel alignment $139–$400 Plan
Clunk over bumps Sway bar links, bushings or a strut mount Diagnosis, then the component found from $149 Plan

C 3.2 Air conditioning and cooling

Air conditioning and cooling

Air conditioning and cooling · symptom, likely cause, likely operation
Symptom Usually means Likely operation Range Urgency
A/C blows warm Low refrigerant, which means a leak somewhere Performance test and leak test, then the repair found $129–$249 Plan
A/C cold when moving, warm at a stop Cooling fan or a blocked condenser, so no airflow at low speed Diagnosis, then fan, relay or condenser cleaning from $149 Plan
A/C smells musty Cabin filter and evaporator case, usually Cabin air filter and evaporator treatment $69–$189 Plan
Weak airflow from the vents A blocked cabin filter or a failing blower motor Cabin air filter, or blower motor $69–$520 Plan
Temperature gauge climbing Coolant loss, thermostat, water pump or fan Stop driving. Diagnosis, then the component found from $149 Now
Sweet smell after parking Coolant leak. Sweet is the giveaway Pressure test, then hose, radiator or water pump from $149 Soon
Puddle under the car Clear water is A/C condensate and normal. Coloured is not Diagnosis to identify the fluid and the source from $149 Soon

C 3.3 Starting, running and warning lights

Starting, running and warning lights

Starting, running and warning lights · symptom, likely cause, likely operation
Symptom Usually means Likely operation Range Urgency
Check engine light, steady Something reported a fault. The code names a circuit, not a part Diagnosis, then the repair found from $149 Soon
Check engine light, flashing A misfire severe enough to damage the catalytic converter Stop driving. Diagnosis, then ignition or fuel repair from $149 Now
Runs rough at idle, smooth when driving Misfire, vacuum leak or dirty throttle body Diagnosis, then coil, plug, injector or vacuum repair $189–$480 Soon
Cranks but will not start Fuel, spark or compression. Diagnosis separates them Diagnosis, then the system found from $149 Now
Clicks but will not crank Battery, connections or starter Charging and starting system test, then battery or starter $89–$880 Now
Slow to crank in the morning A tired battery, and Florida heat shortens battery life Charging and starting system test, then battery $89–$380 Soon
Battery light on while driving The charging system is not keeping up. You are on borrowed time Charging system test, then alternator or belt $89–$950 Now
Lost power, engine hesitates under load Fuel delivery, ignition or a restricted exhaust Diagnosis, then the system found from $149 Soon

C 3.4 Noises, smells and leaks

Noises, smells and leaks

Noises, smells and leaks · symptom, likely cause, likely operation
Symptom Usually means Likely operation Range Urgency
Squeal on startup that fades A glazed or worn serpentine belt Serpentine belt, and tensioner if worn $159–$340 Plan
Rhythmic hum that changes with speed A wheel bearing, usually Diagnosis, then wheel bearing or hub assembly $420–$680 Soon
Clicking when turning A worn CV joint CV axle replacement $420–$690 Soon
Burning oil smell Oil leaking onto hot exhaust. Valve cover gasket is common Diagnosis, then the gasket or seal found from $149 Soon
Rotten egg smell Usually the catalytic converter, sometimes the battery Diagnosis, then the system found from $149 Soon
Dark drips where I park Engine oil, transmission fluid or power steering fluid Diagnosis to identify the fluid and the source from $149 Soon
Rattle from underneath A heat shield, an exhaust hanger or a loose component Inspection, then the component found from $69 Plan

C 3.5 Transmission and drivetrain

Transmission and drivetrain

Transmission and drivetrain · symptom, likely cause, likely operation
Symptom Usually means Likely operation Range Urgency
Slips, or revs climb without accelerating Transmission concern. Diagnosis before anything else Diagnosis, then service or specialist referral from $149 Now
Hard or delayed shifts Fluid condition, a solenoid or an adaptation issue Diagnosis, then fluid and filter service or repair $149–$389 Soon
Shudder at steady speed Torque converter lock-up, commonly fluid-related Diagnosis, then transmission service $149–$389 Soon
Vibration that increases with speed Wheel balance, a tire, or a driveline component Balance and inspection, then the component found $39–$690 Plan

C 3.9 The limit of this page

This is a way to ask a better question, not a diagnosis

Everything above is a general pattern. Your car is a specific car with a specific history, and the same symptom genuinely does have several possible causes at several different prices.

That is not a hedge, it is the whole reason diagnosis is a separate priced operation. A misfire code can be a coil, a plug, an injector, a vacuum leak or low compression — five repairs from under two hundred dollars to a great deal more. Guessing from a list costs more than testing.

What this page is genuinely good for: deciding whether to drive the car, working out roughly what conversation you are about to have, and being able to tell whether the figure you are quoted is in a sensible neighbourhood.

Prices are USD ranges for the operation named, at a labor rate of $149 per hour, and include parts and labor unless a line says otherwise. They exclude shop supplies, disposal fees and tax. They are published so you can budget before you call, and they are not an estimate for your vehicle. Ranges here start at the diagnostic fee where the cause has to be established before the repair can be priced. Reviewed September 2026. The estimate for a specific vehicle is written against that vehicle and authorized by you before any work starts. See the disclaimer.

Describe it in your own words

Telephone and say what it does, when it does it, and how long it has been doing it. That gets you a useful answer faster than any amount of looking for the right term.

Arlington Motor Company, Inc. · 10939 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225

Call (904) 721-3000 About diagnosis

Mon–Fri 7–7 · Sat 7–5 ET