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Dear Jim,

A few months ago, I started noticing an odd clicking sound in my 1996 Geo Metro (1.3L, L4, automatic). It only happened when I made a sharp right turn, but it didn't seem like a big deal, so I ignored it.

The sound is still there, though, and now it happens when I turn left as well. The car seems to be driving like it used to, but I'm afraid something is being damaged. Do you know what's causing this noise?

-- Bill Kohl

It's in the axles, bro. Each of your two front-axle assemblies has a part called the constant velocity (CV) joint. It's a moving part, so they put a little protective boot full of grease on it. These CV boots are only made of rubber, so they wear out after a while, especially because they're always taking all that heat from the road.

Here's what happened: A few months ago, the CV boot on the right front side of your Geo cracked and ripped, and all the grease inside leaked out. Without the grease in there to lubricate, the CV joint started grinding, and that's what caused the clicking you hear now -- it's the ugly scrape of metal on metal whenever you make a sharp turn.

Sounds like the same thing happened to the left-side boot a few days ago, so now you're hearing it on both sides.

Most likely, you'll just need a new rubber CV boot on the left side, since the trouble just started there. Hopefully, the same goes for the right side, but that joint has been dry for a lot longer, so the joint might be damaged from all the dirt and grit jammed in there.

In that case, you'll need a new right-side axle assembly. Even if that's the situation, the part should only run you $60 to $80, plus about an hour of labor. But get those CV joints checked as soon as you can, brother. Waiting too long on the repair means risking a destroyed axle and a tow truck visit one day when it's the last thing you need.

Tip of the Week:

Test driving a used vehicle? It's getting hotter these days, and even though extra heat is the last thing on your mind, make sure that heater works. Same goes for the air conditioning; make sure the A/C blows cold when the engine's hot -- even if it's mid-January and your teeth are chattering.

Buffalo Jim, owner of Allstate Auto & Marine Repair in Las Vegas, writes a weekly column. Send your automotive questions to him at buffalojim@lasvegasniftynickel.com. If Jim picks your question to answer in Nuts & Bolts, you'll also be the proud recipient of a deck of official Buffalo Jim playing cards, presented in a classy, tin box bearing his hairy image.