Does your car make noises like Vrrr, click-click, brr, grrrrr? Or Do you want to know which car noises are dangerous? If yes, then keep reading. In this article I have listed the 8 car noises you should never Ignore.
You know, ignoring won’t make those annoying car noises go away. Modern cars are equipped to perform a lot of functions but fixing itself is not one of them. Weird car sounds can be pointing toward some major trouble and the issues can range from minor to serious. Instead of tuning the car noises out by turning the volume up, acknowledge them as a primary indicator. That something is wrong with your vehicle. It’s probably a good idea to contact a car mechanic before you run into bigger trouble.
Some common problematic car noises include:
- Hissing sounds
- Clicking sounds
- Car rattling noise
- Shrill Metal grinding car noise
- Tapping sounds
- Roaring noise
- Popping sound
Like all else, cars too, are bound to wear and tear, and if you hear one of these car noises that means it is about time for car service and maintenance. Here’s a simple guide to what each of these car sounds possibly mean:
1. Squealing while you accelerate
If you hear a high-pitched squeal while accelerating, particularly while starting the car, it could indicate a loose or damaged fan belt. Generally, if the fan belts have worn out, it could signify that the timing belt of the car needs to be changed as well. Replacing both the fan belt and timing belt at the same time is more cost-effective than doing so separately. If you notice these loud squeals, do not wait around for too long before going to a reliable car mechanic.
2. Grinding when you hit the brake
If you notice the brakes grinding when you slow down or stop the car, it means that the brake pads are wearing out. Your brakes pads should be sturdy enough to guarantee optimum performance and ensure an effortless braking response. But over time your brake pads tend to thin down.
When the thickness of your brake pads falls below the required thickness, they will begin to make a loud squealing noise each time you hit the brake. This annoying car sound is called brake scrubbing, and it indicates that it’s time for a brake pad replacement or expert car brake services.
3. Rattling noise
If your car makes a rattling sound when you initially start driving and it fades away with the increase in speed, it can probably be due to a loosely fitted or mangled lug nut in a hub cap. This can happen when the wheel has recently been replaced or the nut has been loosened and this process hasn’t been followed up by proper tightening.
The easiest thing to do here is to tighten the nuts properly again or examine if there is a lug nut that might have deteriorated. If you don’t find either of these issues, it’s best to head to a car mechanic near you.
4. Popping or backfiring from the engine intake and exhaust
Usually, a backfire or a loud popping car noise occurs when some sort of explosion takes place outside the fuel cylinder in your car. Some backfires move up the intake valve causing a startling popping sound. Backfires command that you pay attention to the faulty issue as soon as possible because they can lead to costly repairs like engine damage, reduced fuel efficiency, and maybe even power loss. There are multiple reasons that cause backfire, but usually, they occur due to a poor air to fuel ratio, a glitching spark plug, or just bad timing.
5. Hissing
A hissing car noise heard from under the hood is usually due to a leak, in most cases, it is either the vacuum system or the cooling system. If you notice this sound the instant you turn your car on, it indicates that either oil or coolant is spilling over the exhaust or some other heated engine part. If you hear a high-pitched hissing car noise while it is running it might mean that there’s been a leak in a hose, vacuum line, or fitting.
6. Clicking while turning your car
Clicking noises in the car while turning, usually turns out to be some kind of trouble with the CV joints, which are positioned at the outer and inner ends of the axles. These enable efficient power transfer to the wheels while allowing the wheels to move and turn up and down easily.
Clicking car noises can also be a result of faltering universal joints, which are positioned on the driveshaft. These clicking and tapping sounds made by the engine generally signify that the engine is running low on oil or that there is an oil pressure issue.
7. Roaring when you accelerate
Mostly coming from under the driver’s seat, your car making loud roaring noises as you start driving at a higher speed typically means that the transmission ( in case of automatic cars) or clutch ( in case of standard cars) is in need of repair before it causes further damage to other parts of your car. It could also mean that there is a crack somewhere in your exhaust system causing monoxide to ooze out.
Prompt service can prevent bigger problems from sprouting up so we recommend contacting a car mechanic as soon as you start hearing any bizarre car sounds.
8. Tapping noise
Another unpleasant car sound that must be addressed as soon as possible is the tapping noise coming from the engine that might increase with acceleration. Tapping sounds occur when your engine is not getting adequate oil or it could mean that there’s a problem with the engine’s valve train. Take a look at the oil pressure gauge and check the dipstick to ensure whether the oil level is sufficient.
so, these were the common Car noises that you should never Ignore. Now lets have a look on the Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Down below, we have answered a bunch of questions that might clear some of your doubts further when it comes to odd car noises.
When should I be concerned about car noises?
Cars, typically do not tend to make a lot of unpleasant noises out of the blue so if yours suddenly starts making them, it means something’s out of whack and you should be concerned.
In this article, we have only mentioned those sounds that are worth commanding your attention, so the next time you hear one of those rattling or clicking sounds made by your car, you’ll know what’s the probable reason behind it.
What car noises are normal?
All cars make some sounds when you start them at first or start driving at a faster pace, it is perfectly normal for healthy engines to make some sound while running. It is typically not a matter of concern unless your car starts making persistent noises that seem to have appeared suddenly.
However some noises are completely normal, few of these are:
While driving along at a very slowed down speed, like in parking lots or traffic stops, you might notice a slight groan or low-pitched screech, which comes from the caliper mechanisms. This is very normal.
In transmission cars, as you switch from park to another gear or the other way around, the solenoid bank tends to make low but rapid clicking noises, and if your windows are rolled down and you aren’t playing any music on your car as do you this, they are quite audible but very normal.
Roof racks sometimes make a squeaky sound or whistle. Don’t be surprised at the amount of noise a vacant roof rack can emanate at highway speeds. This is just air noise. At times, mirrors may whistle too.
What causes a car to make a loud noise?
You might start to hear loud car noises in one of these cases:
1. Worn out muffler
If your car is making loud unpleasant noises, the first thing you should check is if it’s a muffler problem, a damaged muffler will make your car drive noisy.
2. Leaky exhaust manifold
Another common cause is a leaking exhaust manifold, this should be inspected immediately as these leaks can be very dangerous because of the extreme heat and the carbon monoxide gas they exude.
3. Low oil level
When your engine is low on oil it will make a shrill rubbing or grinding sound, signaling an oil change.
Besides these, a damaged torque converter could also be the reason.
Why does my car sound like a ghost?
If your car is making spooky sounds, the trouble may be with your car’s CV joints. Fitted at the end of axles, worn-out CV joints tend to sound bizarre and ghostly. Another reason for these sounds may be a leak in the cooling system in your car which sounds like hissing.
Why is my car idling so loud?
Loud idling happens because of troubles with cylinder compression. When there is some kind of issue with cylinder compression, it results in an uneven fuel-air ratio, and consequently, combustion becomes abnormal. This higher pressure inside the cylinder will cause your car to idle loudly.
Why is my car making a loud humming noise when I accelerate?
The possible reasons why your car may be making humming noises while accelerating may be due to:
1. Engine issues
Engine problems are a major cause of loud humming sounds especially when accelerating, you should probably contact a car engine service to get the issue thoroughly investigated.
2. Bad wheel bearing
Warm up the tires by moving the car back and forth to figure out if the reason behind the humming noise is bad bearing in one of the systems. If this is the cause, the pitch will change.
3. Faltering catalytic converter
You’ll need to get the catalytic converter checked physically to figure out if a bad catalytic converter is a reason behind the humming sound. If the converted has rusted that could also lead to this unpleasant car sound.
Why do I hear rocks in my car?
The sound of” pebbles tossing around a tin can” comes most often from the exhaust system. It is likely to be a broken/loose baffle in the muffler.
Usually, most car sounds indicate minor problems which can easily be troubleshot through a trip to an expert mechanic who won’t take very long to diagnose and resolve the issue. But since your car’s health is tied closely to your safety, it is best to make that visit as soon as you can because one can never be too sure of what may be going wrong under the hood of your car.
So, that’s it from this blog. If you liked this article on the 8 Car noises you should never Ignore then please share it on Social Media.
Also, Read – What Is Logbook Service?
