Identifying Weird Car Noises

Identifying Weird Car Noises

Why is my car making that noise?

Clicking, clunking and squealing. Where is it coming from? Is it dangerous? Should I get out and take a look, or ignore it and hope it goes away? Cars, like people, communicate when something is not right. Often, a worn or unbalanced car part will make a sound. Here are some common causes of those unsettling sounds.

Clunking noise during braking:

• Worn steering system components
• Disc brake caliper is not mounted properly
• Brake hardware is damaged or missing

The brakes squeal when they are applied:

• Dirt on the brake rotors, drums, pads, and/or shoes
• Brake pads and/or shoes are worn
• Brake pads were overheated and are now glazed
• Disc brake calipers were mounted incorrectly or have come loose
• Wear indicator on the pads are contacting the rotor

The transmission grinds while shifting gears:

• Clutch needs to be adjusted
• Clutch is worn
• Internal damage to the transmission
• Shift linkage needs to be adjusted

Squealing from engine while accelerating:

• Drive belts are slipping
• Drive pulleys for some engine accessories are misaligned
• You have turned the steering wheel to the limits
• Drive belts are loose

Scraping from the rear of the car while moving :

• Tree branch or some other thing is caught under your car and is dragging or rubbing against your tires
• Parking brake is on
• Brakes are dragging
• Brake drum backing plates are rubbing against the brake drum

Scraping from the rear of the car that is heard when braking:

• Brake shoes are severely worn
• Brakes are not applying evenly
• Brake drum is out-of-round or distorted

Brakes make a rhythmic scraping noise at low speeds:

• Brake rotor is badly warped
• Brake drums are badly out-of-round and need to be replaced

Alternator makes a squealing noise:

• Loose or damaged alternator drive belt
• Alternator's internal bearings are worn
• Alternator's drive pulley is loose or damaged

Engine hesitates and a popping is heard from the engine:

• Dirty air filter
• Spark plugs may be dirty or worn
• Spark wires may be bad
• Ignition problem
• Fuel filter may be clogged
• Water in the gasoline
• Carburetor may have a bad accelerator pump or power circuit
• Catalytic converter may be clogged

Clicking from the front while turning a corner:

• Brake pads are loose in their mounting:
• CV-joints are worn
• A hard object is caught between the brake pads and the rotor

Clicking noise during braking or turning:

• Worn steering system components
• Disc brake caliper is not mounted properly
• Brake hardware is damaged or missing

Knocking sound under hood:

• Engine knock due to low gas octane rating
• Air filter clogged
• Tune-up issue/timing set improperly

Engine makes a clicking noise when idling:

• Valves need adjusting
• Engine is low on oil
• Engine's oil pressure is low
• High-pressure fuel injectors "rattling" (a normal noise, especially when cold)
  

Popping noise from exhaust:

• Fuel injectors are leaking
• Hole or leak in the car's exhaust

Engine makes a ticking noise:

• Valves in your engine need to be adjusted
• Sludge in your engine which is stopping oil from circulating properly
• Engine's valve lifters are collapsed
• Engine's valves are stuck

Clicking noise from the transmission while in four wheel drive:

• Fluid level in your transfer case is low
• Final drive chain in your transfer case is stretched or damaged
• Internal problem in the transfer case
• Front drive shaft or axle needs repair

A hissing sound is heard from the engine:

• Engine is overheating
• Exhaust system and/or catalytic converter is plugged
• Vacuum line is disconnected
• Vacuum device is leaking

Whirring from the engine that gets worse as engine speed increases:

• Low power steering fluid
• Alternator bearings are bad
• Bad water pump
• Bad power steering pump
• Bad air conditioning compressor

Whirring from the front of the car that changes pitch with vehicle speed:

• Worn universal joints
• Damaged flywheel inspection cover plate
• Loose fan shroud or bracket
• Faulty torque converter
• Internal transmission damage
• Differential unit needs lubricant
• Rubber of your tires may be too hard
• Wrong type of tire for the surface of the road

Radio doesn't work:

• Fuse to the radio is blown

Loud exhaust:

• Muffler or exhaust pipe worn out

Engine backfires when you press on the gas pedal:

• Camshaft timing belt or chain may have slipped
• Ignition timing needs adjusting
• Spark plug wires are placed on the wrong spark plugs

Engine backfires when you let off the gas pedal:

• Bad air injection diverter valve
• Ignition timing needs adjusting

Noises while turning a corner:

• Steering linkage needs to be lubricated
• Steering linkage is loose or damaged and needs to be replaced
• Worn suspension pieces

Noises from the power steering unit:

• Power steering drive belt is loose
• Fluid in the system has air in it
• Fluid in the power steering pump is too low
• Power steering pump mount is loose or damaged

Clicking noise from transmission while in four wheel drive:

• Fluid level in your transfer case is low
• Final drive chain in your transfer case is stretched or damaged
• Internal problem in the transfer case
• Front drive shaft or axle needs repair

There is a rattling noise from the engine when you accelerate:

• Ignition timing needs adjusting
• Engine is overheating
• You bought low-octane fuel even though your owner's manual says to only use high-octane fuel

Rattling from under the car:

• Exhaust system needs to be repaired