Why Is My Car Making That Noise A Guide To Unusual Vehicle Sounds
Car noises can mean a whole host of things depending when they happen and where they come from which makes it hard for the untrained ear to work out whats wrong.
To help you better understand the moans and groans of your vehicle, heres our guide to what some of those noises mean and when you need to get help…
My Car Is Making A Grinding Noise What Should I Do
Hearing a grinding noise can be the cause of worry for any vehicle owner, but dont panic. A grinding sound from your vehicle is indicative of a faulty component unfortunately, its quite difficult to determine the source of your grinding noise by just looking at it. Checking in with a qualified and professional mechanic is the fastest way of determining the source of your vehicles grinding noise. Due to years of experience and training, a professional mechanic will be able to determine the potential problems of grinding sounds from your vehicle.
Buzzing Or Rattling Sound At Certain Speeds Or Rpms
If you hear a buzzing or rattling sound at certain speeds or RPMs, the issue causing that sound is a damaged exhaust shield. Different elements of the exhaust system such as the exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, and muffler are protected by thin metal shields.
These exhaust shields can easily be damaged from rocks, rust, or bent from bad parking. When an exhaust shield is damaged, they start to make really loud buzzing noises at certain speeds or RPMs. For example, when you get your engine to 1500 RPMs, you could hear a buzzing noise underneath your console or under the hood.
The best way to identify where the buzzing noise is coming from is to get underneath the vehicle and try to replicate the sound when the engine is turned off. Wait until everything is nicely cooled down and trace the exhaust pipes underneath the car. Check all of the exhaust shields that can be found around the exhaust pipes, catalytic converter, and muffler.
Many times rocks get in between the exhaust shield and the actual part and make the vibrating. Sometimes the fittings rust and fall apart and bang against the exhaust parts. Just poke around everything and try to replicate the buzzing sound.
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Alternator And Grinding Noise
The alternator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. It continually charges the battery while the car is in operation. It also helps supply and regulate the power administered to various components within the vehicle. Yes, the alternator is a vital part of your vehicles charging system.
If your car is making a grinding noise while the engine is starting it can also be a worn alternator thats on its last legs. The alternators used in vehicles today are equipped with a decoupler pulley system thats designed to help save fuel. When the alternator is starting to wear down it will produce a grinding noise. A failing alternator should be replaced as soon as possible.
Besides the grinding noise, the most common signs of a failing alternator are:
Service Battery Light Might Flash On
When the alternator is failing it wont be able to sufficiently charge the battery. Therefore, the Check Battery or Service Battery light might flash on the dashboard of your vehicle.
The smell of Burning Rubber
Do you smell a foul odor under your car or when the engine is running? The alternator is equipped with a drive belt thats regularly subjected to friction and tension due to its close proximity to the heated engine. As a result, it produces a pungent burning rubber smell. If the alternator is being overworked the wires will become frayed which produces a burning odor.
Malfunctioning Accessories
Alternator Replacement
Weird Cranking Grinding Noise At Start
- Tags
You know it could be the starter.. how old is the car or perhaps the actuator is getting partially stuck when pulling back from the flywheel?Can a mechanic perhaps chime in here? Just a hobbiest here
ekimnal said:My car has been rattle starting everyday for the past week. even if it sits there for an hour….so monday night i dropped my car off at the dealership and ….of course… when they started it up this morning, it didnt rattle.i then proceeded to show them the video i recorded, but the speakers from my phone arent as good as real life.one mechanic said it might be the VVT-i, which is not covered under the powertrain warranty.and seeing as how my car was picked up Dec 31, 2009, i am out of the 3yr warranty window. they said if its the VVT-i, it’ll be close to $1000, to fix.i dropped my car off again tonight, hoping it rattles tomorrow morning, and hoping even more that its not the VVT-i
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Car Grinding Noise When Accelerating
Like nails on a chalkboard a grinding noise doesnt feel good. If your car makes noise when accelerating, it can be a problem like a worn-out clutch disc or wheel bearing. Grinding isnt always the first indicator of a problem, however. If you notice your car making a whining noise when accelerating, addressing it early can prevent it from becoming a grind.
A similar concern to grinding is if your car makes a clicking noise when accelerating and turning a corner at high speeds. That can be a clutch problem in a manual transmission, an automatic transmission issue, a worn u-joint or CV joint, or something in the brakes, suspension or steering. Leave it alone long enough and its going to get worse.
No : Puddles In Your Parking Space
A puddle under your car is your vehicles way of telling you anything from “it’s really humid today” to “you cross-threaded the oil drain plug and I’m bleeding to death.” When you see fluid under your car, take note of its color and location. Rub a bit between your fingers and smell it. Usually, it’s just water coming from the air-conditioning condenser.
If it’s clear and oily, it’s probably power steering fluid. Check for leaks around the power steering pump or steering rack.
If it’s darker, slippery and you’ve recently had your oil changed, it could be a puddle of clean oil resulting from a damaged oil drain plug or improperly-installed oil filter.
If you havent had an oil change recently and that oily fluid is really darkthink squid ink darkit could be a worn-out seal or other leak in the oil system. Check the oil level on your dipstick several times over the next few days to determine whether its a slow leak or a more dire one that needs immediate attention.
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No : Other Kinds Of Puddles
Slightly oily-feeling reddish-brown fluid is your automatic transmission telling you that a line running to the transmission cooler may be punctured, or there could be a transmission seal going bad. If this automatic transmission fluid fluid also has a burnt smell, that transmission probably needs an overhaul.
If you have oily fluid inside the sidewall of a tire, that’s probably leaking brake fluid. Lost brake fluid means that air can get into the brake lines, make your brake pedal disconcertingly squishy and you will eventually lose braking power. Get your braking system checked out ASAP.
If there’s a very dark, heavy and sticky oil under a round, vaguely pumpkin-shaped case in the center of an axle , the seals in your differential could be letting go.
Screeching Or Grinding Sound Coming From Your Wheels
If you hear screeching or grinding sounds coming from your wheels, it is most likely that your brake pads are worn out and there is metal-to-metal contact. Most brake pads are designed with a little indicator built into them that squeak when your pads are getting low and need to be replaced.
If the brake pad material completely wears away, the metal backing will rub on your brake rotors and make a really bad grinding noise. There is a good chance that your brake rotors will be damaged if the brake pads are not replaced on time. At this point, you will need to take your wheels off and visually inspect the brake pads and the brake rotors and replace them if needed.
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If You Hear A Grinding Noise During Startup
Usually, if there’s too much clearance between the pinion gear and ring gear, the gears will produce a high-pitched whine while you try to start the engine. In this case, you may need to remove one or more shims from the starter, depending on your application. If your starter motor doesn’t use shims, the pinion gear may have too much wear, and you will need to replace the starter.
Squealing Under The Hood At Start
What it means: This could come from worn or loose accessory belts that drive things like your power steering pump, air conditioner compressor and alternator. With newer cars, it may point to the serpentine belt, which drives multiple accessories at once, and is relatively easy and cheap to fix.
If youre ever stranded on the road, having Emergency Roadside Service could get you out of trouble ASAP. Add ERS to your policy for just pennies per day per vehicle.
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Knocking Noise Under A Car When Going Over Bumps
Looseness in your suspension usually cause a knocking noise when you go over bumpy roads or potholes. Its possible your struts or shocks are leaked out, your stabilizer links or sway bar bushings are worn, or your control arms are loose.
Knocking noises are early indicators, telling you to get it addressed before serious failure occurs. When suspension components let go completely, you lose control of your car. Thats when accidents happen.
No : Squealing Like A Pig
High-pitched whining or squealing that comes from the engine bay and changes as you rev the engine is often an accessory belt in its death throes. Back in the day, we could limp to a service station with a broken water pump belt or alternator belt. Today’s belts turn myriad devices at once, including the power steering pump, water pump, air conditioning compressor and alternator. A broken belt could leave the car DRT .
If you’re greeted with a high-pitch squeal when you tap the brakes lightly at speed, you probably have brake pads or shoes that are almost dead. A tab of metal that comes with the pads squeals when the brake material wears away enough to let the tab contact your rotors.. If this noise changes or goes away, head to the mechanic.
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Want To Know About Car Making Grinding Noise When Starting
When the Bendix fails to engage with the flywheel to get the engine going, a grinding noise occurs when these two metals rub against each other.
Primarily the misalignment of the flywheel and Bendix is the cause behind the grinding sound, but the gears worn-out teeth can also cause it.
Sometimes, the gears fail to engage because of a faulty starter coil. I always suggest getting professional help as replacing the lousy coil is the only way to fix it.
Failing Water Pump And Grinding Noise
A bad water pump can create a grinding noise when the engine is started. The water pump is the component on a car that pushes coolant from the radiator all the way through the coolant system, to the engine, and right back to the radiator. The water pump is an essential component because without it the coolant just sits there.
When the bearings on the water pump fail it emits a grinding noise. This noise is the shaft bearings trying to lock up in the water pumps housing. Typically, the bear sustains damage from the timing or serpentine belt. A faulty bearing can also make a distinct screeching or squealing sound.
Water Pump Bearing Replacement
Its quite normal for the water pump bearing to fail over time with regular use. In order to replace the bearings, the water pump will have to be disassembled by an experienced technician. A worn and noisy water pump bearing needs to be replaced as soon as possible because it can cause damage to other components in the water pump.
The average cost of a new water pump is about $500. However, it can cost anywhere between $70-$225 to install the new bearings instead. Depending on the extent of the damage you might have to replace the entire water pump component.
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Issues With Your Differential
The differential, sometimes referred to as a diff, in your vehicle is part of the drivetrain and allows your wheels to spin at different speeds. Found at the front or the rear of your car between each set of wheels, the differential connects to your engine and transmission via the driveshaft.
As your engine transfers power to the transmission, the transmission spins the driveshaft, turning the differentials internal gears to split the power to each of your wheels. Since the differential is comprised of a few different sets of gears, a grinding or howling noise can be heard from a worn-out differential.
What The Grinding Noise Is
If you hear a grinding noise when you turn the key or press the start button, you likely have a starter that needs replacement.
One of the curiosities about a bad starter is that it can still start the engine. For example, it might take two or three turns of the key to get the starter to engage, turn the engine over and prompt it to start, but it will start the car. This can lead you to draw the faulty conclusion that it’s okay and it will continue to start the vehicle.
That’s not the case. A starter that grinds is close to total failure, and you should replace it.
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How To Begin A Starter Motor Check
A starter motor can last for years. However, during its years of service, one or more problems may develop, hindering starter motor operation. Depending on the particular issue, you may be able to do some adjustments and keep your current motor in service. Here are some things you may want to look into.
Before you start, you may need to do some preparation.
- Depending on your particular model, you may need to raise the front of the vehicle to gain access to the starter motor. If necessary, use a floor jack and support the vehicle on jacks stands. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a floor jack! The vehicle may fall on you while working on it.
- Other models have the starter motor mounted on the upper area of the engine. So you may need to remove one or more components to gain access to it.
Preliminary checks:
- Make sure the starter motor mounting bolts are tight try to rock the starter back and forth by hand.
- Remove the starter motor and check the starter drive mechanism.
- Check the ring gear on the flywheel or flexplate. Although damage to the ring gear is rare, it’s possible.
To check the ring gear, you’ll need to rotate the engine by hand. To do this, after removing the starter motor and, if necessary, having the vehicle supported on a jack stand:
In some cases, removing the spark plugs makes it easier to rotate the engine.
If everything seems right, have the starter motor checked. Usually, auto parts stores will test your starter motor free of charge.
No : Grinding Noise No 1
If you’ve continued ignoring the squealing brakes and they go silent, the next noise you’ll hear from them is a powerful grinding. The pad material has ground away to the point where the metal backing plate is now clamping directly onto the brake disc. Braking effectiveness is greatly reduced and the car is now dangerous to drive. Your repair bill goes up, too, since the discs will have to be resurfaced or replaced.
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Knocking Noise When Accelerating
The stress on your car while you accelerate can draw out noises you wouldnt otherwise hear. If your car makes a rattling noise when accelerating, it could be your engine is worn out with low oil pressure or piston slap. If your car makes a humming noise when accelerating, it could be an issue with a failing wheel hub or a drivetrain concern.
If you find your car is making a loud noise when accelerating, no matter if its a pop, clunk, bang, rattle, or ping, you need to get it looked after. Engine repairs are expensive no matter what make or model you drive.
Your engine isnt the same anymore after its experienced noises of any kind and its a strain on your wallet and calendar. Running from hundreds to several thousands of dollars and at times spanning weeks to repair, you might not want to deal with the repairs.
If you are curious about even more problems an engine can experience, check out our guide on blown engines to learn more.
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