What to do when a car makes strange noises

When the car starts to make unusual sounds while driving, it is often a sign of some kind of breakdown. Sometimes this is one of the harbingers of the failure of an important part. The very first task is to find the cause.

How to find the source of the noise

The easiest way is to check if the noise is coming from things. To do this, we completely empty the glove compartment, all compartments and the trunk. It would be nice to ask someone else in the car to listen to the noise.

To eliminate all road sounds, it is best to find an empty parking lot or a quiet country road. It's good to open all the windows and drive slowly. This will help determine where the noise is coming from.

If there is a wall nearby, it would be great to drive up to it. The vertical surface reflects sounds well, making them more distinct. If the noise is coming from the inside, small sealing strips or silicone spray may help.

Why is there a noise in the car?

It is important to find out under what driving conditions the strange noises occur. Do they appear when starting the engine or when accelerating? When cornering or even just at rest, at a traffic light? We, of course, should not panic, because the noise can be caused by the most harmless reasons.

After downtime

Noises often occur after long periods of inactivity. For example, hydraulic valve lifters are still poorly lubricated and knocking can be heard. When the brakes squeak, if the car hasn't been driving for a long time, we have nothing to worry about. In most cases, rusty deposits will disappear after a few kilometers. However, prolonged grinding noise means worn out pads or discs.

While driving

If we hear something like "grinding", buzzing or ringing when cornering, a bearing malfunction may be the cause. In this case, we must replace it in advance, because if the bearing fails, the wheel will block. It is worse if the driver ignores the problem. Excessive loading may cause the hub to fail, and when driving at a decent speed, it can lead to an accident.

An accurate diagnosis can be made when we lift the car and turn the wheel (while the car is in gear). If we feel looseness and vibration, the cause has been found.

Be especially careful when you hear strange sounds from the suspension or engine. A broken spring is recognized by a knock in the area of ​​the respective wheel. Upon closer inspection, it can be seen that the body sagged slightly. When there is a problem with the shock absorbers, the knocking sounds become more frequent.

Howl and whistle from under the hood

The whistle from the engine compartment most often comes from an old alternator belt (especially in wet weather). Replacing it is mandatory, as a rupture can damage the engine.

The noise can also come from the generator bearing. A defective water pump makes similar sounds. The exact cause can be determined in the workshop. With a damaged generator, we risk being left on the road (the battery is not recharged, but energy is consumed), and with a faulty water pump, this can lead to complete engine damage.

Less critical reasons

Other noises also require action, although not always immediately. When there is a hum in the middle of the car, the muffler probably just needs to be fixed. If the noise increases when you press the gas pedal, the exhaust system leaks through a burnt hole. It can be welded or a spare part needs to be replaced.

It is possible that the noise under the vehicle is caused by loose hoses. If you hear a knocking noise in the hollow parts under the housing, the cause may be a disconnected hose or cable. We can secure them with cable ties and insulate them from the metal with foam.

Most importantly, you should never ignore any noise. This will prevent overspending on costly repairs.