Your car makes various sounds when you’re driving it. Most of the noises come from the moving parts of your vehicle. They’re nothing to worry about.
However, some car noises aren’t benign. They indicate that something has gone wrong with your vehicle. What are the strange sounds that should concern you? And what issues produce them?
Here are the warning noises you might commonly hear while driving your vehicle:
Does your car produce a droning noise? A steady drone that doesn’t go louder, softer, higher, or lower when you turn around a corner? But when you step on the gas, the noise gets louder.
The tires might be making that droning noise while driving. Old or low-quality tires often sound like that.
Alternatively, feathered tires might produce the droning noise you hear while driving your car. They’re tires with treads that show more wear on one side.
So, what can cause uneven tire wear that results in feathered tires? The common reasons are wheel alignment issues, overinflation, underinflation, bad suspension parts, and out-of-balance tires.
Do you hear a low-pitched humming noise while driving your car? Does the hum get louder when you step on the gas or turn in one direction? And then the volume stays consistent when your vehicle reaches a certain speed? And the sound goes away when you turn in the opposite direction?
The humming noise might come from the engine. One of the wheel bearings could also be making it.
There’s an easy way to learn if the humming noise is engine-related or caused by a bad wheel bearing. Instead of checking the speed gauge, keep an eye on the RPM gauge.
Hit the gas to raise the speed and RPM gauges. Next, let your vehicle coast before releasing the gas. It will keep the speed gauge up while lowering the RPM gauge.
Is the humming noise still there? It’s the wheel bearings. If the hum goes away, it’s the engine.
When you start the engine for the first time in a while, do you hear a chirping or squealing noise? The sound probably indicates a problem with the serpentine belt.
Serpentine belts drive parts like the alternator and systems like the air conditioning. Some vehicle models have multiple belts, with one dedicated to the AC. If you only hear the squealing noise when the AC is running, the issue lies with the AC’s serpentine belt.
A cracked, worn, or slipping serpentine belt produces a squealing noise while driving. Damaged belts require immediate replacement. As for slipping belts, adjust the tension with the belt tensioner. But if the belt tensioner shows signs of wear, replace it, too.
Many vehicles have hydraulic power steering that enhances your control. However, if you turn the steering wheel until it stops moving, you might hear a whining noise.
This whining noise while turning comes from the power steering pump. Locking the steering wheel puts more pressure on the pump, potentially damaging the part.
Fortunately, you can manage the increase in power steering pump pressure by backing off the steering from the lock position by at least one inch. The whining noise while turning should go away. However, a steady whine indicates permanent damage to the power steering pump.
Do you hear clicking noises while turning in one direction but not the opposite way? These cyclical clicks happen faster as your vehicle accelerates during the turn. Conversely, they slow down when your car decelerates while turning.
A bad CV axle can cause clicking noises. The axle has a CV axle shaft boot with lubricant, and a tear in the CV axle shaft boot will release grease. The unlubricated moving parts produce the clicking noise while turning in one way.
Fortunately, you can replenish the lost lubricant and install a new CV axle shaft boot if the axle is intact. Otherwise, it’s better to replace the damaged CV axle.
Faulty suspension parts can clunk or rattle while driving over rough road surfaces. They include ball joints, coil springs, and stabilizer links.
Identify and replace the faulty suspension part that makes the clunking or rattling noise ASAP. Never wait for the noises to stop on their own. An abrupt silence usually means the destruction of the part, and you never want that to happen.
Hitting the brakes can create a ruckus. However, grinding and squeaking noises during braking suggest that the brake pad materials are either substandard or worn out. You can eliminate grinding and squeaking noise by cleaning, greasing, and adjusting the brakes.
Some brake pads have metal pieces called squealers. The parts rub against the brake rotor when the brake pad thins out. Their squealing noise warns you to replace the brake pads.
Idling might produce a rumbling noise that increases in volume at higher speeds. This rumbling noise while driving can come from an exhaust leak.
The exhaust system is made up of multiple connected pieces. Exhaust leaks can appear at one of the system’s gaskets or components. You must find the location of the exhaust leak. Sometimes, you can patch up the leak. In other cases, you might need to replace the bad exhaust part.
Have you ever heard the noise made by an unbalanced washing machine running in high spin cycle mode? It’s even scarier if you hear that wobbling noise while driving. You might have loosened wheel nuts or low tire pressure. Pull over immediately and inspect the wheels and tires for issues.
In case of loosened wheel nuts, use a jack to raise your car. Tighten the wheel nuts with a lug wrench.
Is it low tire pressure? Fill the tire to the proper specification. Alternatively, you can install the spare tire and fill up the other one later.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.