The Top 10 Unwanted Car Sounds and How to Diagnose Them

When you hear a strange sound coming from your car, do you turn the radio up and adopt the “if you ignore it it’ll go away” philosophy? While you might get away with it for a while, you probably know deep down it’s not a good idea.

The best thing you can do is be aware of what these strange noises might be. That’s where we come in. We’re going to take a look at 10 car sounds. We’ll explore what they might mean, and what you can do about it, so keep reading.

1. Grinding

If you hear a grinding sound when you brake, this could be due to worn-down brake pads.

When the pads are completely worn, you may hear this sound all the time—it’s really time to change your pads as the metal is in direct contact with the disc and could damage it.

2. Knocking

A knocking sound in car is one that really shouldn’t be ignored, so if you hear something that sounds like a metallic “ping” or knock, take the car straight to a service center.

A knocking sound is often related to the engine. It could be a tuning issue, or could potentially mean you’ve put the wrong type of fuel into the car.

3. Rumbling

When the car is idle, you might hear a low rumble. This is often down to a hole in the exhaust system somewhere. If that is the case, the sound will get louder as you accelerate.

While it might not be as urgent a repair as some other issues, it can really affect fuel consumption so it’s worth getting checked out.

4. Rattling

A rattling sound will usually signify that something is loose. It could be something as simple as a door fascia, or a more complex issue like a loose engine mount.

If you can identify the issue as minor, you may be able to fix it yourself. Don’t try to fix complex issues as you could end up doing more damage to the vehicle.

5. Hissing

You hear hissing sounds from a car, your first reaction is likely to be that it’s a tire puncture. Click here if you’re looking for car repair services in Calgary.

It could be, however if you don’t identify where exactly it’s coming from then it may be something more sinister. Any liquid dripping onto a hot part of the engine will hiss as it heats.

6. Squealing

One of the most common sounds you’ll hear coming from an older car is a loud squeal. It can be heard from inside the car, and by people you pass by.

The overwhelmingly likely issue is a loose or worn-out timing belt. Ideally, these need replacing every 4 years or 50,000 miles.

7. Whining

If you’ve got kids, you can probably chalk this one down to them. But if you’re sure the whining isn’t coming from the back seat, it could be an issue with the transmission.

Your mechanic should be able to identify the issue if you can describe the sound, and when it happens, ie when you’re accelerating or when you’re idling.

Listen Out For Strange Car Sounds

If your car sounds off, or you’re hearing things that make you feel uneasy, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you have any concerns or questions about your car, don’t hesitate to get in touch or visit the website to learn more about us.