What’s That Noise? 4 Common Car Noises and What They Mean

As you drive along the road, you may notice your car making certain noises. Some are normal and don’t mean anything is wrong, but others are cause for concern. Instead of turning up your car’s radio to cover up the sounds, make sure to listen, since a noise can be one of the first indicators that something is awry.

1. Thumping and Clunking

When you drive over a pothole or bump in the road, you might hear some clunking or thumping noises. These sounds are not normal, so you should take your car in for a checkup immediately. Some of the possibilities include loose components that aren’t properly secured, damage to the chassis, bad ball joints, or worn out control-arm bushings.

2. Screeching or Grinding of Metal

Metal rubbing against metal makes a horrible screeching, grinding sound that is hard to ignore, even if you do blast the radio. It’s actually a good thing the sound is so grating though, because it alerts you that something is wrong. If it happens when you apply the brakes, the sound means the brake pads have worn down and need to be replaced. Most brake pads include metal tabs that grind against the rotor when they’ve reached the end of their lifespan.

Getting new brake pads installed is a fairly straightforward process, but it’s something that should be done sooner rather than later. When any component of the brake system isn’t working properly, you run the risk of not being able to stop quickly enough.

If the sound occurs when you move the steering wheel, the grinding could indicate a wheel bearing has gone bad.

3. Sizzling or Hissing

While a sizzling sound is great when you’re at a barbecue, it’s not as positive when it’s coming from your car. It’s hard to hear when the car is running, but if you hear it when the car stops, it’s usually indicative of a leak beneath the hood. Because the engine is hot, anything that drips on it will lead to a sizzle. You might have a coolant or oil leak, or there might be a leak in one of the vacuum lines.

If you’ve checked every reservoir and can’t see a hole or crack, check the engine because a hissing sound could also mean it’s overheating.

4. Popping

When you turn on your car, hearing a popping noise from the engine is cause for concern. Some of the common causes of this issue include a clogged fuel filter, problem with the ignition or starter, damage to the wires connecting to the spark plugs, dirty or worn out spark plugs, or an issue with the catalytic converter.

Buying a car is a sizeable investment, so it’s worth the cost to make sure it’s working properly. Instead of continuing to drive your car when it’s making strange sounds, you should take it in for a checkup at the dealership or a trusted auto repair shop. Doing so could end up saving you a lot of time and trouble in the long run.

Image from Pixabay licensed under CC BY 2.0

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