7 Types of Car Noises You Shouldn’t Ignore
Like many other car owners, you’ve probably heard some weird noise from your car and thought something was wrong or that it didn’t sound right. Why not just ignore the sound and turn up the radio? While many people are guilty of doing that, you might end up regretting that eventually. Those sounds are good indicators that your car needs to be looked at by a mechanic.
Car noises can tell you a lot about what’s going on inside your engine. If you hear any of these sounds, it’s best to have your vehicle checked out by a professional. Here’s a list of common car noises, what they mean and what you can do about them.
Hissing
While it might not sound alarming, a hissing sound coming from your car means that you have a leak under the hood. If you hear this sound, no matter how faint, you should bring your vehicle in to be inspected by a professional.
If you hear a hissing sound like air slowly coming out of a balloon, this is usually a sign that you have a leak in your exhaust system. This can be very dangerous because the exhaust is filled with toxic gas.
Rattling
Rattling is fairly common in many cars and often won’t indicate anything serious. It’s more likely that you have some loose things under the hood or bad weather stripping on the doors. If the rattling is accompanied by a lot of smoke coming from the engine, then there could be a more serious problem.
Banging
More likely than not, a banging noise indicates that there is something wrong with the engine. If it’s a gentle tap instead of a bang, this is likely due to something hitting the engine when you turn.
This banging noise can be a sign of many different problems. If the noise is coming from the valve train, it can be a sign of a bad timing belt. If the noise is coming from the crankshaft, it could be because of a bad flywheel.
Squealing
Squealing can be caused by a belt or chain rubbing against a part of your engine. This usually just needs to be tightened or replaced. If you hear a squealing sound and notice that the engine temperature increases, you might be dealing with a cooling system issue.
Knocking
A knocking noise is caused by your engine knocking. This happens when your engine is not getting enough lubrication, which causes a knocking sound as the cylinders touch.
While this is a serious problem, you can still check your oil level. If oil levels are good, you might just need to change the oil and filter. If you change the oil, but the knocking still continues, you might want to see a mechanic.
Whistling
A whistling sound is often caused by a worn-out fan belt that is hitting the fan blades. This is a pretty easy fix, but you might also want to check your engine’s belt for cracks and other signs of wear.
Scraping
A scraping sound under the car can be caused by a part of the exhaust rubbing against the body of the car. If the part is loose, you might need to tighten it, but you should still check the rest of the exhaust system and the catalytic converter.
Conclusion
While you should never ignore a strange noise coming from your car, you should also not automatically assume that your vehicle has serious issues. Sometimes noises are normal, but if the noise is accompanied by visible signs of trouble or is just really loud, it’s best to bring your car in to be checked by a mechanic.
V.A.R Crows Nest is Sydney’s leading repair and service specialist for European and prestige cars. With our full-service offering, we can provide quality service and satisfaction to car owners. Whenever you need reliable European car service and repair in Sydney, give us a call, and our team will be more than happy to help. Contact us today to request a service.