For people who love to drive, the sweet note of a purring engine is music to the ears. However, unexpected sounds from your vehicle—hisses, whines, and pops— can detract from the driving experience and create worry that something isn’t right. Interpreting those sounds is usually more art than science. So here are a few hints about what your car might be trying to tell you—allowing you to fix it yourself or providing useful information before bringing it in for service.
Engine and Front-Suspension Noises
Clunking and clanging (when the car goes over bumps): Check the front suspension and shock absorbers for worn-out bushings or bent suspension components.
Also see: Five Common Car-Suspension Problems—and What to Do
Grinding when the wheels turn: Your shock-absorber strut might be failing.
High-pitched squeals when you rev your engine: The fan belt or accessory belt-tensioner could be worn, causing the belt to slip.
Irregular engine idling: One or more cylinders might not be firing. With the engine turned off, check spark-plug cables for damage or improper seating. Make sure your spark-plug tips are clean and correctly gapped.
Also see: How to Change Your Spark Plugs
Whining that changes pitch as the car accelerates and changes gears: If the whine is pronounced and ongoing, it makes sense to have a professional mechanic check your automatic transmission or differential sooner rather than later.
Whistling and hissing: Check for loose vacuum hoses, an unseated radiator cap, or a leak from your heating system.
Noises from Under the Car
Exhaust sounds much louder than usual: Look for a hole in the muffler or a loose exhaust pipe fitting. Don’t neglect this one: A leaky exhaust can cause the cabin to fill with dangerous carbon monoxide.
Also see: How to Tune Your Exhaust Note
Humming or whining while traveling around curves: The front wheel bearings may be worn or damaged.
Rhythmic humming or whining: If the tempo of the rhythm changes based on speed, your tires may be worn, underinflated, or need balancing.
Also see: Six Ways to Get the Most Life Out of Your Tires
Squealing or scraping when you step on the brakes: Your brake pads might be worn down to the point that they need to be replaced.
Also see: Easy DIY, Change Your Brake Pads
Tinny rattling or a clunking: The high-pitch sounds could be a loose muffler shied. The deeper clunking could be the muffler’s support bracket.
Vibrating sounds from the steering column: The root cause could be warped brake rotors.
Sounds from within the Cabin
Creaks from the doors or dashboard: Gaskets in the door or dashboard might be dry. Try spraying them with silicone lubricant.
Booming vibrations: If some of the windows are not fully up—or only one window is down, but the others are closed—you might experience what is called the Helmholtz Effect or Side-Window Buffeting. It’s easy to eliminate those bothersome vibrations by rolling up all windows or opening more than one.
Rolling or clunking noises: It sounds a little ridiculous, but did you check to see if something round—like an AA battery or lipstick case—is rolling around under the seats?
Squeak, squeak: It’s probably not a hitchhiking mouse. Try lubrication the doors or center console.
Whistling noises from the windows: You might need to adjust a window that’s not completely closing.
Nearly all of these sounds could be warning signs of a problem that needs to be quickly addressed. Don’t just ignore them and crank up the radio. If not investigated, these early symptoms could lead to dangerous driving conditions or expensive repairs. At the very least, carefully listen and take notes about what you’re hearing. There’s no reason to feel silly about describing a “chuncka-chuncka” or a “wee-wee-wee” to a trusted licensed automotive technician. It could be the key to solving the problem.
