8 Common Noises Your Car Makes and How to Fix Them

When your car starts to have problems, the first sign is usually an unfamiliar sound you hear while driving. This is your car's way of communicating with you and indicating that something is wrong.

To avoid major repair costs, it's best to know what each sound means so you can fix the problem. Now, if you are not a mechanic, all sounds may sound the same. However, almost all parts of a vehicle will make different sounds when they are about to fail.

So if you hear your car scraping, clanking, screeching, clicking, groaning and rattling while you're driving down the road, you better know what's going on. Here are 8 common noises your car makes and how to fix them.

1. Harsh or grinding noises from the wheels

If you hear a harsh or grinding sound coming from your wheels, it's likely that your brake pads are worn and there is metal-to-metal contact. Most brake pads are designed with small built-in indicators that squeal when the pads get low and need to be replaced.

If the brake pad material is completely worn, the metal backing will rub against the brake disc and create a very bad grinding sound. If you don't replace your brake pads in time, there is a good chance that your brake discs will be damaged. At this point, you need to remove the wheel and visually inspect the brake pads and discs and replace them if needed.

2. Chirping or squealing sounds from the engine compartment

If you hear a constant chirping or squealing sound, or just when you start your car first thing in the morning, it's likely that you have a loose or worn belt.

Many things in an engine, such as the alternator, power steering pump, compressor, etc., are driven by belts. All of these components are driven by a belt called a serpentine belt. Sometimes a single component like the alternator will have its own belt. When that belt gets old, harsh, cracked or greasy, they start to slip, and that's where you'll hear the squeaking or chirping sound.

So if your car has more than one accessory belt and you can't determine which one it is, one thing that might help you is to start the car while it is making normal sounds and then play with the steering wheel. See if it changes the sound. If it comes and goes, it may be related to your power steering pump belt.

Also, you can use the AC. turn it off and then on again to see if it changes the noise. If so, it could be the belt associated with your AC compressor.

Basically, what you want to do is open the hood and visually inspect the belts. Inspect each belt and look for cracks or other damage. Also, turn the belt and check the ribs on the inside of the belt. You really shouldn't turn the belt 90 degrees easily. If you can do that, then your belt is too loose. 3.

3. Groaning or whining when turning the steering wheel

If you hear a groaning or whining sound under the hood when you turn the steering wheel, it may be due to a lack of power in the power steering fluid or an air leak somewhere in the power steering system.

To verify that you are not experiencing a power steering problem, check it. Open the hood and look for the power steering fluid reservoir. Some reservoirs will have the fluid level written on the side, while some will have a dipstick. In any case, check the power steering fluid level and add more if needed.

Another problem that can cause groaning or whining even when the level is good is air getting into the power steering system. As the car is running, a lot of air bubbles can form in the tank. You can actually run the car and open the cap and look for any air bubbles. If you let these problems go on for too long, you will eventually damage the power steering pump permanently and you will have to replace the pump to fix the noise.

4. Groaning or rumbling noises when driving on the highway

If you hear a groaning or rumbling noise when driving fast on the highway, and the noise gets louder the faster you drive, the problem may be worn wheel bearings or worn tires.

High-speed rumbling from tires and bearings can be one of the most difficult sounds to diagnose. Some tips that can help you diagnose the problem are to get your car on a nice highway and start accelerating. Then, switch to neutral and see if the sound goes away. If it goes away, then you may be experiencing a transmission problem.

If the noise is still there, the problem is in your wheels. Usually it's the tires themselves or the wheel bearings. Wheel bearings are not something you can really see. It's something you can only really hear. One thing you can try to do is weave left and right while driving on the highway to see if the sound changes direction.

It's much easier when it comes to checking the tires. You can visually inspect the tires to see if they are worn, bulging or improperly inflated.

5. Clicking sound under the car when turning left or right

If you hear a clicking sound under the front side of your car when you make a hard left or right turn, you have a bad CV axle.

You may also feel the steering wheel wobble or vibrate when you accelerate, and the vibration will stop once you let off the gas.The CV axle is the steel shaft that connects the transmission to the wheels. It has a joint at each end that is covered with a rubber boot. Most vehicles have a CV shaft on each side of the front. Some cars even have a CV shaft in the rear.

In order to see if your CV axle is bad, you need to get underneath the vehicle. Inspect the rubber boot and look for any cracks or other visible damage. The boots should be filled with grease to lubricate the joints. What usually happens is that they get old and crack. Grease runs out, dirt gets in, and it destroys the joints, which is why you'll hear a clicking sound. 6.

6. Clacking sound when driving on rough or bumpy roads

If you hear a clunking sound when driving over rough roads or bumps, it could be due to a bad suspension component, but usually it's just a bad stabilizer linkage.

In my experience, stabilizer links are one of the most common culprits of suspension noise. They are really easy to diagnose and cheap to fix. On most vehicles, you can check the stabilizer linkage without removing the wheel.

Stabilizer links are vertical bars that connect to the shock absorber. Each end of the stabilizer linkage has a fitting with a grease-filled rubber sleeve. When inspecting the stabilizer linkage, check the rubber sleeve for any damage that could cause grease to escape. Also, try turning the stabilizer linkage from side to side. If the stabilizer linkage is brand new, you will not be able to turn it. If it becomes too easy, then it is time to change your stabilizer linkage. 

7. Buzzing or rattling at certain speeds or RPMs

If you hear a buzzing or rattling sound at certain speeds or RPMs, the problem causing the sound is a damaged exhaust hood. The different components of the exhaust system, such as the exhaust manifold, catalytic converter and silencer, are protected by thin metal shrouds.

These exhaust shields can easily be rocked, rusted or bent from improper parking. When the exhaust shrouds are damaged, they will begin to make a very loud humming sound at certain speeds or RPMs. For example, when your engine reaches 1500 RPM, you may hear a buzzing sound under the console or under the hood.

The best way to identify where the hum is coming from is to get under the vehicle and try to replicate the sound when the engine is off. Wait until everything has cooled down nicely, then trace the exhaust pipe under the car. Check all the exhaust hoods around the exhaust pipe, catalytic converter and muffler.

Many times rocks can get between the exhaust hood and the actual parts and create vibrations. Sometimes the fittings will rust and fall apart and hit the exhaust components. Just look around and try to replicate the buzzing sound.

8. The car is running loud

If your car is running loud and sounds like a hotrod, it means you have an exhaust leak. The exhaust is designed to quiet down your engine through a silencer. If there is a hole and the exhaust is allowed to escape before the silencer, then you will hear a lot of noise. The bigger the hole, the louder the noise. Sometimes the hole can be so large that you can smell exhaust fumes in the cabin.

Exhaust leaks can be caused by several different things. The most common cause of an exhaust leak is rust in the exhaust pipe or silencer. The rust eats away at the metal and creates a hole that allows the exhaust to exit the system before the muffler.

So, what you want to do is leave the engine running and stand outside. See if you can get a general idea of where the sound is coming from. Then, shut the engine off and let it cool down. Crawl under the car and find out exactly where the leak is coming from.

These are the 8 common noises your car makes and how to fix them. Let us know if this article has helped you in any way.