Causes of Five Common Sounds Your Car Makes:
So you’re driving down the road, everything’s going well, and you’re only a few miles away from being home and loafing on the couch when all of a sudden you hear a “thum thum thum” or a “squuuueeeeealllll” and you start to freak out. What is that noise?! Is the car going to explode?!
The good news is , probably not; but the bad news is it could still be something you definitely need to get checked out. Hopefully this article can help you identify some of those noises so they will give you a better idea of what is going on with your vehicle!
1) “Ka-Klunk” – Struts
- While driving, if you are consistently hearing this noise or a similar one, it is most likely that the struts have gone out on the vehicle. The struts are responsible for catching the brunt of the impacts you experience from everyday driving, so when they no longer function as designed, a “klunking” noise can often be heard. This is typically the result of the chassis of the vehicle compounding pressure on and “bottoming out” the struts.
2) A “Roaring” Noise – Wheel Bearing
- This one is straight forward – if you’re ever driving down the road and start to hear a “roaring” noise akin to someone dragging a large filing cabinet across concrete combined with an occasional squeal (especially when turning); this is probably a bad wheel bearing. A bad bearing can cause the wheel to wobble severely , and can actually lead to a seriously dangerous situation in which the wheel is actually at risk of eventually detaching from the vehicle.
3) A Loud “Humming” Noise
- This noise is one of the most common most people will experience. When driving (especially on a long, smooth stretch of highway) and this humming sound begins, make a mental note to bring your tires in for inspection. This noise is typically an indication that your tread wear is significantly uneven. This uneven wear is usually the result of not following a proper rotation schedule. Remember, you can never over-rotate your tires! Do it at least every five thousand miles!
4) A “Popping” Noise When You Turn.
- This noise is almost always related to a CV axle issue. Your CV (constant velocity) axle is the actual multi-part axle on your vehicle that leads the drive train to propel the vehicle forward. These axles are composed of multiple arms joined by joints that are covered with rubber boots. When these protective boots get cuts and tears in them, dirt and other debris can get into the joints in the axles and cause the functionality to drop. The “pop” you hear is the joint sticking and unsticking as it turns the driveshaft. You should seek out service if you are hearing this sound continuously while driving.
5) A High Pitched “Squealing” Noise from Under the Hood
- This is probably the most common noise on this list, and I’m sure a lot of you will already know the cause of this – a bad belt. As belts wear out, glaze over, or crack; they lose the ability to grip the pulleys as well as they are intended to, and as a result they “spin out” on the pulley. In some cases, a light coating of belt dressing can help for a bit, but regular belt maintenance is important and can prevent the headache of having a belt pop on you while you’re driving down the highway.
Many of you will certainly have already been aware of some of these noises and their causes, but I hope this article may have been helpful to a few people out there who are
