Is Your Car Making Strange Noises? Then You Need to Read This
Is Your Car Making Strange Noises? Then You Need to Read This
Posted on January 15, 2017
For many of us, our car is the primary method of transportation. Day in and day out, we use it to drive to work, pick up the kids, go to a drive-in, etc. With so much use, it may start to show signs of wear and tear.
It might be tempting to ignore car troubles, hoping they’ll go away on their own. However, according to a national survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7% of car crashes are a result of vehicular failure. As you can see, when you ignore your vehicle’s issues, you put not only yourself at risk, but your family at risk as well.
One of the first tell-tale signs of an issue with your vehicle is strange noises. Different pitches can indicate different problems. Listen carefully to get an idea of what the problem is.
We’ve collected the most common noises and what they can mean for your car in the list below:-
Clattering
Bad gasoline or incorrect ignition timing can cause clattering sounds to emit from your vehicle. If left unchecked, your car is at risk of serious damage. The car may even refuse to start. One way to remedy the issue is to switch to higher octane gas.
Fingernails Scraping
If you hear a sound that’s similar to fingernails scrapping, then that means the accessory drive belt is loose. In this case, the problem can be the belt slipping on the pulleys, due to improper tension or wear and tear. Inspect the belt for any minor cracks or fraying. Replace as needed.
Grinding Metal
Are your brake pads and rotors causing a grinding noise? If left unattended, brake pads might wear out and cause this sound when the pad touches the car metal. The only solution is to have your brakes serviced. If you leave it be, your car might take longer to stop, potentially putting you in a dangerous situation.
Rattling Noise
Though harder to diagnose, rattling noises might signify the wearing out of your suspension, muffler or engine. Depending on where the rattling noise is coming from, it can be a small or big problem.
Sound Coming from the Steering Wheel
A failed power steering might be the cause of these sounds. If left unchecked, this can even lead to loss of steering assistance. To fix this, check the fluid level and buy a new pump immediately.
Rusty door hinge noises
Aside from just being annoying, hearing a rusty door hinge noise from your car is extremely dangerous. Problematic ball joints are usually behind these noises. Your car can bounce up and down or rock back and forth if the problem isn’t addressed soon.
In every case, if you hear a strange noise from your car, then visit your mechanic at the earliest to figure out exactly what’s wrong. Remember, it isn’t just your safety you have to take into consideration, but also your family’s safety.