Is your vehicle making an unusual noise? Don’t turn the music up and ignore it! Your car may be telling you something. If you drive it frequently, you’re probably used to the normal sounds it makes, you barely notice them. That’s why any strange noise can be alarming. However, they may not have to be. Once you have an idea of what the issue might be that is causing the unwanted noise you may be relieved to find out that it can either easily be repaired or you could plan accordingly to resolve the issue in an affordable manner. We already talked about nine warning smells to look out for. Here are a few sounds that indicate your car needs maintenance that you should listen for if you want to know when to schedule service for your vehicle:
Tapping or Clicking in the Engine Compartment:
If your vehicle is stopped and you hear a tapping or clicking noise, this may mean your engine is low on oil, there’s a problem with the valve train or if your car is older, your engine could be worn out. Generally, you’ll hear this noise when you start your car in cold temperatures, and it should stop after your engine warms up. If it increases with acceleration, the tappets could have lost lubrication due to low or dirty engine oil. This most likely means your vehicle needs an oil change.
Squealing or Grinding Sounds from Your Brakes:
If you hear a squealing noise coming from your brakes when you press down on the brake pedal, it can mean your brake pads are thinning. Schedule an appointment with us to check out your brakes as soon as possible to see if they need to be replaced. If you hear a grinding sound while braking, this usually means your pads have worn out completely and the metal parts in your system are contacting each other. This can result in serious damage, so it is important to bring your car down as soon as you hear this noise so we can install new brake pads immediately to prevent extensive harm to your brake rotors and ensure vehicle safety.
Banging or Rattling Noises from your Engine Compartment or Underneath Your Vehicle:
Banging or Rattling noises can have many different meanings. The most common issues might be from your catalytic converter, the engine may be out of tune, or a problem with your camshaft belt. These issues can worsen without immediate attention, so be sure to schedule service as soon as you can.
A banging noise coming from your engine compartment is one of the most concerning sounds. A banging sound can also mean your engine is misfiring or there’s a problem with your spark plugs. A rattling noise coming from underneath your vehicle could mean something is loose, or that something has lodged itself under the car.
Knocking When Accelerating:
Knocking can come from an engine that’s poorly tuned, running on the wrong fuel, or low on octane. This may mean your vehicle could require a higher octane fuel or the ignition timing may need to be checked.
These are a few of the potential reasons as to why your car has been making unusual noises. For the most accurate troubleshooting, it’s best to note where and when the unusual noises occur, including the time of day, outside temperature, vehicle speed, driving terrain, engine speed, and whether you are accelerating, braking, coasting, or idling. Also, for manual transmissions, it’s important to note what gear the vehicle is in.
If you hear any of these sounds that indicate your car needs maintenance, be sure to bring your car by Luke’s Auto Service in Essex County, New Jersey for an appointment with our certified technicians. Regardless of the sound, you’re hearing from your vehicle, one of our service technicians can quickly diagnose the problem and give you solutions to keep your ride on the road and prevent strange noises from haunting you while you’re behind the wheel.
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