Common Car Noises and Their Causes 

 

Noises while driving are not uncommon. Squeaks, bangs, and hisses can represent standard sounds in vehicle’s daily operations. If they get louder and more frequent, or seemingly appear out of nowhere, then the car needs to be taken to the auto repair shop. Not doing so can result in severe damage that’s costly to repair.

To determine whether it’s time for a car mechanic to check things out, here are some of the common automobile noises and their causes.

Constant Hissing When The AC Is On

When turning on the air conditioner in some vehicles, drivers might hear an initial hiss as it starts up. This can happen when it has two-level controls. In other words, one in the front and one in the back.

If they hear frequent hissing, this is a concern, especially when its heard under the driver’s side. This can mean a leak in one of the AC hoses. This can be followed by a decrease in the AC’s power. In that instance, car service is required before the unit totally fails.

Squealing Under The Hood

At startup or during acceleration/deceleration, drivers might hear squealing. It’s loud at the beginning and then gets softer or disappears. This is related in most cases to the vehicle’s serpetine/timing belt.

Over time, the belt can wear down or become loose. This is when the squealing begins. From that point, it can work for several hundred more miles or completely break. When that happens, anything that runs through the belt will fail. So, consider a car repair as soon as possible to replace the belt.

Scraping When Brakes Are Applied

Brakes are comprised of rubber pads and metal discs. As the pads wear out or get dirty, driver’s might hear squealing. When this happens, they should be pro-active and set up a car repair.

If the squealing becomes scraping it means the brake pads are near or already worn out. If not treated at this point, the breaks will fail. The vehicle must be immediately taken in for service at this point.

Roaring During Acceleration

There are two possible reasons for this. First, there might be an issue with the exhaust system in the form of a hole or crack. This needs to be quickly rectified because fumes from open areas can seep into the vehicle’s interior.

The second source can be the transmission. For automatic cars it could represent problems with shifting gears. For cars with a clutch and stick shift, the reason is slippage inside the transmission. This needs to be addressed to prevent the component from totally failing.

These are only a few examples of common car noises and their causes. When a noise appears that results in worry, it’s time to plan a visit to Stop N Go Auto Center. They can diagnose the problem and provide a solution to rapidly get the car on the road.