If you ever hear a strange noise coming from your car, such as a squeal, click, or howl, don’t just turn the volume up on your radio to tune it out. Any noise coming from your car should not be ignored, as it can often indicate an underlying problem. At Driver’s Way in Pelham, we encourage you to always listen to your vehicle, and have it tended to before the issue gets worse.
Here are seven sounds that can be signals of car trouble:
A squealing sound often means that your brake pads are nearing the end of their service life and need to be replaced. If you hear growling or grinding, this could reveal that your pads are so worn that metal is scraping against metal. This is a serious problem that could affect braking efficiency.
If you have four-wheel or rear-wheel drive and hear a squeaking sound as you hit the gas, the culprit is likely to be a failing universal joint (U-Joint), which is a component of the driveshaft.
If you have front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive and hear a clicking noise when you turn, one or both of the of the constant velocity joints (CV joints) on your front axle might need to be replaced.
If you’re driving at a low speed and hear something rattling around inside your wheel, it is likely a loose lug nut inside the hub cap. This can happen if your wheel wasn’t tightened properly the last time it was taken off and replaced.
This sound could point to a serious issue with valves, connecting rods, or pistons.
A squealing noise from under the hood could occur from a worn or loose accessory belt that drives things like your power steering pump, air conditioner compressor, or alternator. In newer cars, this sound can indicate a problem with the serpentine belt, which drives multiple accessories at once.
This sound typically suggests that your bearings aren’t functioning as they should. If you have front-wheel drive and the noise changes as you turn left, right, and back again, it’s likely your front-wheel bearings, while a gradually growing howl signals rear-wheel bearings. If you have rear-wheel drive and the whine gets louder as you go faster, your differential, which allows your wheels to spin at different rates when needed, could be leaking fluid.
If your car is trying to tell you that something isn’t working properly, it’s important for you to listen. Then, turn to our service center in Pelham for all of your noise-related questions or repair needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact the team at our used car dealership today at (205) 271-6738!