10 Spooky Noises Your Car Might Make – That It Shouldn’t

Key Takeaways:

– Some noises that your car makes may be hiding a severe problem.

– Mostly, these problems are related to your car engine.

– Squeaking, rambling, grinding, or thumping noises are all red flags for your car engine.

– If you hear any of these noises, take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible.

You’re driving down the road without any worry when you hear a rattle, grind, or even hiss. These sounds can signal various problems with your car, ranging from minor to critical. Our experts at Cutter Mazda Honolulu will tell you that not all engine sounds mean danger. However, most of the time, it can mean something not very normal is going around.

We bring you a list of sounds your engine makes and the definition of what each might mean.

Squeaking

Brakes deteriorate with age. The squeaking sound is the first thing you’ll hear, followed by a grinding engine noise as they wear down. This is followed by a loud rumbling noise indicating more severe damage to the brakes. Often, your car may need a brake pad replacement and new brake rotors. If there’s one thing that we could all do without, it is car repairs.

Ticking and tapping

The intervals between oil changes have been getting longer and longer. And then sometimes people just forget to get their car in on time. However, neglecting to check your oil can lead to significant issues for your automobile. An engine that makes rambling sounds often indicates that the oil needs to be refilled. Of course, the engine is the heart of a vehicle, and it will sustain damage quickly without oil.

Rattling

When making a sharp turn or accelerating hard, some drivers with front-wheel drive may hear a rattling sound from the engine . Water might get into the joints that allow your tires to swivel, causing them to rust.

You have heard a rattling engine sound when a car with such an issue passes by. In severe cases, the engine noise might also be caused by a suspension problem.

Is your car making a strange engine noise? Could it be an exhaust pipe problem, as some believe? Exhaust pipes are kept cool by heat shields that may come loose and rattle. It’s also possible that your muffler or brakes are causing the rattling.

Booming Engine Sound

If you hear a booming noise when you go over potholes, there’s a good chance that your suspension-either a strut or a shock-has broken down. In other words, you want to get your struts and shocks replaced because they help improve your driving experience. Also, if you suddenly hear a loud noise when driving, it could be something broken in your car, like a ball joint or suspension, that puts you at risk of losing control.

Whining Engine Noise

If your car’s automatic transmission makes noise, it’s a bad sign. You shouldn’t hear any clunks or hard bangs when you put it in gear, and no whining while driving. If you notice any of these things, they’re signs that something is wrong with the transmission, and you should get it examined by a certified mechanic. However, there are other ways you might be wasting money on your car without realizing it.

Tire Noise

People become accustomed to their cars’ sounds over time, so they may not notice an engine sound that builds up gradually. If you hear noises emanating from your Mazda tires , there may be an issue with the alignment or suspension. It’s a good idea to bring along a passenger who hasn’t gone in your car for a while to see whether they notice any unusual noises you’ve gotten used to.

Hissing

A high-pitched squeak or a hissing engine noise can reveal a problem with the hoses around the engine. That could be either a hose-off, a vacuum leak, an air leak, or something with the belt system again.

Besides the obvious consequences like decreased mileage and engine performance, leaks can also impact your dashboard. However, there are still more things that your mechanic might not tell you.

Grinding

Two metal surfaces are rubbing together if you hear grinding while the car is running. This could indicate a problem with the water pump, alternator, or drive belt-all of which should be checked out by a professional and trusted mechanic as soon as possible.

Squealing

A squeal during acceleration could also indicate a problem with your belt. Cars these days only have one belt, and if that belt breaks, you’re stranded. Want to prevent yourself from spending a lot on getting your car fixed? Be careful when buying the first car and ensure the repair records are good or don’t cost too much.

Knocking Sound

If your engine hears a knocking noise, it might be low on fluids. However, this engine noise could also signify a more significant issue involving the rod bearings. In that scenario, you would have to get an entirely new engine. Even though that’s costly, if you’re vigilant and catch problems early on, you can prevent such large issues by maintaining them regularly.

How To Reduce Engine Noise?

An expert mechanic’s help is essential to understand the problem and fix it as soon as possible. Where some would suggest a DIY remedy, we recommend you avoid that. It is a complicated task, and one wrong move could worsen the situation.

Additionally, many think changing the engine oil will fix the problem. However, that’s not always the case. As we have already explained, various factors can contribute to engine noise. So, even if the oil changes, the noise might not go away completely.

Ending Note

If your car is making one of these spooky noises, it’s time to take it in for a check-up. And if you’re experiencing more than one of these issues, don’t wait – bring your car in for a diagnostic as soon as possible. Ignoring the problem could lead to more extensive and expensive repairs.

Mazda Dealership in Honolulu, HI

At Cutter Mazda Honolulu , serving Honolulu, HI, we pride ourselves on being a full-service dealership. That means we not only have a large selection of new and pre-owned Mazda vehicles, but we also have a state-of-the-art service center . Get your Mazda looking like new and rid your vehicle of any unusual sound it might be making with the help of our expert technicians.

Schedule your service today.

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