What’s That Nasty Noise On Your Car?

Owning a car is a privilege that seems as if it should be a right. But, what they don’t tell us when we first get our driver’s licenses is that car ownership sometimes means that everyone else has a piece of your car, not you. From the bank who lends you the money to buy a car, to the mechanic who helps maintain it, to the insurance company who keeps you insured, car ownership certainly can get expensive! timing belt One area where costs can and must be contained is with repairs. Most repairs can be avoided or at least the costs minimized through regular maintenance. 

The owner’s manual of every car shares helpful tips on what to replace and at what intervals. You may think that you need your oil and oil filter changed every three thousand miles, but if the manufacturer says that you’re good to go for five thousand miles or longer, then it doesn’t matter what Jiffy Lube thinks. The manufacturer’s guidance is what counts.

When your car is running smoothly, life is grand. But when you start to hear odd noises coming from underneath the hood or body, you’re rightfully concerned. Immediately, your life savings may be flashing before your eyes, but don’t panic – determining what those noises mean can go a long way to helping you diagnose the problem, perhaps avoiding a costly and unnecessary trip to the garage too.

Let’s take a “listen” to eight common noises and what they could mean for your car:

• Air - Clicking or whooshing from underneath the hood is rarely cause for concern especially if you hear that noise upon starting your car. An electric fan kicks in to help keep the engine from overheating, thus the whirring noise.
• Squeal - Try as I might, the brakes on one of my cars frequently squeal. This isn’t normally a cause for concern as dirt tends to lodge up underneath the brakes but it can be a sign that your brake pads need replacing. Twice annual brake and brake system check ups make sense to help you avoid a worsening problem.
• Click - Your CV joint will start to make a clicking noise as they wear out. When that happens, you’ll need to take your car in for repairs. Quite noticeable when turning your wheels!Shriek – Some say it sounds like a shriek, while others call it a squeal. No matter, that noise coming from underneath your hood, especially when you’re driving, suggests that a belt may be loose. Don’t waste any time – take your car in for an inspection, because a broken belt could leave you stranded!
• Tap - I’ve been driving long enough to remember when cars used to shudder when you turn them off. That noise was due to bad gas or low octane. These days a different kind of tapping noise is often heard, but there isn’t anything wrong with your car. Your manifold is simply cooling down.
• Puff - Loud puffing or ticking may point to an exhaust system leak. Carbon monoxide leakage can be dangerous, even deadly so don’t delay: have your car inspected at once!
• Meow - While it is possible that you have a cat hiding underneath your hood (felines love warm places especially in the winter months) more than likely the power steering fluid is low, which is something that you can replenish.
• Knock - As mentioned under “tap” some cars have a tough time running on lower octane when they should have higher octane gas. Older cars, especially those from the 1980s and earlier tend to knock because knock sensors, which are universal today, hadn’t come to the market yet. Should you take your car to a mechanic? Yes, especially if you have a late model car – your knock sensor may have failed.

Nasty noises can be worrisome but some noises aren’t harmful at all. When in doubt, have a mechanic check it out to get some much needed peace of mind.