Is Your Car Making a Funny Noise?

If your vehicle begins to emit an unusual or abnormal sound, it can be many things - funny is not one of them. While all vehicles make some type of noise, even electric powered vehicles produce a slight whir, as a responsible operator one must constantly be on the “lookout” for strange noises. Noises made during normal operation are the only ones that should be ignored and, since nobody knows your vehicle as well as you, have it checked by a qualified technician as soon as possible if you notice any strange sounds. At Hyundai of Cookeville we have had a recent influx of customers with strange noises. Sometimes they come in early andwe are able to rectify the problem with only a minor repair. Other times they wait too long and a major repair is the result.

Clicking or Tapping

These types of noises coming from the front of your vehicle may be a bad sign. A click or tap emitted from the top of the engine could indicate several things. On the one hand, it could be fuel injectors ticking away normally or it may be a failed lifter, rocker arm, valve spring, or valve lash adjuster. This scenario mostly plays out on vehicles with a ton of miles. This type of noise can also be caused by a low oil level or oil pressure condition. This is the worst case scenario.

Knocking

Don’t confuse tapping or clicking with knocking. An engine knock is the absolute worst sound that it can make. This usually means that the low oil level or oil pressure condition has gone beyond tapping or clicking and digressed to the point that a new engine will be required. When you ignore regular maintenance and allow the engine oil level to become too low, the crankshaft, connecting rods, and their respective oil clearance bearings are deprived of oil. The result may be a spun rod and/or main bearing, broken connecting rod, or a connecting rod protruding through the side of the engine block.

Whining

This is what people do when their engine makes knocking noises. It can also happen when defective bearings are attempting to seize and cost somebody some major funds. If you drive a vehicle with a timing belt, whining bearings (from idler or tensioner pulleys) can be catastrophic for your bank account (particularly if yours is an interference engine). If the idler or tensioner is whining it could implode and break the timing belt, turning your engine into a high-priced boat anchor. Faulty belts may also make whining noises. If your vehicle is equipped with a supercharger or turbocharger, the whining noise may also be coming from there.

Squeeling

Squealing noises can come from anywhere on the automobile. Brake pad indicators squeal when they contact the rotor surface as do brake pad surfaces, when they are pitted or crystalized. If your brakes squeal when braking, it’s probably the latter. If the squeal occurs only when rolling without the brake pedal depressed, suspect worn brake pads. Since four-wheel disc brake systems are becoming the norm, these noises may be emitted from either the front or rear of the vehicle.

Roaring

This type of noise may be the most difficult to detect and diagnose. If the noise exhibits itself only under acceleration, suspect a defective bearing in the differential (pinion, carrier, or axle). If the noise seems to be coming from the front but you can’t isolate exactly what it is, turn the steering wheel slightly to one side or the other (while driving) and see if the pitch changes. If it does, you are probably dealing with a faulty front wheel bearing. If not, it may a tire (or tires) with uneven tread wear.