Cars are wonderful pieces of machinery that get us to and from our destinations, but with machinery can come the wear and tear over years of use and even just mechanical flukes. It’s important to pay attention to the sounds your car is making so you know if you need to take it to a mechanic or not. Here are some of the sounds you could hear from your car and what it might mean.
Grinding or squealing
Grinding sounds could come from a couple of different places. Grinding could be a sign of some transmission problems if your gears are grinding together. The sound could be because your transmission fluid is low or you have bad gears in your transmission. It could also mean you have bad brake rotors or something is caught in between your rotor and the break pad. Squealing could also be a sign of wear and tear on your breaks, or, if you hear the noise while turning your wheel, it could mean you have a stretched-out power steering belt.
Bangs and pops
Bangs and pops can signal a problem with the joints in your car. It could also mean your engine has backfired and fuel has ignited when it wasn’t supposed to. There are several causes of a backfiring engine like dirty air filters or worn spark plugs. Banging under the hood can also be a sign there’s something amiss with the valves in your vehicle, so if you hear any pops or bangs from your car; it might be time to take it into the shop.
Howling or humming
If your car is making a loud humming or howling sound, you could need to replace your wheel bearings. Wheel bearings are small balls that help the parts around your wheel rotate smoothly, but they’re in the front and back of the car, which can make different noises. Hearing a steady howl that grew as you drove, it is probably the back, and if you hear the noise when turning left or right, it could be the front wheels.
Liquid noises
Liquid noises can include gurgling or bubbling of any kind, and if you hear this, it could be a sign of a leak somewhere. The noises come from the air meeting the liquid. This could end up being extremely serious if it’s a leak in your cooling system, since that’s what keeps your engine from overheating. If you suspect your car has a leak somewhere, take it in immediately before it becomes more serious.
If your car starts to make suspicious noises, you may want to take it in to get it checked out. It’s a good idea to know what the problem may be before going in to avoid over paying or being told something else. Don’t ignore these noises as just something your car does. You could wind up needing transmission repair in Mesquite, TX; you can go to Town East Automotive to get the noises your car is making checked out.
