10 Most Common Car Noises and Sounds

Is your car making a strange noise? This article will find sound clips that can help you identify wired car noises, loud noises, hissing, and even funny car noises.

Most Common Noises

The most common car noises are:

1. Clunking
2. Grinding
3. Hissing
4. Knocking
5. Banging
6. Rattling
7. Roaring
8. Tapping
9. Clicking
10. Squealing

Let’s look at what causes these noises and listen to sound clips.

Noise when turning the steering wheel

Cause: Low Power Steering Fluid Level

Sound: Whine, Growling

When you hear it:  As you turn the steering wheel, the engine is running, parked, or driving.

Solution: Add Power Steering Fluid, Fix Leaks

A vehicle can make a few noises while turning. The most common noise is growling, which is often due to low power steering fluid. This noise is caused because the power steering system may have developed a leak. You will hear this sound when parked and turning the steering wheel (engine running).

The noise can be heard when driving and making a turn. Noise varies as you change the engine RPMs too. Check all hoses for possible leaks. The power steering pump does not have enough power steering fluid, thus making the growling noise. Top off your power steering reservoir with power steering fluid.

Don’t continue to drive the car with low power steering fluid, or you will permanently damage the power steering pump. Keep the power steering system topped off if you are on a tight budget and can’t fix the leak. Ideally, you shouldn’t have to add power steering fluid even once a year. You leak if you add PS fluid once a month or more often. Keep the PS fluid level at the recommended range until the leak is fixed.

Noise at startup

Cause: Worn serpentine belt

Sound: Squeak

When you hear it: At startup, it often goes away when the car warms up.

Solution: Replace Serpentine Belt; if the noise remains, replace Belt Tensioner

One of the most common noises is a squealing noise from a worn drive belt. When the drive belt starts to deteriorate, it loses its ability to function properly. Inspect the drive belt for glazed, peeling, oiled, split, and so on.

To test the drive belt; spray water on the drive belt while the engine is running; be mindful not to let water splash on you. If the noise goes away, the drive belt is worn.

With the engine off, inspect the drive belt for cracks.

Click click when making a turn.

Cause: Bad CV Joint

Sound: Click, Click, Click

When you hear it: While driving, making a turn, or accelerating.

Solution: Replace CV Joint

The second most common noise is a bad axle. When you make a turn, you may hear a clicking noise when turning. For example: if you turn your wheel to the right, the right axle is bad and vice versa. Inspect the axle for torn and deteriorated axle boots.

The third most common noise comes from a loose tie rod end. Inspect the tie rod and ensure it is not loose; this is very dangerous as you can lose control while driving.

Noise when you drive over bumps

Cause: Sway Bar Links or Bushings

Noise: Banging, Rubbing, Clunk, Squeak

When you hear it: Going over bumps, hitting potholes.

Solution: Replace Links and Bushings

If you hear a squeaky or banking noise when you go over bumps or potholes, the chances are that the sway bar link or bushings are bad. As you drive the car, the suspension may also feel very loose.

They are easy to replace and can be changed in your driveway. It is recommended to replace both the sway bar links and bushings simultaneously. When replacing the sway bar bushings, it is not required to perform front wheel alignment.

Other possibilities:

• Worn strut or shocks
• Worn ball joints
• Worn control arm bushing
• Worn strut tower

Noise from under the dashboard

Cause: Brake Booster

Sound: Hiss, Air Leak

When you hear it: When pressing or depressing the brake pedal. When turning off the engine.

Solution: Try Brake Booster Repair Kit

Sometimes you may hear a noise from under the dashboard. Various items can cause noises from the dashboard.

• Brake Booster Boot
  • If you hear a hissing noise when the car is running, there is a good chance the brake booster boot or seal is cracked. You will normally hear the noise only when the engine is running and you press or depress the brake pedal. You also hear the noise for a couple of seconds when the car is turned off.
• Stepper Motor
  • Some vehicles have motors and flaps or butterfly-type valves that divert the airflow to your face, windshield, or feet. The motors can fail, or the flaps can get stuck, causing a clicking noise when you turn on the A/C or start the car.
• Blower Fan
  • The blower fan is mounted under the dashboard and can fail to cause a squeaky noise. You should only hear this noise if you turn the A/C or heat on. Sometimes you need to set the fan speed to high or maximum to hear the noise.

Click, Click, and Click Noise | Car won’t start

Cause: Dead Battery

Sound: One or more clicks

When you hear it: Trying to start the car.

Solution: Charge the battery with a trickle charger

If your car won’t start, in many cases, the culprit is the battery. It can be tricky to diagnose a bad battery, especially if everything else seems to be working fine. It can be tricky, especially if the low beam lights still turn on, the dashboard powers up, and the blower fan works. Yet, the battery may still be the problem.

Symptoms of a bad battery include.

• The engine sounds weak when starting.
• One-click and the car won’t start.
• You hear several clicks, and the engine won’t turn over.

Noise when braking

Brake noises are one of the most common complaints by drivers.  The most common noise coming from a brake system is squealing noise when you brake.

The squealing noise signifies that your brake pads or drum shoes are running low. There is a mechanical sensor on your brake pads, and when your brake pads run low, the mechanical sensor rubs against the rotor. It is an indication to alert the driver that it is time to replace the brake pads.

The second most common noise is grinding; when you hear a noise from the brake area, the brake pads are shallow, or there are no more brake pads. In this case, the rotors will be damaged from the low brake pads, thus requiring replacement. Furthermore, additional noise may result from the brake system, such as clucking or grinding.

This can happen when the brake caliper is seized and not allowing the brake pads to float freely or the clucking noise result from loose brake pads, most likely not sitting correctly on the brake hardware caused by poor installation.

If you hear a metal rubbing noise after changing the brake pads, the problem often is the dust shield getting bent and touching the rotor.

Engine Noises

An engine has many moving parts. Noise can come from the top end or the bottom end. If the noise comes from the top end, you may have bad lifters, which results in a loud ticking or tapping noise usually caused by high mileage or low oil.

Moreover, the cam lobe may also be worn from excessive miles. Also, noise can come from the timing belt or chain area. Furthermore, noise can come from worn bearings such as alternator bearings, air condition bearings, pulleys, etc.

Noise when accelerating

A noise when various problems can cause accelerating.

• Whining noise: bad alternator
• Growing noise: power steering pump
• Howling noise: worn differential
• Clunking noise: worn driveshaft u joint or worn engine and transmission mounts
• Squealing noise: drive belt

Noise when backing up

Here are some of the noises that can be heard when backing up.

• Grinding noise: low brake pads, seized brake caliper
• Whining noise: bad transmission
• Howling noise: bad differential
• Clunking noise: worn driveshaft u joint or worn engine or transmission mounts
• Suspension: excessively worn bushing

Noise from exhaust

The exhaust system is responsible for exhaling the exhaust combustion fume from the engine to the end of the tailpipe, where it gets released. However, due to wear and tear, the exhaust system will eventually rust and leak. The common noise is puffing, and you can smell the exhaust fumes. If this happens, take the vehicle to the muffler shop and have them inspect for exhaust leaks.

Noise from lifters

Noise coming from the lifters usually makes a loud clicking noise or a clicking noise. It depends on how severely worn it is. The noise will always come from the top end of the engine. If the lifters are worn, take them to a mechanic and have them remove the valve cover for inspection.

Noise from rod bearings

If the noise comes from the bottom end, you may have a bad rod bearing or main bearings. The noise usually sounds like a knocking noise. Moreover, if the noise comes from the center and sounds like a slapping noise, your piston ring is worn, or the piston wall is excessively worn. Either way, once the knocking or slapping noise starts, the engine requires rebuilding or replacement.

Rattle Noise

A loose component on a vehicle causes a rattling noise. Some of the loose components that can make noises are:

• loose exhaust heat shield
• starter heat shield
• exhaust pipe
• timing chain tensioner
• loose internal panels
• pulley bearings
• worn strut tower
• loose disc brake shield

Noise from a rear-end

A howling or whining Noise from the rear end can signify a failing differential. Usually, the noise becomes loud as the vehicle travels faster. Also, low disc or drum brakes can contribute to noise from the rear end.

Get the opinion of a trusted auto mechanic before you start replacing car parts. A good auto mechanic would love to listen to a car noise and share with your their knowledge.

We hope you find the 10 Most Common Car Noises and Sounds guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your vehicle.