Your car makes a lot of different noises and most of them are pretty normal. Every once in a while something goes wrong and you start to hear some new noises, and some of them might even be kind of scary. L&D Automotive has some information you can use to help you determine what’s going on.
Hissing from Under the Hood
Hissing sounds from under the hood don’t mean you have a reptile under there. Usually, this is the sound of steam escaping from somewhere. Double-check the temperature gauge on the dashboard because it’s highly likely that your car’s engine is overheating. If you see actual steam coming from under the hood, your car is definitely overheating and you may have a bigger problem if you ignore what’s going on.
Squeals, Chirps, or Clicks from the Wheels
Your wheels make a lot of noise, including tire noise as you move across the pavement. But if you’re hearing chirps or squeals that sound like they’re coming from the wheels, that could mean that bearings in the wheels or the axles are going bad. You might hear the sounds change as your speed changes, which can help you to determine it’s related to the wheels. If you’re hearing clicking sounds, particularly while turning, that can mean your CV joint is going bad.
Grinding While Braking
Brakes make noise, too, but when you start to hear bigger sounds, particularly grinding, when you brake, that’s not good. It typically means that the brake pads are wearing down to the point that they need to be replaced. Other types of noises, like squealing or creaking, can mean that the brakes are either damp or cold, and those types of noises usually stop as you use the brakes.
Clicking from Under the Hood
When you listen to your car’s engine, do you hear clicking coming from under the hood? This can mean a few different things, including that the oil needs to be changed or that you’re actually low on oil. Checking the oil when the engine is cool can help you to narrow down whether that’s the cause. If you’re hearing clicking when you’re accelerating, that could be misfiring that leads to engine damage.
Don’t ignore new noises, because that’s your car’s way of letting you know that you need to pay attention. Call us today at L&D Automotive in Lavon, TX and we’ll accurately diagnose what those noises mean in your car.