Car Sounds and What the Issue Could Be

When you are driving, you should be aware of any sounds that you hear from your vehicle. Vehicles often make sounds that you do not understand, or you might ignore certain sounds because you know that the car is not breaking down. However, there are sounds that you might not understand. The sounds listed below could signal issues with your vehicle that need to be addressed as soon as possible.

Squeaky Brakes

When your brakes squeak, you might have a ball bearing that has moved out of place, or the bare brake pads are touching the rotor. If your brakes are new, you could smell an odd odor and hear a squeak because the preservative on the brake parts is wearing away.

Engine Rattling

When your engine is rattling, you might have belts that are out of place. It is also possible that your engine mounts are broken or coming loose. In extreme cases, an engine rattle might be caused by an overactive fuel system that is causing tiny combustion in the engine that is far too powerful.

Engine Clicking

Engine clicking could be caused by low oil pressure, broken cylinders in the engine, and valve lash. If the engine is not aligned and serviced properly, valve lash will be so powerful that you cannot help but hear a click. Also, you will hear a click as metal touches metal when there is not enough oil in the engine.

Knocking Under the Hood

As mentioned above, there are times when the engine fueling system is too powerful. The combustion in the engine could be so powerful that you will hear the knocking under the hood. Spark plugs might also cause the knocking sound. Spark plugs that are not installed properly can make a knocking sound as the engine runs.

Engine Squealing

When your engine squeals, you likely have a bad serpentine belt. This is not the only reason you could hear engine squealing, but it is a good first place to look. If your serpentine belt is in good shape, you might be hearing the alternator whine because it is failing. It would be best if you also considered checking the drive belt or the pulley bearings because they can make a squealing sound that is difficult to ignore.

Visit our service center as soon as possible when you realize that your vehicle makes noises that sound bad. Our Chevy service experts are ready to help get your car back into its proper condition.