3 Sounds Your Car May Be Making And What They Mean
Posted on: 13 January 2016
Cars can tell you when something is wrong by making certain sounds. It can be difficult, however, if you do not understand what these sounds mean. In many cases, if you take your car to a mechanic when you first start hearing these noises you could have a lower repair bill. Below are three different things you could be hearing and why.
Grinding sound when you press the breaks
If you hear a grinding sound when you press on your brakes, the brake pads have worn away. Brake pads have a friction material with a steel back. When you press on your brakes, pressure is produced that causes the pads to press onto the rotors, which stops your vehicle. When the pads are worn, they rub up against the rotor, which results in the grinding sound. In many cases, when you first start hearing this noise, there is still a thin layer of padding left. This is why it is important to get your car fixed fast before they have had time to completely wear away. This can cause more damage to your rotors, which will result in a higher repair bill.
Squeaking sound under the hood
If you hear a squeaking sound under the hood of your car, this is usually due to a damaged or worn accessory belt. Your car will have many of these belts that drive the air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, alternator, and the water pump. If you have a newer car, it will have a multi accessory drive belt, also known as a serpentine belt.
In most cases, the belts are old and losing traction and have become loose. If you open your hood and look at these belts, you may even see a glazed or shiny look on the sides of them, which means they have oil on them. If you are not sure where the accessory belts are located, refer to the user's manual for your car.
Popping sound from the engine
If you are hearing a popping sound coming from your engine, and your engine hesitates when you first start it up, this could be due to a dirty air filter. It may also be time to change your spark plugs and/or the spark plug wires. If it is none of these things, then you could have a bad ignition.
If you notice any of these problems, take your car to a mechanic like Elkhart Auto Center to have it looked at.
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