Have you ever been driving along, minding your own business when all of a sudden strange noises start to come from your car? Most of us have been there, and most of us have probably tried to ignore the noises as well. Ignoring the sounds, however, will not make them go away! Those sounds are your car trying to tell you that something is wrong and are actually an excellent indicator that it is time for auto repair services. So next time you hear a howling or a squeaking or a thudding, don’t just turn up the radio to drown it out. Instead, listen to the noise carefully and see if it comes from any particular area of your car, from when you perform a particular action (slow down or accelerate, for example). Auto repair shops should be able to diagnose the problem based on your description, but for your own personal interest, here are some noises that your car might make and what they are telling you:
- Screeching – If you hear a high pitched or maybe metallic screeching noise, brakes are the likely culprit. This is especially true if you notice this annoying screeching noise whenever you step on the brakes. Most brake pads have a metal indicator that grinds against the metal disks when the brake pads have worn down. If this is the case, it’s probably time for brake pad service.
- Loud Engine – If you’re driving along and notice that your engine is abnormally loud, you might be in need of oil change service. Oil lubricates the engine, and when levels get low, things can scrape against each other and cause the engine to hum louder than normal. If you hear this noise, simply check your oil levels.
- Hissing – When you hear a hissing noise, it is likely coming from your engine and could mean a few things. It could be that a vacuum is leaking or disconnected, the exhaust system is unplugged or your engine is overheating. It is best to take a look inside your hood for signs of distress.
These are just a few of the noises that you might hear coming from your car. If you are ever unsure of what the problem is or whether or not your car needs auto repair services, it is always best to have a professional take a look. See this link for more.