May 1, 2020

Car engine | Priority Toyota Chesapeake in Chesapeake, VAOne of the most disheartening things in the world is when you’re driving down the road and begin to hear strange noises coming from your car’s engine compartment. This can make your heart drop, especially when this is your only means of transportation. Unless you’re a trained mechanic, you won’t necessarily know what the issue is and will need to have your local dealer inspect your vehicle. Here are some common engine noises that can spell disaster.

High-Pitched Squealing

When you hear a high-pitched squealing sound coming from under your hood, you may need to check your vehicle’s serpentine belt for cracks and wear. Many cars have multiple belts, and each one will need to be checked to ensure they are in good working order. If your air conditioning has a separate belt and you only hear the noise while operating the air conditioning, you’ve got a good idea of which belt to replace.

Belts tend to squeal or chirp when starting your car and in colder weather, and they will begin to quiet down as the engine compartment warms up. If your car’s belts continue to make noise during normal operation, you should have your car’s belts checked and replaced as necessary.

Howling, Whining, Roaring, or Singing

When you hear a low roaring, howling, singing, or whining sound that only gets louder when you pick up speed, you may be dealing with bad bearings. If it’s your front wheel bearings, they will increase or change sounds as you turn right or left. If you hear a growing and steady howling, it’s most likely your rear wheel bearings. In cases where you have a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, and you hear the sound when accelerating, it could be your car’s differential. If your differential is leaking, it’ll need to be fixed quickly.

Tapping, Clunking, or Banging

If you hear sounds that seem to be rhythmic in nature and consist of tapping, clunking, and banging, your vehicle has a serious issue that needs to be addressed by a mechanic immediately. These sounds coming from under the hood typically relate to the internal components of your engine. Noises such as these could be problems with connecting rods, valves, and pistons. Any of these conditions are considered severe and will need attention as fast as you can get your car to the mechanic.

Brake Sounds

When your brakes are grinding, squealing, or growling, you’ll want to have them checked out as soon as possible. If your car’s brakes are making unusual sounds, it could be a sign that your brake pads are going bad and in need of being replaced. Your brakes are vital when it comes to the safety of you and your family as they work to stop the car and also help you to avoid collisions.

Your check engine light helps you keep potential issues from becoming dire – and inevitably requiring more expensive repairs – but you must listen to what your vehicle is telling you as you drive. The noises you hear can often be clear signs of what is wrong, and an experienced mechanic can usually diagnose vehicle problems by just listening. If you’re hearing sounds from your car that it shouldn’t be making, take it and have it thoroughly inspected to ensure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Schedule an appointment at Priority Toyota Chesapeake and allow one of our certified technicians to investigate the source of any troubling noises.

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