Warning Sounds From Cars

Warning Sounds From Cars

Like anything in life, your motor vehicle will generally give you the heads-up when problems start to arise and drivers who opt to ignore these early warning signals do so at their peril.

Whether a new or used car, a smooth running motor vehicle makes a variety of noises that, like a well-directed orchestra, all make their sounds at the correct time and level for a successful performance. The sounds that significantly miss the healthy musical synergy are the ones to fret about.

Brakes most important

One of the most important components of any car is the brakes. If these fail, it is more than likely you and your set of wheels will become involved in a nasty accident. However, brakes generally alert the driver to any problems early enough to avoid an unpleasant situation.

Screeching or scraping

Screeching or scraping sounds emitted from the wheels are generally signs that the brakes are either on their last legs or dust and dirt has somehow gotten onto the brake drums. If the noise is evident when you are slowing down and appears to be more prevalent on damp, cold days, then the worst case scenario is the brake pads are wearing thin and need to be replaced. If the noise persists, it may be a good idea to grind down the brake drum in an effort to remove any dust or dirt.

A squeak from the wheels may very well indicate defective drum-brake linings but could also be a direct result of worn suspension bushings. It could even be as simple as the chassis demanding a lube job.

Squeal from the wheel

A 'squeal from the wheel' can be a number of things - underinflated tyres, loose power-steering fan, wheels that need to be realigned or a worn air conditioning compressor belt.

Repetitive thump

A repetitive 'thump' coming from the wheels when travelling at low speeds, especially in the chill of the morning, generally indicates a flat spot on the tyre. Although the sound will disappear once the tyre has warmed up, the simple solution is to replace the offending tyre with steel belt radials.

Escaping air

The sound of escaping air from under the bonnet, particularly noticeable when the car is idling, is almost always an indication that the exhaust manifold gasket has blown. As dangerous carbon dioxide is being released, it is critical that you replace the gasket as a matter of urgency.

Tick-tock like a crazed clock

The sound of ticking, like a crazed clock, from underneath and to the rear of the car whilst it is in motion is generally an indication that the U-joint in the drive shaft is devoid of grease and is about to fail. This is a dangerous phenomenon as it has been well documented that cars can and will literally pole vault right over the affected drive shaft should it fail at high speed. Replace the U-joint as soon as possible and attempt to keep them fully lubricated at all times.

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