It can be a nerve-racking experience when you’re driving your car along like normal and, all of a sudden, it starts making a noise you’ve never heard before. If you’re a car owner in Minnesota whose vehicle has started to sound funny when you drive, your first step should be to determine what the problem is based on the noise you’re hearing. From there, you can bring your car to a reliable auto repair shop to get it fixed and relieve your ears.
There are quite a few sounds that can be indicative of a problem with your automobile. Continue reading to learn about some of the most common strange car noises and what problem is causing them.
5 Common Car Noises & What Causes Them
- The Noise: Clicking When You Turn
- The Cause: A clicking sound when you turn your car means that your CV joint has been damaged. You may also begin to notice your car pulling to one side as you drive because of this issue. The CV joint is a component of your car’s axle and you should get it replaced if it stops functioning properly. If the problem persists unaddressed, you might end up having to replace your whole axle, which is much more expensive.
- The Noise: Persistent Rattling
- The Cause: If you hear a weird rattling noise while driving in Minnesota, there’s probably something wrong with your exhaust system. The rattle is usually caused when your vehicle’s exhaust is knocked out of alignment. Additional noises, like hissing or chugging, could indicate a more serious issue with your exhaust that requires an immediate visit to your local mechanic.
- The Noise: Screeching Under the Hood
- The Cause: An ear splitting screech coming from your vehicle’s engine is a likely indicator that something is wrong with your serpentine belt, which is responsible for driving the alternator and other key components of your car. When the serpentine belt becomes too worn down or comes loose, it will start making that horrible screech. You should get it repaired or you might find yourself stalled on the side of the road as you try to drive around Minnesota.
- The Noise: Squealing While Braking
- The Cause: If your brakes squeal when you apply pressure, it’s a sure sign that your brake pads have been worn out, causing your brake rotors and calipers to grind against each other. This is one car issue you don’t want to leave unresolved, as continuing to drive with damaged brake pads places you at serious risk of an accident. Get your brakes repaired at an auto repair shop in Minnesota as soon as possible.
- The Noise: Ticking While Idle
- The Cause: Most strange vehicle noises happen while you’re driving but sometimes, you might hear an annoying ticking sound when you’re at a dead stop. A couple of things might cause that tick, but the most likely culprit is that your oil is low. Fortunately, this is one issue that’s easy to fix; just get an oil change at a vehicle maintenance shop in Minnesota.
Does Your Car Sound Strange? We Can Fix It!
Even if the sound isn’t indicative of something dangerous, there’s no reason you should have to drive all over the place in a car that’s making weird, annoying noises. Give Arvu Auto a call today for the most trusted vehicle repair and maintenance services in the West Minneapolis metro!