Does Your Engine Make A Purring Noise?
If it’s not a cat stuck under your hood, then keep reading below....
Under Hood Noises
1. Flapping: This could either be something interfering with the fan or a belt disintegrating.
2. Knocking in engine compartment: Using a lower-grade fuel can produce engine knock. Follow the owner's manual requirements to keep all fluid services up to date.
3. Whinning Noise: A low pitch whining noise that increases with acceleration could be a power steering pump failing.
Under Car Noises
1. Any sound when turning a corner: More than likely this is related to the steering linkage. It either needs lubricating, or is damaged and requires replacement.
2. Grinding manual transmission when shifting: This is probably a clutch issue. It is either worn or requires adjusting. It could also indicate a deeper problem within the transmission.
3. Loud bang: If the sound is as if someone put a cherry bomb in your tailpipe, it's a backfire. It could be the air-fuel mixture is too rich. It could also indicate that the cat converter isn't functioning properly.
4. Low-pitch humming or whirring under car: This could have any number of causes. If it changes with acceleration, the differential may need lubricant, the transmission may be failing, the universal joints may be worn or a wheel bearing could be shot. The problem is, the sounds under a vehicle tend to reverberate and echo to the point that it's impossible for a lay person to determine the source.
5. Rattles from beneath the vehicle: It could be a loose exhaust system or even loose brake pads.
6. Whining: This can often indicate excessive differential or transmission wear.
Brake Noises
1. Clunking when braking: A brake caliper or other hardware is damaged, missing or improperly mounted.
2. Squealing wheels when applying brakes: This could indicate worn pads or shoes. It could also be from a wear-indicator on a pad signaling that it is time for new brake pads. No matter the cause, it's a safety issue and requires attention.
3. Scraping or grinding when applying brakes: If the squealing has turned into scraping, that usually indicates bare metal rubbing against bare metal. The brake pads are shot! Every application of the brake pedal is damaging at least one of the rotors.