Unusual or bothersome automobile noises can be alarming, and the idea of having to take your car in for auto repairs might seem monetarily overwhelming, especially in these tough economic times. But perhaps it’s not necessary. Here are several methods for identifying automotive sounds and the probable issues they might be caused by. Once you have a clearer understanding of the potential cause of the noise, you might be glad to learn that it can either be fixed quickly and affordably, or you can make plans in advance to address the problem at hand in an economical way. Here is a list of common sounds and their likely sources.

• Squealing-often metal-on-metal in nature, possibly exacerbated brakes, pads or rotors
• Clicking -from under the bonnet might mean your engine is low on oil, problem with the valve train, or possibly a worn out engine for older vehicles.
• Rattling- indicative of something loose, or that something has lodged itself under the car.
• Popping/Banging- a vacuum or exhaust leak somewhere, a problem with the catalytic converter, or the engine may be out of tune
• Spluttering- it could indicate a problem with the engine’s fuel, ignition, or the exhaust system if noise is coming from front of car.
• Hissing- possible fluid leak touching a hot part of the engine, or a vacuum leak from one of the small hoses around the engine’s air intake.
• Grinding- sound from your car’s gearbox might be a problem with the clutch thrust bearing, or the clutch itself; shafts and gears inside the transmission
• Clanging- Might be metal part swinging around and hitting other metal parts something might be loose or detached
• Whirring- sounding like a fan after engine is turned off might be the operation of cooling fans, auxiliary pumps or air suspension, but not limited to these
• Knocking- when you accelerate, and can come from an engine that’s poorly tuned, or running on the wrong fuel, low on octane

Here are a few possible explanations for why your automobile could have started making any of these noises suddenly and out of the blue. You depend on your car every day, so you might not always realize how important safe transportation is. If your automobile does start making strange noises at random, the right course of action is to either try to determine the problem or to bring your car into an auto repair shop for a professional inspection. Rest confident that there is always a trustworthy and reasonable remedy, regardless of the possible origin of this new, unwanted noise.