The most common calls Central Auto Care gets about car trouble are always going to be one of two things: People saying their car will not start, and people saying their car is making a funny noise.
This is such a common thing because the way people perceive their cars is unique among human experience. When a car makes a funny noise it can feel like your own body is making that noise. If you have had a car for long enough, a slight difference in the rumble of the engine can feel like listening to your bones creak.
Not all car noises are created equal, however. So, here is what we usually hear at Central Auto Care, as well as what the noises mean, and what can be done about those problems.
A Screeching Sound Under the Hood
This noise is an especially unique and alarming one, and for that reason the analysis of its cause is better documented than most. If you start your car or are driving and hear a screeching coming from under your hood, it is likely a problem with your car’s serpentine belt.
Your car’s serpentine belt is responsible for the functionality of many of its most important components, including the alternator, water pump, and radiator pump. The belt is designed to make such an alarming and annoying noise if it has suffered even slight damage, as replacing the belt is urgent to keeping the car running.
Chugging or Rattling Noises
These noises are far easier to overlook, especially if you have an older or used car that has made these noises for as long as you have had the car. The most common culprit is the exhaust system. The exhaust system is pretty durable, at least as far as car parts go, so a noise does not mean your car is doomed to die.
All it means is that something might be blocked, out of alignment, or damaged. All three of those can develop into a serious problem, but the thing is that if it is not a problem in the moment, then it will take some sort of “event” to turn it into a problem, like hitting a big bump. So, watch out for that, but it will not end your world.
Squealing/Grinding on Your Breaks
As you might expect, this is a problem with your breaks. The question is not really what is being affected, but how it is being affected. If your breaks are making noises like this, is the car safe to drive? Well, similar to the exhaust system, it takes an extra push for breaks to go from damaged to broken.
Make no mistake, you should definitely go in and get your breaks checked if you are hearing or feeling issues there. But it will not destroy your car immediately, so you can at least drive your car to Central Auto Care in Okotoks CA, rather than having it towed like in the case of a damaged serpentine belt.
These are some of the most common noises, but this is not an exhaustive list. In most cases, a car will be drivable when it is making these noises, but you should get it checked no matter what.