Diagnose car problems through unusual noises

Each sound will have its own message to warn the car owner about problems. Below are some tips to help you easily "diagnose" your car through strange noises.

The noise and the screeching were deafening.

If the engine compartment of the car has a screeching sound accompanied by noise when starting the engine, the sound lasts for a long time, think about one or some bearings are dead. Before, the sound may be very small, but then gradually increase. The bearings inside the engine compartment can be ball bearings, belt bearings, air conditioner ball bearings...

Depending on the type of noise, the cause can be diagnosed more accurately. If the squealing sound is due to the bearings running out of grease, causing the metal parts to rub against each other. If the noise is loud and consistent, it may be due to broken, chipped bearings or cracks in the bearing grooves. The worst consequence: the bearings are stuck, which can break or slip the belt. Therefore, as soon as you detect it, you need to take the car to be handled as soon as possible.

The noise grew louder and drier

This noise can appear for a very long time, at first unclear then gradually louder. Only when the noise is loud and clear is it discovered that the engine is not well lubricated, causing the metal parts to rub against each other in a state of lack of lubrication, causing wear and tear, emitting noise.

The cause could be a clogged oil line or a long time without changing the lubricating oil, causing the oil to lose its quality and become dirty. The louder the noise, the worse the lubrication inside the engine. In the worst case, the engine is completely damaged, from the piston, cylinder, camshaft, connecting rod, piston ring, and many other details.

The screeching sound is even.

This noise is easily recognizable, characteristic of rubber rubbing against a metal surface. If the noise appears when the machine is first started when cold and disappears after a few minutes when the machine warms up, it is due to a loose or hardened belt. But if the squealing noise persists, it is time to replace the belt immediately.

To confirm that the squealing sound is caused by the belt, you can test it by spraying clean water on the belt while the engine is running. If the sound disappears when the belt is wet, it is definitely damaged. In the worst case, the belt breaks, disabling many other systems such as the air conditioner, power steering, generator, coolant pump, etc.

Wheel hum

Normally when driving at low speed in the city, you will not see any unusual signs. But when driving at high speed on the highway, a buzzing sound from one of the wheels can be assumed to be a damaged wheel hub; the noise will increase proportionally with the speed of the vehicle.

The cause of hub bearing failure is due to long-term use, the lubricating grease inside the bearing dries or gradually disappears. Or because the vehicle often goes into flooded areas, while the bearing seal is loose, allowing water to enter and damage the bearing. The worst consequence is that when the hub bearing is loose, the noise is too loud, which can cause the wheel to vibrate when operating, affecting braking efficiency.

Squeaking sound in the brakes

In the morning, when starting out, the driver will hear a screeching or squealing sound when stepping on the brakes, and the brakes may feel more sticky than usual. If after about 5-10 minutes and several times of braking, the sound disappears, then it is a normal phenomenon. The cause may be due to rain or washing the car, the brake pads and discs have not had time to dry.

But if the noise appears continuously for a long time, it is an abnormal sign. The cause can be different and the car needs to check the brake noise plate, brake pad wear, brake pad fluid, brake disc distortion, stuck cup in the brake piston... The worst consequence is the case of the brake pin being stuck due to the cup stuck in the piston, causing the brake to jam.