Diagnose car problems through unusual noises

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

The noise and the screeching

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 that have died. 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 bearings...

Depending on the type of noise, the cause can be diagnosed more accurately. If the squealing sound is caused by 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 or chipped bearings or cracks in the bearing grooves. The worst consequence: the bearings get stuck, which can break or slip the belt. Therefore, as soon as you discover it, you need to take the car in for repair as soon as possible.

The noise grew loud and dry

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 metal parts to rub against each other in a state of no 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. The worst consequence is that the engine is completely damaged, from the piston, cylinder, camshaft, connecting rod, piston rings, and many other details.

The screech 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 noise is caused by the belt, you can check by spraying clean water on the belt while the engine is running. If the noise disappears when the belt is wet, it is definitely damaged. In the worst case, the belt breaks, disabling many other systems such as air conditioning, 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 humming sound from a wheel can be assumed to be a broken wheel hub; the noise will increase proportionally to 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 brake pedal, and the brake may feel more sticky than usual. If the sound disappears after about 5-10 minutes and several times of pressing the brake pedal, it is normal. The cause may be due to rain or washing the car and 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 vehicle needs to check the brake noise plate, brake pad wear, brake pad fluid, brake disc distortion, stuck cup-pen in the brake piston... The worst consequence is the case of the brake pin being stuck due to the cup-pen being stuck in the piston, causing the brake to jam.