Your European car might suddenly be making some odd noises that can really cause you to feel nervous. Some of them might be serious, but others might be more minor than you fear. Jackson Auto Repair has a list of just a few of these sounds.
Squealing or Clicking Sounds from the Wheels
Some of the sounds you might be hearing could be coming from the wheels. Tires tend to make distinctive noises, and the tires might be making some clicking or squealing sounds of their own. You can differentiate this from brake noises because they typically don’t happen when you’re pressing the brake pedal. Sometimes these noises might become more pronounced as you speed up, which can also help you to determine where the sounds are originating.
Grinding Noises When Braking
One particular noise you might hear when you’re braking is a grinding sound. Brakes make a lot of different noises, from screeching sounds to squealing. If you’re hearing grinding sounds, that could mean that metal parts are meshing and grinding against each other when you press the brakes. It’s a good idea to get the brakes checked so that you know for sure what’s going on.
Clicking Sounds from Under the Hood
Clicking sounds from under the hood can be unnerving. One possible answer is that the oil is low or needs to be changed. When the car cools down, double check the oil to see if this might be the case. Other causes of clicking sounds could be misfires in the engine or even another issue entirely, like CV joint problems.
Hissing from Under the Hood, Especially with Steam
Hissing sounds coming from the engine compartment are unusual, but they almost always mean that there’s steam coming from somewhere in there. Steam is created when hot liquid gets even hotter and has a way to escape. So what you’ve likely got is a hole in a hose somewhere or your engine is overheating. Check the temperature gauge and carefully pop the hood to see if you can spot the location where the steam is escaping. That can give you a clue about what’s going wrong.
You don’t have to diagnose weird sounds in your European car on your own. Call us today at Jackson Auto Repair in Jackson, TN. We’ll be happy to help you to determine what those weird noises are and get you back on the road again safely.