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5 Noises that Need Immediate Attention

Roberta Willson • July 12, 2023

Our vehicles go through a lot. Most of us will ignore some noises that come out of our vehicle but there are some that just cannot be ignored. The question is, what are those noises that need your immediate attention.

Clanking

The first noise to keep an ear out for immediate attention is a clanking sound. If your brakes are making a clanking or clunking sound, then you might have one of the following:

  • Loose caliper bolt 
  • Loose caliper bracket bolt 
  • Missing or worn-out abutment clip 
  • Worn abutment

These parts will need to be either tightened if they are loose or replaced if they are worn. If this happens and you don’t get it checked out, you could put yourself at risk as well as risk further car damage if you do not have it fixed immediately. 


Rattling

The next noise to pay attention to is a rattling sound, specifically noticeable when you accelerate. It could be your timing chain or belts - both of which will definitely warrant an appointment to get your car looked at. 


A muffled, hollow sound

This might sound like a continuous muffle/hollow sound coming from the engine area. The most common reason for this would be worn cylinders or not enough oil. If the noise persists, it very likely will mean you need to get your engine serviced. 

Clicking
If you hear a sound that is a tapping, ticking, or clicking, this might also mean that your car is low on oil.  This may seem like an easy solution, just refill your oil, however, this is a short-term solution only, and should only be used to keep your engine from becoming damaged before you can get yourself to your local mechanic. 


If you check the oil and it is not low, the tapping or clicking noise could be caused by something like a valvetrain problem. This can also be serious, and should be addressed immediately.



Knocking

If you hear a metallic knock or ping sound when you're driving, this will likely means that the fuel and air mixture in one or more of your engine's cylinders is detonating in more than one place simultaneously. Though this could be as simple as having put gas with the wrong octane rating in your engine, it could also be due to poor timing, a lean air/fuel mixture, or even a knock sensor that's been damaged. There are other causes of knocking, and they all need to be looked at immediately.


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