1. Ford Focus Front End Noise

If you own a car, it probably makes noises you can't identify, but would love to fix. Car noises are not just annoying: sometimes they are a warning sign, like the calm before a storm.Here are the four car noises customers most commonly complain about. Sometimes noises are hard to identify, because a noise travels throughout the vehicle and it is hard to pinpoint where it's coming from.

But with a trained ear and some insight, we should be able to figure out what is causing the noise in your car and what you can do to fix it. Probable Cause: Failed outer CV jointIf your car is making a clicking noise when turning, it is likely you have an outer CV joint (constant velocity joint) that has failed because of a torn boot or old age, most likely a torn boot.Without going into too much detail about what a CV joint is, I will just give you a basic idea of its function and why it might have failed. What Are CV Joints?A CV joint is a set of ball bearings at the inner and outer ends of an axle. It lets a spinning axle bend while it’s still spinning (see this if you like). A rubber “boot” covers the entire joint and protects it from dirt, debris, and moisture, while holding in the grease that lubricates the ball bearings.

I also had a whistle. I decided to clean up the sharp edges in the intake stream and it seemed to fix the problem. I also drilled a 1/8' hole on the throttle plate to help with the transition. Humming and Ratling noise upon acceleration 16 Answers During acceleration there is a humming/whining noise then a rattling noise comes as well during 30 - 40 mph. Took explorer to 2 dealership service departments and they both could replicate the issu.

Over time, since it’s just rubber, the boot becomes brittle and dry. Eventually it will split open and allow specks of dirt and debris to enter the joint. Once foreign matter mixes with the grease, the damage begins, and it is only a matter of time before the CV joint starts to make a clicking noise when turning. This clicking noise while turning will start out faint, but gradually it will become noticeable and eventually very loud.

How to Fix ItThe only way to fix this condition is to replace either the whole axle assembly or the outer CV joint. My professional opinion is that it’s better to replace the entire axle assembly; it’s usually cheaper, even if you can even find the outer joint sold by itself, and it doesn't make much sense to mix old parts with new parts. Probable Cause: Failed water pumpWater pump noises are very difficult to diagnose, because the water pump is generally buried deep in the motor, and the noise will resonate through the engine making it difficult to identify. The water pump on your engine is a thick metal casting containing a pulley, pump fins (a palm-sized propeller to push the water along), and a bearing set. When a water pump fails, the noise is usually caused by damage to the. The video below is a great example of what a noisy water pump sounds like. How to Verify the Sound Is Coming From Water PumpIf you suspect your water pump is the culprit for the noise in your car, try to locate the water pump on the engine.

If you can see the casting of the water pump, you can pinpoint the noise by holding the end of a long screwdriver against the casting and putting the other end of the screwdriver against your ear; if the bearing is bad you will hear the noise through the screwdriver. (See the video below, under “Using a screwdriver like a stethoscope.”) Replacing ItThe only fix for a noisy water pump is to replace it. Because of its location (often under the timing belt cover and bolted to the engine block), an awful lot of parts have to be removed to get to it, so it can take several hundred dollars worth of labor to replace a $50 part.If it is nearly time for a routine timing belt replacement (every 60,000 to 105,000 miles or so depending on the car), you might want to have that done at the same time as the water pump, because timing belt service is one of the rare occasions when a water pump is easy to get to. In fact dealerships will often want to replace your water pump routinely, whether it’s worn out or not, as part of a timing belt service.

Probable Cause: Dry, cracked, or loose engine belt (just needs to be replaced)Engine belts can create a loud, high-pitched squeak or squeal that will drive you and your neighbors crazy. Some engine belts only squeak after you go through a large puddle or if there is heavy moisture in the air, and others squeak constantly. If your engine belts squeak only when damp, you probably only need to have the belts adjusted. If your belts squeak constantly, they may be dry, cracked, or loose, and probably need to be replaced. Does Belt Dressing Work?Some folks like to use a spray called “belt dressing” to stop the engine belt squeal or squeak.

Keep in mind that this spray will not fix anything permanently. It is, however, a great tool for diagnosing the noise and finding out which belt the noise is coming from.If you have belt dressing, this is what you do: when the engine is running, just spray it on each belt to see which belt starts to quiet down. Inspect your engine belts for cracks, damage, and tension, and replace or adjust them as needed. Probable Cause: Damaged heat shieldA heat shield noise is a type of rattle you hear while your car is idling, or at a specific engine speed or RPM. Heat shields are metal plates along the exhaust system of your car that deflect heat away from the floor of your vehicle and other heat-sensitive components like fuel tanks, wiring, and brake lines.As the exhaust system ages, sometime the heat shields start to rust at the hold-down points and become loose. If this is your problem, the engine vibrations will cause an awful noise as you’re sitting at a stop light or as your car is idling in the driveway warming up.

It sounds like rocks being shaken on a cookie sheet. How to Fix ItHeat shields can become damaged due to road debris, snow banks, automotive lifts, and just plain old age. In some cases, a damaged heat shield can be removed temporarily without causing any repercussions, but it's best to replace them as soon as possible. An automotive exhaust system can become extremely hot, even 1000 o Fahrenheit if you are running your engine at high RPM for long periods, like on the highway. Car noises are inevitable; even new cars have noises that need to be fixed.Here's a little tip that not too many people know about.

When buying a new car, if possible, find out what day it came off the assembly line. Watch out for cars built the day before a holiday, or on a Friday afternoon.It may sound funny, but humans are building these vehicles, and you know what happens at 5 o'clock on Friday or at closing time the day before a holiday: we rush our work so we can head home to relax or prepare for the holiday.

This is not a fact I found in a documentary or anything, it's just my experience. When our shop saw new cars with a lot of little problems, it seemed like they were always built on these out-the-door days. There are a lot more car noises than what is outlined here in this article, and it would take a lot more time to explain every one of them, so I only covered the noises my customers complain about the most.

Just remember, noise could be a warning sign, so if you have a noise in your car that you are unsure of, bring it to your trustworthy mechanic to have it checked out before it costs you even more money.If you have a noise in your car and you can't seem to figure it out, ask me about it in the comment box below and I will answer your question as soon as possible.If you found this article helpful, please share it on Facebook or Twitter, just click the buttons at the top of the page. Thank you, I really appreciate it. Your mechanic says you need a wheel bearing. What's a wheel bearing? Pictures, video, and my own interpretation of what a wheel bearing is, what its job is, where it's located, and the noises it makes. If your steering wheel vibrates, or your car shakes while driving at highway speed, find out why.

Don't spend money unnecessarily on an alignment or other services that won't fix this problem. f your brakes squeak, and you want to know why, maybe I can help!

Here are four common brake squeaks plus a bonus scraping noise; compare these situations to yours. Questions are welcome.

Hi Anthony,You could try spraying a little WD-40 on the engine belt while the engine is running, just a very little tho, you just want to see if the noise changes. Also, check the serpentine belt, make sure all the ribs on the belt are centered on each pulley.

Check to see if the noise disappears when switching on the AC or an electrical load like the rear defogger. It sounds like the serpentine belt may be your problem, but I'm assuming they replaced it when replacing the timing belt tho. Let me know what you find, thanks. I have a HHR CHEVROLET 2007 my car makes a really loud knocking noise and it will shut off on me some times when I have to stop at a stop sign.

The noise never goes away while driving. It started when my oil ran out n I didn't know it did so I was driving it for a month til oil was put in but once the oil got put in the noise started n so did the car shutting off.

But the car still runs and it didn't blow up nor does the car smoke at all. I haven't been driving it but I don't know what is wrong and I don't have a lot of money so I'm trying to figure out what the problem is and how much it's going to cost me. Hopefully not an arm n a leg. Please help. I need some direction, please. 2013 Chevy Traverse, started making clunking/knocking noises (2-3 at a time, not constant) at front right when turn left or driving over bumps for the past 5 months.

I have taken it to the local garage 3 times- first time they couldn't hear it, second time they replaced the front sway bar bushings, third time they said the axle had movement in it and replaced it. The sound is still there! I know nothing about auto mechanics and am becoming a bit frustrated.any suggestions on how I should handle this with the garage? Eddie—I have a 2019 Toyota Avalon Limited with 2500 miles. Recently we have been noticing an intermittent low frequency fluttering noise above 50-60 mph. It occurs on all types of road surfaces and with differing wind conditions.

It almost sounds like we have picked up a piece of cardboard that is catching the wind. My first thought was that a splash shield was loose somewhere. I took it into the service department at the dealer. They checked and found nothing. After a few weeks more I took it in again and had the service manager ride with me to have him hear it. He said it was probably the low profile tires. I could possibly believe this if it was constant.

But no, it is only intermittent. Any thoughts?.

Hi Eddie,We just bought a 2019 Honda HR-V. Took it to the dealership because we had a rattling noise coming from the exhaust system. They told us the cars after 2016 have a new exhaust system and so when the car is cold, the catalytic converter needs to get warm.

Ford Focus Front End Noise

When it's cold the set up opens up and thats why we hear the rattling noise. When the car is warm, the noise should quiet down.

We have a video and it was cold that night. The rattling noise was loud. Today, they said no loud noise was heard when the car was on the lift. When we got the car back, the noise was significantly quieter. They said it was nothing to worry about and that no holes were seen as one of our friends had suggested. So, we left believing all is well. Is this all true?

I just want to be sure.Thanks!Jacq. For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: Show Details NecessaryHubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized.

HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service.

CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. FeaturesGoogle Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site.

Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them.

PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature.

MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. MarketingGoogle AdSenseThis is an ad network. Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. SovrnThis is an ad network. Facebook AdsThis is an ad network.

Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. AppNexusThis is an ad network. OpenxThis is an ad network. Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. TripleLiftThis is an ad network.

Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites.