Engine Noises
Nobody wants to be driving down the road and hear the sounds of impending mechanical doom erupt from their vehicle. Unfortunately, dealing with and diagnosing strange engine noises is part of being a vehicle owner.
With AAA rescuing roughly 30 million drivers from breakdowns per year, make sure you don’t become a breakdown statistic.
If you hear your vehicle making the following engine noises it is time to put the brakes on driving for a little while until you get them figured out.
Knocking Engine Noises
A knocking noise under your hood merits your immediate attention. Knocking noises can be symptoms of multiple different types of problems ranging from a problem with your fuel system to your engine cylinders.
If you notice a knocking sound stop driving immediately and take your car into a professional to get some diagnostics done. Only a professsional is qualified for troubleshooting engine sounds the right way.
Flapping Sounds
The first thing that flapping sounds bring to mind is a flat tire. Blowouts can be potentially fatal malfunctions so make sure to pull over right away. Tire blowouts cause almost 80,000 accidents per year so don’t take them lightly.
Flapping noises can also be the result of a broken or loose belt or a bad fan in your engine system.
Stop driving your car right away to avoid damaging it further if you hear a flapping sound. A loose belt is easy to fix, a blown engine because the belt failed and you kept driving is not.
Hissing Noises
A hissing noise under your hood could be indicative of a failing engine cooling system or radiator. It could also be the result of a blown gasket or leak in a crucial hose or fuel system line.
If you hear a hissing noise, or the sound of sizzling you may have a serious issue. This is particularly true if you see smoke or steam rising from beneath your hood.
If this happens, pull over immediately and call a tow truck to bring you to a garage. If your engine overheats it may seize up or blow.
Stopping your car when you notice a hissing noise and calling a mechanic could save you from totaling your car and having to replace it outright.
Other Weird Engine Noises
If you start your car and hear the engine sputter, cough, idle irregularly or fail to turn over you should get your engine checked out by a pro.
If you have a hybrid engine making noise make sure to take it into a pro that specializes in hybrids and electric vehicles. Your hybrid engine and battery system are far more complicated than a traditional gas-powered engine.
They also require special diagnostics and maintenance. If you take it to a conventional garage, they may miss some critical element that a specialist would catch.
Better Safe Than Sorry
If you hear weird engine noises, don’t wait for them to sort themselves out. They could be indicative of a serious malfunction in your automobile that could jeopardize your life.
If you hear a strange noise, contact a professional mechanic in Albuquerque New Mexico to get it sorted out right away. That way you could save yourself the hassle of having to buy a brand new car if something has gone wrong.
