What to Do When Your Car Makes Weird Noises

Cars are wonderful until they start talking back. A sudden squeal, a mysterious clunk, a low grumble that definitely wasn’t there yesterday. All of these noises can make even the calmest driver raise an eyebrow.

Before you imagine your car dramatically giving up on life in the middle of the highway, take a deep breath. Strange noises don’t always mean disaster, but they do deserve your attention. And sometimes a trusted mechanic is part of that story.

• Don’t ignore the soundtrack your car is singing to you. It’s tempting to turn up the radio and pretend the noise doesn’t exist, but your car isn’t that easy to silence sounds are often early warning signs. A squeak could mean worn brake pads, while a knocking noise might point to something loose or struggling under the bonnet. The sooner you pay attention, the better your chances of avoiding a bigger and more expensive problem.
• Try to pinpoint the noise. It’s time to play detective for a moment. When does the noise happen? Is it when you brake, accelerate, turn, or just idle? Does it sound high pitched like a squeal, or deeper like a thud? You don’t need to become an expert on cars overnight, but having a rough idea helps you to describe the issue to the mechanic clearly if you do need help. Plus it does make you feel impressively switched on.
• Check the simple things first. Sometimes your car makes noises and the culprit is surprisingly minor. Loose items in the boot or something caught in the tyre can create odd sounds. Have a quick and safe look around your car. You might be able to solve the mystery in minutes and feel like an absolute genius for the rest of the day and save yourself some money.
• Notice any other changes? Noises often come with friends. Is the car handling differently? Are there warning lights on the dashboard? Does it feel less smooth when you’re driving? It’s these little clues that can help piece together what’s going on. Your car is dropping hints. It’s being informative, so pay attention.
• Don’t wait too long. If the noise is sticking around or getting worse, it’s time to take it seriously. Small issues have a habit of growing into bigger ones if left alone. When you act early, you’re able to get around those issues and save yourself time, money and the inconvenience of being stuck on the side of the road wondering where it all went wrong. 
• Stay calm. It’s very easy to stress out when your car starts making unfamiliar noises, especially if you rely on it every day. But most problems are fixable and many are quite routine. You will not be the first or last person to hear a mysterious rattle.

Investigate what you can and don’t be afraid to get some help when you need to. It takes a little bit of care, but you’ll likely have things running smoothly again before you know it.