My Car Sounds Louder - Diagnose It
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 5 months ago
5 min read
- Diagnostic
WhoCanFixMyCar explains why your car might sound louder than usual.
Often, when a problem is developing with your car, there are telltale signs that point you in the direction of what’s wrong; these can come in the form of sounds, sights, or even smells.
If you respond to these signals as soon as you notice them, it may prevent more significant and costly problems further down the line. So, what if your car sounds louder than usual? What does it mean?
This guide discusses what might be wrong with your vehicle based on when and where the issue occurs.
Contents
My car sounds louder at the back
If your car sounds unusually loud at the back, you may have a failing silencer or damaged exhaust.
Failing exhaust silencer
The muffler - also known as a silencer - is a device that reduces the noise from your exhaust. When it starts to fail, the noise from the rear of your vehicle will increase, and you may also notice more fumes than usual and poor fuel economy.
The solution is to book silencer replacement. You can expect to pay between £75-150.
Faulty exhaust
Over time, exhaust systems can become corroded and may develop holes, making them sound much louder than they should. If this is the case, the noise will be most prominent when accelerating.
A mechanic will assess the damage and advise whether it can be repaired. If not, you may have to book an exhaust replacement, which costs £135.25 on average when booked through WhoCanFixMyCar.
My car sounds louder at the front
There are a few reasons why your car might sound louder at the front.
Worn engine bearings
Imagine the sound of a washing machine with something small but solid inside - something that shouldn't be there, making a knocking sound with each spin. That's kind of what worn engine bearings sound like.
Bearings hold the crankshaft in place, allowing it to rotate within the engine block. As you can probably imagine, this is an essential job, and when the bearings wear out completely, the consequences can be catastrophic. Your engine will seize up.
That's why, if you've noticed a loud knocking sound from the front of your car, you should have it inspected by a mechanic as soon as possible. This guide explains other reasons why your car might be making a knocking sound.
Low engine oil
A loud grinding sound from the front of your car indicates that your engine oil may be low. Without oil to lubricate them, engine parts rub together, eventually causing damage.
Find out how to check and top up your engine oil here.
Worn torque converter
Automatic transmissions feature a torque converter, responsible for transferring rotating power from the engine to a rotating driven load. It provides the same function as a clutch in manual cars.
When your transmission fluid is low, it can cause the torque converter to become worn and eventually fail, resulting in grinding sounds when the car is in gear. This guide explains how to check your transmission fluid level.
A puddle of red fluid under your car suggests you may have a transmission fluid leak.
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