Strange and abnormal noises coming from the vehicle are usually an indication that something has gone wrong. Most often the noises will be heard coming from the engine, transmission, brake, suspension areas.
When is noise diagnosis employed?
Various noises are caused all the time, through many systems, for the same reason: wear. When parts are in good working condition, they are mated together smoothly, and are free from defects. Whether engine parts, wheel bearings, or door handles, as parts wear, they develop small imperfections that grow until they are large enough to alter their interaction with the next component. When there is a change in how two components interact, no matter what the cause, the items will make some sort of noise until it is repaired, or falls back into alignment.
What are symptoms that may require noise diagnosis?
Noises can be accompanied by many annoying or worrisome sensations. Consider the noise of grinding brakes, the noise sounds much like the brake pedal and steering wheel feel. This is important, as random noises can be difficult to replicate without knowing when the sound occurs, what must be done to make the sound, and what sound it is. Any professional technician can replicate and diagnose most noises, but to ensure the vehicle is more quickly diagnosed, make sure you tell your technician these three pieces of information.
If the vehicle is making a random noise every once in a while, or there is something that catches your ear, driving is normally not an issue, but having it inspected within a few days is a good idea. If the vehicle makes a noise that is beyond a little noise here and there, it should be towed on a car hauler so all wheels are off the pavement. This is a safety precaution in case turning the rear wheels affects the noisy component. If the noise is identified, the determination should be made depending on whether the vehicle is safe to drive, and if operation puts the vehicle at risk of further damage.
How often is noise diagnosis necessary?
Even brand new vehicles come back to the dealership with squeaks, rattles, vibrations, noises, electrical issues, and leaks. These items can happen anytime on a vehicle, but they tend to occur in the first 25,000 miles, and after 125,000 miles most frequently. The age of a vehicle does influence the amount of noises and vibration issues it may encounter, since most components on the vehicle slowly degrade with time.
How are noises diagnosed?
Most experienced technicians have heard the same sounds repeatedly, and they know where to look. Most often, a technician will diagnose a noise within a few minutes, and test, if possible, to ensure they have found the issue. However, diagnosing a noise can prove to be difficult, especially if the vehicle only makes noise under specific conditions. Worse yet, if the vehicle makes the noise randomly, the technician would have to spend all day driving the vehicle until the sound is heard, or, being inspecting every component on the vehicle. Mechanical noises from the engine and transmission are normally easy to identify. Noises associated with the engine and transmission can be identified through connecting a computerized scanning tool, and monitoring the conditions in the engine and transmission during the noise. This may give a trained technician an understanding of why the drivetrain is making noise, to which they must apply classroom training and experience to identify the responsible component. If the noise only occurs as the vehicle is moving, the technician will conduct a test drive and visual inspection of the vehicle. The suspension and driveline are inspected for worn or broken components. When the noise is identified, the technician should know the problem, when it happens, why it happens, and how to repair it.
Being able to duplicate the concern with a technician listening is critical in correcting noise complaints.
What will be the outcome of noise diagnosis?
Noises can come from a variety of sources, and repairs could range from a few minutes to many hours. Some noises are very simple fixes, and other can be outrageous. In many cases, brakes and suspension are the culprit, and servicing or replacing worn components typically restores the vehicle to proper operation.
RepairPal Recommendations for noise diagnosis
We recommend bringing the vehicle to a certified shop with ASE certified, and, if possible, factory trained technicians. This will limit the amount of time needed to complete a diagnosis, and can help save cost for diagnosis. Many non-reputable shops charge diagnostic fees, and allow their non-certified helpers inspect the vehicle. It is completely acceptable to request an ASE certified technician, and ask the shop if they have a factory trained technician for your brand of vehicle.
What to look out for with noise diagnosis
Diagnosing a noise can be very easy, or very difficult. For instance, a specific SUV may make a rattle noise across every bump, many technicians can observe this rattle in many countries around the world, and on thousands of vehicles. However, the rattle can go undiagnosed for years, until the manufacturer, or someone in the field figures out the issue. This is not a common occurrence, but there are several cases of known noises in vehicles that are unknown in origin, and recalls may be pending.