What does it mean when a car makes a high pitch squealing noise?
When I start my car it makes a high pitch squealing noise under the hood. It gets quiet after it warms up but you can always hear a little noise. It does it more when you turn the steering wheel so my fiance'e replaced the power steering pump but it still makes the same noise. What could this be??
My car's brakes/wheels make a screeching/squeaking sound every time I brake. What is wrong and how do I get it fixed?
One of three things is making that sound.Most probable is the wear indicator described by Brett Williams. The cure is to replace the brake pads (generally an inexpensive and uncomplicated job, but may involve also replacing the calipers).Second most probable is simple "brake squeal". The pads are not securely connected to the calipers, and so tend to vibrate in place under certain conditions. Most brake-pad manufacturers include "anti-squeal plates" along with the brake pads; these plates provide a little spring tension between the caliper and the pad, mostly eliminating the squeal. It may be the case that the last person to do a brake job on that car failed to replace the anti-squeal plates. This is a very cheap fix if you find a shop that happens to have a set of anti-squeal plates that fit your pads. In a pinch, you may be able to do the same job with high-temperature silicone, but I'd recommend the plates. If necessary, one can always buy a set of really cheap brake pads for your car just for the anti-squeal plate that come with them. As a bonus, you have a full set of replacement brake pads onhand for next time. This should be a very inexpensive fix.Third most probable is completely worn-out brake pads, with their friction surfaces completely worn through - wearthrough generally happens sooner on the leading end (clockwise on the left side, counterclockwise on the right side). Again, the cure is to replace the brake pads (and maybe the calipers) but this time you'll probably also need to replace the rotors because very few shops these days ever bother to turn rotors, and replacement aftermarket rotors tend to be less expensive than the labor of turning them). This is the most expensive fix because of the additional parts, but labor is not significantly greater than either of the other two first causes listed above.
Why is my car making a high pitched squealing noise?
I sold auto parts for 3 years and turned wrenches since I was 15 and even with that experience you have not given enough information to determine what is wrong. All the above mentioned is possible but you need to narrow it down a bit. If the sound is coming from under the hood then more than likely it is the belt or the belt tensioner. Look on the grooved part of the belt and if it has more than 1 crack across it per inch of belt than it needs to be replaced. either way I would take it to an auto parts store and ask them to listen to it for you. Their advice is always free and they can tell you how much the parts will run you and hook you up with a good mechanic.
My car makes a loud screeching noise when I drive with the air conditioner on. Is it safe to drive if I keep it turned off?
It is always very difficult to make an in-depth failure diagnosis based on vague observations. But one possible reason for the screeching noise could be a worn out or too loosely tensioned transmission belt between your engine and the compressor of your A/C. As soon as the A/C is switched off, the belt runs smoothly, because it does not have to transmit much power. As soon as the A/C is switched on, it requires power, and the belt begins to slip - and makes noises.If the screeching sound stops as soon as you switch off the A/C, then there is probably no risk about damaging other parts of the car by just driving it.However, having the belt checked and - if necessary - replaced may be the better alternative. If the belt is okay, the problem mey be the compressor itself, which requires more money to fix it.As I do not know your car in particular, there may be another problem: Your A/C may require a lot of electric energy to run. This energy is generated from the alternator, this alternator is driven by a belt. Same problem. If this belt is worn out or not tensioned properly, then it screeches - you may know that sound from winter times, may cars utter loud screeching sounds.However: The alternator is not only required to deliver electricity for your A/C, it provides electricity for your whole car. If the belt for the alternator tears apart, your battery may be able to maintain normal operation for a while, but then you are stranded with a dead car.My suggestion: Have all your visible belts in the car engine checked and replaced if necessary. This is not too expensive and may save you lots of trouble. The timing belt of your engine (some cars have timing chains instead) is not visible. Nevertheless it requires replacement after some time (see users manual for more details). You should not exceed the suggested replacement interval too much, because a torn timing belt may destroy your engine in a second.
My car is making a loud screeching noise, what could it be?
If the screeching is present when you start the engine and the car is stationary, then the noise is coming from either: the engine drive belt/s slipping, or one of the components driven by the belts or belts - (some vehicles have more than one belt). There is a spray that you can purchase to spray onto the drive belts to rectify belt - squeal/screech. Safety Note: Don't use it with the engine running. I imagine that your engine has an alternator fitted. If the alternator bearing/s are worn they will also screech. That requires a shop repair. The same is true for water-pump bearings. Also needs a Shop Repair. How would you tell where the noise is coming from? In well equipped Auto-repair shops, mechanics will have access to a stethoscope almost identical to the one your doctor uses except, that the auto stethoscope has a long slender rod instead of a cup end. The mechanic places the rod as close as possible to where bearings or bush bearings are located. (Not all bearings are ball-bearings, some are bronze bushes).Through experience, they recognize good from noisy. One other source of screeching: It is not unheard of for the cooling fan to touch the radiator fins - this can be expensive. It happens when vehicles are used driving down very steep gradients and the vehicle is suddenly braked. The engine moves forward especially if the engine mount rubbers are worn and the fan brushes against the radiator fins. Modern vehicles have electrically driven fans and so this is usually not a problem. Make a visual check with the engine stopped. I suspect that your fan belts are causing the screeching noise. With the engine stopped, they can be visually checked for over or under-tightness. Repair shops use a special device to check the belt-tension to manufacturers specification. Hope this helps.
Why does my car make a squeaking noise only in reverse from the rear wheels?
Best bet without knowing any specifics is perhaps brake adjustment on the back wheels.Most cars since the seventies at least have automatic brake adjusters, some of which operate when the car reverses. This could possibly be bringing the unworn trailing edge of the brake lining into contact with the drum.The polished part of the brake lining rubbing on the also polished drum can squeak. This could also happen with rear disk brakes, as they are not applied as heavily as the front and when you reverse, the pads tip very slightly in contact with the disc and again squeak.Front disc brakes often develop a squeal when applied if the driver doesn’t use the brakes heavily and the discs and pads polish up. Some dishonest garages will spend a lot of your money fitting new stuff that isn’t necessary, though it’s important to distinguish between the squeal of glazed pads and the sound of metal on metal or a wear warning spring.With polished (glazed) pads, we just drove along a quiet piece of road in low gear for a hundred yards or so with the footbrake pressed to take the glaze off. You could try the same on an open piece of ground in reverse to see if that makes any difference. Driving at road speed along a quiet highway and hitting the brakes hard several times would perhaps make a difference.If all else fails, take it to a reputable garage. I’d advise against amateur brake repair. A repair bill is preferable to a potentially serious accident.Footnote: A car front wheel covered in black dust is a sign of a heavy brake user (repair shop cash cow). And if the brakes are being abused, it’s probable that the rest of the car is too.
Why is my car making a loud, high-pitched screeching sound even when I am not applying the brakes?
Mmmmm….without hearing the noise, I could not say for certain, but I THINK it will most probably be one of the belts that drive the ancillaries, and most probably the alternator or the hydraulic pump for the power steering. If the screeching is present just after the start or when you turn on something electrical, it would be the alternator belt, or if it happens when you turn the steering wheel, it will be the hydraulic pump.Try them by pressing on these belts. If they are flexible, they could need tightening or even replacing. Belts will not last for the life of the car, and all the parts of a car need maintainance. Good luck and I hope that this little bit of experience will help you !