Most frequently heard bad noises

[Nick R]

So, when driving around, or whatever, what are the most commonly heard strange/bad noises coming from other peoples cars?

1. Honda transmission whine. Any year, any model. So many of them seem to have a whine.

2. Chevy Blazer/GMC Jimmy 4.3L: Very, very loud lifter tick. Like, VERY loud. As in can be heard 30 feet away.

3. Same vehicles above. Starters grinding very loudly.

4. Chrysler vehicle brake squeal

 

[JHZR2]

I would agree with all but #2. Never heard it on mine or any other 4.3L that Ive encountered... But now you have me worried.

 

[Nick R]

If you've heard the old small block/big block chevys that have a loud lifter tick, or sounds similar to it. That noise. It sounds like a ticking/tapping, but is loud and increases linearly with engine speed.

 

[Brons2]

5. Various - startup rattle

 

[oggb]

6. Isuzu Troopers - Rod knock.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I always notice Fords pinging upon acceleration.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: JRed
6. Isuzu Troopers - Rod knock.


Ahh yes. Had forgotten this one. Don't see too many around, but I have heard it on occasion. Thought of some more

Anything with GM 3.1L/3.4L/3.8L: Frequently heard noisy power steering pumps.

 

[eljefino]

Ford power steering whine, especially trucks.

The rebuilt pumps even have a sticker that says the noise is normal.

1980s anything GM 4 cyl pinging.

Dodge caravan trannies going bzzt click from the solenoids when they stop.

 

[Nick R]

Yeah, I noticed my focus has a quiet whine when turning the wheel at idle or slow speeds. The expedition has one too, I've been meaning to change out the PSF on the expy for some time now, just haven't gotten around to it.

 

[chubbs1]

I know this isn't a noise but how any earlier 90-97 jeep Cherokee's with the paint faded on the roof and hood? I owned one with the same problem and I took good care of it! Maybe it is just the FL sun?

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: JRed
6. Isuzu Troopers - Rod knock.


Ahh yes. Had forgotten this one. Don't see too many around, but I have heard it on occasion. Thought of some more

Anything with GM 3.1L/3.4L/3.8L: Frequently heard noisy power steering pumps.

That is not the power steering pump. It is usually the transmission pump due to a sticky selnoid.
I have had two high mileage 4.3 vehicles and have been around alot of them and have never heard this tick you speak of.

 

[MrMeeks]

Gunfire from a car driving through an intersection.

 

[Nick R]

The tick I'm talking about is kind of like this, but not so nasty sounding really.
This is almost the exact same noise I hear quite often, and from the same engine. There is plenty of videos on youtube about it with this engine

 

[Spyder7]

Belt whine and brake squeal (when being engaged and released) from various makes and models.

-Spyder

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
If you've heard the old small block/big block chevys that have a loud lifter tick, or sounds similar to it. That noise. It sounds like a ticking/tapping, but is loud and increases linearly with engine speed.


It's not lifter tick, it's 9 times out of 10 an exhaust leak at the manifold/crossover pipe. The design of the junction here invites leaks and so they almost all do it.

 

[Scienceman]

Some early 90's Toyota trucks backfiring.

 

[cchase]

Anyway, my contributions to the list...

that strange clicking, buzzing noise from Grand Caravan and clones as they come to a stop...

older Corollas that sound like they fire on all cylinders about 10% of the time, and

Ford trucks that sound like there's metal scraping on metal somewhere.

 

[IndyIan]

Power steering pumps on 1st gen Neons, mine has dreams of becoming a super charger above 3500 rpm...
I also notice GM 4.3L V6 fan noise, they sound like a dump truck with the fan roaring away under there, do they not have a thermo clutch? The one on the tracker takes about 20 seconds to let the fan free wheel on cold start up.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Power steering pumps on 1st gen Neons, mine has dreams of becoming a super charger above 3500 rpm...
I also notice GM 4.3L V6 fan noise, they sound like a dump truck with the fan roaring away under there, do they not have a thermo clutch? The one on the tracker takes about 20 seconds to let the fan free wheel on cold start up.


The thermal clutch on our expedition does the same thing. For like 20 seconds afterstartup it roars full blast, even if it's sub zero out. The loudest fan noise I've heard (besides semis, dump trucks) is a Dodge dakota. That thing ROARS like nothing I've heard before.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Power steering pumps on 1st gen Neons, mine has dreams of becoming a super charger above 3500 rpm...
I also notice GM 4.3L V6 fan noise, they sound like a dump truck with the fan roaring away under there, do they not have a thermo clutch? The one on the tracker takes about 20 seconds to let the fan free wheel on cold start up.


I haven't heard it on other jeeps, but ours still has a noisy power steering pump, especially at higher rpms (where it tends to be, due to big tires and 3 speed auto with 4 banger.)