Although you may hear a range of noises from your car at any speed, most noises are often heard whilst accelerating at low speed. This is primarily because certain components of the car need to work harder when accelerating from a standstill or at a low speed. To give you an indication of what may be causing the noise, below are some suggestions.
Potential Causes of Noise When Accelerating at Low Speed
1. Worn or Damaged Drive Belts
Drive belts are a critical component of a car’s engine and are responsible for powering various systems such as the air conditioning, power steering and charging system.
Therefore, if a drive belt is worn or damaged, it can create a loud, squealing noise when the car is accelerating at a low speed. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including age, wear and tear or improper tension.
Failing to replace the drive belt can eventually cause it to break, which will result in various components not working. This means that you may not have power steering or your radiators may not work, which can cause your car to overheat. Therefore, hearing this noise is a good indication that the drive belt needs to be replaced sooner rather than later.
2. Loose or Damaged Exhaust Components
The car’s exhaust system can create a range of loud or unusual noises but when accelerating at low speed, it can create a rattling or banging noise. This can be caused by corrosion, impact damage or other forms of wear and tear. Whether the issue is at the back box or catalytic converter, the rattling or banging noise can be heard clearly inside the car.
3. Worn or Damaged Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings are responsible for allowing the wheels to rotate smoothly and any problems with the bearings can result in an unusual noise. Worn or damaged wheel bearings usually create a rumbling or growling noise when the car is accelerating at low speeds. This can be caused by age, wear and tear or improper lubrication of the bearings.
4. Low or Contaminated Engine Oil
Low or contaminated engine oil can create a distinctive ticking or knocking noise that can go on to cause further issues if it isn’t addressed. Normally, it’s caused by a leak or using the wrong oil, which therefore means that it can be easily solved by using high-quality engine oil for your car and fixing any leaks (i.e. a leak from the sump plug).
5. Worn or Damaged Transmission
A worn or damaged transmission can create a whining or grinding noise when the car is accelerating at low speeds. Issues relating to the transmission are usually caused by too little or too much oil in the transmission or a worn clutch. However, the oil may be due a change or worst case, the transmission itself may need an overhaul
6. Worn Engine Mounts
Engine mounts that are worn will struggle to hold the engine in place and this can create a distinctive knocking noise. Therefore, to distinguish if this may be the case, open the bonnet and ask a second person to rev the car (in neutral or park). If the engine moves more than it should, this would indicate that you need to replace the engine mounts.
It’s worth pointing out that the transmission also has mounts that hold it in place and if worn, it’ll also create a knocking noise. However, rather than hearing a knock at the front, you’ll hear it more centrally inside the car. With regards to the knocking noise, you are more likely to hear the knock when pulling off from a standstill.
Identify The Issue By Noise
Taking the above causes into account, you can diagnose the issue by the noise it makes as follows:
- Squealing noise from the engine – Check the drive belt for wear and tear
- Rattling or banging noise – Check the health of the exhaust system
- Rumbling or growling noise – Check the wheel bearings on all four corners of the car
- Ticking or knocking noise from the engine – Check the engine oil via the dipstick
- Knocking noise that can be felt in the car – Check the engine and transmission mounts
- Whining or grinding noise – Check the transmission oil via the dipstick (if applicable)
Is There An Easier Way To Identify The Noise?
If you have access to an OBD2 scanner, it may be able to diagnose an issue with your car that causes the noise. To use a scan tool, you simply need to locate the OBD2 port inside of your car and plug the tool in. You’ll then be able to scan for any stored error codes that relate to the noise you can hear when accelerating at low speed.
For further information on using a scan tool, we wrote a detailed guide on how to use an OBD2 scanner.
Conclusion
To conclude, a car can make noises when accelerating at low speeds for many reasons that range from worn drive belts to damaged transmissions. If possible, it’s important to address the problems straightaway to ensure the safe and efficient operation of your car. For further information regarding any of the noises you can hear whilst accelerating at low speed, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
