If you notice a rhythmic clicking or tapping noise when driving your car, there are a few likely culprits that could be the cause. Identifying the noise and when it happens is the first step in diagnosing the problem.
Quick Diagnosis Questions
Here are some quick questions to help diagnose the clicking noise:
- Does the noise occur when accelerating or shifting gears?
- Does it happen when turning left or right?
- Is the noise speed dependent? Does it get faster or slower with speed?
- Does it occur when braking?
- Is the noise constant or intermittent?
- Can you pinpoint the general location the noise is coming from – front, back, left, right, engine compartment?
Your answers to these questions will help narrow down the potential causes and point you in the right direction for diagnosing the problem.
Potential Causes of a Clicking Noise When Driving
Issues With the CV Joints
One of the most common reasons for a clicking noise when turning in your car is worn constant velocity (CV) joints. The CV joints connect the wheels to the drive axles and allow the wheels to pivot while delivering power. Over time, the CV joint boots can crack or tear, allowing dirt and debris to get into the joints. This causes the joints to wear down, creating a clicking or popping noise when turning.
Replacing worn CV axle joints is the way to fix this problem. Expect to pay $150-300 per axle for parts and labor.
Problems With the Wheel Bearings
Faulty wheel bearings can also cause clicking noises while driving. Wheel bearings allow the wheels to spin freely and smoothly. When they become worn out, they can make clicking, creaking, or growling noises.
Turning the steering wheel back and forth while parked can isolate the noise to a bad front wheel bearing. Rear wheel bearings will typically make noise at all speeds. Replacing worn wheel bearings will resolve the issue and reduce the clicking sounds.
Issues With the Brakes
Noises when braking can indicate issues with the brake components. Some sounds to listen for:
- Squealing or screeching – brake pads wearing thin
- Grinding – brake pads completely worn and metal backing is grinding rotor
- Clicking – loose calipers or brake hardware
If you hear these types of noises, get your brake system inspected right away for excessive wear or loose parts. This will resolve the noises and prevent further damage.
Problems With the Suspension
Noises coming from the suspension can also manifest as clicking or popping sounds when driving. Here are some potential suspension issues that can cause noises:
- Worn shocks or struts – will click when going over bumps
- Bad ball joints – clicking when turning
- Bad sway bar links – clicking when cornering
- Worn tie rod ends – clicking when turning
Inspecting the suspension components like ball joints, bushings, struts, and other hardware will reveal looseness or deterioration. Replacing any worn parts will stop the clicking noises.
Engine Issues
Sometimes a clicking noise can come from inside the engine compartment. Here are some things to look for:
- Low oil level – can cause valve train noise on startup
- Faulty lifters/lash adjusters – click when running as they can’t maintain proper valve clearance
- Problems with the fuel injectors – injectors that are sticking or dirty can click
- Loose timing chain – will click as chain slaps against gear
Diagnosing the exact engine component requires some mechanical inspection and troubleshooting. If the noise is coming from inside the engine, it’s best to have a professional diagnose it.
Drive Belt Issues
Issues with drive belts can also manifest as clicking or tapping noises in time with engine speed. Here are some things to listen and watch out for:
- Glazed, cracked, or worn belt – can make clicking or squeaking noise
- Belt not tensioned properly – loose belt can slap against pulleys
- Bent or misaligned pulley – will click as belt travels over it
Inspect all the drive belts and pulleys, looking for excessive wear or issues with alignment. Replacing the belts and realigning or replacing bad pulleys will resolve the noise.
Diagnosing the Specific Location of the Noise
Here are some tips to isolate the location and cause of the clicking noise in your car:
- Try to reproduce the noise with the car parked – turn steering wheel, push on panels, spin wheels. This can help narrow down the source.
- Determine if the noise changes with vehicle speed or engine rpm.
- Have an assistant turn the steering wheel while you listen near the front wheels – will help isolate bad CV joints or wheel bearings.
- Inspect undercarriage and suspension components for looseness or damage.
- Remove drive belts one at a time to see if noise disappears – can help isolate bad pulley or belt.
Taking the time to diagnose the exact location and source of the noise will get you pointed in the right direction for repairs.
When to Take Your Car In to a Mechanic
While some clicking noises can wait, others may indicate more critical problems. Here are some instances when you should have a mechanic inspect the vehicle right away:
- Noise is evident when braking – could point to critical brake issues
- Clicking happens when cornering – might be worn CV joints or ball joints
- Engine clicking or tapping – could be critical engine component failure
- The noise started suddenly or is getting markedly worse
- You recently had work done that could impact the noise – ex. brake job, suspension repairs
When in doubt, it’s best to have a mechanic you trust listen to the noise and diagnose the cause. Waiting too long to fix the problem could lead to more extensive repairs down the road.
Questions to Ask Your Mechanic
To get to the bottom of the clicking noise, come prepared with questions for your mechanic when having it diagnosed. Here are some important things to ask:
- What exactly is the cause of the noise?
- Is it safe to continue driving with this noise or should I stop immediately?
- Are there any temporary fixes to stop the noise right away?
- What parts need to be replaced or repaired to resolve this?
- How urgent are the repairs – is it safe to drive for a short period?
- What is your estimate for full repairs, parts and labor?
- How long will the repairs take and when can you complete them?
Getting the mechanic’s professional diagnosis and repair estimate will help you understand the problem and make a plan. Make sure the cause, urgency, and cost of repairs are clear before approving any work.
Temporary Fixes to Stop the Noise
While most clicking noises require repairs to fully resolve, here are a few temporary fixes that may reduce or stop the noise short term:
- Lubricate components – a shot of penetrating lubricant on suspension joints or driveline parts can temporarily reduce clicking
- Alter driving style – avoiding hard turns or rapid acceleration may reduce noises from worn joints
- Add engine oil – low oil can cause valve train clicking so topping off oil may help
- Tighten loose parts – carefully tighten any visibly loose clamps, fittings, belts, pulleys
- Attach a noise absorber – affixing padding or dampeners with zip ties on interior panels can block noises
While temporary fixes may work for a short time, the root cause still needs to be properly repaired to stop the noise for good.
How to Prevent Clicking Noises
Regular maintenance and prompt repairs can help minimize clicking noises and other issues in your vehicle. Here are some good prevention tips:
- Inspect and replace worn parts immediately – joints, belts, bearings, etc.
- Perform alignments if suspension components are replaced
- Keep tires properly inflated
- Regularly inspect undercarriage and components
- Fix minor issues early – don’t let them progress
- Stay on top of scheduled maintenance
- Keep engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant at proper levels
While some clicks can come on suddenly, catching and fixing minor issues right away reduces the chances of severe damage and expensive repairs down the road.
Conclusion
Diagnosing clicking noises in your car takes a bit of patience and diligence. Narrowing down the location, speed dependence, and conditions when the noise occurs will point you towards the root cause. Common culprits include worn CV joints and wheel bearings, brake issues, suspension problems, and belt/pulley issues. While sometimes only an experienced mechanic can pinpoint the exact problem, asking the right questions and performing a thorough inspection under the hood and undercarriage is key. Address any serious issues immediately to prevent further damage. With regular maintenance and prompt repairs, you can minimize those annoying clicking noises and keep your car running smoothly.