What Causes Loud Noise Inside the Car?
4 Answers
The causes of loud noise inside the car are: 1. Engine carbon buildup; 2. Shock absorber failure; 3. Large gaps in the cabin or vehicle body; 4. Tire aging; 5. Damaged valve guides; 6. Cooling system malfunction; 7. Poor quality engine oil; 8. Engine misfire; 9. Spark plug carbon buildup. Methods to reduce car noise include: 1. Applying sound-absorbing foam material under the engine hood; 2. Installing sound-absorbing cotton material in the trunk, at the bottom of the luggage compartment, and on the wheel arches on both sides of the luggage compartment; 3. Installing sealing strips inside the doors; 4. Mounting professional damping plates in areas prone to noise; 5. Replacing tires.
Why is there always a loud buzzing noise in the car? My old car used to be like this too, and later I found out that the tread patterns on all four tires were almost worn out, making it sound like driving a tractor. When tires wear down to the warning line, the noise becomes significantly louder, especially noticeable at highway speeds. Another issue was a faulty front wheel bearing—once the car hit 60 km/h, it would start whining, but replacing the bearing immediately made it quiet. Loose underbody panels can also cause metallic resonance noises, particularly noticeable on rainy days. Actually, all these issues are related to routine maintenance—don’t delay replacing worn-out parts.
Recently, driving feels like being on an airplane? Most likely, the door seals have aged. Once when I went for a car wash, I noticed the rubber seals by the doors had cracked, letting wind noise rush into the car. Another culprit could be the modified rims—large rims paired with low-profile tires tend to transmit road noise more. It's advisable to check the sealing strips of all four window regulators by pressing them with your fingers to see if they still have elasticity; aged ones feel like dry tree bark. Soundproofing foam tends to clump and lose effectiveness after three to five years, especially noticeable around the wheel arches. An improperly closed trunk is also a common issue, producing a whistling sound at high speeds.
The cabin suddenly becomes noisy? First, check the engine bay. Last time I drove to the countryside, I noticed particularly loud noise during acceleration. The mechanic said it was due to cracked engine mount bushings, causing vibrations to transmit directly into the cabin. A leaking exhaust pipe produces a puffing sound, especially noticeable on quiet roads. For older cars, also watch out for loose timing belt covers, which can create an annoying rattling noise. Leaves stuck in the AC blower can also cause a whooshing sound. In fact, many rubber components in cars harden after five or six years—don’t skimp on replacing them when needed.
