Car squeals at higher speeds
August 29, 2011 1:38 PM Subscribe
Why does my car squeal only at higher speeds?
I recently picked up a used 1991 Honda Civic, and after some tune up it runs great except for one annoyance. Whenever I am going faster than 40 km/h it will start to squeak intermittently every few seconds and at 60 km/h it will squeal constantly. At slower speeds there is no noise at all.
It sounds like its coming from the under the hood but I'm having trouble pinpointing what could be causing the noise because it only happens at higher speeds. Other than the speed at which I drive, nothing else seems to correlate with the sound. It doesn't seem related to braking or turning.
My first instinct was the belts, but I did a cursory check of tension on the alternator and power steering belts and they seem taut. Should I continue investigating the belts or could there be an issue elsewhere?
I recently picked up a used 1991 Honda Civic, and after some tune up it runs great except for one annoyance. Whenever I am going faster than 40 km/h it will start to squeak intermittently every few seconds and at 60 km/h it will squeal constantly. At slower speeds there is no noise at all.
It sounds like its coming from the under the hood but I'm having trouble pinpointing what could be causing the noise because it only happens at higher speeds. Other than the speed at which I drive, nothing else seems to correlate with the sound. It doesn't seem related to braking or turning.
My first instinct was the belts, but I did a cursory check of tension on the alternator and power steering belts and they seem taut. Should I continue investigating the belts or could there be an issue elsewhere?
this happened to my 1995 mitsubishi mirage (which i no longer have). i forget what the mechanic said was the issue, but you need to bring it in and have it looked at and fixed.
posted by violetk at 2:13 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by violetk at 2:13 PM on August 29, 2011
Could be the speedometer cable. I had a similar problem in an old Toyota.
posted by Squeak Attack at 2:57 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Squeak Attack at 2:57 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I had squeel/whistle on a jeep wrangler that turned out to be a leaky exhaust manifold due to untightened bolts. It is amazing what can work loose on a 20 year old car, and it could be a worn out intake or exhaust gasket. It should be linked to engine rpm under load so it might not show up when just revving the engine. The best way to test it is get out on the highway (advice only for standard transmission, probably not safe in an automatic), push in the clutch and if it goes away it is engine, if it doesn't it is transmission, brakes, driveshaft, or wind.
It could also easily be a brake backing plate rubbing, or a piece of the plastic fenderwells rubbing on the axle shafts also. Look for something shiny from being polished by the high speed contact around either one of these areas.
posted by bartonlong at 4:12 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
It could also easily be a brake backing plate rubbing, or a piece of the plastic fenderwells rubbing on the axle shafts also. Look for something shiny from being polished by the high speed contact around either one of these areas.
posted by bartonlong at 4:12 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you don't think it's the belts then think accessories - water pump, alternator, air conditioner compressor, general pulleys.
Two factors - heat and speed. Does it happen as soon as they speed up or only once the car has been going a while? Things like water pumps have different dynamics once they are warmed up and the water is hot, likewise for the difference in speed.
Park the car up in neutral, pop the hood and pull the throttle open with your hand to about ~2k revs, try to pinpoint what's squeaking. Usual warning, don't get caught in a belt or hold the revs out too long, save cooking anything / losing a hand.
Good luck!! =D
posted by chojomojo at 4:47 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Two factors - heat and speed. Does it happen as soon as they speed up or only once the car has been going a while? Things like water pumps have different dynamics once they are warmed up and the water is hot, likewise for the difference in speed.
Park the car up in neutral, pop the hood and pull the throttle open with your hand to about ~2k revs, try to pinpoint what's squeaking. Usual warning, don't get caught in a belt or hold the revs out too long, save cooking anything / losing a hand.
Good luck!! =D
posted by chojomojo at 4:47 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for all the ideas everyone!
So far I've been able to try the "stationary rev" but the sound doesn't seem to produce this way. I guess that rules out the belt, so I'll be investigating some of the other causes that you all have mentioned.
I rolled down the window and stuck my head out to try to hear it better, and it sounds sort of like metal on metal screeching, if that helps. I'll post any results I get!
posted by sputgop at 8:22 PM on August 29, 2011
So far I've been able to try the "stationary rev" but the sound doesn't seem to produce this way. I guess that rules out the belt, so I'll be investigating some of the other causes that you all have mentioned.
I rolled down the window and stuck my head out to try to hear it better, and it sounds sort of like metal on metal screeching, if that helps. I'll post any results I get!
posted by sputgop at 8:22 PM on August 29, 2011
Best answer: Is the squeaking regular, speeding up as you increase your speed? Does it have anything to do with weather conditions (i.e. more or less humid, warm, or cold)?
Do check the spedometer cable - in my old 91 Toyota, the spedometer cable would squeak. It sounded like it came from the very left side of the dash, but I imagine a Honda would be slightly differently located.
There may be a heat shield loose somewhere under the car that's flapping with the winds from higher speeds.
If you're missing a fog light, its hole can squeal loudly; if you have a sunroof, the deflector can also cause squealing noises.
If all else fails, can you record the sound and upload it? It'd be helpful to describe the situation in the audio clip.
posted by bookdragoness at 9:47 PM on August 29, 2011
Do check the spedometer cable - in my old 91 Toyota, the spedometer cable would squeak. It sounded like it came from the very left side of the dash, but I imagine a Honda would be slightly differently located.
There may be a heat shield loose somewhere under the car that's flapping with the winds from higher speeds.
If you're missing a fog light, its hole can squeal loudly; if you have a sunroof, the deflector can also cause squealing noises.
If all else fails, can you record the sound and upload it? It'd be helpful to describe the situation in the audio clip.
posted by bookdragoness at 9:47 PM on August 29, 2011
Best answer: If you get nothing on the stationary testing and you have a definite grinding / squealing I'd be considering that it's anything after the engine flywheel through to the wheel bearings and brake rotors.
Simple stuff can be dry or worn wheel bearings, a worn brake pad, warped rotor. Maybe a CV joint. The 91 honda civic is listed as a front engine / front wheel drive so most of your points of power transfer are in there, any of which may be doing it.
Jack up the front end, see if there's any give or wobble in the wheels (bearings), pull them off and check for any scoring or wear in the discs or the brake pads. Brake pistons that aren't fully retracting can do this too, they should all be flush or around the same position when the pads are out.
Failing that if you're adventurous you could start tracing back through the CV's and drive arms back to the gearbox itself, if you still have noises. IF you have a workshop you're friendly with that have rollers or a dyno, chuck it on there and get it up to speed so you can listen for the noise.
posted by chojomojo at 10:14 PM on August 29, 2011
Simple stuff can be dry or worn wheel bearings, a worn brake pad, warped rotor. Maybe a CV joint. The 91 honda civic is listed as a front engine / front wheel drive so most of your points of power transfer are in there, any of which may be doing it.
Jack up the front end, see if there's any give or wobble in the wheels (bearings), pull them off and check for any scoring or wear in the discs or the brake pads. Brake pistons that aren't fully retracting can do this too, they should all be flush or around the same position when the pads are out.
Failing that if you're adventurous you could start tracing back through the CV's and drive arms back to the gearbox itself, if you still have noises. IF you have a workshop you're friendly with that have rollers or a dyno, chuck it on there and get it up to speed so you can listen for the noise.
posted by chojomojo at 10:14 PM on August 29, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by white_devil at 1:48 PM on August 29, 2011 [2 favorites]