Visit Your Dealership for a Diagnostic if You Hear These Engine Noises

Have you ever found yourself asking the question, “Why does my Toyota make engine noise?” If so, it’s definitely time to get your car checked out. Over time and through wear and tear, engines can start making odd noises, and tending to them quickly is part of good maintenance practices.

Be sure to get a Toyota engine noise diagnosis from your Mobile dealership’s service center. We can diagnose and fix the problem before it becomes something major that requires you to replace the engine or make another major repair.

Below, we’ll show you some common Toyota engine problems and the sounds that they can sometimes make:

Squealing or Screeching Sounds

If you hear this sound, definitely get a Toyota engine noise diagnosis immediately. Squealing or screeching is usually a sign that an engine belt is worn and ready to break. This could be the timing belt, which controls your engine’s crankshaft, the serpentine belt, which powers the alternator, power steering pump, and other components, or a pulley within your A/C system.

Either way, while a squealing belt won’t necessarily cause a catastrophic breakdown, you should have the belt replaced at the first sign of trouble so that you don’t end up broken down on the side of the road.

Hissing Noises

When you hear a hissing sound, this usually means that there is a leak somewhere under the hood. Don’t worry, it’s not usually an oil leak or some other type of fluid, but rather an air leak. When hissing or wooshing noises are coming from under the hood, get to your Toyota dealership so a technician can check it out. They’ll likely find a leaky vacuum line or a leak in the exhaust system.

Rattling or Clattering Sounds

A Toyota engine rattling noise can be tricky because it could mean so many different things. For example, it could be something simple, like a loose heat shield or some other minor component that has worked loose.

If the sound seems heavy or pronounced—not just a quiet, hard-to-hear rattle—then it may mean a bigger problem, like the timing chain or a problem with the engine’s valve train.

When it comes to rattling or clattering sounds, don’t take a chance. Schedule service at Springhill Toyota immediately for a diagnosis so that if need be, you can fix a smaller problem before it becomes a big one.

Knocking or Pinging Sounds

Toyota engine knocking sounds can stem from a variety of causes, like using low-octane fuel or a carbon buildup in the vehicle’s combustion chamber. It could also point to poor ignition timing, and in the worst-case scenario, it could mean that the engine’s bearings are failing.

This is another sound that you shouldn’t ignore. If it is the engine bearings, then your technician will not only need to address the bearings, but they’ll also need to diagnose and fix the cause of the failure—like age, wear and tear, misalignment, or insufficient lubrication.

Get a Diagnostic at Springhill Toyota of Mobile, AL

Engines can make all kinds of odd sounds, and those sounds can point to any number of problems. If you’re hearing any kind of Toyota engine noise in Mobile, schedule service immediately at Springhill Toyota. We can diagnose the problem and make repairs before small engine noises become big headaches.