What's the worst noise you've heard coming from your own car?

"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol) 08/13/2016 at 12:28 • Filed to: None

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For me it was an exhaust heat-shield working itself loose from my 1994 integra.

jkm7680 > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:32

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From my old A6, when the clutch exploded I could hear the pieces of it rattling about while driving down the road.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:34

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Wanting to shift from second to third gear but accidentally shifting into neutral and then letting off the clutch made some horrible crunch noises.

AM3R shamefully returns > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:35

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The worst is also the best, my charge pipe blew on my 335i. I was WOT in second gear and around 6k rpm I hear a “pop” and something bang on the inside of the hood. As I let off the throttle it sounds like I have the loudest BOV. The pop was scary and my car sounded terrible afterwards, but I had cool turbo noises.

Brobalt SS > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:36

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For me it was the ever-climbing revs not corresponding to any acceleration whatsoever. Junked the transmission but the clutch is still rock solid 30,000 miles later so go figure that one out.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:38

2

The sound of the 2nd gear lock out and inevitable gear grind

Nauraushaun > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:39

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Mr MR2 made a horrible rattling noise for months .

fintail > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:41

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Many years with the fintail: coolant overflow tube came loose, hit the fan blade, sounded like the engine grenaded. Rear brake lining came apart in the wheel, sounded like a grinding brake stuck on and smelled worse. And the worst, piston ring broke and fouled a plug, making it backfire - the worst sound.

MultiplaOrgasms > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:43

2

The music on radio stations.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:44

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My exhaust system scraping on speed bumps in my lowered M3. This also eventually led to an exhaust leak.

lone_liberal > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:45

2

The gut wrenching knock knock that lets you know that your rods and your crankshaft have decided that they are no longer happy being together.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:46

1

Oh easy, when the transaxle mount in the Mercedes decided to not work anymore, I thought I was hit and going down.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:47

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I think my LS400 needs a power steering fluid change. It's making a weird whine now.

Nerd-Vol > Brobalt SS 08/13/2016 at 12:49

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How does that happen?!

Nerd-Vol > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 08/13/2016 at 12:50

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Stinks when you know it's going to get a lot worse from the initial noise.

Nerd-Vol > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 08/13/2016 at 12:51

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Fingers crossed!

Nerd-Vol > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 08/13/2016 at 12:51

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How low were you?

Nerd-Vol > jkm7680 08/13/2016 at 12:51

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Damn. Gut wrenching.

E90M3 > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:52

2

The sound when I hit my garage, it buffed out with like $4k.

Nerd-Vol > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 08/13/2016 at 12:52

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Sounds expensive.

Nerd-Vol > lone_liberal 08/13/2016 at 12:53

1

“Let’s just be friends”

My bird IS the word > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:53

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When one of my brake caliper bracket bolts came loose and the top of the caliper dragged on the rotor.

Nerd-Vol > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 08/13/2016 at 12:54

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I'm confused, what made the crunch?

Nerd-Vol > AM3R shamefully returns 08/13/2016 at 12:54

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Silver linings and all that!

Nerd-Vol > fintail 08/13/2016 at 12:55

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How's it running now?

fhrblig > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:56

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I’ll go with the sound of my ‘88 Sprint’s engine when the tow truck guy tried to start it, after one of the rods punched a quarter-sized hole in the block. It actually ran for a few revs, but sounded like someone had tossed a bunch of forks in a garbage disposal.

Nerd-Vol > fhrblig 08/13/2016 at 12:58

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How angry were you at the tow guy?

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 12:59

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I have no idea either.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:01

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Not at all, it’s just a simple mount and doesn’t take long to change. I thought it was a wheel bearing at first. It’s a w123 diesel Merc, not a V12 AMG.

fhrblig > MultiplaOrgasms 08/13/2016 at 13:02

1

Political talk radio is way worse. I’ll take inane pop music over that shit any day.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:04

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The sound of all the coolant evacuating the radiator, while knowing the head gaskets and heads probably went with that coolant(they did).

Toby F., Manager > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:05

1

Silence as a result of the then questionable no-starts/no cranks.

Nerd-Vol > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 08/13/2016 at 13:06

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I assume that all Mercs are made from rare earth crystals.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 08/13/2016 at 13:07

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Low fluid. My 4Runner whines when it’s low.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:07

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I went to catch a yellow light in my Town Car. I was doing about 50 when the light changed, so I floored it. Since it’s a Town Car, that probably brought the speed up to 55 when I hit the intersection. In the direction I was heading the intersection went up a slight hill. I’m not sure that any part of my car left the ground, but it did certainly hit it, and the car made a loud scraping noise accompanied by a bang. I broke all of the bolts connecting the cat to the pipe.

It did sound pretty cool afterwards, but that was probably exacerbated by the fumes leaking into the cabin.

I don’t try to make yellow lights on hills anymore.

Nerd-Vol > Honeybunchesofgoats 08/13/2016 at 13:08

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Best play it safe.

Nerd-Vol > Nauraushaun 08/13/2016 at 13:08

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Glad it's fixed!

fhrblig > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:09

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Actually, I wasn’t too upset. The engine suddenly stopped without warning at 75 mph without the usual noises, so I didn’t actually know what was wrong with it at first. Plus, this was on a Saturday after Christmas in a very small town so I was shocked I’d even found a tow truck. I got a friend to come get me, and my stepdad towed it back to their house in Alamosa. Fortunately it wasn’t my only car at the time. Six months and $500 later he put a used engine in it and it was back on the road.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:10

1

The worst part was having to wait to see the damage until I was sufficiently far enough from the intersection that there wouldn't be any witnesses to the consequences of my stupidity.

MultiplaOrgasms > fhrblig 08/13/2016 at 13:12

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Depends if it is critical or spreading government propaganda.

fintail > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:14

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Pretty sweet right now. Overall it is a reliable and easy to own car, but it is also unrestored and over 50 years old, so there are quirks. I’ve had the car since I was 18, there’s a lot of sentimental value now. I’m taking it out on the road tomorrow, and I expect/hope for no issues. I took a 100+ mile drive in it a couple months ago with no drama. Once a year I find a problem area to address, if one doesn’t come up during that time (this year it was the rear brakes, which were completely rebuilt). Next year I think it will be shocks and springs, and I want to have the steering wheel reconditioned, too.

Here’s a pic taken last weekend, as I detailed the car for an upcoming club meet:

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:17

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An inch or so down from stock. The car sat pretty low to begin with though.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 08/13/2016 at 13:26

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You think ?

Nauraushaun > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:31

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You have no idea :D

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 08/13/2016 at 13:33

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Also, do I need to do a flush or can I just top it off?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:43

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The god-awful nails-on-chalkboard screech my driver’s window makes when the car has been sitting in the sun all day.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:43

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Shot a spark plug out of the head while going 130 at Road America. I thought the whole thing blew up, because running on 3 cylinders was not a fun noise.

Nerd-Vol > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 08/13/2016 at 13:45

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What kind of car?

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 13:47

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Heard a grinding noise up front, then the steering started shaking violently in my 03 Vibe. Pulled over, threw out a wheel bearing on the highway. I did not fix it, I sold I as it for $1000 two days later.

DrScientist > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 08/13/2016 at 14:01

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could just be low. there may be a slow leak. try the lucas stuff. looks like cherry syrup and seems to help the seals... uh... reseal.

worked for my old jaaaaaaaaag. and the whine was terrible.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > DrScientist 08/13/2016 at 14:09

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I have to use ATF because Lexus. Can I just top it off or if I open the reservoir do I need to flush it ?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 08/13/2016 at 14:10

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I just topped mine off.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 08/13/2016 at 14:14

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Eww that noise sucks. My 4Runner has a plug wire that falls off every once in a while, and 5 cylinders does not sound good in this case.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 08/13/2016 at 14:26

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And it stopped the whine ?

SpecedOut > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 08/13/2016 at 14:30

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I had a leak in my power steering system in an old Grand Am. The whine will go away if you top it off, but it’ll come back if it’s leaking. I imagine there’s probably some degree of leak if the fluid is low to begin with, though it may be slow enough that it’ll take a while to matter. I’ve heard low fluid can do a number on power steering pumps, though, so make sure to do it soon.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 08/13/2016 at 14:40

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Yes, immediately.

DrScientist > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 08/13/2016 at 14:45

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every power steering fluid system ive seen you can just top off.

AM3R shamefully returns > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 14:56

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Yes! It was an easy fix so I limped the car home and waited a few days for the part to come in. Took about an hour and then I was back on the road.

... > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 15:06

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Engine dropping off its mounts and hitting the street, grinding me to a halt just as I pulled out of a parking lot in my dad’s 1982 Plymouth Reliant.

Oddly enough, after some experimentation, I found I could reverse back into the parking lot - dragging the engine the entire way.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > DrScientist 08/13/2016 at 15:38

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Do I need to warm it up before I fill it or will the level be the same regardless

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 17:25

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Supercharged Cobalt SS

Die-Trying > Nerd-Vol 08/13/2016 at 18:20

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SO THERE I WAS.................... i had just pulled off the road after the truck had shut off rather suddenly..... i had just gotten done passing a line of traffic that had been puttering along, wound it out, grabbed hi gear, and left them flat...........followed shortly there after by a sound reminiscent of running over a stick with the lawnmower, only slightly more metalic, when it shut off......... no big deal,clutched it, had lots of momentum, was still rolling at about 80mph downhill, so i make sure the ignition is on, and drop it a gear, and dump the clutch, it sputters, but shuts off instantly, more metal sounds, like dropping several hammers in a can, and a pop out the carb.......... i dumped the clutch maybe 5, 6 times? before i ran out of momentum, and saw a good spot to park at.......... so i pop the hood. nothing out of place...........might of bent a pushrod, or broken a rocker arm, thing was ALWAYS doing that, AND i had just had it wound out. i had a FEW spares in the cab. i popped off the valve covers, everything seemed to be in place on the first side, opened the second side, same........ SO i grabbed a screw driver, chalked the wheels, and bumped over the starter with it.......it turned over SUPER SLOW........and then i heard it........it seemed to go on forever......it was the only sound in the world....... it was the same sound you hear when you empty a large jug of liquid “glug, glup glup glup............... a minute later........glup glup”..........yeah it was done, wasnt going to fix it on the side of the road........... a guy i knew stopped, and let me use his phone, i called and got my friend to drag me to his house........... had the motor apart later that night. dropped a valve in the old hump heads(291) i had been running, and it broke.............. everything, the head, the block the piston, bent the crank............ i was able to save 1 head, the cam, the intake, and the tin, distributor too, thats when i put the current BLOCK back together.........

but yeah, ................ “glug glup glup glup” pouring sound, while standing on the side of the road...........

pip bip - choose Corrour > Nerd-Vol 11/19/2016 at 08:44

1

when 5th gear on my Lancer was in the early stages of self-destruction

put it in 5th and it would whine it’s tits off!

one s/h gearbox later, all good.