For any driver, regular car care, maintenance, and inspection are essential.
Especially when operating after a long time, parts and functions will wear out, leading to minor internal damage that sometimes we don’t notice.
If you hear engine grinding noise at idle, what do you do next or ignore it? Don’t be confused! Just read this article carefully to know the best solutions for your situation.
What Is Engine Grinding Noise At Idle?
Not The Grinding Noise
Checking and properly identifying the problem your vehicle is having is a prerequisite.
Because each time you repair a vehicle, you will have to pay a decent amount, so no one wants to waste pointless and waste time. First, let’s define what is grinding noise from the engine.
Some people confuse engine grinding noise with clicking or rubbing noise when turning at slow speeds.
These signs can all occur when you start the car, but the causes and treatment are very different.
When you start your car and hear the sound “tik-tik” like a running clock, it’s still okay. Check if the car’s battery power or the charger is loose.
Rattling noise, clicking noise, or cracking one will create the whirring sound like an electric motor turning, with the main cause:
- Faulty spark plugs
- Compressor clutch
- Brake pads
- Vacuum leaks
- Water pump
- Idler pulley
- Pilot Bearing
- Clutch Pedal
- Steering wheel
- Fan Belt
The Grinding Noise
Car making grinding noise when idling like the metal on metal sound when idling? You will feel like two iron plates rubbing against each other every time you start the car. And that’s it!
As usual, this one is overlooked. After trying once or twice, you’ll be able to start it, and the engine will work as usual.
Or, when idling, the grinding sound will stop when you continue driving. This makes people ignore and take it for granted that car grinding when accelerating is a normal sound.
Why Does My Car Make Engine Grinding Noise At Idle?
The main reason make car engine grinding noise at idle include:
- Transmission issues
- Issues with the differential
- CV joint issues
- Motor mounts
- Bad wheel bearing
Transmission Issues
The car transmission is responsible for controlling the power amount transferred to the wheels from the engine.
Let’s put it more simply: the system sends the power from the motor to the wheels to make them work.
There will be many moving parts in the transmission, especially with vehicles with automatic transmissions. This causes certain wear and tear after a period of use.
Grinding noise when idle caused by this one won’t be too loud. However, when you accelerate or shift gears, the sound gets louder. It means your transmission needs servicing or replacing.
Issues With The Differential
The drivetrain will transfer force from the motor to allow your wheels to spin at different speeds. And the differential (also called diff) will work as the main factor.
Inside the differential are the transmission gears. They are divided between working for different wheels.
After some friction, these gears will wear out, and making grinding noise metal is a common situation.
CV Joint Issues
The CV joint on the car created more movement on drive wheels that are also used for steering. It connects the transmission to the wheels in front-wheel drive vehicles.
CV joints may not match or have been damaged. This creates a clicking, knocking, or grumbling noise when idle or accelerating. Another situation is the cracked joints that create the vibration.
Motor Mounts
Weighing around 300 lbs, the engine mount is an extremely sturdy piece of equipment. To enhance the strength, it’s made from metal, and this material also leads to wear and tear after a period of time.
Apart from this, if the contact surface is not firm or the coupling is not tightened properly, it will also make a sound.
An unmoored or loose mount will also lead to damage to other components, such as the serpentine belt.
Bad Wheel Bearing
Bearings are an important part of the wheel. It consists of a set with many round iron balls mounted in a metal circle.
When operating, these bearings will support the wheel’s rotation with minimal friction to reduce wear on the wheel. The car will run smoother thanks to the lubricating grease inside the bearings.
When the rod bearing is worn, it produces tire noise or wheel bearing noise. More dangerously, it can cause the wheel bearing to lock if the bearing fails.
How To Fix The Engine Grinding Noise?
As we know, grinding noise from the engine when idle or strange sound a sign of problems with your car. So, how to fix it?
The best solution is to drive your car to the service center for specialists for detailed noise inspection and fix it. Certainly, we don’t have enough knowledge and experience to solve dilemmas or some badly damaged parts.
However, for urgent cases or it isn’t convenient to ask for help from a professional technician, follow these simple steps below to fix the car engine grinding noise.
With Transmission Issues, Issues With The Differentials, CV Joint Issues, Motor Mounts
If the problem is from the transmission, differential, CV joint, or motor mount, this will require more skills and experience to fix.
You will need to check the entire engine first, disassemble it, and other related parts to check and find the damaged parts. That’s why the best solution here is to seek help from specialists.
Replace Bad Wheel Bearing
- Park your car on the flat surface. Remember to use chocks to secure other wheels.
- Use the jack to lift your wheel, then loosen the lug nuts. After that, remove the wheel by unscrewing the lug nuts
- Remove brake caliper, cotter pin, dust cover, and castle nuts
- Remove the rotor and old hub by unscrewing it
- Use a wrench to disassemble the hub assembly
- Remove the race; after that, clean the knuckle
- Replace the new race and install new wheel bearings
- Reinstall the parts in the order in which you removed them
Conclusion
And that’s all you should know about engine grinding noise at idle.
Obviously, you may need to pay more attention to identify if it’s really grinding noise or other things like cranking, rubbing, or other types of noise. This will bring you more convenience in checking and fixing.
Finally, take a look at the five reasons that create this annoying sound:
- Transmission issues
- Issues with the Differential
- CV joint issues
- Motor mounts
- Bad wheel bearing