# Car is suddenly making loud noise **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [March 10, 2018, 3:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414 "2018-03-10T03:29:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nicole17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/fbc32d/32.png) [@Nicole17](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nicole17)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 3:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/1 "2018-03-10T03:29:23Z")
It doesn’t make any abnormal noises when idle… only when accelerating. I just noticed today that it is louder than usual. There is no vibrating or smells. What could be the cause of this problem? ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 4:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/2 "2018-03-10T04:21:16Z")
Hole in exhaust system or cracked exhaust manifold are the best guesses without hearing the noise. ---
**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/3 "2018-03-10T13:09:07Z")
Here’s an old trick to find an exhaust leak: Monentarely plug the tailpipe with a rag and look under the car for exhaust leaks. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/4 "2018-03-10T13:47:09Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > Hole in exhaust system or cracked exhaust manifold are the best guesses **without hearing the noise.** … or without being given any information regarding the area of the car from which the noise seems to be emanating. Stating that your car is making a noise, but not providing any other information, is similar to telling an M.D. that you have a pain, not revealing **where** that pain is being felt, but expecting an accurate diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![Nicole17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/fbc32d/32.png) [@Nicole17](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nicole17)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/5 "2018-03-10T13:49:48Z")
If I knew where it was coming from I would have said so. I can’t tell if it’s coming from the back or front of the car as I’m driving. And it doesn’t make the noise when Idle. Thanks for the smart ass comment tho 👍🏼 ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/6 "2018-03-10T13:56:46Z")
Nicole17 , Have someone ride with you and give a better description of the noise otherwise no one can even make a good guess . As for the smart remark, don’t be so sensitive. ---
**Author:** ![Nicole17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/fbc32d/32.png) [@Nicole17](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nicole17)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/7 "2018-03-10T14:00:21Z")
Thanks! I’m going to today. I was just looking for ideas as to what it could be because the mechanic I go to is closed for the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/8 "2018-03-10T14:35:23Z")
Have you driven the car with the windows down? Lowering at least one window can sometimes help locate the problem. Also, you might hear the noise at idle with the hood up. Start the car and while it is in park with the parking brake set, open the hood and listen. You might hear it. Walk around the car to see if you can hear it. If you get a friend to help, one of you can increase the RPMs while parked while the other walks around the car. ---
**Author:** ![Nicole17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/fbc32d/32.png) [@Nicole17](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nicole17)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/9 "2018-03-10T14:36:34Z")
I have! But couldn’t tell. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll try that today! ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/10 "2018-03-11T01:01:31Z")
Does the noise diminish as the engine warms up? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/11 "2018-03-11T01:15:12Z")
Make sure that the oil level and transmission fluid level is correct. And both fluids are in good condition. Most likely the problem is an exhaust leak, but good idea to check the critical lubricating fluids too. One other thing that can cause an unusual noise during acceleration is engine pinging. Common causes are overly wide spark plug gap, ignition timing overly advanced, or bad or too low of tane gas. You could try filling the tank with premium high octane gas, see if that has any effect. Or see if the noise goes away if you shift to a lower gear, like from 5 to 4. My car has developed a little ping accelerating up steep hills in 5th, which I plan to address shortly by changing out the spark plugs. ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-is-suddenly-making-loud-noise/113414/12 "2018-03-11T05:36:15Z")
Can you describe the noise? Is it a bang, bang, bang noise or a ticking? Or a whining? Or like a loud motorcycle? A whistle or a creaking? Like popcorn popping?