# Harmonica-like sounds from L wheel **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 20, 2014, 6:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717 "2014-08-20T06:40:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shiran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shiran](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Shiran)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 6:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/1 "2014-08-20T06:40:38Z")
For the past three weeks I’ve been noticing some melodic but unwanted sounds from my Honda Civic when I make a hard left turn. It sounds to me like it comes from the left front wheel well-- but having looked at some other posts, is this possibly related to an issue with the power steering? Or something else? It made quite a spectacular grinding noise on a single afternoon about a month ago, but when I took it into my mechanic, he told me there was nothing going on. Since that day, it has continued to intermittently make this strangely harmonica-like noise, only when moving, and only when turning to the left. Thoughts? Suggestions? Jokes?? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 7:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/2 "2014-08-20T07:02:11Z")
You’re describing a wheel bearing in the early stages of failure. Sometimes you can detect a bad wheel bearing by placing your hand on the strut spring and then slowly rotate the tire. Tester ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/3 "2014-08-20T07:15:58Z")
I agree. With an outside possibility of a CV joint. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2014, 7:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/4 "2014-08-20T07:30:55Z")
Does the frequency change with speed? If so, possibly the tire is hitting a loose fender liner. ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 7:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/5 "2014-08-20T07:40:15Z")
If you accurately described the grinding noise to your mechanic and they replied “there is nothing going on” find another mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 7:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/6 "2014-08-20T07:46:41Z")
Excellent point, sarge. I wholeheartedly agree. ---
**Author:** ![Shiran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shiran](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Shiran)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/7 "2014-08-20T17:04:09Z")
I was worried y’all might say that about the mechanic-- he’s been great with so many other things, this really surprised me. But: I have noticed an increase in frequency with an increase in velocity (forgot to mention that), so I think I’ll pursue both the bad wheel bearing idea and the loose fender liner idea. Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/8 "2014-08-21T00:05:24Z")
Check the brake pads too. More likely a bearing though. If you touch the brakes does it stop? If so brakes. ---
**Author:** ![Shiran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shiran](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Shiran)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harmonica-like-sounds-from-l-wheel/86717/9 "2014-08-23T20:10:02Z")
the mystery was solved by the same guys who told me not to worry about it before-- a pebble in the hubcap! Apparently this is a classic Click and Clack troubleshooting solution, but I hadn’t heard of it before. So glad it wasn’t anything dangerous.