Symptom diagnosis guide
- Comprehensive guide to abnormal noise diagnosis | Causes, repair costs, and urgency
- If the warning light comes on
- Causes of poor running performance and how to deal with it
- A comprehensive summary of causes of air conditioner breakdowns and malfunctions
If you notice any annoying noises in your VW, start here
When you think, “There’s a strange noise…” in your Volkswagen or Audi,
the cause can be broadly divided into three categories: the type of sound , where you hear it , and the driving conditions .
This page is organized in an easy-to- understand manner, with the order of diagnosis flow → possible causes → estimated costs,
so that you can easily narrow down the cause of the abnormal noise .
First, check the following in order.
- STEP 1: Type of sound (What kind of sound?)
- STEP 2: Where can you hear it?
- STEP 3: When will it come out? What time will it come out?
Simply go to the page that best describes your car’s symptoms and you’ll be able to get an idea of the cause.
The introduction to abnormal noise diagnosis
Search by sound quality
(clack/rumbling/high-pitched/rumble)
Search by situation
(low speed/high speed/starting/deceleration/steps)
Search by part
(engine/suspension/A/C/drive system)
👉See the comprehensive abnormal noise diagnosis page
Diagnostic flow
STEP 1: Narrow down by sound type
Choose the one that most closely resembles the sound you hear.
| clatter | Quietly | Steadily | rumbling |
| Go | rumbling | rattle | Crunch/Crunch |
| Creaking and creaking | Gigigigi | Squeak | Squeak squeak |
| Squeak squeak | Whoosh | rattling noise | whistling |
| Vienna | Bang bang | Caracara | Ton Ton |
| Clang, smack, smack | flapping |
You can scroll
It’s okay if the names of the sounds seem difficult.
It’s okay to start with sounds that are vaguely similar.
STEP 2: Where can you hear it?
Narrow down the cause based on the location of the sound.
| engine room | Suspension | Around the front wheel |
| Rear wheel area | Exhaust system (muffler) | When the air conditioner is operating |
| Rattling noise inside the car |
You can scroll
A rough guess is enough, such as “From the front?” or “From the right?”
If you’re unsure, just choose a spot that’s roughly close.
STEP 3: In what situations does it appear?
The “timing” of when the sound occurs can be very useful in narrowing down the cause.
| Low speed only | When crossing a step | Idling |
| Accelerating/decelerating | When it’s cold/After it warms up | When turning right or left |
You can scroll
If you see an item that applies to you, click on the link that best suits your needs.
It’s okay to only roughly judge the situation.
- Search by sound quality
- Search by location
- Check from driving conditions
Identifying abnormal noises from sound quality
Please choose a sound that is close to the type of sound you are interested in.
rattling sound
Clunking sound
tapping sound
rumbling sound
rumble
rumbling sound
rattle
Crunching/grinding noise
creaking and creaking sounds
Screeching noise
Squeaking
squeaking sound
rustling sound
hissing sound
rattling noise
whistling noise
Vienna Sound
- Whinny noise when stepping on the accelerator
- Whinny noise when accelerating
- Whinny noise when turning the steering wheel
Banging sound
rattling sound
tapping sound
clanging and crackling sounds
pattering sound
Please choose the cell that best suits your situation and sound, and proceed to the page with a detailed explanation.
It’s okay to choose one that seems “close enough.”
Quick reference table of causes and costs of abnormal noise
| Main causes | Urgency | Estimated repair costs |
|---|---|---|
| Lower arm bush deterioration | Medium | 20,000 to 60,000 yen |
| Stabilizer link play | low to medium | 8,000 to 20,000 yen |
| Shock absorber deterioration | Medium to high | 60,000 to 200,000 yen |
| Deterioration of engine mount | Medium | 30,000 to 100,000 yen |
| Belt tensioner noise | Medium to high | 10,000 to 40,000 yen |
| Water pump noise | high | 50,000 to 150,000 yen |
| Chattering of the exhaust system heat shield | low | 3,000 to 10,000 yen |
You can scroll
*The actual diagnosis will vary depending on the symptoms and vehicle model.
👉 Summary of maintenance and customization costs and work days at VW specialty store Nile Plus
Guidelines for the urgency of abnormal noise
Requires towing (undriveable)
This is the kind of noise you need to be careful of. It’s loud enough that you should stop driving immediately.
- A hard clanging or clanging sound like metal hitting metal
- A rattle or grinding noise that occurs in sync with the engine rotation
- A loud impact sound like the muffler has fallen or is about to come off
These sounds are
- The inside of the engine or auxiliary equipment (metal parts) is breaking down
- Belt or pulley is coming off
- The muffler or exhaust system is falling off
This could be a sign that something serious is wrong .
If you continue driving in this state,
- Completely breaks down while driving and leaves you stranded
- It will be at the level of expensive engine and transmission replacement.
- The muffler falls off, causing a danger to following vehicles.
There are risks such as:
👉 If the noise is loud enough, stop the vehicle in a safe place and consider having it towed .
Don’t push yourself too hard, thinking “It’s just a little noise…” – use roadside assistance or your insurance’s towing service.
Abnormal noises that require urgent attention
Danger due to engine rotation synchronization and auxiliary equipment
- Rattling noise when stepping on the accelerator
- Rattling noise when starting
- Squeaking noise immediately after starting the engine
- Rattling noise while idling (if it sounds like a rattle)
Possible damage to hub bearings and tires (especially dangerous at high speeds)
- Rumbling noise when driving at high speed
- Going noise while driving
- Rustling noise while driving (abnormal friction noise)
Risk of fracture of undercarriage, arms and joints
- creaking curves
- Curb thumping noise
- Banging noise over bumps (possible damage to shock upper mount)
Serious wear on the brake system (risk of reduced braking power)
- Squeaking noise when decelerating (severe)
- Grunting noise when decelerating
- Squeaking noise when braking (possibly due to worn out pads)
- Grinding noise when braking (iron rotors contacting each other)
Abnormal noise when steering (steering/drive system abnormalities)
We recommend repairing it soon.
It’s not loud enough to stop right away, but it’s the type of noise you don’t want to leave unattended.
- A clunking or clicking noise from the suspension when going over bumps or driving at low speeds
- A buzzing or rumbling noise can be heard from the engine compartment when idling or accelerating.
- The “whirling” and “buzzing” sounds that only come out when the air conditioner is turned on
Such sounds are
- Deterioration of rubber parts in the suspension, such as lower arm bushings and stabilizer links
- Loose engine mounts and auxiliary equipment stays
- Abnormal noise from the air conditioning compressor or blower motor
These are often signs that something will not stop immediately, but if it progresses it will become a big problem .
If you inspect and repair at this stage,
- It can be stopped before it can damage other parts.
- Relatively minor repairs can be made before they become major expenses.
This has the following advantages:
👉 As a general rule of thumb, you should consult a workshop within one to two weeks .
It’s best to consult as soon as you notice a problem, rather than putting it off until your car’s due for inspection.
It’s OK to wait and see (but not “abandon” but “observe”)
It won’t break right away, but the noises are annoying.
- Interior “vibrations” and “rattling” on the dashboard, door lining, etc.
- A “grunting” sound around the tires or exterior that occurs only on certain road surfaces or on windy days
In many cases,
- Loose interior clips
- Resonance of small objects
- Noise caused by tire wear patterns and road and wind conditions
There are also cases where safety is not directly affected .
However, this does not mean that you can completely ignore it.
- Make a note of when and under what circumstances
- If the noise gets louder or more frequent, it will be promoted to the “repair coming soon” zone.
This is the strange noise that you hear while observing it .
It’s reassuring to have your appliance inspected whenever you notice that the noise has increased recently.
Details of defects by vehicle type
Even if the “way” of the abnormal noise to appear is similar, the “type of trouble that is most common in each model” varies slightly depending on the model.
The following page summarizes the trends by model and common malfunction cases among other owners.
You can scroll
You can scroll
- What is the true cause of the “rumble” noise that is common in Touran cars? | Hub bearing abnormality diagnosis and repair procedure
- “Squish” noise when going over bumps: Causes and solutions for the common suspension noise in Golf 7/Passat B8 | Lower arm bush structure and first aid
[Relationship with warning lights]
If the following warning lights appear at the same time as the abnormal noise,
it will be easier to narrow down the location of the fault.
- EPC
- DPF
- AdBlue
- Engine check
- Coolant Warning
👉Click here for the warning light category TOP page
FAQ
Q: Should I not drive the car if I hear a strange noise?
→ Metallic sounds and sounds synchronized with the engine rotation are particularly dangerous . For safety reasons, stop the vehicle and check the situation.
Q: Can I identify the cause myself?
→ By combining the type of sound, location, and situation, you can narrow down the list of possible causes.
However, a definitive diagnosis requires inspection at a repair shop .
Q: Are VW cars noisy?
→ There are structural parts that are prone to making strange noises, such as the suspension, air conditioner, belts, and tensioners. However, once you know the cause, the repair itself is not difficult.
Q: What happens if I leave the noise unattended?
→ Even a small abnormal noise can lead to a “bigger malfunction” if left unchecked. For example: a loose exhaust system → the muffler falls off, or a knocking sound in the engine → it becomes more serious. It is recommended to check as soon as possible.
Q: If I hear a strange noise, are there any simple checks I can do myself?
→ Yes. For example
, make a note of the speed, accelerator/brake, left/right, bumps, and whether the car is cold or warm when the noise occurs.
Park the car in a safe place and roughly check where you can hear the sound (front/back, left/right, top/bottom).
If possible, record the sound on your smartphone, so it will be easier for the mechanic to understand.
Q: Will I feel relieved once the noise disappears?
→ Even if the noise disappears temporarily, it may not necessarily mean that the cause has been eliminated. For example, there are cases where the rattling noise caused by deterioration of the bushings simply disappears due to road conditions. It is safer to get a diagnosis and inspection to gain peace of mind.
コメント