Car making a clicking noise: what the sound tells you

What the noise actually means

A click or clunk is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and the same kind of sound can come from very different systems. What separates them is what the car is doing at that moment: starting, braking hard, going over bumps or turning.

Turning versus driving straight, bumps versus a smooth road, and whether the noise changes with speed all narrow the cause down significantly.

Common causes

• A weak battery or a bad connection, heard as a click with no crank
• A failing starter motor
• Worn bushings or sway bar links, heard as a clunk over bumps
• A worn ball joint, heard as a clunk when turning or over bumps
• ABS working under hard braking, which is normal
• An engine knocking or pinging, which has several possible causes

What to do now

1. Note exactly when the noise comes: starting, braking, over bumps, turning, or all the time.
2. If it clicks when you try to start and the engine does not crank, look at the battery terminals for corrosion or a loose clamp.
3. Watch the headlights while you try to start. If they dim sharply or go out, suspect the battery.
4. If it clunks when turning and the steering feels loose, have it inspected before you drive further.
5. Describe the conditions to the technician as precisely as you can.

When does the noise come?

• A click when you try to start, engine does not crank: weak battery, failing starter or a bad connection.
• A grinding noise when starting: the starter or its engagement mechanism.
• Clicking or grinding with a pulsing pedal under hard braking: ABS working, which is normal.
• A clunk or knock over bumps: often worn bushings, sway bar links or a loose component.
• A clunk when turning, with looseness in the steering: possibly a ball joint, get it checked urgently.
• Knocking or pinging from the engine: several possible causes, worth diagnosing before it worsens.

What people often get wrong

That noises over bumps are just normal for an older car. Some wear is expected with age, but a new or worsening noise is still worth checking, and worn bushings and links tend to get worse, not better.

When the car must go to a workshop

A clunk when turning combined with looseness, or a grinding or knocking noise with loose steering, should be inspected promptly. A ball joint failure while driving can cause a sudden loss of steering control.

Read next

• Car shakes while driving: what is causing it
• Car pulls to one side: how to find the cause
• Car won't start: find the fault by the sound

This page is general information and does not replace a professional assessment. Symbols, codes and behaviour vary between makes. Always check the handbook for your own car.