Your car is making a humming noise when accelerating and decelerating due to multiple reasons. Worn-out tires, wheel bearing problems, and low steering fluid level are some culprits that cause the vehicle to make a whining, groaning, and chirping noise.
In this automotive solution guide, we will disclose every possible reason that causes the tires, wheel bearings, or steering pump defective and make the humming noise. Plus, we will also describe how to deal with those problems to stop humming or whining noise. So, stay in tune with us till the end.
Table of Contents
Humming Noise When Accelerating And Decelerating [5 Easy Solutions]
Why is the car making a humming noise when decelerating or groaning when accelerating? We break down the answer to this question in this chapter.
1. Tires Get Worn Out
Every time you accelerate your car or increase road speed, it makes a humming noise. If this is the issue, tires that get worn out are to blame.
Uneven tire wear is the main culprit that causes your tire to produce a humming noise. Improper tire pressure, wheel misalignment, and suspension are reasons behind abnormal tire wear.
Wheel misalignment is another reason that causes the tire to produce a thumping noise. You will even experience a bumpier ride shortly due to the misalignment wheel.
And lastly, the humming noise you will get when accelerating because of tire design issues. Some tire manufacturers intentionally and unethically set the pressure wrong so that you need to change the tire faster.
Solution:
If the tires get worn out, you should replace the tire to stop the humming noise. To prevent future wear, ensure the tires have the right amount of air pressure and align the wheels frequently.
Secondly, we recommend you align the wheels and repair the suspension, which will help prevent the tire worn-out problem from resurfacing.
Finally, there is an option except to replace the tires if the humming noise is produced because of the tire design issue.
2. Wheel Bearings Issue
A bad wheel bearing also produces a noise that seems to come out of tires. But the sound you will hear due to a bad wheel bearing is less like the humming noise. Rather, it is more likely a grinding noise.
Most often the chirping noise you hear will change with the change of speed. You will hear a rumbling or growling sound when accelerating your vehicle. But the sound seems like a hum when decelerating if the wheel bearings or hub bearing assembly gets worn out.
Loose steering and uneven tire wires are also the signs of a bad wheel bearing or hub bearing.
Solution:
As soon as you observe those signs, we recommend you bring your car to your trusted mechanic to repair the bad wheel bearings or bearing hub. Driving your car with bad wheel bearing is extremely dangerous as you will lose steering control due to wheel separation.
Alternatively, you can do the replacement workflow by yourself if you are mechanically inclined. And the below video will come in handy to replace both the front and rear bearing.
On the other hand, if you install hub bearings in your car, you should replace the complete assembly when it produces a humming or whining noise when accelerating and decelerating. In this case, you can watch the below tutorial to change the hub bearing.
3. A Low Power Steering Fluid Level
A low level of power steering fluid also causes the power steering pump to make a whining noise. The low fluid level creates or builds up foaming or frothing of the oil. It also causes the power steering pump to run dry and produces a humming noise. Several reasons cause the steering fluid to leak, including:
- A leaky hose
- A leak at the seal in the pump, steering rack, and steering gear
Now, you may ask- how can I understand the steering fluid level is running low? The following signs will help you to detect it:
- You will struggle to turn the wheels
- The steering wheel feels jerky or vibrating
- Obviously, the fluid will leak.
Solution:
Check the steering pump for a leak. If the fluid is leaking from the hose, we recommend you replace it with a new one. On the other hand, use the Blue Devil Power Steering Stop Leak to seal the leaks in your pump, steering rack, or steering gear.
Alternatively, you can bring your car to a local auto parts store like AutoZone or a trusted mechanic to fix the leak to stop the fluid from leaking.
4. Bad Power Steering Pump
In the previous section, we mentioned why the humming noise comes out of the power steering pump. You already learned a low level of fluid in the steering system will cause the pump to make a grinding noise.
If you hear a whining noise after fixing all the possible leaks, we bet the steering pump is not working properly. This time, the sound will be more aggressive.
Solution:
Replacing the power steering pump will be the only option to fix the issue. We recommend you take your car to a certified mechanic to diagnose and replace the steering pump.
5. One of Belt-Driven Accessories Gets Bad
The belt drive of your vehicle consists of a lot of accessories like pulleys, tensioners, and a lot more. If any of these components get damaged, you will hear a chirping noise when accelerating or decelerating your car.
For example, you will hear a constant chirping noise when you rev up your engine due to the misalignment of pulleys. The lack of tension of the belt will also produce a squealing noise. Turns out, it will make a grinding noise if the bearings in the pulley assembly get damaged.
Solution:
Fixing all the issues like misalignment pulley and damaged pulley assembly require professional or mechanical knowledge. So, it will be best to take your car to a mechanic to align the pulley or repair any of the belt-driven accessories that get defective.
FAQs:
Why is my transmission making a humming noise?
Your transmission will make a humming sound because of a slip-out clutch or a broken drive shell. Before blaming these two caveats, we recommend you service the transmission with fresh oil and a new filter. If the noise goes away, you are lucky. Otherwise, you should bring the car to a professional to change the broken drive shell and fix the clutch slipping issue.
Can low transmission fluid cause hum noise?
Yes, low transmission fluid can cause a humming noise. Even the transmission fluid pump may run dry, which makes the fluid pump produce a whining sound. We suggest you check the transmission fluid level and top it up with fresh fluid.
What does a failing transmission pump sound like?
The car will make a whining or groaning noise due to a defective transmission pump when accelerating or pressing on the gas.
What are the signs your transmission is going out?
Here is the list of signs that let you know the transmission going out and you need to replace it:
1. Unresponsive gear
2. Burning smell
3. The car will make a weird noise when in neutral
4. Leaking fluid
5. The car will make a grinding or thumping noise
What happens if you drive with low transmission fluid?
It may cause permanent damage to your vehicle or the transmission itself gets entirely damaged if you drive your car with low transmission fluid.
Conclusion
Whenever you hear the humming noise when accelerating and decelerating, understand something is going wrong and your car needs your attention.
Generally, your vehicle will make a humming or whining noise due to worn-out tires, damaged wheel bearings, and a low power steering fluid level. Fortunately, we broke down each of them and provide the way you need to follow to solve those issues.
Once you diagnose your issues by following our troubleshooting guides, fix them or hire a professional to do it for you.
About John M
John contributed as a technical head at an automobile company just 2 years after his post-graduation in Automobile Engineering. He loves to lead a free life, so he left his job & started blogging. Now, he does research on every automotive problem, part & product and seeks a better solution & best products & shares his findings with his readers to help them as well as to minimize their struggle.