Hi there i have a ford focus 2004 which has a slight knock when i tilt it left or right what could this be please
My car has a knocking sound whilst driving comes and goes
My car has 94000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
When you turn the steering wheel and you occasionally hear a knocking sound, it can be caused by multiple components. Some of the more common components include the wheel bearings, power steering box, tie rods, CV joints or strut mounts. Due to the fact that multiple components could be faulty or causing this issue, it’s best to have a professional mechanic come to your location and complete a car is making a noise inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your knocking sound.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Bad Tires/Bad Left Tire – A knocking sound may be heard when tires go bad, if they are unbalanced or misaligned, or if there is a broken belt in one of the tires. Wheel Bearings – If a wheel bearing is severely worn out the wheel will not be able to spin freely. This may cause a knocking sound to be heard.
If a ball joint is beginning to fail, you may notice a clunking noise coming from the front wheels. This clunking noise will become louder and more frequent over time. You may also notice that your steering has been affected by the bad ball joint, potentially causing vibration in the steering wheel.
A clunking noise when braking at low speed usually indicates worn out or damaged disks, rotors, calipers, or backing plates. It`s also important to check the suspension system, especially the bushings. Any issues with the suspension system will create loose movement when you brake, which will cause clunking.
Engine knocking often occurs when the air-fuel mixture is incorrect. To counter this, you can add an octane booster in the mix. This can help ensure proper octane rating, which can then stop the knocking. The recommended minimum octane level in the US is 87.
Knocking occurs when fuel burns unevenly in your engine`s cylinders. When cylinders have the correct balance of air and fuel, fuel will burn in small, regulated pockets instead of all at once.
If the smooth rumble you`re used to coming from your engine is replaced with a repetitive tapping or pinging sound that becomes louder and faster as you accelerate, that`s a classic sign of engine knock.
Loud squeaking or squealing noise while accelerating could mean there`s a problem with your engine belt. It could mean the belt`s loose or worn. Or it could mean that one of the belt`s pulleys is starting to fail. Loud rumbling noise when accelerating might suggest there`s a problem with your exhaust system.
It`s easy to misdiagnose the cause of engine knock, so you might have to pay a visit to your mechanic. Each of the engine knock causes on the previous page has a specific cure, and most of these fixes are simple. However, it doesn`t guarantee the knock will go away.
Once an engine starts to knock, the rod can fracture without warning. It could be the next time you start it in your driveway, or it could keep going for six months. Eventually though, the engine will blow and you`ll be stranded somewhere.
Adding more oil will make the noise go away, but it won`t solve the underlying cause of the noisy engine – the oil leak.
Spark Plugs That Are Worn or Misfiring
If your spark plugs are overdue for replacement, your engine knock could be attributed to that and you may also lose engine power.
A knocking sound is usually due to a problem with the internal components of an engine. Driving while you hear a knocking noise is not recommended. The more engine damage you cause to these internal components, the more difficult and expensive the repair job will be.
Pinging, or knocking, is audible evidence of premature combustion happening in one or more cylinders. It`s a major problem with expensive consequences if you ignore it. A well-tuned engine depends on accurate timing to provide optimum power, efficiency, and wear.
A knocking sound is usually due to a problem with the internal components of an engine. Driving while you hear a knocking noise is not recommended. The more engine damage you cause to these internal components, the more difficult and expensive the repair job will be.
Pinging, or knocking, is audible evidence of premature combustion happening in one or more cylinders. It`s a major problem with expensive consequences if you ignore it. A well-tuned engine depends on accurate timing to provide optimum power, efficiency, and wear.
An engine knock can usually be attributed to a detonation problem, which is why the knocks shouldn`t be ignored. Bad engine detonation can cause catastrophic engine failure if the problem is left unchecked. Techway Automotive can inspect your engine and find the cause of your engine knock.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Hi there i have a ford focus 2004 which has a slight knock when i tilt it left or right what could this be please
ANSWER : When you turn the steering wheel and you occasionally hear a knocking sound, it can be caused by multiple components. Some of the more common components include the wheel bearings, power steering box, tie rods, CV joints or strut mounts. Due to the fact that multiple components could be faulty or causing this issue, it’s best to have a professional mechanic come to your location and complete a car is making a noise inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your knocking sound.
Knocking after turning left seems to go away when straightening up 2004 Peugeot 407
ANSWER : Hello – great diagnostic effort! You isolated the problem area from the symptoms nicely. I believe your outer, left side Constant Velocity joint is failing. It has to deal with the most angle when turning left, and applying power thru it while turning puts the most stress on the joint. I recommend a CV axle replacement performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and make this repair.
A bad knocking noise on my left front wheel especially when driving on a bumpy road or when turning either left of right. 2008 VW Golf
ANSWER : Hi there – the suspension noise you describe could be either a broken front strut, or strut bearing plate. You are likely also experiencing a bit of loose motion in the steering as well. I would recommend a suspension inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Very Loud Knocking noise from left rear wheel when turning left and braking
ANSWER : The problem could be in the transfer case unit, but the device is mounted closer to the driver than the rear wheel so the noises or vibrations are generally a little more obvious. Especially during sharp turns the transfer case and rear end assemblies are working pretty hard with the wheels turning at different rates. I suggest hiring one of our mobile experts to diagnose the noise you’re hearing. Wheel bearings and worn out suspension components like sway bar links cause similar noises.
Strong knocking from front driver’s side and passenger side when making turns left OR right.
ANSWER : The steering rack and pinion assembly is mounted in rubber bushings; they may be deteriorated and allowing the rack and pinion to contact the sub frame making the knocking noise.
The other component to look at is the struts upper bearing and rubber bushing. These get dry of lubricant and should be lubed with a teflon grease when installed so the rubber will not get damaged.
Have someone feel the top of the strut mount under the hood while the steering is turned back and forth to see if the knocking or popping is in the strut. The rack and pinion bushings should be inspected from under the vehicle.
If either or both are bad then they will need to be replaced.
A mobile mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, can come to your home or business to inspect the knocking noise at your home or business.
car pulls to right after being hit hard on left tire and slight dent on wheel well.
ANSWER : There was probably at least some damage to your tie rods. These are the connections between the steering rack and the wheel. If one is bent or fatigued, it could even be dangerous to drive the car. There are some other components that may also have suffered including the control arms and the struts. At the very least you need to have the alignment set. Alignments are available at tire stores as well as the dealerships for a wide range of prices, but this can be a real case of you-get-what-you-pay-for. The alignment at the dealership or at a BMW specialty shop will be more expensive, but also more complete than a tire store.I recommend you have the front end inspected by a Technician from your mechanic before you get that alignment. you can usually count on the alignment technician to inform you of what pieces are damaged and need to be replaced before completing the alignment, but then you have to do the repairs on their terms and not yours.
I have a Dodge Ram and I ran a mailbox over on my right side. When I turn left and right there’s a grinding noise on the right.
ANSWER : After running over the mailbox, the box or stem could have bent the backing plate and is now causing the grinding noise as the backing plate is scraping against the brake rotor on the right side. Inspect your brake system and see what is causing the grinding noise. If you need further assistance with the grinding noise, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Wheel Bearings
ANSWER : It sounds like you may have a failing or worn out wheel bearing. A wheel bearing will usually fail due to pitting or small damage on the surface of the rollers or the bearing race. Both the surface of the rollers and the race is precision machined to tight tolerances and highly polished to allow the rollers to pass easily over the race with the addition of bearing grease for lubrication and cooling. Over time the bearing will wear slightly, allowing microscopic pieces of metal into the grease. Bearing noise can sound a lot like a brake pad dragging or grinding. It can also sound like whirring, whining or humming depending on how much sound deadening material your vehicle has in it. Bearing noise will always be dependent on vehicle speed meaning as you speed up or slow down the noise should change frequency or loudness. Cornering may affect the noise from a damaged front wheel bearing and is usually more pronounced as you make turns. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
