Strange sound coming from under the hood.

My car is making a strange sound under the hood.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
I would recommend that you ask a mechanic to listen to the sound. He will be able to advise you on what is making the noise and how to correct it.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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Finally, engine misfires also cause a unique sound. You`ll hear it coming from the engine or the exhaust, rather than from inside the vehicle. It sounds like a loud popping or banging sound which stops after the misfire.
Humming noises that come when you are accelerating the car indicates a wheel-bearing problem. Often discarded as engine noise, you can keep a check on the RPM gauge for it. To combat this problem, effectively start coasting the vehicle at high speed. If the noise persists, take the car to a mechanic.
The most common reasons a Lexus RX350 has a rattling noise are the ball joints, struts or strut mount, or a problem with the sway bar links.
Damaged CV joint: The most common cause of a clicking or popping sound from the wheels is a broken CV joint. The CV joints, which stand for Constant Velocity, are essentially the wrists of your vehicle`s steering system.
Engine misfires have a very distinct sound that can make them easier to diagnose than other car problems. Popping, sneezing, or banging sounds coming from the exhaust are a sign of a misfire. This sound comes from the unburnt fuel leaving the cylinder that combusts through the exhaust system.
Knocking, Popping, or Banging

A car engine noise that sounds like popping can indicate several problems, including worn or dirty spark plugs, a clogged fuel filter or dirty air filter, bad ignition wires, or a problem with the distributor cap or rotor.

Rattling or your car air conditioner making loud humming noises which get worse as you accelerate can both be signs you need to replace your AC compressor. Compressor clutch. This high-wear part often needs replacing, especially if you live somewhere where you`re constantly running your car`s AC.
Your Car Makes a Humming Noise When Accelerating

If you hear a rumbling/humming noise as you idle and when you accelerate, the noise gets louder (like an airplane taking off) this is most likely a wheel bearing issue. What it could mean: This wheel bearing noise is often mistaken as engine noise.

Under the hood, rattling noises suggest the water pump is ready to fail. Usually, the noise is most pronounced when the car is idle. In some cases, the timing belt pulley bearing may be causing the noise. When the timing belt or serpentine belt is ready to go, you probably won`t hear a rattle.
Rattling noises when accelerating your car can be caused by many things, including worn-out suspension components, a broken or loose heat shield, bad motor mounts, low transmission fluid, and faulty engine components.
It might be a battery or alternator problem.

Perhaps your battery`s dead, or your alternator, which charges the battery, isn`t working correctly. If the source of the clicking is electrical, the starter (a small motor energized by the battery that gets the engine running) doesn`t have enough juice to stay powered.

Common Causes of a Ticking Noise

Bad piston rings and valve seals: Whenever you hear a ticking noise in your Lexus, it could be that something is wrong with the pushrods, valves, and pistons. If one of these components wears out, gets damaged, or goes bad, you might start to hear this ticking sound.

Engine misfire – An engine misfire can cause the engine to shake and vibrate, especially when the vehicle is idling. Engine mechanical problems – If there are any mechanical problems with the engine, such as a worn crankshaft or damaged pistons, it can cause the engine to vibrate.
Loud Idling

A good engine should roar, but not too loudly. If you feel your car is more noisy than usual there could be an issue with cylinder compression. If there is an uneven air-fuel ration in the cylinder, combustion can occur at higher or lower rates than normal.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Ticking sounds coming from the hood and weird noise of the tires
ANSWER : A ticking that changes frequency in line with engine RPM can be an indication of a collapsed lifter. Replacing a lifter requires a good amount of the upper engine to be taken apart to swap it out. It is hard to determine exactly which lifter is the issue since the engine should not be run with the valve cover off. So a complete set of lifters might be the recommended course of repair.

As far as the tire noise, the tread needs to be inspected for a possible chopping pattern. This can also sound like a wheel bearing issue as well. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will have the tools and expertise to inspect both noises and make the appropriate repairs.

Odd sound coming from L/F tire. Almost sounds like the tread only is rubbing but nothing is hitting it.
ANSWER : You can rule out the tire as a possibility by simply moving that left front wheel/tire assembly to the rear. After you do that, if the noise persists at the left front, then the tire is not implicated. Wheel bearing failures do make a range of noises and the noise you are describing is potentially included. You can rule out simple things on your own, though, such as brake interference (stuck caliper; check for a hot rotor on left front versus the rotor on the other side) or debris that is perhaps caught in the area of the steering knuckle and/or brake shield. If you cannot find the noise, what I would suggest is that you request a wheel bearing noise diagnostic/inspection. In the course of that diagnostic, if the noise is not found to be due to a failing wheel bearing, the mechanic will nevertheless pinpoint the source of the noise for you whatever the cause. If the bearing has failed, replacement can commence at that time or at a time that is convenient for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

hood latch locked before could. Lose hood and now hood is jammed and can’t get it unjammed
ANSWER : Hi there:

If the hood was having a problem closing and won’t open now, it’s typically an indicator that the hood latch itself is damaged or simply needs to be lubricated. The best way to have this issue repaired or diagnosed is to contact a professional mechanic and have them complete a door will not open inspection. This will allow them to determine why the front hood on your 96 Ford Explorer is locked and recommend the right repairs.

Squeaking noise coming from under the hood upon cold start.
ANSWER : Hey there, thanks for writing in. The noise can be the serpentine belt tensioner not putting enough tension on the belt. In this case, you would most likely need to replace the tensioner along with the belt to resolve this issue. These belts typically last between 50k and 100k miles, so it would not be a bad idea to have these components replaced anyway. If you would like to have the sound inspected first, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location for an in-person diagnosis and advise on a repair.

There’s a lawn mower sound coming from my engine when I’m driving
ANSWER : The noise could be due to an exhaust leak although it is also possible that a failed wheel bearing could cause enough "rumbling" to sound really loud. If you request a vehicle noise diagnostic the origin of the noise will be pinpointed and the certified mechanic will let you know of the required repair and the cost. The power steering leak is probably not related to the noise (unless the fluid level has fallen low enough to cause pump noise). Power steering leaks can be a fire hazard though (if the leaking fluid contacts a hot engine part) and so you should have the leak repaired. The service to request is a power steering system inspection – leak diagnostic. If you request these services, a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic will come right to your location and get these problems fixed for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

I hear a whooshing sound when I turn the steering wheel. If I make a sharp turn, I hear a grinding sound coming from the back. ???
ANSWER : Hi there. In most cases, the rear knocking sound is caused by the driveshaft, drive axles, differential gears, transmission mount, or the rear struts. The sound you’re experiencing is very difficult to diagnose, but could be caused by the power steering shaft, or you power steering system being low on fluid. It might be a good idea to have a professional mechanic complete a car is making a noise inspection.

Car sounds like golf cart when revving and braking; also leaking fluid; sound fades as car warms up
ANSWER : Hello,
There are a number of things that could make an engine noisy when starting up. Depending on the specific type of sound you are referring to, this will determine how to properly diagnose. If there is a bit of a hissing sound, this may be a sign of a vacuum leak. If this is more of a shrieking sound, this may be a sign of a worn out or out of adjustment serpentine belt. If there is a bit of a howling or growling sound, this may be a sign of a worn out or low on fluid power steering pump. A rattling or pinging sound may be caused by an ignition problem. An engine can ping (or knock) due to an improper combustion process. A "spark knock" is the result of combustion occurring too early. Early combustion can occur from carbon buildup inside the combustion chamber, a lean air/fuel mixture, and advanced ignition timing (spark plug firing too soon). A clattering type sound may be a result of improper lubrication in the valve train which could be a more serious problem and should be addressed as soon as possible. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle to ensure everything is in proper working order.

Why does my ABS lights in dash come on after driving for a while on my 2011 Hyundai Sonata
ANSWER : Hello. If this issue has occurred ever since the work was done then I would suspect that there is something that was not installed correctly. If you are getting noise also then the ABS wheel speed sensor may be contacting the tone ring which will cause all of these issues. It may also be a bearing that is bad which will cause this. Prior to changing anything the computer needs to be scanned for codes to see what comes up. I would also make sure that all of the tires are the same size as one different tire will cause the readings to be off. If you are going to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why the ABS light is coming on] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/abs-light-is-on-inspection