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Why Does My Car Make a Whistling Noise When it Idles?
I’m hearing a strange whistling sound coming from under my car’s hood whenever I’m idling at a stoplight. It goes away (at least I can’t hear it) when I start driving. Why does my car make a whistling noise when it idles?
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Uh oh! Unexplained noises coming from your engine are never a good sign!
The most common reason your car is whistling when it idles is a cracked or leaking vacuum hose somewhere. That wouldn’t necessarily go away when you start moving though—but it might be harder to hear with the RPMs rising. If there are no other noticeable symptoms, it could be a bad water pump.
You should first check to make sure that none of your vacuum hoses are leaking. If any of them are, the air rushing through would definitely cause a whistling noise. It could be that the sound doesn’t go away when you’re driving—it just gets harder to hear.
If there are no hose leaks, there may be a problem with your water pump, possibly a bad bearing. Have a mechanic inspect your water pump to be sure. If you do have an issue with your water pump, you’ll want to get it repaired as soon as possible.
While you’re dealing with your car’s maintenance issues, take some time to review your
car insurance
policy. There’s a good chance that you’re overpaying for coverage—most drivers are.Luckily, the car insurance caparison app
Jerry
makes reviewing the available policies fast and easy! Download the app, and Jerry will find customized quotes for you from the nation’s top providers. Once you choose a plan, Jerry will get you switched over and cancel your old policy for you!View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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