Car makes noise with speed due to faulty bearing wheel. But when humming noise in car getting louder with speed, major reasons are defective wheel bearing, rough tire wear, uneven track, bent metal or various engine problems.
Driving at this condition is irritating and dangerous. So it’s better to troubleshoot and fix the problem at the home garage or licensed auto repair shop even if it cost thousands.
Article Summary
Reasons for Humming Noise in Car Getting Louder with Speed
Humming noise in car become louder with speed due to several reasons that range from minor to major. There are some major reasons reported by car drivers and owners on various forums and car communities:
1. Bad Wheel Bearing
If the humming noise in the car gets louder with speed, bad wheel bearing is the most obvious reason. If the noise completely disappears after you swerve left to right, it’s defiantly the wheel bearing. The noise should also disappear after putting on the brakes if the wheel bearing makes a noise.
The wheel can also become a bit loose and make humming noise. Bearing noise also changes with speed. So you’ll hear louder humming noise at high speed and lower noise at low speed. But if the noise doesn’t change while swerving, you should check anything else like a tire.
2. Faulty Tires
If the humming noise changes depending on the type of road surface, probably the tires making the noise. You may hear a rumbling hum sound from car tires while traveling. At high speed, the wind hum noise from the tire leak can become more obvious.
If your car makes a humming noise at a certain speed like 48 and becomes louder at 72, but disappears at lower speeds, it can be the tire problem.
If so, the car shouldn’t make noise at low RPMs or when idle. Your new tire can make this noise even if it is balanced, aligned, and rotated. It can also happen if your replacement tires are the same brand, size, and model as the previous one.
Today’s tire has different size and spacing tread block, so they generate different noises. Possibly the weight of the wheel fell off and one of the tires isn’t balanced. So ask a mechanic to indicate missing wheel weight and swap the tires to see if the humming noise disappears.
But if your car makes a humming noise when driving over 60 mph, the rear tire may come out of alignment which requires rebalanced.
3. Blocked Air Tunnel
Humming noise at high speed can also be the result of blocked air tunnel. Something can be blocked in the air tunnel and stop air from entering into it and causing humming noise.
4. Bent Metal
If your car makes a humming noise at 50 mph and the noise disappears at a certain speed like 58 mph or 69 mph, a piece of metal bend can be responsible. If so, you should hear deep humming noise that isn’t loud but noticeable.
The noise should pulsate and appear for around 4 seconds between quick intervals. A metal bent may be touching the brakes at high speed and make a humming noise which should disappear after bending the part back.
5. Faulty CV Joint
Defective CV axle angle of a car can also make loud humming noise while driving. It can get damaged due to aged, rough driving habits, and lack of lubrication. The inner CV is placed close to the driveshaft which can also damage it. To fix the problem, you may need to replace or correct CV axle angle as it isn’t repairable.
6. Bad Ball Joints
Ball joints connect the wheels to the control arms so they can turn and move up and down. It can wear out or get damaged and causes humming noise that appears at high speeds. If so, you should hear a humming noise from the front side of the car that may become louder with speed.
You may also hear a popping or clunking noise while turning the wheel or going over bumps. The other signs of faulty ball joints are rough tire wear, loose steering wheel, or poor handling.
To disappear the humming noise, repair or replace the damaged ball joints. Ignoring it can cause severe damage to the steering and suspension system of your vehicle. It can also blow the tire out completely and cause an accident.
7. Engine Problems
Various engine problems like power steering system problems, Leakage in the exhaust, loose belts, or low fluid in the power system can cause a humming sound. The noise may also become louder following the speed.
To fix the problem, you may need to check the whole engine as plenty of parts can be responsible. The exact source of the issue also varies from model to model. So hire an expert mechanic for comprehensive engine examination and disappear the humming noise effectively.
8. Noise At Low Speed
If your car makes a noise at low speed, its roller bearing in the rear axle may go bad. If so, you should hear the noise from the back end of the car. It can happen with old or new cars even with low mileage. For a newer car, low-speed noise is concerning.
So hire an expert mechanic and lift the car so he can check the wheels and transmission. But if you hear a humming noise at low speed from the driver’s side, the tire may have a bulge.
Why Does My Car Makes Humming Noise When Parked?
If your car makes a humming noise when parked, a loose drive belt can be responsible. It connects the alternator to the engine and you may hear humming noise from the front of the car due to loose belts.
In this case, tightening the drive belt should fix the problem. To do so, take the panel out on the car front side that covers the engine. Then tighten the drive belt using a wrench.
Troubleshooting of Humming Noise in Car Getting Louder with Speed
There are lots of things that can be responsible and make louder humming noise while you are driving. So if you try to troubleshoot the problem and find some clues, it can help a mechanic a lot to fix the problem easily and quickly.
- Try to determine if the humming noise coming out when the car is moving or idling.
- Turn the AC on and off to see if the humming noise disappears or stays.
- Drive straight and turn the vehicle to see if the humming noise change or not.
- Try to find out if your car is making noise under power or at a consistent speed. If so, what speed?
- Coast the car in neutral to see if the humming noise changes.
- Rotate the steering left and right to notice if the humming noise becomes more predominant or not.
- Check if the humming noise echoes loudly while driving at high speed along with a cement wall
- Find out if there is a loose plastic panel vibrating due to becoming loose.
- To determine if it is for bad wheel bearing, lift each corner of the vehicle and rotate the wheel by hand. If the noise doesn’t change while weaving the vehicle from side to side, the wheel bearing isn’t responsible.
- Check the tire if it is worn or not. Find out if there are any steps in the tread or worn in the rear, inner or outer edge.
Ask for Expert Help
After getting all those information, bring your car to the nearest auto repair shop and deliver the information to the mechanic. He should identify the underlying issue immediately and start fixing the issue. Depending on the car model ad issue, fixing humming noise can cost between $60 to thousand.
FAQs
Why is my car making a Humming noise when accelerating at low speed?
If your car makes a rumbling or humming noise while accelerating at low speed, most likely its wheel bearing may get damaged. A bad alternator belt or uneven tires can also be responsible. Bizarre noise isn’t a good sign when driving. So bring the car to a shop as soon as possible.
Why does a car’s Transmission make a humming noise when accelerating?
The transmission of a car can make humming noise while accelerating due to low transmission fluid. The transmission fluid can also be polluted with metal shavings that can make this irritating noise. If you hear this annoying noise in all gears, you may need to replace the worn or damaged bearing or shaft.
Should you drive a car when it makes a humming noise at high speed?
Cars usually make humming noise at high speed due to bad bearing wheels, faulty tires, damaged ball joints, or various problems with the engine. So it can be very risky to keep driving in this condition. Instead, fix the problem to make the ride safe and comfortable.
Final Words
If you experience a humming noise in car getting louder with speed, don’t get panic even if it is uncomfortable. Instead, take the car to a home garage or auto repair shop for diagnosis.
Sometimes minor issues like metal bends or blocked air tunnels can cause this problem that only requires inspection. But if the humming noise becomes louder with speed due to bad bearing wheels, faulty tires, or damaged engines, it can cost $100 to $1000 to repair.
