What's That Noise Your Car Is Making?
Tell us what you're hearing, smelling, or feeling — or upload a short recording — and we'll walk you through what's likely going on, whether it's safe to keep driving, and roughly what a fix involves. Runs right in your browser. No app, no signup.
Not Sure How to Describe It?
Tap the one closest to what you're dealing with and we'll take it from there.
How It Works
We don't just spit out a generic fault code. The tool walks through the actual mechanical reasoning, so you understand why it's suggesting what it's suggesting — not just what to Google next.
Describe it your way
Record the sound, upload a clip, or just type it out — "high-pitched whistle when I accelerate" is enough to get started.
Find out what's likely causing it
We narrow it down to the probable component — a caliper, a control arm, a turbo — and explain why that's the likely culprit.
Is it safe to drive?
You'll get a straight answer on whether it can wait, plus any workaround that'll get you to a garage safely.
Why no OBD-II scanner?
Most diagnostic tools need you to plug in a scanner first. Ours works from what you can already observe — the sound, the smell, when it happens — because most of what tells you something's wrong shows up before any fault code does.
We also factor in how components actually wear over time, not just whether they're broken yet. Brake pads, for instance, wear at different rates front-to-rear depending on your drivetrain and vehicle type, which shifts when a "normal" squeak becomes a real warning sign.
Climate matters too — a car that's spent years in extreme heat wears differently than one that hasn't, and that's factored into what we tell you.
Common Questions
Is it actually free?
Yes — no signup, no trial, no catch. It runs in your browser and you can use it as many times as you need.
Do I need to know car terminology?
No. Describe it however comes naturally — "a clunk when I turn the wheel" works just as well as the technical term for it.
Can I trust it completely?
Treat it as a strong starting point, not a replacement for a mechanic. For anything safety-related — brakes, steering, suspension — always get it confirmed in person.
What if I can't record the sound?
That's fine — a written description works. A recording just helps narrow things down faster.