What causes helicopter sound in car?

The sound you are hearing is related to the tires moving from what it sounds. The first thing to inspect is proper tire inflation. A bad brake, warped caliper or rotor, or issues with the parking brake can all cause noises related to the tires rotating.

Can a bad belt cause a rattling noise?

When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises. If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise.

Why does the wind sound like a helicopter?

Wind buffeting occurs when you roll down a window while driving, usually at highway speeds. The throbbing, helicopter-like sound is the outside air passing over and interacting with the contained air inside the vehicle. This is because the side mirrors are designed to direct air flow away from the front windows.

Can a bad serpentine belt cause whining noise?

To route a serpentine belt, many cars use free-spinning pulleys like the one in the photo. It’s called an idler pulley. It spins on a little bearing. When that bearing goes bad, it can produce a whining/whirring or screeching noise.

What is the helicopter effect?

Another lame car-based experience is the helicopter effect, a.k.a. “side window buffeting.” You know the deal—you’re driving at highway speeds when someone in the back cracks their window open, and suddenly your eardrums are assaulted with such a helicopter-rotor-like din that you can practically hear Wagner.

What causes wind buffeting in cars?

Whether you call it wind throb or buffeting or just plain annoying, it happens when someone in the car opens a single window at speed and it stops when a second window rolls down. Modern cars and trucks are more subject to air thump because they’re so aerodynamically efficient and well sealed against wind intrusion.

What are the symptoms of a bad tensioner pulley?

• Rust bleed and cracks. Appearance: Rust is bleeding between arm and base or dripping from the tensioner.
• Pulley bearing wear.
• Pulley wear.
• Tensioner assembly misalignment.
• Tensioner noise.
• Tensioner arm misalignment.
• Excessive tensioner arm oscillation.
• Binding or grinding tensioner arm movement.