Q: My car is making a humming noise when press the gas

asked by on November 28, 2016

While driving when gas peddle is pressed there is humminh noise that is coming from under the auto. Almost sounds like the tires

My car has 158000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Car is making a noise Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Tires with irregular wear can cause a humming noise, just as wheel bearings or possible differential issues can. Here’s a way to possible narrow it down. If the tires are making noise, they can be heard outside the vehicle. Making sure you are in a safe area, if you drive next to a wall, curb, or other type of barrier with your window open, you will hear the tires making noise. This can generally be caused by irregular wear that created high and low spots. For example, make a fist with your left hand and run your open right hand against your knuckles. Then run your open hand across the tread area of your tires. If you feel anything like your knuckles as far as high and low areas, then your tires can be the cause. Rotating them so the wear evens out may help, but if the wear is bad enough, the noise may only change location rather than go away.

Wheel bearing noise is typically only heard inside the vehicle and will generally change pitch when the vehicle moves side to side, say when changing lanes on the highway. If that happens, then the front wheel bearings are most likely at fault. Rear axle noises will generally happen when it is under load, like only when accelerating. If the noise changes pitch when you are on or off the gas pedal, the source can be in the driveline - rear axle, driveshaft, etc.

If none of this helps, have a certified technician look into the driveline noise to isolate the exact cause.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I use lane change assist?
Lane change assist makes it easy for you to signal a lane change. Instead of pushing the multifunction lever all the way down, and having to return it to its base position when you’re done changing lanes, the lane change...
Car not changing gears
I'm going to assume you have a manual transmission. The transmission in your Ford is a G15M-R fully synchronized 5-speed. Your problem could be with the clutch or clutch hydraulics. If a transmission is hard to shift into gear, or...
Wheel alignment necessary
Any time a component of the steering or suspension is replaced, then the front end should be aligned. I would say yes.
I had no oil in the differential and now there is a loud knocking sound from the transmission. Difficult to go into gears. What ne
If there was no or little oil, that means you had, and still have, a leak probably through a seal or gasket- although sometimes differential or transmission cases can crack and leak that way, too. Knocking sounds of course signify...
Squeaking metallic sound when turning
Thank you for the detailed information, it helps! The front driver side is where the majority of the steering (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services) components are located. Start by checking the power steering fluid. The best option is to raise the vehicle and inspect...
2013 ford edge limited "service advancetrac light comes on
It is possible that you could be having an issue with your transmission. I would recommend having your transmission inspected by a qualified transmission specialist to determine if any internal damage exists.
My car leaked it’s oil and doesn’t want to turn on, made these loud noises then shut off on me and leaked the oil and hasn’t turne
The first thing to do is to locate where the oil leaked out of the engine to see if the engine seized up and entire engine may need to be replaced.

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy for Dog Owners
Dog Dog owners are a special breed of drivers. When they shop for a used car they have a list of requirements that can be quite different from other drivers, which tends to make the process a bit of a...
The Best Used Cars to Buy for Teenagers
If If you’ve decided that you’re ready to purchase a used car for your teenager, then you’re probably pretty picky about what you’re looking for. Likely affordability, safety, and fuel economy are high on the list. With that said we’ve...
The Best Used Cars to Buy That Can Be Towed Behind an RV
Summer Summer is a great time for a road trip, but often travelers like bringing all the conveniences of home along, in the form of an RV. Then they tow their car behind it – sometimes this practice is called...