Car Makes Noise When Starting In The Morning: 7 Causes With Solutions!

How will you feel when your car makes noise in the morning? It can spoil your whole day. Repeatedly doing this can make the situation more critical. Many people face this problem and ask why the car makes noise when starting in the morning.

Cars can make noise due to the following reasons. 

• Low oil levels or contaminated oil
• For using the wrong oil
• Cold start
• Moisture in the exhaust system
• Damaged water pump
• Damaged drive
• Improper tension in the belt can be responsible.

If these issues cause noise in the morning, they should not be neglected. I have dug deeper into this topic with easy solutions. Allocate your precious time to get all of your inquiries resolved!

Car Makes Noise When Starting in the Morning

The causes of cars making noise in the morning or after a long period of rest are the same. The reasons and their solutions are discussed below to help you address the issue. 

Cause 1: Low Level of Oil

A low level of oil means the whole system, like the crankshafts and the engine, does not get enough oil. In that case, you will hear the noise, and that will be noticeable most in the morning. Also, low levels of oil create low pressure.

So due to less oil pressure, the car will make noise. Do not worry! It is not a serious condition. Regular maintenance and frequent oil level checks can help you avoid this situation.

Solution:

First, check the oil level. To check it, follow these steps:

• Pull out the dipstick located in the oil reservoir.
• Wipe it with a clean cloth and put the dipstick back into the reservoir.
• Now, pull it and check the oil level.
• If the level is below the lower dot, that means the oil level is low.

If the level is low, you have to add engine oil to avoid the problem.

• Check the oil to see if it is clean or not.
• Now, add the oil recommended in the car manual.

Cause 2: Using Wrong Oil

If your car model needs any specific type of oil, other types will not work well. Rather, the wrong type of oil can damage the car. A car’s performance depends on the accurate viscosity of oil, and the wrong viscosity can harm the internal parts. If you have recently added oil, it will not make noise immediately.

When you start your car after certain hours, it will make a noise at that time. Like the car has tasted the whole night, and you have started it in the morning. The noise comes in the morning because the circulatory oil settles down at night. Then, the new and old oils mix and change the viscosity.

When you start it in the morning, due to the wrong viscosity, the engine will not lubricate properly. For this reason, you will hear the noise.

Solution:

If you have added the wrong oil, first drain the oil. To drain the oil:

• Ensure the engine and the car are cool enough.
• Jack up the car.
• Place a drain pan underneath the drain plug.
• Now, use a wrench and counterclockwise rotate the drain plug.
• Let the oil drain properly.
• Do not tighten the drain plug.
• Fill the reservoir with the right oil.

Cause 3: Contaminated Oil

Contaminated oil can also not lubricate or heat the engine properly. For this reason, the engine will make a sound after a long rest. If you have not drained oil for a long time, then oil can get dirty.

In this case, adding new oil will not work effectively. Rather, it will get contaminated with the old, dirty oil. Pull out the dipstick and put some oil on a piece of fresh tissue paper. If it is dark or not amber, that means the oil is contaminated.

Solution:

You need to flush the oil in this case.

• Add a flushing product to the reservoir.
• Now, start the car for 10 to 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, drain the oil in the previously given manner.
• Fix the drain plug properly.
• Add the flushing product again in an adequate amount and follow the same procedure.
• Here, you should also replace the oil filter.
• Find out where the filter is.
• Open up the lid.
• Remove the old filter.
• Place a new one and close the lid tightly.
• After the oil flush, add clean oil to the reservoir.

Cause 4: Cold Start

In many cold countries, this problem arises. The drivers often hear noise in the morning. But the noise will not last the whole day. Engine performance, or internal combustion, also depends on the environment.

In cold weather, the oil gets sluggish. So, when you start the car, the engine needs more oil to start. But the cold fluid takes more time to reach in place than warm fluid. The cold condition results in noise.

Solution:

This problem has no permanent solution. Mainly, the noise disappears after some time when the temperature of the engine increases. You can park your car in a comparatively warm place or where there is less chance of ventilation. Another solution to this problem is to use an engine block heater. It will not allow your car for a cold start.

Cause 5: Loose or Too Much Tighten or Worn Out Drive Belt

The tension of the drive belt or serpentine belt helps to maintain engine temperature and transfer energy. If it is damaged or has the wrong stiffness, then the car will create noise. When you start the car, the engine is not warm enough to expand the band.

But after a few minutes, the warm engine helps the belt get back to the right tension. So, the noise will no longer remain while driving.

Solution:

You need to adjust the belt.

• See the design and analyze the tension of the serpentine belt.
• Use a spanner that sits on the tension pulley.
• Rotate the pulley.
• Now remove the drive belt.
• Inspect if there is any damage or crack.
• If not, then use the old one. If present, then use a new one.
• Adjust the belt on the pulley in the previous manner.
• Rotate the tension pulley and adjust the belt.
• Use your hand to understand the tension. If it is loose, then rotate more. If it is tightened, then adjust it.
• Start the engine.
• Inspect if any noise is produced or not.

Cause 6: Moisture in Exhaust System

If there is any leak in the exhaust system, then moisture gets inside. While the car starts, the whole system starts heating. When the moisture evaporates, it makes noise.

Solution:

Find out the leakage in the exhaust system. To check the leakage and seal it, follow these steps:

• Connect an air compressor or vacuum into the tailpipe and secure it.
• Reverse the vacuum pipe in the vacuum and let the vacuum blow air.
• Switch on the vacuum.
• Spray soapy water into the exhaust manifold and other exhaust pipes. You will find bubbles from the leakage.
• Now clean the leakage surface.
• Remove the dust.
• Apply a sealing product to the leakage and let it dry.

Cause 7: Worn-out Water Pump

The water pump circulates the coolant and allows the system to cool down. But if it is damaged or has a faulty bolt, then it will make noise. The noise is less noticeable while driving. But when you start the car, the noise will be more prominent.

Overheating is a main issue for water pump failure. The issue will remain after adding fresh coolant. The temperature gauge in your car will continuously fluctuate from normal to hot.

Solution:

If the pump is worn out, then replacing it will be the best solution.

• Make sure the car is cool.
• Disconnect the cables from the battery and remove the battery from the battery box.
• Remove the belt and pulley that lie ahead of the water pump.
• Drain the coolant and flush the system.
• Unscrew the bolts and remember their arrangements.
• Check if there are any damaged bolts present. Replace the damaged one with a similar new bolt.
• Now remove the water pump and place a new one with the same model.
• Arrange the bolts previously and tighten them.
• Now, set back the other parts in a reverse manner.

This process is quite tough. If you are not experienced, then take your car to a repair shop or get help from a professional.

FAQs

These are some commonly asked questions by people about cars making noise.

Conclusion

The issue of cars making noise in the morning is resolvable. Regular maintenance can decrease the issue level. If this problem arises, then find out the main cause. If it is related to engine oil, then you can solve it yourself.

If the problem is due to an exhaust system or a cold start, then the solutions are quite easy. Solutions to the water pump and serpentine belt issues are tough. Take help if you are not an expert in it. Otherwise, while repairing, the surrounding parts can get damaged. Work with proper care while following any process!