You start your car and begin to pull out of the driveway. As you turn the steering wheel, you hear a high-pitched squeal. As you straighten the wheel, the noise goes away. Is your car dying? Is a wild animal stuck under the hood? Should you be concerned?
Power Steering
The most likely cause of squeals when turning the wheels is an issue with your car’s power steering system. Modern vehicles are equipped with this separate power source to help you turn your car. If you’ve ever tried driving a vehicle without functional power steering, you’ll notice an incredible difference in steering difficulty. In the case of this squealing, you likely have either low power steering fluid levels or perhaps some contamination in those fluids.
Serpentine Belt
If you open the hood of an older vehicle, you’ll find multiple belts. Modern cars tend to replace those many belts with a single serpentine belt, connecting the power steering, alternator, and air compressor to the engine. As this belt eventually starts to wear down, it could result in a squealing noise. If you suspect this might be the issue, be sure to have your vehicle checked as soon as possible. If the serpentine belt breaks, your car will become completely inoperable, and you could end up with some costly repairs.
Failing Suspension
Your car’s suspension system has several moving parts such as control arms, bushings, and ball joints. If any of these parts begin to fail, you’ll likely hear squeaking or clicking noises when turning the steering wheel. If the issue continues to worsen, you could start to hear more of a clunking sound. And if any part of your suspension system breaks while driving, it could become hard to maintain control of your vehicle.
The issue could be a small, simple problem, but it could also be a symptom of a much larger issue. Avoid any significant repairs down the road by having your car inspected by a trusted professional as soon as possible.
