Who doesn't like the rumble through a pair of glass packs or the smooth idle of a well-tuned engine? But anyone who likes cars knows there are good sounds and not-so-good ones. However, even those trouble signs can help us diagnose* a problem, sometimes before it gets worse. Here are some of the more common sounds:

Noises Coming from Under Your Car or from the Wheels

1. Chirping: Wear sensors in the brakes are telling you it's time to get a brake job. Once in a while, it indicates the brake is sticking or hanging; changing your brake fluid might help.

2. Grinding: Sound like metal rubbing on metal? Bad news! Probably the brake pads are worn out; look after it pronto or it will end up costing you a lot more. A similar, but not so harsh, sound can simply be a buildup of brake dust.

3. Squeaking: If you hear this when you hit a bump, it might be the rubber bushings used as dampeners in the suspension. If your car keeps bouncing after hitting a bump, check your shocks and struts.

4. Clicking: If the clicking goes faster as you drive faster, you could have a stone stuck in your tire tread, or even between your brake and wheel.

5. Groaning: You might have a problem with a wheel bearing (if you hear it at slower speed) or a worn CV joint if you're traveling at speed.

6. Clunking in the area of the wheels: Get your brakes checked right away. Something might have come loose in your brakes.

7. Howling: If it's coming from your tires when you're driving at speed, you're tires may be out of alignment. At certain speeds, you may also feel vibrations coming through the steering wheel.

8. Rattling: Assuming you don't have body parts flapping in the breeze, it might be loose exhaust parts. Often the muffler has broken from the front pipe. Happy news if it's just a clamp needing attention.

Noises Coming from Under Your Hood

1. Whining: An unbroken whine when you're driving your car could mean the differential is worn, or the differential fluid needs attention. Rear wheel drive cars can get a whine in the universal joint as well. A whine when you turn the steering wheel could mean you need to peek at the power steering fluid.