Cars can be surprisingly noisy. For the most part, the sounds we hear traveling down the road are normal. Listening to your favorite song and pressing the gas pedal so hard the car engine roars are good sounds that everyone associates with automobiles.

Not all car noises are good, however. Sometimes it might be something insignificant, but this is rarely the case. Strange noises that your car doesn’t typically make are often one of the first signs that your car may need repairs.

Ignoring the problem will not make it go away, unfortunately. What was once a simple fix when you first began to hear the noise can quickly deteriorate, leaving you with an extremely high repair bill. Here are 5 car sounds that you need to get checked out sooner rather than later.

Sounds of a failing power steering pump

There are several noises that can indicate a problem with the power steering. According to Auto Blog, whining while turning the wheel, squealing noises when you start your vehicle, and groaning sounds are all sounds you need to listen for. Other signs are a stiff steering wheel or a wheel that is slow to respond when you try to turn.

Power steering is a critical part of your car and having it repaired can’t be put off. If your power steering fails, it can lead to a wreck. Speak to your mechanic as soon as you hear any of these sounds

Droning sounds

This is one of those sounds that makes you cringe when you hear it. Reader’s Digest reports that the droning sound isn’t so bad when you’re turning, but when you try to accelerate, it really ramps up the volume.

Thankfully this isn’t something you need to visit a mechanic for. Check your tires for tread wear that looks uneven. This is called feathered tires. The droning sound you are hearing is the tires hopping up and down as you drive. A visit to your local tire store will fix this.

Clicking while turning

This one is more easily recognizable. Car Treatments reports that you’ll hear a clicking sound when you turn and the sound increases in speed and volume as you accelerate. Slowing down reduces the speed and volume of the clicking.

This is most likely caused by the CV axle. The boot becomes worn down and grease begins to leak out. Like a squeaky hinge that needs to be oiled, the lack of grease makes the axle become dry and you begin to hear clicks.

Grinding or squeaking

According to Angie’s List, this is a sound you hear when you hit the brakes. It might start out soft but can increase in volume as time goes by. This is a perfect example of taking your car in as soon as you begin to hear strange sounds.

If diagnosed early, your mechanic can service your brakes by adjusting materials, lubricating the brakes, or cleaning them. If you wait, you may end up having to replace your brakes which will cost more in the long run.

High-pitched squeal

If you have kids in the vehicle, it may not be the car. Diagnosing if it’s your child or the car should be fairly simple. If it is indeed the vehicle, then you may have a bad serpentine belt. Auto Blog reports, “The serpentine belt, also known as the drive belt, is a belt on a car engine that works with the idler, tensioner, and pulleys inside the accessory drive belt system. It provides power for the air conditioning, alternator, power steering, and sometimes the cooling system water pump.”

Putting off getting the serpentine belt fixed can lead to engine failure. Obviously, this is something you want to avoid.

Please keep in mind that hearing a strange sound isn’t enough to make a proper diagnosis. The only way to know for certain is to take a look under the hood. A reliable mechanic should be able to tell you for certain what the problem is and how to fix it.