Noise can be deafening and in India, where there are no silent zones, ambient noise can annoy you. Before starting driving the car, most of us think that the noise from the engine is the only one which intrudes on the cabin. However, the more you drive your car, the more you start to know about various types of noises produced by several factors. While it might seem that controlling these noises are out of your hands, it is possible to contain them and make your vehicle’s cabin a calmer place to be seated inside.

Let’s start with one of the most common sources that can produce unwanted noises in the car’s cabin – wind. Wind noises are more prominent in SUVs and MPVs compared to hatchbacks and sedans – the more aerodynamic the vehicle is, the lesser are wind noises inside the car. However, if you are still bothered by wind noises in your vehicle, you can install weather-stripping tape or seals on the door frames.

Then comes the noises from the road filtering inside the cabin, which is more prominent while driving at higher speeds either due to the type of surface or the condition of your car’s tyres. Tyres with a softer compound and thicker sidewall produce lesser tyre noises though they are more expensive and have a shorter life span than hard compound tyres. You can also install damping material on the doors and roof liner or spray a coat of rubberized underbody coating.

Add sound damping sheets

Adding a sound deadening material ensures that less amount of noise filters into the cabin. There are such materials available from Dynamat that can be added to the doors, floor, roof lining and firewall. It reduces the wind noise by a great deal. Affordable cars tend to have poor sealants on the doors that let the air come inside the cabin. One can install weather-stripping seals to the car’s door frames to ensure that a minimal amount of air enters the cabin.

Your car parts like engine, suspension and exhaust can create noises as well. The engine noises can be controlled by using good quality synthetic oils and servicing the vehicle from time to time, such as check-ups of engine mounts and the condition of powertrain components. The faulty components can either be replaced or rectified if needed.

After the implication of BS6 emission norms, vehicles now have much quieter exhaust notes, especially cars. Over time, the exhaust mufflers can get subjected to minor holes due to corrosion. If you begin to feel a difference in the exhaust note of your vehicle, you should get the exhaust mufflers checked and repair such pores and holes, if any. For suspension noises too, the major culprits which produce unwanted sounds are ball joints, link rods, shocker bolts and steering ends, which should be serviced and rectified from time to time.

Lastly, when a car ages, various panels inside the car, such as inner door panels, dashboard and parcel tray, start producing rattling noises. Sometimes, finding the exact part where the noise comes from becomes a tough task. In such cases, it is better to seek advice from an expert mechanic and get those noises removed by adequate damping.