Weird buzzing noise after jump starting a car
A buzzing sound often comes from around the radiator fan after a jump start and slows down as the car warms up. This noise can persist and occur right after startup, alongside issues like rough idling.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1trying to locate the source or general area of the noiseDid this help you?
- 2Going for a short drive to see if the noise goes awayDid this help you?
- 3Checking if fan belts are loose, glazed, or need replacementDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Car died and when i jumped it this weird noise started. Any idea what im hearing? "I'm really trying to keep this car alive"”source ↗
“Yea the buzzing sound. It sounds like it coming from around the radiator fan. It does it often right after startup but slows down as the car warms up. Never fully goes away.”source ↗
“Car won’t start jumped starter with screw driver, now it idles all over the place when first start up it’s a 2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0”source ↗
“Car wouldn’t start we were in parking lot had to get home jumped with screw driver now code on and car runs really rough”source ↗
“What is this noise it sounds like a belt maybe or transmission 😭, noise started today only. Hear it when I turn it on for few seconds. It went away after I just went for a drive.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Why does my car die right after a jump start?
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- 3Grinding noise and burning smell after starter replacement
- 2Car squeaks and shudders when stopped at a light
- 23Why does my car engine cut out after driving for a while?
- 12Car making weird noises after getting serviced