11 Simple Steps to Make Your Car Quieter

• Use sound-dampening materials to absorb sound waves and diminish vibrations.
• Try foams or insulation materials to make your car less noisy.
• Insulation generally goes under the carpet, leaving you with a plusher ride.

Steps

Choose damping materials with which you plan to dampen your car with such as mats, foams, sprays, or insulation; it is recommended to use a combination of these products in order to achieve maximum damping. These damping materials absorb sound waves, eliminate resonance, and diminish vibrations. Damping mats: These are simple to install damping materials and are used to cover panels in your car to help with sound deadening. They are typically made of either styrene-butadiene rubber or asphaltic panes with adhesive backing and either lower the resonant frequency of the panel or transform the sound vibrations into heat depending on the damping material used in your particular mats. Sprays: These come in either professional cans requiring compressors and paint guns for application or easy-to-use aerosol cans. Sprays are used in situations where matting would be too bulky to fit or the weight of the matting would be too heavy such as door panels or kick panels. Foams: Foams come in either sheet or spray form. The foam sheets are used just as the damping mats are by laying them over car panels to absorb vibration. Instead of converting the vibrations to heat, as the mats do, the foam sheets disperse the energy throughout the sheet. Insulation: This damping material is a thick pane of fibers that absorb sound and is laid underneath the carpet. The most typical type of insulation is jute or micro jute. Although insulation is less effective in regard to sound deadening, it does add thermal insulation to the interior of your car as well as creates a plusher carpet

Add weight to panels using damping mats. This will help with the panel's tendency to vibrate causing unwanted noise.

Place the damping mats between 2 of the door panels that are in close proximity to each other, to help reduce the vibrations within the space between the 2 door panels.

Place the damping mats inside an engine compartment to reduce rattling noises. The mats contain metal foil backing in order to increase the mat's heat resistance making them able to be near the heat of the engine. Apply them using a contact adhesion glue found at your local auto shop. EXPERT TIP Hovig Manouchekian Hovig Manouchekian Auto Repair & Design Specialist Hovig Manouchekian is an Auto Repair and Design Specialist and the Manager of Funk Brothers Auto, a family-owned business operated since 1925. With over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Hovig specializes in the process of auto repair and maintenance. He is also very knowledgeable in common automotive issues and needs including engine repair, battery replacement, and windshield accessory and maintenance. Hovig's knowledge and hard work have contributed to Funk Brothers Auto winning Angie's List Super Service Award for five consecutive years. Hovig Manouchekian Hovig Manouchekian Auto Repair & Design Specialist Reduce engine noise by soundproofing your hood. Consider soundproofing your hood if you're bothered by engine noise. Apply automotive-grade sound-deadening foam or a pre-cut hood liner under your car's hood. These materials absorb vibrations and dampen engine noise for a quieter ride.

Insulation

Measure the door panels and carpeted areas along the floor you will apply the damping materials of your choice.

Slice the insulation and/ or matting according to the measurements of the area you plan to place the damping materials. If installing insulation, be sure to pull the carpeting from the body of the car before proceeding to the next step.

Paint or spray contact adhesion glue to the body of the car in which you plan to place the damping mats and insulation.

Place the damping materials on top of the glue, pressing firmly to assure adhesion.

Spray any foam and spray sound-deadening materials in each crevice as necessary.

Allow glue and sprays to cure, or dry, in accordance with the directions on each material.