Whether your vehicle is new or used, any unusual sound is likely to grab your attention. If your vehicle is making a clicking noise and you've determined that it is coming from the exterior of one of the vehicle's wheels, a loose or ill-fitting hubcap might be to blame. As the wheel turns forward in rapid succession, a loose hubcap vibrating on the tire, wheel or another piece of hubcap can cause a clicking sound.
Inspect all four of the vehicle's wheels. It's likely you'll be able to spot a broken hubcap almost immediately. A clicking sound might not always be the result of a broken hubcap. As you inspect the wheels, check to make sure each hubcap if securely fastened, as a loose hubcap might not only click, it might break or eventually fall off of the wheel.
Tighten the hubcaps. Some hubcaps will require a Philips screwdriver, while others may require a lug wrench. Tighten the hubcaps to the wheel so they are not loose when you pull on them. Since most hubcaps are composed of plastic, be careful not to over-tighten hubcaps, as they're likely to crack under additional stress.
Remove push-on hubcaps and inspect the steel retention ring and plastic mounting legs for cracks. Should a piece of plastic have cracked, it's possible it could be spinning around inside of the hubcap just as an article of clothing would in a spinning washing machine.
