Hopefully you all can help with this one too...

I have a noise coming from under the car. I can't really tell if it's coming from the rear end, or right from under my feet. It's kind of a popping noise, more so than a clunk or thud really. This usually happens when I'm barely accelerating at around 1600 rpm. As soon as I let off the gas and the rpm's drop to 1400, I hear the popping noise.

The noise isn't nearly as powerful as the loud thud from when my tranny mount was torn (which I replaced with one of the poly mounts). Also, when the tranny mount was torn, the thud happened strictly while accelerating. This new noise tends to happen after letting off the gas.

I'm having quite a few issues with my car right now (it's quite the money-sucker these days). So any input on this problem would be appreciated. I wanna try to get this problem fixed first.

Does anyone have any experience with front suspension problems on these cars? I was under the car today, and noticed some excess rust and corrosion.

I would check all of the bushings on the front end. I would also check the u-joints on the drive shaft. The bushings should not be falling apart or missing. Check the ball joints for play and the tie rod ends. With weight on the wheels you should not be able to shake the tires or turn them any by hand. The u-joints should be stiff and not allow you to move the drive shaft.

I hope this helps.

Matt

I got under the car a lot better yesterday, and seemed to have found the problem. Or, at least I found where the problem is coming from.

I checked the drive shaft for play/movement, and it DID move. It wasn't moving near the U-joint though... I found some slop/movement right where the drive shaft enters into the tranny.

I figure that this a bad thing. Probably a very bad thing...

Does anyone know if there's anything else I should look for, or should I just go ahead and plan on having to tear the transmission down?



Thanks.

Is your car an auto or manual? Did the drive shaft move in the diff too?

Matt

Not that I can see. It's just moving around a bit at the tranny.

It's an auto.

I took the formula into the shop last Friday, they told me pretty much what I had already feared. That there was something loose inside the tranny, and it would have to be taken apart to find out what's been broken or knocked loose.

Sadly (and a very sad day this is), I'm probably not going to get this fixed. I've put way too much money into fixing this car the past year and a half, and my wallet is growing too thin.

Time to kiss her goodbye!

Hold on there! not so fast, how much end play are we talking about here? 1/32'', 1/16'',1/8'' 1/4 '' ? Is the tranny rear seal leaking? How noticeable is the noise? I would get a 2nd opinion. /

The noise is seemingly getting worse. I'd say it's very noticeable. It's getting to where you don't just hear it anymore, but you can feel it too.

I was told the play was a little more than 1/16", and the rear seal isn't leaking.

1/16" doesn't really seem all that excessive to me. Are you sure that's where the clunk is coming from? Other than the clunk does the tranny seems to be acting normal, shifting, taking off, etc?

It's taking off ok...the clunk is definitely more noticeable now than it was a month ago though.

OK, you need to simulate the condition under controlled conditions to be able to observe it. By this I mean you need to get the car up high enough on jackstands to get under it, ( if you have a hoist, better yet). With a trusted helper in the drivers seat, have them accelerate the car while you look and listen for the noise. don't spin the tires over 35 mph though, because with the tires off the ground your speedometer speed is actually doubled hence 70 mph! hopefully if the noise is not load bearing,(wheels on ground) you will be able to pinpoint where it's coming from. Good Luck. Dave.

Update:

The sound is definitely coming from the transmission.