Hi All,
About a month ago my 97 Sunfire GT automatic started to develop a slight "knocking" sound. About the best way I can describe it is when the universal on a rear wheel drive vehicle starts to go bad. It is a consistent knocking\thumping sound that gets faster the faster I drive, it starts to get noticable at around 25mph. It is not a loud noise and I can't see that it has effected performance. But what ever it is it is something that is rotating and it appears to have a "Bad" spot as it rotates. It is never random, always evenly spaced out and proportional to the speed I am driving. Driving the car I can just barely feel the thumping under my feet. Really not noticable unless you drive the car everyday.
I check bearing, tires, brakes, rotors and all OK. Maybe a CV joint? If so, how could I check this myself?
Thanks
2006-10-06 04:30:56 · 7 answers · asked by mariogolf96 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Pontiac
OK, Oil level is OK, I tried setting the E-Brake and then reved it but I don't hear the thumping coming from the engine at all, it still sounds great. Have always run Mobil1 Synthetic and replace it after 5-6K (I know it can go longer if I wanted). Not sure what oil level has to do with it, but I tried.
Thumping does not get better or worse when turning and seems to be more noticable when you are driving at a constant speed, not accelerating, however I can still hear.
2006-10-06 04:59:12 · update #1
By any chance do you have any pull to the car or any tire wear on one tire then the rest? If so you may want to have your transmission check!. I had a dodge spirit similar problem! Did all that you have done including changing the axle, only to find out it was the transmission going out! "From what I was told pretty common with 2 wheel drive."
2006-10-10 11:44:32 · answer #1 · answered by Unsure 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you checked the oil level in your engine lately or even had the oil changed regularly? Sound like a rod knock or a worn piston pin. Even a bad rocker arm could do it, but the engine would run on the rough side and you said the engine runs ok. So i would say a rod knock is the culprit. If you put your foot on the brake and have the emergency brake on and then give it some gas, does the noise go away or get louder? If it gets louder, then it is probably a rod knocking. If it goes away , then it may just be a flywheel that may have become loose. Too hard to ssay for sure without testing the car myself, but i hope some of these ideas help you.
Good Luck
2006-10-06 04:38:32 · answer #2 · answered by mailbox1024 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take your car to a mechanic and ask them to check the differential gears (located in the rear axel) . I had the same problem with an 88 Chevy Astro.
2006-10-06 06:46:33 · answer #3 · answered by robbdahaus 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
be glad you don't HEAR THAT DREADED WALKING SOUND OR YOU COULD TAKE THE NAIL OR SCREW OUT OF YOUR TIRE sometimes it's real simple...
JACK ONE SIDE UP AT A TIME AND THEN WHILST THE TIRE IS RAISED START IT AND PUT IT IN GEAR be very carfule all you are looking for is your sound. if you don't hear it at all on either wheel it's in the tire, if you hear it on only one side it is a bad axle shaft and if the hear it no matter which wheel is in the air then it is in the tranny...good luck
2006-10-06 04:32:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
have you checked your oil?? could be a rod knocking.
When my CV Joints went bad on my honda it clicked, not knocked, and only when i was turning.
2006-10-06 04:38:42 · answer #5 · answered by ~Browneyes~ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you'll need to physically look at the boots on the c.v. axles. if they're torn the grease escapes and will eventually need to be replaced.
2006-10-06 04:35:34 · answer #6 · answered by nate_625 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mine was doin the same thing a few weeks ago. it was the U joint.
2006-10-10 12:14:53 · answer #7 · answered by icnmayhem 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋