Hi all,
I’ve been a member on these boards for a long time now but have net posted for years!
Anyway, I have a 2010 500 that has, for the last year or more had a strange problem after driving through a puddle with the left hand wheels.....
So, at any normal speed, if I hit a puddle on the left of the road, wether driving straight of turning, almost immediately afterward, a knocking sound starts. This will continue for several seconds, maybe longer, before it stops.
The noise is similar to a cv knock or a failed drop link but has the frequency more akin to a heavy vibration (I’m struggling to describe it!), but I can’t determine where on the car it comes from and it can’t really be felt through the steering or pedals etc.
The knocking only ever happens after hitting standing water. Never in the dry under any circumstances....
I have investigated several times and changed both rear shocks, both front wishbones (rear shocks and front wishbones needed doing anyway), and checked wheel bearings, drive shafts, drop links, exhaust, wheel arch liners but I can’t
find a cause for this knocking.
The car has passed the MOT since the issue started.
Has anyone here experienced this or maybe able to offer some thoughts on what to check next? I don’t really want to start replacing parts randomly........

If you have read this far, thank you!

Cheers,
Rich

Does the frequency change with road speed?

No it doesn’t seem to.
It’s raining right now so I’m going to go out and see what I can make happen.
This car doesn’t get used for much other than town and local use so it spends its time mostly around 30 to 50mph....
Road spray doesn’t seem to trigger it - just puddles. One in particular is on the exit from a roundabout so is hit at low speed....
It’s got me scratching my head to be honest

Hi,

It's a long shot but I remember this similar thread from the Fiat Panda forum.


https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/27144-machine-gun-noise-when-driving-rain.html

gazz_bee said:

Hi,

It's a long shot but I remember this similar thread from the Fiat Panda forum.


https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/27144-machine-gun-noise-when-driving-rain.html

Click to expand...

That theory has legs! I managed to recreate the noise by driving through a puddle that has caused it before. There was no traffic around so I slowed (slammed the anchors on!) to a halt and I swear that the noise continued for a very brief moment after I stopped.....
I can’t remember if it ever happened before I fitted a new exhaust about 18mths ago(I forgot all about the exhaust being changed)......
Gaz_bee, you are a star!
Thank you!

If the exhaust is possibly the culprit, get some of that exhaust wrap and bid the exhaust around the centre exhaust mounting area. That will stop it getting so wet/heat shock/rattling against the body, if any of those are the cause.


Ralf S.