Technical Something else now....

[philipb82]

Hello, me again!

My wife just been out in car and said theres a knocking noise, she thought it was a punctured tyre. So i took it out round the block and its a quiet knocking noise coming from underneath the car, its not the usual clonking or banging! I can't work out if its coming from more the passenger side or central. I'm guessing exhaust, mount etc?

Any ideas guys.

Thanks

Phil

 

[Clivvy]

is the knocking random, or in time with going over bumps, turning etc?

 

[philipb82]

Random i'd say, as i was driving. It did it also over speed bumps and irregularities in the road.

Phil

 

[tomtom2011]

Like a vibration knocking ??

 

[philipb82]

Like a vibration knocking ??

No, its difficult to explain. It sounds like something to do with suspension but its underneath the car.

Phil

 

[turbo_pib]

Engine mount?

 

[philipb82]

Engine mount?

The main one under the battery?

I've been out in the car again this morning and its not done it much. It starting to sound suspension related. I've had the rear bushes done about 2 months ago and passenger wishbone bush more recently.

Phil

 

[turbo_pib]

The main one under the battery?

I've been out in the car again this morning and its not done it much. It starting to sound suspension related. I've had the rear bushes done about 2 months ago and passenger wishbone bush more recently.

Phil

Is very hard to diagnose anything like that...
Is noise coming from N/S or O/S?
it could be something silly like roll bar link or something more serious
On previous post you say "sound like is coming from underneath car" so it could be engine or gearbox mount issue i think
Or maybe something daft like exhaust heat shield maybe?

 

[philipb82]

Is very hard to diagnose anything like that...
Is noise coming from N/S or O/S?
it could be something silly like roll bar link or something more serious
On previous post you say "sound like is coming from underneath car" so it could be engine or gearbox mount issue i think
Or maybe something daft like exhaust heat shield maybe?

indeed! Yep its definetly coming from underneath the car, it sounds O/S. I may pop to my local tyre and exhaust place just to get exhaust checked.

Phil

 

[Clivvy]

good idea, its hard with issues like these because there are so many parts in the suspension setup that can rattle, but also get them to heck any heat shields / stone shields around the brakes etc

 

[philipb82]

good idea, its hard with issues like these because there are so many parts in the suspension setup that can rattle, but also get them to heck any heat shields / stone shields around the brakes etc

Is it possible for the rear bushes to fail prematurely after 2 months? Now i'm not saying it is the bushes but it just crossed my mind.

Phil

 

[Clivvy]

its possible yes, but I can only say that because I don't know what garage you used, and how well they did the job. id have thought though, that if it were the rear bushes, it would be very obvious-you would feel it at the rear of the car, and the noise would be a muffled thud, probably.

 

[MarkThompson4]

Does it sound like an exhaust knocking? If the engine mounts are worn it can "pull" the exhaust forward under load causing it to rattle off the subframe. This happened to me and it was the rear gearbox-to-subframe bracket.

 

[philipb82]

Does it sound like an exhaust knocking? If the engine mounts are worn it can "pull" the exhaust forward under load causing it to rattle off the subframe. This happened to me and it was the rear gearbox-to-subframe bracket.

Not really, ive had an exhaust banging before on a previous car and this doesn't sound like it. It doesn't do it all time not even over bumps. But it sounds like its under the car thats why i presumed exhaust. I'm getting the exhaust checked out tomorrow anyway. Where is this gearbox to subframe bracket located?

Thanks

Phil

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Sounds like anti roll bar to me, worth giving them a tug to check.

 

[MarkThompson4]

The bracket is just to the left of the exhaust, if you look under the from the near side you will see a small length of metal coming from the front of the subframe and bolting onto the rear of the gearbox. Very easy to check, just two bolts - one on the subframe and one on the gearbox.

 

[philipb82]

I've had the exhaust checked and everything is fine. I'll get it checked out with the suggestions from you guys. Thanks. Phil

 

[Kennif Fiat]

check your front coil springs. They can break and a piece of coil can be rattling around. One would think the car would sit low, but it hardly notices. The broken piece of coil can stick out and damage the tyre. Use a mirror and a torch if it's not obvious, can be up out of sight.
ken

 

[philipb82]

Right, i've been out in the car quite a bit today and the knocking is becoming more prominent. It definetly sounds like its coming from the back and when i go over bumps and irregularities in the road. Are the drop links and anti roll bar located at the back? I'll get those checked but i have a funny feeling, and i hope its not......rear bushes I hope i'm totally wrong however. Saying that though, when my old bushes went they sent a jolt through the car you can feel it! Its good to get help from you guys so i can get checked out the things you suggested.

Thanks

Phil

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Right, i've been out in the car quite a bit today and the knocking is becoming more prominent. It definetly sounds like its coming from the back and when i go over bumps and irregularities in the road. Are the drop links and anti roll bar located at the back? I'll get those checked but i have a funny feeling, and i hope its not......rear bushes I hope i'm totally wrong however. Saying that though, when my old bushes went they sent a jolt through the car you can feel it! Its good to get help from you guys so i can get checked out the things you suggested.

Thanks

Phil

Anti Roll bar drop links are at the front, but when they go it can sound like the rear, it did on mine, and was only there on bumpy / irregular road surfaces.