Dino V

Hi everyone,

Hoping you can help me diagnose or somebody else may have experienced similar issue. Today I shifted into 2nd gear and held the revs maybe to about 5k rpm before shifting out. Right after that I heard like a thump and then metal clunking. Originally sounded like it was coming from the front center near firewall area from underneath, but my passenger insists that it's coming from the rear. After about 14 miles of driving seems to be coming from left side of vehicle. And it never does it when shifting, only when cruising in gear or cruising and in neutral. There can be a few minutes where there's no noise and then out of nowhere it can start clunking repetively. Do not recall it making any noise while parked/stopped. Car accelerates smooth and shifts smooth. But when I do hear the clunking noise I can feel it on the shift ****. It's like a kicking around feel. Doesn't happen as often as the ticking occurs.

Thanks again for feedback/advice!

-Dino

*EDIT
Here is the culprit, only two transaxle bolts holding in:

CyCloNe!

interesting, possible engine/trans mount?

Dino V

I am thinking trans mount also, because if it was engine mount wouldn't I feel vibration especially on steering wheel?

dave1192

Repetitive clunking while cruising or coasting sounds like CV joint. If the CV joint shifts into and out of correct alignment due to partially worn bearings, the clunking would go away and come back. Mine did just that -- until the CV joint failed completely -- and I coasted (with continued clunking) to the side of the road.

Dino V

Did you feel any difference in your steering? Because my steering wheel currently feels normal.

Dino V

So I drove car another 30 miles. Sometimes its just like "tin can" ticking around. And occassionally its partnered with like a kicking around sensation that I can feel through shifter. When that occurs feels almost like I ran over a giant rubber trash can type feel. Is this sign of bad trans mount causing torque tube to jump around? And then there could periods of like 7 miles and nothing not even a tick.

wheeldonwe

I am thinking trans mount also

Jfrahm

It could be the clutch rubber center, does not quite fit the symptoms but it's worth considering. If you had the rubber centered clutch disk you could feel a lot of windup if you tried to drive off with the handbrake on. If it fails there are tabs that clunk without the rubber to take the strain. These do not last long.

Dino V

I thought about that originally but wouldn't it then be doing it all the time? Also, when clutching in and out, it behaves normal/feels normal. Wouldn't I notice a difference in shifting? Only occurs in instances when cruising or even coasting down the road.

lart951

There won't be any different feeling on the steering the Axle bearings are in the rear

Dino V

Would there be any other symptoms? The car feels and drives normal other than that ticking/hitting noise, but doesn't do it all the time. For example, I drove 7 miles and nothing. Then drove 4 miles and did it 85% of time. Also, I noticed after let it sit, started it up, first gear began to slowly drive off and heard metal clunk. The rarer occassions are the violent kickaround/thumping which I can feel through the shifter. Out of the 50 miles I drove, did it maybe like 12 times. The sound/feel of that is similar to have a giant bulky plastic piece dragged and popped from underneath.

931guru

Rubber center on the clutch disk. Easy to check. Pull the starter out and feel around the bell housing for bits of rubber.

Dino V

Found the culprit! Left axle only had two bolts still holding it in place.

mhr

Wow well at least it's an easy/inexpensive fix.

Guess this should be added this to the list of things to eyeball whenever the car is on stands or a lift.

Dino V

I am assuming it was aggrevated by the extreme cold winter this year and day I took it out it was 90 degrees. The one bolt was still tight while the other holding the safety pin was almost fully out. Got lucky, and so far doesn't seem like any other damage. I'll upload pic later, not working from my phone. Now just need to find transaxle bolts. The ticking was the safety pin that was spinning since it was hanging from one bolt.