QuestionRoland,
Recently, I have been hearing a rattling and clunking under my hood when I drive. It usually starts after several minutes of driving and then may stop - - also, it doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes it happens when I am braking, sometimes it happens when I am putting on the gas. To me, it sounds like a bolt or screw or some other part is banging around under the hood - - but sometimes it sounds like it is happening in the undercarriage. It is hard for me to pinpoint exactly where. I recently had a 30,000 mile sevice and had my dealer look for the source of the problem and test drive the car, but it did not make the noise and they could not find any other reason for the noise. It did stop for a few days after the service, but, it is rattling and clunking again.
Other than this, the car drives quite well and has been holding up (31,000 miles so far). Any ideas or thoughts that I can relay to my dealer? Thanks.
AnswerHi Craig,
The description makes me think of the possibility that one of the three engine/transmission mounts that suspend the powertrain in the frame of vehicle is loose or fatigued. You may be able to notice this if you have a helper put the car in drive and in reverse from neutral with the engine at idle and the brakes "on" so that you can then watch to see how much the engine moves back and forth or up and down on either end. Icreasing the rpm modestly when doing this might provoke a clunk that you can observe. See if find any rub marks on the underside of the hood pad which might be a clue to this looseness.
Other then that, I can't think of another reason.
It may be that the warranty for the vehicle is still in effect so that you may be able to push them harder to find the reason.
Please let me know what you learn.
Roland
