Pontiac Repair: Rattles and Knocks, engine cooling fans, fan blade

Question
QUESTION: 2004 Grand Prix, V6 - 2 noise questions...

First, rear passenger side rattles loud over bumps to that tire only. When both rear tires hit a bump, no noise. (or very little) Pulled apart everything my amateur hands could but to no avail...

Second, getting new knocking/tapping sound from engine, seems to be from front driver side. It's not a metallic sound but more like a fan blade hitting cardboard, but not hard or fast... it like skips about. Only heard at low speeds and mostly after slowing down, turning, and especially when tapping gas, like moving forward at a light or in traffic. Happens on smooth and bumpy roads alike. Doesn't sound serious (and I hope it's not) but it's definitely new and noticeable.

Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Douglas

ANSWER: Hi Douglas:

the suspension noise is one of a few things. either a stabalizer bar end link or an upper strut mount. More likley a stabalizer bar link. Pretty common for that car. as for the engine noise it could be just about anything does it make the noise all the time in gear or in park? is it there when driving down the road or only in park when the car is not moving? if it's on the driver side it would be more trasnmission related. It's not the actual engine cooling fans by the radiator is it?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'll ask my mechanic to check the stabilizer bar link, thanks.

The engine noise occurs only while the car is in drive but I think this is because it seems to require some slight movement to trigger it. It doesn't do it in park or in gear while holding speed, however the slight movement the chassis experiences when I accelerate then let up on the gas (or turn at slow speeds) seems to be what triggers it most. As I can't reproduce the noise while parked, I'm not sure if it is actually the fans. (Or even how to check if it was, honestly... I can only pass your leads on to my mechanic)

Again, thanks for any further insight you might be able to provide.

Answer
if it only happens when the car is in motion Again it seems like it may be transmission related OR something to do with a motor mount or transmission mount where the drive train in the car is moving or chucking back and forth. There is a transmission mount on the left side of the car that supports the back half of the transmission that could be the root of the noise? Noise issues are the most frustrating things to try to figure out because noise travels though the body and chassis of the car. so something can sound like it's on the left side of the car and in reality be on the right side and the noise just transmits and you hear it on the other side.