Annoying clicking

[MoSlevin]

Hey All,

I've been noticing an annoying clicking noise in my car that occurs at low speeds, and when I'm going over hilly/bumpy roads... It sounds like it's something rubbing against the bottom of the car. Handling is still good, although with snow constantly on the roads it's hard to tell...

From other posts, it sounds like a loose/breaking tranny mount- does this sound about right? If so, how easy is this to fix?

Cheers,
Mo

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Annoying clicking

there are tons of things that can cause a clicking noise. Why do you think it is the tranny mount? good luck

[Smoke Panther]

Re: Annoying clicking

you need to be more specific as to when it's clicking:

Does it click at start up?
Does it change with throttle?
Does it always click, no matter how long you've been driving?

[bah]

Re: Annoying clicking

and more specifically where is it coming from

[slow6]

Re: Annoying clicking

and more specifically / IMPORTANTLY where is it coming from?

fixed! If you cant guess, then get a passenger to help ya out
This seems like something you shouldnt be worried about

[MoSlevin]

Re: Annoying clicking

I'll try to be a little more specific about what I'm hearing...

The clicking noise sounds like it's coming from underneath the console, almost like the driveshaft is rubbing against the underside of the car when going hills/bumps. To support this theory, the rubbing/clicking sounds the loudest by the center console/hump of the car, but it's hard to say exactly where because I can only hear it while I'm actually moving. Other passengers seem to hear the same noise from the same place.

I've confirmed that it doesn't occur while the car is just idling- with the hood up I can't hear anything out of the ordinary. There's no change in clicking speed with throttle/engine speed... and after about 50mph it seems to disappear (might be fading in with road noise?). And like I'd said, it's worse for an instant as I go over bumps and hilly roads.

I figured it might be the tranny mount because of the location of the sound... and a quick search of the board here pulled up a couple threads where there were some similar symptoms mentioned (but the other symptoms were mainly under extreme handling conditions)

I can't quite recall when the noises started... really started to notice it a couple weeks after the weather started to consistently be below freezing (got to love Canadian winters...).

The car is a 2002 Camaro, A4, all stock with 20k on it, so I'm not too worried about it being serious. I've only had the car since summer, and I'm just getting my feet wet with doing some of my own maintenance. All I've had to change so far is a dry/cracked serpentine belt.

Anywho, I know this all very anecdotal information, but I hope it helps.

[kristen]

Re: Annoying clicking

if it's bumps i would say start with the tranny mount

just get under the car and start hitting everything to make the noise

[SilverRS96]

Re: Annoying clicking

bumps and under hard accleration would cause ur tailshaft to come up and hit the tunnel if the tranny mount is bad...but if it stops over 50 mph then its not that

[MoSlevin]

Re: Annoying clicking

So, I think I can put this issue to rest for now...

I drove home today and didn't notice any noise at all, even on the hilly/bumpy roads. The last few weeks have been brutally cold- and today is the first day in a month where the temperature has been above freezing.

Given the gross weather requiring winter tires and a trunk full of sandbags, I'm guessing my car just isn't responding well to the low temperatures and added load on the suspension.

Thanks for the help though! I love this board ;)

[CDNFB]

Re: Annoying clicking

Always nice to see another Canadian on the board.

Cold weather sometimes causes strange noises and such. I, like you have had to endure a 3 week cold snap (-20 to -40 degree C), and during such times snaping, groaning, squeaking and poping noises come and go. Rubber seals and isolators get hard and it feels like things shake or vibrate more, ice collects in all sorts of areas and can rattle or knock. Grease and lubricants get thicker causing joints, bearings and hinges get stiff.

Welcome to F-body winter driving! For you the fun is just beginning!