Driving at a good speed of 45 mph/72kmh at under 2 Rpms, I'm getting some really fast knocking depending on how fast I'm going when I let off the gas . To best describe this knocking sound, imagine your wheels lug nuts very loose, now imagine driving with those lug nuts loose. You probably can imagine some audible noise that tells you something isn't right and is loose. Well that's only explaining the audible noise and feeling. Now I'm no expert, but it might have something to do with a boot, CV boot maybe(?). Also, I move the steering wheel to the left slightly enough to move to the left in my designated lane, and it also makes that knocking sound I have described(note that this is also while letting of the gas). Might be the CV. I'm gonna have to jack the car up in the morning and give the tires a hit to see if there is a "clunking" sound just to make sure. Also I have read from some of your guy's previous post to fix an oil leak before it breaks your wallet. Well I got to tell ya, I've got an oil leak; for about a few months or more now. I know it might cost me down the road, but I haven't found the culprit or the exact area of the leak. Hmm, actually, last I saw which was about 1 month and half ago, my spark plugs were soaked with oil. :ack2 I was surprised she still ran like that. Must be the head gasket; oil is leaking around the spark plug inserts, and probably leaking somewhere around the block(?) :banghead Just a thought. Any suggestions? Thanks. I'll take pictures in the morning. :crazy -Jamezzy
sounds like a cv to me. Here is what I have done before to diagnose and I don't condone it....just make sure safety is your first priority. Jack the front end up and put it on jack stands....very securely. Then put the car in drive and let it roll while you crawl underneath (or use an assistant but sometimes they are hard to find). Now just watch you axles, you can use a bar to pry on certain points...now grab the steering arm and turn the wheels to both locks and see if you can make the noise happen...if it is a bad cv you should be able to see it when you have the wheels cranked one way.
Thanks, I'll give that a try. I have an assistant.. well a blood related assistant, brother. :thumbsup: And yeah I thought it could be the CV too. Anyway here are the pictures for anyone else that might answer my post. Thanks. -Jamezzy Leaking Oil. Head Gasket I'm positive. Under the car at the front. You can see it being oily towards the mid left. Here's another at the front, I took the picture from the passenger side at the right. Notice where the oil has been leaking. Leaks in coin sized puddles at the most. Leaks very slow, but still is a problem.
I posted a long reply! I don't know what I did, but it didn't show up! If your noise is happening all the time the axle or axles are probably shot. Turn the wheel lock to lock and check from the front at each wheel. The outer boot or boots are probably ripped open and the bearings are shot! If it is always making noise, fix it or have it fixed, so you don't have the axle break and cause any other collateral damage. As far as the oil leaks, why do you think it is the head gasket? I am sure the spark plug tubes are leaking, common problem- pretty easy fix with a special tool. While doing that you replace the valve cover gasket, and dist o-ring! The v/c gasket can leak pretty good and run down the back of the engine(firewall side), the dist o-ring will leak a lot too (over the rear of engine/trans side). If you have not done those, they ARE leaking! There is also a very good possibility of a rear main seal leak! Before you do any leak repairs though: 1. degrease the engine ( i like brake clean, but very flammable) 2.degrease the sub frame 3.get all the wet grease or dirt off 4.drive the car 15-20miles (depending on how bad the leak is, may need longer drive time.) 5.Look at where it is wet or dripping- if you can't tell, tell us! I or numerous others on the site should be able to pinpoint the leak or narrow it down! Don't be so quick to think head gasket! Fluids can only leak down, not up. Clean it and start inspections from the top down!
Great info. Thanks a bunch :thumbsup: I'll look at this approach. Thought it was the head gasket since there is oil at the top, might've been seeping in somewhere to have ended up at the top of the block. This car has alot of problems, none major, still very driveable. These are things that come with an aging car, but it's all very worth it, I'm sure everyone here can relate Going to the scrapyard in a few, gonna grab some things needed, CV boots, and others that I might need. Gonna make sure what problems are actually present in the vehicle first. Thanks for the response!
As Dj says also The oil on the rocker cover shows me that the rocker cover seals are hard or the cover isn't tight. If the seals are hard I bet the distributor is leaking too, and the crank & cam seals. Check that cover and add some seal restorer to the oil for now.
Found out the problem. It IS the boots. Actually the whole damn thing, especially the end attached to the engine. There's some play and some knocking in there, and that's what I've been hearing, when letting off the throttle. Oh man, looks like she'll be out of commission for a little bit. :sad
It is a pretty quick and fairly inexpensive job! If you are a little mechanically inclined, you can do it yourself. If you have to pay to have it done, parts and labor for an aftermarket reman axle is probably about $300-350.
Right, provided the tools. My father and I will take a visit the scrapyard and grab some boots and other things the car needs. We usually do the work ourselves, but if don't have the tools we resort to the shop. Most of the time we I love to save money and have the experience working on the car. Who wouldn't :mrgreen
ive found that there are a suprising number of good axles at the yards. seems to be one of those things that get done right around the end of a cars life. if its got good boots chances are the axles are ok. plus you have to take apart the axle to get the boot anyway. cv's really arent all that hard to re-man either, just a messy job.
also for the leak check to see if your grommets are lose...mine were and it was leaking oil into my plugs.
Sure man, might as well since we're on the topic of axles, boots, and the half shaft. :mrgreen Ah the grommets, that must be why my plugs are leaking.
