I need help, thus the message... I'm not sure whether this is only one problem or 1+, but neither my hubby nor I can figure out what it is and it's driving me crazy.

Anyhoo, first, I have a terrible popping noise in the front end when I hit a bump, turn a corner or even get out of the car! We've replaced the struts twice, replace the axles, and have been all through the brakes, to no avail! It is getting worse now and sounds like the whole front end will break out the next bump I hit. Another thing going on is a clicking at slow speeds which is much more pronounced when I apply the breaks. Again, it sounds like the wheels are going to pop off and I'm constantly getting looks of pity!

The second problem I seem to be having is it suddenly began to jerk anytime I hit the gas or let off of it. (like when you get the rpms going to the top of the gear, then let off -- it's a manual) It's not every time, but most of the time, and it just suddenly started doing it one day. We've replaced the plugs, but I've since found out that I shouldn't use platinum plugs in it. The problem started before I replaced the plugs anyway.

Help!? Anyone?! I'm tearing my hair out with this one!

TIA,
MaddChatter

 

For the first problem,
How do your sway bar and endlink bushings look? They could be worn and causing the noise Also check your motormounts and motormount bushings for wear.

2nd,
Does the car feel sluggish or spudder when this happens?

 

It even pops whe you get out of the car? Check what srtgtr34 said, and check around your strut tower as well. I would also check all your suspension bushings, tie rods, etc.

Have you gotten out of the car and just tried pushing up and down on the front of the car to try to re-create the noise, or maybe grabbing one of the wheels and doing the same thing? It may be easier to narrow down where the noise is specifically coming from if you are right next to it (instead of being in the car).

 

IowaNeon04 and srtgtr34,
Guys, thanks for the replies. I really appreciate this.

Okay, hHubby checked all bushings he could see but I'll recheck. Replaced: struts, (and shocks on rear), both front axles, brakes and rotors. Bounced on the car, grabbed strut and shook car side to side, grabbed all 4 wheels and shook hard, all with no noises. Nothing. Got out of the car yesterday morning, car rolled back, popped. I couldn't get it to do it again until rolling down the road. The day before it even popped while sitting still, my daughter tells me. (I had to run back into the house for something and I didn't hear it.) This is why it's driving me nuts! I thought about strapping a microphone under the hood and getting a better idea of exactly what it sounds like, but I don't have one.


srtgtr34,
Sometimes, if I get on it really hard trying to catch up to the 80 mph traffic, it does sputter just a little bit at the top end of the gears, but ever so slightly and only for a second. But I really notice the problem when first letting off or depressing the gas pedal. It 'jerks' back and forth, and sometimes, if I'm going slow in 1st gear, the darn thing will just about give me whiplash until I hit the clutch. It's almost like it's not getting enough gas, but it sounds like a normal idle.

Any other ideas to point me in the right direction? I'll check all of the bushings again. I'll pull the new plugs and regap, just to be sure there was no mistake on that, but I don't hold much hope since this is what prompted me to change the plugs in the first place.

Thanks both of you!

 

Hmm as far as "jerking" back in forth when going slow in 1st... I would check your motor mounts first to look for cracks or deterioration. What you are describing is a classic symptom of motor mounts going bad...

As far as the slight sputtering at high rpm, I was going suggest checking or changing your plugs/wires, but it sounds like you are already on the right track with that. You may even have an injector starting to get a little flakey on you.

Just out of curiousity, how is your gas mileage?

 

check the control arm bushings.

make sure the strut tower top plates have not rusted out.

you should jack up the car on both sides and check the suspension while jerking the components around.

 

I had the same first problem and it was my lower control arm bushings.

 

^^^ LCA bushings are def. my best guess... but it could also be bad wheel hubs or wheel bearings... or both... so we'll see.... either way i'd replace ALL the bushings with the full prothane kit but thats just me :-D

oh oh oh it could also def. be the top hats... those are reallllly cheap to replace so try those too...

 

As for wheel bearings, they should have popped when I grabbed the wheels and shook them, but no such noise. I can not duplicate the pop with pushing it forward and backward in gear with e-brake off, either. However I did notice that the engine sure rocks back and forth an awful lot. Is that normal? (I've never seen that before. Sorry, guys, I'm still a little new at this. I can do tune-ups, oil changes, shocks, struts, SYEs, suspension lifts, brakes and wheel bearings, but as for the rest...) I'll check them both as soon as I find the ramps that hubby buried in the shed. :-)

As for the second problem, I think we might have figured it out. My daughter started complaining about "ringing" in her right ear every time I pushed on the gas, so I tried to duplicate. Sure enough there is a very high-pitched whistle every time I press the gas. I hadn't noticed it before because the windows have to be rolled up and the radio off before it presents. Sounds like possibly an injector fouling out? We'll check that one out this afternoon. I'm also going to recheck the plugs, just to be sure that there is no problem there.

Man, I really appreciate all of the help you guys are giving me. I know I'm fairly ignorant when it comes to dxing engine problems.

THX!

 

maybe it's the sway bar and or the bushings for it. there are a lot of things that it could be, if you can't figure it out, try taking it to a shop and let them look at it. most reputable places will check it for free.