UPDATE !!!

So, I went to a garage and they put the van on a hoist to check things out.

- the wheel bearings look good, no play (and they were replaced 6 months ago)

- the driver side wheel was out of balance - they tried to balance it, but it looks like the belt is broken as they had to make it really heavy to balance it. This is wife's car, so I have a feeling she hit a few pot holes this winter (this winter was bad for them in Ontario) - still not running 100 % true, but better..

- they inspected the CV boots and they all look good. No visible tears or grease leaks

- they tried to run/drive the van on the hoist to listen to the knocking, but the anti-slip was not cooperating. But the mechanic said that it sounded like the noise is coming from the tranny, but he is not sure if this is due to the traction control and the tranny backing off or from damage. He also said he felt the tranny and it seems like there is something suspect there

- I took it to a tranny shop and talked to the mechanic there and he says he would be surprised if the tranny was damaged and the van still drivable but just making noises, and especially when the van only had 125 K km on it. I have an app tomorrow morning with the tranny master to examine it and see if he finds anything.

So, the bottom line...I'm still no further ahead, but the van is still drivable, just making a whack of nose on the driver side of the van.

Thanks for everyone's help, and if you have any other ideas or insights, shoot them my way..

Thanks again...and hope that it's NOT the tranny...

-jeepzj

 

I'm going to venture a rod bearing or wrist pin. Can you post a sound clip?

 

I will try to get one tomorrow and see how good it is.

I took it to the tranny shop in town and the guy wants $3,000 to rebuild the tranny and says that it is it for sure (not sure I buy it.. but I'm not a tranny mech). Next stop might be the stealership..

Basically it sounds like a lifter knock on an old 318, but just much louder and only when you accelerate (gas pedal pressed), when you let off, sound stops altogether. And it only starts once you hit 20 km/hr or so from a stop. No noises at stop in any gears and the tranny shifts just fine and the van drives with no problem...has me very confused..

Thanks for taking the time to read this..

-jeepzj

 

That sounds like a cracked flex plate.

 

Thanks for the hint...

If it was the flexplate would it not knock all the time and not just under acceleration? I would think that even if you just revved up the engine you should hear something? I'll try to get a sound clip tomorrow and get under with a stethoscope while it's on jacks and turning.

-jeep

 

Did you ever find a solution? What was knocking?