Here's one that I have many people stumped on.

I have a 2001 Stratus R/T Coupe 3.0L Auto (with I think some call is "Slap Shift", but I don't use to a whole lot) I bought it used this past April from a dealer and it was running like a champ. Since the colder weather is starting to set in up here I'm starting to hear a few strange noises. When I start the car in the morning and don't let it warm up I usually hear this odd clunking sound that goes away after a few minutes once the car warms up. To me it sounds like it's coming from some where near the front passenger side of the engine, and it sounds as if something is a little bit loose. This doesn't really concern me since if I just let my car warm up a few minutes it doesn't occur. I've noticed that since it's colder that when I start my car it's ideling at 2000 rpm's or just under. Eventually the rpm's drop to about 1000. In the summer, or when the car is warmed up, it will idel between 500 - 1000


....Here's the tricky one.....

Two weeks ago I started hearing this odd "scraping sound" (best way I can describe it) when I would press on the gas or take my foot off of it while it was in gear. Last week I took it to a new Dodge Dealership just around the corner from my apartment since the noise was increasingly getting worse day by day. I described it at the time that it sounded like a metal pin was slowly scraping a little bit against another peice of metal. I showed a few of them there since at the time the noise was happening every time I should shift into drive, reverse and back into park, or any combination of the three, but never into neutral, nor would I hear the noise when reving the engine in park or neutral. They described it as plactic/rubbing noise from engine area possible / engine movement. This is what the service invoice says:

Immedatly after they where done I didn't hear the noise for the next few days..... It's back now but this time it's not as pronounced..... yet. Any clues as to what's going on? Something I can do myself with my little knowlege of cars? Do I need to take it back? Would like to avoid that if possible.


The modifications that are on my car (atleast the ones that I know about:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
K&N Air filter
JIC Coil overs
Performance Exhaust (not sure of manufacture)
Performace Battery


As for the JIC Coil Overs, I'm looking to get rid of these. They are very nice in terms of handeling and taking corners at about 50 or so but they are WAY to stiff for my comfort. Any bump and if feels like my a** is going to hit the ground through my seat. My mechanic is telling me that to get new mounts, springs and struts all around is about 1,000. My friend who's had these before on his RX-8 said they are retail at about 2,000 and if I where to sell them on eBay I could get about 500 out of them. I don't care what happens to them I just don't want them. I do not like them one bit. He also mentioned that I don't need to get new mounts just the stut and spring, and may be not the spring, that stock struts would still fit. This is my #1 fix in my book right now. The struts have caused the aluminum bracket holding my Air Filter to break making it hang very close to the ground. Good thing I know a guy who can weld aluminum so that's fixed.

If any one knows what I can do about thses or if any one would like to trade me for something a LOT softer that will fit my car currently I'm all ears..



Thank you for any help in advanced.

 

I am guessing the "clanking" sound is more than likely just piston slap. From what I have heard it is normal for the Mitsubishi engines till the oil has a chance to warm up. The higher cold weather start up idel is also normal. Because colder air is more dense, the engine needs to run just a little faster to deal with the increase in air.

As for the "scraping sound," I would check the motor mounts and make sure none of them are damaged.

 

Chances are, your motor mounts are due for a replacement. If it's an 01...it's probably at 50k or higher....and most motor mounts will last around 60-70k if your lucky, especially on FWD vehicles. Replacing the motor mounts is fairly cheap, easy to do by yourself, and can be done in a weekend.

The motor will rock on bad mounts...and this will help stabilize the front end and it should be a tad bit noticable to you when you drive. Deyeme has some really good polyeurathane ones that are a lil expensive but worth the cost. They are better made then the OEM crappy rubber ones.


As for the motor tapping sound, if its cold outside...it could be your CAI. Cold air intakes dont perform so well in fairly cold weather. Try installing your stock airbox back and see if you notice any difference. I know my car does it with the CAI installed.

How to change front motor mount on Stratus coupe

BadStratRT is the guy who did that Do-It-Yourself...and the rear mount is just time consuming, but easy to do.