Help Me Identify This Sound.

[oompahlumpa]

Ok, I know it's hard to do this w/o exactly hearing it yourself, but I was at mcdonalds tonight, and while waiting for my order, I hear this sound that sounds like someone tapping on a piece of metal. I go home, leave the car on, no sound... I wait about a min or 2, then I hear it again. The sound only occurs after idleing for a min or so. I pop my hood, I hear it slightly, but not as loud as I did from in the car, I noticed that I could hear the sound loudest from the fender wells. Any help would be apreciated. I want to know if I need to change something, or get it to a shop.

[hkspowers]

was the ac on?

[oompahlumpa]

I belive it was.

[hkspowers]

well probably just your exhaust vibrating. My friends car does this same thing when the compressor kicks in. It comes on for a few mins then stops when the compressor shuts off.

[oompahlumpa]

yeah the sound totally stops if I pump the break.

[Doughboy]

Originally posted by oompahlumpa@Jun 6 2005, 11:10 AM
yeah the sound totally stops if I pump the break.

what about if you just hold it down? Sounds like your car was just running cold to me.

[oompahlumpa]

it was a pretty damn nice day out... around 80 all day then high 60's low 70's when I heard the sound at night, and dough, it would only stop the sound if I pumped.... if I depressed the pedal, sound.... if I held in the pedal.... sound.... but if I pumped it no sound.

[Doughboy]

Have you had somebody stand there when you do this to try and locate it? Look around the master brake cylinder, for leaks and level.

Make sure your timing belt cover is on tight.. What about in between gears? Have you checked your motor mounts? Cracked header... Theres so many little possibilitys. Get a friend to stand in front of your car, or pump the brake from the outside of the car. Metal to metal sound though sounds like its something against your hood under there though. I say hood because its the idling that causes it.

[oompahlumpa]

that's good information dough, if I only knew how to identify the objects you were talking about, and even if I could identify them, I wouldnt know if it was ok or not.

[Doughboy]

well to check the mounts Put your car in 1st and ride out the clutch with the hood up to see if the motor hops around in there.. Of course with a second person standing outside.

master brake cylinders sit up almost near the firewall, holds your brakefluid.. Look at it and see if its ok..leaks etc.. (should be ok imo)

Your timing belt cover along side the valve cover, pull on it and se if its loose at all.

You were in an accident so it could be any part of your front end, It could be possible that your hood might need an adjustment or something under the hood is tapping at at a certain RPM level. Check the hood alignement, make sure its not rubbing your fender on either side, and also make sure it has clearence underneath. Since the accident you had you never know if the sitting level is different than before.

lastly, spray your belts with a solvent. They sell cans of shit to take ticks, and squeaking away. Other than all this I dont know..