bob6831

Hi.
Am hearing a strange clunking noise coming from front end, I believe. Mostly hear it after shifting at low speeds. When drive slow in low gear, can hear it if make car lurch, so does not appear to be the clutch. Only other thing that may be connected is that latest tank of gas seems to be much less mpg, and poor power on hills when just changed plugs and air filter!
Have about 92,000 miles on car.
Bob

cowanpp

Is it a clunking or a clicking? Is it coming from one side more than the other? Is it worse when you turn hard right or hard left? Have you checked the CV Joint boots? My first guess would be a CV joint going bad, but I'd need more info to be sure.

foot

Motor mount is my guess. Torque mount to be specific. Check the front lower mount. I bet it is torn.

bob6831

I would say it is more of a clunk than a click.
I just had tires replaced and front brakes done, they said they did not see any mechanical looseness of anything on front end.
Wild guess....... could it have anything to do with fuel pump? (since gas mileage problem, loss of power).
I don't believe turning hard right/left makes any difference, will check that out tonight.
Bob

dpkelly

Could it also be a lower ball joint?

bob6831

Hi.
I don't know what it could be.......... am only trying to describe the symptoms.
Tested last night, does not seem to make any difference turning right or left.
Sound somehow seems like is possibly an exhaust looseness problem?? Maybe connection to manifold is loose???
Taking wild guesses here........ do not have any easy/safe way of getting under the car, and shared with you that tire dealer (Mavis), did check the front end (maybe ) for looseness and didn't find anything.
Bob

cowanpp

yeah, it's not the cv joint then. I'm going with foot on this one now. Could be one of the engine mounts. However, that wouldn't do anything to the gas mileage and power so I don't know if the two are related or not.

bob6831

Checked on long trip today.......... for sure my gas mileage is down about 25%
And, I just changed plugs and air filter!!!!
Bob

delsol161

ere's an interesting thought. does the car struggle to accellerate when it is making that sound? the reason i ask is this: until i finish my paint job, i'm driving a 91 cherokee. when i try to accellerate too hard sometimes, there is a loud clunking sound from underneath the motor. it strains to speed up until it chills out for a couple seconds... then it's gone. the comment about exhaust is what made me remember this. i tried watching my mufflers when i rev it, and sure enough... there is something large bouncing around inside of one of the mufflers. lol, unsure if it's relevent, but maybe a start?