Unidentified Clinking sound..?

[walter]

Well I thought I was going crazy the other night but I heard it loud and clear again. When I go to pull off REALLY slow and basically give it just a SLIGHT gas (barely over idle) the car makes this mostly regular Clinking sound that's loud and clear from inside and outside the car. The only way to describe it would be the sound a metallic rod would make when hitting the ground (think a wire hanger being hit on tile) . The car does it mostly in first gear, not so much in second.

Any ideas?

 

[COBESGT]

Where is the sound coming from Front, Rear, RH/LH Side, etc?


My first thought is a e-brake slightly hanging up, a bad adjuster for the e-brake, or something in the brakes. Or possibly a bad wheel bearing, but that should create more noise as you speed up, more of a hum.

 

[CPman]

Perhaps something with the exhaust system is creaking when there is torque is initially applied to the powertrain (causing the exhaust system to flex)?

 

[05blues]

solution

I can tell you exactly what it is. oddly enough I had the exact same problem. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. I bet your noise goes away after driving the car for a little while? and usually only happens on a cold start? Well, that's how mine was anyways. Look at the flywheel cover plate, mine was missing two bolts and it was causing it to rattle sounding like a tinking noise and would only happen when I was giving it a little gas for it to vibrate. (don't ask me why this stops after the engine is warm)

I hope this fixes your problem too that way I know I'm not the only one it happened to!

 

[89hatchlx]

Its a long shot but worth a try when i first got my car i had the same issue. A clicking sound that could only be heard when the car was in motion ussualy first gear after that the road noice covered it up and enertia took over. lol It was the stupid ass TPMS band and sensor that had broke lose on both driver side and passenger side of my front wheels. I had a friend stand outside the car while moving and thats how we found it. I would check you may get lucky.

 

[walter]

Ok let's do this

Where is the sound coming from Front, Rear, RH/LH Side, etc?


My first thought is a e-brake slightly hanging up, a bad adjuster for the e-brake, or something in the brakes. Or possibly a bad wheel bearing, but that should create more noise as you speed up, more of a hum.

Sound seems to be coming from front left wheel and/or under the car. Also the noise seems to cut off when I turn the wheel. My suspension bits seem to be in good shape. Everything is there. Last time I checked though I did seem to be getting real close for a brake job. Could I be hearing some noise from the brake wear indicators?

I can tell you exactly what it is. oddly enough I had the exact same problem. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. I bet your noise goes away after driving the car for a little while? and usually only happens on a cold start? Well, that's how mine was anyways. Look at the flywheel cover plate, mine was missing two bolts and it was causing it to rattle sounding like a tinking noise and would only happen when I was giving it a little gas for it to vibrate. (don't ask me why this stops after the engine is warm)

I hope this fixes your problem too that way I know I'm not the only one it happened to!

You may be on to something here. A while back my car developed a random stiff pedal syndrome after driving it a while (especially on long freeway stints where the clutch was not used) and when the car first started up. Took it to Ford (under warranty) and they told me that my pressure plate is basically no good and should seek a clutch job asap. (They wanted 800 for a STOCK clutch and about another half a grand for the install so broke and value conscious that I am said hell no) I ended up buying a nice McLeod lightweight flywheel but had to stop there because of lack of funds. I'm still not able to get a clutch job lined up with the money situation right now.

Its a long shot but worth a try when i first got my car i had the same issue. A clicking sound that could only be heard when the car was in motion ussualy first gear after that the road noice covered it up and enertia took over. lol It was the stupid ass TPMS band and sensor that had broke lose on both driver side and passenger side of my front wheels. I had a friend stand outside the car while moving and thats how we found it. I would check you may get lucky.

I have optional wheels on that didn't come with the TPMS equipment.

Thanks everone! hopefully an answer will crop up soon.

 

[SpartaPerformance]

I can tell you exactly what it is. oddly enough I had the exact same problem. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. I bet your noise goes away after driving the car for a little while? and usually only happens on a cold start? Well, that's how mine was anyways. Look at the flywheel cover plate, mine was missing two bolts and it was causing it to rattle sounding like a tinking noise and would only happen when I was giving it a little gas for it to vibrate. (don't ask me why this stops after the engine is warm)

I hope this fixes your problem too that way I know I'm not the only one it happened to!

Mine makes the same type of rattle noise from the center of the car I just assumed it was the rod from the MGW shifter knocking in its pilot hole but I will def check out the flywheel next time I have her up in the air.

 

[walter]

I can tell you exactly what it is. oddly enough I had the exact same problem. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. I bet your noise goes away after driving the car for a little while? and usually only happens on a cold start? Well, that's how mine was anyways. Look at the flywheel cover plate, mine was missing two bolts and it was causing it to rattle sounding like a tinking noise and would only happen when I was giving it a little gas for it to vibrate. (don't ask me why this stops after the engine is warm)

I hope this fixes your problem too that way I know I'm not the only one it happened to!

Also mine did it last night after tons of driving and early this morning after a full nights rest so it's not just cold.

 

[Sparty92]

Crazy idea # 27:
Your super sticky race tires are picking up small rocks/debris and throwing them at your car.

I know that's prolly not it, but my new tires do that after they get some heat in them.

Let us know when you get it sorted out!

 

[05blues]

Also mine did it last night after tons of driving and early this morning after a full nights rest so it's not just cold.

it only takes a minute to look at the flywheel cover to see if those bolts are missing

 

[walter]

Ok update # i forgot.

I finally observed the car from the outside AND I know think I may have narrowed it down to the BACK of the car. Definitely driver side around the wheel area. Happens when driving really slowly at part throttle (load) ?

I'm thinking rear brake pads worn down to the indicator not sure.

 

[NastyStang113]

How many miles on the car? OEM brakes? Although I'd be inclined to say it's the e-brake because the front brakes should wear faster than the rear so you'd be hearing the noise in the front first.

Mine makes the same type of rattle noise from the center of the car I just assumed it was the rod from the MGW shifter knocking in its pilot hole but I will def check out the flywheel next time I have her up in the air.

Definitely not from the MGW. I'd check what 05blues is saying. It's a common problem with the 4.0Ls but I hear there are some guys with 4.6Ls having the same issues with missing or loose bolts.

 

[walter]

Car has 47K miles now and it's still running on the OEM brakes. My GF has been driving it a lot lately (she doesn't have a car and I work close) when she does she never takes off TCS. I hear that munches on rear brake pads pretty quickly. I think i'm going to start with a full brakes inspection and go from there. I can definitely tell that the sound comes most likely from the rear left wheel area.

 

[COBESGT]

Car has 47K miles now and it's still running on the OEM brakes. My GF has been driving it a lot lately (she doesn't have a car and I work close) when she does she never takes off TCS. I hear that munches on rear brake pads pretty quickly. I think i'm going to start with a full brakes inspection and go from there. I can definitely tell that the sound comes most likely from the rear left wheel area.

Simple check, jack-up the rear of the car and lightly rotate the wheels and see if you can narrow it down even further. Sounds like it could be an e-brake slightly hanging up, but definately worth looking at the brake pads.

 

[05blues]

I'll tell you that it sounds a LOT like what I had going on. Sounds can be tricky as to where you think it may be coming from. Before I went trying to go through a brake inspection I would rather literally take 10 seconds and scoot underneath the car and see if those bolts are missing.

 

[walter]

I'll tell you that it sounds a LOT like what I had going on. Sounds can be tricky as to where you think it may be coming from. Before I went trying to go through a brake inspection I would rather literally take 10 seconds and scoot underneath the car and see if those bolts are missing.

When I check it out from up close I had my ears at tire level so I could tell it was coming from the back end of the car but since I gotta get an oil change done on it and I have ramps how do I check for your solution through the inspection hole underneath the bellhousing?

Thanks!

 

[05blues]

What I'm talking about is the cover plate on the bellhousing. It is very noticeable just from getting underneath the car and looking up at it, you will either see two bolts where they should be or two holes where the bolts should be, simple as that.

 

[ryancabral86]

Well I just recently took my 07 in to ford with the same issue and all they could tell me is thats a normal noise that 1st gear makes at low RPMs when rolling off the clutch. Not sure I believe that I am trying to get more info on that, will let you know what I find out.

 

[Wind-Farmer]

I have a slight clink to when going slow, its a very very mild sound. I can usually only hear it when next to a wall/something that reflects noise. If it is my bands holding my TPMS down I'll throw a F'ing fit.