clicking/pulsing while deccelerating

[csholm87]

Recently my car (97 RS 74105 mi) just started to do that. I've never replaced anything since getting the car almost exactly a year ago and the previous owner didn't keep a record of repairs. The clicking came from the engine bay (duh) and the pulsing was in the shifter/clutch/accelerator. I've searched for the same questions but i found a bunch of stuff about clicking at idle or accelerating. possibly something around the drivetrain, loose bolt warped flywheel? Help please this is my first car and those suggestions were from my grandpa! Thanks in advance!

 

[Greg Collier]

The drive train is the engine and tranny. As you are decellerating is the clutch engaged or disengaged?

 

[csholm87]

either, i think it may be the cv joint

 

[GTM]

either, i think it may be the cv joint

Usually a C/V joint when it gets badly worn will make clicking noises when pulling away from a parking place and at low speed. They will rarely click on slowing down, they can click when parking.

The C/V joints have rubber convoluted boots which keep the grease inside, when/if these boots break they throw the grease out and allow dirt and water to get inside thus speeding up wear. They can wear out without loosing grease but take a look at them mostly the outboard ends and see if you can see where grease has been leaking.

Off the top I don't think this is your problem, more likely relay(s), exhaust, smog equipment, engine mounts, engine anti-torque bushings.

Is it happening all the time or does it have to get warm first? We need more information to better help you.

You could go to dealership and ask for someone to go for a ride with you driving since you know when and how it makes noises. They may or may not charge you for diagnosing the problem, you don't have to have them fix it, just give a professional opinion.

Let us know what you find or any more info.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[csholm87]

It is doing it all the time and I just recently started hearing it when I accelerate as well. My local auto mechanic said he thinks its the cv joints as well. I'm having him take a look at it today.

 

[GTM]

It is doing it all the time and I just recently started hearing it when I accelerate as well. My local auto mechanic said he thinks its the cv joints as well. I'm having him take a look at it today.

Yikes, this usually is a sign of advance wear and the fact you have been able to drive it is luck on your part if it's the CV joints. When they get to making noise even at highway speeds you can count the days before they break and really let you down. If it's the inboard end it's usually not so harmful though it can thrash around, but the outboard can do the most harm. They have all the power driving the car from the engine which now races because it has no resistance so it will flail around hitting lower control arms, brake hoses, and anything else.

Not a big job in the right hands, rebuilt assembly complete with axle, boots, grease and inboard plus outboard CV joints is $75-$125 plus labor. If they know what they are doing 1/2-1 hr labor.

Though remote a wheel bearing can make the noises you describe but they usually rumble (and don't laugh) growl. However the wheel bearing cage can wear out, break, and because it's made of sheet metal can click. I'm still inclined to believe from your description it's the CV joint though have heard those sounds mentioned in previous posts.

Do keep us posted and updated with the results... enquiring minds want to know.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[UH1Huey]

I had the same thing happen to my car yesterday. It is the cv joints. i was rallying my car on this new dirt road i found and the guy said that was the reason why they went bad because the dirt got inside of them. from my experience with the CV joints going bad take my advice DONT GO OFF ROAD. it cost me 280 dollars to fix. hope this information helps

 

[csholm87]

Well, the guy at the shop said all the cv joints were fine but there was a noise coming from the transmission. After his test drive he looked into it further and found metal shavings in the transmission fluid, concluding that something major is wrong with the transmission. So now I have to replace the transmission as soon as I can, but he said it should last a while and not to worry too much about driving it to school and work.

 

[GTM]

Well, the guy at the shop said all the cv joints were fine but there was a noise coming from the transmission. After his test drive he looked into it further and found metal shavings in the transmission fluid, concluding that something major is wrong with the transmission. So now I have to replace the transmission as soon as I can, but he said it should last a while and not to worry too much about driving it to school and work.

Ok, thanks for letting us know. Glad that it's not something that spells impending doom and demands immediate attention. It gives you a chance to put money ahead for the repairs. Keep the oil changed, don't push it hard, try to match engine RPMs and transmission shifts so it slips into gear easily. No more stop light Grand Prix. Makers have cut corners and some don't have a magnet on the drain plug, you can make your own or buy one for it would be a good investment to catch all the steel floating around in the oil. The mechanic can tell you if you had one.

Cheers,
GTM