Popping noise after reversing

[97egl]

I have a popping noise when I reverse after going forwards or if I go forwards after reversing. It will only do it under those conditions. If I keep going from 1st to reverse and back to first and so on it will make the popping noise every time I let the clutch out. I tried doing it with the hood open and having my wife listen for the sound but she couldn't really tell. It was in the general area of in between the firewall and the battery from what she could tell. If anyone has any ideas it would be greatly helpful.

It is a 97 420A 5-speed

 

[Primecut4ya]

Check your motor and tranny mounts..

 

[97egl]

They're all tight. The rear mount seems like it could be replaced cuz the engine moves a bit more than it should but i dont see it causing a popping noise. It almost sounds like a bolt or something isnt tight enough but i checked the motor/tranny mount bolts, cntrl arm bolts and the strut bolts. And they are all tight... any other bolts i should check?

 

[Primecut4ya]

They're all tight. The rear mount seems like it could be replaced cuz the engine moves a bit more than it should but i dont see it causing a popping noise. It almost sounds like a bolt or something isnt tight enough but i checked the motor/tranny mount bolts, cntrl arm bolts and the strut bolts. And they are all tight... any other bolts i should check?

Pooping sound or clicking? and is it just once or continues? you said when you let the clutch out is this even if you do it slow and are you sure it is not happening in second, third and so forth? check for a cracked strut spring..

 

[97egl]

It's more of a popping. It will only do it once each time you switch the direction the car is moving. For example if you pulled forward into a parking spot it will pop when you start to reverse, then it will pop again once when you take off going forward but will not pop anymore until you reverse. Unless you coast the engine/"engine break", then it will pop when the motor is slowing the car down and again when you give it a decent amount of throttle.

If I go very slowly it won't pop until i give it a decent amount (15% or more throttle) Does not do it in 2,3,4,5 unless i where to start out in one of those gears.

 

[Primecut4ya]

Put it on jack stands so you can have someone let the clutch out while you listen. This will eliminate the suspension as well..do you feel it in the pedal?

 

[97egl]

No it's not in the pedal. Its sounds like its coming from the firewall right in front of me. I'll try to get a video of it. That would probably help a lot

 

[luv2rallye]

Some other possibilities: Did you check the axle CV joints? Sometimes they will pop when starting to go bad. When going bad they usually also click when turning in tight circles (steering all the way over) and going 1MPH. Could also be loose suspension (eg. bushing, ball joint) or even a wheel bearing.

 

[Primecut4ya]

Could be but most axles will click in a tight circle in reverse before you hear it in forward and it is a constant click. ball joint to make that would have to be pretty bad it is a load bearing part and would clunk on bumps and such..Same with a bearing it would make a grinding noise not a popping..Not to say there are not exceptions to these and should not be passed over..To me something is shifting under load.. I want to know if you can make it happen on other shifts with hard acceleration?

 

[luv2rallye]

Yes I completely agree with Primecut's normal analysis of my suggestions. Since he is having such a hard time finding it however, I thought I'd mention some rare findings that I've seen of things which normally give other symptoms.

But I also strongly agree it can easily be something shifting under load that's not tightened down enough. An example: I once had a clunk with nearly the same symptoms (only with large bumps or change directions) that took months to figure out. Every mount and suspension bolt was tight. It turned out to be a rear upper control arm bracket bolt that didn't have enough threads into the chassis due to the washers I put under it to adjust camber. So even though it appeared tight, the force of big bumps (and eventually forward/backward which is when I then found it) allowed the bracket to shift 1/8" which, with that much force, made the noise. Putting in a longer bolt to grab more chassis threads solved my problem.

 

[Primecut4ya]

97egl, any luck on isolating this issue?

 

[jws98clips]

I also have the very same problem. still trying to isolate the problem. it does it when letting the clutch out in Reverse 1st 2nd and NOW 3rd. i have read about shifting solenoid even making that sound........uhhhh i will just have to try trail and error. does not pop or click when turning.....????? and i do have vibrations in my clutch pedal from time to time?????? Some times it doe sometimes it doesn't....uhhhhhh strange car.....