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- Canada
Posting in General because I'm not really sure if this belongs in the Powertrain subforum or the Suspension subforum. Sorry for the long post, but I'm trying to be as descriptive as possible. If I'm leaving anything out that might help, please let me know.
*** Moved to CX-9 Powertrain as it seems that this is most likely linked to a drivetrain issue.
Friday afternoon, I left work as usual. Stopped by a Shell gas station for a touchless wash. After the wash, when pulling onto the street, I noticed that the car was making fairly loud clunking noises during turns, and occasionally when accelerating in a straight line from a stop. The noise only came from the rear end, and mostly seemed to be coming from the passenger side. I was able to replicate the clunking when turning right and accelerating through the turn. Making a right turn off the throttle there was no noise. Same goes for left turns on and off the throttle, but the noise seemed to be much less frequent. The clunking wasn't rhythmic, or predictable-sounding, it just sounded random, like if you had a heavy boot in a dryer on low spin.
It seemed to be related to traction control, as the clunking would occur in scenarios where the AWD or traction control would kick in. Once, while accelerating from a stop sign with some snow on the ground, the clunking noise occurred as I was going straight and the traction control light would flash on (same light that blinks on and off when traction control is applied).
Took it to my uncle, who jacked up one side of the rear to take a look. We were working in a cramped garage so there wasn't much room to work with, but he said that he doesn't think it's anything to do with the diff because the noise would be more consistent. He said everything looks good and tight with the suspension components, no apparent issues with tie rods or end links or anything like that. He suggested the possibility of a problem with the ABS, but if there was a problem, the car would have thrown a code, wouldn't it? I think we got a good enough look at the suspension, but we didn't actually get "underneath" the car. I might dig my ramps out of the shed to back the CX-9 up on them for a better look later today.
We then took a ride around the area to replicate the noise, and after hearing it, he seemed to think it might actually be a failing strut. Usually you could tell by seeing wet spots on the strut, but because it was wet outside it was hard to tell. I wasn't so sure myself as the noise wasn't heard even when going over bumps at speed.
In any event, he said the car is safe to drive, and to just let him know if it gets any worse. On my way home, I remember accelerating though a turn, hearing the clunking noise again, and then it seemed to disappear. I tried to replicate it on my way home a few times, and the car seemed back to normal. We go out that evening, no noise. Ran some errands Saturday and Sunday, no noise. Sunday night, I took the car to Shell again for another touchless wash. Drive the car home, no noise at all. Then this morning, after dropping my wife off at her office (we work 25-30 mins away from home), I hear the noise again. It's much less frequent, but it's still there, and seems to now only be coming from the driver's side rear. Clunking only seems to occur in instances where the traction control would kick in.
Anyone have any ideas on what it could be?? I'd take it to the dealer but I'm out of the warranty period now. Car has 106k kms and hasn't had the diff fluid changed yet (I had planned to do it this summer). I just went out to take a video of me replicating the sound in my office's parking lot so I could upload it here, but the clunking is gone again. I made sure that traction control engaged a few times as well. Maybe it's related to the cold somehow?
*** Moved to CX-9 Powertrain as it seems that this is most likely linked to a drivetrain issue.
Friday afternoon, I left work as usual. Stopped by a Shell gas station for a touchless wash. After the wash, when pulling onto the street, I noticed that the car was making fairly loud clunking noises during turns, and occasionally when accelerating in a straight line from a stop. The noise only came from the rear end, and mostly seemed to be coming from the passenger side. I was able to replicate the clunking when turning right and accelerating through the turn. Making a right turn off the throttle there was no noise. Same goes for left turns on and off the throttle, but the noise seemed to be much less frequent. The clunking wasn't rhythmic, or predictable-sounding, it just sounded random, like if you had a heavy boot in a dryer on low spin.
It seemed to be related to traction control, as the clunking would occur in scenarios where the AWD or traction control would kick in. Once, while accelerating from a stop sign with some snow on the ground, the clunking noise occurred as I was going straight and the traction control light would flash on (same light that blinks on and off when traction control is applied).
Took it to my uncle, who jacked up one side of the rear to take a look. We were working in a cramped garage so there wasn't much room to work with, but he said that he doesn't think it's anything to do with the diff because the noise would be more consistent. He said everything looks good and tight with the suspension components, no apparent issues with tie rods or end links or anything like that. He suggested the possibility of a problem with the ABS, but if there was a problem, the car would have thrown a code, wouldn't it? I think we got a good enough look at the suspension, but we didn't actually get "underneath" the car. I might dig my ramps out of the shed to back the CX-9 up on them for a better look later today.
We then took a ride around the area to replicate the noise, and after hearing it, he seemed to think it might actually be a failing strut. Usually you could tell by seeing wet spots on the strut, but because it was wet outside it was hard to tell. I wasn't so sure myself as the noise wasn't heard even when going over bumps at speed.
In any event, he said the car is safe to drive, and to just let him know if it gets any worse. On my way home, I remember accelerating though a turn, hearing the clunking noise again, and then it seemed to disappear. I tried to replicate it on my way home a few times, and the car seemed back to normal. We go out that evening, no noise. Ran some errands Saturday and Sunday, no noise. Sunday night, I took the car to Shell again for another touchless wash. Drive the car home, no noise at all. Then this morning, after dropping my wife off at her office (we work 25-30 mins away from home), I hear the noise again. It's much less frequent, but it's still there, and seems to now only be coming from the driver's side rear. Clunking only seems to occur in instances where the traction control would kick in.
Anyone have any ideas on what it could be?? I'd take it to the dealer but I'm out of the warranty period now. Car has 106k kms and hasn't had the diff fluid changed yet (I had planned to do it this summer). I just went out to take a video of me replicating the sound in my office's parking lot so I could upload it here, but the clunking is gone again. I made sure that traction control engaged a few times as well. Maybe it's related to the cold somehow?
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