Front End Clicking

[Joe Cool]

2002 4 door plain jane Protege w/no mods. Driving is normal. No weird feeling, no noise. I stop at red light, stop sign, or whatever, and the car's front end has a fast clicking sound. When I continue driving, clicking goes away. If I stop the car and get out, it may click for a minute and stop.

What's the clicking noise? Is the suspension "setting" itself? Is this the sign of imminent problems?

Weird

Thanks, all

 

[peajay]

If it's what im thinking about its normal, its the cat and the exhaust parts expanding and contracting with the heat.
mine does it for a good ten minutes after a hot drive.

 

[Joe Cool]

If it's what im thinking about its normal, its the cat and the exhaust parts expanding and contracting with the heat.
mine does it for a good ten minutes after a hot drive.

Thanks. It may be something different, though. I get that tink... tink... tink sound from almost any car I have, but this is a fast clicking. Think of the sound of a zipper but for a minute. And the clicking is there when I pause, but goes away when I drive.

 

[aMaff]

huh. VTCS maybe? Since it does it when you're stopped... why not get out and stick your head under the hood and see what it is lol

 

[Joe Cool]

you're... serious?

huh. VTCS maybe? Since it does it when you're stopped... why not get out and stick your head under the hood and see what it is lol

Umm... this is the reply I get from a... moderator? (jerkit) I see the "lol," so you may be making a joke. But if not, then looking under the hood was not a new concept for me. And not sure how it can be related to VTCS. (Had to look up what that was) Again, I hear the sound when the car pauses or is stopped. When I drive again, it goes away or stops after a minute when parked.

Not sure how to describe the sound. Like the sound from The Grudge. This video is kinda how it sounds like:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tU_7gKZh9N8


Anyoine? Buehler?

 

[aMaff]

Dude, you said it clicked when you stopped, so I figured 'get out and listen to where it's clicking from' would be the next logical step...

 

[FSCatalyst]

^^ Werd.

Could be anything. If you can find where its coming from exactly its easier to diagnose. Thats how the pro's do it anyways, but with a stethescope (sp?).

 

[peajay]

Thats how the pro's do it anyways, but with a stethescope (sp?).

ooooor, just a long screwdriver (im too cheep to buy a real chassisEar)

 

[Joe Cool]

tried - again

It really seems like it's coming from the suspension/struts.

It kinda reminds me of my Lincoln Mark VII that had an air suspension. When I parked on a hill, it leveled itself, and you can see/hear the suspension moving.

Hmm...

 

[aMaff]

if you're stopped, the suspension shouldn't be moving... The protege doesn't have all that electronic wizardry . Can't think of any noise that would only show up when stopped coming from the suspension.

 

[Joe Cool]

agreed

That's why this is so weird. I just want to take it to a shop, but I don't want them to scratch their heads over it and charge me for all their troubleshooting when I can do some of it myself. You know, by posting my issues here... =]