Knocking oddness

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 6:49 pm

OK, had an odd experience this evening, but let me take you back a few days - the last twice I drove the car, when going over some slightly lumpy road, I heard a knocking noise, just below the handbrake it seemed - it was the same noise as when I had the Powerflow exhaust and and the tailpipe knocked on the rear bumper - as the car had just been in to Ascar for the CAT to be reflanged, I assumed they'd replaced the rubbers and it was just a bit closer to the car, and thought nothing more about it, save a mental note to look at it when I change my wheels next dry day.

OK, so tonight I was coming home, 12 miles down, no problems - within 3 miles of home I was coming up a hill, and the knocking started again, but got worse! I slowed right down to try and source it, but alarmingly when I put the clutch in, it stopped, then when I lifted the clutch, it knocked again, so I accelerated, and the knocking got worse, so I pulled over into a layby and had a look underneath the car - nothing obvious was staring at me... perplexed I nearly called home to get a torch brought out to me, but I decided to just gently pull off to try and pinpoint it better - no knocking, in any gear... acellerated softly, acellerated hard, no sign of the knock...

Any ideas? My first thought was the gearbox as it was happening, but since it went away again as suddenly as it started, I'm confused.

The sound is always below the handbrake handle (and can be felt if you touch the handbrake handle)

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 6:51 pm

I could be completely on the wrong track here, but my first thoughts would be some kind of engine movement.... therefore, engine mounts? I know there's one at the back of the engine, near the base, as it's the same one that broke on Lee's 480.

Ben.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 6:53 pm

You know, I hadn't considered this, but I had idly considered this over the last few months as a possible explanation (in my head at least) for the reason my car is sometimes really sluggish to respond and drive, yet othertimes seems really responsive....

I hope it isn't.... but to check - is it likely to be really obvious, if I put it up on ramps?

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 6:58 pm

Sorry.... I've no idea how to check!

I know on my old mini, it was simply a case of grabbing hold of the engine, and rocking it back and forward! You'd probably be best off giving Lee a call and asking his advice. I do know that it's not something you want to be driving around with, if it is broken.... it'll just cause more damage!

Ben.

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 8:43 pm

Did you first pickup the banging sounds while driving in Dover?

doug_480_turbo · Post by **doug_480_turbo** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 9:58 pm

this might sound really really stupid but i churp up anyway.

there is a heat shield that is directly under the hand brake and it could be loose.

this is what is wrong with my car and i will hopefuly get it sorted tomorrow.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 10:20 pm

Thanks for that - any ideas welcome at this point. As already mentioned, I need to swap wheels next dry day anyway and I'll be having a good poke then, so I'll check the shield