Completely lost..

Dundy2456 · Postby **Dundy2456** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:32 pm

Was driving today, and decided to see if it happens when the car shifts weight.. So under sudden acceleration it knocks once, and under sudden braking it knocks again. If I suddenly accelerate twice in a row without the brake in the middle it doesn't knock a second time. And like I mentioned above, it doesn't knock when I 'wiggle' the wheels, but it does when I turn corners! So weird

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:32 pm

Check inside your doors (take the door card off from the inside) and see if there are any loose wires or plugs. I had a noise similar to this a while back and couldnt for the life of me work out what it was until I was lubing the windows one day. I think it was a connector for the window reg, the plastic clip had broken off so it was no longer secured to the door so it would bang and tap against the inside of the door or window if that was down.

Dundy2456 · Postby **Dundy2456** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:55 pm

My door cards have been off for a while now, that was one of the first things I checked Haha

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 7:01 pm

Power plant frame (the long alloy C section that connects the gearbox to the rear end can crack and the long bolts at the back could be loose or missing. Jack the car up, put some stands under it and have a good look at it and run a spanner over the bolts.

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Sun Sep 14, 2014 12:54 pm

Would the noise be picked up by a mic of some sort? A video of the noise under the driving conditions where it occurs might help with more suggestions.

Dundy2456 · Postby **Dundy2456** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:19 pm

Probably would be, but I don't have a great mic (only my galaxy s3), I could give it a go, but it happens pretty much all the time now haha
A noise emits from my front left wheel now every time I turn left (sounds like a rusty swing swinging) but that's for another day...)
I've got a feeling that I should take it to a mechanic to have a look at the underside of the car

Not sure if related, but I've got what i think is grease leaking onto my rims every now and then (all 4). So a day or so after I wash the car, new streaks of brown liquid appear.. yeah sounds like it needs a bit of a professional eye

luzinit · Postby **luzinit** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:34 pm

Front or rear swaybar endlinks?

ED_MX5 · Postby **ED_MX5** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:38 pm

There is a tool called electronic ears, or electronic stethoscope.
It's just a fancy version of the typical mechanics stethoscope, but uses sensitive microphones.
They also exist in wireless. So you can place microphones somewhere you suspect a noise and just go for a drive with the headphone on. If you hear a really loud knock, you found your fault. If not, move microphone and try again. Only problem I can foresee is trying to secure the microphones.
Here is the wired one, go to home page and you'll find wired one. There are other cheaper ones around. This is just one I know of because I sell it to workshops.
http://www.warrenandbrown.com.au/precisiontools/product-details/chassis-ear-electronic-squeak-&-rattle-finder/269

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 4:43 pm

the other great way to find things- if you know the right person- is the mechanic with great ears and intelligence. I remember selling a late model car with pretty high kms and I knew some of its problems. Nothing hidden and nothing to hide. A buyer turns up and takes it for a drive and picks every fault and one or two extras- he was a mechanic- he was happy to buy the car and did. He was one of those guys like some musicians that can hear the sound that mere mortals don't. For those of us with limited experience and not working on cars for a living how do you know what certain things sound like and how on earth do you describe something with any accuracy to someone else.

Dundy2456 · Postby **Dundy2456** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:56 pm

I actually dropped it off at my local mechanic this morning, the owner used to own a '99 NB. He rebuilt the motor and a few other things to it too so he knows the mx5 fairly well.

Just got a call from him though, unfortunately my car was too low to get up on the hoist...

GTR4N · Postby **GTR4N** » Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:47 pm

Strut top nut, swaybar end links, strut mounting nuts

Dundy2456 · Postby **Dundy2456** » Thu Sep 18, 2014 8:46 pm

These may be the cause... Booked it in for a suspension report Wednesday week

Dundy2456 · Postby **Dundy2456** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:18 pm

Also, both front bearings are shot. That might also be contributing..

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:22 pm

It's clearly apparent those bus don't look healthy.

Dundy2456 · Postby **Dundy2456** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:40 pm

Suspension report came back negative.

Bushes are soft but far from dead. Tie rod ends in good condition, just worn boots.

Mechanic said cause of knock sounds like a panel shifting due to a loose bolt.

Replacing my Brakes and Hub and bearing assemblies in the near future (both badly needed), while the car is up I'll also tighten eery bolt I can see (removed the nose a few months back so might be one of the one's holding that on)

Anyway, I'll probably update after that's all done and if the noise is still there I'll get a priest haha