Hyundai car making strange noise

Hi.

We have a Hyundai Accent GS car (2001) that's been making this bizarre
"clicking" or "creaking" noise while driving it. I recorded a sample
here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?2md3oydznvm

There's two instances of the noise in this clip starting at about 0.8
and 2.3 seconds. You may have to turn up the volume a little and
listen close as it seems to have gotten more drowned out in the
recording than it is when listening with the ear.

What could be causing this? It sounds like it's coming from the front
passenger quadrant of the car, maybe the wheel area, but I'm not sure.

 

It's from the enginetrannysuspensionbodyhoodaxlebrakestrutdoohickey.
Don't worry, all Hyundais do that.

Actually, it's almost impossible to tell what the noise is just from a recording.
I'd have to actually drive the car at different speeds, over different terrain
(smooth, bumpy, rough, etc), speeding up, slowing down, turning left, right,
braking and so on.... to try and narrow it down to the most likely causes.
Then it's back to the shop, up on the hoist, and start prying and twisting parts
to pinpoint the noise.

 

And that's the rub. It doesn't seem to correlate with anything
specifically... it
happens on smooth roads, rough roads, at different speeds...

 

Does your accent have hub caps?

And that's the rub. It doesn't seem to correlate with anything
specifically... it
happens on smooth roads, rough roads, at different speeds...

 

Yes it does have hub caps, but I'm not sure how that would be
generating
the sound.

 

My diagnosis:

If it didn't make strange noises, it wouldn't be a Hyundai

As long as the wheels turn in the proper direction when you want them
to...you're getting your money's worth.

Nick

 

Yes it does have hub caps, but I'm not sure how that would be
generating
the sound.

***********************************************

I've had cars years ago that had sounds from poor fitting caps. They do
move when the weight is shifted or the wheel is turned and stressed. Be
sure they are on tight.

 

I have had cars with hub caps that somehow got a small stone in them. That
would describe the noise you describe.

Also as said by someone else - be sure they are on tight.

Jim

Yes it does have hub caps, but I'm not sure how that would be
generating
the sound.

 

In Fact remove the caps and see if noise disappears.

 

You can listen to the recording I provided. Did you do that?

Well they don't seem to be loose.

 

Well they don't seem to be loose.

********************************************************

Many things are not as they seem. You asked for help, you were given
suggestions from real life experiences, you don't thing they are viable. I
can't speak for the others, but I don't care if the car screams, clangs, or
whistles.

 

Sorry Mike, I also subscribe to the alt.support.hardofhearing newsgroup, so
no, I did not listen to the recording. Wouldnt do me any good without
closed captioning.

Just trying to assist here. I suggested you remove the hub caps and see if
the noise disappears, if not then I can be of no further help to you.

Jim

You can listen to the recording I provided. Did you do that?

Well they don't seem to be loose.

 

If I didn't think it viable, I wouldn't have even bothered to look at
it. What
exactly am I supposed to be looking for? I tried wiggling it with my
hand and I didn't notice anything weird about it. If I didn't think
the
suggestion viable, then I wouldn't have done that. If my "test" was
done
wrong, then how should I test it right?

 

wouldn't have even bothered to look at
it. What
exactly am I supposed to be looking for? I tried wiggling it with my
hand and I didn't notice anything weird about it. If I didn't think
the
suggestion viable, then I wouldn't have done that. If my "test" was
done
wrong, then how should I test it right?

***************************************************

Take them off and see if you have the noise.

 

some people should take the bus.

TAKE THE HUBCAPS OFF! Can you do that??? Then, DO IT and report back
here if the *noise* went away.

Thanks a lot.

Nick

 

Well yeah, but I thought the first check would be to feel if they're
loose.
If they don't feel loose... But I could still give it a try anyway.

 

Why is this such a problem Mike?

There could be a small rock in one of them too.

Geez

Jim

Well yeah, but I thought the first check would be to feel if they're
loose.
If they don't feel loose... But I could still give it a try anyway.

 

A buddy who knew nothing about cars called me one day and asked me
if he could come over to check what he called "a serious problem" with
his car. Think it was a late 70's Cutlass, with a 350. Nice car. He
insisted I take it on a Florida vacation once, and I did.
Said he was "embarrassed" when pulling up to a light and the noise
would make people look at him. Problem was week old.
He comes over and we get in the car. He pulls out and I can clearly
hear clanging in his right front. Has to be in the hubcap.
I tell him to pull over - we only went 10 feet, and popped the hubcap
and a lug nut with broken stud falls out.
Told him to take it to a tire shop and get the stud replaced.
He was glowing with happiness and thought I was a genius.
I didn't hear Mike's sound file, so I can't say.
Won't hurt to look.
But I've heard a million other car noises compared to one time
something was in a hubcap. Have heard noisy hubcaps though.
Usually fancy ones where something gets loose.

--Vic

 

I know it might be something else, and probably is, but wouldn't you want to
try the easiest and cheapest fix first?

 

I said it wouldn't hurt. I listened to the sound file and didn't hear
anything really. So my advice is to provide a better sound file or
take it somebody who can figure it out.
Never heard a noise that can't be located pretty quickly.
For lower speed stuff running alongside the car can
help pin it down quick.
I like the recorder idea. Might tape it to different parts of the
suspension and the louder it gets the closer you are.
Or a good front end man and a rack might tell the tale real fast.
But I have absolutely no idea what the noise sounds like so I
can't recommend anything beyond what I said.

--Vic