The mysterious noise is still haunting me

[Kompresshun]

Ok, so some of you may remember that i've been having this random, annoying noise coming from my 2000 I30. For those who don't, i'm getting a rubbing/rattling noise while driving down the road, it sounds like it's coming from the front of the car, around the passenger floorboard. It only makes the noise while in motion and it seems louder when you go over dips and bumps. I've done tons of research on this, took it to two different mechanics, and all that has been discovered so far is a loose splash shield that was rubbing the tire. The splash shield issue seemed to make it better, but it came back soon after. I've replaced the CV Axles, Tie Rod Ends, Front Brakes and Rotors, and have new tires on it.

I spent over an hour tonight looking it and first, under the car I noticed a few more parts of the splash shields a little loose, so I fixed that. Next I notice that the shielding that goes around the flex pipe(in between the rear cat and the one in front of it) had mostly worn away. So is that something I should look at replacing or will it be ok? I also checked everything else while under it and couldn't find anything else loose or worn out.

Next I checked everything under the hood, I found a few loose vacuum lines and wiring so I re-secured them. The only thing questionable I ran across was the top radiator bushings, should you be able to move the radiator back and forth 1/2" an inch(maybe more) or so? It seemed like a lot of play in my opinion and also seemed like a potential noise maker with it being that loose. Again other than that, everything else seemed to be in good condition and working well.

I'm not a master mechanic, but I know enough about cars to know that this noise isn't something normal but I can't track it down either. Mechanically, the car seems perfectly fine. Anyways, once again any insight on this would be greatly appreciated. I'm about to the point of giving up on the car and trading it in

[Kompresshun]

Well it went back to my mechanic yesterday, once again they couldn't find out what was causing it. I'm dropping it off at a specialist here locally tomorrow, hopefully he has better luck since it seems as if i'm not the only one confused by this.

[Eikon]

It's not a humming or rumbling noise is it? If that were the case I would vote wheel bearing.

If its a rattling sound.. does it happen only when hitting a bump.. or all the time, but worse on bumps?

If the sound only happens when hitting bumps, but it not there on smooth roads, then the problem is somewhere in your suspension.. could be a bad strut, perch or mount, perhaps a bad bushing somewhere in the front suspension, etc..

If the sound is constant and happens when you are driving on smooth roads, then it is something on the engine accessories, transmission, steering rack, or axles, or differential.

Try topping off the power steering fluid just to eliminate that possibility. I've had some power steering racks make some strange sounds in my experience.

Well... I guess if it's going to a specialist, hopefully you'll have an answer.. Let me know what it was.. I'm curious to hear.

Good luck!

[Kompresshun]

It sounds like a humming or rumbling noise I would say, the shop I use claims the wheel bearings are fine though. It sounds like something rubbing/humming in the floorboard area(or under the car), the humming/rubbing gets louder when stress is put on the suspension(IE hitting a low dip in the road or a bump), it's louder in the mornings but not a lot. It doesn't really do it on smooth roads, only when the suspension moves and under at least medium acceleration. It really has me baffled, it's loud enough though that I know that something is wrong, it's to consistent and loud enough that you can't ignore it. I inspected it myself on Sunday but couldn't find anything.

I figure that the shop I normally use isn't gonna cut it for this, so hopefully this specialist can figure it out, because it's driving me nuts!

[MaximA32]

Have them check the strut mounts and sway bar bushings. The bushings are easiest to check. When he gets it up in the air, have him take a look at it and if the bushings are egg shaped or the sway bar is shiny where the bushings make contact, replace them. I would also look at the sway bar end links as they can make the same type of noise.

[Kompresshun]

Thanks for the insight, I glanced at them the other night but I didn't really inspect them closely. I would be much happier if that's what it turns out to be!

[MaximA32]

It's tough to see a problem with them as they generally fail internally.

[Kompresshun]

It's tough to see a problem with them as they generally fail internally.

Yeah, that's why I dropped it off with this other shop today. It's beyond something that I can diagnose on my own and I don't want to play the "Lets throw parts at it and see what sticks" game. I will lose my mind if another shop tells me that it's nothing too

[Eikon]

It's tough to see a problem with them as they generally fail internally.

I don't want to play the "Lets throw parts at it and see what sticks" game.

If that were a professional sport, I'd be a first round draft pick.. lol

[Kompresshun]

HA! Yeah i've been playing the game already though, i'm ready for a vacation from repairs. I'm at $2,000 in repair costs in the past year

[Kompresshun]

And the verdict is.... another stupid splash shield problem! Apparently the other shop I use put the passenger side splash shield in wrong and it was rubbing the CV Axle when you went over a bump. He put it back in the right way and cut a small half moon shape out of it, to keep it from rubbing again. Cost = $0 WOOHOO!

[Eikon]

WIN! Free repairs are the best kind.

[Kompresshun]

Yes they are! I was just happy that somebody finally found what was causing it, I was planning on the worst but i'm glad it was something simple!

[Markc]

$0 is awesome & very generous. I'd be taking my car there from now on if I were you.

[the converted]

$0 is awesome & very generous. I'd be taking my car there from now on if I were you.

+1 Hope you gave the guy a tip!

[Kompresshun]

Yeah he's got my business from here on, I honestly never used him before because he's a bit out of the way from where we live and the other shop is close to my work(and has a shuttle service). Just a reminder though that you don't always get the quality or knowledge from these chain shops that you do from the quality independant shops.

A lot of our family already uses him anyways, so I guess he can add another to the list.