Vauxhall Corsa metallic clatter from rear of vehicle
Variant: 1.2 GLS
Model Year: 2000
Categories:
Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
Hi,
There is what can be described as a light metallic clattering sound coming, seemingly, from the nearside rear of the vehicle. The sound is akin to tapping sharply on a half-full can of beer. The sound is apparent when starting from rest and changing up, also when driving over a poor road surface.
The car had a complete (included cat) new exhaust system a year ago and it passed it's MoT last week. The sound was there prior to the MoT test.
I first suspected something metal rolling about in the spare wheel compartment. Pulled everything out - nothing. I then wondered if the fuel pump was loose and knocking against the side or bottom of the tank. I lifted the rear seat to access the top of the tank; the pump retaining ring was secure but I didn't venture as far as removing the pump.
The exhaust system is secure and as far as I can tell it's mountings are all OK (It got through the MoT OK, but I don't have the facilities to safely get under the car to have a proper look myself).
There's nothing metal rolling about either in the boot or beneath the rear seat either.
Yesterday I made the sound appear by letting the clutch in and out, engine idling, with the handbrake hard on so the rear of the car 'dipped'. No sound though when applying the foot brake, but then the vehicle won't 'dip' with brakes applied to all four wheels anyway. Whilst doing this I had a friend lift up the rear of the exhaust pipe (thinking the pipe may be vibrating against something under certain conditions). Still the same, sound still present - pipe lifted or not.
I really don't want a hefty garage bill caused by hours of searching to find the cause, when it may be something I can fix myself (if I can get safely underneath the vehicle).
I must admit the sound is unlike a rattly exhaust pipe. It's more akin to something metal knocking against, or sloshing about inside, the fuel tank. In saying that, the sound appears to eminate from behind the tank, but then I know sounds can travel and tracing their source isn't always easy.
Any advice appreciated, thanks.
There is what can be described as a light metallic clattering sound coming, seemingly, from the nearside rear of the vehicle. The sound is akin to tapping sharply on a half-full can of beer. The sound is apparent when starting from rest and changing up, also when driving over a poor road surface.
The car had a complete (included cat) new exhaust system a year ago and it passed it's MoT last week. The sound was there prior to the MoT test.
I first suspected something metal rolling about in the spare wheel compartment. Pulled everything out - nothing. I then wondered if the fuel pump was loose and knocking against the side or bottom of the tank. I lifted the rear seat to access the top of the tank; the pump retaining ring was secure but I didn't venture as far as removing the pump.
The exhaust system is secure and as far as I can tell it's mountings are all OK (It got through the MoT OK, but I don't have the facilities to safely get under the car to have a proper look myself).
There's nothing metal rolling about either in the boot or beneath the rear seat either.
Yesterday I made the sound appear by letting the clutch in and out, engine idling, with the handbrake hard on so the rear of the car 'dipped'. No sound though when applying the foot brake, but then the vehicle won't 'dip' with brakes applied to all four wheels anyway. Whilst doing this I had a friend lift up the rear of the exhaust pipe (thinking the pipe may be vibrating against something under certain conditions). Still the same, sound still present - pipe lifted or not.
I really don't want a hefty garage bill caused by hours of searching to find the cause, when it may be something I can fix myself (if I can get safely underneath the vehicle).
I must admit the sound is unlike a rattly exhaust pipe. It's more akin to something metal knocking against, or sloshing about inside, the fuel tank. In saying that, the sound appears to eminate from behind the tank, but then I know sounds can travel and tracing their source isn't always easy.
Any advice appreciated, thanks.
Posted: Mar 23, 2010 (14 years ago)
Hand brake cable ? Baffles in rear box ? Rear brake load sensor valve ?
Posted Mar 23, 2010 (14 years ago)
HAVE A LOOK AT THE ROAD SPRINGS ON THE REAR, COMMON FOR THEM TO SNAP.
Posted Mar 24, 2010 (14 years ago)
Would have thought broken coil spring would have been spotted on MOT test and failed ?
Posted Mar 24, 2010 (14 years ago)
I know it sounds daft but have you got wheel covers on, at work once a mate put a stone in side an other mates wheel covers,when he drove off he stopped after 30 yards because the stone was flying about inside the cover making a racket,he was under his car for a while obversely could not see anything wrong,(nothing loose ) so he drove of and stopped again along the rode again he got under his car, could not stand it any longer so ran along the road to tell him,he then took the cover off laughed and went on his way, so you could see if a stone or something in side your cover ,(yes I know it sounds daft but you never know
Posted Mar 25, 2010 (14 years ago)
Forgot to say , it's the linkage / spring on rear load valve that usually rattles , not the valve itself .
Posted Mar 25, 2010 (14 years ago)
Thanks for the responses so far. Rear coil springs were both replaced a few weeks ago and they're still ok. It's the wrong type of noise for a stone or whatever to be in the wheel trim(s). Besides, that would cause a rattle constantly whilst driving; the 'clatter' I've got occurs when a)driving off the kerb (Have to park bumped up onto the kerb where I live), b)when driving on a poor road surface but, oddly, not if I can't avoid a pothole - only on a rough surface and c) when pulling away from rest and changing up.
This particular model has pressure-regulating valves on the rear brakes, not load sensing valves - so there's no linkage and springs.
A rattly exhaust baffle would, I'd have thought, been evident according to engine RPM. I've had that occur on other vehicles anyway and this isn't that type of noise.
Does anyone think it could be the fuel pump loose inside the tank? Apart from checking tightness of the locking ring on top of the tank I haven't, yet, removed the pump to check.
The noise is rather like something solid hitting against the tank (inside or outside of it), or the spare wheel well.
I guess I come across as a plonker but having, in recent weeks, had rear springs replaced, taxed and MoT'd the car, I'm trying to avoid another garage bill and solve the problem myself.
This particular model has pressure-regulating valves on the rear brakes, not load sensing valves - so there's no linkage and springs.
A rattly exhaust baffle would, I'd have thought, been evident according to engine RPM. I've had that occur on other vehicles anyway and this isn't that type of noise.
Does anyone think it could be the fuel pump loose inside the tank? Apart from checking tightness of the locking ring on top of the tank I haven't, yet, removed the pump to check.
The noise is rather like something solid hitting against the tank (inside or outside of it), or the spare wheel well.
I guess I come across as a plonker but having, in recent weeks, had rear springs replaced, taxed and MoT'd the car, I'm trying to avoid another garage bill and solve the problem myself.
Posted Mar 26, 2010 (14 years ago)
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