Scary noises.

[laureena23]

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I did a full tune up on my '99. Everything seemed to be working great until this week...

It started making some noises that I can't even describe. Kind of a grinding, sounds like something is loose/something stuck/really really loud noise when I'm going about 55-65 mph.

Its been getting worse and worse all week and my boyfriend couldn't figure out what it was. Also, when I go to punch it, it does nothing. It doesn't speed up or get up and go at all.

He thinks its the automatic transmission fluid-maybe the guy told us to put in the wrong kind or its just because we changed it after so long?

Any ideas/thoughts? Please..thanks!

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Stuck viscous coupler on the cooling fan???

There's a viscous coupler that engages and disengages the engine cooling fan as necessary. When they fail they often fail to the full engage mode. This would explain each condition you described.

With the engine off grab the fan and turn. It should turn freely and smoothly. You should feel a minimal drag as you turn the fan and little to no movement other than the rotation. In other words the fan should not feel loose on the shaft or 'welded' to the shaft.

My guess is the clutch in the viscous coupler is locked up. If it is bad the most common name for the part is 'fan clutch'.

Good luck!
:cheers:

 

[Avet14]

I was thinking it might be the torque converter. On my fathers towncar, it would make pretty bad griding noises, and obviously the power delivery was shoddy too.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Grease the u-joints and slip yokes.

Should fix your problem.

Hopefully.

 

[toto]

laureena23, can you give us any more details about what work was performed? If we know what changed, we might have a better idea of where to look for the answer.

 

[laureena23]

Well the tune up consisted of new U Joints, spark plugs, wires and changing the automatic transmission fluid.

The noise is getting worse and worse everyday. Today I was driving home and it started making the noise when I was just driving through town going about 25-30 mph.

Its a grinding, then it feels like something is caught or stuck under neath. Its just really hard to explain. Maybe its the brakes? But it makes the noise when I'm driving.

I've noticed too sometimes its worse if I hit a bump, then its really loud.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Like I said.

Check the u-joints and slip yokes.

New or not they can still fail, and even so they won't work well un-lubed.


When you hit a bump the slip-yoke is supposed to compress, if it doesn't you put stress on the u-joints. Making them turn at non-spec angles.

Heres a good experiment, block the front wheels, and jack up the rear, have someone in the vehicle accelerating, and some one looking under at the drive shaft looking for the noise.

 

[laureena23]

Well I would do all that but my BF and I just broke up so now I'll probably just have to take it somewhere to get looked at since he usually did everything to it.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I am sorry to hear about you and your former.

Take a few notes from this thread with you. Be very specific with the shop. As sexist and wrong as it is repair shops can be brutal on the kinder gender.
:cheers:

 

[gizmopt2002]

Sorry to hear that.


Check round for some reputable shops.

They should be able to help you.

 

[laureena23]

Thanks guys I really appreciate your suggestions I'm probably going to try and get it checked out tomorrow.