Alright, I park in a parking garage every day on the top floor, and everyday when I start my car and start heading down the levels my car makes the weirdest sounds. I'm not being hard on the car or anything, and it only makes the sound when the engine is cold. When I'm driving down I just let the car engine brake all the way down the garage and with the windows down I can hear a sound that resembles taking a small twig and snapping it in half. The garage is about 15-20 cars long and the car will make the sound 5-6 times. I'm only going about 10 mph with the rpms at <2000. Anybody have any idea what this sound is???

FYI My head is leaking a little bit and I might have a VERY small exhaust leak. Could any of these things be making that kind of sound?


1/4 Mile: 17.4651 | 1/4 MPH: 76.69 @ 7,000 ft
www.geocities.com/rockyourworld182/

It could be your exhaust leak making that sound. Depending on where it is leaking from it could get quieter due to the metal expansion. I have a similiar leak at the flange between my cat and rear section. When i first start it up it ticks but after it is warmed up i cant hear it anymore.

i would suggest not driving your car when it's COLD.. and I certainly wouldn't engine brake a cold engine down a hill.

or you can ignore me :)

about the noise.. don't know.

Hmmm, since you mentioned of a possible exhaust leak, it could just be lifter tick sounds that gets amplified and reverting back in the parking lot. Try this: let your car warm up for at least 5 minutes, then drive down the lot and listen for that same sound. That way you'll know if it's related to a cold engine or not. If it doesn't sound when the engine is warmed up, then I'm thinking it's just lifter tick; if not, then :shrug

I definitely have lifter tick, I can hear that all the time. Cold or warm. I have the small exhaust leak between the header and downpipe. It looks like a slit about 1/4" long is letting a little exhaust out...dunno what it is, but with a 15 minute drive home at work and a 15 minute drive back, I don't have 5 minutes to let it warm up before I take off for lunch.

I guess I'll figure it out someday and until then hope my car doesn't explode or something. :)


1/4 Mile: 17.4651 | 1/4 MPH: 76.69 @ 7,000 ft
www.geocities.com/rockyourworld182/

could it just be rust on the brakes? you said it is only when the car sits.

best time so far 14.3 @ 101.1mph

Originally posted by extreme97nt
could it just be rust on the brakes? you said it is only when the car sits. best time so far 14.3 @ 101.1mph

No because it's not making the sound when I'm braking. It is just making the sound when I am engine breaking under a load, when the engine is cold.


1/4 Mile: 17.4651 | 1/4 MPH: 76.69 @ 7,000 ft
www.geocities.com/rockyourworld182/

i have that too!!, i was freaked out that i broke somethin i checked this site right away, and I couldn't describe what it was. It sounded like gravel was kicking up in my car or somethin, or as you put it, snapping a twig, but thanks for posting.

Check your front sway bar end-links, the bushings are probably shot.

Only when your engine breaking? Check your anti-roll mounts, motor mounts and the crossmember.

i think it could be exhaust leak. just take your car to a muffler shop, my local shop looked at it for free. it took like 2 min to lift up, check, and back down. that's IF it is an exhaust related.

Looking at your 1/4 mile times Im guessing that you are an auto. If you are then the sound you are hearing is normal and is created by the valves engageing in the transmission. Almost every chrysler auto makes this exact sound.

Originally posted by amljbs
Looking at your 1/4 mile times Im guessing that you are an auto. If you are then the sound you are hearing is normal and is created by the valves engageing in the transmission. Almost every chrysler auto makes this exact sound.

Based on my 1/4 mile times I'm guessing you didn't read that was at 7,000 ft, 139 degrees on the track...horrible track conditions. I am a 5-spd, but thanks for posting :P.

I really don't know what this is. I will look more into the exhaust leak, and I shouldn't have anything wrong with the motor mounts/cross member because those got replaced/looked at almost a year ago. And it only does it when the engine is cold, so I don't think it would be the sway bars or anything like that. I think it is alternator/power steering pump related. They make some god aweful noises when the car is cold.


1/4 Mile: 17.4651 | 1/4 MPH: 76.69 @ 7,000 ft
www.geocities.com/rockyourworld182/

"twig snapping"
When did you get your muffler put on? I think some exhuast leak comes from poor quality welding job. Some welders have hard time welding pipes under the car. What they would do is they will try to weld and add more stuff to place where it's hard to get to. But sometimes it causes to make bubbles. Through times and what not, I was told the metal bubbles would pop and create an exhaust leak.

You might be able to check it yourself. Just get someone to cover your muffler and try to stop exhaust coming out. Listen and look under, you might be able to hear or see any leaks. Check from the block and back. Other is to take it to a muffler shop. That's IF it is an exhaust leak. Good luck!