Clunk ..clunk

[JPSmit]

I think we are overthinking. Is it an inside clunk? or an outside? does it happen with the hood up? or only down? (My rad shroud was touching the hood)

get someone to start/stop and you listen.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

That's why I recommende the start/stop test.

4-bangers are roughest just as they start and as they stop.

Does this car have the button on the solenoid?
Or the rod to start?

Seems he can start and stop (by pulling power lead to coil) from under the bonnet with no assistance from anyone.

Lord Knows I have done those kind of tests for decades to find a noise.

 

[bigjones]

Thanks for all the input - this is driving me crazy.

It's not a rattle. It is a definite one-time, inside clunk. Hood up or down, clutch in or out, fan belt out of the car. (Engine mounts are facing up)

It sounds like it is coming from the starter motor area. Always on start up, sometimes on turning the engine off - can't see/hear anything with wife turning the car on/off.

Don't think it's the exhaust - I jammed bits of packing everywhere the exhaust could vibrate and I had a good look with the wife cranking the engine.

I re-checked the crank float with a dial indicator today - it's the same when it was set 2/3 years ago - 8 thou.

It's a 1500 so it only has the key to start it up - it never makes the clunk when I disconnect the white lead to the coil to stop the engine.

All of bgbsplayers ideas, though good, turned out negative. (Except fan is a bit loose - 1/16" slop, measured at the end of the fan blades - it has the fluid fan clutch - I'm thinking this is normal - can anybody verify?)

Thanks for the help - next step I'm thinking is yanking the starter motor out again.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Okay, couple of things.

Since it does NOT "clunk" when you pull the power lead off the coil, that is significant.

Seriously.

Now, a really stupid question.
Do you have a radio in the car?

Or, maybe a NICE radio and an amp?

Like, power supply "popping" the speakers?
Is the radio/amp on, and just turned down?

Next, this does not do it when you are head-under-the-bonnet.

But, it does when you are in the driver's seat.

Like, maybe, loading something with the big round end on the suspension you are not loading when you are outside the car?

 

[Guest]

loading something with the big round end ?

. :lol:

Leave his end out of this.

 

[JPSmit]

It's a 1500 so it only has the key to start it up

you can get it to turn over by touching both solenoid terminals with a big screwdriver or buy a remote starter at the usual suspects that clips on the solenoid.

 

[Guest]

loading something with the big round end ?

. :lol:

Leave his end out of this.

So what you're saying is this jones is too big. I was thining that too. How else would he have gotten the title??? Perhaps maybe it should be passed on to a smaller jones.

 

[jlaird]

How about a worn starter gear.

 

[bigjones]

Wow! You may be onto something Jack!
Like this:

This is the original one but the one I put in looked just the same (from my 1275 that "ran fine when parked")

 

[Deleted member 8987]

I would like to know, unless it is staying engaged as I said early on in this thread, how a worn starter gear would cause a "clunk" when you shut the engine OFF, and why it only "clunks" when you turn the key off from the driver's seat and NOT when you pull the power lead off the coil from under the bonnet.

 

[jlaird]

No clue, maybe the starter mounting bolts did not get connected properly ie tight.

 

[bigjones]

Just for completeness:

I took out the starter and put one in from Advance Auto ($45 = tax) and the clunk has gone.

Hurray!

 

[JPSmit]

fabulous - congrats (relatively easy fix too)

 

[jlaird]

Outstanding, love it when a plan comes together.