clunking from from passenger side

jphelps · Post by **jphelps** » 16 Jul 2011, 13:37

So today my car began making a clunking sound from the vicinity of the passenger side engine bay. Pretty sure it's not anything suspension related since it seems to only happens on take off and stopping.

I know its probably a bad mount. Could it be a bad transmission mount? Also, I know a certain front engine mount is really difficult to replace. Do those go bad frequently?

Post by **erikv11** » 16 Jul 2011, 14:17

Your car probably has broken what is called the "front engine mount." It is under the crank pulley so on the side of the engine as you look at the car from the front.

It is easy both to check and to replace. Jack up the car, take off the passenger wheel, peel the plastic skirt, there is the mount. There is surely a DIY for it posted here in the repair database, I know there is one over at Volvospeed.com.

Post by **JRL** » 16 Jul 2011, 14:31

That usually does not clunk when broken, if totally separated it will cause some vibrations.
My bet is either the spring seat, a broken control arm or possibly a broken sway bar link
Best bet is the spring seat

jphelps · Post by **jphelps** » 16 Jul 2011, 17:28

Definitley not the spring seat. I guess it could be the contol arm or sway bar.

Post by **JRL** » 16 Jul 2011, 17:34

If one of the sway bar bushings (not the end link) broke, that can make one hell of a racket

Post by **erikv11** » 17 Jul 2011, 03:29

Well I would certainly still check that front mount, it is very easy to check. In fact I would check the top torque mount while you are at it, when it is broken the engine can flop around the engine bay and cause various clunkings depending on the status of your other mounts.

Also check the control arm bushings where the control arm attaches to the subframe, there should be zero play in them. Usually more of a click than a clunk but hey ...

jphelps · Post by **jphelps** » 17 Jul 2011, 12:00

Thanks for the advice. Well, I looked at the FL mount by sticking my head under there and nothing looked amiss. I tried shaking everything I could (control arm, sway bar, and end link). Everything was tight. Since the control arm is relatively new (about 25,000 on it) I'm thinking it's the sway bar. I could only see one bushing on it and it looked fine, but I need to jack it up and get under there.

Also, a type of slow and intermittent rattling occurs while going downhill at slow to moderate speeds. I don't notice anything on the highway.

Post by **erikv11** » 17 Jul 2011, 16:48

By FL do you mean Front Left? The front engine mount is actually on the right (passenger) side. Maybe you got htat figured out but anyway you can't tell much by just looking at it.

The front mount may be fine but for the record here is a useful link that describes how to check it out: http://volvospeed.com/volvo_repairs_how ... mount.html

Top mount is OK, the torque bushing?

I have heard of only a few sway bar bushings going bad, but yes a few.

jphelps · Post by **jphelps** » 23 Jul 2011, 16:47

I finally had some time today to try and figure out what the problem was. I go to loosen the lugs before I jack it up and they're only finger tight. I had that tire changed out a couple of weeks ago and they forgot to torque them down. I'm both relieved and a bit peeved.

Post by **erikv11** » 23 Jul 2011, 17:53

Hey it all worked out for the best then, glad you found it!