Rumble/vibration - now video - you tube

[TX82FIAT]

The other day I took my car to a Body Shop to have some of the rock chips and paint rub areas down to the metal by the doors and hood professionally touched up. The shop did a great job and the car looks great, well worth the $400 given you can see my touch up work and you can not even tell the six or seven spots existed after thier repair. However, I noticed a loud rumble someplace between the exhaust and passenger side panel when picking the car up at start up. I pulled over and spoke to the shop owner asking if he had put the car on a lift, tried to straighten the car, removed any panles or any other items that might cause this rumble. He said no and he had not noticed it previously.

I drove the car around the block and the noise stopped within 100 yards of the shop. I paid the shop owner, chalked it up to one of the temporary fickle FIAT oddities and drove home. The next day I started the car up and the noise was there again, I looked under the car and at the panels. I could not see anything rubbing. Again, i drove the car and the noise was gone by the time I was out of my short driveway.

The only thing i can think of is something with the steering and the exhaust... Yet, I see nothing. Any idea where I should look. It soundl like that vibrating body panel sound.

[burgandy81]

I had a funny rumbling/knocking noise on start up and it turned out to the the exhaust down pipe hitting the cross-member. This only happened when cold as the engine shook a little until it was warm and smoothed out.

not sure if this is helpful but it is one more easy item to cross off the list.

[SpecialTool]

Worn engine and trans mounts can allow for excessive movement on startup.

[TX82FIAT]

I was under the car last night and did not see any interference with the steering or the exhaust. No marks on the pipes or steering arms where anything would make contact. The engine and trtansmission mounts were all replaced in 2010. I can't imagine thay are bad after 3 years and 8,000 miles.

I think I'm going to have to get under the car when one of my kids starts it up this weekend and see if I can localize the sound. I'll have my sone turn the wheel all the way in both directions as well as give it some gas to see any possible movemebnt while parked through the RPM range. It really looks like I have plenty of clearance in all areas.. Something must be lose. I'll see if i can post a few pics or maybe even go crazy and put a brief video with the sound this weekend.

[azruss]

If they painted the rear rocker panel, they may have dropped the exhaust pipe to gain clearance.

[SunnySideUp]

I have the same cold start-up rumble/rattle that goes away when the car is up to operating temperature. I originally though the muffler was loose or something in the trunk was rattling around. I make sure the jack and tool kit were secure. I still ended up having the rumble/rattle. I've narrowed it down to the catalytic converter location. I installed new tension springs from the converter to the frame and that didn't resolve the issue. Transmission and motor mounts were replaced 2 years ago. I, too, have checked all clearances and found no rubbing or wear marks. My next step is to borrow a friends "test pipe" and put it in place of the catalytic converter to see if that resolves the issue. I suspect I may just have a bad catalytic converter.

[TX82FIAT]

Update - it is not based on cold start. It is definitely in the steering. I'm trying to get a youtube account to work so I can share the sound. it is more of an uurrr, uurrr when you turn the wheel. I cant see anything rubbing. It rained the entire week the car was at the shop. ?? Ball joints. Can not see any part of the steering hitting anything making me think it is friction related.

[v6spider]

Check your steering idler box...sometimes they get dry..might be the problem...

[TX82FIAT]

Here is the you tube. The noise is from 21 seconds to 32 seconds on the video. The noise in the beginning is more tires on garage floor. Please let me know what you think. The noise is only on the passenger side and seems to be coming from above the mid point of the wheel but I cant tell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fhadWMi1n8

[v6spider]

I watched your video and I would definitely check the steering idler...it's either that or the steering box itself...but check the idler first...
Probably needs replaced..
Rob

[Auspider]

Is it possible that its a ball joint? They look pretty new in the video, maybe even a tie rod. One trick you could try is use a large screwdriver as a stethoscope, put your ear over the plastic handle and place the tip on various suspects of the noise while the wheel is being turned. It should be amplified through the screwdriver to help you pin point the location.

[TX82FIAT]

Great idea. i have a mechanics stethoscope that i picked up for a dollar at a garage sale and was planning on hitting each areas this weekend. I'll need to pull the wheel off to really see and hear what id going on under the car. Before pulling the wheel off, If I disconnect the tie rod from the steering knucle and work the wheel back and forth and the noise is still there then it has to be ball joints since it is no longer connected to the idler arm. I'll need to get to this quick to determine what needs to be done.

If sticking idler - I'll need to take a look at what type it is and see if I can refurb or if a new one is needed. If ball joints, I'm pretty sure they are sealed. I may consider drilling cap of ball joint and adding a grease zerk or injecting grease through a neadle as a quick fix. A lot of good insight came from some of the Texas Fiat guys via e-mails this morning.

I think I know what need to be done, now to find the time to get under the car.

[majicwrench]

Beware when using that stephoscope that the noise will radiate thru a lot of things but yoiu MIGHT be able to isolate it.
Certainly sounds like some FE component is dry/seizing something. Picking up the car one side at a time might be intersting to see if noise goes away
Good luck,
Keith

[v6spider]

My first spider had that very exact problem same sound and everything...steering was stiff.... soon as I pulled the linkage from the idler the noise went away and when i tried to move the idler arm it was froze...at least that is what I experienced. And that was I swear the same noise I heard in your video...

Rob

[RRoller123]

same here, when my 80FI was purchased, the idler tanks were completely dry and the steering was rough.