i went away on vacation for a week...my car was working just fine. When I returned the service light was on...which i know can mean it is just due for an oil change...but it was also making a really horrible clunking noise. clunk clunk clunk...like something was loose or something...i didn't drive it b/c it was scary sounding. I have been really busy with my newborn daughter so i have just been sharing a car with my husband. I decided to call the shop today and went out to listen to it before I called in so that I could describe the sound to the guy...i opened the hood...and now it sounds much worse and the whole car kind o bucks when it does it...I am afraid to drive it anywhere...anyone know what this could be? I called the guy at the shop and he said it could be anything...wants me to have it towed in...which i will do, but wanted to check in with all you genious folks first...thanks

 

Really niot trying to be a smartass, but it could be anything. Let us know what he finds. When mine started making a loud knocking noise I had it towed in only to find out the motor was shot. Hope yours is something much less serious. Good luck.

 

did you find out what it is yet? I'd guess a blown strut, bad strut mount, broken sway bar link, busted tie rod end......pretty much anything suspention related......

 

ok...i haven't done anything about this yet...i haven't had the money to get it towed in...

is it worth taking it to napa to ask them to read the codes or is it not even safe to drive that far?

it couldn't be something stupid like it is low in oil or something could it?

 

so, now i went to start it again and it wont even start...it squeels as if it is trying to start then attempts to turn over but doesn't. after I pulled the key out...it was still making a whiring kind of mashiney noise for a few minutes before it clicked off...i'm really worried that this is it for this car and we have only had it for a few months....any advice?

 

Clunking is occuring when you're driving right?

Edit: Please elaborate on when this occurs (all the time?, bumps?)

 

well i haven't actually driven it...the clunking was happening when I started it up...not moving...but now it wont start at all and thus isn't making the noise anymore.

 

So you heard the "clunking" when the car was running and even when it was not moving? Did you check the oil? These cars will make a racket when the are down three or four quarts of oil. Is the car turning over fast enough to start, but not starting or is it turning over very slow? If the latter, try jumping it to see if you can get it to start, but first check the oil.

 

the car was making the clunking with just running, not nec. moving...

and the car makes a real squealing sound when i try to start it...after holding the key to ther start position for a few seconds, it did sound like it might start...but then i didn't keep pushing it for fear of hurting something...

 

The no start/squeeling sounds like it could be a bad starter or low battery, or worse a frozen alternator pulley. That might explain the clunking as well. I would try to jump start it to see if at the very least you can get it to start, then go from there. I really can't offer more advice without seeing the car. Sorry

 

Was it a clunking or a tapping?
Clunking like a hammer hitting metal?
Tapping like tapping a key on metal?

 

it was def. a clunking noise!

at the shop now...i'll update later.