Okay, this has been going on for about 6 months.

Stipulations:

- It only happens on the first run through first 1st gear after start up.

- Sometimes it happens right before the shift into 2nd, sometimes a little after.

- Doesn't happen in reverse.

- Only happens on the FIRST RUN up to 1st. Normal after that.


Description of the sound: Say "cuwee" without using your vocal chords (just with air), then imagine it's a little (just the slightest bit) "springy". Weird huh?


Okay, explaining time. I've hit two major potholes (Tulsa has horrible streets), one for each of the two tires. After I hit the first big one (which popped the tire right off the rim) a "crunch" sound came to be in the front right strut. I hit another one on the expressway a few weeks ago and a less "crunchy" sound has appeared. I've yet to get them replaced. Could the sound have anything to do with these problems?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

(1996 850 GLT wagon, 102,000K miles, no turbo)

 

Is this a manual or auto wagon?

 

I believe I have the same problem as you do. Each time I start the vehicle and am going straight, prior to changing to second gear there will be this faint noise that has the same sound as you would hear from a seriously blown shock being compressed. The shocks are fine on the car and I think it is comming from under the hood.

Again it only happens when you first start the car and begin driving before it changes to second gear, then you don't hear it anymore. The tachometer has no bearing on when the noise takes place, usually happens in about the first 50-75 feet of travel.

My vehicle is a 1994 850, automatic, non-turbo, 125k, and a dead evaporator of course (augh!).

 

Not sure if I'm reading your problem correctly but if it's happening with the movement of the suspension, and you just recently hit some potholes really hard, I'd be thinking along the lines of shifting coil springs, as in that "seat" at the top of the strut that fails on the 850??... Can't think of the name right now... sleepy....

 

No it is not suspension related.
I can be driving in a straight line on the smoothest roads and once I begin accelerating you here this almost grind-ish noise, but then the noise neverrepeats as long as the car is running. After I hear the noise I can stop the car (keeping the motor running) and accelerate again and it will not make the noise.

The noise only occurs the first time the car is turned on and acceleration has begun, but prior to shifting to second gear.

Very strange...I don't think its a problem cause the car runs like a top and has new suspension - I am just curious what it could be and if could possibly cause a problem.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

"Is this a manual or auto wagon? "- Auto

"I believe I have the same problem as you do. Each time I start the vehicle and am going straight, prior to changing to second gear there will be this faint noise that has the same sound as you would hear from a seriously blown shock being compressed. The shocks are fine on the car and I think it is comming from under the hood. Again it only happens when you first start the car and begin driving before it changes to second gear, then you don't hear it anymore. The tachometer has no bearing on when the noise takes place, usually happens in about the first 50-75 feet of travel." - That's a good description of my problem also. I forgot to say that my noise comes from the rear of the engine bay. From the driver's seat, think a little left and look about a foot down. Maybe towards the door lock thing; behind that about a foot or so.

"Not sure if I'm reading your problem correctly but if it's happening with the movement of the suspension, and you just recently hit some potholes really hard, I'd be thinking along the lines of shifting coil springs, as in that "seat" at the top of the strut that fails on the 850??... Can't think of the name right now... sleepy..." - Haha, that's okay. I'll check that out. Thanks!

 

Some possibilities I can think of (not directly related to "cuwee"):

1. Wheel bearing & hub unit damage (this is one integral unit).
2. Damaged tyre & wheel, out-of-round.
3. Strut bent due to side impact and allowed the gas to escape. The strut is constantly getting side way impact, due to the configuration and can be bent if impact is strong enough, The only way to check the struts & shocks is to put the car on a suspension tester. Pushing on a corner of the can and wait for re-bounceis an obsolete way of testing suspension.
4.If you have a floor jack & jackstands, raise the front end and visually inspect all components.
5. Visually inspect everything in the engine compartment for loose/damaged component, especially hoses, tubes, mounts, etc....

I believe visual inspection would reveal something. Also, be sure that there is no unusual fluid leaks and all fluids areat proper level.


JPN

 

ABS controller self test? This comes from the area of the brake
master cylinder in the engine compartment in front of the driver.
It only happens once when the car is first moved.
On my car it makes a "clack" sound similar to the sound the door
lock buttons make when you press the door lock switch.
I guess you could disconnect the electrical plugs from the ABS
controller module and see if the noise goes away. Just be
REALLY careful when you test it because your ABS will not
be working.(The regular brakes should still function, but again
be very careful just in case).

Good luck, John

 

J Telectro is correct.

If it only happens once and at around the speed of 18-20 mph then it is the ABS system doinga self test. Its normal. The first time i heard it, I also thought i had some suspension problems. I later realized it was just the ABS. Sounds kind of like the engine is burping lol

 

As to the ABS self-test mode, I used to try beatingthe modeby getting up to speed before the ABS guy recognised how fast the car was going, and not giving it a time to do its favourite "cuwee". But then I decided it was not worth it as you're more focused on the instrument panel than on the road[8D].

It was a shame, because 1 out of 7 times or so,my ABSwas operative. When it was operational, I used toscare the heck out of the ABS by panic-braking on a deserted road. Sure enough, the ABS panicked as a result of panic-braking and tried its best to keep the steering control[8D].

My evil confession of the day[8D].


JPN