Pothole Noise?

[ianerrid]

Now that the ice has receded and showing all the ice damage pot holes.. If I (am forced to) go over a decent size, I can hear wheat sounds like a clonking noise?? It 'sounds' like something heavy, like a battery, thats not fixed down properly, or the suspension noise you get on a car that has been lowered and drops further than the spring wants to go?

Not explaining very well (sounds are tough...) but sounds like a trip to the dealer is in order?

[swansailor]

Now that the ice has receded and showing all the ice damage pot holes.. If I (am forced to) go over a decent size, I can hear wheat sounds like a clonking noise?? It 'sounds' like something heavy, like a battery, thats not fixed down properly, or the suspension noise you get on a car that has been lowered and drops further than the spring wants to go?

Not explaining very well (sounds are tough...) but sounds like a trip to the dealer is in order?

Probably. I advise checking your tire pressures ...potholes are particularly unkind if the tire pressures are a bit low ("snake bite" damage to the tire sidewalls and possible rim damage).

[r1lee]

I thought i heard a loud clanking sound. But I haven't driven the car enough to really pay attention to things. Coming from my z3, everything made noise in that thing!

[MikeB]

Ian,

I have had that for a while - its not consistent and is a surprising thunk when it happens. I had assumed it was a stone lodged on top of one of the suspension bars, which fell off at times. Kind of amateurish diagnosis, I guess, but I will mention it when it goes to the dealer next, unless someone comes up with a slightly more professional explanation.

[ianerrid]

To me it sounds like something heavy moving and it's only just started doing it.. Come to think of it, it's only since it was last at the dealers for all the C/F bits to be fitted... My NS mirror is playing up when it returns from a fold, so just add to the list I guess.

To be honest I mentioned it as I am cautious since members had the rear suspension failures.

[London Lad]

From your description I think I have had the same on two occasions when I failed to avoid potholes.

The noise appears to come from the rear and I put it down to the engine cover 'bouncing' on it's spring loaded stops and then hitting the hard stop of the locking mechanism. It's just a guess but its sounds like that kind of weight.

[toecutter]

I always hear a similar noise just behind me in the engine compartment when the car is cold and going over a pothole or rough road. I think it is the carbon on the other side of the firewall. It sounds like something large that is not tethered down. Once then engine is warmer the noise is blunted.

[mngolfer]

Ian,
Check your right side CF in the engine compartment for a burnish mark. I had this same noise problem. I investigated it and found the wear mark where the engine compartment lid touched the CF. The dealer put a felt pad where the wear mark was appearing and the noise went away. They dealer told me every car they had serviced had the same wear mark.

[toecutter]

Ian,
Check your right side CF in the engine compartment for a burnish mark. I had this same noise problem. I investigated it and found the wear mark where the engine compartment lid touched the CF. The dealer put a felt pad where the wear mark was appearing and the noise went away. They dealer told me every car they had serviced had the same wear mark.

I just went out and looked at my car. I do have a burnish mark on the right CF on the inside of the area where the engine lid articulates with the roof. This part of the carbon is very loose and swings back and forth easily as it is not attached to the roof area. Is this the right place?

I had thought it was the carbon that is bolted to the firewall in front of the engine.

[London Lad]

These 'rub' marks don't tally with the sort of sound I was hearing.