Posted November 17, 2015
Got this annoying long-term problem with my car, the one I use for business travel: some knocking noise when accelerating out of a corner, any gear, most any speed, either direction of turn. Had it to six different shops, and a couple issues have been found, though not directly related to the problem so the problem persists after a good off-and-on 9 months or so. Replaced the front axle shafts twice - no change. Replaced the rear axle, which had worn u-joints, so that did eliminate a different noise. One shop says the shafts are bad - both of them, with only a couple thousand miles on them? Another suspected the wheel bearings, which sounded reasonable at ~147,000 miles, but further investigation shows they're fine.
The dealer says they can't find the cause but that "it's not safety-related". Uh, really? So when the problem goes full-on when driving down the middle lane on I-90 in Chicago at 3:30 Friday afternoon, that's not a safety problem? Because, sure as shit, someone would shoot me if my car crapped out right then and there.
I've taken it to a brand-specific dealer, an axle / alignment specialist, and a transmission specialist, plus a few general automotive shops. Nothing definitive. I don't care about the cost for the fix; I just want to know what is the problem so I can make a decision from there. But now I'm hemming and hawing over finding yet ANOTHER shop to look at it.
I think I'll give it one last shot (lucky 7?) and then replace it with something else. Barely driven the car the last 9 months, using instead one of my wife's cars for biz travel. Frustrating since otherwise the thing is fine - still gets good mileage, motor runs fine, good size for my needs. Comfy enough for my long trips, never stranded me. I'd like to keep it going but this problem is stumping everyone so far and I don't want an axle / transmission failure to put me in a bad spot.
The dealer says they can't find the cause but that "it's not safety-related". Uh, really? So when the problem goes full-on when driving down the middle lane on I-90 in Chicago at 3:30 Friday afternoon, that's not a safety problem? Because, sure as shit, someone would shoot me if my car crapped out right then and there.
I've taken it to a brand-specific dealer, an axle / alignment specialist, and a transmission specialist, plus a few general automotive shops. Nothing definitive. I don't care about the cost for the fix; I just want to know what is the problem so I can make a decision from there. But now I'm hemming and hawing over finding yet ANOTHER shop to look at it.
I think I'll give it one last shot (lucky 7?) and then replace it with something else. Barely driven the car the last 9 months, using instead one of my wife's cars for biz travel. Frustrating since otherwise the thing is fine - still gets good mileage, motor runs fine, good size for my needs. Comfy enough for my long trips, never stranded me. I'd like to keep it going but this problem is stumping everyone so far and I don't want an axle / transmission failure to put me in a bad spot.