metal flopping sound

[98SF19]

Passenger side front wheel well began making a loose-metal/flopping sound yesterday. Sounded like loose suspension. Removed wheels and inspected - nothing out of the ordinary. Started and put in drive and sound continued, with a nice jolt when applying brakes. I noticed oil around the oil filter so I checked oil levels but didn't seem low (motor was fully warmed up though). Put about a 1/4 quart in and sound ceased. Was the sound due to low oil levels? SES has been on for a while (for another issue), but low oil press. light wasn't on. How much oil needs to leak out before the crankcase lets you know? (if that was even the problem)

I hope I didn't push my motor further along the road to the junkyard.

Thanks

 

[Irish Pride]

You have an oil level sensor in the oil pan that will tell you its low on oil. The "oil" light will come on. A 1/4 of a quart isnt going to make a difference. You will have to be a few quarts low before the oil light will come on.

As far as the noise goes, you will need to provide more info on it. Take it for a good drive and see if it comes back. Do you hear it more while accelerating or braking? Do you hear it at idle? Does it get louder as you drive or stay the same pitch no matter what?

 

[98SF19]

When I first heard it, I had been stopped, idling (not sure if in P or D). Driving away, I could hear reflecting off of the curb the sound described. I drove about a mile back home. I did notice a small bit of play in the rotors, which was the same on both sides. Is that normal? My thought was that tightening the lugs would snug them up.

 

[stephen newberg]

There should not be play in the rotors. If they are moving, it is likely your sound.

pax, smn

 

[Irish Pride]

If you had play in the rotors my first thought would be wheel bearing. That will make a noticable noise but not while sitting still.

 

[98SF19]

sorry

I'm sorry, I misstated what had happened. I didn't hear the sound when I was stopped, just that I had been stopped with car running before hearing it while driving. I haven't heard it since the original time, and that's after mixed driving on interstates and highways. I was sure to crank the lugs down well when I remounted the wheels.

As for the rotors, should there be absolutely NO play in them at all (this is with the tires off the car)? Both front rotors had just a smidge of movement when I wiggled them. If this is not normal then that is most likely the issue, but if it's normal, then the only thing I can think is that one or more of the lugs had backed out a tiny bit, allowing what little play was in the rotors to contact something, maybe the heat shield.

This car is weird. A month and a half ago, it died just as I was pulling in to a parking spot - battery light came on but it seemed that I still had braking power, even though the tach had dropped down to zero. Alternator's a few months old and the serp just a couple months older (I'm on original DPFE, IAC, MAF, and a used EGR). Hasn't happened since. Now this flopping metal sound.

The good news: I was able to get a free AC check at one of the more reputable independent shops in town and they told me what I kinda already knew - that my EATC head was most likely the cause of my AC not working. It's currently detached due to a 1-2 amp drain on the battery when off.

The car's a PITA more and more often, but it STILL beats having a car payment!

 

[Irish Pride]

With the wheel off, the rotors will have plenty of play. The wheels are what keep the rotors tight so if you have the wheel off the only thing holding the rotor on would be the caliper. If a few of the lugs were not completely tight the rotor still would not be able to flop around. The wheel is what would be loose. If the lugs were loose the wheel would have a noticible wobble to it as you drove it. It would feel as though it was way out of balance. The rotor isnt your noise. Check your wheel weights. Its possible one of the weights could be loose and sliding on the wheel as you drive causing a metal scraping noise.

 

[98SF19]

With tires off and car idling in drive, I still heard it, coming from the rotor/caliper area, perhaps inside the corrugated rubber boot (passenger side)?

Like I said though, it stopped after I put the tires back on and hasn't returned in 3 days now. I do have a free balancing deal at Discount Tire, so it might be time for an adjustment, or at least another set of eyes (and ears!).