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Stupid Engine noise finally solved !

HWDan

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#1
So I've had this weird engine noise since new. It didn't happen all the time, and I couldn't really hear it unless I pulled into the garage or was stopped next to a car at the lights with the window open, and only sometimes. I'd stop and restart the car and it was more-or-less gone.

Hard to explain the noise, it wasn't so much a distinct rattle, but like a semi random vibration, almost like a loose bolt rattle, not very loud but enough to notice if your standing close to the wheels. Just a bit more than the usual valve-train/injector clatter. Worst fear was I had a bad/noisy water pump or alternator bearing or something.

So last week, I was doing my yearly front wheel-well deep cleaning where I take the wheel off and hose down the brake dust and polish up the Brembos, shocks and inner liners.

I stuck my hand in the frame space behind the shocks to wipe down and ... WTF ! There's all kinds of little jagged rocks, pebbles and grit in there, this is the spot below:

20191009_180627e.jpg

It's a little pocket area but there is a spot to drain in there. Both sides had some, but the bigger one's were on the driver side. What I couldn't get by hand, I flushed it out with water.

No more noise! I Must have had just the right size rocks to wedge up in there and vibrate a bit at idle, as I can't figure anything stuck in there really making any noticeable noise.

I've never driven the car on gravel roads but yesterday I was in a parking lot with recent pot-hole repairs and a bit of left-over loose paving gravel here and there. I could hear the gravel bouncing around the wheel wells. When I got home, I checked and had a few more rocks stuck in there again. I think maybe the stickier summer rubber might tend to pick up gravel and shoot it around. My Magnum has the exact same frame pocket, but has all seasons and they're empty.
 


Catless

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#2
Yes my '09 SRT had Firestone F1 Supercar summer tires and when hot they picked up every small rock and sand/grit and threw it around the wheel well.
 


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#3
I thought I was OCD about cleaning my car but wow. I don't hold a candle to you. Now I have to pull the wheels and really clean. Lol

Nice job. Your car looks like it just came off the production line.
 


Diboblo

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#4
On my 06 SRT Charger, there was a thick rubber cover glued over that hole. I can totally see how that would become an issue, like you had.

Glad you got it sorted out!

Bob
Riverside, California
 


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#5
Good info, now I'll have to look in that spot.
 


coolblue

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#6
On my 06 SRT Charger, there was a thick rubber cover glued over that hole. I can totally see how that would become an issue, like you had.

Glad you got it sorted out!

Bob
Riverside, California
Yes my '09 SRT has it also. It's more like black roofing tar paper. What'd they take it off on later years?
 


SilverBillet

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#7
There are no such covers on my 2013 or 2016. I clean those frame rails out every time I remove the wheels and tires to clean the wheels and wheelhouses. Never heard any noise from having the little stone debris in that area.
 


coolblue

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Yes my '09 SRT has it also. It's more like black roofing tar paper. What'd they take it off on later years?
Sorry, miss communication on my part. Thought u were talking about hole in frame rail that's covered by silver foil tape on yours. Thought it was missing and you were getting debris in your frame rail. Mine has "tar paper" where yours has foil. I see what your talking about. I've had debris in there also and pulled it out. But now that you bring it up, wouldn't that be a great collection spot for snow/ salt on a daily driver to start a rot spot?
 


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#9
Sorry, miss communication on my part. Thought u were talking about hole in frame rail that's covered by silver foil tape on yours. Thought it was missing and you were getting debris in your frame rail. Mine has "tar paper" where yours has foil. I see what your talking about. I've had debris in there also and pulled it out. But now that you bring it up, wouldn't that be a great collection spot for snow/ salt on a daily driver to start a rot spot?
Salt? Oh the horror. Going to check mine now. I have probably cleaned that area before as I clean like crazy when I take the wheels off. I am amazed with how much noise these cars make when you drive over any kind of sand or grit. Never heard anything like it and my hearing sucks.
 


OP
HWDan

HWDan

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Thread Starter #10
exact same frame part in my daily winter driven Magnum RT, it was surprisingly empty, no build-up in there at all. It does drain, I guess it depends on how big the pebbles thrown up in there are and can't fall out through the drain hole.

DSC06286e.jpg
 


Jungle Cat

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#11
Maybe grease it up? Keep the stuff flowing out the hole if small enough or drill it bigger?
 


OLDBAYCRAB

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#12
So I've had this weird engine noise since new. It didn't happen all the time, and I couldn't really hear it unless I pulled into the garage or was stopped next to a car at the lights with the window open, and only sometimes. I'd stop and restart the car and it was more-or-less gone.

Hard to explain the noise, it wasn't so much a distinct rattle, but like a semi random vibration, almost like a loose bolt rattle, not very loud but enough to notice if your standing close to the wheels. Just a bit more than the usual valve-train/injector clatter. Worst fear was I had a bad/noisy water pump or alternator bearing or something.

So last week, I was doing my yearly front wheel-well deep cleaning where I take the wheel off and hose down the brake dust and polish up the Brembos, shocks and inner liners.

I stuck my hand in the frame space behind the shocks to wipe down and ... WTF ! There's all kinds of little jagged rocks, pebbles and grit in there, this is the spot below:

View attachment 5011

It's a little pocket area but there is a spot to drain in there. Both sides had some, but the bigger one's were on the driver side. What I couldn't get by hand, I flushed it out with water.

No more noise! I Must have had just the right size rocks to wedge up in there and vibrate a bit at idle, as I can't figure anything stuck in there really making any noticeable noise.

I've never driven the car on gravel roads but yesterday I was in a parking lot with recent pot-hole repairs and a bit of left-over loose paving gravel here and there. I could hear the gravel bouncing around the wheel wells. When I got home, I checked and had a few more rocks stuck in there again. I think maybe the stickier summer rubber might tend to pick up gravel and shoot it around. My Magnum has the exact same frame pocket, but has all seasons and they're empty.
mr clean 1.gif

Nice.
 


Plasticman

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#13
My summer tires picked up every little thing off the road surface and threw it at the car/wheel well area. I noticed a big difference once I put the all season tires on for the winter.

Rob
 


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#14
I thought I was OCD about cleaning my car but wow. I don't hold a candle to you. Now I have to pull the wheels and really clean. Lol

Nice job. Your car looks like it just came off the production line.

Hahaha, I was thinking the same thing. I feel like a slob compared to HWDan.
 


Hellion

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#15
That's one clean wheel well. I don't think mine was that clean when they rolled it off the truck.

Glad to see you got your rattle figured out. Nothing worse than having a rattle somewhere in your car.
 




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