what's wrong with my car?

[whatname]

When I turn left between 20 and 40mph, there is a fairly quick bang bang bang bang, etc. Not when I turn right. I had a similar banging before and it was the CV joint, which was replaced Nov 11. It really reminds me of that sound. Should a CV joint go bad that quickly? Is there something else that would cause this?

DH took it to the garage a month or so ago and had an oil change and told them about the banging, or I told him to. I don't know what he actually said. You know how that goes. So, they said the roll bars needed replaced, which I had been told at another garage that they were about to need replaced, so I believed that.

The garage that replaced the CV joint before is really reputable and I have never had a problem with them or known anyone to have a problem. In fact, they diagnosed the CV joint when another garage and and dealership didn't find it. It had been making the banging sound for months and no one seemed to be able to fix it. A family member had told me that was what it sounded like. After it was replaced, the banging stopped.

It is an 05 Subaru outback. Any ideas? I want to take it back to the garage but don't know what to think. I'm a little nervous driving it. I'm afraid it will fall apart.

Thanks so much!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

That sort of noise is not good. Everytime you turn and it makes the noise, more damage may be occuring. Can you have it towed to the shop?

You have a front differential that is part of your full time 4 wheel drive system and keep your fingers crossed that it is not the source of your noise.

Your car actually has 2 CV joints. Maybe the other one has gone bad?

Good luck. I hope the fix is not too expensive.

 

[whatname]

Thanks for the info. I do have my fingers crossed. I don't have money for a major repair and this car has been a money pit lately. I will call the shop tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[Tinetine]

My husband (who's been fixing cars with his daddy his whole life, took his mechanics course and his best friend owns a garage) says it's very possible the CV joint they installed was defective. He says he's never heard of roll bars needing to be replaced because they were worn, usually they just break , and then you know it. But it could be the bushings, or the end links and those would make a noise when you hit a bump. So if the noise comes when you turn, it's probably the cv joint or a bearing.Hope this helps !

 

[englishteacha]

I know this sounds silly, but did you check to make sure there's nothing rolling around inside the car? My friend's daughter freaked out because whenever she came to a stop, there was a loud, metallic thud. Come to find out there was a frozen bottle of water rolling around under the seat, and when she stopped it rolled forward and hit something.

 

[tink2dw]

Have you in side the wheel well?? Sometime snow or mud can full the tire well and then isn't enough clearance for tire to turn properly and the tire will make lot of racket!!

Here is hoping it a simple fix!!

 

[csharpwv]

My bet is on the defective CV joint!

I had a Suzuki Esteem in college, the left tie rod end was horrible!

I replaced that thing it seemed like every 6 months.

The part from the dealer was 4 times the price of the part from an auto parts store. I only put the dealer part on once, thinking that it was the replacement parts that were bad, the one from the dealer went bad faster than that!

SO, replacement parts aren't always high quality - so you may want to have the part checked again!

 

[whatname]

Thanks for the replies.

No, it is not something rolling around or ice/snow. I wish. I'm sure it is in the workings related to the wheel or that area. Good to check though.

The bushings possibility made me smile. The first time I had this problem, the dealer told me that was what it was. When I found out the price the replace them, I told them to forget it. Glad I did because that was not the problem. I had the rear wheel bearings replaced not that long ago. That made a huge difference in the roaring it was making. Shortly after that, this banging started. Like I said, it is a money pit lately, but it is paid for.

I do feel a little better, like I'm not completely crazy. I was beginning to think I'm just overreacting or something. Maybe the CV joint is bad. I am going to take it back to the garage that fixed those. They are pretty nice, so maybe if it was defective they will replace it for free or for less. I will tell them it sounds like it did the last time the CV joint was bad. Because it does.

Thanks again. I do feel a little more knowledgeable. I'm calling the garage now.

 

[mfd25wife]

Thanks for the replies.

No, it is not something rolling around or ice/snow. I wish. I'm sure it is in the workings related to the wheel or that area. Good to check though.

The bushings possibility made me smile. The first time I had this problem, the dealer told me that was what it was. When I found out the price the replace them, I told them to forget it. Glad I did because that was not the problem. I had the rear wheel bearings replaced not that long ago. That made a huge difference in the roaring it was making. Shortly after that, this banging started. Like I said, it is a money pit lately, but it is paid for.

I do feel a little better, like I'm not completely crazy. I was beginning to think I'm just overreacting or something. Maybe the CV joint is bad. I am going to take it back to the garage that fixed those. They are pretty nice, so maybe if it was defective they will replace it for free or for less. I will tell them it sounds like it did the last time the CV joint was bad. Because it does.

Thanks again. I do feel a little more knowledgeable. I'm calling the garage now.

Texted DH. He was a mechanic before he was a paramedic. He said his first thought is that it is a bad CV joint. If the replacement is ok, he said to check the rubber boot and make sure it is intact. He said the mechanic may have accidentally messed it up. Good Luck! I hope it's an easy fix

He just texted again. I know you mentioned you had the bushings checked before the CV joint was replaced. He said bushings in the front suspension could do that, also. Since they are putting it on a rack today or soon, maybe they can take a look again if the CV joint and boot are both ok?

 

[whatname]

Thanks again. I got an appt. for Wed. I'm not driving it until then, so that is o.k. I do have to have dh take it because I have to work. I think I will call the shop and tell them myself that morning what is going on. Not that I don't trust dh, but I feel the need to explain in detail what the problem is. Not sure that the mechanic wants to hear all my detail, but I really want to get it fixed. I will tell them that I am concerned about all the things all of you have mentioned.

mfd25wife - I find it funny that your husband was a car mechanic and now is a paramedic. Similar type of work - different type of patient.

 

[marius97]

I know this sounds silly, but did you check to make sure there's nothing rolling around inside the car? My friend's daughter freaked out because whenever she came to a stop, there was a loud, metallic thud. Come to find out there was a frozen bottle of water rolling around under the seat, and when she stopped it rolled forward and hit something.

Too funny...My DW had the same thing happen. She just bought a new Ford Escape. Every time that she would get up to speed on the country roads around here and then slow down quickly for a turn, there would be "woosh" sound. She couldn't figure it out. I drove it and couldn't tell. Finally I discovered that it was her roof rack. The movable crossbars were not screwed tight. Every time she slowed down they would slide loudly forward. When she sped back up, they would slowly, and quietly, went to the back of the car. We both felt stupid about that "problem" that lasted a few weeks.

 

[rock_doctor]

If it is a defective CV it probably is still under warranty or at least the part probably is... So that may save you a little bit of money. Most of those types of items are reconditioned in 3rd world countries and sometimes it isn't done well.... Good luck.