Clunk at startup

[Firestrike87]

I'm yet to get my starter replaced but I doubt it has anything to do with the clunk. When I start the car, I can feel and hear a clunk in the floorboard, pedals, area and I was told maybe motor mounts but when the car starts, the engine barely moves. The car has 150,000 miles and I do here some small clunks on bumps and rough roads but not in the same area. When I test drove the car this clunk was not there and only developed in the past week or so. It almost feels like it is the trans hitting something but I don't have any idea what it could be. The starter needs to be replaced because the bendix isn't disengaging soon enough and grinds, could that be related? They seemed to happen around the same time.

 

[95-stang]

A cold engine tends to "wobble" more, its not the exhaust catching is it? I have seen a few cars where it can just touch something when firing up, but goes almost instantly.

 

[Firestrike87]

When we started the car I looked underneath the car and at the engine and none of it seemed to move much. I grabbed ahold of the exhaust and it seemed tight and it does go away after it starts.

 

[97GT4.6]

hmm.. thats interesting. mine does that too sometimes. I'm not quite sure what the noise is. I thought it was coming from the transmission but it sounds more like your problem.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

My H pipe used to do that, I had a 99-up pipe on my 97. I'm guessing worn motor mount's, transmission mounts or a combo is our problem though.

 

[FUK_N_JUNK]

Replace the starter 1st before you go changing anything else, if it's ok and everything you said you checked is OK... then I'm going to say it's a good chance it's your trans mount. This comes apart when you do brake torques :dunno:

To tell if it's the trans mount, the best way is to floor it from a stop, if it makes a clunk in the floorboard then it's the trans mount.

Other than that, It's got to be the exhaust or motor mount then, most likely the exhaust though.

 

[Firestrike87]

Well, between school, work, weather, and lack of a place to work on it, I brought it to a reputable shop and I'll know soon enough what the problem is.

 

[Firestrike87]

I called the shop to find out some more info and they said I have a "collapsed motor mount". They're going to order one and the problem should be solved.

 

[95-stang]

I called the shop to find out some more info and they said I have a "collapsed motor mount". They're going to order one and the problem should be solved.

Thats good, nothing worse than taking a car in and them telling you they found nothing.
Not an expensive job either.

 

[FUK_N_JUNK]

I called the shop to find out some more info and they said I have a "collapsed motor mount". They're going to order one and the problem should be solved.

Very good deal.... might I suggest getting a set of Energy Suspension motor mounts. They are just as good as solid mounts w/o the vibration. Pretty descent price and might as well do both while they are under there... it's not gonna cost much more. just a good precaution IMHO!!!Here is a link..... I'm running these on my S-10 w/650+hp and not a single problem yet!!

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=4.1127&cat=983