Loud clunk on forward acceleration

Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 2001 MERCURY VILLAGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 215,000 MILES
Van has clicking axle but also on any forward thrust clunks loudly! Also has donut on front and whine noise when accelerating is bald!
Thursday, September 21st, 2017 AT 5:43 PM

17 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,054 POSTS
Test if it is the axle by swapping the baldy to the rear. That will take the dissimilar tire sizes out of the equation and allow you to tell if the clunk is a damaged differential or if it is just play in the worn axle. Do you have access to a "chassis ear" or even a cheap digital recorder? If so set it up so you can listen to the trans-axle and the engine cradle. There were a few issues with the cradle bushings allowing motion.

Does the sound only occur on acceleration or do you also hear it if you slalom the steering wheel while in motion?
Does it sound better or worse if you hold the brake while you give it throttle?
Have you looked at the engine while shifting drive/reverse? Engine mounts can make a lot of noise if they fail and the engine can move around.
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Thursday, September 21st, 2017 AT 6:53 PM
Tiny
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I am assuming a mount is broken but which one? Where?
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Friday, September 22nd, 2017 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Have someone set in the car with their foot on the brake. Put it in drive an watch the engine. With good mounts the engine shouldn't move more than one or two inches at most. Watch where the engine moves and which direction. With good mounts the engine should only rotate a bit like you were twisting it at the end, and it would move the same amount in reverse as it does in drive.

With a bad mount or mounts the engine will move a lot and it will also lift up on the side with the bad mount(s).

I have replaced some that the entire rubber section was gone and the engine was moving so much it looked like it wasn't even attached!
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Friday, September 22nd, 2017 AT 1:57 PM
Tiny
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I get that but where are the mounts located? Only clunks in forward by the way.
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Friday, September 22nd, 2017 AT 3:56 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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The engine mounts are both underneath the engine on the cross member. Remove the plastic shield, put a jack under the crank pulley to support the engine. Remove the bolts through the mount bolts from the engine. Unbolt and lower the cross member.
Remove and replace the mounts. Bolt the cross member back in, attach the engine. Reverse the rest.

The transmission mounts are on each side of the transmission. Same basic replacement method as the engine mounts but support the trans-axle instead of the engine.

Left two pictures, engine mounts, right two transmission mounts.
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+1
Friday, September 22nd, 2017 AT 8:13 PM
Tiny
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Ok so new tire and found I missing bolt in right front mount. Its still broke but much less of a clunk. New thing is now reverse CLUNK! Big 1!
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Sunday, October 1st, 2017 AT 6:47 PM
Tiny
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I should also add that at a stop at idle with foot on bake engine vibation/noise is noticable in steering wheel
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Sunday, October 1st, 2017 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
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Another thing checking on mounts at stoe 3 seem quite normal in design while the 4th is quite an oddball!
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Sunday, October 1st, 2017 AT 7:29 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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If you think those mounts are odd, wait until you hit one of the active mounts they use on some cars. Nothing like a computer controlled $$$ engine mount to make you ask WHY?
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Monday, October 2nd, 2017 AT 5:36 AM
Tiny
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Yah and from what I hear on internet these newer style mounts FAIL alot! Of course I also hear aftermarket 1's tend to fail more often.
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Monday, October 2nd, 2017 AT 7:50 AM
Tiny
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Ok did an underhood inspection can see the 2 trans mounts and they are toast I know the pass motor mount is toast too. Can see that from underneath might as well get all 4!
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Monday, October 2nd, 2017 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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16 years isn't bad on those mounts when you consider that many of them didn't make 5 years before they failed.

When you look at modern vehicles the engineering involved to do some things just boggles the mind. Look at power windows and locks these days. Used to be a simple polarity reversing switch, now it's a computer module.
Cable controlled gas pedal NOPE let's lose the 2 dollar cable and replace it with a 200 dollar pedal and a 500 dollar throttle actuator!
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Monday, October 2nd, 2017 AT 3:33 PM
Tiny
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I know electric steering is SCARY!Or is it just assist?
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Monday, October 2nd, 2017 AT 4:18 PM
Tiny
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And HEADLIGHTS! 5.50 now 400! And bulb is separate and expensive too!
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Monday, October 2nd, 2017 AT 4:20 PM
Tiny
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I'll be happy when cars drive themselves though.I'm over my hot rod days!
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Monday, October 2nd, 2017 AT 4:20 PM
Tiny
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Get in car and tell it here to go! Then just enjoy the ride and do whatever you like even surf the internet watch tv!
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Monday, October 2nd, 2017 AT 4:22 PM
Tiny
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Got new mounts in PHEW! The 1's in there were replacements from korea. So how long original lasted is guess! I bought china mounts they look ok but I had trouble with 1, the rubber press in part was LOOSE! Never china mounts AGAIN!
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Wednesday, October 18th, 2017 AT 11:43 AM

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