Thunking noise on driver's side wheel area ( 2005 Lancer)

Tiny
SFILI
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 MITSUBISHI
To help us answer your question, please include:

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer ralliart
67,900KM
Manual
Front wheel drive



Started out as a clicking sound here and there on the driver's side wheel area and after a month or two turned into loud thunking noise. Not repetitive, only heared when driving over dips ( not so much over bumps in the road ) and sometimes when I am taking a right turn ( which is odd because I would assume most of the weight would be on the passenger side wheel for a right turn?). When I brought it in the first time to have them look at it they told me it was muy cold air intake pump hitting against my engine, the mechanic told me he tied it down. But I still heard it after.

I think the dealership is trying to jerk me around because I have a 100,000KM/5 year bumper to bumper and im about 30,000KM away from the end of coverage.

I bought this car in may of 2007 so I have basically had it 6 months, I brought it in for regular service twice (oil change, replace spark plugs ) and both times asked them to check the area. Brought it in the first time when it was only clicking, the second time when the thunking noise started I brought it in the next morning right away.


I have not seen any leaking fluids, I have checked a few times to make sure.

Im getting really annoyed! I love my car and im hoping this is something small and that the dealership won't give me a whole bunch of trouble.

- Sarah
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 2:12 PM

18 Replies

Tiny
FISHERMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 937 POSTS
Hello Sarah!

Sounds like the dealer its just waiting until your warranty expires to fix it.
(and make some money)
my advise:
take your car to them and do not drive it out, until they fix it!

Could be something loose.
Or a problem with your suspension.

But

Still under warranty!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 2:45 PM
Tiny
SFILI
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hello Sarah!

Sounds like the dealer its just waiting until your warranty expires to fix it.
(and make some money)
my advise:
take your car to them and do not drive it out, until they fix it!

Could be something loose.
Or a problem with your suspension.

But

Still under warranty![/Quote:4db7316814]

_______________

That is basically the point I am getting, to.
My other plan was to make a huge scene in the sales room in front of a few browsing customers if they didnt "find the problem" again.

Im sure they would much rather lose 1500$ than 4 customers' purchases :P
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
FISHERMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 937 POSTS
Hello Sarah!

Sounds like the dealer its just waiting until your warranty expires to fix it.
(and make some money)
my advise:
take your car to them and do not drive it out, until they fix it!

Could be something loose.
Or a problem with your suspension.

But

Still under warranty![/Quote:ce9c3612af]

_______________

That is basically the point I am getting, to.
My other plan was to make a huge scene in the sales room in front of a few browsing customers if they didnt "find the problem" again.

Im sure they would much rather lose 1500$ than 4 customers' purchases :P[/quote:ce9c3612af]

You make me laugh!

That`s a good idea!

What a difference when they are "selling" you a car!

Good Luck!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 3:49 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
There is a TSB on the rear pillow bushing of the control arm:


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_Pillow_bushing_1.jpg



You need to have a chat with the Service Manager on this. Ask him to go with you so he can hear it. Tell him you have been doing business with them and disappointed they are not meeting your needs. Look at this site
http://www.mitsubishisucks.com/cars/complaints/usa/parts/suspension/lancer.html

If you have a control arm problem like these you may get killed. Print the two here and show it to the Service Manager. Ask him to acknowlege on the bottom that he has read the two articles, in the event a problem happens, you'll have legal leverage.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 4:58 PM
Tiny
SFILI
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
THANK YOU SO MUCH! Both of you!
I will definately have a nice little chat with them and make sure they read these.

Again! Great! Much appreciated.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Our pleasure.

Keep in mind you don't need to go in with your guns blazing. Yet.

You do need to be firm and business-like. Have good eye contact. Remind him/her they failed twice and a third time should be a little embarassing not to mention your inconvenience. Don't be threatening, condescending or dis-respectful, even if they have blown you off. Egos can get in the way of relations, especially when a woman is berating a man. But it is respected when treated in a business like manner.

Follow up, good luck.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 6:16 PM
Tiny
SFILI
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I was just joking around earlier.
Besides, its not thier fault its the company they work for. I've worked in sales, youre very limited.
Thanks again for the advice, i've decided to bring my car in tomorrow morning as soon as the shop opens just incase it is the controll arm. I'd rather not drive on it for another week, considering its loud and I can feel the thunk when I am driving.

Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 6:57 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
While it may be a manufacturing defect, they still need to locate the source, and I fault them if it was happening and didn't have the diligence to find the problem.

Didn't mean to sound condescending, just offering the view from the other side of the counter. :wink:


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_tequila_mama_4.jpg


There's always liqour!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 7:37 PM
Tiny
SFILI
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I called the dealership this morning and asked to have a courtesy car when I bring my car in ( as I need it for work ) and they told me that they didnt have courtesy cars at mitsubishi and only have a service shuttle.

I got kinda pissed off, and I got pretty firm stating that I was sick of being brushed off and that not having a car for the weekend would not work out for me. After about 10 min of talking back and fourth with the service manager I ended up getting the service shuttle for the week, and my car is in the shop!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, September 28th, 2007 AT 7:51 PM
Tiny
FISHERMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 937 POSTS
I`m sorry to hear that. But.
See the bright side of it!

They are gong to fix it! :D

Now. What do they told you?

Do they are going to fix it for real or they are going to put a couple of bandaids on the suspension?

I hope that you were firm with them.

Let us know, we will waiting !
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, September 28th, 2007 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
BOB.MARLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi

I just took my sister-in-laws car for a drive around the block. It has the same symptoms. A 'thunk' from the drivers side wheel area when driving (extremely) slowly over bumps (like the half inch drop from the driveway to the road).

I checked the clearance and no chance anything is hitting the road at this point.

Either this is a strange fault with a shock absorber or (more likely) something awry with the control arm. Perhaps a missing bush.

She will book it in on Tuesday. It has done 12000kms and not due for service until 15k.

Hopefully whoever gets their car fixed first can post the solution here:)

Cheers
Bob
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, September 29th, 2007 AT 4:55 AM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Way to go Sarah!!


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_pissed_1.jpg


Too bad folks have to get green in the face to get service they should get by being calm. :roll:
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, September 29th, 2007 AT 7:10 AM
Tiny
SFILI
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
_________________

i wil let you know what they "say" they have found.
Apperantly its being checked out on monday first thing, I think they want thier service shuttle back :P
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 30th, 2007 AT 1:49 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Hit em' where it hurts!

I hope they nailed it this time. :Wink:
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 30th, 2007 AT 6:34 PM
Tiny
SFILI
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hey there, so iits all fixed up! (Pretty quick!)

what they found was that the strut was broken, I was wondering why such an obvious part wasn't found broken the first 2 times? Hmmm?

Anyways they had the part in stock so they fixed it this morning, gave my car a nice interior exterior detail ( I can never get my car smelling as clean and new as they do, lol ) and im picking it up tomorrow, I have to admit the lancer es sportback wagon I got was kind of a boring ride( thinks about speeding up when pressing the gas for about 5seconds) also having driven standard for so long I hate to admit I had a hard time getting used to no clutch. So I am very happy to get my car back!L

i guess I can say they didn't give me that much trouble, once the ball got rolling everything was taken care of. I havn't lost all hope yet.

Thank you very much to everyone who helped me out!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, October 1st, 2007 AT 1:34 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Still tryin to find that clutch pedal huh?
You had sucess because you opened their eyes and being insistant that is be fixed. Had they resolved this before, you wouldn't have had to inconveinence them :wink:
Nice job Sarah.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, October 1st, 2007 AT 1:50 PM
Tiny
FISHERMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 937 POSTS
Good For you Sarah!

That`s the way!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, October 1st, 2007 AT 4:47 PM
Tiny
BOB.MARLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
2006 Lancer with same problem.

I phoned my sister in law and told her and her son about your broken strut.
They've booked the car in for repair on Friday and the service manager is confident from the description of the symptoms he already knows what the problem is.

Sounds to me like this is a common problem - hopefully a small one.

Cheers and thanks
Bob
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 AT 5:44 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links