Clicking/rubbing noise when I accelerate on 1994 Excel

My 1994 Hyundai Excel, automatic transmission, is making a soft
clicking/rubbing noise when I accelerate--it does not happen when
turning. It is stronger when I am going up a hill or accelerating more
strongly. I am assuming that it is the CV joint.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

There are four CV joints on your car, an inner and an outer on each of
the two halfshafts. CV joint issues are typically characterized by
vibration/noise when cornering or accelerating out of a corner, rather
than in straight line driving. Without actually hearing the sound your
car is making, a diagnosis could be difficult. What you're describing
could just as easily be a transmission or wheel bearing problem.

 

I appreciate the help.

How can I find out if it is a problem with one of the front bearings?

Thanks

 

I am wondering why it doesn't make any noise when I'm not accelerating.
I would figure that if it were a wheel bearing problem that it would
make noise even when I'm not accelerating--not sure.

Thanks

 

It should, but it would be louder when accelerating. One way to check
wheel bearings is to jack up the car, grab the tire at the top and
bottom, then push and pull on it to see if there's any play in the
bearings. If there is, the bearings are shot.

 

Typically, wheel bearings make the most noise when loaded. So... a left
front wheel bearing will generally make the most noise when turning right,
as that is the time when the most weight and strain is placed on that
bearing. As well, they may make a more continuous noise when driving in a
straight line, but a more aggrivated noise when turning, depending upon the
state of wear and the nature of the wear.

Weight shifts to the rear during acceleration so for a wheel bear to either
make more noise or make less noise during acceleration would not surprise
me. Either scenario could be equally possible. One of the bigger factors
in determining if a wheel bearing is truly at fault is simply the change in
sounds under different conditions.

I have certainly seen plenty of wheel bearings that made noise while driving
straight down the road. Again - the nature of the symptom varies dependent
upon the actual failure inside the bearing assembly.

 

To supplement Brian's point, simply because you cannot detect any motion is
not reason to conclude the bearing is not shot. Hub and bearing assemblies
will quite often not display a failure with techniques that you can easily
perform on a jack.

 

You might even suspect a broken or damaged engine mount allowing the
engine/trans to move far enough for a moving component to contact
another.

Could be something rubbing in the wheel well. Sometimes the weight shift
is just enough to make things touch.

Does the noise vary with engine rpm or vehicle speed or neither?

 

The engine intermittent rubbing noise intervals are shorter at a higher
speed, but the noise is the loudest when I am accelerating the most.
In other words, the rubbing noise is faster at a higher speed, but the
sound only happens when I accelerate, and is louder when I accelerate
more.

I hope that this makes sense.

 

Mike's right. I meant to add that to my post. The absence of play in the
bearing doesn't necessarily indicate the absence of a problem.

 

The problem is that "rubbing noise" isn't very descriptive, at least not
enough to get a clear picture of what you're hearing. Can you describe
it better or perhaps equate it to some other familiar noise?

 

Picture an electric fan. The fan is off, you put your hand on one of
the fan blades. Then your turn it on and let your hand rub against the
blades as they accelerate.

Maybe this is a better description.

I really appreciate the help.

 

I'd start checking the motor and transmission mounts, then. It's possible
one is coming apart and contacting the body when you accelerate.