Hey, I used to post in norcal but last week I moved to Lompoc for the military. Lompoc = close to vandenberg and santa maria if you guys don't know where it is considering it's a pretty ****ty town. Anyways, my car started doing something weird the other day...

I was driving along in Davis before i had left for here...I was stopped...light turns green, I put the car in first gear and slowly start going. Then I hear this metal banging noise that seems to come from under my car. I disregard it cuz I think it's just some outside noise not related to my car. It stops completely for about 2 weeks and that kinda confirmed my suspicion that it was an outside noise. Then i move down here where I have NO IDEA where anything is, and start hearing the noise. I noticed it happens in first and second gear when the car is in low rpms. When i am stopped and start rolling on first, and when i first shift to second and accelerate. It does not happen when the a/c is off which leads me to think that it's a/c related. But the sound comes from under my car which scares me. Also, because it happens during low rpms, i think that it might have something to do with the engine working harder?

The noise sounds like metal banging on metal. It starts off low but then as i accelerate on 1st it gets louder. on third it's not there anymore.

I was in an accident where a guy merged onto me and hit my side but it was not that hard of a hit and the collision shop got it all fixed through my insurance. this was about 2 months ago. I have no idea what it is. Anybody got any clues? Has this happened to anyone before?

 

could be exhaust banging around?

there is more engine load when the AC is on

how many miles and are you on stock engine mounts?

jack the car up safely and bang the exhaust

 

Any mods? Does the car shake like its going to turn off? Have you checked under the car?

 

ok, ok, sorry to not include details. I drive a 02 wrx sedan and i do not have that many mods but a turbo timer, catback, downpipe and uppipe. I am also catless. I have not really checked under the car as it does make the noise when the a/c is off. And I don't think it's the exhaust banging cuz it only happens when the a/c is on. I just started working and i've been ridiculously busy but I will check tomorrow or monday. But I was just wondering if this had happened to anyone.

And I bought the car used, i think the exhaust mounts are stock.

 

oh and i got bout 80k miles

 

Did you ever find the cause of your problem?

 

There was a ***** jammed in there and it was banging against a heatshield.

 

Markadopolus nick name is heatshield by the way.



j/k :P

 

AC belt... I changed it and it's fine for me. Gosh I talk like I know car =)