What is that noise???

[Cherish]

Hello,
I am new to this forum and desperately trying to find the answer to this question before I take it into a mechanic and find out that it was something that I could have fixed myself..

1991 Dodge Dakota 4x4 v8 (318) extended cab...

So here goes.

1. I drove my truck until it was almost out of oil. I am not sure if that is what is causing the problem or not. (I know I know!!! whip me with a wet noodle)

2. I have a hole at the very end of the tail pipe, just where the last turn is.. where it used to be held up by a bracket that is no longer there and is now being held up by a hose clamp.. Don't laugh it was the only thing I could think of at the time.. I just found that today.

So those are the two things that are possible culprits.

The noise is only there once I get moving, only when I am on the gas. It's a rythmic popping sound. It has gotten louder and louder. I thought at first that it was the engine but it doesn't do it when in idle, park, or even drive as long as it isn't moving... but the moment I hit about 30 miles an hour.. ooo boy is it loud and steady as long as my foot is on the gas. If I take my foot off the gas it kind of just putt putts away. Is this the exhaust???? A lifter? CV Joint? Bearing??? Help perty please.

Cherish Ann

[75K30]

Welcome to the site;
Your poping noise cold very well be just an exhaust leak, and could be easily detected.
You just need to inspect the system for leaks. A quick visual inspection could verify that the system actually has more holes than just the one at the rear. Might want to climb under it while it is running and feel around the system for air escaping. You do not want to grab your axhaust system, sice it ill get hot, but you do want to get close enough to feel for air escaping.
Since the rear hanger fell off, this could indicate that you have a system that is rusted out and falling apart. Maybe the very rear of the system is not the only thing that has the hole in it.

Not gonna sclod you for letting thie thing run out of oil, and I have no noodles, so you have one coming for that. Any damage there will be very evident very, very soon if it was terminal.

75

[jimbo543]

when cool, lie under truck hit/bang on exhaust converter, rattles/noise-shot.

[z07]

in addition to what's already been posted, find an empty parking lot or a lonely stretch of road. Get the truck to speed and shift into neutral and turn the engine off careful not to lock the steering column. Make some S-turns and come to a stop. If you still hear the noise you know it isn't the engine/exhaust.

[Cherish]

Ok,
I checked from front to end. I have a few tiny holes in the catalytic converter.. did hit it with a hammer for good measure... Put a big hole in it. JUST KIDDING I didn't put a hole it in, it did rattle a little, but only if I hit it with the hammer. Didn't do anything if I just hit it with my fist.. but then again I do punch like a girl.

I was going to turn it on and see if I could see air or feel it, but by the time I climbed out and thought about that it was getting really dark. So I have to can that idea until tomorrow morning.

I did try driving it and getting it up to speed, got it to make that noise, flipped it into neutral and she purred like a kitten. Not so much as a squeek, but then again as soon as my foot leaves the pedal while in drive it will stop too... so not sure if that has anything to do with it.

I checked the tranny while I was playing under there and found a couple of drops under the converter, but I think it's been doing that for a while.

I will do the air test with it tomorrow and also try to secure the tail pipe a little better since I noticed that I can still easily move it from side to side (possisbly hitting the truck frame or shock making that noise?).

Any other hints or tips you all have would help me tremedously... otherwise I will have to do the unthinkable... take it to a mechanic.. please don't make me do that.

Cherish Ann

[Cherish]

Ok, I checked to see if there was air anywhere else coming out of the exhaust system. I didn't find anything noticeable.

Worse is I finally got a friend to listen to it as I passed by to see where the noise was coming from exactly as it is very hard to tell while driving. He said it's coming from the middle part... so I looked at the drive line to see if I could visually see anything touching it, or if the u joint was looking funky. It wasn't. I even tried to move it. It didn't. So now I am stuck with thinking it might be the catalytic coverter.. maybe a gasket came off? Or oh no I don't want to say it.. the rear diff's????

So I did the unthinkable.. I set up an appointment for an inspection to be done at transmission shop... it went over my head.. darn!

I will keep you guys posted. And I really appreciate your responses!


Cherish

[Cherish]

The verdict is in. It's a u joint in on the drive train.
I can do this

Guess it's gonna be a greasy weekend!

Thanks Guys!

Cherish

[75K30]

Just a thought here, as long as you have the driveshaft out, you might as well replace both joints, or all of them. They will have the same amount of wear, and if you have luck like me, the old one will fail within a hundred miles or so after the repair of just one joint.
Better to replace everything to prevent you from having to do this job twice. Just make sure you mark the shaft if it has a slip joint. The shaft is balanced as a unit, and yes it is supposed to be neutral balanced, it is a good idea to make sure it goes back the way it came apart.
Good luck, it should not be as greasy as you think, this is a fairly simple project. HAve fun.....

[Cherish]

It wasn't the u joint. **** guys at aamco!
I got all done and put back in and I'll be damned if I didn't hear that stupid noise again as soon as I pulled out.
Took it in to the driveline and axle guys and they found the real problem. My rear diff's were done. Broke three teeth on the pinion. (At least I found that I put it back together correctly!)

So now i'm hunting for a new rig... or a new old rig actually. Anyone wanna buy a 91 dodge dakota for $500????

Cherish

[junior3382]

you know for 500 bucks, you could probably pull a rear out of a bone yard.... and keep the truck you have. I looked through our inventory at trade-ins and in local ads, and could not find that truck. Funny, I figured there would be at least one... ... ... but maybe you would have better luck out your way anyways.