I love my 1999 Honda CRV. It's the best car I've ever owned. It's got over 130,00 on it and I will need to keep it operational into the foreseeable future since I am unemployed and my credit cards are maxed. This is where you guys hopefully come in and give suggestions of what you think is going on with my car. I get this weird "CATHUNK CATHUNK" sound (you can feel it too, kind of like the way it feels when the engine is about to sputter out.) It doesn't happen all the time mainly when the engine is running and I'm in park or when I'm idling and the AC is on. When I turn off the AC it doesn't happen anymore. Although the hot/cold overheating indicator on the dash is normal I have been tending to smell burning a bit no steam or smoke though.

Ugh this scares the hell out of me because this is my one and only mode of transportation and my money is so tight right now. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm crossing my fingers it's not uber expensive to fix. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Sunny

 

....that noise is way too generalized to be able to tell if it's anything. The only thing I can think of is if you're using the A/C, then it's the compressor kicking in causing that noise? it could also be worn mounts that can make 'thunking' noises when the motor vibrates or moves.

 

motor mounts and AC is causing stress making the engine move? lol you gotta be way more specific man.

 

maybe a video? lol. honestly though it could be anything that's loose.

 

Does the burning smell like rubber or oil or what? Is the smell constant or just when you hear the noise? Maybe try looking under the hood while reproducing the conditions leading up to the noise.

 

Sunny, I was thinking last night that your issue may be a loose crank shaft dampner pulley, when you look under the hood make sure it is not wobbling.

 

what about that crappy mount that the AC Compressor is connected to? that thing rots out faster than particle board in a lake.

do you guys think the added stress from the AC being on, that mount being completely shot with another mount being bad (possibly the rear mount) where that shaft for the front left auxiliary mount is banging against the inside of the mount housing? This is a pretty big hypothesis but i would imagine that'd give you the cathunk sound.

Also, what do your RPM's look like when this is all going on?