-94 DelSol SI Vtec
Read many threads and have been able to fix/diagnose many of the minor issues with my new(to me) Del Sol fairly easily. Figured I'd post since I can't seem to get this one. When I'm driving I hear an intermittent creak coming from under the car. Sounds like metal on metal scraping. Also it's usually accompanied by a slight tug(but not always), almost like the car looses wheel power but then re-engages. It's a slight tug mind you (rpms don't fluctuate) but enough to notice. Can't seem to replicate the sound when it's parked or when idling, just seems to be when I'm moving down the road/highway....Any ideas??? Feel free to ask for more info, probably left something out. Thanks

 

Bump

 

Anyone? Any sort of ideas would help...would like to do a bit of trouble shooting myself before taking it in. Thanks

 

I bet when you put it up on a rack you'll see something bent or broken.

 

Can't see or drive your car. Hard to tell.

Ball joints, dust cover, etc etc etc. Look at it.

 

Loose engine mount or suspension bushing bolts can cause odd squeaks.

Go looking for loose fasteners is my advice.

 

Have it up on racks right now actually....I'll take a look for that(engine mounts, bushings). As of right now I cannot see anything that's visibly bent. The tug that sometimes happenes is something that really throws me for a loop and makes me think transmission issue. Idk, I'll see and get back. Appreciate the advice

 

how about trailing arm bushing

 

Check the front brake splash shields as they may be bent and rubbing on the brake rotor.

Also check the exhaust heat shields (cracked, bent, loose).

 

Update: Took a real good look underneath the car. It was dirty but looked solid for the most part. Engineer mounts: good. Splash guards: straight and secure. Although most of the bushings were solid the trailing arm bushings(Lt, Rt) need replaced. Here's what they looked like... (First 2 pics are left and second 2 pics are right)

 

When does this happen?

Are you driving? Accelerating? Going over a bump?

Need more info, p10x

 

Here ya go....
Anyway it's only 3 pics but you get the idea. They look pretty bad but are at least in place for now. Read a few threads on here and feel pretty confident I can replace them myself. Hopefully that takes care of the squeaks. I'll make sure to report back on that btw. My only question now is would old bushings like that be causing the "tugging" issue I'm having that seems to be associated with the squeaks? It's like a half second jerk/pull while I'm cruising down the road? Idk, thinking I might have to take it in to check for that specific issue...

 

It's not your trailing arm bushings.

I guarantee it.

Your trailing arm bushings look like ****, but that can't produce the issue you're describing.

 

Yeah they're pretty bad, ha! Anyway yup looking like something internal and more than likely more expensive. Best way I can describe it would be that the car pulls like I've just slammed on the gas. Gives me a quick tug then back to normal. Could be on perfect flat roads or on turns and bumps, no matter. Engine doesn't make a reving so sound and the rpm guage doesn't fluctuate...idk
Oh btw maybe related or maybe not but cruise control stopped working bout a week or so ago, roughly about the same time issue started....at first the it would disengage by itself and then it finally just quit. Dash light turns on but cluster light wont. Checked the contol swithes/grommets near pedal assembly. Clutch depresses control switch all the way, brake could be a bit more snug but seems to press it I'm sufficiently enough....

 

Sounds like something related to your brakes.

Brake pedal switch activation will disengage the cruise control.

If your brakes are engaging incorrectly, you'll feel a tug on the brake caliper/shoe that is engaging when it isn't supposed to.

Could be a number of things.

First thing I would check is for a short in your brake system.

Inspect your brake pads/shoes to make sure they aren't worn too far.

Go over your brake system in general. Check for brake pedal return spring. Check for vacuum leaks.

 

Also, check your fuses.

 

Some good leads right there....I'll make sure to check those out. Probably start with those fuses of course and work my way through. Update as I go. Thanks

 

Update: So I'm pretty confident I've isolated the problem....The other day it was pretty cool where I lived so I didn't turn in the AC on my drive to work. Realized that it didn't make the squeak or tugging feeling at all. Tested it by turning on the AC on the way back and the symptoms returned. Have done this a few more times with the same results. Pretty confident now what is causing it but have no real idea what it could be or even where to begin testing anything...any suggestions would be appreciated...BTW Was going to order some trailing arm bushings to replace those old one (see pic above), Amazon had Dorman 905-750 for 15.08/piece. Anyone know if those would work? A couple of the reviews say they were used to replace oem on there 90's civic and del sol...Thanks

 

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Bump