Weird popping noise while driving...

[hokispokis77]

I have a '96 Camry with 112,000 miles on it. I have been noticing lately a popping noise coming from the driver's side up front. It sounds like it is coming from the air vent to the left of the steering wheel, or right up under the hood. It is at random times and really has no correlation between being on the highway and on the back roads. I thought it might have been the heater since it's been getting cold out. This happens after the car has been running a good 15+ minutes, and usually when there is one pop there will be another right after and that's it. Some times it happens multiple times in a day. I thought it might have something to do with my cruise control, but it happened the other day while I was pulling out of a parking lot. It seems to be louder and more frequent when the outside temperature is about 50 and below. It will happen even when it is warm out, but not often and generally not loud (although still noticeable). The first time it happened I was on the highway and it sounded like I hit a piece of metal that came up and hit the side of my car.

I have had the car checked out since all of this has happened and the mechanic said the car looked fine. I had a new timing belt put on, new coolant and oil change/filter. I have also had a new water pump put in. I know nothing about cars, but I know a great mechanic.

Any advice or ideas would be great.

[JoeB]

Does it ever pop when sitting still or only when moving? If only when moving, it could be the valves in your strut (sounds like front driver's side). I had this problem once and popping is the perfect description. -JoeB

[Bunthy]

hmm i got the same sound from my strut area but i dunno whats causing it . the description fits.

[ekim55121]

the same thing is happening to me when i go to take right hand turns and im coming to s stop i know its not my cv joints and it been pissing me off i hope its the strut cause im doing a full strut job prety soon