My Funny Thumping Camry

[mgiardino]

Good evening everyone.

I was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction in regards to a weird clunking noise that is eminating from my 2002 Toyota Camry SE. I am hoping that this is not serious. I currently have 105, 000 Km on the car.

Here's the scoop. This clunk/thump noise only occurs when I fill my gas tank up (all the way) and only AFTER I drive for about 115 km - 125km. After this point the thunmping / clunking keeps happening until I drive about 150 - 175 km. To get this clunk, all I have to do is step on the accelerator and listen for it in the rear end of the car. It only happens once when I accelrate.

I am guessing this has something to do with the weight associated with the amount of fuel in the car.

Recap.

1) Full gas tank....step on accelerator, no clunk.
2) Drive for about 115 - 125 km. Step on accelerator clunk occurs.
3) When I hit about 150 - 175 km, the clunk will disappear until I fill up again.


Thank you kindly for any assistance that may be given.

[05Cam-Weasel]

Hmm. That sounds like an odd problem. I have never come in contact with this problem yet, but I have a 2005 Camry SE. Unless someone else advises you here, take it to a mechanic and just get it checked out. If you go to the right places, they'll do a checkup for free. That's what I would suggest.

Wesley

[Mike Gerber]

I have never looked underneath a generation 5 Camry, so I am going to assume the rear suspension is the same or similiar to my geneartion 4. I just recently solved a thunking noise in the rear of my generation 4. I suggest you read the post on that fix attached here:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t126273.html

Mike

[Kep]

This is a stretch but it could possibly be your rear strut mounts. They're at the top of the strut and are essentially a rubber plate. When the rubber tears it allows the metal part to thump. I am guessing that when the gas tank isn't full (and not as heavy) the springs don't allow it to thump noticably. However, when you fill the tank, it's heavier and the springs are more compressed, allowing the mount(s) to thump.

If the strut is entirely torn/broken the rear wheel will drop significantly lower when you jack the rear up (like to change a tire). You can remove the window ledge cover and look at the mount while you're doing this and probably will notice the shaft drop visually if it isn't torn completely.

Just a guess,
Kep

[mgiardino]

Thanks Kep

I will be taking it in for ANOTHER mechanic to check out. No one can find it!! gotta love cars!

[mgiardino]

Mike,

thank you kindly!

There was a lot of good information in here. It seems that the mechanic I brought it too feels that it is is best to use the wait and see approach. I'll let you all know what this turns out to be.

MArc

[drunken_panda]

There are baffels in the gas tank that is suppose to prevent the gas from sloshing around. If one is broken this might happen. When it makes this noise, I bet if you stop really hard, you can reproduce the noise.

[BlackCamSe]

Maby the brackits on the gastank are getting lose alowing the tank to move if you have a full tank when you accelerate? And