Help! Intermittent vibration/knocking in engine compartment.

[mrnavonod]

Hi. I hope you guys (and gals) can help me. I have a 95 DX with the 4sp auto, which I believe has the larger of the two options of motors in it. At any rate, last week a strange vibration (almost a knocking) started up and it’s gotten a bit worse these last few days.

I drive 8 miles one way to work. It might not make the noise for one or both trips in a day, but it will normally make them 2 out of 3 trips. And actually, for the last 2 day’s, it’s made it on every trip. So again, I believe it’s getting worse.

The vibration is coming from the drivers side, and it seems to be from the lower portion of the engine bay. It’s not a vibration that is felt through the steering wheel, but mostly through the floor board, and it’s audible. It’s also not based on engine rpm. When I put it in neutral while driving, and rev the motor, the vibration stays the same.

Also, it doesn’t really show up till I hit about 35mph, and becomes VERY noticeable under load. When I keep the gas even, or when I let off the gas completely, it seems to settle (still there, just really soft and under all the other normal road noises). Also, when at the same speeds, if I turn off O/D and let it drop back to 3rd, the noise doesn’t change at all.

When traveling at about 35-50, it’s a fairly rapid and stead beat. When I get to highway speeds, it’s a bit faster. To experiment, I got it up to 90 and it was going like crazy.

So, not being felt in the steering wheel tells me it’s not my CV or breaks, or some other suspension part, right?

And not directly linked to the RPM or Tranny... what’s left under there on the drivers side that can be making this type of issue?



Any and all help will be appreciated!



Thank you in advance for you knowledge and assistance,



-Donovan