Date:         Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:38:23 -0500
Reply-To:     Peter Krogh <peter@PETERKROGH.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Peter Krogh <peter@PETERKROGH.COM>
Subject:      Radiator/grill rattle at highway speed.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I took the van on a highway trip today, heading to Dulles to fly to a shoot in Seattle. There were high crosswinds but the new tires/shocks kept me pretty stable.

Toward the end of the drive, I started to get a bad thumpy rattle in the front of the bus, like somewhere in the grill or radiator. It seems like it happens when the wind catches the front of the van at a certain angle. It's maybe 5 beats a second, very loud.  (reminds me of that damn woodpecker that occasionally works on the aluminum-clad facia over my bedroom window - yes, I know that's another maintenance problem I have to deal with).

I remember this sound from some number of years ago, but can't remember what made it. The grill piece seems fully attached. When I got to the airport, I looked at each attachment screws and they all appeared to be in place.

I'll pull the grill off when I start to drive home.  Few tools in the van at the moment, and I'll be flying in early evening and hoping I can get home without having to do any kind of surgery.

Is this caused by a loose radiator (or disintegrated radiator mounting bushings.)

BTW, in searching, I came across this old post. This seems to describe a different bump/thunk I'm experiencing pretty well.

_______________

Well after four different shops looked at my Vanagon I finally found
the source of the "Mystery Noise".

I had my radiator fan worked on a few months ago and they forgot to
install the bushings under the radiator so that every bump I went
over there was a solid rattle from the radiator bouncing up and down.

Just wanted to update you all and thank you again for your
suggestions.

Regards,


David


--- In vanagon@yahoogroups.com, "David" wrote:
> I have this strange "thunking" noise in my suspension that I cannot
> find. I have had three shops inspect the car and none of them can
> find a problem with any of the suspension (including ball joints,
> shocks, coil seats, stearing linkage). The noise seems to be
> associated with my passengers side front tire but sometimes seems
to
> come from the rear as well??? The problem started about 8 months
ago
> when I had new KYB shocks installed and has gotten a little worse
> over the time. The noise comes more from a rippled road surface
where
> the tire is bouncing rather than the pot hole type. Any ideas on a
> mystery source for problem? Thanks in advance, David