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Good day guys. I'm puzzled as to what is causing this nuisance.
There is a weird occasional knocking sound coming from the front.

I first noticed this effect when climbing a hill in a terrible rain storm. The sound is almost like a gear grinding sound but has a deep thump/clunk sound. The sound ONLY appears by itself when it is raining. If the road is dry then i only hear the sound when I am moving off full throttle from a complete stop, even worse if i'm going up hill full throttle.

Two weeks ago I heard the sound during a rainstorm i slipped the car into neutral and it was still there. Yesterday the rain was pouring again and i didn't hear the sound UNTIL i made a deep right turn and that's when it started.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

I went to a wheel alignment garage, they checked my front end and said it was good.


I forget to add that yesterday while turning into my driveway, which has a slope, i came to a complete stop (this is in the rain) and gave it some gas to go up the slope. The car was not moving as i did not give it enough gas, but it was enough to invoke the knocking sound.

So:
1. Sound is more prominent on wet road
2. Audible when climbing hill full throttle


2003 Civic Sedan / automatic
I wonder if a gear is grinding somewhere?.

SOLVED:
Bad CV joint tripod,
Ball joint also bad, and the engine mount was also very worn.

 
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Anyone?

 
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I am trying to think of what could cause it to make it during the rain.. I am still questioning if there is something wrong in your front end. Not always by just visibly checking a front end can show something that is bad. Other then the times you are saying it does it try to pinpoint where. For sure front end? Driver's side, passeneger side? Does it do it over bumps or only when you take hard turns?

Also try turning the wheel fast side to side when the car is on and see if there is a knocking. Another is try taking a sharp turn in both directions in a parking lot and see if anything changes then as well. Could be so many things.. Regardless i would take it somehwere else and get a second opinion.

 
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Thank yo uso much for replying. I've been quite observant since lately and paying closer attention to when that sound appears. And yes, I do hear it over bumps as well. I noticed that today actually.

Could a broken engine mount rubber (Front) cause this?

 
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Jack the car up wiggle the wheel. Put your hand at 12 and 6 and wiggle. Then at 3 and 9 and wiggle.

 
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A mount is possible but unlikely to cause that. You would have excessive vibration from the motor especially at idle. They are common to go on these cars, especially the front mount. I am thinking it is your compliance bushing on your lower control arm. It could be your struts as well, both of these are common to go on these cars.

04 Honda is right about trying that; the problem is that sometimes outer tie rods and ball joints will only make such noises under much more stress than a 180 pound man can replicate. If you can look yourself here is a list; find the lower control arms and look where they mount to the frame at the front of the arm. There are big rubber bushings, check those for large cracks in them. Also pull up the shock covers and see if the shocks are leaking fluid. Have you tried doing the other things i posted last round? Those can possibly help rule out outer tie rods and an unlikely bad half shaft.

 
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UPDATE

Solved one of the problems with the front engine mount replaced. Only a small piece of rubber was holding it. I can now floor it uphill with no sound. Now i'm thinking the problem that the mount was causing is related to the one while raining as they sound the same way. Yes, it had made the sound since the mount rubber fix during rain.

could it be the cup?

 
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That would have been my next guess.

Check your ball joints and tie rods. For the other sounds.

Lower control arm bushings (Compliance bushings) are another thing to check.

 
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turns out it was a complication. Main cause of problem: CV joint bad tripod.
it took the 4th mechanic to figure out the problem.

Ball joint is also defective.

Thanks for responses.

 
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On my Honda Civic 2007, I have started hearing a distinct "clunk" when starting to move. It ONLY happens when I move from a complete standstill. It does not happen at any other time as in turning or going over rough terrain. Any ideas? Good news would be especially welcomed!