Hey members, I currently have an issue with some clunking noise that started after I went thru a car wash and left it outside in -25 degrees celsius. The wheels froze on the right side and it broke free with a loud noise. Now the problem is whenever I'm driving it makes this clunk/thud noise when going over bumps.. or even changing lanes. I guess when the car is tilted to one side? It doesn't happen ALL the time but I can definitely feel it when it happens. What am I looking at here? Is this an expensive fix? Thanks.

 

I'd start by pulling the wheel off on that side and examining suspension components. Probably a good idea to bring it to a shop unless you have a heated garage.

 

Go to a theater or mall with a heated parkade and hang out there for a couple hours and see if that fixes it.

 

Why would anyone take a vehicle to a car wash with predicted below zero temperatures unless their vehicle is parked in a heated garage?

Just asking for trouble in my opinion


Telcoman

 

Possibly you have ice stuck in your fender wells

 

If only he had taken the car to the dealer for a wash...

 

I wash my car at least a couple times a month with below freezing temperatures during winter. No harm comes of it.

 

This actually happened to me this past weekend when the snowstorm hit NJ. There was a ton of snow that built up in my wheel wells, which I managed to clean off. However, I'm assuming that some ice froze onto my axle so when I put it in gear, the car paused and gave off a loud thud before moving. After a long drive the issue went away, most likely because the parts heated up and melted any ice left over.

I would take previous posters' advice and take it to a heated parking deck and avoid washing the car in sub-zero temperatures in the future.

 

The dealer also washes my car in the winter but I drive in a short sleeve shirt with no coat with the inside temp at around 70
The moisture with the heat evaporates from the car wash on my drive home and my car is parked in a garage.
Never had a problem but I would still avoid an outdoor car wash and immediately parking the vehicle outside with below zero temperatures.

Telcoman

 

it is probably the ball joint, most likely the lower ball joint.

 

uuuuummmmmm......... you did realize that this was 3 years ago....... right?

 

Come on, better late than never and at least he busted the cherry with a first post!

Welcome aboard Jabri