2 things that worries me Options

[Soulless]

I know pretty much nothing about cars, and whenever i hear sounds or feel vibrations that im not used to i get overworried. So before i drive to the mechanics, and throws away my paycheck, i just had to throw 2 questions out on the forums.
For the record, i have a 1994 celica (think its an 3f-ge, the one with about 175HP) with manual transmission.


1. My suspension all around the car gives out alot of squeaking noises. Whenever i go over a bump or uneven road (in other words, whenever the suspension is compressed) it squeaks ALOT.
This sound emits from three of the four suspensions. My question is if there is any common problem that gives this squeaking, something that might be easy or even cheap to fix?


2. At low rpms, usuly at low speed or in neutral, there is a whining noise coming from "somewhere". It disappears if i press down the clutch, but if i release the clutch again it comes back. Also, if i put the car in neutral, depress the clutch and then release it quickly i hear a small THUMP and feel a faint single vibration.
Is my clutch going to hell?


Im sorry if im not clear, ive tried to describe my problems as good as i can, but i hope someone can give me some ideas as to what may be the problem with my car.

[KAOS]

Your first problem sounds like blown struts... the next chance you get, check for fluid's leaking along the strut.

As for the second one... I have no clue... sorry.

[95CelicaST]

Yeah the first one sounds like the shocks are blown. This would be a good time to find some shocks you like and purchase some lowering springs

The second problem sounds like the clutch is on its way out... Have you tried to change your transmission fluid?

[Soulless]

thanks for replies.

Yeah ive been told to check for leaking fluids along the struts but havent seen anything out of the ordinary. But im guessing ill have to be prepared to put some money into it then.

About the transmission, no i havent changed the fluid since the car came into my posession (around october last year) so i guess it might be a good time for it now. Ill be doing a service of the car within a week or two and ill do it then.

But if the clutch breaks this will be an expensive trip

[SlowCelica94]

2 sounds like it could be a vac leak.

[Soulless]

vac leak.
im not sure what u mean but if its just a leak, that should mean that fixing it wont be all to expensive right?

[Soulless]

Alot of work keeps me from spending any seirous time with the car but i did check some things.

Ive found no indication of leaks of any kind. Ive also not seen anything that i find suspicious but then again i dont know what to look for or where to look.
I jacked up and down the car by each wheel/suspension, one after the other, to see how they sounded and behaved and heres what i found out.

- When jacking up the front drivers wheel, the suspension squeaks like hell, all the way up and all the way down. The suspension works fine (so far at least) just sounds bad

- When jacking up the rear passenger wheel, there is no squaking but ever 5 cm or so there is a faint *thump* coming from somewhere, as far as i can tell, behind the wheel and suspension, closer to the middle of the car. I dont know how to describe the sound but its kind of faint and almost reminds me of the sound when the swaybar bushings have gone bad (which happend on my 5th gen celica). My bushings are fine tho.

- The other two wheels / suspensions give no sound so i consider them fine and dandy


Im hoping whatever is wrong that it isnt too expensive to fix as my plans where to spend some money on mods before autumn (and lowering springs, unfortunatly, wasnt one of them )

EDIT:
I also want to add that when driving at low speeds i hear this thump from the rear of the car from time to time as i brake, stop and go. Almost like something is loose and hits something else but i cant figure how this can be tied to the suspension. And as mentioned before, the swaybar bushings is not the problem (those where the first i checked).

This post has been edited by Soulless: Jul 5, 2007 - 2:55 PM

[SlowCelica94]

vac leaks are USUALLY just a hose that got brittle or cracked. Easy to repair, can be a real pain to track down for those would aren't too handy with cars.

[Soulless]

well ive changed the transmission oil now and it didnt stop the strange sound coming form it sometimes so its probably something with the clutch. But ive been told that as long as the tranny works good, and the sound isnt getitng worse, i dont need to worry about it. So im considering it "fixed" as of now!

Ive also figured out what is making the small thumping noise from the rear. Its, what the chilton manual calls, "Nr. 2 lower suspension arms".
I dont know if there is another name for them, or what to call them in swedish
But its the bars that is farest back, and goes from the middle of the car out to the suspension.
Pressure and movement in the suspension causes this sound coming from these bars and ive been told that the bushing is probably done for it.

Is it possible to change only the bushings or do i need to replace the entire bars?

This post has been edited by Soulless: Jul 7, 2007 - 6:06 AM

[alltracman78]

A vaccum leak isnt' going to make a whining noise.
If the actual leak makes any kind of noise at all it would be a hissing.

It will however effect your idle.
Since you are in Sweden I believe you have a 3SGE?
In your car the ECU uses a MAP sensor I believe.
If so, a vaccum leak will raise the idle.

It sounds more like the throwout bearing is going bad.
Or at least making the noise.
It's part of the clutch "system".

For the rear noise it definitely sounds like one of thebearings in the rear arms.
They are not available separately, the whole arm has to be bought.
You can try to find one in a junkyard. If you do make sure it has no play in it.
Also, when you go to fix it some of the bolts/sleeves might be seized together back there.
Especially the one on the bottom of the knuckle.

[SlowCelica94]

The componet thats injunction with a bad vac leak could leads to this noise.

[Soulless]

well i guess ill have to go on a scavanger hunt then. and yes, it might be a problem getting everything loose back there but one way or another theyare coming off

about the clutch.
The vac leak was mentioned to my problem with a SQUEAKING shock absorber and not the whining sound from my clutch

ive been told the throwout bearing might be the culprit but there is an issue here.
I bought the car around october last year and only 2 months before that the guy who sold it to me had the clutch+throwout bearing+more changed at an official workshop. I have the receit and papers from the workshop so i know its true. These parts cant be worn out allready so IF this is the case, that workshop must have done a lousy job somehow.

[Soulless]

im getting some new swaybar bushings tomorrow and next on my list will be replacing the front shock absorbers (which seems to be whats causing the horrible sqeaking) and replacing the rear suspension arms (or just the bushings if possible).

Im going to ask at my local toyota dealer about the price on these items but i know ill get a headache just by thinking about it so if anyone here could direct me to a good and relyable arftermarket online store that ships to sweden id be very thankful!

To recap, im looking for shock absorbers for the front suspension and either complete replacements or just bushings for the rear lower suspension arms.