When I start off hard from a stop, or floor it when going slow I get this noise from the drivers side (I also get it reving with the car in gear sitting still, but not as loud). I thought it was the tail pipe as the hanger was broken, but having fixed that the noise is still there. I've also replaced the CV joint and the rear struts.
Anyways, it's a fairly loud kind of metalic sound, and seems to be connected to the engine's torquing. I'm still trying to track it down and thought maybe someone could give some good pointers. Could it be a bad engine/tranny mount? The torque strut was totally shot when I got the car and the engine moved =alot= until I got that fixed.
Anyways, thanks for whatever suggestions you can give me!

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87 GT V6 Fiero Automatic

On further examination I have found that the rear tranny mount on the drivers side only has 2 of the 3 bolts engaged, and is bent so that the third one cannot be put in, (The bolt that won't go in is the one on the bottom that runs parrallel to the rear axle and which can't be removed due to the frame rail).

I suspect this may have been due to the bad torque strut. I don't think it would be wise to try and use a hydralic jack to bend things back, probably should see about replacing it. Still not positive that this is the source of my noise however.

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87 GT V6 Fiero Automatic

Lovely conversation with my self here :-D

Well, fixed the tranny mount, which took some manhandling. But the noise is still there, even in park (though very slightly). I think it's either the intake or an exhaust pipe vibrating against somethin, (or in the case of the intake, maybe something inside?). It's definitely a vibration sound, and it's something hollow making the noise, sounds like a pipe vibrating against sheet metal, if that makes any sense to anyone out there.

Well at least the new ignition is in (runs great!) next week I get to replace the cracked exhaust! yea! :-)

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87 GT V6 Fiero Automatic

If the engine torque strut is bad, then you're getting too much engine rotation which will load forces against the entire exhaust system. The metal groan you are hearing just may be telegraphing from the slip joints where the exhaust pipes connect to the exhaust manifolds (exhaust system is hard spring loaded to the frame). Or it's just shifting the exhaust system so much that a pipe is coming into contact with the frame.

Just some ideas, if it's bad you should change it ASAP anyway as it's pretty hard on the engine and trans mounts.

[This message has been edited by California Kid (edited 05-05-2002).]

The engine mounts and the strut now are solid (I put in a new strut immediatly on getting the car). The engine hardly moves at all when I rev it. However because the engine had been moving before I wouldn't be surprised if something is loose or broken.

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87 GT V6 Fiero Automatic

quote Originally posted by Banner: Well, thought I'd follow this up, incase anyone cared. I'm pretty sure the problem is the cat converter. It only happens when the car is warmed up, and it seems that's where the noise is coming from. I suspect it's all broke up inside, so I figure in a few months when I have the time I'll drop in a new one, or pull this one out and drop in a straight pipe. Then I'll see what it does.

Sometimes it could be something as simple as a heat shield. They frequently come loose and rattle against things nearby, they can be pretty loud too.

If your cat is a stock-type and is the original, the exterior heat shield has probably rusted at the edges and is rattling around. Cat's are notorious for doing this, even the one on my '96 Sonoma is starting to rattle a bit. Whack it with a hammer and see if you recognize the sound it makes.