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1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving


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Kat Girl
Novice

Dec 25, 2018, 1:07 PM

Post #1 of 11 (1401 views)
1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

Last night we were driving on the freeway and the car started thumping very loudly and rhythmically. We thought that the noise came from the pavement, but when we got off the freeway it was still making the noise. When I push the accelerator the thumping goes away as long as I'm going faster and faster. And when I push the brakes the thumping goes away. But if I'm coasting, the thumping is there and it is very loud.

I will say that the rate of speed I'm going is directly proportional to how fast the thumps are going. If I'm coasting fast the thumps are fast. If I'm coasting slower the thumps are slower.

Recently my transmission has been a bit weird. When I try to put the car in Reverse sometimes it does a loud thumping sound and I just put it in neutral and have my husband push the car backwards.

Also lately sometimes when I start the car the RPMs will be very high. If I put the car in Drive it'll start going fast on its own. Up to 15 miles an hour without me pressing the gas. I stop the car and let it rest, and then restart and it will be normal. I think I changed the sensor about that helped with that issue a year ago but I forgot the name of the sensor and would like to know it.

Anyways, sorry to bother you on Christmas day. But it would be awesome if one of you guys could help a sister out. Merry Christmas. Jesus is Lord.


(This post was edited by Kat Girl on Dec 25, 2018, 1:16 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Dec 25, 2018, 2:06 PM

Post #2 of 11 (1385 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

Merry Christmas to you too. Let's find this that just started by description noises and a feeling under load it can change it.


It's frequently wild guessing but a few things CAN'T be allowed and you should be able to check.


#1. Rule out a loose wheel? Almost always if that recently something done with wheels off and usually the LEFT side. Car's jack should have the lug wrench cheap junk but can work is why it's there.


If so and wildly loose would be almost ready to fall see if you see damage to the wheel holes where studs poke thru backing one out for a peek. If damaged put the spare on that one make SURE it has enough air pressure! Dinky "donut" spares a nickname don't hold the higher pressure all that long even new or unused.


#2. A tire itself may be serious losing belts that can slip inside don't appear as much sitting there. To check you would try to get BOTH front wheels (the drive wheels) off the solid ground while hoisted and spin them. If that usually one at a time old but looking good tires can do that might see it's not true. Fronts you need both up, rears you can do one at a time spinning them for how true they are.


It's a nasty time to have a car/vehicle problem one of few holidays almost all shops would be closed.


That's it for now I don't want you to drive it and seems you are very perplexed or wouldn't be here asking. I/we don't know your skills or available help but this car shouldn't be driven till you can find it and know it's fixed it came on too fast!


Good luck. I check in anywhich time and chance of other's with ideas.


One more. If you do use car's jack read instruction's and if rusty where it says to place it don't! Time for a tow not worth an accident so sorry to say could be a wait it's just plain busy out there AAA said over 100 MILLION folks would be travelling by car this year! A record and this car is not new as you know isn't the problem alone,

T
(small typo fixed)



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Dec 27, 2018, 12:40 AM)


Kat Girl
Novice

Dec 25, 2018, 2:56 PM

Post #3 of 11 (1374 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

BlushBlushBlush well, you were so right! My husband went down there to check on my tire and he said that the left front tire had all of the bolts loose except for one that was tight. He took the tire off to make sure that there is nothing damaged internally, and he said that it looked pretty good. And I think he's putting the tire back on right now.

If you can think of what sensor I need to make the car quit going fast when I'm not pushing the accelerator, that would be greatly appreciated. But, you already saved us so much time and effort with your wisdom and I'm truly appreciative for what you've shared already. A very merry Christmas to you and yours. God bless you.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 25, 2018, 4:27 PM

Post #4 of 11 (1362 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

Is your check engine light ever coming on?



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Kat Girl
Novice

Dec 25, 2018, 7:19 PM

Post #5 of 11 (1352 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

Yes, and I went to AutoZone to see if the diagnostic thing could tell me what sensor I needed. But the only thing that was wrong with it was something about my fuel. Like it was using too much fuel yeah, and that I needed a part for that. The other thing didn't show up. Sorry, I'm a newbie. Obviously. But I appreciate y'all responding.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 25, 2018, 7:50 PM

Post #6 of 11 (1342 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

Oh, you have that whole thing all wrong. The codes don't tell you any specific parts are bad. It merely tells you about a specific situation and the tech has to figure out what caused it.

We need the exact codes numbers to help you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Kat Girl
Novice

Dec 25, 2018, 8:03 PM

Post #7 of 11 (1337 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

I can try again. When they did the test they gave me a printout for a part they wanted me to buy. But, when they do the test again, I should just ask them for a code?


Kat Girl
Novice

Dec 25, 2018, 8:16 PM

Post #8 of 11 (1333 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

When they did the diagnostic test all the information they gave me was just a little print out that told me I needed to buy a part from them to help with my fuel. But I don't mind going back in the next couple days and having them redo the test and just ask them for a code.

Is that what I'm supposed to do, just ask for a code? And by the way, Merry Christmas to you too. :)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 25, 2018, 8:17 PM

Post #9 of 11 (1333 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

Yes, we need the exact number. It starts with a "P".



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Kat Girl
Novice

Dec 25, 2018, 8:20 PM

Post #10 of 11 (1326 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

Sorry for reposting my reply. The Forum page acted like my post didn't go through the first time.

Good, thank you. I'll get on it and touch base with you guys soon. Have you ever heard of that happening before? The car having a lot of RPMs when you're not even pushing the gas?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Dec 26, 2018, 3:43 AM

Post #11 of 11 (1314 views)
Re: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina loud thumping sound while driving Sign In

Late to check in sorry: Forum/site does that just come back find it DID go thru. Glitch we can't seem to fix?
The WHEEL!! OMG - That was a telepathic guess with your good description of what could do just that so quickly. When time go think how that could be it doesn't come loose 6 months late it was touched by who and why?
I missed that lack of acceleration issue now with Hammer Time here see what can be done the suggestions are spot on with codes - what they do or don't mean.
Again - tough time of year for any problems for quick help at least GLAD you found a loose wheel that should end that part of any issue. Good grief who could want a wheel coming off ever never mind on a highway - there's no good time for that. I'D STILL LIKE THAT WHEEL ITSELF checked for damage totally off an spun on a machine now either an alloy wheel or steel may need to find another. Putting it on the back isn't the answer FYI is also IMO a problem is easier to handle disaster from a front can argue that.


Last note for now. Autozone can be helpful, is open longer hours many 7 days and so on. The code readings are nice and usually FREE do think - they want to sell "likely" parts is NOT the answer to anything with just that,


Tom







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