Two issues, thumping during driving, and no manumatic mode.

R

rafec

Member
Location
Short Hills, NJ
Hey guys, its been a whiiile. So basically I'm 17 and I spent my gas station job (4 years) money on a used 03 fx45. Long story short, you get what you pay for. The guy I bought it from had aftermarket headrest dvd installed, with the power coming from between the battery and the HU. Ive finally fixed the entire electrical system (got the car in march, and the dead batteries kept coming back 2-3 months at a time.) Now that it starts great, and that I've gotten the stock headrests and all, I went ahead and got new pads, oil change to synthetic, new sparkplug, and a set of yokohamas.

Car Specs/details
2003 FX45
Silver
Stock 20's
Not sure what package, all windows are auto, no navigation
Stock springs,exhaust
No performance mods
92k miles
last oil change- synthetic on labor day
replaced spark plugs, brake pads, filter, tires(yokohama), battery, and repaired electrical on labor day

Issue #1

Since I owned the car, I always felt a bumping as i drove a little thump-thump-thump, that increased with speed. I naturally paired this with the tires being worn down to bald, and no date on the last alignment/rotation. After getting fresh tires 4 days ago, along with the entire electrical fix and other things, the bumping never stopped. I'm going in this weekend to ask them to road test it and find the source, because its really annoying, and I dont want to be potentially wearing out my brand new tires unevenly or something. Does anybody know what this could be? its an almost percussive, low range sound easily audible from inside the cabin.

Issue #2!

This seems to be something either extremely expensive, or something that I dont know how to switch. For some reason, my shifter doesnt want to go into manual/tiptronic/whatever mode on the right. I never fixed this because the fact that my batteries were constantly draining and the road noise were more pressing issues than me not being able to mess around in sport mode. I noticed the tiny "shift lock" pin and tried again after taking that out, nothing. Anybody know if this is an easy fix, or a serious transmission issue?

Anyways, I just started work at CNN as a graphic designer from home, so I'm interested in putting in a sick stereo, powdercoating the 20's, getting the housings painted, and maybe even some performance mods, but before ANYTHING i just want my car to be working and riding flawlessly stock, however much it may cost. Its already at 92K miles, and I want this car to last me a long time, so whatever needs replacing will be replaced. I also have my eye on some new brakes, new pads didnt exactly get rid of the growling noise in the rain.

Any and all advice/help/opinions guys you are all totally amazing at what you do!

Thanks so much
 
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1 where the thumping sound is coming from? Front suspencion? Rear suspencion? Tranny?
2. For the second issue.. Your FX not going into manuematic.. My guess is that the plastic track that guide the stickshift might be messed up not allowing the stickshift to shift into manual.. That's just my guess.. Other than that.. If you combine this problem with the thumping sound(if is coming from your tranny) you might have some serious tranny issues.

That's just my 2 cent.. I'll bet more knowledgable guys here will direct you on the right track.

Welcome to IS.

Sorry to hear your FX is giving you such a headache..
 
i am guessing it's the suspension on the passenger side rear that the thumping is coming from given that it's a suspension issue. that's better than a tranny issue to fix. as for the manumatic, take apart the console and check to see if something is blocking the shifter or the shifter plate is really F#$%$%d up like Rubare said. i don't think issue #2 is a big one. GL.
 
Hey guys. I think it feels like its coming from the front? i can sort of feel it in the wheel at its worst. I took a good video of it just earlier, how do i show you guys?
 
rafec said:
Hey guys. I think it feels like its coming from the front? i can sort of feel it in the wheel at its worst. I took a good video of it just earlier, how do i show you guys?
Click to expand...

bro im having the same problem.. if is a thumping sound at low speed whenever you go over a bump or a pothole it might be the sway bar's links.

cheapest i've found yet plus free shipping!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...ewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_843wt_880

this would complement the new links nicely

http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/par...0280&callout=3&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0

im changing the rear links and bushing too just to be safe
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w345HC13j9o


THERE. It was taken on an iphone so by forgetting to turn 90 degrees the video is in a kind of funny aspect ratio (holding the phone like a phone)

The quality sucks, but the audio quality is good and you can see the road enough to understand the scenario that the sound is happening. It happens 100% of the time while driving.

---------- Post added at 08:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 PM ----------

also, should I avoid driving the car? Am i damaging my fresh tires? again im bringing it somewhere on friday, but any input you guys have would help me be better equipped in communicating what the mechanic needs to fix.
thanks

R

---------- Post added at 08:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 PM ----------

and rubare, its like a good amount of the time, not just the potholes and speedbumps. Even on the highway i can pick it out, and since it becomes a higher frequency as i go faster, im worried about it having to do with one point on the wheel or something, and possibly unevenly wearing my tires? IDK!!:eek.:

---------- Post added at 08:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 PM ----------

on the highway its so frequent that it just becomes loud road noise, like how a drumroll eventually becomes a constant sound. But it definitely should NOT be happening..

---------- Post added at 08:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 PM ----------

do you think the links and bushings would help this? thanks so much for the links in case your right!!
 
Sounds like tires, although not the case since this is a diff. set. I take it you got an alignment?
Did you test drive the car? Why not ask the selller?
 
I got an alignment, but i imagine that they probably did it by computer. I should just have the shop take it for a road test and fix it? Asking the seller is my next step, I bought the car from a dealer who was selling it on consignment for another dude, so itll take some tracking down, which is why im hoping to find the cure with a combination of iS and a mechanic team.
 
i wouldnt say completely scratch the fact that the links might be messed up.. but from the sound of that(give that you already got an alignment + balanced your tires) i would say it might be the right wheel HUB assembly. my right wheel hub was already replaced by the dealership and the sound you provided its the same sound i had.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...witem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_722wt_1106

cheapest i've found yet...

hope you get it fixed.

im 98% sure is the wheel hub.. my girl listened to the video and since she usually sit on the passenger seat she also reconized it..
 
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haha rubare your the man with the links! thanks everybody for your help, and if anyone else has ANY idea, please let me know! I just want my car to drive nice and quietly finally so i can hear the v8 i paid for!!:rofl:
 
rafec said:
haha rubare your the man with the links! thanks everybody for your help, and if anyone else has ANY idea, please let me know! I just want my car to drive nice and quietly finally so i can hear the v8 i paid for!!:rofl:
Click to expand...

My FX is 63k so warranty will end soon so im just searching and researching for parts and things i might need in the future bro.
 
Ahh I've heard this sound before on my friend's 04 FX35, and I know exactly what it is!

The sound your hearing is from the hub assembly on one of the wheels. It could be either one of the 4 wheels, but I bet it's most likely one of the front wheels. It's like this thumping oscillating noise. The dealer pin pointed the problem to the front right wheel, and replaced the entire hub assembly on my friend's FX. Wasn't cheap though, but it fixed the problem. I'm 100% sure of this.

---------- Post added at 11:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:25 PM ----------

Oh and I forgot to add that on his car the thumping sound got louder as speed picked up. So it's definately the hub assembly.
 
thank you guys so much! so should i confirm this with my mechanic this weekend? or should i order the part asap? will he be able to tell by looking under the car which one is broken/i need to order? Also, should I have him fix the sport mode issue?
 
You still dont know what you need.
Road test & inspect. Then order what you need. That's what most would do. Better than sitting on the rack waiting for UPS.
 
rafec said:
thank you guys so much! so should i confirm this with my mechanic this weekend? or should i order the part asap? will he be able to tell by looking under the car which one is broken/i need to order? Also, should I have him fix the sport mode issue?
Click to expand...

if you drive your FX around you could easily spot where the sound is coming from.. Just pay close attention..

Take it to the mechanic for a road test.. But I'm 98% sure is a wheel HUB assembly.. About the gear shift problem.. We have a DIY on how to replace the shifter panel to a 06 and up( the part with D-N-R-P ) if you have time you can do that and check why isn't it shifting into manumatic. If is broken just replace it with the 06 style one.. There go your first mod!!! Lol

good luck!!

You don't live close to VA I would had give you a hand with the hub and the shifter.. The hub is a bit of a challenge. The shifter panel not so much..
 
what should i title search to locate that shifter thread?

I'll make sure to do that at the mechanic's garage, cus though I worked on cars at a gas station, I don't feel confident enough to mess around with my transmission yet. Even still, a printout on the correct way to remove the panel could evade possibilities of my mechanic just figuring it out for himself- just like how thanks to you guys, i can point him to the front right hub assembly, where i feel the thumping. Your all so awesome!
 
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