snap or click when I apply the gas

July 1, 2007 5:22 PM

semi-loud clicking sound when i step on the gas, cycle through the gears...what is it?

Hi, i'll try to describe this as clearly as possible....Vehicle is a 2003 Ford Ranger, 77,600 miles, 3.0L, rear wheel drive. Ok, soooo....when I set out for a drive as I cycle into each gear I hear a somewhat loud "click," like a snapping sound almost. Just one snap, and nothing else unusual. Here are a few more details to narrow this down.

Also, When I'm driving along and in gear and doing fine, if i just step on it (ie, apply more gas than i'm aready giving) i get no sounds. But if I let off completely, then i step on the gas peddle again of course the vehicle lurches forward a bit (this is all while driving along) but it also then makes this loud snap or click, from under the truck.

So as I cycle through the gears and apply the gas into each gear, I also get the clicking, as I step on the gas. If i keep the RPMs up between the gear shift, like 4th into 5th going about 60-65, no click, because it seems the rpms are up and there is no lurching or big punch in power....

to confuse things a bit, if i'm rolling along slowly in 1st and put down the clutch, put it in second and let off, i get a click then even if i don't touch the gas...this happens less with the higher gears at higher speeds - ie, if i am in higher gears and going faster and i put it in gear, take my foot off the gas, release the clutch , there is no snap or click until i hit the gas

truck seems to drive fine, power is good, no trouble, just this sound - there also is no delay, i push the gas and with a "click" or "snap" the truck goes along

what the hell is this? I baby my vehicles (but don't have a lot of loot) and just like to be able to know what i'm hearing...and what if anything i should do to prevent getting stranded or causing any damage

posted by Salvatorparadise to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

The only thing I've ever heard like this was a differential mount in some RX-7s, and this sounds like a close match. It's definitely either a driveline part shifting or a loose gearmesh abruptly reengaging somewhere between the flywheel and the axles. One way to diagnose it is to get the truck up on jackstands, put it in gear, and turn one (or both, if you have a limited slip differential) wheels back and forth and see if you can hear it that way. Another way is to get under the truck while it's raised up as before, grab ahold of everything you see and try to shake the hell out of it. If anything moves, that's your problem.

That said, I wouldn't worry about it unless it started abruptly, has gotten louder, or gets louder/more frequent/easier to replicate.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 5:28 PM on July 1, 2007

Have a look at the motor mounts, and the transmission mount. The ones I've linked to are better quality than OEM parts they replace, but more expensive. You should also have a look at the driveshaft U-joints. Your vehicle is low mileage and age for such problems, but if you've been off road with it much, that could account for unusual wear/breakage.
posted by paulsc at 6:20 PM on July 1, 2007

So it's an automatic trans. Has the transmission ever been serviced? It sounds to me like it's just complaining about needing new fluid.

But on preview, TheNewWazoo is on to something. If you look under the truck, you'll see the drive shaft. On each end you'll see U-joints connecting the shaft to the engine and differential. Check those out. Try moving the shaft while it's sitting on the ground and watch the U-joints.

Inside the joints there are little needle bearings that dry out and sometimes fall out. It's usually not catastrophic, but really worth checking out. So give it a look and tell us what you see there.
posted by snsranch at 6:24 PM on July 1, 2007

it's a manual transmission, sorry, i should have mentioned it!
posted by Salvatorparadise at 6:27 PM on July 1, 2007

on pre preview, yea, what paulsc said. So go look at those u-joints. And the fact that it's manual makes the drive train idea even more plausible/probable. U-joints are cheap and easy to fix too.
posted by snsranch at 6:38 PM on July 1, 2007

yes, this does sound like a universal joint situation

perhaps it accounts for some humming when i drive at higher speeds, as well, i'm going to go out and check to see if there is play in the drive shaft
posted by Salvatorparadise at 7:21 PM on July 1, 2007

Sounds like the engine mount problems my Pontiac has every couple of years. If that what's wrong with your auto, it's a pretty cheap fix.
posted by lekvar at 7:31 PM on July 1, 2007

This might be unrelated, but my 2000 Ford Focus has made this same noise (and given me the same odd feeling) since weeks after I bought it (in 2000). Obviously, it isn't fatal, but I've always wondered just what it was.
posted by grabbingsand at 8:03 PM on July 1, 2007