Chugging Noise

[redlew]

The RAV (2005 mark 2) has done 34000 miles and today has developed what I can only describe as a chugging noise when slowing down and whether in gear or not. There is no problem accelerating and no problem when cruising. Braking doesn't influence the noise. Obviously its difficult to tell exactly where its coming from, but best guess is from under the car in the middle. I've had a look underneath and the exhaust isn't holed or loose and no twigs or anything stuck there. Any ideas , please?

My best guess would be something to do with drive shafts -but would that explain why it only happens on slowing down? Its a diesel -not the dreaded DMF is it?

Thanks

[anchorman]

It sounds like some sort of imbalance but would start by very carefully checking the tyres for any lumps. I can't imagine that it is the DMF as from what you describe it is linked to road speed and not engine speed.

I necessary get somebody to drive it towards you slowly and then away while watching for any wobbles in those tyres.

Good luck.

[redlew]

Thanks Anchorman. Checked the tyres first thing this morning -no problems. Went down to the local dump to get rid of some rubbish and checked the tyres again -spotted that two wheel nuts were missing from the drivers side front wheel. Whether they were missing yesterday or finally fell off on the way to the dump this morning, I know not. The lcoking wheel nut box had the locking wheel nuts and three ordinary nuts so I used two of them.

The possibilities would seem to be

1. Someone has tried to pinch the wheel but after removing two nuts has realised that there is a locking wheel nut and has at that point given up. Not very likely.

2. Someone has been short of two wheel nuts and has pinched them. I don't know if the nuts are universal or peculiar to the RAV but it doesn't seem very likely for this to have happened.

3. My wife took the car to have the brake pads checked all round on 28.04 ie 12 days ago as the car is about to have a long trip at the end of May and the pads are those from new. This was done at a local independant that I have used before and does have a very good reputation. They charged £20 + vat for this and I'm told they had the car up on the ramp so I assume they had all the wheels off. The mileage is recorded on the invoice as 32073 and is now 34402 (2331 miles) but the figure on the invoice must be wrong as the total annual mileage is about 9000 miles and there has been no out of the ordinary motorting in the last 10 days so 329 miles which is 34402-32073 would be about right.

Three questions

1. Assuming the wheel nuts have loosened over the last nine days and finally fell off yesterday, will any damage have been done?

2. Does the locking wheel nut box usually come with any spare wheel nuts (if it only comes with one spare, then contrary to what I have said above, it would imply they forgot to put the two nuts on)

2. How should I approach the garage?

Thanks

[anchorman]

Thanks Anchorman. Checked the tyres first thing this morning -no problems. Went down to the local dump to get rid of some rubbish and checked the tyres again -spotted that two wheel nuts were missing from the drivers side front wheel. Whether they were missing yesterday or finally fell off on the way to the dump this morning, I know not. The lcoking wheel nut box had the locking wheel nuts and three ordinary nuts so I used two of them.

The possibilities would seem to be

1. Someone has tried to pinch the wheel but after removing two nuts has realised that there is a locking wheel nut and has at that point given up. Not very likely.

2. Someone has been short of two wheel nuts and has pinched them. I don't know if the nuts are universal or peculiar to the RAV but it doesn't seem very likely for this to have happened.

3. My wife took the car to have the brake pads checked all round on 28.04 ie 12 days ago as the car is about to have a long trip at the end of May and the pads are those from new. This was done at a local independant that I have used before and does have a very good reputation. They charged £20 + vat for this and I'm told they had the car up on the ramp so I assume they had all the wheels off. The mileage is recorded on the invoice as 32073 and is now 34402 (2331 miles) but the figure on the invoice must be wrong as the total annual mileage is about 9000 miles and there has been no out of the ordinary motorting in the last 10 days so 329 miles which is 34402-32073 would be about right.

Three questions

1. Assuming the wheel nuts have loosened over the last nine days and finally fell off yesterday, will any damage have been done?

2. Does the locking wheel nut box usually come with any spare wheel nuts (if it only comes with one spare, then contrary to what I have said above, it would imply they forgot to put the two nuts on)

2. How should I approach the garage?

Thanks

There may be some damage - it depends how long you ran it and under what conditions etc. If you remove the wheel and just inspect it for chaffing on the face and on the spigot (the big hole in the middle!) and also the tapers where the wheel nuts contact. The wheel should be a snug fit on the hub so try that as well. If any damage has occured other than superficial there is a risk that at best the wheel will always wobble but at worst it is dangerous because the wheel cannot be mounted securely as designed. Obviously without the opportunity for me to look I cannot say one way or the other so if you are not confident to make that judgement then it would be prudent to take it to an expert. I guess the obvious place is where you had the pads checked and my feeling is that it is highly likely that the wheel nuts were not tightened properly unless you have good reason to believe that somebody has been trying to steal them.

I would just go with an open mind and show the garage what has happened and to give an opinion of what needs to be done to rectify it. I would avoid raising the possibility of somebody interfering with it (as that might put words in their mouth) and politely ask the question of how they think they came loose if they were torqued properly and just see how they react. TBH there isn't really an excuse because if they had been fitted properly they would not have come loose even after an infinate number of miles regardless of what they put on the receipt. Its really up to you how hard you want to push it but if they do the right thing they will sort it and maybe they will.

There are usually 5 locking wheel nuts in a set and if you still have the original box you might find the 5 plain nuts that were displaced when the lockers were fitted.

Good luck.

[redlew]

Phoned garage today -they admitted they had taken the wheels off to inspect ( I thought they might say they had inspected without needing to remove wheels-don't know if you have to remove the wheels or can do it). They will check for damage and replace the two wheel nuts.

[redlew]

And fortunately no damage -lucky escape -if doing 70 in the outside lane ...

[three5]

And fortunately no damage -lucky escape -if doing 70 in the outside lane ...

- Phew! it dosen't bear thinking about. Sounds as though you have found yourself a good garage, well honest anyway.