So my husband ran an errand in my car tonight. As soon as he got back, he jacked it up and started investigating. He told me he started hearing a "clank" sound when putting the car into neutral. I took a ride around the neighborhood, and sure enough, I heard it too. What could be the problem??

Mostly prominent in neutral.
Somewhat prominent when accelerating.
Does not make the noise when lifted off the ground on jacks.
Does not make the noise when pushing the car around in neutral.

I think I have cursed myself by jumping into buying this car a year ago, and not really looking for the "right" one. It's got problems, but none we couldn't fix in on our own. We only come here when we can't figure it out! Help!

2003 MINI base
112k miles
5-speed

 

Is it a noise as you select N or when rolling in N? (Yes I saw it's a manual)

 

When rolling into it. Like from whatever gear you're in, then putting it into neutral to coast causes the noise.

 

This sounds like a motor or tranny mount. Since you only hear it under load this is where I would be looking.

 

On my drive to work, I heard it at higher speeds on the freeway (~70mph), but only when slightly letting off the gas.

We think it might be an axle? We'll look at the mounts, thanks.

 

I highly doubt it is an axle, but that is another place to start to narrrow it down more.

 

Look at the engine mounts...
the top passanger side often loosesns up...more so on an 2005+ oil filled version where they leak....

 

Under load would be while accelerating, but this happens in neutral.

I'll give a little more detail.

Noise only happens when car is coasting (happens both in neutral and when coasting in gear).

When you press on either the brake or the accelerator noise DOES NOT HAPPEN.

Also, when I jack up the whole car off the ground and drive it (start it, run it through all the gears and everything) noise does NOT happen (even when "coasting" in neutral and in gear). When I have the front wheels jacked up off the ground and drive the car the noise does not happen at all.

Also, noise is EXACTLY CONSISTENT with the speed of the wheel, meaning it seems to happen once every full wheel rotation.

Thoughts? It has to be something with the drive train/axles. But the fact that the car doesn't do it when jacked up perplexes me

 

CV joint?

 

Is this a guess?

 

I am still learning about Mini's, but I had a subaru that did the same thing you're describing and it was a CV joint. It wasn't that big of a deal to replace on the Subaru, not sure about the Mini. When you had it up in the air, if you put it in gear and try rotating the tire (one at a time) back and forth with a quick twist of the tire, if it's the CV joint it will clunk. When the joint is under load it won't make noise, it's only when it's free-wheeling that you will hear the clunk. Don't cost nothing but time to try, Will

 

So its a constant noise during the duration of neutral .... Not only when popping into neutral. And also happens when no power to the pedal also at all times when in gear ? So basically under forward momentum with weight on the wheels without throttle ? Just trying to make it more understandable before I throw a guess out...

 

All correct, and yes it also does it while going in reverse.

 

Again I still feel a motor or tranny mount. You mention how you hear it going into neutral, this is when you are taking the load off. So again just my opinion, check all the mounts.

 

Is it when you hit bumps or flat smooth roads also ? I live in the SF bay area, I only wish we had smooth roads !

 

Then why does it stop when you brake or accel? Andd why does it happen every wheel rotation?

Nope, happens constantly

 

So you hear a thud every time the wheel rotates one time? You only hear it coasting or going into neutral? You don't hear it on jacks. HMMMM Not to sound funny, have you checked your tires?

 

Yes I have, if it were the tires it would do it all the time while driving, not just while coasting.

 

Yes it would do it all the time but being you hear the engine and road noise it might not be as obvious until you are off the load.

 

Also did you (STF U) hijack the original thread and have the same issues?

 

Just check your Cv's also then. But that would be more of a clicking sound.

 

So it happens when not under load and when under load? There is no load on it when it is on jack stands.

 

From that original explaination, motor mount tore .... Letting the man take your car out. Haha. You mention you have multiple, tell him to take his own next time and I would suggest replace all motor mounts. Atleast check them.... Its been said 3ish times from Braminator and no response if you did.

 

its the motor mounts, if it wont click with no load on the wheels means that without engine torque to twist the motor mount the sound wont happen
open your hood while your on the ground, and take off with the hood open and have someone watch your engine, i bet it moves around like animal from the muppets on a drum set.
You need a new motor mount, common and easy to fix if you just buy a non stock engine mount.

 

Colin I tried several time to tell them with no luck.