I drive a 2003 Honda Accord LX (with 33K miles on it) and I have recently found that on city streets, when I am driving below 40 mph, the car suddenly develops the nasty habit of making clunking sounds on the driver side. The clunking sound is periodic and sounds as if something is stuck in the spokes of the wheel as if it is hitting something on the body of the car regularly.

The sound occurs from the driver side and I have not been able to determine if the source is front or rear wheel. I have not been able to reproduce this problem but it has always developed on left hand turns and stopped when I stopped the car.

My warranty is about to run out so I took it to the dealer who tried to reproduce it but couldn't. The dealer also mounted the car for a visual inspect ion and hasn't found anything. I read about wheel bearings wearing out and that this sound is symptomatic. The dealer doesn't think so.

Any suggestions as to what I should be looking at?

I appreciate any response.

Thanks
Kamesh

fredg

Hi,
It's very annoying when a car is making sounds it shouldn't, then when taken to a garage, it won't make any! Been there, done that.....
It could be a bad universal joint, going out. Or, as you said, could be a wheel bearing, but those are usually "grinding" noises. It could also be a bad ball socket joint, near the wheel, but not the steering parts.
Most warranties are also honored by a good garage, not necessarily the dealer's garage. I would take it to another garage, not a dealer, and ask what is wrong.
If you don't want to do that, keep taking it back to the dealer, go for a ride with the repair person with you driving. Don't give up, because chances are, it will only get worse!