Today my 93' Olds Achieva started making funny noises. When I am stopped or have it in reverse, it's the worst. It makes a really loud, continuous knocking sound. And when I turn it off, it makes a final loud CLUNK sound.

Any ideas anyone?

Could be a number of things.
How does it run?
Does it feel like it wants to stall sometimes?
Does it feel sluggish and little power?
Does it sound like it is under the hood or the back of the car?

It's under the hood. Last Wednesday, I was driving up a small hill and it felt like it wanted to stall. But I could only BARELY notice it. It went away and I thought I was imagining it. Then the next day I was going up a bigger hill. Then I really felt it. But it was only when I was going up this hill. The rest of the time around town, it seemed fine. Then today it started with this noise. Ugh...

Have you checked the oil and transmission fluid levels?
DO NOT drive it again AT ALL until you have them checked
If it is either of those and you drive it you could end up needing to replace your tranny or you motor.
It could still be a number of things but that is most important to check asap!

Check the radiator fluid while your at it.

My BF checked them both and said the levels were fine. He said they should probably be changed sometime in the near future but that they were pretty clean.

Oh.. also, my BF just said he checked the power steering pump but that the knocking is coming from somewhere lower than that.

Lower--one of the worser scenerios I would say a spun rod but I dunno
Maybe motor mounts?
Does it feel like it bottoms out if you hit a bump?

Is it more in the motor area or nearer the wheels?

Just one thought related to the sparkplugs. Could one of them be not firing properly thus causing the loss of power on the hill? Might be bad wires or old plugs..?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by N0help4u

Does it feel like it bottoms out if you hit a bump?

Is it more in the motor area or nearer the wheels?

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BF says it's on the side where the belt is in the motor area.

I went over some rough railroad tracks today and it didn't feel like it bottomed out and it didn't feel any different than it does any other day.

When BF started it today while I was at work, I could here the knocking while inside my building. While sitting inside the car, it's REALLY loud when I'm stopped or in reverse. But in park it's not nearly as loud but it still makes the sound.

I don't know but since it isn't near the tires that rules out the ball joints and all that stuff.
It sounds like it might be in the motor
Maybe the pistons -upper motor
Or a spun rod - in crank shaft

UPDATE!

The Harmonic Balancer was broken, so it and the front seal were replaced. No more crazy noises!

Good! :D
I was thinking what the stuff around the belt was called but couldn't remember.
MY x had that problem about 20 years ago.

Glad it wasn't something more serious.

Me too! He said that other than that, it sounded like it was running just fine. YAY!!

I need it to last a little longer. I have WAY too many trips this year that I need to be saving money for to be worrying about getting a new car!

Thank you guys for your help!!