The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Geo Metro 3 Cyl. Engine Noise

I tried this on the Geo metro forum, but I figured why not go straight to the best here at stovebolt.com.

http://s353.photobucket.com/albums/r388/gmcdp/Random/?action=view&current=DSCN0250-1.flv

If you guys would, please listen to my new 92 geo metero (50 mpg, don't knock it) and let me know what you think. Engine sounds a lot worse in the video, so ignore that. The noise I'm talking about is the erratic clanking. I'm thinking it's got to be either the engine or transmission shafts (bearings) to be that deep of a sound (something heavy). It doesn't make the sound until warmed up, and when in gear it goes away I'm guessing due to less vibration at the higher RPM and more load. Any thoughts?

It's a geo. That's all that needs to be said.

Sounds like rod knock to me, but its hard to tell based on the video. Erratic clanking usually isn't good.......

yes it maybe a GEO but I have family members that have put over 200,000 miles on 4 of them over the years & they are still going. So I wouldn't be so quick to hate them, PLUS they are just as small as today's mico-cars and get better gas mileage...joe

Could be the water pump bearing going out. Take the serpentine belt off and run it for a few seconds. If the sound goes away, it's either the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, a/c or belt tensioner/idler pulley. Sorry I can't be much more help than that.

Too much background noise in there to say. Does it get worse when you're accelerating? Not revving it, but driving?

Something you can do to try and narrow it down is going back to basic mech-a-neckin. Get a long screwdriver or socket extension, and carefully, while engine is running place the end of it on thse things you can easily reach (alt, PS pump, bell housing, etc.) and the other end to your ear. those nifty mechanics stethascopes are evn better, but most folks down have those layin about.
Basicly you'll be able to hear it louder & possibly chase it to the source. At the very least you'll know what area of the engine it's coming from.

If it is rod knock you may not hear any real difference unless you listen to the lower sides of the case by the oil pan where you'll get better sound transfer.

Cory is right on w/what he said. This is a quick way to narrow it down to where the noise is or isn't coming from....joe

I actually enjoy seeing a "survivor" geo still around. Advertisements now-a-days say 37MPG on new cars, yet in the 90's they had a car with 50 MPG! Not sure what happened since.....

What makes me laugh a little is their horsepower rating! My friends geo had 50 horse power!

I hear ya there Rat. What I loved was my stock 45HP VW beetle that got 36MPG on 1940's technology. Better yet was our early 80's VW Diesel Rabbit that averaged 52MPG on the highway. Sure, it sounded like a coffee can full of marbles when it was cold, but no turbo, no engine managment super do-whatchit, just plain old fashioned get up and go.

My niece had one w/the turbo charger on it. My sister told me it was about the size of a compact hair drier..joe

I had 1 years ago. not a bad hoopdee but i got rearended and decided i didnt want to die in a matchbox. but it did get 50 mpg

Check the harmonic balancer. A friend of mine has a geo and that's what was knocking.

I have had three different Chevy Sprints (predecessor to the Metro)and they were great little cars. In fact, for what they were, I think they were one of teh best cars ever built, especially teh Sprints. They started cutting a few corners once they made the Geo line....Still, solid, dependable, effecient, go any where (great in snow and on mountain forest roads)....Neat little cars. I ownder why they stopped making them? Seems like they would sell like crazy now. Probably too much smog....

I have had 4 Metros, each one ended it's life with more than 200k miles. Current one may be my last...bot it with 40k miles this winter...hard to find low miled Metros these days.

If the noise goes away in gear, it may be the connection between the engine and transaxle. Are not some of those drives in transverse set-ups Hi-Vo chains? I get the same thing on occasion from my wife's 89 Z24. It sounds like chain rattle when there is no load on the drive. Could even be spur gear noise when the load is minimal, if that is how GM got the power between the parallel crankshaft and transaxle.

I am sure it is one of the above. I would start with the easy ones first. I love a Suzuki (Geo). I have an X-90 which is a Geo Tracker with a two seat, T-top body and is 4x4.

Kind of sounds like a spur gear or transaxle. I've noticed now that I've put several hundred miles on it that it's noisiest when being put into gear (any of them, but mostly 1st and 2nd) at low rpms then goes away when the engine picks up speed. Could just be a clutch problem.


You guys are great, thanks.

The Stovebolt pages have gone to a whole new level. A '92 Geo Metro in the driveline section of Stovebolt. Let's discuss Suburus, Hondas, Yugos and Volkswagons problems too. We can call this DIVERSITY.COM instead. Might I suggest a bigger hammer?