Harrellsm

Recently bought 02 RX. Very soon after I noticed an intermittent popping noise. I got under the car and all looks OK. I notice the sound when I am going slow and it has a hollow kind of sound. Does this sound like the control arm bushings I have read about?
Thanks!
PS sounds like the noise is from the rear left. Maybe.

fastnoypi

my bet is on a dead strut. If you have the space and capacity to drop the strut out and remove the spring..the strut will not rebound if much at all. Happened to my 02 and noticed it approximately at 130k.

lexina

My guess is that the strut top hat is bad; and it has the history of going bad.

Harrellsm

Update. It looks like the mystery has been solved. We took the car back to the shop that did the inspection. After describing the symptoms the lead technician took her for a drive. When he got back he went straight to the lift. He removed both tires, took both suspensions apart, cleaned and lubricated everything, put her back together and did another drive. When he returned the supervisor gave my keys and said she is ready to go. I asked him how much I owe him and he smiled and said, "no charge"!!! This is how customer service should be. I live in the Jacksonville Florida area
Forum rules probably forbid me from saying the name of the shop but if you message me I will tell you. It's a family owned business and they know how to do business. There is no guarantee that the noise won't return but 3 days later and so far so good. Now only 2 more projects and my newly bought 02 RX300 will be totally repaired.

lexina

Thanks for the update, and that is a great thing to hear that there are shops still stand behind their services.

fastnoypi

buy those techs a pack of beer, it is still quite a bit of effort to drop the struts and put everything back together. That shop is a keeper.