I was driving home from school earlier tonite and my SSE started acting a bit funny. I started hearing a thump noise once every so often as if i'd hit a rock or something a bit bigger. I get closer to my parents place and my RPM'* just suddenly drop and shoot right back up again. Note that I'm doing about 80-85 mph which is typical for me on expressways. I had a bit less than a quarter tank of gas so I stopped and filled up. I get back on the expressway only to watch my RPM'* do the jump again except this time it'* staying down near zero. At this point I'm freaking out that something is majorly wrong. While making one of my last right turns, I heard the thump again except this time it was a bit louder. What in the world is going on? Please don't tell me that it'* something fixable, PLEASE!

Please post mechanical problems in the proper forum. I moved it for you.

Your description of the problem is pretty vague. We know there'* a bump and your rpm jumped and stayed down...but apparently you were able to keep driving.

Did your trans feel like it was slipping? Did you lose all power from the motor? Did you hear the bump or feel the bump?

We need a lot more info. Thanks

Well if your RPM'* dropped down to 0 then back up again, that to me sounds like it "could" be a fuel filter. I had a similar thing happen to me. RPMs drop then back again.

As for the thump, check your trunk, maybe that guy in there is not dead after all, J/K.



Seriously, it is pretty vague description. The thump may or may not be linked to the rpm drop. Also was it only when you go around corners that you hear this thump? That could be a ball joint that is ready to pop.

Those are only suggestions working with the vague description.

OK sorry about the vagueness, I was just worried about the situation and had a million different things going through my head. The RPM'* were up about 3500-3700 and shot back to zero, stuttered down near 2000 then went right back up again. It happened a few times, but I was able to keep driving without a problem seemingly. As for the thump, I both heard it and felt it. It sounded like I had ran something over and it hit somewhere. It happened oon straight-aways (expressway), as well as a right turn i made (I was going much slower so it sounded louder). I don't really know what else to describe, but if it'* still too vague, ask me some questions that I might be able to answer.

RPMs down to zero means the engine is not turning. Are you feeling a lag then surge?
or is this just and electrical problem with the gage?

When the RPMs drop, I do not feel any loss of power to the car. I can continue driving without any stoppage.

Ok.. sounds like your tachometer (rpm) is giving you a hard time. If your RPM really went to zero you would be coasting on good looks only. If it stuttered around 2000 for a moment....did you feel the motor do anything funny or did it feel like normal for where your foot was on the pedal?

On the bump. Sounds like you need to jack up the front of the car and try to wiggle the tires. Put your hands top and bottom and then side to side. Try moving it quickly and feeling for play or looseness.

The ICM connector seems to be loose. Remove it, and clean the connection. Add some dielectric grease for extra protection. That should fix the tachometer drop. Since you said the car stutters as it returns, that'* how it leads me to believe that'* the issue. If the tach just dropped and the car'* performance was never affected, then I would believe it was a cluster or wiring issue.

As far as the thumping, I really have no clue. It could be related to the above issue. Perhaps a severe misfire? Not too sure, but start with fixing the tach issue, because that is easy enough.

The thump sounds as if it'* coming from my side of the front end. As for the tach, I do not feel anything different when my foot is on the pedal when it drops to zero and bounces back up. I just find that really weird. Would I be able to take it in to get it looked at? It sounds as if that'* what I'll need to do and will probably do so first thing tomorrow morning. Thanks for the input guys, I'll let you know how it goes when I find out.