Hi all, I've got 3 issues develop through the last few weeks and just wondering if anyone can arm me with some knowledge before going to a mechanic.
My 56 plate 5 2.0 diesel sport has aquired a knocking noise from underneath. Trouble is, i cant put my finger on its exact location. It doesn't sound like the exhaust, but from the drivers seat, it sounds mostly down by the wheels. Ironically, its worst when going along rough surfaces and not so predominant on speed bumps.
There is also the long ticking/clicking noise when turning, especially under acceleration. It does it when turning in both directions, but my untrained ear says it sounds like the left wheel.

And thirdly, which to me is the strangest of them all.
There is a fairly loud rattle sound coming from the engine, i think mostly the passenger side.
Its hard to explain, but in an old car once, i had a dried leaf stuck in the heater vent and with the blowers on, it 'rattled' loudly. This is the sort of sound i'm hearing.
Its not there when i start the engine, but its first noticed as soon as i put my foot on the clutch. Then when in gear, as i pull away, its slightly louder with with engine speed, until around 1800 revs when the turbo kicks in, and then the noise goes away leaving me with the familiar sound of the diesel engines normal tractor rattle.
Then, once up to a steady 30mph, and presumably when the turbo is easing off again, the noise comes back. At higher speeds, i dont hear it unless i ease of the accelerator.
I'm in no way a mechanic, so wont be attempting anything above a complete novices level, but i also dont want to be ripped off by any service departments.
Any help would be massively appreciated, and just ask away if you need more info.

 

Pointing a direction,

1. Check sway bar links for play, they will make a "clunk" noise as you go over a bump that favors one side v.s. the other and tend to be less noticeable over speed bump as they travel with each other.

2. C.V, joint is the first thing that comes to mind with that type of noise. Tale a look at the boot near the wheel and see if it tore and lost all its grease. I have seen them produce a click noise even when the boot is still in good shape. Just worn out.

3. Belt tensioner. Slip the serpentine belt off, start the motor and have a listen. Noise gone? Spin the pulleys by hand and see if the culprit is obvious. Engine off of course.

May be something different, but that gives you a starting point.

 

Thanks for the swift reply Sparky, i was suspecting the links as the cause of the clunking noise, i just wasn't sure as we had that issue in another car and if wasn't as loud as this one. But i reckon your spot on with that.

I'll get me local mech to take a look at that and the CV joints.

I wont attempt taking off the Belt as i'm pretty clueless when it comes to engines . Give me a rotten shell and i'll have it looking like new, but an engine? I leave that for the specialists.
An added bit of info on that issue, i said in the OP that it wasn't there when starting the engine until i engage the clutch, but this morning, which was below freezing, it was quite noisey as soon as i started the engine. But Once i got back from the school run and the engine had warmed a little, i popped up the hood with the engine running, and it wasn't there whilst idling.
So basically, its there from engine start when its cold, but once warm, its only there once clutch is pressed or when in gear, and only up until turbo kicks in.

 

Also, just to add, as i realise there are a lot of guys from the US here, I said it was on the passenger side. This is a UK model so I mean the noise is on the right hand side as you look at it from the front of the car with the hood up.