Metal clanking sound coming from my Maruti since I bought it in 2023

The service center folks are unable to diagnose the issue & I am getting worried as it might be something major & I am scared to take my Grand Vitara out for long drives.

BHPian rishavch2104 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi everyone.

I own a 2023 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and I have been facing a very weird issue almost since buying the car.

Once every 30-40 times when the car moves from a standstill, there is a very loud single metal banging sound from the rear end of the car. It's as if two pieces of metal are banging against each other. It's almost impossible to purposely replicate the issue. It sometimes happens in reverse, sometimes while taking a U-turn. But always when the car moves from a standstill.

The service center folks are unable to diagnose the issue, partly because they aren't able to replicate it. I am getting worried as it might be something major and I am scared to take the car out for long drives.

After digging deep in the internet I found that it might be an ABS test sound but I'm not sure.

Here is the audio after dozens of tries to replicate the issue. Hope it helps. The sound can be heard at the 5th second in the audio.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here's what BHPian Latheesh had to say about the matter:

Check your boot area, especially the spare wheel well for any loose objects (tools, bottles, nuts, bolts, cans etc)

Here's what BHPian NomadSK had to say about the matter:

I'm not sure, but start by looking at:

• If your car has drum brakes at the rear - maybe the shoes are stuck with the braking surface. It can be either rusted to the hub or has a lip on the backside which is catching up on the shoes and making the noise. Put the vehicle on jack stands, remove tires and put lug nuts back on, and hammer the drum slowly.
• If your car has disc brakes at the rear - Remove the wheel and use a wide screwdriver to push the pads/pistons ALL the way back into the caliper body. Be gentle don't damage your pads with the screwdriver. Check the greasing of the spring clip. After putting the wheel back on, you will have to pump the brake lever a few times to move the pads back out to the normal position.

You can do this at any tyre mechanic shop to rule out this problem and further monitor your car if this resolves your issue.

Here's what BHPian sameerpatel90 had to say about the matter:

Based on the recording you shared, here are my suggestions:

• Please have the underbody components (subframe, anti-roll bar, gearbox mount) and bolts rechecked for torque. Loosen them first and then retorque them according to the company specifications. Also, do check the bolt threading as well for any wear on the same.
• The noise sounds like sheet metal hitting another component, possibly similar to the inner fender. If the recording was taken from the driver’s side, inspect the front right-hand side of the engine compartment and the inner fender area. This may require dismantling the fender assembly to check for any loose bolts causing the noise.

In conclusion, since this is an intermittent issue, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact component from the recording alone. A thorough inspection is needed by a dedicated team of senior technicians, including a master technician, denter, and fitter, to perform a root cause analysis.

NOTE: We need to be vigilant on what sort of analysis the team is performing and might take around 2-3 days max if worked dedicatedly. Also, please make sure the Service Manager is in communication directly with you and if possible grab the Master Technician's contact details as well to keep you posted about your vehicle concern diagnosis status (this is the best thing to do to avoid miscommunication).

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