Re: black bar on underside

[Willie Anderson <willie.anderson@analog.com>]

Chris Phillips recently wrote:

> Does anyone know what the black bar that goes across
> the underside of the car and under the exhaust does???
> It looks like my exhaust clamps might be bumping into
> it because there appears to be a worn spot on it.

Well, Chris, I don't know the bar's use, but I do know something
regarding the associated clamps and bar bumping.

I was working the "bugs" out of a '98 GLX that I recently purchased
(gosh, I like my car) and I noticed that under strong acceleration,
there was a loud banging coming from the rear of my car.  Fearing
that it was a suspension problem, I took it to the mechanic from
which I bought the car, and they quickly identified the banging as
the exhaust clamp hitting the cross bar.

However, the *cause* of this was an incorrectly installed front
motor mount:  the torque of the VR6 under strong acceleration caused
the front of the engine to rise, the rear of the engine (and the
exhaust system attached to it) to pivot down, and therefore caused
the clamp to bang against the bar.  Once the mount was solidly
bolted to the VR6, the noise went away.  Not to mention a whole lot
of noise associated with a loose mount.

So, since you had noticed some evidence of banging, is your engine
(and its associated mounts) solidly attached?

Best regards,
-- 
Willie Anderson