Two questions..

[STLsport]

1. I'm hearing a weed whacker type noise coming from the back of the car when I accelerate. Sometimes its there sometimes not. Any ideas?

2. Unfortunately a not very intelligent dog hopped infront of my car and banged up the black plastic trimming below the bumper, as well as the flat plastic sheet under the car towards the front bumper. Anyone know where these parts are available? Or is it a job for the junkyard?

 

[BlackLS06]

1. No clue

2. Thats the engine splash guard....you can pull one off a vehicle at the junkyard or get a new one from a dealer.

 

[joegr]

1. Does the frequency of the noise vary with (a) engine speed, (b) vehicle speed, or (c) neither?

a. exhaust leak???
b. CV joint???
c. fuel pump???

 

[STLsport]

1. Does the frequency of the noise vary with (a) engine speed, (b) vehicle speed, or (c) neither?

a. exhaust leak???
b. CV joint???
c. fuel pump???

It's pretty much the same no matter how fast I'm going. It's just when I hit the gas that the noise grows- like pulling the trigger on a weed whacker.

It almost sounds like it's right there in the car, in the back seats. Very strange.

 

[BlackLS06]

The fuel pump is located in that area.

 

[Kumba]

The fuel pump is located in that area.

Easy way to tell. Turn the car off, get down on the ground near the rear tire, have someone turn the key on (do not start the car), see if the noise pops up for like 5 seconds then goes away. If it does, fuel pump. Most fuel pumps I've heard tend to make a slight groaning sound anyways, so you can usually hear them pretty easily outside the car or from the trunk. Shouldn't be anywhere near as loud of a weedwhacker though.

Also, it would be worse with an empty tank then with a full one.