Mystery Noise from front end

[Ellie]

Now thats a new thought for us FIAT fanatics. Just looking for a few suggestions as to what components could be causing this metalic clacking sound.

Some history...The noise started about a year ago but was quite faint and intermittent so I just monitored it over time. About 6 months ago it started getting louder and more regular so for about 4 months I drove the car and tried to determine where it was coming from. In that time it became so loud I have now stopped driving for fear of something exploding. It is a loud clickety clacking.

Some clues...I only hear the sound when the car is moving, but only for the first few hundred metres after starting from a cold start. After that, the drive is nice and quiet. I can park for an hour then drive again with no noise. When the noise is occuring I can depress the clutch pedal and roll and/or rev the engine and the noise just continues and seems to have no connection to either. I was thinking suspension or brakes or really anything forward of the font doors except for the engine. The fact that it goes away after the first few hundred metres has got me.

Happy for any comments whatsoever

[azruss]

Good thing not to drive. I would check out your front wheel bearings. They expand with heat and could tighten up enough to stop making noise. The downside is when they fail, your front end will lock up.