Hello everyone, I've got two questions for you,

First, I am getting this rattle noise coming from the back drivers side of my car. It kicks in about the time I'm passing through 65mph and hits its peak around 70-75. The back area around my gas cap and where the bumper meets the fender is rusting through (I live in michigan and no car escapes the salt) I tried re-enforcing it a bit thinking the bumper was the thing that was rattling but no to avail. Was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and had any solutions.

Second, I sadly hit a deer this spring (again, michigan) and my hood is pretty much shot, it closes, but moves a bit which is a little too unnerving for comfort. I was wondering if anyone had any good estimates on what I can look to be paying for a replacement.

Thanks in advance.

Alex

 

Does the noise get louder when you hit bumps? My initial thought was the strut. They make lots of noise when they go out.

If your hood is the only thing that is damaged, you can pick them up from a junk yard for around $100. I've seen them on Craigslist for about the same too. If you're luck enough to find one that's the same color, you're lucky. If not, I'd expect to pay a few hundred bucks to get it repainted.

 

Where are you in Michigan?
My stepson does a killer job of fixing rust and doing paint work...
My 1999 had the rust below the gas fill door...
Maybe if you live close enough to me.. (I live downriver)
He can also take care of your rust etc?
Here's what it looks like now.

Heres the before:

 

take it in for a 4 wheel alignment im guessing maybe a bearing going or someting is loose in the backend FYI brand new hood is 102 bucks at rockauto.com paint it with rattle cans of OEM paint from pepboys and you should be golden for as cheap as possible

 

make sure the rear suspension is tight, nothing rotted through or broken.

as for the hood, you might get lucky. my "local" big U-pick it junkyard they sell for $40-50. a '95+ lumina should have basically the same hood too, giving you more options for a used hood.