Hi everyone...

As I usually do when seaking solutions, I searched the archives in this
group for similar threads. While I found a few which were similar,
none seemed to be the exact symptoms I'm getting... So here goes...

My 1991 Accord EX Wagon 5 speed has a hard metalic "rap" or "snap" in
(which sounds to be) around the front passenger side wheel. (It may be
under the hood toward that side).

The sound generates generally under acceleration or deceleration, even
if it is slight. My best guess is that it's coming from a "mass
shift".

There is a really great independent Honda garage here in Boulder
Colorado who looked at it a couple of times. I can demo the sound for
them when we go for a test drive, but the mechanics can not recreate
the sound on the rack. (Adding to my belief the sound has something to
do with a change in velocity of some "loose mass".) The shop admits to
being stumped and are honest enough to not suggest they simply begin
replacing parts until they get lucky.

It does not matter if the car is cornering or not. I have even
repacked the CV joints to eliminate the possibility of a bad joint...
but it did not affect the sound.

I can recreate the sound by letting the car back down a very slight
incline, then slightly (or quickly) accelerating forward. I can also
create it by letting the car roll forward slowly (or quickly) and
applying either the normal brakes, or the rear emergency brakes.

I can also recreate the sound by rolling slowly along the street and
slightly accelerating, or decelerating.

Here's the weird "kicker"... The sound disappears as cold and rainy
weather rolls in during the fall and early winter! After a few days of
cold rainy weather, the sound gets quieter and quieter.... and finally
completely disappears until Spring! Just for the record, the car is
parked every night in my garage, with is always a few degress above
freezing.

The car is still making noise this Autumn, because we have had
beautiful warm 75 degree days so far... But just like the past 4
years, I am certain the noise will go away and make no more noise until
Spring, once we get a few cold rainy/snowy days... Then it will
reappear in the Spring.

The seasonal "appearance" and "disappearance" of the sound makes me
think it could have something to do with the viscosity of a lubricant
in some part (lubricant gets thick in winter and thins out again in the
spring.) ... Or it could be a rubber bushing at fault which gets
"stiff" in the winter and "spoungy" again when the warmer weather of
the spring returns.

Any ideas? Has anyone experienced the same thing? The sound is not
only very irritating, but gives me "safefy concerns" as well.

The car has "only" 140k miles on it and is otherwise in above average
condition.

Many thanks!

--- RJ