The car is a 01 1.8tQ 5spd - I'm hearing a fairly rapid thumping sound coming from the front end of the car, though I'm having trouble telling if it's coming from the engine or elsewhere. I was very noticeable this morning when I started the car up in the freezing cold. I pressed the accelerator a bit and could hear it pretty loudly. Then I noticed it again as I was starting to backup, easing off the clutch. After a couple of miles or so as the car warmed up, it was pretty quiet, but still there. There doesn't seem to be anything vibrating, I just had the engine mounts checked and it didn't seem to matter if I was turning or just sitting still. Any thoughts? I'm nervous to drive the 5 miles home. Thanks.

 

Does the noise change in speed when you rev up your engine? Is this happening when your moving only? I had is this a light thump or deep thump.
I had somthing like this happen but the noise was comming from directly behind the drivers seat - ended up being the heat shield was rubing on the drive shaft.
Oh I know its that bum you ran over last week - just kick him a couple of times and BAM its fixed

 

Does it happen in neutral with car moving? Is it speed dependent? Does vary with engine speed?

 

It's happening with the car in neutral and with the car moving. I'll listen more closely on the way home to see how much, if it all, it's changing with speed. Thanks.

 

I feel like "thumping" may not be totally accurate. It sounded on the way home a bit more like it was fluttering. It happened mainly when I was accelerating and while it increased a bit in intensity if I gave it more gas, but then I felt like the engine/road noise evenutally kinda drown it out. I can feel the thumping/flutter in the pedals, too.