I had just driven about 1 block from my house when a loud bang came from the passenger side of the car. The passenger said that I sounded like it came from the passenger wheel area. We stopped and looked at it and couldn't see anything visually wrong. We were only going about 20-25mph so I don't think we could have thrown anything up into the wheel well that would have made such a loud noise. It sounded a bit metallic and there was a split second grind sound. We didn't see anything in the road so I don't think I ran over anything. We parked and let it sit for about 30 mins and there wasn't any dripping of any liquids and no engine light or anything. I looked under the hood and didn't see anything unusual. No liquid or anything. It doesn't appear to have anything noticeably wrong because it drives just fine and doesn't make any unusual sounds. It just concerns me because it was just a loud sound that scared us but no signed that we ran over anything or that anything broke. Anything have any ideas or other things to check? Anyone have a similar experience? It is a 04 if that helps. Thank you for your help.

 

Sounds like you ran over something. Don't get too excited unless it happens again, and your sure there was nothing in the road.

 

Did you have a backfire...lol

 

Don't think it would be a backfire. I'm RHD, and I feel the backfire on my feet (of sorts) and in general you feel it before you hear it

Maybe jack the car up and see if anything under there seems to be loose?

 

I am pretty sure it wasn't a backfire. I did look and couldn't find anything loose. I walked back where the loud bang happened and we did find some small pieces of wood. They were small pieces of lattice, the criss-cross stuff people use to grow vines on. The pieces are thin and I don't know how driving over them at 20mph could have thrown then up in the wheel well to cause a loud bang. Maybe that was the cause. I didn't find anything wrong with the car so I won't worry about it unless I hear any other unusual noises. Thank you guys for your help.