# 1996 Geo Prizm "Popcorn maker"

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-geo-prizm-popcorn-maker/123520>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** geo\
**Created:** [August 23, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-geo-prizm-popcorn-maker/123520 "2018-08-23T16:09:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PrimzGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df788c/32.png) [@PrimzGuy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PrimzGuy)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-geo-prizm-popcorn-maker/123520/1 "2018-08-23T16:09:38Z")

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Hey everyone.

So I own a 1996 Geo Primz LSI and my car since Tuesday of this week has been a noise. This noise happens when I accelerate or idle at a light. Hard to describe the noise but sound like a damn popcorn maker when I’m driving. Never heard this before and wondering about solutions to fix. I just recently had my cigarette light outlet fix and this been happening since I left two places in Wheeling WV. Any ideas or advice been super helpful.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-geo-prizm-popcorn-maker/123520/2 "2018-08-24T13:32:34Z")

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Without hearing the noise or you providing a better description… my best advice to to take it to an independent auto shop (not a chain) and have them listen. Expect a fee for diagnostic time that may be waived if you have it fixed there.

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**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-geo-prizm-popcorn-maker/123520/3 "2018-08-27T00:58:59Z")

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Exhaust leak!!!

Yosemite

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-geo-prizm-popcorn-maker/123520/4 "2018-08-27T01:37:29Z")

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Might be a cracked exhaust manifold, or broken/missing exhaust hardware

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**Author:** ![PrimzGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df788c/32.png) [@PrimzGuy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PrimzGuy)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-geo-prizm-popcorn-maker/123520/5 "2018-08-27T02:21:52Z")

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Not exhaust manifold because that was replaced within the beginning of this year. Some been thinking it might be one of exhaust heat shield that could be making the noise.

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**Author:** ![kinsha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5fc32e/32.png) [@kinsha](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kinsha)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 11:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-geo-prizm-popcorn-maker/123520/6 "2018-08-27T11:18:57Z")

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The 7A-FE motor in this car does have a knock sensor