Re: Transmission or Clutch? (more info)

[brett@kodak.com (Brett VanSprewenburg)]

> 
> At 11:28 AM 7/22/97 -0400, you wrote:
> >
> >
> >I've got a problem with my 88 16v.  It's making a wierd noise, which only
> >happens under unusual circumstances.  The noise sounds like a rapid ticking,
> >which varies in intensity and rapidity (good word, eh?) with wheel
> >rotation.  It sounds a little like a piece of metal being whipped around, 
> >it's not a 'good' noise.
> 
> 
> OK, so to reword it to maybe bring out some details, the sound only happens 
> when in gear and decelerating. The drivetrain is basically unloaded and in 
> gear.

That's correct.  Or you could think of it as being loaded in 'reverse'.  The
car dragging on the wheels, instead of the wheels powering the car.

> Whats up with the metal being whipped around sound? Does it sound like ice 
> cubes in a blender with the occasional heavy chunk sound? (Eww if it is!)

No, it's very rthymic. More details below.
 
> 
> 
> >Anyway, here's when/how it happens:
> >
> >When slowing down in gear it happens.
> >Noise goes away if I push the clutch pedal down.
> >Noise goes away if I pull the car out of gear, leaving clutch alone.
> >Noise subsides if I rapidly steer the car from side to side while slowing.
> >No noise at all when standing still, clutch in or out, neutral or not.
> >(The combination that would actually _move_ the car not withstanding)
> >The noise is almost non-existant when accelerating or it doesn't do it
> >at all when accelerating.
> 
> hmm. Inconclusive. This is a toughy!
> 
> >Just today, I discovered that the noise MAY not happen at all in 1st gear,
> >accelerating or slowing.  I will test more completely and get back here
> >with results.  Opinions?  Broken syncro?  Differential?  CV joint?
> >Broken clutch teeth? throw-out bearing?  Final drive?  WHAT!?! :-)
> >
> >Any advice at all is appreciated.  Thanks.
> >
> >==Brett
> 
> 
> What about the rpm's? Does it make more or less of a sound in different rpm 
> ranges? 

As the wheel rotation decreases, the loudness of the 'thwacking' goes up until
I reach a certain forward speed when the noise just stops.

> What about 1-2-3 gears? 

I'll look more into this tonight, but this morning I did a quick back-n-forth
in 1st and 2nd in the parking lot at work and it SEEMED to only do it in 2nd.

> Obviously there will be more wind noise to 
> drown out the sound so you wont really hear it in the higher gears but if it 
> is making a bad noise it should be making it in 1st gear as well. (maybe) If 
> so, it should give you a good idea as to whether or not its an internal 
> tranny problem or just a drive axle issue. (CV maybe) 

Mannix mentioned inner CVs...

> 
> How about just say maintaining 15mph? no sound but when you lift off of the 
> throttle, its making sounds? (is that right?) 

Yes, throttle life causes the noise to be noticed.  As I mentioned, I have
heard it, very slight and not all the time, while accelerating.

> 
> Can you tell which side of the car its making the most noise from? 

Seems to be drivers side, the one with the transaxle conviently enough. :-)

> 
> How long has it been making the noise? 

Just after I got back from Waterfest, so about 2 weeks or so?  I don't drive
that car everyday, so it's hard for me to say.  Not only that, I couldn't
hear it at all over the stereo. :-)

> 
> Since you've noticed the sound, has it gotten worse? 

No.  My local trusted mechanic says it differential or transaxle related
but I could drive it until it leaves me stranded...

> 
> Dont ask me why but im suspecting one of the cv joints is going bad. It could 
> be the inner CV but I dont think so.

I would LOVE a bad CV joint at this point. :-)

As everyone knows, transmission problems suck.  Not to mentioned the fact that
while the tranny is out of the car I'll just HAVE to replace the clutch
and pressure plate, oh and I'd consider the Velocity diff kit at the time. I
know, I know, become a better driver first...but with the tranny out of the
car, how could I waste such an opprutunity?  So, help me not drop all this
time and money and tell me it's a CV. :-) Barring that, how could I test for
what's wrong?  More details to come.  I've gotta go to the dentist... :-(
 
> Shawn

==Brett
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