My turn for transmission noise

[jimincalif]

Finally had a break in the weather and took the Spider out for a short drive today. I'm hearing a new noise, a low-pitch whine in 4th and 5th gears. It is loudest when I am on the throttle, if I let the throttle off it pretty much goes away. Transmission shifts normally in all gears otherwise. Any ideas what I'm looking at?

[ventura ace]

I would start by checking the oil level in the tranny.

Are you convinced that it is the tranny and not the u-joints, differential, rear wheel bearings, etc? I have to ask. It seems to point to the tranny since you only notice it in 4th and 5th. But it could be some other bearing that is touched off by a combination of higher rpm's and load on the drive train. Did you try to downshift to 3rd when going at speed while under load?

Alvon

[jimincalif]

Well, the noise definitely seems to be from the tranny area, it does not sound like it is behind me at all. Yes, I did downshift to 3rd, the noise goes away. So just based on where I hear it and that it changes with the gears I assume the tranny.

Since getting the spider I've found that my childhood claustrophobia comes back when I get under it. I'll have to work on that to check the oil level. I assume it is best if the car is level to check this?

[ventura ace]

yep, level. I use jack stands front and rear to get it raised and level.

Alvon

[jimincalif]

...

[jimincalif]

Apparently it is the differential. I took it to the local mechanic Razooli uses (I did not want to drive it far based on the noise it was making). He reports a broken tooth on the pinion gear? Apparently this is an expensive repair, new parts are 4 figures and rare? He's looking in his parts bin of parted out cars to see if he has an appropriate axle and will let me know. Anyone have any suggestions?

Car drives fine, if I defer fixing it, will it just slowly get worse or am I looking at a potential catastrophic failure?

Thanks.

[majicwrench]

Chipped pinion, if it is the issue, would make noise in all the gears. If indeed noise goes away when shifted to 3rd, it is NOT your rear end making that noise. Did your mechanic pull the gears and look at them??
I have a Subaru with a chipped pinion, did it years ago changing out some bearings. It is dead quiet.

[jimincalif]

Hmm. Perhaps I have two problems.

[So Cal Mark]

right, a chipped pinion won't whine, it will make a click/clunk noise or no noise at all depending on the size of the chip and how many teeth are chipped

[jimincalif]

There is no clicking noise that I have ever heard, and I'm pretty good about noticing new noises. The only clunking noise I have is the same one I've had all along, a loud clunk from what sounds like the right rear when the car is turning right into a driveway. Turning alone doesn't do it, the car must be turning up an incline. This seems more suspension related.

I don't doubt the chipped tooth, the guy opened it up and saw it, he first changed the trans and diff oils and drove it. I'm just afraid that the chipped tooth may have been there already and the noise I get now is the transmission. So two expensive fixes to deal with.

The car drives just fine. Would I be crazy to have him button it back up and drive it the 140 mile round trip to BOFI next week? If I bring it up there Mark, do you think you'd have a chance to take it for a spin?

[piero97016]

yep, level. I use jack stands front and rear to get it raised and level.

Alvon

Hello Alvon, I am starting to get this clicking noise as well, not sure if from both wheel, it sound like when you hit the curb and damage the bearing od something? it will do it also when in neutral, any gear,but sometime, depending how I steer the car it goes away and then it come back, any idea?

[ventura ace]

Sorry, Piero. Without hearing or experiencing the noise, I wouldn't venture to make a guess. If you want to spin by my work one day, we could go for a short drive.

Alvon