Transaxle Noises

Hey,

I hear an odd noise sometimes as I release the clutch and engage 1st
gear on my '91 Civic Si on what I believe to be dry pavement. The
quality of my clutch release seems to be closer to 'correct', as opposed
to either too fast or too slow when it happens, but thats a rough
observation. I guess it sounds similair to the noise my car makes
sometimes when my my tires spin on snow and ice. It is a sort of 'whirr'
sound, maybe comparable to the noise that my car would make in reverse.
It is brief when I hear it; definitely less than a second, and I don't
think I've heard it in the summertime (Wisconsin, USA). Is this anything
to worry about? It doesn't happen everytime I drive, or only when its
extremely cold. The car has ~140k miles on what I assume is the original
clutch.

Mark

 

Mista Bone,

I just thought of a condition that may have to be present when I hear
the noise. I think I hear it when my steering is at an extreme, like
when I'm sitting in a median and then pulling out, or starting off from
a stop sign onto a wide avenue.

Its a mechanical sounding noise. Maybe I can try to record it sometime.
I got a '91 DX Civic for few years ago for free when it had 180k. A
bearing in the tranny was bad. I forget which bearing does what, but I
was told it was not the throwout. The tranny made a loud noise the whole
time I had the car whenever the clutch was NOT engaged, even just
sitting in neutral. I was able to take it to over 200k before the clutch
got really bad. The noise in my car now is somewhat similair, but much
quieter.

The car was getting really rusty and had not been maintained the best
during it's life, so it wasn't really worth it to fix it. The engine
still seemed solid, and didn't eat that much oil. I also knew less about
car mechanics then.

I've never done a clutch job, and may consider one this summer. I've got
the Helm manual, but will probably start looking for good internet pages
too. Is there anything in the RAMH FAQ that Tegger maintains?

I think I'd be comfortable getting to the tranny and dropping it if
necessary. I don't know if it would be smart do do the actual clutch
work myself. I know a really good Toyota mechanic who could maybe come
help me out just for that portion of the job. I'd like to be comfortable
taking the car on longer (>500 mile) trips. I might try to go road
tripping and camping out west this summer and I think I'd need to drive
my car. I trust the engine a lot, but I wouldn't mind doing the clutch.

Mark

 

Give me more info on the noise. I'm known worldwide as "D" tranny guru,
88-00 SOHC Civic D series motor/trannys.

First quick guess is the ISB (input shaft bearing) wore out. About $35 in
parts, I charge $50 to do the work, IF you remove the tranny, and WIS is not
close!!!!!!

 

My experience with funky noises and the clutch were the damping springs
came loose and were banging on the flywheel bolts. The clutch finally
started slipping and was replaced.

-Pete