Strange Noise, possibly internals?

[DSMKevan]

About a week ago I started noticing a very strange whirring and clicking noise which seemed to be coming from the engine bay on the passenger side. It does not make the noise while in neutral, or with the clutch in. The noise was more noticable while in 3rd and 4th gear, but I could still barely hear it in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. The noise is dependent on engine rpm, it clicks faster and faster as the rpms increase. At about 3300-3500rpm the noise is droned out by engine, wind, and tire noise but you can still barely hear it.


When I shift from to 3rd, the moment I start releasing the clutch pedal the noise starts. If I release the clutch only 30-40% (or about the time it starts engaging) and then give it a little gas while its still only at 30-40% the sound stays constant (meaning it doesnt seem related to the engine). If Im going at a constant speed in gear, then slowly relase the accelerator the noise goes away for a small time, then comes back as the car coasts in gear.


Its a 1990 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 5 speed, and the only modifications that have been done are 2.5" exhaust, K&N filter, "Home Depot" MBC, and Pennzoil Synchromesh in tranny.


I think I might have bumped into this small lever and moved it, on the transmission when I was working on the car once. Is it the connection for the 3/4 fork? If it is, then I could have possibly messed with the 3/4 shift cable connection, possibly making the strange whirr I hear. Since the noise is MOST (meaning I can hear it in any gear) noticeable in 3/4 gear, that might be what caused my problems. Could I have damaged 3rd or 4th gear when I moved the lever, or could I have simply moved it out of position (causing the whirr). If I didnt damage it, can I reverse what I did?


This all leads me to think that it is a transmission related problem, since it doesnt make the noise in neutral or with the clutch in and it is consistent with RPMs (mostly). Is it time to rebuild the trannsmission, or is it completely destroyed?

If it needs a rebuild, Im thinking of possibly going through TRE or dogboxracing. Shep and the others are just too expensive for me.

 

[AWDlaserRS]

Moving one of those levers wont do anything because when you put the shift cables back on them everything kind of lines up again, unless you bent one but that would be pretty hard to do. Have you looked at simpler causes yet like maybe the passenger side CV joint is bad and only makes noise at higher speeds under load or something. Or maybe a wheel bearing? You should do a thorough investigation before you do anything drastic (expensive in other words)

 

[DSMKevan]

Why would a cv joint or a bearing make noise in gear but not in neutral? This also happens at almost ANY speed, whether I am turning or not. And why would this happen then:

the moment I start releasing the clutch pedal the noise starts

That is also regardless of accelerator pedal pressure. I dont see how a wheel bearing, or cv joint is directly related to being in gear, and at any speed.

 

[AWDlaserRS]

Have you ever had a really bad CV joint before? They make a clicking noise and I had a car once that whenever the CV joint was under load or when the car was trying to move it clicked. Im not saying this IS your problem, Im just saying consider the simpler causes before doing something expensive. Although it may actually be your tranny. The wheel bearing was just another shot in the dark. Hey you never know man, one time we had this truck that me and my dad changed the clutch in and no matter what we did or replaced the damn thing just wouldn't disengage. You know twhat the problem turned out to be? The firewall was actually flexing under the pressure of the clutch pedal which wasnt allowing enough movement of the master cylinder! Just saying consider the simpler causes

 

[khsdm]

it could possibly be a wrist pin, happend to me,and from what it sounds like thats what it may be. when your driving it next time hold the gas at a steady rpm and see if it starts ticking, if it does it could very well posibbly be the wrist pin, if so, HELLO NEW MOTOR