Transmission? part 2
Question:
Dean, Randy, and everyone, My husband just brought home my 1994 S-10 4×4,In the same condition, making noise while the clutch is released. He brought it to the owner of the shop from whom we had the clutch replaced last July. Dean had suggested the shop messed up the clutch job. And the shop owner still says it is the Tranny, possibly the bearings. Question: If I take my truck to a dealer, Is there a diagnostic test they can preform to tell exactly where the noise is comming from and what actions to take to fix it? See to replace the tranny with a rebuilt or have mine rebuilt is rather expensive proposition.And the new clutch has only 10,000 miles on it where as the one it replaced had 126,000 miles with more to go. I greatly appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks to everyone in advance, Karla
Response:
Karla E-mail me and let’s diagnose this, see where the problem truly lies G
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Dean, Randy, and everyone, > My husband just brought home my 1994 S-10 4×4,In the same condition, making > noise while the clutch is released. > He brought it to the owner of the shop from whom we had the clutch replaced > last July. > Dean had suggested the shop messed up the clutch job. > And the shop owner still says it is the Tranny, possibly the bearings. > Question: > If I take my truck to a dealer, Is there a diagnostic test they can preform > to tell exactly where the noise is comming from and what actions to take to > fix it? > See to replace the tranny with a rebuilt or have mine rebuilt is rather > expensive proposition.And the new clutch has only 10,000 miles on it where > as the one it replaced had 126,000 miles with more to go. > I greatly appreciate any and all suggestions. > Thanks to everyone in advance, > Karla
Response:
I has a similar problem a few months ago. Gear whine, slight rattling coming from the front tranny/clutch area. This is a ‘90 k1500 5 spd by the way. I replaced the clutch myself, everything was torqued down properly (I double checked everything, new clutch, friction plate, pilot and throwout bearing). The noises continued. Apparently my transmission was running with very little fluid in it and probably caused some internal damage. I topped it off but the noise still continued until the whole thing grenaded leaving me stranded 300 miles from home. From what I gathered from here and other sources, the input shaft bearing came apart, got shot around in the gears, and thrashed the input shaft. A brand new Goodwrench tranny is the way I went, and as you probably know it’s a very expensive proposition. The GMC dealer who installed the tranny said my clutch was perfect. I’d recommend taking the truck to a tranny shop, and have them open up the tranny to see what exactly is happening, and whether or not it’s easily rebuildable, etc. The shop you took it to probably just removed the tranny and found that the clutch components were still good, which can be done by simple observation. Diagnosing the tranny would probably entail splitting it open. Just my 2 cents. Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Dean, Randy, and everyone, > My husband just brought home my 1994 S-10 4×4,In the same condition, making > noise while the clutch is released. > He brought it to the owner of the shop from whom we had the clutch replaced > last July. > Dean had suggested the shop messed up the clutch job. > And the shop owner still says it is the Tranny, possibly the bearings. > Question: > If I take my truck to a dealer, Is there a diagnostic test they can preform > to tell exactly where the noise is comming from and what actions to take to > fix it? > See to replace the tranny with a rebuilt or have mine rebuilt is rather > expensive proposition.And the new clutch has only 10,000 miles on it where > as the one it replaced had 126,000 miles with more to go. > I greatly appreciate any and all suggestions. > Thanks to everyone in advance, > Karla
– ‘88 Honda CBR600F ‘90 Chevy Z71 Sportside MSN: Tzihuac
Response:
Karla, This is a bit long but bear with me… Here’s a diagnostic procedure you (or your husband) can do that can tell you a lot. Get some gear lube to replace the fluid in the transmission. Look in your owners manual to find the refill capacity of the transmission and the oil weight and type. Most auto parts stores carry the fluid so if your not sure take the manual along with to get the correct fluid. Drive the truck around a bit to get the transmission warmed up. Have your husband get a straining screen (if you use the size you would have in the kitchen it works great), a clean drain pan or bucket and drain the old gear lube from the transmission. Draining it when the fluid is warm works better because any metal particles should be suspended and will drain out with the oil. There should be a drain plug near the bottom of the transmission. When you remove the drain plug hold the straining screen up to the hole and let the lube pass through it into the drain pan. If there is real damage in the transmission you will probably have small metal particles in the screen when it’s done draining. Also check the drain plug, usually there is a magnet attached to the end of the plug, see if you have metal particles there. Minute metal particles (almost like a sludge) is not uncommon. Wipe the plug off with your finger and smear the lube it between your fingers. If it feels gritty or you can feel particles that’s not normal. Also look at the fluid. If it has a shiny metallic color (almost glittery) to it that’s not good. If you have 2 drain pans you can dump the fluid from the filled one to the empty one and see if there is any metal particles at the bottom. Metal particles will generally always settle to the bottom. Don’t forget to refill the transmission. There should be a fill plug on the side of the transmission near the top. Doing this simple test will tell you a lot about the severity of any damage to the transmission. My suggestion would be to take any metal particles (if there are any) with you to show the service people if you have to take it to a shop for repair. It also will show them you know a bit better what your talking about. One other simple test you can do: Make sure the park brake is on and the wheels are blocked so the truck can’t roll. Get a piece of hose about 1 1/2 feet long (5/8" or 3/4" heater hose works great). Hold one end of the hose to the transmission and the other end of the hose to your ear when the truck is running in neutral. What this does is amplify the noise to your ear and you may find an area the noise is more pronounced (This basically imitates a "mechanics stethoscope" to pinpoint where a noise is coming from… Sounds weird but it works!). Do this in several spots on the transmission and transfer case for that matter. If your hear growling, grinding or howling then you know you have a problem and more of an idea where it’s coming from. Hope this helps, Doc (a.k.a. Randy)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Dean, Randy, and everyone, > My husband just brought home my 1994 S-10 4×4,In the same condition, making > noise while the clutch is released. > He brought it to the owner of the shop from whom we had the clutch replaced > last July. > Dean had suggested the shop messed up the clutch job. > And the shop owner still says it is the Tranny, possibly the bearings. > Question: > If I take my truck to a dealer, Is there a diagnostic test they can preform > to tell exactly where the noise is comming from and what actions to take to > fix it? > See to replace the tranny with a rebuilt or have mine rebuilt is rather > expensive proposition.And the new clutch has only 10,000 miles on it where > as the one it replaced had 126,000 miles with more to go. > I greatly appreciate any and all suggestions. > Thanks to everyone in advance, > Karla
Response:
Karla, While coincidences do happen, the fact that your transmission noises started immediately after the clutch replacement still tells me that the clutch work was bad and/or they damaged your transmission in the process. Stay away from dealers. In the old days, they actually had mechanics who would find and fix the problem. Today all they have are "parts swappers" who are more than willing to spend $1,500 of your money to correct what might be a $200 problem. Find an independent transmission mechanic. You might have to ask around. A local 4×4 shop or off-road club should be able to refer you to someone. He should be able to diagnose the problem, remove the transmission, replace the offending part, and replace the transmission for a whole lot less than $1,500. That’s assuming the problem lies with the transmission of course. The very first thing a competent mechanic will do, unless he is positive he can identify the exact problem by the symptoms, is to drain the lube, inspect it for unusual debris, and if none is found, refill the transmission with the correct lube and to the correct level. Believe it or not, low lube level can cause any manual transmission to make strange noises. BTW, even if you transmission needs replacement, the clutch you have in it now, assuming it hasn’t been damaged, can be reused. You do not have to buy a new one. The clutch could easily have been damaged if they did not either replace your flywheel or resurface it correctly. You are going to have to be a little persistent but it will pay off. Dean – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Dean, Randy, and everyone, >My husband just brought home my 1994 S-10 4×4,In the same condition, making >noise while the clutch is released. >He brought it to the owner of the shop from whom we had the clutch replaced >last July. >Dean had suggested the shop messed up the clutch job. >And the shop owner still says it is the Tranny, possibly the bearings. >Question: >If I take my truck to a dealer, Is there a diagnostic test they can preform >to tell exactly where the noise is comming from and what actions to take to >fix it? >See to replace the tranny with a rebuilt or have mine rebuilt is rather >expensive proposition.And the new clutch has only 10,000 miles on it where >as the one it replaced had 126,000 miles with more to go. >I greatly appreciate any and all suggestions. >Thanks to everyone in advance, >Karla
