Hi everyone, I am new here and recently picked up a unmodified one woner 85 GSL-SE with 148k miles last week. when i test drove the car, its feel great (2 people in the car). When I got it home, there is the very very loud clicking sound that comes from under the shift boot area. This sound is only when the car is moving (doesnt matter if its in gear or not) and the click slows down following the speed of the car. When stopped there is no sound. Now the strange part is it only makes this noise when I am alone. If someone is in the passenger seat, the sound is gone.
I am guessing its driveshaft? but why would the sound be gone without someone there. Anyone can guess or has happened to them? I searched the forum and it did happen to someone else but there were no answers for him. Please help.

Adrian

 

With the passenger bit I would say that simply means with the extra weight in the car, whatever is clicking is out of the way when the weight lowers the car. As far as whats causing it, check around your drive shaft when you have a buddy sit in the drivers seat. Take a look under the car and see if you can see any loose metal that may be rusting off and hitting your drive shaft

 

Loose muffler hanger on the tranny is my guess......
Or you are just hearing things since it only happens when you're "alone"...LOL!

 

Now that you own a really nice 7 (all the SE's are, congrats!) you need to get used to going after whatever noise or malfunction seems to pop up (mechanics are notoriously rotary shy).

So, it's time to jack that sucker up and see what you've got, you might find out all kinds of other interesting things besides what's making that noise (like maybe a full RB exhaust system?!, that's be nice). A set of 4 jack stands and a good jack would be good to have right about now, if you don't have them already.

If it's the driveshaft you should see some evidence of rubbing or it should make some clanks when you rotate it back and forth. Check out all the metal shielding around the shaft and exhaust, that would be a good candidate for rubbing. If it's a stock muffler and exhaust that would be suspect, as noted in the post above.

Also this would be a good time to inspect for rust, not a real problem in CA but still if it's there you want to find it early. Look underneath and it's also a good idea to pull your rear storage bins and look under there, that area is known to catch and preserve water.

Congrats on the new purchase, post some pics for the rest of us to see! And welcome to the club!

Ray

 

or stay away from fat bitches with a dick!!! LOLLLLL

 

Your driveshaft on the tranny end has 4 tabs that stick up, you also have a series of heat shields under your car, the area in question has a large heat shield directly over it with a smaller one connecting if I recall.
If there was a small clearance issue, added weight to that area would flex the floor pan and cause it to touch the front driveshaft tabs.
Take Ray's advice and jack it up and look around.

 

"or stay away from fat bitches with a dick!!! LOLLLLL "

I was gonna say, watch out for me and wacky.

 

Lollllllllllll

 

I would look at the area around where the driveshaft goes into the trans. the exhuast shields may be bent up a little and when the extra weight is in the car the driveshaft angle moves it away from the shield.

 

Guys, Thanks for all the great advise! I finally jacked it up and see the hanger is broken. Will order the part and see if that's the part making the noise. Here are a few pics I took today. Been getting good comments when i drive it around. Again, thanks for all the tips.

 

Wow that's a nice one. Is the interior red velour or red leather?

 

***winner!**********

 

That's a nice ride, Adrian.

 

red velour. Thanks again

 

uhhhhh.....folks...seriously. Be on the look out. I want an 84-85 SE for a daily driver. I want it to look just like this one but with grey interior..... Divin....you know how I like my white cars!!!

This car is beautiful!!! Congrads!!!

Seriously...I am looking for that perfect daily driver.....oh and the AC must work!!

 

BTW...I am out here in Cali now on vacation...if you wanna sell that ugly white SE...lemme know!

 

White with red interior, it doesn't get any better:



My white 84 GSL had the red velour but I retrofitted the seats and steering wheel to leather. I'm partial to 12As, GSLs, X wheels and side molding, but I must say I like your white SE better Adrian, first time I've liked a 7 better without the molding. Nice find!

 

Looks familiar. Nice! I still can't decide if I like the moulding on mine or yours without. Love the SE and the wheels (like mine). Anyone have a name for them? Glad you found a potential noise maker. Sounds like a simpler noise to fix than my tranny... goes whine, whine, whine.