Okay guys, this is a weird one...

This started a few weeks ago and it is very intermittent and unpredictable. I press the clutch in and sometimes when I do it sounds like a turkey gobbling. It isn't very loud at all, but it is noticeable. The sound does change tone with rpm.

Here is what I find strange. First off, it is very intermittent. It can happen at any time, hot cold or anywhere in between. It might do it once or sometimes twice, but sure as ****, I can press the clutch pedal a thousand more times and not a peep.

1. Did I run over a turkey?

2. Throwout bearing? I have never heard of a bearing, nor experienced, a bearing failing intermittently like that.

3. Pressure plate springs? They had a small groove in them a few years back I saw when I had the engine out where the bearing pushes on them.

4. Clutch? Can a clutch gobble?

edit: I forgot to mention the noise doesn't seem to dissipate or get quieter as I am releasing the clutch pedal (thus reducing the pressure applied to the throwout bearing). It it just seems to suddenly stop when the pedal is totally released.

 

2. Throwout bearing
I had one come in with a similar problem. Fresh clutch but didn't change the throwout bearings and it whined but still looked new. Check the play in between the bearing or remove the slave and spin the bearing by hand while operating the fork by hand. That is how I booked the sound!

 

I want to believe you sctRota, but I just went out and fired up the car and pressed the clutch probably 30 times and no gobble gobble gobble. It's just my luck, I always get the weird problems that are out of the norm. Last year it was an intermittent injector firing on the rear rotor.

 

if you suspect it might have something to do with the clutch mechanism, check the slave cylinder. Just a thought as it can sometimes rattle and cause weird noises

 

Made a video of it not making noise. Link will be below.

I'll try to grab a video of it making the noise tommorow, but knowing my luck, it wont happen.

This video will at least let you know what a bad intermediate shaft thrust bearing goes when it is not happy.

 

Slave cylinder rod end (where its a ball) that pushes on the release lever. Put some lube there. Maybe.

 

What's the whirring sound every time you let go of the pedal?

 

Bearings in the transmission. It's most pronounced when cold and almost non existent when the trans is warm.

 

I got it on video! I have 20mbit upload but youtube is having a bad day I guess.

I'll post it as soon as it gets done.

 

Anyone else have a feeling that the pressure plate it loose? I could be crazy, but if it isn't the throwout bearings, then maybe the pressure plate is loose? Are there any physical vibrations on the shifter and such?

 

Oh **** I hope not, that is even worse.

Today it started gobbling when I first started the car then started to go away. By the time I drove off it wasn't making noise anymore. I drove in the city a total of about 15 miles today so I was using the clutch alot and I heard nothing but...

... I did hear a few times like a very faint metallic "ping ping ping" a couple of times when I would start from a stop. It came from the same area. It sounds like someone fainlty tapping on a hollow pipe.

Like I said, video as soon as it uploads.

 

Until the video dissuades me I'm going with the turkey theory.

 

Here is the video...

 

Damnit, I cant hear it in the video or maybe its because I wont shut up...Maybe turn it up loud with some headphones?

(I would but my daughter is asleep and my wife absconded my headphones!)

 

empty your ashtray!

 

moo

 

look at it this way, unless its something stupid like the slave cylinder doing weird things or vibrating your probably going to be dropping out the transmission to check out the clutch assembly. You mentioned you had it all apart and noticed the springs on the clutch had a grove worn in them. Did you replace all the bearings you had access too when it was open? If thats not the case, theres a chance your throw out decided to take a dump.

 

take the belt off the air pump.. retest

 

Between the turkey baster and the phantom transmission gobbler, I'm thinking you were traumatized at Thanksgiving.

 

I talked to Chris over at RP yesterday and that is exactly what he said. He said the likelihood of a throwout bearing intermittently making noise it pretty small.

Bumpstart, how would pushing in the clutch have an effect on the airpump belt?

 

Lol, air pumps can be noisy. He wants one source of noise gone to hear the relevant noise better.

Throw some grease where I said. May have to take out the slave...two bolts...done. Easy and fast and one thing off your list. Mine sounded a little more like creaking (think submarine going into great depths, lol).

edit: two more ideas - clutch pedal switch plunger as it extends/retracts, and pedal pivot noises.

 

My slave cylinder squeaked for years, it stopped and now this started, so I hope it is just the slave. The weather has been, excuse my french, ******* nasty today so I havent even been to the car. Tommorow will be better and I can use my parents garage (I live in a shitty apartment). Besides, my entire tool box from work and the various greases are there anyway.

So the plan...

Go to garage where my tools and fluids are, grease slave cylinder contact point with the clutch fork. Go back home and wait overnight and start car in the morning and see if issue goes away. If not, replace slave cylinder and if THAT doesn't work, then we will drop the transmission.

 

Don't forget to check the pedals and clutch switch plunger. Had a noisy one in another car. Actually, it was the brake switch, but same idea.

 

rules out the moo being the source of the noise

.. clutch switch and running conditions may be combining to make the pump divert to the moo

also rules out secondary noises so you can hear what is going on better

leads to the next check.. does the front pulley displace noticeably when you press the clutch

as the components everyone neglects to think about in action most here is the torrington bearings in the engine

it may just be excessive wear there, or the wrong grade of oil if it is only during warm ups

 

After me and my wife get done wrapping presents, we are going to go down to the car and see if the main pulley moves. Even if it doesn't, it'd probably help if I can hear the noise from the engine bay "if" it decides to present itself.

I didn't get a chance to muck with the slave cylinder, but this should at least get rid of one question.