I have this odd problem with my '89 GXL. When it is in gear and coasting with the clutch engaged, I can hear this odd tinkling sound. I never noticed it before because I just got a cat-back on the car and it is again quiet.

The transmission was replaced with a used one a little while ago and both throwout and pilot bearings were replaced with brand new ones. The sound seems to eminate from forward of the shifter and transmission to my ears. Only occuring when coasting, in gear, and clutch engaged. Any ideas?

 

Up

 

How is your driveshaft doing? are you getting any vibration or anything along with it?

 

Not that I know of. Driveshaft is relatively new as well. There is no vibration at any speeds that would be indicative of it being unbalanced either. Just this metallic tinkling sound forward of the transmission every time we coast in the car.

 

Up again

 

Exhaust manifold heat shield loose?
Wiring harness plug hitting anything metal in the engine bay wind turbulance?
Any cowbells on the front of the car?

 

Already checked for loose objects and such. Heat shield seems to be snug. Nothing else loose underneath the car that I can see. No dangly stuff either.

 

pilot bearing?

Edit: pilot bearing.

 

Pilot bearing wouldn't be turning at all on decel, unless you're pushing the clutch in...

 

tranny fluid then

 

It had new transmission fluid put in when I changed it. Not more than 1,000 miles could be put on that fluid yet. Upon inspection it was up to the fill hole on the transmission case. Good suggestions people. Thanks so far.

 

synchros?

 

The transmission upshifts and downshifts without rev matching very well with no grinding or notchiness either. I do not think it is the synchronizers unless you guys know something more about it than I do.

 

Worn apex seals chattering in the rotor housings? Farfetched, I know...

 

dragging a poodle and chain under the car?

 

Lol... I do not think it is worn apex seals. Something else I have noticed is that the tinkling/scraping occurs in first and second gear upon deceleration only when the car is warmed up. I cannot reproduce the sound on demand, it just happens as well.

 

i still go with synchros

 

ACV? the anti-afterburn part of it, anyway...

 

Can you explain in depth? Would this produce a metallic tinkling sound if the anti-afterburn was nonfunctional?

 

No, it would have to be functional in my scenario...On decel the ACV injects air somewhere (exhaust ?) for a couple of seconds, or something like that. I've never had to play with it, so I don't know a whole lot about it (as you can tell), other than the fact there's an anti-afterburn valve integral to the ACV. Maybe something's rattling around in there when the valve is actuated. Another far-fetched theory, LOL...

 

Is this a rattling sound, or a tinkling? The synchros missing could be considered a very fast paced tinkling... We.. maybe not... It sounds more like a cratchy whine

 

Ive experienced this as well and have grown to acepet it as just a worn out old car sound. I can best decribe it and have read it being discribed as a pipe being hit against the ground. Mines on acelerating right after letting off the cluch to shift tho, it might be on decel too just not as loud.

 

It it is a mix of a tinkling and a rattling sound. It is kind of hard to describe, you kind of have to just hear it. I have that rattling sound too upon acceleration, but it sounds different than the one I am getting on first/second deceleration.

This does not seem to be a big problem, just something that is annoying as hell. So annoying because usually I can just go right to a problem and fix, but this has stumped me for days. I am getting no weird vibrations or shaking with this sound either. Maybe it is something loose, but hell if I can find it. I have been all over the undercarriage and engine bay looking for loose or metal-rubbing-metal articles.

 

I have a potentially stupid idea! step 1: Disposable web cam for ~10 bucks, used from ebay. Secure it to the bottom of the car, pointing toward the engine bay, connect it to a laptop on the inside, and record the video or have a friend drive and you watch what's going down underneath your car That way you could determine if it's something flexing or something. You could also use the mic on it to help locate where the sound is originating from, by moving it around until it gets louder.


Hey, i warned you it was stupid

 

Ok, I got another guess after reading the original post again- tranny bearing(s)