So I noticed a knocking sound coming from the transmission area of the car when I'm moving. There's no sound at idle and the knocking sound gets louder the higher I rev the engine when I'm moving. When I shift gears the knocking sound slows down and then speeds up as I rev higher in the gear.

I know my transmission isn't in the best of shape and I currently don't have fifth gear. Could it be the transmission? Or could it be clutch related?

 

What do you mean when you say you don't have fifth gear? Did it blow in the tranny and it's still in there?

 

It blew slowly and just got to the point where you could put the shifter where the gear is supposed to be and it just jumps back into neutral. I've been rocking this 4-speed for about 5 months now. I just ordered a new transmission.

 

Yeah, that's pretty much it. Replace or rebuild. Most rebuilds don't end up being cheaper than replacing.

But in this case I suggest you consider opening up the old one. It might have been as simple as a crunched 5th synchro breaking up and jamming the gears. If that's the case you need less than $100 in parts and a couple hours of labor to fix it up.

 

Ok. So I just got the car to make the noise when idling. I went back and forth in my driveway so I could hear the noise and then at one point it was doing it at idle.

With the shifter in neutral it makes a sound that sounds like grinding that increases in speed as you rev the engine. But when you push the clutch in the sound completely goes away (shifter in neutral). When you release the clutch the sound comes right back.

I was able to get a recording of the sound. It kind of sounds like a steam engine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAa4C6_nJMM

 

That just confirms that it's inside the transmission. You'll only find out what it really is if you take it out and disassemble it.