Floyd

Here is an update for all of you who are following along at home... (Sadle up )

Last Thursday I met up with Chris (CPR) after work to compare clutch noises with eachother as we have both been having issues. As it turns out, our cars are making very similar sounds, so either everyhting is normal, or we both have the same problem.

I then met up with Victor (97 TYPE-R 312) today and he sat in my car and listened. Although we didn't sit in his car, he felt that the noises my car was making were not normal and his car didn't sound the same.

There are three distinct issues:

1. When ever the clutch pedal is moving, either up or down, either fast or slow, there is a faint whirring sound. To me, this sound is coming from directly in front of me, but that is just my perception. If you stop pushing the pedal at any point of its travel, the noise stops, then when you continue the noise comes back. It is audible at idle, and is louder at higher rpms, but doesn't really change pitch.

Both Chris and I have had our clutch components replaced (by different dealers) and the problem persisits. (Yes, in both cases they replaced the T.O. Bearing.) In Chris' case, the sound went away for a few days but then returned. In my case, there was no change.

2. When the clutch is engaged (foot off the pedal), I can hear a muffled, hollow, clattering/rattling sound. From the driver's seat it apears to be coming from my right/front. It is aparent in any gear, or even in neutral, and at any rpm. It is very faint at idle, but I can still make it out. It gets very loud around 3-4K rpm and goes away when the pedal is pressed in. When the clutch is disengaged (pedal in) the sounds goes away.

If I press the pedal slowly, the noise doesn't change character until the pedal is about halfway down, then the sound quickly fades away and stays quiet until the pedal is released passed half-way again, where the sound comes back abruptly. When the car is cruising in 2nd or 3rd gear around 3k it is very noticable because there isn't much road noise, but it is also there cruising in 5th gear at 4k.

Everything pointed to a bearing on the mainshaft of the tranny, which is only spinning when the clutch is engaged, so the dealer replaced all of the bearings on the mainshaft. When I got the car back, the sound was still there. Chris' car was doing the same thing when I sat in it and revved the engine up, but I didn't drive it anywhere.

3. The last sound occurs when the clutch is released to get the car moving. It happens in 1st gear, reverse, and sometimes from 1st to 2nd. If you have the car on a level surface and you release the clutch to move the car forward there is a clunk sound that can be heard right when the car starts to move. I sat in a parking lot and moved the car forward a foot or so, several times in a row, and it does it every time. It almost sounds like there is some play in the gears and when the car finally starts moving, this "slack" is being taken up and causes the clunking sound.

Somone said that it could be the springs in the clutch disc taking the shock of the rapid clutch engagemant, but I'm not convinced.

So, if anyone is still reading this, can you tell me if your car makes the same sounds?

1. A whirring sound when the clutch pedal is moving.
2. A clattering sound at 3k rpm only when the clutch is engaged. (For that matter, does your car sound any different when the clutch is engaged/disengaged while you are sitting in neutral?)
3. A clunk/thunk when the car first starts to move when you let of the clutch.

My next step is to meet up with the regional Acura technician, so we wil see how that goes.

CPR

Dammit Dave, I've already fooled myself into thinking that these sounds were normal. Maybe we can get a mini meet going this weekend to compare our crapped out cars with other people.


[Modified by CPR, 11:19 PM 1/28/2002]

Floyd

I think my mega-post may have scared everyone away...

kkim

my car makes sound #3. like a pop or clunk when engaging/disengaging the clutch. also, I noice it will do it only once the first time I move in forward/reverse direction. sounds to me like the clutch, gear in transmission, brake caliper loose, or front suspension noise. haven't been able to isolate yet. good luck. keep us informed of the results. thanks.

sgT

My guess is that the dealer didnt replace anything.

CPR

I was thinking that to about my car but I thought that the idea of the dealer not replacing parts when they said they did was absurd. I wish I knew how to work on cars


[Modified by CPR, 4:14 PM 1/29/2002]

sgT

And dealers always tell the truth too.

1GreyTeg

Ok I read it, All of it.

Ya didn't scare me away and I made it a point to read this because I hate it when I post something I feel important that becomes longer than expected and Noone reads it or I get some BS smart-a$$ed response from some kid in Idaho who knows soo much or soo little that he just has to add his 2 cents. Stick to Potato farming Idaho Boy! (not aimed at anyone in particular)

Anyways, I don't experience any of those symptoms. I wish I had an answer for ya or knew of someone you should take it to. Unfortunately the 3 good shops I'd suggest are near me in NY and CT.

I did experience a high pitched whine sometimes with my clutch engaged in my PY but, alas I can't compare that anymore.

Good luck, for both of you. I do hope it all works out.

Oh, and I agree with sgt. I absolutely Don't trust dealerships in general. I do however trust the dealership I purchased both my R's from,(in CT!) My suggestion is to find a very good mechanic that specializes in imports and trannies.

A.

CPR

The only reason I take mine to the dealership is because it is still under warranty. It only makes sense to have things covered for free whenver you get the chance. But I guess it's pointless if they don't even replace anything they said they were going to.

Big Phat R

Try installing these and see if the noise persists



BPR - who ignores most of the mechanical sounds his car makes - as long as its driveable

sgT

Like I always say, is it worth the better price if you have to go back constantly
for problems that werent fixed or new problems THEY caused?

gblaue

I have the same exact problem. The disc, pressure plate, and throwout bearing were replaced at 7700 miles. It still made the noise. I had the pressure plate and pilot bearing changed again at 25000 miles. Still no luck. Both times the dealership told me that the pressure plate had several raised fingers. But obviously, that isn't the problem. I am tryig to strongarm the dealership into replacing the transmission.

ITR-01-0977

I tried pushing my clutch pedal like you desdribed earlier and I have the same noises that you do....my clutch has always made this noise as far as I can remember....I dont feel that it is a problem just another little quirk of the type r.

Batoutahell

I am currently experiencing a high-pitched whine when my clutch engages. It sounds a lot like the car is driving in reverse. I guess I'll just keep driving until something breaks or the noise goes away. I hate weird noises that I can't diagnose.

sgT

if a few fingers are raised, that could cause noise.
But of course, they might not be telling the truth

gblaue

I saw the pressure plates. Either way, it never solved the problem.

sgT

you usually cant tell unles the pressure plates are installed.
I hve gotten a few bad plates from the dealer.
it sucks doing a clutch job and realizing that the plate is bad when the clutch
wont release. of course, in that case the fingers were more depressed than
they should have been

43MA

maybe the flywheel was machined improperly and the rise is too low and the pressure plate can't disengage properly

b00st-0wnz

GASP! Are you saying they don't?!?!?

-Dave, who just fainted.. from laughing at Steve's funny *** posts not from the dealer lying..

lotus

Ok I confess,I read the whole boring post... Even thought about it for a bit...
Here is my 2 cents.

Problem one... Most release bearings are pretty cheaply made, and the two side of the collars which house the bearings run pretty close to each other.. It takes quite a bit more force to actually compress a clutch diaphram than just to hold it in one position, so the release bearing may be distorting a bit under the load, allowing the two halves to rub... The wiring noise sure sounds like the release bearing, at least on my computer anyway... Anyway I wouldn't worry about it, go have a beer instead.. It's really a non issue...

Problem two.. Sounds dumb, but I have heard that noise before and thought that it was related to all kinds of things I was doing... Turned out to be my catalytic converter... I would check it out, cause that is the sound they make when the stuff inside starts bouncing around.. If that's not the cause ( remember miracles do happen ) then I would agressivly look for the source.. At 8500 rpm if something in the clutch area lets go, it could do you some damage..

Problem three... Hmmm.. I don't know enough about my own car to know if the LSD has clutches, but if it does, then your additive could be breaking down.. I've had that clunk in a few domestic posi's from poor oil... The clutches slip once before grabbing, even going straight. Sounds dumb but take the car into a parking lot and do a bunch of low speed tight figure eights to get the fluid moving around, then see if your clunk goes away... If not start with the obvious stuff like axels, loose parts, loose wheel nuts ( don't laugh ). If you pull the e-brake and try some starts without actually moving, can you make it go clunk?

If so then get another pair of ears out there and you may pinpoint the problem..

Good luck, and post something fun next time eh?