josephmartins

Occurs on startup, when shifting from neutral into 1st or reverse, shifting from 2nd into 1st or vice versa. Doesn't seem to affect the higher gears. Also doesn't seem to get louder/softer or slower/faster with speed/acceleration/deceleration. The noise is pretty constant in duration (maybe 2-3 seconds) and loudness.

I would describe it as the sort of noise you might hear when you start your car when it is already started....the starter teeth grinding rapidly against the flywheel. But others have described it as a ball bearing rolling around a metal can.

Any ideas what I might be dealing with? If you need more information let me know. Thanks,

Joe

31flavorscivic

do you mean 2000 SI?

civictildeath

does it do it constanly or like only when shifting?

josephmartins

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 31flavorscivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you mean 2000 SI?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Excellent question. It's an SE (Canadian model).

Ricey McRicerton

I hate to say it, but this is going to be very tough to diagnose. You may end up having to drop the transmission to take a look inside.

josephmartins

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civictildeath &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does it do it constanly or like only when shifting?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Only on startup and during up- or down-shifts into or out of 1st and 2nd gear. The noise then disappears and is not present while driving in a gear. The noise also does not occur at all while up- and down-shifting in 3rd and above.

josephmartins

Thanks Ricey, I was afraid of that, but I'm not surprised. This has to be one of the stranger tranny issues I've dealt with. I just hope it turns out to be something relatively simple once I pop the top. Thanks again!

Ricey McRicerton

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by josephmartins &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks Ricey, I was afraid of that, but I'm not surprised. This has to be one of the stranger tranny issues I've dealt with. I just hope it turns out to be something relatively simple once I pop the top. Thanks again!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sadly, the problem doesn't really sound like a bearing issue, but rather that something in the first couple of gears is damaged. It could be damaged synchros (what I'm leaning twoards).

josephmartins

You'd never believe what it turned out to be....

The rusted heat shield on the exhaust was rattling. We removed it. Go figure. I never would have guessed that given the noise and circumstances.

- Joe

31flavorscivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by josephmartins &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You'd never believe what it turned out to be....

The rusted heat shield on the exhaust was rattling. We removed it. Go figure. I never would have guessed that given the noise and circumstances.

- Joe </TD></TR></TABLE>

I HATE when crap like that happens. I got in an accident in my sunfire, and after whenever I turned I would hear a grinding type noise. I got freaked out and thought it was axle, LCA, brake rotor, etc, but it turned out to be that black stuff in your wheelwell broke off and was rubbing against the tire. Glad to hear that everything is okay