Recently my car has started having a very rough idle. It sounds like "clattering" if that makes sense. It doesn't have that purr, instead it is very rough and metallic sounding. I've found if I put in the clutch while idling, the sound goes away. This is seperate from a surging idle (another problem I have, but know how to deal with). My car has 158xxx miles on it, recent oil change, tightening of timing belt, radiator flush, tranny flush. What could cause this? Any ideas?

One thing that has changed on my car is that my muffler was taken off and put back on my car....is it possible if the bolts aren't tight enough that an exhaust leak could cause this?

Thanks in advance

 

bumpbump

 

And to think, if I wanted to put an S14 front on my car, i'd have 60 responses by now

 

i've got a similar problem. cleaned the Idle air valve and throttle body, but all taht did was make it more consistent so I'm going to clean the fast idle valve and drain the coolant next.

 

Timing may be off, that would cause similiar symptoms to what you described, given its terribly off. How else does the car perform under normal driving?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMelt4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've found if I put in the clutch while idling, the sound goes away. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Does the idle smooth up when you disengage the clutch (along with the sound going away)? That's a datapoint - I'd look at that first.

PM

 

ur throw out bearing is bad in ur tranny thats why it goes away when u push the clutch

 

the throw out bearing is not bad. how could it be when the noise goes away when there is load on the bearing?

 

cause the pressure sets it even
and lets it run smoth
when u let pressure off it lossens.
hard to explain

 

What does it take to repair the throw-out bearing? is that a mechanic job?

 

you'd have to take off the transmission to access it. that's the hardest part of replacing it really.