My 85 CRX HF (5-speed) has a knocking sound when in 1st gear and under load (accelerating from stop, going up a hill, etc.). The knock-knock-knock sound starts slow and speeds up as the car speeds up. The knock goes away as soon as I shift out of 1st gear _or_ when I stop accelerating and just let the car cruise in 1st gear. The knock does not occur in any other gear including reverse. I first noticed the knock after replacing a bunch of drive train parts (pressure plate, clutch, flywheel, throwout bearing, *all transmission bearings*, cv-joints, drive axles, and wheel bearings), however, the knock may have always been around but just hidden due to all the other sounds my poor old CRX was making.

Anyone have any ideas? Transmission? Yes? Any tests I could try to isolate this?

Thanks

 

I would have a friend help. Get the car on jack stands, start it up and toss it in 1st. While giving it a little gas, slowly apply the brakes. If you do it too hard or too fast, you'll stall it easily. Apply as much gas/brake as is needed to get the sound to occur. Have your friend poke around for the noise.

 

Well, the sound is coming from inside the transmission case, but what could it be? I'm stumped! Why would the transmission knock only in first gear?

 

Weel, lets see, you admit to having just been in the tranny. Only happens in first gear. Possible debris in 1st gear. Possible bad bearing only making itself heard with high torque. I hope your question doesn't contain the answer...