Car is a 99 ex, stock motor/tranny, 231k miles.

Earlier today I was leaving from a store and out of no where, I was rolling in first and my transmission started to whine ridiculously loud. It made the sound you hear when you're in reverse...except I was going forward. It scared the **** out of me. No sound at idle / stopped. I had to stop at a red light right when it started but as I went again, it started. The higher the speed, the higher the pitch. It got quieter at higher speeds. It seemed to sound the worst in the first couple gears and happened even in neutral as long as I was rolling. About 10 minutes later, poof, it just stopped within a split second, while I was moving. The transmission sat for just over an hour after being warmed up all the way, so it wasn't completely cold but pretty cool at that point.

Any ideas on what it could be? I know my input shaft bearing has been on it's way out for many years because when I push in / let out my clutch I can hear a slapping / grinding noise that comes and goes away (goes away with the clutch in).

 

It is definitely your input shaft bearing. The noise you hear when you push in your clutch is the throw-out bearing. A new ISB will only run you about 30 dollars.

 

The part he doesn't mention is that it is labor intensive as a ************ to replace. An experienced person can do it in about 4-6 hours, and will charge you $300-$1000. If you've never ripped apart a transmission before, you can get all of the necessary tools for less than $30. FSMs detail the procedure, and can be found online fairly easily. No, the Haynes/Chilton/Bentley books don't detail it. While you're in there, you might as well replace all of your bearings, seals, and synchros. The full kit from www.synchrotech-transmissions.com will run you about $130, IIRC. Better to do it all together now, than have to do it again in the near future when other bearings or synchros wear out.

 

Is it okay to drive it still? lol.

I think I'll just get a different transmission. I don't have the kind of money to pay for labor and parts for a transmission fix unfortunately.