Strange Tranny Noise (MTX Gurus)

[c0lored]

Well... kind of a strange problem here. When car is in gear and moving I hear this strange sound its kind of like a grinding/popping when the car is in gear. I hear it at low RPMs in all gears including reverse. And seems if I hit a bump it grinds/pop more.. It goes away at higher RPMs... I am kind of a newb when it comes to our beloved old ladies but I love my car and desperately want to find the source of this sound and fix please help MTX gurus!!

Edit: I can also feel it in the shifter and it kinda sounds like it is coming from below the shifter.

 

[TimboSHO]

The first thing I would do is check the fluid. There is a plug on the side that you can stick your 3/8 ratchet in to turn it off. If no fluid comes out, it's low. If it's low, add more. You can do a search on recommended fluid types and add the one of your choice. Report back after this is done.

 

[dantheman68]

do you have any trans fluid?...

when mine did this, I had fluid, but it was all over the driveway...

 

[c0lored]

Well here is the thing I had it in the shop for a clutch job. Got it back and it was leaking what looked like tranny fluid. Took it back and it turned out that some seals were seeping. Car is going to be looked at on Friday and seals repaired.

 

[SHO-NUF93]

Hmm. Sounds similar to my woes. Mine's had gear/bearing rattle since I got it, and probably prior. Found fluid low and axle seals leaking, it's anybody's guess just how long it went unattended. Fixed all that, and still noisy. Wonder how long this thing will last. Hasn't gotten any worse, after a year and a half, and 10k miles of ownership, at least.

 

[stangeater]

Hmmm, you said it sounded like it was comming from below the shifter? Once, my shifter box (box that your shifter rod goes into) was loose. This caused all kinds of noises when I would drive, and hit bumps. Don't know why but it seemed worse when it was damp outside, or rainy. Anyway, I took it down, repacked it with grease, and tightened it back up in place really well............noises went away.
Just something to check out........Good Luck!

 

[itwonder]

Might be a CV joint, particularly if they hyper-extended one when taking it out or reinstalling it after the clutch job.

 

[DrRoss]

say your last farewells to the diff pin. i've heard similar noises before they go. that is, when your lucky enough to get a warning. the pin grinds on the inside of the case before it weakens it enough to eject

 

[CARLISLESHO]

mine just did the same thing the only thing that can be done is to get a new trans that is wat i now have to do it is the diff pin sorry man nothing u can do

 

[38SHO]

gear train rattle is a problem these transmissions have had since 1989, Ford is well aware of it and says its normal......... however they themselves tried to correct it by adding more weight to the pressure plate for the 91 clutch redesign.......

make sure its got plently of nice new mercon dexon III fluid(your standard variety of automatic transmission fluid) and what else can u do......... just run it

 

[c0lored]

Got it back after the axel seals were replaced... noises are now gone. i am going to chalk it up to low fluids. shifts like butter now and drives even better. thanks for the tips!