Sounds like someone tossed a bolt in the tranny when idling or in gear with the clutch depressed at a stop, but goes away as soon as the clutch is engaged.

In between shifts when the clutch is disengaged it sounds like an AWFUL grinding noise and goes away as soon as the clutch is engaged again.


I read the forums abit a someone said something similar happened to them and it was the rear crank seal.. does this sound possible? and how can i check this?

i dont want to drop the tranny if i dont have to. thanks in advance

Chattering noises that only happen when the clutch pedal is pressed are symptomatic of a bad throwout bearing.

A leaking rear main seal would leak oil, but how do you suppose it is causing noise?

If you do not want drop the trans, better get ready to pay someone else to.

is there anyway it could be the bolts loose on the flywheel?

Dave, correct me if I'm wrong, but the chattering noises related to a throwout bearing only occur when the clutch pedal is NOT pressed. Usually the easiest way to determine if it is the throwout bearing is when the car is idling in neutral it will make the rattling/chatter noise, but as soon as the pedal is pressed it will go away.

Maybe I misread the posts above, but it sounds like when he has the pedal pressed in while in neutral or during shifting, the noise is the loudest...

Originally posted by Ebster1085
Dave, correct me if I'm wrong, but the chattering noises related to a throwout bearing only occur when the clutch pedal is NOT pressed. Usually the easiest way to determine if it is the throwout bearing is when the car is idling in neutral it will make the rattling/chatter noise, but as soon as the pedal is pressed it will go away. Maybe I misread the posts above, but it sounds like when he has the pedal pressed in while in neutral or during shifting, the noise is the loudest...

This is what what happening when my TOB went bad, noise when the pedal was out.

If the flywheel bolts are loose it will sound like the engine is knocking. Believe me Ive had that scare before...

ok. I was the one that had this problem and said it was the seal. And I was wrong the seal was just another problem. Does the sound start when you start the car? then get better, then start again when the pedal is engaged? If so, have someone apply some pressure to the starter downward and upward while you start the car and while you engage the clutch. I did alot of work for nothing, my starter was not sitting flush and would vibrate, making the noise.

Fixed it today, it was the flywheel bolts. tightened them up with some locktight and star washers.

consider yourself lucky that you caught it when you did. red threadlocker FTW

Originally posted by bnisson
Fixed it today, it was the flywheel bolts. tightened them up with some locktight and star washers.

Thanks for posting up for future searches.