Yeah, not trying to turn this into "name that tune", but was wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue...

When cruising in 2nd gear, both on accel and coast, I have a rather ugly sound, especially when it's cold outside. If I put the clutch in it goes away, and it's not present in any other gears. If I drive the car for awhile (30+ min) it seems to subside. It's not too overbearing, but with the radio and heater off it's definitely present.

Without waxing too poetic; the sound is like a low-mid (frequency) metallic rattle, kind of similar to the "boiling" sound of water in a tin pan.

Anyone else have this? Any thoughts as to what it might be?



J

 

i am right there with you as far as the frustrating sounds goes.

how many miles do you have?

if its not terribly incovenient, you just might want to take it to a shop and get a professional opinion. it could be flywheel chatter, syncros maybe?

 

About 47k miles. I had a tech at the stealership have a ride with me last time I brought it in. He said unless i could throw some money towards a more in-depth look, he couldn't really help. They're kinda clueless there anyway, so I thought I'd check with the pros.

Thanks for the reply-

 

I have the same sound/noise from my car. I have an 04 MC, and have heard the noise the last two winters. It usualy occurs when the air temp gets below 55 degrees and gets worse as it gets colder. It goes away when the air temp warms up or the car warms up. I realy would like to know what it is. It does not sound healthy in any regard.

 

I like how you call it a stealership lol

 

What year is your MC? My noise does not necessarily follow either road speed or engine speed, how about your noise?

 

Mine's an 04. Yeah, it seems mine doesn't follow road/engine speed either, and it did go away last summer too. Huh...

 

Look here.

Any weird noise comming from a 2002, 2003, or 2004 MINI COOPER with the 5 speed need to be closly looked at.

 

Had a similar problem, the flywheel is a duel mass flywheel which has some springs inside that rattle. The duel mass wheel is supposed to stop vibration for being transmitted from the engine to the transmission due the the high torque at low RPM desiign of the motor. The dealer replaced the wheel, and the noise went away .

 

did the dealer give you an insight as to how long the flywheel would have lasted if it had not been replaced right then? just wondering if its a time sensitive replacment once the sound starts...

 

No they did not, but they said it needed to be changed, I if you look around, there are other posts on this topic. Look under rattling fly wheel or clutch.

 

It seems that if it is the flywheel, or transmission, that the noise would be tied to the engine rpm, or road speed. In my case it does not. It does remind me of detonation. The only other car I experienced detonation with was my Cortina when I ran regular gas instead of premium. With my MC I have always run 93 octane. Also if it were the flywheel, or transmission, would it be so temperature dependant?

 

Good point MiniMacster. .

Thanks for the replies, fellas.

 

I don't

P.S. Your car doesn't have a DM flywheel. When dealing with noises like this, you have to be a little logical and practical at the same time. Since you said that the noise only happens in second gear and none other, it would be safe to assume that the noise is inside the trans and is probably some blemishes on the face of the gears for 2nd on the two shafts inside the trans. You could have it rebuilt as it looks like all of internal parts are available for the Midlands according to the ETK. You can also see this at realoem.com in group 23 individual trans parts. The shafts come complete. Don't know which would be more economical, replace or rebuild, you would have to price the shafts and labor for that. Will it fail on you next week, probably not. You'll just have to pay attention and see if it gets any louder. BTW, you have checked your fluid right? Not that it will fix the problem at this point, but at least might avoid any other problems.

 

+1 with Chad on the gear noise. I've had trannies with chipped teeth make the same kind of noise. One did trick me though, it was actually a bad output shaft bearing which chose to rattle only in 3rd gear on that car (89 mustang).

Btw, I'm taking mine in for a throwout bearing replacement in a couple of weeks. The noise from this one is different though, it mostly rattles with the tranny in neutral, when you let the clutch out. Press it in and the noise disappears. It does it mostly when cold. Maybe some of you are experiencing this instead.

Daniel

 

In your case you let the clutch out and the trans input shaft starts spinning and the noise starts, so I would say the noise is inside your trans too. When you press in the clutch, the TB starts spinning, noise goes away and the input shaft stops spinning as well....

Good luck

Chad

 

Thanks Chad- That seems like a logical explanation.
Don't mean to second guess, but does this take into account the temperature component of the issue (ie/ it going away when it's warmer)?
Thanks again!

 

Chad, I would agree with you, it could also be the transmission, but the rattle doesn't sound like a bearing whine. I've had a couple of occasions where the throwout bearing went bad and was rattling against the pressure plate fingers when the clutch was out... could be a bad pressure plate or bad pivot on the fork, come to think of it. I'll give an update once they open it up and fix it.

J, my experience with pitted or chipped facings is that at first the noise does seem worse when cold, but eventually it's equally bad at all temps. My guess is the warmer metal expands enough to press on the face a little tighter, cutting down the rattle a bit.

Daniel

 

I agree, temp could certainly change things....

 

2xmini,

could be, just doesn't ring bells for me like a noisey input shaft. Sometimes you just have to hear them.

 

I do recall a bulletin on an updated clutch assembly for the R50, but it depends on your Production date. Might get your Tech to check that, but I certainly would'nt put it all back together without starting it up and checking the noise.

 

Thanks for the info Chad, I'll have them look into it tomorrow. It would be nice if that were the case, nice to have a brand new clutch at 42k miles.

 

Just adding in my experience here. I have a sound that is like popcorn popping (and something like water boiling) but I would say is non-metallic.

That said, it happens when accelerating and throttle off around 2500 - 4000 in 2nd. Nothing in first, a little in third at same RPM's, not at highway speed in 4th or 5th.

I've been told "that's the classic Mini burble" but it's coming from the engine not the exhuast.

I've been told "it's air in the coolant system" and we're trying flushing the coolant.

And most exciting, a call has gone in to Mini Canada about the sound and a possible connection to the transmission.

LJ

 

What year is your MC?

 

Mine's a 2004 MC (non-S) all stock. Bought used in February with 22,000 Km (about 15,000 miles?).

The sound is non-rhythmic and to my ear non-metallic. Really does sound like mini-gnomes making popcorn in the engine bay.

Dealership is 45 minutes away on the highway and by the time I get there the sound is almost unnoticeable. Unless you've been hearing it since February.

I left it overnight and am waiting to hear back as to what Mini Canada says.

Murph