I have a grinding noise on my 03 mc. It is a manual and it sounds like it is coming from the lower left drivers side. I think it may be the transmission but i don't have any performance or shifting problems. I am adding a sound file so you can listen to it. It is not the best quality but you can here it. In the sound file i kept pressing and letting off the accelerator so it would be more pronounced. The sound does get quite down if I depress the clutch but is not completely gone. Any Ideas?

Audio file
http://www.azle.npmhu311.com/audio/car.mp3

 

Change tranny fluid and ck for metal bits. May let you know whats going on inside

 

You might find this article of some help:
http://new2.minimania.com/web/displa...1/ArticleV.cfm

 

Found out what it was. The transmission locked up while I was going to work. I am in the process of replacing it now. I am also going to replace the clutch while I am at it.