Recently, I’ve noticed a strange rattling like noise coming from the front drivers side of the car. Happens only when accelerating. Any ideas on what it may be? Video link to noise:

Car has 147,000 miles. Not sure when or if it has ever been serviced

I think it’s transmission related.... and I’m not liking that... it’s getting worse and today, I noticed some sort of black liquid on the bottom of it.... sooo, fml

On this picture, brown is the engine oil, and the dark grey is what I wiped off of the transmission....

6 speed manual trans. I can’t tell where it’s coming out but the area behind the trans looks saturated with the fluid. I’m not sure how to check the levels as I don’t see a dip stick or a resovour for the fluid. If I can figure out how to add fluid, I want to try that and at least see if that gets rid of the noise and go from there.

Car shifts and drives just fine. The rattling noise is only when you mash on the gas.

I know it’s not the oil as it is brown in color. Power steering fluid is clear as the brake fluid.

After having the car serviced (supercharger oil change and 16% reduction pulley with colder spark plugs installed, one ball exhaust mod, thermostat housing replaced) I am still getting the noise in the video above. It sounds like it’s getting worse and the mechanic mentioned hearing what he called “Spark knock.” So I’m trying to figure out is this a timing issue where I need the crank pulley replaced? Or is there a timing chain or whatever that needs replaced? Or do I replace both? I’m not familiar with timing chains or how to tell if a car has one.

tensioner looked good. At least, it didn’t feel weak, and the bushings looked good. Seems to start making the noise under load right around 3500 RPM. I can hear a definite clicking sound. I am confident it may very well be the crank pulley.

So I took it out for a drive this afternoon, and I’m questioning if it is indeed spark knock. I don’t get the noise if I’m in nuetral and rev the motor, but it happens when driving. Istill think it’s somewhere around the trans. A lot of times when I try to downshift, it doesn’t want to go into first or second. I have to release the clutch and press it again in order for me to shift into first. Same goes for reverse at times, or getting out of reverse and going into first.

Also do at times, if I’m in nuetral and I release the clutch, I get a rattling noise. I’m wondering if all of this is related, and is my problem.

here’s some video clips I took of the car.

Took the mini out for a drive with a mechanic and he was able to notice some noise that I was unable to hear alone. A small clicking sound once the car starts moving that kind of progresses as the car speeds up. Then, the noise I hear appears. So he felt it is not spark knock as the other mech said. Hoping for something relatively simple to fix.

Welp, finally figured out the noise. Mechanic took the transmission out and discovered a few issues.

1. Not really an issue, but learned I have a salvaged transmission, not the original.

2. The place that the dealer I bought the car from who did the clutch replacement really screwed it up! Billed the dealer for a new clutch and pressure plate, but installed a very used set. They also rounded out several bolts. A couple of them had to have new bolt heads welded on the top in order to remove the bolt!

They also managed to strip strip a couple bolts so bad that it also damaged the flywheel. The result was they became loose and we believe that was causing the noise. Noise being the pressure plate and clutch rattling around because they were loose. Needless to say, I’m lucky it held together and didn’t severely damage the car... getting new flywheel, pressure plate and clutch installed, and I will be contacting the shop that did the initial replacement.

They also used a variety of different bolts as well.......

yes! And hopefully I can enjoy the car for a while.

So, I got the car back! Shifts a LOT different than before, but it is a lot smoother! My only problem is that noise is STILL THERE?!? And I am not finding any kind of solution or where to look now...

Here’s a better audio clip of the issue. It’s got to be something around the wheels... but it does get worse when you are in 5th and 6th gear...

Could it be an ABS issue?

From the video, it sounds like a more amplified version of the clicking you sometimes hear from the ABS actuator/solenoid.

Has your brake fluid level dropped? Could that be the source of the fluid you saw in your earlier posts?

Does the noise seem to be coming from within, or just on the other side of the dash?

That’s very interesting. Would that also trigger the DSC light? Because a few times, that light has come on. But if you shut the car off then restart, it goes away