Ive been noticing troubling noise for quite some time now, but havent had a chance to get it looked at. Its a slow tock-tock-tock that only occurs when the car is in drive, not parked or in neutral. Just wondering if anyone might know what this is.

 

Does the sounds increase in speed as your car increases in speed? Did that make sense. How about, at 10mph you hear the noise 10 times, at 20 do you hear it 20 times?

 

If it increases in frequency with car speed, its suspension/brake/tire related.

If it increases with engine RPM, while driving, its tranny/differential/drive shaft related.

If it increase with engine RPM while in Park/Neutral and possibly Drive, its engine related.

 

well geeze you made explaining that seem easy.

 

Not really..

 

Well it happens in drive while sitting still, so the tranny/diff/ds arent moving yet. But it doens thappen in neutral/park so it cant be the engine. I dont notice it once im moving but im goign to listen more carefully and report back. Thanks for the responses so far.

 

There was a fourth thing I didnt mention: If you put it in gear (loads the engine) and it knocks, it can be the engine too....

 

Does it only make the noise when in drive sitting still? Does it make the noise when you first start accelerating but them goes away? Sounds like it may be a torque convertor problem. I seem to remember someone else having a similar noise who tracked it down to the TC.

Bob

 

^^ A good possibility. I've known CVTs that do this too just before leaving you stranded.

 

Ok I checked it out as best I could and I onyl hear the noise while standign in dirve at idle. It goes away ( or becomes inaudible) as soon as I start moving and I dont hear it under slow roll or deceleration. The torque converter might be the right idea, does the whole trans have to get pulled to check that out?