4EAT whirring sound question

[subinubi]

I haven't seen any references to this specific sound in the posts. My AT with 45K on a rebuild has recently started making a somewhat high pitched whirring noise. I suspect related to fairly small components dut to the pitch (fine teeth, gears, bearings or whatever).

When it first started, I though it was the bearings on my turbo going out due to oil starvation. The noise originally only lasted for a few seconds after startup, so by the time I popped the hood, it went away. Now that the noise lasts longer, I am able to notice that it changes in relation to the gear change, ie. taking it out of park. I have since isolated it to the tranny forward area or perhaps center section.

No doubt, with the speed at which this problem is progressing, my tranny is on its way out. What a shame! I may have to do a 5mt swap.

QUESTION: Does anyone know what this sounds like and if it is fatal?

I wouldn't expect to get much more than 45K out of a $2300 AAMCO rebuild. I'd probably just fix it if that's possible, but I'd seriously doubt that. My wife likes the sound of a $1100 MT swap over a $2300 AT replacement. The improved driving experience is just icing on the cake.

I was going to sell the car, but as most here know, the Touring Wagon is a Swiss Army knife of a vehicle with all the amenities provided by a $25k new car.

[magicmike]

This is the same exact sound my tranny makes. I have stopped driving the car for fear of getting stranded. Any info on what this sound might be would be helpfull.

[elnicko247]

I had the same sound in my '93 turbo and I changed the fluid and filter replacing the oring on the filter with two. Somehow mine had a small cut on it and it was sucking air around the filter-much worse when fluid was warm. Hope this helps.

[Nomake Wan]

Shiz... I hope this isn't the sound I've been hearing. I've been really hoping that the sound wasn't an engine or transmission sound...

My car makes an odd sound when between 2500 and 3000 RPMs, in gear and under acceleration. By feathering the throttle I can sustain the sound for long enough to hear it clearly. Every time I try to get my dad (the car guru of the family) to hear it, he says he doesn't hear anything. But when I had my little sister in the car and showed her, she heard it perfectly. So I'm not crazy, and it didn't make that sound until last spring. Pre-crash. I was hoping it was just suspension stuff... but I just got an alignment (and half-shaft replacement) and it's still there.

It's a high-pitched whirring noise. Occasionally it sounds like it could be a grinding sound, but generally it's a whirr.

While the thought of a 5MT in my car is awesome, I don't have the time nor money (nor weather, nor space) to do a swap. I need this car to get me through college... can't have the tranny blowing up...

[subinubi]

Sounds just like my problem, Nomake Wan. To isolate it further, it is getting very loud on cold start up and lasts for about a minute or two. When I take off, the tranny slips a bit for the first time, then works fairly normally once I've been driving.

As far as the noise goes, it is now becoming louder under load and goes away when the throttle is released. It definitely sounds like the noise is forward in the tranny and the slipping problem is similar to an old Ford I had when the C6 tranny was going out. I think possibly torque converter related.

[93Leg-c]

My tranny started making that whirring noise after a long interstate climb up into the mountians the previous week. It almost sounds like a power steering pump that's going bad. I took it to my mechanic and he said it definitely is the transmission. Possibly a valve body but could be other things. He said it's very possible that if I keep driving it, that metal shavings can get all over everywhere inside the tranny. Whatever the problem might be, he highly recommended that the tranny be taken apart and fixed. My mechanic is a type of guy that doesn't fix things for the money because he definitely does not like fixing things when they don't have to be fixed.

On that same long mountain climb, I burned the exhaust valve on cylinder #4 really badly. The engine runs really rough and one can get a free body shake while sitting in my car at idle. Starting tomorrow I'm getting a used engine put in to get me by but my mechanic said it's the perfect time to work on the tranny. So, that's the plan.

IF everything works out, the tranny should be apart this week and I'll post to let you know what's needed on my tranny.

[Nomake Wan]

Well, a little update...

There isn't really any noticeable change in driving characteristics while it's making this noise... the transmission always hesitates a little as it gets to 3k, but it's been there since as far as I can remember. Other than that it operates perfectly.

My dad finally hears what I'm talking about, and has told me it's more likely to be a vacuum leak. The sound kinda sounds like it's coming from behind the dash somewhere...

But as I've said before, it only makes the sound when the car's in gear (any gear; I've tried them all) and the RPMs are between 2500 and 3000. It's also a lot easier to make the sound noticeable if I'm going up an incline--doing that allows me to apply more power while maintaing the RPM range, which makes the sound louder.

I think I'll put the digital camera into my car later today and go for a drive to see if I can catch the sound on film.

[93Leg-c]

As for my tranny . . . well, some complications arose. The tranny specialist that was supposed to take it apart wasn't available so I'm just having my engine replaced for now. However, in pulling out the old engine, the mechanic pulled out the torque converter with the engine and had to replace the tranny seal. He noticed metal particles in the ATF. It was just as my other mechanic said--that metal shavings would start to circulate throughout the tranny because "something" is not right inside the tranny.

I'll update when more info becomes available.

My subie should be ready for pickup in a few hours. I can't wait to drive it again. It's only been a week and I sure miss it.

[subinubi]

My problem is definitely not a vacuum leak. I believe it is related to the torque converter as it is developing more delay when taking off. It whirrs in all gears under load.

No problem tho, as I have just purchased an '05 2.5rs 5mt that is nearly new. The 3.90 center diff will be a perfect match to the current rear diff and even better with the 3.90 LSD I purchased (hopefully compatible with my current half shafts).

I stumbled on this tranny and upon researching it, it looks like the gearing is more favorable than the taller geared WRX tranny. At least the conversion is easier than changing to a 4.11 ratio. I don't want to give up any more mpg than I already do.

Anyhoo, I can now comfortably drive the 4eat into the ground knowing life will be better on the 5 speed side. Anyone interested in my old 4eat?

[Nomake Wan]

Okay, update on my end. I wish this were a vacuum leak, but I just can't agree with my dad. It would have to happen all the time to be that, right?

I shot some videos today. The video part sucks, but it's the sound that's important. Listen for the high-pitched whine.

http://www.thawa.net/gallery/album165

I also noticed that it only seems to be noticeable when in D or when the selector is in '1'. In 2 and 3 I can't hear it.

Now I'm fairly certain it's transmission, related... but I'm confused. It won't do it in second gear with the selector in '2', but it'll do it in second gear with the selector in '1'. That makes no sense.