A/T noise

[93Leg-c]

Hey guys. I need help diagnosing a noise coming from (I think) my auto tranny. I have a 1998 Legacy L wagon w/ a 2.2 engine and 238,6xx miles on it. I know it's not a first-generation Legacy but the drive train is very similar in the second-generation Legacies and some of you guys are excellent in knowing the mechanicals of the cars. So, I need your help please.

I'll endeavor to describe the issue(s) from when it started to the present. A month or so ago, mild signs of torque bind appeared. A couple of weeks after that a combination noise appeared which increased in frequency, volume, and severity. The sound first sounded like a cv joint that was starting to go bad, but instead of hearing clicking, it was chirping/ squeaking that I was hearing. While it came out sometimes in a straight line while driving, most often it exhibited itself when starting from a stop, and especially when I was making a right-hand turn. Also heard occasionally was a rattle, something like a loose heat shield but a bit heavier in sound.

Last week the noise became so loud that it could be heard with the windows up and stereo on. The torque bind then became very pronounced--it shook the car side to side and up and down and sometimes continued even after the noise subsided.

To attempt finding the issue(s) this is what I did: All the heat shields were checked and they were all tight. The right front wheel, when lifted off the ground, had some play in it when I grasped the tire at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions and shook it. The ball joint and tie rod end seemed tight; the play seemed to be coming from the inner end of the axle (where it goes into the transaxle). The axle is Empi brand, made in China, and "new," not rebuilt. It has probably about 40-50,000 miles on it. The inner and outer cv boots are good--no cracks or splits in them. I did not (but should have) checked the left axle because the sound seemed to come from the passenger side of the tranny (and nightfall was upon me).

The next day, I put a fuse into the 2WD fuse receptacle and test drove the car. All of the symptoms disappeared. I drained the tranny (about 5 qts of ATF came out) and refilled with synthetic Dexron VI ATF (transaxle already had synthetic ATF in it). The ATF had a sweet smell, it was just a bit slightly browner than fresh ATF in color when on my light gray nitrile gloves but looking into the drain pan it was noticeably darker. The fresh ATF felt very slippery whereas the old ATF was not slippery in feel.

I pulled the fuse and went for a test drive. Initially, the symptoms were about the same but as I drove a few blocks, the symptoms subsided noticeably. However, there was a change in the rattling sound -- it now sounded like a rapping noise, like something that was metal was rapidly pounding on another metal piece (perhaps the inner axle end being "pounded"?).

I drove the car for about 10-15 miles then again drained and refilled the tranny a second time and went for a test drive. This time a bit more of the symptoms went away, but not much. Now, the chirping/ squeaking came out intermittently on right hand turns but it seemed louder on left hand turns.

Right now I'm wondering if I should drive the car a while and do a third drain and refill of the ATF, or proceed to check the clutch packs, or perhaps is the metallic rapping sound an indication that my tranny is toast and that I should seek a replacement rather than attempt fixing it? Any suggestions on what you think may be causing the metallic rapid rapping sound and any suggestions on what I should do?

I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!

[wtdash]

Hi,
Although the fact that the FWD fuse made the symptoms disappear makes me less sure, I'm still leaning toward 2 things:
1. Front wheel bearing
2. Chinese CV axle

W/the # of miles the wheel bearings are suspect and I only got about 10K miles out of my Autozone CV axle.

GL,
Td

[Legacy777]

I know this is quite late, but wanted to see what you found out.

I too am not a fan of the chinese cv axles, however it sounds like you've got more going on than just the axles.

[93Leg-c]

Thanks for the replies, Td and Josh. I've been gone out-of-state and just got back in a few minutes ago so I haven't looked at my car at all. I'll be leaving in a few days again but I'll report back after I get back and had the opportunity to see what's up with the Legacy.