Progressive Whining Noise When Accelerating In Certain Gears

[eric168]

Hi all, it's my first time posting but have been reading as a guest for a while now.

Everything seemed fine with my 460 1.6 but this morning (summer morning so quite warm) when driving to work a problem occurred. It started to have a whining sound when accelerating in a gear like a supercharger whining. Upon closer focus on the problem, I found that it does this in 2nd, sometimes 3rd and sometimes 4th gear. Also, I can feel/hear something pop or click before the noise begins.

Also, when I change gear the noise is gone, then after a bit after changing gear the noise comes back after the pop/click noise.

Anyone had this problem before? Any ideas on how to sort this out?

Many thanks in advance.

[andy100]

could be the clutch thrust bearing. They can whine louder than an old lady in a post-office que.
Mine does it occasionally at temps around minus 7 or colder.

[eric168]

hi andy100, any ideas on how much it would cost to fix and would i need a whole new clutch for this?

[GTMaster]

Can you pinpoint from where the noise is coming from? If it's coming from the belt driven side of the engine then it may be the water pump. Does it make the noise when the car is stationary and you rev it? It could be as mentioned the thrust bearing, but does it make the noise when you depress the clutch?

[andy100]

Originally Posted by eric168

hi andy100, any ideas on how much it would cost to fix and would i need a whole new clutch for this?

See GT's post. It may not be the thrust bearing. I found when mine whined in the very cold weather, pressing in the clutch stopped it. It generally only happened on starting from very very cold, once the engine warmed up the bearing was happy with life. Also, check the main drive belt is at the correct tension, this drives the water pump. Too slack no good, too tight no good.

The clutch thrust bearing can screech at all speeds/revs/gears though so don't discount it yet.

PRICE ?
You don't want to be replacing the bearing without doing the whole clutch really. Its not easy. Its not cheap. Lets hope u find its not the bearing.........otherwise £250+ would be likely.

[eric168]

hi guys,

took it to the garage on Saturday and they said it was the bearings between the drive shaft and the engine's crank shaft has worn out which caused it to leak gearbox oil and hence the sound.

It only happened on friday morning (which was a hot day but I guess it was worn out and leaked oil long before then). I had a feeling it was the clutch which needed replacing but now it seems much bigger issue.

the garage said it may run into £400-£500 job as it was a big one and told me to think about it first as the car wasn't worth that much.

Sad but can't do much anymore, just topped up the oil and applied some grease thing to that leaking bit for a the meantime as I think of what to do.


Thanks for the replies guys.

[shimon340]

Hi

I'm in Manchester too if I can be of any help

The passenger side driveshaft on these gearboxes has an inner boot which seals the inner end of the driveshaft into the gearbox where it is then lubircated by gearbox oil. These CV boots can leak and it's a common problem for any Volvo with these boxes (400 series and some S/V40 models).

If the gearbox is leaking from here then indeed eventually it will start to take its toll on the gearbox due to it running low on oil. If they topped the gearbox oil up, that's great but bear in mind these gearboxes require bespoke oil (not the generic oil of general specification from a motor factor or Renault) as the internals of these Volvo upgraded units need bespoke additives. Standard oil will corrode the gearbox internally (synchros).

The connection between the crankshaft being worn and the gearbox leak I dont see what they mean?

I'm also personally investigating that a lot of the B172 (340), B18 (400 series) and D19 (400 and X40) cars have a common leak of oil from around the back of the auxillary shaft (oil pump) seal, above the sump. Could it be that's the oil leak they refer to?

The whining could be many things from engine ancilliaries to the gearbox.

Want to meet up and have a listen? I've previously dealt with a 440 diesel with two whining gearboxes and an S40 too which whines in certain gears.

Being a 1.6 I think you have the JB-3 gearbox. Salvogroup have JB-3s for £125.

I'm not about tomorrow but can pick up message friday

kind regards

[shimon340]

Hello

Did you get yourself sorted ok? Can I be of any help?

Shimon