Tock, tock, tock sound... CVs or clutch???
 

I have a loud tock, tock, tock sound that seems to be coming from the front or middle of the car. It's intermittent, so I haven't just taken it to a shop just yet, since I know it won't happen when they try to diagnose the sound. The sound is very loud and seems to be related to the speed of the car. It starts off slow when I accelerate from a stop and gets faster. It happens when accelerating and coasting.

Here's the kicker: It stops when I push in the clutch.

That would rule out CVs, right? I can't imagine the clutch would do it... but I can't even change oil, so what do I know. Sometimes, I can drive for a couple hundred miles without any noise at all.

Maybe something in the transaxle?

I've had my tranny rebuilt twice in the last 10,000 miles. First time was for 2nd gear synchros, 2nd time was for 1st gear syncrhos.

Any ideas??

PS - Had to share what I did this week for my 40th birthday. That's me in the red shirt.

I'll take a guess and say it's the pilot bearing inside the clutch that was never changed and about to go kabloom.
I was told that this caused the squeeking noise that went away after the clutch pushed in.
The reverse symptoms would be the throwout bearing on the clutch fork.

The loud clunk part of it is the funny part.

Heres another guess: the CV joint has bad wear pattern/grease/partical in it and when unloaded the joint doesn't move over those surfaces.

Ground Rush
 

Sorry I don't have any input on the noise.
But holy crap that looks like fun. Congrats on the big 4-0! Nice to spend some time in Paradise.
How high up were you? How long in free fall? Couldn't have been your first time, right?
Good luck!

Sounds a lot like a CV to me. when you accelerate or coast, there's pressure on the CV from the 'box, or from the wheel. When you push the clutch, the pressure is alot less, and the noise subsides.
Had the same kind of noise, and it turned out to be a CV:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/DSC01970.JPG
GeorgeK

Here's something you should check that might (if you are lucky) save you hundreds...

Check the handbrake (emergency brake) cables are secured about half way along their length as they pass to each rear wheel (i.e. each cable has one attachment, one for the left, one for the right).

A rather crude and simple loop of plastic holds the cable on each side. If this loop breaks, the cable is free and can bang (loudly and irritatingly and randomly) against the engine bulkhead.

Sounds an expensive, very dangerous, horrible clonk clonk clonk sound. Its a great feeling to discover its actually something so simple and not dangerous at all.

I don't know the part-number for the little plastic loop (I improvised a "temporary" loop from plastic tape 2 years ago) but you may just want to check that before you spend $$$$ and hours on the C.V. joints, the transmission mountings etc etc.

Hope the above helps,

- roGER

Sounds like great advice... I'll have to crawl under and start taking things apart. Hope it isn't clutch related.... yikes.

Ryan - Exit altitude was 14,500 feet. Freefall time approximately 75 seconds. IT IS A BLAST!!! My 40th jump, too. Hawaii is absolutely gorgeous from up in the air... I could see the entire perimeter of the island.