944 strange sound??

red1963 · 04-22-2008, 07:25 PM

every once in a while moving or idling I get a loud sound from the passenger side of the engine compartment, rythmic like a motor with bad valves, but it stops if I tap the brake or clutch and comes back when I take my foot off either, anyone have a clue to what I'm hearing??

thanks

looneybin · 04-22-2008, 07:37 PM

What year is your 944?
It could be a bad motor mount, the passenger side tends to fail first, due to the heat from exhaust header

red1963 · 04-23-2008, 05:37 AM

It's a 85.5 -5spd-4cyl, another thought is maye the bearings in the brake/clutch assembly? would that creat the sound??

looneybin · 04-23-2008, 09:41 AM

The brake & clutch are both served by the same fluid, but i don't know how that could be related.
It could be a bad throw out bearing, but again, i don't see how the brakes would make the sound stop.
It's a long shot, but it could maybe be a bad master cylinder causing the clutch & brake pressures to be crossing into each other.

red1963 · 04-23-2008, 10:49 AM

OK, just was trying out diff things, and it will make the sound with engine off, just with key in on position, sounds like when a battery is dead and you are cranking the moter, the clicking from the starter selonoid, so that leaves the motor mounts and any bearing out, now this is interesting, could the ignition switch have a short ? but why does tapping the brake or clutch make it stop. does any wiring pass by the brake/clutch assembly that could have a short? I;ll have to check hmm just stabbing in the dark right now.

looneybin · 04-23-2008, 11:07 AM

You've got me stumped on that one
Is the starter selonoid be trying to continuously engage the starter?
I don't get how the clutch & brake are involved.
chasing electrical issues are not my strong area of DIY
hopefully someone with more electrical expertiese can chime in on this one

red1963 · 04-23-2008, 12:12 PM

YOU will not believe it,
I figured it out, the cruise control unit was chattering away, its mounted on the passenger side of the compartment, the wiring harness connectors behind the unit were very loose, so I disconnected them cleaned them up re attached,(also checked the switch on the column), bingo no more chatter, what a weird one, Once I got it to chatter with the motor not running it was easier to locate the problem, never heard of that happening before.
There is a switch and micro switch for the clutch pedal, (illustration907-00) so I will check it also, and with cruise you tap the brake to release cruise so that must account for the chatter stopping when either were tapped. That should hopefully do it.

Thanks
Red

looneybin · 04-23-2008, 12:39 PM

yep, the old cruise control.
good work

red1963 · 07:15 PM

As it goes the cruise control started chattering again, the switch on the column stops it only when pressed so, I did the old pull the connector apart thing for now, I will have to replace the switch on the colume I guess, but since I hate cruise control, it won't be a priority. and I see it's a whole unit with windshield washer and turn signals for 174.00 in the parts cat.

red