Auto trans question

[der Geist]

Hello everyone,

I recently picked up a 1986 944. I've always wanted one and I decided to get an auto trans model so that my wife could drive it too. It's in excellent condition in and out and has always been garaged. The bad is that it is high milage (nearing 200K). This week I started hearing the sound of gears meshing (not grinding) coming from the area directly behind the radio. It starts making this noise at around 30 MPH and it disappears just before 40MPH. It is almost non-exsistent if I drive in 2nd gear. Also, it is much louder when I am on the gas (normal driving) than coasting. It sounds just like I have a noisy manual transmission.

Anyone have any ideas, they would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Martin

[338WIN]

Hi Martin,
I picked up a one owner 83 with auto because I'm doing a whole lot more cruising and spend more time than I care to admit in traffic. Mine is very early without power steering so it took a long time for my bride to warm up to it.
I'm simply thinking of the possibilities, but about the only items in the drive train that might noise up front are the rubber dampner (expensive and a lot of work, I just finished doing that job) or if you were really lucky, a loose clamp inside the housing, but I doubt that.
Can't think of anything else.
Could it be the speedometer cable even? Can't imagine it could make that kind of noise.
Keep digging, the longer you let it go the more damage it causes to other components.
Good luck kto you.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by der Geist

decided to get an auto trans model so that my wife could drive it too.

I would have made her learn to drive a stick... Its not that hard in these cars... I'm no help on the auto trannys... Never owned a car with a slushbox

[carsontc]

yes...probably the rubber damper (p/n 94411606502) which is attached to the flywheel. they last from 80k to 100k miles.

the part itself could cost north of $1200, then a good shop may do the job in about 12 hours.

after that the transaxle will probably be next to need work...and so it goes...another money pit

[flash968]

repairs on automatics are costly - no doubt about it - the early boxes were not particularly beefy, and the tips in the 968 while pretty strong, still had a weak link in the flex dampener, which is costly and difficult to replace

i have a tip in one of my 968s and dread the day i have to get in there to fix that

good luck

[der Geist]

Thanks everyone for the input. Winter should be settling in here soon so I guess that I will have plenty of time to fool with it once the white stuff flies. When I find out for sure what it is I will be sure and post it for the next guy with this problem.

[HondaDustR]

Could be torque tube bearings. IIRC, I've heard the autos had one less bearing in the torque tube than the standards, and were more prone to failure, but I really don't know if it's true.

[der Geist]

I guess the torque tube will get my first look then.

[HondaDustR]

It would suck if it actually was, since replacing the bearings, while possible, is a major PITA...not to mention removing the torque tube, which is also a major PITA, as would be re-assembling it all. Definitely a winter project. It may be something else. I know bad bearings make more of a rumbling sound, but the torque tube bearings run at engine speed, so maybe they could make a gear mesh type whining noise. Mine haven't started going south yet, so I don't know. Maybe it is just the flex plate damper going bad or it's clamp on the driveshaft is loose.

[djnolan]

could be something simple like loose exhaust paraphanelia. if the damper, it won't take long before it is overwhelming in loudness and vibration level.

[968rz]

There's an inspection plate or hole (depending on model) on the bell housing so you can inspect the damper, need to get under the car to get at it.