Strange Noise on change down

[BoRED S2upid]

Hi,

A very odd intermittent noise coming from my MX5 when changing down from 3rd to 2nd or 1st. I thought it could have been a lack of Gearbox oil or Diff Oil so had both of these changed but it still makes this noise occasionaly. It doesn't effect performance, the clutch is a bit high and will need changing at some point, could it be a slipping clutch?

Not sure if I should be worried or not.

Any ideas?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Maybe it would help if you described the noise

[BoRED S2upid]

Hmm. Yeah its a stange noise Like a squeel, its just noisier than I would have thought normal, two mechanics have had a look at it and dont think theres anything wrong. Are MX5's noisey? this is the first one ive had.

[JFReturns]

Is it a scratchy, rattling sound coming from the gearbox area - best described as hundreds of tiny ball bearings shaking in a muffled tin can?

If so, mine did that. And so do quite a few others from what I have read (nothing to worry about).

Could be a loose heat shield though?

[BoRED S2upid]

JFReturns said:

Is it a scratchy, rattling sound coming from the gearbox area - best described as hundreds of tiny ball bearings shaking in a muffled tin can?

If so, mine did that. And so do quite a few others from what I have read (nothing to worry about).

Could be a loose heat shield though?

Nope. Its got a loose heat sheild that rattles over bumps this is more a squeel kind of like the sound effect they put on the film Alien when the Alien is creeping up on them.

[Night Runner]

BoRED S2upid said:

Nope. Its got a loose heat sheild that rattles over bumps this is more a squeel kind of like the sound effect they put on the film Alien when the Alien is creeping up on them.

Hmm...

Does it only do it occasionally? If so, is there anything common when it does it?

Have you tried setting off in a hard gear (to deliberately stall it)? If so, does it stall straight away, or struggle for a bit? - therefore slipping.

Clutching at straws!

[Riknos]

BoRED S2upid said:

Nope. Its got a loose heat sheild that rattles over bumps this is more a squeel kind of like the sound effect they put on the film Alien when the Alien is creeping up on them.

When you say like a squealing noise, does it sound a bit like someone's angle grinding something metal? If so, then that will be your synchromesh on it's way out.

[Graebob]

Mine sounds like a bus on changedown from third to second. I figure it's just lack of gear oil and will get to it at some point.

[BoRED S2upid]

Did 130 miles in it yesterday and im pretty sure its the clutch. When im parked and rev the engine and let it idle its fine. However depress the clutch rev, idle and the noise, clutch in noise, no clutch no noisy.

This month, new clutch.