Should I be able to hear my gearbox whirring?

[GI]

Hiya,

For about a month or two I've noticed my gearbox makes a noise... now, whether this is just that I haven't noticed it before or whether something's wrong, I do not know.

It just makes a constant whirring noise that seems to get more audible when the gearbox is warm, say after a 15 minute drive. The car doesn't seem sluggish, the gear changes don't feel any different and there are no metallic or clunking noises.

It is just about audible above the engine noise at tickover.

Any ideas?

[GreenV8S]

No it isn't normal, perhaps it indicates wear in the gearbox. If it's just wear, I expect you'll find it gets louder and louder until finally you can't ignore it any more and have to fix it.

[DarkMatter]

Do you hear this noise only when driving, only at a standstill, or both? Does it make any difference whether the clutch pedal is pressed or released? I'm wondering whether it could be the clutch release bearing?

[GI]

No it's there all the time - it doesn't appear to get louder or quieter depending on speed or gear selected. Even with the clutch depressed.

It'll have to go for a service sometime in Nov or Dec

I notice that Pete Struck mentioned a gearbox noise on here when he owned the car, and I've emailed him to see if he found out what it was.

[tvrgit]

Sounds like the gear lever bushes? Does it go away if you grip the lever tight or hold it in position?

Mine does that from time to time but goes away before I get a chance to look for the problem.

Or perhaps the knob or collar is loose? (Don't ask me how I know that you can spend ages looking for the worst faults and find it's a simple one...)

[F908 Tim]

Think I found a buzz coming from my gearbox once and after suspecting the worst, tracked it down to simply the gear knob becoming loose.
One twist of the allen key on my momo and hey presto!

If only all jobs...Bla..Bla..

[tops2]

Does it go away when you press the clutch in at standstill. if so it is the layshaft bearings. they do rumble a little anyway. Try molyslip gearbox treatment it tends to reduce some noise and make cold oil gearchanges easier.

[ijbd]

Another source for whirring from the gearbox may be the km (excuse me miles) counter.
There is a little plastic gearwheel that drives a cable. the cable itself may also need lubing.
Would expect it is replacable withou takeing the box out.

mvg Boudewijn

[GI]

The gearbox is a reconditioned unit, I think put in when Ren Dao owned the car.

Moving or at standstill, the gearbox seems to make the same noise. However, at any speed over about 20, I really can't hear the whirr very well due to the engine noise!

I would guess if it was the speedo cable, the whirr would change according to the gearbox speed, which doesn't appear to happen.

[pstruck]

GI said:

The gearbox is a reconditioned unit, I think put in when Ren Dao owned the car.

I thought that at first too Graham, but if you check out all the invoices in the file I think it was just a quote for a recon box. I don't think it was actually done, possibly due to a service and gearbox oil change solving the probs he was having at the time.

I may be completely wrong on that, but I seem to remember reading through it all several times trying to work out what was/wasn't done.

Hope you got my e-mail response the other night.

Pete

[GI]

Hi Pete,

Sorry, I haven't checked email for a few days. I will do so tonight.

I didn't study the invoices that well to be honest.

Car is running fine and dandy, apart from a buckled wheel which failed the MOT. That's now sorted.


Cheers!

Graham