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squak when car shifts 1st to 2nd under load

houkster

Member
Joined
September 27, 2006
Messages
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City, State
ventura,ca
Year, Model & Trim Level
1997 mercury mountaineer
If I give it any more than modest gas or I'm on an uphill starting out I get a sort of metallic, spinning metal touching sound for about 1/2 second. Happens when it's shifting plus sometimes 2nd to 3rd if still under more than normal load. Transmission guy drove with me and doesn't think it's tranny related, more up toward the front. A pully? why would a pully just chirp when the shifting occurs?
Any help out there?
 



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I replaced that about 10k mi. ago prior to this current problem. Also, it's not a squeek like a fanbelt usually makes, it's more like two spinning sheet metal pieces briefly touching each other as the tranny is shifting while under more than normal load (doesn't take flooring it, just a little more gas or a hill).
 












Check the wear pads on your leaf springs. The bare leaves could be rubbing each other causing this sort of sound. Easiest way to test for it is to go push on the back and bounce it some to try and replicate the noise.

I would think it's suspension related. When shifting and taking off the load changes on various parts of the suspension abruptly, and can cause some weird sounds.
 






Just checked fan belt, looks new. There isn't a 'creak' sound. It's way more like two flat, metal, spinning discs that briefly rub each other (up to 1 full second in length). Tranny guy thought maybe a pully. Had replaced just about every one last year when I had a short squeeking sound when the engine was really cold. The only one I hadn't changed out was the alternator pully, and I just had to replace my alternator. As soon as I replaced it I gave the car extra gas to see if the new pully did it. No noise!
Of course it came back the very next time I gave it a little extra gas and thereafter. I don't know the mechanics of power transfer to the front wheels. Could this be the root cause on my AWD?
 






Just for the heck of it, have you checked for loose heat shields on the exhaust system? Grab a rubber mallet crawl under, and tap all the heat shields (on the cats, exhaust pipe, muffler - give them a good whack). It's a long shot, but I've heard loose heat shields or stones trapped in the shields make all sorts of strange noises.
 






My first thought when the sound first appeared (just after being towed to the dealer) was that a driveshaft was torqueing just enough at shifting (under extra load) that it was briefly rubbing against a piece of sheet metal. Called the tow company to ask how they towed it because they had called me to say they would be an extra half hour because they were getting a flatbed instead,because I had all wheel drive .......... so I wondered if they had tried to tow it incorrectly......but they said they hadn't.

p.s. if you ever have a little catch in your gas pedal it could be a wiring harness causing it that can pry itself loose.
 






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