First gear & clutch (or something) making strange noise

[squid2004]

When at a light and I start to take off in first engaging the clutch I hear an almost tire squeeling sound (kind of an *errrrrrr* sound). It does it if I engage the clutch at a higher RPM. When it first happened I thought it was a tire squeeling actually, but I don't think that's it.

Is it actually the clutch or could it be something else? Is there anything wrong or is it normal?

Everything else shifting wise seems fine.

 

[MJK]

How many miles on this clutch? is it stock?

Does the clutch slip at all on hard acceleration?

 

[squid2004]

How many miles on this clutch? is it stock?

Does the clutch slip at all on hard acceleration?

I'd have to check the records again but it was replaced at one time... I think maybe 20,000 miles ago.

I don't notice any slipping. But I guess I really couldn't tell unless I drove another NSX. However, my Legend's clutch was going bad and I could certainly tell.

 

[MJK]

Hrm - weird. If you launch at low rpm, there is no noise? The only thing I can think of would be the clutch, but they usually last a lot longer than 20k.

Put the car in 5th at low rpm (30mph-ish) and give it full throttle to see if you can get it it to slip. Not the clutch, all my guesses would be a longshot.

 

[DutchBlackNsx]

I know exactly what you mean...

Read this: http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33373
In the meantime i have changed just my clutch discs only, and its gone.
So for me it wasn't the throw out bearing, nor the little bearing in the flywheel.
It couldn't have been the throw out bearing, because when it was in neutral,i never heard anything, it only showed up on force on the frictionplates.

hth

 

[squid2004]

Hrm - weird. If you launch at low rpm, there is no noise? The only thing I can think of would be the clutch, but they usually last a lot longer than 20k.

Put the car in 5th at low rpm (30mph-ish) and give it full throttle to see if you can get it it to slip. Not the clutch, all my guesses would be a longshot.

at like 1200-1500 RPM I don't think there's a noise, I'll double check.

I'll also do the 5th gear thing. I certainly hope it's not the clutch, but I'm curious what it might be. Hopefully nothing serious.

I did have a new tire put on but I think it was making the noise before then. Not sure it'd be that, but that's another long shot of sorts.


Thanks for any ideas.

 

[squid2004]

I know exactly what you mean...

Read this: http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33373
In the meantime i have changed just my discs, and its gone.
So for me it wasn't the throw out bearing, nor the little bearing in the flywheel.
It couldn't have been the throw out bearing, because when it was in neutral,i never heard anything, it only showed up on force on the frictionplates.

hth

Innnnnteresting, thanks!

what did the replacement job cost you? What was involved?


Any improvement in performance or anything else or did it just get rid of the squeeling? I'm just wondering if it's hurting my performance at all. Doesn't seem like it.

 

[MJK]

Dutch has a good point, check your records (if you have them) to make sure the throwout bearing was replaced with the clutch last time!

EDIT: The reason I say this is that the clutch is sold as a replacement part without the throwout bearing included in the service assembly. I have no idea why, because the service manual does clearly state that the throwout bearing needs replaced. Depending on how familiar the last tech was to replaced the clutch, I am thinking that he may have re-used the TOB. If he did, and it is worn out that might cause the sqealing.

 

[DutchBlackNsx]

What did the replacement job cost you? What was involved?
Any improvement in performance or anything else or did it just get rid of the squeeling? I'm just wondering if it's hurting my performance at all. Doesn't seem like it.

I did the replacement myself, since i was replacing a bearing in my gearbox.
Replacing them discs is not to difficult, you need some good tooling though, and a hand or two. That gearbox has to come off, and that thing is heavy!
I suggest while your in there, to replace the throw-out bearing as well. I wouldn't replace the whole clutch assembly, but realy it depends on miles on the clutch and how the flywheel/middle plate/end plate looks.
You will not benefit from any performance gains. All i can say is that when your in there, replace that flywheel with a light one. Thats one of the mods which made me car definetely faster.

 

[SaberX]

Mine makes the same noise - no slipping under accel either and it doesn't seem to affect anything. Let me know what it so I know if I have to shell out some $$. :biggrin:

 

[mandrewz]

It's the end thrust bearing, which can be shimed, but you have to open the trans case to get at it. It doesn't hurt anything, just doesn't sound very nice. Ask me how I know this (not really). Quite a few of the 5-speeds do this, and a new clutch seems to remedy the problem initially, but it will return.

 

[rbirling]

Interesting. Mine started doing this after a new clutch. Hopefully as it wears, it will go away then. :tongue: Not holding my breath...

It's the end thrust bearing, which can be shimed, but you have to open the trans case to get at it. It doesn't hurt anything, just doesn't sound very nice. Ask me how I know this (not really). Quite a few of the 5-speeds do this, and a new clutch seems to remedy the problem initially, but it will return.

 

[NSXTech]

Like all noises, we can all only guess at exactly what you are hearing.
That said, what you describe matches pretty closely what is a well known sound in Hondas. It was first reported in 1984 when the "new" Civic came out.
The CRX (including mine) in 84 and the 3Dr made this annoying chirp if you started from a light at a higher rpm with a quicker pedal upstroke. The DSM allowed us to replace clutches for awhile, but the new ones did it also.
We then got instructions to STOP. The noise had been analyzed to be a
hormonic disturbance caused by the cf of the new clutch material.

Certain driving styles and climate changes seem to exacerbate the noise.

I have heard it in litterally every model of Honda from Civic to NSX and have heard it my own Civic, Accord, Integra and NSX. (my 95 Legend was the only autoshifting Honda I ever owned)

If you own the car, you own the noise. Get used to it. :wink:
MB

 

[squid2004]

I can live with just a noise.... not a serious problem