What's Up With My Clutch? (If anything)
 

Greetings All. Post #1.

I just bought a 1988 SE (I've had a few before) and I have a clutch/transmission question: When the car is idling, in neutral, with the clutch released the car makes a strange, "busy" noise that is very irregular, but when you press the clutch in, it sounds like a normal car and idles smooth. This is the same when in motion down the road. What's up with my clutch?

Is it a like a bearing noise, or rattling? If it is, bad news. I had the same happen to my 86 SE. The tranny main bearings are going out. The time it makes the noise is whenever the clutch is engaged with the flywheel, causing the input shaft to spin. So your due most likely for a tranny rebuild or swap. I ended up putting in a 5-speed from 89 third gen maxima.

Can you give some more details on the sound. I want to 100% sure of the noise. It also seems like the tranny is growling.

Sarin

It sounds a lot like something is spinning out of synchro. and rubbing or banging. However, it shifts perfect and there is no slip once-so-ever. The clutch feels strong and the shifts are crisp. There is just the sound. I bought the car to put a new front end on and sell for a profit. I am 16 and really cant afford 3 cars! (87' S10 V6, '93 Acura Vigor, '88 Max SE)

Thanks

That is definately the same symptoms I had. You might start looking for a tranny while your at it. You can do what I did an look for an used, low mileage tranny. I guarantee it will be difficult to find, it took me a month or two of solid searching, and you have to be careful where you buy the transmission from.

Sarin