Hi all, I have an idea what I think is going on, but I am looking for other opinions. In the last few months, my trans is howling when the clutch is engaging from a stand still (forward or reverse). After I get moving, the other shifts don't howl. I feel like its a glazed clutch surface but I'm not sure. It mostly does it when the trans is cold. Once the car warms up, it usually disappears.

The clutch doesn't slip so I am trying to hold out as long as possible. I moved to NYC last year and think that the painful stop n go traffic caused my clutch to glaze over.

Does this sound right or can it be something else?

 

I have the same thing goin on. But it only happens when it's really cold out like 10 degrees or colder. I would like to know the answer too.

 

I notice it more on cold and damp days.

 

Input shaft bearing....

 

Or t/o bearing

 

I thought the input shaft bearing made the sound when depressing/disengaging the clutch.

 

My GTI was doing the same exact thing. It was the throwout bearing. Only happened when cold and especially when wet, and it mainly happened on the first few times I took off in 1st or reverse after the car sat a while.

 

Man, that sucks. How long do you think I have with it then? I'm getting married in March and all extra cash is going to that at the moment.

 

Sounds like a TO bearing. Try and replace it ASAP. It can leave you stranded.

 

So I imagine it's best to replace the clutch and flywheel while the trans is open, right?

 

how much miles are on your trans? Mine howls too, mines also a 02 6sp on oem clutch at 151K. It especailly howls when i balance a stand still on a incline. Im thnking about looking into it soon, but sounds like everyone is saying its the throwout bearing, might as well replaces clutch when the trans open

 

My trans/car has 137k on it.

 

Not if you still want to get married. Lol

But yes, if you would like to upgrade then you might as well do it while it's apart. Maybe the rear main seal while your at it.

 

Yeah it's best to do the clutch, especially with 137k on it. It's the unfortunate part of owning a MT car, but it's well worth the trouble . But honestly don't worry about the rear main unless it's leaking...pulling the transmission is only hard the first time you do it, and messing with something that isn't broken may only cause more issues. Once you figure out everything, it's very simple. From the time the car is jacked up to the time it's lowered back down, I can do a clutch swap in around 6 hours (unless there are stripped bolts...those ruin everything).

 

Im pretty sure its not the throwout bearing im sure its the clutch disc. Theres a TSB on this and the dealer replaces just the clutch disc because of a defective material it says. I think the clutch glazing over sounds about right. My car didnt start doing this until i bought it from PA and came into NYC it took a few months to start.

Look for the TSB and post it up here. Its called something like clutch howl

 

Glazed clutch discs generally don't grab as well but yes it could be a possiblity. Either way, with the transmission coming off - it's best to replace both the clutch and the TOB.

 

Thanks. This NYC driving/road conditions is giving my ride a beating.

I only drive it on weekends so I am going to try and hold out a bit.

 

Search some more on this. There is other threads about it. My clutch has been doing this for years off and on. Get used to it and forget about it.

 

I agree it's not the bearings. Those can make a whining sound. I had them done and on cold days the first 2 or 3 slow clutch engagements I had a howl in 1rst only in my 4th gen... everything is just fine for me.

 

I am having a similar problem, usually in reverse backing up the driveway but also from a stop in first. It only does it as soon as the clutch starts to engage, once it's all the way in or out its fine. I wouldn't call it a howl, almost more like a squeal as if the clutch is slipping on the flywheel. I feel like a glazed clutch disk would make sense, as opposed to the TOB.

Did you have any luck with diagnosis?