when i accelerate from 1st, i get a loud clicking and/or grinding noise, sort of like baseball cards in bicycle spokes but metallic instead. it happens under serious load, goes away at higher rpm's.

happens to a lesser extent in 2nd, even less in 3rd, etc.

ideas on things to look at?

 

Do you have a manual transmission? If so it sound like transmission bearings are worn. This happened to my 91SE at about 175K miles. Once you are moving down the road, push in the clutch. If the clicking stops, you have a transmissin problem.

 

You need a new tranny!!!

 

yeah it's a m/t. i was suspicious of the clutch bearings before. thing is: i'll only be driving this car for another three weeks or so, then i go away to school and it'll become a driveway ornament off and on for three years. is this something that MUST be fixed, or can it just "live with it?"

 

Yes, you can keep driving it. Just take it easy and it should keep running until you're ready to rebuild it.

 

Had to drive mine like that for a while, like 4 months, till I had the $$$$$.

 

Does it happen more often when you have the wheel turned? If so, it could be CV joints.

 

no, turning doesn't matter. i think it's the clutch bearing too. it was making sort of a squeak, now it's a grinding. just getting worse.