Noisy clutch? - loose bolts?

[funcrew]

Noise report: tinny, sheetmetal-rattly rattle coming from under car when idling with clutch in/in gear, clutch out/neutral, or clutch in/neutral. No noise when in-gear and clutch out. Noise is/was intermittent, but gradually becoming more constant.

At first I thought it was a loose heat shield or something, rattling from the idle vibration, but now I suspect that the PO under-torqued or neglected locktite or whatever when he did the 5-speed swap on the car. I have banged on everything I can find underneath the car with a rubber mallet and nothing rattles or seems loose. The car shifts fine and clutch action seems normal.

Any ideas?

[416stroker]

Noise report: tinny, sheetmetal-rattly rattle coming from under car when idling with clutch in/in gear, clutch out/neutral, or clutch in/neutral. No noise when in-gear and clutch out. Noise is/was intermittent, but gradually becoming more constant.

At first I thought it was a loose heat shield or something, rattling from the idle vibration, but now I suspect that the PO under-torqued or neglected locktite or whatever when he did the 5-speed swap on the car. I have banged on everything I can find underneath the car with a rubber mallwet and nothing rattles or seems loose. The car shifts fine and clutch action seems normal.w
F
Any ideas?

Its probably the Pilot bearing. Or the "getrag rattle" just getting louder.

[jlevie]

That combination tends to suggest that the cause of the noise isn't the pilot bearing or transmission input shaft bearings. The pilot bearing would only cause noise with the car in gear and clutch disengaged. With the transmission in neutral the input shaft will be turning with the flywheel. The input shaft bearings will only make noise with the transmission in neutral and the clutch engaged. Therfore my candidate will be the throwout bearing or something loose in the pressure plate. Then again, it is possible that the noise isn't from the bellhousing. With the car up in the air and idling it should be pretty easiy to find the source of the noise.

[416stroker]

The pilot bearing is always turning so it will always may noise. How can you rule that out?

[jlevie]

The pilot bearing is always turning so it will always may noise. How can you rule that out?

The pilot bearing will only be turning when the car is stopped, the transmission is in gear, and the clutch is disengaged. When the transmission is in neutral and the clutch is engaged the input shaft will spin with the flywheel. Which means that the pilot bearing can't then cause noise.

[416stroker]

[QUOTE=jlevie;2478980]The pilot bearing will only be turning when the car is stopped, the transmission is in gear, and the clutch is disengaged. When the transmission is in neutral and the clutch is engaged the input shaft will spin with the flywheel. Which means that the pilot bearing can't then cause noise.

True I over looked that.

But if you get a bearing it can spin in the crank due to being under size. I had this issue with two different bearings they lasted about two months both were in OEM Sachs klutch kit. The car had similar symptoms and got a vibration as well

[funcrew]

...Then again, it is possible that the noise isn't from the bellhousing. With the car up in the air and idling it should be pretty easy to find the source of the noise.

OK, advanced troubleshooting class (not) - The noise is coming from inside the el cheapo catalytic converter I inherited from the PO. That would also explain why there's a choking cloud of exhaust fumes all the time.

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions.