Whining noise that goes away with clutch pedal depressed? help

[Hafadazed]

Trying to figure out what the possible problems are with my 1990 e30 325i 5speed manual.

Whenever I start the car, with the car in neutral and clutch pedal not pressed, I will hear a whining/growling type of noise. The noise will go away when the clutch pedal is depressed. Also, when driving in gears, you also hear this whining noise, but it goes away when you depress the clutch pedal to shift gears.

Possible problems? thanks in advance

[Dirty325ix]

I think you are hearing the old bearings spinning in you box....I wouldn't worry about it if you arn't having any other issues

[cabriodster87]

Check the gear lube level in the gear box. Just to be safe.

[Hafadazed]

Yea I'll check the gear oil and trans fluid. I was thinking maybe it's the pinion gear? What are some of the symptoms of a worn, defective pinion gear?

[reelizmpro]

Throw out bearing is on the way out.

[IceWhite]

throw out bearing is on the way out.

+1

[wilholl]

^+1+1=2^

[Axxe]

It's not the throwout bearing. When you depress the clutch you are actually using the throwout, with pedal out it's not doing anything. What you are hearing is the infamous input shaft rattle/whine. Don't worry about it if your fluid levels are good.

[reelizmpro]

"Also, when driving in gears, you also hear this whining noise, but it goes away when you depress the clutch pedal to shift gears."

Also makes the noise in gear. When this happened to me, it was the throwout bearing beginning to seize. I could feel it in the clutch pedal. A clutch job w/ throw out bearing solved the problem. I suppose it depends on what type of noise he is hearing. Mine was more of a whirling noise.

[TobyB]

with the car in neutral and clutch pedal not pressed, I will hear a whining/growling type of noise

That is transmission noise, not throwout bearing noise.

Change the lube to MT90, and see what happens (or Redline ATF if your box wants that)

But it's not a huge deal unless you get chunks of bearing when you drain the lube...

t

[Hafadazed]

Thanks for the replies guys! New lube will be done first, but I doubt it'll fix it.. After that I will do a complete clutch kit with throw out bearing and pilot bearing.

Will update this thread as soon as I replace it!

[TobyB]

...repeat, if it goes away with the clutch depressed, it's not the clutch or throwout bearing...

jus' sayin'.

t

[Hafadazed]

Well I drained the trans fluid and about a cup and a half was drained. Refilled and noise still present. I'm leaning towards pilot bearing. An e36 came into my shop complaining of a noise when the clutch is depressed (opposite complaint of mine), and when I stepped on the clutch, the exact sound that I experience on my car was heard. Pilot bearing will be changed this coming weekend, along with new clutch and throw out bearing. Will update here when complete!

[TobyB]

:popcorn:

t

[Hafadazed]

Update

So.. Today I decided to replace my clutch with pressure plate, throwout bearing, pilot bearing, and rear main seal. Doing all this and the growling/humming noise at idle is still happening. Kinda bummed, but at least I fixed my oil leak from the rear main, and have a better clutch feel/grab. Also had time to clean the tranny and shift linkage while I was at it.

Since none of this fixed the problem, I am assuming and almost 100 percent sure the noise is coming from inside the transmission. Probably the input shaft of the transmission.

Some pics from today.






The old rear main seal developed a wrinkle..