Chackita-chackita-chackita-chackita

[llll1l1ll]

That's the sound my E30 has always made when the clutch is out in neutral. Never caused any problems. Been like that ever since I've owned it, as well as the previous owner. In fact, my old red E30 would make it just a little bit when I turned off the car. Whenever I rev up the car (past 1k) the sound goes away.

However, today it made a new noise. Aside from the chackita-chackita-chackita-chackita when the clutch is out, when I push the clutch in, about a second later an almost grinding noise happens. Like almost a zzzzzzzzzssszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz like something is rubbing/grinding. It's not a whine, it still sounds like the chackita-chackita-chackita-chackita, just not so "choppy," per se, but a little more steady. Almost like a big rig grinding gears, but not so grind-y. It'll speed up with engine speed until the clutch mates with the flywheel, and it will totally disappear until I hit the clutch again.

Aside from that, the car drives just like it should. No problems shifting, engaging/disengaging, driving, unsw. No slippage, chattering.

I live in Greenville, NC. The weather has been fluctuating between hot and cold rather frequently.

I think it's the synchros getting old. I read somewhere on here that the chackita-chackita-chackita-chackita are my synchros clackin' away, waiting to be used. I just hope it isn't what I think it is...

Edit: The chackita-chackita-chackita-chackita can also be compared with marbles rolling around. I honestly still think it might be a worn input shaft?

Ninja Edit: Should I change the gear oil? I don't know if its been changed, and the ODO has 232,802 on it. Would changing it fuck it up? Should I use redline?

[NC325iC]

how olds your clutch?
could be the clutch isnt disengaging correctly and your grinding gears when shifting

[turbo_negro69]

it's broken!











seriously though NOTHING should sound like "chakita-chakiblah blah blah"
or "zzzzsszzz" sounds like its time to drain the oil into a CLEAN pan and look for metal/debris. cuz somethings on its way out

[Jesse30]

my car makes the same noise when the clutch is disengaged lol.

[NC325iC]

it's broken!











seriously though NOTHING should sound like "chakita-chakiblah blah blah"
or "zzzzsszzz" sounds like its time to drain the oil into a CLEAN pan and look for metal/debris. cuz somethings on its way out

the chakita sound is just his input shaft bearing making noise its not a serious problem its just annoying, its a very common problem

[BigD]

The rattling is just gearbox rattle from a lighweight flywheel which you probably have, or maybe the i has a light enough flywheel to cause gearbox rattle, can't say for sure there, never been in an i for long enough to notice.

The screeching noise is another matter though, probably the TO bearing.

[NC325iC]

it is true that lightweight flys make a similar noise but its more likely that its just the input shaft bearing/gear noise
either way its nothing to worry about theres really nothing to do about short of rebuilding the tranny

[turbo_negro69]

the chakita sound is just his input shaft bearing making noise its not a serious problem its just annoying, its a very common problem

a common problem that needs to be repaired. keep driving with a bad input shaft bearing and let me know how that goes:?

[llll1l1ll]

how olds your clutch?
could be the clutch isnt disengaging correctly and your grinding gears when shifting

I'm definitely not grinding gears, thanks. I have ears, haha. I suppose its just input shaft issues. The car is old...

I honestly think its the throwout bearing. Bummer--Ich bin total pleite! This means I gotta drive up to Raleigh to go to Janko Import Rip You Off Shop to get it fixed. Shit. The only way I think it isn't the TOB is that my car has no problems shifting.

I guess I'll just check the oil tomorrow... That means I gotta buy those huge fucking allen wrenches, lest the Getrag takes like a 1/4in square? Anybody know which size socket/wrench to get?

[llll1l1ll]

On a side note:

Could it possibly damage the transmission if I change the oil in it? I've heard rumors that sometimes when autos are old, they tend to be "held together" by the oil. For instance, a friend of mine had a mechanic tell him that if he had his tranny flushed in his 525i it would fuck it up since the metal has "become used to the ATF."

[turbo_negro69]

On a side note:

Could it possibly damage the transmission if I change the oil in it? I've heard rumors that sometimes when autos are old, they tend to be "held together" by the oil. For instance, a friend of mine had a mechanic tell him that if he had his tranny flushed in his 525i it would fuck it up since the metal has "become used to the ATF."

not in a manual tranny! it'll only do it good

[AndrewBird]

Can you feel anything in the clutch pedal? I.E. - Vibration/pulsation Could be your throw out bearings is bad/worn.

[llll1l1ll]

Well, it really only vibrates with engine speed. I'll check it out on my drive today to get my phone fixed.

[NC325iC]

ok heres how to test the tob
in neurtral let the clutch out hear the noise
now if the noise goes away from just lightly pressing the pedal ie not going past the engagement point, its your TOB

if the noise goes away only after you pass the engagement point then its the input shaft bearing/normal gear noise

and im gonna say this again, the noise from the input shaft bearing is normal in transmissions this old and you shouldnt worry about it.

[mrsleeve]

input shaft bearing just drive it till you change out the clutch, you have to puyll the tranny apart to fix it.