Can someone please help me out?
 

First - Hi! I'm new to this forum. My name is Josh. I have what my acct name states lol.

I'm having some troubles that are steadily getting worse... They started about in the fall and have SLOWLY gotten worse, until yesterday where I was getting 7mpg and a lot of noises. Let me try to explain in detail the best way possible.. These may be separate issues, I'm not sure.

When you start the truck, let off the clutch, AND leave the shifter in the center it's silent. When you move the shifter to the left and right (still in neutral) there's a loud winding. It's two different tones, higher between 1st and 2nd (again, still only in the neutral position) and lower between 5th and R. If you move it to the left and right the winding is clearly audible BUT when you press the clutch in and hold the shifter to the left or right it slowly stops and goes quiet. You can actually hear something spinning and when you press the clutch you can hear it slow down to a stop. When you let the clutch out, there's a certain spot that it just starts winding again. It seems somewhere in the linkage but I've never done work to a trans/clutch so I don't know any components. I took it to 4 basic mechanic garages and all 4 couldn't find anything wrong with it.

I took it to AAMCO (I understand, probably another mistake) and they said, "Something is loose in the drivetrain and we don't know how to fix it and the winding is coming from the transmission but it doesn't need to be replaced. I would recommend taking it to the dealership....."

??????

Can someone please enlighten me. The truck has 70k miles and very rarely ever gets driven unless on a road trip. I drive very calm. I'm not a "hot rodder" at all.

Thanks so much.

edit - I forgot to mention the 2nd noise ha.

It feels like, when you're driving, the clutch engages at different times/points when shifting. Normally it always is in the same spot. 3rd mostly always makes a loud metal on metal clinking noise when you let out the clutch. 1st and 2nd do it but very rarely, 3rd does it almost every time. This truck is never driven hard. It never sees over 3k rpms, never tows and has been off road once since I've owned it and it was very minor. It's a strict DD vehicle. Thanks again.


On a side note.... Is there something a mechanic shop is afraid of with these trucks? I took it to a brake shop one time to get the rotors turned and they said they couldn't do anything for me because it was an anti loc brake system they couldn't help with.......?? And that I had to take it to a dealer?

I've never worked at a mechanics garage but is there something I don't know, some inside information, that I should when going "against a mechanic"? I was baffled by the fact he couldn't bleed my brakes because he said, "It has anti lock system. Can't do anything, you'd have to take it to the dealership" and then to have the trans guy say the same thing? WTF IS GOING ONNNNNNN??????????????????

I have heard some small rattle type noises coming out of the shifter. I have never heard any whining, the only thing that whines a little is the throw out bearing. Sorry but I would need to hear it.

Throw out bearing... That's a good start at least, thanks so much because out of the 6 places it's been no one has mentioned that.

What is that? What does it do?

Would there be a reason a place would be 'afraid' (or just flat out don't want) to change that? Is it "not enough profit" type of crap? I ask that because 2 shops told me I would need to drive it until it actually broke and left me stranded to find out what was wrong....? Which I'm sure would cost a LOT more not even including the tow. I'm almost convinced that some people are just trying to take advantage of information that I don't know about my truck. grr.

It's such a loud noise that it (I'm no mechanic so I may have no right to say this) SEEMS TO ME that any average mechanic would instantly be able to hear it and say, "Yep, I know exactly what that is."

It's even a feeling in the stick shift. You can feel it in your hands on the shifter. It's a much rougher feeling on the left and right (in neutral) then it is in the center.... Something in the linkage it seems. I'm so lost because that doesn't explain the piss poor fuel mileage....

It even stays after you move it into gear on the left and right.... At about 2k rpm's you can't hear it anymore but after that the engine gets a little louder then the winding... There's a good comparison, rev your truck to 2k and that's the same exact sound it's making on the sides of the neutral position.

The loud metal ping in 3rd gear sounds like it's coming from behind me. I've yet the need to change anything in the driveline so I don't know anything about it. I imagine the driveshaft hooks to the trans case and the rear end, would something in there be making a loud ping noise? Because there is kind of a delay from the clutch being let out to where it starts accelerating....

edit - LOL they all say winding... whining***

I am no mechanic but it sounds like either your throw-out bearing or your synchronizer gear or both. I would spend the money for a rebuild. I know it is alot of money but it will be worth it and most good shops will give you at least a one year warranty.

What if I plan to sell the truck? I was actually going to put it up for sale 2 weeks ago..... What would you recommend then?

Thanks for the help btw.

I wouldn't sell it unless you absolutely have to, it doesn't have that many miles on it and I am guessing it is already paid for. If you do sell it, I would get it fixed and do the right thing and fix it or at least let the buyer know about the problem.

Oh yes, I'm not asking how to scam someone lol. I'm asking that because you said "worth it for a rebuild" as if it would be far less expensive to just replace the two things you stated possibly? What do you think would be a price range for those types of jobs, replacing the two parts or a complete rebuild?

edit - I NEED to sell it actually. I'm moving.

I honestly don't know how much a rebuild is but I figure it should be less than $3000 on the high end. It is possible to just replace the two parts because they are relatively inexpensive because throw-out bearings do go bad alot sooner than the tranny coming to the end of its life. You only have about 70,000 miles on it and in my opinion, that is not alot of miles. If you like the pickup, spend a little money on it and you will like it even more. You already have a good engine and hopefully a good body. I have an '02 XLT with almost 170,000 miles on it with the 4.0 and have no plans on getting rid of it because it is paid for and whatever I pay to fix it (engine or transmission) will be alot less than another vehicle.