Auto trans question/advice

frank

New Member
Jan 2, 2006
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Buzzing noise from transmission. (99.9% sure it's the trans, I'm going to jack up/crawl under tommorow.)
The noise mainly occurs in the first couple of minutes after cold start-up. Sounds like a steady buzzing noise at first, then get's kind of intermitant. (Starts out as ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, then as the car warms up gets quieter and changes to zz-zz-zz-zz.) The noise basically stops after a couple of minutes, although I can sometimes very faintly hear it in park if I stick my head under the car, but not in any other gear.
The noise stops during shift position selection, in other words if shifting from park to drive it stops for an instant then resumes as soon as drive engages.
The transmission works perfectly, engages nicely, shifts nicely, down-shifts and up-shifts as it should. It is throwing a code 61 (#2 speed sensor) which I believe is unrelated.
The fluid is Dexron II at the correct level. The fluid was dirty looking when I bought the car and I've since done a complete flush. This actually seemed to make the problem worse.
My current plan is to go under with a stethescope and try to pin point the source better, pull the dust shield off and check the flex plate to converter bolts.

Has anybody else had this and solved it without rebuilding the trans? What else should I be looking at?
 

frank

New Member
Jan 2, 2006
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I'm thinking you're right.
I crawled under there with a stethescope this morning, narrowed the noise down to the front end of the trans.
Then took the car for a long run. (It's the wife's car, so I don't drive it much.)
Knowing exactly what I was listening for I was able to hear it very faintly while driving. Any revs on the engine or a rough road surface and it would be drowned out, it was so faint.
Anyhow the noise would always completely disappear the instant the converter locked up, so I'm thinking converter.
Time to let a transmission shop at it I guess.
[sigh...]
 

87CandyBlueT

Banned
Feb 8, 2006
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Kentucky (NKY)
frank said:
I'm thinking you're right.
I crawled under there with a stethescope this morning, narrowed the noise down to the front end of the trans.
Then took the car for a long run. (It's the wife's car, so I don't drive it much.)
Knowing exactly what I was listening for I was able to hear it very faintly while driving. Any revs on the engine or a rough road surface and it would be drowned out, it was so faint.
Anyhow the noise would always completely disappear the instant the converter locked up, so I'm thinking converter.
Time to let a transmission shop at it I guess.
[sigh...]

I have never worked on an automatic transmission or removed one for that matter. However I do beleive replacing the torque converter is not a very difficult task if you've ever removed a transmission before. Maybe some others will chime in here with more info. on your specific transmission.
 

americanjebus

Mr. Evergreen
Mar 30, 2005
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Thats EXACTLY what i have and no one ever knew what it was, i thought it was a warped flex palte for sure and when i went to pull it, nothing, the thing was perfect and i narrowed it down to the TC as well. I'm just waiting for it to take a dump or get worse so i can just get a 3k rpm high stall unit.
 

frank

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Jan 2, 2006
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87CandyBlueT said:
I have never worked on an automatic transmission or removed one for that matter. However I do beleive replacing the torque converter is not a very difficult task if you've ever removed a transmission before. Maybe some others will chime in here with more info. on your specific transmission.

Yah, I've done this before, (though never on a supra) and it's nothing brain busting, just work and dirt. However I don't have the free time or the place to do the job right now, so....
The transmission has a lot of miles and could probably use a freshening up anyway.
Normally I'd be inclined to leave it and see how long it might last, but the car is going on a 5000+ mile road trip next month, so it has to be pretty much perfect.
 

frank

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Jan 2, 2006
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Just a follow up, so that anyone searching for info finds a resolution. (I hate searching, finding threads, and not finding out what the solution was.)

Torque converter, to be specific, a bearing going in the converter. There were no other internal problems with the transmission. Replaced the converter and it's all good. Caught the problem soon enough to avoid scattering chunks through the rest of the transmission.

(Still have code 61, #2 speed sensor, but that's another issue.) At least I think I do, I havn't reset the ECT to see whether it pops the code again. I'll try that soon.
 

brad92t

Supramania Contributor
Apr 25, 2006
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Lexington, KY
www.haxors.us
sigh i have buzzing like this too.. like at a stop light with the brakes pressed.. kind of annoying. bzzz zzz.zz.zzzz.zz.zzz.

i really dont want to spend money on a new TC when all i really want is to spend money (later) on a swap...........
 

miggles

i wasnt speeding officer
Jun 3, 2005
526
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perth West Australia
isit the same noise you get when you adjust the linepressure/kickdown cable. I had that same buzzz sound when i was playing around with that cable.