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clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:08 pm
by jhg1232
So whenever I get home from a drive and put car in neutral and let up off the clutch, i hear a constant noise and when I push down on the clutch, the noise is gone.
This only happens after a drive. I dont hear it when I first turn on the car before leaving my house. Is it normal? thanks

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:21 pm
by ClutchDisc
What kind of noise?

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:31 pm
by Shadow
Could be the throw-out bearing (clutch release bearing).

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:36 pm
by IMBoring25
If it's a gentle whirring noise, it could be a normal noise for your make and model. Other owners would be more familiar with whether they have the same thing.

If it's not a gentle whirring noise or if it gets gradually worse over time, transmission bearings would be on the list of likely suspects.

Throw-out bearing typically makes noise when the clutch is disengaged (depressed). This is the opposite situation.

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 12:42 am
by Shadow
Like many newer cars with self-adjusting clutches, his car uses a constant contact throw-out bearing. When they go bad, it is typical for them to make noise when the clutch is fully engaged and to quiet down when the clutch pedal is depressed (clutch disengaged).

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Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 2:03 am
by jhg1232
its hard to describe but its sounds like a noise that would come from engine idling. I wouldnt notice the noise was there if i didnt push down on the clutch and realized it went away. not a loud obvious noise but you definitely notice it once it goes away when clutch is depressed. and i know nothing about the mechanics involved in manual transmissions. i dont even know what a throwout bearing is lol what would cause a throwout bearing to go bad? i dont launch my car hard and I dont ride the clutch or let it slip too much, rev only to 1-1500 rpm taking off in first gear. I did get my car used however and this happened when I first got my car so im guessing it was the previous owner. And the noise hasnt gotten worse its been the same

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 7:27 am
by theholycow
Folks, don't forget the other condition he mentioned: Engaged, yes, but also in neutral. The release bearing is under the same pressure regardless of gear choice/neutral. Everything tilts a little from torque when in gear, which would not affect the release bearing, could affect the transmission's bearings, etc. What about something silly and small like the clutch hydraulic line touching the engine (and transmitting normal idle NVH) due to a failed engine mount or rusted clip on said line, where everything flexes just right to make it happen only under those conditions?

jhg1232, are you sure it doesn't make the noise in gear? What if you idle in 1st (like in a parking lot)?

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 8:20 am
by Rope-Pusher
There is a condition known as Neutral Rattle that is often more evident with a warm transmission. It's due to the firing pulses of the engine. It may go away if you raise the engine above idle speed. Some people notice it only alongside a building, like in a drive-thru line, or in a garage. Neutral Rattle isn't a problem beyond how much the noise bothers you.

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 8:36 am
by ClutchFork
jhg1232 wrote:its hard to describe but its sounds like a noise that would come from engine idling. I wouldnt notice the noise was there if i didnt push down on the clutch and realized it went away. not a loud obvious noise but you definitely notice it once it goes away when clutch is depressed. and i know nothing about the mechanics involved in manual transmissions. i dont even know what a throwout bearing is lol what would cause a throwout bearing to go bad? i dont launch my car hard and I dont ride the clutch or let it slip too much, rev only to 1-1500 rpm taking off in first gear. I did get my car used however and this happened when I first got my car so im guessing it was the previous owner. And the noise hasnt gotten worse its been the same
.
I am guessing it is a normal noise. I have noticed this on other vehicles. No harm to check the fluid level in the transmission to at least rule out low fluid as a possible cause. Other than that I would keep driving it.

My Ranger makes a quiet whirring noise that is similar to what I have heard other vehicles do with the clutch engaged in neutral. The Ranger is doing it in 2nd and 4th, but not the gears selected towards the front and I don't recall hearing it in neutral. I noticed that the thick rubber insert at the bottom of the shift boot is torn and open at the back and am guessing the noise is heard with the shifter towards the back (2nd and 4th) because the rubber insulator is not there.

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 8:40 am
by ClutchFork
Rope-Pusher wrote:There is a condition known as Neutral Rattle that is often more evident with a warm transmission. It's due to the firing pulses of the engine. It may go away if you raise the engine above idle speed. Some people notice it only alongside a building, like in a drive-thru line, or in a garage. Neutral Rattle isn't a problem beyond how much the noise bothers you.
There also was a thing called gear rattle that was a problem when Chrysler first started using ATF for the manual tranny. The cure then was to put in a thicker fluid. That might also get rid of neutral rattle, but I would not do it for neutral rattle; thicker fluid may not be compatible for other reasons.

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 2:44 pm
by jhg1232
theholycow wrote:Folks, don't forget the other condition he mentioned: Engaged, yes, but also in neutral. The release bearing is under the same pressure regardless of gear choice/neutral. Everything tilts a little from torque when in gear, which would not affect the release bearing, could affect the transmission's bearings, etc. What about something silly and small like the clutch hydraulic line touching the engine (and transmitting normal idle NVH) due to a failed engine mount or rusted clip on said line, where everything flexes just right to make it happen only under those conditions?

jhg1232, are you sure it doesn't make the noise in gear? What if you idle in 1st (like in a parking lot)?
well if i put it in first gear and my foot is still on the clutch, then no it doesnt make the sound, as for letting go of the clutch and moving in first gear I havent noticed it

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 7:46 pm
by Rope-Pusher

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 2:58 pm
by jhg1232
turns out its a common thing with mazdaspeed3's no big deal haha

Re: clutch noise in neutral

Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 3:17 pm
by ClutchDisc
Yea I have a little noise when I am in neutral with the clutch out too. I think it's pretty normal.