[Gudziel]

This happens when I'm at a dead stop on top of a sharp incline (light at the top of a hill for example). As I depress the gas and release the clutch, (if done too quickly I will peel out and done too slowly I'm riding the clutch) sometimes I hear this noise that can best be described as a "winding up" or almost like the sound you hear in the street racing movies where NOS is being injected into the engine. It's hard to describe it. But when it does happen, I noticed that the sound will continue further down the road, almost as if it needs to wind back down. If I turn the wheel back and forth quickly (on the following straight-away or as I turn into the convenience store 1/4 mile from the hill) the noise will still be there as I turn the wheel. When I start the car back up or continue driving down the following hill, it's gone. I have no idea why it is doing this. But it has been doing this since my last clutch went out. It has been doing this ever since I got the clutch replaced back in February/March. Again, sometimes it does this, sometimes it does not. It is all in a certain way that I engage/disengage the clutch apparently.

Any help in figuring this out is greatly appreciated.

 

[Gudziel]

What is the level of your trans. fluid?

Haven't checked. Where would I check on a manual transmission? I know that the auto's have the dipstick out front.

 

[Gudziel]

The ford clutch kit was purchased (if I remember correctly, it included the throwout bearing). The only thing that was not replaced was the flywheel as both ford and my mechanic said it was fine. Where is the fill hole at exactly if I'm looking into my engine bay from the front of the car?

 

[Gudziel]

I remember my mechanic also adding the ford gold to the bill (2 bottles of it I believe) when he replaced my clutch. I remember because he made a point to tell me how he couldn't believe the price for the stuff.

 

[Gudziel]

Also, when replacing the clutch, is the transmission fluid removed during the repair and then refilled with new after everything is put back together?

 

[Gudziel]

Draining and filling,

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162394

Who did your clutch replacement?

They should have done the fluid at that time

Thanks freemind. Yeah I found that How-To through a google search but all of the picture links are broken. hehe But from what I've read, the plug is only accessible from underneath? It's an 8mm hex plug if I remember correctly? If I open the plug, won't the fluid drain out?

A friend of the family has his own garage. Charged me $800 total for parts and labor for my clutch. I remember he mentioning the cost per bottle of ford fluid. He had to get two bottles, I also remember him telling me. So I kinda went out on a limb with thinking he changed the fluid also.

 

[Gudziel]

That is very true. I just know that it appears to happen on hills that I'm standing still at.

 

[Gudziel]

This noise is hard to describe. Honestly. I'm trying my best to think of what it resembles the most. I can definitely tell you that when coming off of hills and going onto the straightaways, if I turn my wheel left or right, the sound continues.

When I am coming from a stop going up the hill, it sounds like a "ramping" up that only gets louder when I turn the wheel. Now if I don't turn the wheel, it sounds as if there some type of buildup within the engine that needs to settle down. If I turn the wheel, it is almost as if I am preventing it from settling down, and the "ramping" sound increases with each turn and when I center the wheel it begins to calm down again. I can feel a little bit (not much, just slightly more than normal) of stiffness in the wheel as I turn it. When I take a turn into the convenience store, the ramping still continues until I stop and turn off the car. When I get back in and start it, it can be after 2min, the sounds are gone. Or if I continue driving, it calms down over the next couple of minutes.

This ramping up noise and ramping down can best be described as like an airplane engine starting to wind up. Now it's not as loud (I'm unsure other people going to and from the convenience store can hear it outside) but I do hear it inside the car and can feel a very small amount of tension in the wheel shortly after.

Does this help at all? Last I checked, my power-steering fluid wasn't low at all.

 

[Gudziel]

It's sounding more like a description of power steering whine than anything else right now...

Other than fluid, is there any other checks or tests I can do myself?

 

[Gudziel]

OK so I have two updates and two questions.

Updates:
I am able to simulate the noise or whining on flat surfaces. If I slowly release the clutch as I slowly (but a tad bit quicker) depress the gas, it will create the noise.
Before leaving work, I checked my power steering level and it is a little less than the low level line.

Questions:
Could the level of my fluid be causing this some since it is low?
What type of fluid do I put in there?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Gudziel]

I hope that is the case then. That is a simple, cost effective fix. Anyone know the particular stewing fluid to use for manuals 2.0?

 

[Gudziel]

How difficult is it to flush out and replace (hours and difficulty)? Maybe that is a better idea for me if it is not too difficult.

 

[Gudziel]

Mercon V for fluid.

For the reservoir on pump style in particular, sucking out the fluid in the bottle & replacing it is easiest.

Used kitchen "Baster" works fine, do it more than once to get a fluid change.

Thanks sailor. Sounds great!

 

[Gudziel]

Haha

 

[Gudziel]

Quick Update: Filled the reservoir up to the max level last night. Drive into work today and no noise! Now, it was the first time and it could change. But I'm crossing my fingers that it was the fix to my ignorance.

Thanks guys!!!!