i had no doubt in my mind when it started happening that it was the tranny. i have the 5 speed. but i had someone listen outside and they said it could be the rear end. i could see that, it sounds like rear teeth grinding. but the noise inside the cab sounds like right under the shifter. here are the clues:

happen without a load or towing. i drove about 15 miles at 65 then got off the highway came to a stop then when i took off in 2nd it made the nasty grinding lash sort of sound pretty loud. same in every gear unless i get off the fuel. it can be avoided if i take off real, real slow but the second i put the pedal into it, it grinds. no matter what gear. to me, the untrained ear, it sounds like a bad bearing/grinding noise.

its dark and i dont have time to poke around but my guess is that my rear end lost fluid and the teeth burned out.

another clue is it only make the noise while moving. does not make the noise at a stand still with clutch in or out.

 

See if you have fluid in the rear diff.

I'll bet it's getting very hot too.

 

I had something similar, very similar, one day I put in four wheel messin around on wet pavement and found the problem. It was time for a t-case chain. Case was very very low on fluid and I have to admit it was my fault.
But we wont go there. Long story, but I will explain if I have to. Just check you T-case.

******* wouldn't cover it under warranty and wanted to charge me $700+ when they already had it torn down in the shop. I got them down to $500. I could have done it myself for $200.

 

i pretty sure i can rule out the rear end. popped off the plug and fluid is there. stuck a magnet in and it came up clean. do you think its necessary to pull off the plate? wouldnt i see shavings? the oil was a good color yet bubbly-not foamy, but had bubbles and was not black. although had a light burnt smell to it.

so BULLRIDER, if you could share your story it may help.

how do i check t case? and is the chain something i (newbie) can diagnose and repair?

it does sound like something is dry or grinding. i had a 2000 f350 (yes a ford) that made the same noise yet quieter and was aparently passable as normal.

please help. i would really like to do this myself if at all possible.

thanks.

 

i am very suprised no one is responding to these tranny issues. does no one want to tell me i am going to need a new tranny and it will be 5K or does no one want to walk a newie through the steps of diagnosing -at least. and with all due respect, does everyone only respond to the MPG theads and WMO threads? ITS BEAT TO DEATH! please help with my tranny problems, please.

losing faith in this forum. where are all the old timers who used to help?

 

Your T-case is easy to check, can't say I have seen a 95 for sure but they are all pretty much the same. Get under there, look at the back of the T-case. There should be 2 plugs, either a square head that is sticking out or one that is recessed for a 3/8 drive to fit in there, like the rear end plug. The lower one is for draining and the upper is for filling. Take the upper out, stick you finger in there and see if you get fluid. I doubt it will be empty because my I emptied mine out on my own, brain fart, then ran it dry. Story later.

If its got fluid in it, your okay there but could probably use a change. Next thing I would try from there would be put in 4 wheel and hit it, if its loose it should slip and you will know that sound when you hear it.

My sound sounded like grinding or a chain flopping around in the case. Thats were I would go next.

 

thanks bullrider,
i just realized that my signature says 95' and i have a 94. thanks for bringing that to my attention. i am going to check the fluid. but because i have not used 4x4 for months and my problem is happening in 2x, how is this related? does the 4x4 spin full time? and what was it that got fixed for 700?

thanks

 

Okay, heres what happened. I had a vibration I could not find, common in 3rd gens I hear. Tried everything, new U-joints all around, ball joints and so on. Long story short It ended up being the drive shaft.
I was at work, took the rear shaft off, mounted a cup underneath to catch any fluid, worked great. Then drove to the shop in 4wheel, to have it balanced, it was way out, I think I spun a section 180 when installing the U-joints. Drove back to pick it up, keep in mind it was a rainy day. Well heres where the stupid moment came in. I poured the fluid from the cup which was the same fluid that is in the tranny, into the tranny instead of the T-case. Now my T-case is empty and has moisture in it from the driving in the rain.

Thats when the growling came in, 2 weeks go buy I check the fluid because I Finally realized what I did when I was messin around in the rain in four wheel, can't get traction other wise right? The case was Empty, completely. Filled er up and thought all was good but nope, still slipped and no 4 wheel. Took it to the dealer, they lied and said they would cover it under warranty but then took it apart revised their wording to cant find a manufacturer defect. too much moisture in it. thought the truck was submerged in water. Funny how the front and rear diffs the tranny and the interior showed no signs. Any way, I tried everything and finally got them down on the price.

That mistake cast me $450. Better than $700.

I could have done that for about $200 and a case of beer.

So there its publicized now. Hopefully no one ever makes a mistake like that.

 

My 4 wheel turns constantly, it is dis-engaged in the case but no lockouts means the front wheels turn everything else.
The dealer charged me $450 to replace the chain. They wanted $700.
94' not sure how much different that is!

 

On my transfer case, The plugs look like large Torx headed plugs. A 10 mm allen I believe is what fits them.

You should use a pump gun to fill it. There is not much room to get a quart bottle tipped sideways under there.


Tim

 

thanks for your responses. i couldnt find my allen set so i called it a day around 10am. some kind of flu thing.

for those who have fried their 5spd, what does that sound like? what are the chances i will need a new tranny? how about the possibility of a clutch not engaging properly? i have to milk it like a spent clutch except it makes way more noise and doesnt seem to be slipping. bearings?
thanks

 

thanks for all the help. the problem was quite simple and inexpensive. snap ring in tail shaft at trans case broke. no shredded gears or dry tranny. wish i could have diagnosed it and fixed it my self but found an honest mechanic who could have taken me for a ride cause i was talking like the tranny was gone when i took it in. thanks chris at Evolution automotive in santa cruz!