Annoying squeaking noise

Stevehose

Stevehose

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At idle i have an annoying squeaking noise - it goes away as engine is revved. It's definitely not a belt or alternator, I am pretty sure it's not a motor mount, it seems like it is coming from the back/underside part of the engine on the passenger side. Can the camshaft or exhaust manifolds squeak? I tried to post an audio but it doesnt record - too high a pitch. Sounds like if it were hit with a lubricant it would go away but I can't find the source. Any ideas or areas to check?
 
squeak

Probably downpipe to manifold, loose nuts, bad gasket.
But check:
heat riser plate loose
Washer bottle bracket
A/C bracket bushings
 
I have one of those too, generally only comes when the car is warm.

Seems to come from somewhere close to the gearshift and when I press down on it it does get lower in volume. Can hear it both when idling and driving.Too low to hear when under the car with the engine on unfortunately.

Good luck with yours.
 
Rattle

Try the exhaust hanger, the one from the trans. There are little bushes/ rubbers that give way.
 
At first glance that appeared ok, unless it allows to much movement? Should there be little to no play when moving the pipes at that point? Thanks for the other suggestions, I have removed the heat shields and will inspect all when time permits. Should I loosen/retighten the downpipes from the manifolds to possibly reseat an out of aligned pipe or is this a pandora's box in waiting?

61porsche said:
Try the exhaust hanger, the one from the trans. There are little bushes/ rubbers that give way.
Click to expand...
 
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squeaks

Yes, the exhaust can squeak. Heat causes everything to rust and be very dry. Nuts can get loose. ( use the copper/brass ones- any auto parts) just a little movement can cause the squeak.

Don't ask about headers- I just welded mine. Forget the flanges.

If the gaskets on the downpipes are going the exhaust can blow portions of the gasket away- that's usually audible by then. tick, tick, tick.

Yes, if the exhaust is moving too much, the bracket that bolts on the trans has two little bushings that isolate the exhaust.

Try tightening it up first. But if it's loose- at least buy new exhaust nuts as they're crimped and won't rust.( on.)
 
Update

I tightened the manifold to head nuts - they moved a litle but not much, this clearly was the first time they have been turned in 38 years. No apparant leaks.

The downpipe to manifold nuts were very tight - i couldnt budge them.

I put new bushings in the exhaust hanger on tranny - these had dissolved into nothing.

I tightened the downpipes to center exhaust flanges - these were loose and leaking exhaust so I thought I had found the problem - exhaust tight with no leaks now but the squeak remains. I tried holding the exhaust pipes steady with the engine running - to no avail

Can the tranny squeak if low on fluid or be a bearing issue? Noise persists with clutch in or out so i dont think so but? It is very difficult to determine the exact area of the noise - seems to come from the area between the flanges noted above and the manifolds, perhaps up to the tranny/rear of block area. Goes away as idle increases.

It doesnt seem as loud as before (wishful thinking?) but I can't determine what else to look for. When I was under the car I checked other nuts for tightness - all solid and everything looked in place.

Any ideas? Maddening. Thanks.

61porsche said:
Yes, the exhaust can squeak. Heat causes everything to rust and be very dry. Nuts can get loose. ( use the copper/brass ones- any auto parts) just a little movement can cause the squeak.

Don't ask about headers- I just welded mine. Forget the flanges.

If the gaskets on the downpipes are going the exhaust can blow portions of the gasket away- that's usually audible by then. tick, tick, tick.

Yes, if the exhaust is moving too much, the bracket that bolts on the trans has two little bushings that isolate the exhaust.

Try tightening it up first. But if it's loose- at least buy new exhaust nuts as they're crimped and won't rust.( on.)
Click to expand...
 
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Squeaks

From your description, I'd concentrate on the manifold to downpipe connection. If the nuts won't budge, put some penetrating oil on them over a couple of days. Be careful, the studs get brittle from the heat. Might try spraying at suspected areas to see if it momentarily would change something.

A throwout bearing can squeak. But as you said, clutch in or out no change so that seems good. No, I don't think the trans oil/ bearings as that's more of a rumble/ grinding symtom.

Look closely at the trans mount. Since the mount is triangulated between the two motor mounts and trans play there can cause the engine to more a bit more contributing to movement therefore somethng squeaking.

Sometimes a mechanic stethescope, rod, long screwdriver could help in hearing/ isolating.

Grab the tailpipe and try to use leverage from the rear might help.
 
Downpipe

On the downpipe connections, should I try to loosen then re-tighten or just try and tighten? I don't have an impact wrench so it all may be in vein since ther's not a lot of wrench room there. I tried spraying a little wd on the flanges last night to see if it had any effect but it just smoked like hell and sent me running for the fire extinguisher in case it caught. The stethescope idea popped in my head also - will do that or something similar if the flanges are not the prob but the source is gremlin-esque - hard to pin down while on my back under the car with the motor running 6 inches from my face.

The trans mount seemed very tight, should i look for an alignment issue?

Looks like its back on the ramps again this evening :-|
 
Update 2

Back under the car, the downpipe flange nuts are not to be moved either way at all, thats a job for a muffler shop, plus I don't think they are the source. I checked the motor mounts, trans mount and other hardware, all tight. I used a metal bar to hold the pipes steady - no effect. If it's not the pipes, then I'd say it could be coming from the inside bell housing - is this possible, if so what could it be? I tried the extender bar-as-stethescope but could not find anything definitive. At my wit's end and suppose I will live with it until i put it in the shop for something and have them look at it.
 
squeaks 2

If the bell housing, input shaft bearing that sits in the flywheel? Is yours the open type with the throwout arm sticking out?

If you can't simulate the squeak by moving the tailpipe/ muffler/ whole exhaust, it's likely exhaust related.

Maybe- record and post?
 
What does the open type look like-where would i look? I dont know much about trannys...

I will give recording a try, I tried before but it wouldnt pick it up, I will give it another shot - back on the ramps again :?

You mean if i cant simulate the noise with the pipes, its unlikely exhaust related, yes?

Gracias

61porsche said:
If the bell housing, input shaft bearing that sits in the flywheel? Is yours the open type with the throwout arm sticking out?

If you can't simulate the squeak by moving the tailpipe/ muffler/ whole exhaust, it's likely exhaust related.

Maybe- record and post?
Click to expand...
 
Throw out arm

I can see parts 2-4 in this diagram so I guess I have external? Clutch in or out has no effect so that leads us to inside the housing? Could be pilot bearing noise? flywheel? ?


61porsche said:
If the bell housing, input shaft bearing that sits in the flywheel? Is yours the open type with the throwout arm sticking out?
Click to expand...
 

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External

If you see the arm. The pilot bearing should show up with the flywheel.

Anyway, if it's squealing/ squeaking- it should be louder at the opening where the arm goes in to the clutch.
 
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