I am the only owner of this car, bought it new in 97 and now my daughter is driving it now. I have completed all the maintenance on the car myself, changed the timing belt, water pump about 2 months ago (has 113,000 miles). Pulled the car in the drive way to change the oil Sunday and I hear a slight scraping noise, (like something that is rotating is lightly rubbing plastic some where). I did not notice it till I went to park. I then moved the shifter into R and no scrapping noted. Moved it to N and it was back, D is like R, no scrapping. Drives good, No slipping of the tranny not hard to shift nothing at all. Check the fluid and it was good. Just a rubbing noise when in Park/ N. I got under the car and it is loudest at the tranny, the car was in Park and the only things rotating at this point is the pulleys on the passenger side driven everything, the fans in front and I would guess a clutch in the tranny . So I am thinking when the car is in Park/N there is something in the tranny that is rotating and rubbing something or a barring rubbing. This is very slight but there, I don’t think it is medal, sounds like something rubbing plastic.

1. Has anyone heard of this?
2. Does anyone know what could be rubbing in there.
3. Should I take it in and have it checked or wait for it to worsen or not worry about it at all.

Thanks for the help.

R/
gunner

 

If you hear the scraping sound while the engine is in neutral, the transmission is probably not the problem. When stopped and in neutral the only thing rotating is the engine accessory belts. It may that when trans is shifted into gear the torque on engine slightly moves the rubbing surface eliminating or causing the noise. Check accessory drive belt and driven components; alternator, power steering, idlers.

good luck

 

The scraping sound is not on that side of the car where the belts are. When I climbed under it I can hear it in the Tranny under drivers feet. There has to be something turning on the tranny end when the motor is running, a fly wheel, cluch or something that is engaged to keep the car from rolling when started, then when you move the gear box to R or D something engages to get the car moving. the motor has to keep turning when running so you must have a shaft that drives the Main pully that turns all your belts on one side and a shaft or fly wheel that drives your tranny on the other side of the motor there has to be barrings and stuff to support the weight of the shaft driving the tranny. The starter turns the fly wheel to start the car and I would guess some type of throw out barring to engage the tranny. It could be the fly wheel rubbing something or a barring making the sound. But I really think it is in the area of the tranny. If it does have a throw out barring it could be that making the sound and once you put it in gear it add load and the slack is taken up so no sound. Of course I am only guessing on all of this.
So please keep the ideals coming. And thanks for you post
r/
Gunner

 

It's concievable that the flywheel or torque converter is rubbing something, however this would imply that something has shifted or come loose inside the transmission or engine. These components are completely housed so no external material could contact them. You might want to have the car inspected on a lift by a good transmission specialist.

good luck